Book 1 Chapter 321

321

A room shrouded in darkness.

Creak!

The window opened, and a small, silver-shining being moved through the blackout curtains.

"Heheheh! I've been waiting for this moment."

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

It was none other than Professor Tina's office, the professor invited by Len.

"A burglary when everyone's distracted by midterms! It's the basics of tactics."

Kiruan, puffed up with self-importance, flapped his wings, scattering silver dust everywhere.

"Well then, shall I look for my wings?"

Kiruan, rubbing his palms together as he rummaged through Tina's room, discovered a jewel and his eyes gleamed.

"Found it! My wings!"

Kiruan, flapping and flying joyfully everywhere, shouted.

"With this, the Fairy Prince's dignity will rise! Just you wait! That fat phoenix! I'll make you kneel before my noble form!"

It was when Kiruan, picturing Fiora submitting to him while clenching his fists, reached out his hand towards the jewel.

Wham!

Something plunged down in front of Kiruan.

Kiruan realized it was a sharply gleaming scalpel.

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

"Oh dear, what a cute moth."

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

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

Kiruan flared up.

"Oh dear, that's even better."

Tina wore a very bright smile.

"I was just practicing dissecting a fairy, actually."

Kiruan looked in the direction Tina was gazing.

The inner room of the professor's office was visible.

It seemed she had just come out from there.

And visible through the crack in the door was a fairy model.

The model's body was riddled with objects identical to the scalpel Tina held.

Kiruan's face turned pale.

"I've always wanted to dissect a fairy, you see?"

Tina's face flushed.

With an excited expression, she said,

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

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

"Kyahahahahahahahahaha!"

Terrified, Kiruan began to flee.

Tina, with a mad smile, wildly swung her scalpel in the air, chasing Kiruan.

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

Cornered, Kiruan pressed his body tightly against the wall, trembling.

The moment Tina raised her scalpel, looking at Kiruan.

Woosh!

Kiruan vanished.

***

"Uwaaaaaaah! I almost died!"

Kiruan, summoned onto Leo's palm, cried out, wrapping his arms around himself.

"…Why all the fuss?"

"I almost got caught by that weird elf and dissected!"

Seeing Kiruan complaining with tears welling up in his eyes, Leo wore a pathetic expression.

"I knew it would come to this when you were going around pranking kids."

Sniffling and weeping, Kiruan grabbed Leo's sleeve and blew his nose with a "Phew!"

Leo grabbed Kiruan in his palm as if swatting a mosquito.

"Comfort me! Comfort me! You're my father's friend! If your friend's son is crying, you should comfort him!"

"Stop crying unless you want another hit."

Kiruan pouted his lips.

Looking at Kiruan, Leo said,

"Just get ready."

"Huh?"

Kiruan flapped his wings and floated up.

Then, he glanced around, widened his eyes, then let out a gasp of admiration, crossed his arms, and lifted his chin.

"Finally, this magnificent self is making an appearance before the people!"

Watching Kiruan cheer with a triumphant expression, Leo sheathed his sword.

Then he stretched his hand out to the sky.

Whoosh-whoosh!

A crimson spear appeared with scarlet flames.

Clunk!

Leo, holding the spear, looked at Wareden and Duran, whose faces were stern.

"Then… shall we begin the real hunt?"

***

"He's fighting three at once?"

Harke's sleepy eyes cleared.

"Our student council president's potential is endless~"

Elena, who had crossed her legs and smiled innocently, also looked at Leo with interest.

At that, Aina, who had been silently watching Leo's image on the large magic screen until now, opened her mouth.

"How do you think this fight will turn out?"

Aina, as the first-year representative, was also seated in the best spot.

In fact, many people felt affinity and interest and spoke to her, hearing she was the great-granddaughter of Kallian, the former headmaster and the strongest hero of the previous generation.

There was also a dark ulterior motive: to become close with her, who had inherited the Sword Saint's legacy as Kallian's successor.

But Aina had remained silent, like a doll.

Such Aina opened her mouth for the first time.

In response to Aina's question, Elena twirled her hair and replied.

"Why ask the obvious?"

Elena, with an alluring smile, said,

"Leo will win overwhelmingly."

"But the three seniors' power is considerable, isn't it?"

It was indeed so.

Wareden had summoned a great spirit.

The battle with Duran was an incredibly fast sword fight, difficult for the eyes to follow.

Against second-years with such power, it seemed almost logically impossible for Leo, being of the same year, to win overwhelmingly, no matter how superior his strength.

At Aina's words, Harke propped his chin.

"Senior Lis, who graduated, didn't hand over the student council president position to Leo just because of his potential."

Harke looked at Leo on the screen.

