KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 4 — Clash of Pride and Power
——————
Creak—!
The gates of the Flove estate swung open.
Zerdinger's delegation stepped through.
The Flove household's retainers swallowed hard.
An overwhelming aura, befitting a heroic family that shaped the continent's fate, washed over them.
Flutter—Flutter—
The family's crest, embroidered with blazing flames, waved proudly.
At the forefront, a griffon-drawn carriage came to a halt.
The door opened, and Zis and Celia disembarked.
'Why is Uncle staying at this place?'
Celia wasn't pleased when she heard they'd be hosted by a noble family.
She had no intention of settling for merely entering Lumern.
Her goal was top rank.
Thus, she wanted to focus solely on the entrance exam.
Staying with nobles, especially in a minor kingdom, meant dealing with tiresome formalities.
They'd surely be desperate to curry favor with Zerdinger.
She'd have preferred renting out an entire luxury hotel.
Though she didn't voice her complaints—it was Zis's decision—she wasn't happy.
Swish—
Brushing her waist-length black hair behind her ear, Celia straightened her posture.
Complaints or not, she was the patriarch's daughter.
Her public image mattered.
As the family's representative, she needed to show courtesy to the head of this house.
But then, she froze.
"Huh?"
It wasn't just her.
The other Zerdingers stirred.
At the estate's entrance stood a man and a woman.
Deid and Reina.
More precisely, they were staring at Reina.
'She looks like Father and Uncle.'
And strikingly similar to Celia herself.
"Introduce yourself, Celia. This is Marquess Flove."
"I'm Celia Zerdinger. We'll be in your care for the week."
"Welcome. Make yourself at home," Deid replied simply, showing no eagerness to impress a heroic family.
"And this is Lady Flove."
"Hehe, I've heard much about you," Reina said with a gentle smile.
Celia looked at Reina, confused.
"Uncle, who is she?"
"Reina Flove. Your aunt."
Celia's eyes widened in shock.
***
The Zerdingers settled into the estate.
Meanwhile, Zis sat in the parlor, conversing with the Flove couple.
"You seem to be doing well. That's a relief," Zis said.
"No reason I wouldn't be," Reina replied.
Click—
Reina lifted her teacup with elegant grace.
"You've gotten quite refined, Sister," Zis teased.
"Heh, and you've grown, haven't you, Zis?"
Zis shook his head as a vein pulsed on his sister's forehead.
'Her personality hasn't changed a bit.'
The "Witch of Flames" in her youth.
The rare title of "Witch" for a knight wasn't due to anything grand.
It was purely her fiery temperament.
Recalling old times with a chuckle, Zis said, "Leo's quite bold, isn't he?"
"What did my son do now?" Deid asked.
Zis laughed.
"Before coming here, we visited Delran Royal Academy. All students were summoned, but Leo left early, saying he had no interest in Zerdinger."
"If that upset you, I apologize on his behalf," Deid said.
"Zis isn't the type to get offended over something like that, Deid," Reina interjected.
"Indeed. It was… refreshing."
Used to constant attention, Zis found Leo's reaction novel.
"So, what's Leo like?"
"I'm not just saying this because he's my son, but his talent is extraordinary," Reina said.
"If you say so, I'm intrigued. However…"
Zis's warm demeanor shifted to icy resolve.
"Granting him the family's Aura Art is another matter."
A chilling aura, unbefitting his Flame Blade title, filled the room.
Zis tilted his head.
"Do you truly believe Leo Flove is worthy of inheriting Zerdinger's flame, Sister?"
A palpable pressure emanated from him.
Not a special power, but pure charisma honed by his presence.
"I believe he's more than worthy," Reina said, her lips curling.
"You'll see his value once you meet him."
***
"Sir Wheaton, what do you know about my aunt?"
Celia asked Wheaton, a loyal knight of the patriarch since before her birth.
"Lady Reina was the previous wielder of Flame Storm."
Flame Storm.
A treasured relic that amplifies Zerdinger's signature Flame Aura.
That she wielded it spoke volumes of her prowess.
"How did someone like her abandon the family name for a backwater kingdom?"
"Lady Reina lost her flame due to an unfortunate accident. Wanting a normal life, she relinquished the Zerdinger name and left."
Once a member renounced the family name, their record was erased, regardless of reason.
"I never dreamed I'd see Lady Reina here," Wheaton said.
'If Sir Wheaton speaks so highly of her, she must've been incredible. Maybe I can get swordsmanship lessons from her?'
Musing about Reina's skills, Celia arrived at the Flove training grounds.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
"Hm?"
The sound of a wooden sword cutting the air echoed.
Someone was training.
Unfamiliar white hair, familiar red eyes.
"You're Leo Flove, right?"
Leo glanced at Celia, puzzled.
"Yeah. Who're you?"
"Ahem."
Clearing her throat, Celia stood tall and introduced herself.
