Editor : Amethyst00



The cold winter had passed, and the streets were now filled with the warm breath of spring.

Courage Street, just before the entrance ceremony of Lumene, was also brimming with energy.

"Look at this~ It's the uniform I got tailored at Blessriger!"

"Huh? Really?"

Two female students, who looked like they were from the western region, were chatting in front of [Blessriger].

Blessriger was one of the tailors that specialized in Lumene uniforms.

Even among Lumene students, it was known as a place that produced the highest quality uniforms.

"Ugh! I'm so jealous!"

"My dad really went all out and bought it for me as a celebration for my admission!"

"Ugh! I'm so envious! My dad said he'll get me one when the 2nd semester starts!"

"Oh my? But still, your uniform is pretty nice too, isn't it?"

"It's not as nice as one from Blessriger."

While the two girls chatted excitedly—

"Really? You're handing your uniform down to me?"

"Yeah. As you know, Lumene uniforms are ridiculously expensive, right? For commoners like you and me, it's back-breaking money. I need to get a new one anyway, so I'll just give this one to you. It's not a great brand, though."

"No, this is more than enough! Thank you, senior! I'll be in your care this year as well!"

As expected of Lumene freshmen, the two girls' sharp hearing caught the conversation happening across the street.

At that, faint sneers formed at the corners of their mouths.

"Whoever it is, they must be seniors, right?"

"Yeah. But I think they're commoner seniors. Handing down uniforms and wearing 2ndhand like that… Talking about it out loud without even feeling embarrassed. Ugh! Don't you think they're disgracing the school?"

Just as the girls whispered and giggled—

"It seems like you two have lost your fear."

A cold, mocking voice came from behind.

At that voice, the two freshmen froze stiff.

Startled, they turned around and saw a girl with long, slightly curly silver hair standing there.

Their faces turned pale.

'Eliza Hergin!'

'3rd year!'

Even within the same Lumene, freshmen couldn't even dare look directly at someone of her grade.

And it just had to be Eliza Hergin of all people.

A hero candidate from the famed "Golden Generation," known across the world!

Even just passing her on the street would be enough to make you shrink away and yet they'd been caught badmouthing a senior.

"Freshmen, mocking your seniors?"

"Eeek?!"

"And not just anyone, but the acting president of student council and the 2nd-year representative?"

Eliza's voice was icy to the core, and the two girls turned white—no, blue.

They knew exactly who the acting student council president and 2nd-year rep were.

Carl Thomas and Luke Eldar.

Carl Thomas, who had already ascended to hero status, was someone first-years couldn't even look in the eye.

Worse still, Carl was close friends with Leo, Chelsea, Abad, and Celia.

Same with Luke Eldar.

He was personally close with none other than the Crown Princess Shasha, successor to the western continent's Lordren Empire.

If this went wrong, it wasn't just school life that could end, they could block the path for their entire families.

"P-Please forgive us!"

"Why are you begging me for forgiveness?"

"What is it this time? Bullying freshmen right from the entrance ceremony?"

Carl suddenly popped his head in beside Eliza.

"Get lost!"

Eliza scowled and shoved Carl's face away.

Carl chuckled and took a step back, tilting his head.

"So? Why are you scaring brand-new freshmen again?"

"Hmph, who says I scared them? I was just trying to educate juniors who were mocking their seniors without permission."

"What?"

Carl's face stiffened.

"Are you two insane? Trying to ruin your school life right from the start?"

"S-Sorry……."

"No matter how infamous Eliza is, how could you even think of badmouthing her……."

"You! You were the one badmouthed by them! With Luke Eldar! You! And what's this about me being infamous?!"

"Guh! Cough, cough!"

Eliza growled as she strangled Carl's neck with a whip.

Carl barely escaped her grip and gave a wry smile.

"Ah, so that's what this was about?"

"We committed an unforgivable crime!"

"Please forgive us!"

As the two girls bowed deeply and trembled, Carl thought for a moment and then spoke.

"Fine. I'll forgive you. But on one condition."

"One condition?"

