Editor : Amethyst00



Located at the northernmost tip of the continent, Seiren is covered in snow all year round, making it extremely cold.

In winter, the cold becomes even more severe.

Yet, despite it being the middle of winter, the campus of Seiren felt warm.

"To block the cold with magic and control the weather artificially…"

Luna clicked her tongue at Seiren's overwhelming magical engineering design.

Within the cozy grounds of Seiren, students were busy preparing to welcome guests.

At the same time, food stalls and booths offering small games with prizes and souvenirs were being set up at the Seiren training grounds.

Most of this was led by students from Lumene's merchant club.

"Hmm… I think placing the lottery game over there would be better? It'll catch more eyes from guests based on the flow of movement."

"Ooh, ooh."

It was Carl giving instructions to a fourth-year student from Seiren.

Since Seiren students were inexperienced with running stalls, they were receiving help from Lumene students.

"I've always wanted to try something like this."

"I heard human festivals often have things like this."

"I saw it during the Twilight Festival once…"

The Seiren students looked excited and joyful.

Up until now, the act of selling something at Seiren had been frowned upon.

More accurately, even if some were curious, such behavior was not accepted due to elven societal norms.

However, with recent cultural influxes from other races, student-run stalls had been introduced to Seiren's festival.

"Never thought I'd end up in charge of business operations in Seiren of all places."

"Everything going smoothly?"

"Oh! Leo! You're here! And… huh?"

Carl, who had been smiling in greeting, tilted his head upon seeing Luna.

"And who's this pretty elf lady?"

Due to perception-reducing magic, Carl didn't recognize her as Luna.

Seeing Carl's sparkling eyes, Leo spoke.

"She's Lunia's cousin."

"Ahh, I see. But why are you the one with her?"

"Lunia's a bit busy, so I'm watching her for now."

Nodding at Leo's response, Carl pulled out a lollipop from his pocket.

"Pretty lady, want one?"

"Thank you."

"Haha. Are you planning to take Seiren's entrance exam next year?"

Carl looked puzzled as Luna accepted the candy without hesitation.

"Probably?"

"I see! You're a prospective student! Good luck."

"Then… can I get a little allowance?"

"Huh?"

"I'll study really hard."

"Uhh… o-okay."

With a reluctant expression, Carl pulled out his wallet.

'Well, just enough for her to buy a snack at tomorrow's festival…'

"I like gold."

"What?!"

At Luna's words, Carl's face turned pale.

"You're a cool big brother, so you'll give me gold coins, right?"

Regardless of era, gold coins are always the highest-value currency.

Leo looked at Luna draining Carl's wallet with a cheeky expression.

'This is so typical Luna.'

"Wow! Thank you!"

"Ugh…"

Carl was on the verge of tears from the unexpected expense.

Unlike Carl, Luna beamed with a wide smile.

Then she walked over to Leo and waved the coin she received from Carl.

"Hey, look. Your friend gave me an allowance."

"Hey."

"Yes?"

"Don't call me that."

"Why not?"

"Just don't. Call me by name."

Luna frowned slightly at Leo's stern expression.

"Alright, Carl, I'm off. Hang in there."

"…Yeah. Take care."

With a gloomy look, Carl waved at Leo and Luna.

Luna, who had been curiously exploring the various corners of Seiren, perked up her ears.

She heard singing from not far away.

Her eyes lit up, and she headed in the direction of the voice.

Leo silently followed her.

They arrived at Seiren's auditorium.

At the grand entrance was a poster.

Reading it, Luna tilted her head.

"'The Love of the Star and the Beginning'? Is this about me and Leo?"

"…"

Leo didn't bother to answer.

From his reaction, Luna understood it was their story and placed her hands on her hips in annoyance.

"Jeez! I keep getting paired with someone who's not even my type! So annoying!"

"That's my line."

"Don't be ridiculous! You should be grateful to be paired with a beautiful elf like me!"

Scoffing, Luna glared at Leo, then entered the auditorium.

On stage beyond the audience seats, Chelsea—dressed as an elf—was singing.

The play had reached its climax, with an intense battle scene unfolding.

Chelsea, playing Luna, was preparing a spell.

And harmonizing beside her, playing Kyle, was…

"Eiran?"

Leo looked surprised.

It was none other than Eiran, disguised with gray hair and human ears, playing Kyle.

The two's duet echoed magnificently through the auditorium.

Luna's eyes widened in amazement.

"President. You're here."

At that moment, the head of Lumene's drama club approached Leo.

"Did Eiran take the role of Kyle?"

"Yeah. This play is about harmony between humans and elves. Lumene took the role of Luna… and Seiren took Kyle. Among them, Eiran portrayed the Hero of the Beginning the best."

Being someone who loved heroic tales, Eiran knew Kyle inside and out.

As such, she was able to portray Kyle in great detail.

"Eiran's usually a bit shy. This is surprising."

"Yeah. Turns out she's a total natural on stage. Even I was shocked."

As Wythe, the drama club president and a fourth-year, said, Eiran was perfectly portraying the scripted Kyle.

Though to Leo, she looked nothing like himself.

"Prepare yourself, demon! As long as my beloved Luna is behind me, I will never fall!"

'I'd rather rip my own mouth apart than say something like that.'

Leo thought.

"How is it? It's just a rehearsal, but it's perfect, right?"

"It's excellent."

"Ahem! So, President… our drama club might start performing in Seiren too. So about the budget…"

"You should already have enough."

"C'mon! You can never have too much budget."

"The budget allocation is already complete."

"Yes, yes! Of course! But still…"

With looked around, then whispered.

"What if we diverted the music club's funds to our drama club…"

"Oh? What kind of BS is that?"

