Book 1 Chapter 1006

1006.

"Are you participating too?"

Celia looked at Abad with an incredulous expression.

In response to the question, a female student from the magic department, a classmate of Abad, gave a thumbs-up.

"Of course. If Abad doesn't participate in a beauty pageant, that's a sin!"

"Sigh… It feels like we're both going to bring shame to the Rodren Empire."

Celia touched her forehead as if she had a headache.

Abad chuckled at her reaction.

"If we both win, maybe we can bring glory to Rodren's name?"

"You're so positive?"

Celia rolled her eyes but soon crossed her arms.

"Yes, winning… Since I'm participating, I should win."

Celia, her competitive spirit ignited, swept her hair back.

Although Nella, hailed as the most beautiful in the year, was present, Celia had no intention of conceding the win.

Beauty standards vary from person to person.

Of course, purely in terms of appearance, Nella was beautiful.

However, everyone has their own tastes, and the degree of charm felt by others varies greatly depending on how one is styled.

'If I style myself, I have a chance too.'

Celia also possessed a beauty that earned her admiration from everyone.

If it were someone with otherworldly beauty like Elena, she might have no chance, but Nella had a possibility of winning depending on how she presented herself.

Abad smiled, watching Celia's competitive spirit shine.

"I'll be looking forward to it."

"Hmph!"

Celia snorted and returned to the women's waiting room.

At that moment, the first thing that caught her eye was an elf with white hair.

'That elf… come to think of it, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before?'

White hair and red eyes.

Beauty that would make even another woman gasp.

But before that, Celia felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

"Hehehe! As expected of Celia."

At that moment, Iliana approached her with a knowing smile.

"What is it?"

"You're trying to eliminate your strongest competitor, right? Truly the embodiment of competitiveness."

"I admit she's a strong competitor, but I'm not trying to eliminate her. We should compete fairly in the first place."

"No, you don't need to be shy. The class president also taught us to stop at nothing to win!"

Iliana's words left Celia dumbfounded.

Indeed, Leo was a staunch pragmatist.

'In a fight for one's life, the victor is justice.'

In her first year, Celia had some reservations about Leo's way of thinking.

But now, on the verge of her fourth year, Celia completely agreed with Leo's words.

However, she didn't apply the principle of "stopping at nothing" to all competitions.

Leo didn't either.

'No, if you don't stop at anything in every competition, that's just being a despicable villain.'

Celia, who was contemplating whether to stop her friend who was laughing wickedly, misinterpreting her cousin's words, suddenly made eye contact with Nella, who was watching the situation from afar.

Nella shook her head, no.

It meant it would be useless to stop her.

'Well, even if they say to stop at nothing, can she really stop at nothing?'

Despite having a cunning and sinister side, Iliana was surprisingly… no, extremely clumsy.

Even if she had a wicked plan, she wouldn't be able to execute it properly and would likely fall victim to it herself.

While Celia let out a small sigh, Iliana approached the white-haired elf, Leo.

"Hello!"

And greeted her with a bright smile.

Leo, who was sitting with her legs crossed, glanced at Iliana.

When their eyes met, Iliana muttered to herself.

'Wow, she's really an elf, but she looks like a delinquent.'

If Iliana had to pick the most delinquent-looking elf she knew, it would be no one other than Lunia.

Despite her innocent appearance, Iliana could never forget her first encounter with Lunia.

'The way she grabbed the class president by the collar and yelled fiercely…'

She was nothing more than a thug.

But compared to Lunia, the elf in front of her looked several times more delinquent.

Swallowing hard, Iliana smiled brightly.

"You're truly beautiful! Why are you participating in the beauty pageant?"

Iliana pulled up a chair to build rapport and sat next to the elf.

'Know your enemy and yourself, and you will win a hundred battles! I need to find out this elf's weakness… Hmm… Hmm…'

Iliana's thoughts hit a roadblock.

She thought she should find out her opponent's weakness to use it, as it was a competition, but then she realized, what would she do with an opponent's weakness in a beauty pageant?

'Threaten her to give up…? No, that's too malicious.'

As Celia had predicted, Iliana, who acted first and thought later, was flustered, not knowing what to do.

Meanwhile, Leo poured the contents of a nearby bottle into a cup.

*Glug glug*

"Want some?"

"Ah, thank you! I was actually thirsty… *Gasp!* This is alcohol!"

Iliana, who had gulped down the drink Leo offered because she was thirsty, realized it was strong alcohol and instantly spat it out.

"Ah, no, why are you drinking something like alcohol right before the competition?"

"Because living sober is too hard."

Leo replied nonchalantly and took a sip of the alcohol.

