Editor : Amethyst00



Ding-dong-ding-dong—

The chime rang out.

Its clear and cheerful tone echoed throughout the classroom, signaling the end of the exam.

"All right, that's it."

The professor, who had been standing at the front with arms crossed, rose from his seat.

At the same time, countless spirits flew in, collecting the students' test papers.

"It's over!"

"Waaahhh!"

The students stretched as they stood up or leaned their heads back, releasing the mixed feelings of relief and regret.

It was the written exam for a general education subject.

And this was the final exam for the third-years.

With this test, the first semester's course schedule at Lumene was officially concluded.

There were still classes until next week, but they were all self-study sessions.

Professors with a laid-back attitude didn't mind even if students didn't show up, and even the strict ones didn't care if they chatted or messed around—as long as they stayed in class.

After that, on the last day of next week, the closing ceremony would take place—and with it, students would be released from the shackles of classes.

So, many students were already feeling the thrill of freedom.

Watching the delighted students, Professor Yura of the Summoning Department—who had been in charge of this exam—burst out laughing.

"You brats. That happy, huh?"

"Yes!"

"Seeing you all so happy makes me happy, too."

Standing right at the front, Tade tilted his head anxiously at her words.

"Why?"

As a student in the Summoning Department, Tade's homeroom professor was Yura.

And so, more than anyone, Tade knew she wasn't the type to sincerely share in the joy of her students.

To his question, Yura smiled brightly.

"Because I can already picture the look on your faces when the summer homework gets handed out next week."

At those words, the once-cheerful classroom was instantly wrapped in a chilly silence.

"Fufu. Everyone, look forward to it. Our professors are working hard to prepare your homework. Ohohohohohoho!"

Yura took the answer sheets and left the classroom.

"Seriously! Why can't the professors stand to see us happy?!"

"As if this is anything new."

Despair-filled grumbles rose from here and there.

Chen Xia laughed as she looked at her classmates.

"But tomorrow's the weekend, right? Exams are over, so let's start having fun today."

Hearing her words, Tade spoke up.

"If only we could go out to Lumeria City starting today."

Normally, unless there were special circumstances, students couldn't go to Lumeria City on school days.

The shuttle that runs between Lumene and Lumeria only operated on weekends.

Seeing the students sigh with regret, Leo spoke.

"I'll talk to the student council."

At those words, every student in the room turned toward Leo.

"So you can go out to Lumeria City starting today."

"Ooooooh!"

"That's our student council president!"

"Leo! Leo! Leo!"

His classmates began chanting Leo's name.

Students from the next classroom over, curious about the commotion, peeked their heads out.

After hearing what Leo said, they too began praising him.

Watching them, Chen Xia smiled warmly.

"Master Leo will become a great king."

"That's out of nowhere."

"Isn't he showing benevolence like a good ruler would?"

Leo let out a helpless chuckle.

bl

The news that Leo, in his authority as student council president, had granted permission to go out starting today spread across the entire school in an instant.

Even the professors, upon hearing that the approval had come from Leo, didn't particularly interfere.

At the Lumene dock, students of all departments and grades crowded together.

Everyone was busy chattering away while waiting for the scheduled ferry.

The students who had finished their exams were, quite literally, brimming with energy.

Of course, things like the upcoming summer homework or the soon-to-be-announced grades—

Those despair-inducing events still remained, but such future matters were of no importance now.

"What's important is the present!"

Juen, a second-year from the Department of Magic, crossed her arms and her eyes sparkled.

"So, where should we go first?"

Shasha snapped her fan shut with a tak- and asked eagerly.

Since the semester had officially ended, the sense of academic rivalry between departments also ended today.

Of course, once the second semester started, they'd be competitors again—but at least for today, friendship came first.

"I've found a place to stay."

Aina spoke with her usual expressionless face, and Juen gave a thumbs-up.

"Aina! What's gotten into you, sounding so enthusiastic!"

"Luke, come with me. Just the two of us."

"…Was that supposed to mean a date?"

"It's not a date."

Aina tilted her head, and Luke scratched his cheek awkwardly.

Watching the two of them, Shasha had a puzzled expression.