"He handed over the student council president position to him because he expected him to catch up to him and grow beyond that in a short time."

Harke narrowed his eyes.

"The second-years are certainly amazing. But if I fought him now, even I couldn't guarantee a victory. Leo Flobe is that much of a monster."

"Leo probably still has a trump card hidden, even now?"

At Harke and Elena's assessment, Aina's eyes widened and she clenched her fists tightly.

"Oh! Leo! Amazing!"

A voice filled with admiration was heard.

There, Lil, the third-year class representative who had bought snacks, wore a bright smile.

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

Elena, spotting Lil, smiled sweetly and snatched the snacks Lil had bought.

"Senior Elena. Those are mine.

"Oh dear, you even know how to yield for a senior, how admirable."

Lil protested with a tearful face, but Elena, with her characteristic queen-like smile, continued to snatch the snacks.

"You're nothing but a thug. Do you want to steal from your junior?"

Harke clucked his tongue, looking at Elena, and then reached out his hand to Lil.

And he took the refreshing drink Lil had brought using a spirit.

"Senior Harke. That's the drink I bought to drink…"

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

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

"As the headmaster, I am truly ashamed that you are the best the school has to offer."

Even at those words, Harke and Elena paid no mind.

Lil, who had suddenly been robbed of her food by her strong-willed seniors, slumped her shoulders and sat down.

Then, spotting Aina sitting beside her like a doll, she gave a bright smile.

"Aina, are you enjoying the viewing?"

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

"Leo will win, of course. Leo must be hiding a trump card."

Lil also shrugged, predicting Leo's victory.

At the words of her seniors, who were far more experienced and stronger than herself, Aina hung her head low.

'Just… how can I gain that person's acknowledgment?'

Her hands clenched.

'Why did *that kid*… gain acknowledgment?'

She hated comparisons.

But a boy her age, far below her, had been acknowledged by Leo Flobe.

It was then, as Aina's eyes darkened, clenching her teeth.

"A fairy?"

"Did he just summon a fairy?"

Voices filled with astonishment were heard from all around.

Aina, startled, lifted her head.

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

Aina, watching that sight, widened her eyes and looked at her seniors.

"Just as you seniors said, Senior Leo was hiding a trump card. Did any of you three know Senior Leo had contracted with a fairy?"

Aina was full of admiration, but Elena, Harke, and Lil's expressions were utterly strange.

"No. No matter what, who would expect something like that?"

"Yeah, that's crossing the line, way too far."

"…When I look at Leo, I feel self-doubt."

Elena wore a dumbfounded expression, and Harke shook his head repeatedly.

Finally, Lil slumped her shoulders.

Aina blinked.

'…He's just a cheat, I guess.'

***

Leo grasped 'Lanchea' in his hand.

It was one of the Gerdinger family's heirlooms, recently passed to Leo after he was recognized as a direct descendant.

"Kiruan."

Simultaneously with Leo's call, Kiruan unleashed magic.

As Leo's body recovered, various defensive spells were cast upon him.

The Three Great Phantoms are fundamentally powerful beings.

But each has its own characteristics.

The Phoenix, known as the Emperor of Flames, specializes in offense.

Pegasus, known as the Master of Thunder, is a phantom beast specializing in mobility.

Lastly, the Fairy, known as a being of fantasy, specializes in defense and healing.

In other words, the phantom beast specializing in combat support was the fairy.

Swish!

Leo lightly spun the Lanchea in his hand and looked at Duran and Wareden.

Boom!

Flames erupted from Leo's body, suspended in mid-air.

Along with it, he charged towards Duran.

Cr-crash!

"Ugh!"

Duran's eyes shot open.

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

Boom!

"…!"

Wareden's face twisted.

His eyes met those of the fairy in front of him.

Seeing Kiruan wag his finger as if to say 'no way,' Wareden poured out his spiritual power.

'His weakness is mana quantity!'

Wareden's eyes narrowed.

'He is maximizing efficiency when using mana. Without the slightest waste!'

It was an incredible mana control ability.

An area of experience beyond mere talent.

'In other words, if he can't fight efficiently, he won't be able to drag out this battle!'

Even if mana consumption efficiency is maximized, there are limits.

'And he's currently using both a Phoenix and a Fairy simultaneously!'

Even if fuel efficiency is increased, rapid mana consumption is unavoidable.

'If we just hold on a little longer…!'

Wareden put more strength into his fist.

Duran also unleashed a more intense aura.

"It seems you're trying to deplete my mana."

Leo raised his spear.

Thump!

Cr-cr-crash!

A wave of flames erupted, centered around Leo.

Duran and Wareden hastily retreated from the swirling aura of flames.