"I'm Celia Zerdinger. Your cousin."
She expected him to be shocked.
A beautiful girl, touted as a top candidate for Lumern's entrance exam.
Celia was a global celebrity.
Among her peers, she was an idol, an object of admiration.
"Cool. Nice to meet you."
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Leo's response was flat.
He didn't even pause his swings.
His blatant disinterest made Celia's brow twitch.
As she opened her mouth again, Leo's sword stopped.
"Hoo."
Wiping sweat, Leo turned as Celia asked, "How old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"Same as me! Since we've met like this, how about I… spe-cial-ly… give you some swordsmanship pointers?"
Celia flashed a friendly smile.
'If I'm nice to him, maybe Aunt Reina will give me personal lessons.'
Her offer was self-serving, but Leo wasn't interested.
'What's with this kid?'
Swordsmanship pointers?
She seemed skilled, but she was barking up the wrong tree.
Losing interest, Leo resumed swinging.
Whoosh—! Whoosh—!
Celia now studied his movements closely.
And gasped.
'Not bad at all!'
His swings were flawless, without a hint of wasted motion.
She could tell each strike carried significant power.
'He's got our family's blood, huh? Better than I expected.'
Clank—Clank—
'What's with those bracelets?'
A grating sound accompanied each swing.
Moments later, Leo sheathed his sword.
"Now show me what you've really got. I think you've got potential," Celia said, a spark of anticipation in her eyes.
But Leo wiped his sweat and left the grounds.
"Hey, where're you going?"
"Done training for today."
"I said I'd coach you!"
"Pass."
"Why?"
"Don't feel like being taught by someone weaker than me."
"What?"
Celia's face stiffened.
"You're saying you're stronger than me?"
"Right now, you're stronger. I can't use aura."
In a life-or-death fight, Celia would win.
"But in a swordsmanship spar? I'd take you."
Leo's casual confidence made Celia's lip twitch.
"Quite the ego, huh?"
Her red eyes narrowed.
"I can tell from your swings. You're the strongest at your school, aren't you?"
At Delran Royal Academy, all knight aspirants wielded aura.
But Leo was likely far stronger.
His fundamentals were on another level.
'He hasn't learned aura probably because Aunt Reina wants him to master a high-level Aura Art.'
A high-level Aura Art.
Like the one exclusive to Zerdinger's bloodline.
'But what? You're stronger now? So you think you'll surpass me once you learn aura? How arrogant!'
Zerdinger children competed fiercely from a young age.
Even the patriarch's child was no exception.
And Celia was always the best.
Her pride stemmed not from "Zerdinger," but from her own confidence.
"Fine. If you're so sure of yourself, let's spar."
"Spar?"
"Yeah. If I win, you're my servant for our stay here."
"And if I win? You'll be my maid?"
"Obviously. It's only fair. Not that it'll happen."
Celia tossed her hair with a mocking smile.
"Milady," Wheaton interjected urgently.
"Don't worry, Sir Wheaton. I'll win."
Beaming with confidence, Celia faced Leo.
"I'll show you you're just a frog in a well."
They stood at the center of the training grounds.
As Celia gripped her wooden sword, Leo said, "Oh, you can use aura."
"What?"
'This guy!'
"Hmph! Then I'll give you two free attacks. Go ahead, hit me."
A red glow enveloped Celia.
Aura Armor.
A technique that cloaked the body in aura like armor.
"Alright, I won't hold back."
"Bring it."
Celia smirked, certain Leo's aura-less attacks couldn't breach her defense.
Leo gripped his sword with both hands and took a deep breath.
"Hoo—!"
Veins bulged on his forearms.
His red eyes gleamed.
Boom—!
The wooden sword struck Celia's temple with precision.
Her head snapped aside, her mind ringing from the impact.
A sharp pain shot through her neck.
Celia's face paled at the unimaginable force.
"Pretty tough," Leo remarked, impressed.
"H-Hmph! You think your attacks can pierce my Aura Armor?"
'What kind of monstrous strength is this?!'
Forcing a smile, she nearly saw stars.
The enchanted wooden sword was frayed from the sheer power.
'Still, it's not enough to break me.'
Exaggerating her confidence, Celia grinned.
Leo unfastened the bracelets on his wrists and tossed them aside.
Thud—!
"…!"
"Now, let's swing for real."
Rolling his shoulders with a smile, Leo looked like a demon to Celia.
Weight-enchanted bracelets.
Normally, she'd mock such an outdated, brute training method.
But she couldn't laugh now.
The sight before her wasn't just brute—it was insane.
"One more."
"W-Wait—!"
KABOOM—!
A sound incomparable to the first echoed.
A dizzying impact slammed her head.
As her consciousness faded, Celia saw Leo discard the shattered wooden sword.
'What kind of…'
Her eyes rolled back.
'…lunatic is this?!'