Editor : Amethyst00



Students who had spent the weekend celebrating were now faced with the return of classes the following week.

Only after attending this final week of classes would they truly be free to enjoy their summer break.

Still, most of these final sessions were self-directed study, so the atmosphere was relaxed.

Third-year Magic Department practical training field.

"So, what are you doing this summer break?"

"I'm heading to my family's villa. Wanna come along?"

"Ooh? Where is it?"

"Southern coast of the continent."

"That's a major resort spot!"

Excited chatter about vacation plans filled the air.

"I'm just going to stay home and rest."

"Didn't you say your family's territory is a rural one?"

"Yeah. I'll probably help with the farming in the village."

"Oh-ho. Volunteer work, huh… A true future hero."

Both noble and commoner students were planning their breaks in their own ways.

Some nobles invited commoner classmates to their estates, while some nobles also showed interest in their commoner friends' everyday lives.

A mingling of students, free from social barriers.

Creating an environment where students could view the world from different perspectives had long been a tradition at Lumene.

But amid all the cheerful vacation talk, there were two things no one dared to bring up:

Grades and homework.

Thus, the students willfully ignored the looming realities and indulged in escapism.

"By the way, did you hear about Senior Elena this morning?"

"Huh? What about her?"

"Some second-years said she went out to Lumeria City."

"Now that I think about it, she didn't really get a break even after exams, right?"

"Yeah. Student Council was supposed to be busy all week, but she apparently finished all the paperwork by herself."

"Wow… She really is competent."

The third-years clicked their tongues in amazement.

"When we enrolled, she was the farthest thing from a model student."

"She was infamous—basically feared like a wild beast."

"Sometimes I still can't get used to the first-years smiling and greeting her like it's nothing."

Among the upperclassmen, the one with the most dramatic image transformation was undoubtedly Elena.

A former tyrant of Lumene who ignored even fourth- and fifth-year students—and the professors—and did whatever she pleased.

While her skills were unmatched, the label of a "honor student" had never fit her.

But at some point, she changed.

Now she was diligent, reliable, and respected.

Sure, she still had her eccentricities and loved teasing her juniors, but compared to the past, she might as well be an angel.

"But I heard she went with Leo?"

"With Leo? Wait… Are they dating?!"

While the Magic Department students chattered about Elena and Leo—

—a group of students appeared in the distance.

"Hmm? Aren't those Knight Department students?"

"Yeah, what are they doing here?"

Just as the Magic Department students were puzzling over this,

The knights reached the training field and lined up.

In perfect formation, just like you'd expect from the Knight Department.

"Duran! What brings you here?"

One of the magic students called out to the leader.

Duran replied calmly, "Professor Ain said today's class will be held here."

"Huh? Here?"

As confused murmurs spread among the magic students—

"Is everyone gathered, my young warriors?!"

From above, Professor Len descended from the sky.

As always, Assistant Professor Anna was beside him, rubbing her temples.

Len stood proudly in front of the Magic Department students, clenching a fist.

"Rejoice, my students! Today! I have created an opportunity to crush those muscle-brained brutes from the Knight Department!"

"Professor Len, please refrain from disparaging students from other departments."

"That's not disparagement—it's a fair and accurate assessment!"

Len's eyes gleamed as he declared it with conviction.

The Knight students reacted with bored, knowing expressions.

By now, they were used to Professor Len's rants.

After all, Professor Ain often mocked the Magic Department as a bunch of fragile weaklings too.

While all this chaos unfolded, Anna gripped her staff with a pained expression—already bracing herself to restrain Len if he went too far.

Just then, Professor Ain entered the field.

"Looks like everyone's here."

Seeing Aine, Len flashed a sharp grin and stepped forward.

"Ha-ha! Senior Ain! I commend your bravery for accepting my challenge without fleeing!"

"No need to worry. As the stronger party, I always welcome a challenge from the weak."

Ain answered without backing down.

Watching their professors bicker, Assistant Professors Anna and Claria exchanged glances—mutual sympathy in their eyes.

At that moment, Eliana raised her hand.

"Professors, did you bet something on this?"

At her question, Len pressed a hand to his forehead dramatically.

"Well, well, look who it is. Eliana, the girl who betrayed the Magic Department and sold her brain to the Knights in exchange for muscle!"

Len sneered.

A year ago, such a jab might've rattled Eliana. But now, she was a seasoned Lumene veteran.

"So? What's the wager?"

"The quarterly research budget."

Silence fell.

Each professor at Lumene received a hefty research fund each quarter.

And Len just staked it on… this?

Not only Eliana, but all the students' eyes widened with gleaming curiosity.

"W-Wait a second! Professor! Did you just say quarterly research funds?!"

Anna looked visibly flustered.

"Professor Ain?"

Claria's sharp gaze locked onto Ain, her expression suggesting she hadn't heard anything about this either.

But neither Professor Len nor Professor Ain were the type to flinch at the accusations of their assistants.

"Fuhuhu. Don't worry, Assistant Professor Anna. I'll double it and bring it back."

"Hey! You lunatic!"

"Research funds fall under my discretionary use. Is there a problem?"

