Editor : Amethyst00



The special lecture hall of Seiren was filled with nearly the entire student body of elves from early morning.

Teacher Herdium, who taught star sorcery to the third-year class, felt his chest swell with emotion at the sight.

He was a teacher who valued the dignity and prestige of elves.

But more than that, he deeply valued the essence of being a mage.

"For our Seiren students to be burning with such academic passion—what a day!"

Ever since the Poet of the Star reappeared and Lunia was officially recognized as her successor, Seiren had changed.

The old atmosphere of shunning and distancing itself from anything outside of Seiren had vanished.

Now, students had the attitude to purely research and embrace external magic as true mages.

Pride shimmered in Herdium's eyes as he looked at the students.

"Headmaster! Our Seiren will continue to grow stronger from now on!"

Rune Ersar, who had become Seiren's headmaster, replied warmly to Herdium.

"Yes. It's time for this old one to step back from the front lines."

"What are you saying! You're the one who must lead the reformation of Seiren!"

Rune was both the most senior elder among the elves and also one of the most open-minded.

He was thus flexible in thinking and ideal for harmony with other races.

And for that very reason, he also understood elves deeply.

"No, Teacher Herdium. A new era needs young people."

Rune smiled and patted Herdium on the shoulder.

In truth, Herdium was a strong candidate to become Seiren's next headmaster.

"The future of Seiren depends on what you do. So during my remaining term, I will uphold tradition."

"Ah! As expected of you, Headmaster. You wish to show the students that not only new things but also the culture we've preserved is important!"

"That's right. The culture we've maintained isn't inherently wrong. The fault lies only with those who've distorted it."

"You're right as always! You've given me great enlightenment!"

Herdium was genuinely moved.

Seeing this, Rune thought:

'I don't want to go through all the trial and error at the end of my life.'

It was true that Seiren needed to change.

It was necessary to correct the bad customs and laws that had settled under the guise of tradition, and also to ensure reforms didn't veer too radically.

But Rune, who knew elves well, also knew how difficult that process would be.

Given the elves' extreme tendencies, holding onto tradition would be even harder.

Rune didn't want to be the one to carry out such reforms.

'I want to live a long, peaceful life. I still want to see my grandchildren have great-grandchildren.'

Rune's honest feeling was that he didn't want to take on anything that might cause him stress at his age.

'I have to pass it on before they catch on.'

While Rune was pondering the timing to pass on the headmaster role—

Leo entered the lecture hall.

The students of Seiren turned toward him with shining eyes.

Especially the first- and second-years—there was something intense about their gaze.

Leo climbed the platform and spoke.

"I'm Leo Plov. Today I'll begin a lecture on interpreting the Flower Blossoming Sorcery."

With those words, all eyes focused on him with excitement.

Currently, the only mage in the world capable of using flower-blossoming sorcery was Leo.

A lecture on a magic considered the foundation of star sorcery was enough to thrill any Seiren student.

Sitting at the front, Lunia opened her notebook with a curious look.

'By the way, where on earth did Eiran go?'

This special lecture wasn't mandatory.

But if it was Eiran, there's no way she'd skip Leo's lecture.

'Is she sick?'

Just as concern began to cloud Lunia's face—

"Lunia."

"Huh?"

"Can you help me?"

Leo, who had been lecturing from the front, called out to her.

"I need an elf who can explain magical formula interpretation from a Seiren student's perspective."

"Alright."

Lunia nodded and stood up.

"Do you have a Seiren magic class textbook?"

"Yes."

She grabbed her schoolbag and walked up to the front of the lecture hall.

Seeing this, admiration deepened on the faces of the Seiren students.

"We get to listen to a lecture by the successors of the Poet and the Hero of Beginnings…"

"Will those two, after graduation, become a loving couple like Luna and Kyle?"

Whispers from the first-years reached Lunia's ears.

'What are they saying now!'

Even though they were hushed whispers, Lunia could hear them clearly.

'Leo must've heard too.'

Embarrassed, she coughed and tried to act natural.

But in her fluster, she missed a step while climbing the stairs to the platform.

"Wah?!"

A startled voice escaped Lunia.

While regaining balance, she dropped her schoolbag.

Thud! Clatter—!

Her textbooks scattered across the platform.

Thankfully, she didn't fall.

Leo had reached out to stop her just in time.

In the process, Lunia ended up in Leo's arms, and her face turned crimson.

A mixture of teasing and shrieking echoed across the room.

"W-what!"

"You know you're kinda clumsy?"

Leo chuckled and helped her steady herself.

Frowning, Lunia began picking up her scattered textbooks.

Leo also helped and then paused as he happened to read something in the open book.

Lunia, packing her pens and notebook, noticed the book Leo was reading—and froze.

It was a mysterious novel she had confiscated from Leah and shoved into her bag.

