Editor : Amethyst00



“There’s only a week left until the sparring evaluation.”

After the combat class ended, during the evening hours.

The battered Carl asked while trudging toward the dormitory’s large bathhouse.

“Yeah.”

“Ah~ seriously. Who will I end up fighting?”

“Maybe the two of us will face each other.”

“Gehk? No thanks!”

At Leo’s words, Carl flinched and shook his head.

A fight against the grade representative?

Whoever it was, Carl clicked his tongue thinking they’d be unlucky.

“By the way, I didn’t expect you to actually complete the Bible.”

“It’s not complete. I’m still far from the level I aimed for.”

“Still, you used Torua-sunbae’s spell, right?”

The entire school was already in an uproar with rumors about Leo’s spell.

“Hey, if this goes well, won’t the Magic Tower come asking to study it or something?”

“Lumene would never allow that.”

From the Magic Tower’s point of view, Leo’s Bible was definitely something they’d want to study no matter what.

But Lumene would never allow that.

From Lumene’s perspective, letting someone studying Leo was the same as losing talent to the outside.

Leo and Carl, who entered the bathhouse, washed up and soaked in the bath.

“Ah—! Taking a bath after something that tough feels like being in heaven!”

“You sound like such an old man.”

“The most old-man-like among 1st-years is you, you know?”

At Leo’s words, Carl grumbled.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

Splash—

At that moment, Abad came over and sat beside the two.

“What’s this?”

“I was curious about Leo’s spell. It’s natural for a mage to be curious.”

Abad smiled faintly.

After that, Abad began asking Leo questions about the Bible.

“Hm. If that’s the concept, then it’s literally your own unique magic. But the formula’s structure itself is interesting. It could even be applied to wind magic.”

“Indeed.”

Seeing Abad mumbling with his chin propped up, Leo nodded.

The nearby male students who had shown interest now wore puzzled expressions.

“What language are they speaking right now?”

“I can’t understand a word.”

At Carl’s comment, a knight department student nearby looked at him in disbelief.

“Hey, you’re from the magic department, and you’re saying that?”

“Not all magic department students are the same, you know?”

“Wow, how are you saying that so proudly? Don’t you feel pathetic?”

“My level’s too low to even feel pathetic. Do you feel pathetic when you see Celia, Chen Xia, or Duran?”

“No.”

While chatting with the nearby student, Carl spoke.

“By the way, Abad. Who are you going to choose as your sparring evaluation opponent? You can pick someone, and if they accept, you can fight, right? Is it Leo?”

At Carl’s question, Abad propped his chin on his hand.

“No.”

As Abad smiled lightly, Carl made a puzzled face.

“Why not?”

“It’s just… surprising that you and Chelsea are siblings.”

Abad, who always wore a spring-breeze-like smile, and Chelsea, whose personality was like a storm that could break out any time.

The Lewalin siblings might look alike, but their personalities were complete opposites.

At Carl’s words, Abad chuckled.

“If not Leo, then Celia?”

“I’d like to fight Celia too, but right now, there’s someone I absolutely want to defeat.”

“Who?”

“Walden.”

At the unexpected name, Carl looked puzzled.

“You don’t have much connection with Walden, do you?”

“Walden doesn’t have any connection with anyone.”

Though he was 1st-ranked student in the Summoning Department, Walden didn’t particularly interact with other students.

He liked being alone and rarely spoke.

On top of that, the intimidation that came from his large physique made it hard for others to approach him.

“But he’s definitely strong. Overwhelmingly so.”

Abad smiled.

“Before defeating Leo or Celia, I want to defeat him 1st.”

“Hm. It’s hard to imagine who’d win.”

Carl also knew how strong Walden was.

But even so, in terms of combat ability alone, Abad was the top of the magic department.

It was unpredictable.

“Leo, have you chosen your opponent? There are quite a few who’re eager to fight you, you know?”

“Don’t even mention it. Do you know how many times a day they come to our class?”

Carl grumbled.

The students Abad referred to who wanted to spar with Leo—

Those were Duran and Eliza.

Walden had also named Leo as his desired opponent, but not as actively as those two.

“And whenever the two of them come together, they end up fighting each other, you know? I’d rather they just fight each other.”

When Carl grumbled, Abad burst into laughter.

“Anyway, should we talk about the magic department test too?”

When Carl spoke seriously, Abad nodded.

“Sure.”

“Let’s talk over dinner. Might as well study a bit together while we’re at it.”

Carl took the initiative.

For him, studying with Abad, the top of the magic department, was a huge advantage.

Abad didn’t seem to mind Carl’s enthusiasm and readily agreed.

Actually, while Carl was very close with Chelsea, he hadn’t had much contact with Abad.

