Chapter 213
Chapter Title: Leo's Knights
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Guided into the Jerdinger castle, Leo drew the attention of many.
“Is that Young Master Leo?”
“The one who’s Lady Reina’s son…?”
“I heard he became the student council president after Young Master Lis.”
“An unprecedented first-year student council president.”
Rumors about Leo had been running rampant within the Jerdinger family.
And amidst it all, Leo had made a sudden visit.
It was only natural that everyone in the Jerdinger household would be interested.
With all eyes on him, Leo followed Jis to his office.
Jis gestured toward the guest sofa before sitting in the seat of honor and letting out a deep sigh.
“Things have been hectic lately with everything going on. The Sword Saint's passing has had a huge impact.”
“Has there been any unusual movement from Tartaros?”
Celia asked with a tense expression, but Jis shook his head.
“There hasn’t been any significant activity on the western front yet.”
The battlegrounds with Tartaros were scattered across the continent.
Of course, the demons had a main stronghold where their forces were concentrated, but its location was unknown.
That didn't mean, however, that the forces on the front lines against Tartaros were weak by any means.
“Still, with Lis-oppa graduated, shouldn’t your workload have lessened a bit, Uncle?”
“It has. I’m glad Lis graduated when he did.”
Jis, who had been smiling playfully, turned his gaze to Leo.
“Shall we get to the main topic?”
“What did you mean by inheritance?”
Leo asked with a puzzled look, and Jis replied as if it were nothing special.
“You’re aware that the direct line of the Jerdinger family holds considerable authority within the house, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I was planning to tell you this when you visited, but in truth, you gain not only authority but also ‘rights.’”
“Rights?”
“Yes. The right to inherit a portion of the family’s assets. You can take it with you when you eventually become independent.”
The Jerdinger family had a long history as a renowned hero lineage.
As such, they had produced many heroes whose names were recorded in the Hero Record.
Not all of them remained with the main family.
Some left to establish their own branch families.
When they did, they inherited a part of the family’s wealth.
This was how the great hero families expanded their influence.
If a talented individual emerged from one of those branch families, they would once again be given a key position in the main house, receive treatment comparable to the direct line, and earn the right to inherit assets once more.
Leo nodded, understanding Jis’s explanation.
“Well, among the family assets you’ll receive, your mother's share will be included.”
“My mother’s?”
“Yes. Your sister renounced all her rights as a member of the Jerdinger family when she left. The assets that were supposed to be inherited by her will now be given to you.”
Jis said with a broad smile.
“Don't feel burdened. This is your right. I hope you'll use it as a stepping stone for your future.”
***
“You’re a proper member of the Jerdinger family now, aren't you?”
Walking down the hallway with Leo, Celia smiled brightly.
“Uncle Jis said he’d handle the complicated paperwork, so you’ll just need to review and sign everything later.”
“But what exactly are these assets? Money or land?”
“That’s right. Besides that, you could also become the owner of an heirloom-class weapon used by a past Jerdinger knight. Well, it’s destined to return to the family armory eventually, but unless something happens, it’ll be with you for life.”
Celia proudly showed him the rapier at her hip, Flame Storm.
It was originally the sword Reina had used, but Celia had come to wield it after Reina left the Jerdinger family.
“You’ll probably get to enter the family armory when Father arrives.”
“I see.”
“And you’re also given a knighthood.”
“A knighthood?”
“Yes. A company of knights that will follow you in the future.”
“Do you have one too?”
“Of course. They aren’t official knights yet, but they’re promising prospects hand-picked by the family.”
The knights who would one day follow Celia were currently training their hearts out at the Jerdinger estate.
Niel, the eldest daughter of the vassal Roda family and a third-year at Lumerne, was one of the members of the knighthood that would be assigned to Celia.
Leo nodded at Celia’s words.
“It was probably formed the moment it was decided to accept you into the family’s direct line.”
“Really?”
“You didn’t seem very interested in money, territory, or weapons, but the word ‘knighthood’ caught your attention, huh?”
“You said they’d be my people. Of course I'm interested.”
Leo shrugged.
During the Age of Disaster.
It was known that five Great Heroes brought peace back to the world.
But the subjugation party wouldn't have succeeded in defeating Erebos without the other heroes who fought alongside them.
Though only five embarked on the final expedition, countless heroes had fought against Tartaros alongside the Great Heroes before that.
Many of them had fallen on the battlefield.
‘It’s just a shame their records were never left in the Hero Record.’
Leo smiled faintly.
The recent Silatuna subjugation was no different.
‘I can't do anything alone.’
Whether they were comrades, subordinates, or disciples.
He needed people to fight with.
In that sense, Leo couldn’t help but feel a great deal of interest in the idea of his own knighthood.
In his past life, he had comrades and disciples, but never subordinates.
‘Leading people was always Lisinas’s role.’
Recalling the old days, Leo asked.
“Can I meet them now?”
Celia paused at his question, then nodded.
“Of course. They’re probably at the training grounds where the knight apprentices stay. Want to go?”
