Book 1 Chapter 321

A room shrouded in darkness.

*Screech!*

The window opened, and a small, silver-glowing creature moved between the blackout curtains.

"Heh heh heh! I've been waiting for this moment."

Kieran, who had opened the window and intruded into someone's room, wore a meaningful expression.

It was none other than Professor Tina's office, whom Ren had invited.

"While everyone is distracted by the midterm exams, a house raid! That's basic tactics."

Kieran, with a smug look of self-satisfaction, flapped his wings and scattered silver dust everywhere.

"Now, shall I find where my wings are?"

Rubbing his palms together, Kieran rummaged through Tina's room and, upon discovering a jewel, his eyes gleamed.

"Found it! My wings!"

Kieran flew around joyfully, flapping his wings here and there, shouting.

"This will raise the dignity of the Fairy Prince! Just you wait! You skinny phoenix! I'll make you kneel before my noble form!"

Clenching his fist, Kieran recalled Fiora submitting to him, and reached out towards the jewel.

*Thwack—!*

Something pierced through the air and landed in front of Kieran.

Kieran realized it was a sharply gleaming scalpel.

With stiff movements, he turned his head following the hand holding the scalpel, and golden eyes glowed.

"Oh my, what a cute moth."

Tina, with her characteristic bored smile, withdrew the scalpel she had plunged down.

"Who are you calling a moth! I'm a fairy!"

Kieran bristled.

"Oh my, how convenient."

Tina wore a very bright smile.

"I was practicing dissecting fairies anyway."

Kieran looked in the direction Tina was gazing.

He saw the inside of the room within the professor's office.

It seemed she had come out from there.

And through the crack in the door, he saw a fairy mannequin.

The mannequin was studded with things that looked exactly like the scalpel Tina was holding.

Kieran's face turned pale.

"I've wanted to dissect fairies since I was little, you know?"

Tina's face flushed with a rosy hue.

With an excited expression, she said,

"Don't worry, I'll sew you back up nicely."

"Kyaaaah! G-go away! You witch!"

"Hahahaha hahahaha hahahaha!"

Terrified, Kieran began to flee.

Tina, with a crazed smile, swung her scalpel wildly in the air, chasing Kieran.

The professor's office became a mess, but Tina didn't care.

Cornered, Kieran pressed himself against the wall, trembling.

The moment Tina raised her scalpel, looking at Kieran.

*Fwoosh—!*

Kieran vanished.

***

"Ughhhhh! I almost died!"

Kieran, summoned onto Leo's palm, cried out while hugging himself.

"…What's all the fuss about?"

"I was almost caught by that strange elf and dissected!"

Leo looked at Kieran, who was complaining with tear-filled eyes, with a look of pity.

"I knew it when you started messing with kids."

Sniffling, Kieran grabbed Leo's sleeve and blew his nose with a *phew!*

Leo swatted Kieran away with his palm as if he were catching a mosquito.

"Comfort me! Comfort me! You're my father's friend! Comfort your friend's son when he's crying!"

"Stop it if you don't want to get hit again."

Kieran pouted.

Seeing Kieran, Leo said,

"Just get ready."

"…Huh?"

Kieran flapped his wings and floated up.

He looked around, his eyes widened, then he let out an exclamation of admiration, crossed his arms, and lifted his chin.

"Finally, it's time for this prince to reveal himself to the people!"

Watching Kieran beam with pride and let out a cheer, Leo sheathed his sword.

Then, he reached his hand out towards the air.

*Fwoosh—!*

A crimson spear appeared with scarlet flames.

*Clang!*

Leo, holding the spear, looked at Warredon and Duran, whose faces were grim.

"Then… shall we start the real hunt?"

***

"You're going to face three at once?"

Hark's eyes, which had been sleepy, cleared.

"Our student council president has endless hidden depths~"

Elena, crossing her legs and smiling innocently, also looked at Leo with interest.

At her words, Ainah, who had been silently watching Leo's image on the large magic screen, spoke.

"What do you think will happen in this fight?"

Ainah, as the representative of the first-years, sat in the best seat.

Her status as the great-granddaughter of Kalian, the former principal and the strongest hero of the previous generation, garnered her favor and interest from many.

There was also a hidden desire among many to become friends with her, the heir to Kalian and inheritor of the Sword Master's legacy.

However, Ainah, like a doll, remained silent.

It was then that Ainah, for the first time, spoke.

In response to Ainah's question, Elena tilted her head and replied.

"Why are you asking the obvious?"

Elena said with a bewitching smile.

"Leo will win overwhelmingly."

"Don't the three seniors have considerable power too?"

Indeed, they did.

Warredon had summoned a great spirit.

The battle with Duran was an incredibly fast sword fight, almost impossible to follow with the naked eye.

Facing second-years with such power, it seemed logically impossible for Leo, a first-year, to win overwhelmingly, no matter how superior his strength.

At Ainah's words, Hark rested his chin on his hand.

"It wasn't just because of potential that Senior Lis, who graduated, passed on the student council presidency to Leo."

