Chapter 603

603.

Leo observed the pairs formed in groups of two and spoke.

“Since it was decided fairly by a draw, there’s no objection, right?”

“Master Leo! I object! How can I be in a group with this wimpy man! It’s unacceptable!”

“I also agree with this servant’s complaint this time!”

Before their words had even finished, a male and female student protested.

As Leo watched Niel and Marchel, he displayed an uninterested expression.

“Think of it as destiny.”

The draw was conducted a total of three times due to the strong objections from Niel and Marchel being paired together in the first draw.

Even in the subsequent draw, and then the third as well, they were inevitably paired together.

By this point, it would be embarrassing to re-shuffle the teams all over again because of them.

“Isn’t there a saying that the first time is a coincidence, the second time is inevitability, and the third time is destiny?”

“Miss Chelsea! How could you say such a terrible thing!”

As Chelsea giggled and muttered, Marchel reacted with strong resistance.

Niel felt the same way.

“Master Leo! Please switch us! Or let’s redraw just once more!”

Seeing Marchel and Niel react almost hysterically, Chelsea declared:

“Nope. No switching. Go back to your places.”

In the three draws, Chelsea ended up in the same group with Leo.

Unsuccessful in getting Leo’s approval, Niel turned to look at Celia.

Celia’s eyes, which seemed dissatisfied, glanced at Abad beside her.

Niel addressed Celia, who was in the same group as Abad.

“Celia, you also want to switch groups, right?”

Upon seeing Niel trying to involve her, Celia sighed softly.

“Niel, we’ve already drawn three times. Besides, I’m fine.”

Since becoming a second-year student, Celia had grown quite close with Abad.

They had crossed countless dangerous lines together, always combining their efforts through the process, which naturally deepened their bond.

Having failed to involve Celia, Niel tried to request help from someone else when,

“Wow, you’re still whining.”

“L-Leo Master?”

Niel flinched as she heard Leo muttering quietly.

“You two.”

“Y-Yes!”

“Yes!”

Under Leo’s cold gaze, Niel and Marchel unconsciously stood at attention.

Even though Leo treated them with respect as his seniors in school, there was none of that now.

“Are your families sworn enemies?”

“The Roda family is a vassal family of the Zerdinger family, and naturally, the LeWalyn family, being vassal to them…”

“Are the Zerdinger and LeWalyn families eternal enemies? Are you supposed to k*ll each other?”

“Well… no…”

“Did the ancestors of the Roda family and the Luzia family k*ll each other?”

“…No…”

“Then why are you so worked up that you can’t bear each other? Huh? Are you going to fight even in front of the demons of Tartarus? Huh? Try denying it. Deny it. You little brats with baby fat on your faces act as if you’ve encountered true enemies every time you meet. Huh? Have you met real enemies? Huh? Ever?”

Under Leo’s formidable aura, those around them slowly started moving away from him.

Niel and Marchel, younger students but knowing very well that Leo’s skills had already far surpassed their own, remained silent without a word, heads bowed deeply before Leo.

There was no denying that he was more mature than they were. In every way, they were at a loss for words even if they had a dozen tongues.

It was obvious they’ve been causing a scene due to their personal feelings and troubling those around them.

Still, Niel and Marchel couldn’t help shivering with an unsettling yet familiar feeling.

“What… What is this? Master Leo is certainly younger than us…”

“Why do I feel like I’m being scolded by someone much older?”

Sweating profusely, the frightened pair faced Leo as he spoke.

“In my day!”

“Brother Leo.”

At that moment, Chelsea softly called out to Leo.

“Maybe it’s time to stop.”

Leo glanced at Niel and Marchel and smiled faintly.

“Since you’re in the same group, use this opportunity to get along.”

As the originally terrifying atmosphere faded and Leo returned to his usual self, Niel and Marchel could only numbly nod their heads.

“You’re both adults who’ve undergone the coming-of-age ritual. Stop thinking like children.”

Upon seeing Leo’s eyes narrow momentarily, the two frantically nodded their heads.

Satisfied with the sight, Leo turned to look at the other attendants.

“Enjoy your time, everyone, then we’ll meet again tomorrow.”

To this, the knights of Zerdinger and the wizards of LeWalyn exchanged complicated looks as they observed each other.

*

Leo and Chelsea strolled along the street.

Chelsea, who had been following behind Leo, suddenly noticed the difference in their strides and muttered to herself:

“Though our height difference wasn’t as noticeable when we first entered school, it’s quite considerable now.”

Chelsea, being in her growth phase, had grown quite a bit compared to when she first entered school.

However, Leo had grown even more, making the difference quite noticeable.

Chelsea quickened her walking pace to match her steps with Leo’s.

Though it might’ve been annoying to match strides with someone who didn’t seem to care, Chelsea didn’t mind.

She realized now:

“During the two years we’ve spent together at Lumeran, Brother Leo has always been considerate of me.”

Just like someone teaching her how to run.

“I don’t want to hold Brother Leo back anymore.”

What Chelsea now desired was not to stay behind and admire him.

To stand by his side and share the same view he admired.

Leo stopped walking as they moved through the crowd.

Chelsea, standing slightly behind Leo, looked up at him closely.

“What does Brother Leo see in this scenery?”

