Chapter 31 - Rehabilitation 2

" Huft.... Huft.... *

Zio found out that he has been in a coma for a whole month since the event that knocked him out. After the first time he woke up it has been three months now. So that makes it four months in total that he has been staying in this mansion.

Living here is much more different than the life he had lived under the city. He usually stayed up late to work and sleep only for four hours a day from 12 PM until 4 PM. But after staying in the mansion for quite some time, his body clock is being reset.

As the result, Zio’s health is improving tremendously thanks to the strict nutritional intake and well-scheduled lifestyle. Jogging every 5 AM - 6 AM and 5 PM - 6 PM around the mansion nonstop, and working on calisthenics to keep his constitution. And now, he even already has strength training on his menu. He can feel it slowly but surely that his vigor is coming back to him.

It's early in the morning. As usual, Zio ran out for a jog, wearing oddly tight clothes woven by Julia. It seems that it was made from a skin of a certain specific monster mixed with some certain solution. Or at least that’s what Julia told him.

Just when Zio was about to finish circling around the mansion, suddenly he heard Ana's voice coming from one of the yards.

" Ei! Ei! Hyah! Ei! "

" Ora ora! Put your back into it, little missy! "

" Hey! What are you doing?! " Zio saw Ana and Masatora practicing swordsmanship in there. Ana is holding a wooden katana with both of her hands, while Masatora is holding the real one.

" Huh? Can't you see? We're practicing. "

" What if Ana's hands starting to swell?! "

" Brother! Stop bothering me! "

" Wha-! "

As if his heart was shattered to pieces. Ana is telling him to shoo away for the first time in ages. Zio fell on the ground with all-fours in despair.

" Yeah, shoo shoo! Go away you nuisance. " Masatora joined for the boo.

" W-Why You! " Zio ran towards him, hauling his fist. As soon as he was about to hit him, suddenly the world turned upside down on him.

*Bhug* Zio was slammed to the ground.

" Eh... What was that? " Zio muttered to himself as it happened way too fast for Zio to see clearly.

" What do you think? Convenient right? " Masatora laughs at the dazed young man.

" Ahaha! Brother you're so funny! "

Zio quickly rose up from the ground and try to throw another punch. But all he was doing is repeating what just happened. *Bhug* he got slammed to the ground in that instant for the second time.

" I'll have your little sister to learn this. You won't always be there for her after all, will you? It's about time for the little missy to learn how to take care of herself, don't you think? "

" Uncle Masa is right! I won't be any burden to you anymore, brother! "

As much as he has to admit, what he's saying is true for Zio. He was planning to do so also, teaching his sister how to protect herself. Yet, he planned for it when she was at least eight or nine. Not at such a tender age like she currently is.

" B-But Ana! You are not a burden! "

" Whatever you say won't stop me! " Ana sharply stared at her doting brother with her arms akimbo, like a little wrestling champion.

" And that's the case. Now go away and stop disturbing our training. "

As Zio was grumbling and muttering to himself, suddenly Julia called out to him from the terrace of the mansion.

" Sir Zioo...! " She waved her hand.

" Now that I think of it, she also looks cute, isn't she? Damn man, I'm glad I went to the west. It's full of beauty birds in here! " Masatora commented out of the blue.

" Damn man. Is there nothing else other than women inside that wacky head of yours? "

" Of course! We men only need three B's to think of! Brawl, booze, and boobs! "

" Brawl... booze... and boobs? " Ana innocently repeated what she had just heard.

Zio couldn’t believe what he had just heard. How can a man of his age be so stupid as to blurted out inappropriate indecency near a little girl?

" NO ANA! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! " Zio screamed in panic, not wanting to see her sister be influenced by Masatora.

" Sir Zioo...! " Julia called for him for the second time.

After Zio gave Masatora the 'eyes on you' gesture. He had no choice but to leave them alone and walk up to Julia. Seemingly, there's someone she would like him to meet. Thus, they proceed to head out for the main hall to greet them.

" T-Those red hair! " It doesn’t take a long time for Zio to immediately recognize what he is seeing, ‘it was that crazy girl!’ he screamed inside.

" Zioooo...!!! " Bella jumped out to Zio, but he immediately grasps her face and pressed it before she did anything weird to him.

" I-I... miss you!... so much! ow ow ow, it hurts! " Seemingly having learned to keep herself in check, Zio released his grip and let Bella fall on the floor.

" Where's Stefany? "

" What do you mean? She was- huh? Where is she? "

Zio then noticed that a girl is hiding behind a pillar, peeking at him from afar. Zio guessed that maybe she's really a shy girl after all. But actually, it was fear that keeps Stefany away from Zio. Surely, she would keep her distance from him, after the trauma that she had experienced in Al’Etra,

" Stefany? " Zio called out to Stefany and looked at her way. But it ended up for her hiding herself completely.

" Ahaha, I guess she is still scared of you after what happened in Al' Etra. "

Zio gears grind. He thought that he must've done something really bad back then. But what he doesn’t understand is that, why does it matter to Stefany? Because as far as he can remember, Stefany is with Ana on Tel' Almus. Keeping her from harm as she had promised him.

