Editor : Amethyst00



As the start time of the Inter-department Tournament drew near, outside guests began taking their seats one by one.

In the midst of that, a commotion broke out in one corner.

“No way… the Mage of the Mystic Eye, Albi Zeron?”

“For him to participate in an academy event, how surprising.”

The outside dignitaries whispered as they saw Albi seated among the spectators.

But no one dared approach him.

For as much as he was renowned as a Hero, there were just as many who feared him.

“For Uncle to come watch an event like this. That’s unexpected.”

A female student, her arms full of snacks, walked up casually and sat beside Albi.

The outside dignitaries began murmuring again.

She was Elena Zeron, acting head of House Zeron during her father’s absence and a prodigy famed as a genius of magic.

‘So that’s… the arrogant genius, Elena.’

Just then, while the outsiders looked on with interest, a young man in his twenties strode confidently up to Elena.

“Greetings, Lady Elena.”

“And you are?”

“My name is Alrak Turka. Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Turka.”

The Kingdom of Turka.

Situated on the border between the western and central regions, it was a hub of trade.

And Alrak was the crown prince of that kingdom.

‘As the rumors said… she is beautiful.’

Seeing Elena up close, Alrak swallowed hard.

She was so breathtakingly beautiful it made his chest tighten.

Even as royalty, having met countless beauties, he had never seen anyone like her.

Moreover, Elena was a powerful Hero candidate with an extraordinary background.

For marriageable Alrak, she was a most tempting match.

‘Best to start by building rapport. With my status, she can’t simply dismiss me.’

While stealing glances at Elena’s school uniform skirt, Alrak put on a soft smile.

“To be graced with the presence of the famed Lady Elena is a great honor. Please, grant me the chance to escort you.”

With courtesy, he bent one knee and boldly reached for Elena’s hand.

Elena gave a gentle smile.

Interpreting that smile as favorable, Alrak inwardly rejoiced.

But then, pink mana shimmered around his body.

“Wha—?”

Without even sparing him a glance, Elena flicked her finger.

Whoosh! Crack!

“Guahk!”

Alrak slammed into the spectator seats.

“How dare you!”

He leapt up furiously.

“Do you even know who I am!”

“Are you angry?”

Elena widened her eyes and asked.

Alrak’s blazing eyes suddenly turned hazy.

“N-no, not at all!”

“Right? You’re not angry, are you?”

“Of course not! To think I’d get mad over something like this! Hahaha!”

“Then since I’m uncomfortable, would you kindly get out of my sight?”

“Understood!”

It was outrageously rude to say such a thing to a crown prince.

Yet Alrak took no offense and scurried away like a dog out of Elena’s view.

Elena pulled out perfume from her pocket and sprayed it into the air.

The outsiders around them stared at her with dismayed expressions.

‘As expected of Elena Zeron…!’

‘To cause such diplomatic offenses so casually!’

‘The Witch of Lumene!’

Before she was called the Queen, Elena had also been known as the Witch.

“I told you not to use that power carelessly.”

Albi spoke in an icy tone, but Elena replied lazily.

“You saw it too, Uncle. He was the one staring at me with dirty eyes first.”

She scoffed.

From childhood, blessed with both powerful lineage and stunning beauty, Elena was long accustomed to people’s greedy stares.

No matter how well hidden, she could easily sense such intentions.

“And besides, I hardly used any mana. Isn’t it incompetence if he can’t even resist that much?”

Elena smiled brightly.

Her innate gift was a charm that captivated hearts with her looks and charisma.

In her youth, it had simply made others follow her easily. But by now, her very gaze alone could enthral people with an almost demonic allure.

“So, what brings you here, Uncle?”

“There’s a student I wanted to see.”

“A student you’re interested in?”

“A student worthy of being called a Hero.”

Elena, opening a snack bag, froze.

‘A student worthy of being a Hero? He’s never said that to me, not even once.’

“You mean Leo Plov?”

“Yes.”

Elena’s lips curved upward.

As heir of House Zeron, she had met countless Heroes and Hero candidates since childhood.

Yet to her eyes, none embodied the name Hero as fittingly as Albi himself.

‘Not even Father.’

That was why Elena had always, if unconsciously, sought his recognition.

But never once had Albi acknowledged her.

‘And now he recognizes some student?’

Her cold gaze shifted toward Leo in the distance.

‘This could be interesting.’

bl

[Honored guests, welcome. I am Sedgen, and I will be hosting today’s Inter-department Tournament.]

Sedgen’s voice rang across the entire Erek training ground.

The murmuring crowd quieted, focusing on him.

[As previously announced, this Inter-department Tournament will be a battle royale! Your skill, strategy, and survival ability will be tested until one glorious final survivor remains! The department of that final survivor will be declared the victor!]

“A battle royale?”

“Never seen such a format before.”

“So it’s more like an individual contest than a departmental one.”

The guests’ eyes lit with interest.

