Editor : Amethyst00



"So Senior Hark decided to get a job in the Kingdom of Arhi?"

At Carl's question, Leo nodded.

"Wow…"

Carl recalled Hark's face on graduation day, genuinely delighted to finally be free of Leo.

Hark had clasped the hands of each student council member one by one, saying he was now liberated, and offering them kind words.

Hark had even looked at Carl with a gaze full of pity.

And now, just six months later, he had been caught by Leo again.

The same look of pity that had been on Hark's face back then now appeared on Carl's.

'This isn't the time to pity Senior Hark.'

Carl's school life wasn't exactly smooth sailing either.

Besides, wasn't his fate for the second semester of third year hanging in the balance?

'Focus.'

Just as Carl was bracing himself, Leo asked,

"By the way, Carl. Who are you going to the dance party with?"

"Huh?"

Caught off guard, Carl's eyes widened.

Then he scratched his head.

"Not sure. I haven't really thought about it."

"You haven't asked Eliza?"

"Huh? Oh, Eliza? No, that's not happening. We're dating in secret, remember?"

Carl laughed awkwardly, scratching his head, and Leo said,

"Still, wouldn't you want to go with her?"

"Of course I do. But we can't let rumors spread, right?"

"Rumors, huh… I thought you two were pretty serious."

Recalling the future he had seen through Sylord's illusion magic, Leo spoke, and Carl nodded.

"We are serious. But what we saw was only a possibility, right?"

"Hmm."

Leo exhaled softly and gave a small smile.

"It's a possibility, yes."

"Getting ahead of ourselves just because of a future vision is a bit… ha ha."

"Carl."

"Yeah?"

"You're a great guy."

"…Huh?"

Carl looked confused for a moment, then grinned smugly.

"Heh. I know. I'm awesome."

"Then have more confidence."

"Huh?"

Leo lightly patted Carl's shoulder.

"Try not to leave regrets. This moment only comes once in a lifetime."

"Hmm…"

"If you're not careful, someone else might beat you to it."

With that, Leo left first.

Watching his back, Carl muttered blankly,

"Wow, he's so cool. I could try for a lifetime and never be that smooth."

"You're just stating the obvious."

"Gah?!"

Startled by Chelsea's voice from behind, Carl jumped.

"Could you not sneak up like that? It's bad for my heart!"

"You're just insensitive."

Chelsea smiled sweetly, and Carl sighed deeply before asking,

"Is it your turn already?"

"Yeah."

Since they couldn't cling to Leo all the time, Carl and Chelsea took turns guarding him.

It was only possible because Chelsea had accepted Carl as an ally.

"I'll go check on Chloe."

"Okay."

"Watch out for Xia."

"I know!"

Chelsea nodded and followed after Leo.

"Leo oppa!"

She approached Leo in her usual, unaffected manner.

Seeing how relaxed and unconcerned she looked, as if the dance party weren't even on her mind, Carl nodded.

'Good, just as planned.'

Grinning meaningfully, Carl moved to keep an eye on Chloe.

Meanwhile…

Leo glanced sideways at Carl and muttered with a chuckle,

"He's going to have a rough time."

"Huh? What'd you say?"

"Nothing. Just talking to myself."

Chelsea tilted her head at Leo's response and looked toward Carl, who was now walking down a quiet path, humming.

And then—

Whizz!

A sharp sound tore through the air.

Carl flinched and threw himself to the side.

Thunk!

Something struck the ground where Carl had been standing.

Carl gaped at it.

"Juen's… magic bullet?"

It was a non-lethal magic bullet he had made for Juen.

It wasn't deadly, but…

The problem was—it hurt like hell.

'Did Juen shoot that? No, no way she'd do that.'

Thinking of his junior in the magic department, Carl quickly assessed the situation.

He and Juen got along very well.

They were mentor and mentee, and Carl had been supporting Juen even recently.

There was no way Juen would be targeting him.

'Did someone steal her bullets? But why?'

Unable to make sense of it, Carl narrowed his brow—just as he felt another wave of killing intent.

He quickly cast a barrier spell.

Thunk!

An arrow embedded itself in the magical shield.

That arrow, too, was Carl's own creation.

Non-lethal arrows.

Top-ranked first-year knight department student Mylia often bought them.

Carl felt a chill down his spine.

His own inventions were being used to target him.

Seeing the arrow, Carl realized what was going on.

'This… I don't know why, but…'

A cold sweat broke out.

'Juen and Mylia are trying to snipe me?'

Thinking that, Carl quickly cast a speed-enhancement spell.

His body surged forward.

Of course, that alone wouldn't let him escape from the two.

So Carl quickly pulled out a potion and downed it in one gulp.

Bam bam bam! Pew pew pew!

At the same time, magic bullets and arrows rained down on him.

"Ugh! What the hell is going on?! Why are you doing this to me, juniors?!"

Carl's scream echoed through the air.

bl

Chelsea, walking and chatting with Leo, suddenly sensed a gaze and stopped talking.

Turning toward the direction of the gaze, Chelsea became alert.

'Eliana.'

Eliana was hiding behind a large tree on the lawn, peeking out at Leo and Chelsea.

She looked like a wild animal stalking its prey.

'Strange… Her pattern is off today.'

Normally, Eliana would have charged in boldly. But now she was just watching from afar.

