KakaoPage Originals
The Legendary Hero is an Academy Honor Student
[Original — Yerona]
[TL — MiT7]
[PR — Spades]
[QC — Lumi]
Chapter 6 — A Week of Vengeance
——————
The next morning.
Knock, knock—
A knock interrupted Leo as he read in his room.
"Come in."
The door swung open.
Celia entered, dressed in the plain maid outfit worn by Flove's servants.
"For the next week, I, Celia, will serve as Young Master Leo's maid. Please take care of me."
Her dead-fish eyes met Leo's as he looked up from his book.
"Pretty committed, huh?"
"One must take responsibility for their words. It's one of our family's mottos."
Despite her lifeless gaze, her posture was impeccable.
The ideal maid.
Her natural charm made the navy fabric and white frills of the maid outfit look stunning.
Her black hair gleamed in the sunlight.
As Leo stared, Celia spoke.
"I get that you're awed by my beauty, but if you're leering, I'll knock you out."
"If I offended you, I'm sorry," Leo said, smacking his lips.
"I had a friend who called himself an artist. He was obsessed with praising beauty, and I guess it rubbed off on me."
'Beauty is always supreme. Eternal. Once peace comes, I'll spend my life spreading beauty to the world!'
Now hailed as [The Divine Blacksmith], the dwarven hero Dweno.
He looked happier crafting art than weapons.
Even during their quest to defeat Erebos, he never stopped creating.
"Sounds like a fine friend who truly appreciates beauty," Celia said.
Born a Zerdinger, she knew leadership required charisma.
Charm was part of that.
Pleased by the compliment, she preened as Leo propped his chin.
'So sincere it bordered on perversion. He got inspiration by begging Lisinas and Luna to pose nude.'
Memories flooded back.
'Lisinas, Luna. Your personalities are a mess, but your elegance is unmatched. So, for art's sake, be my nude models.'
Of course, Lisinas and Luna refused outright.
'That pervert's hailed as a great hero, and I'm what, nothing?'
Leo let out a hollow laugh, gazing out the window.
Celia studied him closely.
She'd lost yesterday, fair and square.
'Thinking I'd have won if I hadn't been careless is just stupid.'
Her defeat was the result of her own arrogance.
Being a maid for a week would make her a laughingstock back home.
'But it's my burden to bear.'
Denying it would be an even greater shame.
'Plus, I'm curious.'
How could someone wield such power without aura?
"You're reading in the morning? I thought you'd be training," Celia said.
She'd hoped to observe his methods.
'Is that book some special training manual?'
"Mornings are for taking it easy."
Leo closed the book.
Celia glanced at the title and frowned.
'A great heroes storybook?'
She peeked at his bookshelf.
'All books about the great heroes.'
Not just storybooks.
Histories, research papers, and more.
A substantial collection.
"You're really into the great heroes, huh? Makes sense, they're legendary."
Celia was also fascinated by them.
"Can I check out your bookshelf?"
"Sure."
Standing before it, Celia marveled.
"Impressive. Most hero scholars couldn't compete with this."
Hero research remained a thriving field.
"Lots of books on Kyle."
"Reference material."
"Well, whether Kyle was real or not, many believe his deeds were genuine."
"You think so too?"
"Of course."
Among the heroes' feats, those unattributed to specific individuals were credited to Kyle.
'Even if history erased me, I'm not completely forgotten.'
Leo felt a surge of pride.
"Probably some con artist trying to steal the vague heroes' achievements."
Leo's eye twitched.
"You're saying Kyle was a fraud?"
"Pretty likely."
Celia shrugged.
It was a common academic view.
"I see. That's what you think."
"Hm?"
"Let's eat breakfast and train."
Celia's eyes sparkled.
"Can I join if you allow it?"
She was eager to uncover the secret of his strength.
"My training's tough to keep up with."
"Hah, I've conquered Zerdinger's training with ease."
Celia's confident grin met Leo's twisted smile.
"Oh?"
Later, she'd reflect.
She should've run then.
***
Whoosh—!
Thwack—!
"Ugh!"
"Too slow."
Leo's wooden sword knocked Celia's aside.
She scrambled to recover her stance.
But Leo was faster.
Whoosh—
Thud—
"Argh!"
"That's what happens when you expose your back."
