Chapter 4
Screeech—!
The gates of the Plov estate opened.
The Zerdinger party entered.
The Plov household staff who came to greet them swallowed nervously.
An overwhelming pressure befitting a Heroic House that held sway over the continent could be felt.
Flutter—flutter—
The family banner, embroidered with blazing flames, waved in the wind.
At the front, the carriage pulled by a griffin came to a stop.
The door opened and Gis and Celia stepped out.
‘Why is Uncle staying here?’
To be honest, when Celia heard they’d be staying at a noble household, she wasn’t pleased.
Celia had no intention of being satisfied with just getting into Lumene.
Her goal was to be the top student.
That’s why she wanted to focus solely on the entrance exam until it started.
But coming to a noble house like this meant all sorts of troublesome things.
Especially in a small kingdom’s noble family.
They were surely desperate to build a connection with Zerdinger.
That’s why she’d hoped they would rent out an entire luxury hotel.
Since it was Gis’s decision, she didn’t voice her complaint, but she wasn’t happy about it.
Swish—
Celia tucked her waist-length black hair behind her ear and straightened her back.
Whether she liked it or not, she was the daughter of a house head.
Her public image mattered.
As the family’s representative, she needed to show proper respect to the head of this house.
While thinking this, Celia was suddenly caught off guard.
“Huh?”
She wasn’t the only one.
The other Zerdinger members also murmured in surprise.
At the entrance stood a man and a woman.
Deid and Reina.
They were surprised when they saw Reina.
‘She looks like Father, and like Uncle.’
And she looked similar to Celia herself.
“Introduce yourself, Celia. This is the Marquess of Plov.”
“I’m Celia Zerdinger. Thank you for having us for a week.”
“Welcome. Please make yourself at home,” Deid said simply.
He didn’t show any special eagerness to impress the Heroic House.
“And this is the Marquess’s wife.”
“I’ve already heard plenty about you,” Reina said with a gentle smile.
Celia looked at Reina with confused eyes.
“Uncle, who is she?”
“Reina Plov. She’s your aunt.”
Celia’s eyes widened.
* * *
While the Zerdinger party was settling their things in the mansion,
Gis was sitting with the Plov couple in the parlor.
“I’m glad to see you’re well,” he said.
“There’s no reason I wouldn’t be,” Reina replied.
Click—
Reina elegantly lifted her teacup.
“You’ve become much more reserved, sister.”
“Hahaha. You’ve grown a lot, Gis.”
Gis shook his head as he saw the veins pop on his sister’s forehead.
‘Her personality hasn’t changed.’
His sister, once called the “Witch of Flames.”
That rare “witch” title for a knight was simply because of her personality.
Gis smiled, recalling old memories.
“Leo is quite bold,” he said.
“What has my son done this time?” Deid asked.
Gis laughed.
“Before coming to the Plov house, I visited Delan Royal Academy for an inspection. All the students were told to gather, but Leo left early, saying he wasn’t interested in the Zerdinger party.”
“If you were offended, I apologize on my son’s behalf.”
“Gis isn’t the sort to be offended by something like that, Deid.”
“Yes. It was actually a rather refreshing experience.”
As someone from Zerdinger who was always the center of attention, Leo’s reaction was a novelty.
“So, what kind of child is Leo?”
“I’m not just saying this because he’s my son—he’s truly talented.”
“If you say that, sister, then I’m looking forward to meeting him. However—”
Gis’s gentle demeanor suddenly changed.
“Being granted permission to learn the family Aura Technique is another matter.”
A cold atmosphere, unbefitting the title of Flame Blade.
Gis lifted his chin.
“Do you really believe Leo Plov is qualified to inherit Zerdinger’s flame?”
A sense of pressure radiated from his body.
It wasn’t any special power.
It was simply charisma that came naturally.
“I think he’s more than qualified,” Reina replied, raising the corner of her mouth.
“You’ll see for yourself when you meet him. You’ll understand his worth.”
* * *
“Sir Whitten. Do you know anything about Aunt Reina?”
Celia asked Whitten, who had been a loyal knight of the family since before she was born.
“Lady Reina is the previous master of the ‘Flame Storm’ you now possess.”
Flame Storm.
One of the Zerdinger family’s treasures, holding the power to maximize the family’s signature [Flame Aura].
Just being the master of Flame Storm was enough to imagine her caliber.
“How did someone like her end up giving up the family name and living in a remote kingdom like this?”
“Lady Reina lost her flames in an accident. After that, she said she wanted to live an ordinary life, gave up the Zerdinger name, and left the family.”
The moment someone gives up the family name, all their records are erased, no matter the reason.
“I never dreamed I’d meet Lady Reina again here.”
‘For Sir Whitten to speak like this, she must have been really amazing. Maybe I could get sword lessons from her later?’
As Celia thought she’d like to see Reina’s swordsmanship firsthand,
They soon arrived at the Plov family’s training ground.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
“Huh?”
The sound of a wooden sword cutting through the air.
Someone was swinging a sword in the training ground.
Unfamiliar white hair, familiar red eyes.
“Are you Leo Plov?”
Leo looked at Celia with a puzzled expression.
“And you are?”
“Ahem.”
Celia straightened her back and introduced herself.
“My name is Celia Zerdinger. I’m your maternal cousin.”