They were in different classes, and during magic classes, Carl usually hung out with Chloe.

‘If I get closer with Abad, maybe Chelsea will nag me less, right?’

Carl muttered inwardly as he headed to the cafeteria.

When they entered the dormitory cafeteria, the entire place was in chaos.

Everyone was whispering to each other in confusion.

“Is this even allowed?”

“I doubt the upperclassmen will stay quiet.”

“Did something happen?”

Carl tilted his head and approached a 1st-year nearby.

“What’s going on?”

“Carl, and… Leo?”

“It’s Leo.”

“Leo?”

“Where, where?”

Swoosh—

In an instant, the noisy cafeteria fell silent.

Everyone was staring at Leo.

Carl was a bit flustered by their sudden gaze.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

Just as Carl was puzzled—

Step— step—

Through the crowd, Celia appeared with a confused expression and handed Leo a school newspaper.

Seeing it, Carl gasped, and Abad’s eyes widened.

[1st-year Leo Plov! Becomes Student Council President Candidate!]

Leo muttered as he looked at the headline printed boldly on the front page.

“They actually did it.”

“You knew?”

“Rhys-sunbae told me a few days ago that someone had nominated me for student council president position.”

The surrounding students were shocked at his words.

“Even if someone nominated you, announcing it like this doesn’t make sense.”

“Yeah. There’s also Hark-sunbae and Elena-sunbae.”

“If someone else gets nominated instead of them, they’ll probably get on their bad side.”

The students who didn’t know the details began whispering.

“Who nominated you?”

At Celia’s question, Leo folded the paper and said,

“Elena-sunbae.”

“What?”

“Elena-sunbae?”

Every student’s face froze in disbelief.

If what Leo said was true, then he was being supported by none other than the woman known as the Queen of Lumene.

“Leo, what are you going to do?”

Carl swallowed dryly as he asked.

A 1st-year student council president?

It was something that had never happened in Lumene’s entire history.

‘No, honestly, this is a poisoned chalice, isn’t it?’

Even if he refused, Leo had probably already been marked by the upperclassmen.

Even if he accepted, it was clear it wouldn’t be easy for him to become president.

At Carl’s question, Leo smirked.

“What else? I’ll become the student council president.”

bl

“Wait, what? Is this a joke?”

“No matter what, this isn’t right! A 1st-year as a student council president candidate?!”

The 2nd-year dormitory exploded in uproar as soon as they heard the news.

“Hey! Lyl! Haven’t you heard anything? You’re the grade representative!”

A summoning department student urgently asked Lyl.

Holding the newspaper, Lyl stared at the article with a serious face, then suddenly smiled brightly.

“That’s a relief. That means I won’t have to be student council president, right?”

“Hey! This is no time for that!”

“B-but! If someone as ordinary as me became president, it’d tarnish Lumene’s name…!”

“When are you going to fix that timid personality?! You’d totally be qualified once you hit fifth year!”

“W-when I become a fifth year…?”

Lyl hesitated, then made a tearful face.

“Can’t we just leave it to Leo?”

“Ah! Seriously! You know how humiliating it is for our year to not produce a president candidate!”

“S-sorry.”

Looking at their timid grade representative, the 2nd-years all held their heads in frustration.

bl

“Elena!”

“Look at the paper!”

“Rhys-sunbae—!”

In the 3rd-year dorm cafeteria, Elena frowned at the crowd of classmates who suddenly surrounded her during her meal.

She dabbed her mouth with a napkin and gave them a cold look.

“What’s all the fuss about?”

Seeing her, everyone held their breath.

No one wanted to irritate Elena, the real power behind the school.

“Elena, look here. Rhys-sunbae pushed Leo Plov as a student council candidate.”

At the words of Takon, vice leader of the Bluemoon party and a 3rd-year knight student, Elena widened her eyes and took the paper.

“Hm? The president finally made his decision.”

When Elena stood up with a clatter, the 3rd-years spoke up.

“This makes no sense! He only pushed him because he’s his cousin!”

“Rhys-sunbae would never do that!”

“S-still.”

“Maybe he’s putting up a puppet since Hark-sunbae has no motivation for the position?”

“Even then, would he really make a 1st-year president? The 4th-years will flip!”

As her classmates urgently discussed, Elena spoke.

“Everyone, settle down.”

“This isn’t something to calm down about, Elena. Even if he’s the president, this is clearly an insult to you.”

At Takon’s words, Elena smiled faintly.

“The president didn’t insult me.”

“Then what is this?”

“The one who recommended Leo Plov as president… was me.”

“…”

“…”

For a moment, the 3rd-years went blank.

“When I brought it up, you should’ve seen the dumbfounded look on the president’s face. I’ve known him for years, but that was the 1st time I saw that expression. You guys should’ve seen it.”

