"What is going on here?"
"I guess I should ask that? Before that..."
Warden asked, glancing over at Chelsea, who was standing up and dusting herself off her bottom.
"What is that thing?"
"Ah, this is...."
"Is this Leo Plov's taste?"
"It's not like that?"
Chelsea rolled her eyes.
Looking at Chelsea like that, Warden burst out into a low laugh.
Warden wasn't a very sociable person.
Even when my classmates were joking around and playing, I often found myself lost in my own thoughts.
Perhaps because of that personality, I tended to move around on my own since my first year.
'Of course, that doesn't mean Warden isn't helpful to the Summoning Department.'
Warden's fighting power is so overwhelming that he practically takes first place in the Summoning Department, rivaling Eliza.
'If it weren't for Leo, Warden would have been our leader.'
There is no student among my classmates who denies that.
Even the proud and belligerent Duran and Eliza.
Although he was reluctant to lead the group and had to force Eliza to become the leader of the Summoning Department, that didn't mean that Wareden lacked leadership.
Chelsea, who had been dormitory co-leaders in her second year, knew that.
The reason why she was able to become the dormitory head without much friction as a dormitory head like Celia was because Wareden was good at mediating in the middle.
Thanks to that connection, the students who rarely joked with Warden were Chelsea and Celia.
Chelsea said, looking at Warden, who was joking and laughing at herself.
"Warren. If you were just a little more gentle with Nana and Celia, they'd be much more obedient."
Warden may not have been very sociable, but he was a student who could be trusted more than anyone else in battle.
"I'll get a girlfriend soon."
Thanks to his taciturn personality and absolute charisma, he was quite popular among female students.
"I'm half-joking and half-serious," said Wareden, responding to Chelsea's words.
"I'm not interested in dating."
"Hey. You should spend your youth during your school days."
"So, is Leo Plov enjoying his youth too?"
"that...."
Chelsea was left speechless by Warden's words.
"I don't know what your definition of enjoying youth is, but even if it wasn't specifically about love, I was enjoying my school days to the fullest."
Warden curled the corners of his mouth.
"I guess it's not such a bad feeling to pursue a goal that has no answer."
"Are you still aiming to defeat Leo?"
"Is that not okay?"
"It's not that it's not possible...."
Chelsea looked at Warreden with slightly puzzled eyes.
Warren chuckled as he watched Chelsea like that.
"Don't worry, I have no intention of feuding with Leo Plov or anything."
"Don't worry about that."
Chelsea sighed softly.
Defeat Leo Plov.
It was a word that I had stopped hearing around me.
Chelsea wasn't the one who admired Leo during the entrance exam, but every student competing for the top spot in the department aimed to beat Leo.
But that was impossible from the beginning.
'Because Leo's true identity is Kyle.'
The starting line is different.
Even if you have exceptional talent, is it possible to defeat a great hero?
As Chelsea met Leo and other great heroes, she realized one thing.
That a great hero is not created simply through talent.
Maybe I could never catch up even if I tried my whole life.
Perhaps that was why the goals of those who had set their sights on defeating Leo naturally changed.
'Maybe it was from then?'
2nd year, 1st semester, midterm exam.
The moment when Leo alone defeated all the top students in the dormitory competition, except for Chen Xia and Chloe, who were on the same side.
'When Leo first tested us as a great hero.'
A lot has changed since then.
To his peers, Leo changed from someone they wanted to beat to someone they wanted to follow.
Chelsea knew that her brother, Abad, and her arch-enemy, Celia, were not the type to readily accept someone as their leader.
Not to mention the proud Duran and Eliza.
Even those who had been leading others their entire lives had no choice but to acknowledge Leo as a leader from that moment on.
The skills Leo showed at that time were overwhelming.
'It wasn't just because Leo was strong.'
The fight at that time was absolutely not in Leo's favor.
Rather, it was advantageous to them.
But Leo didn't care and broke them head on.
After that incident, Chelsea thought everyone had given up on beating Leo.
But it seemed like Warden didn't give up.
"Are you okay?"
Moreover, the Leo of that time and the Leo of now are literally worlds apart.
A great hero regaining his strength and a hero candidate growing in strength.
The speed at which you get stronger cannot be the same.
No matter how hard you chase, you can't catch up; instead, the gap widens.
From the perspective of the pursuer, one cannot help but feel despair.
Even more so because I don't know the truth.
