Editor : Amethyst00



"It's vacation!"

"Finally, we're free!"

With the closing ceremony behind them, the dormitories erupted with cheers from the returning students.

Some, caught up in the mood, even hurled their textbooks high into the air in celebration.

As a few first and second years tossed their books up, drunk on freedom—

"Books are not for throwing."

Crackle—

At the sound of the icy voice, the festive mood froze solid.

Everyone turned slowly.

There, as always with a book cradled in her arms, stood Chloe.

A soft smile graced her lips, but her aura was cold as a northern wind.

"Pick them up."

"Y-yes, ma'am!"

"Hey! That one's mine!"

The underclassmen scrambled to grab their textbooks in a panic.

Watching the scene from the side, Celia spoke.

"Chloe, you have to join the disciplinary committee next semester."

"I'll consider it."

"Anyway, what were you thinking, sneaking off to Lumeria City during class?"

"Well… that's…"

"I could understand those two, but you?"

"'Those two'? Those two?!"

Chelsea glared at her, while Carl just shrugged, unfazed.

Chloe averted her gaze guiltily.

There was no way she could admit that the reason she'd tailed Leo and the vice president right after vacation began was to find out which island they'd slipped off to.

'And I didn't even find out where they went…'

Chloe sighed softly.

"Celia, do you know where Leo's spending his break?"

"He said he's going to some uninhabited island off the coast of the Arhi Kingdom during the first week. Didn't tell me exactly where, though."

"…Wait, Leo told you that?"

Chelsea immediately jumped in, wide-eyed.

"Yeah. Why?"

Chelsea and Chloe both gave hollow stares.

The three of them who had trailed Leo had been caught by Professor Harrid, forced to do school service work and write reflection papers as punishment.

"What the hell was all that for…?"

Carl let out a bitter smile—

Clack, clack, clack…

"How pathetic. Getting dragged to the punishment room right before break."

"Oh! It's been a whole week! Good to see you!"

Carl grinned at Eliza as she approached him.

"Hmph. It's only been a week."

Eliza snorted and turned her head dramatically, prompting Carl to say,

"Why? I missed you."

"…Huh?"

Eliza gave him a narrow-eyed look.

"Why?"

"After being tormented daily by Professor Harrid, I actually started missing your sharp tongue."

"Hooh?"

"It was a joke! Please don't kill me."

As Eliza grabbed him by the collar, Carl raised both hands in surrender.

Eliza snorted again and let him go.

Carl reached into his inner coat pocket.

"I got my hands on something nice. You're the first person I wanted to tell."

"Something nice?"

"A saddle. Made from dragon leather."

"…How did you even get that?"

Eliza's eyes widened.

Anything related to dragons was exceedingly rare. Even with money, such an item wasn't easy to find.

"I'm resourceful, you know?"

Carl gave a smug shrug.

"Even Professor Yura came to the punishment room to try and get me to sell it. Practically begged."

Yura had even tried to bribe him—if he handed it over, she'd get him out of punishment early using her professor privileges.

Of course, she'd also threatened to keep him there until second semester if he didn't.

'In the end, Professor Harrid dragged her out.'

Carl recalled Yura's pale face as she screamed it was a misunderstanding. With a hint of pity, he looked at Eliza.

"What's with that look?"

"I was just thinking… sucks to have Professor Yura as your advisor."

Eliza scowled.

"And you? Your advisor is Professor Len."

"…No comment."

Yura hadn't been the only one who visited him.

Professor Len had thrown a tantrum, accusing Carl of making him lose a bet, and shouted that Carl shouldn't expect to leave the punishment room ever.

Naturally, Len got dragged off by Harrid, too.

'Is our school really okay?'

Carl sighed, then said, "Anyway, I wanted to offer the saddle to you first. Interested?"

"I'll have to see it first."

"It's in my shop. Want to swing by?"

Carl scratched his cheek.

Eliza gave a light snort.

"Unlike you, I'm not free. I've got a packed schedule—as heiress to the Hergin family."

"Fair."

As the heiress to a renowned hero family like Hergin, being busy during break made sense.

"I'll keep it safe for you until break ends, then."

