Chapter 604

Book 1 Chapter 604

Roughly twelve hours had gone by since their exploration began.

“Brother Leo.”

“What is it?”

“Today marks the very first time I’ve actually respected Kal.”

Leo couldn’t help but chuckle at Chelsea’s admission.

“Seriously, how does he manage to procure items or secure places to stay so effortlessly without spending a single coin?”

During their introductory year, they had shared a classroom.

Upon entering their sophomore year, even though they resided in separate dorms, their academic department remained identical.

Chelsea and Kal had frequently partnered up to execute assignments and challenge the World of Heroes.

Kal’s particular skill set proved incredibly advantageous during those excursions into the World of Heroes.

That realm threw all sorts of unpredictable scenarios at them.

Individuals raised in affluent or noble households frequently stumbled into hardships they were unaccustomed to simply because they lacked funds.

Having Kal in their party alleviated those burdens completely.

Possessing a naturally relaxed demeanor and incredible social grace, Kal would swiftly win people over, gaining exactly what he required by offering to perform basic tasks in return.

Most peers who found themselves grouped with Kal merely perceived it as a stroke of luck.

Hardly anyone took the time to truly admire the negotiation tactics Kal employed.

This applied to Chelsea as well, despite her being Kal’s closest companion.

Yet at this very moment.

Chelsea was gaining a fresh appreciation for just how remarkable Kal’s talents truly were.

“Actions always appear uncomplicated when you are merely an observer.”

“Ugh.”

Chelsea flinched slightly at the remark.

Leo continued to address her.

“To begin with, your upbringings are completely dissimilar.”

It was unrealistic to expect Chelsea—a direct bloodline descendant of a celebrated family of heroes, pampered since her youth with every luxury—to easily mimic Kal, who was raised in an ordinary family of alchemists and possessed extensive retail experience.

‘When it comes to Kal, he isn’t just practiced; he seems inherently hardwired for this sort of thing.’

Even Leo, who had navigated countless predicaments during his past life as a mercenary, found himself admiring Kal’s cleverness, which spoke volumes.

‘I underestimated this challenge.’

Stripping away their true names and banning the use of sorcery presented a far greater obstacle than they had bargained for.

Furthermore, before they split up.

Leo had gathered and locked away every valuable ornament that might be bartered for currency.

Their attire had also been swapped for mundane garments crafted from basic textiles, the kind found easily in any market.

Naturally, it wasn’t as though they encountered no one offering assistance.

However, every single one of those individuals harbored hidden motives.

Chelsea made sure to discipline anyone who trailed them with malicious intentions.

Grrr—

A low growl echoed from her midsection.

The hour for their evening meal had slipped by long ago.

As Leo turned his gaze toward her upon hearing the noise, a soft crimson tint spread across Chelsea’s cheeks.

‘What is my next move?’

Chelsea’s primary objective had been to secure lodgings.

Yet, success eluded her.

Given that Retin was a renowned haven for travelers, the price for a night’s rest was universally steep.

She had inquired about trading labor for a room, mimicking Kal’s old strategy, but every proprietor rejected the offer.

‘Just offering muscle isn’t cutting it. What trick would Kal pull here?’

Chelsea racked her brain, trying to recall Kal’s old methods.

‘How did you manage to get vendors to give you food without paying?’

‘I just put on a tragic act.’

‘A tragic act?’

‘Exactly. I told them my little sibling hadn’t seen a scrap of food in days because our pockets were empty.’

‘You can spin a falsehood without even blinking, can’t you?’

‘Well, it wasn’t entirely a lie since I actually was starving.’

A past dialogue she shared with Kal inside the World of Heroes resurfaced in her mind.

‘I’m simply not built for fabricating stories like that.’

If it were just a playful trick, she might manage.

However, projecting an aura of genuine misery was beyond her.

Executing such a performance required a particular presence, and Chelsea found it incredibly daunting to mimic Kal’s specific charm.

It was during this period of Chelsea’s internal debate.

“We are supposed to head in that direction, not this one!”

“Stop talking nonsense! Our destination lies over there!”

Familiar shouting echoed from the center of the roadway.

Murmur-murmur—

The sudden outcry instantly attracted a gathering of onlookers.

Moving closer, Leo and Chelsea discovered Niel and Machel locked in another fierce dispute.

“Good grief, not this again.”

Chelsea shielded her face with her palm.

Observing the pair squabbling over trivialities once more, Chelsea cast a wary glance toward Leo.

He had explicitly warned them that internal fighting would not be tolerated.

“That looks like a mere clash of perspectives.”

Hearing Leo’s assessment, a wave of comfort washed over Chelsea.

Machel had been a protective figure for Abard and Chelsea since they were young children.

