Battle Race in the Fantasy World

Battle Race in the Fantasy World – 19

EP.19 The Storm Strikes Twice, The Storm Strikes Twice

“Lady Elga requests to see me?”

Leto, not understanding the question, simply nodded in response.

He recalled Elga’s piercing gaze from earlier, staring at him as if trying to bore holes into his soul.

It felt like lasers shooting from her eyes.

Dealing with Elga was always overwhelming. He never knew what she was thinking or how to handle her.

He had even moved from his seat under the pretext of looking for Tisha, just to escape her intense scrutiny.

“Yes, I’m not sure of the reason either. I apologize, Kyle.”

Of course, it was to be expected.

Leto never questioned Elga’s orders, nor did he insert his own thoughts.

He was simply loyal.

Yet, Elga, the receiver of his loyalty, desired more than blind allegiance.

She sought a relationship not based on hierarchy but on equality, even if only once.

“Go ahead, lead the way.”

Leto’s frustration was understandable.

He was just another typical nobleman.

Ian, on the other hand, had some assertive and refreshing qualities.

But Leto lacked even that, embodying passivity to the extreme.

‘Is this guy’s concept gradually becoming closer as a childhood friend? Ridiculous. He’ll just end up losing opportunities.’

Nevertheless, as a secretary tasked with carrying out official duties, it was a different matter.

It was certainly pitiful to struggle with someone who should be respected for a lifetime.

It wasn’t like he was deliberately provoking people like Ian did, stirring up his tempers.

‘If I don’t follow Leto, I’ll end up meeting Elga one way or another.’

It would be better to obediently comply with Elga’s demands.

Kyle and Jonathan Family still had some unresolved issues with the Littorio.

“Just a moment!”

But not everyone shared the same thoughts.

Tisha abruptly interjected between Leto and Kyle, her face contorted in a frown.

“Why does Lady Elga ask you to bring Kyle?”

“As I mentioned, I’m not sure of the reason. It’s just an order to bring him…”

“Last time, Lady Elga specifically said that this place is not the Duke Littorio Family. She said not to address her as ‘Lady’. Isn’t it strange to suddenly drag someone along without knowing the reason? We’re all just students from the same academy anyway.”

“Well, that’s… true.”

Leto admitted reluctantly, unable to refute Tisha’s logical argument.

‘As expected, she’s stubborn, really stubborn.’

If Leto had any similarities to Ian, he would have disregarded Tisha’s words.

He would have simply taken Kyle along, reiterating it was Lady Elga’s order, and there would be no big problem.

Since the backing was solid, there was no reason to back down.

“Um, may I know your name?”

“I’m Tisha.”

“Oh, yes, Tisha. I understand your intentions well. I understand you might feel uncomfortable. But I have no choice as it’s my order to take him…”

There’s no need to explain the situation in detail.

It only makes matters worse for the listener.

“If you could just understand this once, I’d really appreciate it.”

“That’s enough with understanding and apologizing. Right now…”

“Tisha.”

Kyle reached out to stop Tisha. If she continued to push, it could cause unnecessary trouble for her.

Even though Elga herself stated that this wasn’t the Duke Littorio Family, who would readily accept that? Anyone in the Empire, not just the nobles, would be wary of Elga’s gaze.

Even among the nobility, let alone a commoner like Tisha, it could be even more awkward.

“It’s okay. Let’s see if she has something to discuss for a moment.”

“If there’s something to discuss, the party involved should be present, right?”

“The other person is a lady of the Duke Littorio Family. It’s not about who goes, but who comes is the more natural choice. If it goes on like this, even Tisha might get a trouble, and I don’t want to see that.”

“But I’m okay with it!”

“I’m not okay with it. I don’t want others to suffer because of me, so I’ll go right away.”

Kyle’s sincere persuasion seemed to have struck a chord.

Whether it was the logical part of his argument or his concern for Tisha that resonated, it was unclear.

“…Alright. If you insist that much…”

“I’ll be back soon, so please watch Ian for a bit. You never know what trouble he might cause.”

It was a valid point. Ian was capable of causing trouble and then some more. He might even be causing trouble at this very moment.

“Ah… Alright. I’ll keep an eye out until you came back.”

It wasn’t so much about worrying about Ian. It was about the recommendation he received.

If he caused trouble, doubts would arise about the recommendation from the Lord Byun-kyung.

And there were two others who received that recommendation along with Ian.

They were none other than Tisha herself and Kyle, who was currently following Leto.

‘Ian, if that man causes trouble, it’ll not only affect me but also Kyle!’

Because of her Sorcery, and because of Kyle’s family.

Their reputations had already taken a hit in the prestigious academy.

If they became the target of scrutiny because of Ian, their academy life would become even more unbearable.