'No, if it's Warden, I won't give up even if I know the truth.'
It may break, but it will not be broken.
The Warrenden Chelsea knew was that kind of person.
Warren answered calmly, looking at Chelsea who had a worried expression on her face.
"Put that look away, Chelsea Llewallin."
"Even if this worries you...!"
Warren answered, looking at Chelsea, who was clenching her fists in frustration.
"This is the path I chose. I was already prepared for a lifetime of frustration and despair."
Chelsea, who was looking at Warden who answered indifferently, stuck out her tongue.
He was working hard silently and sincerely trying to defeat Leo.
"You're persistent too. You're persistent."
Chelsea couldn't help but admire Warden's mental strength.
Leo gave the hero candidates around him, either directly or indirectly, directions on which to go.
I even gave advice to Duran, and he accepted it.
But Warden just watched silently.
"He doesn't need advice. He's the kind of guy who finds his own answers and moves forward."
Only now did Chelsea understand what Leo was saying.
And I realized anew how great Warden is.
When Chelsea is in awe.
"Chelsea Llewallin."
"huh?"
"This is just my opinion."
"...?"
"Supporting his back is important, but… breaking him might be what truly saves him."
"...salvation?"
Chelsea looked puzzled.
"Okay. So tell the other guys."
"What kind?"
"Let's join forces and defeat Leo Plov before graduation."
"...."
When Chelsea made a strange expression, Warren chuckled and changed the subject.
"So, why are you walking around here like that?"
"I polymorphed. I'm going to participate in the Colosseum."
"Huh?"
"Then you?"
"I received an invitation."
Wareden took out the invitation he had received from the Land of Water from his bosom and showed it to him.
"They asked me to participate in this year's Colosseum season."
With an invitation, races other than the Suin could also participate in the Colosseum.
"The Polymorph spell was apparently cast by Leo Plov's fairy?"
"huh."
"So you're saying he came with Leo Plov? Who is he?"
"I'm training Ar."
"You're the student council president of Azonia… You're still busy. So?"
"huh?"
"Leo Plov wouldn't have come here just to participate in the Colosseum, would he?"
"What are you talking about?"
The Great Spirit is like the ultimate goal for a spirit master.
Moreover, since the Great Spirits do not have many allies, making an allegiance with the Great Spirits was no different from a competition for the spirit masters.
Even though the Great Spirit of the Wind was unpredictable, I couldn't just reveal its location.
"Is it because of the Great Spirit of the Wind?"
"What? You knew that too?"
"It seems that the Great Spirit of Wind is indeed here."
Chelsea, upset at being tricked, lunged at Warreden.
"Wareden said, reaching out and pushing Chelsea away.
"Don't get excited. I've suspected the presence of the Wind Spirit ever since I arrived in this city. I've only just confirmed it."
"Shaaaaak!"
"You've become a real cat person."
Warden clicked his tongue as he watched Chelsea throwing a tantrum like a cat.
"How about cooperating?"
"cooperation?"
Chelsea asked, her eyes narrowed.
"Yes. I'm also interested in the pact with Silleton."
Warden curled the corners of his mouth.
"Leo Plov will also try to make a pact with the Wind Spirit, but it doesn't matter. After all, Silleton prefers multiple pledges."
Wareden, who had already made a pact with the Great Spirit of the Earth in his second year.
"Is Titanium acceptable?"
"That's all for now. He said it wouldn't matter if I could do it."
Chelsea was impressed by Warden's ability to persuade the scheming man.
"You managed to get permission."
At that, Elsie spoke so that only Chelsea could hear.
-Even if the Great Spirits only want one pledge, they often grant permission if the contract holder is attractive.
Of course, it is a rare case that can be counted on one hand even throughout the Age of Heroes.
-You're a natural flirt.
Chelsea asked, looking at Elsie who shrugged.
'Elsie doesn't treat Leo like a playboy.'
-Yes, it's nice that I can make a lot of new friends, but... ... everyone is not happy that Leo has a lot of followers.
'I think Arty likes it?'
-Because you'll feel neglected.
Chelsea felt depressed by that answer.
Now we know that Arty is a Pegasus who has been sworn to the House of Lordren for generations.
'When I was young, I was deeply moved by the story of Arti and the First Emperor.'
"So? What are we going to do? Finding Sileton quickly would be helpful to Leo Plov, too."
Chelsea nodded at Warden's words.
"Okay. Let's find it together."