Iliana's eyes widened as she watched Leo.

An elf woman who exuded the aura of an adult who had experienced all the bitterness of life.

Unaware that this was Leo, Iliana's cheeks involuntarily flushed.

"H-handsome."

Leo's demeanor seemed like the ideal image Iliana pursued.

Leo paused, watching Iliana.

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Don't copy things like this."

Saying that, Leo took the drink from Iliana's hand.

Her personality was already prone to being easily influenced, and if she got into a rebellious phase after being influenced by something strange, it would be troublesome.

Thinking so, Leo took a sip of alcohol.

Watching him, Iliana's eyes sparkled.

'She's already fallen for it.'

Iliana had been acting like a perfect honor student in front of the first-year students this year.

In fact, Iliana's acting had made it easier to control the first-year students.

But if she were to show rebellious behavior next year and be harsh to her juniors.

Leo, picturing Iliana with a cynical smile, rebelling for no reason, clicked his tongue.

"Miss."

"Yes?"

"Everyone has their own charm, you know that?"

"Um… Y-yes?"

"Yes. So, if you're thinking of imitating me, stop."

Iliana's eyes widened, her thoughts revealed.

"Why? You're incredibly cool."

"It doesn't suit you."

Leo smiled faintly.

"And you're very beautiful right now."

"Beautiful? Me?"

Iliana cupped her cheeks, looking skeptical.

***

"…Doesn't she seem like a surprisingly good person?"

"I know. I thought she might get influenced by strange things."

Celia and Nella, who had been watching the situation from afar, were impressed.

"What are those two doing now?"

Chen Xia approached, narrowing her brow.

"Hmm? Iliana was saying she'd eliminate the elf, but now she's getting counseling."

"Counseling?"

Chen Xia tilted her head.

Then, seeing Iliana smiling broadly after being told she was beautiful by Leo, she made a sullen expression.

Finally, Chen Xia approached the two.

"What are you guys talking about so happily?"

Chen Xia sat down in an empty seat with a smile.

Iliana smiled at Chen Xia.

"Xia, Xia! This unnie said I'm pretty! Really pretty."

"Pfft!"

"What! Why are you laughing! Unnie! She's laughing at me!"

Iliana pouted and complained to Leo.

"The reason Chen Xia laughed… *Pfft*… No. *Hiccup*! She called you 'unnie'! It suits you, it suits you!"

Chen Xia's shoulders trembled as she tried to suppress her laughter.

The image of Leo being naturally called 'unnie' by Iliana was too funny.

Leo looked at Chen Xia and said to Iliana.

"Your friend has a bad personality."

"That's right. She's a bit twisted."

Iliana also pouted and agreed with Leo.

"I wasn't laughing at Iliana. Please don't be too upset. Iliana, you are indeed pretty."

"See? I knew it?"

Cheered up by Chen Xia's words, Iliana smiled broadly.

"By the way, elf unnie. What do you think of me?"

Chen Xia smiled softly.

Chen Xia, who knew Leo's true identity, was a little… no, quite envious of Iliana for receiving compliments on her appearance.

Leo smiled, seeing Chen Xia so obviously seeking praise.

At that crooked smile, Chen Xia clicked her tongue.

'Ah, this guy is going to react in a twisted way again.'

As Chen Xia clicked her tongue, recalling Leo's personality.

"Beautiful."

"……!"

At Leo's sincere words, Chen Xia stared blankly, without realizing it.

"Huh? Xia, your face is bright red. Are you sick?"

"Ah, no. This is… well… Ahhhh!"

Caught off guard by the unexpected remark, Chen Xia's ears turned red, and she lowered her head, covering her face.

Leo watched her, narrowing his eyes.

'What is this?'

Leo looked down at his hands.

He felt a strange sensation.

He had given his honest impression in response to Chen Xia's question, who was seeking compliments on her appearance.

However, with his usual personality, he would have given a twisted answer.

No, he had been about to give a twisted answer until just before.

But Leo had given an honest answer as his instincts dictated.

Moreover.

At Chen Xia's question, he felt a fleeting sense of unfamiliar yet familiar memory overlap.

'Deja vu?'

With a strange sense of déjà vu, Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Supernatural? No, I don't think so…'

"Hmm?"

Leo let out a surprised sigh and stood up.

"Where are you going? The preliminary match is about to start?"

Chen Xia asked with a puzzled look, and Leo smiled faintly.

"Do you know where the swords are?"

"Swords… They should be in the men's waiting room."

Leo nodded at Chen Xia's answer.

Then he gave Chen Xia a sidelong glance.

When Leo's eyes met hers, Chen Xia's face became serious.

'Something happened?'