Book 1 Chapter 895

Kal muttered blankly, watching the spirits flying in the sky as he entered the Summoning Department section within the Clock Tower dormitory.

"Every time I come here, it's so full of character."

As expected of the Summoning Department students' area, various summoned beasts were present.

While the Lumern Clock Tower dormitory wasn't small, it was bound to be insufficient compared to nature.

As a result, a rather unique ecosystem of summoned beasts had formed in the Summoning Department section.

It was common for senior students' lower-tier summoned beasts to have higher status than junior students' higher-tier summoned beasts.

There were even students who found this hierarchy interesting and researched it.

As Kal arrived at the entrance of the Summoning Department section, some students cast wary glances his way.

This tendency was strong within the exclusive areas of each department in the Clock Tower dormitory.

This was primarily because students from other departments were prohibited from entering.

However, there were many secret passages within the Clock Tower dormitory, and one could enter through them.

There had been no news of secret passages being discovered yet, but there was a high probability of them being within the departmental areas.

As all departments were in competition, it was natural to be wary if a student from another department appeared.

This was especially true for Kal, who was adept at devising surprise strategies.

Since he might be stopped if he went any deeper, Kal looked around for familiar faces.

"Oh! Tayde!"

As Kal waved his hand with a bright smile, Tayde, who had been observing the spirits, approached with a puzzled expression.

"What are you doing in the Summoning Department, Kal?"

"I made what you asked for before."

"Oh? Really?"

As Tayde's expression brightened, Kal took out a jar of ointment from his pocket.

"It's a burn ointment that's effective for fire-elemental beasts. It's well-made."

Kal handed the medicine to Tayde with a grin.

Fire-elemental beasts, being living beings, also suffer burns.

These typically occurred when they exerted themselves beyond their limits by spewing fire, or in battles against stronger fire-elemental enemies.

The problem was that ordinary burn ointments didn't work well on fire-elemental beasts with high burn resistance.

That's why Kal had been commissioned to make it, and he had done so.

"You could have given it to me later."

"I just happened to be free, so I came by."

Hearing Kal and Tayde's conversation, the students of the Summoning Department slightly relaxed their guard.

While Kal was a potential target of suspicion, he also operated a general store.

It was safe to say that no student in Lumern didn't use Kal's products.

As such, he frequently visited other departments' areas.

While talking with Tayde, Kal took out some snacks for summoned beasts from his pocket.

"I've also made some prototype snacks. Could you give me some feedback?"

Saying so, Kal handed the prototype snacks to the Summoning Department students.

Then, he naturally opened his mouth.

"Where's Eliza? I'd like to hear feedback from top-tier summoned beasts too."

His relationship with Eliza was a secret.

He chose a natural approach to avoid raising suspicion by calling her out unnecessarily.

"Eliza is a little further in. For some reason, she's out in the hallway today enjoying the sun. I'll guide you."

Tayde led Kal further down the hallway.

A short while later.

Eliza was visible on a sunbed outside the terrace connected to the hallway, leisurely basking in the sun.

"Thanks, Tayde."

"I'm heading off. And don't go any further inside. The first and second-year students are on high alert."

"I won't."

Kal laughed heartily and opened the terrace door.

Eliza, who was leisurely lying on the sunbed enjoying the approaching autumn, lowered her sunglasses slightly.

"What brings you here?"

In response to Eliza's question, Kal sat down on the sunbed next to her and said,

"I came to ask for a favor."

At those words, Eliza snorted and put her sunglasses back on.

However, despite her indifferent reaction, she secretly watched Kal from the corner of her eye, appearing expectant.

In fact, Eliza had anticipated Kal's visit.

'He's probably going to ask me to be his partner to the dance party.'

Of course, she had no intention of refusing.

Among the third-year students, Kal was Eliza's closest friend.

The students knew that.

However, the dance party was a slightly different matter.

Kal and Eliza are dating.

Currently, there was no one who could think that.

But if they went to the dance party as partners, the atmosphere could change slightly.

Eliza also felt a sense of regret.

But for now, she wanted to keep her relationship with Kal a secret.

'It's kind of fun, you know.'

There was a strange thrill in having to hide it.

'Of course, it's not a complete secret…'

She sighed softly, thinking of those who had gone on a mission with her this time.

'Even so, it's a bit disappointing.'

It was when Eliza licked her lips.

"Eliza. Can you stop senior Lil from approaching Leo for a week?"

Eliza froze at the unexpected words.

Glancing at Kal, Eliza lowered her sunglasses again and frowned.

"What are you talking about? And why should I?"

In response to her sharp tone, Kal spoke seriously.

"Senior Elena noticed our relationship."

"Hmm? So?"

Although slightly surprised, it was understandable given who Elena Zerron was.

'Did she notice when we intruded into the magic department area?'

"Also, I was excluded from the mission this time, so she's in a bad mood."

"The student council had a tough time last night, right?"

"Yeah. Can you help your boyfriend? Huh? And I was threatened with exposure if I didn't help her get a dance party partner with Leo."

Although Kal had brought it up first, he lied to get Eliza's cooperation.

"So? You want me to stop senior Lil from approaching Leo Flove?"

"Yes."

Understanding the situation, Eliza sighed softly.

"This is annoying. Should I just tell everyone?"

"Oh? Really? I'd love that! I'm itching to tell everyone that such a beautiful person is my girlfriend!"

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Seeing Kal's genuinely happy expression, Eliza spoke irritably.

However, Kal's words, mixed with sincerity, made her feel secretly pleased.

"Okay. I'll cooperate!"

"Thank you! Eliza!"

Kal smiled and grabbed Eliza's hand.

Looking down at his hand for a moment, Eliza said,

"Don't just grab it."

"Ah, sorry."