Kyarrr— Elena laughed cheerfully, while Takon rubbed his temples.

“Wait. Elena, are you saying… you were the one who nominated Leo Plov? Why?”

“Well.”

Elena crossed her arms.

“Because I felt like it.”

The entire 3rd-year class stared blankly.

Everything they had done up to now to help her become president suddenly felt meaningless.

‘Well, we did help her because she wanted to do it herself, but still…’

‘Even so…’

“So.”

Elena smiled brightly.

In that smile was the same tyrannical nature that earned her the nickname “Witch of Lumene.”

“Is there a problem with me deciding that?”

While the 2nd and 3rd years were in chaos, the 4th years’ reactions were unexpectedly indifferent.

“I can’t tell what the president is thinking.”

“Right? He’s been a respectable upperclassman all these years, but now he’s blowing everything up in his final year.”

The 4th-years muttered seriously as they read the paper, then glanced at Hark, who had his face buried in the table, asleep.

“Well, seeing this guy, maybe having a 1st-year as president isn’t that bad after all.”

“Agreed.”

Half of the 4th-years had already given up on competing for student council president.

bl

Rhys’s announcement brought an enormous aftershock to the school.

Not just Lumene.

Even the outside world, upon hearing the unbelievable news, focused all attention on Lumene’s situation.

Normally, the entire school would’ve been turned upside down.

But surprisingly, Lumene was calm.

The 4th-years, who should’ve been the most opposed, were mostly in wait-and-see mode.

And the 3rd-years were under Elena’s perfect control.

The 2nd-years found it awkward to act 1st when the 3rd and 4th-years were silent.

So, while the 1st-years nervously watched their seniors’ reactions… the 1st-year sparring evaluations began.

Normally, like the Summoning Department’s midterm relay exam, the 1st-year sparring evaluation had a festival-like atmosphere.

The 1st-years, who had honed their skills until now, were incomparable to when they entered.

So, it wasn’t uncommon for the known rankings to flip the table during the sparring.

Students who hadn’t stood out in the 1st semester would suddenly rise as dark horses.

Or top students would lose to lower-ranked ones.

It was truly unpredictable, and therefore it's every exciting.

That’s why not only the 1st-years but even the upperclassmen often attended to observe their juniors’ abilities.

But this time, since too many people wanted to attend the 1st-year sparring evaluation, it was held at the school’s central grand training ground, Erek.

With a record-breaking crowd, the 1st-years were even more visibly tense.

[We will now begin the sparring evaluation nomination ceremony!]

A fifth-year with a magic amplifier started hosting the event.

Normally, a professor would handle this, but this time, a fifth-year student did it instead.

The reason was simple.

Since the graduating students had less to do, Sheirra volunteered out of boredom.

[As you all know, this sparring evaluation will be a little different! The 1st duel will be conducted by ‘nomination’! Isn’t that exciting? We’ll get to see which students have rivalries! Ah~ how fun! Wouldn’t it have been great if it were like this when we were 1st-years?]

The excited fifth-year from the Knight Department, Sheirra, spoke enthusiastically.

Known for being talkative, she was having a blast with the situation.

‘There she goes! I knew she’d do that!’

‘Hey! Someone stop her!’

Just as the other professors tried to stop her rambling—

[Sheirra Sikurn. Do you want a private meeting with me later?]

[Hiiik?]

The “Wailing Wall of Lumene,” Professor Harrid, warned her mid-way, and Sheirra froze in fear.

Professor Harrid.

If he wanted to, he could make even graduating students “withdraw”, that's how terrifying he's as professor.

In an instant, Sheirra came to her senses and hurried toward Leo with a trembling voice.

[T-then! We’ll start with the grade representative, Leo Plov!]

Avoiding Harrid’s gaze as much as possible, Sheirra stiffly walked up to Leo.

[Leo, do you have someone you’d like to face?]

“Yes.”

[Oh! I wonder who the class representative wants to fight? Go ahead and point to them.]

At those words, Leo raised his hand.

The upperclassmen looked displeased as they watched the 1st-year who had been mentioned as a student council president candidate.

‘Let’s see how good he really is.’

‘He’s just a 1st-year anyway.’

Most of them were clearly unhappy that a 1st-year had become a candidate for student council president.

Leo pointed not at the 1st-years gathered on the field, but past them, toward the spectator stands.

As everyone followed where his finger pointed in shock—

Leo was pointing directly at one of the fifth-years.

[Uh… um… so… uh…]

In a bewildered tone, Sheirra looked back and forth between Leo and the person he pointed at, then carefully asked,

[You want to fight Rhys?]

“Yes.”

Leo smiled.

“You didn’t say I had to choose someone from the 1st-years, did you?”