Book 1 Chapter 652

The morning classes were held.

As expected at the beginning of the semester, the entire student body had a chaotic time.

After lunch, it was time for afternoon classes.

Eliza spoke to Nella.

"Nella."

"Yeah. What's up, Eliza?"

"That's unsettling, so fix it quickly."

Eliza said, pointing at Iliana.

There, Iliana was reading a book in a proper posture.

All day today, Iliana had shown the appearance of a perfect honor student.

As a student, she showed no flaws, treated those around her gently, and constantly read.

Rustle-

Even now, as she swept her hair back like Celia, gasps erupted from among the first-years gathered for combat class.

Literally, a flawless honor student.

Naturally, from the third-years' perspective, it was uncomfortable to watch.

Just then, Kal, who had been quietly observing Iliana, spoke.

"Looking at her, it seems like she's imitating Celia, Chloe, and Nella?"

"Huh?"

At his words, Chelsea tilted her head.

"Why?"

"Do I look like I know?"

"It's unsettling, so let's ask why she's acting like that."

Chelsea cheerfully got up and approached Iliana.

Nella followed behind Chelsea.

"Nella."

"Yeah. Why are you calling, Kal?"

"What are you taking that for?"

Kal pointed at the morning star held demurely in Nella's hand and asked.

"Just in case I need to use it."

Seeing Nella's wry smile, Kal nodded.

'Right, no matter how good-natured she is, a Lumern girl is a Lumern girl.'

Chelsea, Kal, and Nella took Iliana to the back of the warehouse on the training field where combat class was held.

"What's going on?"

Iliana asked with a puzzled look, and Chelsea said.

"Tell me the truth. Who are you?"

"What are you talking about, Chelsea? It's your friend Iliana."

"Then why are you acting so crazy?"

"I'm fine? Heh heh. You're saying strange things?"

Seeing Iliana stifle a laugh with her hand over her mouth, Nella let out a small groan.

"Why?"

"She's similar to me, but somehow unsettling. Did I also make people feel this way?"

Seeing Nella worry with a serious face, Kal shook his head.

"No way."

"That's right, Sister Nella. It's not Nella who's the problem. The problem is Iliana."

"Should I really hit her on the head just a little?"

Watching Nella raise the morning star and ask, Kal stroked his chin.

"Hmm. It's dangerous, but it seems like that's the only way."

"Yeah."

Nella stood in front of Iliana with a serious expression, holding the morning star.

Seeing Nella about to hit her, Iliana momentarily showed a flustered expression.

"Wait? What are you doing? Calm down, Nella."

Seeing Iliana speak in a still calm voice, Nella said seriously.

"It might hurt a little, but bear with it, Iliana. This is all for you."

"What's killing someone got to do with being for me!"

Iliana yelled.

"That's a relief. It's the usual Iliana."

"What? You weren't out of your mind, you were just pretending this whole time?"

"It wasn't a big deal."

Nella sincerely breathed a sigh of relief, and Kal and Chelsea looked as if to say, 'As expected.'

At that moment, Eliza came looking for them behind the warehouse.

"Kal, do you happen to have any restorative potions?"

"Oh! Of course, customer!"

Kal quickly ran to Eliza.

Watching Kal, Eliza, who was indifferently taking out gold coins from her pocket, spotted Iliana and said.

"You've returned to your usual Iliana Laden."

"What kind of usual image do I have that you react like that just by looking at my face?"

"Unlike before, you're making your usual silly face right now."

Eliza sneered, and Iliana got angry.

"Hey! Kal! Don't do business with her! I buy a lot from you usually!"

"Eliza is a more valuable customer than you."

"Is our friendship worth less than your sales!"

"Yes."

"Grrr!"

Iliana glared and grabbed Kal, shaking him violently.

Watching Iliana, Chelsea looked at her with a look of pity.

"Why were you even trying to act like that?"

"Pretending? Didn't you see how the first-years are so embarrassed they don't know what to do when they see me?"

