Insect Tamer's Ascension-Chapter 432. I want to duel with him

The man wore what looked more like a hunting armor than proper metal gear. It was made of leather, but of a kind Theo couldn’t quite identify.

Still, the sword at his waist was a good sign.

The man noticed Theo’s scabbard as well, though he didn’t say anything. Theo, however, wasn’t the same.

"Kind sir, are you a knight?" Theo asked politely, making Lucien glance at him with a slight frown.

The man halted slowly and turned toward Theo, his face serious.

Scars covered almost every part of his face, the most prominent being a deep gash that ran along the right side.

"...I am an adventurer," the man replied in a plain voice. His gaze trailed off to Theo’s shoulder, specifically at the crest. He studied it briefly, trying to recognize and was fast with it too.

"...Are you young master Theo Merrick?" the man asked, making Theo’s eyebrows lift slightly in surprise.

"I am surprised you could tell. I see that you are a perceptive adventurer." Theo spoke with a nod, "May I ask for your name, kind adventurer?" He finally asked.

The man’s serious face turned to that of curiosity and he turned his body completely to face Theo and answered, "Dren"

Theo nodded, and after a brief exchange, the man took his leave.

As soon as the man went away, Lucien quickly tapped Theo’s shoulder, his expression serious.

"Theo... you’re my responsibility right now. No interacting with unknown people, especially adventurers. You don’t know how chaotic they can be."

Theo looked at him with a smile but instead asked a question with the same smile on his face.

"Aren’t we chaotic too, elder brother?"

Lucien paused and stared at the boy with conflicted emotions.

"We are, but not for money or status. We are just like that by nature," Lucien replied thoughtfully.

Sensing that the conversation was going nowhere, Theo let the topic drop and moved away.

They got their keys, and Clara first inspected Theo’s room, checking if anything he might need wasn’t there.

But she found nothing. The room was just as lavish as Theo’s own room, perhaps even a little more so.

After resting for an hour or two, Theo heard a knock on his door.

He opened it to find Clara and Elias standing to the side, with a man who looked like a merchant in front of his room.

"Greetings, Young Master of the Merrick Barony. My name is Hob Renner, and I am the owner of this inn. May I have a moment of your time?" the man said, his hands clasped together and a polite smile on his face.

Theo glanced aside and saw his brother standing nearby. After receiving a slight nod, Theo smiled.

"Your inn is very beautiful, Sir Renner" Theo said. "I would love to accompany you."

"I am not qualified enough to be addressed as ’sir’ by you, Young Master. Please, address me normally," the man replied.

"A man deserves the respect he has earned, Sir Renner. You have built a beautiful inn here," Theo responded right away, surprising everyone.

The man was momentarily stunned by his words, but his demeanor quickly became a lot better.

Lucien looked at his brother in a new light, while Clara and Elias couldn’t have been more proud of their young master’s humble take, as unbecoming of a noble as it was.

The innkeeper’s smile widened, and he began leading the way.

Theo followed with his group up the stairs and soon arrived in a room that was filled with food, laid out on a table like a grand buffet.

"The Emperor has financed your stay in our inn, Young Masters. This room has been specially prepared for you. Anything you eat will be replenished right away," the man spoke with a light bow.

Theo glanced around, taking in the variety of dishes. Soon, his eyes settled on a selection of seafood, and a glint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

"We thank you for your hospitality. Why don’t you join us, Sir Renner?"

"I wouldn’t dare. Please, enjoy yourselves. I must go tend to my duties, but if you ever need me, I will come at once."

After the man left, Theo looked at the food with a wide smile etched on his face.

Then he noticed his brother staring at him.

Their eyes met, and Lucien finally spoke.

"I didn’t know you were so good with your words, Theo.... It’s like I am seeing a whole new side of you."

"I learned it while I was reading some books that had a lot of explanation about social interactions, elder brother. But it feels nice to give someone credit."

"I see." Lucien nodded.

They all went to eat, and no one seemed to be concerned about whether the food might be poisoned or not.

After all, it was paid for by the emperor himself; there was no way anything could be wrong with it.

Theo ate heartily, enjoying the food since it was to his liking, and soon they returned to their rooms.

At that moment, Theo noticed the same person heading toward his room again. Hearing the footsteps behind him, the man looked back once, only to see Theo waving at him.

At first, his expression shifted into an awkward smile, as if he weren’t used to such gestures at all.

"I guess we will be seeing each other often, adventure Dren," Theo said.

The man nodded respectfully before entering his room.

Theo couldn’t help but notice the size of the man’s sword, and his interest immediately piqued.

His fingers twitched slightly, as if a hint of restlessness was creeping into him.

’I want to spar with him...,’ he thought as he stepped inside his room. But halfway through, he stopped and turned to his brother.

"Do you want to see the market outside, elder brother?" Theo asked.

The young man paused, considering the suggestion.

"Let’s meet in an hour. Freshen up, and then we will go see the market."

It felt like this was Theo’s first visit to a market. He had wanted to explore the one in Merrick Town before, but he had always been too busy.

But now, Theo finally had an opportunity, and he was eager to explore.