Editor : Amethyst00



"What's going on? What happened?"

"Why are Leo-sunbae and Xia-sunbae standing in the middle of the training grounds…?"

"Are they about to spar or something?"

The first-year students gathered excitedly around the training grounds. It wasn't just anyone — it was Leo Plov — and the mere possibility of seeing him fight in person had everyone buzzing with anticipation.

Leo had already become president of the Lumene Student Council as a first-year and was recognized as a hero in his second year. He was already a legendary figure.

He wasn't just a senior—they saw him as someone on an entirely different level.

Just seeing him was enough to get the first years hyped.

Meanwhile, the second years looked on with surprise, glancing between Leo and Chen Xia.

They had experienced Xia's terrifying strength firsthand during yesterday's exam.

"I actually had a nightmare about Xia-sunbae last night."

"Ugh… I was trying to walk down a dark hallway, and I swear it was terrifying."

The second years shuddered, still shaken by the fear they had felt in the darkness.

And yet, a question naturally arose among them.

"But can Xia-sunbae really go one-on-one with Leo?"

They all knew it.

Leo's skill was on another level.

And this wasn't like yesterday, where the duel was held in the dark.

This was broad daylight.

While the first and second years questioned what was going on— it was the third years who were the most puzzled.

"Why are Leo and Xia suddenly sparring?"

Chloe approached Celia and Duran, her face full of confusion.

"She said she wants to teach us something," Duran replied.

"Teach us?" Chloe tilted her head.

The result of the match was obvious.

But if Chen Xia was saying this was to "teach" them something, then she must be planning to show them something the third years hadn't learned yet.

"Hmm? What's going on?"

Chelsea returned from behind the storage shed and blinked at the noisy atmosphere in the training ground.

"Ooh! Leo and Xia are going to spar? No way I'm missing an event like this!"

As Carl started preparing something, Eliza looked at him curiously.

"You're going to analyze their fight or something?"

"You've lived in the dorms with Carl for a year and still don't know what kind of person he is?"

"…Excuse me?"

Just as Eliza frowned at Chelsea's words—

"Popcorn for sale! Cold juice available too!"

Carl popped up from a subspace with a vendor stand and rushed into the crowd. Eliza nearly stumbled at the sight.

"Ooh! Carl! I'll take some popcorn!"

"I'll have a juice!"

The third years immediately started placing orders.

"You got buttered squid?"

"Of course!"

"You're always so well-prepared!"

The third years gave him a thumbs-up.

"Senior! We'd like some too!"

"Aww, can't you give us a little discount?"

Even the second years, clearly used to this, bought popcorn and drinks from Carl.

The first years looked on in utter shock.

"He's the acting student council president… and he's running a food stand?"

"W-wasn't that the same Carl-sunbae from yesterday?"

"Waaah! My fantasy is shattered!"

"Where did that cool guy from yesterday go?!"

A few of the first years grabbed their heads and screamed.

"Hmm? Huh! Mylia?!"

"What are you doing?!"

While the first-years hesitated, unsure how to react—

Mylia, the honor student of the first-year knight class, approached Carl.

"Hello, sunbae. One combo meal, please."

"Sure thing~"

With a full-on customer service smile, Carl handed Mylia a cup of popcorn.

"Could I get a catalogue of the items sold by the Carl Trading Company as a bonus?"

"Eh? That's only for our subscription members though?"

"Well, I'm your first first-year customer, right? Thanks to me, other first-years probably feel less resistance to buying your products."

As she winked at him, Carl chuckled and nodded.

Humming to herself, Mylia took the catalogue and opened it.

"What are you gonna do with that?"

A fellow knight student looked confused, but Mylia just smiled.

"I'm curious."

She began flipping through Carl's catalogue.

'Carl-sunbae has been selling items students need since his first year.'

As the heir to the Rola Trading Company, which dominated the southern continent's commerce, Mylia was deeply familiar with the continent's financial and material distribution flows.

Before enrolling at Lumene, she had thoroughly investigated the academy's internal economy and the commercial landscape of Lumeria City.

It wasn't about getting better grades — it was a merchant's natural curiosity.

And she had noticed that over the past two years, the supply and demand of potions and magical tools within Lumene had significantly shifted.

At the center of it all — was Carl.

In just two years, Carl had cornered the market on student-consumed items: potions, magical tools, crafting materials, and more.

'It wasn't just good products — he's got serious business savvy.'

In a way, he'd built an empire from scratch.

Mylia was impressed, but that wasn't what truly intrigued her.

'If Carl sells what students need, then by understanding his product list, I can roughly predict Lumene's curriculum.'

Lumene was full of surprises, but the overall academic structure remained fairly consistent.

Considering how diverse potion types and effects were, Mylia believed she could use Carl's sales trends to prepare for upcoming assignments.

'It might not be useful at all… but it's better to be prepared.'

Tiny advantages can make or break a honor student's grades — especially for someone like Mylia.

Lifting her head from the catalog, Mylia smiled.

"Watching someone work that hard for money… so admirable."