Celia expected Leo to be surprised.
A beautiful girl, considered the top candidate for Lumene, where the world’s greatest talents gathered.
Celia was a globally famous figure.
Especially among her peers, she was idolized—a true celebrity.
“Yeah? Nice to meet you.”
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
But Leo’s response was completely flat.
He didn’t even stop swinging his sword.
Seeing his clear lack of interest, Celia frowned.
She tried to speak again, but Leo’s sword finally stopped.
“Hoo.”
As Leo wiped his sweat and took a deep breath, Celia asked,
“How old are you?”
“Fifteen.”
“So we’re the same age? Since we met like this, I’ll be *spe-cial-ly* giving you sword lessons. How about it?”
Celia offered kindly with a bright smile.
‘If I get on his good side, Aunt Reina might give me special training too.’
It was a selfish suggestion, but Leo wasn’t interested at all.
‘What’s with this kid?’
Sword lessons?
He could tell she was skilled, but she was way off the mark.
Leo lost all interest in Celia and started swinging his sword again.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
This time, Celia watched his sword movements closely.
And she let out a gasp.
‘Not bad.’
There wasn’t the slightest waste in his movements.
She could tell the sword carried considerable power.
‘Well, I guess he is family after all. Better than I expected.’
Clink—clink—
‘But what are those bracelets?’
With every movement, the sword made a bothersome noise.
After a while, Leo stopped and put away his sword.
“Now, try moving for real. I think you’ve got potential.”
Celia felt a bit of anticipation.
But Leo wiped off his sweat and left the training ground.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“I’m done for today.”
“But I said I’d watch you?”
“I’ll pass.”
“Why?”
“I have no interest in being coached by someone less skilled than me.”
“What?”
Celia’s face hardened.
“Are you saying you’re stronger than me?”
“You’re stronger now. I can’t use Aura.”
He couldn’t win a real fight to the death against Celia.
“But in a sword duel, I’d win.”
Leo said it calmly, and Celia’s lips twitched.
“Confident, aren’t you?”
Her red eyes narrowed.
“Judging by your sword work, you’re the strongest at your school, right?”
At Delan Royal Academy, every aspiring knight could use Aura.
But Leo was far stronger than them.
His fundamentals were just on another level.
‘The reason he hasn’t learned Aura is probably because Aunt Reina wants him to inherit the advanced Aura technique.’
Advanced Aura Technique.
For example, the Zerdinger family’s Aura technique, only for their bloodline.
‘But what? He says he’ll be stronger than me if he learns Aura? How arrogant!’
Zerdinger children started fierce competition from a young age.
Even the house head’s children were no exception.
And Celia was always the best.
Her pride wasn’t just from being “Zerdinger,” but from her own confidence.
“Fine. If you’re that sure, duel me.”
“A duel?”
“Yeah. If I win, you’ll be my servant for as long as you’re here.”
“If I win? Will you become my maid?”
“Of course. It’s only fair. Not that it’ll happen.”
Celia brushed her hair back with a mocking smile.
“Ah, young lady—”
Sir Whitten, watching from the sidelines, tried to stop her in a panic.
“Don’t worry, Sir Whitten. I’m going to win.”
Celia looked at Leo with confidence.
“I’ll show you what a frog in a well you are.”
The two stood in the center of the training ground.
Leo spoke to Celia, who was holding a wooden sword.
“Oh right. You can use Aura if you want.”
“What?”
‘Is this guy serious!’
“Hmph! Then I’ll let you attack me twice first. Go ahead and try.”
A red glow shimmered around Celia’s body.
Aura Armor.
A technique where Aura is worn like armor over the body.
“Alright, I won’t hold back.”
“Do as you please.”
Celia raised the corner of her mouth.
She was certain Leo’s attacks, without Aura, couldn’t touch her.
Leo gripped his sword with both hands and took a deep breath.
“Hoo—!”
Veins bulged in his forearms.
Leo’s red eyes flashed.
Bang—!
The wooden sword struck Celia’s temple dead-on.
Her head snapped to the side, her mind ringing from the shock.
A dull ache and pain rose in her neck.
Celia’s face went pale from the sheer force, beyond imagination.
“You’re tough.”
Leo commented in admiration.
“H-hmph! Did you think an attack like that could break through my Aura Armor?”
‘What kind of monster has strength like this!’
She forced a smile, but she’d almost been knocked out.
The reinforced wooden sword was nearly splintered from the blow.
‘But it’s not like I can’t withstand this much.’
Pretending to be calm, Celia watched as Leo removed the bracelets from both wrists and tossed them aside.
Thud—!
“……!”
“Now, let’s see what happens when I go all out.”
Leo loosened his shoulders with a smile that looked demonic to Celia.
Weighted magic bracelets.
Normally, it would be an old-fashioned, outdated training method to be laughed at.
But right now, there was nothing to laugh about.
What she was seeing was beyond reckless—it was crazy.
“Here comes another one.”
“W-wait—!”
CRASH—!
A sound incomparable to before rang out.
A tremendous shock hit her head.
As her consciousness faded, she saw Leo tossing aside the shattered reinforced wooden sword and thought,
‘What the hell…’
Celia’s eyes rolled back.
‘What kind of maniac is this?’
(T/N: Ooooh, I’m starting to like the story…)