Editor : Amethyst00



The next day at dawn.

Feeling the chilled autumn air, Leo left the dormitory.

In the 1st-year dormitory garden, Lyl was waiting.

“Sorry for making you come out so early, Leo. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Leo and Lyl immediately went to the dock to catch the 1st ship to Lumeria City.

It wasn’t normally the time for ships to run, but for students who had limited weekends, ships were prepared early in the morning.

In fact, besides Leo and Lyl, several others were waiting for the ship at the dock.

After crossing to Lumeria early in the morning, Lyl led Leo into a restaurant near the dock.

She ordered sandwiches as a light meal and sat in front of Leo, clearing her throat.

“Ehem. I’ll tell you the reason I asked you to come to Lumeria with me like this.”

“What is it?”

“It’s because of a mission.”

“A mission.”

A mission.

Students of Lumene, as hero candidates, are sometimes assigned to mediate conflicts around the world or solve mysterious incidents. These are missions that heroes should undertake.

Even 1st-years had once conducted a large-scale mission practice.

However, mission “practice” is, as the name suggests, at a difficulty level that students can handle.

But a “mission” is different.

It’s given only to truly capable students, usually starting from the third year.

Yet Lyl, though only a 2nd-year grade representative, had received one.

‘She really is amazing.’

“To get a mission in your 2nd year. Lyl-sunbae, that’s incredible.”

“Th-that’s! Don’t flatter me like that! If we’re counting achievements, Leo is greater! Didn’t you become student council president as a 1st-year? It’s the 1st in Lumene’s history!”

Flustered by Leo’s praise, Lyl shook her head.

Seeing that, Leo laughed.

‘Normally people with this level of skill have huge pride.’

Currently the unshakable number one among Lumene’s 2nd-years.

A girl nicknamed the “Monster,” even recognized by seniors, yet curiously humble and thinking of herself as ordinary.

‘Once she gains more experience, she’ll become a remarkable elementalist.’[^1]

Thinking about Lyl’s future, Leo asked,

“So. You want me to join your mission?”

“Yes.”

“There must be other upperclassmen. Why me?”

“This mission is actually a solo mission assigned to me. I asked you to join because I wanted to form a party with you at least once.”

The waiter brought the sandwiches and placed them before them.

Lyl spoke after she took a big bite of her sandwich.

“If you refuses, there’s nothing I can do.”

“I’ll go with you. I had nothing planned for the weekend anyway, and I’m curious what kind of mission was given to you.”

Hearing that, Lyl’s face brightened.

She drank the milk in one go—gulp. Lyl took out the mission document from her chest pocket.

“Thank you! Leo!”

“So, what kind of mission is it?”

“I haven’t actually checked the details yet. It was a designated mission, and they told me to check it together with you since I said I wanted to do it with you.”

Leo nodded and leaned forward while eating his sandwich.

Lyl broke the wax seal and read the mission's details.

[Escort a VIP at the Zerodia Ruins east of Lumeria City.]

That was all it said.

Lyl looked slightly puzzled and checked the back, but nothing was written there.

“The Zerodia Ruins… It takes half a day to get there. So that’s why the mission duration is two days and one night. But a VIP at that ruin?”

Seeing Lyl’s perplexed expression, Leo spoke.

“The school wouldn’t assign a strange mission… Let’s prepare and set out.”

“Right! Yes!”

Lyl energetically took another huge bite of her sandwich.

Her cheeks puffed out as she quickly swallowed, then drank her milk in one go—gulp.

“Alright! Leo! Let’s go quickly!”

“I haven’t finished eating yet.”

“Ah!”

Lyl made an embarrassed face.

“S-sorry. I got too eager.”

“It happens.”

Leo chuckled and finished his sandwich.

Then, standing up and packing his things, he spoke as they left the shop.

“Lyl-sunbae, you have kind of a manly side to you.”

“Hmm, maybe it’s because I’m from a military family. I used to play war games with my brother when I was little.”

Step— with sharp, disciplined posture, Lyl walked like a soldier as she spoke.

Her tone was also disciplined.

“Thanks to that, people often say my way of speaking and acting is strange.”

“I think it’s charming.”

“Oh, thank you, Leo.”

Smiling brightly, Lyl walked away with Leo.

“Hooh.”

Flap—

At that moment, a man sitting in one corner of the shop folded his newspaper.

Then narrowed his eyes.

“The 2nd-year grade representative Lyl Luce and the 1st-year grade representative Leo Plov, huh.”

Creak—clatter.

“This should be interesting.”

The man stood up, placed a few coins on the table, pulled down his hat, and followed after them.

“Hey, that guy, Leo really left with Luce-sunbae at dawn?”

“Isn’t he the 1st 1st-year ever to openly go on an overnight trip with a girl?”

From early morning, the 1st-year dormitory was buzzing with a single topic.

None other than the rumor about Leo and Lyl.

Hearing it, crowds of girls gathered around Celia.

“Celia! Celia! Is it true that 2nd-year Lyl-sunbae and Leo are dating?”

“No, right? It’s a lie, right? Right?!”

Seeing her teary-eyed classmates, Celia made an awkward face.

“How should I know? But why are you all so worked up?”

“What do you mean why! We’re Leo’s fan club!”

“…Leo has something like that? As expected of the student council president, he even has a fan club.”

Celia looked impressed.

‘You have one too, you know?’

‘She’s so oblivious about this stuff, seriously.’

Her classmates from Class 1 looked at her with exasperation.

For reference, while Leo’s fan club had only recently formed, Celia’s had existed since the beginning of the term.

At that moment, Duran, sitting across from Celia, snorted.

The students of Class 1 were gathered, discussing the selection for the upcoming Lumeiren Competition representatives.

