Book 1 Chapter 721
721.
The next day.
Normally, Chloe had her hair neatly braided and half-tied up.
But Lisinas had neatly combed her hair.
Lisinas, who had tied her necktie, took a deep breath.
“Shall we go then?”
Creak-
When she opened the door and stepped out, the female students from the Magic Department were scurrying outside the door.
“Hey! How long are you going to use my comb for!”
“I overslept! Today’s the day to submit assignments!”
Lisinas smiled faintly as she watched the students starting their day in a rush.
‘They’re lively.’
5000 years ago.
Before the Age of Calamity began, such a vibrant start to the day was commonplace.
Dragons’ memories are far superior compared to other races.
Kyle, Luna, and Dweno, with the exception of Arion who was born during the Age of Calamity.
The three of them also retained memories of the peaceful era.
However, by the time Arhi’s journey was nearing its end, those memories had faded and become blurry.
At that time, dragons were the only race that clearly and vividly remembered the time before the Age of Calamity.
That’s why Lisinas’s feelings upon encountering a peaceful morning were more special compared to Luna and Arion.
“Chloe, good morning!”
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Senior! Good morning!”
“Oh? You didn’t tie your hair today?”
Seniors, juniors, and classmates greeted her warmly.
“Yeah, it’s a good morning, isn’t it?”
Chloe smiled brightly as she greeted them, then click-clacked- walked out of the female dormitory area.
The remaining female students looked blank.
“W-what was that just now?”
“W-well. How should I put it. My mind feels calm.”
It was a face they always saw, but today something was different.
Just seeing Chloe’s smile made them feel a sense of calm in their hearts.
Moreover, that smile lingered in their minds as if they were enchanted.
“I’ve had this feeling somewhere before?”
At that moment, the 5th-year students fell into thought with bewildered expressions.
“Oh, I feel that way too.”
The 4th-year students also looked like something was about to come to mind.
“Ah.”
One 5th-year student made a thoughtful expression.
“It’s similar to Elena’s Demonic Eyes.”
“Ah! Now that you mention it.”
“You’re right. The feeling is completely different, but how should I put it. It feels enchanting, like Elena.”
“Does Senior Elena also have Demonic Eyes like Professor Alby?”
When a 2nd-year student asked with a puzzled look, the 5th-year student shook their head.
“It’s not the same Demonic Eyes as Professor Alby. But it’s not an exaggeration to call it Demonic Eyes.”
Elena was born with a powerful charisma that naturally captivated people’s attention.
The quality to naturally reign over others.
Combined with her beautiful appearance, that charisma allowed her to exude an almost demonic charm.
For an ordinary person, it might have been so powerful that the ability became a curse.
But Elena was a genius who could perfectly control even that ability.
Her eyes glow when that ability is maximized.
The 4th and 5th-year students called it Demonic Eyes.
“You guys will never experience it. That’s an ability Elena only used in her delinquent days.”
Making people infatuated with her and toying with their emotions.
It’s a very dangerous ability, good for making enemies.
Listening to the 4th and 5th-year students’ explanation, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd-year students trembled.
“Elena started to calm down from her 3rd year. You haven’t seen her delinquent days, have you? You’re really lucky.”
The 5th-year student shook their head.
“But Senior Chloe doesn’t have such an ability, does she?”
At that moment, a 2nd-year student looked puzzled.
At those words, the 4th and 5th-year students nodded.
“That’s true.”
“Is it a misunderstanding?”
“Maybe it’s because the atmosphere suddenly changed.”
The female students from the Magic Department then hurried to prepare for their daily schedule, as if it were nothing significant.
***
Chirp chirp-
As she walked down the corridor, she heard the chirping of birds.
Lisinas turned her head to look at the window showing the outside scenery and felt her heart tremble.
“Wow…”
The world, which had been a ruin in her memory, was vivid.
But now.
The scenery visible outside the window was so peaceful and beautiful.
The warm sunlight streaming down.
