Editor : Amethyst00



Regardless of the time or place, students always relish their freedom once the pressure of exams is lifted—no matter the outcome.

The week after exams.

The third-year students' first class was Combat Studies.

In the slightly more relaxed atmosphere, Celia, as always composed and focused, brushed her hair back.

Then she checked the day's lesson.

"Today's the mock battle, right?"

At her words, Nella, who was carefully polishing her equipment with a cloth, nodded.

"Yeah."

"Typical professors. The way they scheduled a mock battle right after midterms to snap the loosened mood back into focus—it's genius."

Celia let out a chuckle.

And today's mock battle was especially meaningful.

Why? Because it was meant to be as intense as an actual battle, with everyone going all out.

Of course, Lumene's mock battles were always practically real fights. Sometimes students would get seriously hurt, or even risk their lives.

Still, the reason Celia was looking forward to today's mock battle was simple.

A full-power mock battle wasn't just about skill alone.

It was about one's equipment.

In other words, a match that wrung out every possible advantage from what each student had at their disposal.

Since gear could influence the outcome just as much as skill, the results might differ significantly from usual.

That's why the students of the Knight Department were unusually busy polishing their weapons.

Nella set her cloth aside and smiled.

"This worked out perfectly. I just had my morning star upgraded."

As she spoke, she gave her weapon a few swings in place—whoosh, whoosh.

The nearby students flinched at the sound.

"What's different from the old one?"

a male student asked with a puzzled face.

Celia answered for her.

"Just by the sound of it… it seems heavier?"

"Exactly. With this, it'll be easier to crush an enemy's head."

Nella said this with a slightly shy smile.

Known as the most beautiful girl in the third year, her smile exuded an air of elegance.

Of course, that impression evaporated the moment one saw the brutal weapon in her hand.

"By the way…"

Celia frowned.

"If he were around, he'd be here early, oozing that unnecessary bloodlust. But he's not."

"That guy? Oh, Duran?"

Nella tilted her head after nodding.

"Come to think of it, Eliana's not here either."

Eliana wasn't the type to come early to regular classes, but she usually arrived early for active ones like mock battles.

Just then, Abad passed by the group of Knight Department students.

A chorus of admiration broke out among the girls.

"He looks even better today."

"Duran's nice, but I still prefer Abad. He's got that soft look."

"Totally."

"Ever since we became third-years, I've barely talked to Abad."

"Hmph, I was in the same party as him once."

"Ugh! I'm so jealous!"

Abad, one of the third-year's most handsome students, had recently started shedding his boyish looks for a more mature image. His growing charm brought more and more admirers.

"Hmph. Pathetic."

Celia scoffed.

"What good is complimenting the enemy's looks? And what's so great about that greasy butterball anyway?"

"You've been cold to Abad lately. Things seemed good between you two not long ago."

When Nella gave her a curious look, Celia scowled.

"There was no such thing."

"Sure, sure. If you say so."

Nella chuckled quietly behind her hand.

"Anyway, weird how that little mouse isn't clinging to Abad today."

Not seeing Chelsea, who usually stuck to Abad like glue, Celia looked puzzled.

"Maybe she's coming with Leo?"

"Could be."

Celia nodded thoughtfully.

Then—

The entrance to the arena suddenly grew noisy.

"Huh? Duran and Eliana came together?"

Nella tilted her head in confusion.

Then her eyes widened.

Even Celia, who had been disinterested, looked surprised when she spotted the pair.

Duran and Eliana had brought a greatsword and light armor, respectively.

And neither item looked ordinary.

When Duran plopped down carelessly near the Knight students and set down his sword, the male students swarmed around him.

"Hey, Duran, what's that?!"

"What tier is that weapon?"

The greatsword radiated a faint blue glow.

Duran's usual sword, Lightning Storm, the royal heirloom of the Moira Kingdom, was impressive enough—but this was on another level.

To their questions, Duran answered bluntly.

"Shut up."

And then he closed his eyes.

His unfriendliness was nothing new, but it stung a bit more today.

Naturally, everyone's attention shifted to Eliana.

She was already surrounded by a crowd of Knight Department girls.

"Eliana, what's that armor?"

"Where'd you get it?"

"Wow, it's gorgeous!"

"What's the rank?"

Gasps and admiration filled the air.

Used to attention, Eliana grinned smugly.

"This? It's Divine-grade!"

"What?!"

"Duran's greatsword is Divine-grade too! They used to belong to Lord Aaron!"

Everyone was stunned.

"Oh! From the reward for defeating the Giant King!"

"Hmph."

Eliana swept back her hair dramatically.

"Woooooow!"

"That's amazing!"

"Let me touch it, just once!"

"Nope. You'll smudge it."

She hugged the light armor tightly to her chest.

At that moment—

FWOOOSH!

With a fluttering sound from the wing-shaped ornaments on her shoes, Chelsea came flying through the sky at incredible speed.

Though she floated through the air as if on a stroll, the velocity was no joke.

THUD!

Landing in the center of the Magic Department area, she was immediately surrounded by fellow students.

"Whoa!"

"Chelsea, what is that?!"

"Wait, is that made by Lord Dweno too?"

"Yep!"

Chelsea hopped up and down.

With each bounce, a gust of wind burst out.

The students marveled.

'They're not just for fast movement, huh.'

Soon, Carl and Eliza also arrived, showing off their new Dweno-forged gear—further electrifying the arena.

"Sorry, brother, but I'm taking first place in today's mock battle."

