Book 1 Chapter 6

The next morning, early.

Knock-knock-

A knock came while I was reading a book in my room.

"Come in."

*Creeaak-*

Celia entered, opening the door, dressed in the modest maid uniform worn by the maids of the moderate Flovga household.

"I am Celia, who will be serving Lord Leo as a maid for a week. Please take good care of me."

Leo looked up from his book at Celia, who greeted him with dead fish eyes.

"That's quite serious."

"You must take responsibility for your words. It's one of our family mottos."

Though her eyes were like a dead fish, her posture was impeccable.

She was the picture of an ideal maid.

She had a good sense of style, so the navy blue fabric with white frills harmonized perfectly with the maid uniform, suiting her very well.

Her black hair, catching the sunlight, shimmered.

As Leo gazed at her, Celia spoke,

"I understand you admire my beauty, but if you're looking with lewd eyes, I'll knock you out."

"I apologize if I made you uncomfortable."

Leo smacked his lips.

"I had a friend who called himself an artist. He was someone who excessively praised beauty, and I seem to have been influenced by him."

'Beauty is always supreme. It is eternal. When peace comes to the world, I will spend my life spreading beauty throughout the world!'

Dweino, the great dwarf hero, now hailed as [God's Blacksmith].

He seemed much happier when creating works of art than when forging weapons.

Even while on his journey to defeat Erebus, he did not cease his artistic endeavors.

"That sounds like a good friend who truly appreciates beauty."

Born as a person of Zerdinger, one needs leadership qualities.

Charm is one of those qualities.

Leo rested his chin on his hand, watching Celia puff up with pride at the compliment.

'He was so obsessed with beauty that he was a problem, asking Lisinas and Luna to be nude models to get inspiration.'

Memories of the past naturally came to mind.

'Lisinas, Luna. Your personalities are crude, but your figures are unparalleled. So, please be nude models for art.'

Of course, Lisinas and Luna would never agree to such a request.

'Even that pervert is revered as a great hero, so what am I?'

Hahaha—With a hollow laugh, I looked out the window.

Meanwhile, Celia observed Leo intently.

She had clearly lost yesterday.

'If I hadn't been careless, I would have won… but that's a foolish thought.'

Yesterday's defeat was the result of her own foolishness.

If it became known at her family's estate that she had been a maid for a week, she would undoubtedly become a laughingstock.

'But this is something I must endure.'

To ignore it would be even greater shame.

'Besides, I'm curious.'

She wondered how he could imbue his sword with such power without using aura.

"You read books in the morning. I thought you'd be practicing swordsmanship."

Celia had intended to observe his training method.

'Could that book be a special training manual?'

"I like to spend my mornings leisurely."

Saying so, he closed the book.

Upon seeing the title of the book, Celia's expression turned puzzled.

'It's a fairy tale book about great heroes.'

Celia glanced at Leo's bookshelves.

'They are all books related to great heroes.'

Not just fairy tales.

There were also history books and research papers.

A considerable amount of material had been gathered.

"You seem very interested in great heroes? Well, they are the foundation, after all."

Celia was also very interested in great heroes.

"May I look at the bookshelves?"

"Go ahead."

Standing before the bookshelves, Celia exclaimed in admiration.

"This is amazing. Even scholars researching most great heroes wouldn't be able to compare."

Research on great heroes is still one of the most actively pursued fields.

"There are many books about Kyle."

"Reference materials."

"Indeed. Even if Kyle was not a real person, there are many opinions that his deeds are real."

"You think so too?"

"Of course."

Among the achievements of great heroes, those whose creators are unknown to later generations are all attributed to Kyle.

'Even though I disappeared from history, I haven't been completely forgotten.'

A sense of pride swelled within him.

"It must be that later charlatans tried to steal the achievements of ambiguous great heroes."

Leo's eyes twitched.

"Does that mean Kyle is a charlatan?"

"It's highly probable."

Celia shrugged her shoulders.

This was the general academic consensus.

"I see. So that's what you think."

"Then, shall we train after breakfast?"

Celia's eyes sparkled.

"If you permit me, can I train with you?"

Celia was curious about the secret of Leo's strength.

"My training will be difficult for you to keep up with."

"Hmph, I am the one who easily overcame Zerdinger's training."

Leo smiled a twisted smile at Celia's confident expression.

"Is that so?"

Later, she would think.

I should have run away then.

***

*Whoosh-!*

*Clack-!*

"Ugh?"

"Your reaction is slow."

Leo's wooden sword deflected Celia's.

Celia desperately tried to regain her balance.

But Leo's movements were faster.

*Whoosh-*

*Thwack-*

"Gak!"

"That's why you expose your back like this."

Hit on the shoulder from behind with a wooden sword, Celia rolled on the ground in pain.

After breakfast, Leo's training continued without a break.

As the pain subsided, Celia retorted indignantly,

"Lord Leo! Is this really training?"

To Celia, Leo's training method was closer to abuse than discipline.