Kal let go of her hand.

Despite snorting, Eliza toyed with the hand Kal had held.

"Anyway, help me out. I'll leave senior Lil to you."

Kal grinned and stood up.

Watching Kal, Eliza tilted her head.

"Are you leaving?"

"Yeah. If I stay any longer, it might arouse suspicion. Ah. Right. Right. Look at me!"

Kal slapped his forehead.

Then he made a heart with his fingers and said,

"I love you."

With those words, Kal waved and left the terrace.

'He has absolutely no intention of asking me to be his partner!'

For a moment, she was furious.

But then she took a deep breath.

'Kal must know that I can't go to the dance party with him.'

It was Eliza's idea to keep their relationship a secret.

'He's even being threatened by the vice president because of me. He probably didn't mention the dance party because he thought it would put me in a difficult position.'

With a small sigh, Eliza got up from her seat.

Although angry, she decided to look on the bright side and left the hallway.

'Yes, let's think positively…'

"Senior Kal! Please go with me to the dance party this time!"

"No! Go with me!"

"Heh. It's overwhelming when such lovely juniors from the Summoning Department say that."

"……"

Kal's appearance, chatting with the junior female students of the Summoning Department in the hallway, caught her eye.

Seeing that, Eliza quietly left the hallway.

'Yes. He must be thinking of me.'

The sound of Kal and the junior female students laughing continued to be heard from the other end of the hallway.

'He's thinking of me…'

"Ah! Are you perhaps going with Juen?"

"Hmm? Come to think of it, should I go with Juen?"

"Hey! What's that!"

"Go with me! With me!"

Grind—!

An unusual sound came from Eliza's mouth.

'Yes. I'll do my best to stop senior Lil from approaching Leo Flove.'

A sinister smile spread across Eliza's lips.

'But there was no mention that I shouldn't go with Leo Flove, right?'

Eliza, with half her reason paralyzed, looked back at the hallway where Kal's laughter could be heard.

'I'll make that damn face turn pale with fear!'

***

"Everyone's so lively."

Leo muttered as he walked through campus with Kal for lunch, observing the bright atmosphere of the school.

"It's because the dance party is coming up. Everyone's excited about who to go with."

"Are you going with Eliza?"

"Oh, if I did, it would be like advertising that there's something between Eliza and me, right?"

Kal shook his head, no.

"By the way, Leo. Who are you going with?"

Kal asked subtly.

"Hmm. I can't think of anyone specific."

"Why? You can pick anyone you want, right?"

Kal joked, laughing as usual.

"Come to think of it, Chelsea seems to be going with Abad?"

"Those two are still close."

"They are. I can't understand it at all."

Kal shook his head, thinking of his sister.

"Hey, Leo."

"Yeah?"

"Can you cheer up Senior Elena a bit? It's suffocating."

Kal said playfully.

Leo burst into laughter at his words.

"Do you think she'll want to go when she's sulking?"

"If you ask her, she'll probably cheer up right away."

"Really? But her sulking is quite cute, you know."

"……You think that's cute?"

Kal looked bewildered.

At that moment, Leo shrugged his shoulders.

"Ah! Leo oppa!"

"Vaaan-!"

"Good. Want to have lunch together?"

Chelsea, Iliana, and Nella spotted the two and approached them.

Iliana, in particular, held onto Leo as if she were wronged and complained.

"You know! I didn't violate any school rules! But Celia did!"

"Iliana, there are a lot of people watching."

Leo said with a smile, and Iliana calmed down.

"Anyway, I didn't do anything wrong, but I was investigated by the disciplinary committee. Say something!"

At Iliana's words, Chelsea and Nella tilted their heads.

"You must have done something wrong."

"Celia wouldn't take me to the disciplinary committee for no reason."

"Does no one have my back?!"

"You must have done something wrong."

Kal chimed in, making Iliana look even more wronged.

"Celia must have made a mistake. I'll have a word with her."

"As expected, the only one on my side is the class president."

Relieved by Leo's words, Iliana smiled brightly.

"Ah, speaking of which, class president, this…"

"Ah, right. Iliana. Professor Ren seems to be looking for you."

"Huh?"

Kal quickly interjected, and Iliana looked puzzled.

"Why?"

"I don't know? I only vaguely heard our department students talking about it."

"Then it's not certain. Anyway, class president…"

"I think I heard it too. Didn't they say they were looking for you urgently?"

Chelsea chimed in from the side, and Iliana blinked and tilted her head.

If even Chelsea said it, it couldn't be dismissed lightly.

Nella looked puzzled.

"If Professor Ren is looking for you urgently, shouldn't you go?"

"Aren't you going to get scolded?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Iliana was flustered.

"You should go, just in case."

"What? What's going on?"

Flustered, Iliana ran towards the magic building where the magic department professors were.

Chelsea and Kal gave each other a thumbs-up, visible only to each other.

At that moment.

"Oh, Leo."

Celia approached from a distance.

"Celia Zerdinger. I had something to ask you."

"Huh? Why?"

"Come with me. Leo oppa! Nera unnie! Sorry! I'll have lunch next time!"

Chelsea quickly pushed Celia's back and left.

"Huh? Leo."

At that moment, Chloe approached.

"I want to ask for your opinion regarding magic."

"Chloe! That's perfect! I had something I wanted to ask you."

"Huh? Questions are always welcome."

"Thanks! Sorry, Leo. I'll have lunch next time!"

Kal took Chloe and left.

"What is it, everyone's so busy today?"

Nella tilted her head, and Leo's expression was amused.

"It seems like everyone has some ulterior motive."

"Huh?"

Nella glanced at Leo and sighed.

"You're up to something mischievous again, aren't you?"

At those words, Leo burst into laughter.