After finishing his morning water class, El arrived at the designated place.
“El-senpai, I heard you got injured? Let me take a look…”
A grayish-white head crashed into El’s chest; from his angle, it looked just like a dumpling.
Vita pressed in close, the fresh fragrance of her hair invading El’s nose, along with that awkward softness…
Her hands moved over El, as if checking his physical condition.
“Hey, let go, see? I’m fine, aren’t I…”
Vita’s strength was surprising—her arms still so slender, her skin so delicate… El struggled symbolically, showing his resistance.
“Seems you really are okay. I was worried sick, El-senpai. I heard the manor outside the Royal Capital was attacked, and I’ve been anxious all morning.”
After a moment, Vita released him.
“Haven’t I told you already? You don’t need to call me ‘senpai’ anymore…… By the way, did you need something?”
Vita stuck out her tongue: “I’m already used to it! Besides, there aren’t many people around you who call you that, right? It makes it easier to tell you apart.”
“Apart from worrying about you, there’s something else I wanted to tell you, about Sunday, the results of my investigation at the academy.”
That day, El had confessed to Vita at the café, telling her all about his predicament, the threats from the cultists, and everything related.
He told Vita that the person behind the cultists was likely the Second Prince, yet even so, Vita chose to stand by him.
Because the suspicion toward the Lavade family was heavy, and as the second son, Pino and his faction naturally became the main suspects.
A large portion of the Fierce Lion Society’s members had attended the Sunday Banquet, and that day was when their base—the Kenya Pavilion—had the weakest defenses.
“I told you not to act rashly, didn’t I? It’s dangerous.”
What El cared about most wasn’t the clues, but Vita’s safety.
He didn’t expect Vita to be so annoyed, as if saying “You’re so naggy, you know?”:
“El-senpai, get this straight, I’m already stronger than you now. I’m not your obedient subordinate, I’m the knight who protects you. How could I pass up such a good opportunity?”
“How embarrassing, El. Getting told off by a young girl like that—don’t you have any pride left?” Angell gloated in his mind.
El realized his words had been inappropriate. The first thing he did wasn’t to praise Vita’s results, but to question her judgment. Was his emotional intelligence still too low…?
El raised an eyebrow: “Oh? Then how about we compete again? If I win, you’ll have to listen to me.”
But this also stoked El’s competitive spirit. The last time he lost to Vita, it was mostly because his magic power was simply too lacking.
But now, he wasn’t lacking anything.
He wanted to teach Vita a lesson about respecting her seniors.
The tension between them sparked in an instant.
“So, El-senpai is still dissatisfied?” Vita also couldn’t accept her newly acquired knight qualification being doubted, and retorted.
“Of course. Last time I lost because of my magic power defect, but I’ve already fixed that problem. Now, it’ll be hard for you to win.” El said.
“El, you just got your magic power back, and you’re already so arrogant? You’ll suffer for it,” Angell laughed.
El said inwardly, “Shut up. Do you think all the years I suffered because of lacking magic were for nothing? It’s all your fault, Angell.”
That’s right. Just this morning, El had reclaimed his lost magic power—not through external means (“White Rose”), but his own, true magic.
According to Angell’s explanation, a significant part of his soul had formed the cage that imprisoned “Wrath,” but at the same time, that part of his soul also handled the storage of his magic power.
Because Angell was in slumber, that part of his magic was also inaccessible, which created the illusion of El lacking magic.
El cursed, “Useless demon, aside from stealing my magic power, what good are you?”
“Hehe, getting worked up?” Angell laughed again.
I… El resolved that he’d definitely reclaim his dignity from the demon.
“If you’re so dissatisfied, El-senpai, then let’s compete again. I’ll make sure you’re convinced.”
So, they made their way to a secluded training ground.
The grounds were completely empty, since it was lunchtime and no one else was around.
“Senpai, are you ready?” Vita picked up a wooden sword and asked.
“Why aren’t you wearing protective gear, Vita?”
“No need for that… it’ll be over quickly anyway.”
Angell burst out laughing: “Hahaha, El, you’re going to be treated like a roadside mob!”
“Is that so… As your senpai, I still ask you to wear your protective gear—for your own safety.” El forced out a polite smile, though the corners of his eyes were already twitching.
Vita reluctantly complied.
El took a deep breath. “Let’s begin.”
He was determined to show Vita who the real boss was!
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept across the training ground, even sending the autumn leaves outside rustling.
