Editor : Amethyst00



The curfew only applied to areas outside the dormitory.

So inside the dormitory, it was up to individuals whether they stayed up all night or not.

Using the facilities inside the dormitory was also up to each student.

Thanks to that, even using the library late at night was allowed.

And as dawn approached…

Students of the Department of Magic were studying in the library.

Scratch—scratch—

The sound of quill pens scribbling echoed from all directions.

Midterm exams were just around the corner.

While the inter-department war was important, individual grades were even more so.

Students with a strong academic drive often studied in the library voluntarily, even before the official exam period began.

Especially since it was the first midterm, the majority were first-year students.

While thoroughly reviewing and preparing, the second-year runner-up—Betty—glanced to her side.

There, the second-year top student, Juen, was zoning out.

'She's been like this since yesterday.'

It was probably because of the scandal between Carl and Eliza.

People loved gossip everywhere.

And among all genres, their favorite was romance.

Especially since it involved none other than Carl, a commoner who, despite being the weakest in the third year, had risen to the rank of hero, and Eliza, heir to a prestigious family and the top student since admission.

Since the rumour involved the two of them, the attention was exceptional.

Everywhere, people buzzed about them.

'Juen must've really liked Carl-sunbae too.'

She had been his mentee since her first year, after all.

Even Betty knew Carl and Juen had a fairly close relationship.

Betty sighed.

"Kyaaaaaaah?!"

"Eeeek!"

Suddenly, a scream erupted from one of the study booths in the library.

All the students studying looked up in surprise.

Bang—!

The booth door burst open, and a fourth-year male student and a fourth-year female student burst out.

Click—clack—click—clack—

"How ridiculous."

A composed voice was heard.

"So noisy in the library."

Elena stood before them, playing with the ends of her beautiful golden hair.

Irritated by being interrupted during her reading, Elena continued.

"Have I been too lenient lately?"

Her pink eyes curved gently.

Though she had calmed down lately because of Leo, Elena was still known as one of the most notorious delinquents in Lumene's history.

The two fourth-years turned pale at her words.

But it wasn't because they were scared of Elena.

Elena, sensing that, tilted her head.

'Am I really not scary anymore?'

While she pondered that—

"E-Eeeeelena-sunbae!"

"In the booth! A g-ghost!"

The two, panicked, pointed toward the study booth they'd just fled, blurting out whatever came to mind.

"A ghost? It's probably just a prank by the student council president's fairies."

Elena smirked and looked toward the booth.

"Agh! Back in my day! You'd never see this 2,000 years ago! In a sacred library, of all places! Flirting like stray cats! This is a place for studying, not dating!"

A furious female voice rang out from inside the booth.

Elena furrowed her brow.

Every time the voice shouted, the library's magic stone lights flickered.

Pop—!

In that moment—

Not just the magic lights, but even the candles went out.

Only the soft moonlight seeping in through the windows remained.

Whooooo—

A cold wind blew, and a chilling atmosphere enveloped the library.

"W-What was that?"

"I-I don't know."

As the students trembled at the sudden turn of events—

Grab—!

Juen felt someone grab her shoulder.

She turned to look…

"You. Heartbroken, huh? Yeah. If you want revenge on the guy who hurt you, you need to succeed. Forget about guys and focus on—"

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah?!"

Betty, beside Juen, screamed at the sight of a faceless mage.

"Aaaaaaaah!"

"Wh-What is that?!"

The other students also freaked out.

A headless mage?!

As panic spread among the students—

Elena casually waved her hand.

Whoosh—!

A rope made of powerful magic appeared and shot toward the headless mage—Elisa.

Whoosh—!

But Elisa deflected Elena's magic.

Elena smirked.

"Interesting."

Rooooaaaar—!

A powerful magic aura burst from Elena's body.

With one exchange, she had gauged her opponent's strength.

'She's nearly at hero level.'

A high-ranking mage, almost at the level of an archmage.

The students turned pale from the magic pressure pouring out of Elena's body.

"You're the one! The head of the Department of Magic dorm, as the student council president said!"

Elisa flew toward Elena.

Elena paused when Leo's name came out of her mouth.

"Who are you?"

Even though the torn-off neck wound from a beast attack was clearly visible, Elena didn't flinch.

"I'm Elisa Roan!"

Elena tilted her head.

"I think I've heard that name. Wasn't there a former student council president by that name?"

"Yes! That's me! You're smart!"

Elisa was delighted that Elena recognized her.

A junior from the Department of Magic carefully asked—

"How long ago were you're student council president?"

"About 2,000 years ago?"

"……Elena-sunbae, how do you remember that?"

"How could I not? It's the student council president we're talking about."

"……"

All the students looked dumbfounded at Elena's nonchalant answer.

And they realized—

That the woman before them was not only a top-tier troublemaker in Lumene's history but also a genius.

If the school had 3,000 years of history, there would've been nearly 3,000 council presidents.

And she remembered a name from 2,000 years ago?!

While everyone stared blankly at Elena—

"Why did a senior from 2,000 years ago appear before us like that?"

"I'm a spirit summoned by the current student council president. He gave me a task."

"A task?"

As Elena tilted her head, Elisa pulled out a stamp.

"Eh?!"

"A demerit stamp?"

The students immediately recognized it.

"I'm in charge of disciplinary guidance for the Department of Magic! Any naughty kids who break the rules or have inappropriate relationships will get demerits from this senior!"

Everyone's jaw dropped.

"In that spirit—!"

