Book 1 Chapter 603

603.

Seeing them paired up, Leo said,

“It was decided fairly by drawing lots, so no one has any objections, right?”

“Young Master Leo! I object! To be paired with this weakling! I cannot accept this!”

“I, too, agree with this tomboy-like woman this time!”

Men and women protested as soon as they finished speaking.

Leo gave Niel and Machel a nonchalant look.

“Consider it fate.”

The drawing of lots took place three times in total.

This was because Niel and Machel, who were paired up in the first draw, protested vehemently.

They were paired up again in the subsequent draw, and inevitably became partners for the third time as well.

At this point, it was embarrassing to rearrange the teams again because of these two.

“There’s a saying, isn’t there? The first time is coincidence, the second is necessity, and the third is fate?”

“Young Lady Chelsea! Such a terrible thing to say!”

As Chelsea giggled and muttered, Machel showed a strong allergic reaction.

The same went for Niel.

“Young Master Leo! Please, change it! Or just one more time!”

Watching Machel and Niel, who were on the verge of tears and having what almost amounted to a fit, Chelsea said,

“No. I won’t change it. Go back.”

In Chelsea’s case, she was paired with Leo after three draws.

When Niel failed to get through to Leo, he looked at Celia.

Celia was looking at Abard, who was standing next to her, with displeased eyes.

Niel spoke to Celia, who was paired with Abard.

“Young Lady Celia! You also want to change partners, don’t you?”

Seeing Niel trying to drag her into it, Celia sighed softly.

“Sister Niel, we’ve already drawn three times. And I’m fine.”

Having become a second-year student, Celia had grown quite close to Abard.

They had crossed countless lines of death together and had always cooperated in the process, so a bond couldn't help but form.

Just as Niel, having failed to draw Celia in, was about to ask someone else for help somehow.

“Oh, they’re whining a lot.”

“Y-Young Master Leo?”

Niel flinched, trembling, as she looked at Leo muttering softly.

“You two.”

“Yes!”

“Yep!”

Under Leo's cold gaze, Niel and Machel unconsciously stood at attention.

Leo had treated them with respect as their senior at school, but now there was none of that.

“Are your families enemies?”

“As the Rhoda family is a vassal family of Jerdingger, of course, they are with a vassal family of Lewalin…”

“Are Jerdingger and Lewalin sworn enemies? Do they kill each other?”

“That’s… no.”

“Did the Rhoda family and the Luzia family's ancestors kill each other?”

“…No…”

“Then why are you so desperate to get at each other? What? Are you going to fight like this even in front of the demons of Tartaros? Huh? Try saying no. Go on. Are you greenhorns, who haven't even had the blood dry on your heads, growling at each other every time you meet, as if you’ve met an enemy? What? Have you really met an enemy? Huh? Have you?!”

At Leo’s extraordinary intensity, those around him subtly avoided him.

Niel and Machel hung their heads low in front of Leo, unable to utter a peep.

Although they were their juniors at school, they knew that Leo's skills had long surpassed theirs.

They also felt that he was more mature than them in every aspect, and now, even if they had ten mouths, they had nothing to say.

It was only natural to be scolded for showing such an unseemly display due to their personal feelings and causing trouble for those around them.

But Niel and Machel couldn't help but shudder at this familiar yet alien feeling.

‘W-what is this? Young Master Leo is clearly younger than us.’

‘Why does it feel like I’m being scolded by someone much, much older?’

To the two of them, who were sweating profusely and growing fearful, Leo said,

“Back in my day!”

“Brother Leo.”

Just then, Chelsea cautiously called Leo.

“I think you can stop now?”

Leo looked at Niel and Machel and smiled faintly.

“Since you’ve become partners anyway, try to get closer on this occasion.”

Watching Leo, who had returned to his original self, with the terrifying atmosphere from moments ago completely gone, Niel and Machel nodded blankly.

“You’re both adults who have gone through coming-of-age ceremonies, so no more childish antics.”

Seeing Leo’s eyes narrow for a moment, the two nodded furiously.

Leo, wearing a satisfied expression, looked at the other attendants.

“Then, everyone have a good time and I’ll see you tomorrow.”

At his words, the knights of Jerdingger and the mages of Lewalin looked at each other with complex, subtle expressions.

***

Leo and Chelsea walked through the streets.

Chelsea, who was following behind Leo, suddenly felt a difference in their stride and murmured to herself.

‘Now that I think about it, the height difference wasn’t this much when we first entered school, but now it’s quite significant.’

Chelsea had also grown quite a bit since her admission, being in her growth spurt.

But Leo had grown even taller than Chelsea, making the difference clear.

Chelsea sped up her pace to match Leo’s.

She might have felt a little resentful that Leo didn't pay attention to his stride, but Chelsea didn't mind such things.

Now she knew.

‘Over the past two years, while attending Lumen together, Brother Leo has always looked out for me.’

So that Chelsea wouldn’t give up on moving forward.

‘Like someone teaching you how to run.’

She couldn’t be taken care of like that forever.

‘I don’t want to hold Brother Leo back.’

What Chelsea wanted now was not to look at the back of the person she admired.

But to stand together and see the same scenery that the person she admired was looking at.

Leo, who had been walking through the crowd, stopped.

Chelsea, standing slightly behind Leo, stared up at his back.

‘What kind of scenery would Brother Leo be looking at?’