"……"

Anna grabbed Len by the collar while Claria pressed her fingers to her temples, slowly and with intent.

"OOOOH! So if we win, do we get something out of this too?!"

"I'll consider throwing a party."

"OOOOOOOH!"

"What's the event?"

The students were fired up now, eyes blazing with anticipation.

"Bastera."

One of the staple sports played during Lumene's combat classes—Bastera.

Len, arms crossed, declared, "Then I'll announce the participating students. First up, Carl Thomas."

Carl wasn't the strongest in combat, but his keen tactical mind and quick decision-making could elevate the entire team's performance.

However—

Despite the call, no reply came.

"Carl Thomas? Is Carl not here?"

Len's eye twitched.

Then a male student raised his hand cautiously.

"Professor Len, Carl didn't come to class today."

"Hah! To skip such a sacred class as this one?!"

Len's eyes gleamed with fury.

"Hmph. Can't be helped. Abad, step forward."

"Yes, sir."

Abad stepped forward silently.

"Next, Chelsea. You're his friend, but my goodness, the difference between her and Carl is night and day."

Len shook his head with disapproval as he called the next name.

Still—no reply.

"Chelsea?"

"Professor, I think Chelsea skipped today too."

"……"

Len's face hardened like stone.

"Fine! Chloe! My most diligent and exemplary student! Surely Chloe is—"

"Professor! Chloe didn't show up either!"

"……"

At the flustered student's words, Len began to tremble.

His face twitched. His body shook.

Meanwhile, the Knight Department students stood at attention, their so-called "Monster Trio"—Chen Xia, Celia, and Duran—all present and accounted for.

Seeing that, the Magic Department students all shared the same thought:

'Ah. We're doomed.'

bl

"Hey! We're not getting away with just a slap on the wrist for this!"

"Ugh, shut up. You break school rules like breathing, and now you're whining like it's your first time?"

Chelsea said indifferently, watching Carl scratch his head.

"That's different! I usually only bend the small rules! I don't go around causing major incidents like this!"

At Carl's words, Chelsea scoffed.

"Whatever. Your motto's always been, 'Pay me enough and I'll get it done.'"

Carl gave a dry laugh. She wasn't wrong.

Right now, Chelsea, Chloe, and Carl were on the waters of Lake Lumeria.

To be precise, they were aboard a merchant's supply vessel that ran goods between Lumene and Lumeria City.

Student ferries didn't run on weekdays.

But Carl—ever the smooth talker—had long ago secured a discreet route in and out through connections with a distribution merchant.

Of course, if they got caught, Carl had agreed to take full responsibility.

He hadn't expected to actually use this route before graduation, but the reason he had no choice this time was simple:

Chelsea and Chloe had badgered him into it.

Last night, Carl had let slip that Leo and Elena were leaving for Lumeria City early the next morning.

And just like that, the two girls pushed him into setting up a stealth trip to follow them.

To make matters worse—or safer, depending on how you looked at it—all three of them were wearing alchemy-made artifacts from Dweno that masked their presence.

'They should be enough to dampen Leo's senses under normal conditions.'

They were crafted with Dweno's recipes, after all—quality guaranteed.

"But still," Carl muttered, "they're not leaving for the island today. Why go this far?"

"We don't know where the island is, do we? If we follow them today, we might figure out the destination."

It was a solid argument, and Carl sighed in defeat.

He glanced toward Chloe.

She looked as calm as ever, but her eyes were tired—hollow, even.

It was clear the idea of Leo going on a trip alone with Elena was eating away at her.

"Carl."

"What."

"…It's just a casual trip, right?"

"Should be."

"Yeah. Leo's not the kind of guy to fool around… right? And anyway, we haven't even had our coming-of-age ceremonies yet."

"……"

"Or am I wrong? I mean, he's still a teenager… or… wait, no, maybe not?"

Watching Chloe sink into confusion, Carl ruffled his hair.

'He's technically our age… but he's not really.'

Leo was an adult, no matter how you looked at it.

Chelsea, who had been listening silently, pouted slightly.

Even she, knowing Leo's true nature, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

It hadn't been that long since what happened with Lysinas and Luna.

'Losing them must've hurt Leo too.'

If someone like Elena came along at a time like this—beautiful, dangerous, charming?

'You never know with matters of the heart…'

Even as a fellow girl, Chelsea had to admit it: Elena was stunning.

And more than that—deadly.

A naturally seductive presence. A magnetic charm that could break any man's will and pull him in.

That was Elena.

And she wasn't ignorant—Elena knew Leo's true identity. And most importantly—

She liked him.

She hadn't said it openly, but Chelsea had seen Elena flirt with Leo without hesitation more than once.

Normally, Leo just brushed her off or treated her like a kid, so it didn't seem like a big deal.

But a private trip to a remote island? Just the two of them?

Yeah. That was worrisome.

And Elena was about to graduate, too.

She wouldn't be a student much longer.

'…I wonder if Leo will ever see me as a woman once I'm older?'

The thought made Chelsea fold her arms and fall deep into thought.

With tangled feelings of their own, the three finally arrived at Lumeria City.