Editor : Amethyst00



The morning classes proceeded.

As expected at the start of the semester, all the students were having a chaotic time.

After lunch, during the afternoon class period—

Eliza spoke to Nella.

"Nella."

"Yeah? What is it, Eliza?"

"That thing's annoying. Tell her to fix it."

Eliza pointed at Eliana as she spoke.

There, Eliana was reading a book with perfect posture.

All day today, Eliana had shown the image of a flawless model student.

She was impeccable as a student, gentle toward those around her, and continuously reading.

Rustle—

Even now, the way she brushed her hair back like Celia drew gasps from the first years gathered for combat class.

A flawless honor student, literally.

Naturally, for the third years, that behaviour was burdensome to watch.

At that moment, Carl, who had been quietly observing Eliana, spoke up.

"Come to think of it, doesn't it seem like she's copying Celia, Chloe, and Nella?"

"Huh?"

Chelsea tilted her head at his words.

"Why?"

"How would I know?"

"She's being annoying, so let's go ask why she's acting like that."

Chelsea stood up with a grunt and approached Eliana.

Nella followed behind her.

"Nella."

"Yeah, what's up, Carl?"

"Why are you carrying that?"

Carl pointed at the morning star neatly held in Nella's hand.

"Just in case I need to use it."

Seeing Nella's bitter smile, Carl nodded.

'Yeah, no matter how kind she is, a Lumene girl is still a Lumene girl.'

Chelsea, Carl, and Nella led Eliana to the back of the field storage where combat class was held.

"What's going on?"

Eliana asked with a puzzled face, and Chelsea said, "Be honest. Who are you really?"

"What are you talking about, Chelsea? I'm your friend Eliana."

"Then why are you acting like you've lost your mind?"

"I'm perfectly fine. Huhu. You're saying strange things."

Watching Eliana laugh behind her hand, Nella let out a soft groan.

"What is it?"

"She's kind of like me, but it feels unpleasant. Did I make people feel that way too?"

As Nella looked worried with a serious face, Carl shook his head.

"No way."

"Yeah. Nella, you're not the problem. The problem is Eliana."

"Should I just whack her lightly on the head?"

Carl stroked his chin as Nella raised her morning star.

"Hm. Dangerous, but maybe that's the only way."

"Yup."

With a serious expression, Nella stood before Eliana, morning star in hand.

Seeing Nella really ready to hit her, Eliana looked flustered for a moment.

"Wait? What are you doing? Calm down, Nella."

Still speaking calmly, Eliana heard Nella say seriously:

"It might hurt a bit, but bear with it, Eliana. This is for your own good."

"How is getting killed supposed to be for my own good?!"

Eliana screamed.

"Thank goodness. That's the usual Eliana."

"What? So you weren't crazy but just pretending this whole time?"

"Then it's nothing serious."

Nella sighed in genuine relief, while Carl and Chelsea nodded knowingly.

Just then, Eliza arrived behind the storage.

"Carl, do you happen to have a potion for taming magical beasts?"

"Oh! Of course, ma'am!"

Carl quickly rushed to Eliza.

Watching him, Eliza pulled out a gold coin with an indifferent face and spotted Eliana.

"So, you're back to the usual Eliana Raden."

"What kind of image do I have that people react like this just seeing my face?"

"Unlike earlier, you're wearing your usual silly expression."

Eliana flared up at Eliza's mocking tone.

"Hey! Carl! Don't make deals with her! I'm a regular customer too!"

"Eliza buys more than you."

"Our friendship's worth less than your profit?!"

"Yup."

"Gah!"

Eliana grabbed Carl and shook him violently.

Chelsea watched with a disgusted expression.

"Why'd you do that ridiculous act anyway?"

"Ridiculous? Didn't you see the first-years blushing and squirming whenever they saw me?"

Eliana fixed her posture and brushed her hair back.

"It's because they fell for my charm!"

"Ugh, now I know why I was so uncomfortable."

Chelsea frowned.

"That hair-flipping habit—it's exactly like Celia Zerdinger's."

"Yeah, I referenced her a bit."

Eliza gave Eliana a look of exasperation.

"So you copied Celia Zerdinger just to impress first-years? Are you stupid?"

"Hey, I didn't just copy Celia. I copied Chloe too, and Nella! And Chelsea!"

"Me?"

Chelsea looked puzzled.

"There was nothing about you that seemed similar to me."

"Oh, there was. You're such a pretender. I studied how you hide your true self and applied it."

"What?"

"I referenced your act a lot."

"When did I ever pretend?!"

Chelsea scowled, and Eliana quickly scrunched her face.

"Are you dumb? You don't even know if you're pretending?"

"Ah, that's the usual Chelsea."

"That arrogant tone—it's Chelsea Lewellin, all right."

Carl and Eliza chimed in.

Chelsea's little fist trembled.

"Brother~ Leo oppa~ Nella unnie~ you know~"

"Bwahahaha! That's exactly… oof!"

Imitating Chelsea's tone when she talked to Leo, Abad, and Nella, Eliana made Carl burst out laughing.

Of course, Chelsea immediately dropkicked Carl in the ribs and then lunged at Eliana.

"Why! Why! I was just imitating your usual self!"

"When did I ever act so stupid?!"

"Both of you calm down."

Nella set down her morning star and tried to break up the scuffle.

"Nella-unnie! Eliana's imitation just now wasn't like me at all, right?"

"Um…"

"So mean!"

