Editor : Amethyst00



Murmur– murmur–

Evening, after all classes had ended.

Returning to the boys’ dorm, Leo saw the commotion and asked a passing classmate.

“What’s going on?”

“Huh? L-Leo?”

The boy looked utterly flustered to see him.

He was from the magic department, one who usually mocked Leo’s family and origins at every chance.

At Lumene, with so many noble houses, there were plenty who still looked down on someone from a frontier kingdom, no matter what great achievements he had accomplished.

Yet for some reason, he was sneaking glances at Leo’s face.

Seeing that, Leo easily figured out the cause of the uproar.

‘So the rumor’s spread.’

It seemed the whole school now knew that Leo’s maternal family was Zerdinger.

As Leo entered the dormitory, the boys’ eyes all turned toward him at once.

Ignoring their stares completely, Leo headed up to his room.

He was already in a bad mood—he couldn’t even rest in the evening, since later he’d have to go out to give the princess a private lesson.

Clatter–

Opening the door, he was greeted by chaos.

The first thing he saw: Fiora, polymorphed, had propped up the bed and was hiding behind it.

Looking around, he noticed someone else at the highest point in the room—Kiran, perched on top of the wardrobe, having stacked Leo’s textbooks like a fortress wall.

Finally, by the window, Elsie sat watching with interest.

“What are you doing?”

Lifting her head from behind the bed, Fiora turned toward Leo’s question.

“Leo! Join me in defeating that wicked fairy—”

Whizz—! Thwack—!

Kiran darted out from atop the wardrobe and threw a pebble, smacking Fiora in the back of the head.

[Hahahahaha! That makes the 89th hit! You’re as hopeless as ever!]

Fiora irritably picked up the stone and threw it back, but Kiran only ducked smugly behind the stack of books.

Fiora puffed up her cheeks in anger, trembling furiously.

“What on earth is going on?”

At Leo’s question, Elsie scratched her cheek.

[It seems Kiran ate all the snacks Fiora had hidden away.]

[That’s not true! She wrecked the little creations I made first!]

“Creations? You mean those pathetic toys you made on the Beast Island just to trick students!”

[You chick, did you just call me pathetic?!]

“Stupid fairy!”

Watching the phoenix and the fairy squabble like children, Leo let out a deep sigh.

‘If the summoners outside knew that a phoenix and a fairy were acting like this, they’d be wailing.’

“Stop fighting and both of you, come here.”

At Leo’s words, Fiora and Kiran came forward with sulky faces.

“You two are great beasts, the so-called Three Grand Summons. Stop fighting over childish things. Shake hands and make peace.”

Reluctantly, Kiran held out a hand first.

[Hmph! As the elder and leader, I’ll extend my hand for harmony first! Be honored to accept the Fairy Prince’s apology!]

Fiora stared at his small, smugly outstretched hand, then took it.

[Hah—! Moved by my magnanimity, aren’t yo—ughk—!]

The instant she grabbed his arm, Fiora spun it around wildly.

Barely escaping her grasp, Kiran shrieked venomously.

[As expected, apologizing to a chick who only cares about food was a mistake! Prepare yourself!]

“That’s what I wanted to hear!”

Whish—! Whish—!

The two ran back to their fortresses and resumed their standoff.

Watching them, Leo said:

“Finish it by the time I get back.”

Leaving those words, he stepped out.

It was to submit a night-exit request form.

Elsie waved after him.

[Take care.]

bl

“Celia, Chelsea. Just as you said, Leo-sunbae really is a remarkable talent.”

At the center of Lumene.

In a high-class restaurant near the Tower of Heroes, Shasha spoke in her elegant voice.

Celia and Chelsea, who had been glaring at each other, turned to her with puzzled looks.

“I heard he flatly refused your scout invitation?”

Chelsea asked, frowning.

Shasha nodded.

“Yes. It seems Leo-sunbae intends only to join a faction led by someone he recognizes.”

The three of them chatted comfortably.

