Alert!: this chapter has been translated by Mangademon / demonicscans.org, this is a premium translation, not mtl
Leo left the unconscious Celia behind and returned to the mansion.
In the mansion’s living room, Reyna and Gis were having a conversation.
Around them, the knights of the Zerdinger Family were standing in formation.
Reyna smiled when she spotted her son.
"Have you finished your training for today?"
"Yes, Mother."
Answering Reyna’s question, Leo glanced at Gis.
'Zerdinger, Zerdinger—they really are impressive.'
Even in his past life, warriors of this caliber were rare.
'The name Hero Family isn’t just for show.'
"Leo, this is Gis Zerdinger. He is a guest visiting our family."
"I am Leo Plov."
"Gis Zerdinger. As you probably know, I’m your uncle. Feel free to treat me casually."
"What do you mean by treating you casually?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"I have Zerdinger blood in me, but that doesn’t make me a Zerdinger."
Gis’s eyes gleamed at Leo’s clear distinction, while Reyna shook her head.
'My son really has no sense of charm.'
Gis Zerdinger.
The current deputy head of the Zerdinger Family and officially second in command.
Normally, someone Leo’s age would be thrilled to have such a figure affectionately call them 'uncle.'
But while there might be a blood connection, on the family register, they were separate.
The laws of the Zerdinger Family were strict.
This was also why Reyna hadn’t introduced Gis as Leo’s uncle earlier.
Leo had guessed this and asked.
"In public settings, I won’t be able to call you my nephew."
"Understood."
Seeing Leo respond so decisively, Gis burst into laughter.
"It’s hard to believe you’re my sister’s son."
"Hohoho. What do you mean by that?"
Reyna smiled as she stepped on Gis’s foot.
"Leo, didn’t you see someone named Celia at the training ground?"
"Her?"
Leo glanced at the mansion’s front entrance.
There was Celia, foaming at the mouth, being carried in on a stretcher.
"Ah! My lady!"
"What happened here?"
The Zerdinger knights were shocked.
"Hah."
Gis let out a sigh of admiration.
'Did he defeat Celia without using aura?'
"Sir Wheaton, what happened?"
In response to Gis’s question, Wheaton recounted what had happened at the training ground.
After hearing the story, Gis shook his head.
The cause of the defeat was clear.
'Arrogance.'
Celia had underestimated Leo simply because he couldn’t use aura.
Of course, from a logical standpoint, her assumption wasn’t entirely wrong.
The difference in combat ability between an aura user and a non-user was immense.
But the fact remained that Celia had let her guard down and was defeated.
'And that’s not the Zerdinger way.'
Gis stood in front of Leo.
"Beating Celia, that’s impressive."
"She underestimated me."
"I see. But it seems there was a bet between you and Celia."
"Yes. Celia Zerdinger and I made a bet. The loser would serve the winner as their servant."
"What!"
"Do you really think that makes sense?"
The Zerdinger knights bristled with indignation.
A direct descendant of the Zerdinger Family as a servant?
The knights glared at Leo.
But Leo didn’t flinch in the slightest.
"For the next week, Celia Zerdinger is my maid."
Reyna chuckled softly.
Her son was someone who followed through on what he said.
Still, she hadn’t expected him to say such a thing so calmly in front of the glaring Zerdinger knights.
'Who could stop that personality of his?'
Meanwhile, Gis smiled gently.
"Celia is a Zerdinger. She can’t be made to work as a maid."
He continued in a persuasive tone.
"I’d like you to let go of that promise. Instead, I’ll offer you another reward. For example... Hmm."
Gis stroked his chin.
"How about our family’s advanced aura technique?"
"I refuse."
"What did you say?"
"This bet is between me and Celia Zerdinger."
Leo glanced at Celia.
"You referred to her as a 'Zerdinger,' Lord Gis. Bearing the name of a Hero Family means she should take responsibility for her words."
Leo looked back at Gis.
"If there’s any negotiation, it should be between me and her. And... "
Leo firmly stated.
"If your aura technique is being offered just to cover up your niece’s embarrassment, I don’t think it’s worth learning."
The knights ground their teeth as sparks seemed to fly from their eyes.
"This is unacceptable!"
"How dare you insult the Zerdinger Family!"
The knights shouted in anger.
Watching the scene, Wheaton reprimanded them sternly.
"What gives you the right to raise your voices like this!"
"B-But Captain!"
"How can we stay silent after hearing such words?"
"Whatever the reason—"
Reyna, observing the situation, shook her head with an expressionless face.
"It seems the Zerdinger Family’s standards have fallen quite a bit since I left."
"Even if you were once a Zerdinger, that comment crosses the line!"
One knight warned her.
Wheaton’s eyes glinted with hostility.
"How dare you!"
As Wheaton was about to burst into anger.
Reyna raised her hand to stop him.
Then she stepped in front of the knights.
"Cross the line? Then let me ask you, who do you think you are to interrupt the deputy head’s conversation?"
At her cold question, the knights’ faces filled with confusion.
"T-That’s—"
"I may have left the family, but Zerdinger still holds pride for me. So I will speak my mind."
A chilling aura emanated from Reyna.
"Are you knights or beasts who bark without understanding the situation?"
"Gasp!"
The knights swallowed hard.
Reyna’s authority resembled that of the family head.
Watching the scene, Gis spoke in a calm voice.
"Sir Wheaton."
"Yes, Deputy Head."
"It seems these men are unqualified to be Zerdinger knights."
"Understood."
The knights’ faces turned pale.
With a grim expression, Wheaton led the knights away.
"Wasn’t revoking their status as knights a bit too harsh?"
