Editor : Amethyst00



After hearing Leo’s account of what had happened in the Grand Archives, Kalian and Rivein wore grave expressions.

“From what you’ve described, that would be the ‘Curse of Blocking.’”

“The Curse of Blocking?”

“That’s right.”

Kalian nodded.

“It’s a curse that creates a sealed-off space. One often used when high-ranking demons from Tartaros infiltrate.”

It was indeed a curse Leo had never heard of.

‘So they’ve evolved as well.’

“Was their attempt to target the Hall of Heroes just an extension of destroying Hero Records, like what happened in Lady Luna’s world?”

When Rivein muttered in a serious tone, Kalian nodded.

“Most likely.”

“Then why the Hall of Heroes? There aren’t any Hero Records in there.”

Rivein was right.

The place where the Hero Records were kept was the Forbidden Archives.

And the Forbidden Archives were a space that curses could not breach.

Guarded by all manner of protections and anti-curse spells, it was not a place Tartaros could dare to intrude upon.

“Even if there aren’t Hero Records inside, the ‘keys’ that can unlock them are. That’s what they must have been after.”

At Kalian’s words, Rivein nodded.

“They’re becoming more blatant with their schemes.”

When they had decided to bring in as many as six hundred outsiders into the school, they had already anticipated possible infiltrators.

‘Even if they entered the Hall of Heroes, they wouldn’t have been able to carry away the relics inside.’

Muttering inwardly, Kalian turned his gaze on Leo.

‘To notice the Curse of Blocking… his senses must be remarkably keen.’

A first-year had thwarted a high-ranking demon who wielded such a curse.

This student never ceased to surprise him in every way.

Curiosity sparking within him, Kalian rested his chin on his hand and asked:

“Leo. That demon must have been far too difficult for you to handle at your current level. How exactly did you stop it?”

“It was thanks to the Pegasus.”

“Pegasus?”

Kalian’s eyes flew wide open.

He had already heard that Leo was the contractor of the Phoenix.

But Pegasus—this was the first time hearing of it.

As Rivein also stared in shock, Leo explained how he had come to summon Alty.

“Remarkable.”

Kalian let out a sigh of admiration, nodding slowly.

Rivein, meanwhile, gazed intently at Leo, recalling the words of Lady Melina.

‘Please look after Leo Plov as much as you can.’

‘Did the Queen already foresee this level of ability?’

Looking at Leo, who seemed as if he had been born to become a hero, Rivein spoke.

“Leo Plov. You understand, of course, that this incident must remain in silence.”

“Yes.”

“And is there anything you want? You stopped Tartaros, didn’t you? That deserves a reward.”

If he had caused a disturbance in the Grand Library for no reason, that would have been different.

But since he had done so in order to stop a demon, and had succeeded, then a reward was indeed due.

“I can’t think of anything in particular… ah.”

“What is it?”

“Would you be able to provide support for my club?”

“Club?”

“Yes.”

“Very well. I’ll see that it’s arranged.”

Rivein nodded.

“It’s late. Go on back. We’ll take care of the rest.”

At those words, Leo left the headmaster’s office.

When only the two of them remained, Kalian spoke.

“As expected, they’ve begun to move.”

At this, Rivein asked:

“Shall we cancel the joint classes, then?”

“No. Even if we send the students from other schools back, the enemy will already have made their moves. And if we leave things as they are, they’ll only try to make contact with their infiltrators within Lumene.”

Kalian’s lips curved upward.

“We’ve already identified the list, haven’t we?”

“That’s true.”

“Then this is the perfect chance to sweep them all up in one blow.”

bl

Leaving the headmaster’s office and stepping out of the Tower of Heroes, Leo spotted Shasha waiting on a bench near the entrance.

When she saw him, Shasha rose to her feet.

“How did it go?”

“I received a warning.”

“Was it because of me?”

“No, that’s not it.”

Shasha, who had been wearing a worried expression, let out a small sigh of relief.

“Still… to think you actually managed to summon Alty. How did you even do it?”