Even if it was for Kyle’s sake, she had to keep an eye on Ian.

– Tap tap! –

Leaving Kyle behind, Tisha almost ran back the way she came.

The moment she heard Kyle mention the possibility of Ian causing trouble again, a grim thought crossed her mind.

Could it be true? Surely not? It couldn’t be. It had barely been ten minutes since they left!

Thinking this, Tisha returned to where Ian had been with a sigh.

“Arrogant fool! Ian! I challenge you to a duel!”

“As you wish.”

‘…Kyle. It seems like I’m a bit late.’

Tisha thought this, pressing her hands to her face.

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“I’ve brought him, Lady Elga.”

“Thank you, Leto. You may leave now. And ensure no one else comes up.”

“Understood.”

‘Why forbid anyone else from coming up? What’s going on, Lady Elga? It’s unsettling.’

Kyle gulped, staring directly at Elga standing before him.

‘…Leto, you idiot. You deserve to die.’

She wasn’t just pretty or beautiful. To simply call her the flower of society or Littorio’s rose was insufficient.

Elga was a dazzling flame, a crimson rose with lethal beauty.

Anyone standing before her wouldn’t be able to look away, no matter who they were.

Initially captivated by her dizzying beauty, then drawn in by her enchanting figure, and finally captivated by the dignity of a woman about to make a decisive move.

‘I thought calling her a rose or a flower was just flattery.’

Even though she was the heiress of a Family, such titles weren’t easily obtained.

On the contrary, because she was the heiress, negative rumors spread faster than positive ones.

If there had been even a slight flaw in Elga’s appearance, related remarks would have surfaced immediately.

That’s why those titles were even more remarkable.

Being considered the foremost in beauty always!

‘To have such a woman, a superior, and even a childhood friend who dares to pursue her. And then there’s this guy who insists on serving her till the end just as her lord. Is this a romance fantasy or a sweet potato novel?’

Once again, spitting venomous resentment towards Leto, Kyle cautiously called out the name of the woman before him.

“Lady Elga. The reason you wanted to see me…”

“I’ve heard. You caused quite a stir today.”

At the mention of the incident, a sense of injustice surged within Kyle.

“I truly feel unfairly accused. The desk was weak, and that’s why it broke.”

“No matter how weak the desk was, there wasn’t anyone on the other side to cause it to break.”

“It was on the verge of breaking. It definitely was.”

Elga didn’t say anything more in response to Kyle’s words. Judging by the man’s reaction standing before her, he was already quite shaken.

With the previous incident involving Jonathan’s daughter, it must have been even more stressful.

Kyle had been very cautious in front of her before, but now he was showing a sharp response, a clear sign of his stress.

“Did you call me for this? To talk about the incident?”

“Well, why do you think I did?”

“… ”

Kyle sighed inwardly at Elga’s words. She had certainly and indeed is a formidable woman.

With just one question, she hadn’t managed to calm his emotions. At the same time, she subtly emphasized, ‘You seem too agitated. In front of me.’

It signaled that she held the initiative in this conversation.

“Do you not know?”

“…Honestly, no, I don’t.”

“Well, I guess so. You truly don’t know.”

Elga, who had been speaking to herself and nodding, turned her body. Then, she sat down in the black leather chair that was placed there.

“He says he doesn’t know.”

“What?”

“My loyal secretary who just left. My trusted friend. The one I was willing to allow. Even he says he doesn’t know. Can I really become the duchess of Littorio?”

“…It might just be his cautious nature.”

It’s quite absurd even as I say it myself.

There’s a decisive difference between being cautious and being timid. The latter doesn’t know when to move forward and when not to step back.

And Leto, rather than the former, belonged unmistakably to the latter.

“I truly wish it were so. Ah, it hardly matters now.”

It doesn’t matter. Kyle’s mind momentarily flickered with unease at those words.

“Earlier, it seemed like you were following that woman, Tisha, to the balcony.”

“…How did you know?”

“I just saw it.”

It was a lie. With so many people in this ballroom, how could she just saw?

Unless she was fully focused on it, it would be impossible.

“You seemed friendly with that woman.”

“We are. We came together from Lord Byun-kyung territory.”

“Your words sound like, ‘We’re only friend because we came together.’ Is that right?”

Kyle didn’t respond to Elga’s question.

There was a strong intuition that silence would be best here.

“You won’t answer, will you?”

Once again, neither affirming nor denying through silence.

Any answer given here could become a problem later.

Elga slightly furrowed her brows and gently rested her chin on her hand.

“Kyle Jonathan.”

With an elegant posture, the beauty in the crimson dress, her legs crossed.

She looked quite displeased, with a hint of jealousy in her eyes as she raised her chin.

“What’s your relationship with that woman?”