Editor : Amethyst00



After completing his short schedule in Seiren, Leo immediately returned to Lumene.

"How was the meeting among the student council presidents?"

Celia, who had come by the student council president's office to submit the disciplinary report, asked with a curious look.

Leo, instead of answering, shifted his gaze to the side.

Elena, arms crossed, asked with a puzzled expression.

"What's Chelsea doing?"

"Oh, her?"

Celia sighed lightly.

"When I told her she should be nice to someone who might become her sister-in-law, she pounced at me."

"Agh! Agh!"

Chelsea was biting Celia's right hand.

"Chelsea, are you an animal? Maintain the dignity of a noble from Lordren."

At Celia's admonishment, Chelsea let go of her mouth and glared at her with an extremely disgruntled expression.

Celia had been using aura to protect herself.

If Chelsea recklessly used magic against that, Abad would surely scold her. So biting was the most aggressive action Chelsea could take in this situation.

"Who said you're my sister-in-law?!"

"Don't worry. If Abad can't defeat me, it'll never happen."

"My brother can beat you!"

"Then I'll definitely be your sister-in-law."

"That's not going to happen!"

Watching Chelsea argue no matter the direction, Celia turned to Leo and said,

"Leo, it's because you spoil her every time she throws a tantrum. That's why she's become like this."

Leo let out a small chuckle at her words.

"So? What kind of test did you decide on?"

When Celia asked with a curious expression, Leo took off his uniform jacket and loosened his tie as he answered.

"Nothing's set in stone yet. But can you call Xia for me?"

Celia nodded after submitting her report.

"Let's go, Chelsea. Your sister-in-law will treat you to something delicious."

"I told you, you're NOT my sister-in-law!"

The two bickered as they left.

Watching them from the sofa in the student council room, Elena asked,

"Is Celia really serious about marrying Abad?"

"She's been serious about it ever since she developed feelings for him."

"As expected of Lordren nobility—they're so conservative."

Leo gave a slight chuckle at Elena's remark.

Indeed, nobles of the Lordren Empire cared greatly about public opinion.

They placed heavy importance on dignity and honor, especially in matters of relationships.

Of course, not all nobles in the empire were like that.

But Celia and Abad came from the most prestigious families in the empire, so they placed great value on such things.

At that moment, a soft knock came, and Lyl entered.

"Excuse me."

Lyl floated a number of documents with her elemental and placed them neatly on Leo's desk.

"These are the summarized weaknesses of the first-years ahead of their practical evaluation."

"Lyl. I asked Carl to do this—did you do it instead?"

"No, Elena-sunbae. Carl asked me to deliver them on his behalf."

Lyl answered crisply, with a tone reminiscent of a soldier addressing a superior.

Although she usually had a stiff tone, it wasn't to this degree—Leo tilted his head in slight confusion.

"Well then, President. I'll take my leave."

Just as Lyl bowed and turned to leave the room, Leo called out.

"Wait. Come here a second."

Lyl turned sharply and stood expressionless in front of Leo.

"Still sulking, huh?"

"What do you mean?"

"Are you still mad that I said 'Monster Lady' suits you?"

Lyl glared at Leo with a blank face.

"It does suit you, though."

"Hyung-nim. If you keep teasing me like that, I'll really go bad."

Lyl said with a rebellious glare.

At her not-so-subtle threat, Leo narrowed his brows—and then smirked.

"How exactly will you go bad?"

"Okay, enough you two!"

Elena jumped in between them.

"Lyl, you're the bigger person here. He has a mean streak, and when you react like that, he just wants to tease you more."

But Lyl remained serious.

"Don't stop me, Elena-sunbae. I will go bad! I'll rebel against professors and bully juniors and become a delinquent!"

"How are you going to rebel against the professors?"

"I won't do my homework."

"……"

Leo stared blankly at Lyl's serious face, wondering if she was joking.

Elena, too, gave her a dumbfounded look.

But Lyl's expression was genuinely earnest.

The rebelliousness of upright Lyl was… extremely mild.

"How will you bully the juniors?"

Lyl smiled coldly.

"I'll make them run errands."

"This kid's honestly kind of adorable sometimes."

"C-Cute?!"

Startled, Lyl blushed.

She seemed both pleased and flustered that her rebellion wasn't landing as intended.

'If only Velkia or Bihar had been like this, they would've been so much cuter.'

Velkia had been too arrogant, and Bihar was overly mature.

Leo chuckled to himself as he remembered his disciples.

"When you said you were going bad, I thought you meant fighting professors or scaring kids to take their money."

"W-What?! How could you think of something so cruel—that sounds like something Elena-sunbae would do!"