"Yeah."

Carl pulled two sheets of paper from his coat.

"For the first semester, I want you to sell recovery potions I made to your fellow first-years."

"Huh?"

"You'll have to buy a certain amount up front using your own money. Then, I'll take a cut of the profit from your sales. If you do well, you'll earn some points…"

The two first-years looked utterly confused.

"If you become my sales agent, I'll pretend this whole badmouthing thing never happened. I won't tell anyone. Deal?"

"R-Really?"

"Of course. I'm a man of trust. Just sign here."

Carl pointed to the bottom of the contract with a smooth voice.

The two girls didn't hesitate and signed.

"Be more careful from now on. Lumene is a place where a single careless act can ruin everything. I hope you've learned something from this."

"Yes! We won't do it again!"

"Thank you so much, Senior Carl Thomas!"

The girls quickly bowed and scurried away.

Eliza narrowed her eyes as she watched them.

"Hmph. Playing the good senior now?"

"Hm? What do you mean? Their school life's going to be hell from now on."

"What?"

"What kind of contract was that?"

Luke asked with curiosity, and Carl grinned wickedly.

"Multilevel marketing."

Eliza's brow furrowed.

"That's what's going to make their life hell?"

"Of course. Unless you get a scholarship, studying at Lumene costs a fortune."

Carl chuckled.

"They'll be working their butts off trying to sell the stuff I give them. That'll teach them two important life lessons: not to badmouth seniors lightly and not to sign things without reading. And more importantly…"

He tucked the contract away and shrugged.

"I only promised to overlook what they said about me. I never said anything about Luke."

"Ah, I don't really mi—"

"Nope! Luke, you're a nice guy, but in this case, you need to make them pay. It's not a crime if no one hears, but once you're caught, you're guilty. Figure out what you'll make them pay."

"Okay."

Luke scratched his cheek and nodded.

"By the way, Eliza, did you have a good vacation?"

"Hmph. And only now you ask?"

Eliza nonchalantly groomed her nails.

"It was boring."

"It sounds peaceful. I got tormented by Duran the whole time."

Carl grumbled, then suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right. You once said you'd do me any favour I asked, didn't you?"

"I did."

"Well, there's something I want to talk to you about. Can you spare some time?"

"Hmph. I'm busy right now. I have shopping to do. I'll listen when I'm free later."

"Aww~ don't be like that. It's not a weird favour."

"As someone trying to steal time from the heiress of House Hergin, you're seriously lacking in sincerity, you know?"

At that, Carl gave a cheeky smile, then exaggeratedly straightened up and extended his hand with flair.

"My lady, would you kindly grant me some of your precious time?"

"Hmph. Ten points."

"Out of ten?"

"No. Out of a hundred."

Eliza snorted but took Carl's hand.

"Alright. Let's hear this favour of yours."

Carl walked off with Eliza down Courage Street.

"Luke, see you at school."

"I'll take good care of the uniform, Carl! Thank you! Goodbye, seniors!"

Luke bowed deeply, cradling the uniform in both arms like a treasure.

bl

"This is suspicious."

At the Lumeria Lake dock, Celia narrowed her eyes.

Leo, sitting on a bench, asked, "What is?"

"Isn't it weird? Why are all the grades gathered at the dock?"

She was right.

All of Lumene's students, from the new first-years to the 5th-years, had gathered at Lumeria's dock.

Usually, returning students entered Lumene ahead of time to prepare for the opening ceremony, while only the new first-years arrived on this day.

But this time, a notice had been sent saying all students would move to Lumene together from Lumeria.

And so, this strange scene of every student gathered at Lumeria City's dock came to be.

The freshmen, intimidated by the overwhelming presence of upperclassmen, stood quietly in the corners.

Still, they stole glances at Leo with eyes full of admiration.

Then, when their eyes met with Celia next to him, they flinched and looked away.

Not only Leo, but Celia too was looked at with admiration.

Even the 2nd-years stood together in one group.

Though relaxed and chatting happily, they flinched nervously every time an upperclassman looked their way.

