Editor : Amethyst00



In front of the Heroes' Tower at the center of Lumene were various external vendors.

Starting with upscale cafés and restaurants, there were famous eateries selling traditional foods from all around the world.

Just like entering Lumene wasn't easy, securing a shop space there was no different.

Every chef there was of top-class caliber, which is why the area in front of the Heroes' Tower was always bustling with students.

Of course, Lumene's school meals were delicious, but no matter how good a dish is, you naturally get tired of it if you eat it every day.

Among the vendors was a large café called "Abundance's Afternoon."

Its outdoor seating was packed with students.

At one of those tables sat Carl, sipping warm coffee with a relaxed expression.

"Phew. A good cup of coffee after exams is just the right kind of bittersweet."

Eliana, sitting across from him, also took a sip of her tea and agreed with his relaxed murmur.

"Nothing beats a good teatime after exams."

With a warm and peaceful atmosphere, Carl and Eliana laughed leisurely.

First-year students passing by looked at the two with eyes full of admiration.

"Wow, Senior Carl and Senior Eliana look so relaxed."

"Well, Senior Carl has reached the rank of Hero, and Senior Eliana is the top magic swordswoman among the third-years. Midterms are probably a breeze for them."

Listening to the murmurs of the first-years, Carl and Eliana relaxed even more.

A little later—

As lunch ended, the first-years returned to their classrooms.

Unlike the third-years who had finished their exams early, the first-years still had midterms remaining.

Just then, Chelsea, Nella, and Tade arrived at the plaza and spotted the two.

"What are you guys doing?"

Tade asked with an incredulous look, and Carl set down his coffee cup with a click and replied,

"We're enjoying the leisure of those who've finished their exams."

"Enjoying, my ass. Looks to me like you're just fooling around after bombing the test."

Despite Chelsea's sharp and merciless jab, Carl and Eliana kept their composed expressions.

"You know, Chelsea…"

Eliana set down her teacup and looked at Chelsea.

"We're third-years now. Soon we'll be fourth-years."

"So?"

"So we've been through too much to get all worked up just because we bombed the midterms."

"Exactly. Eliana's right."

Carl chimed in enthusiastically.

Watching them, Tade clicked his tongue in pity.

"They're broken. Nella, can't you fix them?"

"Hmm… I can't really help with mental damage…"

Nella looked slightly troubled, then raised her morning star and asked, "Should I give them a little jolt with this?"

At her question, the previously composed Carl and Eliana flinched.

"Nella."

"Yeah?"

"Please don't. At least you stay sane."

When Tade spoke seriously, Nella smiled sweetly.

"Just kidding."

"Your jokes are getting more and more brutal, you know."

Tade clicked his tongue.

In any case, once Nella tucked her morning star away, Carl and Eliana regained their composure.

"But are you two really okay? I heard students with low written scores have to attend supplementary classes."

Carl and Eliana turned to look at Chelsea again.

"I'll say it again, Chelsea. We've been through too much to get shaken up by something like that."

"Yeah. We even fought in the battle against Erebos not long ago. You think we're scared of some extra classes?"

Chelsea looked at the two who were puffing themselves up with strangely mature expressions and clicked her tongue.

"These idiots have become mentally tough for no good reason."

"Hahaha."

"Hohoho."

As Chelsea sighed at the unshaken pair,

"Everyone's gathered, huh?"

"Ah! Leo!"

Chelsea greeted the newly arrived Leo with a bright smile.

They had plans to go out to Lumeria City in celebration of finishing the midterms.

"How were your exams?"

At Leo's question, Chelsea crossed her arms and lifted her chin.

"Hmph! As perfect as always."

"Same here, business as usual."

Nella smiled calmly as always.

Tade also responded confidently.

"I did well this time too."

"That's unexpected, Tade."

"What do you mean unexpected?"

As Tade grumbled, Leo laughed and looked at Carl and Eliana.

"You two…"

"As you can see, we bombed."

Tade shrugged, and Leo clicked his tongue.

"Too bad."

"Huh? Why?"

Tade asked curiously, and Leo answered casually,

"This time, supplementary classes for third-years are being handled by the professors who were their homeroom teachers back in first year."

At those words, the calm atmosphere around Carl and Eliana instantly froze.

Eliana, who had just lifted her teacup, started to tremble.

"C-Class President… If it's our first-year homeroom professor… don't tell me…"

"For us, that's Professor Harrid."

"Kyaaaaaa!"

Eliana screamed involuntarily and clutched her head.

In the process, her teacup went flying into the air.

Chelsea caught both the teacup and its contents using magic and gave her a pitiful look.

"Too bad. I guarantee it. You two are dead meat with Professor Harrid."

"Wow. If I were you, I'd just off myself."

Tade gave them a sympathetic smile.

"Class President! Tell me it's a lie! Please!"

"Leo! Say it isn't true!"

With tearful faces, Carl and Eliana clung to Leo's arms and pleaded.

Leo simply shook his head as they hung off him.

