Book 1 Chapter 7
【7】6
“Ugh!”
Celia was letting out a groan in one part of the training ground.
Leo, unfazed by her appearance, was wiping sweat and rehydrating in the shade.
‘What kind of guy is he, really?’
Celia made a disgusted expression at the sight.
He was perfectly fine despite moving much more intensely than Celia.
She dragged her trembling limbs and sat next to Leo.
Now, she didn't even have the leisure to bluff.
During the break, she focused on recovering her strength as much as possible.
‘Otherwise, I won't be able to keep up.’
Her pride wouldn't allow her to be unable to keep up, no matter how difficult it was.
‘She's got grit.’
Outstanding talent.
And a never-give-up mindset.
He looked forward to what kind of hero she would grow into in the future.
As the two were resting, Jiss entered the training ground.
And he stroked his chin as he watched the trembling Celia.
‘This will be a good experience for Celia.’
Since birth, she had never been outdone by anyone her age.
Jiss, who had watched Celia's training since she was young, was concerned about that.
She hadn't fallen into arrogance, but it was also true that she was excessively high-nosed.
Pride and arrogance.
Celia was, in a sense, standing on that boundary.
‘It's not bad to have an experience like this before entering Lumerne.’
There is no law that states the best at Gerdinger is the best at Lumerne.
In the world, there are many renowned hero families besides Gerdinger.
Just looking at the Rodren Empire alone, there's the renowned magic hero family, Rwallyn.
‘One can't always be the best.’
Before confidence turns into arrogance.
It's not bad to face a wall at least once.
Leo and Celia.
Objectively evaluating the two, their outstanding fields were different.
‘Leo hasn't mastered Aura Heart Arts, so he's no match for Celia in aura. Conversely, Leo is far ahead in physical abilities.’
And Celia's weakness, which Jiss was thinking about, was also her physical abilities.
Of course, it's not that Celia's physical abilities are lacking.
As one who wields a sword, physical training is fundamental.
From the perspective of an ordinary person, Celia is also a possessor of immense strength and muscle power.
‘But she hasn't overcome her limits. And swordsmanship.’
Swordsmanship was also the reason Celia was burning with competitiveness towards Leo.
She had never met anyone her age with swordsmanship equal to hers.
‘But according to my sister, Leo is also ahead in swordsmanship.’
In Jiss's view, Leo was the first wall Celia had encountered.
“Uncle, what brings you here?”
Celia asked, laboriously getting up.
“You look tired, sit down and rest.”
Jiss, having said that, looked at Leo.
“Leo.”
“Yes, Uncle.”
“I'm thinking of speaking to the family head so that you can inherit ‘Phoenix Breath’.”
Celia was startled by the sudden words.
“Phoenix Breath?”
An Aura Heart Art that only blood relatives acknowledged by the family could master.
‘Does this mean he's officially becoming my cousin?’
Celia looked at Leo with a subtle gaze.
“I don't think the Gerdinger family head will easily permit it.”
“So there's a condition.”
“What is it?”
“Passing this Lumerne entrance exam.”
“Uncle. The Lumerne entrance exam is a real combat test. This guy who hasn't even mastered aura! Ah, no. It's too dangerous an exam for Young Master Leo.”
“Are you worried about me?”
When Leo asked with a smirk, Celia replied curtly.
“Hmph. I merely stated the facts.”
Sparring and real combat are different.
“Besides, Young Master Leo has no real combat experience, does he?”
Most Lumerne aspirants have real combat experience.
Celia also has experience participating in monster subjugations and defeating monsters.
The presence or absence of real combat experience creates a difference greater than one can imagine.
Leo smirked at Celia's words.
He was far more accustomed to battlefields where lives were at stake than to peaceful daily life.
“Leo. What do you think?”
“Did you ask Father and Mother?”
“They said they would follow your wishes.”
“Then I will take it.”
He was planning to persuade his parents to take the entrance exam this year anyway.