The 3rd-years freely chatted with their friendly seniors.

"You don't know anything?"

As Celia half-closed her eyes, Leo shrugged.

"Just because I'm student council president doesn't mean I know all the professors' schemes."

"That's true."

Just as Celia nodded in agreement—

"Yo! Leo! Celia! I heard you were amazing over the break! Where are Chelsea and Abad?"

A cheerful voice called out.

Carl approached with his signature friendly smile.

"Chelsea and Abad haven't arrived yet. But hey—what happened to your eye? Did someone hit you?"

Leo asked with a puzzled expression.

Carl's one eye was bruised and swollen.

"There was a little incident."

Carl brushed it off.

"He probably got smacked for being annoying again."

Celia muttered, unimpressed, and Carl laughed slyly.

"Class reeeepppp!"

At that moment, Eliana ran up and plopped down beside Leo.

"Class rep! Why are all the grades gathered at the dock? Is something happening again? Huh? Huh? What are the professors plotting?"

As Eliana bombarded Leo with questions, he simply smiled.

"You don't know either, huh."

She crossed her arms and tilted her head, then waved at Celia and Carl.

"Hi! Did you two have a good vacation? Oh right, class rep! You said you're inheriting the throne of Tonkan, right? Wow~ rising to power so fast! Don't you dare ignore me just because you're king now, okay?"

Flash—!

Suddenly, a giant magical screen appeared over the lake.

[Greetings, students! It's me! Your elegant professor, Sedgen!]

Sedgen, one of Lumene's most famous professors, greeted them cheerfully.

[Returning students! Did you have a good vacation! Freshmen! Welcome! I'm sure returning students find this situation strange! And yes, your suspicion is correct! At Lumene, unexpected events are part of our tradition!]

At his words, the 2nd to 5th years wore expressions of "of course."

The new students, however, looked bewildered.

[We will now conduct the practical combat evaluation by grade! The rules are simple! Each grade must steal a key to the school gate from a designated person! Through this, professors will assess your weaknesses and plan this year's curriculum accordingly!]

Then Chloe raised her hand.

[What's your question, Chloe?]

"What if we fail to take the key?"

[Then you can't enter the school until you do.]

At that, all the students' eyes widened.

[Let's start by revealing the opponents for the 4th and 5th years!]

With that, tension filled the older students' faces.

As they saw the person on the screen, gasps erupted.

[The opponent for 4th and 5th years is—Leo Plov! Your mission is to humble this infuriating yet perfect Leo Plov! Risk your lives, students! Don't live under the shadow of a junior forever—]

[Drag him off.]

Professor Sedgen was silenced by Harrid's cold words and dragged away by Ain and Ren.

[I will continue.]

Harrid spoke with a frosty voice.

[The ones holding the key for the 3rd years are these two.]

On screen appeared 4th and 5th-year reps Lyl and Elena.

[The student holding the key for the 2nd years is—]

Their target was none other than—

"Oh my?"

Chen Xia smiled sweetly.

The 2nd-years sighed in relief.

No matter how strong Chen Xia was, if the whole grade rushed her, they thought they could win.

But a few faces like former Shadow candidates El Jane and Fritz remained grim.

[And lastly.]

Carl's mouth fell open as the final person appeared on the screen.

All the first-years turned to stare at him.

"Why me?! Are you insane, Lumene?!"

Carl grabbed his head and screamed.

[Oh? Do you have a complaint about my choice, Carl Thomas?]

"No, of course not."

Carl shrank back at Harrid's words.

Vrrrrm—!

A massive warp magic circle spread across the dock.

[Then do your best.]

As Harrid finished, a flash of light erupted.

Leo blinked and found himself on one of the many uninhabited islands in Lake Lumeria.

"Hm."

Stroking his chin, Leo chuckled.

"So they want to pinpoint any areas to improve before the training related to legion begins."

Recalling who held the keys for each grade, Leo nodded.

He walked to a boulder in the middle of the forest and sat down with a plop.

"Well then, shall I wait for our seniors to arrive?"