Chapter 1: The Fiancé of the White Cat Girl

“…No matter what, I need your strength…”

In a quiet corner of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy’s front courtyard.

Glenn’s voice, filled with anguish and torment, echoed through the air.

“I know it’s unforgivable… I know I’m dragging you into this. But lives are at stake…!”

The bustling chatter of students passing through the main courtyard felt distant.

Perhaps because of that, Glenn’s steady voice seemed to carry an unusual weight.

“Please, Re=L! Lend me your strength… your power!”

With uncharacteristic sincerity, Glenn bowed his head to a petite girl with blue hair.

Re=L Rayford. A student who had transferred to the Magic Academy last month under certain special circumstances.

“…”

Re=L, as always, wore a sleepy, expressionless face, staring intently at Glenn… and then, she murmured softly.

“…It’s fine. I am Glenn’s sword. I decided to use this power for Glenn.”

“Re=L…!? Are you sure!?”

“Mm. If my power can help Glenn…”

Nodding faintly, Re=L picked up a fist-sized stone from the ground and began chanting a spell in a low voice.

As if responding to her incantation, the stone in Re=L’s hand gradually began to glow with a dazzling golden light—

Magic. A miraculous art that, through self-suggestion triggered by incantations, alters the deep subconscious, intervening in the laws of the world based on the magical theory that humans and the world are equivalent and mutually influence each other, manifesting various supernatural phenomena.

Now, through the magic Re=L had activated, a miracle was about to manifest here—but at that moment.

With a flurry of footsteps, someone came rushing toward Glenn and the others… and then—

“《What are you thinking, you idiot!?》”

A silver-haired girl—Sistine—shouted as she ran up.

Her shout, laced with an improvised Black Magic [Gale Blow], conjured a localized gust of wind that blasted Glenn away.

“KYAAAAAHHHHHH!?”

Letting out a scream like a girl, Glenn’s body soared high into the air—

Splash!

He crashed into the pond at the edge of the courtyard, sending up a spectacular column of water.

“Gurgh! …Tch, not bad, White Cat…”

Soaked to the bone, Glenn staggered out of the pond.

“Your spell improvisation skills lately are seriously impressive… Your sensei’s proud… cough!”

“…Huh? W-Well, that’s… I mean, it’s because you’re a good teacher… No, that’s not it!”

Caught off guard by the sudden praise, Sistine shook her head vigorously to cool her flushed cheeks, then pointed an accusing finger at Glenn.

“What are you scheming, making Re=L transmute gold!?”

Looking over, a lump of gold sat neatly in Re=L’s palm, who stood blankly nearby. It was the product of Re=L’s specialty—alchemy, transmuted from the stone earlier.

“I’m gonna sell it!”

Glenn, without a hint of shame, declared this utterly deplorable plan with a straight face.

“That’s a crime, I’m telling you! Don’t drag Re=L into this!”

“Shut up, you loudmouth! Because of her rampages, my salary’s been slashed to bits! At this rate, I’m guaranteed to starve! When your back’s against the wall, you do what you gotta do!”

And so, as always, a heated exchange of sermons and pathetic excuses began.

“Ah, those two are at it again…”

Watching the scene, a blonde girl, Rumia, arrived a bit late and gave an awkward, bittersweet smile.

Re=L glanced at Rumia, as if to say, Why are they fighting?

Leaving the two of them behind, Sistine and Glenn’s childish bickering escalated further.

“Besides, Re=L isn’t the only reason your pay’s been cut, is she!? It’s your everyday slacking off, your complete lack of awareness as a magic instructor—!”

“Pfft, shut up already—!”

With unnecessarily swift movements, Glenn nimbly snatched the gold lump from Re=L’s palm and turned to make a run for it.

“Hey! Wait right there! 《O violet lightning of the thunder spirit》—!”

Chasing after Glenn’s back, Sistine fired offensive spells at him.

Multiple electric bolts shot from Sistine’s fingertips.

“Hah—haha! If it doesn’t hit, it doesn’t matter!”

Glenn dodged them with unnecessarily agile movements, weaving through the bolts.

The academy students passing by froze for a moment, startled by the commotion…

…Oh, it’s those two again.

…Same old, same old.

…They never get tired of it.

Their expressions quickly turned to exasperated amusement as they watched the ruckus.

By now, this scene was all too familiar at the academy, a regular spectacle.

…And then, it happened.

Too focused on fending off Sistine chasing him from behind, Glenn failed to watch where he was going. Looking ahead, he saw a carriage parked right in front of him…

“WHOAAA—!? A HORSE!?”

About to crash face-first into the horse hitched to the carriage, Glenn stumbled and fell on his backside.

The carriage was a two-horse coach, its passenger cabin unusually ornate, unlike anything typically seen at the academy. It appeared to be the carriage of a distinguished guest invited to the academy.

“Ugh, what are you doing, Sensei!? You almost caused trouble for someone!”

Sistine, catching up, bowed apologetically to the coachman seated at the driver’s bench.

“I’m so sorry! I’ll make sure to scold him properly later—!”

The coachman was a young man dressed in a suit with a bow tie and a frock coat suited for travel. His wide-brimmed top hat was pulled low, obscuring his expression.

“…”

The coachman remained silent, ignoring Sistine’s apology entirely, not even glancing her way. Was he angry?

“Uh, um…?”

Feeling the awkwardness, Sistine was about to offer further apologies… when it happened.