Small plants and animals showed off their abundant vitality.
‘Yes. We… Kyle… he did it.’
She knew it in her head.
That Kyle defeated Erebus and saved the world.
That the world she was in now was the saved future, 5000 years later.
She knew it all.
But seeing it directly with her own eyes, she couldn't help her heart trembling.
To save the world.
How desperate were the times they went through?
How many had they sent away before their time?
To overcome suffering and not fall into despair.
How much did they struggle?
Ultimately, they had to let go of comrades more precious than life.
And eventually, a world where they had to leave behind even their most precious person.
A world where they ultimately had to leave behind only unfulfilled promises.
That world was before her eyes.
In the very form she so longed to see.
The sight before her eyes alone made her feel somewhat compensated.
The desperate times.
The painful partings.
5000 years ago, she thought this one scenery would be enough compensation.
‘Not now. It’s not enough.’
What lingering regret did she have?
At the very least, it wouldn’t be seeing a saved world.
Because Lisinas knew.
That the world would be saved.
‘Even when I left Kyle behind, I believed in that one thing without a doubt.’
An unwavering faith and trust.
Therefore, the salvation of the world could not be her lingering regret.
‘What is my lingering regret?’
It wasn't such a difficult question.
Thump- Thump-
As students walked back and forth in the corridor, one particular set of footsteps stimulated her ears.
‘Has his stride changed? Ah, his body has changed, so that must be why.’
But the unique, almost odorless footsteps remained the same, so she could hear them clearly even amidst the countless people passing by.
A laugh involuntarily escaped her as she realized he hadn’t changed much even after reincarnation.
Thump- Thump- The sound of footsteps grew closer.
Lisinas closed her eyes and took a breath.
Otherwise, it felt like tears would come right away.
‘My lingering regret is…’
Exhaling a trembling breath, Lisinas opened her eyes.
A faint, calm smile played on her lips.
‘Only one.’
Thump-
The footsteps stopped.
Lisinas took her eyes off the window and spun- lightly half a turn, facing her lingering regret.
For a moment, it felt as if time had stopped.
‘Ah.’
His appearance had changed.
The ash-gray hair and eyes that used to evoke gray were nowhere to be seen.
White hair and fiery red eyes captivated her gaze.
The appearance of a boy growing into a young man.
But there wasn’t even a hint of youthfulness.
It was still the same.
A slightly grumpy expression that somehow showed a hint of annoyance.
Emotionless eyes that revealed little feeling.
But even so, he was clearly observing her.
Wondering if she was sick.
If she was feeling okay.
A thoughtless care was palpable.
It wasn't just that he hadn't changed much.
He hadn't changed at all.
‘How can he be so consistent?’
His personality and aura were still the same.
And…
‘His promise to save the world, too.’
She herself couldn't keep her promise.
And yet, the man before her was trying to keep it.
His promise to her.
Last night, she had prepared herself countless times.
That she wouldn’t cry.
Because crying would be strange.
But despite such preparations, her heart trembled.
It felt as if emotions would spill out if she opened her mouth.
Nevertheless, Lisinas composed herself.
“Good morning.”
She smiled softly and greeted him.
She greeted him as always.
5000 years ago or now.
She always greeted him like this in the morning.
“Good morning.”
But the reply that came back was a little different.
The cynical Kyle used to point at the sky and sneer, asking if this was a good morning.
‘Yes… it really is a good morning.’
A laugh escaped her as she thought that some things had changed.
“Are you feeling okay?”
“Yeah. Perfectly fine.”
“That’s a relief.”
Leo nodded and started to walk.
Then he approached Lisinas and tilted his head.
“What are you doing standing in the corridor? We should go eat breakfast.”
It was an invitation to go to the dining hall together.
“I have something to do, so I’ll go a little later.”
“Busy even in the morning.”
Leo chuckled.
“By the way.”
“Hmm?”
“You didn’t tie your hair today? I think it’s the first time I’ve seen it.”
