Editor : Amethyst00



"Wow, I knew he was strong, but isn't he's strong enough to take your breath away?"

Runeba from the Summoning Department, who always served as commentator at Lumene events, made a fed-up face.

Several students nodded as if agreeing with that comment.

"Niel, doesn't the president have any weaknesses?"

A 5th-year female student from the Knight Department asked, clearly frustrated.

Since Niel belonged to a vassal family of the Zerdinger house, she knew Leo better than anyone else in their group.

In response to her peer's question, Niel sighed.

"Leo-doryeon doesn't have anything that could be called a weakness."

Dual-class students use two abilities of class to complement each other classes' weaknesses.

But Leo is an All-Class.

He has no clear weaknesses, as he can compensate for the flaws of every class.

'And even when you look at each class individually… he's among the strongest in school.'

As a knight, a mage, a summoner—

Even if you consider just one of those classes, he's one of the strongest among Lumene's students.

No matter how seasoned and experienced the 5th-years of Lumene may be, finding a weakness in someone like that isn't easy.

Just as the 5th-years began to show signs of helplessness in response to Niel's words—

“A vassal bows down to juniors, yet you don’t even know the weakness of the one you serve? Or are you hiding it because you’re a vassal, which is it?”

A sneering voice cut through.

Niel's icy glare turned toward the source.

Standing there was Takon from the 5th-year Knight Department.

At Takon's reaction, Runeba chuckled inwardly.

'Ah, here we go again.'

Takon Sejhar.

A student who never missed the 1st place in the Knight Department among his peers.

'Or rather, he used to be that student.'

For four years, Takon held onto the 1st place in the Knight Department.

But in the final exams of the 2nd semester of the 4th year, he lost that position to Niel.

Niel had never fallen out of the top ranks since admission, but until 3rd year, she was slightly lacking to compete for 1st place.

But starting from 4th year, she began to show terrifying growth, and by the semester’s end, she finally took 1st place.

'Not that strange, really.'

Lumene is a place where the most talented gather and further hone their talents.

'By 4th year, only the cream of the crop remains.'

So it's no surprise when the rankings flip.

But for Takon, it's not something he can accept.

'A freaking faction politics.'

Runeba scratched his head.

Every grade level has its own factions.

On a large scale, these factions form by departmental or continental regions, or through inter-country interests.

On a smaller scales, power games play out within a grade.

It's inevitable.

Many students from high influential and powerful families enroll at Lumene.

But the higher you go in grade, the more these factional disputes tend to calm down.

'Well, partly because an unofficial hierarchy gets established… and partly because we've gone through thick and thin together. Sometimes, of course, some people remain lifetime enemies.'

After spending years at the same school forces you to rely on each other.

Even if you didn't want it, a sense of camaraderie forms.

But—

'Our grade is the exception.'

The 5th-years were split into two factions.

One side was made up of ordinary students centered around Niel. The other was Bluemoon.

Those affiliated with the Bluemoon hero-dungeon raid party led by Elena.

'Followers of the Queen.'

In 4th year, the Bluemoon party was disbanded.

Or more accurately, Elena stepped down from her position of overreach.

She was the daughter of the director and acting director herself.

Before that, her overwhelming talent allowed her to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with top 5th-years even as a 2nd-year.

She leveraged her authority as acting director to obtain all kinds of conveniences.

She was, quite literally, a tyrant.

Her followers enjoyed all those perks by her side.

'Of course, the ones who just wagged their tails hoping for privilege all got expelled.'

Lumene isn't so lenient as to tolerate that kind of freeloading.

'The real issue is that the ones left are her true loyalists.'

They have one goal.

To be acknowledged by Elena.

Since their 1st year, Elena never considered anyone in her class as her equal.

Or more accurately, she never saw anyone as a peer.

Which makes sense.

'She was just on a whole different level.'

There's a reason she's called the Queen.

Elena ruled with absolute dominance.

Which is why her followers desperately want to be seen as comrades.

To outsiders, it might not seem like much.

It's not like Elena ever insulted her peers.

In fact, she often laughed and joked with them.

But that's as far as it went.

She never allowed more than that.

No one could stand beside her.

For those who spent their school years with her, it must've driven them mad.

'That's probably why they clung so hard to survive in Lumene.'

So, when Takon lost the 1st place spot in the Knight Department, his reaction was sharp.

Even when he was number one, Elena didn't care. Now he'd dropped to 2nd place, so how could he not feel anxious about being acknowledged?

The spark between Niel and Takon became a signal flare.

Students not affiliated with Bluemoon, who were always annoyed by their performance-obsessed peers, couldn't help but feel resentful.

The non-Bluemoon students originally didn't care about factions.

But since the other side always came at them with hostility, they began to naturally group together.

"What kind of remark was that?"

A girl from the Magic Department shot a glare.

Then a Bluemoon-affiliated from Magic Department girl scoffed back.

"What? I'm just saying that Niel would prioritize her house in this kind of situation. She's a loyal servant."

"Like how you're Elena's lapdog?"

"What did you just say?"

The atmosphere rapidly turned nasty.

Runeba, unable to take it anymore, stepped in with his usual easygoing demeanor.

"Hey hey, cut it out already. Aren't you embarrassed arguing in front of your juniors?"

"Stay out, Runeba!"

"We need to settle this today. You're just a 3rd party, so don't interfere."

Despite Runeba's attempt at mediation, the hostility showed no sign of dying down.