Carl flashed her a bright smile.

Eliza frowned slightly at that.

Then—click. She clicked her tongue.

"…What?"

Eliza opened a subspace and took out a piece of paper and a pen.

She scribbled something down, wedged the paper between her fingers, and handed it to him.

"I'll be at the family estate the day after tomorrow. Bring it then."

"Oooh? Is this an invitation?"

Carl grinned as he took the paper.

"Invitation my foot."

With her arms crossed, Eliza then asked, "By the way—who are you going to Leo Plov's coronation with?"

"Huh? I haven't made any plans. I might just head over early."

"In that case, want to go with—"

"Carl Thomas."

A low voice cut in from behind Carl.

Duran stood there.

"You will escort my sister to Leo Plov's coronation."

"…I'm a commoner, though?"

"What of it? You are a Hero of our kingdom. That's more than qualification enough to escort royalty."

"What do you think you're doing, Duran Moira? I was in the middle of a conversation with Carl."

Eliza's voice sharpened like a blade. Duran, in turn, answered with his signature cold smile.

"Wasn't the conversation over? This is a matter of our kingdom. I suggest you refrain from meddling in internal affairs."

"…What?"

A thick vein throbbed on Eliza's forehead.

Watching this unfold, Carl gave a thin smile as he looked around for help.

'Someone save me.'

The desperate cry behind his eyes was unmistakable—

—but everyone pretended not to notice.

No one wanted to step into a clash between Eliza and Duran, two of the most notoriously hot-blooded personalities in the school.

"They're fighting over Carl now? Hard to believe… just last year, we couldn't have imagined this," said Eliana, watching the unfolding scene with amusement. She turned to Leo.

"By the way, class rep. I heard that Emio showed up? What happened?"

"He hasn't changed. Acted rude to Chloe, got cussed out by Carl, and got wrecked by Senior Elena."

"I'm guessing he came to see you. Did you even talk to him?"

"I don't deal with people who lack manners."

"Hehe! What a dumb! Came all the way here to impress you and just made a fool of himself! Well, he's always had that nasty temper. Typical for a crown prince from that kingdom."

"You're not wrong, but… you calling someone else a dummy is a bit weird."

"Class rep, that's mean!"

Eliana pulled a teary face and shook Leo by the arm with exaggerated frustration.

Meanwhile, Eliza and Duran had already summoned their familiars and even drawn their aura.

"…Carl's really popular, huh."

Leo chuckled, glancing at the scene.

Behind him, Chen Xia smiled gently.

"He is… though he's still leagues behind you, Master Leo."

Leo gave a dry laugh at that.

"Class rep."

"Hm?"

"I'm a very understanding woman. So go have fun."

"…What?"

Leo gave her a puzzled look. Eliana flashed him a thumbs-up.

Thwack!

"Gah!?"

Chen Xia's fist struck Eliana square in the ribs. She crumpled to the ground in a heap.

Watching her collapse, Leo chuckled and grabbed his travel bag.

"Well then, I'll head out first. See you all at the coronation."

bl

The warp gate shimmered with light.

From its perch on the mountainside, the Letin Warp Gate offered a panoramic view of the city the moment they stepped out.

"Wow, what a beautiful city."

Elena marveled as she approached the overlook just beyond the gate to take in the scenery.

"You'll officially be the king of this country soon. How do you feel?"

"I don't know. It doesn't feel like much."

"Is that the confidence of a future ruler of the world, not satisfied with just one kingdom?"

"Leo, welcome back."

A familiar voice came from behind.

Turning around, Leo saw his mother and father—Reina and Dade Plov—standing there.

"I've returned, Father. Mother."

"Hmph. As curt as ever."

"Well, I'm almost grown now."

"You've been like that since you were little. My future grandchild better not take after you."

Reina sighed with worry as she cupped her cheek— then her eyes sparkled as she turned to Elena.

"So, can I assume this lovely young lady is a candidate for my daughter-in-law?"

"You know her as well as I do—she's just a school delinquent."

Leo replied flatly, but Elena paid him no mind.

She stepped forward and gracefully lifted the hem of her skirt.

