Editor : Amethyst00



Due to the Great Families Assembly, Lumene was closed for ten days.

Of course, classes were canceled, but assignments, homework, and supplementary lessons continued as usual.

Still, when humans are suddenly freed from their regular duties, they feel the greatest sense of freedom.

Some students were visibly ecstatic, shouting, "Freedom!"

But of course…

"What?! You want to go to Lumeria City on a weekday? Are you trying to die?! I said it's a school closure! Did I ever say it was a vacation?!"

BANG!

"Eeeeek!"

"I—I'm sorry!"

Some students got so excited they crossed the line.

A few students who misinterpreted the school closure as a holiday tried to get permission to go out, only to get beaten and chased off by Professor Artienne, the disciplinary officer.

So it wasn't uncommon to see students running away from Artienne around the Tower of Heroes.

"How pathetic."

Eliza clicked her tongue as she watched the scene while sipping coffee and reading a book at a street café near the Tower of Heroes.

Students passing by looked at Eliza with admiration or blushed in embarrassment.

"Don't you think Eliza-sunbae has gotten even prettier lately?"

"Yeah."

Underclassmen whispered as they passed.

As usual, Eliza paid no attention to the gazes and enjoyed her time alone.

"Eliza. Alone?"

A familiar voice called out.

Eliza glanced up from her book.

She inserted her bookmark, uncrossed her legs, and sat upright.

"Mind if we join you?"

"Sure."

Elena and Lyl sat across from Eliza.

Lyl placed a cup of milk tea in front of Elena.

In front of herself, she set a small piece of cake and a cup of milk.

"Eliza, is the coffee good?"

"Yes."

"You didn't even put sugar in it—doesn't it taste bitter?"

"No."

"You're like an adult."

Lyl said admiringly, and Elena commented,

"Hey, Lyl. Is that something you should be saying to a junior?"

"But I can't handle bitter things."

"You drink alcohol just fine."

Elena smirked and picked up the only fork on the table.

"Ah! Elena-sunbae, you said you didn't want any."

"I suddenly feel like eating."

"Then you should've ordered your own!"

"Stealing tastes better."

Lyl looked sorrowfully at Elena as she looted her cake.

Elena, fork in mouth, rested her chin on her hand and looked at Eliza.

"Still, reading a book? That doesn't suit you."

"Sunbae, that's rude. Eliza looks like a literary girl."

"Pfft! A literary girl?!"

Elena burst out laughing at Lyl's comment.

Of course, Eliza wasn't offended.

Rather, Lyl's overly kind compliment made her feel shy.

"I know it doesn't suit me, so no need to force it, Lyl-sunbae."

"U-uh… um…"

Elena smirked at Lyl's flustered reaction.

"Lyl, you know being flustered like that is more insulting than me just laughing, right?"

"Uuugh…"

Lyl looked distressed, then carefully said,

"As an apology, I'll buy you cake."

"It's fine. You don't need to worry about it."

"Lyl. You should get more for yourself, not Eliza."

Elena, having already devoured all of Lyl's cake, shrugged.

Lyl glared at Elena bitterly.

"I bought it anyway. Just put it on my tab."

With that, Lyl went to order more cake.

"So what book are you reading?"

"A newly released novel by an elf writer."

"That's rare. An elf publishing a new book in human society?"

It was unimaginable just a short while ago, considering how arrogant elves used to be.

Usually, elf literature only reached other races much later.

Books coming in or going out had to go through censorship.

But lately, elves had begun to actively embrace other cultures, especially human ones, changing things.

"Is it interesting?"

"Yes. I've only read the beginning, but it's very engaging. Quite dynamic for an elf author."

Elf novels were typically calm and introspective. This one was the opposite.

Elena tilted her head at the mention of an adventure novel.

"A famous author?"

"It's a pen name I've never seen before."

At that moment, Lyl returned with the cake and sat down.

"Oh, that novel…?"

She widened her eyes at the cover.

"You know it too?"

"Yes. I've read it all. It's an adventure novel, but…"

"…?"

"The content gets pretty intense near the end."

"Huh?"

"It's very racy."

