Book 1 Chapter 992

992.

"Phew- this semester is coming to an end."

The central lounge of the Lumern Clock Tower dormitory, being a place where all students come and go, is where many student facilities are gathered.

Seated there, Illiana held the jet-black contents of her mug to her lips with a melancholic expression.

First-year students passing by looked at Illiana with eyes full of admiration, and some first-year boys blushed.

"Wow. Senior Illiana. She looks so relaxed."

"Could that be the relaxation of a cup of coffee?"

"I want to look like that to the freshmen when I become a sophomore… What should I do?"

When Illiana turned her head at the whispers of the first-years, the whispering first-years momentarily showed flustered expressions.

Illiana smiled faintly at those first-years.

At that sight, the first-years exclaimed even more.

Meanwhile.

Chelsea, sitting opposite Illiana and watching her, was simply dumbfounded.

"The coffee smells really good today, doesn't it, Chelsea?"

'That's cocoa.'

Chelsea, with a look of utter disbelief, said in a small voice.

"You've somehow maintained that concept for a year?"

Illiana's project to appear as an elegant, beautiful, and strong honor student senior to the first-year freshmen was still ongoing.

Of course, it wasn't always smooth sailing.

There were several crises along the way.

Especially when she had received supplementary classes after the midterms.

But Illiana created an image that it was due to a mission, and somehow safely got through the difficult period.

As a result, among the first-years, Illiana was still an honor student senior, well-versed in both academics and martial arts.

By this point, students from other years who knew the truth were tacitly keeping Illiana's secret.

This was because they were curious about the first-years' reaction when the secret was revealed.

"Thanks to that."

"I've seen it for a year, but I really can't get used to it."

Chelsea shook her head, recalling Illiana, who would hang onto her with a tearful face as if nothing had happened, whenever the first-years weren't around.

'She is amazing.'

If the dormitories were divided by year, like in the first and second years, perhaps it would be different?

In the current situation of a multi-year integrated dormitory, it's simply amazing to see her maintain that pretense and fool the first-years.

'Is she not actually an idiot?'

Such a thought subtly surfaced.

But Chelsea soon shook her head, recalling Illiana's grades, which had fallen compared to her first and second years.

'Well, she's an idiot, so she must have messed up her grades by focusing on this pretense.'

Illiana was the best practitioner among the third-years, but her grades in theory and general education were abysmal.

For the final exams, she avoided supplementary classes, but only barely.

"Heh heh. Now I'll make next year's freshmen worship me too."

Watching Illiana dreaming of grand plans, Chelsea thought.

'Should I tell Professor Halind that she's not studying because she's focusing on useless things?'

Professor Halind would grab Illiana and give her a stern talking-to.

'Yes. It would be good to do that for Illiana.'

It wasn't a mischievous thought like enjoying seeing Illiana make a tearful face, but a purely altruistic action for Illiana.

As Chelsea hummed and nodded, thinking that, Illiana narrowed her eyes.

'She must be planning to get me in trouble again.'

Being best friends for three years, they knew each other inside and out.

As they read each other's minds so clearly.

"By the way, Chelsea, how's club practice going?"

The club Chelsea belonged to was the Music Department.

Moreover, she was the best ace in the club.

Chelsea's singing was so outstanding and beautiful that even Luna admired it and gained magical inspiration.

Whenever the school anthem needed to be sung at internal and external events of Lumern, Chelsea always stepped forward as the representative.

She was practicing diligently in preparation for the upcoming Luse War.

The musical she did with the Drama Club during the previous Twilight Festival had a good reception, so they were doing it again this time.

"It's going well. And!"

Chelsea puffed out her chest and wore a proud expression.

"And I'm playing Lady Luna's role again!"

For a mage, playing the role of Luna is indeed an immense honor.

"I've been thinking this since the last Twilight Festival, but…"

Illiana, with cocoa in her mouth, said.

"I don't think you suit the role of Lady Luna."

"Hmph. Are you jealous?"

"No. I'm being serious?"

Illiana, with narrowed eyes, looked at Chelsea's chest.

As Chelsea smiled faintly at that gaze and stood up, Illiana hurriedly said.

"If you get angry now, it means you admit it?"

'This girl…!'

Chelsea's fists trembled.

Just then.

"What are you two talking about so interestingly?"

Leo, who was passing by nearby, approached with a curious expression.

Illiana looked at Leo and said with a smile.

"We were just talking about how Chelsea is playing Lady Luna's role in this musical, and it really doesn't suit her. Don't you think so too, Class Rep?"

At that question, Leo tilted his head.

"I think it suits her."

"Really?"

"Hmph. See!"

Illiana's eyes widened, and Chelsea wore a triumphant expression.

"Class Rep, what part of Chelsea do you think resembles Lady Luna?"

"Her personality?"

"Lady Luna might have a quirky side, but someone with a bad personality like Chelsea resembles Lady Luna?"

Illiana thought Chelsea would react angrily to her words.

However, contrary to expectations, Chelsea glared at Leo.

As Chelsea knew Leo's true identity, she was well aware that Leo's words about her personality resembling Luna's were not simply a compliment.

