Chapter 228
Chapter Title: Imitation
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228
It was around evening when Celia entered the Imperial Magic Archives with Leo's knights.
The people in the Imperial Magic Archives looked surprised by Celia's visit.
Celia was such a famous figure that there was no one in the empire who didn't know her.
However, the mages knew she rarely set foot in the Imperial Magic Archives, so they couldn't help but look puzzled by her appearance.
Then, their gazes fell upon the Slayer Knights accompanying Celia.
“The Jerdinger trainees?”
“Are those the trainees who got into Lumerne this year?”
“What? Is she here to show off?”
Murmurs of discontent erupted from here and there.
The Slayer Knights looked flustered by the reaction.
In the Rodren Empire, the rivalry was strong not only between the Jerdingers and the Llewellyns but also between knights and mages.
Thanks to five Jerdinger trainees becoming Lumerne freshmen this year, all the knights affiliated with the Rodren Empire were in a festive mood.
The mages, on the other hand, looked upon the knights with disdain.
“Lady Celia, is it alright for us to be here?”
Martina asked cautiously, and Celia chuckled, sweeping her hair back.
“Yes. We're just here to see Leo. No need to be intimidated. In fact, you should enjoy the attention.”
*Lady Celia is amazing.*
*Telling us to enjoy it when all these glares are so piercing.*
Just as Martina was marveling at her.
“What do you think this place is, coming here so brazenly?”
Chelsea came stomping over.
Seeing her, the Slayer Knights tensed up considerably.
*Chelsea Llewellyn!*
She was a big shot, famous even within the Jerdinger Family.
“I came to get Leo.”
“Big Brother Leo is talking with our aunt.”
Chelsea answered curtly, then glanced at the Slayer Knights.
“Are they Big Brother Leo's knights, the ones who got into Lumerne?”
“That's right.”
“Then I suppose we'll be seeing a lot of each other.”
Abad walked up from behind Chelsea.
*Abad Llewellyn, too!*
As one big shot appeared after another, the entire group of Slayer Knights couldn't help but grow rigid with tension.
These were the upperclassmen who formed the core of Lumerne's golden generation.
Just as their gazes were crossing.
“What a rare sight. The three of you in the Imperial Magic Archives together.”
At the voice from behind, everyone's gaze turned in that direction.
A girl with brilliant golden hair was walking toward them, flanked by an imperial knight and an imperial mage.
Every mage visiting the Imperial Magic Archives knelt and bowed their heads.
The Slayer Knights also knelt, showing a knight's respect.
Celia, Abad, and Chelsea didn't kneel, but they bowed their heads, showing the respect of a subject.
It was the appearance of Shasha, the next empress of Rodren.
“Welcome, Your Highness.”
Abad, who held the highest official status among them, greeted the princess on their behalf.
Celia, Abad, Chelsea, and Shasha had been close childhood friends since they were young.
They spoke casually in private but used formal language in public.
Shasha smiled as she watched Abad take her hand and kiss it.
“Abad, you are as graceful as ever.”
“You flatter me.”
“Ugh. So cheesy.”
Shasha spoke playfully, Abad replied smoothly, and Celia stuck her tongue out slightly.
Chelsea shot Celia a death glare.
They were the future powers who would one day lead the empire, but for now, they were just teenagers in their mid-teens.
As they were joking around.
“By the way, Your Highness, what brings you to the Imperial Magic Archives?”
“I came to see Leo Flove. I want to invite him to my Lumerne entrance celebration party.”
“You came all this way yourself for that? You could have just sent someone...”
“Because I'll be relying a great deal on all of you, as well as the Phoenix Summoner, Leo Flove, during my school life.”
Shasha, smiling shyly, asked.
“So, where is Leo Flove?”
“He's currently meeting with the deputy head of the main family.”
“I see. Shall we wait a moment, then?”
The arrival of the princess sent the Imperial Magic Archives into a flurry of activity.
