Editor : Amethyst00



Thud—

"Checkmate."

Chloe's knight targeted the opponent's king.

The opponent had no more moves left.

Chloe's victory.

"Phew."

The unexpectedly intense match made Chloe exhale deeply without realizing it.

'You've gotten unbelievably strong.'

She had gone in with a lighthearted attitude and almost lost.

She never imagined her opponent would become this formidable. Chloe checked the time.

'First period must've already started.'

Since entering school, Chloe had never once been late to class, let alone skipped—unless it was for a special mission or field training.

Just then—

Tap—!

The opponent, who had been staring at the chessboard, tipped over their king.

It was a sign of acknowledging defeat.

Chloe wore a puzzled expression, not sure what to do.

The last two nights, the opponent had immediately started the next game.

The first night, when Chloe kept winning, the opponent had flipped the board out of frustration. On the second night, Chloe deliberately lost, but the opponent got angry and flipped the board again.

'Are we starting the next game right away again?'

But contrary to Chloe's expectation, the opponent neatly arranged the chess pieces, stood up, slightly lifted their skirt, and then—swish—vanished into the floor.

"Huh?"

Chloe looked bewildered at how the opponent left without protest.

"Does that mean no reward again?"

'Maybe I really should have a serious talk with Leo.'

The moment Chloe thought that—

Swish—

A dark silhouette rose from the floor and peeked its face out.

It placed a small box on the floor.

Next to the box was an old book bound in black leather.

"Is this… the reward?"

At Chloe's question, the silhouette nodded, then disappeared back into the floor.

Chloe opened the box.

Inside was a single golden card.

"Is this the reward Leo mentioned?"

She examined the golden card curiously.

Then her gaze fell on the old black book.

Just looking at it gave Chloe an uneasy feeling.

During her first year as a freshman, she had once gotten possessed after picking up a demonic tome during the midterm.

Remembering that incident, Chloe naturally felt wary of the suspicious book.

But as she inspected it closely, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Dragon leather?"

The book's cover was made from dragon hide.

Carefully, Chloe lifted the book and opened it.

Rustle—

The slightly yellowed, faded pages were completely blank.

"What is this book?"

Rustle, rustle—

At first glance, it seemed extraordinary, but there was no writing inside.

Chloe, a bit flustered, placed the book on her desk.

"I should go to class first."

As an honor student, even though she was late, Chloe made up her mind to attend class.

bl

That evening.

There was a small celebration at the Magic Department dormitory.

"Chloe! A perfect 100!"

"You're the top MVP!"

"And our department is crushing the competition now!"

Thanks to Chloe acquiring the golden card, the Magic Department took the lead in the competition.

After curfew, battles outside the dorms awarded 1 point per person defeated.

Bonus stamps given to excellent students were worth 10 points.

While the departments had been neck and neck, Chloe's solving of the first major problem had given the Magic Department a huge advantage.

"Chloe! What are you going to wish for from Leo?"

A fellow female student from the Magic Department asked with sparkling eyes, and Chloe scratched her cheek with an awkward smile.

"Well… I haven't really thought about it."

"Ask him out on a date! A date!"

"Come on, you could do that anytime!"

As the third-year girls burst into laughter—

Thud—!

"Kyaaa!?"

Elisa's head fell onto the table with a thud.

Roll— Her head rolled, and from the upside-down position, her eyes glared wide.

"Who was it? Who dared say the word 'date' just now?"

"Heeeek!"

The chilling atmosphere that no one could ever get used to made the girls scream.

Watching from afar, Abad murmured, "It's always chaotic where Elisa-sunbae is."

"Just look at her—of course it's chaotic. You know how many times I got scared stiff by that Summoning Department senior?"

Carl shook his head, and Abad chuckled.

"So? Where's the problem located?"

"No idea what you're talking about."

Carl smirked.

Abad gave him a knowing smile.

"Each problem's worth 100 points. Everyone's going to get more aggressive about exploring."

"Probably."

"Wouldn't it be better to team up with me than with someone from the Summoning Department like Eliza?"

"I said I don't know what you're talking about."

"Heh heh."

"You sound so greasy when you laugh like that."

"What?! Who're you calling greasy?!"

"Gah! Gah!"

Next to them, Chelsea choked Carl by the neck.

"Hmph."

Just then, Elena rested her chin in her hand.

"100 points, huh."

Watching Chloe, who was now miles ahead in MVP rankings, Elena tilted her head slightly.

Carl, still being choked, saw that and looked uneasy.

"Elena-sunbae."

"Yeah?"

"You're having dangerous thoughts, aren't you?"

"Oh my, you make me sound like a threat."

"Right? I'm just imagining things, right?"

"Should I storm the Knight Department dorm, or maybe the Summoning Department dorm?"

"You are having dangerous thoughts. And you can't just go fighting people like that."

Carl sounded exasperated, and Elena smiled sweetly.

"The dorm entrance… I wonder if I could just force it open."

If it were Elena, she would definitely do such a thing.

Carl clicked his tongue.

