Book 1 Chapter 1006
1006.
“Are you participating too?”
Celia looked at Avad with a bewildered expression.
At that question, a female student from the magic department, Avad's classmate, raised her thumb.
“Of course! A beauty pageant is being held, and Avad isn't participating? That's a sin, a sin!”
“Haa… It seems like the two of us are bringing shame upon the Lodren Empire.”
Celia put her hand on her forehead, as if she had a headache.
Avad chuckled at her reaction.
“If the two of us win together, couldn't we bring glory to Lodren's name?”
“You're really positive, aren't you?”
Celia glared, but soon crossed her arms.
“Alright, victory… Since I'm already participating, I should win.”
Celia, whose innate competitive spirit had been ignited, swept her hair back.
Although Nella, praised as the most beautiful woman in her year, was there, Celia had no intention of readily conceding victory.
Standards of beauty differ from person to person.
Of course, if judged purely on looks, Nella is beautiful.
However, everyone has their own taste, and the degree of attraction others feel varies greatly depending on how one adorns themselves.
‘If I put some effort into my appearance, it's not impossible.’
Celia also possessed looks that were praised by everyone as beautiful.
If it were someone with a beauty on a different level like Elena, there would be no chance, but Nella had a chance to win depending on how she adorned herself.
Avad smiled, watching Celia glow with determination.
“I'll be looking forward to it.”
“Hmph!”
Celia scoffed and returned to the women's waiting room.
At the same time, the first thing that caught her eye was a white-haired elf.
‘That elf… now that I look closely, I feel like I've seen her somewhere before?’
White hair and red eyes.
Beauty that even another woman would admire.
But even before those things, Celia was feeling an inexplicable sense of familiarity.
“Hoo hoo hoo! As expected, it's Celia.”
At that moment, Illiana approached, smiling meaningfully.
“What is?”
“You're trying to eliminate the strongest competitor, aren't you? Truly the embodiment of competitive spirit.”
“I admit she's a strong competitor, but I'm not trying to eliminate her. From the start, we should compete fairly and squarely.”
“No. You don't need to be ashamed. Even the class president taught us to use any means necessary for victory!”
At Illiana's words, Celia wore a dumbfounded expression.
Indeed, Leo was a thorough pragmatist.
‘In a life-or-death battle, the winner is justice.’
In her first year, there were times she felt a slight aversion to Leo's ideas.
But now, on the verge of her fourth year, Celia fully agreed with Leo's words.
However, she didn't apply ‘using any means necessary’ to every fight.
The same went for Leo.
‘No, if you use any means necessary in every competition, that's just a despicable villain.’
Celia, who was contemplating ‘Should I stop her?’ as she watched her friend laugh despicably, misinterpreting her cousin's words, suddenly made eye contact with Nella, who was observing the situation from afar.
Nella shook her head from side to side.
It meant it was useless to stop her.
‘Yeah, even if she *says* she'll use any means necessary… could she *really* use any means necessary?’
Although Illiana had a cunning and sly side… no, she was actually very clumsy.
Even if she had ill intentions, she wouldn't be able to carry them out properly and would clearly end up being the one suffering.
As Celia let out a small sigh, Illiana approached the white-haired elf, Leo.
“Hello!”
And she greeted her with a bright smile.
Leo, who was sitting cross-legged, glanced at Illiana.
Illiana, whose eyes met hers, mumbled inwardly.
‘Wow, she's really an elf, but she looks like a delinquent.’
If she had to pick the elf closest to a delinquent among those she knew, it would be none other than Lunia.
Although her appearance was normal, Illiana could not forget her first meeting with Lunia.
‘That scene of her grabbing the class president by the collar and shouting fiercely…’
It was nothing more or less than a textbook thug.
But even compared to such a Lunia, the elf in front of her looked several times more delinquent.
Illiana, swallowing dryly, smiled brightly.
“You're truly beautiful! Why are you participating in the beauty pageant?”
To build rapport, Illiana pulled a chair over and sat next to the elf.
‘Know your enemy and know yourself, and you will win a hundred battles! I'll find out this elf's weakness and… hmm… hmm…’
Illiana's thoughts hit a snag.
She first thought that since it was a competition, she should find out and exploit her opponent's weakness, but upon reflection, what would she do with an opponent's weakness in a beauty pageant?
‘Threaten her to give up…? No, that's too wicked.’
As Celia had expected, Illiana, who had acted first and then thought, was flustered, not knowing what to do.
Meanwhile, Leo poured the contents of a bottle next to her into a cup.
Gurgle-
“Want some?”
“Oh, thank you! I was thirsty anyway… *Pfft!* This is alcohol!”
Illiana, who had boldly gulped down the liquid Leo gave her because she was thirsty, realized it was strong alcohol and instantly spat it out.
“Ah, no, why are you drinking alcohol right before the competition?”
“Because it's too tough to live sober.”
Leo replied nonchalantly and sipped her alcohol.
Illiana's eyes widened as she watched Leo.
