Book 1 Chapter 895
895.
Upon entering the summoning major area within the Clock Tower Dormitory, Karl, seeing spirits flying across the sky, muttered blankly.
“Every time I come here, it’s full of personality.”
As expected of the summoning major students’ area, various summoned creatures were summoned here.
Although the Lumern Clock Tower Dormitory wasn't small, it was inevitably lacking compared to the great outdoors.
Thanks to that, a quite unique ecosystem of summoned creatures had formed in the summoning major area.
It was common for lower-ranking summoned creatures of older students to have a higher status than higher-ranking summoned creatures of younger students.
Because of this, there were even students who were interested in this hierarchy and researched it.
As Karl arrived at the entrance of the summoning major area, some students gave him wary glances.
Each major's unique area within the Clock Tower Dormitory had a strong tendency for this.
This was fundamentally because entry by students from other majors was forbidden.
However, there were several secret passages within the Clock Tower Dormitory, and one could enter through such passages.
There was no mention yet of secret passages being discovered, but there was a high probability they were within the major areas.
As all majors were in competition, they naturally had to be wary if a student from another major came.
Especially if it was Karl, who was skilled at devising strategies to catch others off guard.
Knowing that going deeper might lead to him being stopped, Karl looked around to find a familiar face.
“Oh! Teide!”
As Karl smiled brightly and waved his hand, Teide, who was observing the spirits, approached him with a curious expression.
“What, Karl. What brings you to the summoning area?”
“I've made what you asked for before.”
“Oh? Really?”
As Teide’s face brightened, Karl pulled out a container with ointment-form medicine from his pocket.
“Burn cream that works well for fire-elemental phantasms. It's well-made.”
Karl grinned and handed the medicine to Teide.
Fire-elemental phantasms, being living creatures, also suffer burns.
This usually happens when they overexert themselves, emitting fire beyond their limits, or in battles against more powerful fire-elemental enemies.
The problem was that ordinary burn creams didn’t work well on fire-elemental phantasms, which were resistant to burns.
So, Teide had commissioned Karl to make it, and he had delivered.
“You could have given it to me later.”
“I just had nothing to do, so I came by incidentally.”
Listening to Karl and Teide’s conversation, the summoning major students slightly lowered their guard.
Although he was a target of wariness, Karl also ran a general store.
It was safe to say that there were no students in Lumern who didn't use Karl's products.
Because of that, he frequently visited other major areas in a peculiar way.
While talking with Teide, Karl pulled out some snacks for summoned creatures from his pocket.
“I also made prototypes of these. Could you give me some feedback?”
Saying that, Karl handed the prototype snacks to the summoning major students.
Then he naturally opened his mouth.
“Where's Eliza? I want to hear feedback from top-tier phantasms too.”
His relationship with Eliza was a secret.
He chose a natural approach, as calling her out unnecessarily could raise suspicion.
“If it’s Eliza, she’s a little further in. For some reason, she’s out in the hallway enjoying the sunlight today. I’ll guide you.”
Teide led Karl into the hallway.
A moment later.
Eliza was seen lying on a sunbed outside the terrace connected to the hallway, leisurely enjoying the sunlight.
“Thanks, Teide.”
“I'll get going. Don't go inside, just in case. The first and second-year students are on high alert, watching with fiery eyes.”
“I won’t.”
Karl burst out laughing, opened the terrace door, and stepped inside.
Eliza, who was leisurely lying on the sunbed, savoring the approaching autumn, slightly lowered her sunglasses.
“What brings you here?”
At Eliza’s question, Karl plopped down on the sunbed next to her and said,
“I came to ask for a favor.”
At his words, Eliza scoffed and put her sunglasses back on.
But contrary to her indifferent reaction, she secretly looked at Karl out of the corner of her eye, as if expecting something.
In fact, Eliza had expected Karl to come.
‘He must be planning to ask me to be his partner for the dance party.’
Of course, she intended to refuse.
Among the third-year students, Karl was Eliza's closest friend, more than anyone else.
The students knew that too.
But the dance party was a different matter.
Karl and Eliza were dating.
As of now, no one could think that.
