Chapter 203

Frost Heart witnessed snow even in the fall. In the training grounds slowly blanketed with white, every slash of the wooden sword sent out gusts of hot air. Bellen, with her eyes closed, pinpointed Leana just by the sound. “The strength in your wrist is a bit too much.” Recently, her strength had increased significantly. More precisely, it wasn’t just her speed; her overall strength had also increased. Bellen corrected Leana’s wrist. It didn’t work at once, but after several attempts, it gradually improved. “That’s it. Now, try to ignite the aura blade.” “Yes, Dame Bellen.” An aura emerged from Leana’s wooden sword. What was once ethereal hardened around the wooden blade, encasing it. Considering Bellen’s age back then, Leana was at least three years ahead of where she had been. Moreover, she had only focused on basic swordsmanship until she formally started training under her, an impressive achievement indeed. And the secret was… When she would have swung her sword once, Leana had swung hers multiple times, even saving time from her sleep. Thanks to that, she had rapidly filled the gaps in her basic swordsmanship learned through self-study without a proper master. Bellen, slightly annoyed, issued her next command. “Try emitting fire.” Flames swirled like a haze from the handle of the wooden sword, encasing the blade for a minute, until the wood began to burn down to ashes. Bellen noticed a spark in Leana’s eyes. Despite her palm likely being hot, her expression remained utterly calm. A bittersweet smile spread across Bellen’s lips. The clothes were meant for her, but it seemed they had found a more fitting owner. After a comprehensive review, it was time for a break. Bellen, having gulped down her drink, casually asked, “Hmm, how are things with my niece and you these days?” Sitting and resting, Leana responded immediately, “We’re not related like that.” Despite always receiving the same answer, Bellen chuckled. In the past, her voice might have been a bit sharp, or she might have looked through her like she was a bug. The current reaction was, well… Her gaze dropped to the floor, seemingly reflecting complex emotions. Reminiscing about better times, Bellen’s playful side kicked in. “What if we assume you are related like that?” “That’s not the case.” “I said it’s a hypothetical? Besides, considering the engagement, who knows, right? No one can be certain about the things of this world.” Leana remained silent for a long while. During those few seconds of silence, the loud voices from outside were clearly audible. It was the girls from Adele Hall. “How is it? Tasty?” “You did well to make it despite the difficulty in sourcing the ingredients.” Each girl held a slice of pie in her hand. “But really, are you going to give it to him? What if Dorosian catches you?” It seemed they planned to gift the pie to that impressive niece. Bellen looked at the women with a blank stare. Such scenes had been observed occasionally. Among them was a girl who tried to deliver a letter but gave up under the pressure of the prestigious noble family, the Tenest. Furthermore, after Dorosian arrived, others didn’t even attempt it, as many emerged who couldn’t. However, a girl holding a box of pies and shyly smiling had a remarkable amount of courage. “I just checked what was in the tent. And so what? It’s just a gift for becoming the student council president.” Only after the girls had left did Leana speak. “If that were to happen, an apology would be necessary first. Without that, it’s hard even to think hypothetically.” “Eh? Are you talking about him?” Bellen instantly thought of what apology meant. From Leana’s perspective, Hersel suddenly appeared, arranged an engagement with her parents, and blocked her path to knighthood—a bad move. There were hidden reasons, but Bellen decided not to disclose the truth. Then Leana unexpectedly said, “That’s right. And me too.” “Hmm?” “Just…” Her following words were almost like muttering to herself. However, Bellen, keenly attentive, heard clearly. “Ahem. Alright, let’s say you apologized. What next?” Leana looked at her with a peculiar expression as if her persistence was suspicious. “Dame Bellen, you seem a bit off today.” “Today I’ll drink one less bottle, so speak up.” Leana really cared about her health. She quickly responded, “As you know, our family is small, so we get pushed around a lot. I heard Hersel has a stepmother. I wonder if she’ll mock me? She might throw water in my face, calling me unworthy…” Bellen somewhat empathized. Such things frequently occurred between families of different standings. Searᴄh the NôᴠelFirё.