She had skimmed it but couldn't finish it because the content was too obscene.

And for some reason, the male lead resembled Leo.

Leo's red eyes turned to Lunia.

She spoke with a serious face.

"…It's not mine."

"…"

"It's not mine!"

Her sudden declaration confused the students.

Leo just smiled and handed the book back.

"Well then, let's resume the lecture."

"I said it's not mine."

"Okay, I got it."

Leo nodded.

And then he muttered softly—just enough for Lunia to hear.

"I respect your taste."

"I told you, it's not mine, you jerk!"

Enraged, Lunia grabbed Leo by the collar.

"Miss Lunia!"

Teacher Herdium, pale-faced, rushed to the platform to intervene.

bl

At the dormitory building where Seiren's students stayed—

Eiran was cautiously looking around as she walked.

'I want to attend Sir Leo's lecture, but…'

She was being so wary it was almost suspicious.

Eiran stopped in front of a door.

'I need to get that book back.'

Gulping, she tried the doorknob.

Click!

As expected, it was locked.

The dorm doors in Seiren were all protected by magic.

So she couldn't just open it with magic carelessly.

But Eiran had a plan.

She pulled out two hairpins from her hair.

Then she straightened them and inserted them into the keyhole, twisting them carefully.

Elves, being a magical race, relied heavily on magic.

So physical lock security was somewhat weak.

And who would think a Seiren student would pick a lock?

Eiran pressed her ear to the lock and focused as she turned the pins.

Her eyes sparkled.

Click! Creak—!

The door opened.

Grinning, she retrieved her hairpins—when a voice came from behind.

"Do they teach that at Seiren too?"

"Eek?!"

Startled, Eiran fell forward.

"M-miss Drianna…!"

When she turned to look, she gasped.

"…Miss Aru!"

"They teach stealing at Seiren now?"

Aru tilted her head, and Eiran shook hers wildly.

"Of course not! I, I just read a book and taught myself!"

"A book?"

"Yes!"

Eiran stood up.

"Why would you learn that from a book?"

"Uh, um! I read a novel with a phantom thief protagonist and… it just looked cool… so I tried it and, well… it worked?"

Drianna looked dumbfounded.

"Eiran, maybe you have a natural talent for crime."

Eiran looked like she was about to cry and shook her head.

Then Aru pointed at the door.

"So whose room is this?"

"Um… it's mine."

"You expect us to believe that?"

Aru narrowed her eyes.

"Come on! Eiran! Even if Aru is an idiot, that excuse won't work!"

"Who are you calling an idiot, brat?"

Aru snorted and leaned on Drianna's head.

"…Who taught you such creepy behavior?"

Drianna's voice carried a hint of anger.

Aru grinned.

"Elena Zeron!"

"I knew it. No way you'd come up with such a provocation on your own."

"What's wrong with my brain?!"

"Nothing!"

"Wanna go?!"

"You think I won't?"

"Shhh! Quiet!"

Eiran shushed them with a finger to her lips.

"So? Whose room is this?"

Sniff sniff "Lunia's, I think," Aru said, wrinkling her nose.

"Well… I lent her something and came to get it. I was in a rush, so I had to, uh… hahaha…"

Aru and Drianna looked at her pitifully.

Whatever the reason, it was best to pretend they didn't know.

"Whatever it is, find it quickly."

"We're going to eat."

After they left, Eiran sighed in relief and entered Lunia's room.

She began searching for the book.

She avoided anything that seemed private, but the book was nowhere to be found.

'Where is it?'

Just then, her ears twitched.

'Huh? Why?'

She heard student voices outside.

The lecture shouldn't be over yet—why were students returning?

Panicked, Eiran hesitated.

If she left now, she'd be caught trespassing.

As she panicked—

Thump— thump— thump—

She heard irritated footsteps.

'Ah! It's Lunia!'

Eiran gasped and crawled under the bed.

Moments later—

The door opened and shut.

"Ahhhhh!"

Lunia screamed and threw herself onto the bed.

"Why did I put that in my bag by accident?! I'm so embarrassed! Now Leo probably thinks I read stuff like that!"

Thrashing in shame, she suddenly jumped up.

"That damn Leah, I swear—!"

Rustle! Thud!

A book fell to the floor—right in front of Eiran's eyes.

As Lunia reached down to pick it up, Eiran's heart sank.

"I should just burn it… wait?"

Lunia paused.

"This handwriting… looks familiar…"

'Gasp!'

Eiran's eyes widened.

"Ah. Whatever. No one I know writes stuff like this."

Shaking her head, Lunia got up.

"Ugh! The special lecture got delayed because of me… I need to clear things up with Leo too!"

With a deep sigh, she left the room.

A moment later—

Eiran scrambled out and grabbed the book.

Sensing the students were gone, she quickly fled from Lunia's room.

'No one can find out! Never!'