Thinking to herself, Chelsea stood on her tiptoes to try and raise her gaze as high as the one Leo was seeing.

After wobbling for a moment, Chelsea couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

“I’m such a fool. Even if I stood this way, I wouldn’t understand what Brother Leo sees.”

Though it was an unconscious action born from a desire to get closer to the admired person.

“Leo-bro, what are you doing?”

“Nothing.”

Facing Leo’s curious expression, Chelsea shook her head and stepped down from her tiptoes.

“And by the way, where’re we planning to stay?”

“Um, since we’re destitute right now, we should get some money first, right?”

“Speaking of which, why did you insist on pairing the people of Zerdinger with the people from LeWalyn in pairs of two for this destitute tourism?”

What Leo proposed wasn’t just ordinary sightseeing.

He arbitrarily paired people from feuding families by draw and instructed them to spend a day without money.

“I understand that Brother Leo wants to create an opportunity for Zerdinger and LeWalyn to get along, but is it really necessary to this extent?”

“To get along, people who don’t like each other need to undergo hardships.”

“So, you mean this destitute journey?”

“Isn’t it more than just being destitute?”

Leo smirked.

Before they parted ways, Leo outlined the rules for the day.

First: Start the tour without a single penny.

Second: The use of Aura and Magic is prohibited.

Third: Under no circumstances allow any sleeping rough.

Fourth: No fighting.

With Leo’s declaration to provide an “interesting experience” if any of these guidelines were violated, the attendants of the two families couldn’t help but shiver.

Chelsea was somewhat skeptical that this event could actually provide a chance to get closer.

“Surprisingly effective, and it’s a method Lissinas used.”

“Lissinas?”

With a wide-eyed look, Chelsea questioned Leo’s statement.

“Wait, does that mean the Great Heroes also didn’t get along at first? What went on for such extreme measures to be necessary?”

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Chelsea turned to a smirking Leo.

“Me and Luna.”

“Eh? Brother Leo and Lady Luna?”

Chelsea looked perplexed.

During Luna’s last visit to Lumeran,

Leo and Luna had seemed perfect for each other.

It seemed they understood each other’s desires through mere glances.

Such perfect sync! It was perplexing to hear that they once disliked each other.

“From the moment we met, Luna and I were completely opposite.”

Back then, Luna would confidently promise that she could do anything while Kyle, on the other hand, viewed everything with skepticism.

It was inevitable for their relationship to falter from the start, given Kyle’s cynical personality.

“Kyle is the type to hold back and then let it out, but Luna would just charge right in every time.”

Kyle’s twisted personality vs. Luna’s stubbornness.

Unable to tolerate their constant clashes, Lissinas ultimately took drastic measures.

“Huh, never would have thought Brother Leo could say such things. If it came from you, I probably wouldn’t have believed it.”

Chelsea giggled.

“Me and Celia, compared to Brother Leo and Lady Luna… I just can’t picture it.”

“You and Celia don’t match.”

Leo chuckled silently to himself, but refrained from elaborating to preserve his and Luna’s reputation.

“So did Lady Luna and you also wander destitute in the city like we are now?”

“No, it wouldn’t be that.”

“Huh?”

“Guy Lissinas sealed both me and Luna’s mana and threw us into a forest crawling with monsters.”

Leo’s declaration shocked Chelsea.

“Even Lissinas couldn’t possibly do that?”

To simultaneously seal the mana of two individuals renowned historically as the strongest wizards.

“Lissinas excels in summoning, and he’s good at drafting fraudulent contracts.”

“Fraudulent contracts?”

As Chelsea’s eyes widened with astonishment, Leo spoke in a flat tone.

“Yeah. His dragon’s talent lies in deceit. Remember when he tried to trick me into a fake marriage?”

Chelsea was at a loss for words how to respond to Leo’s words.

“Anyway, enduring hardships will foster the spirit of cooperation.”

“Will it?”

Chelsea was still skeptical.

The crew going on this journey were all young people inexperienced with worldly ways.

Even without the use of Aura and Magic, they’re all individuals who have been esteemed since childhood.

It was hard for Chelsea to imagine these individuals having difficulty.

“You’ll be surprised how much they’ll actually struggle.”

“Hmm? Why?”

“Those who’ve lived privileged lives and chosen the path of elites. Using Aura and Magic is as natural as breathing to them. To be placed in a situation where their status, wealth, and abilities are all constrained; they’re bound to endure hardships.”

Even if they have a vassal’s status, all are from noble families.

When faced with actual tasks, they’ll likely flounder.

“Will they?”

As Chelsea still found Leo’s words hard to comprehend, Leo grinned.

“You’ll understand once we try.”

“Hmm?”

“How about we first find a decent place to stay for the night?”

“By myself?”

Chelsea gasped, pointing to herself.

“If I step in, it will be resolved easily. Then there’s no point in struggling, right?”

“That’s true.”

“So, give it a go all by yourself.”

“It feels like I’m supporting Brother Leo.”

“Unhappy?”

“No, it sounds interesting.”

Chelsea replied confidently.

“After all, these are the things that Kal usually handles effortlessly.”

“Hmph! Watch me, I’ll treat Brother Leo to a luxurious trip today!” declared Chelsea arrogantly.