Ailiya only stretched out that slender, white hand, shook her wrist, and used the brush in her hand to aim precisely at the back of his hand, slapping it suddenly. *Snap!*
“Ouch!” Leo let out a scream of pain, and his hand loosened, letting the unopened scroll fly out.
Immediately afterward, Ailiya swung her hand back — *snap, snap* — and Leo’s cheeks took two solid blows from the brush, leaving two red marks.
Leo was hit until he was dizzy, but he still gritted his teeth and clumsily drew the wood sword from his back, trying to resist.
“Hmph, why didn’t you go cast some magic?” Ailiya watched him waving the sword around wildly and couldn’t help but mock him.
Seeing the distance was too close, Leo steeled himself and secretly pulled a handful of white tear-gas powder from his pocket, tossing it toward Ailiya’s face.
As a result, Ailiya was already prepared. The brush in her hand spun in mid-air, bringing a breeze that directly scattered and blew the powder away without a single speck touching her body.
“Using dirty tricks against an enemy you can’t win against isn’t shameful.” Ailiya looked at him with cold eyes. “So, do you have any other trump cards?”
“Damn it!” Leo’s composure completely broke as he awkwardly swung the wood sword at her without any form.
Next, it was a completely one-sided “teaching session.”
Using only that small bristle brush, Ailiya began a textbook-perfect close-combat beating.
“The movement here is wrong; your defense is wide open.” *Snap!* The brush struck Leo’s shoulder.
“Too slow.” *Snap!* The brush lashed his wrist.
“Loose footwork, wrong posture, no power!” *Snap! Snap!* The brush hit his side and calf in succession.
“I can see you’ve received some basic sword skills education.” Ailiya effortlessly sidestepped a slash and coldly commented, “However, it’s all just flowery nonsense with no practical combat value. It’s truly terrible.”
Just as she finished speaking, Ailiya flipped her wrist, and the handle of the brush struck Leo’s hand precisely at the webbing between the thumb and forefinger.
*Clang!* The wood sword flew out of his hand and fell to the ground.
By now, Leo’s face was covered in bruises, and he was panting heavily. Hearing this humiliation, his eyes turned red as he roared, “Shut up!”
Then, like a crazed child, he raised his fists and charged at Ailiya recklessly.
“The farce should end here, if this is the extent of your abilities…”
Ailiya’s eyes sharpened, and the brush in her hand precisely struck the back of Leo’s knee, instantly breaking his balance.
Leo’s legs went soft, and he involuntarily fell forward.
Immediately, Ailiya turned slightly, grabbed his collar and arm with both hands, and put her weight into her waist.
In a blur of movement, Leo felt the sky and the ground spinning.
There was a dull *thud*.
Leo’s back slammed hard against the bumpy bluestone pavement.
This fall left him reeling, seeing stars, and every bone in his body felt like it had been shattered. He could barely catch his breath.
**[Battle Over]**
**[Evaluation: Perfect Victory]**
**[Defeated Leo (Lv. 4)]**
**[Total experience points gained: 10]**
**[Basic combat experience points +10]**
Hearing the pitifully small experience notification in her head, Ailiya frowned with disdain and clicked her tongue inwardly.
‘It’s okay, it’s slightly more experience than a rogue mercenary.’
She looked down at Leo from above and tucked the brush back into her pocket.
Dusting off her hands, her tone remained flat and emotionless.
“Practical combat isn’t a turn-based game. No one will foolishly stand still and wait for you to finish those long-winded incantations.”
Leo lay splayed out on the cold ground, gasping for air, his muscles and bones aching. He stared blankly at the azure sky above, his vision gradually focusing on Ailiya, who stood against the light.
The silver wolf maid’s hair wasn’t even messy, her breathing was steady, and there wasn’t even a hint of joy in those ice-blue eyes after her victory.
“Aside from your status as a Noble, what else do you have? You’re nothing but an arrogant weakling who lacks self-awareness.”
Ailiya’s voice was cold and sharp, each word stabbing into Leo’s weak points like a sharp knife.
“Stop it…”
“Why should I stop? Can’t handle it? Isn’t your skin thicker than the floor?” Ailiya’s voice was as cold as an ice spike.
“You make up those clumsy lies to cover your failure, not because you believe you’re strong, but because you’re too weak to face reality.”
Ailiya looked at his state and knew she had to completely shatter that hypocritical shell.
“You use ridiculous lies like ‘I don’t care to learn’ and ‘I’m a genius’ to numb yourself, just to maintain that pitiful psychological balance of yours. You don’t dare face your true self at all.”
“You don’t even have the courage to admit you were defeated or admit that you’re weak. You only know how to throw tantrums at servants and use those clumsy little tricks to seek a sense of existence.”
“If you plan on living by these little tricks and clumsy performances forever… one day, it won’t be a brush that greets you, but a real blade. You’re not a genius; you’re just a loser hiding under your mother’s protection.”
These words precisely tore off the most secret fig leaf deep in Leo’s heart. He gritted his teeth hard, and his eyes uncontrollably turned red.
The false narrative he had used for so long to defend against his inferiority complex was ruthlessly crushed at this moment.
The defenses in his heart were struck once again. Tears mixed with the dust on his face and slid down, blurring his vision.
That silver-white figure didn’t give him another look, simply walking away at a leisurely pace until she disappeared.
***
On the balcony, Ian let out a long breath. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Lady Elsa had already withdrawn her gaze and was preparing to turn and leave.
“Um… Madame, are you leaving already?” Ian trotted a few steps to catch up, his tone careful and testing.
“You actually don’t need to be too angry. Although Miss Ailiya’s words just now were indeed… a bit harsh. But don’t worry, I’ll be responsible for the follow-up psychological counseling.”
Madame stopped, turned back in the shadow of the corridor, and a playful smile hung on the corner of her mouth. “Angry? Master Ian, through which eye did you see me get angry?”
Ian froze for a moment and scratched his head. “Uh… I saw that you hadn’t spoken the whole time. After all, the Young Master was beaten like that. I thought as a mother, you would at least…”
Lady Elsa gently straightened her shawl, her tone very relaxed.
“Didn’t you say it yourself, Master Ian? You told me not to interfere no matter what happened. Since I’ve hired you as a tutor, I naturally choose to trust your judgment.”
Madame tilted her head slightly and issued a half-joking invitation. “What’s this? Is Master Ian following me because he wants to join me for some black tea and snacks?”
Ian gave a dry laugh to ease the awkwardness. “Hahaha, so that’s how it is. Madame, your open-mindedness is truly broad. However, I still need to prepare for the lessons, so I won’t disturb Madame.”
“Then you go ahead and get busy, Master Ian.”
Lady Elsa exchanged a few more pleasantries, then turned and walked away at a leisurely pace along the corridor. The smile on her face gradually faded, and she murmured in a voice only she could hear.
‘I really have found someone extraordinary.’
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