Zerdinger and Lewellin, the right and left hands of Lordren.

Unlike a typical monarch-vassal relationship, the bond among these three was a little different.

The first Zerdinger and Lewellin, before they were founding heroes, had been close friends.

That traditional bond had continued even after all this time.

Thus, the three girls were closer to friends than to lord and retainers.

They kept formality in public, but in private they spoke freely.

That’s why Celia and Chelsea looked strangely at Shasha’s words.

‘That guy, following under someone he acknowledges? That’s not his personality at all.’

Knowing her cousin well, Celia frowned in thought.

Chelsea, with a sigh, seemed to think the same.

It looked like their delusional princess friend had misinterpreted Leo’s words again.

“So I decided to meet with Leo-sunbae later.”

“What? Just the two of you?” Celia’s eyes went wide.

“Yes. He said he’d give me advice about summoning. Isn’t that rather sweet?”

Resting her chin in her hand, Shasha smiled brightly.

“That he’d give me advice on summoning, of all things. Even if he is all-class, I am from the Lordren family, after all.”

Shasha smirked proudly.

The Lordren imperial family wasn’t only rulers of the Empire but also a lineage famed worldwide as summoners.

Every Lordren by blood carried powerful summoner talent.

Some said that if they weren’t an imperial house, they’d be ranked among the greatest summoner clans in history.

Shasha herself had inherited that Lordren bloodline in full.

“And for him to go out of his way to arrange such an excuse to see me—maybe he’s already fallen for me?”

Covering her mouth, Shasha let out a haughty hohoho.

Celia and Chelsea exchanged looks.

Though normally bitter rivals, right now they were both worried about their childhood friend.

Especially since both of them had tried to show off before Leo and been thoroughly put in their place.

“Still, as the crown princess, isn’t it a bit improper to meet a boy alone at night?”

“Yeah. Should we go with you?”

At their words, Shasha shook her head firmly.

“No. Tonight I’ll be studying summoning with Leo-sunbae, just the two of us.”

Once Shasha got the wrong idea, she was hard to stop.

All they could do was offer advice.

“Don’t let your pride drag you into a weird bet.”

Said Celia, who had once ended up serving as a maid for a week.

“And don’t refuse his suggestions just because you’re too stubborn.”

Said Chelsea, who had nearly gotten her backside scorched off.

But Shasha’s eyes only sparkled with anticipation.

“Hmph—he’ll be stunned by my skill for sure.”

As she hummed to herself, Celia and Chelsea looked uneasy.

bl

Late at night, the Grand Library.

This space, open to all students, allowed private study rooms even after dark.

For difficult assignments or reference-heavy research, many stayed late.

Of course, some students misused it for dating.

‘But if they get caught, it’s straight to hell.’

With sharp-eyed librarians constantly on patrol, few dared such reckless behavior.

Leo, facing Shasha across the table, asked:

“Why do you think you can’t form a formal contract with the pegasus despite your provisional one?”

“Because my ability is lacking, of course.”

Leo shook his head.

“Ever think that your ability is more than enough, but you’re just not doing it?”

Shasha narrowed her eyes.

“Leo-sunbae. The Three Great Summons are overwhelming beings. Without immense spiritual power, even with a covenant, they can’t be called forth.”

“I know that.”

Leo’s voice was indifferent.

“But maybe you haven’t considered that your effort is lacking.”

“Leo-sunbae, I’m not like those geniuses who rely on talent and slack off.” Shasha lifted her chin.

“I’m destined to lead the Lordren Empire, one of the world’s greatest powers. In my field, I must always be the best. Even though I could’ve entered Lumene at fourteen like Chelsea, I chose Skarn instead—to dominate it for a year.”

Straightening her back, a fierce aura radiated from her golden eyes—one unfit for her young appearance, but born from imperial training since childhood.

“Already in Skarn, not just among first-years but even upperclassmen, few match me as a summoner. My next goal is Lumene.”

Her eyes gleamed.

