“It seems they’ve caught on to Arron-nim’s identity.”
Melina spoke with a slightly troubled expression.
“He probably anticipated that, to some extent.”
“What should we do?”
“I don’t think those three will tell anyone else.”
All three were former student council presidents.
They would surely understand the repercussions if it became known that Arron had revealed himself in this era.
“Even so, I’ll have a separate word with them.”
“Alright.”
Leo nodded at Melina’s words.
Leo watched Arron, who was guiding the graduates, and sank into thought.
'You’re preparing in your own way.'
“And Leo-nim.”
“Yes?”
“About what you mentioned before.”
“Mm.”
“I think next week should be fine.”
Leo nodded.
“Got it.”
The third week of the training camp.
===
Splash—
“I feel alive~”
“I’ve been waiting for this moment~”
The second-years, now settled into the campsite, had taken care of their basic needs.
“Who knew we’d even build a bathhouse?”
“I’m fine with it. Celia-yang was happy too, wasn’t she?”
Chen Xia laughed at Celia’s muttering.
“That’s true.”
Even if they were Hero Candidates, they were still adolescents.
Plenty of them cared about their appearance even in harsh conditions.
So the desire to stay clean in the wild only grew stronger.
Eventually, that led to building a bathhouse.
They soaked in the hot water, washing away the day’s fatigue.
“Those first-years! Huh? We sunbaes are suffering like dogs here! Huh? And they’re just kicking back and living comfortably?”
Just then, Eliana’s sharp voice rang out.
Eliana, who had entered the bathhouse, grabbed Nella and started grumbling.
“I was feeling sorry for them, thinking they were suffering like us! How dare they betray me like this!”
“Do you really want to take your frustration out on your hubae for that reason?”
Nella shook her head.
Yesterday, it became known that unlike the second-years—who were living through hellish days in the wild—the first-years were having their training camp in a very comfortable environment.
“I want to have a campfire too! Eat delicious food every day! Be busy having fun every night! I dreamed of a training camp like that too! I want to be a dutiful daughter sitting by the campfire, thinking of my parents’ kindness!”
The Lumene girls turned away from Eliana, who was flailing and shouting as if she’d been wronged.
Eliana, who had entered the hot spring like that, muttered.
“By the way, it’s an open-air bath, but there aren’t any perverts trying to peek.”
“Who would do something so foolish?”
It went without saying, but with geniuses of Aura, Magic, and Summoning gathered here, avoiding the girls’ eyes was impossible.
It was literally suicidal.
To that, Eliana said,
“Why? The class rep has the ability, doesn’t he?”
“There’s no way Leo would do something like that.”
“The class rep is still a guy.”
Eliana muttered at Nella’s words, but no one agreed.
“Even foolish thoughts should have their limits.”
Chelsea scolded her.
Eliana pouted, then grinned slyly.
“What’s with that nasty smile?”
Chelsea narrowed her eyes, but Eliana shook her head.
“No, it’s nothing. It’s just that you’re definitely young. Compared to that.”
Eliana looked at Chen Xia.
“Xia is definitely an unni, an unni. Mmm! Keugh! Gurgle—!”
Eliana flailed after being kicked by Chelsea.
After a brief commotion—
“Ah! By the way, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
“They said there’s no training tomorrow!”
“What are you talking about?”
Everyone’s eyes widened at Eliana’s sudden words.
“They said tomorrow is free time! We can even go play in Delan, the capital of the Dellad Kingdom! They said we just have to return the day after tomorrow?”
“What?!”
“Really!”
“You’re not lying, are you?”
The girls crowded around Eliana, eyes wide.
“Yep~ I heard it from Carr, so it’s reliable!”
“Freedom from this hell!”
“It’s only for a day! But we can relax comfortably!”
“Hooray!”
The next morning.
Melina appeared during morning roll call.
“You’ve all worked hard training diligently over the past three weeks. You’ve endured the harsh schedule well. So, for one night and two days, you’ll have an outing……”
“Wooaaah! Freedom!”
“Those who shouted. Step to the back right now.”
At Riennia’s cold voice, the faces of the students who had shouted turned pale.
While a few were being disciplined, Melina finished with a bright smile.
“I hope you all have a pleasant outing.”
===
Arron’s eyes widened at the sight unfolding before him.
The place where Arron stood was none other than the streets of Delan.
“So this is a city of the current era.”
Arron marveled.
Though it was a minor border country, as the capital of a nation, the streets were brimming with vitality.
Watching the carriages and people come and go, Arron kept turning his head this way and that.
Seeing this, Chelsea muttered.
“Doesn’t it make you a little uneasy watching Arron-nim?”
“What does?”
“It feels like we need to take good care of him. How should I put it… like watching a child let loose near the water?”
“Isn’t it hilarious that you, the most childish one, are saying that?”
Carr chuckled.
Without hesitation, Chelsea delivered a dropkick to Carr’s side.
Carr collapsed pitifully, clutching his side and groaning for a while before struggling back up.
“By the way, Leo and Chelsea. You two were entrusted with guiding Arron-nim by Dragon Lord Melina-nim, right?”
“Yes!”
Chelsea proudly puffed out her chest.
For a Hero Candidate, being personally entrusted to guide a Great Hero they’d only met in childhood fairy tales was an honor beyond measure.
“Ar was practically sobbing as she was dragged away by Lunia.”