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. “Don’t worry about that. Aol doesn’t care about such things, and Ahile… ahem, even though she’s a woman with a serpent hidden inside, she wouldn’t harm you for such trivial reasons.” Bellen, who had once lived in Aol’s house, had been kicked out by Ahile, who claimed she was bad for the kids’ education. “…Heartless woman.” “What?” “Nothing, nothing. So your concerns are addressed, what next? Doesn’t a nice scene with the guy come to mind?” Leana suggested with a firm look in her eyes, “If you drink one less bottle.” “Ah, fine, answer me then.” Leana hummed for a while. Suddenly, she shook her head. Bellen barely calmed the hand she had raised to her chest in frustration. “Is it that difficult?” “…I’m sorry.” “Then tell me why. What’s so bad about him?” As her voice rose slightly, Leana averted her gaze, looking ashamed. “It’s not that. Actually, I’ve developed… let’s say, a standard for an ideal type.” “Eh? An ideal type?” “Yes, an ideal type. Someone profound. And, someone who ties a long cloth instead of a bow tie.” Bellen stared intently at Leana’s face. She was smiling slightly. It seemed more likely that she was referring to a real person. “Who is it, then?” Leana thought it was okay to tell her, Before Bellen arrived, there had been an incident with an evil spirit. Events where she was possessed by the evil spirit and trapped in a spiritual world. A man in strange attire had appeared. Initially, it seemed like a dream, but Leana held proof in her hands. It was a small suit of armor trapped inside a glass bottle. “He’s real. And Professor Rockefeller said when I asked about that man, ‘It’s none of your business.'” That meant he existed. Otherwise, the response would have been that it’s nonsense. “Hmm, for now, it seems even you don’t know who that man really is.” “…Right?” Bellen suddenly stood up. “Dame Bellen? Where are you going now?” “Study on your own today.” Asking about the man’s identity was easy enough. If the silent one was Rockefeller, then it was a simple task. *** “…That incident has been quietly buried for a long time.” Bellen turned around sharply at the negative response. “Then forget it. See how well you can do without me.” Leana was one of the promising participants in the Integrated Academy Tournament. At such a crucial time, Rockefeller urgently shared the truth as she was considering retirement. As he stuttered, Bellen’s eyes slowly widened. “……He wished to keep silent, so it would be best if only you knew. I may dislike him, but a promise is a promise.” The shock left Bellen momentarily stunned. With a calm smile, she nodded. Today was particularly a day she wanted to return to her youthful times. *** Arriving at the tent with the box of pies, Mireille, who was to teach cooking, showed interest in the pie. “What’s with the pie?” “It’s a gesture to start small.” I am the top political figure of Frost Heart, the student council president. In the future, numerous corrupt proposals will come. Not just simple pies, but substantial bribes will accumulate. “It must not have been easy to find the ingredients, showing sincerity even when having to squeeze out of nothing.” The jam in the pie had a unique raw taste. Considering it wasn’t a common ingredient, it must have been homemade. “How does it taste?” Seeing room for improvement, I offered Mireille a slice. After discussing the pie’s evaluation and possible improvements, the cooking lesson concluded. As evening approached, Mireille asked, “I would like to assist Mircel. May I join you?” Tomorrow morning, we were set to depart for Valiant with the main characters. The journey would take some time. “What about the meals for those here?” “I apologize for my needless comment.” “Don’t worry about Mircel. I’ll take good care of him.” The next day, four carriages arrived. Not particularly luxurious due to our circumstances. Limberton and Aslay habitually followed, but I shook my head. “I have to look after my younger brother.” They nodded understandingly and climbed into another carriage. As Mircel and I were taking our seats, Erucel also followed. Total passengers were eleven. Since there were four carriages, there was plenty of room. “…You fit in very naturally.” “I’m a sibling too.” “Yes, you’re a sibling too. I sometimes forget that.” As Erucel muttered, he took out snacks from his backpack. Using inventory magic in the cramped space was difficult, so snacks were all stored in the backpack. What he pulled out was saliva-inducing smoked bacon. As we shared it, Erucel’s eyes widened in surprise. “This seems like a dish called ‘Lesher.’ The flavor is quite unique.” Bacon, despite its simplicity, had a surprisingly long history, even existing in medieval times. I casually responded to Erucel’s use of the local term. “It’s bacon. And it’s not just randomly cut pieces of meat either.” The carriage began moving, and for a while, everyone fell silent, too busy savoring the bacon. Watching them stuff their mouths as if entranced, I thought it was for the best. “Listen carefully. I’ll tell the others too, but there’s something I especially want to say to you two.” From the perspective of the opponents we’d soon face, we were considered underwhelming and unworthy of attention. The only exception was Mircel, whose reputation spanned across the empire. I intended to weaponize the lack of information about us, drawing all attention toward Mircel. That way, they wouldn’t even attempt to learn more about the rest of us. “Before