Iliana assumed a proper posture and swept her hair back.

"It's all because they fell for my charm."

"Ah, I just realized why I felt uncomfortable."

Chelsea frowned.

"That habit of flipping your hair. It's exactly like Celia Zerdinger's."

"Heh. I referred to it a bit."

Seeing Iliana puffing her chest out, Eliza looked at her with pity.

"Are you saying you imitated Celia Zerdinger just to look good to first-years? Are you an idiot?"

"Hey, hey. I didn't just imitate Celia. I imitated Chloe and Nella too! And Chelsea!"

"Me?"

Chelsea looked puzzled.

"There's not a single thing similar about me."

"There is. You're a hypocrite. I studied how to hide your true nature and applied it."

"What?"

"You took a lot of inspiration from my hypocritical act."

"When did I ever act hypocritically?"

As Chelsea frowned intensely, Iliana quickly crumpled her face.

"Are you an idiot? Don't you even know if you're being hypocritical or not?"

"Ah, it's the usual Chelsea."

"Your tone is arrogant, so you must be Chelsea Lewallin," Kal and Eliza said.

Chelsea's small fists trembled for a moment.

"Big brother~ Leo oppa~ Nella unnie~ You know~"

"Hahahaha! It's exactly the same… *cough*!"

Watching Iliana imitate Chelsea's tone when she spoke to Leo, Ava, and Nella, Kal burst into laughter.

Naturally, Chelsea unhesitatingly delivered a dropkick to Kal's side and then charged at Iliana with her eyes rolling.

"Why! Why! I was imitating your usual self!"

"When did I ever act so foolishly!"

"Both of you, calm down."

Nella put down the morning star in her hand and calmed the two bickering individuals.

"Sister Nella! Iliana's appearance just now is different from mine, right?"

"Hmm…"

"That's too much!"

Chelsea pouted.

"It's just similar in feeling and tone. Of course, Chelsea has a very cute vibe."

"Right?"

"Ugh. Cute, she says."

"Just die today."

Watching Iliana, who was tackling from the side, Chelsea growled.

Eliza looked at Kal, who was holding his side and struggling to get up, with pity.

"Why are you getting hit like an idiot?"

"It's not like I want to get hit. If you felt sorry for me, why didn't you help?"

"I don't feel sorry at all. Don't you think you should handle the mess you made?"

"How cold-hearted."

Kal clicked his tongue and stood up straight.

"Anyway. So? You imitated honor students?"

"Yes. I imitated Celia because her usual behavior is that of a perfect honor student. And Chloe because she's undeniably cultured. I considered imitating Nella and Chen Sia because they're mature, but I thought if I started speaking respectfully, I'd be considered truly out of my mind. So I imitated Nella."

"You looked quite out of your mind."

Eliza sneered.

Seeing Eliza, Iliana pouted her lips.

Chelsea, who had been watching the situation with an angry expression, smiled slightly.

Seeing that devilish smile, Kal subtly widened the distance.

"Why didn't you imitate Eliza?"

"Eliza's usual behavior is nothing more than a thug, so there's no value in imitating her."

Iliana said with a heh heh! snort, and Eliza, who had narrowed her eyes, was about to rush at Iliana, but Kal calmed her down.

"So. Why exactly did you imitate the honor students?"

Chelsea asked, crossing her arms, and Iliana said.

"I was trying to become very mature."

"Do you think juniors will follow you just because you're mature? Your true nature will be revealed soon anyway."

"Whether my true nature is revealed or not, isn't it worth a try? And I wasn't doing this to show it to the juniors."

"Then?"

"I was appealing an unexpected charm. That Iliana Laden also has a mature side~ Like this. I saw it in this book."

Iliana showed the book she was reading.

When she peeled off the cover, the real content was revealed.

"Even an idiot can seduce the opposite sex? What is this book with such a stupid title?"

Chelsea looked at it with pity.

"Who are you trying to impress by reading a book like this?"