Hark looked at Leo on the screen.

"He passed on the student council presidency because he predicted that Leo would catch up to him and grow even more in the near future."

Hark narrowed his eyes.

"The second-years are truly amazing. But if Leo were to fight me now, I couldn't guarantee victory. That's how much of a monster Leo Frolov is."

"Perhaps Leo is hiding a trump card even now."

At Hark and Elena's evaluations, Ainah's eyes widened, and she clenched her fists.

"Ooh! Leo! Amazing!"

A voice filled with admiration could be heard.

There stood Lil, the third-year representative, holding food with a bright smile.

"Oh, Lil, I'll eat well."

Seeing Lil, Elena smiled faintly and snatched the snacks Lil had brought.

"Senior Elena, that is mine."

"Oh my, you're so considerate to yield to your senior."

Lil protested with a sad face, but Elena, with her characteristic queenly smile, snatched the snacks.

"You're no better than a delinquent. Do you want to steal from your juniors?"

Hark clicked his tongue, looking at Elena, and reached out to Lil.

Then, he took the drink Lil had brought with the help of a spirit.

"Senior Hark, that's a drink I bought to drink myself…"

"Sorry, I need to wake up now, and I'm thirsty."

Raina shook her head, watching the school's top students snatch snacks and drinks from their juniors.

"As principal, I'm truly ashamed that you're the best in the school."

Even with that, Hark and Elena paid no mind.

Lil, who had his food unceremoniously plundered by his eccentric seniors, slumped his shoulders and sat down.

Then, he noticed Ainah, sitting beside him like a doll, and smiled brightly.

"Ainah, are you enjoying the viewing?"

"…Senior Lil, how do you see that fight…?"

"Leo will win. Leo is hiding a trump card."

Lil also shrugged and predicted Leo's victory.

Hearing the words of seniors who were much more experienced and stronger than him, Ainah lowered her head.

'How… how can I gain his recognition?'

Her hands tightened.

'That kid… why did he get recognition?'

She hated comparing herself.

But the boy of the same age, who was far below her, had gained Leo Frolov's recognition.

Clenching her teeth, Ainah's eyes darkened.

"Fairy?"

"Did he summon a fairy now?"

Exclamations of shock were heard from all around.

Ainah, startled, looked up.

On Leo's palm on the screen, a fairy was summoned.

Watching the scene, Ainah's eyes widened, and she looked at her seniors.

"As you seniors said, Leo-senpai was hiding a trump card. Did the three of you know that Leo-senpai had contracted with a fairy?"

Ainah was amazed, but Elena, Hark, and Lil's expressions were bizarre.

"No. Even so, who would have expected something like that?"

"Yeah, that's going too far."

"…When I see Leo, I feel a sense of inadequacy."

Elena looked dumbfounded, and Hark shook his head.

Lastly, Lil slumped his shoulders.

Ainah blinked.

'…He's just cheating.'

***

Leo held 'Lancea' in his hand.

It was one of the treasures of the Zerdinger family, delivered to Leo recently after he was recognized as a direct descendant.

"Kieran."

As Leo called out, Kieran stirred up magic.

As Leo's body recovered, all sorts of defensive magic were cast.

The three great sacred beasts are fundamentally powerful beings.

However, each has its own characteristics.

The Phoenix, known as the king of flames, is specialized in offense.

The Pegasus, known as the lord of lightning, is a sacred beast specialized in mobility.

Lastly, the fairy, known as a being of illusion, is specialized in defense and healing.

In other words, the fairy was a sacred beast specialized in combat support.

*Whirrr—!*

Leo lightly spun Lancea in his hand and looked at Duran and Warredon.

*Kuaaang—!*

Flames erupted from Leo's airborne body.

Along with it, he charged towards Duran.

*Kuagagaang—!*

"Kk!"

Duran's eyes widened.

Warredon aimed for Leo's back and swung his fist.

*Kuaaang—!*

"……!"

Warredon's face contorted.

He made eye contact with the fairy before him.

Seeing Kieran taunt him as if it were impossible, Warredon poured his spiritual power.

'His weakness is his mana!'

Warredon's eyes narrowed.

'He's extremely maximizing his efficiency when using mana. Without any waste!'

Incredible mana control ability.

An area of experience, beyond the realm of instinct.

'In other words, if he doesn't fight efficiently, he can't drag out this fight!'

Even with increased mana efficiency, there's a limit.

'And he's using both the Phoenix and the fairy at the same time!'

No matter how much fuel efficiency is increased, rapid mana consumption is unavoidable.

'If I can just hold out a little longer…!'

Warredon put more force into his punch.

Duran also unleashed an even more intense aura.

"It seems they're trying to drain my mana."

Leo raised his spear.

*Thwack—!*

*Kuagagaang—!*

A wave of flames arose centered around Leo.

Durant and Warredon hastily retreated from the swirling flame aura.

"You'll be defeated before that."

As Leo's flames burned menacingly.