It was an unusual format, and all the more engaging.

‘Especially since this year has many outstanding students.’

‘We’ll have to sponsor promising ones and bring them over to our side in the future.’

Sedgen continued his explanation.

[Each of you will be given an artifact that monitors your condition! If the artifact detects that your life is in danger, you’ll be teleported back here instantly!]

He held up a magical bracelet for them to see.

[In other words… it means you can torment opponents without killing them. A word of warning, though—don’t abuse this.]

For once, his eyes turned cold as he swept over the students.

The first-years flinched.

[And to our honored guests, take note.]

Turning to the spectators, Sedgen spoke solemnly.

As one of Lumene’s most renowned professors, his words made everyone tense.

[The main highlight of this tournament will be the elegant performances of our First-Year Class 1 students! So when Class 1 comes out, please—]

“Drag him down.”

Without hesitation, Harrid cut in.

At his command, Ain and Len mounted the stage and hauled Sedgen away.

“H-how dare you! After all I’ve done for you back in your school days! You traitors! Let me go! Let go, I say!”

As Professor Sedgen was dragged off the stage, the crowd sat dumbfounded.

“Class 1! Show us your elegant performance!”

Carl shouted playfully, setting off laughter among the first-years.

Step, step—

But the relaxed mood hardened again when a single man stepped onto the stage.

It was the professor most feared by the students: Harrid.

[Before we begin, one announcement. This Inter-department Tournament will also count as your final practical exam.]

“Wh-whAAAAT?!”

“This is the final exam?!”

[The tournament’s goal is pure survival, but the exam is not. Every action of yours will be recorded in your bracelet. A student who falls early may still score higher than one who lasts longer. So think carefully about every action. That is all.]

Hearing this, Leo smirked.

‘Smart move.’

Normally, students could band together within their departments to take down the others.

They could even sacrifice themselves for their department’s victory.

But not if it was also the final exam.

‘If they act only for their department and botch their own score, it could ruin them. This changes everything—strategy becomes more important than ever.’

While Leo’s eyes gleamed, Harrid declared:

“The tournament will begin in ten minutes. Prepare yourselves.”

Assistants moved around distributing the bracelets.

“Phew, I’m nervous.”

Carl muttered stiffly, and Leo chuckled.

“You’ll do fine, Carl.”

“Of course. But you be careful too. A lot of people are after you.”

“Don’t worry.”

The two bumped fists.

“Me too! Class rep, share some of that good luck!”

Eliana rushed over, and they bumped fists as well.

That started a chain, with all the Class 5 students coming over to Leo.

“Leo-Oppa, good luck.”

“You too.”

Finally, after bumping fists with Chelsea, Harrid spoke.

[Preparation time is over. The Inter-department Tournament begins now.]

Wummm—!

At his words, a massive magic circle spread across the ground.

As announced, they would all be teleported at once to Neigrang.

Flash—!

Bright light swallowed their vision.

Whooooosh—!

And when they opened their eyes—

“Kyaaaaaaaah!”

“Wh-what the hell?!”

“We can’t use magic?!”

The entire first-year cohort screamed as they plummeted from the sky.

Before he fell, Leo took in the ruined city of Neigrang.

‘The whole city is steeped in curses!’

Now he understood why it was abandoned land.

‘The curses keep activating and dissipating over and over.’

There was only one safe zone.

‘The only area without curses is…’

His eyes fixed on the massive castle at the city’s center.

‘The castle ruins!’

Fwoosh—!

Leo adjusted his posture, minimizing air resistance as he fell.

‘Getting to the castle is the priority!’

Just before hitting the ground, the artifact’s built-in levitation magic slowed his fall and set him down safely.

Tap—!

Leo landed in perfect form.

The ruined city was choked with overgrown vegetation.

Unmaintained human civilization had crumbled pitifully under nature.

‘This area’s curse hasn’t activated yet. Better hurry to the castle…’

“Gasp! Leo Plov!”

A male student from the Magic Department, who landed shortly after, spotted Leo and flinched.

“Hm? You are?”

“Wh-what? You’re going to fight me now?!”

The boy, tense and wary, was someone Leo recognized.

‘Jevin, wasn’t it?’

He was the student who’d clung to Chloe until just before midterms.

“I don’t particularly intend to fight right away.”

As Leo dismissed him, Jevin gave a sly grin.

“Really? Too bad for you, I do!”

“What?”

Raising his staff, Jevin fired a spell into the air.

Ziiing! Boom!

Leo narrowed his eyes and turned.

“There are quite a few who don’t like you, not just from my department.”

With a crooked smile, Jevin aimed his staff at Leo.

“So we came up with an idea. When we meet you, we gang up and take you down first.”

From all around, presences closed in quickly.

“Don’t take it too hard! Cooperation is a strategy too!”

“Not that I mind.”

Leo chuckled.

“But can you handle the consequences?”