“Haha… To think I’d meet you first thing upon arriving at this academy…”

The door on the side of the carriage’s passenger cabin opened, and a new voice rang out.

“Even I might start believing in fate.”

A man emerged from the cabin, stepping gracefully onto the ground.

He was slightly older than Glenn, perhaps in his early twenties.

Soft, wavy golden hair and a tall, slender frame. His monocle-framed features were strikingly aristocratic, exuding refined charm. Any young woman meeting him face-to-face would struggle to keep her heart from racing.

Indeed, among the students watching Glenn and Sistine’s antics from a distance, the girls blushed and grew flustered at the sight of this dazzlingly handsome man.

To top it off, he seemed to be quite wealthy. The travel suit and Inverness coat he wore were made of the finest fabrics, and his demeanor was unmistakably noble.

He carried a suitcase, suggesting he’d come from a long journey.

“It’s been a while, Sistine. You’re as spirited as ever… Though, that’s part of what makes you so charming.”

“Y-You’re—!”

Sistine’s eyes widened at the sight of the man.

The man gazed at Sistine with a gentle smile.

The two locked eyes in silence, as if filling the gap of time that had separated them.

A gentle breeze flowed between them, rustling the treetops and softly swaying Sistine’s silver hair.

“…Huh? What? What’s with this vibe?”

Completely sidelined, Glenn, now a pitiful third wheel in a world that belonged to Sistine and this man, broke the silence with his tactless question.

“Who even are you?”

That said, his question voiced the thoughts of every onlooker watching the commotion from afar.

“…Me?”

Addressing the crowd, the man answered.

“I am Leos… Leos Kleitos. I’ve been invited to this academy as a special instructor… and, to put it plainly… I’m that girl’s—Sistine’s—fiancé.”

A moment of silence followed.

“““““WHAAAAAAT!?”””””

The academy grounds erupted with the stunned shouts of countless students, male and female alike.

“…Leos Kleitos, huh.”

In the headmaster’s office of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

A stunning blonde woman sighed with a troubled expression.

This woman—Celica Arfonia, a magic professor at the academy—glanced through the resume of the individual invited as a special instructor, muttering to herself.

“I never expected him to show up…”

“Oh? You know him, Celica-kun?”

The headmaster, Rick, seated at his desk, sounded slightly surprised.

“Haha, Leos of the Kleitos Count family is quite the celebrity in the Imperial Comprehensive Magic Society these days, isn’t he?”

The Kleitos Count family—to speak of their history, one must go back forty years.

About forty years ago, the ‘Divine Reverence War’ between the Alzano Empire and the Rezalia Kingdom ended in a truce. The prolonged conflict had ravaged the empire’s economy, plunging many noble families into crippling debt, leading to the collapse of their estate management and their eventual downfall.

Many of these struggling nobles, riding the wave of the government’s centralization policies, surrendered their lands to the royal family, transitioning from landed nobles to court nobles, from lords to magistrates.

However, there were also many nobles who, through exceptional estate management, overcame financial difficulties and preserved their domains. For example, the Nablesse Duchy, the Shuzer Marquessate, the Noir Barony, and so forth—most of these were ancient noble houses that had sworn loyalty to the imperial royal family since the empire’s founding.

The Kleitos Count family is one such prominent landed noble house that has survived into the present.

However, forty years ago, the Kleitos family lacked a robust backbone to support their estate management, unlike, say, the Nablesse Duchy, which thrived on wine production from fertile lands and financial enterprises that generated immense profits.

As a result, the Kleitos family, heavily impacted by the war, faced a period when their survival as landed nobles was in jeopardy, teetering on the brink of surrendering their lands to the royal family.

Though their estate lacked industries to bolster its economy, it possessed exceptional ley lines ideal for magical rituals and research. Additionally, the previous lord had amassed a vast collection of rare magical tomes, artifacts, and related items as a hobby.

Furthermore, the third son of the Kleitos family, who had temporarily left the estate, was an outstanding mage who had studied the latest magical arts at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

Thus, the then-lord of the Kleitos family recalled this third son and, staking the family’s survival, decided to establish a magical academy. The profits from its operation and the economic ripple effects in the surrounding area would rebuild the estate’s finances.

With the third son as its founding headmaster, the academy was named the Kleitos Magic Academy.

Due to the ley lines, the academy could conduct magical research and rituals unsuitable for the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. It also offered access to unique magical tomes and artifacts unavailable elsewhere. These advantages earned government subsidies, turning what seemed like a reckless endeavor into a resounding success. Student enrollment grew steadily each year, quickly achieving profitability, and the Kleitos Count family successfully overcame their financial crisis.

Now, despite being a private institution, the Kleitos Magic Academy has grown in just forty years to be recognized as the second-greatest magical academy after the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

With the establishment of the new academy, the Kleitos family, previously uninvolved with magic, began participating in the magical society in earnest, emerging as a rising magical lineage.

“Leos Kleitos. As you know, one of the candidates to be the next head of the Kleitos Count family… In other words, the heir apparent.”

Reflecting on the history of the Kleitos family, Celica spoke.

“He serves as an instructor at the Kleitos Magic Academy, which his family operates, and is a top-tier mage. He’s incredibly dedicated to magical research, recently publishing groundbreaking studies and papers on military magic, all of which have earned high praise.”

Celica neatly stacked Leos’s resume and placed it on the headmaster’s desk.

“Among the mages affiliated with the Imperial Comprehensive Magic Society, there’s probably no one who doesn’t know his name.”

