Editor : Amethyst00



Boom! Crash! KABOOM!

"Hey, isn't that where the third-years are taking their combat class?"

"They're really going at it today."

The fifth-year students, who were in the middle of their Hero Studies class, muttered indifferently at the sounds of battle echoing from outside.

It was clearly noise pollution, but if you couldn't focus through something like this, you wouldn't survive at Lumene.

On the verge of graduation, the fifth-years listened to the lesson calmly. Even if a meteor suddenly fell from the sky, they likely wouldn't bat an eye.

"Anyone want to answer this question?"

At that moment, Mel smiled and asked the fifth-years a question.

Their faces immediately tensed.

These were students who had survived everything from war on land and sea to aerial battles in their five years at Lumene—but this was no ordinary instructor. She was none other than the Dragon Queen.

She might vehemently deny the title herself, but everyone knew the truth.

That's why Mel's classes were one of the few that made even the fifth-years nervous.

At that moment, Runeba raised his hand.

"Yes, Runeba."

"Professor, can't you call on the student who's sleeping?"

"If they're tired, they're allowed to sleep."

Mel smiled sweetly, unfazed.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the window seat at the back.

There lay Elena Zeron, Queen of Lumene, snoozing peacefully with her head down on the desk.

Any other professor would've scolded her on the spot, but Mel didn't.

"Still, to be dozing off so casually during a Dragon Queen's class…"

Niel, who sat next to her, shook his head.

"Well, since you've raised your hand, Runeba, go ahead and answer."

"Yes."

Runeba nodded and began.

"The first to be recruited into Lord Lysinas's party was the Hero of Beginnings, Lord Kyle…"

BOOM!

Just then, a shockwave powerful enough to shake the entire classroom erupted.

'The third-years are really going wild today,' Runeba thought as he glanced outside.

Then his jaw dropped.

"Runeba?"

Mel tilted her head at the sudden pause.

All eyes turned to him.

Noticing his frozen stare out the window, everyone turned to look as well.

And just like Runeba, they all froze.

FWOOOOOOOM!

Through the dust cloud rising from the training grounds, a black dragon soared into the sky and unleashed a breath attack toward the ground.

KRA-KA-BOOM!

The shockwave reached the classroom, rattling the windows.

CRACK.

Even as the glass cracked, the fifth-years remained motionless.

Yes, they were shocked by the sudden appearance of a black dragon in the middle of Lumene—but more than that, their brains had simply shut down after instinctively realizing who that dragon was.

"What's with the noise?"

Elena, awakened by the ruckus, sat up groggily.

As she looked around sleepily, she realized her classmates were all staring outside.

"What's going on out th—"

Elena turned her head toward the window—and froze.

She rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

But the majestic black dragon didn't vanish.

"What the… Is this… a dream?"

She tried to lie back down in denial.

Mel smiled brightly and said, "That will be your assignment soon too."

The fifth-years turned pale.

Elena, face down on her desk again, pulled at her hair.

"That damn guy…! There's a limit, you know!"

bl

'Why are my ears itching all of a sudden? Is someone talking about me?'

Leo furrowed his brow and looked toward the training grounds.

"WAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"

Eliana came sprinting across the grounds, screaming at the top of her lungs.

Most of the third-years had already gathered near the arena, watching intently from behind the protective barrier.

"GO ELIANA! SHE'S RIGHT BEHIND YOU!"

"Dodge! Dodge!"

"BREATH ATTACK!"

ZAP! BOOM!

As Eliana swerved left, a laser breath attack swept past her previous path.

"Saved…! If it weren't for the class rep's hell training, I'd be toast…"

She trembled, remembering the grueling special training in Dweno's world.

After enduring relentless attacks from the overwhelming dragon, Eliana was completely exhausted.

'I can't… move… My whole body hurts…'

Even a grazing blow from Lysinas's attacks brought excruciating pain.

As her face twisted in agony…

"Hang in there! You got this! This is the critical moment!"

"Stay focused!"

"You can do more!"

"Don't give up!"

"Get it together!"

"We believe in you!"

"Do your best!"

Cheers erupted from her classmates.

"E-Everyone…"

Moved to tears, Eliana shakily stood.

Across all departments, her peers were screaming themselves hoarse in support.

She'd always been friendly and made friends everywhere.

'This is what friendship is about…'

Her heart swelled.

Despite the impossibility of the fight, everyone was cheering her on in unity.

'That's right! I won't give up!'

Using her sword like a cane, she forced her trembling body up.

'Even Lady Luna said it… Lord Kyle never gave up!'

"OOOOOOH!"

The third-years roared with excitement.

"Hang in there longer so we don't have to go next!"

"We'll never forget your sacrifice!"

"Our grade's fastest! Eliana Raden, let's go!"

"Wait… You're only cheering so your turn comes later?! You jerks…! Guh!"

