Azeroth Monster Manual

“Little gnome, let me see what's inside that magical little brain of yours!”

“Was that Binary Spell really your invention? Did Mentor Aier participate in the spell's creation process? ♦ ♦     ♦ ♦”

“Don't crowd! Big guy, you're stepping on my foot, you bastard!”

……

The little gnome was no longer as spirited as before. He slumped wearily on the ground, hugging his head in his arms, helplessly dodging the 'dirty hands' reaching out from all directions, and dared not look at the fanatical crowd around him.

“Make way, make way!”

Edman struggled to push through the layers of people, finally managing to control the situation with the help of the Kirin Tor Guards.

His originally flowing golden hair was now a mess, a strand having been cruelly yanked out by some immoral fellow. The short distance was an arduous journey for Edman.

“These ignorant people, just like His Excellency the Speaker said, only need a little incitement to make them obey orders. These bastards are like… like one crop of Peacebloom after another, no matter how much you cut, you can't get rid of them all!”

Rubbing his bruised face, the 'Brush' Edman cursed fiercely in his heart.

Under the mediation and maintenance of Edman and the Kirin Tor Guards, the intense atmosphere in the arena finally subsided, and the fanatical crowd gradually calmed down, reluctantly returning to their original positions.

Antonidas cleared his throat, and the first words he spoke caused the crowd that had just calmed down to completely erupt again.

“After the unanimous decision of the twelve judges, the winner of this competition is…”

The Archmage scanned every corner of the platform, and slowly said amidst the crowd's anticipation.

“The winner is the Blue side contestant!”

……

Before Antonidas could finish his last word, the murmuring crowd instantly fell silent.

Millhouse moved his small hand away from his face, his weary yet delighted gaze frozen, and large teardrops fell from the corners of his eyes.

“A fix! You dirty officials! Millhouse's invention is the best! You cruel executioners, why are you cutting off his future!”

Olivedo questioned angrily, ignoring the obstruction of his companions.

The gnome's sharp voice was like a ladle of clear water poured into hot oil, instantly causing the crowd, still immersed in the upset, to boil over.

“A fix! That human kid's spell is not even worth mentioning!”

“A fix! Millhouse's spell is the best!”

“A fix!”

“A fix!”

……

Led by Olivedo, the angry crowd protested loudly.

Antonidas stared with an iron face at the gnome who was leading the uproar, but did not refute anything, instead turning to look at the elven youth.

“Everyone, please be quiet.”

The youth's magnetic voice seemed to possess a calming power. Olivedo suppressed the anger in his heart, raised his hand, and signaled the Brotherhood members behind him to stop protesting.

Like a chain reaction, with the Brotherhood's withdrawal, the rest of the crowd quickly quieted down.

The youth nodded in satisfaction. He didn't rush to say anything, but instead came to the silently weeping little gnome and pulled him up.

“A true warrior doesn't cry all the time, crybaby Millhouse.”

The little gnome's messy mushroom head changed shape under the youth's rubbing. The dazed gnome finally returned to normal and burst into tears with a 'wah'.

As if realizing something, the little gnome hurriedly raised his thin arms and frantically wiped the tears and snot from his face, but for some reason, even after his sleeves were wet, the surging tears showed no signs of stopping.

Forcibly suppressing the urge to cry, the little gnome raised his head. His occasional twitching appearance and the snot and tears smeared all over his face made this originally quirky little gnome somewhat comical.

The elven judges behind the long table all turned their heads away in disgust, and the human judges were no exception, the disgust in their eyes overflowing.

Aier didn't say much, but instead summoned a ball of clear water and poured it on Millhouse's face, then took out a snow-white silk handkerchief from his spatial backpack and patiently wiped the gnome's tender face.

Kael'thas Sunstrider: Doesn't that silk handkerchief look familiar?

……

“I’m… I’m… I’m sor…ry, Aier… Lord Aier… I… I let you… let you down.”

The little gnome forcibly endured, but his occasional twitching chest and trembling body rendered all his efforts futile, including not only his dream of becoming a man, but also his determination to win the competition.

“What do you think of your new spell?”

Aier asked irrelevantly, and the crowd and judges standing closer all looked at the youth in confusion.

“I… I… I…”

Millhouse covered his swollen eyes, unable to speak with sobs.

“Answer me, Millhouse.”

Aier squatted down and placed his hands on the little gnome's shoulders, his expression revealing an unprecedented seriousness.

“Sor…ry, Aier… Lord Aier, my… my spell… is… is terrible.”

“No, you're lying!”

Aier stood up and shouted loudly. The sudden change caused the little gnome to freeze in place, his chest no longer twitching, and his trembling, thin body calmed down.

“Is his spell terrible?”

The youth's forehead veins bulged, and he walked into the crowd and roared loudly.

The surrounding crowd shrank back, the youth's majestic aura preventing them from generating any desire to resist.

“I ask you, is his spell terrible?”

Aier was like a nagging peasant woman, relentlessly continuing to roar loudly.

“Aier… Salona, what are you doing again?”

Antonidas's expression was calm, but ripples arose in his heart. The elf's eccentric and unconventional behavior caused him to feel a trace of vigilance, but he was helpless.

The youth's roar continued, and the volume was constantly increasing.

Until Aier grabbed Edman's collar and lifted him up.

“I ask you, is his spell terrible?”

A cold light shone in the youth's eyes, which made the already frightened host even more terrified.

“I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die. If I don't answer, I'm really going to die.”

Edman turned to look at Antonidas, but did not receive any instructions from His Excellency the Speaker. Feeling the increasingly majestic and cold aura, the slick 'Brush' Edman finally collapsed. He shouted regardless:

“It's great! That gnome's spell is great! He has opened a new chapter in the history of magic. Let go of me, let go of me…”

A light yellow liquid dripped from Edman's crotch. Aier ignored him and threw him away.

Antonidas's face was flushed. He seemed to understand something and wanted to stop the youth's next action, but when he saw the unknown light flashing in the eyes of the crowd, he already understood that this competition was over, completely over.

“This is… Dragonslaying Technique. Aier Salona has such deep calculations, such ruthless plans. This round, I, this old man, have lost…”

No one noticed His Excellency the Speaker's ashen face, because everyone's attention was focused on the furious youth.

Aier quickened his pace and came to the edge of the crowd, looking at Olivedo in front.

Olivedo looked at the youth with reverence, his eyes slightly red, and said loudly as if with a telepathic connection:

“Millhouse's spell is the best! He deserves everyone's praise.”

The youth ignored the old gnome who was shedding tears on his clothes, but instead walked towards the crowd behind.

……

The gnome Tommy was already too excited to control himself. Millhouse Manastorm was the pride of all gnomes! Before the youth could approach, he shouted in his stuttering voice:

“Millhouse is the best!”

The youth did not stop and continued to walk into the crowd. Like a domino effect, wherever Aier went, all the crowds and adventurers shouted the sentence “Millhouse is the best”.

Without the Brotherhood's instigation, without the guidance of deliberate people, everyone roared from the bottom of their hearts.

The continuous “best” resounded throughout the platform. The human judges all lowered their heads in shame, restless, while the elves all gloated and stared at their colleagues.

The crowd actively dispersed, and the youth walked towards the little gnome in the faint light of the morning sun.

Millhouse stared unblinkingly at the youth's figure. The light on the youth made it difficult for him to open his eyes.

“See? Everyone thinks your spell is the best.”

The youth smiled brightly, and the tear stains on the little gnome's face quietly dried, leaving only the purest and happiest smile.

‘Thank you… Mentor Aier’