Editor : Amethyst00



The next morning.

The students of Lumene and Seiren gathered in the middle of the dormitory.

Harrid and Herdium were directing their respective students.

Leo and Lunia were assisting as representatives of their classes.

“Wait? Isn’t that Eiran?”

A Seiren student spoke in a flustered voice.

At those words, Lunia widened her eyes and turned her head.

And there she spotted Eiran timidly following behind Rune.

The Seiren students also began murmuring when they saw Eiran.

“Eiran!”

Even Herdium, looking surprised, quickly approached her.

“Ah, hello, Teacher Herdium.”

“Eiran! So you decided to return to school after listening to me!”

Seeing her homeroom teacher smiling proudly, Eiran forced an awkward smile.

Ever since coming here, Herdium had occasionally held personal talks with his student, Eiran.

Because Eiran, who had once displayed such outstanding talent, suddenly began refusing to attend school, Herdium had always felt regret.

“Thank you for taking care of her, Herdium.”

“Not at all, Teacher Rune—ah, no, Council Chairman Rune now.”

“Eiran. Do you know how worried I was when you went back to your family without saying a word?”

“Lunia-yang… um, that’s, well…”

“Are you feeling better now? You were said to be unwell.”

At school, the official explanation was that Eiran had been sick and resting at home.

Eiran grew flustered as Lunia approached with a blank face and asked questions. At that moment, Leo walked over.

“You’re participating in this mission too?”

“Ah! Leo-nim.”

Dressed in the Seiren uniform, Eiran looked every bit the proper student of the Hero Academy.

Lunia faltered as she saw the bright smile directed at Leo, then furrowed her brows.

‘She barely talks properly with me, yet why is she so friendly with this guy?’

“I’ll go greet the Lumene students too.”

“Alright.”

Leo watched with a hint of satisfaction as Eiran went off to greet the 5th Class students she had grown close with overnight.

Meanwhile, Lunia’s face twisted faintly as she saw Eiran chatting warmly with the Lumene students.

“Leo.”

Lunia suddenly put on her honor-student mask and called with a smile.

“Can we talk for a moment, just the two of us?”

Puzzled by her attitude, Leo followed her into a secluded alley.

“Hey. What on earth did you do? Why is Eiran being warmer to you than me?”

Left alone, Lunia’s tone flipped. Leo looked at her curiously and replied.

“Looks like she feels more comfortable with me than you.”

“How does that make any sense? How long have you even known her?”

“At most, two days?”

“That makes even less sense! I’m her school friend!”

“Eiran says she finds you scary.”

“What? That can’t be.”

“She thought you disliked her, after how frightening you seemed during the sparring evaluation.”

“That’s only because I was focused on the sparring! Eiran’s skill is so great I couldn’t even be sure I’d win.”

“Then why didn’t you take care of her a bit? She seemed to want to get close to you.”

Leo added that Eiran admired Lunia, who was always so confident.

“Take care of her? Someone as outstanding as Eiran? Wouldn’t that be an insult to her instead?”

For elves, helping others was a virtue, but extending help to an equal too freely could be seen as condescension.

It seemed Lunia, having acknowledged Eiran as an equal rival, stopped treating her like she once had.

‘Their personalities are complete opposites.’

That difference in thinking must have become an obstacle to their friendship.

“Take care of her. I think she needs someone like you to look out for her.”

Even at Leo’s words, Lunia looked unconvinced.

As they headed back to the others, Lunia asked,

“Oh, by the way. You really are an All-Class?”

“Yeah.”

“Seriously? Is that even possible?”

“Why ask if you won’t believe me?”

“Because it’s something that only exists in fairy tales.”

At her words, Leo released aura, mana, and spiritual power all at once.

Lunia’s jaw dropped.

Seeing her expression of disbelief, Leo smiled.

“Looks like we’ll need to properly test each other’s skills someday.”

“Didn’t I win in our duel?”

“That wasn’t a real duel, was it?”

Lunia grinned and crossed her arms.

“The stronger the opponent, the more I need to go all the way. That’s my nature.”

“Alright, alright. If the chance comes, I’ll face you.”

Just as Leo and Lunia returned and were talking—

Step, step—

From afar, students in Seiren uniforms appeared.

They were none other than upperclassmen of Seiren.

Twenty of them lined up with discipline before the first-years.

A male student, who looked like their representative, stepped forward.

“Teacher Herdium. All the second-years have arrived in response to the request.”

“Oh! So even you’ve come, Rauta?”

“Yes.”

“I read your paper on the Star Sorcery! Truly fascinating.”

“I’m glad you enjoyed it, Teacher.”

“With your talent, of course.”

“But I heard something strange, Teacher Herdium.”

“What is it?”

“That the Poet’s magic was deciphered, and the one who did it was a Lumene student.”

“Rauta, I told you—it’s just a rumor.”

“Why say such things to Teacher Herdium and cause trouble?”

At his question, the other second-years laughed derisively.

“It’s true.”

“What?”

“Here—Leo Plov, Lumene’s first-year representative, succeeded in interpreting that spell.”

Smiling, Herdium introduced Leo.

The Seiren second-years looked stunned.

After a tense pause, Rauta composed himself and smiled easily in front of Leo.

“Leo, was it? Interpreting the Poet’s spell… quite impressive. I’m Rauta Algraia, Second-Year Advanced Class 2, Seiren.”

