Book 1 Chapter 325

325

Glory's base.

Chloe approached Leo, who was perched on the rampart.

"We gained a significant advantage in the first engagement."

Chloe, sitting beside Leo, said as she looked ahead.

"We found out that Harmony's King is Chelsea and Noble's King is Carl."

Chloe continued, playfully swinging her legs.

"On top of that, we earned a lot of points against Harmony and Noble's kids while defending the base."

Glory had clearly secured a superior position.

"If we continue to lead the competition with a defensive strategy and intervene when Harmony and Noble clash, we can maintain our advantage. Of course."

Chloe looked at Leo.

"They won't just passively accept this."

Seeing Chloe speak with a confident tone and a slight smile, Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"What do you think Harmony and Noble will do?"

"They'll probably form an alliance. Carl will likely lead that alliance."

Chloe spoke while thinking.

"Carl will probably form the best possible combination to counter you."

"The best combination to counter me."

Leo rested his chin on his hand.

"The vanguard will be Warden and Chelsea. The rear guard will be Abad. And Eliza will cover the front and rear."

"That's right."

Chloe smiled broadly.

"Celia and Duran will target me and Chen Xia, who have elemental advantages over them."

Celia, who wields fire aura, and Chloe, who wields ice magic.

In terms of elemental advantage, Celia is superior.

And water aura and lightning aura.

The elemental advantage between them also lies with Duran.

The first prerequisite for defeating Leo.

Was to absolutely prevent Chloe and Chen Xia from joining the fray.

"You need to be careful. If you get a death judgment, we lose immediately."

"You think I'll lose?"

"No, but…"

Chloe smiled, recalling her classmates.

"I don't think they'll back down that easily. They'll definitely come at us with everything they've got."

"We've clearly shown the difference in power. What would you do if you were in the same situation as them?"

"I would fight with all my might."

Chloe smiled shyly.

"There's someone who taught me never to give up at any moment."

"Oh? Who taught you that?"

Leo asked with a smile, and Chloe made a slightly pouty face.

"It was you?"

Seeing Chloe like that, Leo smiled and ruffled her hair.

"It's commendable that you haven't lost that spirit."

"Wha?!"

Chloe stammered, her face turning bright red.

***

"What are the president and Chloe talking about?"

Iliana's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"They're probably discussing strategy."

Chen Xia said with a smile, and a male student from Glory's Knight Department crossed his arms.

"Aren't you participating? You're the head of the same dormitory, aren't you?"

"It's sufficient for Lord Leo and Lady Chloe to formulate the strategy. Well, frankly, Harmony and Noble don't have many options here, so it's quite predictable."

"Is it predictable?"

Iliana tilted her head.

However, everyone except Iliana nodded.

"Indeed."

"That's the only way, isn't it?"

As conversations arose here and there, Iliana said, "What? What is it?"

"Tell me!"

"It's obvious, unless you're an idiot, isn't it?"

A student from the Magic Department teased Iliana, making her pout before she kicked him in the shin.

"Oof?"

Seeing him hopping around holding his shin, Iliana said,

"There are definitely others who can't predict this besides me! Right?"

However, no one responded to Iliana's words.

"Xia! The others are looking at me like I'm an idiot!"

Iliana, with a teary face, hugged Chen Xia.

Patting Iliana's head, Chen Xia said,

"In this situation, Harmony and Noble's only option is to form an alliance."

"Ah, I see."

Iliana nodded, then tilted her head again.

"But wouldn't an alliance be more disadvantageous? They can't fight amongst themselves."

Iliana, with her arms crossed, fell into thought.

"We've already earned a lot of points, so we'll win even if we just focus on defense. Even if the dormitory heads join forces… can they defeat the president? We also have Chen Xia and Chloe."

"Honestly, if it were me… I wouldn't dare challenge Leo."

"Right, he's too strong."

The students of Glory looked at Leo with weary expressions.

"Isn't Chloe bothered at all? She seems unfazed."

Iliana said with a look of wonder, and Chen Xia smiled.

"She must have been influenced by someone."

Just then.

"Hey everyone! An enemy has appeared in the front!"

A Glory student on watchtower urgently shouted.

In response, Chloe stood up from her seat.

"What's the scale?!"

"…It looks like they've all come attacking…"

Leo stood up from his seat at the tense voice.

Leo smirked as he looked at the dormitory heads at the forefront.

"Shall we go?"

***

Carl looked at Chelsea standing beside him and scratched his head.

"Chelsea."

"…"

"Hey, Chelsea."

"Yes?"

Startled by Carl's finger poking her cheek, Chelsea flinched and retreated, covering her face.

"Why?"

"Why are you spacing out so much?"

"…I was just thinking."

Chelsea muttered weakly.

Seeing Chelsea like that, Carl grinned.

"Heh, then I'll give you something good as a friend!"

Carl took out a small potion bottle from his pocket, handed it to Chelsea, and said in a suggestive voice.

"This is a concoction I got from Lord Dweno's alchemy book! It's a potion of courage…"

Carl glanced around.

"Lord Arion gained courage after drinking this. For just one gold coin, I'll give it to you…"

*Pong-!*

Chelsea opened the lid of the bottle containing the yellow potion, sniffed it.

Then she said,

"…It's fruit juice."

"…Ahem. Cough."

Carl coughed.

Chelsea closed the bottle and raised her hand.

