Editor : Amethyst00



"Phew—this semester is coming to an end too."

The central lounge of the Lumene Clocktower Dormitory was a place frequented by the entire student body, packed with all sorts of facilities for students' convenience.

There, sitting down, Eliana took a sip from the black liquid in her mug with a wistful expression.

Passing first-year students looked at Eliana with eyes full of admiration, and a few of the male freshmen even blushed.

"Wow. Eliana-sunbae really looks so composed."

"Is that what they call the leisure of a coffee break?"

"I want to look like that to the freshmen too once I become a second-year… What should I do?"

As Eliana turned her head toward the whispering freshmen, they instantly made flustered expressions.

To those first-years, Eliana gave a gentle smile.

At that, the freshmen let out even more gasps of admiration.

Meanwhile—

Watching that scene from across Eliana, Chelsea could only shake her head in disbelief.

"Today, the coffee smells really good, doesn't it? Right, Chelsea?"

'That's cocoa though.'

Making a face like she was dumbfounded, Chelsea muttered quietly.

"You've somehow managed to keep up that act for a whole year?"

Eliana's project of appearing like a graceful, beautiful, and strong elite senior to the freshmen was still in progress.

Of course, it hadn't been smooth sailing all the way.

There had been several close calls here and there.

Especially when she had to take remedial classes after the midterm exams.

But Eliana managed to get past those crises by shaping the image that it was all part of a secret mission.

As a result, among the first-years, Eliana was still considered a model student who was both wise and powerful.

At this point, the upperclassmen who knew the truth were tacitly keeping Eliana's secret.

Because they were curious how the first-years would react once the truth was revealed.

"Thanks to that."

"I've seen it for a year now, but I still can't get used to it."

Recalling Eliana clinging with a teary face the moment the first-years were out of sight, Chelsea shook her head.

'Still, it's pretty amazing.'

If the dorms were divided by year levels like in the first and second years, it might have been different.

But for her to keep up that façade and fool the first-years in a dorm shared by all grades—now that was impressive.

'Could it be… she's actually not an idiot?'

Such a thought rose quietly in her mind.

But then, recalling how Eliana's grades had dropped compared to her first and second year, Chelsea shook her head again.

'Nope. She's definitely a fool. She messed up her grades worrying about keeping up this ridiculous image.'

While Eliana was the most skilled in practicals among the third-years, her grades in theory and liberal arts were abysmal.

During finals, she avoided remedial classes, but only barely—by the skin of her teeth.

"Hehe. Next year's freshmen will praise me too."

As Eliana dreamed her grand ambition, Chelsea thought to herself.

'Should I go report to Professor Harrid that she's wasting her time on nonsense instead of studying?'

If it were Professor Harrid, he'd grab Eliana and give her a proper lecture.

'Yep. That would be the best thing for her.'

Not because she wanted to enjoy watching Eliana cry, or out of any mischievous intent—but purely for Eliana's own good.

As she thought that and nodded to herself, Eliana narrowed her eyes at her.

'She's probably plotting to mess with me again.'

Having been best friends for three years, they knew each other's thoughts at a glance.

Just as they were reading each other's minds—

"By the way, Chelsea, how's club practice going?"

Chelsea belonged to the music club.

Not just that—she was the ace of the club.

Chelsea's singing was so outstanding and beautiful that even Luna had praised it, saying it gave her magical inspiration.

At Lumene's internal and external events, whenever the school anthem had to be sung, Chelsea was always the one who stepped up.

And now, with the upcoming Lumeiren Exchange, she was practicing hard.

The musical she had performed with the drama club during the Twilight Festival had been well-received, and so it was happening again this time.

"It's going well. And!"

Puffing her chest with pride, Chelsea declared triumphantly,

"I've been cast as Lady Luna again!"

To be cast as Luna, as a mage, was of course a great honor.

"I've been thinking this since the Twilight Festival, but…"

Eliana, sipping her cocoa, said,

"I don't think you suit Lady Luna's role."

"Hmph. You're just jealous, aren't you?"

"No, I mean it seriously."

Eliana narrowed her eyes and stared at Chelsea's chest.

In response to that gaze, Chelsea gave a bright smile and stood up, and Eliana quickly said,

"If you get all riled up now, that's admitting it, you know?"

'This girl…!'

Chelsea's fist trembled slightly.

At that moment—

"What are you two chatting about so happily?"

Leo, who had been passing by nearby, approached with a curious expression.

Seeing Leo, Eliana smiled and said,

"Chelsea got cast as Lady Luna in this musical, and we were just talking about how she doesn't suit the role at all. Don't you think so too, class rep?"

To that question, Leo tilted his head.

"I think she suits it, though."

"Really?"

"Hmph. See?"

Eliana's eyes widened in surprise while Chelsea wore a triumphant look.

"What part of Chelsea do you think resembles Lady Luna?"

"Her personality?"

"Lady Luna's a bit quirky, sure, but a mean-spirited girl like Chelsea resembles her?"

Eliana expected Chelsea to blow up at that comment.

But contrary to her expectations, Chelsea was glaring at Leo.

Since Chelsea knew Leo's true identity, she knew full well that saying she was like Luna wasn't exactly a compliment.

Seeing that reaction, Leo burst into laughter and messed up Chelsea's hair before saying, "See you later," and walking off.

