Book 1 Chapter 902
902.
‘Leo is going to the dance party with Eliza?’
Kal muttered to himself, watching Abard and Duran’s duel.
‘Am I going to die at the hands of Senior Elena?’
He recalled his past self, who had boasted loudly.
Eliza even made Kal move to stop Lil.
But Eliza becoming partners with Leo!
How could he handle Elena’s wrath?
‘……Should I run away?’
As Kal contemplated this, he glanced at Eliza, who was sitting far away with her younger sister, Perena.
Suddenly, Kal and Eliza made eye contact.
Kal, who was about to wave his hand, saw Eliza sharply turn her head and quietly lowered his hand.
‘Anyway, she’s going with Leo……?’
The fact he had tried to forget resurfaced in his mind.
‘Why?’
Since she wasn’t going with him, it was natural for her to go with someone else.
But the fact that it was Leo that made Kal flustered.
‘Does Eliza perhaps have feelings for Leo too?’
He couldn’t shake off that thought.
Indeed, Leo was a cool person even in his eyes.
It wasn't just his appearance.
As the Hero of Genesis, he was an object of admiration and a guiding light for everyone.
Since Eliza also knew Leo’s true identity, her feelings might have changed.
Once he thought that, Kal felt a tightness in his chest.
He wasn't particularly jealous of Leo or resentful of Eliza.
Because even Kal himself could accept it if it was Leo.
But even so, his heart wasn't unaffected.
‘Nah, it can’t be.’
Kal smiled awkwardly.
‘She just happened to go with him, I guess……. Yes…… happened to…….’
Kal, who was trying to comfort himself, bowed his head deeply.
“Sister, who do you think will win?”
“……”
“Sister?”
Perena, who had been watching Abard and Duran’s duel with a serious face, looked at Eliza with a puzzled expression.
Eliza, chin propped on her hand, was staring intently at Kal.
Seeing her, Perena narrowed her brows.
“Sister, did Senior Kal perhaps do something rude to you?”
“No.”
Eliza shook her head decisively, snorted, and said while tidying her nails.
“Duran will have the advantage. The duel itself isn’t fair.”
Eliza, who answered calmly, looked at Kal, who was once again bowing his head deeply, and then stood up from her seat.
“Huh? Where are you going?”
“You stay and watch. A battle between a knight and a wizard will be helpful.”
“What about you, Sister?”
“I’m not interested.”
It wasn't that she wasn't interested.
It was more accurate to say she couldn't concentrate.
‘Hmph. She must have been quite shocked. Well, she’s going to be tormented by Senior Elena.’
Eliza snorted inwardly.
It was something she had done out of annoyance at Kal, who hadn't even offered to go to the party with her and was happily flirting with other female students.
As Eliza expected, the effect was excellent.
But Kal’s shock didn’t seem to be merely for that reason.
‘Is it really that shocking that Leo Plob and I are partners?’
Eliza sighed softly.
‘Well, who told him not to even ask?’
Eliza tried hard to shake off Kal’s thoughts, but the image of Kal, looking like an abandoned puppy just moments ago, kept lingering in her mind.
Eliza, who was walking down the hallway, paused.
‘Surely he’s not thinking something ridiculous, like there’s something going on between Leo Plob and me?’
Such a misunderstanding was absolutely unacceptable.
‘Oh, I don’t know! I don’t know!’
Feeling a headache coming on, Eliza returned to the dormitory.
***
Crackkkkkle-!
Lightning aura swirled in all directions.
Abard, who had risen into the sky to avoid Duran’s lightning strike, swung his staff.
Whoooosh-!
A powerful wind swirled, deflecting Duran’s lightning strike.
Whoosh-!
Abard soared into the sky at an incredible speed.
Although not as fast as Chelsea, who had mobility quick enough to be among the top five third-years, Abard also possessed top-tier speed due to his mastery of wind magic.
His chanting speed was also very fast.
Whoosh-!
Duran broke through the strong wind and reached right in front of Abard.
Golden lightning swirled around his feet.
He had pursued Abard by performing an Aura Step.
Thwack-!
Duran’s longsword was swung, aiming for Abard.
CRAAASH-!
Duran’s sword was stopped by a shield of wind.
In that brief moment.
Abard, who had created a blade of wind at the tip of his staff, aimed at Duran as if wielding a spear.
Clean spearmanship, unlike a mage.
Duran quickly widened the distance from Abard.
“Hmm. Indeed.”
Duran’s lips curled into a smile.
His fighting style itself was different from most other mages.
“Is this why he’s called an all-rounder?”
In mock battles, Abard had a similar combat tendency to Chloe when fighting Duran.
Chloe, literally, used overwhelming magical power to fundamentally block Duran from approaching.
Conversely, Chelsea, a battle mage, closed the distance without hesitation in her mock battle against Duran.
But in both cases, their combat methods were based on magic.
However, Abard, who was fighting seriously, was different.
Abard’s 1:1 combat method somewhat resembled that of a knight.
The reason Duran felt that was simple.
‘Distance.’
Compared to Chloe, a traditional mage, Abard’s magical power was weaker.
His close-quarters combat ability was also inferior to Chelsea, a battle mage.
But, like an all-rounder, he could fight in any form.