She had never expected that Leo could summon a Pegasus with his limited mana, and felt utterly bewildered.

Seeing her, Leo raised his hand.

Flash—!

A summoning circle appeared above his palm.

Shasha’s eyes went wide.

“Wait—that’s…!”

It was none other than Alty’s summoning circle.

In the course of summoning Alty and fighting together earlier, Leo had seized the initiative of the contract.

As Leo began the summoning, the circle opened and Alty’s polymorphed face appeared.

Her snowy white hair fluttering, Alty shot Leo a glare.

“You shoved me into the summoning circle without even asking, didn’t you?”

“The situation was urgent.”

“You’re awfully rough in the way you handle me.”

Grumbling, Alty stepped out of the circle with her arms crossed.

This time, instead of armor, she was wearing a white dress.

Crossing her arms and glaring at Leo, Alty waved to Shasha.

“Hello, Shasha.”

“Alty! What’s going on here? How did Leo-sunbae end up as the master of the contract?”

Looking flustered, Shasha asked, and Alty let out a deep sigh.

“It’s complicated to explain. But the authority you inherited from the first emperor—the authority to command me—has now passed to him.”

“W-What?!”

Shasha’s face went pale.

Alty was a legacy handed down in the Lordren imperial family.

But as a Pegasus with a will of her own, she could never be truly bound.

She had only remained as the Lordren family’s contracted beast because of the first emperor’s request.

And now, that contract had shifted to Leo.

Leo gave a faint laugh as he looked at Shasha.

“You said if I managed to summon Pegasus, you’d acknowledge the contract, right?”

“Oh my, Shasha. Did you just sell me off to this man?”

Alty’s eyes went round.

“T-That’s not… I mean…!”

Looking between Leo and Alty with a face gone pale, Shasha’s eyes filled with tears.

“Leo-sunbae! I was wrong! I’ll do anything you ask, just please give Alty back to me!”

“Not necessary.”

Leo turned and began walking away, answering curtly.

Shasha dropped to her knees, clutching at his feet.

“Please, I’m begging you! I’ll do anything!”

The princess of the empire-to-be sobbed as she pleaded.

It was not something she could ever speak of to anyone.

If word got out, not only would the empire face enormous humiliation, but it would also be exposed that she had gambled away Alty, leading to her losing the position of crown princess outright.

If anyone else had seen, they would have stared wide-eyed in disbelief. But fortunately, it was late at night, and no one was around.

Dragging Shasha along as she clung to his foot, Leo clicked his tongue and shook her off.

“Let go.”

He walked to a nearby bench, sat down, and tapped the ground in front of him with his toe.

“Kneel here.”

Shasha didn’t even think to wipe the tears from her cheeks as she hurried over and knelt down in front of him.

The humiliation made her whole body tremble slightly.

But she couldn’t defy the boy before her.

Though she was destined to be the pinnacle of imperial power, she was not there yet.

Her position as heir was strong, but with one great mistake everything she had built could crumble like a sandcastle.

And right now, everything truly was on the verge of collapsing.

Her fate lay in Leo’s hands.

Though she had studied statecraft and imperial law all her life, she was still only a fourteen-year-old girl.

The fear of losing everything was enough to crush her, forcing her into obedience.

Looking down at her trembling shoulders, Leo crossed his legs and rested his chin on his hand.

“I understand you’re a talented summoner. But did it never occur to you that among your peers, there are plenty more extraordinary than you? And yet you let arrogance drive you into betting your contract beast? And you call yourself a summoner?”

The pressure in Leo’s crimson eyes bore down on her.

Meeting that gaze, Shasha hunched her shoulders.

At his side, Alty nodded.

“There’s a limit to childishness. As a summoner, and as someone destined to rule a nation, reckless actions only bring disaster. You. You’re friends with Celia and Chelsea, aren’t you?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Didn’t they warn you to be cautious around me?”

“……”

Shasha bowed her head.

Leo clicked his tongue.

“On top of that, the wager earlier was a huge insult to your own contract beast.”

He glanced toward Alty.