Thinking this to herself, Chelsea stood on her tiptoes, trying to raise her height as much as possible to Leo’s line of sight.

After struggling for a moment, Chelsea involuntarily let out a wry laugh.

‘I’m such an idiot. It’s not like I can understand what Brother Leo sees just by being the same height like this.’

It was an unconscious action, driven by the desire to get a little closer to the person she admired.

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

Chelsea, shaking her head at Leo’s questioning look, lowered her tiptoes.

“By the way, where should we decide to stay?”

“Well, first of all, since we’re penniless, shouldn’t we get some money?”

“I have a question. Why did you specifically pair up people from Jerdingger and Lewalin and suggest a penniless tour?”

What Leo proposed wasn't a simple tour.

He randomly paired up people from rival families by drawing lots and told them to spend a day without money.

“I know Brother Leo wants to create an opportunity for Jerdingger and Lewalin to become closer, but was it necessary to go this far?”

“To get people who don't get along to become friends, they have to go through hardships.”

“Is that a penniless trip?”

“It’s not just penniless, is it?”

Leo chuckled.

Before they scattered,

Leo set the rules for this day.

First. Start the tour without a single penny.

Second. The use of aura and magic is forbidden.

Third. Never sleep rough.

Fourth. Do not fight.

At Leo's words that if they broke even one of these instructions, they would have an interesting experience, the attendants of both families couldn't help but shudder.

Chelsea was a little doubtful whether such an event could create an opportunity for them to become closer.

“Surprisingly, it works well. It’s also a method Lysinas used.”

“Lord Lysinas?”

Chelsea’s eyes widened at Leo’s words.

“Wait, does that mean even the Great Heroes didn't get along at first? How bad were things that such drastic measures were taken?”

Leo chuckled, seeing Chelsea’s eyes sparkle with apparent interest.

“Me and Luna.”

“Huh? Brother Leo and Lady Luna?”

Chelsea looked flustered.

Last time Luna was in Lumen.

Leo and Luna were in perfect sync.

It was as if they knew what each other wanted just by looking at their eyes.

For Chelsea, it was baffling to hear that the two, who had shown such perfect chemistry, had been on bad terms.

“Luna and I had extremely divergent personalities from the first time we met.”

The relationship between Luna, who was full of confidence and boasted that she could do anything in those days, and Kyle, who looked at everything with a crooked eye, was bound to be strained from the beginning.

Moreover, Kyle at that time had a very cynical side.

That’s why he didn’t hesitate to say harsh things to Luna.

‘Lysinas was the type to hold things in and then explode, but Luna would immediately snap back.’

If Kyle’s personality was twisted, Luna’s was eccentric.

Seeing the two clash almost daily, Lysinas, who couldn't stand it any longer, eventually took drastic measures.

“So that’s what happened. I mean. If that story had come from Brother Leo’s mouth, I would never have believed it.”

Chelsea giggled.

“Brother Leo and Lady Luna, like me and Celia. I can’t imagine it.”

‘You and Celia were incomparable.’

Leo chuckled inwardly and muttered.

However, for the sake of his and Luna’s honor, he didn't bother telling that story.

“So, did you and Lady Luna wander the city penniless, just like us now?”

“No, not at all.”

“Huh?”

“Lysinas sealed my and Luna’s mana and threw us into the middle of a forest teeming with monsters.”

Chelsea looked surprised at Leo’s words.

“Even Lord Lysinas, is that possible?”

To seal the strongest mage in history and someone with comparable power at the same time.

“Lysinas was skilled at summoning, so he was also good at writing fraudulent contracts.”

“F-fraudulent contract?”

Leo said nonchalantly, seeing Chelsea’s shocked expression.

“Yes. That lizard’s specialty is scamming. You saw him scam me into marriage, didn’t you?”

“……”

At Leo’s words, Chelsea found it difficult to know how to react.

“Anyway. If they suffer a bit, they’ll develop teamwork, I guess.”

“Will they suffer?”

Chelsea still felt doubtful.

The attendants for this trip were all young people with little worldly experience.

However, even if they couldn't use aura and magic, they were attendants serving Jerdingger and Lewalin.

They were all individuals who had been praised as excellent talents since childhood.

Chelsea didn't think such people would suffer.

“Surprisingly, they’ll suffer a lot.”

“Huh? Why?”

“They are people who have walked the elite path from noble families. Using aura and magic is as natural as breathing for them. In such a situation, their status, wealth, and abilities are all restricted. They’ll have a terrible time, won’t they?”

Although they were vassals, they all came from noble families.

When they actually try to do something, they will inevitably be flustered.

“Really?”

Even at Leo’s words, Chelsea kept tilting her head, as if she didn't understand.

Leo chuckled, looking at Chelsea.

“You’ll find out if you try now.”

“Huh?”

“First, how about trying to find a place to stay for today?”

“Me alone?”

Chelsea, pointing to herself with a hand, widened her eyes.

“If I step in, it will be resolved simply. Then it won’t be suffering, will it?”

“That’s true.”

“So, work hard by yourself.”

“Somehow, it feels like I’m supporting Brother Leo.”

“Don’t you like it?”

“No, I think it’ll be fun.”

Chelsea said confidently.

“Anyway, these are things that Kyle always easily handled, aren't they?”

Ahem! Chelsea puffed out her chest and said triumphantly.

“Just you wait, today I’ll give Brother Leo a luxurious tour!”