"Let's all keep up the momentum until midterms! And if any of you have questions, your awesome sunbae will teach you!"

Feeling good now that the Magic Department was leading, Elisa encouraged her fellow students.

After the mini-party ended around curfew time, Chloe returned to her room.

There, she opened the door and was surprised to find a dark silhouette sitting at the table.

The chessboard was set, and the silhouette waited for her.

"Uh… weren't we done with the puzzles?"

In response, the silhouette tapped the chessboard with a finger.

It was as if it wanted to continue playing chess.

Chloe smiled and sat across the table.

"You enjoy playing with me, don't you?"

The silhouette nodded.

Indeed, the match they had that morning was enjoyable for Chloe too.

Even though her skills still overwhelmingly outclassed her opponent, they were still very strong.

"Alright then."

Chloe decided to enjoy the game.

Her opponent moved a piece.

Their private match began.

bl

"John-sunbae!"

"You're going to give us fencing lessons again today, right?!"

"Of course."

"Kyaa~!"

"You're so cool!"

After class.

Female students from the Knight Department gathered around John for swordsmanship guidance.

It had been a week since the former student council presidents—now spirits—began freely moving about the dorms.

Students were growing used to their presence.

And in that time, the spirits—who initially appeared like vengeful ghosts—had regained their former, lifelike appearances.

John, who originally lacked a body, now had a perfect form.

Redin no longer walked around missing his lower half, and Elisa's head no longer rolled around.

With the girls swooning, John took off his helmet.

Then tilted his head back and tapped the spot between his eyes with a finger.

Niel, watching nearby, asked, "Are you crying?"

"Sniff… To think there'd come a day when I'd be this popular with the ladies. I'm glad I lived."

"…You're already dead."

Niel looked at him with pity as he basked in his newfound popularity.

Nowadays, student council presidents were naturally adored, but school life must have been bleak back in his day.

As she watched her ancient senior, Niel noticed Celia.

"Lady Celia? You don't look well."

John reacted intensely.

"What's wrong, my junior?! Did those vile Magic or Summoning Department scoundrels trouble you?!"

"Lady Celia is more the type to do the troubling than to be troubled."

"Niel, that's not really a compliment."

"Is something wrong?"

Niel, noticing not only Celia's expression but her voice was off, asked in concern.

She had served Celia since childhood and knew her moods well.

At the question, Celia sighed.

"She's been missing since last night. And today… she skipped every class."

"Chloe did? Is she sick?"

Niel was visibly shocked.

Chloe was renowned as the top student across all departments and grades.

The idea of her skipping class was unthinkable.

"I told Leo about it."

Celia sighed again.

Since an interdepartmental competition was ongoing, only Leo could be approached about someone from another department like Chloe.

Watching the worried Celia, Niel tried to reassure her.

"Don't worry too much. I'm sure it's nothing serious."

"You're right, aren't you?"

bl

Click—

Chloe moved her chess piece in her room.

She now held the white pieces.

In chess, white moves first and holds the advantage.

Usually, when there's a skill gap, the weaker player takes white.

But since two days ago, Chloe had started taking white.

Her opponent had grown astonishingly strong—beyond belief.

Even after Chloe lost several games, the opponent only got stronger.

'Amazing.'

She never imagined someone could have such overwhelming skill. All she could do was admire it.

At some point, Chloe began enjoying their chess matches.

Naturally, she started chatting too.

Two days ago, she got the feeling the opponent was listening to her.

Of course, there was never any verbal reply.

But when the silhouette subtly nodded at her stories, Chloe found herself opening up.

Click—

Chloe moved a piece and began talking.

"So… that's how Leo and I got trapped in the snowstorm."

The silhouette nodded.

"We were looking for shelter… and luckily, we found a cave. There was a hot spring inside…"

Click—

Another move.

The opponent lifted their king.

"I must've been crazy… I actually asked him if he wanted to bathe together."

Clatter—

"Huh?"

The black silhouette suddenly dropped the king.

The piece rolled pathetically across the floor.

Startled, Chloe looked up at her opponent.

Then she noticed something strange.

'Come to think of it… they've been getting clearer, haven't they?'

Maybe she hadn't realized because she saw them every day, but the black silhouette was now visibly more defined than when they first met.

Just as Chloe was realizing that—

"Hmph?"

"Huh?"

"Mixed bathing, huh? How lucky. That damn bastard…"

The silhouette muttered with venom.

Chloe's jaw dropped.

"You… you can talk?!"

"Chloe."

The black silhouette rested its chin on one hand and smiled seductively.

Chloe had a strange feeling.

"Would you do me a favour?"

Ssshhh—

The pitch blackness covering the silhouette faded away.

Revealed beneath it was a beauty so radiant it made Chloe forget to breathe.

She knew this person.

There was no way she couldn't.

One of the five most famous people in the world.

The most noble, the most revered.

The one who brought salvation to the world.

"Ly… Lysinas?"

As Chloe murmured blankly, Lysinas smiled faintly.

"You know… could I borrow your body for a bit?"