Book 1 Chapter 728

728.

The day after the mock battle.

The students who had been in the infirmary ward returned to the Clock Tower Dormitory only when evening came. Seeing this, Karl wore a puzzled expression.

"Hey, Chelsea. What were you doing in the infirmary for almost two full days?"

Lumerne's classes were mostly practical. As such, injuries were inevitably always a part of it, and the best doctors and healers were always on standby in the infirmary. Lumerne's medical technology was so advanced that it was said they could save anyone as long as they were still alive, no matter how severe the injury. Although they were injured in the mock battle, no students had broken any bones, so it was expected they would return immediately in the morning. However, the students who had been cared for in the infirmary returned to the dormitory only after a full day and a half had passed.

"Were you more injured than expected?" When Karl asked with a puzzled face, Chelsea sighed.

"No. It seems everyone overexerted themselves and complained of subtle dizziness."

"Hmm? Aftereffects of mana depletion?"

"Yeah. It seemed a bit severe."

"I see. They're having a hard time." It was then that Karl nodded.

"There he is!"

"Stop right there!"

[Wahahahaha!]

The first-years were furiously running, each holding a dragonfly net in their hands. Normally, running around shouting loudly in a common lounge full of seniors would be unimaginable. But this time, no one stopped the first-years. This was because the one the first-years were chasing was none other than Kirian. Kirian's movements, dodging the wildly swung dragonfly nets, were almost acrobatic.

[How's that! My splendid moves!]

"Kuh! Is this the power of the Three Great Phantom Beasts!"

"We can't catch him!"

[Kneel before my majesty! First-year brats!]

The first-years wore indignant expressions. Lysinas, watching from afar, offered a bitter smile.

'He's bringing shame to the Three Great Phantom Beasts all by himself. Wasn't he the son of Sirlod? He's having a tough time in his later years.'

Perhaps if the last Phoenix King, who was his contractor, had seen that sight, he might have been furious.

"Wow, Leo. How does your summon know exactly when the upperclassmen aren't around to pop out like a ghost?"

"He's not stupid either. He wouldn't mess around near anyone who could catch him in the first place."

Leo, watching the triumphant Kirian rampaging, asked Chelsea.

"So? Is the mana depletion a bit better?"

"Yeah! No problem!" Chelsea flexed her arm and replied energetically.

"What about you and Chen Sia? You didn't even go to the infirmary."

Leo asked Lysinas, who was reading a book as usual beside him.

"Chloe and I suffered a bit less."

During the mock battle, Lysinas exerted influence over the magical screen visible to the outside. Thanks to that, external professors and students only saw the mock battle screen created by Lysinas. And the students who participated in the mock battle had their memories of that time temporarily sealed by Lysinas.

Memory sealing using Dragonic.

'Since it's not a powerful taboo, the duration isn't long.'

Lysinas looked at the book.

'Even if this idiot is oblivious, he's quick-witted in other ways.'

Anyway, her identity couldn't be hidden for long.

Screech-

Just then, the dormitory door opened and someone entered.

[Wahahahaha! Cough?!]

"What are you all doing?" The 4th-year student from the Summoning Department. Lill looked at the first-years with a puzzled expression. In her hand, Kirian, who had been messing around moments before, was caught.

"Huh? Isn't this a compliment stamp?" Lill, taking the compliment stamp from Kirian's neck, spotted Leo in the lounge and approached him.

"Brother, have you been well these past few days?"

"Did you finish your mission well?"

"Yes. I finished it safely and returned." It seemed she had just returned after completing a long-term mission.

"Give me that stamp."

"Yes." Leo took the stamp from Lill and stamped it on her palm.

"Oh! If I catch this fairy, do I get a compliment stamp?"

"Yeah. There are many other ways to earn extra points, so work hard." Leo pointed to the scoreboard with his finger. There were departmental scores and individual scores there. And there was an overwhelming first place. Elena was there.

In just one day, Elena had resolved two problems within the dormitory. Lill tilted her head after hearing the explanation about the departmental war that had occurred in her absence.

"Is there a prize for being number one individually? Senior Elena isn't someone who usually works this hard."

