Chapter 160. Their Treatment (5)
I stared at my wrist.
Sitting, I noticed sweat seeping past my black uniform’s sleeve.
A slight sting lingered. The wound reopened during training, blood mixing in. I gazed expressionlessly.
“I’ll wipe your sweat.”
Lien, in her maid outfit, approached calmly, gently holding my wrist, wiping it.
“Thanks.”
“Just my duty as a maid.”
She brushed her silver hair, looking at me coldly, asking flatly.
“Young Master, are your previous wounds okay?”
“Seems so. No issue.”
The sweat stung, but I’d visit the Holy Residence soon. Bearable.
Lien, seeing blood, lowered her lashes.
“Just in case, I’ll prepare antiseptic. Tell me if needed.”
I nodded quietly.
Her devotion was unwavering.
I watched her silently.
Her silver hair over her monochrome maid dress and emotionless eyes were captivatingly beautiful.
Mesmerized, I glanced aside.
“Hmph~.”
Sirocco’s sharp eyes met mine, glaring.
“Something to say?”
“Nope, nothing.”
Her ruby eyes watched, then she asked.
“So, what’s this about?”
A crisp explosion mixed with her voice.
Turning to her in the stands, I replied.
“What else? Watching mages spar.”
Before us, mages dueled on a gray steel rectangular arena, wielding gear.
Far off, a massive indoor combat arena was surrounded by high stands.
Elsyde fortress’s 7th public training ground.
Sirocco and I were there.
“Hmph, can’t we just spar?”
“We did plenty in the private hall. You kept losing.”
“So I wanna keep going till I win!”
Clenching her fists, glaring, I shrugged.
“Here to rest. Watch closely. These facilities aren’t in private halls.”
This arena, with terrain and barriers for tactical training, was new to us.
Vast, lit by huge lights, curved screens showed the duel’s details.
Observing others’ sparring was crucial, often tied to magical insights.
The stands were designed for that, like an indoor stadium, overlooking the arena.
I watched the duel.
A maze-like arena simulated indoor combat.
Two combat mages maneuvered swiftly, seeking openings.
I observed.
One mage, in Elsyde’s tactical robe, cleared corners with a pistol.
The other advanced with an ice shield, a magic circle ready, scanning.
Rounding a corner, they clashed, deploying mana, exchanging fire, ducking behind cover.
Using terrain, they fought on.
Impressive skill. No surprise from Main House combat mages.
“Hmph, what’s that?”
Sirocco, unimpressed, glanced boredly, turning to me.
“Hey, I wanna get stronger fast. Just watching’s enough?”
“Watching’s part of growth.”
Impatient, she leaned in, fists clenched.
“That necklace we gave the brown-haired girl. The artifact—will it make me stronger?”
I glanced at her.
“Yeah, but it’s not everything. You’re gaining experience, so don’t rush.”
“Ugh, still…”
“Watching’s experience too.”
She crossed her arms, pouting.
“Also, Imperial Academia’s middle schoolers are observing nearby. Staying put avoids trouble.”
“Hmph, fine.”
She turned away primly.
Sirocco was nearing growth, but needed combat experience and a trigger.
Lacking diverse encounters, I brought her here despite attention risks.
This wasn’t a game with an ‘XP bar’ for leveling.
No issue.
Mages’ awakenings came abruptly.
I recalled Chloe from the Leopold mission.
She surpassed her original rank with one sudden insight.
Sirocco could too.
Given her original growth rate, her ‘growth phase’ was near.
Just don’t rush and ruin it.
A blatant stare hit me. Turning, I met a small girl in an Academia uniform, muttering.
“Wow, Enoch Elsyde?”
Mid-teens, she blushed, fidgeting with her blouse ribbon, approaching with sparkling eyes.
“Wow! It’s real! Heard rumors, but first time seeing!”
Oh no.
My bad feeling was spot-on.
Her shout drew her friends, other Academia students, crowding around.
“A celebrity’s here!”
“Elsyde really has famous people!”
The stands filled with chattering kids. I felt dragged into nonsense.
“Are you Enoch and Sirocco?”
“Hmph, yup. I’m Sirocco.”
She lifted her chin, ruby hair swaying.
“Can we ask questions?”
I’d heard they were observing, but they mistook us for mentors.
Before I could clarify, Sirocco spoke primly.
“Ask him anything. I’m his follower family.”
I stared, baffled. Why was she doing this? She added to the students.
“So, got questions?”
“Me!” “Me!” “Me!” “Me!” “Me!” “Me!”
Hands shot up.
I sighed.
Headache incoming.
I shot Sirocco a resentful glance, but she giggled, covering her mouth.
“You’re totally hopeless at this.”
I eyed her wryly.
Her revenge for earlier? She smiled, saying quietly.
“Just let them know you’re a good guy.”
“Let them know?”
“Some here dislike you, right? So show these kids.”
She wagged her tail proudly.
I got her prank’s purpose.
No malice, so I wasn’t mad. Not a fatal issue unless tied to my past.
Just annoying.
More than that, Sirocco’s teasing felt like growing closeness.
“Hey!”
A hand waved below. A girl in an Academia uniform leaned close.
“Enoch! Can we take a photo?”
Questions poured in.
“What magic do you use now?”
“Any squad plans?”
“Got a partner? What’re they like?”
“Sign this! I’ll sell it high!”
“Hey, don’t say that to a direct-line…”
Useless questions gave me a headache. Even elite Academia kids brimmed with childish energy?
The first girl raised her hand, eyes shining.
“Enoch! Know Chloe? Chloe Ivbia?”
“Chloe?”
I’d just thought of her. Her name here? I nodded slowly.
“Think so. Why?”
“She transferred to our middle school! Passed the exam, wrote she wants to join your follower family!”
“Chloe did?”
I tilted my head, surprised.
Academia was meritocratic, open to all, but brutally competitive.
I hadn’t seen Chloe since the exemption mission. Hearing her news was oddly nostalgic.
“Her aspirations are a topic?”
“Yup! We announce them. Usually, it’s becoming a great researcher or a strong mage like Nemesis’s deputy.”
So Chloe wrote my name? I smiled wryly, changing the topic.
“Nemesis deputy, huh? You know her well. Famous?”
“Yup! Young but super famous! I wanna meet her!”
“Never seen her?”
The kids exchanged looks.
“Nope! But she’s strong!” “And pretty!”
Sirocco leaned back, sweeping her wavy hair.
“I have. She visited our tribe.”
“Wow! You know her? What’s she like?”
“Hmph, Nemesis’s deputy looks like that .”
She pointed.
What nonsense? I looked, narrowing my eyes.
Across the modern training hall, Teano rounded the entrance, striding toward us.
Sleek black uniform, stunning beauty. Definitely her.
Why was she here?
Teano glanced at my stunned face, approaching, smiling faintly at the kids, speaking boldly.
“Sorry to interrupt. Okay?”
The students froze, one muttering.
“W-Wow, Nemesis’s deputy…”
Teano turned to Sirocco and me.
“Enoch Elsyde, and follower Sirocco. An emergency from another district.”
Her eyes gleamed, adding.
“I’ve come with a request.”
I smiled faintly, unnoticed. No need to hesitate or panic. Luck brought what I wanted.
I knew trouble was coming, but not how it’d start or approach…
So it begins.
“Will you hear me, Enoch?”
Teano asked.
No long deliberation needed.
My blue-black eyes glinted.
“Let’s move somewhere private.”