“Yeah.”
Guided by Celia, they headed to the place next to the main castle where the Jerdinger apprentice knights trained.
It was a place where boys and girls around Leo and Celia’s age were training with swords.
Many trained here to become Jerdinger knights.
Their origins were diverse.
There were those from Jerdinger branch families.
Vassal families.
Children from other families hoping to become Jerdinger knights.
And even talented children from orphanages run by the Jerdinger family.
Those who showed promise among them received the full support of the Jerdinger family.
Some apprentices even went on to become students at Lumerne.
As they entered the training grounds, a knight at the entrance spotted Celia and snapped to attention.
“Greetings, Lady Celia!”
“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s go, Leo.”
Celia smiled faintly and walked into the training grounds.
Having trained here herself since she was young, she moved with a familiar stride.
“Hah! Hah!”
“One hundred more swings!”
“Yes, sir!”
The trainees responded powerfully to the instructor’s booming voice.
Feeling the heat of the training, Leo murmured.
“Everyone’s working hard.”
“Right?”
Celia puffed out her chest with pride.
These individuals were the future of the Jerdinger family.
Although their statuses differed, they had lived and trained together since they were young, so to Celia, they were a source of pride and honor.
The two of them were watching the trainees from a short distance away when someone spoke.
“Lady Celia?”
The instructor spotted Celia, his face lighting up with pleasure.
“My lady, you’ve returned.”
“Have you been well, Instructor Jerko?”
“Lady Celia?”
“It’s Lady Celia!”
“Whoa! My lady~”
The other trainees also stopped their training, their faces bright as they called out to Celia happily.
“You lot! Who said you could stop? One hundred more swings for all of you!”
“Eek!”
The trainees let out a shriek at Instructor Jerko’s roar.
Celia chuckled at the sight.
“By the way, Lady Celia, the person next to you is…?”
“It seems the news hasn’t reached the training grounds yet. This is Leo Flove! My cousin.”
“Ah, so this is the one…”
Jerko’s eyes gleamed as he looked at Leo, then he bowed his head.
“Jerko Juner, at your service, Young Master Leo. Is Lady Reina doing well?”
“You know my mother?”
“I was a member of Lady Reina’s knighthood.”
Jerko said with a wry smile, speaking politely to Leo.
Leo smiled back at him.
“She’s so healthy it’s a problem.”
“I see.”
Jerko, smiling joyfully, then asked.
“But what brings you to the training grounds…?”
“Leo said he’s curious about his knighthood.”
Celia said with a grin, linking her arm with Leo’s.
“I understand.”
Nodding, Jerko shouted to the trainees.
“Everyone, halt!”
At his command, the trainees who had been swinging their swords stopped their movements.
“Everyone, fall in.”
The trainees lined up in perfect order with a sharp snap.
“The trainees I call will step forward.”
Jerko called out the names of five trainees.
“You five are dismissed from training for the day. You may rest.”
“Sir?”
“Young Master Leo has come to meet you.”
At Jerko’s words, a murmur spread through the entire group of trainees.
Their gazes all turned to Leo, who was standing next to Celia.
“Is that Young Master Leo?”
“Now that you mention it, he looks just like he did in the newspaper.”
“Wow, he’s handsome.”
Receiving the curious stares of all the trainees, Leo scratched his cheek.
‘You didn’t have to arrange the meeting in such a loud way.’
The knights assigned to Leo approached and stood before him.
The knighthood consisted of three boys and two girls.
“Your knighthood is also five people?”
“I have thirty.”
“Why is there such a big difference in numbers?”
Celia smiled faintly.
“I started with five, too. Same with Lis-oppa. From now on, you have to build it up yourself.”
“I see.”
An apprentice from the main house was certain to be an exceptionally talented individual.
Even if the knighthood was a right given to the direct line, the family couldn't afford to carelessly give away future high-level assets.
‘So they've given me the framework and expect me to build my own knighthood, is that it?’
Leo smirked and looked over his knights.
‘That doesn’t sound too bad.’
As Leo’s gaze fell upon them, the five tensed up and shouted.
“Young Master Leo! It’s an honor to meet you!”
“An honor to meet you!”
The girl standing on the far left, looking thoroughly disciplined, shouted, and the other four repeated her words.
Watching them, Leo asked Jerko.
“Can I take these kids with me?”
“They are Young Master Leo’s knights. You may do as you please.”
Leo nodded at Jerko’s words and said.
“Shall we have a little chat?”
At his words, the knights began to exchange furtive glances.
They kept glancing back at the trainees behind them.
‘What’s this?’
Leo wore a puzzled expression and said.
“You don’t want to?”
“N-No, sir. We will follow you.”
The girl who appeared to be the leader said hastily.
Nodding, Leo turned to Celia.
“Is there a lounge in the training grounds?”
“Of course. Follow me.”
Leo led his knights toward the lounge.
And he muttered to himself.
‘Something’s going on.’
Watching the knights follow him with a strange hesitation, Leo narrowed his eyes.