"You'll fall before that happens."

It was when Leo's flames blazed threateningly.

Pitter-patter! Whoosh!

Rain began to fall from the sky.

Leo raised his head.

'Eliza, is it.'

Leo narrowed his eyes.

'Did she enhance Delphinus's abilities using spirit magic? She struggled to summon spirits… yet she can wield this level of spirit magic as soon as she summons one?'

Wareden's combat power itself was overwhelmingly superior.

But from an overall sense, Eliza's summoning abilities were nothing short of astonishing.

Crackle!

Duran's lightning aura grew even stronger with Eliza's support.

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

Eliza had transformed the battlefield itself to favor the two of them.

'Even while fighting Fiora, this level of support.'

Leo gripped his spear tightly.

'As expected, the one I need to defeat first is Eliza.'

Leo's gaze turned towards Eliza, who was fighting against Fiora in the air.

"This isn't the time to be distracted! Leo Flobe!"

Wareden roared and swung his spirit-infused fist at Leo.

Leo used Arion's Breath to generate an aura.

An aura, momentarily strengthened as if exploding, gathered in Leo's hand.

Boom! Rumble-rumble!

For a moment, due to the shockwave, raindrops did not fall only around the two of them.

It was when Wareden, seeing Leo block his attack with one hand, was about to put more strength into his fist.

"Stay down."

Leo, putting strength into his hand, lifted Wareden and slammed him into the ground.

As Kiruan used fairy magic, tree roots sprouted from the ground and coiled around Wareden.

Thud!

"Ugh!"

While Wareden struggled, a golden flash gleamed.

Crackle!

Leo charged towards the lightning that was engulfing him.

Clang!

He struck Duran's sword with the tip of his spear.

Due to the immense force, Duran's upper body was exposed for a moment.

The defenseless Duran gritted his teeth and deployed an aura armor.

Thump!

Leo plunged his left foot into Duran's chest.

"Choke?"

Blood gushed from Duran's mouth.

Cr-crash! Crunch! Crunch! Cr-crackle! Thud-thud-thud! Bang!

Duran, having flown through and knocked down trees, plunged straight into the forest.

The moment Duran, his face contorted, tried to get up.

Click!

Leo re-gripped Lanchea.

Flames swirled.

Among Leo's armaments, the most powerful apart from Dweno's.

Squeeze!

Veins bulged in Leo's hand.

Whoosh!

Leo hurled his spear towards Eliza.

***

"Ugh!"

Squawk!

"Don't make chicken-like noises while attacking so fiercely!"

Fiora, making chicken-like noises and charging fiercely, was enough to throw Eliza into a panic.

'Still, it's a relief it's a young Phoenix! It's still clumsy in combat!'

If Fiora had been even slightly skilled in combat, she wouldn't have been able to support Wareden and Duran while fighting Fiora.

'If we just hold on a little longer, we have a chance to win!'

Eliza also knew better than anyone that Leo's weakness was prolonged battles.

'No matter how much Leo Flobe, he can't overwhelm all three of us instantly…'

The moment she thought that.

Screech!

The Wind Wyvern Eliza was riding let out a startled cry.

Instantly.

Thump!

"Huh…?"

A flash of flame engulfed her vision.

'I've been… hit.'

The moment Eliza suddenly coughed up blood.

Click.

The bracelet on Eliza's arm momentarily flashed red, then went out.

Woosh!

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

***

As Eliza received a death judgment, the rain stopped.

Leo, having retrieved Lanchea, charged towards Wareden, who had broken free from Kiruan's magic.

Crash! Cr-cr-crash! Blazing!

Flames soared.

The earth's crust overturned, and a tidal wave surged.

Flash! Cr-cr-crash!

A golden streak of lightning plunged down.

A fierce battle ensued.

The short, intense battle was decided in an instant.

Wareden, who had already summoned a great spirit and clashed with Leo multiple times, received a death judgment first.

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

Step-step.

Duran, seeing Leo, struggled and gripped his sword.

'He was… this strong?'

But he couldn't grasp what to do.

The gap was invisible.

The back he thought he was barely chasing was nowhere in sight.

The moment Leo went all out.

The outcome was literally decided in an instant.

Leo, having approached the fallen Duran, looked down.

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

'What on earth should I do…?'

There was no path visible.

'Against this monster… how can I win?'

Whoosh!

Leo's spear pierced Duran without hesitation.

Flash!

Duran, having received a death judgment, vanished from sight.

Leo returned to the base.

A student watching the battle of the four from afar gulped dryly.

"…It's a monster fight, pure and simple."

The students trembled as they looked at the devastated landscape, as if the very terrain had been overturned.

Nella also wore an expression of despair.

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