"Eek?!"

Carl, who naturally expected a punch, recoiled in fear.

However, Chelsea did nothing, calmly handed the potion bottle back to Carl, and walked away.

Watching her, Carl scratched his head.

She was definitely different from usual.

"What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

"…I find myself pathetic."

Chelsea said in a subdued voice.

"Whether it's my brother… or big brother Leo, I've only been satisfied with watching. I was so proud of being a top student…"

Chelsea's shoulders drooped.

"…I was just living without any goal."

Abad, who had saved her, fell.

When Celia fell.

Chelsea ran away.

A natural choice for a King.

But no.

Even if she wasn't a King in that situation, Chelsea would have run.

Because she knew of his overwhelming power.

For the reason that she didn't want to fight Leo.

Instinctively reaching out to Abad in a moment of crisis, even though they were on different sides.

She couldn't fight Leo properly when he threatened her.

Chelsea thought she was showing such a pathetic side because she had blindly followed someone she admired.

"…My brother must be disappointed in me too. Big brother Leo, too."

Seeing the dejected Chelsea, Carl scratched his head vigorously and gestured wildly at Abad, mouthing words.

"Don't mention my brother. I'm too pathetic right now to face him."

Chelsea said without looking back, and Carl scratched his head vigorously.

"Is it bad not to have a goal?"

"What?"

"Look at me. My goal is to stay with Lumeren for as long as possible. So I'll get this title, get a job as a supporter, make a fortune, and earn a lot of money."

Carl grinned and made a coin shape with his fingers.

"Then I'll use that money to make and sell potions and live a life of leisure and comfort."

"…Pathetic."

"It's sad to say it so bluntly, but look, I have a pathetic goal like this? It's not necessarily good to have a goal. And it's not necessarily bad not to have one."

Carl chuckled.

"Leo will never be disappointed in you. In fact, he'll probably be curious about when you'll find your own goal."

Chelsea blinked.

Their social status, families, and positions within the school were all different.

However, Carl had maintained an equal relationship with Chelsea since they entered school.

Therefore, at this moment.

It resonated more deeply with Chelsea, who was dejected and lost.

"You don't need to find a goal right away. What's important now is to fight Leo."

"Aren't you scared?"

"Of course, I'm scared. I'm in charge of the combat command. If I make a mistake, how much will Eliza nag me?"

Carl shivered.

The fear Chelsea felt was different.

Chelsea's fear was the distance between her and Leo.

But for some reason, she couldn't help but laugh at Carl's frantic demeanor.

"This is something I'm only telling you, okay? Don't tell anyone else."

"What is it?"

"The hero Arion… is actually a huge coward."

*Cram-*!

"Aaargh!"

Chelsea mercilessly stomped on Carl's foot.

Carl fell to the ground and writhed.

"What kind of nonsense are you spouting?"

Chelsea scoffed, and Carl limped to his feet.

"It's true! Ask Leo!"

Carl looked aggrieved.

"Impossible."

Chelsea looked incredulous.

Seeing Chelsea like that, Carl said,

"I couldn't believe my eyes either. But in the end, he was the one who bravely stepped forward."

Carl grinned.

"He realized he was a hero after overcoming his fear."

Carl handed the potion bottle in his hand to Chelsea.

"And this is actually the fruit juice that Arion used to drink often."

Chelsea looked down at the potion bottle.

Carl gave Chelsea a thumbs-up and retreated to the rear.

Then he raised his head.

Before he knew it, the Glory rampart was visible.

Seeing the rampart, Chelsea took a deep breath.

*Slap-*!

Then she slapped her own cheek, took a deep breath, and downed the potion bottle.

"Mmm! Delicious!"

Her eyes sparkled.

She felt courage surging through her.

"Alright! Let's do our best! Go! Go! Go!"

*Whoosh-!*

The moment Chelsea regained her spirit.

A storm blew in front of Chelsea.

"Huh?"

"Looks like you've perked up."

Leo, with his sword raised, had suddenly appeared in front of Chelsea.

Chelsea hastily assumed a combat stance.

"Haaah!"

"Leo's surprise attack!"

Chaos erupted around them.

*Fwoosh-*!

As Leo swung his sword, Chelsea swung her staff.

*Clang-!*

The blades of wind crossed each other.

Leo burst into laughter.

"Not bad."

"Someone trained me well."

Chelsea said with a triumphant expression.

*Whoosh-!*

"In close combat using wind… I never lose easily!"

Chelsea infused magic into the long staff she held in her other hand.

*WHOOSH-!*

Leo, who had attacked Chelsea by surprise, was sent flying high into the air.

*Sizzle-!*

Lightning aura enveloped Leo.

*Flash! Sizzle-!*

A curtain of water instantly protected Leo.

"Chen Xia."

"Duran and I have to fight anyway, right? I'll handle him."

"Hmph."

Duran snorted.

*Rumble! Crackle-!*

Flames and ice erupted from the rampart.

The clash between Celia and Chloe served as the signal for the attack of Harmony and Noble students to begin.

*Clang-!*

Leo landed on the ground.

He looked at the four people standing before him and smiled at Carl, who was at the back.

"Carl, were you well prepared?"

"Of course!"

Carl gave a thumbs-up.

Seeing that, Leo smiled.

"Is that so? Then."

The expression disappeared from Leo's face.

"Are you ready to feel the difference?"