Book 1 Chapter 767
767.
*Crunch- crunch-*
“This weather is really something.”
Celia shook her head, looking at the softly piled snow.
Due to some unknown strange climate, Deviant was inadvertently in the dead of winter.
‘Leo seems to have some inkling of what’s going on.’
Recalling her cousin, Celia pouted her lips slightly.
Her annoying cousin didn’t seem like the type to tell her even if she asked.
Meanwhile, Celia was heading to Deang, the capital.
‘Why did you call? Garin?’
‘Celia. Do you have anything to do this afternoon?’
‘Not really?’
‘Then why don’t you come to Deang with me?’
‘Huh? Okay.’
‘R-Really? I’ll, I’ll meet you at the entrance of Deang later!’
Around lunchtime.
Celia shook her head with a chuckle, recalling Garin, who had called her out to make plans.
“Elves are so strange. They used to show no interest in human culture, but now they’re desperate to learn.”
Celia thought Garin had called her because he needed a tour guide.
It made sense, as Celia and Garin had become acquainted since the Battle of Luce.
In the early days of their second year, Seirun itself was chaotic due to the Pureblood Society, making them feel awkward, but they became quite close during the Heroes’ Festival.
A friend from another school, engaged in friendly competition.
Thus, she simply thought he had asked her to guide him around Deang.
As Celia recalled Garin, the image of another elf naturally came to mind.
It was Aris, Garin’s twin sister.
Garin specialized more in swordsmanship than magic, while Aris specialized in magic.
She wasn't weak in swordsmanship either, but she interacted more deeply with students from the magic department than with the knight students of Rumerun.
As such, for Celia, Aris was an individual with no significant connection beyond being Garin's sister.
However, lately, Aris had been strangely on Celia’s mind.
‘Does she like Abad?’
It was because she had recently noticed Aris particularly sticking close to Abad.
‘Don’t be like that, just admit it. Miss Celia. That you have feelings for Mr. Abad.’
Suddenly, Celia recalled what Chen Sia had said a few days ago and instinctively flared up.
‘Who has feelings for that butter stick, who…!’
But then she abruptly stopped walking.
‘What is my relationship with Abad in the first place?’
Childhood friends who had known each other since they were young.
The relationship between Celia and Abad could be defined as such.
They had known each other since memory existed.
It made sense; while the Jerdinger and Ruwalin families aimed to surpass each other, they fundamentally followed the Rodren Imperial Family.
As the pinnacles of knights and mages within the Empire, their relationship was one of competition for supremacy, not that of sworn enemies.
Indeed, Celia and Abad had also been in endless competition.
‘Well, to be precise, it feels like I’ve only ever competed with that little punk.’
She had never fought Abad like she had Chelsea.
The one who ignited a blazing competitive spirit was always Celia.
‘Well, Abad also tried really hard not to lose to me.’
If one only looked at it this way, they were good rivals.
Abad would one day become the head of the Ruwalin family, and she would help her older brother, Lys, strive to make the Jerdinger family even greater.
Friends who would stimulate each other in the past… and in the future.
‘It must have been like that.’
At some point, the time they spent together increased.
If one were to name those who boasted the best teamwork among the third-year students, it would be Celia and Abad.
Celia's aura of flame grew stronger and sharper when combined with Abad's wind magic.
This was the result of extensive research into each other's abilities since childhood, all in an effort to win against one another.
It was in stark contrast to Chelsea, with whom she never agreed.
Unlike Abad, she and Chelsea just didn't get along, right from their personalities.
‘Besides, I can’t even imagine Chelsea or I ever accommodating each other.’
She had known she could synchronize with Abad to this extent since the entrance exam.
It was a fact told to her by none other than Leo.
That period, when they sharply clashed while aiming for first place, became an opportunity for Celia and Abad to grow closer.
Deep in thought about her relationship with Abad, Celia headed towards Deang.
“Celia!”
“You were already here? Have you been waiting long?”
“Not at all! I just arrived. But…”
Garin observed Celia.