Vita’s gray-white hair fluttered behind her, and the wooden sword in her hand became the center of the field as her battle aura condensed, her momentum climbing steadily, section by section.
This isn’t good, better attack first. El thought.
A crimson magic circle appeared, the blast of air making the hem of El’s clothes flap, and the whole training ground’s temperature shot up.
“This move, El? Isn’t it a bit too flashy?” Angell commented.
The high-level spell “Fireball,” with his previous magic reserves, would’ve completely drained him.
But now, he could even spend twice the usual magic to achieve a quick chant. How extravagant!
Of course, he’d tweaked the spell’s details, reducing the area of effect while keeping the power, so as not to damage the training grounds.
The fireball, symbolizing destruction, shot toward Vita, wild magic filling the scene with a sense of danger.
That should be enough for firepower suppression. Next, I’ll calculate Vita’s dodge point, then form a strategy. El’s mind raced.
“After ‘Ice Arrow’, chain into ‘Wind Blade’, then finish with ‘Ice Burst’. The scene should develop like that,” he silently recited.
But what happened next completely upended El’s expectations.
Vita moved, and the airflow in the training ground abruptly stalled.
A blue sword light turned into a storm, slicing and disrupting the Fireball, shredding it to pieces. Like a splash merging into the sea, it disappeared quietly, not even stirring a ripple.
Angell muttered in surprise: “That level of technique……”
How could that be? Even a master swordsman shouldn’t be able to cut apart a Fireball. No matter what, it should have exploded, right?
El’s heart sank—he understood he’d lost, even though his magic was at full strength.
“Well? El-senpai? Still want to argue?”
Vita took off her gear and set down her wooden sword, her pure smile bright as she strolled up to El.
“How did you do that?” he couldn’t help but ask.
“This… let me show you.”
Unknowingly, Vita was already very close. Suddenly, she grabbed El’s hand.
Vita was petite, her palms small, needing both hands to fully hold El’s.
“Wait, what are you doing?”
If this went on, his hand would touch Vita’s chest!
“Shh, don’t talk, senpai. Feel it with your heart.”
Ah, as expected, contact was made. El’s whole body went rigid, afraid to move. The soft sensation made his face flush; he wanted to pull back his hand, but Vita pressed it down firmly.
Though she didn’t look strong, Vita still had the delicate curves of a young maiden.
“Senpai, you’re such a pervert. Didn’t you feel it? My heart.”
Vita grumbled.
Hearing this, El focused seriously—and a whole new world opened to him.
He could feel that everything was breathing: the maple trees outside the training ground, the ground, even Vita’s discarded gear.
They revealed their structure to El, their weaknesses laid bare, making him feel like he could destroy them all effortlessly.
“This is…” he exclaimed in shock.
“This is ‘Glass Sword Heart’, my innate talent.”
“No wonder—you found the Fireball’s weakness? Incredible… such a powerful talent?”
That’s right. This was Vita, the heroine of the story, not only blessed with peerless sword talent, but also a walking cheat— even El’s proud Fireball technique… ahhhhh!
“Hmph! My anger’s gone now. Really, it’s all your fault, El-senpai. I tried so hard…” Vita pouted.
“Sorry, I know I was wrong.”
El replied.
What could he say… Vita was truly strong—no exaggeration, the pressure she gave him was already close to last night’s “Withered Knight” Taiwen.
But he still wanted to talk to Vita properly about “safety.” On this point, El didn’t want to give in.
But, did he really still have the right to lecture Vita? El wondered.
“Actually, before that day, my innate talent wasn’t so strong.” Vita suddenly spoke, “But after that, I decided to become your knight, El-senpai, and my sword heart grew stronger.”
“What truly made me so powerful is my heart. On this point alone, I hope you won’t deny me, El-senpai.” Vita looked at him seriously.
El was speechless: “I…”
“Hehe, I just reflected, and realized you were only worried about me, weren’t you? It’s my fault for being too sensitive.”
Angell complained: “So sappy, really can’t understand you humans.”
El ignored the demon and said to Vita, “So that’s the end of it? In the future, whatever you do, at least discuss it with me first.”
“Mm-hmm.” Vita nodded quickly.
“So perfunctory.”
“Now for the main topic, El-senpai. Yesterday, I found evidence that Pino Lavade is colluding with the Demon Cult.”
“What?” El hadn’t expected such a shocking bombshell right off the bat.
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