Chapter 497: An Immortal Technique and a Foolish Man [Part 2]

An Immortal Technique and a Foolish Man [Part 2]

Shasa quietly edged closer to Selena.

She leaned toward her, glancing around as if she were about to share some great secret.

Then she lowered her voice.

Her lips nearly brushed Selena’s ear.

"Pretty Sister," she whispered.

Selena tilted her head slightly.

Shasa’s eyes immediately wandered toward Leon.

She stared at him for a few seconds.

There was something almost offended in the way she looked at him.

"I think that person is really stupid."

Selena’s eyebrows lifted.

She followed Shasa’s gaze.

Leon was still there, completely unaware that he had somehow become the subject of a whispered conversation.

Shasa quickly looked back at Selena.

But it didn’t last long.

Her eyes drifted toward Leon again.

"He’s handsome, sure..."

She paused.

Her expression became even more serious.

As if she were carefully weighing the evidence before reaching a final conclusion.

"But he’s still a fool."

Selena’s lips twitched.

She quickly pressed them together.

She knew she shouldn’t laugh.

She really shouldn’t.

But watching Shasa speak with such absolute certainty made it increasingly difficult to hold herself together.

Shasa, of course, noticed none of this.

She was far too busy trying to understand Leon.

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

There was genuine confusion in them.

Leon was a strange person.

No matter how many times Shasa thought about him, she still couldn’t figure him out.

Not even a little.

"He doesn’t even know what ’croaked’ means."

She slowly shook her head.

The motion was so solemn that Selena nearly lost her composure again.

Shasa sighed.

She looked at Leon as though he had personally disappointed her.

"How can someone be that stupid?"

Selena bit the inside of her cheek.

Her shoulders trembled faintly.

She turned her face away for a moment, pretending to examine the surroundings.

It was pointless.

The corners of her lips were already betraying her.

Shasa still didn’t notice.

Instead, she leaned closer.

Even closer this time.

Her voice dropped until it was barely more than a breath beside Selena’s ear.

"You definitely won’t learn anything if you keep following him."

She gave Leon another suspicious glance.

Then she turned back to Selena.

"Don’t let him fool you."

Shasa nodded firmly to herself.

She was completely convinced that she had whispered quietly enough.

Unfortunately for her...

Leon had heard every single word.

His expression slowly darkened.

One eyebrow twitched.

Just once.

People often said children spoke without malice.

They were innocent.

They simply said whatever came into their heads because they didn’t understand how sharp their words could be.

Normally, Leon might have agreed.

But right now?

He wasn’t so sure.

This little girl had just insulted him.

Right in front of him.

And somehow, the worst part wasn’t even the insult.

It was the fact that she genuinely believed he hadn’t heard a thing.

Leon slowly turned his head.

His gaze settled on Shasa.

The girl was still standing beside Selena.

She looked completely relaxed.

There wasn’t even the slightest hint of guilt on her face.

She simply stood there as though nothing had happened.

As though she hadn’t just called him stupid.

As though she hadn’t warned Selena not to trust him.

She had absolutely no idea that danger was already staring directly at her.

Leon watched her in silence.

One second passed.

Then another.

He still said nothing.

Shasa remained blissfully unaware.

Finally, the corner of Leon’s mouth twitched.

"This little fellow..."

A quiet laugh escaped him.

"Hehe..."

There wasn’t even a trace of genuine amusement in it.

If anything, it sounded like the laugh of a man who had just found the perfect excuse to cause trouble.

Leon rubbed his forehead.

Then he let out a long, helpless sigh.

"I really want to pick her up and beat her."

"Pfft..."

Rias immediately covered her mouth.

She tried to hold it back.

She really did.

But her shoulders began trembling.

Another laugh slipped out before she could stop it.

Rias quickly turned her face away.

Too late.

The more she thought about Shasa’s words, the harder it became to keep a straight face.

There was something almost ridiculously adorable about the girl’s complete lack of awareness.