*Thud-thud-thud! Shaaaaaaa!*

Rain began to fall from the sky.

Leo looked up.

'Eliza, perhaps.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Did she enhance Delphinus's abilities using spirit magic? She struggled to summon spirits… and now she's wielding such spirit magic the moment she summoned them?'

Her combat power itself is overwhelmingly superior to Warredon's.

However, in terms of overall sense, Eliza's summoning ability was nothing short of astonishing.

*Fzzzt-!*

Duran's lightning aura was further strengthened by Eliza's support.

Warredon also changed his summoned spirit from an earth spirit to a water spirit.

Eliza turned the entire battlefield to their advantage.

'Even while fighting Fiora, such support…'

Leo gripped his spear tighter.

'As expected, the first one to be defeated must be Eliza.'

Leo's gaze shifted to Eliza, who was fighting Fiora in mid-air.

"It's not the time to be distracted! Leo Frolov!"

Warredon shouted and swung a spirit-imbued fist at Leo.

Leo used the breath of Arion to generate an aura.

The aura, momentarily amplified like an explosion, formed in Leo's hand.

*Kuaaang! Kugugugugung—!*

For a moment, the raindrops didn't fall in the area around the two due to the shockwave.

Seeing Leo block his attack with one hand, Warredon tried to put more force into his fist.

"Stay down."

Leo simply applied force with his hand and slammed Warredon into the ground.

As Kieran used the fairy's magic, tree roots erupted from the ground and coiled around Warredon.

*Thwack—!*

"Kk!"

While Warredon struggled, a golden flash gleamed.

*Fzzt—!*

Leo charged towards the lightning that struck him.

*Clang—!*

He deflected Duran's sword with his spear tip.

Due to the immense force, Duran momentarily exposed his upper body.

Duran, defenseless, gritted his teeth and deployed his aura armor.

*Thwack—!*

Leo drove his left foot into Duran's chest.

"Cough?"

Blood poured from Duran's mouth.

*Kuagaga! Kuaduk! Kuaduk! Kuajijik! Thud-thud-thud! Thump!*

Duran, flying while felling trees, crashed into the forest.

As Duran grimaced and tried to get up.

*Clang—!*

Leo readjusted his grip on Lancea.

Flames swirled.

It was the most powerful armament Leo possessed, excluding Dweno's armament.

*Squeeeeeze—!*

Veins bulged in Leo's hand.

*Fwaaah—!*

Leo hurled his spear towards Eliza.

***

"Kk!"

*Piyayayayyak!*

"Stop making those chick-like noises while attacking so fiercely!"

Fiora, charging fiercely with chick-like noises, was enough to fluster Eliza.

'Still, it's fortunate she's a young phoenix! She's still clumsy in combat!'

If Fiora had been even slightly proficient in combat, Eliza wouldn't have been able to support Warredon and Duran while fighting her.

'If I can just hold out a little longer, there's a chance!'

Eliza knew better than anyone that Leo's weakness was a protracted battle.

'Even Leo Frolov can't subdue the three of us instantly…'

The moment she thought that.

*Beeep!*

The wind wyvern Eliza was riding let out a bewildered cry.

Instantly.

*Thwack—!*

"Wh-what…?"

A flash of flame covered her vision.

'I'm… hit.'

The moment Eliza coughed up blood.

*Ting-*

The bracelet worn on Eliza's arm briefly lit up red, then went out.

*Fwoosh—!*

Eliza's vision grew hazy, and she vanished from the spot.

***

As Eliza received a death judgment, the rain stopped.

Leo, having retrieved Lancea, charged towards Warredon, who had escaped Kieran's magic.

*Kuaaang! Kuagagaang! Fwoosh—!*

Flames surged.

The ground was overturned, and a tidal wave struck.

*Flash! Kuagagaang!*

A strand of golden lightning struck down.

A fierce battle ensued.

The short and intense battle was decided in an instant.

Warredon, who had already summoned a great spirit and fought Leo multiple times, was the first to receive a death judgment.

Leo flew to the water's edge and approached Duran, who was floating powerlessly.

*Thump- thump-*

Duran, seeing Leo, struggled and gripped his sword.

'It was… this much?'

But he couldn't grasp how to proceed.

He couldn't see the gap.

He couldn't see the back he thought he was barely chasing.

The moment Leo went all out.

The outcome was decided in an instant.

Leo, who had approached the fallen Duran, looked down.

Seeing Leo's emotionless eyes, Duran gritted his teeth.

'What should I do…?'

He couldn't see the path.

'Against this monster… how can I win?'

*Fwaah—!*

Leo's spear thrust into Duran without hesitation.

*Flash—!*

Duran, who received a death judgment, vanished.

Leo returned to his base.

A student who had been watching the four-person battle from afar swallowed hard.

"…It's a battle of absolute monsters."

Looking at the landscape, which had been devastated as if the terrain itself had been overturned, the students trembled.

Nella also wore a despairing expression.

"How… how can we possibly defeat Leo like that?"