She wasn't in her usual school uniform.
It was the white uniform of the Jerdinger family that Celia usually wore.
Celia stood up straight, placing a hand on her chest.
“I don’t know Deang well either, but since it’s a human city, I’ll escort you well.”
“What? Oh, no. I should be escorting…”
“No. If there's anything you don't know, just ask.”
Celia smiled brightly and walked ahead.
At first glance, she looked like a guard knight.
Garin, flustered, followed behind Celia.
***
*Rustle-*
Celia and Garin walked down Deang’s main street.
In an alley visible to the two of them, Chen Sia and Chloe peeked their heads out.
“The two of them met.”
“Why is her date outfit like that?”
“She might not even think it’s a date.”
Eiran looked flustered by their conversation.
“Um… isn’t it rude to follow them secretly? And why are we watching like this?”
“It’s fun.”
“F-Fun? This is peeping.”
Eiran was at a loss for words at Lunia’s reply.
From the alley, Aris subtly poked her head out, looked at Garin’s face, and covered her mouth.
“Pfft! He looks so funny trying so hard to look cool with that stupid face! Puh-kuh-huh-huh-hup!”
Elves are inherently a beautiful race, so Garin was also a very handsome man at a glance.
But in Aris’s eyes, he was nothing but an enemy incarnate, so it was just amusing.
“Why did you come along?”
“That idiot said he was going on a date! Plus, his partner is none other than Celia Jerdinger! He’s 100% going to get rejected, do you think I’d miss out on such a great spectacle?”
Aris wore an expression of anticipation just thinking about it.
Eiran tilted her head, looking at Aris.
“How can you be so sure Garin will be 100% rejected?”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s plain to see that Abad has feelings for Celia Jerdinger, so there’s no way our idiot brother has a chance, right?”
“Abad has feelings for Celia?”
Chloe, who had been listening, widened her eyes.
“How do you know that? Did you hear it directly from Abad?”
Lunia asked with a puzzled expression, arms crossed, and Aris shrugged.
“No. You can just tell by looking, can’t you?”
“Yes. You can tell by just looking.”
Chen Sia also showed an expression of agreement.
Chloe, who was closest to Celia, was flustered.
“Why didn’t I know?”
“Hmm… Is it because Miss Chloe is a love idiot?”
At that, Chloe poked Chen Sia’s side with a disgruntled look.
“You should broaden your reading tastes a bit.”
“What should I read?”
“Something like those scandalous books Miss Eiran reads?”
Hearing that, Eiran, in turn, vigorously poked Chen Sia’s side.
Lunia, watching them, spoke.
“But Aris. Didn’t you also have feelings for Abad? You’ve been approaching him so overtly lately.”
“Huh? I don’t particularly have romantic feelings. I’m not so shameless as to make a move on someone who already has someone they’re attracted to.”
“Then why did you get close to him?”
“Well! Because he’s handsome!”
Aris stated proudly.
“He’s a handsome man you can’t see among elves! Duran of Rumerun is the same! It’s only natural to want to get close to them, isn't it?”
Watching Aris speak such purely self-interested words so confidently, Lunia covered her face.
“To think someone like this is one of Seirun’s top students.”
“I think I’m more normal than a thug like you or Eiran with her weird reading tastes, you know?”
“What? What did you just say?”
“Ughhhhh!”
“Gag gag gag!”
Lunia glowered and grabbed Aris by the collar, while Eiran, looking like she was about to cry, choked Aris from behind.
Chloe mumbled, watching the scene.
“When you watch them, the Seirun kids are really unique.”
“They’re just as strange as us, aren’t they? Anyway, we’re going to lose them at this rate. Everyone, move!”
Chen Sia, who had cut in sharply without even looking at them, said hurriedly.
Meanwhile.
Leo, who had come to Deang with Abad, sat at a cafe near the entrance, propping his chin and observing the scene.
Seeing Lunia’s group was literally a coincidence.
