Jealousy-Laced Mind Games (3)
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Leticia Santander showed up at Valencia Castle under the pretext of a group project. Wallace welcomed her with open arms. Sure, she was the daughter of the rival Santander family, but he saw her as his daughter's friend. It was the first time his girl had brought a friend home. Naturally, his heart swelled with paternal pride.
He'd always thought she'd live her life alone, but here she was, bringing friends over. He'd figured his tear ducts had dried up long ago, yet Wallace's eyes welled up with joy at his daughter's growth.
"M-my daughter... our Alonne has a friend... *sniff*!"
"My lord, here's a handkerchief."
"*Snort*!"
Wallace took the handkerchief from the maid, wiped his tears, and even blew his nose. He was clearly over the moon. How had his daughter—who'd suffered from communication issues and lived as a reclusive loner—grown so much? He'd been deeply worried when she'd insisted on taking a human as her attendant, but seeing her progress with his own eyes convinced him his fears were just old-man paranoia.
"Why is Lord Valencia suddenly in tears?"
"...My dad did the same thing once."
Yushin muttered at Leticia's words. In his case, it had been when a gang of thugs trying to shake him down had shown up at his house. His dad had mistaken them for friends from school and thrown a huge celebration, thrilled that his son finally had buddies. Of course, the son watching it all had felt his heart shatter into a thousand pieces.
"You're not here to steal our money, are you?"
"Why would I? The Santander family has way more assets."
"Good point."
"You sound just like Alonne, and it's pissing me off."
Sensing the unmistakable whiff of a true chuunibyou, the red-haired high elf girl took a step back.
"Anyway, let's prep for the group project. But could you handle the presentation? If I leave it to Alonne, she'll freeze at the podium. Might end up looking like a carp gaping silently."
"I never expected her to pull off a presentation anyway."
Leticia didn't seem to hold high hopes for Alonne either. Truth be told, the group project wasn't why she'd come to Valencia Castle. She couldn't care less about academy assignments—they'd wrap up in half a day anyway. Her real purpose was something else.
"Teach me swordsmanship. I'll handle the project myself."
"You said the same last time. With the Santander family's influence, you could hire top-tier swordsmen anytime. Why beg me...?"
"The swordsmanship that beat Captain Ardena. Show it to me. I want to clash with it firsthand."
Leticia swallowed dryly as she made her plea. She yearned to see it. Human swordsmanship. The techniques of the Kingdom's Seven Swords, Valua's finest. She wanted to experience the very attacks that had felled the captain she admired. Only by facing and acknowledging them could she advance to the next level.
"I'll use a real sword, like Alonne did."
Leticia declared, unbuckling the longsword at her waist and pointing it at Yushin in challenge.
"My dream is to become like Captain Ardena someday. That's why I've honed my skills all this time."
Upholding her principles to the end as a warrior captain. Unwavering pride and nobility. Loyalty to the Elf Kingdom. A cool-headed character that tolerated no stain of shame. From the first time she'd heard tales of Ardena from her father. Even when she'd learned of the unbreakable vow to yield her purity only to the man who defeated her. Leticia had cherished her pure admiration for Ardena ever since.
"Human!"
Leticia charged with a shout. She opened with a lateral slash to pressure Yushin, then swiftly chained into the second form to seize the advantage.
Not bad, but something's missing. Talent? Potential? She's not like Alonne. Alonne was born with innate genius and prodigious gifts.
A hardworking genius. Unlike Alonne, who'd built on her natural talent through effort, Leticia had forged her strength purely through acquired diligence.
Of course, her swordsmanship was impressive. On par with the kingdom's central knight order. The forms flowed rapidly, clearly honed through hundreds, thousands of repetitions. No bone-deep effort could produce such fluid transitions and relentless offense.
"Ngh!"
Yushin's blade struck Leticia. It wasn't blindingly fast—clearly, he'd slowed it deliberately. She parried without much trouble. But even blocking it forced a grunt from her lips. It felt heavier than a boulder. Is this the weight of a sword from someone on the captain's level? Just surviving that exchange made the skill gap painfully clear.
"Haaaaah!!"
Leticia roared. She unleashed every form she knew. Pouring all her strength, weaving every technique and trick. So that even in defeat, she'd have no regrets. Her blade danced in a dazzling flurry, pressing Yushin relentlessly. She swung like a madwoman. But not a single strike landed. He blocked them all before they reached, countering effortlessly.
