Editor : Amethyst00



The nine magic students, excluding Lysinas, were wary of Chen Xia.

Looking at them, Chen Xia wore a relaxed expression.

"What's with that face? I can't find a hint of tension. Does she really think she can take all of us on by herself?"

Elrig, a third-year student from the Department of Magic, narrowed his brow. Abad shook his head.

"No way. She's probably just figured out our position and plans to retreat. Looks like she's here to scout."

"True. But if it's a scouting mission, wouldn't Eliana Raden be more suitable? She's the fastest among the Knights' Department."

To Elrig's remark, Chelsea, arms crossed, replied.

"You really think that idiot could handle a complex task like scouting?"

"What's so hard about scouting?"

"It's hard for that idiot."

Chelsea answered mercilessly.

As a few others nodded in agreement—

"You seem more relaxed than me, don't you think?"

Chen Xia smiled as she spoke, and Elrig responded.

"If you'd snuck in, that's one thing—but now that you've been spotted, retreating won't be easy, right?"

Elrig drew his staff and pointed it at Chen Xia.

"No matter how concealing this terrain may be!"

RUMMBLE—!

Trees around Chen Xia surged toward her as if they had wills of their own.

"Wow, impressive. Elrig, you really shine in the forest."

Chen Xia exclaimed in admiration.

Elrig Tuna.

A master of plant magic, his power was especially potent in the forest.

Though his combat ability plummeted outside such an environment, within the forest, he was one of the top five strongest third-years in the Department of Magic.

Chen Xia stepped lightly, performing an aura step.

Like flowing water.

Dodging the roots rushing to entangle her, she tried to escape Elrig's range.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Elrig summoned more magic.

Even more roots burst from the ground.

In that moment—

FLASH—!

CRACKLE!

WHOOSH!

As Chen Xia flicked her wrist, sharp flying daggers shot toward Elrig.

"Ugh?!"

Startled, Elrig stumbled back and fell onto his butt.

An ice wall had suddenly formed before him.

Chen Xia narrowed her eyes.

'Not Chelsea… was it Chloe?'

She had expected her attack to be blocked.

But the one person capable of reacting that swiftly should've been Chelsea, a master of rapid chanting.

Even Chelsea, who had reacted quickly, stared in surprise at Lysinas, who had been even faster.

From earlier, Lysinas had been watching Chen Xia closely.

And the moment their eyes met—

Chen Xia felt chills all over her body.

Without hesitation, she vanished into the shadowy underbrush.

'That child has sharp instincts.'

Lysinas smiled and began walking.

"Chloe, where are you going alone?"

One classmate grabbed her shoulder with a puzzled look.

At that moment—

CRACKLE—

"Gah?!"

He recoiled in shock.

As soon as he touched Chloe, a tremendous chill had engulfed him.

Right then—

Chelsea's expression changed drastically.

CLACK—! SWISH—!

Chelsea's staff was at Lysinas's throat.

Abad had also summoned his staff and aimed it at Chloe's back.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Who are you?"

"I've thought something was off since this morning."

Chelsea asked sharply, and Abad nodded knowingly.

Their reactions changed the mood among the magic students.

Seeing this, Lysinas asked curiously, "How do you all get so sharp?"

"You try surviving under Leo-oppa for a while. You'll get quick real fast."

Creeeeep—

"Chelsea! Get back!"

"…!"

Abad shouted urgently, and Chelsea flinched, leaping away from Lysinas.

Before they noticed, black shadows had swallowed their feet.

"What is this?!"

Now outside the shadow's range, Chelsea gasped and looked at Lysinas.

Abad's face hardened.

"A disguise?"

At his words, Lysinas smiled and extended her hand.

CRACKLE! SNAP—!

Lysinas crushed the frost growing in her palm and dropped it to the ground.

CLINK! CRACK! CRUNCH! CRACKLE!

The ice pieces grew larger and began forming a shape.

Soon, an ice doll identical to Chloe appeared.

It was Chloe's specialty—Ice Clone.

"Take care of it."

At Lysinas's words, the ice clone nodded.