Lyl was appalled.

Elena burst into laughter.

"Lyl, have you noticed how often you've been picking fights with me lately?"

"Eh? Have I?"

Lyl tilted her head.

"You giant monster nun."

"…! Hyung-nim! Elena-sunbae just called me a giant monster!"

"She's not wrong."

"Hyung-nim! Punish her!"

Leo sighed as he watched Lyl complain with a pout.

"Are you kids or something?"

Just as Leo shook his head at the childish quarrel between Lumene's top students—Elena and Lyl—

Knock knock

At the sound of a knock, both girls straightened up as if nothing had happened.

Creak—

"Did you call for me, Leo-doryeong?"

"Good timing. You two may leave now."

Lyl bowed and left, and Elena yawned as she lazily walked out.

Just before the door closed, Elena winked at Leo and blew him a kiss.

"What is it?"

Chen Xia, who had approached Leo, asked with a puzzled look.

"I want to talk with Emperor Xyau regarding the Book of Shadows."

"The Book of Shadows?"

"Yeah. There was a suggestion to use it for the first-years' practical evaluation."

"If it's that, you can do as you like. The Book of Shadows is practically yours."

"Still, it's in Xian Empire's custody. I should inform Emperor Xyau."

"Then I'll deliver your words to Father."

"I'd appreciate it."

That night.

Leo opened his eyes from sleep.

Moonlight cast long shadows across his room.

He sat up, yawning and scratching his head.

["Leo, what do you want to do?"]

Elsie asked with a curious expression.

Currently, Elsie was the only summoned being by his side.

The other high elementals and familiars were in Fairyland, helping prepare for Kiran's coronation.

Since a Fairy King was being born for the first time in millennia, the fairies had insisted on elaborate preparations.

Leo stepped down from his bed and said,

"They're a guest. I can't just kick them out."

At that, Elsie glanced toward the terrace door.

Click— The lock disengaged, and the door slowly slid open.

A handsome middle-aged man stepped into the room.

"It's been a while, King of the Beginning."

Emperor Xyau said with a hearty laugh.

Glancing around the room, he commented,

"Quite a desolate room, I must say."

"I don't like flashy things."

Leo said flatly, pointing to a sofa.

"Sit."

"Then pardon my intrusion."

To an outsider, the scene would have felt strange.

Even if Leo was a hero and now the king of Arhi Kingdom, Xyau was still the emperor of Xian and ruler of all shadows.

He stood at the apex of the Shadow Lords—practically the master of the world's darkness.

To speak so casually to someone of that stature was clearly unusual.

But Xyau hadn't come to meet Leo the Hero—he had come to meet the First Shadow.

The god of shadows before him was the teacher of Xian's founder—addressing him informally was only natural.

"I felt it'd be rude to come empty-handed, so I brought some of my liquor."

Xyau placed a bottle on the sofa table with a grin.

Elsie, now visible, looked on with curiosity.

She sniffed the open bottle and wrinkled her nose.

["Ugh! Booze smell!"]

"Oh ho! You must be the elemental of shadow. A pleasure to meet you."

["Nice to meet you too, Emperor of Xian."]

Elsie beamed as Xyau greeted her kindly.

Xyau smiled warmly and raised the bottle.

"May I offer a drink?"

"No need to be so formal."

"Haha. As Emperor of Xian, I must."

With a jovial response, Xyau poured a drink for Leo.

Leo poured one back for Xyau.

They downed the liquor in one go.

"Ahh—this was brewed by the previous emperor 1,000 years ago. Tastes excellent."

"Quite expensive."

"Only the best for this occasion, of course."

Leo then asked,

"So how did you make it all the way here?"

The Xian Empire and Lumene were extremely far apart.

Even with warp gates, one had to pass through Lake Lumeria.

Lumene was protected by countless magic barriers to prevent outside intrusion.

Even reaching the clock tower dorm was difficult—let alone its top floor.

Especially since Xyau wasn't even a magician.

At Leo's question, Xyau smiled faintly.

"Do you think I lead this era's shadows for nothing?"

With that, Xyau pulled something from his coat.

[Hero Record – Book of Shadows]

"I heard from Xia. This is yours. Use it as you see fit."

"You didn't have to bring it personally."

"This isn't just any item—it's the Book of Shadows. To offer it to you, I, or at least a Shadow Lord or successor, must appear before you in person."

Xyau's expression turned serious.

"Before that… there's something I must humbly ask of you."

"What is it?"

At Leo's question, Xyau fell silent.

A moment later—

He spoke heavily.

"First Shadow…"

Xyau looked into Leo's eyes.

"I beg of you… Please allow me to challenge your world."