that, let me ask. Erucel, what’s the general perception of you outside? Specifically, regarding your swordsmanship.” “Well, decent—” Mircel interrupted him. “Just average… No, they’d say it’s disappointing, considering the Tenest family name.” “Wh- who said that?” “Those who’ve picked fights with me.” It seemed they insulted his family to provoke him. “So, how did you handle it?” I asked, and Erucel frowned. “Is this really important right now?” Ignoring him, Mircel answered bluntly. “I tried to let it slide since it was true. But then they insulted my mother, so I broke a few of their limbs.” Ah, family insults are a line no one tolerates. “Hmm, so the perception of Erucel is that he’s a bug. Excellent.” “Excellent?! That’s awful!” Since enrolling in Frost Heart, Erucel had grown significantly stronger. More accurately, it was as though his suppressed abilities had finally been unleashed, turning him into a valuable asset. From what I knew, he was second only to Mircel among the core members, making him a strategic card to play. “Erucel, when we arrive in Valiant, act as if you’re completely useless.” “…What nonsense is this? I have my pride, you know! Why would I—kak!” Erucel choked, coughing as bacon got caught in his throat. Hmm, maybe I wouldn’t even need to tell him—he might manage it naturally. “I’ve mentioned this at the Ten Elites Meeting. They don’t care about us, and I said that’s an advantage. The less curiosity they have, the better.” “Are you trying to lull them into complacency?” “Partly, yes. To them, we are both insignificant and mysterious. Even if they realize their mistake, the lack of information about us will make it hard for them to adapt on the spot.” Knowing or not knowing your opponent can drastically influence victory or defeat. On a battlefield where you can retreat to gather information, it might not matter as much. But this arena was different—the moment we retreated, we would lose entirely. In a limited timeframe, finding a countermeasure against an unknown enemy would feel overwhelmingly pressuring. Erucel seemed to understand, nodding in agreement. “And what about you, big brother? What’s your approach?” I let my gaze drop and replied, “…I plan to stick to the image they already know.” Though my reputation had drastically changed at Frost Heart, the empire at large still regarded me as the greatest scoundrel. I wasn’t confident. Could someone with a pure heart like mine pull off such an act convincingly? It had been a long time, after all. “If that’s the case, just keep doing what you’re doing now.” “What did you just say?” “Nothing at all.” While chatting with Erucel, Mircel suddenly raised his head and asked, “Should I act like a scoundrel like you, big brother?” The sudden derailment of the conversation left my mouth half-open in shock. Erucel was equally astonished. “Mircel, what nonsense are you saying?” “I mean, it seems useful. No bothersome engagement proposals, and you can even use it to your advantage like this.” It seemed he found the reputation of being a scoundrel enticing without understanding my circumstances. Considering the numerous marriage proposals Mircel had to deal with due to adult machinations, I could see why it seemed appealing to him. However, I felt that if things continued down this path, he might get too caught up in the act and genuinely stray off course. To guide my younger brother back onto the right track, I spoke up. “You’ve already missed your chance.” “That’s true… Damn, I should’ve started when I was just learning to walk.” “…Sometimes, I genuinely worry about his future.” *** Eleven men and women gathered in one place. When the student council president began listing the names of academies scheduled for observation, someone widened their eyes in surprise. “Frost Heart?” At the tall man’s remark, the president responded, “Why are you so surprised? Frost Heart is an academy. It’s not particularly unusual.” “Ah, actually, my brother studies there.” “Then you might have the chance to see him, Selburton.” Selburton’s smile quickly faded. “That’s unlikely. Only the main players attend for observation….” The “main players” referred to the top talents of the academy. In Selburton’s mind, his brother, Limberton, was far removed from such a designation. ‘Guess that’s not happening. I was hoping to nag him about sending a letter to Mom.’ Selburton sighed as he recalled the letters from his mother, filled with concerns about his brother. Suddenly, a sharp aura and mana prickled his senses, making him lift his head. Most of those present remained indifferent to Frost Heart, showing no interest. However, a select few did not share that sentiment. The look in their eyes was unmistakably hostile. To read Chapters ahead ???? CH 201-205 (Field Trip) $3 CH 206-210 (Troublemaker Vs Troublemaker) $3 CH 211-215 (Graduation) $3 CH 216-220 (Integrated Academy Tournament) $3 CH 221-225 (The Underdog) $3 CH 226-230 (Who am I?) $3 CH 231-235 (Frostheart Vs Wisdom) $3 Prev I TOC I Next Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Like Loading...