Lysinas turned and began pursuing Chen Xia.

"Where do you think—!"

Just as Elrig was about to cast magic—

"Ice World."

CRACKCRACKCRACKCRACK—!

The moment the ice clone cast her chant, a brutal cold wave erupted.

Startled, Abad used a barrier spell to deflect the cold wind.

After the blizzard subsided, the barrier that protected the nine students vanished.

All of them gaped at the transformed, icy forest.

"What the hell?! Since when could Chloe cast something this powerful?!"

"No way! That's clearly an imposter pretending to be Chloe!"

The magic students raised their guard against the clone.

After all, no one knew Chloe's magic better than her classmates.

They all acknowledged her power, but this was far beyond anything they'd seen.

It merely looked like Chloe and used similar spells.

But the entity before them was completely different from Chloe Mueller.

"Stop pretending and show yourself!"

Chelsea shouted while aiming her staff.

The ice clone covered her mouth and burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

Abad asked, and the clone wiped away the tears from laughing.

Tiny ice crystals scattered.

"Sorry, sorry. Kids haven't changed, then or now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You're right—I'm not Chloe. But this power is hers."

Lysinas smiled.

"That doesn't even make sense…"

"You just don't know."

She looked at each student one by one.

"You have no idea how much potential you have. How strong you could become if you used your power properly."

WHOOOOOSH—!

A chilling wind began to swirl around Lysinas.

Abad's expression darkened.

"What are you scheming?"

"Scheming, huh."

The clone smiled.

"Leo Plov."

"Leo?"

"That guy. I'm going to kill him."

"Our leader's a busy man. You'll have a hard time meeting him."

Lysinas laughed.

"In that case, let's see how hard you struggle."

WHOOOOOSH—

Fighting spirit exploded from Lysinas.

The magic students flinched at the pressure.

'…This presence.'

Abad clenched his fist.

For a moment, someone's image overlapped.

'Leo…?'

"I'm really looking forward to this."

A massive number of magic circles appeared around the ice clone.

"Don't disappoint me."

bl

Lysinas, chasing Chen Xia, summoned another ice clone.

That clone headed toward the nine students of the Knights' Department.

Seeing Lysinas appear alone before them, the knight students looked slightly confused.

Even the mighty Duran looked stunned.

"Hello."

The smiling clone greeted them.

Eliana snorted.

"You dare come alone to us?! And not even Chelsea—but Chloe?! In the name of the Knights' Department, I'll defeat you! Let's goooo!"

Just as Eliana rushed forward with her sword drawn, Celia grabbed her.

"Idiot! If you charge recklessly, you'll be taken down! You think Chloe came here unprepared?!"

"Ah! It's a trap! Just as expected! Trying to fool me like that!"

Eliana jumped in shock, and Celia pressed her temple.

Then she stepped forward.

"You're going out?"

Duran asked. Celia brushed back her hair.

"I'll figure out what this is. Given our affinities, I'm the most suited for this."

Celia, who wielded flame aura, had the advantage over Chloe.

Also, she often took the lead in situations like this among third-year knight students.

Eliana was fast, but lacked firepower.

Chen Xia, too, wasn't suited for direct overpowering roles.

Even Duran, who used aura at near-mage levels, was slightly less destructive than Celia.

Duran excelled in speed and impact—he typically handled agile missions.

'Whatever the plan is, it won't work.'

As Celia stepped forward, the ice clone's eyes sparkled.

'She's supposed to be Kyle's cousin, right?'

Just from her posture.

And those crimson eyes radiated uprightness.

'…These Lumene kids are so fascinating.'

They were, in a way, Kyle's successors.

Yet, they each showed so many different traits.

The creativity and uniqueness of the magic students carried Luna's spirit.

The unwavering courage of the knights echoed Dweno and Aaron.

And in their never-give-up eyes—traces of Kyle could be seen.

'She's kind of like me. Is that Kyle's influence?'

Tilting her head with a curious expression, Lysinas mused.

"You have time to be daydreaming?"

FWOOSH—

Flames engulfed Lysinas.

She raised her staff to block.

"What?"