Seeing that, Runeba's smile vanished.

"Do my words mean nothing to you guys now?"

His usual playful voice turned icy cold, chilling even the 4th-years along with the 5th-years.

Staring expressionlessly at his peers, Runeba then broke into a warm smile.

"For now, let's focus on coming up with a plan for Leo."

Who would graduate as the Knight Department's best student would be decided at the semester's end. But the 2nd-best among their class had already been decided since year one.

Runeba Tess.

He even once beat Elena Zeron to become class representative. He was, without question, the unshakable number two.

'Though that only happened because Elena ditched an entire semester, saying she didn't feel like studying.'

"For now, Takon, you'll command."

"…Got it."

"And the strategy… Eren, I'm counting on you."

"Yes, sunbae."

Runeba delegated strategy planning to Eren, a 4th-year known for his tactical thinking.

No one objected.

'Why would they? I've been doing commentary for years now.'

He knew everyone's abilities thoroughly.

Takon and Eren were the best in command and strategy among the 4th and 5th-years.

Having assigned the commander and strategist, Runeba selected a few more students.

"You guys are on recon. Follow me."

"Yes, sunbae."

Runeba led a group of 4th-years with strong scouting skills to prepare for Leo's ambush.

Once the underclassmen dispersed, leaving him alone, Runeba sank into thought.

After a moment, he nodded.

"So, this is what the professors are aiming for."

Though the 5th-years may not want to admit it.

But Runeba clearly saw what their problem was.

"When Elena's not around, everything falls to pieces."

He sighed inwardly.

'And then there's the 4th-years.'

The current 4th-years had been at the mercy of the 5th-years for four years straight.

Elena's charisma extended not just to the 3rd-years, but even to the 2nd-years.

But now, the 1-year-juniors are seniors in their own right.

'They're not going to blindly follow us anymore.'

They've matured.

And they're probably fed up with being pushed around all this time.

'If this goes wrong, the 4th and 5th-years could end up completely divided.'

If only Lyl were here, she could keep everyone in line but unfortunately, she was absent too.

Runeba scratched his head.

"Sigh, if only I were a bit more capable, maybe this would go a little smoother?"

He had great grades, a good personality, and was sociable, but sadly, he didn't have the presence to lead others.

And no one knew that better than Runeba himself.

'Anyway, I should share the professors' intentions with the others…'

"It might've helped a bit. Though it wouldn't fix the root of the problem."

"Haha, President. When did you get here?"

"Since you figured out the professors' intentions."

Leo smiled broadly.

Seeing that smile, Runeba felt chills run down his spine.

'There's… no opening at all, right?'

Even though he was the number two 5th-year…

His opponent was Leo.

'If it were Elena or Lyl, it might've been different.'

Until two years ago, the 2nd-best 5th-year was Lumene's number two.

But that tradition changed last year.

Because the strongest student in Lumene turned out to be a 2nd-year.

The appearance of the irregular called Leo Plov.

But even without Leo, Runeba still wouldn't have become number two.

Because of none other than his 1-year-junior, Lyl.

'Should I be grateful Leo's around to make my failure look less pathetic?'

Runeba burst into laughter.

As he laughed, Leo said.

"You're really unmotivated, aren't you?"

Runeba laughed again at Leo's words.

He wasn't particularly offended.

Leo wasn't mocking him.

He was stating a fact. That he had no ambition.

Professors, seniors, even his juniors all said the same.

"My life motto is: slow and steady."

And he meant it.

Even as the 2nd-best in his year, he hadn't left a big mark in school.

Because he always chose the most comfortable path.

Leo nodded.

There are all kinds of people in the world.

But—

"For someone like that, you sure work hard."

Leo smiled broadly, and Runeba flinched.

'I'm busted!'

Runeba gulped as he had secretly used elemental art to alert the 5th-years of Leo's arrival.

"It's fine. I was going to crush you head-on anyway."

"Wow, student president really does think boldly."

Runeba laughed sheepishly.

'I had dreams like that too once…'

He was crushed after seeing Elena in 1st year, but still gave it a shot.

But when Lyl entered in his 2nd year, he gave up cleanly.

Compared to them, he felt utterly small.

'He really is an amazing guy, even as a junior.'

As Runeba smiled warmly at Leo—

"You're laughing?"

"Huh?"

"You think this situation's funny?"

Runeba froze at the sudden remark.

This was exactly how his graduated seniors used to grill him.

"Hey. I'm still your senior, you know?"

"Senior or schmenior, other people would want abilities like yours but can’t even get them, yet you, having them, say ‘well there are greater guys than me, so I’ll just be a spectator.’ Do you think that makes sense? Why did you even come to Lumene?”

The air was getting tense.

This went beyond peer pressure, it was professor-level scolding.

And not just any professor, Professor Harrid, the scariest of them all.

"So that's why you always backed out of competition and stuck to commentary? Meanwhile, I'm busting my ass trying to knock sense into useless seniors and your whole mindset is rotten to the core! Get over here. I'll fix that damn brain of yours!"

"Hiiiiiik?!"

"Where do you think you're going?!"

As Leo lunged at him with wild eyes, Runeba shrieked and ran away.

He didn't know why Leo suddenly snapped—but one thing was clear:

If he got caught now, he was doomed.

"Leo's here!"

"Form your formation as planned!"

"KUHHHUUUHHH!!"

Once again, another Howling echoed.

The battle between Leo and the 4th- and 5th-years had begun in earnest.