This chapter was translated by mangademon - demonicscans.org , make sure to read it in our website
Leo left the unconscious Celia behind and returned to the mansion.
In the mansion’s living room, Reyna and Gis were having a conversation.
Around them, the knights of the Zerdinger Family were standing in formation.
Reyna noticed her son and smiled.
"Have you finished today’s training?"
"Yes, Mother."
Answering Reyna’s question, Leo glanced at Gis.
'Zerdinger, Zerdinger—they truly live up to their reputation.'
Even in his previous life, warriors of this caliber were rare.
'The title Hero Family isn’t for nothing.'
"Leo, this is Gis Zerdinger, a guest visiting our family."
"I am Leo Plov."
"Gis Zerdinger. As you might know, I’m your uncle. Feel free to address me casually."
"What exactly do you mean by treating you casually?"
"What do you mean?"
"I may carry Zerdinger blood, but that doesn’t make me a Zerdinger."
Gis’s eyes sparkled at Leo’s clear stance, while Reyna shook her head.
'My son really doesn’t have a soft side.'
Gis Zerdinger.
The current deputy head of the Zerdinger Family and officially ranked second in power.
Typically, someone Leo’s age would be thrilled to have such a figure affectionately call them 'uncle.'
However, despite their blood ties, they were legally separate on the family register.
The Zerdinger Family’s laws were strict.
This was why Reyna hadn’t introduced Gis as Leo’s uncle earlier.
Leo understood this, which was why he asked.
"In formal settings, I won’t be able to call you my nephew."
"Understood."
Seeing Leo respond so decisively, Gis burst out laughing.
"You’re nothing like what I imagined my sister’s son would be."
"Hohoho. What’s that supposed to mean?"
Reyna laughed as she stomped on Gis’s foot.
"Leo, didn’t you see someone named Celia at the training ground?"
"Her?"
Leo glanced toward the mansion’s main gate.
There, Celia was being carried in on a stretcher, foaming at the mouth.
"Ah! My lady!"
"What is this!"
The Zerdinger knights were stunned.
"Hah."
Gis let out an impressed sigh.
'He defeated Celia without even using aura?'
"Sir Wheaton, what happened?"
In response to Gis’s question, Wheaton recounted what had happened at the training ground.
After hearing the story, Gis shook his head.
The cause of the defeat was clear.
'Arrogance.'
Celia had underestimated Leo simply because he couldn’t use aura.
Of course, from a conventional standpoint, her assumption wasn’t entirely wrong.
The combat power difference between an aura user and a non-user was enormous.
However, Celia had let her guard down and was defeated.
'And that’s not the Zerdinger way.'
Gis stood before Leo.
"Defeating Celia, that’s quite impressive."
"She underestimated me."
"I see. But it seems there was a bet between you and Celia."
"Yes. Celia Zerdinger and I made a bet. The loser would serve the winner as their servant."
"What!"
"Do you really think such a thing is acceptable?"
The Zerdinger knights bristled with indignation.
The idea of a direct descendant of the Zerdinger Family becoming a servant?
The knights glared at Leo.
But Leo didn’t flinch in the slightest.
"For the next week, Celia Zerdinger is my maid."
Reyna chuckled softly.
Her son was someone who followed through on his words.
Still, she hadn’t expected him to say such a thing so calmly in front of the glaring Zerdinger knights.
'Who could stop that personality of his?'
Meanwhile, Gis smiled gently.
"Celia is a Zerdinger. She cannot be made to serve as a maid."
He continued in a soft tone.
"I’d like you to let go of that promise. Instead, I’ll offer you another reward. For example... Hmm."
Gis stroked his chin.
"How about our family’s advanced aura technique?"
"I refuse."
"What did you say?"
"This bet is between me and Celia Zerdinger."
Leo glanced at Celia.
"You referred to her as a 'Zerdinger,' Lord Gis. Bearing the name of a Hero Family means she should take responsibility for her words."
Leo looked back at Gis.
"If there’s any negotiation, it should be between me and her. And... "
Leo firmly stated.
"If your aura technique is being offered just to cover up your niece’s embarrassment, I don’t think it’s worth learning."
The knights ground their teeth as sparks seemed to fly from their eyes.
"This is unacceptable!"
"How dare you insult the Zerdinger Family!"
The knights shouted in anger.
Watching the scene, Wheaton reprimanded them sternly.
"What gives you the right to raise your voices like this!"
"B-But Captain!"
"How can we stay silent after hearing such words?"
"Whatever the reason—"
Reyna, observing the situation, shook her head with an expressionless face.
"It seems the Zerdinger Family’s standards have fallen quite a bit since I left."
"Even if you were once a Zerdinger, that comment crosses the line!"
One knight warned her.
Wheaton’s eyes glinted with hostility.
"How dare you!"
As Wheaton was about to burst into anger.
Reyna raised her hand to stop him.
Then she stepped in front of the knights.
"Cross the line? Then let me ask you, who do you think you are to interrupt the deputy head’s conversation?"
At her cold question, the knights’ faces filled with confusion.
"T-That’s—"
"I may have left the family, but Zerdinger still holds pride for me. So I will speak my mind."
A chilling aura emanated from Reyna.
"Are you knights or beasts who bark without understanding the situation?"
"Gasp!"
The knights swallowed hard.
Reyna’s authority resembled that of the family head.
Watching the scene, Gis spoke in a calm voice.
"Sir Wheaton."
"Yes, Deputy Head."
"It seems these men are unqualified to be Zerdinger knights."
"Understood."
The knights’ faces turned pale.
With a grim expression, Wheaton led the knights away.
"Wasn’t revoking their status as knights a bit too harsh?"
End Of Chapter