“Indeed. When Gramdo-sensei suddenly fell ill and had to take a leave of absence for recovery, I wondered what we’d do… But to think that, on a whim, we’d reach out to the Kleitos Magic Academy, and they’d send such an exceptional individual, even if only temporarily!”

Unlike Celica’s grim expression, Headmaster Rick beamed with delight.

“Truly, what a stroke of luck, Headmaster.”

Halley nodded in satisfaction at Rick’s words.

“I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with Leos-sama at the society. He’s a remarkable figure, perfectly embodying the etiquette of a mage. Even I was impressed by the depth of his knowledge in military magic.”

“To think he’d impress even you, Halley-kun…”

“Coming from a newly established magical lineage, his standing in the society is still low, but he’s a model mage. Having someone like him join us is truly fortunate. He’ll surely bring a fresh breeze to this academy.”

Even Halley’s usually stern face softened, a rare sight.

“Hmm…”

Celica, however, maintained her skeptical expression.

“What’s wrong, Celica-kun? Is something bothering you?”

The headmaster asked, puzzled.

“It’s just… something’s off.”

Celica sighed in response to the headmaster’s inquiry.

“Why is he coming here?”

“What do you mean?”

“Like I said, he’s the heir of the Kleitos family.”

Celica glanced at the resume on the desk.

“Sure, the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy and the Kleitos Magic Academy are in a partnership. It’s not strange for an instructor to be dispatched temporarily to fill a vacancy. But why Leos Kleitos, of all people?”

Her face showed a mix of confusion and unease.

“The next head candidate of the Kleitos Count family, a rising star in the magical society, a renowned instructor at the Kleitos Magic Academy… Why would someone of his caliber go out of his way to come from Kleitos territory to fill a sick leave vacancy? Normally, they’d send someone lower-ranking, right?”

“…Now that you mention it, it does seem a bit odd…”

The headmaster, who had been swept up in the excitement of Leos’s arrival, sobered slightly.

“And… the Kleitos family is embroiled in some messy affairs right now.”

Celica continued matter-of-factly.

“Being a ‘candidate for next head’ means there are others vying for the position. Apparently, there’s a dispute between the main family line, which governs the Kleitos territory, and the branch family line, descended from the third son who effectively revived the family as the first headmaster of the Kleitos Magic Academy, over who’s more suited to be the true head. Leos is from the main family, right? For a leading candidate to leave Kleitos territory at such a critical time? Doesn’t that seem strange? What’s his real goal here…?”

Halley snorted, dismissing Celica’s concerns with a scoff.

“Hmph, you’re getting senile, you old hag. Family disputes are commonplace in any prestigious, historic house. It’s not for outsiders to meddle in, is it?”

“Well… yeah, I guess…”

Faced with Halley’s reasonable retort, Celica could only grimace bitterly.

“You’re probably just worried that your idiot disciple will have his position stolen by Leos-sama, aren’t you? Pathetic woman.”

“I hope that’s all it is…”

With a weary shrug and a sigh, Celica let it go.

Halley’s jab wasn’t entirely off the mark.

As Glenn’s mentor and parental figure, the arrival of someone who might threaten his position was, naturally, a concern.

But… call it a woman’s intuition, there was something about Leos’s visit that left her with a vague unease she couldn’t shake, even accounting for her bias.

The recent spate of disturbing incidents in Fejite didn’t help.

Lately, everything around her felt increasingly ominous.

(Tch… And of all times, I’ve got the periodic exploration of the underground labyrinth scheduled…)

Celica was set to embark on an expedition to explore the labyrinth beneath the academy starting tomorrow.

This underground labyrinth, one of countless ancient ruins in the Alzano Empire, was the primary focus of Celica’s work at the academy and the main reason she was stationed there.

Despite years of repeated explorations, gradually mapping the labyrinth and setting up teleporters, she had yet to reach its deepest layer.

(I can’t change the schedule now for my own convenience… Once I head into the labyrinth, I won’t be back for at least half a month. The ruin’s properties block communication magic in the deeper layers, so I can’t even contact the surface…)

At such an unsettling time, being unable to stay at the academy made Celica anxious, a lingering sense of reluctance she couldn’t dispel.

(Ugh, I hope this is just an old woman’s overthinking…)

With a melancholic air, Celica gazed out the window.

A blue sky. White clouds. Radiant sunlight.

Beyond the window lay the familiar, angular rooftops of Fejite’s cityscape—and the majestic silhouette of Melgalius’s Sky Castle floating in the heavens.

“W-Wait, Leos! What are you saying!?”

Sistine’s face flushed red as she shouted in response to Leos’s bombshell declaration.

Her voice echoed across the courtyard, drawing even more attention from the students who happened to be there.

“Don’t be so cold, Sistine. It’s true, isn’t it? Our parents arranged for us to be betrothed.”

Leos chuckled mischievously.

Whispers and murmurs rippled through the onlookers.

“P-Parents arranged it… Seriously…?”

Glenn, listening nearby, swallowed hard.

“But, dude… even if your parents set it up… are you seriously saying that? Are you nuts?”

Glenn turned a genuinely pitying, almost mournful look toward Leos, who had declared himself Sistine’s fiancé.

“You’re seriously planning to marry this hysterical girl? Give it up, man… Tying yourself to her is beyond a life sentence—it’s a one-way ticket to the ninth circle of the underworld. Nothing good will come of it.”