“Is everyone idle? Should I increase their training intensity?”
Abad, who was sitting opposite Leo and drinking coffee, burst into laughter watching Leo mutter with a serious face.
“If you increase the training intensity any more, there might really be a riot.”
A riot not by just anyone, but by the top students of Rumerun and Seirun.
It would be a strategic force capable of overthrowing a small kingdom.
“Let them try.”
Of course, their opponent was none other than Leo.
A man who would brutally suppress a riot if one were to occur.
“I’m doing it for their own good, and if they can’t understand that, they deserve to be scolded.”
“…Sometimes I wonder if you’re really my age.”
Abad shook his head, looking at Leo, who laughed as if amused.
He wasn't talking about his physical strength.
His thoughts were strangely like those of an interfering adult.
Leo chuckled at Abad’s words and asked.
“So? Why did you want to see me alone?”
At Leo’s words, Abad put down his coffee cup.
Then, he met Leo’s gaze and spoke seriously.
“Leo, in your opinion, am I a suitable man for Celia?”
“Hmm.”
Leo let out a light breath.
“Why are you asking me that?”
“Celia once said that her ideal type was you.”
“Why did she say something like that?”
-Indeed. What’s so cool about an idiot like you?
‘And you, who fell for that idiot?’
Lysinas, observing the situation in her spirit state, made a remark, and Leo retorted immediately.
“What does ‘suitable or not’ have to do with anything?”
Leo said nonchalantly.
“If you two like each other, then you date.”
“I don’t intend to meet casually. I’m thinking seriously. I hope this becomes an opportunity for Ruwalin and Jerdinger, who have competed for a long time, to further harmonize.”
As the heir of Ruwalin, Abad was considering many things.
If the two families were bound by blood, there would be more opportunities to unite their strength than now.
“The times are chaotic. As you know… if Jerdinger, who wields fire aura, and Ruwalin, who handles wind magic, combine their powers, they can gain even greater strength.”
Not all Jerdingers and Ruwalins can fuse Jerdinger’s fire and Ruwalin’s wind like Celia or Abad.
It’s difficult without regular training.
“If that happens, the Rodren Empire will become even more steadfast.”
“If that’s your goal, then just confess to Celia.”
“I will. But I need your help.”
“Why do you need my help?”
“As you know, it’s hard to even imagine a marriage between a direct descendant of Ruwalin and a direct descendant of Jerdinger.”
That was certainly true.
Perhaps not for the younger generation?
Those in key positions within the families, even if they don’t consider each other enemies, view each other as targets that must be surpassed.
Unless Rodren faces a crisis, uniting their forces is a distant prospect.
‘It was like that during the winter break, too.’
When confronting the Elder Council over inheritance issues, Reina once overturned the council with a veiled threat to marry Leo to Chelsea.
And it likely wouldn’t be different for Ruwalin.
If Abad, the heir, were to say he would marry Celia, it was obvious that things would immediately turn upside down.
“I don’t think there’s much I can do to help.”
Leo had already overturned the Jerdinger Elder Council.
But the Ruwalin side was beyond Leo’s capabilities.
“If Celia accepts me. There’s a way to soothe the family’s opposition.”
“What is it?”
Abad fell silent at Leo’s question.
Leo, looking puzzled, took a sip of coffee.
“We just need one similar incident. So, Leo. Marry Chelsea.”
“Pwah!”
At the sudden remark, Leo spat out his coffee.
***
“How ugly.”
The Third Saintess, Pury, clicked her tongue as she gazed at the city landscape.
“This city is ugly. Plegithon. I think it would be best to purify all these insignificant things.”
“Do not forget, Pury, that Nix has taken an interest in the hero candidates.”
“Are those who beg for the recognition of vulgar gods truly worthy of the goddess’s grace?”
“Remember that no one is beautiful from the beginning, and our goal this time is not to burn everything.”
Plegithon curled the corners of his lips.
“It is an auspicious day to inform humans that their master has returned… to announce the goddess’s advent.”