'Is she planning something?'

Chelsea furrowed her brow seriously.

Even if Eliana was simple, she'd been blocked from Leo enough times to notice she was being countered.

So it wouldn't be strange if she started scheming.

'What will she do?'

Just as Chelsea was trying to anticipate Eliana's next move—

"Eliana. What are you doing over there?"

Leo spotted her and spoke up.

Eliana, startled like a wild animal, quickly ducked behind the tree and ran off.

"What was that about?"

Chelsea tilted her head, and Leo said,

"Probably because you bullied her."

"Ugh…"

"You should apologize to her later."

"Y-Yeah."

Shrinking her neck, Chelsea nodded.

Meanwhile, Eliana sat down on a nearby bench, arms crossed, observing the two.

'Carl and Chelsea are in cahoots?'

She thought back to their cooperative behavior and tilted her head.

Eliana usually disliked complexity, but right now, her brain was working in overdrive.

Her head felt like it might overheat, but she endured.

Determined that no one would go to the dance party with Leo, she came to a conclusion.

'Elena-sunbae has seemed in a bad mood lately, right?'

When Elena was upset, the person who suffered most was Carl.

'It wouldn't be strange if Carl is acting as Elena's pawn.'

This was just a hypothesis, of course.

"Xia. You're there, right?"

Poff!

As soon as Eliana finished speaking, Chen Xia dropped down from a tree branch above.

"How did you know?"

"You were nowhere to be seen today. I figured you were hiding again to block me."

"Sorry."

Xia gave a wry smile.

"But I really want to go to the dance party with Leo-doryeong."

Eliana pouted, staring at Xia.

Xia gave an apologetic expression.

"Just tell me one thing. Carl and Elena-sunbae are working together, right?"

Eliana asked to confirm her theory.

She figured Xia would know the details.

"Yes. How'd you know?"

"I just thought it through."

Xia stared at Eliana with a curious expression.

'Now I get how Carl convinced Chelsea to join him.'

Eliana organized her thoughts.

Even she was surprised at how quickly her mind was working.

'Carl probably lied to Leo that Chelsea's going with Abad.'

Then everything fits.

'That alliance can be broken easily, then.'

If she told Chelsea the truth, the partnership would fall apart.

Meanwhile, Xia watched Eliana's mental gears turning with fascination.

'Was Eliana always this good at deduction?'

Eliana suddenly stood up.

"Where are you going?"

"Not telling."

Eliana answered with a pout, and Xia gave an apologetic smile.

'She's really upset, huh…'

Xia felt sorry.

She vowed to make it up to Eliana and thought,

'Still, I doubt Eliana will give up that easily.'

Even Xia couldn't have guessed that Eliana was preparing a scorched-earth tactic.

Meanwhile, Eliana was caught in a dilemma.

'Even if I said I'd destroy what I can't have… I can't actually destroy the class president.'

Frustrated, she had vowed that she wouldn't let anyone become Leo's partner.

But that was easier said than done.

She considered writing a letter, but shook her head.

'If it's important, the president would want me to say it face-to-face.'

She pouted.

Leo had always been mature, even since first year.

And when he made a decision, he was more resolute than anyone.

'That's part of his charm, though.'

Even if she gave him a letter, there was little chance he'd agree.

And she couldn't complain that others were interfering.

This was a competition.

Even if people comforted her, they wouldn't hand her victory.

Eliana knew Leo was strict that way.

But it was also because of his kindness and firmness that she had grown.

She couldn't rely on him now.

Most importantly…

'That'd be admitting defeat.'

Eliana's pride reared its head.

'If I can't have him, passing him off to a safe third party would be the best scorched-earth plan…'

Was there someone like that?

While thinking, Eliana stopped walking down the dorm hallway.

She heard familiar voices from ahead.

"Duran. Do you have a moment?"

"What is it, Nella?"

"About the dance party. Want to go with me?"

"…"

'Wow. Nella. You finally got the courage?'

Eliana silently cheered on her friend.

"With me? Thank you for asking."

Duran seemed a bit flustered at first.

But then his usual calm voice returned.

"But I'm sorry. I've already agreed to go with Celia Zerdinger."

"Ah…!"

Nella's shocked voice rang out.

"Duran! Are you and Celia… like that?!"

Eliana jumped into the conversation instinctively.

Duran remained expressionless.

"Celia Zerdinger is just someone I need to surpass."

"Oh. Yeah, I guess. You and Celia… nah. Celia and Abad make more sense."

Eliana nodded.

"How'd that happen?"

Nella asked hesitantly, and Duran replied flatly,

"We happened to be dueling at dawn today, and the topic came up. With someone like Celia Zerdinger, weird rumors won't start."

And he was right.

If they denied it, there'd be no scandal.

That's likely why they chose each other.

They were suitable partners from noble families as well.

"Sorry, Nella."

Duran sincerely apologized again.

"If I'd asked you first, would your answer be different?"

"…I wouldn't have said no."

"Then I'm okay."

Nella smiled softly.

"Thanks for your time."

"Sure."

Duran nodded and left.

Nella let out a disappointed sigh.

Eliana, watching her closely, muttered,

"Found it. A safe vault."

"What are you talking about, Eliana?"

"Nella."

"Yeah?"

"You want to go to the dance party with the class president?"