“What’s with that pitying look!? What’s that supposed to mean!?”

Sistine snapped at Glenn, fuming.

“Haha, I wouldn’t say something like this as a joke…”

Leos brushed off Glenn’s outrageously rude comment with ease.

“More importantly, could you refrain from insulting my future partner? An insult to her is an insult to me.”

Glenn flinched under the briefly sharpened gaze of Leos’s eyes.

“Ugh… S-Sorry…”

“I don’t know who you are, but as an imperial gentleman, you ought to show more respect toward women.”

“Leos, don’t take it so seriously! Glenn-sensei… he doesn’t mean any harm, or rather, it’s a joke, or he’s just an idiot, or… that’s just how he normally is…”

Sensing the tension in the air, Sistine hurriedly stepped in.

“…Glenn-sensei? I see… So you’re that Glenn Radars.”

“H-How do you know about me…?”

“Even at the Kleitos Magic Academy, where I teach, your name comes up in rumors.”

Perhaps calmed by Sistine’s words, Leos turned to Glenn with a serene expression.

“The up-and-coming instructor who appeared out of nowhere at our rival academy. A practical mage who emphasizes a fundamental understanding of magical theory… A rare type in today’s cram-style magic education, where people compete over the number of spells mastered. I’ve been eager to observe one of your lectures.”

“Nah… It’s not that big a deal…”

Leos’s impeccable gentlemanly demeanor threw Glenn off balance.

“More importantly, who are you? What’s your deal with this White Cat? You said Kleitos… No way, you’re that Kleitos?”

Leos’s brow twitched slightly at the term “White Cat,” but he seemed to decide to overlook such minor rudeness.

“Likely the Kleitos you’re imagining. I am Leos Kleitos, the eldest son of the Kleitos Count family. I’ve been dispatched from the Kleitos Magic Academy to the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy as a special instructor. Pleased to make your acquaintance.”

Leos gracefully bowed to Glenn.

“N-no way… The heir of the Kleitos Earl family himself has come in person…?”

Glenn suddenly shifts to polite speech. Truly a model of someone weak to authority.

“As for my relationship with Sistine… As I mentioned earlier, I am her fiancé.”

“Th-that’s—”

Sistine, her face flushed red, tries to protest something against Leos’s unabashed declaration, but—

“I’m still serious, Sistine. I love you with all my heart.”

“Ugh…”

Stared at directly by Leos’s earnest eyes, Sistine was left speechless.

“Pfft…”

Glenn can only stand there dumbfounded, taken aback by Leos’s passionate declaration of love in front of everyone.

“Oh, my apologies. Sistine and I are what you might call childhood friends…”

To Glenn, Leos begins explaining with a gentlemanly air, not showing the slightest hint of embarrassment.

“You see, Roy Kleitos, the first headmaster of the Kleitos Magic Academy, and Sistine’s grandfather, Redolf-sama, were close friends from the same year at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy. Moreover, Redolf-sama greatly assisted in the founding of the Kleitos Magic Academy. Because of this connection, the Kleitos and Fibel families have had close ties for a long time. Back in the day, I often played with her when she was a child.”

“Hmmm… So that’s how you two got to know each other… I see…”

Glenn nods, looking oddly convinced.

For some reason, Sistine hurriedly starts explaining herself to Glenn.

“N-no, that’s not it! It’s a misunderstanding! The engagement is—”

But her words are cut off as—

“That’s great, isn’t it, White Cat?! You’ve landed yourself a real catch!”

Such a tactless line.

Glenn gives a thumbs-up with a dazzling smile, like a radiant sun.

“The Kleitos Earl family is a powerful noble house with tons of money! Marrying into a family like that? You’re seriously set for life! You could live in luxury forever—super jealous!”

Sistine’s cheek twitches.

“Haha, actually, Sensei was really worried about you, you know? I mean, with nicknames like ‘The Beautiful Girl Nobody Wants to Date,’ ‘The Preachy Goddess,’ and ‘The Mythril Fairy’… Unlike Rumia or Re=L, your reputation among the male students is kinda in tatters, right?”

Blue veins start popping up on Sistine’s temple.

“Honestly, I was worried if you’d ever find someone to marry in the future… But boom, problem solved! And with the best possible match imaginable! Sensei genuinely congratulates you!”

Sistine’s shoulders and clenched fists begin trembling.

“Man, they say there’s a lid for every pot, and it’s so true! Congrats, White Cat! Oh, and if this engagement goes through smoothly, I’ll even give a speech at your wedding reception—”

“《You IDIOTTTTTTTTTTTTTT—!》”

“GYAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!? WHY!?”

Sistine’s [Gale Blow] spell blasts Glenn away mercilessly.

His body soars high into the sky, like a leaf dancing in the wind.

“…I don’t really get it.”

Re=L, watching the exchange from a distance, mutters softly.

“Sistine’s really mad… Why?”

“Haha… Things are getting pretty chaotic, huh…”

Rumia can only offer an awkward smile.

Leos Kleitos. The heir of the Kleitos Earl family, a renowned instructor at the Kleitos Magic Academy, and a rising star in the Imperial Comprehensive Magic Society.

His arrival sent the students and staff of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy into a frenzy.

What kind of lessons would he teach? What kind of magic would he impart?

With his dazzling titles, expectations for Leos soared whether they liked it or not… And Leos perfectly lived up to them.

By the way, there are two types of classes at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

Required courses and specialized seminars.