Chelsea smirked meaningfully.

Abad smiled back.

"I won't go down easy."

From a distance, Celia snorted.

"There's always one. Someone who's usually timid, but suddenly acts all confident when they get good gear."

Though she murmured softly, Chelsea, ever sensitive to the wind, heard it.

She whipped her head around to glare at Celia.

Celia met her glare unflinchingly.

'What?'

But something was off.

Normally, Chelsea would have rushed in, eyes blazing.

But this time, she just looked at Celia with pity.

That annoyed Celia even more.

"What are you looking at?"

she snapped as Chelsea slowly walked over.

Chelsea lifted her foot and said, "You don't have something like this, do you?"

"…"

A simple taunt—but highly effective.

"Ahh, the envy of the have-nots."

"You little—!"

"I used to think jealousy was ugly, but now I just find it sad."

"Who's jealous? Who are you calling pathetic?!"

"You."

As Celia lunged, Chelsea darted away.

"Come back here!"

"Catch me if you can."

Chelsea stuck out her tongue and dashed off.

WHUMP—!

"Ugh?!"

She didn't watch where she was going and crashed into someone.

Startled, Chelsea realized she hadn't sensed them at all.

Despite her speed, the person absorbed the impact effortlessly.

When she looked up, she saw Chen Xia smiling warmly.

"It's dangerous to run without looking."

"Chen Xia! Grab that brat for me!"

As Celia charged with a snarl, someone grabbed her under the armpits and lifted her.

"Why are you two fighting again?"

"Leo, put me down! Not in this humiliating position!"

Kicking mid-air, Celia shrieked.

Leo chuckled and set her down, but Celia immediately jumped at him.

"Leo! Why'd you take Chelsea on the last mission instead of me?!"

Leo answered calmly despite her furious glare.

"Because Chelsea was better suited for it."

"I could've done just as well!"

"Sure, sure."

Leo pulled out a lollipop and shoved it into her yelling mouth.

CRACK!

"Don't treat me like a kid!"

Celia bit down and shattered it.

Leo patted her head, then turned to Chen Xia, who still held onto Chelsea.

Smiling, Chen Xia walked over.

"Why tease her?"

"Ow!"

Leo flicked Chelsea's forehead, making her wince.

"But she started it! Celia provoked me first!"

Leo replied, "There'll be more chances. Besides, you know better than anyone—good gear doesn't guarantee victory."

"Ugh."

Celia flinched, then nodded.

"Sorry. I got carried away."

Chen Xia, watching, said gently,

"Okay, now shake hands and make up."

"We're not kids!"

"Yeah! Don't treat us like that!"

The two girls snapped in unison.

As they returned to their spots, Leo chuckled dryly.

"Sometimes I feel like a babysitter."

"Heh. But it's nice—you all look your age."

Chen Xia walked off with a gentle smile.

Leo, watching her go, thought to himself, 'You're the same age too.'

bl

Before class.

A huge commotion broke out thanks to Dweno's World Raiders.

While students gazed in envy at the raiders, the Combat Studies professors appeared at the arena.

"As announced, today's class is a mock battle," Albi said dully while checking the list.

"Let's begin."

"Aren't you going to assign matchups?"

Chloe raised her hand.

"No need," Albi replied. "When your name is called, step onto the platform."

He motioned toward the wide arena.

"Eliana Raden."

"Hah! I'm first!"

Eliana puffed out her chest and tapped her armor proudly.

With a confident smile, she hopped onto the platform.

She waited eagerly for her opponent to be named.

But Albi, now seated lazily, said nothing and simply stared at the platform.

Eliana looked confused.

"Professor Albi? Who's my opponent?"

Instead, Leo answered.

"Look ahead."

"What?"

All eyes turned to the center of the arena.

Eliana froze, and gasps echoed across the arena.

Rustle—

There sat a beautiful woman, reading a book.

"This has to be a joke…"

Eliana laughed nervously.

Thud—

Lysinas closed her book.

"You're Eliana Raden? Give it your all."

"Please spare me."

"Nope."

Eliana looked about to cry, then slapped her own cheeks and steeled herself.

"Okay! Let's test my limits! I'll push past them!"

"My, what a lovely attitude."

Lysinas clapped and smiled.

Then—

WOOOOOOOOOM—!

A massive surge of mana erupted.

Leo muttered, "She's not holding back."

RUMBLE—!

The whole arena trembled.

Eliana's head tilted back in awe.

By the time her neck began to hurt, she unknowingly dropped her weapon.

Thud—

Then she collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

In her true form as a black dragon, Lysinas flapped her wings.

FWOOOOOSH—!

A gale sent Eliana flying like a leaf.

Watching, Celia muttered, "Isn't she unconscious?"

"Looks fake. But even if she is unconscious, Lysinas won't go easy."

"What?"

"She might stomp her flat anyway."

Sure enough, Lysinas soared toward Eliana, intending to crush her.

"KYAAAAAA?!"

Eliana, who had been faking it, screamed and rolled away just in time.

Lysinas, in dragon form, laughed regally.

["Show me your potential, fledglings."]

CHOMP—!

She opened her jaws.

FLASH! KRA-KOOM—!

A breath attack blazed toward Eliana.

"SOMEONE HELP MEEEEE!"

Eliana's scream rang through the arena.

As the students swallowed nervously, Leo spoke.

"Today…"

All eyes turned to him.

Smiling gently under the intense gazes, Leo said,

"You might as well assume you're going to die."