Editor : Amethyst00



Two days had passed since the dance party schedule was announced.

It was early morning, during curfew.

In the vice president's office of the student council, Carl had made a status board on the chalkboard and was reporting to Elena.

"First of all, I made sure that Chelsea, who's a third-priority threat, doesn't ask Leo to be her partner. I had her hint to Leo that she'll probably go with Abad instead."

"Oh?"

"Chelsea thinks I'm an ally, so she's working with me and actively blocking others from asking Leo to the dance. Her main target is Eliana."

"Can't we just leave Eliana alone?"

"Well, it's not like Leo would say yes to her anyway… but you know the saying, 'Even a tree falls if you strike it ten times.'"

She had a point.

Given Eliana's aggressive personality, she wasn't the type to get discouraged from a single rejection.

On the contrary, she'd probably keep going after Leo at every opportunity.

"The more attempts she makes, the higher her chances, naturally! At this point, Eliana's like a joker who could shake things up. So, we need to block her thoroughly."

"Really?"

Elena nodded in understanding.

"What about Celia?"

"The Celia issue is resolved. From what Leo told me, she seems to already have someone in mind as a partner."

"That's good news. What about Lyl?"

"Eliza's working hard on that!"

Carl gave a confident thumbs-up.

"As for Chloe, she doesn't seem interested in the dance party at all."

"Why?"

"Looks like she got really into some magic theory a few days ago."

"Ah."

Elena recalled Chloe.

Chloe was a junior from her department that Elena found quite cute.

As a fellow mage, Chloe possessed strengths that Elena lacked.

A passion for research and study of magic.

While it wasn't a field Elena was particularly interested in, she still respected it as a fellow magician.

'Though she does seem a bit sneaky at times.'

Elena clicked her tongue, remembering something from a few days ago.

"Still, I'm keeping an eye on her just in case."

"Yeah. She's the type to act out of the blue."

At Elena's words, Carl tilted his head.

'Did Chloe do something to Elena-sunbae?'

As he briefly wondered, Elena asked,

"So? What about Chen Xia?"

"Well… she's quiet. Just acting normal. Which makes it all the more suspicious."

"…You're right. If she's quiet, she's definitely plotting something."

Elena's eyes narrowed slightly.

As Leo's shadow, Chen Xia spent more time with him than anyone else, whether people noticed it or not.

'And she's so mature.'

Despite her young appearance, she was extremely mature on the inside.

That concerned Elena.

Leo might look like a teenage boy, but in truth, he was an adult.

'And not just any adult—he's like an old man who's been through every hardship.'

That's why there wasn't much common ground between Elena and Leo.

Elena had grown up in an environment where she could have anything she wanted.

Chen Xia, on the other hand, was different.

As a shadow, she had grown up rejected by the world from a young age.

She'd walked a difficult path.

Even the way she interacted with Leo was more mature than Elena could manage.

It was something Elena could never emulate.

With a soft sigh, Elena asked Carl,

"So? When should I ask Leo to be my partner?"

"The last day."

"The last day?"

Elena frowned.

Seeing her expression, Carl explained,

"Yes. Until then, tease him as much as possible. Then, on the last day, pretend to forgive him and ask. That'll give you the highest chance."

"What if someone else confirms with him before that?"

"That's what I'm here to prevent. And also…"

"And also?"

"Leo said he finds it cute when you're angry. He'll probably cave in."

"He said I'm cute?"

"Yes."

"Not beautiful?"

Elena pouted in dissatisfaction.

But her lips soon curled into a smile.

'Okay, her mood's lifted.'

Carl let out a sigh of relief.

'Now I just need to keep the others in check for the next few days.'

Looking at the board, Carl put on a serious face.

'Alright! Carl! You can do this!'

His eyes burned with determination.

'For a peaceful start to the second semester! I stake my honor as the herald'

It might've sounded silly if someone else heard it, but Carl was dead serious.

bl

Third-year summoning class.

Students were gathered on the Spirit Beast Island, the main practice site.

"Hey, did you decide who you're going with?"

"Hehe."

"What's that giggle? You really did?"

As expected, the upcoming dance party was the hot topic.

Students had started confirming their partners.

"Hey, President!"

A female student approached Leo.

Looking flustered, the summoning classmate held out an envelope.

Leo gave her a puzzled look.

"Here!"

The girl handed him the envelope, mustering her courage.

Leo smiled.

"You want me to give this to Walden?"

"Yeah! Please!"

"I'll make sure he gets it."

"Thank you!"

The girl left beaming.

Then another girl came over with another letter—this time for Duran.

"Leo-doryeong sure is popular."

