Editor : Amethyst00



“Ugh! This is so exhausting!”

After magic class ended, Carl collapsed forward.

“Argh! The Fly magic class is no joke! Seriously! It’s like hard labor!”

“What’s so hard about that?”

When Chelsea spoke with a look of disdain, Carl let out a deep sigh.

“Phew. You, who passed the test in one go and went straight to Professor Albi, how could you ever understand our hardships? Torua-sunbae is no joke! She drills us like she’s about to eat us alive!”

Chelsea was one of the four students who passed the Fly magic test with a free pass.

Those four were Chloe, Abad, Chelsea, and Leo.

“Want me to help?”

“What?”

“I can help you practice until you get good at Fly magic.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, we’re friends, right?”

Carl’s face filled with gratitude.

“I’ll help the students from our class practice magic.”

“Sniff! Chelsea! Thank you!”

‘Guess I’ll be worked to death.’

“Do you guys know about Elena-sunbae?”

At Leo’s question, Carl made a dumbfounded face.

“Do I know about Elena-sunbae? Isn’t it weirder not to know?”

“She’s famous?”

“More than famous! Elena sunbae is the 3rd-year grade representative!”

“Really?”

“Sometimes I think Leo-oppa is way too indifferent about school affairs. I’ll teach you.”

Chelsea gave a little “ahem!” and cleared her throat.

“Elena Zeron. Age 18. Currently in 3rd year. Her ability ranks second in the entire Magic Department. Even as a 3rd-year, she’s only behind Torua-sunbae.”

“That’s impressive?”

“Not just impressive. She’s a genius magic girl who became a Dungeon Conqueror in her second year!”

Carl shouted in excitement.

“It’d be great to meet her once!”

Watching Carl’s slightly dreamy expression, Leo tilted his head.

“She must be really popular?”

“Yeah. She’s a stunning beauty. Her nickname is the Queen.”

“The Queen?”

“Even 4th and 5th year seniors can’t treat her carelessly, and she has tons of followers. Thanks to that, even as a 3rd-year she’s a strong candidate for the next Student Council President.”

“Thanks for telling me.”

Leo patted Chelsea’s head.

Chelsea giggled brightly and asked.

“But why are you asking about Elena-sunbae?”

“Just, I have something I need to meet her about.”

“She’s on mission until next week, so she’s not at school right now. Well, even if she were, it’d still be hard to see her since she’s such a celebrity. But since Leo-oppa is a grade representative, if you wanted, you could probably meet her.”

At Chelsea’s words, Leo nodded.

“Leo, don’t you have Summoning class right after this?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I’ll see you later at the dorms.”

After parting from the two, Leo headed toward the Summoning class location.

‘Today it’s all outdoor classes, huh.’

Today’s Summoning class location was the Island of Beasts, where the first class had been held.

When he reached the docks, the other Summoning students were preparing to cross the lake.

Leo was about to use Fly magic.

“Guess who?”

Someone snuck up from behind and covered his eyes.

“Isn’t it a little childish to be pulling pranks like this at age 17?”

Leo gave a wry smile, pushed the hands away, and turned around.

Standing there was Chen Xia.

“Anyway, Leo-doryeong never treats me like I’m older.”

Chen Xia shrugged her shoulders.

“You’re heading to the Island of Beasts now, right? Want to go together?”

“Sure.”

Chen Xia leapt toward the water.

“Hop.”

Chen Xia left footprints across the surface of the water.

Watching her walk naturally over the water, Leo lifted himself into the air with Fly magic.

Most Summoning students crossed the lake using flying beasts, aquatic beasts, or wind and water elementals.

But in Leo’s case, he couldn’t casually summon his contracted beast in front of others, and for Chen Xia, using aura steps was faster than moving with elemental arts.

“Leo-doryeong, want to race to the Forest of Beasts?”

“Loser buys dinner?”

“Sounds good.”

Chen Xia lowered her stance, and Leo stirred his mana.

“Then ready, go!”

Splash! Kwoooosh—!

Both of them shot forward at incredible speed.