Required courses, as the name suggests, are classes that all students must take to earn credits. Starting with the fundamentals of magical theory, they cover black magic studies, white magic studies, alchemy experiments, mathematics, biochemistry, and runic linguistics—subjects designed to broadly teach the basics of magic. These are taught by each class’s assigned instructor. Attendance isn’t strictly mandatory, and students can earn credits by passing the end-of-term exams, so it’s possible to sneak into another class’s lessons to fulfill requirements. However, students generally take required courses from their own class’s instructor.

Specialized seminars, on the other hand, are courses independently offered by the academy’s instructors, focusing on their areas of expertise or research achievements. These delve much deeper than the foundational required courses. Students, regardless of their year or class, can freely choose which seminars to attend.

Upon arriving at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy, Leos filled in for the absent Instructor Gramdo, who was out sick, and promptly opened his own specialized seminar.

That seminar was—

“—So far, I’ve explained the Tsaizer Mana Energy Conversion Efficiency Formula… Now, I believe you all understand why most of the offensive spells used by the imperial military are dominated by the three attributes of ‘fire,’ ‘ice,’ and ‘lightning.’”

In the west wing of the magic academy, in a large lecture hall packed to the brim with students.

Leos stands at the podium, commanding the room while basking in the gazes of admiration and respect.

His clear, resonant voice echoes grandly through the silent hall. It was articulate and fluent—yet sweet and soft, like a chorale.

Combined with Leos’s aristocratic appearance, the female students attending the lecture are entranced, listening to his voice with dreamy expressions.

His dignified posture, with a straight back and an ever-present composed smile, makes Leos the very embodiment of the ideal prince charming that teenage girls dream of in their youth.

“Indeed, when converting mana into physical energy—referred to as Material Force—the three attributes of ‘fire,’ ‘ice,’ and ‘lightning’ have the highest conversion efficiency. In other words, they are the most efficient way to use mana to deal damage to a target.”

Meanwhile, the male students, uninterested in Leos’s looks or voice, are equally captivated by his lecture.

What draws them in so intensely is, of course, the content of his teaching.

“Now, I’d like you all to use Tsaizer’s Mana Energy Conversion Efficiency Formula to calculate and evaluate the Material Force of various spells. What do you notice? Even when calculating spells of the same structural level and mana consumption, the three attributes—‘fire,’ ‘ice,’ and ‘lightning’—produce significantly higher Material Force values compared to other types of offensive spells, don’t they?”

The specialized seminar Leos opened is called Introduction to Military Magic.

Given that Leos’s expertise lies in military magic research, it’s only natural that his seminar would focus on this field.

“Conversely… let’s calculate a wind-based offensive spell under the same conditions. You’ll notice that its Material Force value is considerably lower than the three attributes. This is because generating wind requires converting mana into gravitational force, creating pressure differences to produce airflow, and only then generating Material Force. In other words, the energy loss is significant. This is the primary reason why wind-based offensive spells are often mocked as ‘weak.’”

Military magic is the most straightforward symbol of a mage’s power. It’s only natural that teenage boys, who admire strength and power, would be enthralled by such topics.

“Suppose you use 10 units of mana. The theoretical maximum Material Force values for the three attributes are approximately fire: 8.5, ice: 7.9, and lightning: 8.2. This ratio, known as Tsaizer’s Three-Attribute Ratio, is something I urge you all to commit to memory.”

Of course, Leos doesn’t actually teach the students military magic spells themselves. Students at the academy—those ranked as second-tier mages or below—are prohibited from learning military magic.

Instead, Leos teaches why the military magic supporting the empire’s forces has evolved into its current form, the concepts behind the development of various military spells, and the fundamental principles and theories underpinning them.

“When you use offensive spells, understanding this conversion efficiency formula and the three-attribute ratio will undoubtedly optimize your mana efficiency and increase your spell’s power… Even for basic spells like [Shock Bolt].”

Even so, understanding Leos’s lectures allows students to maximize their combat abilities with the spells they already know. Just listening to him makes them feel like they’ve grown stronger.

“Ooooh… I get it…!”

“Leos-sensei… He’s amazing…”

In every sense, both male and female students are utterly captivated by Leos’s lecture.

“Now, based on today’s lecture, it may seem that wind-based spells are weak in modern military magic… Yet, they still exist and are used appropriately depending on the situation or strategy. Why is that? It’s obvious—wind spells have their own advantages.”

At that moment, a bell rings in the distance, signaling the end of the lecture.

“…That’s time. In our next lecture, we’ll start by discussing the advantages of wind magic and their applications in military operations. Thank you for your attention.”

As Leos gracefully bows, the lecture hall erupts in thunderous applause from the audience.

Looking closely, the audience isn’t just students. There are also a few young, studious instructors scattered among them…

“…Perfect.”

A quiet murmur of admiration comes from the back of the lecture hall. Leaning against the back of his seat with his arms crossed, Glenn, unusually serious, blends in with the audience.

“Leos Kleitos… I’d heard the rumors, but he’s really something.”

The lecture hall has a gentle slope, with seats higher up positioned further back. Glenn gazes down at Leos on the podium from afar, muttering to himself.

“He managed to make a bunch of rookie students perfectly understand Material Force theory, which over half of the military’s general magic soldiers barely grasp… A guy like this actually exists…”

“Yes, it was truly an incredible lecture…”

Sitting to Glenn’s right, Rumia nods in agreement, clearly moved by his words.