Lysinas's tail swung like a whip and sent her flying.

"Oh dear."

Watching this, Leo clicked his tongue sympathetically.

He scratched his ear again.

"My ear keeps itching. Who's cursing me?"

"Who would dare do that?"

Chen Xia sat down beside him with a slightly sharp tone.

Leo stared at her.

"You look pretty annoyed with me right now."

"Me? Not at all. How could I possibly harbor such disrespectful feelings toward you, Young Master Leo?"

Her voice was unusually curt and pointed.

Leo clicked his tongue again.

"You've got it all wrong. This mock battle wasn't my idea."

Still, Chen Xia didn't drop her suspicious gaze.

"You don't believe me?"

"I'd believe anything—except that. You always look like you're thinking up new ways to torment students."

"Anyone listening would think I live to torture you all. And it's all for your own good, you know."

She snorted in disbelief.

Leo was just wondering how to clear things up when…

"Leo, don't you think this time you went too far? A one-on-one against Lady Lysinas?"

Chelsea walked over, looking like she was about to cry.

Leo sighed.

"I told you, it wasn't my idea."

"Liar."

Chelsea pouted.

'Was I really that bad to them before?' Leo reflected on his past.

Yeah, he had made them go through some tough stuff. No wonder they didn't trust him.

But this time, he was innocent.

"I swear, it's not me."

"…If you say so."

"Sure, sure."

"Are you all going through puberty? Why so rebellious?"

Leo grabbed Chelsea and Chen Xia's cheeks and pinched them.

"Hey, Leo."

"Here to complain too?"

"Nope."

Actually, Carl had come to complain, but after seeing Chelsea and Xia get punished, he quickly changed his mind.

"Just had a question."

"What is it?"

"Are the remaining students done after class?"

"You think that's likely? I heard today's just one long combat class."

"Ugh."

"Gonna cry?"

"I'm just… so moved I get to fight Lady Lysinas…"

Carl held back tears of joy.

Seeing this, Leo sighed and let go of the girls' cheeks.

"Yeah, I agree, it's a bit much."

"If it's too much, then don't do it."

Chelsea snapped. Leo put her in a headlock and gave her a noogie.

"I told you, it wasn't my idea."

"Ow! OW!"

After the punishment, Leo let her go and said:

"Just think of it as a simple test."

"A test?"

He looked at Eliana on the training ground.

"You just need to show your potential to the Wise Queen."

Then he turned his gaze toward the beautiful black dragon.

"You've met Aaron, Luna, and Dweno, right?"

"Yeah."

Carl nodded. Leo continued.

"Lysinas is a bit different from them."

"Well… she's a different race, so of course."

"That's not what I mean."

Leo gave a bitter smile as he looked at Lysinas.

"Those three gave their all to save the world, but they didn't carry the world itself."

"What do you mean?"

"It means no one dared challenge the impossible until Lysinas showed them hope."

In the age of calamity, saying "Let's save the world" got you laughed at.

Lysinas was the one who dared think it.

"She was the one who persuaded and led the great heroes to salvation. Our leader."

"Ah…"

"As someone who once carried the world. Who led the chosen heroes to save it."

Leo looked at Lysinas and added:

"She wants to see your potential—those who must follow the same path. And she wants to feel reassured. So give it your all, no matter how hard it gets."

The three clenched their fists.

It was heavy.

A weight only they, who knew Leo's true identity, could feel.

"W-What if we disappoint Lady Lysinas?"

Carl's voice trembled.

The mock battle carried far more meaning than he'd thought.

Chelsea and Xia looked equally uneasy.

It was clear Lysinas wouldn't stay long in the present world.

The fear of disappointing the Wise Queen pressed down on them.

Seeing this, Leo smiled.

"Don't worry. Lysinas would never be disappointed in you."

He smiled gently.

"You're still young. She knows you have limitless potential."

"As expected from Lady Lysinas…!"

"So merciful…"

Chelsea and Xia looked relieved.

But Carl remained anxious.

Leo's smile was terrifying.

"But she'll be disappointed in me."

Leo's smile vanished.

"She'll tear into me for not training you properly."

For a moment, a dark aura flickered around him.

"So if anyone fails to satisfy Lysinas, I'll be personally overseeing your training."

He gave a sharp grin.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

With that, Leo headed to the training ground to get a closer look at Eliana.

Left behind, Carl muttered, "He really is the Demon King."

To which Chelsea whimpered, "Then what do we even call Lysinas, if she bosses around the Demon King?"

Chen Xia sighed deeply.

"Probably… the Great Demon God?"

Looking at the two terrifying heroes—so cruel yet so brilliant—they couldn't help but long for Luna, Aaron, and Dweno:

Geniuses who crushed them with talent but still praised their efforts.

Strict, yet kind-hearted.

They missed those three dearly.