Chen Xia commented with a smile as Leo carefully collected the letters.

"Walden and Duran are both pretty intimidating."

Among the third years, Walden and Duran were known as training maniacs.

They trained whenever they had a chance.

To them, even reading letters was a waste of time.

But they always accepted letters if Leo handed them over.

So Leo had become the default mailman for the two.

"So?"

"Hm?"

"Did you decide who to go to the dance party with?"

Leo asked casually, and Chen Xia's face turned serious.

"There's someone I want to ask, but he's twisted. If I ask directly, he might say no out of spite."

"Oh? There's someone with a worse personality than mine?"

"Exactly. A real piece of work."

Leo chuckled at her words.

Chen Xia rolled her eyes at him.

"What about you, Leo-doryeong? Who are you going with?"

"Whoever asks me first."

At that, Chen Xia stared at him and muttered softly,

"Liar."

Leo gave a dry laugh.

'Am I really that untrustworthy?'

He shrugged.

Knowing there were so many schemers, Leo had decided he would go with the first person who asked.

But her suspicion was disheartening.

A moment later, Professor Yura walked over.

"Alright! As I said last class, we'll work in pairs today. Everyone, find a partner!"

Just as Chen Xia was about to speak to Leo—

"Leo Plov. Be my partner."

"Chen Xia. Partner with me."

Eliza and Walden simultaneously spoke to Leo and Chen Xia.

Chen Xia paused at the unexpected interruption.

'Wait, is Walden also working with Carl?'

It was understandable for Eliza—she was dating Carl, after all—but Walden was a surprise.

As she pondered, Walden spoke.

"This class is about forming resonance with a partner's contracted elemental beast."

"Yes."

"You haven't contracted a high-level elemental, but you have excellent affinity with water elementals. I'd like to experience that resonance."

Walden was a genius in elemental magic.

He could handle all elements and had incredible adaptability.

He could even handle elementals contracted by others.

Except for Chen Xia's water elementals—those alone eluded him.

He'd been intrigued by them for a while.

After considering it, Chen Xia nodded.

"Alright."

She sensed Walden's intentions were pure and agreed.

Like them, many students paired up with others who had contracted intriguing beasts.

"Alright! We'll switch partners in 30 minutes anyway!"

Yura clapped her hands to move things along, and students began pairing up smoothly.

Leo ended up with Eliza.

"Okay, everyone find a quiet spot and begin. Assistant Professor Carlo and I will go around and offer advice!"

At Yura's signal, the summoning class dispersed.

Eliza walked off silently, and Leo followed her.

Once they reached a secluded forest, Leo spoke.

"You want to resonate with Alty, right?"

"As someone who handles Pegasi, of course."

"She likes being pampered, so she'll probably be easy."

Leo smiled.

"But she inherited the Pegasus King's power. Just liking human contact isn't enough to handle her properly."

"True."

Leo nodded and began to summon Alty when Eliza hesitated.

"What's up?"

Noticing something off, Leo looked puzzled.

After a moment of hesitation, Eliza clicked her tongue and spoke.

"Leo Plov. Do you have a partner for the dance party yet?"

"Not yet. Why?"

"Then… want to go with me?"

"…?"

Leo blinked at the sudden offer.

Watching his reaction, Eliza immediately regretted it.

She'd blurted it out in anger over Carl's schemes.

But after saying it, she felt stupid for asking someone she didn't even truly want to go with.

'And it's not like he'll agree anyway.'

Sighing, Eliza began to speak again.

"Forget I said anything…"

"Sure."

"Huh?"

Eliza froze.

Leo smiled at her.

"Let's go together. To the dance party."

bl

That morning—

Eliana, having been interrupted for the 19th time while trying to ask Leo to the dance, thought back to those who kept interfering.

'Carl, Chelsea, Xia, Celia.'

Celia had hauled her off to the disciplinary committee over nothing.

Carl and Chelsea had told her Professor Len was looking for her—but he hadn't.

And after that, the four of them continued to interfere whenever she tried to talk to Leo.

Up until the 18th time, she hadn't been too suspicious.

But today, it was crystal clear.

'They're blocking me from talking to him!'

And the reason was obvious.

The dance party.

'So unfair!'

Eliana pouted.

But only for a moment.

A wicked expression slowly crept across her face.

She honestly didn't think she could beat those four to get Leo as a partner.

At this rate, she probably wouldn't even get a chance to ask him.

'But I can't just sit and take it.'

Her eyes narrowed with mischievous resolve.

'Fine. If I can't have him…'

Burning with frustration, Eliana thought,

'I'll ruin it. No one's going to the dance party with the class rep!'