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{Chapter 18} No one can say I can't draw!
🕑 Added 2025-09-23 12:41:01 +0000 UTC“......”
There was no applause, no cheers, not even an announcement marking the end.
Everyone present just stared at Kaelis and Remi in the arena, unable to speak for a long time.
Some were captivated by the exhausted Kaelis, while the majority simply couldn't accept the reality before them.
Remi, the legendary figure... had actually been defeated by Kaelis, someone who'd only joined a week ago?!
This... this can't be right?
After all, Remi had been unanimously recognized as the strongest here, not just by a few, but by everyone's consensus!
Remi was the strongest! Both in combat ability and tactics.
Born into a family of mercenaries and trained rigorously since childhood, she far surpasses everyone present.
They had imagined Remi being defeated before...
But even in their wildest thoughts, Remi's defeat wouldn't happen like this.
If Remi were to lose, it would only be after fighting multiple battles and becoming fatigued, then facing someone like the savage warrior Helen. Only then would her defeat be possible.
But this Kaelis...
Just... just one person?
Is this real?
Everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, unsure of what to do.
Meanwhile, on the observation platform, Rod and the others were also wide-eyed.
“Did she really do it?”
Beside him, the man spoke, his voice filled with disbelief.
Although they had sensed something unusual about Kaelis halfway through the fight, they still believed she could only pose a minor inconvenience to Remi's victory.
After all, whether looking at paper credentials or comparing their performance records, Remi held an overwhelming advantage.
Precisely because of this, her defeat felt so unbelievable.
As for the idea that Kaelis used her beauty as some underhanded tactic, those who had actually been on battlefields like them considered that pure nonsense!
On the battlefield, who cares about such things? Only the living have the right to judge their enemies' methods; the dead have no say!
On the battlefield, as long as you don't desert, any method that keeps you alive is a good one. There's no such thing as “underhanded” or “fair play.”
“Looks like the Kingdom still has hidden talents...”
The man sighed, leaning back with a long exhale.
Seeing Rod's subtle smile, he huffed proudly, then snatched directly the invitation letter Rod was about to retrieve.
“I'm not a sore loser. I'll pay up.”
“Then I won't hold back.”
Seeing his determined attitude, Rod didn't insist on insisting either.
He smiled, his mood clearly improved.
His gaze toward Kaelis became even more approving.
The man was still somewhat clear unconvinced, but with things settled, there was nothing more he could say. He could only try to save face elsewhere.
“Still, the rules restrict it... After all, Remi is still a third-stage Ascender. If we factored that in, Kaelis wouldn't have had much chance of winning.”
“...Are you sure?”
“Of course I— Wait, why do you have that expression? Don't tell me Kaelis...”
The man froze, staring at Rod's amused smile, then looked back at Kaelis with growing shock.
If that were the case...
Then this Kaelis...
Was truly extraordinary.
...
Slowly rising from atop Remi, although this was just a simple sparring match, Kaelis had still fought at full strength. One misstep had left her body somewhat drained, she'd probably need to rest for about ten minutes.
Remi noticed this, and as she slowly got up, she instinctively reached out to support Kaelis's waist.
At first, Kaelis thought Remi was showing good sportsmanship, but soon something felt off.
“Right now... you're hugging my ribs.”
More accurately, it was her side chest.
Kaelis blinked, turning her head to look at Remi.
Remi froze, then realized the significant height difference between them. Her face flushed slightly before she hastily withdrew her hand.
Although the atmosphere was awkward, both were mature enough to silently ignore the small incident. After a brief pause, Kaelis stepped back slightly, looking at Remi.
“A few times just now, I really thought you were going to kill me.”
The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, sounded slightly resentful.
Remi, after a moment of inner struggle, suddenly triggered something within herself. She calmly turned her head and smiled at Kaelis.
“Well, it's for work, after all...”
“Work?”
Kaelis looked puzzled.
“I'm a mercenary. I get paid to do a job.”
Remi smiled, but seeing Kaelis's charming, confused expression, she couldn't help reaching out to pinch her cheek.
Kaelis dodged with a glare.
But the distance moved she wasn't far, just a slight twist of her waist, her slender body swaying with a teasing, half-rejecting grace.
This sudden movement stirred up emotions Remi had just managed to calm down.
After several deep breaths to steady herself, she finally concluded:
Regardless of whether Kaelis's allure came from her appearance or some other power, if she didn't want to embarrass herself further in front of Kaelis, she'd better avoid prolonged eye contact.
Turning her head, Remi slowly stood up.
She said nothing, just tossed a crumpled piece of paper into Kaelis's hand.
Then, with a cool wave, she casually grabbed her belt and walked away.