He forced her to keep moving, squeezing out strength beyond her limits.

Naturally, he did not borrow the power of aura in the process.

She had never heard of such a training method before.

Watching Celia protest, Leo muttered,

"Kids these days are so weak."

"What did you say!"

"I told you. My training is difficult. Well, if it's too difficult, why don't you give up now?"

"Don't be ridiculous! This kind of training! I can take as much as you give!"

Her pride hurt, Celia flared up.

"Really? Then shall we start again?"

"Fine!"

'Huh? This isn't how it was supposed to go?'

Having rashly challenged and unintentionally resumed training, Celia was soon hit by the wooden sword again and rolled on the ground.

Without using aura, the difference in their abilities was immense.

'Why! Why can't I win!'

She couldn't win not only in terms of strength but also in swordsmanship.

Yesterday, today.

Her pride was being thoroughly trampled.

'Certainly, compared to 5000 years ago, aura training methods have developed tremendously.'

Leo marveled as he looked down at Celia, panting on the ground.

In the current era, techniques for handling aura have significantly advanced compared to 5000 years ago.

Thanks to this, the average skill level of knights is much higher now.

However, the standard for absolute strength has not changed much.

'Perhaps it was stronger 5000 years ago?'

In the current era, as aura training has developed, physical training has been neglected.

Aura is the power that maximizes the body's strength.

Ultimately, if the body is trained, the aura also strengthens.

'This problem arises due to the development of aura cultivation methods.'

"Still, it's amazing. I didn't expect you to keep up this much."

"Don't underestimate me."

"Then shall we end the afternoon training here? We'll do more tonight."

Celia, pushed to her limits, gritted her teeth.

'Even if I lose in strength, I will never lose in swordsmanship! I will definitely win!'

***

"Don't underestimate me, you damn white-haired brat."

After the evening training.

Celia returned to the mansion, her arms and legs trembling.

Leo had already returned to his room.

'Ugh… Is that guy a monster?'

Celia shuddered, recalling Leo, who swung his sword endlessly without tiring.

Moving like this every day, it was understandable that her body was being trained so intensely.

'Heh heh… But I didn't lose in swordsmanship during tonight's training!'

Thanks to using all her available techniques, she didn't get hopelessly crushed during the evening training.

'If I keep training like this, will I become like him?'

However, she couldn't even imagine it.

She had vomited five times today alone.

'Come to think of it, this is incredibly embarrassing!'

Celia, her face flushed red and sputtering, sighed.

'I want to wash up and go to bed quickly.'

But before that, she had to prepare Leo's sleeping arrangements.

After all, her current status was Leo's maid.

'I'll hurry and spread out the futon, then wash up and sleep.'

Arriving in front of Leo's room, Celia took a deep breath.

She calmed her trembling limbs and pretended to be composed.

It was a defiant act born from not wanting to show any weakness.

Knock-knock-

"Come in."

*Creeaak-*

"You seem more intact than I expected."

"Hmph—That much is nothing to me."

Celia put on a confident expression.

"Didn't you throw up five times?"

"I'll arrange the bedding for you."

Ignoring Leo's remark, Celia tidied up the bed.

"Then, young master. I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Wait a moment. I have a gift for you."

'A gift?'

Startled by the sudden remark, Celia approached Leo.

"Thank you for your hard work today."

Leo handed her a gift box with a smile.

'He knows I worked hard.'

Celia felt a knot in her chest loosen slightly.

'Yes, as the daughter of the head of Zerdinger, I am serving him, so he should be grateful.'

Feeling triumphant, Celia opened the box.

Inside was a simple silver bracelet in a chain style.

She felt a sense of unease from the magic emanating from the bracelet.

"It's a bracelet with weight magic. Wear it during training starting tomorrow."

Leo smiled.

*Crunch-* Celia's face hardened.

"I'm fine."

"A maid refusing something from her master would be impolite, wouldn't it?"

"Hey! You're doing this to torment me, aren't you?! You are, aren't you! If I move around like today wearing this, is that training! It's abuse!"

Finally exploding, Celia showed a strong refusal.

"How weak."

Celia's face flushed with anger.

"Who are you calling weak!"

"I wear it for training too, you know? Well, if you can't, I can't help it."

"Who said I can't! I'll wear this kind of thing as much as you want!"

Ultimately, easily provoked again, Celia declared so and ran out of Leo's room.

Then, in front of Leo's door, she held her head and cursed her own foolishness.

'How simple-minded.'

Leo chuckled.

'Who called me a charlatan?'

Leo had kept in mind Celia's words in the morning calling Kyle a charlatan.

So petty for a great hero who saved the world.

However, of course, Leo felt no shame about his own emotions.

'If it were others, they would have made me suffer an even more terrible fate!'

His friends were even more ill-tempered than he was.

'I'll make it a Bloody Week.'

Leo laughed menacingly, thinking of Celia trembling in pain for a week.

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