Leo, bursting into laughter at her reaction, ruffled Chelsea's hair vigorously, then left, saying he'd see her later.

"The Class Rep seems very busy, doesn't he?"

"He's the student council president."

The handover from the graduating fifth-years was also complete.

"Senior Elena has almost stopped working, so he has no choice but to be busy. Plus, there's the Luse War schedule to coordinate."

"Hmm!"

Illiana crossed her arms and tilted her head.

Chelsea narrowed her eyes, watching Illiana.

"What kind of trouble are you trying to cause now?"

"Chelsea, do you think I'm some kind of troublemaker?"

Illiana said with a bright smile.

"The Class Rep must be having a tough time with all the work lately, right?"

"Right?"

"They say men are attracted to women who support them when they're struggling. So, I was thinking of being the Class Rep's support."

"Where did you hear that?"

"From a book."

"What's the title of the book?"

"You Who Don't Know Men! You Too Can Seduce Men."

"You always read such silly books, don't you?"

"It's extremely useful."

Illiana spoke seriously, but Chelsea merely looked at her with a pathetic expression.

Regardless, Illiana pondered seriously.

"How can I cheer up the Class Rep?"

***

The Luse War schedule, one day away.

Tomorrow, all students will head to Seirun.

Leo, who was twirling a pen in the student council president's office, spoke.

"If you're just going to stare, why don't you help out a bit?"

"Oh dear, I've retired, you know? Surely, even you, Leo, wouldn't be so wicked as to make an old-timer like me work, would you?"

Elena, lying on the sofa in the student council president's office, answered with a relaxed face, munching on snacks.

Elena, reading a book in a comfortable posture, chuckled as if finding the content amusing.

That sight was of a magnificent loafer. Nothing more, nothing less.

Elena, turning a page, said.

"Now that I think about it, once I graduate, will we no longer be seniors and juniors?"

"You're still a graduate, so we're seniors and juniors."

"But officially, we won't be in a hierarchical relationship, will we?"

Elena, getting up with an "oof," tilted her head.

"I'm becoming an adult now, so maybe I should use a different title for you besides 'Leo-kun' from now on?"

"What will you call me?"

"Uncle. Because even if I don't know your physical age, there's a huge age gap mentally, you know."

"Why don't you just call me Grandpa or Old Man?"

"Ooh? That's not bad either."

Elena, who had an interested expression, soon her eyes sparkled.

"Or how about 'Oppar' (older brother)?"

"……"

"O~pp~ar~."

Watching Elena act cute with a sweet, coy voice, Leo said.

"Gross."

"Tch."

Elena clicked her tongue at Leo's merciless words.

Just then, with a knock, Lil entered.

"Brother! I've completed all the training you mentioned!"

Elena narrowed her eyes, watching Lil speak with an enthusiastic face.

"I want to use a unique title like that too."

"Senior Elena, you can just call him Brother, too."

"It's weird for a woman to call a man 'Brother' (Hyung-nim), isn't it?"

"Even if Senior Elena called him 'Oppa' or 'Orabeoni,' it would be meddling, wouldn't it?"

"……"

A vein throbbed on Elena's forehead.

Then she glared at Leo and said.

"You just laughed at me internally, didn't you?"

"Why are you taking it out on me, who's just sitting here quietly?"

Even with a dumbfounded expression, Leo didn't deny it.

Lil, who had no intention, was simply bewildered.

"By the way, it seems your master and disciple game is still ongoing."

"It's not a master and disciple game; we are truly master and disciple."

Lil believed there was a strong bond of master-disciple relationship between Leo and himself.

"Hmm? If you put it that way, Leo-kun must have more than just one or two disciples, wouldn't he?"

Elena smiled faintly.

"I've learned a lot from Leo-kun too. So I guess I'm a disciple as well."

Elena maliciously implied that there was nothing special between Leo and Lil.

"Th-that's…!"

At that, Lil became flustered.

Indeed, many people at Lumern, as well as other hero academies, had been influenced by Leo.

Leo, listening to the conversation, said.

"Only Lil is truly worthy of being called a disciple."

At those words, Lil brightened, and Elena frowned.

"So Lil is special?"

"He is special."

"Heh heh."

Lil wore a smug expression.

"If I'm just pushing you and the others from behind, I'm directly teaching Lil spirit magic."

"Hmm? I don't think there's any particular need to teach him."

"No, Brother. I have a lot to learn from you."

"There's no need to teach you. Lil would be able to find his own way just fine. It's just that I want to teach him."

"Why?"

"Because I'm special…"

"I'm curious to see how monstrous his spirit magic will become."

"……"

Lil looked at Leo with eyes that seemed subtly downcast.

Leo merely shrugged.

Just then.

Tap-tap-

A tapping sound was heard at the window.

When Leo opened the window, a Snow Bird fluttered- into the room.

The Snow Bird, coming before Leo, handed over an envelope sealed with Seirun's insignia.

Leo, with a curious expression, opened the envelope and checked its contents.

"It seems I'll have to go to Seirun first."

"Huh? Why?"

"Something seems to have come up."