Book 1 Chapter 163

163

Murmuring- Rustling-

Evening, after all classes had ended.

Returning to the male dormitory, Leo saw the noisy dorm and asked a classmate passing by,

"What's going on?"

"Huh? Leo?"

He looked at Leo with a very flustered expression.

He was a student from the Magic Department who often disparaged Leo's family and background.

As there were many prestigious families within Lumerne, many students disliked those from border kingdoms, no matter how great the achievements they accumulated.

But for some reason, he was furtively glancing at Leo's eyes.

Seeing that, Leo easily figured out why the dormitory was so noisy.

'The rumors are out.'

It seemed the fact that Leo's maternal family was Zerdinger had spread throughout the entire school.

As Leo entered the dormitory, the male students' gazes all turned towards him.

Ignoring their stares completely, Leo went up to his dorm room.

Leo felt uncomfortable because he couldn't rest that evening and had to go out later to give the Imperial Princess private lessons.

Thud-

He opened the door and entered, revealing the chaotic state of the room.

The first thing he saw was Fiora, who had polymorphed, standing up the bed and hiding behind it.

Looking around the room, at the highest point in the room.

He saw Kirian, who had stacked Leo's textbooks like a castle wall on top of the wardrobe.

Lastly, Elsie was visible, sitting by the window and watching.

"What are you doing?"

Fiora, who had been raising her head from the bed, turned her head at Leo's question.

"Leo! Come with me and defeat that wicked fairy…!"

Whoosh-! Thwack-!

Kirian quickly appeared from on top of the wardrobe and threw a stone, hitting Fiora squarely on the back of her head.

[Hahahaha! That's the 89th hit! As expected, you're pathetic!]

Fiora irritably picked up a stone to retaliate, but Kirian just annoyingly hid behind a book.

At that, Fiora, looking indignant, puffed out her cheeks and began to tremble.

"What in the world is going on?"

At Leo's question, Elsie scratched her cheek.

[It seems Kirian stole and ate all the snacks Fiora had hidden.]

[No! She was the one who ruined my creations first!]

"Creations, my foot! They're just pathetic toys you made to prank students on the Island of Phantom Beasts!"

[This chick called me pathetic!]

"Stupid fairy!"

Leo sighed deeply, watching the phoenix and the fairy childishly bickering.

'How much would the summoners outside cry if they knew a fairy and a phoenix were acting like this right now?'

"Stop fighting and both of you come here."

At Leo's words, Fiora and Kirian came before Leo with sullen expressions.

"You two are great phantom beasts, called the Three Great Phantom Beasts, you know. Stop fighting over childish things. Shake hands as a sign of reconciliation."

At Leo's mediation, Fiora and Kirian clearly showed their reluctance.

But then, Kirian reluctantly extended a hand.

[Hmph! As the elder and the leader, I shall extend my hand first for harmony! Consider it an honor to receive an apology from the Fairy Prince!]

Fiora stared at Kirian's small, smug hand, then grasped it.

[Hmph-! Impressed by my generosity… Ugh-!]

As soon as Fiora grabbed Kirian's arm, she spun it madly.

Kirian, barely escaping Fiora's grasp, screamed viciously.

[As expected, I shouldn't have apologized to a chick who only cares about food! Prepare yourself!]

"That's what I wanted!"

Swish-! Swish-!

The two people dashed back to their respective fortresses and continued their standoff.

Leo watched them and said,

"Finish it by the time I come back."

Leaving those words, Leo left the room.

It was to submit an application for an evening outing.

Elsie waved her hand as she watched Leo's retreating figure.

[Have a good trip.]

***

"Celia, Chelsea. As you two said, Senior Leo is indeed a brilliant talent, isn't he?"

In the center of Lumerne.

Sasha spoke in an elegant voice at a high-end restaurant near the Tower of Heroes.

At her words, Celia and Chelsea, who had been looking at each other displeased, looked at Sasha with curious expressions.

"I heard he beautifully rejected the scout offer?"

Chelsea asked with a curious face.

Sasha nodded.

"Yes. Senior Leo seems to intend to join a faction led by someone he acknowledges."

The three of them were talking comfortably.

Zerdinger and Rwalin, the right and left arms of Rodren.

Unlike a typical lord-vassal relationship, the relationship between these three was a little different.

The first Zerdinger and Rwalin were close friends before they were founding功臣.

That traditional relationship remained even after a long time.