Jiss smiled broadly, watching Leo answer without hesitation.
“As expected, you were planning to take the entrance exam this year, weren't you?”
With a satisfied expression, he said as he turned to leave.
“Then I'll be looking forward to it.”
***
Until the exam, the Delan Royal Academy was closed.
So Leo invested that time in training.
Celia desperately followed that schedule.
“Haha! Look. I, I did it, didn't I? You damned white-haired bastard! How a…… Ugh?!”
On the last day.
Celia was returning to the mansion, using her wooden sword as a staff, dragging her trembling limbs.
On the way back, nausea rose.
The overworked girl's body was a rag.
Celia staggered and arrived in front of Leo's room.
Knock, knock-
“Come in.”
When she flung open the door, she saw Leo holding something in a basin.
“What's that?”
“Potion.”
“Surely you weren't secretly using potions after telling me you wouldn't use them?”
Even if she had only used recovery potions, the training wouldn't have been this arduous.
But Leo didn't use potions, citing that it hindered training.
Seeing that, Celia, whose stubbornness was triggered again, also didn't use potions.
“Conditioning the day before the exam is basic, isn't it?”
Celia's body was already at its limit.
This was thanks to overworking her body while pacing herself to avoid completely collapsing during the week.
Of course, even with pacing, if her will had been lacking, she would have collapsed long ago.
At first, he had intended to play a prank on her, but Leo found her grit commendable for not giving up and following along.
“That's true.”
“Roll up your sleeves and pants, lie face down on the bed. I'll apply the potion.”
“I have plenty of potions too.”
Celia uses potions made by the best alchemists.
“This will be much more effective than what your family uses.”
“Hmm. That can't be, but since it's Young Master's sincerity, I'll accept it.”
Celia rolled up the sleeves of her training clothes and lay down.
Her slender, white limbs were exposed.
Leo soaked a cloth in the potion from the basin and placed it on Celia's arm.
The cold sensation alleviated the pain.
Celia's eyes widened at the gentle scent.
“Wait! Is this perhaps an elf-made potion?”
“Probably.”
“How did you get this?”
Elf Potion!
It's a special product classified as top-grade among potions.
Only elves knew the recipe; other races couldn't even imitate it.
She never dreamed that the young master of a ducal family in such a rural kingdom would possess it.
“I bought it at a corner store.”
“A corner store? Where's that?”
“It's gone now. I bought it all.”
“Ugh. Well… Anyway, what are you doing using this precious item just for muscle pain recovery?”
“It's my choice how I use it.”
In fact, this was a potion Leo had made himself.
The one who taught him the recipe was Luna, [Progenitor of the Nebula].
“Young Master is surprisingly generous.”
Even with a regretful expression, Celia obediently entrusted her recovery to Leo.
One by one, cloths soaked in potion were placed on her arms and legs.
She felt the terrible muscle pain vanish as if by magic.
“Young Master.”
“What.”
“I won't lose tomorrow.”
Celia revealed her competitive spirit.
After training together for a week and observing him, she realized that Leo was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
‘He might even pass the exam.’
“I won't let my guard down like last time.”
Celia chuckled, "Hoo-"
“So, even if you fail after meeting me, don't blame me.”
“You're acting like a fool.”
Leo, who had just placed the cloth on Celia's thigh, squeezed her thigh hard.
Squeeze-!
“Ow! Hey! That hurts!”
“What? 'Hey'? You're still a maid, aren't you? If you're a maid, act like one.”
“You're joking! Just you wait! I'll repay this humiliation tomorrow! If I meet you, I'll completely crush you……!”
Squeeze!
“Aargh! It hurts! S-stop it! I won't mess around! I said I won't mess around! Aargh! Young Master!”
Celia's scream echoed through the mansion.
***
The next morning.
A large crowd was seen in the central training ground of the Delan Royal Academy.
They were people watching the entrance exam.