" ...The truth is I don't quite remember what happened. Can you re- "

*Cling cling cling* The bell rang three times. That means the lady of the mansion calls for Zio specifically. A single rang was meant for Julia and a double rang was for Albert.

" Sir Zio. I believe the young lady demands your presence right away. For both of you, please come with me. "

" Ooh? 'Sir' Zio? You are starting to act like a noble! " Bella cuts in with unnecessary remarks.

" I'm not! "

Just when Zio believe that he was about to get his answers, they unluckily parted ways. The three of them seems to be heading for the maid’s room, while he himself is heading for Gissel's.

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*Knock knock*

" Come in. "

* Knock Knock*

" Yes, you may come in. "

* Knock Knock Knock*

Zio can hear Gissel’s footsteps walking towards the door. It seems that he had succeeded at pissing her off.

" I said come in! You idiot! " She barked at him as she busts out the door open. This time, Zio easily dodge it.

" Good morning, pampered princess. "

" Sigh. Why can you just be normal for goodness sake? "

Zio entered her room carefreely and sit upon the big window, enjoying the gentle breeze that blows from outside.

" Step away from the window! Your sweat reeks as hell! "

Instead of listening to her behest, Zio spread open my arms, letting the air flow through his armpits.

" Y-You! Animal! " She threw an apple at him but Zio quickly catches it and eat it.

" So? What do you call me for? "

" Tsk. Well, whatever. I want to make sure if you know that the entrance exam is coming up in two weeks. "

" Hmm. I know. *Gulp* Albert told me. "

Gissel then took out a number of papers and hand them out to Zio, which he read it thoroughly.

" What are these questions? "

" You read the books which Albert gave you right? "

" 'Mathematics: Core and Extended', 'Alchemy: 4th Edition Intermediate', 'Architecture by Dippodamus', 'Journey of Marco Ridfelt: A Study of Art and Literature', 'The Manifestation of Lesser Magic'... Want me to go on? "

" I see you have taken a glance at their titles. "

Zio feels annoyed at her belittlement. He hates to be looked down upon by others. Everything that she gave him was nothing but easy reads for Zio. To think that Gissel implied that he was incapable of mastering those books, Zio is really looking forward to seeing her surprised face.

" You want me to solve these? "

" Think you can? Well, since you are not too bright, I will help you to solve some of those if you ask me... But, even so, you have to be able to answer at least- "

Gissel stopped her prattle as soon as Zio put the papers on his lap and extended his hand on her with his palm facing up.

" W-What? "

" What do you mean what? I need a pencil or a quill. "

" You can't write with your magic?! "

" Nope. I can't use any magic other than controlling my iron. "

She sighed and starting to search inside her drawers and cabinet, looking for stationary. After quite a while, she finally found it and gave it to him.

" Alright then. Now you can go touch yourself or something and leave me alone. " Zio cracked his neck joints and hold the apple in HIS mouth before beginning to fill in the questions on the papers.

.

.

.

" Done. " After nearly an hour of writing, Zio finally finished it all.

" W-Wha! *Cough* No way! The time is two hours long! And there are 150 questions! I-It wasn't made to be completely answered! " She choked on her tea and even spilled some on her clothes.

" So? What's the point of staying around when you are already finished? " Zio jumped off the window, putting the papers on the table and then walking out towards the door.

" Stop right there! I have to check on it before you can leave! I bet you're just screwing around again, aren't you? "

Zio let out a big breath. He had no other choice but to comply with her this time. Else she won't stop bugging him.

.

.

.

" I-It's really hard to believe... "

" He? How was it? I'm a genius, right? Go on, praise me. " Zio teased Gissel, satisfied to see her surprised face.

" J-Just so you know! I already mastered much more subjects than you! I too have always been in the first place in every test I take! And then I also- "

" But we're talking about this mock test, aren't we? So how was it? Be straight and honest. " Zio tapped on the paper, rising one of his eyebrows, and grinning at her. 'It's time for you to get off your high horse, spoiled girl.' He thought to himself.

" W-Well... "

" Well? "

" Y-You passed, okay!? You'll be fine at the real test! Hmph! "

" Heh. Easy peasy. "

After she calmed herself, she took another sip of her tea. Judging by the smell alone, Zio guessed that it was chamomile. It’s been quite a while since he lives in her mansion. So, it’s nothing strange for him to already got the hang of Gissel’s hobby and the things related to it.

" You may have no trouble at the writing test... But how well you'll fare with the magic aptitude test, I wonder? "

" There's such a test? "

" Of course, there is! We'll be attending the most prestigious academy in this Queendom! "

" Wait, what? 'We'? "

" Oh? Did I forget to mention that? I'm also taking the exam. "

" Oh no... "

" What do you mean with 'oh no'?! "

Zio thinks he knows where this is going. Zio guessed that Gissel must have got herself a lot of enemies, considering her status and her nasty personality. Thus, he has to be her bodyguard all day from dawn to dusk. This sounds bad for him as he knows that he’s going to be unwillingly dragged into the affairs of the kind of people he hates the most.