“I’ll become grade representative, the honor student, student council president, and make Lumene the greatest of the Four Hero Academies. Because only when I’m the best am I satisfied.”

Leo rested his chin on his hand.

“Wouldn’t it have been easier if you’d entered this year? Celia and Chelsea are already here.”

“I won’t rely on Celia or Chelsea. Achievements only matter if I win them myself.”

Shasha raised her chin higher.

“I can assure you: if it’s purely summoning skill, I could claim first seat in the summoning department even now.”

Leo’s lips curved faintly.

“Unfortunately, two reasons make that impossible.”

“What?”

“First, the current top summoner, Walden—you can’t beat him. That guy’s a monster.”

Leo thought of Walden, the so-called Southern Monster. By combat strength alone, he was firmly among the top three of all first-years.

“Second, if it’s only a provisional contract, there are two first-years right now who could summon a pegasus.”

Shasha’s eyes twitched.

Her confidence had come from absolute belief in her own superiority. But Leo was denying it outright.

And worse, he was saying there were others, under the same condition, who could succeed where she hadn’t.

“Who are they?”

“One is Eliza Hergin. The other is me.”

Leo’s lips curved further.

“I could even form a full contract, not just provisional.”

Provoked, Shasha snapped.

“Are you saying you’re stronger as a summoner than me?”

“Why ask the obvious?”

“Pride is one thing, but arrogance is another.”

“Whether it’s pride or arrogance, you’ll see for yourself.”

At that moment, Shasha realized.

Leo hadn’t rejected her invitation to test her ability—he hadn’t been interested at all.

‘So he never even considered me?’

Humiliation surged within her.

‘This man!’

“I won’t learn from someone weaker than me!”

Out of stubbornness, she rejected him.

“Suit yourself.”

Leo stood without hesitation.

That only made Shasha flare up more.

“Fine! Then prove it! Show me you’re the greater summoner!”

“How?”

Leo asked. Shasha spread her spiritual power, and a summoning circle appeared in the air.

“You said that in my situation, you could summon the pegasus. Let’s see you try.”

The path was open.

Anyone worthy could call it forth.

“If I succeed, the Lordren pegasus might contract with me.”

“Hmph. If you succeed, I’ll acknowledge the contract. But if you fail…”

Shasha smirked.

“…you’ll be my attendant for the rest of the joint classes.”

Driven by pride, she’d thrown herself into a reckless bet.

Despite Celia and Chelsea’s warnings, Shasha was convinced.

‘Impossible. His spiritual power is far below mine.’

Her spiritual power rivaled even Eliza’s.

If she couldn’t summon the pegasus, it was unthinkable Leo could.

“If you’re not confident, you can back out now.”

“Not at all.”

Leo smirked and reached for the circle.

In that instant—

Whoosh—!

Darkness swept over the room.

Flicker— flicker—

The magestone lamps began to flicker.

“Huh?”

Shasha looked up at the ceiling in confusion.

But Leo’s face hardened.

‘A severance curse? No… something else. But definitely Tartaros.’

Quickly, he pressed his hand to the summoning circle.

Crackle—!

Sparks flared from the formation.

“…!”

Shasha’s eyes flew wide.

Crack-crack! BOOOOM—!

Thunder roared.

Flash—!

KRAK-KRAK-KRAKANG—!

The study room was engulfed in light and sparks.

And from within appeared a woman—hair of pure white, eyes like snow, clad in gleaming white armor.

“This feeling… not Shasha.”

The woman curled her lips into a smile, arms crossed, gazing at the boy before her.

“That someone outside Lordren blood summoned me is shocking enough… but to do it with such paltry power?”

In the pegasus’s eyes, a strange light gleamed.

“Who are you?”

“Sorry to cut introductions short.”

“Hm?”

Crackle—!

Sparks danced from Leo’s body.

In that instant, the pegasus’s form shifted to her true body.

[What? You interfered with the contract?!]

The pegasus exclaimed in shock.

Leo spoke calmly.

“Looks like we’ll have to fight right away. Lend me your strength?”