Chapter 006
Chapter Title: Rivals and Preparations
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"Ugh!"
Celia let out a groan in a corner of the training grounds.
Leo, paying her no mind, wiped his sweat in the shade and rehydrated.
‘What in the world is he made of?’
Celia stared at him, looking utterly dumbfounded.
Despite moving far more intensely than she had, he was perfectly fine.
Dragging her trembling limbs, she sat down next to Leo.
She no longer had the energy to put on a brave face.
She used the break to recover as much stamina as she could.
‘Otherwise, I won’t be able to keep up.’
As hard as it was, her pride wouldn't allow her to fall behind.
‘She’s got grit.’
Exceptional talent.
And a spirit that refused to give up.
He looked forward to seeing what kind of hero she would grow into.
As the two rested, Jis entered the training grounds.
He stroked his chin as he looked at the trembling Celia.
‘This will be a good experience for Celia.’
She had never once been outmatched by someone her age.
Jis, who had watched Celia train since she was young, had been worried about that.
She wasn't conceited, but it was true that she held her head a little too high.
Pride and arrogance.
Celia had been standing on the line between them.
‘It’s not bad for her to have this kind of experience before entering Lumerne.’
Being the best in the Jerdinger family didn't guarantee she would be the best at Lumerne.
There were many other great hero families in the world besides the Jerdingers.
Just within the Rodren Empire, there was the Llewellyn family, renowned for its magic heroes.
‘You can’t always be the best.’
Before confidence turned into arrogance.
It wasn't a bad thing to hit a wall once in a while.
Leo and Celia.
If one were to evaluate them objectively, their areas of excellence were different.
‘Leo hasn’t learned an Aura technique, so he’s no match for Celia when it comes to Aura. On the other hand, Leo is far superior in physical ability.’
And what Jis considered Celia's weakness was precisely that physical ability.
Of course, this didn't mean Celia's physical capabilities were lacking.
For one who wields a sword, physical training is fundamental.
By any ordinary person's standards, Celia possessed immense strength and power.
‘But she has yet to surpass her limits. And her swordsmanship.’
Swordsmanship was also a reason she was so competitive with Leo.
She had never met anyone her age who could match her with a sword.
‘But according to my sister, Leo’s swordsmanship is superior as well.’
In Jis's eyes, Leo was the first wall Celia had ever encountered.
"Uncle, what brings you here?"
Celia asked, pushing herself up with difficulty.
"You look exhausted. Sit down and rest."
Jis said, then turned his gaze to Leo.
"Leo."
"Yes, Uncle."
"I'm thinking of speaking to the family head about letting you inherit 'Phoenix Breath'."
Celia was startled by the sudden declaration.
"Phoenix Breath?"
An Aura technique that could only be learned by blood relatives acknowledged by the family.
‘Does this mean he’s officially going to be my cousin?’
Celia looked at Leo with a complicated expression.
"I don't think the head of the Jerdinger family will grant permission that easily."
"That's why there's a condition."
"What is it?"
"You must pass this year's Lumerne entrance exam."
"Uncle, the Lumerne entrance exam is real combat. This guy hasn't even learned Aura! I-I mean, it's too dangerous an exam for Young Master Leo."
"Are you worried about me?"
When Leo asked with a smirk, Celia answered bluntly.
"Hmph. I'm just stating the facts."
Sparring and real combat are two different things.
"Besides, Young Master Leo, you don't have any real combat experience, do you?"
Most Lumerne applicants have some practical experience.
Celia herself had participated in monster subjugations and defeated monsters before.
The presence or absence of real combat experience makes a bigger difference than one might imagine.
Leo smirked at Celia's words.
He was far more accustomed to battlefields where life and death hung in the balance than to a peaceful daily life.
"Leo. What do you think?"
"Have you asked my father and mother?"
"They said they would follow your decision."
"Then I'll take the exam."
He had been planning to convince his parents to let him take the exam this year anyway.