Since Class 1 had held the top average score since the start of the term, they were very motivated about the selection.

With his usual arrogant expression, Duran said,

“Hmph, who cares who Leo Plov dates? Don’t you agree, Chloe?”

He looked at the class president, Chloe, with a smirk, seeking agreement.

“What?”

Chloe’s blue eyes gleamed coldly.

The surrounding students flinched.

But Duran, not even glancing at her, kept talking with a grin.

“As long as he doesn’t neglect his training, it doesn’t matter who he dates.”

Ssshhh—

“Eek?”

“Chloe? Chloe?”

As the temperature around Chloe dropped sharply, the classmates hurriedly backed away.

“If it’s with Lyl-sunbae, who’s a famous honors student, then it’ll help Leo Plov a lot. They seem like a good match. The higher he climbs, the more worthwhile it’ll be to defeat hi—”

Crack—

“Hey! Stop! Read the room!”

When even the area around Chloe began to freeze, Celia jumped up and clamped Duran’s mouth shut.

Duran grimaced and brushed her hand away.

“What’s the meaning of this?”

“Duran, look over there.”

Haowl sighed and pointed at Chloe.

Seeing Chloe’s icy expression, Duran shuddered.

Even the infamously ill-tempered Duran had to back down before Chloe’s current mood.

“Why is she like that?”

“Because of you! Because of you!”

“What did I do wrong?”

“Ugh! You have no sense! None!”

Celia looked utterly exasperated.

At that moment, Chen Xia entered the cafeteria.

“Chen Xia!”

“Today’s the day I’ll recruit you into our club!”

“Yaaah!”

Seeing Chen Xia, students from the Knight Department lunged at her.

The surrounding students watched with amused expressions.

Known as the best in physical technique among all 1st-years, Chen Xia was a coveted talent for every athletic club.

Though she didn’t belong to any club due to student council duties, athletic clubs were always trying to recruit her.

As the upperclassmen grew more aggressive, Chen Xia had declared to them:

‘If any of my peers can land a hit on me, I’ll join their club. Challenge me every weekend morning.’

Smiling softly as usual, she had said that. And since then, weekend morning ambushes in the cafeteria became routine.

Of course, no one had ever succeeded.

Because of that, 1st-years suffering through brutal training from their clubs were desperate to land even a single hit on her.

Flap—

Chen Xia lightly flicked her hand.

Crunch!

“Guaah?!”

Boom!

“Urgh!”

Crack!

“Kyaaah!”

With near-divine movements, Chen Xia dodged and countered mercilessly.

Students were sent flying, kicked, limbs twisted—

Watching her smiling face delivering savage counters, one 1st-year muttered,

“Doesn’t she seem even rougher than usual today?”

“Yeah, she d—”

Whoosh! Thud!

“…Yeah.”

The onlooker broke into a cold sweat watching a classmate crash into the wall.

“Chen Xia’s terrifying today.”

Her usual smiling face only made it scarier, and students trembled.

“Why’s everyone so hysterical this morning?”

Chelsea, having breakfast with Class 5, spoke indifferently.

“You’re really calm about this?”

Tade asked curiously.

“About what?”

“Leo going on a date with Lyl sunbae.”

At that, Chelsea smiled.

“I’m always near Leo-oppa, and I’ve never seen Lyl-sunbae and him have any romantic connection.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And even if Leo-oppa dates someone, then that's that.”

“…”

Chelsea casually shrugged and put the spoon in her mouth.

Tade looked away.

That morning, Carl and Eliana, who had teased Chelsea, were lying miserably in a corner of the cafeteria.

Nella was healing them with her healing aura.

They had paid dearly for provoking an irritable Chelsea.

‘Leo, hurry back and explain yourself.’

Tade sighed deeply, calling out to his friend in his mind.

bl

Leo and Lyl left Lumeria City and, after half a day’s travel, arrived at the Zerodia Ruins.

Leo tilted his head as he looked at the ruined fortress.

‘It really doesn’t feel like there’d be any VIPs here.’

This place had been a fortress in central continent 300 years ago.

It was where Zerodia, then principal of Lumene, had single-handedly stopped a legion commander’s advance.

She became famous for summoning endless elementals to block the legion’s black magic.

Because of that, this place was considered sacred to elementalists.

Before entering the ruins, Lyl straightened her uniform.

As a student of Lumene and an elementalist, she had to pay respect to a great hero of the past.

Leo also adjusted his clothes and followed her inside.

“Look, Leo! That’s the trace left when Lady Zerodia summoned the Elemental Lord of Wind to block the legion commander’s black magic!”

Lyl excitedly pointed at the massive scar on the fortress wall.

“I hope I can summon the Elemental Lord of Wind like Lady Zerodia someday.”

Seeing the girl sparkling with dreams, Leo smiled faintly—

Whooosh—!

A gust of wind blew.

Leo’s eyes twitched.

Lyl also froze.

Kwagagagak—!

A fierce gale swept toward them.

Dodging quickly, Leo steadied his stance and narrowed his eyes at the forming wind.

The summoned wind elemental was releasing killing intent toward them.

“Whoever’s behind this, that’s a nasty prank.”

With a displeased expression, Lyl raised her spiritual power.

“Show yourself! Elementalist!”

Whoooosh—!

A strong wind swirled around Lyl.

Seeing this, Leo looked at the wind elemental.

‘It’s not an elemental summoned by an elementalist.’

He also raised his spiritual power.

*‘It’s an elemental commanded by a higher ranked elemental.’

And the elemental before them was a high-ranking one.

To command an elemental of this level—

‘An Elemental Lord.’

[^1] : ED note: For summoner, I'll be using Elementalist for elemental art user, Spiritualist for spiritual conjurer, and Beast Tamer for phantom beast summoner.