An elf woman exuding the aura of an adult who had experienced all the bitterness of life.
Illiana, unaware that it was Leo, unknowingly flushed red in the cheeks.
“S-so cool.”
Leo's appearance seemed like the ideal image Illiana was pursuing.
Leo paused, watching Illiana.
“Hey.”
“Yes?”
“Don't imitate this kind of thing.”
Saying that, Leo took the glass of alcohol from Illiana's hand.
It was because Illiana already had an impressionable personality, and if she were to be influenced by something strange and have a late puberty, it seemed like it would become a headache.
Thinking that, Leo sipped her alcohol.
Watching her, Illiana's eyes sparkled brightly.
‘Looks like she's already fixated.’
Illiana was someone who had been acting like a perfect honor student in front of the first-years this year.
In fact, partly thanks to Illiana's acting, controlling the first-years had been easier.
But what if she were to show a rebellious side next year and act roughly towards her juniors?
Leo, recalling Illiana's image of rebelling without reason and laughing cynically, clicked her tongue.
“Young lady.”
“Yes?”
“Everyone has their own unique charm. You know that, right?”
“Uhm… th-that's right, isn't it?”
“Yes. So if you're thinking of imitating me, stop.”
Illiana, whose true feelings were exposed, widened her eyes.
“Why? You're so cool.”
“It doesn't suit you.”
Leo smiled faintly.
“And you're very beautiful as you are.”
“Beautiful? Me?”
Illiana covered her cheeks, wearing an expression of being tempted.
***
“…Doesn't she seem like a subtly good person?”
“Indeed. I was worried she might get influenced by something strange.”
Celia and Nella, who were observing the situation from afar, admired her.
“What are those two doing right now?”
Chen Xia, with a furrowed brow, approached.
“Hmm? Illiana was trying to eliminate that elf or something, and now she's getting advice.”
“Advice?”
Chen Xia tilted her head.
And watching Illiana smile brightly after being told she was pretty by Leo, she wore a sullen expression.
Soon, Chen Xia approached the two of them.
“What are you talking about so cheerfully?”
Chen Xia sat down in the empty seat with a smile.
Illiana smiled, looking at Chen Xia.
“Xia, Xia. This unnie says I'm pretty! She says I'm super pretty.”
“Pfft!”
“What?! Why are you laughing at me?! Unnie! She's laughing at me!”
Illiana complained to Leo with a tearful expression.
“I wasn't laughing at Illiana… *Pfft*… No. *Pffthahaha!* ‘Unnie’! It suits her. It really suits her!”
Chen Xia trembled, even her shoulders shaking, trying to hold back her laughter.
Leo being naturally called ‘unnie’ by Illiana was too funny.
Leo looked at Chen Xia and said to Illiana.
“Your friend certainly has a bad personality.”
“That's right. She has a somewhat twisted side.”
Illiana also pouted her lips and agreed with Leo's words.
“I wasn't laughing at Illiana, so don't be too sulky. It's true that Illiana is pretty.”
“See? I told you so, didn't I?”
Illiana, cheered up by Chen Xia's words, beamed brightly.
“Anyway, Elf Unnie. How do I seem?”
Chen Xia smiled softly.
Chen Xia, who knew Leo's true identity, felt a bit envious of Illiana being complimented on her looks.
No, she was quite envious.
Leo smiled, looking at Chen Xia, who was openly seeking praise.
At that crooked smile, Chen Xia clicked her tongue.
‘Ah, this old man is going to respond with a twisted remark again.’
Just as Chen Xia clicked her tongue, recalling Leo's personality.
“You're pretty.”
“…!”
At Leo's sincere words, Chen Xia unknowingly wore a blank expression.
“Huh? Xia, your face is bright red. Are you sick?”
“Oh, no. This is… well… umm… Ugh!”
Chen Xia, whose ears had turned red from the unexpected words, bowed her head and covered her face.
Leo, watching her, furrowed her brow.
‘What is it?’
Leo looked down at her hand.
A strange sensation was felt.
She had told Chen Xia her honest thoughts in response to her question, which had sought a compliment on her appearance.
But if it were her usual personality, she would have given a twisted answer.
No, she had been about to give a twisted answer just moments before.
But Leo gave an honest answer as her instincts commanded.
Moreover.
At Chen Xia's question, for a moment, she felt as if unfamiliar yet familiar memories had overlapped.
‘Déjà vu?’
At the strange sense of déjà vu, Leo narrowed her eyes.
‘Extrasensory perception? No. That doesn't seem right…’
“Hmm?”
Leo, letting out a puzzled breath, stood up.
“Where are you going? The preliminaries are about to start, aren't they?”
When Chen Xia asked with a puzzled expression, Leo smiled faintly.
“Do you know where the sword is?”
“A sword, you say…? It should be in the men's waiting room, shouldn't it?”
At Chen Xia's reply, Leo nodded her head.
And she gave Chen Xia a quick glance—a signal.
Chen Xia's face became serious as her eyes met Leo's.
‘Did something happen?’