Unlike Alonne, she can wield a Mana Blade. Her style suits it perfectly—it's incomplete without one. Would've been a fun fight if she'd used it.
But Leticia hadn't. Just like Alonne. Stubbornness? Tenacity? She clung to it until she'd exhausted every ounce of strength and dropped her sword.
"Not bad."
"But Alonne was faster."
"She didn't last as long as you. Lacks grit overall. What should I call it... exceptional innate talent, but no endurance to back it up."
Unlike you. Yushin added silently.
"You want to be like Ardena?"
"...Yes."
"You can do it."
"But Captain Ardena was already unmatched at fifteen—five years younger than me now. That's when she made her vow of invincibility. I can't even touch her heels."
"Humans or elves, everyone peaks at their own time. Those who bloom early often fade fast. No need to rush by comparing yourself to others."
Though Ardena's wilting for... other reasons. Yushin kept that thought to himself. He didn't want Ardena popping out of nowhere like last time after he'd badmouthed her.
"Are you comforting me? Save it, you human."
"Shouldn't you be grateful to me right now?"
"A proud high elf like me? Grateful to some human? Never."
*Hmph.* Leticia turned away. She'd expected defeat in the spar, but losing still soured her mood. Her face twisted into a pout, clearly miffed at the loss.
* * *
The group project wrapped up smoothly. Alonne's 1% contribution and Leticia's 99% carried it—Santander hard carry meets Valencia freeloader. Full marks: 20/20. Fitting for a top student acing swordsmanship, athletics, and every academic subject.
"No one should copy her. Useless disciple outside of swordplay."
"Who're you talking about?"
"Only one disciple in the Liberia Elf Kingdom, last I checked."
Alonne excelled. But only in "swordsmanship." Everything else was a dumpster fire you couldn't watch with eyes open. Her grades were trashed, and chronic skipping left her attendance score on life support. If Yushin were a tutor instead of a swordmaster, he'd have bolted from such a disaster student.
"Hmph."
The golden-haired elf girl turned away. A cute, elven reaction fitting her adorable looks.
"So, how was Leticia's skill? I saw you two spar."
"Not as good as you."
"R-really? Of course! Duh! Leticia's all brains—no sword skill like mine!"
Alonne hummed triumphantly. Hearing from Yushin's mouth that she beat Leticia? Victory grin all day.
Of course, overall scores told a different story... Leticia was miles ahead toward passing graduation exams. But Yushin didn't want to spoil Alonne's humming high, so he zipped it.
"Who's worse than who?"
Leticia approached. She'd warped in via gate to Valencia Castle. But warp gates needed mutual permission. Yushin knew Wallace, head of the family, had approved her.
Enemy Santander or not, first friend his daughter brought home. Wallace had welcomed her with open arms.
"Ngh! Who opened the warp gate?!"
"Lord Valencia."
"Dad...!"
After losing to Yushin, Leticia realized she needed experience most. That's why she'd come to the Valencias—to seek his tutelage. A high elf of noble blood begging a human? Humiliating. But she'd swallow that pride for her dream.
"Don't be petty."
"Petty?!"
"That's the situation. Already settled with Yushin—no room for you to butt in. So stay quiet. I'm graciously letting you train here at Valencia Castle."
Alonne couldn't muster a retort against Leticia's smooth talk. She shot Yushin a pleading look, but he nodded—no objections. Bumping disciples from one to two? No biggie. Plus, the new one was Santander heiress—ties to his enslaved subordinates. Good networking.
"And maybe focus on your grades instead of sword practice? How are you even breathing with those scores? Not embarrassed to eat three meals a day?"
"W-what?!"
"Keep tanking internals, and no one'll hire you post-grad even if you pass exams. Academy's just the gateway to society."
"Ugh...!"
Alonne shuddered. To a former shut-in who'd skipped classes like breakfast, "society" hit like poison. Friendless high elf loner? Upper society—built on connections—was adamantium walls, forbidden zone.
"Hmph. At least I don't wanna climb by whoring out those massive tits."
"W-whore?! You said whore!"
"Cow udders like that. Everyone knows you're seducing bosses for promotions."
Alonne's sexual harassment stung Leticia with deep shame. Her face flushed crimson. Shame, embarrassment, shock. Clutching her ample chest, she glared daggers, demanding a retraction.
Before taking lessons from a human, she had to deal with this rude loner. A shut-in with communication disorders and barren social skills. Chronic skipper and class disruptor? No way she'd lose to that problem child.