“I’m Leo Plov.”

As they shook hands, Leo suddenly noticed a black ring on Rauta’s finger.

When his gaze lingered on it, Rauta quickly released his hand and turned to Lunia.

“And you must be Lunia El Lunda? The famous first-year representative. An honor.”

“You flatter me.”

“I’ll be watching your skills during this mission.”

With that, Rauta patted her shoulder and went back to the second-years.

“He doesn’t seem like a good senior.”

“You figured that out so quickly?”

“He smiled with his mouth, but not with his eyes.”

At Leo’s comment, Lunia sighed.

“I’ve heard he looks down on the lower and middle classes, but acts the model student in front of teachers.”

“Guess there are people like that everywhere.”

Leo chuckled.

Meanwhile, the Seiren second-years were warmly chatting with the first-years.

“My second-year club seniors only think about teasing me.”

“Are first- and second-years supposed to be that close?”

The 5th Class students looked envious at how kindly the Seiren seniors treated their juniors.

Back with the 5th Class, Leo noticed their strange expressions.

“What’s wrong with you all?”

“You wouldn’t know, since you don’t do club activities. At our school, second-years only see juniors as toys or labor.”

Carl shook his head.

“Compared to that… ugh, I’m jealous. Really jealous.”

While most of the students looked on enviously, Harrid and Herdium gathered everyone.

“From now on, we’ll divide into groups. Grouping will be done by lottery, with second-years as leaders.”

After Harrid’s announcement, the first-years drew lots.

Each group was formed with four first-years and one second-year.

“Leo! What group did you get?”

“Group 1.”

“Oh! Me too!”

Carl, looking pleased, headed to where their group leader stood.

The leader of Group 1 was none other than Rauta.

“So you’re Lumene’s Group 1? Let’s work well together.”

“Please take care of us!”

Carl greeted cheerfully.

Soon after, the Seiren first-years arrived.

Among them were Lunia and Eiran.

“You’re Group 1?”

“Leo-nim, you’re in Group 1 too?”

“Yes.”

Eiran’s face brightened slightly when she saw Leo.

“Looking forward to working with you, Eiran-yang.”

“I’ll do my best too, Carl-nim.”

Seeing that, Lunia frowned.

‘Just a moment ago she was as timid as a mouse before a cat, watching my every move—yet now her face lights up the moment she sees Leo?’

Lunia recalled Leo’s words earlier about looking out for Eiran.

‘I can take care of her too!’

“Eiran, come here. Greet our senior first.”

“S-sorry!”

Shrinking her shoulders as she apologized, Eiran made Lunia scowl.

“Eiran, don’t be so submissive. You’re also Seiren’s representative. So show some confidence—”

“S-sorry for being so submissive! Sorry that someone like me is a representative!”

Thinking Lunia was angry, Eiran bowed deeply in apology.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant!”

Lunia, who had only wanted to encourage her, was flustered when it backfired.

“A representative? Eiran, you’re also a grade rep?”

“Yes. She’s Seiren’s first-year vice-representative.”

“Oh? Impressive!”

Unlike Lumene, where only the top-ranked student becomes representative, Seiren designates the top three students as grade representatives.

After calming Eiran, Lunia greeted Rauta.

“Rauta-sunbae, please take care of us.”

“P-please guide us, Sunbae.”

“It’s an honor to be leading the grade representatives.” Rauta smiled—

“But two of the first-year reps are already tarnishing the school’s name.”

Eiran’s face went pale.

Lunia’s expression hardened.

“Sunbae, isn’t that going too far?”

“Lunia. You’re undeniably exceptional. But Eiran and Luca aren’t.”

Rauta said firmly.

“A representative who refuses to attend classes, and a half-blood representative? Do you know how the second-years see this year’s representatives?”

Lunia’s face twisted.

‘Ugh! If only he weren’t a senior, I’d punch him right now!’

She already knew how the second-years viewed the first-year representative.

In truth, Seiren, with its strong sense of hierarchy, was rife with gossip about Eiran and Luka.

‘But Eiran and Luka earned their spots through skill alone!’

“Second-years, assemble.”

“I’ll be back. So prepare yourselves.”

When Rauta left, Lunia stomped her feet angrily.

“So obnoxious! Someday I’ll smash his face in!”

“Oh! That’s some fighting spirit!”

Lunia whipped her head around, only to see Carl grinning and giving a thumbs-up.

“So the honor-student act really was just a mask!”

“What made you think that?”

“I knew it from the moment you grabbed Leo’s collar on the first day.”

Carl chuckled and extended his hand.

“I’m Carl Thomas.”

“You’re funny. I’m Lunia El Lunda.”

Dropping her honor-student mask, Lunia shook his hand firmly.

“But seriously, the way he talks is irritating. Don’t you think, Leo?”

Scratching the back of his head, Carl grumbled.

“Definitely harsh words.”

“Hmph! Just a bundle of insecurity.”

“Would an Advanced Class student even have reason for inferiority?”

“I heard he was in a lower class during his first year. Seems he suddenly shot up to Advanced Class level in second year.”

At Lunia’s words, Leo paused.

“Suddenly improved?”

“Yeah. That’s why he’s been the talk of all Seiren since the start of the term. The hot topic this semester.”

‘Improved suddenly?’

Leo narrowed his eyes at Rauta, recalling the incident during the midterms.

‘Could it be…?’