"I told her I'd grant one wish within my capabilities."

"A wish? Wow! You're really generous!"

Lill, who had been admiring, looked at Lysinas, who was staring intently at her, with a puzzled face.

"Is there something on my face?"

"It's nothing." Lysinas smiled subtly, closed her book, and stood up.

"I'm going to go to bed now." Saying this to Leo, Lysinas stood up.

"It seems Chloe has a mature charm about her today." At Lill's words, Karl tilted his head.

"Leo said something similar earlier."

"Ah. To be able to exude such an adult charm. I'm envious."

Meanwhile, Lysinas, who had entered the hallway, thought of Lill and admired her.

'Amazing.'

Perhaps because she was a summoner, Lysinas found her gaze drawn to Lill.

'First-year Ferrena. Second-year Sasha. Fifth-year Runba. Third-years Eliza and Wareden.'

They were all talented summoners. As a summoner, it was inevitable that her attention would be drawn to the students of the Summoning Department. But among them, Lill was the most impressive.

Of course, Wareden's impact was even stronger.

'That child is simply overwhelming.'

His talent for perfectly handling spirits was enough to impress even Lysinas. However, Lill was a bit different from Wareden.

'Friend.'

She could feel the spirits around Lill being happy. There are many powerful spirit users, but spirit users who can make spirits happy like Lill are rare.

'She's a very charming spirit user.'

Perhaps if she had been reincarnated again. Would she not have taken Lill as her disciple?

Lysinas, who had been thinking about Lill for a moment, made a mischievous face.

'Soon.'

A short while later. Lysinas hummed a tune, imagining Leo's utterly distorted face.

***

Thump- Thump-

Elena walked down the darkened hallway with a nonchalant stride. Curfew had already arrived. However, Elena, known as the Queen and Tyrant of Lumerne, walked freely through the hallway. She made no attempt to hide. Elena, who strolled through the hallway as if it were her own living room, spoke.

"Where are you hiding?" Elena's voice echoed throughout the entire hallway.

While searching for problems within the dormitory, Elena did not cease hunting other students. She was literally the worst hunter for students of departments other than the Magic Department.

"Let's play." Karl clucked his tongue at Elena's voice, which came from afar.

"Wow, that voice is scarier than the former student council presidents who appeared in terrible forms before."

Elena's voice, though coming from their own side, was the embodiment of terror.

"Isn't it?"

"It is." Eliza replied indifferently to Karl's question.

Although they were wearing invisibility cloaks together, Eliza didn't even glance at Karl.

"Is something wrong with you?"

"Not really."

"You seem to be sulking."

"Who are you calling sulky?" Eliza glared at Karl.

"Aw, why? What got you upset? Tell me."

"Don't get close! It's hot!" It was then that Eliza became annoyed as Karl leaned closer and spoke with a smile.

"Oh my? I think I heard Karl's voice?" At the voice coming from right next to them, Karl and Eliza almost screamed.

Unbeknownst to them, Elena was standing right next to Karl and Eliza. Their presence was blocked by the invisibility cloak and Dwenno's artifact, so they weren't detected.

Elena was looking around, with her hand held out to her brow. Karl and Eliza, covering each other's mouths, calmed their pounding hearts.

Thump- Thump-

"You dare play hide-and-seek with me? I wonder where you are?" Elena smiled subtly and began to walk, thump- thump-, with leisurely steps.

'We weren't found, were we?' Karl, startled, ducked down with Eliza.

They were on their way to tackle the labyrinth they had noted earlier. If they were caught by Elena, it was obvious that Elena would immediately attack Eliza to eliminate her and drag Karl to tackle the labyrinth. Karl and Eliza moved as far away from Elena as possible.

Just as they were about to cautiously turn the corner of the hallway. They froze at the sight of a gigantic and fearsome war hammer.

Around the corner of the hallway, Lill, suppressing her presence, was watching Elena. Lill, gripping the war hammer tightly with both hands, crouched down.

Currently, the only person in Lumerne who could stand against Elena apart from Leo. Lill, a 4th-year student from the Summoning Department, charged directly at the distracted Elena.