However, if they went to the dance party together as partners, the atmosphere could change a little.
Eliza felt regretful about it too.
But for now, she wanted to keep her relationship with Karl a secret.
‘It’s quite fun in its own way.’
The fact that it had to be hidden had a subtle thrill.
‘Of course, it's not a complete secret, though…'
She sighed softly, recalling those who had gone on the mission with them this time.
‘Even so, it's a pity.’
It was when Eliza smacked her lips.
“Eliza. Can you stop Senior Lil from approaching Leo for a week?”
Eliza paused, taken aback by the unexpected words.
Glancing at Karl, Eliza lowered her sunglasses again and frowned.
“What do you mean by that? And why should I do that?”
At her uniquely sharp reaction, Karl said seriously,
“Senior Elena has noticed your relationship with me.”
“Hmm? So?”
It was a little surprising, but it made sense if it was Elena Zeron.
‘Did she notice when we raided the magic major area back then?’
“Moreover, she was excluded from the mission this time, so her mood isn't very good.”
“The student council worked hard last night, didn't they?”
“Yeah. Could you help your boyfriend out? Huh? And I was also threatened that if I don’t help, she’d expose our relationship because she wants to be Leo's dance party partner.”
Of course, Karl was the one who brought it up first, but for now, he needed to get Eliza's cooperation as much as possible, so he lied.
“So? You want me to stop Senior Lil from approaching Leo Flobe?”
“Yes.”
Eliza, understanding the situation, sighed softly.
“How annoying. Should I just tell everyone?”
“Oh? Really? That would be great for me! I’m itching to say that such a beautiful person is my girlfriend!”
“Don’t get ahead of yourself.”
Eliza said irritably, looking at Karl who was genuinely happy with a bright expression.
However, Karl's words, mixed with sincerity, secretly made her feel good.
“Alright. I'll cooperate!”
“Thank you! Eliza!”
Karl smiled and grabbed Eliza’s hand.
Eliza looked down at his hand for a moment and said,
“Don’t just grab me without permission.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Karl let go of her hand.
Even as she scoffed, Eliza caressed the hand Karl had held.
“Anyway, please help. I’m counting on you for Senior Lil.”
Karl grinned and stood up from his seat.
Eliza tilted her head, looking at Karl.
“Leaving?”
“Yeah. If I stay longer, it might cause unnecessary suspicion. Ah. That’s right. That’s right. Look at me, I'm so forgetful!”
Karl slapped his forehead.
Then he made a heart with his fingers and said,
“I love you.”
Leaving those words, Karl waved and then exited the terrace.
‘He didn’t even think of asking me to be his partner for the dance party?’
For a moment, anger welled up.
But then she took a deep breath.
‘Karl must know that I can’t go to the dance party with him either.’
It was Eliza's wish to keep their relationship a secret.
‘He's even being blackmailed by the vice-president because of me. He must have deliberately not brought it up, thinking I’d be troubled if he asked me to go to the dance party.’
Sighing softly, Eliza stood up.
She was angry but decided to think positively and left the hallway.
‘Yes. I'll think posi—’
“Senior Karl! Please go to the dance party with me this time!”
“No! Go with me!”
“Hehe. It’s hard to know what to do when such beautiful summoning major juniors say such things.”
“…”
Karl’s figure, flirting with junior female students from the summoning major in the hallway, came into view.
Seeing that, Eliza quietly left the hallway.
‘Yes. He must be thinking of me.’
From the other end of the hallway, Karl and the junior female students' laughter continued to be heard.
‘He must be thinking of me—’
“Ah! Are you perhaps going with Ju-en?”
“Hmm? Now that you mention it, should I go with Ju-en?”
“Aw! What’s that!”
“Go with me! With me!”
*Grind—!*
A peculiar sound came from Eliza’s mouth.
‘Alright. I’ll do my best to stop Senior Lil from approaching Leo Flobe.’
A wicked smile appeared on Eliza’s lips.
‘But he didn’t say I couldn’t go with Leo Flobe, did he?’
With half of her reason paralyzed, Eliza looked back at the other end of the hallway where Karl's laughter was still audible.
‘I'll make that darn face of his turn pale!’