Leo's knights were about to line up nervously beside Celia.
“You all are also entering Lumerne this year, aren't you?”
“Yes, that is correct, Your Highness.”
Martina bowed her head on behalf of the group.
Seeing Martina, Shasha smiled brightly.
“As classmates, I'll be in your care. Please, all of you must attend the party as well.”
“It would be our honor, Your Highness.”
Martina showed her respects.
As Jerdinger trainees, they had been properly taught etiquette, so her form was flawless.
Just then.
Someone who appeared to be one of Shasha's attendants approached and spoke quietly to her.
After hearing the report, Shasha's eyes widened.
“What? A spar? With the representative from Azonia?”
***
“Hmph, Black Rabbit. So you've finally decided to spar with me.”
Ar stood in the middle of a wide, open area with a smug expression.
Looking at Ar, Leo said.
“Didn't I just say? We're sparring so I can see how well you handle Ar-on's Beast Transformation ability.”
“Of course!”
Ar puffed out her chest.
“I handle it perfectly!”
“We'll see about that.”
Leo raised his wooden sword.
Seeing him, Ar lowered her stance, looking ready to pounce at any moment.
Like a cat stalking its prey, she placed both hands on the ground and raised her hips.
*Is this the first time I'm sparring with Black Rabbit like this?*
Ar's eyes sparkled.
*The skill I saw from Black Rabbit during the Azonia entrance exam was incredible.*
After that, Leo even became Lumerne's youngest student council president.
*And he was amazing during his own entrance exam, too.*
Her ears twitched and her tail swayed.
Ar's inherent battle-maniac nature as a Beastkin flared up as she bent her knees.
Watching Ar, Leo took a step.
*Step-! Whoosh-!*
That was the signal, and Ar charged.
Vanishing as if she had disappeared from her spot, Ar closed the distance to Leo with incredible speed.
The superior physical abilities unique to Beastkin combined with the power of Aura.
*Swoosh-!*
Ar swung her hand.
Leo swung his Aura-infused sword toward her fist.
*Clang-!*
A sound like clashing iron rang out.
*Screeeech-!*
Sparks flew from Ar's hand as it gripped Leo's sword.
*Shove-!*
“......!”
Ar's eyes widened as Leo pushed her back.
It wasn't that she was outmatched in Aura.
*I lost in pure physical strength.*
Ar snorted.
*Amazing!*
Due to their racial traits, humans were bound to be physically weaker than Beastkin.
But Leo had overturned that racial characteristic.
*Exciting!*
Ar's eyes gleamed.
She had been pushed back in strength, but it didn't matter.
There were plenty of students in her year at Azonia who were stronger than her.
Nevertheless, what made Ar the representative of her year at Azonia was her flexibility and speed.
*Whoosh-!*
Leaping from her spot, Ar's heel aimed for Leo's arm.
*Thwack-!*
*Stagger-!*
Leo's knees buckled as he blocked Ar's attack.
As Leo tried to counterattack, the nails on Ar's other hand glinted sharply.
*Slash-!*
Ar swiped her hand, and Leo parried the attack with his free hand.
*Twirl- Thump-!*
Escaping Leo's grasp, Ar did a somersault and landed on the ground.
“Yah!”
And she took a fighting stance.
Leo tilted his head, feeling a sting on his cheek.
Ar licked the blood from her fingertips and gave a cat-like smile.
“Hmm.”
Leo smiled.
“Impressive.”
“You're the amazing one, Black Rabbit. To be that strong without even trying.”
“The same could be said for you.”
*Fwoosh-*
A fiery Aura rose from Leo's body.
Watching him, Ar clenched her fists and trembled.
*He's getting serious. In that case, I will too...*
*Whoosh-*
A golden Aura shimmered from Ar's body.
Seeing it, Leo narrowed his eyes.
It was an all-too-familiar Aura.
His friend, who had stood at the forefront of an impossible battle.
*Ar-on's Aura.*
Accordingly, changes came over Ar's body.