"Class rep seems really busy these days, huh?"

"Well, he's the student council president."

The handover of responsibilities from the graduating fifth-years had been completed.

"And now that Senior Elena has mostly stepped away from her duties, he must be really swamped. Plus, there's the Lumeiren Exchange schedule to manage too."

"Hmmm!"

Eliana crossed her arms and tilted her head.

Seeing that, Chelsea narrowed her eyes.

"What are you scheming this time?"

"Chelsea, do you think I'm some kind of troublemaker?"

Smiling brightly, Eliana said,

"The class rep must be having a hard time with so much going on, right?"

"Well, yeah?"

"They say men are drawn to women who support them when they're going through tough times. So I was thinking, maybe I should be that support."

"Where did you hear that?"

"From a book."

"What kind of book?"

"'You Who Don't Understand Men! You Too Can Seduce a Man.'"

"You always read the dumbest books."

"It's super informative."

Eliana spoke with a serious face, but Chelsea just looked at her like she was hopeless.

Regardless, Eliana pondered seriously.

"How can I cheer up the class rep, I wonder?"

bl

The schedule for the Lumeiren Exchange, now just one day away.

By tomorrow, the entire student body would be heading to Seiren.

Leo, who had been idly twirling a pen in the student council room, spoke.

"If you're just going to stare like that, why don't you give me a hand?"

"Oh my, I'm retired, you know? Surely even Leo wouldn't stoop so low as to dump work on someone at the end of their school life, right?"

Elena, lounging on the student council room sofa, replied leisurely as she picked up a snack and popped it in her mouth.

Reading a book in a relaxed posture, she giggled at a funny part.

That scene—she was a model slacker. Nothing more, nothing less.

Flipping a page, Elena suddenly said,

"Come to think of it, once we graduate, we're no longer upperclassman and underclassman, huh?"

"Graduates remain as such, so that still makes us seniors and juniors."

"But officially, the hierarchical relationship disappears, right?"

With an "oocha—" Elena sat up and tilted her head.

"Now that we're becoming adults, maybe I should stop calling you Leo and come up with a different title."

"What kind of title are you thinking?"

"Ajusshi. Since even if I don't know your physical age, mentally, there's a huge age gap."

"Then why not just go all the way and call me grandpa or old man?"

"Oho? That's not bad either."

With a look of intrigue, Elena's eyes sparkled.

"Or how about… Orabeoni?"

"……"

"Orabeoni."

In a lilting, cutesy tone, she poured on the charm—but Leo simply said,

"Creepy."

"Tch."

At Leo's merciless remark, Elena clicked her tongue.

Just then, there was a knock—and Lyl entered.

"Hyung-nim! I've finished all the training you mentioned!"

With a face full of enthusiasm, Lyl spoke. Elena narrowed her eyes as she looked at him.

"I want a cool nickname like that too."

"You can just call him 'Hyung-nim' as well, Senior Elena."

"A girl calling a guy 'Hyung-nim' is weird, don't you think?"

"Well, it's not like Elena-sunbae could call him oppa or orabeoni either. That would be embarrassing."

"……"

A vein popped on Elena's forehead.

Then she turned to glare at Leo.

"You just laughed at me in your head, didn't you?"

"Why are you taking it out on me when I didn't even say anything?"

Leo wore an expression of utter disbelief, but he didn't deny it either.

Poor Lyl, who had meant no harm, was left totally confused.

"By the way, still playing the whole master-and-disciple thing, I see?"

"It's not playing—he really is my master."

Lyl was firmly convinced that between her and Leo was a deep bond of master and disciple.

"Hmm? If that's how we're counting, Leo's got more disciples than just you, you know?"

Elena smiled sweetly.

"I learned a lot from Leo too. So that makes me a disciple as well, doesn't it?"

Elena's mischievous tone implied there was nothing particularly special about the bond between Leo and Lyl.

"Th-that's…!"

Lyl faltered in embarrassment.

It was true that many students—not just from Lumene, but even other hero academies—had been influenced by Leo.

Hearing this exchange, Leo calmly said,

"The only one I'd actually call a disciple is Lyl."

At those words, Lyl's face lit up with joy, and Elena frowned.

"So you're saying Lyl is special?"

"She is."

"Heh."

Lyl grinned proudly.

"While I gave others a push on the back, I'm personally teaching Lyl elemental arts."

"Hm? Doesn't seem like she really needs teaching, though."

"No, I do. There's still so much I need to learn from you, Hyung-nim"

"There's no real need to teach you. I'm sure you'd find your own path just fine. I just want to teach you."

"Why?"

"Because you're special…"

Leo's voice lowered slightly.

"I want to see just how monstrous your elemental arts might become."

"……"

Lyl looked at Leo with eyes that had subtly darkened.

Leo just shrugged his shoulders.

At that moment—

Tap tap—

There came a tapping sound at the window.

Leo opened it, and a snowbird flitted inside with a flutter of wings.

Landing in front of Leo, the snowbird extended a sealed envelope bearing the seal of Seiren.

With a puzzled expression, Leo broke the seal and checked the contents.

"…Looks like I'll have to head to Seiren ahead of everyone else."

"Huh? Why?"

"Seems something's come up."