“Not because she’s a Pegasus. Summoners call their beasts their covenant partners because it means ‘a companion for life.’ Treating them with respect is the most basic duty of a summoner.”

Shasha lowered her head further, unable to argue.

Leo let out a soft laugh.

“Well, you’re only fourteen. Mistakes happen. But if you truly aim to become a hero—and to become an emperor—then don’t ever forget what happened today.”

Vmmm—

Alty’s summoning circle formed above Leo’s palm.

“Take it back.”

“Huh?”

Shasha’s eyes widened.

“Y-You’re giving her back?”

“I don’t steal other people’s summons.”

As Leo spoke flatly, Shasha looked conflicted.

‘He’s giving her back this easily?’

Was it just to avoid making an enemy of the Lordren Empire? No, it didn’t feel like that.

A Pegasus was power enough to sway the fate of nations.

With Leo’s strength, any faction would scramble to have him.

And if he were a summoner of Pegasus on top of that? Even more so.

If Leo decided to join some other mighty power, not even Lordren, the ruler of the West, could do much about it.

‘Is it because his mother’s family is the Zerdinger house? No… not that either.’

Even so, one would expect him to demand something in return.

But Leo truly seemed ready to return Alty without asking for anything.

‘A Pegasus—something a summoner would give their very soul to keep—and he’s giving her up so easily.’

Looking up at him, Shasha felt a strange emotion stir inside her.

Bathed in moonlight, Leo radiated a majestic dignity.

As if gazing down from a higher place.

The difference between them, which she had never thought so vast before, now felt overwhelming.

‘He’s on another level entirely.’

Having trained all her life to be an emperor, Shasha had some measure of discernment.

And in that moment, she understood instinctively.

‘He’s someone I can never hope to contain.’

With trembling heart, she reached out toward the summoning circle he offered.

As soon as she reclaimed it, the authority of the contract would return to her.

But then—

“Wait.”

Alty interjected.

“Doesn’t my opinion matter?”

Her disgruntled tone made Shasha freeze.

Leo replied coolly.

“Your true contract is with the Lordren family anyway.”

“True. And that hasn’t changed. But…”

Alty smiled faintly.

“Now that I’ve had a taste of you as my summoner, I don’t feel like going back to Shasha just yet.”

“What? Alty! What are you saying?!”

As Shasha exclaimed, Alty giggled.

“Don’t worry. Like I said earlier, I don’t mean to leave forever. Just… for now.”

Alty stepped closer to Leo, sniffed at him, then tilted her head.

“How strange. The more I see you, the more I’m drawn in.”

It was instinctive.

‘Is it because of my mana trait?’

Leo’s mana trait was purity.

And Pegasus, the beast of purest white, was naturally drawn to purity.

In truth, Leo had been born a natural contractor for Pegasus.

It was the same reason he had so easily contracted one in his previous life.

“I want to stay by your side a while longer, Leo Plov.”

“Just go back. If you stick around me, you’ll get hurt.”

“Oh? A dangerous contractor? That’s my type, actually.”

Alty smiled brightly.

“And besides, you said it yourself.”

“…?”

“That once I experienced your technique, no one else would ever satisfy me again.”

Covering her face, Alty wore a blissful expression.

“You were right. I thought you were just an overconfident brat, but to be that skilled… You’re exactly the summoner I’ve always wanted.”

With a flushed face, Alty declared:

“So until I’m fully satisfied, I want to follow you.”

“Go back.”

“No! If I return unsatisfied, I’ll only keep yearning for your touch every night. The only one who’s ever handled me so perfectly is you! I’ve been waiting for a summoner who could make me their own completely—a master worthy of me. Leo Plov!”

Twisting her body with an oddly suggestive air, Alty made Shasha’s cheeks burn red.

Though she was clearly talking about summoning technique, her words invited strange misunderstandings.

Leo pressed his fingers to his temple.

He thought of his other covenant beasts.

Two childish brats and one perverted adult.

‘I don’t need any more chaos than this.’

“In any case! I’ll be in your care from now on, Master!”