When the practice duel was canceled, Ares headed toward the eting room.
As he walked down the hallway, he caught sight of Roan.
It seed like Roan intended to skip again.
However, Roan looked unusual this ti.
His hand was wrapped in bandages, and he muttered sothing under his breath with a murderous expression.
‘Did he get injured during a duel?’
It wasn’t a common sight, so Ares stopped in his tracks.
“I know you always make a fool of yourself, but this is the first ti I’ve seen you like this.”
“…Don’t provoke , Ares.”
Roan’s eyes flashed nacingly.
They were filled with suppressed killing intent.
Ares felt Roan might cause trouble any mont, so he gave him a warning.
“Just go back quietly, Roan.”
At Ares’ serious tone, Roan glared with bloodshot eyes.
Ares took a step closer.
A few seconds of silence passed.
“Tch.”
Roan turned his head sharply and walked away.
It seed like Ares had been waiting for a chance to deal with him.
Watching Roan’s retreating figure, Ares wore a slightly puzzled expression.
‘Was there anyone capable of standing up to that guy…?’
Deciding to investigate who had confronted Roan later, Ares entered the eting room.
As soon as he walked in, the attention in the room was focused on Saila and Selberton.
“Are you saying that guy really managed to do this with just one finger?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
When Saila answered indifferently, a man with a ponytail asked.
“What level of aura does he have?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were there and saw it, right?”
“I did see it.”
A woman with wavy hair frowned, seemingly frustrated by the vague answers.
“Stop being cryptic and answer properly. How much more aura did he release compared to Roan?”
Saila hesitated before answering.
“…I couldn’t feel any aura at all.”
“What? Then… was it magic?”
“No, it was the sa with mana.”
The woman with wavy hair glanced at Selberton’s expression.
He also gave a bitter smile, apparently agreeing with Saila’s assessnt.
Ares beca intrigued by their conversation.
“You all seem quite worked up.”
“Oh, Ares, you’re here,” Selberton greeted as Ares took a seat at the head of the table and spoke.
“Sounds interesting from what I’ve heard.”
What they were curious about was the nature of this power.
Truthfully, they likely had so idea.
They just didn’t want to admit it.
“Who would have thought there’d be soone who reached that level.”
Saila and Selberton were considered strong themselves.
Yet the fact that they couldn’t even gauge the individual’s power ant his aura manipulation had reached an extre level.
With precision near perfection, it was possible not to leak even a speck of aura.
“Ares, I don’t think that’s the case.”
“Yeah, there must be so misunderstanding.”
Their reactions were skeptical.
It was understandable since even among the most skilled swordsn, known as the professors of Valient, none had reached such a level.
Moreover, soone that skilled would naturally have a well-known na, making it even harder to believe.
‘Honestly, I’m not sure either. Even Mircel hasn’t reached that point yet.’
To see if anyone would notice, Ares filled his body with aura imbued with killing intent.
Though he concentrated to avoid any leaks, a tiny amount of aura escaped.
Heads turned instantly.
“What the hell, Ares?”
“Why are you emitting killing intent out of nowhere?”
The amount of aura Ares failed to suppress was about the size of a grain of barley.
‘His power… is even smaller than this?’
Instead of fear, curiosity began to surface.
The fact that he hadn’t stood out in public until now only deepened the mystery.
What could have caused him to stay hidden all this ti?
“I’m curious about his na,” Ares murmured.
Selberton let out a long sigh and answered.
“Hersel Ben Tenest.”
Ares’ thoughts froze for a mont.
The na was so unexpected that he was sure he’d misheard it.
Either that or Selberton had spoken poorly.
“Hmm? Mircel hasn’t reached that point yet.”
“How can you confuse their nas? Hersel. That scoundrel, Hersel.”
Their companions stared at Ares’ face.
Their expressions seed to say, ‘You can’t believe it either, right?’
***
In Frost Heart, the season of freezing temperatures,
The pleasant weather felt oddly out of place.
I put on a thin coat and prepared to leave the dormitory.
Yesterday’s incident had cost the opportunity to spy on Ever Blaze.
The only consolation was that I’d gained so insight into Fiona’s abilities, Ever Blaze’s strongest asset, and Scarlett still allowed observations.
That was thanks to my sarcastic remarks, taunting them for being cowards like Ever Blaze.
– “Surely, you’re not admitting to being on their level?”
– “What?”
– “Is that really the case?”
– “Ah, no! We’re nothing like those pathetic fools!”
Scarlett’s student council president was indeed dumber than Ever Blaze’s.
“Hersel, what are your plans after today?”
It was Limberton’s voice, waiting in the hallway.
He wasn’t the only one looking lively.
Everyone was enjoying the rare taste of the outside world, feeling like nobles again.
“How about we visit the theater?”
“Oh, Ricks has so good ideas.”
“I’d like to visit a tavern. It’s been a while since I’ve had expensive wine.”
Even Bellman, who rarely drank, seed to have been through a lot.
“In that case, we should split into groups. Mircel is here too.”
“Why ? I can drink just fine.”
“That’s too early for you, kid!”
Erucel’s remark had my full agreent.
You’re still too young.
“It’s nice to enjoy ourselves, but you’re all forgetting why we’re here. We ca to assess their strength. Let’s relax after we’ve completed our tasks.”
I said this and began walking toward the Arcadia Hall.
I had just stepped out of the dormitory building.
Suddenly, a sensation I’d forgotten crept up my spine.
‘A chilling feeling… This sensation is unmistakable.’
‘Hersel, your instincts have sharpened.’
There was no doubt.
It was the faint killing intent I’d often felt back at the mansion.
But here, in the academy, it seed oddly out of place.
A variety of piercing gazes fixed on my face.
Judging by their expressions, their academy affiliations were evident.
