Editor : Amethyst00



Speculation about an interdepartmental food war that began in the third-year Department of Magic class quickly spread throughout the entire school.

At the same time, the students rapidly fell into panic.

"Doesn't it seem like the student council president is getting more and more vicious?"

"Now it's come to a food war?"

The fifth-year students of the Department of Magic, on the verge of graduation, looked at their underclassmen with pity.

Especially the fourth-years, who had been at the school just one year less than them—they even went so far as to pat the third-years on the shoulders.

Back in the first semester—

The fourth- and fifth-years had become a little awkward with each other after a clash before the entrance ceremony, but after enduring Leo throughout the semester, all lingering resentment had disappeared.

"We're graduating soon, but what about you guys?"

"We've only got a year left too. It's the third-years who are really suffering."

The third-years made strange expressions as they looked at the genuinely sympathetic fourth- and fifth-years.

'If you think about it, the first- and second-years will be stuck with Leo until he graduates, though.'

They looked over at the first- and second-years.

"Well, they'll have to suffer with Leo until he graduates too."

But the third-years who were answering their seniors suddenly paused.

'Wait. If you think about it, we're the ones who've been tormented by Leo for all five years.'

Leo had been the grade representative since first year.

And whether obviously or subtly, he had exerted tremendous influence over the entire year group since the day he enrolled.

They were the ones who had directly or indirectly borne the brunt of that influence.

'Come to think of it, we really are the most pitiful.'

The third-years now looked slightly depressed.

As the students clicked their tongues at the situation—

Elena sat on the sofa with her arms crossed and her legs crossed elegantly.

A fellow third-year student from the Department of Magic approached her.

"Elena. What's the student council president's scheme this time?"

"I don't know either."

"What?"

"I really don't know anything about this."

"Huh? Didn't he usually talk things through with you before making a move?"

"He did, when it came to school affairs."

"That's unexpected."

In response, Elena said, "So it's a little strange. Is this really something the president did…?"

"Hmmm. Maybe he's acting like this because she's graduating soon? Do you think Lyl knows something?"

"Huh?"

Elena tilted her head slightly.

Her eyes narrowed, and she began to twirl her hair with her fingers.

Unaware of this, the fifth-year student continued to speculate.

"Maybe ask Lyl if she knows anything—mmph?!"

Other fifth-years immediately covered his mouth and dragged him to a more secluded place.

"Oh my~ Elena-sunbae, we brought you some cake. Would you like to try some?"

The fourth-years, sweating nervously, offered Elena a slice of cake they had obtained with great difficulty.

Meanwhile, the fifth-year who was dragged away got an earful from his peers.

"You've got less than half a year left until graduation, and you still can't read the room?!"

"Can't you tell she's in a mood?!"

"I-I was just… trying to help…"

As the poor guy whimpered, Elena poked the cake with her fork.

The first- and second-years looked on in confusion, and even the third-years grew tense at their seniors' reactions.

Elena, who had been twirling her hair out of habit, slowly let go. It was something she did whenever she was displeased with something.

To her classmates and the fourth-years who had known her for a while, it was an obvious sign that her mood had soured. And for those who remembered Elena's "delinquent" days—like the fourth- and fifth-years—it was a behavior that triggered old trauma.

'I'm not the brat who used to lash out at everyone based on my mood anymore…'

Elena gave a soft snort.

Hiccup.

The fourth-years, seeing that smile, let out involuntary hiccups.

Elena gave an awkward smile.

'Is my laugh really that scary?'

As she thought to herself, she recalled her past behavior. Looking back, even as recently as third year, her classmates used to live on antacids.

'…Yeah, I was kind of bad.'

While Elena silently reflected on her past—

A few students appeared.

This hallway was near the dormitory of the Department of Magic—in other words, their home turf.

Normally, you'd occasionally see students from other departments here, but now that everyone was on high alert, there were none.

The newcomers were students from the merchant club, affiliated with the Department of Magic, who had gone out to secure food.

Naturally, in this crisis, the merchant club was proving its worth.

"Phew! With this, we'll be fine for a while."

"Carl! It's so reassuring to have you!"

"Situations like this are where you shine!"

"Our department has the best support!"

Cheers erupted from the Department of Magic students.

And rightly so—Carl's skills were exceptional even within the merchant club.

In this situation, Carl was truly the star.

"Right now, every department has their own supply lines, but it wouldn't be strange if a food war broke out soon."

"Securing food is one thing, but distributing it is just as important."

Chelsea and Chloe, who had accompanied them as guards, spoke with serious expressions.

Carl scratched his head.

"Elena-sunbae. Has Leo said anything?"

"Nope."

"This silence is unsettling. You think he's watching all this from the student council room?"

"Wouldn't be surprising for him."

"Ugh… Don't tell me we'll be starving soon?"

"I feel like a refugee!"

Most of the students were convinced that Leo had orchestrated this situation.

Elena had a strange look on her face.