Among them was the King of Delrod.
Celia, having shed her maid uniform after a week, swept back her hair.
“Hmph! It seems those annoying Rwallyn brats haven't arrived yet.”
“They're renowned hero families from the same country, aren't those harsh words?”
“Young Master will know too when you meet them. Why I say such things.”
“Really? But I think you'd better fix your way of speaking.”
“Oops!”
Celia hastily covered her mouth.
It seemed to have become a habit over the week.
Meanwhile, from a distance, other examinees glanced at Celia.
“Is that girl Celia Gerdinger?”
“They say she's one of the top candidates in the western region, and indeed she's full of confidence.”
“Wanna bet? Whether the top student will come from Rwallyn. Or from Gerdinger.”
Leo smirked at the whispers of the other examinees.
“She's famous.”
“Hmph, of course.”
“So, your way of speaking.”
“Ugh?”
‘This has completely become a habit!’
It was while she was blushing and covering her mouth.
“Lady Celia!”
Someone called Celia.
“Hmm? Leo Flobe. Why are you here?”
The approaching Gulliver frowned.
“I'm here because I'm taking the Lumerne entrance exam.”
“What? You taking the entrance exam? Hahahaha!”
Gulliver burst into laughter.
“He must be crazy to want to die. You, who can't even wield aura, taking the Lumerne entrance exam? I just hope you don't disgrace the country.”
Ignoring Leo, he stood before Celia.
“Lady Celia. Let's both do our best this time.”
At his words, Celia narrowed her brows.
“Sorry, do I know you?”
“Excuse me?”
“I'm not very good at remembering faces, you see.”
“W-we met at the Delan Royal Academy a week ago, didn't we? I am Gulliver Traden, the school representative.”
“Ah. That happened. Right. Let's both do our best.”
“Excuse me? Ah… Yes.”
Celia smiled sweetly, a public smile.
Gulliver, at that smile, again made a goofy expression.
Just then, one side of the training ground grew noisy.
Celia glanced in that direction.
“Young Maste… No, Leo. Follow me.”
“Why me?”
“Oh, come on! Just follow me if I tell you to.”
Celia grabbed Leo's wrist and headed towards the commotion.
‘Hmph! Acting all familiar with Lady Celia!’
Sparks flew from Gulliver's eyes.
The Gerdinger family staying at the Flobe household was already a well-known story.
That Leo was Celia's cousin was a secret.
Therefore, Gulliver couldn't understand why.
‘Just you wait, I'll show my true skill in the exam!’
Meanwhile. Leo, who followed Celia, met two individuals with light sky-blue hair and eyes.
“Long time no see, Celia.”
“Hello. Avard Rwallyn.”
Avard Rwallyn gave a gentle smile.
Seeing that, Leo muttered inwardly.
‘He smiles a bit oily.’
“Celia. Did you prepare well for the exam?”
“Of course! Top student is no problem.”
“Hehehe, really? But what to do? It seems the top student spot will be mine.”
“Oh my? Delusion is free. Hahahaha!”
As befitting families who had vied for the title of the Empire's most renowned family for centuries, their war of nerves was sharp.
“Let's go, Chelsea.”
“Yes, brother.”
Avard, having ended the war of nerves, left with Chelsea.
Celia's eyes lifted upwards.
“Isn't he annoying?”
“He's a bit oily, but I'm not sure if he's annoying?”
“No. Just watch. He's a very ill-mannered fellow.”
Celia clenched her fist tight.
“Heheheh- I'll turn you into butter on a hot frying pan, you oily butter-brat.”
Celia, burning with fighting spirit and a chilling smile, glared intensely at Leo.
“Never lose to those guys! Because Gerdinger losing to Rwallyn is unacceptable!”
“I'm not a Gerdinger yet, though?”
“Be prepared, Rwallyn! Leo and I will crush you completely!”
Leo replied indifferently, but Celia didn't listen.
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