Consequently, Chelsea took no pleasure in watching Machel face reprimand.

Chelsea observed the bickering duo for a brief moment before releasing a quiet breath.

“Sigh, watching them clash like that makes me feel as though we are the cause, and it weighs heavily on my conscience.”

“What makes you say that? They serve the Gerdinger and Lwalin households respectively, so a natural friction between them is to be expected, isn’t it?”

“True. That is undeniable. But… is it possible that Senior Niel was Brother Machel’s very first romance?”

“Pardon?”

Faced with a completely unforeseen revelation, Leo’s expression turned entirely bewildered for a moment.

“They were actually romantically involved before they registered at Lumerne.”

Hearing this, Leo stared at Niel and Machel, completely stunned.

“Those two were an item?”

“They were.”

“How did that happen?”

“Brother Machel was a student at the Lodren Imperial Academy prior to his time at Lumerne.”

While Lumerne held the title of the premier institution, human civilization boasted several other highly respected academies.

The most renowned among them were the three specialized institutions: the Knight Academy Icot, the Magic Academy Emeral, and the Summoning Academy Scaun.

Generally, individuals dismissed from Lumerne would find their way to these schools, or prospective applicants aiming for Lumerne would use them as a stepping stone.

Even Princess Shasha of the Lodren Empire had studied at Scaun before making her transition to Lumerne.

The Lodren Imperial Academy, dedicated to cultivating the crown’s finest prodigies, stood as a premier institution, trailing only slightly behind Icot, Emeral, and Scaun.

While the three specialized institutions focused strictly on their distinct disciplines, the Lodren Imperial Academy mirrored Lumerne by encouraging collaboration among all types of students.

Most importantly, it offered the convenience of letting students commute from home.

“Machel actually secured admission into Emeral as well, but he chose the Imperial Academy within the capital, insisting he needed to remain close to assist my brother and me. He managed to claim the top rank within the sorcery division there.”

Thinking back to those days, Chelsea gave a slow shake of her head.

“During that period, because a prominent vassal family like Lwalin would inevitably receive special allowances, Brother Machel chose to conceal his lineage.”

Machel navigated his schooling under the guise of a minor rural noble.

He achieved the status of valedictorian for his class entirely through his own grit and dedication.

“Then, one evening, he returned home and shared a story. He had engaged in a sparring match against the top student of the martial division from his year, and he suffered a defeat.”

Machel practiced traditional sorcery.

In a direct, single-combat scenario, he was naturally at a disadvantage against a trained martial artist.

Even so, when Abard and Chelsea learned that Machel had been bested by a classmate, both were incredibly shocked at the time.

“Yet, he didn’t seem discouraged; if anything, he appeared delighted.”

‘My Lady, Young Master. She likewise hails from a minor estate and claimed the peak of the martial division through sheer personal merit. She proved to be an exceptionally brilliant, dignified, and fierce individual. My defeat was entirely justified. Mind you, I have no intention of losing the next encounter.’

“Don’t tell me that top martial student was Senior Niel?”

“It was.”

Niel had enrolled in the Lodren Imperial Academy for precisely the same reasons.

“It appeared they developed a strong bond.”

Both individuals were apparently dismissed by peers as simple country folk from minor estates.

This shared isolation naturally brought them together frequently, causing their relationship to develop rapidly.

Furthermore, they discovered they held a great deal in common whenever they conversed.

“They frequently discussed how they each served a family of immense stature, which allowed them to relate to one another deeply. He brought up Senior Niel nearly every single day.”

‘Young Master! My Lady! She is truly remarkable!’

‘I am eager to introduce her to the two of you!’

‘Young Master! My Lady! We have begun courting!’

Niel and Machel, experiencing the first stirrings of romantic interest, quickly transitioned into a committed couple.

“I recall him pondering their long-term prospects quite seriously back then. He mentioned it would be nearly impossible to find another soul with whom he shared such compatibility.”

“Well, they argue like cats and dogs now, yet their temperaments are completely identical.”

Leo shook his head, clicking his tongue.

“Subsequently, they sat for the Lumerne entry examinations, and that was the exact moment their true lineages were unmasked to one another.”

“And then? What transpired?”

Chelsea let out a soft sigh, noting the deep curiosity written across Leo’s face.

“What else could happen? Naturally, an immense uproar ensued.”

Both successfully cleared the entry trials.

However, the instant they realized each other’s true allegiances, both were utterly devastated.

“Ultimately, they had a massive falling out, each refusing to study within the same class year, resulting in Senior Niel abandoning her enrollment entirely. It seemed she wished to cut ties with Lumerne altogether. However, the Gerdinger family spent a full year changing her mind, and she eventually registered one year behind Machel.”