Elisa stamped the foreheads of the fourth-years who had been in the booth.

"W-Wait a second!"

"What's wrong with dating?!"

The students protested, and Elisa replied—

"Tsk tsk. It should be student-appropriate dating! Not in the sacred library! So indecent!"

"It was just a kiss…"

"Hey!"

The female student covered the male student's mouth in horror.

"Hmph? Aren't you lucky?"

Elena, with a cold smile, glared at them.

Then she motioned to the juniors.

"Drag them to the basement and lock them up."

At her words, the students grabbed the pair and dragged them away.

While everyone was still flustered by the situation—

Elena, having grasped the situation, asked—

"Ms. Elisa, you can't discipline students from other departments, right?"

"Right."

"Any other duties?"

"I'm supposed to help you with studying!"

Elisa had been a student council president in life and a mage with rich combat experience.

Her experience included not just wars with humans, but also with Tartaros.

Though she didn't live long, she had lived during a time of war.

Leo thought she would have a lot to teach the students.

"There are others like you in other departments, right?"

"Of course!"

Seeing her cheerful answer, Elena nodded.

"The ghost incidents were caused by the spirits Leo summoned."

Having assessed the situation, Elena told the juniors—

"From now on, pay more attention to the rules. Don't get stamped for nothing. Especially—"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Don't cross the line like those two. This is a school, not a hotel."

Some students winced.

bl

Tap—tap—

That dark night.

Unaware of the commotion at the dorms—

Chloe went to the library again.

She nervously opened the secret door.

Yesterday, she had been chased off by a mysterious being.

'Is there a secret I don't know about?'

Maybe winning isn't the answer to this puzzle.

With that thought, Chloe cautiously entered the room.

The room looked the same.

A table and two chairs in the middle of an empty space.

A chessboard on the table.

And…

"Huh?"

A pile of books was stacked in one corner.

A dark figure was reading one of them.

'Chess books?'

So many books.

'Don't tell me… she was studying?'

Chloe was flustered.

The figure, noticing her presence, looked up, closed the book, and quickly sat at the chessboard.

Chloe, also tense, sat opposite.

Again, the opponent with the white pieces moved first.

Tap—

Chloe played her move silently.

'…Her skills haven't improved much.'

She had read various chess strategy books, but her execution was close to zero.

It felt like playing chess with a child, and Chloe made a strange face.

Again, Chloe completely crushed her opponent.

Tap—tap—

'Huh?'

There was something familiar about the way the pieces moved.

'…Leo?'

It resembled Leo's playing style.

Leo was a formidable chess player.

Of course, her opponent wasn't on Leo's level, but the movement of the pieces briefly overlapped.

But that was it.

Then she made basic mistakes again.

'…If winning isn't the solution to this puzzle—'

Chloe deliberately made mistakes and lost.

Tap—

"Oh, it's checkmate. I lost."

Chloe said with an awkward smile.

The figure trembled in rage, glared at her, then grabbed her and threw her out.

Thud—!

"Ow!"

Chloe landed on her butt and rubbed it, staring at the closed door in disbelief.

"What the heck is this?!"

bl

The next day.

Leo was swarmed by angry upperclassmen from other departments.

"What's with those spirits?!"

"Why are they so scary?!"

"I almost fainted in my sleep!"

Leo scratched his cheek, watching the seniors protest—then grabbed someone walking by and pulled her over.

Elena blinked as she was suddenly dragged by Leo.

"Please direct complaints to her."

The fourth- and fifth-years flinched.

Elena, slightly puzzled, smiled.

"If the president says jump, you jump. What's the problem?"

"Y-Yeah."

"That's true!"

Elena easily quelled the protest.

Leo stroked his chin.

"This is convenient."

"If you treat me like some tool for convenience, I'm out."

Elena narrowed her eyes, and Leo smiled.

"Isn't that the vice president's job?"

"Just wait till I become MVP."

"Oh no, I'm so scared."

Leo casually pulled a candy from his pocket.

"What's that?"

"A reward."

"You're treating me like a kid."

Despite her annoyed tone, Elena popped the candy into her mouth.

"Leo."

Just then, Chloe approached.

"Hello, Elena-sunbae."

"Hi. Good morning."

"I have something to talk to Leo about. Are you done?"

"Yeah. It wasn't even a real conversation. Leo just used me."

Hearing that, Chloe nodded to Elena and grabbed Leo's hand.

"Leo, come with me."

Leo followed her with a puzzled look.

They soon reached a quiet, dead-end corridor.

"Can you let go now?"

"Oh! Right."

Chloe let go and cleared her throat.

"I have a question about the problems you hid around the dorm."

"Okay."

"The chess puzzle in the library."

"You already found it? I thought it'd take longer."

Leo smiled in admiration.

"You know, even for you, winning that won't be easy."

"Huh?"

"Professor Mel poured her heart into that one."

"So I just have to win, right?"

"Yup."

Chloe looked uneasy.

"Um, about that… I—"

"Suspicious!"

Suddenly, a spirit from the Summoning Department—Redin—burst through the wall.

Then John came from the ceiling.

Elisa popped up from the floor and grabbed Chloe's ankle.

"Gotcha!"

"Caught you in an inappropriate relationship!"

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah?!"

Chloe screamed at the sudden appearance of the ghastly spirits, kicked Elisa off her ankle, punched John and Redin in the gut, and hid behind Leo.

"W-What are these people?!"

"Spirits I summoned."

Leo grinned.

"They work great."