Chapter 443

443.

“It seems like they’ve figured out Lady Aron’s identity.”

Melina said this with a slightly troubled expression on her face.

“That brat must have anticipated something to that extent.”

“What should we do?”

“I don’t think these three will tell anyone else about the fact.”

All three of them were former Student Council Presidents. They wouldn’t be unaware of the repercussions if Aron’s reappearance in this era were to become public knowledge.

“Even so, I’ll still have a word with them separately.”

“Hmm.”

At Melina’s words, Leo nodded slightly.

Leo stared at Aron, who was instructing the graduates, lost in thought.

‘You certainly have been preparing in your own way, haven’t you?’

“And, Lord Leo.”

“What is it?”

“I wanted to bring up the matter you mentioned earlier.”

“Hmm?”

“I’ve come to think that next week might be fine.”

Upon hearing that, Leo nodded.

“Alright.”

The next morning.

At the morning roll call, Melina appeared.

“I commend all of you for training diligently for the past three weeks. You’ve endured a harsh schedule well. As such, for the next two days, you’ll be allowed to go out…”

“Wowwww! Freedom!”

“You loud ones, step out immediately!”

Upon hearing Rienia’s cold voice, the faces of those who had cheered went pale.

While some students were being disciplined, Melina concluded with a bright smile.

“I hope you all have a wonderful time out.”

*

Aron’s eyes widened as she gazed at the vast scene before her.

The place where Aron now stood was none other than the streets of Delan.

“So, this is the city of this era, huh?”

Aron was impressed.

Even though Delrad was a minor country on the frontier, as the capital, its streets were alive with vibrant energy.

As she looked on at the carriages and people passing by, Aron kept turning her head left and right.

Watching this, Chelsea muttered:

“Looking at Lady Aron like this, don’t you feel a little uneasy?”

“What do you mean?”

“I feel like we need to take good care of her. Somehow, it feels like watching a child let loose near the river.”

“Isn’t it funny that the one who sounds most like a child is saying this?”

Kal chuckled, to which Chelsea delivered a fierce dropkick to his side without hesitation.

Kal collapsed and groaned in pain for a while, clutching his side, before finally managing to stand up.

“Anyway, Leo and Chelsea, didn’t Lord appoint you to take care of Lady Aron?”

“Yeah!”

Chelsea puffed out her chest proudly.

For someone training to be a hero, personally guiding someone like Aron, whom they had only read about in fairytales as a child, was an almost limitless honor.

“That Ar fellow was sobbing as he got dragged away by Lunia.”

Ar had originally volunteered to be the guide for Aron but was denied.

This was due to Melina’s concern that Aron, who already seemed to be wary of Ar in subtle ways, might not be able to fully enjoy the present if put in his care.

“Still, we’ve arranged to all stay at the same inn tonight.”

Both Chelsea and Kal shook their heads as they thought of Ar.

“So, what are you planning to do, Kal?”

“Heh. I’m going to gather some items to sneak inside later. They’ll definitely fetch a high price!”

“You’ll be in terrible trouble if you get caught.”

“Nothing will happen if I don’t get caught. Right?”

Kal chuckled wickedly.

Watching this, Chelsea shook her head.

“You sure talk big in front of Leo.”

The Student Council President, Leo, had reported Kal multiple times for cleverly breaking the rules.

“Didn’t he say light restrictions would be overlooked if not too serious? Muhahaha!”

Kal grinned confidently.

“Just try your best.”

“Alright, then have fun! Lady Aron, I’ll see you tonight!”

Kal bowed slightly and left.

Waving to Kal, Aron approached Chelsea and said,

“Chelsea, let me buy you this. We’ll eat together.”

Aron pointed to the ice cream at a food stand.

“Yes! Lady Aron!”

At lunchtime,

Following Leo’s recommendation, the trio arrived at a hidden gem restaurant in Delan.

