Chapter 6

【6】5

The next morning, early.

Knock-knock.

I was reading a book in my room when I heard a knock.

“Come in.”

Creak-

The door opened, and Celia walked in wearing the modest maid’s uniform typical of the Flob family’s servant girls.

“I’m Celia, assigned to serve Young Master Leo for a week. I hope we get along well.”

Celia greeted me with lifeless eyes. Leo raised his gaze from the book.

“Pretty serious, huh?”

“You must take responsibility for your words. It’s one of our family’s mottos.”

Despite her dead-pan expression, her posture was impeccable.

She looked like the perfect maid.

Her style was good, and the gray fabric with the white frills of the maid’s outfit suited her very well.

Her dark hair shimmered as sunlight reflected off it.

As I gazed at her silently, Celia spoke.

“If you’re admiring my beauty, I understand, but if you’re looking with lewd intentions, I’ll knock you out.”

“I’ll apologize if I made you uncomfortable.”

Leo clicked his tongue.

“I had a friend who called himself an artist. He excessively praised beauty, and I guess I picked up some of that attitude without realizing it.”

‘Beauty is always supreme. It’s eternal! If peace ever comes to the world, I intend to spend my life spreading beauty around!’

This is Dwenno, the Great Hero of the Dwarves, known today as “God’s Blacksmith.”

He seemed happier creating works of art than making weapons.

Even while setting out on a journey to quell Erebus, he never stopped creating.

“Your friend sounds like someone who truly appreciates beauty.”

Being born into a family like Zerdinger’s, one needs to lead people, and charisma is one of those qualities.

Celia seemed to swell with pride as Leo observed her.

‘Too truthful… almost a pathological pervert. He sought nudes from Lissinas and Luna for inspiration.’

Thoughts of old times naturally resurfaced.

‘Lissinas, Luna. Your personalities are messy, but your figures are truly remarkable. So, for the sake of art, would you pose as n*de models?’

Of course, neither Lissinas nor Luna would ever agree to such a request.

‘If someone like that can be venerated as a great hero, what does that make me?’

With a hollow laugh, he stared out the window.

Meanwhile, Celia carefully observed Leo.

She clearly lost yesterday.

‘If I hadn’t let my guard down, I could’ve won… though thinking like that is stupid.’

Her defeat last night was the result of her naivety.

If this maid duty got back to the main household, she’d likely be mocked.

‘But it’s something I need to endure.’

Turning away from it would bring even greater shame.

‘Besides, I’m curious.’

She wondered how one could infuse a blade with such power without mastering aura.

“You seem to spend your mornings reading. I was expecting you to practice swordsmanship.”

Celia was trying to observe his training methods.

‘Could that book be some special training manual?’

“Mornings are for relaxing.”

He spoke, then closed the book.

Celia looked at it curiously.

‘It’s a children’s story about the Great Heroes.’

She glanced at Leo’s bookshelf.

‘They’re all about the Great Heroes.’

Not just fairy tales, but history books and research papers too.

There were quite a few valuable resources.

“You seem interested in the Great Heroes, huh? Though it’s fundamental.”

Celia was also interested in the Great Heroes.

“Can I look at your books?”

“Sure.”

Standing by the bookshelf, Celia was amazed.

“Wow. Serious enthusiasts of Great Hero studies might not even be able to match this collection.”

The study of Great Heroes remains one of the most active academic fields today.

“There are a lot of books about Kyle.”

“Just reference material.”

“Hmm. Regardless of whether Kyle truly existed, many believe his feats were real.”

“Do you think so too?”

“Of course.”

The achievements credited to Great Heroes that can’t be confirmed as belonging to anyone else in history are all attributed to Kyle.

‘Even if I’ve been lost to history, I haven’t been completely forgotten, it seems.’

A sense of fulfillment washed over him.

“Probably some later-era charlatan tried to steal the ambiguous achievements of the Great Heroes.”

Leo’s eyes twitched.

“Are you saying Kyle was a charlatan?”

“That’s quite likely.”

Celia shrugged.

That’s the general academic standpoint.

“I see. So that’s what you think.”

“Huh?”

“Shall we eat breakfast first, then practice?”

Celia’s eyes sparkled.

“Would you allow me to train with you?”

Celia was curious about the secret to Leo’s strength.

“My training might be a bit too intense.”

“Hmph, I’ve overcome Zerdinger’s training without trouble.”

Seeing Celia’s confident expression, Leo gave a crooked smile.

“Is that so?”

She would later think,

‘I should’ve run away when I had the chance.’

“Don’t underestimate me, you d*mn white-haired guy.”

After evening training.

Shaking her trembling legs, Celia returned to the mansion.

Leo had already gone back to his room.

‘Ugh… Is that guy a monster?’

She shuddered recalling how Leo endlessly swung his sword without tiring.

It made sense that his body was so well-trained from daily practice.

‘Still… at least during the evening training, I didn’t get utterly dominated in sword skills!’

Through using all available techniques, Celia was able to hold her ground during the evening session.

‘Can I become like him by continuing this training?’

But it was daunting to consider.

She had already thrown up five times today alone.

‘If I think about it, it’s pretty embarrassing!’

Her face flushed at the thought, but she sighed.

‘I just want to bathe and sleep.’

But she had to prepare Leo’s bed first since she was technically his maid.

‘Once I arrange his bedding, I’ll take a bath and sleep.’

Arriving at Leo’s room, Celia took a deep breath, trying to calm her trembling limbs and put on a calm facade, refusing to show any weakness.

Knock-knock.

“Come in.”

Creak.

“Not bad. You’re still standing.”

“Hmph. This is nothing to me.”

Celia put on a confident expression.

“Even though you threw up five times, huh?”

“I’ll tidy up your bedding.”

Ignoring Leo’s comment, Celia proceeded to arrange the bed.

“Goodnight, Young Master. I’ll see you tomorrow morning.”

“Wait. I have a gift for you.”

‘A gift?’

Surprised by his unexpected words, Celia approached Leo.

“Thank you for your efforts today.”

Smiling, Leo extended a gift box.

‘He’s actually grateful, I see.’

Celia felt some of the resentment in her chest easing.

‘Well, as the daughter of Zerdinger’s head, he should appreciate my service.’

Feeling victorious, Celia opened the box.

Inside was a simple silver bracelet in chain form.

The magical power emanating from it made Celia uneasy.

“It’s a bracelet with weight magic. Wear it during training starting tomorrow.”

Leo smiled.

Snap! Celia’s expression stiffened.

“I’m fine, really.”

“Refusing a gift from your master isn’t very polite, is it?”

“Hey! You’re just messing with me, right?! This is ridiculous! There’s no way this is a normal training tool! It’s outright torture!”

Ultimately exploding, Celia strongly resisted.

“You’re weak.”

Fire ignited in Celia’s face.

“Who’s weak!”

“I wear it during my training too. But if you can’t, there’s nothing I can do.”

“Who said I can’t? I’ll wear this without a problem!”

Once again, Celia fell for a cheap provocation and stormed out of Leo’s room.

Standing in front of Leo’s door, she grabbed her head, cursing her own foolishness.

‘So naive.’

Leo chuckled softly.

‘Calling me a charlatan, huh?’

Earlier that morning, Leo mentally noted that Celia considered Kyle a charlatan.

Though not truly broad-minded, Leo had no shame in his feelings.

‘If it had been any of my other friends, they’d have given her far worse treatment.’

His friends were even more characteristically unstable than himself.

‘I’ll make her week of bl**d.’

Thinking of Celia’s week of torment ahead, Leo grinned ferally.