She had insulted Leon with absolute sincerity.

And she wasn’t even trying to be cruel.

She genuinely thought she was helping Selena.

That somehow made it even worse.

Leon had met countless talented people throughout his journey.

There had never been a shortage of people who wanted to become his students.

Some had begged him.

Some had offered precious treasures.

Others had gone to absurd lengths just to prove they were worthy of his guidance.

Leon had ignored almost all of them.

Yet now...

When the opportunity to become his student had practically been placed right in front of Shasa...

She looked at him as though he were some suspicious old man trying to trick her.

The sheer absurdity of it left Leon caught somewhere between laughing and sighing.

His pride as a teacher had just taken a direct hit.

And somehow, he couldn’t even bring himself to be genuinely angry.

Rias finally stepped forward.

Her long red hair slipped over her shoulders as she crouched slightly beside Shasa.

Her large red eyes curved into a gentle smile.

She reached out and lightly poked Shasa’s cheek.

"Little Sunflower, our Teacher is very capable."

Her voice was soft.

Patient.

There wasn’t even a hint of teasing in it.

"As long as you acknowledge him as your Teacher, he can teach you any immortal technique."

Shasa blinked.

Rias continued.

"If you learn from him properly, you can become invincible among your peers."

Shasa stared at her.

Then she looked at Leon.

Then back at Rias.

The suspicion in her eyes hadn’t completely disappeared.

Not yet.

Rias noticed it immediately.

But she didn’t argue with her.

Instead, she simply smiled.

"Look..."

She slowly raised one slender hand.

Mana began gathering around her palm.

At first, the change was barely noticeable.

The air around them gradually grew warmer.

A faint red glow appeared between her fingers.

Shasa’s attention was drawn toward it immediately.

Her eyes followed the growing light.

Then—

Whoosh!

A small ball of flame appeared in the center of Rias’s palm.

The flame danced gently.

Crimson light flickered across her beautiful face.

Warmth spread through the surrounding air.

Even the tiny particles of dust floating nearby seemed to glow beneath the firelight.

Shasa froze.

Her eyes widened.

Her little mouth fell open slightly.

For several seconds, she couldn’t say anything.

She simply stared.

"Wow..."

The amazement in her voice was completely genuine.

There wasn’t even the slightest attempt to hide it.

Shasa leaned closer.

The dancing flame was reflected clearly in her deep blue eyes.

"Pretty Sister, you’re so amazing."

She sounded genuinely impressed.

It was the first time Shasa had ever seen someone create fire from nothing.

She had seen fierce beasts before.

She had watched powerful people fight.

She had even witnessed people whose physical strength was terrifying enough to crush others with ease.

But this was different.

This wasn’t simply strength.

It was something she couldn’t understand.

Something mysterious.

Something beautiful.

Rias watched her reaction with a faint smile.

Then she slowly closed her fingers.

The flame vanished.

Just like that.

Shasa’s expression immediately fell.

"Wait..."

She stared at Rias’s empty hand.

Her eyes searched the place where the flame had been only moments ago.

Nothing.

There was nothing left.

She blinked several times.

Then she slowly turned her head toward Leon.

The suspicion in her eyes had begun to disappear.

In its place was something else.

Curiosity.

She remembered the sword energy Leon had displayed earlier.

She remembered how effortlessly he had controlled it.

And now she had seen Rias create fire with nothing more than a simple movement of her hand.

Her heart began beating a little faster.

Maybe...

Maybe becoming Leon’s student really wasn’t such a bad idea.

But there was still one thing she needed to know.

Shasa turned back toward Rias.

Her expression became serious.

"Pretty Sister..."

Her small fingers curled slightly.

There was no trace of joking in her voice anymore.

She genuinely wanted an answer.

"Is what you said true?"

Rias looked at her.

Shasa glanced toward Leon.

For a moment, she seemed to hesitate.

Then she looked back at Rias.

"Can I really become invincible among my peers if I acknowledge him as my Teacher?"