"Still, it's unexpected. Having the first-year homeroom professors handle extra classes?"

"They said it's around the time when students start getting cocky and slacking off in liberal arts exams, so they want to bring them back to basics with their old teachers."

In Lumene, written tests were important, but students could avoid failing with just their practical scores.

That's why by third year, some students started taking the liberal arts and written exams lightly—just aiming to pass.

But Lumene's goal wasn't just to produce heroes skilled in combat.

Its mission was to train well-rounded individuals capable of leading the times.

That's why neglecting even liberal arts was not tolerated.

And who better to handle such discipline than the professors who had known the students the longest—their first-year homerooms?

"You've been crushed by the disaster you summoned yourself."

Tade shook his head, looking at the now gloomy Carl and Eliana, who exuded an aura of despair.

"Lucky are the fallen leaves. They don't have to attend supplementary classes."

Eliana, crouched on the ground, poked at the leaves scattered about.

The dry leaves crumbled.

Watching that, Carl murmured, "I want to become a leaf. Then I wouldn't have to attend extra classes…"

"They're totally broken."

Nella sighed.

Of course, Chelsea didn't care about the two gloomy souls at all.

"So where should we go today?"

"Let's start with lunch. I've been craving Eastern traditional food."

"I know a great place. I went there with Xia once."

As Leo and Chelsea completely ignored the downcast pair and talked about lunch, Tade clicked his tongue.

"You're not even a little concerned about them?"

To that, Leo and Chelsea answered in unison, "We're not the ones attending extra classes."

Hearing the exact same response word-for-word, Tade let out a chuckle.

"You two are starting to sound alike."

bl

"Wow, this is delicious!"

Eliana exclaimed, eyes sparkling, with a dumpling in her mouth.

Nella smiled gently at the sight.

"Glad to see you bounced back quickly."

"I've decided to think about tomorrow when it comes! What matters is enjoying now!"

"That's the exact mindset of someone who lives only for today."

As Chelsea pointed out, Eliana pouted and immediately stole one of Chelsea's leftover dumplings with a fork.

"Hey!"

When Chelsea glared, Eliana stuck out her tongue.

"That's for teasing me earlier!"

Then she popped the dumpling in her mouth.

"Hot hot hot!"

She jumped up after burning the roof of her mouth.

"You little—!"

Chelsea stood up in anger, but Leo intervened.

"I'll give you mine. Don't fight. And Eliana, stop teasing her so much."

"Ugh… okay."

When Leo offered his dumpling, Chelsea nodded obediently.

Carl clicked his tongue at the scene.

"You guys are like ten-year-olds. Fighting over food, really?"

"Food is serious business, Carl."

Eliana mumbled while chewing, and Carl shook his head.

"I still can't believe you're all from noble families. When we first enrolled, I thought all noble girls were like you."

"Oho?"

Eliana exclaimed in amusement.

Chelsea glanced sideways at Carl and asked, "What about now?"

"I now know you two are the weird ones. Eliza and Nella are normal."

With that, both Eliana and Chelsea started stealing Carl's food.

Carl made a teary face.

"I'm sorry. Please forgive me."

Only after apologizing did the now-starving Carl finally get a proper meal.

After finishing their late lunch, Nella spoke up.

"Nella, what are you going to buy?"

"Well… I heard a new morning star model came out, so I want to check that out first."

"Ooh! I was going to check out the new stuff at the forge too!"

"I'm looking for close-combat daggers."

As the girls chatted about shopping over dessert, Tade muttered, "Other than the content, this sounds like a normal conversation among girls."

"What are you talking about? This is normal talk."

Carl pointed out, and Tade sighed.

"For Lumene standards, sure."

Before they knew it, the girls' conversation had shifted to topics like smashing enemy skulls, decapitations, and hitting vital points.

Perfectly normal by Lumene standards—but definitely not what average girls their age would discuss.

"I swear, I'm going to marry a normal girl."

At Tade's resolution, Carl chuckled.

"Like that's going to go your way."

"Why not? I'm pretty average. I'll graduate, earn some honors, retire early, and enjoy a peaceful life."

"Just hanging out with us already ruined your chances at 'average.'"

"You think so?"

Tade laughed at Carl's remark.

"By the way, I heard there's a night market today."

"Ah! But there's a curfew! If I'd known, I would've applied for an overnight pass!"

Eliana screamed at Nella's words.

"We can go tomorrow."

"But Chelsea! The first day of a night market is always the best!"

"That's true…"

Chelsea looked disappointed.

Eliana clasped her hands and looked brightly at Leo.

"Mr. Student Council President! Can't you issue overnight passes with your authority?"

"No."

"Aww, come on!"

Eliana gave him big puppy eyes, but Carl rummaged through his coat and pulled out a piece of paper.

"I've got an overnight pass."

"Carl, why didn't you tell us earlier if you knew about the night market?"

Nella asked, to which Carl shrugged.

"I didn't get it for the night market."

"Then what for?"

Nella tilted her head, and Carl smiled.

"For a date."