Therefore, the relationship between the three girls was closer to friendship than a lord-vassal relationship.

They maintained formality in public but talked comfortably in private.

That's why Celia and Chelsea made strange expressions after hearing Sasha's words.

'He'll go under someone he acknowledges? That's not like him.'

Celia, who knew her cousin's personality well, fell into thought.

Chelsea, thinking similarly to Celia, let out a small sigh.

It seemed this often-mistaken Imperial Princess had arbitrarily interpreted Leo's words.

"So, I decided to go meet Senior Leo in a little while."

"What? Just the two of you?"

Celia looked surprised.

"Yes, he said he'd give me advice on summoning magic. Isn't that a little cute?"

Sasha, resting her chin on her hand, smiled faintly.

"The fact that he's going to give me advice on summoning magic, that is. No matter if he's 'all-class,' I'm from the Rodren family, you know."

Sasha made a smug expression.

The Rodren Imperial Family was not only the rulers of the Empire but also a world-famous family of summoners.

All of Rodren's bloodline was born with the talent of powerful summoners.

Some even said that if they weren't an imperial family of an empire, they would have become a very powerful noble house of summoning heroes, proving their ability was genuine.

And Sasha was a summoner who inherited Rodren's blood very strongly.

"Besides, to go out of his way to create such an excuse to meet me, could it be that he's fallen for me?"

Celia and Chelsea looked at each other, watching Sasha giggle, covering her mouth with her hand.

They were known rivals, but at this moment, they were worried about their childhood friend Sasha.

Moreover, didn't both of them have the experience of acting stubborn in front of Leo with their swordsmanship and magic and getting 'severely' punished?

"Still, as the Crown Princess, meeting a peer boy late at night, isn't that a bit…?"

"Exactly. Exactly. Should we go with you?"

At Celia and Chelsea's words, Sasha shook her head firmly.

"No, that won't do. Senior Leo and I decided to study summoning magic alone tonight."

It was hard to stop Sasha once she started to delude herself.

In the end, the two could only give their respective advice.

"Don't get stubborn for no reason and make a strange bet."

So said Celia, who had been a maid for a week.

"And don't refuse a recommendation just because you're being proud for no reason."

So said Chelsea, whose backside had nearly been scorched.

Despite her two friends' advice, Sasha's eyes sparkled with anticipation.

"Hmph- He'll surely be surprised by my skill, won't he?"

Watching her hum a tune, Celia and Chelsea made uneasy expressions.

***

Late at night, in the Grand Library.

This space, open to all students, has private study rooms available not only during the day but also at night for students who wish to study.

This is because when preparing complex assignments or needing many reference materials, one must use the Grand Library late into the night.

Occasionally, some students abused this for romantic purposes.

'Though if they get caught, hell breaks loose.'

Of course, as it was a place used by energetic teenagers, librarians were vigilant and keeping a sharp eye out, so there were rarely students boldly engaging in romantic acts.

Leo looked at Sasha sitting in front of him and said,

"Why do you think you can't make a formal contract with Pegasus even though you have a provisional contract?"

"That's because I lack the ability, of course."

At Sasha's words, Leo said,

"Have you ever thought that you have enough ability, but you just can't do it?"

Hearing Leo's words, Sasha narrowed her eyes.

"Senior Leo. The Three Great Phantom Beasts are mighty beings. Without powerful spiritual power, even if an oath has been made, they are beings that cannot be summoned."

"I know that, of course."

Leo said nonchalantly.

"I'm just asking if you've considered that your effort might be lacking."

"Senior Leo. I am different from other geniuses who only rely on their talent and are lazy," Sasha tilted her chin up.

"I am the one who must lead the Rodren Empire, one of the strongest nations in the world. I believe I must always be the best in my field. The reason I specifically went to Skaun, even though I could have entered Lumerne at 14 like Chelsea, is for that very reason. It was to conquer Skaun for a year."

From Sasha's rigidly straight posture flowed a tyrannical aura unfitting for a young girl's appearance.

In the eyes of a girl who had been educated to become an empress since childhood, intense ambition raged.

"Already in Skaun, not only among the first-years but also among the upperclassmen, there aren't many summoners like me. So, my next goal is Lumerne."

Sasha's eyes sparkled.

"I will become the class representative, the best student, and then the student council president. And I will make Lumerne the best among the four great hero cadet academies. Because I won't be satisfied until I am the best."

Leo propped his chin up.

"It would have been easier if you had entered this year, wouldn't it? Celia is here, and Chelsea is here too."