As water spray surged and waves crashed against the dock, one Summoning student muttered.

“If we run into those two during the inter-department tournament, we should just avoid them no matter what.”

The other students nodded.

Kwagagagagak—!

‘So she’s not just using aura steps, huh.’

Watching Chen Xia dash ahead of him, Leo’s eyes gleamed.

‘Elemental arts?’

Leo accelerated further.

“Eliza. Th-these guy, they're really not going to attack us, right?”

“Hmph. Are you doubting Ruri’s domination ability?”

“N-no! Of course not!”

Riding elegantly on a dolphin’s back in the middle of the lake, Eliza crossed her legs, filing her nails, and snorted.

“Our Ruri may still be young, but she’s a true Delphinus. With my ability to reinforce her domination power, handling monsters of this level is nothing.”

Delphinus.

A top-tier aquatic beast in dolphin form.

As the heir of the prestigious Summoning family Hergin, and one of the first-year’s top two students, Eliza could handle such a beast.

Squeeek—!

“That’s right, Ruri. When we get back, I’ll give you plenty of premium beef.”

Though Eliza was cold to everyone around her, she smiled softly at the dolphin’s cry and stroked its back.

‘If only she treated us like that too.’

Her faction members gave bitter smiles—until.

“Huh?”

One riding a monster turned to look back.

“What’s that? What’s with that water spray?”

The students all wore startled faces.

“E-Eliza! Something’s coming at incredible speed! We need to dodge!”

“Hmph! What nonsense are you panicking about…?”

Annoyed at having her moment interrupted, Eliza turned back.

Kwagagagagaga—!

And a massive water spray engulfed her.

Squeee! Squeeeek!

Dragged under by the waves, Eliza was quickly pulled up by her summon, Ruri.

“Cough! What the that was that?!”

Eyes blazing, Eliza shouted. One of her drenched followers stammered.

“It was Leo Plov and Chen Xia!”

“Leo Plov!”

Sparks flew from Eliza’s eyes.

“How dare you commit such rudeness toward me?! Ruri! After them!”

Squeeek!

Kwagagagagak—!

“Eek! Eliza!”

“Take us too!”

Her abandoned faction members panicked.

Rumbleee—

And aquatic beasts, freed from Delphinus’ control, revealed their killing intent.

“Hey! Take them down quickly!”

“Eek! Undine, help me!”

“Kyahhh! Get away!”

In the middle of the lake, screams echoed as the students were suddenly forced into a fight with beasts.

bl

The first to reach the Island of Beasts dock was Leo.

“I win.”

“Hahh—hahh—so close. What a shame.”

Barely a step behind, Chen Xia panted with a disappointed look.

Yura, who had been watching, clapped her hands.

“Excellent! But if you’d only used pure summoning, I’d praise you more.”

Professor Yura, waiting for the students at the dock, grumbled.

“Especially you, Leo! Using magic on the way to Summoning class—where’d you learn such bad habits? Minus 10 points.”

When Yura growled, Leo smiled faintly.

“It’s not like I can just summon my beast, can I?”

“Perfect logic! Fine, I’ll forget the deduction.”

“What was the deduction reason then, and why did you get persuaded again…… guh?

As Associate Professor Carlo protested, Yura drove her fist into his side and looked toward the dock.

“Looks like more are coming.”

A towering wave surged like a tidal wave, crashing down on Leo.

“Leooo Plooovv!”

Boom—!

Water spray exploded everywhere.

Easily blocking the water cannon, Leo looked puzzled.

“Why attack out of nowhere? And why are you drenched?”

“Because of you! It’s your fault for causing that water spray!”

“Oh, were you caught in it while I was passing? Sorry.”

“Sorry? You think sorry is enough?! To dare commit such disrespect against me, succesor of the Hergin family!”

As Eliza raged, Chen Xia looked apologetic.

“Eliza-yang. The spray wasn’t caused by Leo-doryeong, it was me.”

“You? You caused it, Xia?”

“Yes.”

Seeing Chen Xia bow and apologize, Eliza flinched and stepped back.