Bang-! Cacacacrack-!

Lill's war hammer struck Elena's shield. Objects nearby were instantly thrown back by the shockwave.

"Hmm?" Elena squinted and looked at Lill, who was pressing down on her shield.

"My cute Lill. What are you doing?"

"Can't you tell by looking? I'm fighting Senior Elena."

"Did you have a grudge against me?" As Elena tilted her head, Lill shook her head.

"Not at all. But we have to fight anyway, don't we?"

Crackle-

Elena's shield cracked.

"If it's an unavoidable fight, I should strike first. The wish prize Brother is giving is mine."

"You coveted a wish? What kind of wish is it? If it's something I can grant for you, I'll do it."

"It's a wish only Brother can grant me."

"What do you want from Leo then?"

"I want to be alone with Brother for just one week!"

"What will you do for a week?"

"Training, of course! I want to train with Brother without rest!"

"That's like you."

"Haaah!" Crack-!

Lill's war hammer tore through Elena's shield. Shards of magic scattered everywhere.

"Now's our chance! Run!"

"You don't have to tell me!"

"So you were hiding after all?"

"Huh? How long have those two been there?" Elena wore an expression that said 'I knew it,' while Lill looked surprised.

Although Lill's hammer had destroyed Elena's shield, it couldn't inflict direct damage. This was because Elena had dodged the attack just before it made contact.

"Hmm. But Lill?"

"Yes."

"For someone whose goal is a wish, your hammer seems to carry a lot of emotion, doesn't it?" Elena smiled subtly.

"Want to be a little more honest?"

At that question, Lill smiled subtly.

"Senior Elena is graduating when this year ends, isn't she?"

"And?"

"Before that, I wanted to get back at her a little for teasing me for four years. It just so happened to be an opportunity."

"Ah." Elena nodded. And then she smiled subtly.

"Our Lill has grown so much, hasn't she? Thinking it's an opportunity, you're trying to let out what you've been holding inside."

"I was originally taller!" Lill charged forward at tremendous speed.

Elena, smiling subtly at such a Lill, snapped her fingers.

Snap-!

An enormous number of magic circles appeared around Elena.

"I understand your feelings. But since you bared your fangs at this senior." Elena curled up the corners of her mouth.

"Even you, Lill, will have to be punished, won't you?"

***

Shatter-! "Ugh?!" Thud-! Plop-!

Lill, flung through the window by the impact of Elena's magic, crashed through it and fell inside. Her immensely heavy war hammer rolled across the floor. Fortunately, she landed on something soft, so she didn't suffer a major impact.

Lill, who had stood up, sat astride something firm and looked at the broken window.

"As expected of Senior Elena! She's formidable!"

Lill, whose fighting spirit was further ignited, momentarily looked around.

"But where is this? I definitely flew out the window towards the dining hall, didn't I?"

No matter how she looked at it, this was someone's bedroom. And Lill was on a bed.

"What on earth is going on?"

"That's what I'd like to ask."

"Gasp?!"

At the voice coming from below, Lill gasped and looked down. And she was horrified to realize that the person she was sitting on was someone she knew.

Lill was sitting on Leo, who had suddenly been subjected to this ordeal while sleeping. Leo lightly poked Lill's backside, which was pressing down on his chest, with his fingertip.

"Could you get off me?"

"Waaah! Bro-Brother! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Lill quickly got off Leo, startled.

Leo scrunched up his face and sat up.

"No, what on earth is this situation……"

Whoosh-!

Just then, a gigantic fireball flew in through the window Lill had crashed through. It was magic shot by Elena.

Seeing that, Leo clasped his face.

"What is this? Is this a dream? What's all this sudden chaos?"

He denied reality, but unfortunately, Elena's magic landed precisely on Leo's head.

And then……

Boom-!

It caused an enormous explosion, obliterating Leo's room.

***

Boom-! "……?" Mel, who had been working late into the night in the faculty building, stared blankly with her mouth agape at the massive explosion that occurred on the top floor of the Clock Tower Dormitory, visible from her window.

"What was…… that?"