Jis grinned as he saw Leo answer without hesitation.
"I knew it. You were planning to take the exam this year, weren't you?"
With a satisfied look, he turned and said as he left.
"I'll be looking forward to it, then."
***
Delan Royal Academy was closed until the exam.
So, Leo invested that time in training.
And Celia desperately tried to keep up with his schedule.
"Haha! See? I... I did it, didn't I? You damn white-haired brat! How about... Urp?!"
On the final day.
Celia was heading back to the mansion, using her wooden sword as a cane, her limbs trembling uncontrollably.
Nausea rose in her throat on the way back.
The girl's overexerted body was a wreck.
Celia stumbled to the front of Leo's room.
Knock, knock—
"Come in."
She threw the door open to see Leo with a basin filled with something.
"What is that?"
"A potion."
"Don't tell me you were secretly using potions after telling me I couldn't?"
If she had used recovery potions, her training wouldn't have been nearly this grueling.
But Leo hadn't used any, saying it would hinder their training.
Seeing that, Celia's stubborn pride had flared up, and she hadn't used any potions either.
"Managing your condition the day before an exam is basic, isn't it?"
Celia's body was already at its limit.
This was thanks to pushing her body to the brink for a week while carefully managing her pace so she wouldn't completely collapse.
Of course, even with pace management, she would have dropped out long ago if her will had been weaker.
Leo had initially intended to just mess with her, but he was impressed by the grit she showed in following him without giving up.
"I suppose so."
"Roll up your sleeves and pant legs and lie face down on the bed. I'll apply the potion for you."
"I have plenty of my own potions."
Celia used potions made by the finest alchemists.
"This one is probably much more effective than what your family uses."
"Hmph. I doubt that, but I'll accept it as a gesture of your sincerity, Young Master."
Celia rolled up the sleeves of her training clothes and lay down.
Her slender, pale arms and legs were revealed.
Leo soaked a cloth in the potion from the basin and placed it on Celia's arm.
A cool sensation washed over her, and the pain subsided.
Celia's eyes widened at the gentle fragrance.
"Wait! Is this, by any chance, a potion made by elves?"
"Probably."
"How did you get this?"
An Elf Potion!
It was a top-tier item, classified among the highest-grade potions.
Only the elves knew the recipe; other races couldn't even imitate it.
She never dreamed that the young master of a marquess family in a rural kingdom like this would possess one.
"I bought it at a hole-in-the-wall shop."
"A hole-in-the-wall shop? Where is that?"
"It's gone now. I bought everything they had."
"Ugh. I see... Anyway, how can you use something so precious just to recover from muscle soreness?"
"How I use it is my business."
In truth, this was a potion Leo had made himself.
The one who taught him the recipe was Luna, the [Progenitor of the Nebula].
"You're surprisingly generous, Young Master."
Though she looked like it was a waste, Celia obediently let Leo tend to her recovery.
Cloths soaked in the potion were placed on her arms and legs one by one.
She could feel the terrible muscle pain vanishing as if it were a lie.
"Young Master."
"What."
"I won't lose tomorrow."
Celia's competitive spirit flared.
After training together for a week, she had realized Leo was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
‘He might even pass the exam.’
"I won't be careless like last time."
Celia let out a small laugh.
"So don't blame me if you happen to run into me and fail."
"You're full of yourself."
Leo, who had just been placing a cloth on Celia's thigh, squeezed it hard.
Squeeze—!
"Ack! Hey! That hurts!"
"What? Hey? You're still a maid, you know? A maid should act like one."
"That's hilarious! Just you wait! I'll get my revenge tomorrow! If I see you, I'll beat you to a pulp...!"
Squeeze!
"Aack! It hurts! S-Stop it! I'll behave! I said I'll behave! Aack! Young Master!"
Celia's screams echoed through the mansion.
***
The next morning.
A large crowd had gathered in the central training ground of Delan Royal Academy.