"Have you two gotten closer since becoming second-years?"

"We train together every day."

They might sleep in different rooms, but they spent nearly every day in the same spaces.

Because of that, Luke and Aina seemed to have grown even more tightly bonded.

Watching how inseparable the two were, Shasha whispered to Juen.

"Juen, do you get frustrated watching those two too?"

"Yeah, me too."

They were both far too pure-hearted.

That's why, even though their feelings toward each other were obvious, things never developed into romance.

"It's frustrating just watching them."

"Right? They should just go out already."

"But if someone pushes them too hard from the side, it might backfire and ruin everything."

"Mm. It's delicate."

As Juen and Shasha put their heads together, worrying over their friends' ambiguous relationship—

"You two, when are you finally going to start dating? It's frustrating, just go out already."

Haviden, wearing a face full of annoyance, spoke bluntly.

"We're not dating."

"Hahaha. We're not like that, Haviden."

Aina cut him off firmly, and Luke laughed awkwardly while scratching his head.

Juen and Shasha immediately kicked Haviden in the back.

"How could you say that right in front of them, you oblivious fool?!"

"You brainless knight department oaf!"

"What did I do?!"

As the second-year elites bickered like that, first-years who had been watching from a distance flinched.

"Those three are still competing even after exams ended."

"Is this… not a time to be joking around and playing?"

The first-years looked around cautiously.

In reality, the second-years had done the most to mentor them.

Because of that, the first-years were heavily influenced by the second-years.

So seeing the top students of the second year snarling at each other, they began to wonder if they shouldn't be goofing off after all.

At that moment—

The third-years walked past them.

Though they shared the same dormitory building, first-years rarely had interactions with third-years in their daily lives.

Their activity schedules differed just slightly, and first-years were often too intimidated to casually approach the seniors who seemed so high above them.

They had exchanged words during joint classes and become somewhat familiar, but it was still daunting to act close.

Besides, many of the third-years were already gaining recognition on a global level.

Especially since, during the entrance ceremony, some of them had looked down on Carl—considered the weakest—only to be completely crushed.

Because of that, the third-years were an even more difficult presence for the first-years to approach.

The Golden Generation.

To the first-years, the third-years were like stars in the sky.

And right now, walking right in front of them was one of the top among those stars.

Eliza Hergin, infamous for her terrifying presence from the Department of Summoning.

Once, she had trained some of her first-year party members so intensely that they foamed at the mouth.

Because of that, among the first-years, Eliza was practically a figure of fear.

The first-years flinched and instinctively lowered their gaze.

Her younger sister, Freyna, grinned proudly as she watched Eliza's commanding presence.

At that moment, Chelsea, who had been walking behind Eliza, smirked mischievously and spoke.

"Eliza."

"What is it?"

"There goes your boyfriend."

"…?"

Eliza followed Chelsea's gaze.

There, walking along by himself, was Carl.

Snap!

Eliza yanked tight on the whip she was holding, and Chelsea took off running immediately.

"You get back here, you damn brat!"

Eliza roared and chased after Chelsea, her aura downright ferocious.

The first-years trembled at the sight.

"…We really shouldn't be trying to hang out with students from other departments."

As the first-years muttered this to themselves and slowly drifted apart by department—

"Chelsea! Eliza! What do you think you're doing at the dock! Aren't you ashamed, doing this in front of your juniors?!"

It was Lyl, speaking firmly as she subdued the two.

Lyl was a member of the Student Council's disciplinary committee.

She was also a fourth-year representative who was rarely seen, and her sudden appearance caused the first-years' eyes to go wide.

"Lyl. Sure, it's good that you subdued them, but… Did you really have to grab their necks like that?"

Niel, head of the disciplinary committee, sighed as she spoke.

"Hm? But this is the most efficient method of subjugation, isn't it?"

Lyl tilted her head as if it were the most obvious thing in the world—while holding Chelsea and Eliza by the neck with her delicate hand.

"It looks pretty savage, so maybe let go? The first-years are terrified."

Indeed, Chelsea and Eliza were dangling like caught game, helpless in Lyl's grip.