"To think you admire a guy who flirts with underclassmen for money! What's even worth learning from that pathetic man?!"

"Huh?"

"What?!"

Mylia looked over at the voice that countered her — it was Freyna, the top summoning student.

The two locked eyes, sparks seemed to fly, and then both scoffed in unison.

Elsewhere, in the magic department—

Veto, the top first-year mage, was seriously tasting popcorn and juice while furiously scribbling notes.

"Veto, what are you doing?"

"Trying to deduce the secret recipe for Carl-sunbae's popcorn and juice."

"…What for?"

"Carl-sunbae is a master of alchemy. Surely even his popcorn contains hidden techniques."

The first-year mage recalled what the upperclassmen had said earlier—

"He just grabs random stuff and sells it, really."

"I've got it! This has 5% real fruit juice?!"

The first-year mage stared at Veto — analyzing with utmost seriousness — and chose to stay silent.

For some reason, he didn't want to hurt his friend's pride.

Watching the first-years from afar, Aina murmured.

"Weird batch of underclassmen this year."

"That Mylia kid. She definitely looks shady. Seems like she's got a nasty personality too."

"That Freyna Hergin's the same. She looked so sweet during the entrance ceremony…"

"And what's up with that Veto guy drinking juice with that intense look on his face? Freaky."

Haviden, Shasha, and Juen echoed Aina's thoughts.

From a bit behind them, Luke scratched his cheek awkwardly.

"Not sure you guys are in any position to talk…"

bl

"This is our first real fight since the department competition back in first year, right?"

"Hehe. Brings back memories."

"That was when I was still unsure if I was a hero or a shadow."

At Leo's words, Chen Xia nodded.

"You're not doing this just to feel the gap in our skill level again, right?"

Leo had accepted the duel, but he was genuinely curious why Xia suddenly asked for it.

Xia smiled as she looked at him.

"Leo-doryeong, you're really good at teaching others."

The Age of Calamity had ended, and a new Age of Heroes had dawned — but that didn't mean the world's threats had disappeared.

After a full-scale war with Tartaros and their victory in the Great War, a true age of peace had begun.

During that time, Velkia, who carried the weight of the world, and Bihar, who supported Velkia from the shadows, stood tall.

The legacy left behind by Kyle, the Hero of Beginnings.

Velkia had been a disciple of both Luna and Aaron.

But the one who helped her truly make their teachings her own — was Kyle.

'Aaron-nim wasn't exactly the best teacher.'

Xia shook her head, remembering Aaron's innocent smile as he said, "See? Easy, right?"

Sometimes leading from the front, sometimes pushing from behind.

The golden generation of Lumene — the current third years — had bloomed thanks to Leo's unseen support.

But even Leo couldn't completely align with them in every aspect.

Let alone teaching them what real combat was like.

"As their unnie, as their noona — I want to teach them."

Chen Xia's skills were on par with the top third years.

She couldn't be sure of winning against Celia or Duran in a duel.

But Xia's true strength wasn't in sparring — it was in actual combat.

She wasn't born to be a hero, but a shadow.

Born to stand at the apex of shadows, she was different from your typical hero candidate.

Even before entering Lumene, she had hunted and eliminated traitors.

The experience was on another level.

And fighting humans with malice was a world apart from battling monsters.

In actual combat, she could defeat even Celia, Duran — even Walden.

Even in daylight, not just darkness.

That's how much experience mattered.

'Leo-doryeong's experience is probably beyond comprehension.'

A Great Hero.

Not just any, but the Hero of Beginnings who had buried traitors in the shadows — his experiences were akin to an unfathomable abyss.

Even Chen Xia couldn't fully grasp Leo's moves — let alone the other students.

That's why she wanted to show them her fight.

"To show them what real battle looks like."

'Other students will walk a different path than mine.'

Her wish to become a hero hadn't changed.

But that didn't mean she would follow the same path as the others.

Where there is light, there is shadow.

Just like Bihar, her predecessor.

Just like Leo, the Hero of Beginnings.

Chen Xia had resolved to walk that same path.

Because that too, was a hero's way.

Just because she stood in the dark didn't mean she was denied the light.

'Leo-doryeong taught me that.'

And just because someone stood in the light didn't mean they could ignore the darkness.

One day, they would face humans with true malice.

Whether it was a hero hunter…

Or someone with ideals that differed from their own.

'Normally, they would come to understand eventually.'

What real battle meant.

What it meant to fight and kill and be killed.

Whether they wanted to or not, they'd eventually learn.

But—

"We have to become heroes… a little earlier, don't we?"

Leo was waiting.

To reach that place even a little sooner—

Chen Xia believed they needed to understand earlier than most.

"So that's what this is about."

"Yes. That's why I plan to fight seriously."

Tap. Tap.

"…Huh?"

"Wait… what's that in Chen Xia's hands…?"

"Daggers?"

Surprised voices echoed all around.

In both hands, Chen Xia now held two sharp daggers.

'…Bihar's daggers.'

Wooooo—!

A chilling bloodlust radiated from her body, and Leo let out a small sigh.

"…You're seriously trying to kill me?"