"It's been a while, Marquess Dade Plov, Marchioness Reina Plov. I'm Elena Zeron, Leo's upperclassman."

"It's a pleasure to see you again, Lady Zeron. An honor to meet the heiress of the Zeron family."

Dade smiled warmly, but Elena shook her head quickly.

"Please, Marquess Dade. Speak casually. I'm just your son's schoolmate. If you're too formal, I'll feel pressured."

Elena twisted her body bashfully, unsure of what to do with herself. Dade gave a slightly awkward smile.

"Well, if you insist—welcome, Elena."

"Yes, thank you!"

Her bright smile drew a glance from Dade, who leaned toward Reina and whispered.

"Reina, that behavior just now…"

"Yep. That was an act."

She answered with a radiant smile and zero hesitation.

Dade let out a wry laugh. Most people would've been thrown off, but not Dade.

After all, his wife Reina was no pushover herself.

"Anyway…"

Reina looked between Leo and Elena, still smiling.

"So, what is your relationship exactly?"

"Mother. I'll make sure my child doesn't grow up like Leo. I'll raise one who's full of charm."

"Really now? Then I have no more regrets. Oh-hohoho! Lord Sith is so troubled over succession as it is…"

Reina laughed joyfully, delighted that Elena was playing along with her earlier joke.

Dade chuckled and said, "Leo."

"Yes, Father?"

"Reina and Lady Elena seem to get along famously."

"They're both from Lumene. You shouldn't view this through a 'normal' lens."

'Just what kind of place is Lumene, really…?'

At his son's dry response, Dade found himself genuinely wondering.

The academy where humanity's most brilliant minds gathered— A place he never would have been involved with, were it not for Reina.

Though he knew Reina had attended Lumene, he'd never once asked her about it, knowing her health.

It had always remained something distant and unknown to him. But ever since Leo enrolled, he'd realized something—

It was very different from anything he'd imagined.

'Let's not think too deeply about it.'

"So? When's the wedding?"

Elena's eyes sparkled as she asked with a cheerful smile.

"You were the one saying I should marry Chelsea."

"Chelsea is charming, too. Ugh, it's hard having too many perfect candidates for a daughter-in-law."

Reina folded her arms and pretended to be lost in deep thought.

Leo let out a small sigh.

"Guess I'd better stay in your good graces, Lady Reina."

Elena grinned as she said this.

"Whether you do or not."

Leo replied, sounding slightly indifferent.

At that moment, the carriage arrived.

The four of them boarded.

"You know, seeing you in your uniform again reminds me of my school days."

Reina smiled like a girl caught in a fond memory.

"Ugh," Leo groaned in disgust.

She tugged his ear with a smile, but Leo didn't even flinch.

"Still not an ounce of charm. But I really loved those days."

"Did you ever have a first love?"

Elena asked playfully.

Reina beamed as she leaned into Dade and took his arm.

"This handsome man here was my first love."

"…That sounds suspicious."

Elena muttered, prompting Reina to burst into laughter.

After a good while of lighthearted chatter, Reina shot Leo a sidelong glare.

"Tsk. You've got nothing romantic about you. You never had a first love, did you?"

Leo, still looking out the window with disinterest, tilted his head.

"Hmm. I think I did."

"…What?"

Reina looked genuinely shocked.

Elena smiled teasingly.

"Which one? Between the two?"

"Oh my, Lady Elena. Could it be… you know?"

Reina's eyes gleamed.

Leo answered matter-of-factly.

"It was way before I met either of them."

"…What?"

Elena's expression froze in genuine surprise.

"Who? Who is it? Tell your mother!"

Reina gleefully slid over to Leo's side and pestered him.

"It's a secret."

"Don't be like that. Come on~ tell me? Hmm?"

She poked at his ribs, trying to tease it out of him, but Leo only smiled serenely.

"Just tell me when it happened!"

Leo paused to think, then answered.

"When I was seventeen."

"…This year?!"

Reina's eyes widened.

Leo continued gazing out the window.

'Right. Now that I think about it… It was when I was seventeen, just like now.'

A quiet chuckle escaped him as he remembered— those early days of the Age of Calamity, when he was still just a boy.