Editor : Amethyst00



Clack, clack—

"A backwater place with no warp gate in this day and age?"

Rune looked out the window of the carriage with an expression of mild wonder.

Leo glanced at her and replied,

"Sorry for being the backwater."

"Hm?"

Rune blinked at him in surprise.

Leo continued.

"This is my hometown."

"What?"

"Well—my hometown after reincarnation."

"It's got that warm countryside charm."

"Didn't you just look thoroughly disgusted a moment ago?"

"Not at all."

Rune feigned innocence, and Leo chuckled.

'I wonder… Did my parents in this world ever marry?'

He found his thoughts drifting toward the version of his mother and father in this worldline.

'Was I even born here?'

He wasn't sure, but the questions lingered in his mind.

Before long, the carriage arrived at the main estate of the Plov family.

As it came to a halt, a group of knights—clearly ceremonial—lined up in formation.

Just like with other academies, the student council president of Seiren held an international status nearly equal to royalty.

A formal visit from someone like Rune naturally warranted a reception of this scale.

A knight opened the carriage door from the outside.

As Rune began to rise, Leo stood up first.

"I'll go out first."

"Huh?"

Leo stepped out of the carriage before her.

The moment a human emerged from the student council president's carriage, all eyes turned.

"A human?"

"Who's that?"

"A servant of Rune Orweny?"

"Shouldn't she use an elf as a servant? Why a human?"

Voices whispered in confusion.

Leo calmly swept his gaze across the murmuring crowd.

He recognized their faces.

'Central nobles of Delad.'

The major nobles of Delad—though only major within the context of this rural kingdom.

In a global sense, they were nothing more than prideful aristocrats from a distant frontier.

Their presence at the Plov estate had a simple reason.

With the appearance of the black flame pillar, the Lordren Empire, Lumene, and Seiren had dispatched people.

For nobles from a backwater nation, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet such figures.

They came to make connections in the most noble-like way possible—by crowding in for favour.

Even the knights lined up weren't from the Plov family—they were the Royal Knights of Delad.

'This has turned into a national-level event.'

Leo clicked his tongue lightly.

As murmurs spread among the crowd, someone stepped forward.

'Oh?'

The boy was a familiar face from Leo's past.

From early childhood until his enrollment in Lumene, they had both attended Delad's Royal Academy.

He proudly declared himself a magical prodigy, though Leo had always thought otherwise.

'Well, for a country like Delad, he was "genius enough," I guess.'

They hadn't seen each other since Leo's admission to Lumene. Not that Leo missed him.

They weren't friends, and the boy—Gulliver—had always looked down on Leo for not practicing aura.

'I heard he tried to retake the entrance exam several times and failed every time.'

That future didn't seem to have changed in this world either.

Still, Leo found his appearance a little useful.

"And you are?"

Gulliver stared at Leo suspiciously.

'So that confirms it. There was no "Leo Plov" born in this worldline.'

He'd wondered if another Leo Plov—bearing Kyle's soul—had been born in this world. But if so, he would've recognized him instantly.

'I wonder how Father and Mother lived. Did they have a different child?'

Leo muttered with a slight frown, "You could say… I'm serving as her guide."

"…Are you a Lumene student?"

"Just a wandering adventurer."

"Hmph. I thought you might be someone important, stepping out of the same carriage as her. But just a lowly adventurer, huh."

'Wow. He hasn't changed at all.'

Leo stared at Gulliver with amusement.

Even having shared a carriage with the president of Seiren, Gulliver didn't hesitate to speak down to him.

'Well… Delad does love its aristocratic pecking orders.'

This country was infamously hierarchical, clinging to outdated ideas of nobility and tradition.

'Father always hated that about this place.'

His father—Dade Plov—had been a noble with an open mind.

Warm-hearted, considerate of those around him.

'No wonder Mother fell for him.'

Honestly, only someone like Dade could've handled a woman like Reina.

Leo reached back and held his hand toward the carriage.

From inside, Rune stared at him, jaw slack.

'Wait a minute. Did he get off first just to… escort me?'

Her face twisted in shock.

Leo frowned at her reaction.

'What's with that "did-I-just-witness-a-miracle" face?'

Just then—

Tap! Gulliver shoved Leo aside and reached his hand toward the carriage.

"Oh noble and radiant star of the night sky—Rune Orweny, president of Seiren. I am Gulliver Tratten, Delad's foremost magical genius. It is an honor of escorting you."

Rune stared at his outstretched hand, then her expression darkened instantly.

Before Gulliver could react—

SLAM!

The carriage window burst open and Rune shouted:

"Lunia! Lunia!"

"Yes! Senior Rune!"

From the carriage trailing behind, Lunia jumped out and rushed over.

"Get rid of this creep. He's gross."

Rune pointed at Gulliver without hesitation. Lunia's expression turned icy.

"Yes, ma'am. You, get lost."

"W-Wait! I'm here as the official representative of the Kingdom of Delad to escort Rune Orwe—"

"Aaang?! Rune-sunbae said she doesn't like you! Why aren't you leaving?! Want me to burn all your hair off?!"