Beneath her fiery red hair was her healthy, strong physique.
Kaelis looked at the paper in her hand, then raised her head with a complicated expression.
Wait... What's the point of giving me this?
I don't know how to read?!
...
The afternoon's matches passed quickly.
Thankfully, this sparring event was mainly for internal team matches. The super-strong Helen and the highly capable leader Astra weren't present.
After defeating Remi, no one dared to seriously fight Kaelis anymore. They exchanged a few symbolic moves before surrendering or declaring themselves “defeated.”
Kaelis successfully obtained the ten bonus graduation points she'd been aiming for.
With these points, she was one step closer to her goal of graduating in the top three.
After the matches ended, Kaelis returned alone to her barracks.
Only after confirming no one was around did she reluctantly pull out the note Remi had given her.
Although she truly couldn't read, Kaelis had her own thoughts about Remi's warning.
“Some people are targeting me...”
She wasn't stupid. While she couldn't claim to understand every right and wrong, she could at least judge who she got along with and who she didn't.
“In this camp, I didn't socialize much and didn't bother others. The only ones with real motives to target me would be those two daughters of Viscount, right?”
And even then, they'd provoked her first. Kaelis had only scared them a little, she hadn't actually done anything serious.
In the end, they all received disciplinary warnings. The matter should've ended there.
But now...
It seemed they weren't willing to let it go.
Especially after Remi's words... Though vague, Kaelis realized the other side's demands might not be simple retribution, but actually intended to kill her.
Remi hadn't carried it out in the end, but... that was Remi's choice, not theirs.
“If they tried once, they'll try again... Their next attack probably won't take long. And if they're already aiming to kill me...”
Narrowing her eyes slightly, Kaelis leaned against the bed, her gaze growing sharp.
Although Kaelis had a good temper, that didn't mean she'd endlessly retreat.
If they really wanted to cause trouble...
Her slender fingers interlaced slightly, black ink faintly visible between her pale fingers, her eyes gaining a cold edge.
But... just at that moment.
The tent flap suddenly lifted...
......
Just as Kaelis was pondering whether she should strike first and eliminate those two, the tent curtain was suddenly lifted.
Kaelis glanced over, only to see Elena and her maid, Laura.
The two approximately slowly, and Kaelis stood up accordingly.
“Congratulations, Miss Kaelis.”
Elena remains as polite as ever, though her speech was still packed with embellishments.
“Today's spectacular match left a deep impression on me. Your performance was outstanding, easily securing first place. This once again proves your exceptional abilities.”
Hearing Elena's words, Kaelis's expression shifted slightly, and she instinctively glanced toward Laura.
During their previous nighttime conversation, Kaelis had tentatively probed the relationship between these two.
It was actually quite complicated.
Simply put, Laura's mother's entire family had been vassals to Elena's mother's family... The two families were said to have been brothers hundreds of years ago, but now their relationship was closer to that of lord and vassal.
Each generation formed a subtle pair bond, with Elena's side handling external matters, etiquette, appearances, connections, status, and other visible aspects, while Laura's side specialized in behind-the-scenes work.
Once formed, this pairing rarely changed for life.
Their mothers had this relationship.
And conveniently, this generation's children were close in age, so they naturally cultivated this bond.
According to Elena herself, she didn't dislike Laura, in fact, she liked this older sister figure very much.
But sometimes she felt troubled. Although Laura was around her age, she was much more serious, constantly correcting Elena's etiquette and posture.
This troubled the more lively Elena.
So, at least when Laura was present, she would behave more properly.
But none of this really concerns Kaelis.
Facing the girl's cheerful congratulations, Kaelis slightly lowered her eyes, then looked up.
"Thank you. I was just lucky."
She politely responded, careful not to reveal her inner thoughts.
But Kaelis underestimated the girl's attention.
She immediately noticed Kaelis's subtle mood. After pondering for a moment, she actually looked up.
“Is it because of those two viscount's daughters?”
“Huh?!”
Kaelis blinked, then broadened her eyes in surprise.
Wait?
But... she shouldn't know... Or could it be...
Kaelis's mind raced, but Elena simply shook her head.
The matter wasn't complicated.
“Miss Remi told Mr. Rod herself.”
“Huh?”
“After your match ended, Miss Remi approached Mr. Rod and explained her dealings with those two viscount's daughters.”
Elena slowly spoke, carefully sitting opposite Kaelis. Her legs neatly together, her small hands placed steadily on her knees, ensuring not even a hint of impropriety.
"She personally admitted accepting a contract to assassinate you and even showed the deposit...
After Mr. Rod verified it, he confirmed it was true. Unless something unexpected happens, those two will be expelled tonight."
