Editor : Amethyst00



The former student council presidents summoned by Leo quickly became celebrities at school.

And for good reason—they appeared like ghosts whenever someone violated school rules, dishing out demerits without mercy.

They reacted most strongly when male and female students were found in secluded spots with a suspicious atmosphere.

"This is unbelievable."

Celia, arms crossed, wore an expression of disbelief.

"How did he end up summoning such spirits? He's my cousin, but sometimes he's just a total weirdo."

"Isn't it a bit of an understatement to call Young Master Leo just a weirdo?"

"Is it? Then what should we call him?"

"Well… I don't think there's a word in the common tongue that fully describes him."

Celia nodded in agreement with Chen Xia's words.

It was true.

Leo was always beyond imagination.

For better or worse.

Truly unpredictable.

"But they're only scary in appearance. They seem like good people."

"Hm? What makes you think that?"

"Senior John watched over my training earlier."

Chen Xia spoke honestly about her experience.

"It was really helpful. Maybe because he's a former student council president?"

From a young age, Chen Xia had fought in the shadows, eliminating traitors and their followers. Among the students at Lumene, her real combat experience was unmatched.

But her experience was based on fighting people.

Tartaros was home to inhuman monsters.

Battles against the demonic beasts and monsters of Tartaros were fundamentally different from human combat.

Though Chen Xia's vast battle experience was useful, additional training was necessary for her to fully adapt.

John, who had lived through the era of class wars, had plenty of experience with both kinds of combat.

His advice, rooted in that experience, was of great help to Chen Xia.

"Not just me—other students have been getting help from him too. Even Duran."

"Duran?"

"Yes, even he said John's advice wasn't bad."

Considering Duran's personality, that was high praise.

Hearing that her rivals were gaining an edge with John's help, Celia's expression turned intrigued.

She couldn't stand falling behind either Chen Xia or Duran.

This kind of scene wasn't limited to the knight department.

Similar situations unfolded in both the magic and summoning departments.

The former student council presidents weren't just enforcing rules.

As alumni, they generously offered advice and guidance, and in that respect, they received high praise across all grades.

Leo nodded as he heard the story.

["Why are you maintaining their summons? It must consume a considerable amount of spiritual power."]

Elsie, sitting at the table in Leo's room and poking at a cake as big as her body with a fork, looked puzzled.

"Well, I've already summoned them. And…"

["And?"]

"After hearing their stories… I felt a little bad."

They were born in an age of war.

They couldn't truly enjoy their school days.

Of course, it wasn't like the Age of Calamity, when everything was lost.

Still, it was clear they lived harsh lives.

"They keep saying they regret not being able to date, but I think they just have lingering feelings about not having enjoyed their school years."

Even if the times are different, by living among younger students, perhaps those regrets could be resolved. That's why Leo made contracts with them.

["So that was the reason. I thought you just wanted to torment the students."]

Elsie looked impressed, and Leo chuckled.

"Do I really seem that twisted to you?"

["A little?"]

Elsie giggled.

Leo gave a soft laugh in return.

"Anyway, the elemental lords have been pretty obedient lately."

Besides Elsie and Laruel, Leo had contracts with Ishtar, the Elemental Lord of Fire, and Undine, the Elemental Lord of Water.

They were proud and had strong egos, and apparently weren't popular with their underlings. After Elsie stripped them of their dominance over lesser elementals, they'd become surprisingly docile.

Now that they also knew Leo's true identity, any complaints they had as contractors had vanished.

The problem was that Ishtar and Undine, who were mortal enemies, constantly clashed.

On top of that, even though he wasn't under contract, the current era's Elemental Lord of darkness, Ignis, who was confirmed to be contracted with Leo, constantly acted twisted around Laruel—his own archenemy.

To be honest, when the elemental lords were all gathered, it was far noisier than when Fiora, Kiran, and Alty were together.

Among the elemental lords Leo had contracted, Elsie was clearly the leader.

Despite having lived the shortest life, she was born during the Age of Calamity 5,000 years ago, making her the oldest in real terms.

Moreover, Elsie possessed a unique power among the elemental lords.

But because of her gentle personality, she rarely took initiative, so the one who actually led the others was Laruel, the second oldest in terms of experience.

That's why Leo left their management to Laruel.

["Though lately, Laruel's been a lot more violent."]

Except in front of Elsie, Laruel was a twisted elemental herself.

She was clearly suffering from suppressing her nature.

"She must be having a hard time. Be nice to her."

["Okay."]

Elsie nodded.

Then—

Knock knock

A knock echoed.

At this hour, only one person would come to Leo's room.

Leo got up and opened the door.

As expected, it was Artienne, here to help with Leo's spirit evoking training.

"Good evening, Leo."

Smiling brightly, Artienne entered the room.