As the eldest first-year and someone with a kind personality, Chen Xia was friendly to everyone.

So even the arrogant Eliza softened somewhat in front of her.

“Fine, fine. As fellow Summoning students, we should get along.”

“I’m not from Summoning.”

“Me neither.”

“…Oh? You little brats?”

Yura narrowed her eyes.

“Well. Since I was the one who ignored others and raced, it’s not all Chen Xia’s fault. Sorry.”

When Leo sincerely apologized, Eliza stared at him for a moment before snorting.

“It would be petty not to forgive when you apologize like that. Fine. I’ll accept it, Leo Plov.”

“As an apology—it’s not much, but I’ll dry your clothes. Can’t have a girl standing around soaking wet.”

Leo raised his mana.

He used a moisture-removing spell.

In an instant, Eliza’s wet clothes were dry.

But as the water vanished, static electricity frizzed her hair.

“Pfft!”

“Khk!”

Chen Xia and Yura burst into laughter despite themselves.

When Eliza pulled out a mirror and saw her hair puffed into a ridiculous mess, her shoulders trembled.

With her once-flowing hair now a frizzy disaster, Eliza glared at Leo with terrifying eyes.

“I’ll fix it right away. Do you have a comb?”

Sighing, Leo took the comb from Eliza and tidied her hair.

bl

The first-years gathered in the Forest of Beasts.

The Summoning Department’s first-years buzzed with a strange excitement.

That was because rumors had spread all across campus that the Knight Department and Magic Department had begun special training for the inter-department tournament.

The Summoning students also believed today’s class would prepare them for it.

And indeed, the lesson was being held on the Island of Beasts.

As everyone stared eagerly at Yura, she scratched her head.

“Why isn’t that guy here yet?”

“Professor, who are we waiting for?”

When Tade raised his hand and asked, Yura sighed.

“As you probably guessed, today’s class was supposed to be special training for the inter-department tournament. But Ulta suggested a special class.”

“Ulta-sunbae did?”

“Yeah. He said he thought of the perfect training method, so we should hold class on the Island of Beasts.”

The students gasped in awe.

At the same time, unease spread across their faces.

Ulta of the Summoning Department.

The rival of Rhys Zerdinger, considered the strongest student, and a famous contractor of Pegasus—the strongest Summoner.

But also notorious as an eccentric.

On the day of the competition announcement, he had proclaimed love and flaunted his presence.

‘No way he’d make us do something weird… right?’

The students tried to shake off their anxiety.

“Ulta-sunbae is here.”

One student spotted Ulta walking from the dock.

“Hey! Why are you so late!”

“Apologies, Professor Yura.”

Ulta bowed elegantly like an actor.

“The supplies for the first-years were delivered late.”

“Supplies?”

Snap—!

Ulta snapped his fingers, and a giant eagle appeared in the sky.

Whoosh—! Thud—!

Whipping up fierce winds, the eagle dropped a cloth-wrapped load beside Ulta and then glided away.

“Was that a Wind Eagle?”

“Using a high-level wind beast just for delivery… as expected of Ulta-sunbae!”

The students looked at him with admiration.

“What kind of training needs supplies for first-years…?”

As Yura checked the contents of the bundle, her face turned grim.

“What the hell do you plan to do with these?”

What Ulta had brought were none other than butterfly nets.

“Professor, you must have heard. On this very Island of Beasts!”

Ulta spread his arms wide.

“A Fairy has appeared!”

“Fairy?”

“No way?”

The first-years widened their eyes.

Veins bulged on Yura’s forehead.

“So? You plan to have first-years capture fairies?”

“Exactly.”

“Exactly my ass—you bastard! We’re already busy to death preparing for the inter-department tournament, and you pull this useless crap? You’re asking to be beaten! No, just dieeeeee!”

Hooking Ulta’s head with the butterfly net, Yura yanked him close and roared.

Carlo and the students flailed in panic to stop her.

Meanwhile, Leo pressed his fingers to his temples.

‘That guy… couldn’t just behave, could he!’