***
“Everyone is so energetic.”
Leo, walking through the campus to have lunch with Karl, muttered, looking at the bright atmosphere of the school.
“It’s because the dance party is coming up. Everyone's excited about who to go with, you know.”
“Are you going with Eliza?”
“Oh. That would be like advertising that there's something going on between Eliza and me, wouldn’t it?”
Karl shook his head dismissively.
“Anyway, Leo. Who are you going with?”
Karl asked subtly.
“Well. I don’t really have anyone in mind?”
“Why? You could pick anyone, couldn’t you?”
Karl chuckled playfully, as usual.
“Speaking of which, Chelsea seems to be going with Abard?”
“Those two are still getting along well.”
“Tell me about it. Though I don’t understand it at all myself.”
Karl shook his head, thinking of his sister.
“Hey. Leo.”
“Why?”
“Can’t you try to cheer up Senior Elena? It’s suffocating.”
Karl joked around.
At his words, Leo burst out laughing.
“Should I ask her to go, since she’s sulking?”
“If you ask her, she’ll instantly cheer up, won’t she?”
“Really? But her sulking look is quite cute, you see.”
“…You think that’s cute?”
Karl made an incredulous expression.
At that, Leo shrugged.
“Oh! Brother Leo!”
“Claass Reepresentativee!”
“Perfect. Want to go have lunch together?”
Chelsea, Iliana, and Nella spotted the two and approached them.
Iliana, in particular, clung to Leo and complained as if she had been wronged.
“You know! I didn’t violate any school rules! Celia did!”
“Iliana, there are many eyes watching around us.”
Leo said with a gentle smile, and Iliana calmed down.
“Anyway, I didn't do anything wrong, but I was investigated by the disciplinary committee. Tell them off!”
At Iliana’s words, Chelsea and Nella tilted their heads.
“You must have done something wrong.”
“I don’t think Celia would take you to the disciplinary committee for no reason.”
“Isn’t anyone on my side?!”
“You must have done something wrong.”
As Karl chimed in, Iliana looked even more wronged.
“Celia must have been mistaken. I’ll have a word with her.”
“As expected, the class representative is the only one on my side.”
Iliana smiled brightly, her mood seemingly lifted by Leo’s words.
“Ah. Speaking of which, Class Representative. This time…”
“Ah, that’s right. Iliana. Professor Ren seems to be looking for you.”
“Huh?”
As Karl quickly brought up the topic, Iliana made a puzzled expression.
“Why?”
“Well? I only vaguely overheard what the kids in our department were saying.”
“Then it’s not certain, is it? Anyway, Class Representative…”
“I think I heard it too. Didn’t they say she was urgently looking for you?”
As Chelsea chimed in from the side, Iliana blinked and tilted her head.
If even Chelsea was talking about it, she couldn't dismiss it lightly.
Nella made a curious expression.
“If Professor Ren is looking for you urgently, shouldn’t you go?”
“Am I going to be scolded?”
“I haven't done anything wrong.”
Iliana was flustered.
“Just go for now.”
“What? What in the world is going on?”
Iliana, flustered, ran towards the Magic Building where the magic major professors were.
Chelsea and Karl gave each other a discreet thumbs up.
Just then.
“Oh. Leo.”
Celia approached from a distance.
“Celia Zerdinger. I had something to ask you.”
“Hm? Why?”
“Come with me. Brother Leo! Sister Nella! Sorry! Let’s have lunch another time!”
Chelsea quickly pushed Celia’s back and left.
“Huh? Leo.”
Just then, Chloe approached.
“I have something related to magic that I’d like your opinion on.”
“Chloe! Perfect timing! I had something I wanted to ask you.”
“Hm? Questions are always welcome.”
“Thanks! Sorry. Leo. Let’s have lunch another time!”
Karl took Chloe and left.
“What do you call it, everyone seems busy today, don’t they?”
As Nella tilted her head, Leo had an amused expression.
“It seems like everyone has something up their sleeve, doesn’t it?”
“Huh?”
Nella glanced at Leo, then sighed.
“You’re thinking something naughty again, aren't you?”
At that, Leo burst out laughing.