"L-Lunia, please calm down! Your true nature's coming out!"

"Hey! You weren't like this before! What are you, a gangster now?!"

"No! Who the hell does he think he is, trying to escort Rune-sunbae when she clearly said no?!"

From the same carriage, Eiran and Carl scrambled toward Lunia, each clinging to an arm to stop her from going on a rampage.

"Eep?!"

Crushed by Lunia's sheer presence, Gulliver backed away—then bolted from the scene like a man fleeing death.

"Hmph! Acting all high and mighty when he's nothing special."

Rune scoffed as she watched him flee.

Leo crossed his arms, watching her.

"You know that was probably a diplomatic incident, right?"

"He started it. He insulted you—my guest. Anyway, guys like him only respect authority, so just crush them with more authority."

Rune's sharp growl made Leo shake his head and begin walking—until,

Yank—!

Rune grabbed the scruff of his neck.

Her reach was so far that her hip caught the edge of the carriage window. If she slipped, she'd probably fall right through.

"What?" Leo grimaced.

Rune smirked.

"Aren't you forgetting something?"

"Nope."

Rune pouted.

Grumbling, Leo straightened his clothes and extended a hand into the carriage.

Rune's eyes sparkled.

"Where's the line?"

"Get down here, you damn pointy-eared nuisance."

Rune stuck out her lips in a pout.

Sighing, Leo corrected himself.

"Please disembark, my lady."

Rune smiled brilliantly.

Chin held high, she took his hand with elegant grace and stepped lightly down from the carriage.

Just moments ago, the nobles of Delad had frozen at her almost barbaric behavior. Now, they involuntarily gasped.

Too beautiful.

Like a goddess descending in the age of gods.

The wild demeanor from before was nowhere to be seen.

As Rune's feet touched the ground, it was as if time began flowing again.

"My god… Senior Rune … She's stunning," Eiran murmured, hands clasped in admiration.

"I don't think I've seen her smile like that since second year," Lunia added with misty eyes.

"Whoa… that smile's no joke. Damn, my heart. This is heart attack material," Carl muttered, patting his chest in disbelief.

Meanwhile, Leo—who had brought out that smile—let go of Rune's hand and walked ahead.

He approached one of the knights standing by.

"Where is the Marquess of Plov?"

It was a knight Leo recognized from his past life.

Startled, the knight answered hastily.

"H-He's in his office. Due to the earthquake and the black flame pillar, the territory has suffered great damage… His duties have been extremely demanding."

"Understood."

Leo nodded and stepped into the mansion.

"Ah! Wait for me!"

Rune rushed to his side and, smiling sweetly, looped her arm through his.

"People will start rumors."

"Let them. Actually, I hope a proper scandal breaks out~"

She snuggled into his arm with a lazy grin.

That was when the nobles of Delad scrambled forward.

"R-Rune Orweny! We've prepared a welcoming party. Would you—?"

"Welcoming party? I haven't even greeted the lord of the house yet. What kind of joke is that? Do you know why I came here? And you're throwing a party? Are you kidding me?"

"Eep?!"

Rune's face twisted into something that could've frozen fire itself, utterly different from the gentle smile she'd shown Leo.

The nobles shrank back in terror.

Scoffing at them, Rune looked back up at Leo with another radiant smile.

Lunia, Eiran, and Carl trailed after them into the mansion.

"Um… Leo."

Carl spoke hesitantly.

"You and the Seiren student council president… You seem really close, huh?"

"We're best friends."

Leo replied simply and pushed Rune's face away as she clung to him.

She tried to bite his hand.

"We're not just best friends."

Biting him once for emphasis, Rune flashed a grin.

Then hugged his arm tighter.

"We're in love!"

"Eh?"

"W-What…?!"

Lunia and Eiran's eyes widened.

"It's one-sided."

"You'll fall for me too. You won't be able to help it."

Rune scoffed, confident.

The three friends stared blankly at the pair as they walked ahead.

Lunia and Eiran were stunned.

Carl stroked his chin.

"Did Leo save a kingdom or something?"

No.

He saved the world.

Walking a few steps ahead, Leo muttered under his breath,

"Weren't you supposed to wait until I fell for you before saying anything?"

"That was back when I was Luna."

Rune grinned.

"Now I'm Rune Orweny."

"Conveniently flexible, aren't you."

Leo shook his head.

And then—

"Oh my, is that the Seiren student council president?"

A familiar voice echoed from down the hall.

Click, clack—

"It's been a while."

"Yes, it has. And this handsome young man beside you—is he your boyfriend? You two look very cozy."

A beautiful woman beamed as she approached.

Leo silently stared at her.

Rune let go of his arm and extended a hand for a handshake.

The woman stepped up to Leo and offered her hand.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Reina Zerdinger. I've been dispatched as the Lordren Empire's representative for this investigation."

Leo muttered bitterly.

"Didn't get married because of your personality, huh."

Reina smiled sweetly and turned to Rune.

"Student council president, would you mind if I killed this little brat?"