Her eyes grew sharp like a cat's, and her nails became even sharper.
It was generally called Beast Transformation, but there were no major changes to her appearance.
The basic beastly traits she possessed were further enhanced, and her physical abilities rose overwhelmingly.
“Grrrrrr-!”
A cat-like growl rumbled from Ar's throat.
*Here she comes.*
The moment Leo thought that.
*Crack-!*
The ground where Ar stood caved in.
Leo's transcendent kinetic vision quickly tracked Ar's movements.
But before his body could react, Ar's kick slammed into his shoulder.
*CRASH-!*
Leo was sent flying and crashed into a wall.
This was the magical training ground attached to the Imperial Magic Archives.
It was spacious, and since it was late, no one else was using it.
*But with a noise this loud, someone might come.*
*Crumble-!*
Leo pushed himself out of the wall and quickly ducked.
*BOOM-! Crack! CRUUUUNCH-!*
Ar's fist slammed into the spot where Leo had been.
The wall cracked and then crumbled.
*She really is a monster.*
Leo clicked his tongue.
Overwhelming physical ability.
*It's definitely Ar-on's Beast Transformation ability.*
Leo watched Ar charge at him like a berserker, claws out and teeth bared, and then closed his eyes.
*Though she isn't using it properly.*
*Flicker-*
Leo's eyes opened.
Startled for a moment, Ar hastily put distance between herself and Leo.
Then, her fur bristling, she watched Leo warily.
A cold sweat broke out on Ar's brow.
*For a second, in Black Rabbit... I saw a glimpse of Lord Ar-on's shadow.*
The image of Ar-on she had seen in the World of Heroes flashed through her mind.
Ar shook her head vigorously.
*It's a mistake, just a mistake.*
She had been overwhelmed by his presence.
Thinking this, Ar unleashed an even more powerful Aura.
A golden energy tinged Ar's Aura.
*I'll settle this with the next attack!*
She was dominating the fight.
*I have to take him down before he uses magic or summoning!*
*Whoosh-!*
Ar closed the distance to Leo.
In that instant-
*Crrrack-!*
Veins bulged on Leo's hand.
*Swoosh-!*
The moment Ar was within arm's reach of Leo.
*Grab-!*
“Nyah?”
Leo's palm covered Ar's face.
*SLAM-!*
In an instant, Leo slammed Ar into the ground.
“Sorry.”
Under the moonlit night sky, Leo apologized to the dazed Ar.
“It's my first time using this ability, too. I can't control the power well.”
Having subdued Ar in a single blow, Leo stood up and looked down at his ruined right hand.
“If I use this wrong, I could destroy myself.”
His arm, unable to withstand the explosive power of the Aura, was swollen and bruised.
Ar stared blankly at the sighing Leo and called out.
“Black Rabbit.”
“What?”
“You weren't a rabbit, you were a wolf?”
What Ar saw was Leo's glowing, golden right eye.
It was reminiscent of the eye of a transformed wolf Beastkin.
And Ar thought it looked very similar to the eyes of a certain Beastkin she knew.
*Lord Ar-on.*
Looking at the dazed Ar, Leo let out a small laugh.
“A wolf? Not a chance. I'm human. I was just imitating a friend. Though I can't even hold a candle to him.”
Leo had obtained three rewards from clearing Ar-on's world.
Elsie. Ar-on's Breathing, and the Book of Agon.
The Book of Agon could be called the original text of the Aura technique that Ar-on used.
And based on this book, after long research, Leo became able to use the awakening ability he had obtained from Ar-on's world.
*Just like in my past life, I can use his power now. Even if it's only a part of it, and it ends up like this.*
Leo looked at his tattered right hand.
*Still, I can imitate him now.*
Leo's eye returned to its original color.
Then he said.
“It seems I won't be the one transferring. You should be the one to come over.”
“Huh?”
“You're being overwhelmed by the Brave Hero's Beast Transformation.”