"I saw the former student council presidents this morning. I can't believe you summoned three spirits using Initial Spirit Evocation. I'm amazed by your potential."

Now that she knew the nature of Leo's spirits, Artienne was visibly excited.

The potential to summon three spirits with Initial Spirit Evocation.

With a new-generation spirit evoker of that caliber, Artienne couldn't help but get excited.

Especially since that evoker was her own student—she felt doubly thrilled as an educator.

"Alright! Leo, let's polish your spirit evoking skills tonight as well!"

Seeing Artienne clench her fists with determination, Leo nodded.

bl

The next day.

"Everyone, up!"

In the magic department dorm, Elisa rang the bell.

"As magic students, we can't be lazier than the other departments! Down with the knight department! Down with the summoning department!"

Students who had been sleeping in slowly shuffled into the lounge, woken by Elisa's enthusiastic shouts.

"Um, sunbae."

A fifth-year magic student spoke with a very tired expression.

"Is there any point in competing over who wakes up the earliest like an idiot?"

"Those legless summoners and tin-can knights will definitely use this to beat us down! They'll mock us and call us lazy pigs!"

"Isn't the competition itself stupid?"

To that, Elisa replied:

"I absolutely refuse to be treated like an idiot by knights or summoners! If you're going to be an idiot either way—better to be a victorious idiot!"

As the determined Elisa spoke, Elena, who had been twirling her hair nearby, smiled.

"You're right."

When Lumene's No. 2 backed Elisa, no one could argue.

"But…"

Elena tilted her head.

"Your head grew back overnight?"

Elisa grinned proudly.

"How is it? This senior's beauty? Pretty, right?"

Resting her chin on her hand, she looked smug.

Indeed, now that her face had returned, Elisa's appearance naturally drew attention.

"That's true."

'It just stands out because I'm next to her.'

But even so, next to Elena, her looks paled in comparison.

Elena was the very definition of captivating charm.

"By the way, why did you suddenly return to normal?"

Just yesterday, she looked like a walking horror. Now she had regained her living appearance.

To Elena's question, Elisa shrugged.

"Unfortunately, I'm not exactly back to normal."

"Huh?"

"Watch."

Elisa bowed her head.

Thud.

Her head fell to the floor.

"Kyahhhh?!"

A female student beneath her caught it and screamed reflexively.

"Oh my, if you react like that, it's a little embarrassing."

Elisa's body approached, picked up the head, and placed it back on her neck.

"It just falls off sometimes."

"That's… not great for the heart."

Elena commented calmly, and the students muttered to themselves.

'She didn't even flinch…'

As the magic department started their morning in chaos—

Rumble—

The dormitory door opened, and someone entered.

"Morning."

Carl walked in with a tired face.

Elisa's eyes narrowed sharply.

"Everyone, prepare your magic! It's the traitor who consorted with a summoning department girl!"

"Oh, you must be the Elisa-sunbae Professor Harrid mentioned. Unfortunately, I've never even had a girlfriend."

"…"

Elisa narrowed her eyes and said, "Call summoning magic a load of crap."

"Summoning magic is a load of crap."

"Hold your fire! He's one of us!"

Elisa said jokingly.

Carl let out a weak laugh, staggered to the lounge sofa, and slumped down.

"You look like hell."

At Abad's remark, Carl, buried deep in the couch, replied, "I'm warning you."

"Hm?"

"Whatever you do… don't go to the punishment room."

bl

'What am I supposed to do to solve this?'

After breakfast, as she returned to her room to prepare for class, Chloe was deep in thought.

She neither won nor lost.

'Leo said just winning would be enough…'

But that's what was odd.

Leo had said the opponent was no pushover.

But the opponent had been terribly weak.

And winning didn't seem to be the solution.

'Something's off.'

She hadn't gone back last night.

She just didn't think she'd be able to solve it then.

Wearing a serious expression, Chloe opened the door to her room.

Click—

"…?"

Her eyes widened.

On the table inside her room.

A chessboard had been set up.

And on the opposite side, a black silhouette sat upright.

Once it noticed Chloe enter, it raised a hand—

Clack!

The game had begun.

"Now?"

Chloe was flustered.

The problem had come to her and was challenging her to chess.

As Chloe stared, stunned, the black silhouette sat silently.

It didn't rush her.

It simply waited patiently for her to sit and make her move.

'…This feels a little different.'

Chloe wore a confused expression.

Until yesterday, it felt like she was dealing with a stubborn child.

Now, it was very calm.

Still dazed, Chloe sat down.

Given the opponent's skill, this would likely be over quickly.

Clack.

Chloe made her move.

The silhouette responded in turn.

Clack clack.

Only the sound of pieces moving echoed through Chloe's room.

After a short while—

Chloe looked at her opponent in surprise.

'…Strong.'