“The complex theory was broken down so clearly that even we could understand it. His explanations were logical and easy to follow… It was almost like one of your lectures, Sensei.”

“I understood it really well, too.”

Re=L, sitting primly to Glenn’s left, mutters with a hint of pride.

“Seriously? Even you got it?”

Startled, Glenn stares at Re=L’s profile.

She gives a slight nod.

“Yeah. I understood perfectly that I didn’t understand a single thing he was saying.”

“…You’re operating at peak performance as usual.”

Shrugging with a sigh, Glenn turns his gaze back to the podium.

A crowd of students has gathered around Leos, bombarding him with questions about the lecture, invitations to meals, or even casual small talk, creating a lively commotion.

Leos, surrounded by students, handles each one without a hint of annoyance. With a gentlemanly smile, he responds to them courteously, one by one.

“…Leos Kleitos, huh.”

Glenn’s muttered words are tinged with a grim, almost bitter expression.

(But… something about him rubs me the wrong way…)

The fact that Leos is handsome, rich, and gentlemanly already earns him a death sentence in Glenn’s book, but that’s beside the point for now.

(That guy… His lectures are impressive, no doubt. But isn’t this material a bit too advanced for these kids…?)

Glenn mentally reviews the content of Leos’s lecture.

While Glenn’s lessons aim to improve students’ overall magical proficiency—covering runic grammar, spell construction techniques, the magical applications of natural sciences, and a broad range of knowledge essential for mages—Leos’s classes are singularly focused on enhancing combat ability and techniques. Even though both follow a theory-and-practice approach, their foundations are fundamentally different.

How to efficiently convert mana into destructive force. How to effectively kill or injure others. How to utilize spells specialized for killing. Leos skillfully dresses up the gruesome aspects with eloquent words, glorifying only the dazzling, powerful side of magic.

Most aspiring mages harbor some degree of vanity, whether large or small. They yearn to be distinct from ordinary people, to possess immense power others cannot, and to revel in that sense of self. Even the most saintly mages have this side to them.

So, Leos’s lecture today must have seeped into the hearts of these novice mages like a drug.

A sharp student would have realized that even a basic spell like [Shock Bolt] could kill someone if used in a certain way.

(These kids still don’t truly grasp the meaning of wielding great power or the consequences of using it. They only know it intellectually, without any real experience… A mage of his caliber should know that, right…?)

Propping his cheek on his hand, Glenn broods unhappily.

“Sensei, you don’t really approve of this kind of lesson, do you?”

Noticing his mood, Rumia speaks softly with a vague smile.

“…I thought the same. This kind of power… It’s too much for us right now.”

“…”

“We have to be careful with great power, don’t we? You always tell us to think carefully about its meaning and use—to not let it control us. I think I’m starting to understand what you mean.”

Glenn glances at Rumia out of the corner of his eye.

“Don’t worry, Sensei. I’m sure none of the students you’ve taught would make that mistake. I understand why you’re uneasy, but please have a little more faith in us.”

Rumia says this with a flower-like smile…

“…Whatever.”

Still propping his cheek, Glenn scratches his head and looks away.

“I’m just jealous because that rumored pretty boy is way better than I expected. Ugh, whatever happened to the saying ‘Heaven doesn’t grant two gifts’? Two gifts? That guy’s got like four or five! So unfair…!”

Rumia giggles at his sulky grumbling, watching him like an older sister fondly humoring her mischievous younger brother.

Then, Glenn twists his body dramatically, as if escaping Rumia, and turns to the seat behind him.

“Yo, White Cat, you hit the jackpot! Your future husband’s actually a pretty great guy. You really scored big time, huh?”

“I keep telling you, it’s not like that…!”

Sistine, sitting directly behind Glenn, trembles with clenched fists, glaring at him with obvious irritation.

“Not like that…? What do you mean? He’s your fiancé, right?”

“Technically, yes, but—”

“Technically? Come on, an arranged engagement set by your parents is as real as it gets.”

“That’s not it! It’s—”

At that moment.

“Hey, Sistine.”

A calm voice interrupts Sistine as she tries to explain.

“Ah… Leos…”

“You came to my lecture, didn’t you?”

Leos, apparently freed from the crowd of students, approaches Sistine with a gentle smile.

“What did you think of my lecture? I’d love to hear your honest opinion.”

“Uh? Well… It was an amazing lecture. Honestly, I couldn’t find a single flaw…”

“Is that so? That’s good to hear.”

Leos’s face lights up with joy.

“It means a lot to hear that from you. After all… You’re known around the academy as the ‘Instructor Slayer.’”

“Tha… That’s, um…”

Teased by Leos’s playful smile, Sistine blushes and looks down.

Leos is undeniably captivating. When a handsome man like him shows affection and flashes that charming smile, it’s no wonder a teenage girl, barely familiar with the concept of love, would feel flustered. It’s not that Sistine is frivolous—it’s just that any inexperienced, innocent girl would react the same way.

“So, I’ve cleared the first hurdle, haven’t I? After all, a man who can’t even impress his future partner with a lecture isn’t fit to be her husband.”

“Th-that’s—! Saying things like that in front of everyone… Ugh, why have you always been like this…?”

“Haha, because I love you. There’s no need to hide it.”

Despite his cool demeanor, Leos is relentlessly passionate.

Sistine, completely overwhelmed by him, can only falter.

Rumia, now a total bystander, watches the two with concern.