“Ah.”
Lisinas touched the ends of her hair and smiled faintly.
“I tried a change of atmosphere.”
“Really? It suits you. See you later then.”
Lisinas took a deep breath, watching Leo’s retreating back.
“It doesn’t seem awkward.”
Lisinas stroked her cheek and took out a mirror from her pocket.
It seemed her efforts all night to create a smile with a different feel from her own had paid off.
‘He’s strangely quick-witted in useless things.’
Lisinas lifted one corner of her mouth with her fingertip and put the mirror away.
‘Good.’
She could reveal her existence to Leo without hesitation.
Leo was also aware of her existence and was trying to meet her.
But on the other hand, she also felt like playing a trick on him.
Because she found his joyful chatter with Luna annoying.
But what was even more annoying was.
His annoying reaction even after she finally dared to kiss him after 5000 years.
‘This time, I’ll definitely make him look dumbfounded.’
Lisinas smiled faintly and officially began her life in Lumerne.
*
The dining hall was one of the noisiest places in the morning.
The basic academic schedule was the same for all students.
However, just because the academic schedule was the same did not mean that the individual schedules of students were the same.
Many students had to start moving from the early morning for various reasons, separate from the academic schedule.
That’s why it was common to see students who overslept in the morning hurriedly eating their meals.
Lisinas smiled faintly, looking at the lively dining hall, then put the food she had received on her tray into her mouth and chewed.
‘Wow- this is delicious.’
With sparkling eyes, Lisinas quickly emptied her tray.
And went to get more food.
‘This is delicious too. This too.’
Lisinas was emptying her tray again and again with a happy smile.
“Oh~ Chloe. What’s up with your hair being down? A change of atmosphere?”
Karl chuckled and spoke to her.
“I saw from afar. Aren’t you eating too much?”
“Chelsea told me. That it’s nothing serious? Still, I was worried you might be low on energy today. But it seems you’re full of energy instead.”
Karl and Abard sat on either side of Lisinas.
Karl held a spoon in his mouth and assumed his characteristic swaggering posture.
Abard had untied his necktie, loosened a few buttons, and was dressed in a free-spirited manner.
Both were Karl and Abard as usual.
Lisinas put down her fork, looked between the two, and furrowed her brow.
“Huh? Is something wrong?”
Lisinas said with a serious expression, looking at Karl who looked puzzled.
“Karl. You’re a hero. You should be a role model for people.”
Lisinas placed her palms on Karl’s chest and waist, exerting pressure.
Karl unconsciously straightened his posture.
“You shouldn’t hold a spoon in your mouth either.”
“Oop?”
Lisinas pulled the spoon out of Karl’s mouth, then held his head and corrected his posture.
“See, isn’t this cooler?”
Lisinas smiled faintly, then looked at Abard, who now had a bewildered expression.
“You too, Abard.”
“Me?”
Lisinas reached out to Abard, who pointed at himself with a bewildered face.
And after buttoning up Abard’s shirt, she tied his necktie properly.
“It looks better neat.”
Lisinas smiled faintly, picked up her tray, and stood up.
“I’ll go first. Enjoy your breakfast.”
“Uh-uhm. Oh, okay.”
“See you later in class.”
Karl and Abard greeted her with bewildered expressions.
“The atmosphere… seems a little different than usual, doesn’t it?”
“Right? How should I put it. She seems more mature.”
Karl and Abard looked flustered.
The two of them self-consciously adjusted the posture and clothing that Lisinas had corrected for them, then their faces turned slightly red.
“Eliza? What’s wrong with your face?”
The Summoning Department students looked puzzled at Eliza, who was gaping.
‘Why are you so spaced out! Karl Thomas!’
“Ms. Celia. Why didn’t you eat first? Huh? Ms. Celia?”
Chen Xia also tilted her head, looking at Celia who had a blank expression.
‘Why is Chloe suddenly like that? No! Why is that butter-up guy blushing like that, which isn't like him to begin with!’