Niel and Machel had never regarded their affection for one another lightly.

Nevertheless, both possessed unyielding pride and a fierce loyalty to Gerdinger and Lwalin, which ultimately drove them apart.

“You have always behaved in this exact manner! Every single time!”

“That is precisely what I should be saying to you!”

As the pair began dragging up grievances from their past, the surrounding crowd started whispering among themselves.

“Are we witnessing a domestic dispute?”

“It certainly appears that way.”

“They have the look of newlyweds. This is the passionate phase of marriage.”

Because a young man and woman were locked in a heated debate over a disagreement in public, the crowd mistook the scene for a marital spat.

The onlookers continued to watch them, their expressions filled with a sense of collective warmth.

“If you had simply practiced transparency, we would never have found ourselves in this predicament to begin with!”

“Hmph! And that is precisely why our relationship shattered in the end, is it not!”

The cozy sentiment among the crowd dissolved instantly.

Noticing the duo becoming increasingly volatile, Leo remarked,

“I believe we can no longer stand by and watch this escalate.”

“Ah! A brilliant plan has just struck me!”

“What?”

Leo turned an inquisitive gaze toward Chelsea.

“And so… due to my carelessness, our entire family vacation has been completely ruined.”

Chelsea let her shoulders slump miserably.

“I am so incredibly sorry, big brother, big sister. For breaking our family’s holiday.”

“Oh goodness… how heartbreaking.”

The proprietor of the lodging looked upon Chelsea, who wore a profoundly sorrowful expression, with deep pity.

The plot Chelsea spun was straightforward.

A younger sibling who had organized a journey to mend the fractured bond between her older brother and his spouse, who were on the brink of an intense separation and legal divorce, only to end up losing the entirety of their travel funds.

Aided by Niel and Machel’s grand exhibition out on the public thoroughfare, the neighborhood lodging owners had witnessed the commotion firsthand.

Consequently, the narrative felt entirely authentic, and the proprietor fell for the ruse completely.

As a side note, Leo assumed the role of Niel’s younger sibling.

“You two. Your little sister is offering such a sincere apology, why can’t you find it in your hearts to reconcile?”

Hearing those words, Machel, whose features had grown rigid, spoke up as though he could no longer tolerate the deceit.

“I must reveal the absolute truth. I…”

Machel intended to clarify that they shared no marital bond, but he was instantly cut short by the wide, warning stare Chelsea directed at him.

“You as well, sister-in-law, please find a way to ease your anger.”

Niel was similarly prepared to expose the reality, but upon catching Leo’s words, she clamped her jaw shut.

“My dear wife. Your sister speaks the truth. Let your anger fade! The connection between a husband and wife is sacred! It is not something to be discarded so carelessly! Rest easy. For this evening. You shall reside within my establishment. It just so happens we have a pair of vacant quarters available.”

As the proprietor spoke to offer them comfort, Chelsea chimed in.

“C-Could you truly extend such kindness to us?”

Observing Chelsea’s eyes glisten with hope, the old innkeeper offered a warm, booming laugh.

“Without a doubt! This old soul is deeply moved by the selfless devotion of a clever young girl who treasures her family so dearly!”

“Wonderful! To show my gratitude, I will put all my effort into assisting with the chores around the inn!”

“Haha! Having such an attractive young maiden assisting us will undoubtedly draw in a crowd of patrons!”

“And my brother here happens to be an incredible chef!”

Chelsea gestured toward Leo as she made the claim.

“We have been operating with a short staff, so that is excellent news!”

Chelsea, having successfully obtained lodgings for the group, clutched the room keys and offered a victorious grin.

“Thanks to the antics of Machel and Senior Niel, we’ve managed to land an excellent place to rest!”

“Still, that backstory you fabricated was rather intense, wouldn’t you say?”

A married couple teetering on the edge of permanent separation.

The premise was certainly unconventional.

“Oh? Intense? My sibling Airan spends a great deal of time reading literature featuring these exact plotlines, so I merely replicated what I remembered.”

Upon hearing Chelsea’s source of inspiration, Leo narrowed his vision slightly.

‘Perhaps I ought to have a word with Airan as well?’

With that thought crossing his mind, Leo cast a glance over his shoulder.

He directed his speech toward the two individuals who looked entirely prepared to tear each other apart.

“I shall permit you to resolve your differences within these walls.”

“We have no intention of arguing.”

“Indeed! There will be no fighting.”

Hearing their assertions, Leo turned his gaze back to Chelsea.

“Do you truly believe they will keep the peace?”

“Not a chance.”

When it came to this specific matter, Niel and Machel were entirely beyond trust.