Meanwhile, Re=L is drowsily nodding off, and Glenn, looking annoyed, pointedly stares in the opposite direction, pretending not to notice.

“Sistine, would you like to take a walk outside? There’s something I’d like to talk about.”

Leos says this, gazing at Sistine with sincere eyes.

“Ugh… Does it have to be now…?”

“Not necessarily, but it’s something important we’ll need to discuss eventually.”

Sistine hesitates, clearly reluctant. From Leos’s serious expression, she likely has a vague idea of what topics might come up during their walk.

For a moment, Sistine glances back and forth between Rumia and Leos, torn…

“Um… Rumia, sorry, but I’m going to step out for a bit, okay?”

“Y-yeah…”

Realizing there’s no escaping it, Sistine finally relents.

Accompanied by Leos, she leaves Rumia behind.

“Haah… That Leos guy’s got some weird taste, huh…”

After the two leave, Glenn yawns, sounding disinterested.

Then.

“Sensei…”

Rumia turns to Glenn with a slightly troubled expression.

“Yawn… Hm? What’s up, Rumia?”

“I have a request. It’s… really embarrassing to ask, but…”

Rumia looks at Glenn with pleading eyes.

“…Huh? What is it?”

On a different note, the Alzano Empire is dotted with countless ancient ruins.

It’s common to come across ancient stone tablets or inscriptions along the highways, and digging the ground to build a house or clear farmland often uncovers new ruins.

Military survey teams venturing into uncharted frontiers frequently return with discoveries of new ancient ruins—a routine occurrence.

The magic academy itself sits atop a vast labyrinthine ruin, and the illusory Melgalius’s Sky Castle floating above Fejite could, in a broad sense, be considered an ancient ruin as well.

Scholars believe that in the northwestern tip of the North Selford Continent, where the Alzano Empire resides, an ancient civilization known as the Super Magic Civilization existed long ago, dating back to before the Holy Calendar.

This place, within the magic academy, is one of the many ancient ruins in the empire.

The Ruins of Melgalius’s Capital.

Located in a corner of the academy’s vast grounds, this ruin is believed to be a small fragment of the ancient city of Melgalius’s Capital, which surfaced due to geological shifts.

However, this ruin no longer holds any value reminiscent with the Super Magic Civilization.

Now, only weathered, crumbling foundations of buildings arranged in a grid pattern and faint traces of city walls remain on the surface. The area is about the size of a moderately large park.

The academy, making use of the artificial aesthetic of the ruin, has adorned it with trees and flowerbeds, creating pathways. Today, the ruin serves as a garden open to students for leisurely strolls.

Warm sunlight pours down gently.

A soft breeze rustles the treetops pleasantly, and birds chirp melodiously.

In this garden, Sistine and Leos walk side by side.

They stroll slowly, chatting about nostalgic old times.

“…Huh? …My relationship with Glenn-sensei?”

After a while, their conversation shifts to this topic.

Sistine brushes her hair back, her beautiful silver locks flowing in the gentle breeze.

“Nothing special… Just a teacher and his student, nothing more, nothing less. I feel some gratitude since he’s helped me out, but there’s nothing like what you’re suspiciously imagining.”

“Haha, my apologies.”

Leos smiles, visibly relieved.

“I’m a man, too. When I see another man constantly by the side of the woman I sincerely wish to spend my life with, I can’t help but feel a bit anxious.”

“…I see.”

Sistine’s expression is oddly complex.

“By the way… Walking together like this, doesn’t it remind you of the past?”

“Yeah…”

She doesn’t need to be told. In Sistine’s heart, memories of days long before meeting Rumia—her distant childhood—come flooding back.

Back when her parents, after finishing a major project, would take long vacations, and she’d ride a stagecoach far away to visit the Kleitos Earl’s territory.

There, she met ‘the cool older brother’—Leos.

Ignorant of the differences between boys and girls, unaware of even the concept of love, her precocious childish self, admired the refined relationship between a gentleman and a lady, like her parents, and sought that from Leos.

Though she barely understood it herself, she’d lecture Leos about what a gentleman or lady should be, dress up beyond her years to attend social events with him, criticize his escorting skills, or complain about his dancing while ignoring her own shortcomings… Looking back now, she feels guilty for how much she must have put him through.

Yet, no matter how selfish she was, Leos always indulged her whims with a smile.

And through it all, Leos remained by her side, ever patient and kind.

In our own childish way… I think we got along really well. Almost like siblings.

That’s why, seeing them like that, Sistine’s father, Leonard, and Leos’s father, Graham—those two, in the midst of a drunken banquet, blurted out something like this.

“Leonard, what do you say? How about letting your lovely daughter, Sistine-chan, become our Leos’s bride in the future?”

“Haha, that’s a great idea! If it’s a bright, promising young man like Leos-kun, I’d be delighted!”

And then, Sistine herself, along with her mother, Fillyana, said this.

“…Huh? Me, Leos’s bride? Sure! If Leos becomes a wonderful gentleman worthy of me, I’ll marry him!”

“Oh, that’s wonderful, Sistie. If that’s the case, you’ll have to work hard to become a splendid lady, won’t you?”

Of course, it was just a joke tossed out in the heat of the drunken moment. Sistine didn’t even fully understand what marriage meant. Leonard, Graham, and Fillyana all knew that perfectly well.

To begin with, Sistine was the only daughter of the Fibel family—an important heir. Even if they were to take in a son-in-law, sending her off as a bride wasn’t something they could do lightly.