CLANG—! FWOOSH! CRACKLE—!

Sword and staff clashed, fire and ice exploding around them, obscuring vision.

CLANK—! CLANG—!

"What the—?"

Celia looked shocked as she clashed with Lysinas.

Lysinas deflected Celia's sword and dove into her guard.

Spreading her palm, she struck Celia's chest.

SPLASH—! FWOOSH—!

"Guh?!"

Celia jumped back in alarm.

If she had activated her aura armor a second later, she would've frozen solid.

"What's with that technique? Did you learn it from Xia?"

"Huh?"

"You fight just like her!"

"Oh."

Lysinas's clone smiled.

'If that girl is a descendant of Bihar, maybe she is similar to me.'

The foundation of Velkia's sword and magic was Aaron and Luna.

Leo had taught her to fight using what he learned from them.

Similarly, Bihar's techniques, as a Shadow, came from Lysinas.

'Or rather—from the power of the Black Dragon.'

The abilities of the Black Dragons, guardians of the shadows.

Bihar had made those her own.

"You're observant. But…"

Lysinas tilted her head.

"Aren't you the one daydreaming during a fight?"

"What?"

CRACKLE—!

"Urgh?!"

Celia's body froze.

Lysinas looked at her with cold eyes.

"You're disappointing. To be taken down so easily, unfocused."

STEP— STEP—

Lysinas approached Celia.

She had gone down far too easily for someone of her strength.

As Celia clenched her lips, Lysinas said coolly:

"Is there something more important than fighting me right now?"

At those words, Celia lowered her head deeply.

Then spoke.

"Chloe."

"What?"

"You're not… involved with Abad, right?"

"…What?"

"You've always maintained a clear line—friend and department rival. But this morning… something was weird."

"You have feelings for Abad?"

"What feelings?! He's the heir to the Lewellin family!"

Watching Celia shout, Lysinas was flustered inside.

'Oh my, look at her.'

It was obvious she had feelings but was denying it.

Her blushing, awkward reaction was adorable.

And it reminded Lysinas of someone else.

A dear comrade and friend.

'Luna.'

Since they had liked the same person, Lysinas couldn't cheer for Luna then.

'So innocent.'

She felt a sudden warmth.

'Such a nice age.'

Smiling to herself, Lysinas decided to tease Celia a little.

"Then…"

"…?"

"Can I try seducing him?"

"…."

Celia's eyes trembled.

Normally she would've sensed something off, but today, her tangled emotions blinded her.

WHOOOOOSH—

The ice began to melt rapidly.

"Do as you want."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Celia's mouth twisted bitterly.

"I… don't care. You two suit each other. A lot."

Spitting her words like venom, Celia watched Lysinas smile.

"Thanks."

WHOOSH—!

"Don't thank me!"

FWOOSH—!

Flames engulfed Lysinas.

"Haa… Haa…"

As Celia gasped, freed from the ice—

FWOOSH—!

Phoenix fire flared into a single flame.

And it lit in Lysinas's palm.

Celia's face hardened.

"You… who are you?"

Lysinas smiled.

"It's a secret."

The fire in her hand took the shape of a phoenix—and rushed toward Celia.

CRASH—! BOOM—!

"Guh?!"

"Celia?!"

"What's going on?!"

As the knight students panicked—

Duran raised his sword to strike.

But before that, Lysinas's finger tapped his forehead.

TAP—!

FLASH! CRACK—!

A burst of light sent Duran flying.

Lysinas calmly stepped into the midst of the knights.

"Ready yourselves. You'll need to give it your all."

WHRRR—!

A small sphere of light floated above Lysinas's finger.

Eliana flinched.

"This is gonna hurt."

"Light-element magic! Everyone dodge!"

At that shout, the light particles burst like buckshot and engulfed the knights.

In a flash, Lysinas's ice clone swept them all away.

Celia and Duran barely stood, breathing heavily.

Eliana, who had hidden behind a rock just in time, peeked out—

WHOOOOOSH—

A fearsome aura radiated from Lysinas's body.

Eliana's face twisted.

"What the heck is this class rep version of Chloe?!"