It wasn’t a high-end restaurant, but it was very satisfying, recommended by Leo who had lived in Delan.

“Phew.”

Sitting on the bench near the restaurant, Chelsea basked in the bright summer sun and muttered:

“I’m so happy. This is what living is.”

After being confined in the mountains for three weeks, Chelsea found the current situation incredibly enjoyable.

Just as Chelsea was grinning broadly, Aron approached her.

“Chelsea, the sun is too strong. You might get sunburnt. I’ve bought you a hat.”

“Thank you so much!”

“I also bought some drinks. We can have them as dessert.”

“Yes!”

While wearing the wide-brimmed hat handed by Aron and sipping on an iced beverage she received, Chelsea suddenly gasped, wide-eyed, and stood up quickly.

“Excuse me! Something feels… off!”

At Chelsea’s urgent cry, Aron, who was about to take a sip through the straw, looked at her with wide eyes.

Leo asked with a curious expression,

“What’s wrong?”

“Leo, you’re helping Lady Aron sightsee! But what about me? All I’m doing is letting Lady Aron take care of me! I should be the one guiding her!”

Ever since arriving in the city, Leo had taken charge of guiding Aron.

The entire purpose of creating this free day was to allow Aron to enjoy the present era.

Despite Aron’s initial refusal, saying that it would help the younger generation grow, Leo had insistently created this day especially for her.

In such a situation, Aron had been taking care of Chelsea like a younger sibling.

Chelsea, who had been brimming with enthusiasm at the thought of being the guide for the hero who had saved the world, was now feeling somewhat puzzled by the current dynamic.

“I like this arrangement.”

“Huh?”

“Ar, Lunia, Eiran, Driana, and Kal remind me of Berkiya.”

To Aron, Berkiya was not only like a younger sibling but also a disciple.

A disciple who had stood beside her in battle.

A precious younger sibling with whom she had exchanged help countless times.

“But Chelsea, you remind me of my childhood siblings.”

“My childhood siblings?”

“Yes.”

Aron gave a melancholy smile.

“My siblings whom I failed to protect due to my own incompetence.”

Had she not been so foolish back then… perhaps they all would have grown up and been able to gaze at this blue sky.

Aron stared up at the blue sky.

“So, I want to take care of you. Does it bother you?”

“No. I’m just… not sure how to react to all this care. Neither my elder brother nor Leo have ever been so meticulous with me. It’s unfamiliar… but also kind of nice…”

Watching Chelsea’s eyes dart around in confusion, Aron smiled.

“Then spend time with me.”

“Yes! But if you only take care of me, Leo might feel a little… jealous, right?”

Looking at Leo, Chelsea spoke, prompting Aron to chuckle softly.

“Leo will be fine. Right?”

“I don’t care.”

“See?”

At Leo’s response, Chelsea nodded.

“Shall we move on, then?”

“Next, I’d like to visit the library.”

At Aron’s suggestion, Leo nodded.

‘Leo is amazing.’

Watching this, Chelsea couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

At first, Chelsea had been surprised to see how effortlessly Leo talked with Aron.

‘Kal and the others are similar too. They really treat these Great Heroes from the Hero’s Realm as equals, huh?’

Whenever she thought about it, the always confident Leo somehow seemed even more admirable.

‘Aron also seems to be more relaxed with Leo. Is this Leo’s charm?’

As Chelsea watched the two figures walking ahead, a smile appeared on her face.

Then suddenly, she paused when she saw the way Leo and Aron were conversing easily.

Leo and Aron resembled friends.

But at the same time, their connection seemed oddly familiar to Chelsea in some way.

‘Where have I seen this before?’

As she tilted her head in thought, it came to her.

Aron’s manner was similar to how Chelsea herself leaned on Leo as a younger sibling.

‘Huh?’

Chelsea wore a bewildered expression.

A confusing question arose, filled with bewilderment and a hint of disturbance.

“Huh?”