"Who else but the class president?"

"What?"

"The class president is mature, right? The book said to appeal with mature charm to a mature person of the opposite sex, so I imitated it."

"…"

Chelsea's mouth gaped open, and Nella's eyes widened.

Kal scratched his head.

Eliza smirked, her lips curling up.

"Why don't you just strip naked and try to seduce him?"

"Ah! That! This book said that's a finisher!"

"What kind of book is this!"

Chelsea tore the book to shreds using the wind.

"What are you trying to do by seducing Leo?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Nella asked with a puzzled expression, and Iliana chuckled, "Heh-".

"Become the First Lady!"

***

As a noisy commotion was heard from behind the school warehouse, Chen Sia smiled.

"It's lively again today," Chen Sia said with a smile.

At her words, Celia sighed softly.

"I hope they don't cause any trouble."

"With so many juniors, would they bring shame to our grade?"

"Hmph, those idiots would do that and more."

Duran scoffed at Chen Sia's words.

Celia nodded, as if agreeing for once.

Seeing the two who agreed for once, Chen Sia tilted her head and said.

"By the way."

"Yeah?"

"How were Senior Elena and Senior Lil?"

Celia and Duran's faces stiffened slightly.

"…They were strong."

Celia said with a frustrated expression.

"I thought we could win with our skills… we were inexperienced."

"Wouldn't the outcome be different if you fought again?"

"If you're testing us pointlessly, stop it," Duran said, frowning at Chen Sia's words.

"You know that's meaningless, right?"

The test yesterday was ultimately a mock battle.

But all those who participated yesterday, including Celia and Duran, knew this.

Even if it was a mock battle, the defeat yesterday was fatal.

Yesterday, the third-years could have clearly won against Elena and Lil.

But despite that, they lost twice.

The first loss was the result of arrogance, with Elena and Lil not taken into consideration.

The second was a defeat due to a lack of experience.

Both defeats meant that the third-years were still immature.

As Duran said, fighting again and winning is meaningless.

If it had been a real battle, there wouldn't have been a second chance for them.

'From the third year onwards, missions begin in earnest.'

While missions were practiced until the first and second years, from the third year, they would have to solve problems happening all over the world in the name of Lumern.

As hero candidates, they would be putting their lives on the line in earnest.

And they wouldn't be responsible only for their own lives.

They would be responsible for the lives of many people in front of them.

"There are no second chances in matters of life and death," Duran said. Chen Sia nodded.

"Don't forget that feeling."

"Are you giving me advice?"

"Yes. Although we are classmates, I am still older than you, Celia and Duran, aren't I?"

Chen Sia shrugged and said.

"Seeing you two looking so dejected made me feel bad."

At Chen Sia's words, Celia sighed softly.

"You've made me worry. But I have no intention of staying down. We've realized what our shortcomings are."

Celia swept her hair back.

"From now on, I intend to make up for our shortcomings."

"As expected of Celia. An impeccable honor student. In that sense, this older sister will give you another lesson."

Seeing Chen Sia patting her own head as if proud, Celia narrowed her eyes.

"Even so, please don't treat me like a child."

"What kind of lesson are you going to give?"

"What?"

At Duran's question, Chen Sia's eyes widened.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"No, I thought Duran would feel bad if you gave him advice."

"What do you take me for?"

"What else? Chen Sia also thinks you're an extremely arrogant person."

"If you're trying to pick a fight, draw your sword, Celia Zerdinger."

"That's a good idea."

"Now, now, both of you, calm down."

Even amidst the tense atmosphere between the two, Chen Sia smiled brightly.

"The lesson isn't anything special. It's to show you how the enemies we might fight from the third year onwards fight, and how you will be able to fight once you overcome your shortcomings."

"What does that mean?"

Seeing Celia with a bewildered expression, Chen Sia smiled and walked away.

Rustle- Rustle-

"What is it?"

"Young Master Leo."

Chen Sia, standing in front of Leo, said.

"Fight me."