'There's no proof that Leo did this, but…'

It was entirely within Leo's capabilities.

That thought was firmly planted in every student's mind.

'So this is why your reputation matters.'

Still, Elena didn't bother to clarify that Leo might not be responsible for this food shortage.

'Watching them suffer from assumptions is kind of fun.'

It was this very personality trait that had just traumatized her juniors and classmates a few minutes ago, but Elena didn't dwell on it.

"Shouldn't we also protect the food we have?"

At that moment, Juen spoke seriously.

"Unless someone's crazy, I doubt they'll attack just yet."

Carl replied, but Juen shook her head.

"No, if it's Leo-sunbae, there's a high chance he'll come directly for this food."

"…That's true."

"Ugh! The student council president is a monster!"

Tension spread across the students' faces.

"Alright, let's be ready for anything—and try to find the entrance to the student council room."

The dorm in the clock tower was full of magical secret passages that formed a maze.

Among them, the student council room had a special door that could take you anywhere.

Which meant if they could find the right passage, they could reach the council room.

"If Leo's gone into hiding on purpose, finding him might be the key to solving this problem."

"Are we seriously playing hide-and-seek with the student council president now?"

"That's just awful…"

They were just about to embark on a mission to find the missing Leo when—

"INTRUDER! WE HAVE AN INTRUDER!"

"STOP THEM!"

A shocked voice rang out from the far end of the hallway.

Students from the Department of Magic opened their eyes wide in surprise.

"Wow. With security this tight, someone actually attacked?"

Chelsea looked dumbfounded.

"Which brute just charged in without thinking?"

Carl laughed dryly—until it happened.

Crackle!

The hallway echoed with the roar of thunder.

And from around the corner appeared a Pegasus.

"NEEEEIGH!"

"Eliza's here! ELIZA'S ATTACKING!"

"Don't you know summoning a magical beast in the dorm is against the rules?!"

Screams erupted from the panicked students.

Carl was stunned speechless seeing his own girlfriend recklessly charge in like that.

BOOM!

True to her beast's speed, the Pegasus charged at incredible velocity.

"PROTECT THE FOOD!"

As everyone stood frozen in confusion—

Whip-crack! Snatch!

"Huh?"

Eliza lashed her whip, snagging it around Carl's neck.

His face went pale.

"W-W-WAIT A MINUUUUGH! Koff!"

Carl was dragged away by Eliza.

She tossed him onto her Pegasus and picked up speed to escape the Department of Magic's territory.

"C-Carl's been kidnapped!"

"Why Carl-sunbae?!"

As students panicked, Chloe shouted urgently.

"Carl controls the entire student food supply network! Losing him long-term would be a disaster!"

That snapped everyone to attention.

Vrrrr! Click!

Juen summoned and loaded her staff in the form of a magical gun.

"Hey! Juen, you can't use magic in the dorms—"

"Eliza-sunbae summoned a beast first! And you want us to just let Carl-sunbae go?!"

Saying that, Juen fired at Eliza.

BOOM!

With a roar of magic, a magic bullet shot toward Eliza.

She smirked as she sensed it coming.

CRACK-CRACKLE!

Her Pegasus unleashed a powerful thunderstorm, generating a magnetic field barrier.

FWOOM!

The magic was effortlessly blocked, and Juen prepared her next attack.

As others began readying their spells—

Elena, still seated, snapped her fingers.

Dozens of glowing ropes appeared midair, shooting toward Eliza.

Sensing them, Eliza raised her energy even further.

"Hm?"

As Eliza accelerated again, Elena smiled in amusement and snapped her fingers once more.

FLASH!

A magical barrier appeared in front of Eliza.

Vrrrr—!

"Carl."

"Y-Yeah?"

"Hold on tight."

Pure white lightning swirled around Eliza.

"W-Wait, it's safe to touch you, right? I'm not gonna get electrocuted, right?!"

Despite his panic, Carl hugged her tightly from behind.

CRACK-CRACK-CRACK!

Her Pegasus became a flash of light—

BOOM!

And broke through Elena's magic wall.

Eliza glanced behind at the binding magic catching up to her.

'Up, down, down, left, right, right.'

ZAP! ZAP! ZAP!

She dodged Elena's spell with precise timing.

"Hm?"

'Leo did say she's better than him at beast control…'

Elena smirked.

'Yeah, I can't stop that.'

And with that, Eliza escaped the Department of Magic's zone in an instant.

"NOOOO!"

"Carl's been kidnapped!"

"We have to go rescue him!"

The students quickly started forming a rescue plan.

Elena tilted her head slightly as she watched them.

'Now that I think about it, for a "kidnapped" guy, Carl didn't resist much, did he?'

"Elena. Let's go rescue Carl—uh, wha—?!"

The fifth-years talking to her flinched and backed away.

Elena's eyes were now sparkling with mischief.

Ever sharp, she had quickly deduced the nature of Carl and Eliza's relationship.

'Those two… they're off having a romantic time while we're in chaos, huh?'