Chelsea pouted.

"It's just the vibe and tone that were similar. Obviously, Chelsea's way cuter."

"Right?"

"Bleh. Cute, my ass."

"You're dead today."

Chelsea growled at Eliana's jab.

Eliza watched Carl, who was groaning and barely standing, with a pitying look.

"Why'd you take that hit like an idiot?"

"I didn't want to get hit. If you felt bad, you could've helped."

"Not really. You made your mess, you deal with it."

"You're heartless."

Carl clicked his tongue and stood up straight.

"So? You copied honour students?"

"Yeah. Celia's the perfect honour student, so I copied her. Chloe's super refined, so I copied her too. Then I agonised between Nella and Chen Xia because they're both mature, but I figured if I started talking formally, people would think I'd lost it, so I copied Nella."

"You still came off like someone who'd lost it."

Eliza scoffed.

Eliana pouted in response.

Chelsea, who'd been watching with a grumpy face, suddenly smiled slightly.

Seeing that little devilish smile, Carl subtly stepped back.

"Why didn't you copy Eliza?"

"Eliza? She's just a thug, nothing more or less. Not even worth copying."

Eliana laughed with a snort.

Eliza's eyes narrowed, and she lunged at Eliana, only for Carl to stop her.

"So why did you copy those honour students?"

Chelsea asked with arms crossed.

"To become a mature woman."

"You think juniors will follow you just because you act mature? Your real self will come out eventually."

"Whether it does or not, you never know till you try, right? And this wasn't for the juniors."

"Then for who?"

"I was showing off an unexpected charm. Like, 'Eliana Raden has a mature side too~' I read it in this book."

Eliana showed the book she'd been reading.

When the cover was removed, the real title was revealed.

"'Even an Idiot Can Seduce Their Crush?' What kind of stupid title is that?"

Chelsea looked disgusted.

"Who are you trying to impress with this crap?"

"Who else? The class president."

"What?!"

"Leo's mature, right? The book said to appeal with adult charm to a mature crush. So, I tried it."

"…"

Chelsea's mouth opened and closed, Nella's eyes widened, Carl scratched his head, and Eliza smirked.

"Why don't you just strip naked and seduce him?"

"Oh! That's actually the book's ultimate move!"

"What kind of trash book is this?!"

Chelsea tore the book to pieces with a gust of wind.

"What are you trying to do by seducing Leo?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Eliana grinned at Nella's question.

"To become the First Lady!"

bl

Hearing a ruckus behind the school storage, Chen Xia smiled.

"So lively again today."

She spoke with a warm smile.

Celia sighed softly at her words.

"Let's just hope they don't cause a scene."

"With so many underclassmen around, you think they'd embarrass our grade?"

"Hmph, if it's those idiots, they totally would."

Celia nodded in rare agreement with Duran's scoff.

Seeing the two unexpectedly aligned, Chen Xia tilted her head.

"By the way."

"Hm?"

"What were Elena-sunbae and Lyl-sunbae like?"

Celia and Duran's expressions hardened slightly.

"…They were strong."

Celia's expression turned frustrated.

"I thought our skills were enough, but… we were naive."

"If we fought again, wouldn't the result be different?"

"If it was just a test, forget it."

Duran scowled at Chen Xia's comment.

"You know it wouldn't matter."

Yesterday's trial was, after all, a mock battle.

But everyone there, including Celia and Duran, knew the truth.

Even if it was a mock battle, the defeat was serious.

The third years could've beaten Elena and Lyl.

But they lost—twice.

The first time was due to arrogance, not taking them seriously.

The second was due to lack of experience.

Both defeats showed the third years were still immature.

As Duran said, winning a rematch meant nothing.

If it were real combat, there wouldn't be a second chance.

'From third year on, the real missions begin.'

Up till second year, they'd only done training missions. But from third year, they'd take on real problems around the world in Lumene's name.

They would risk their lives as hero candidates.

And they'd be responsible not just for their own lives, but for many others.

"There are no second chances when lives are on the line."

Chen Xia nodded at Duran's words.

"Don't forget that."

"Were you trying to give us advice?"

"Yes. We're classmates, but I'm older than you two, right?"

Chen Xia shrugged.

"Seeing you both so down didn't feel right."

Celia sighed again.

"Sorry to worry you. But we're not planning to stay down. We know what we're lacking now."

She brushed her hair back.

"From now on, we'll start filling in the gaps."

"Of course you will. A flawless honour student, as expected. In that case, let this older sister give you one more lesson."

As Chen Xia ruffled her own hair proudly, Celia gave her a half-lidded stare.

"Can you not treat me like a little kid?"

"What lesson are you giving?"

"Huh?"

Surprised, Chen Xia widened her eyes at Duran's question.

"Why are you so surprised?"

"Well, I thought Duran would get annoyed if I gave advice."

"What do you think I am?"

"What else? Arrogant to the core."

"If you wanna fight, draw your sword, Celia Zerdinger."

"Gladly."

"Alright, alright, settle down."

Despite their sharp mood, Chen Xia kept smiling.

"It's not a big lesson. Just to show you how the enemies we'll face from now on might fight. And how you'll be able to fight if you overcome your weaknesses."

"What do you mean?"

Celia looked confused, and Chen Xia just smiled and stepped forward.

Rustle—rustle—

"What's going on?"

"Leo-doryeong."

Chen Xia stood in front of Leo.

"Please fight me."