Ar had volunteered to guide Arron, but was rejected.
It was because of Melina’s concern that Arron—who seemed to fear Ar subconsciously—might not be able to enjoy the present comfortably.
“But we’re staying at the same lodging in the evening.”
Chelsea and Carr shook their heads, thinking of Ar.
“Carr, what are you going to do?”
“Heh. I’m going to secretly stock up on items to bring inside. They’ll sell for a high price, right?”
“Wouldn’t you face terrible consequences if caught?”
“I just won’t get caught. I won’t get caught.”
Carr chuckled slyly.
Seeing him like that, Chelsea shook her head.
“You dare say that in front of Leo Oppa.”
Leo, the student council president, had reported Carr to the student council several times for cleverly violating school rules.
“He said he’d let minor prohibited items slide if they’re not serious? Mwahahaha!”
Carr laughed confidently.
“We’ll see how well you do.”
“Alright. Then have a great time! Arron-nim! See you in the evening!”
Carr bid farewell and left.
Arron waved to Carr, then approached Chelsea.
“Chelsea. I’ll buy that for you. Let’s eat it together.”
Arron pointed to the ice cream being sold at a street stall.
“Yes! Arron-nim!”
Lunchtime.
Following Leo’s recommendation, the three arrived at a hidden gem of a restaurant in Delan.
It wasn’t fancy, but since it had been recommended by Leo—who had lived in Delan—the food was extremely satisfying.
“Phew.”
Sitting on a bench near the restaurant under the bright summer sun, Chelsea muttered,
“I’m happy. This is what living is.”
After being cooped up in the mountains for three weeks, Chelsea found this unbelievably enjoyable.
As Chelsea smiled blissfully, Arron approached her.
“Chelsea. The sun is strong. You might get sunburned. I bought you a hat.”
“Thank you!”
“I also bought drinks. Let’s have them as dessert.”
“Yes!”
Chelsea put on the wide-brimmed hat Arron gave her and took a sip of the iced drink—then suddenly went, “Huh!” and sprang up.
“W-wait a minute! Something’s wrong here!”
At Chelsea’s urgent cry, Arron—who was about to bring the straw to his mouth—widened his eyes.
Leo asked, puzzled,
“What’s wrong?”
“Leo Oppa is helping Arron-nim with sightseeing, right! But what about me? Arron-nim is just taking care of me! I should be guiding Arron-nim too!”
Since arriving in the city, Leo had taken on the role of Arron’s guide.
Originally, this free time was created so Arron could enjoy the current era.
Arron had strongly declined, saying he would help the younger generation grow, but Leo had forced a day’s time for Arron’s sake.
Yet in that situation, Arron was meticulously taking care of Chelsea as if she were a younger sibling.
For Chelsea—who had been brimming with enthusiasm about being entrusted to guide the Great Hero who saved the world—the current situation was bewildering.
“I like it this way.”
“Huh?”
“Ar, Lunia, Eiran, Drianna, Carr—they’re like Velkia to me.”
To Arron, Velkia was a younger sibling, but before that, she was a disciple.
A disciple who would stand with him on the battlefield.
A precious younger sibling he had helped and been helped by countless times.
“But Chelsea. You remind me of my younger siblings from when I was little.”
“Your younger siblings from when you were little?”
“Yes.”
Arron smiled bitterly.
“The younger siblings I couldn’t protect because of my own foolishness.”
The children from the orphanage.
Siblings who were far too young to die.
“If I hadn’t acted like a fool back then…… maybe they would have grown up and seen this blue sky too.”
Arron looked up at the blue sky.
“So I want to take care of you. Does it make you uncomfortable?”
“No. How should I put it? I don’t know how to act when you take care of me like this. My brother and Leo Oppa might see me as cute, but they don’t take care of me so meticulously, so it feels unfamiliar, I guess. Should I say… I’m happy?”
Arron laughed as Chelsea rolled her eyes.
“Then keep me company.”
“Yes! But if you only take care of me like this, won’t Leo Oppa feel a little left out?”
Chelsea looked at Leo as she spoke, and Arron chuckled.
“Leo will be fine. Right?”
“Don’t worry about me.”
“See?”
At Leo’s response, Chelsea nodded.
“Shall we start moving, then?”
“In that case, I’d like to go to the library next.”
At Arron’s answer, Leo nodded.
'Leo Oppa is amazing.'
Watching that, Chelsea burst into laughter.
At first, she’d been surprised to see Leo speaking so comfortably with Arron.
'Carr and the others too. They said they spoke as equals with the Great Heroes they met in the Hero Record, right?'
Whenever she heard those stories, she thought it was surprising—yet fitting for the confident Leo.
'It seems Arron-nim also treats Leo-nim more comfortably. Should I call it Leo Oppa’s charm?'
Chelsea smiled, watching the two walk ahead.
Then, as she watched Arron talking with Leo, she suddenly stopped.
Leo and Arron seemed like friends.
But at the same time, their relationship felt strangely familiar to Chelsea.
'Where have I seen this before?'
Tilting her head, Chelsea recalled something.
Arron’s demeanor resembled her own—relying on Leo like a younger sibling.
“Huh?”
Chelsea blanked out.
A question filled with bewilderment and confusion slipped out.
“Huh?”
(T/N: Is she catching on now?)
***
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