As such, Abard could freely set his advantageous combat distance.
‘In terms of being tricky……. He’s even more so than Chloe and Chelsea.’
A strong competitive spirit blazed in Duran’s eyes.
Of course, even so, the fact that this fight was advantageous for Duran remained unchanged.
Crack- Crackle- Crackle-!
Golden aura sparks erupted from Duran’s body.
“Abard. What wrong did I do to you?”
Duran asked with genuine curiosity.
Duran also knew that his personality wasn’t good and Abard was gentle.
That’s why Duran thought he must have made some mistake with Abard.
Duran considered Abard a close friend.
Therefore, apart from the duel, if he had done something wrong, he wanted to apologize.
At Duran’s question, Abard gave a wry smile.
“You haven’t done anything wrong to me.”
“Then why are you fighting me so seriously?”
Abard, who had been silent, seeing Duran’s puzzled face, spoke.
“It’s because of Celia.”
“Celia Jerdinger?”
“Yes.”
Gooooooh-!
Magical light swirled in Abard’s eyes.
“It’s hard to see Celia with another man.”
“……”
At that, Duran showed a rare surprised expression.
“Abard. Did you have feelings for Celia Jerdinger?”
“Yes.”
“Surprising.”
Duran, impressed, lowered his sword.
“To challenge a duel for the woman you love. You’re more knightly than I thought.”
Duran grinned, then crackle- generated lightning.
“I acknowledge you as a knight, Abard Lewalyn.”
“I’m a mage.”
Abard, who burst out laughing, raised his magical power.
Duran had no intention of prolonging the fight.
If he gave him any more time, magic of immense power would be completed.
‘I’ll have to finish it before that.’
Abard also knew that Duran would make his move.
Gooooooh-! Cra-crackle-crack-!
A storm and lightning clashed in mid-air.
***
Abard opened his eyes.
Someone was peeling an apple by the hospital bed.
“Chelsea?”
“Sorry, it’s me.”
Celia’s exasperated voice was heard.
“The match……?”
“Are you an idiot? For you to beat Duran in a pure 1:1 duel is the same as beating me. Do you think you can beat me?”
Even if two people have equal skill, there is such a thing as compatibility.
A 1:1 battle is, literally, a solo stage for the knight class.
“I lost.”
“Of course.”
Abard let out a hollow laugh.
Watching Abard, Celia crunched- on the apple she had peeled.
“Duran told me to cancel our partnership.”
“……!”
“You told Duran about me, didn’t you?”
Abard gave a wry smile, seeing Celia narrow her eyes.
“Duran is tight-lipped.”
“I know.”
Celia, who gulped down the apple, clicked her tongue.
“Anyway, I wasn’t planning on going to the dance party with you.”
“I know. I just felt a base emotion.”
“A base emotion?”
“Jealousy. I couldn’t stand the thought of you entering with Duran.”
“……”
“It seems my feelings for you are deeper than I thought.”
Celia sighed, watching Abard look out the window, avoiding her gaze, then poked- the peeled apple with a fork.
“But don’t do foolish things. As I said then, I don’t dislike you either.”
“……”
Abard said nothing.
Celia looked at Abard and said.
“Let’s do this.”
“Huh?”
“If you beat me even once in a 1:1 duel.”
“If I win?”
“I’ll marry you.”
Jumped up-!
“Really?!”
“Yes.”
Celia smiled sweetly.
“Otherwise, I think you’ll cause trouble. Well, it won’t be easy at all, though.”
“It’s okay!”
Abard’s face was filled with joy.
Abard, who stood up, grabbed Celia’s wrist.
“Celia! I challenge you to a duel!”
“……”
Celia looked at Abard with an exasperated face.
“Do you really think you can beat me in a 1:1 duel right now? And……”
Celia, who pulled her wrist away, shoved the apple skewered with a fork into Abard’s mouth.
“Even if you win, what do you intend to do by marrying me now?!”
“Hmm. As the successor of Lewalyn, I must secure the next generation.”
“Our family was in an uproar not long ago because of my brother Rhys?! And the next generation? What kind of perverted thoughts are you having?!”
“These are things a successor should naturally think about.”
A statement befitting the successor of a prestigious family.
At that, Abard laughed.
“Stop that kind of laughter. Before I turn you into melted butter.”
Tsk- Celia clicked her tongue and said.
“Whatever it is, beating me in a duel might be impossible for a lifetime.”
“Making the impossible possible. That’s a wizard’s job.”
“You talk a good game.”
Celia showed an absurd expression.
“Anyway……”
Celia, arms crossed, let out a hollow laugh.
“If I have your child, it means the head of Lewalyn might use fire aura, doesn’t it? That would be truly preposterous……”
“What are you talking about? Who’s having whose child?!”
When a ghostly voice came from behind her, Celia froze- completely.
Chelsea, who had entered the infirmary unnoticed, was glaring at Celia with a terrifying expression.
“You wicked woman! What are you planning to do to my brother?!”
Leo grabbed Chelsea, who was bright red and about to lunge at Celia.
As Leo calmed the yapping Chelsea, he looked at Celia.
“Celia.”
“Why?”
“Don’t cause the same trouble as brother Rhys. The uncles might kill Abard.”
“No way! Talk sense!”
Celia shrieked.