"Tsk!"

The angry voice from behind made Wythe click his tongue.

Kamali, the fourth-year head of the music club, cracked her knuckles and grabbed Wythe by the collar.

"You damn weakling! Trying to cut the music club's budget?"

"Say no to violence!"

"Then don't do things that deserve a beating!"

"Huh? Go ahead, hit me! I'll just sue you and take your budget as compensation!"

Wythe, from the magic department, had no chance of resisting Kamali from the knight department.

But he still tried to threaten her with legal retaliation.

Leo sighed and stepped in to mediate the two fighting over budget.

"Chelsea, your seniors are fighting…"

"Leave them. Let's just continue practicing."

Eiran whispered, and Chelsea responded coldly.

Fights over budget between club heads were nothing new at Lumene.

Among them, the drama and music clubs were long-standing rivals, making things even more intense.

Eventually, the play reached its climax. The final boss was defeated, and Chelsea and Eiran continued their performance.

The ending scene arrived, with music full of yearning and hope playing.

As per the script, Chelsea and Eiran embraced.

Then they brought their faces close together.

At breath's distance, the music ended and the play concluded.

Clap clap clap clap!

Ignoring the fight between the club heads, Luna watched the play intently, clapping with sparkling eyes.

Just as Chelsea and Eiran were about to pull apart—

"Aren't you going to kiss?"

'Huh?! Lady Luna?!'

Last night, Eiran had heard the story from Lunia and knew this girl was Luna.

"It'd make the perfect scene."

Luna licked her lips playfully.

Flustered, Eiran responded.

"U-um… well, it's in the script, but since it's acting and all…"

Whistle whistle!

Luna whistled, stirring the crowd.

"Show us! Show us!"

Caught in the moment, Eiran couldn't move.

"Eiran, you don't have to respond to everything."

"Y-yeah, but… Chelsea…"

"Huh? You were actually going to do it?"

"B-but she…"

"Just ignore her!"

With her face bright red, Chelsea slipped out of Eiran's embrace.

Meanwhile, Luna was dragged out of the auditorium by her ear, pulled by Leo.

bl

"Geez. That would've been a great scene."

"Don't tease people."

"If it were me, I would've totally kissed."

Leo sighed as Luna rubbed her ear and grumbled.

Young Luna clearly had a mischievous streak.

Now he understood why she once said her younger self was twisted.

'She just enjoys messing with people.'

Carl, Chelsea, Eiran—Luna enjoyed teasing them all.

The Luna Leo knew didn't take joy in bothering others, even if she had a sharp personality.

As they walked, Leo pointed at a bench.

"Wanna rest there?"

"Sure."

They sat down.

Leo took out a thermos he'd received while checking on festival prep.

He poured tea into the cup and handed it to Luna before sipping his own.

After taking a sip, Luna spoke.

"Leo."

"Yeah?"

"In the future… did we sleep together?"

Pfft! Cough! Cough!

Leo choked on his tea.

Luna giggled as she watched him panic.

"Why so flustered? Something must've happened!"

"Nothing happened. We didn't have time for romance back then."

"Hm? Strange. If it were me, no matter how bleak things were, I'd confess if I liked someone."

Luna narrowed her eyes.

Leo clicked his tongue.

'Too sharp for her own good.'

After staring at him, Luna looked up at the sky.

Seeing her, Leo asked:

"So? Still think this isn't the future?"

"I no longer doubt it. Even after just one day, it's clear Seiren is too absurd a place to exist in my time. There's no way something this big could've been hidden from Balharun."

In size, Seiren rivaled Balharun.

No matter how ignorant elves were of outside forces, if a group this large existed, Balharun would've labeled it subversive.

But Luna had never heard of a place like this.

Leo watched her and said quietly:

"You must be scared."

"Wow… we must've really been in love in the future. You can read my feelings just by looking at me."

"It was just your one-sided crush."

"Then I must've been stupid. Falling for a jerk like you."

She teased.

Leo asked seriously:

"What's so scary?"

"This whole situation."

Her eyes darkened.

"In the future, I'm respected as a great figure, more than any elf I know."

"Yeah."

"I doubt I got that reputation easily."

"It was horribly difficult."

"That's why I'm scared."

"…"

"Of what's to come."

Luna trembled slightly.

"I'm not that noble or virtuous… I don't want to sacrifice for others… I'm afraid I was just pushed by expectations into a painful path…"

Her voice shook.

"Leo. What kind of elf was I to you?"

"I'm not telling."

"Why? You said you would yesterday."

Seeing her annoyed face, Leo smiled.

"If I tell you now, you'll just act the part."

"…"

"You don't need to."

"Why not?"

"No matter what you're like… you're still Luna."

"What does that even mean? You're so cryptic. I really can't like someone like you."

Leo chuckled at her scowling face.

"You fell for me in the end."

"Nope. I'll never fall for someone like you. I'm sure you clung to me and I just went along. Right?"

"We weren't a couple."

"No guy in his right mind would turn down a beautiful elf like me."

"…"

"See? I didn't like you—you liked me—ow! Why'd you hit me?!"

Leo smacked her head.

"You're annoying."

"When you can't win with words, you resort to violence!"

Annoyed, Luna got smacked again, and this time, she bit his hand.

bl

Whooosh…

The cold wind of the northwestern sea blew.

Crunch—crack—

A man in a hooded mask walked through the blizzard.

Crack—crack—

He shattered the thick ice of the sea and dove into the water.

Reaching the bottom of the sea, he was engulfed in bright light.

Whoosh—

When he regained consciousness, he was surrounded by black flames.

In the blazing darkness, the man shouted:

"O great primordial evil! Grant me your wisdom!"