That bard is such a charmer!

Chapter 33 The Diamond Shield

"Go to hell! Trash!"

Using his expertise in battlefield spellcasting, Richard first unleashed a barrage of insults, then smoothly prepared to unleash a flurry of attacks.

When he got to Grace, he slashed at her arm with his sword.

Grace's response was quite simple.

She easily ignored the insults, thanks to the dragon's ridiculously high magic resistance.

Faced with the chaotic slash, she raised her eyebrows slightly, took half a step back, and waited for Richard to finish his move before grabbing the iron rod in her hand and, with a clang, swiftly and accurately blocking the sword in front of her.

Richard's first attack failed, and he frantically slashed out with his sword a few times, only to have them blocked. Then he gathered his strength again and tried to unleash a second flurry of slashes.

Unfortunately, Grace didn't give him a chance.

She chuckled, moved close to Richard, and struck his wrist with a stick.

Richard's Beast Instinct kicked in, and he hurriedly dodged. Although he managed to avoid the attack with his wrist, he didn't pay attention to his footing and was tripped by Grace, who tripped him and kissed Mother Earth with a splat.

"Round 1 is over~"

Grace stopped attacking, bent down and helped Richard up, commenting:

"Your spellcasting is fine, and your combat skills are quite interesting. They seem like you're just messing around, but you can actually get hit if you're not careful."

"However, the fact that you only know this one combat technique is a big problem."

"Without a foundation in swordsmanship and a lack of coordination between movements, it means that if your combat skills fail or are interrupted, you will quickly become an ordinary person, and your opponent can defeat you with their rich experience."

At the same time, Zoya's voice also rang in Richard's ears—she had been reluctantly made the second teacher in this practical exercise by Grace threatening to pinch her buttocks.

All I heard her say was, "All that fancy stuff, one slap and it's dead!"

Okay, this teacher's level isn't very good...

Richard pursed his lips, ignoring Zoya's comments, and seriously pondered Grace's words.

Overall, his melee abilities are sufficient to deal with kobolds, but against truly high-level warriors, barbarians, or rangers, he's definitely outmatched.

After thinking for a moment, he said to Grace:

"I understand. Let's begin the second round. I'll defend, you attack."

After saying that, he took five steps back and began chanting the incantation for the Vajra Shield.

A pale golden, semi-transparent spherical barrier appeared around him.

Grace smiled, her eyes narrowing.

Then, with a leap, he appeared right in front of Richard, startling him so much that he almost fell over. Only then did he raise his stick and smash it against the shield.

Boom!

After a loud bang, the shield...

All is well!

On the contrary, Grace's hands went a little numb from shaking the ground.

"what?"

Grace blinked, paused for half a second, then stuck out her tongue, licked the corner of her mouth, and struck the second blow with even greater force!

Boom! ! !

This time, the shield shattered cleanly, and Richard behind it finally lost his balance and sat down on the ground.

Grace did not try to pull the person back, but instead looked down at her trembling hands.

She couldn't help but ask, "Interesting! This spell is much stronger than both a level 1 shield and a level 2 reinforced shield. What's it called?"

Richard stood up, dusted off his trousers, and replied, "Tier 2 magic, Vajra Shield."

"Never heard of it, where did you learn that?"

"It's still that unknown god, He..."

"Stop making me laugh!"

Just as Richard was about to use the gods' influence again, Zoya shouted.

"What kind of deity bestows guidance without revealing the believer's name? Don't you want faith anymore? Once or twice is one thing, but why a third time? There's a limit to lying... Ugh!"

Grace suddenly pinched her own buttocks, interrupting Zoya's sarcasm.

However, at this point, the atmosphere had become awkward.

After a few seconds of silence, Richard's gaze drifted as he asked, "So, Grace, you actually didn't believe what I said a long time ago? I... I'm sorry..."

"It's okay~"

Faced with Richard's stammering, Grace smiled and stepped forward, pulling him into a tight hug and giving him a thorough face wash*.

"Hmm!"

"Everyone has their own little secrets, that's normal. Besides, you're my savior, and the poet I've met since hatching from a dragon egg that I click with the most. If I don't respect you, I'd be hardly a true bronze dragon."

Miss Red Copper Dragon gently patted Richard's head like a mother would, and said slowly:

"So, if there are things you don't want to say, then just don't say them. There's no need to bother making up excuses."

"If one day you feel too tired and want to confide in someone, I'm willing to listen attentively. Whatever it is, I'm willing to share it with you..."

"I'm serious about that!"

After spending more than a month together, Richard had become familiar with Grace's various tones of voice.

He could tell that Grace was genuinely serious.

This touched him deeply.

but……

Besides being moved, he now has more important things to do.

"Air! I need air!"

After several attempts, Richard finally managed to pull his face out of the fertile, warm valley.

Ah, the freedom to breathe!

He took a few deep breaths, turned his head, and saw Grace grinning mischievously.

Even in such a serious atmosphere, you bronze dragon can't help but joke around?

Really...

Feeling the lingering warmth and fragrance on his face, he was somewhat amused and exasperated. Finally, he raised his head and looked directly into Grace's eyes, saying:

"Thanks."

You're welcome~

"...Let's get back to the main topic."

Richard clapped his hands and then asked, "What do you think of the recoil damage from my Vajra Shield move?"

Grace rubbed her fist and replied, "Pretty good. If it can affect me, then it must be quite effective for normal humans."

Richard then asked, "I remember you also know magic that enhances attributes, right?"

Grace nodded.

Richard smirked. "Excellent, then my battle plan is feasible!"

"A battle plan?" Grace's eyes sparkled as she leaned closer. "Come tell me! I love your brilliant plans the most. If you had pretended to be a chosen one of the God of Strategy, I might have actually believed you..."

"Come on, stop making fun of me..."

Richard pursed his lips, laid out his thoughts, and then began practicing with Grace.

that's it.

Time passed little by little.

Jostein's situation is also getting worse.

Because Richard was hiding outside the city, he and the city guards didn't get much out of the city. Instead, they were run around the city by a group of impersonators who were using Robin Hood's name.

The fifth day has arrived.

Inside his own mansion, Jostan had Dulu stand guard outside the door while he locked himself in his bedroom, scratching his head in front of the mirror.

Damn it! What the hell!

Who exactly is Robin Hood?! And where is he?!

He considered countless possibilities, but he never thought of the little poet he had kicked off the carriage.

Finally, staring at his unshaven, red-eyed reflection in the mirror, he vaguely felt the floor beneath his feet collapse, and he was falling, falling...

He realized that he had to make a choice.

Meanwhile, in the hall...

The mercenaries waiting there also realized that it was time for them to make a choice.

"We're just doing this for money, why should we suffer humiliation alongside him?"

"I saw the Phoenix family's men, who were there to spy on him, outside the door."

"By this time tomorrow, all his money will be gone to the Phoenix family, right?"

"If he runs out of money, won't we all go hungry this week? What will we eat?"

"Yes, what should we eat?"

For a moment, the mercenaries began to whisper among themselves.

Meanwhile, Ethan, Jostan's cousin, rubbed his sweaty hands and sneaked out of the hall...