Elena chuckled teasingly.

"So the successor of the Hergin family likes sensual novels?"

"That's not it."

Eliza sighed and put the book into her bag.

"Aha, now that you have a fiancé, you're interested in that stuff…"

"No!"

Eliza, usually calm, blushed and raised her voice.

Seeing her reaction, Lyl said seriously,

"Eliza. You shouldn't react like that when Elena-sunbae teases you. That evil witch just gets worse if you do."

"Lyl, you've grown bold."

"I've been taller since first year."

"I've raised a tiger cub."

Elena beamed at the unyielding Lyl.

Watching them, Eliza rubbed her temples.

"Still, aren't you a little too relaxed? The Great Families Assembly is right around the corner."

As the heir of the Hergin family, Eliza should have a lot to prepare.

But she replied calmly,

"Carl is the official representative for the Hergin family this time. My father and Carl are the busy ones. I'm just the figurehead."

"It's pretty radical, now that I think about it. Your fiancé is representing your house. Lord Hergin must really like Carl."

"…"

"What a shame. I trained him well, and now Hergin just took him away."

"Honestly, Sunbae, you didn't 'train' Carl. You just dumped work on him."

"You want to keep mouthing off like that?"

Elena pinched Lyl's lips lightly.

Just then, Eliza noticed Carl walking in the distance.

Beside him was a girl. She froze.

The girl walking with Carl was none other than Juen.

Following Eliza's gaze, Elena smiled knowingly.

"Carl's pretty popular, huh?"

"Yes. He's going to be my husband. That's the least he should be."

Eliza replied nonchalantly, and Elena smiled again.

"Not going to follow him?"

"I may not have been Carl's lover for long, but I've known him since our first year. In our second year, we even shared the same dorm. I know him better than anyone—better than Leo Plov, who's been glued to him all three years."

"Hoh?"

Elena looked intrigued.

"Carl isn't the type to betray the trust of someone important to him."

"Your trust is so solid it's boring."

"Just admit you're jealous, Sunbae."

WHACK!

"Ugh!"

Lyl muttered and got elbowed by Elena.

bl

"Thanks, Juen. You explained the relationship between the southern noble houses and the Hergin family really well."

"I'm glad I could help."

Juen smiled sweetly.

Carl scratched his head awkwardly.

He wasn't clueless.

He had already realized what Juen felt for him.

But his heart was already full of someone else.

Because of that, it had been awkward dealing with Juen lately.

It was Juen who had first brought up offering information about the southern houses.

As she stared at Carl, Juen spoke.

"Carl-sunbae."

"Yeah?"

"The best decision I made after entering Lumene was choosing you as my mentor."

"…"

"Thanks to you, I've grown as a mage—no, I've grown two levels."

"You would've done fine without me…"

"No. That's not true."

She shook her head and looked straight at him.

"Carl-sunbae. I like you. I just really wanted to say that."

"Juen… uh…"

"You don't have to answer. I already know."

A teenage girl's heart is complicated.

It's fierce and impulsive.

She wanted to cry, to beg, to scream that she could treat him better.

Even if it was pathetic, she wanted to cling, to say, "Why not just cheat once?"

That's how sincere Juen's feelings were.

But because she was sincere, she understood.

Carl wasn't the kind of person who would betray someone's trust.

Juen smiled softly.

"Please stay as my mentor. I still have so much to learn from you."

"Yeah."

Carl nodded.

"I'll be going now."

With that, Juen turned and walked away.

Carl watched her back, then glanced to the side.

Step.

Leo was standing beside him.

"You heard?"

"Sorry. It just happened."

Leo looked apologetic.

Carl said,

"Leo."

"Yeah?"

"Can you make it rain? Please."

"…"

Leo summoned the water elemental Undine and made it rain.

Patter—SPLASH—

As the rain started, Leo pulled an umbrella from subspace.

"What should I do in times like this?"

"Well… there's no real answer."

"No answer?"

"Time will probably fix it."

"…You sound like a grown-up."

Carl chuckled.

Leo offered him the umbrella, but Carl shook his head.

"I'll just get wet."

Leo nodded and turned away.