They were spectators for the entrance exam.
Among them was the king of Delan.
Celia, who had shed her maid uniform for the first time in a week, swept her hair back.
"Hmph! Looks like those annoying Llewellyn brats aren't here yet."
"They're a hero family from the same country. That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"
"You'll understand why I say this once you meet them, Young Master."
"Is that so? By the way, you should probably fix the way you talk."
"Oops!"
Celia quickly covered her mouth.
It seemed to have become a habit over the past week.
Meanwhile, other examinees glanced at Celia from a distance.
"Is that Celia Jerdinger?"
"I heard she's one of the top candidates from the western region. She certainly seems relaxed."
"Wanna bet? Who'll take the top spot, Llewellyn or Jerdinger?"
Leo smirked at the other examinees' whispers.
"You're famous."
"Hmph, of course."
"Your tone."
"Ugh!"
‘It’s completely become a habit!’
As she was blushing and covering her mouth, someone called out.
"Miss Celia!"
The person who called her was Gulliver.
"Hmm? Leo Flove. Why are you here?"
Gulliver frowned as he approached.
"I'm here to take the Lumerne entrance exam, of course."
"What? You're taking the exam? Pwahahahaha!"
Gulliver burst out laughing.
"You've got a death wish. You, who can't even handle Aura, are taking the Lumerne entrance exam? I just hope you don't embarrass our country."
Ignoring Leo, he stood before Celia.
"Miss Celia. Let's both do our best this time."
At his words, Celia narrowed her eyes.
"Sorry, do I know you?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm not very good at remembering faces."
"W-We met a week ago at Delan Royal Academy, didn't we? I'm Gulliver Traden, the school representative."
"Ah. Right, that did happen. Sure. Let's both do our best."
"Yes? Ah... yes."
Celia flashed a polite, public-facing smile.
Gulliver got that dopey look on his face again at her smile.
Just then, a commotion arose in one corner of the training ground.
Celia glanced in that direction.
"Young Mast... No, Leo. Follow me."
"Why me?"
"Jeez! Just follow me when I tell you to."
Celia grabbed Leo's wrist and headed toward the commotion.
‘Hmph! Acting all chummy with Miss Celia!’
Sparks flew from Gulliver's eyes.
The fact that the Jerdinger family was staying with the Flove family was already a well-known story.
But the fact that Leo was Celia's cousin was a secret.
Thus, Gulliver couldn't understand the reason for their familiarity.
‘Just you wait. I'll show you my true skills in the exam!’
Meanwhile, Leo, who had followed Celia, came face to face with a young man and woman with light sky-blue hair and eyes.
"It's been a while, Celia."
"Hello, Abad Llewellyn."
Abad Llewellyn smiled smoothly.
Seeing it, Leo muttered to himself.
‘His smile is a bit greasy.’
"Celia. Did you prepare well for the exam?"
"Of course! Taking the top spot will be no problem."
"Hehe, is that so? But what to do? It seems the top spot is destined to be mine."
"Oh my? Delusions are free, I suppose. Hohoho!"
As befitting of families that had vied for the title of the empire's greatest for hundreds of years, their war of nerves was sharp.
"Let's go, Chelsea."
"Yes, brother."
Having finished their verbal sparring, Abad left with Chelsea.
Celia's eyes narrowed.
"Isn't he annoying?"
"He's a bit greasy, but I don't know about annoying."
"No, he is. Just watch. He's a real piece of work."
Celia clenched her fist tightly.
"Hahaha—I'll make you melt like butter on a hot skillet, you greasy butter-bastard."
Smiling menacingly as her fighting spirit ignited, Celia glared at Leo.
"You are absolutely forbidden from losing to them! A Jerdinger losing to a Llewellyn is unacceptable!"
"I'm not a Jerdinger yet, though."
"Prepare yourselves, Llewellyns! Leo and I will crush you to a pulp!"
Leo replied nonchalantly, but Celia wasn't listening.