The main players from Wisdom and Valient Academy were glaring at with hostility.
“That’s an unfamiliar uniform. But doesn’t sothing feel off?”
Limberton swallowed nervously and asked.
Bellman adjusted his glasses and replied.
“They must have decided we’re a threat after yesterday’s events. Hersel’s display of indomitability was far beyond a student’s level.”
Of course, this was within expectations.
From their perspective, it was natural to be suspicious of us since we hadn’t revealed our full strength.
But none of this was worth paying attention to.
“Just ignore them and move on.”
I led the way, cutting through their stares.
Then, Mircel’s eyes sharpened.
Ares was approaching .
“Nice to et you, Hersel Ben Tenest,” he greeted politely.
Maintaining courtesy, I responded in kind.
“A group gathering against weaklings like us? Are you here to mock us?”
Ares blinked his dazed eyes.
As if snapping out of his halted thoughts, he opened his mouth with a calm expression.
“I don’t understand your aning. But I do have a question for you. Why haven’t you applied for a duel?”
I uttered a plausible excuse.
“I’m here to sightsee. Frost Heart is too restrictive, you see.”
“Hm, you don’t seem very interested in duels.”
Feigning indifference toward the united duels didn’t seem like a bad approach.
With Scarlett already on edge, less attention was better, and who knew? Perhaps even Ever Blaze could be swayed.
I smirked and gestured toward my group.
They were all wearing the new clothes they had purchased yesterday.
Their expressions were a sight—despite the piercing gazes directed at them, they couldn’t entirely hide their delight.
“We’re planning to visit the theater today. Once the observation is over, we’ll be leaving imdiately, so I’d appreciate it if you could hurry along.”
I said this as I moved to pass Ares.
At that mont, he glared at with a furrowed brow, as if displeased, and locked eyes with .
“So you’re the sa type as Roan.”
Though he appeared detached, there were things even Ares couldn’t tolerate.
One was delinquent behavior, and the other was wasting innate talent.
When those two traits combined, you had soone like Roan.
For that reason, Ares didn’t even regard Roan as human.
In his eyes, I must have looked no different.
“Well, I’m far better-looking than him,” I quipped and tried to leave.
It didn’t matter if I got on his bad side.
We weren’t here to defeat the likes of Valient or the wizards glaring at us from the side.
And if we ever crossed paths again in the story, I’d deal with it then.
Ares wasn’t completely inflexible, befitting a protagonist, so I was confident I could eventually change his perception.
Just as I relaxed, he spoke again.
“To use a power you stumbled upon solely to inconvenience others—have you ever thought about how pathetic that is?”
Ares’ words were the start of a cascade of criticism from Valient’s main figures.
“I agree. Born into privilege, yet ending up like this? Clearly unworthy.”
“I thought maybe he’d changed, but it seems his essence remains the sa.”
“With terrible conduct and even worse power, he might be worse than Roan.”
Their disdain showed no sign of stopping.
Honestly, I wasn’t fazed.
After inhabiting this body, the first thing I experienced was the maids gossiping behind my back.
Moreover, given that I had been deliberately acting like a scoundrel, their evaluations felt like applause for my outstanding performance.
I shrugged and was about to walk past when a familiar voice stopped .
“That’s getting on my nerves,” said Ricks.
I glanced at Bellman, standing beside him, hoping he’d intervene.
But Bellman seed to agree with Ricks, offering a reasonable justification.
“Honestly, I think it’s justified. From the mont he effortlessly defeated Roan, it beca clear.”
Bellman adjusted his glasses, about to say more when Limberton interrupted.
“He may have had his faults in the past, but he’s different now. Don’t compare our representative to so lowly thug like Roan. Neither his strength nor his character even cos close.”
Bellman smirked and glared at Ares.
“Seeing Ares in person after all the rumors is disappointing. I never thought soone so blind to character could exist.”
Even Silla chid in, mocking him as she wiped her face dramatically with her palm.
“Face it, our representative is better than yours in every way.”
Silla shot a sharp look.
In this world, such a gesture would usually be considered vulgar, and she even added a finger gesture akin to an insult.
“What are you going to do about it?”
The observing nobles were horrified.
“How could anyone use such crude gestures?”
“Where did she even learn that?”
Silla snarled.
“Don’t act like you’re above it. You know what it is, so you must have learned it too!”
Thankfully, Erucel covered Mircel’s eyes.
“What’s happening? Let see!”
“Don’t look.”
Even Leana, who usually pretended to be neutral, subtly sided with .
“He’s made many mistakes, but considering all he’s done, I believe he’s more than atoned for them.”
“Whatever wrongs he’s committed must have been for a good reason. I’m sure of it,” Aslay added.
“That’s not it,” soone muttered.
This unexpected display of pettiness from Valient lit a fire in the room.
Chaos ensued, and the only ones watching calmly from the sidelines were Wisdom’s representatives.
Amidst the commotion, I tried to lead my group away to avoid further trouble.
But then, Mircel…
“Do you know why our elder brother isn’t interested in duels?”
The person I thought was my ally dropped a bombshell.
“It’s because none of you are worth his ti. Even if all of you combined your strength, it’d still look like child’s play to him.”
No, don’t say it. Please stop.
“He’s surpassed even the academy principals.”
A heavy silence filled the room.
Thus, the madness of Frost Heart spread even further.
To read Chapters ahead 👇
CH 206-210 (Troublemaker Vs Troublemaker) $3
CH 211-215 (Graduation) $3
CH 216-220 (Integrated Academy Tournant) $3
CH 221-225 (The Underdog) $3
CH 226-230 (Who am I?) $3
CH 231-235 (Frostheart Vs Wisdom) $3
CH 236-240 (I want to lose) $3
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