“What?! Then... What about Remi?”
“Miss Remi voluntarily resigned, saying she'd delayed too long...”
Elena honestly relayed what she knew, while Kaelis's expression grew increasingly strange.
Because she realized she once again she couldn't understand Remi.
Previously, when Remi was being kind to her, Kaelis didn't understand either. It wasn't until Remi accidentally called her “Mom” during the match that Kaelis faintly felt she grasped something about the other.
But this incident... Kaelis was confused again.
Originally, those two viscount's daughters' grudge was directed at Kaelis. Even if Remi lost, they'd only complain behind her back about Remi's poor skills.
But with this development, unless they were idiots, they'd clearly realize Remi had betrayed them.
Their hatred would definitely shift directly onto Remi.
Being targeted by those two...
What exactly was Remi hoping to gain?
Could it really be because of her beauty?
Kaelis was attractive, but at most she caused a little impulse, certainly not enough to drive someone to do something like this. This can be seen from Remi's previous attitude during training simulations.
Remi would save her if possible, but if it endangers herself, even if reluctant, Remi would calmly abandon the rescue.
It wasn't heartlessness, just a rational decision after weighing the pros and cons.
The more Kaelis thought, the less she understood Remi's logic, eventually deciding to give up.
Forget it. Let it be.
She definitely couldn't figure this out alone. If they meet again on the front lines, she'd just ask Remi directly what was going on.
For now, this matter has been settled.
Next was Elena's business.
Seeing the girl's big eyes shimmering, Kaelis paused, then realized.
She's already impatient to study and grow with me?
Hmm... This child really is in a hurry.
But Kaelis was indeed prepared.
Only...
“......”
Kaelis understood meaningfully at Laura beside her.
Didn't Elena herself say she hadn't learned meditation techniques partly because of Laura's overprotectiveness?
With her here, how could Kaelis teach?
But Elena clearly anticipated this.
She waved her hand, and Laura immediately understood, touching her belt.
With a subtle surge of spiritual energy, a strange distortion appears around the belt.
Like heat waves distorting vision, within a blink, the distortion transformed into a complete set of tools.
Kaelis broadened her eyes in surprise.
Storage space?
Does this world have that too?
But compared to the mysterious little device, these tools excite Kaelis even more.
A solid wood easel, wooden panels, a special rack for organizing various paints, hundreds of colors in total!
Even the brushes numbered dozens... from fan-shaped to round tips, just for outlining pens, there were soft bristles, stiff bristles, long and short hairs in various combinations.
It was so luxurious that Kaelis was taken aback.
She didn't usually need so many types when painting!
But...
What did Elena want with these?
Kaelis looked up, puzzled, as the girl spoke at the right moment.
“I used to enjoy painting... And I've heard you're quite skilled. If you don't mind, could I invite you to paint my portrait?”
Elena spoke, clearly intending to use this excuse to create a suitable private space for them.
While Kaelis spent the night preparing meditation diagrams, the girl hadn't been idle either. She understood that learning meditation wasn't simple and required time.
So she had been diligently thinking of ways to create a long, sufficiently hidden environment for them.
After much consideration, she decided painting was the most suitable.
Simple, quiet, and dignified. Even if rumors spread, it wouldn't harm her reputation, in fact, people would see it as an elegant social gathering.
As for whether Kaelis could actually paint... Did that matter?
After all, her ultimate goal wasn't really about painting.
Elena believed her plan was flawless, without any flaws!
But clearly, Elena underestimated her companion beside her.
In just a few blinks, Laura instantly understood.
She wasn't stupid. Although she'd been somewhat confused when Elena first announced her, by now she clearly realized the girl intended to get her to leave?
But... precisely because of that, she couldn't leave.
Elena was still young, her ability to distinguish right from wrong still insufficient... She had accepted her mother and the prince's orders, and had the responsibility to properly care for Elena at this moment!
But directly saying she'd stay was impossible. Seeing the girl's determined attitude, Laura couldn't help speak more sternly.
“I believe Miss Kaelis's abilities must be excellent, but... if you're looking for someone to paint your portrait, I'd recommend a professional artist rather than someone doing it as a hobby..."
Laura merely intended to caution Elena. After all, even if Kaelis could paint, someone of common birth, how high could her skill level possibly be?
But she never expected her words would suddenly trigger the competitive spirit of a certain stubborn young artist.
“Huh?!”
Kaelis immediately frowned.
What do you mean by that?!
‘You can call me ugly, say my birth status is low, criticize me for any other reason, I wouldn't argue.’
But when it comes to painting...
Someone actually dares question my professional skills?! 1