Struck on the shoulder from behind, Celia rolled in pain.
Since breakfast, Leo's training hadn't stopped.
As the pain subsided, Celia snapped.
"Young Master Leo! Is this really training?"
To her, Leo's methods were beyond rigorous—they were torture.
Forcing her to push past her limits, demanding constant movement.
Naturally, she wasn't allowed to use aura.
She'd never heard of such a training regimen.
As she protested, Leo muttered, "Kids these days are soft."
"What?!"
"I told you my training's tough. If it's too much, quit now."
"Don't be ridiculous! I can handle this!"
Her pride stung, Celia doubled down.
"Alright, let's keep going."
"W-Wait, that's not—"
Regretting her bravado, Celia soon found herself floored again, struck by Leo's sword.
Without aura, the gap in their skill was insurmountable.
'Why! Can't I win!'
It wasn't just strength—his swordsmanship was untouchable.
Yesterday and today.
Her pride was being crushed.
'The aura training methods have advanced a lot since 5,000 years ago.'
Looking down at the panting Celia, Leo marveled.
Modern aura techniques far surpassed those of his time.
The average knight today was stronger.
But the pinnacle of strength hadn't changed much.
'If anything, 5,000 years ago was stronger.'
While aura training had progressed, physical conditioning was neglected.
Aura amplified physical power.
Thus, a stronger body enhanced aura.
'Advanced Aura Arts created new problems.'
"Still, I'm impressed. I didn't expect you to keep up this far."
"Don't underestimate me."
"Shall we call it for the afternoon? We'll pick up again tonight."
Celia, pushed to her limit, gritted her teeth.
'I may lose in strength, but I won't lose in swordsmanship! I'll win!'
***
"Don't underestimate me, you damn white-haired jerk."
After evening training.
Celia, limbs trembling, dragged herself back to the estate.
Leo had already returned to his room.
'Ugh… Is that guy a monster?'
Recalling Leo's relentless sword swings, Celia shuddered.
Moving like that daily explained his physique.
'Heh… But I didn't lose in swordsmanship tonight!'
Using every technique she knew, she'd held her own in the evening.
'If I keep training like this, could I become like him?'
The thought was daunting.
She'd vomited five times today.
'Now that I think about it, that's so embarrassing!'
Blushing, Celia sighed.
'I just want to wash and sleep.'
But first, she had to prepare Leo's bed.
She was his maid, after all.
'I'll make his bed, wash, and crash.'
Reaching Leo's room, Celia took a deep breath.
Calming her trembling limbs, she feigned composure.
She refused to show weakness.
Knock, knock—
"Come in."
"You're holding up better than I expected."
"Hah, this is nothing to me."
Celia flashed a confident grin.
"Didn't you vomit five times?"
"I'll make your bed."
Ignoring Leo's jab, Celia tidied his bed.
"Good night, Young Master. See you tomorrow."
"Hold on. I've got a gift."
"A gift?"
Curious, Celia approached.
"Thanks for pushing through today."
Leo smiled, handing her a gift box.
'He knows to be grateful.'
Celia felt a knot in her chest loosen.
'Yeah, I'm the patriarch's daughter serving him. He better be thankful.'
Smirking, she opened the box.
Inside was a simple silver chain bracelet.
Sensing mana, she felt dread.
"A weight-enchanted bracelet. Wear it for training tomorrow."
Leo grinned.
Celia's face froze.
"I'm good."
"A maid refusing her master's gift isn't proper, is it?"
"Hey! You're just trying to torment me, aren't you?! This isn't training—it's torture!"
Celia exploded.
"Soft."
Her eyes blazed.
"Who's soft?!"
"I train with those on. If you can't handle it, fine."
"Who said I can't? I'll wear the damn thing!"
Provoked again, Celia stormed out, swearing.
Outside Leo's door, she clutched her head, cursing her impulsiveness.
'So easy to rile up.'
Leo smirked.
'Who called me a fraud?'
Celia's morning comment about Kyle being a con artist still stung.
A petty grudge for a great hero who saved the world.
But Leo felt no shame.
'If it were the others, they'd have done worse.'
His friends were even bigger eccentrics.
'I'll make this a week of hell.'
Imagining Celia's torment, Leo grinned wickedly.