Leo's ears burned with the sting of their words, though they didn't bother him much on a personal level. Still, curiosity gnawed at him. What was the cause of such widespread derision?

He glanced around, noticing the townspeople's pointed looks and sneering faces. They were talking about him, but the context was elusive. Why were they so convinced of his failure?

Stepping away from Roxanne, who was still clinging to Ai, Leo approached a small group of villagers who seemed particularly engrossed in their gossip. He approached them with a questioning face. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, his voice calm despite their constant laughter. There was nothing to be angry about since he genuinely didn't know what it was all about.

One of the villagers, a burly man with a scruffy beard, sneered at him. "You really don't know, do you?" he chuckled. Before the man could continue, a sharp voice cut through the air.

"You fools!" The voice belonged to an old lady, her tone stern and commanding. She approached the group with surprising speed for someone of her age. Her eyes, sharp and wise, scanned the faces of the villagers before settling on Leo. "Forgive the townspeople for their foolishness," she said, her voice softening as she addressed him.

The villagers fell silent, shamefaced, and stepped back to allow the old lady to stand beside Leo. She turned to him, her expression kind. "They don't understand what you carry," she explained. "They mock what they cannot comprehend."

Just then, a young girl dressed in simple priest robes ran towards Leo. She looked like a low-level priest, her robes clean but plain, indicating her humble status. Her eyes twinkled with a mix of awe and excitement as she stared up at him.

"It's beautiful," she breathed, leaning closer to him. "I never thought I'd have the chance to see it up close."

Leo looked at her, puzzled. "See what?" he asked.

"The 'Blight of the Vanquished,'" she exclaimed, her lips trembling with fear and excitement. "The legendary curse that marks those who have defeated a system user." She stepped back slightly, her gaze still fixed on the aura surrounding the status. "It's said to be one of the most powerful and dangerous curses, a mark of both incredible strength and immense burden."

Leo stepped back a little, a weird smile forming on his lips. The young priest shivered, her eyes widening as if entranced, and then, to his surprise, drool started forming at the corner of her mouth. Her fascination seemed almost overwhelming, her body trembling with a mix of fear and excitement that was palpable in the air.

Before he could react, a group of adventurers ran towards them. One of them, a girl with a bow on her back, grabbed the priestess, while a boy with a shield on his back helped steady her. They dragged her away while another boy, holding a short staff, stayed behind to apologize.

"Please forgive her," he said, his voice sincere. "She's our healer and has a weird fascination with scary things."

Leo nodded. "It's okay," he replied, watching as the boy bowed and then quickly followed his companions.

Moments after they left, the people around Leo began to kneel, their faces kissing the ground. Leo was shocked at the sudden display of reverence. The old lady beside him smiled, noticing his bewildered expression.

Roxanne watched the villagers kneel before Leo, her heart tightening with a mixture of awe and uncertainty. Was this what it meant to be connected to someone so powerful? A part of her felt unworthy, like an imposter standing in the shadow of a legend.

Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.

"They kneel out of respect and gratitude," she began, her voice gentle yet firm. "The Dragon Lord once almost destroyed this village when he accepted a quest from it. The quest was the subjugation of the dungeon your team is about to go into." She paused, letting the weight of her words sink in.

"The Dragon Lord came back empty-handed and accused the village of attempting to kill him." Another pause, this time longer, her eyes reflecting the horrors of the past. "He had already destroyed almost half of the village when we returned from a quest."

Leo was in awe and asked, "To intimidate a system user, were you that strong?"

The old lady laughed heartily. "Oh, I wish I was strong back then! No, I was just a lowly adventurer." She glanced at him, a twinkle in her eye. "But the young one that was with my party... he was the real monster. He was so strong that even the Dragon Lord tucked his tail and fled just after seeing him."

Leo's curiosity was piqued. "Who was he?" he asked eagerly.

The old lady's gaze turned nostalgic as she began to describe the adventurer. "He was a sight to behold, a dual sword wielder whose presence alone could instill fear in any enemy." She paused, her eyes reflecting the memory.

"Standing tall and muscular, his eyes were as sharp as the blades he wielded, and his movements were so precise and fluid that it seemed like he was dancing through the battlefield." She took a breath, her voice steady. "Despite his intimidating appearance, he had a warm smile that endeared him to the people."

She continued, her voice filled with admiration. "Kael's strength was unmatched, and his courage was boundless. He was loved by the people, not just for his prowess in battle but for his heart." She paused again, a soft smile playing on her lips. "He would always go out of his way to help those in need, earning the love and respect of everyone he met."

The old lady sighed, a wistful look in her eyes. "That day was the most exhilarating day of my life. Watching his stand against the Dragon Lord, seeing the sheer power and confidence radiate from him... it was unforgettable." She took a moment, her look turning distant. "And now, he runs the whole human kingdom."

She turned her gaze toward the unseen horizon, where the grand structures of the human kingdom could be faintly seen. "Kael, the Sword Master, the ruler of our kingdom," she said softly, her eyes reflecting a mixture of pride and longing.

Leo nodded, absorbing the story she had just shared. Then his forehead crumpled as if he were trying to remember something. He paused, recalling what she had said a while ago. Did she say king? Human kingdom?

At that moment, Ai managed to free herself from Roxanne's arms and ran towards Leo. She stopped beside him, her hand inadvertently tugging at his shirt for support. Inhaling deeply, she glanced at Roxanne.

"The old lady was referring to the king we met yesterday," Ai said, her voice clear and steady.

Leo’s heart skipped a beat as the name Kael resonated in his mind. He had seen that name before, faintly imprinted beneath the Sword Master title of the king. Could it really be the same man? The carefree king who had offered him help… was once the monster-slayer the old lady spoke of with such reverence?

He was about to ask the old lady more about what had happened when he noticed Ai looking at him intently. Suddenly, he remembered their final task for the day.

Turning to the people around him, Leo said, "You don't need to do that. I don't harbor any ill intent towards you." He then leaped over them, landing gracefully near the village gates. Waving at the old lady, he called out, "Can we talk later when I get back?"

The old lady chuckled, her eyes twinkling. "This old lady isn't going anywhere," she replied warmly.

Leo smiled and reached for the hair tie on his left wrist. With a swift motion, he gathered his hair and secured it into a neat ponytail, the strands pulled back smoothly. Turning to Roxanne, he said, "I'll be running towards the dungeon."

Roxanne just smiled and nodded. He raised his right hand, and she began to morph, her body dispersing into countless crimson butterflies that went towards and around him. The butterflies shimmered in the sunlight as they coalesced into a glimmering sword in his hand.

Gripping the sword, Leo leaned forward, his legs coiling like springs. He then launched himself forward, disappearing from sight like a bolt of lightning. The force of his departure created a soft boom, and a cloud of dust rose, scattering around the area.

Ai, who had been standing beside the old lady, bowed deeply. Almost simultaneously, she and the cats vanished into thin air, leaving the villagers in awe of the extraordinary display they had just witnessed.

As the old lady’s story echoed in his mind, Leo’s thoughts drifted to the dungeon ahead. He had a mission to complete, and while the weight of the villagers' reverence sat heavy on his shoulders, he knew there was still work to be done. With a deep breath, he readied himself, determined to prove his worth.