Once Lyl finally released them, they gasped and clutched their necks, trying to catch their breath.

"What in the world happened?"

"Chelsea Lewellin was teasing me first!"

Eliza protested.

"Even so! You broke the rules by running at the dock!"

Lyl snapped sternly.

The first-years assumed they were being scolded because they had caused a scene at the dock.

"Running at the dock is a violation of school rules! No matter how angry you are, walk!"

"…"

'Wait, that was the problem? Running?'

Not far off, there had been students practically strangling each other, but Lyl and the rest of the disciplinary committee didn't seem to care.

At that moment, Niel and the rest of the committee climbed up to the high platform at the dock.

Taking out a megaphone from her coat, Niel began to speak.

"Ahem. Everyone, great job finishing your exams. Thanks to the student council president's orders, you're allowed to visit Lumeria City starting today. However, don't forget to uphold the dignity of a Lumene student."

Niel narrowed her eyes.

"Don't do anything to disgrace the name of the school. Especially you fourth- and fifth-years. If you get caught engaging in shady romantic behavior just because you think you're grown now, you'll regret it—"

But before Niel could finish, boos erupted from the fifth-years.

"Boo—! You're the one dating a graduating senior and telling us not to?!"

"You used to fight with Senior Marcel all the time, then you suddenly got all lovey-dovey after he graduating!"

"Come on, just tell us—how far did you two go?!"

Niel gave a calm smile as she heard the teasing from her peers, then handed the megaphone to Celia.

"Lady Celia, if you would please."

Then, with sword drawn, she charged.

"Hey! Drawing a weapon in public is against the rules!"

"Shut it! The disciplinary committee is exempt!"

"You're abusing your authority! We're reporting this to the student council president!"

"Go ahead!"

The sound of Niel's furious voice and the screams of fifth-years echoed across the dock.

As the first-years stared, mouths agape, Celia took the megaphone and spoke.

"The disciplinary committee is on duty, so please remain cautious. That is all."

Just then, the scheduled ferry arrived.

Even amid the chaos, Niel continued to swing her sword at the fifth-years, and the first-years remained frozen in place.

While the other grades rushed to board the ferry, the first-years didn't budge an inch.

It wasn't until the dock had nearly emptied—

"Hm? What are you all doing?"

Leo arrived at the dock and looked at the first-years with a puzzled expression.

"Aren't you going to Lumeria City?"

Chen Xia, standing beside him, tilted her head and asked, and class representative Freyna replied.

"We thought it might be better to move by department, so we planned to leave separately."

"Who said that? Your seniors?"

Chen Xia furrowed her brow.

"No, it just seemed better that way…"

"And so you're not leaving?"

Looking baffled, Chen Xia blinked, and another first-year cautiously spoke up.

"We were also reviewing the school rules."

"Don't worry about things like that—just go have fun."

Leo said with a smile, but the first-years all looked like they were about to cry.

"If we break the rules, we don't think Senior Niel or Senior Lyl will forgive us…"

"They're really that strict?"

"No, not exactly…"

"Then what happened?"

In response to Leo's question, the first-years explained what had happened earlier.

Seeing how easily the first-years were intimidated, Leo gave a short laugh.

"They're still not used to the school yet."

"Seems like it."

To be scared by something like that.

Looking at the innocent first-years, Chen Xia smiled gently.

"As long as you don't cross the line, the disciplinary committee won't crack down hard. So don't be so scared. You can play freely with friends from other departments, too."

Hearing that, the first-years slowly began to relax.

Watching them, Leo offered some advice.

"To survive in Lumene, you've got to get used to scenes like that. You'll need to learn how to cleverly bend the rules or find loopholes."

"…That's quite a lesson you're giving them."

"It's the truth. Everyone lives like that here."

"Well, true. As long as you don't actually cross the line, it's fine."

With their words, the first-years felt themselves finally relax.

At that moment, one first-year raised a hand.

"Then… What happens if someone does cross the line?"

With innocent curiosity in their voice, Leo smiled and replied.

"You will die."

"…Excuse me?"

"You will die."

"……"

At that reply, the first-years silently made a vow.

Never cross the line.