"I have no intention of borrowing Celia's and Chelsea's strength. It only has value if I achieve it alone."

Sasha tilted her chin up.

"I am confident. If we only consider pure summoning magic, I could take the top spot in Lumerne's first-year summoning department right now."

At her words, Leo curled the corner of his lips.

"Unfortunately, it's impossible for two reasons."

"What?"

"First. You can't beat Woredon, who is currently the top student in the summoning department, with your skill. That guy is a monster."

Leo recalled Woredon.

In Leo's opinion, Woredon, known as the monster of the South, was clearly one of the top 3 strongest among the first-years in terms of combat power alone.

"Second. If they only have a provisional contract, there are two first-years who could summon Pegasus right now."

Sasha's eyes twitched.

The reason she had been so relaxed until now was her absolute confidence in her abilities.

But Leo refuted her, saying that wasn't the case.

Furthermore, the fact that there were students who could summon Pegasus under the same conditions as her naturally put her in a bad mood.

"Who are those two?"

"One is Eliza Hergin. And the other is me."

Leo curled the corner of his lips.

"If it were me, I could form a formal contract, not just a provisional one, wouldn't I?"

Provoked by Leo, Sasha made an indignant expression.

"Is Senior Leo saying that your ability as a summoner is superior to mine right now?"

"Why ask the obvious?"

"Having a lot of pride is good, but I don't think arrogance is good."

"You decide for yourself if this is pride or arrogance."

The moment she heard those words, Sasha realized.

That she wasn't even in Leo's consideration.

'He rejected my suggestion not to test my abilities, but because he wasn't interested at all?'

Realizing that much, Sasha felt humiliated.

'This man, really!'

"I have no intention of learning anything from someone whose skill is inferior to mine!"

Unnecessary stubbornness flared up, and she rejected Leo's suggestion.

"Really? Then I'm leaving."

Leo got up from his seat without a moment's hesitation.

Seeing that, Sasha became even more incensed.

"Alright! Then prove it! That Senior Leo is a more excellent summoner than I am!"

"How?"

At Leo's question, Sasha deployed her spiritual power.

Immediately, a summoning circle completed in the air.

"You said Senior Leo could summon Pegasus if he were in the same situation as me, didn't you? Go on, try."

The passage was complete.

A state where anyone qualified could summon.

"If I succeed in summoning, Rodren's Pegasus might form a contract with me, you know?"

"Hmph. Then I'll acknowledge the contract. However,"

Sasha curled the corner of her lips.

"If you can't summon it, please become my attendant during the joint class period."

Unnecessary stubbornness had flared up, leading her to make a strange bet with Leo.

Sasha had done everything Chelsea and Celia told her not to, but she was confident.

'He absolutely can't. This person's spiritual power is far below mine.'

Sasha's spiritual power was immense.

If only pure spiritual power was considered, it was on par with Eliza's.

Logically, there was no way Leo could summon Pegasus, which even Sasha couldn't summon.

"If you're not confident, stop now."

"Not at all."

Leo chuckled and reached out to touch the summoning circle.

Suddenly-

Flash-!

In an instant, the vision went dark.

Blink- Blink-

And the mana-stone lamps began to flicker.

"Huh?"

Sasha looked at the ceiling with a puzzled expression.

Conversely, Leo's face hardened.

'Curse of Severance? No. It's a little different.'

Whatever it was, it was definitely Tartarus.

Leo urgently placed his hand on the summoning circle.

Crackle-!

With that, sparks began to fly from the summoning circle.

"…!"

Sasha's eyes widened.

Crackle-! Crash-!

A massive thunderbolt raged.

Flash-!

Crash-!

The inside of the study room became a mess from the powerful light and sparks.

And what appeared was a woman with pure white hair and white eyes.

And clad in pristine white armor.

"This feeling, it's not Sasha?"

The woman curled the corner of her lips and looked at the boy standing before her with his arms crossed.

"It's surprising enough that someone other than the Rodren bloodline summoned me… but to summon me with such pathetic spiritual power?"

A strange light flickered in Pegasus's eyes.

"Who are you?"

"I'm sorry before I introduce myself, but."

"Huh?"

Crackle-!

Sparks flew from Leo's body.

Instantly, Pegasus's body reverted to its true form.

[What? You interfered with the contract?]

Seeing Pegasus surprised, Leo said,

"It seems we need to fight right now. Can you lend me your strength?"