So, deep down, both sets of parents understood.

That it was nothing more than a joke.

…But, perhaps it was around that time?

That Leos started openly calling himself Sistine’s fiancé…

“Those days were truly so much fun… The times when you came to visit the Kleitos territory… They were the joys of my boyhood.”

“Yeah… I felt the same way.”

Eventually, those happy childhood days came to an end.

As they grew older and became aware of the differences between men and women… they could no longer romp around together like carefree puppies without a care in the world.

After meeting Rumia and attending the academy together, Sistine became engrossed in studying magic, paying little attention to matters of romance… and gradually, Leos’s presence in her life began to diminish.

Sistine’s parents’ work grew busier, and in recent years, they were often away from home. On top of that, the Kleitos earldom had been embroiled in succession disputes over the next head of the family, making casual visits impossible. Before she knew it, Sistine’s chances to see Leos had dwindled to almost nothing, and this reunion was truly the first in a long time.

“The passage of time is cruel, isn’t it… To think I believed, without a shred of doubt, that our relationship would last forever like that…”

“You’re right. If we just let time carry us along… our relationship will probably become nothing more than a fond ‘memory’ from our childhood, something we’ll eventually stop thinking about altogether…”

Sistine’s expression grew tinged with melancholy as she brushed her hair back.

Once again, her beautiful silver hair swayed and flowed in the breeze.

“…I think there’s a way to keep those ‘memories’ from becoming just ‘memories.’”

Thump. In that instant, Sistine’s heartbeat surged loudly.

Here it comes, she thought, a premonition bordering on certainty.

“Sistine…”

Leos suddenly stopped walking and turned to face Sistine directly.

“Will you… marry me?”

With a calm expression, Leos finally, clearly, proposed to Sistine.

Sistine, clasping her hands tightly at her chest from the tension…

A gentle, cool breeze softly passed between them.

…Meanwhile, about a dozen meters behind Sistine and Leos, hidden in the bushes.

“Why the hell do I gotta spy on someone else’s love life like this…?”

There was Glenn, the peeping tom, grumbling with a sulky glare.

Glenn had tied branches to his head and held more in his hands, looking utterly suspicious in his makeshift camouflage. To top it off, he’d even set up a soundproof barrier around himself, showing his meticulous caution.

“I-I’m so sorry for asking you to do something weird like this… But I really wanted you to be here, Sensei.”

Beside him, Rumia apologized, shrinking with guilt.

“Well, I get it. You’re worried some creepy guy’s hitting on your best friend. But honestly, I ain’t got no interest in this kinda stuff…”

But before the words even settled.

“Whoa—!? That guy’s got some guts! He just popped the marriage question outta nowhere!? Didn’t expect that boldness from his looks! Oh, things are heating up now—!”

Glenn had released a mouse familiar near Sistine and Leos to eavesdrop. Now, fully focused, he tuned into their conversation through his auditory link with the familiar.

“So, what’s she gonna say, huh!? Come on, White Cat-chaaan!?”

“Glenn’s the one getting the most into this.”

“Haha…”

Re=L, also camouflaged with branches, muttered sleepily as Rumia gave an awkward laugh.

“Look at that, White Cat’s all flustered! Blushing like crazy, how adorable… So innocent… Pfft, that’s one more thing to tease her about… But still…”

After a wicked chuckle, Glenn turned to Rumia.

“Rumia… what’s got you so uneasy?”

That’s right—this peeping wasn’t Glenn’s idea. Rumia had begged him to do it.

“Sure, I personally don’t like the guy… but Leos seems like a decently trustworthy dude, don’t you think? If he pulled anything dishonorable, it’d tarnish his family name.”

Rumia fell silent, and Glenn shrugged, continuing.

“For old noble families, their name is their life. So, honestly, I don’t think that jerk would ever try to force himself on White Cat or anything like that…”

“I have a bad feeling.”

Rumia’s blunt words silenced Glenn in turn.

“I’m sorry, Sensei, for dragging you into this with such a vague reason… But Leos-san… I just get this bad vibe from him. It’s like… the same feeling I got when we first met Burks-san during the field study expedition…”

“…”

“It might just be my imagination. Maybe I’m just anxious about some stranger taking my dear friend away… Honestly, I’d rather it be that.”

But, she continued.

Rumia looked at Glenn with pleading eyes.

“Leos-san… I’ve only known him for a short time, but I can tell he’s a perfectly respectable person. But… there’s just something about him…”

Glenn gazed earnestly at Rumia’s anxious profile…

“…Tch, woman’s intuition, huh? Fine, whatever.”

He ruffled Rumia’s hair reassuringly, as if to ease her worries.

“Either way, I ain’t stopping this spying now! No way I’m missing out on something this entertaining, guhehe! Now, what am I gonna say to White Cat tomorrow—?”

With a sleazy grin, Glenn turned his attention back to Sistine and Leos.

Thank you, Rumia smiled…

“…Got it, Rumia.”

Suddenly, Re=L, who had been quietly listening to their exchange, stood up expressionlessly.

In her hand was a massive greatsword, forged from a lump of iron at some point, now held at her side.

“I’ll cut him.”

She began walking straight toward Leos.

“Don’t rush in like that!?”

Glenn quickly grabbed Re=L’s ponytail-like hair, yanking her back into the bushes.

“I-I…”

Facing Leos’s proposal, Sistine clutched her racing heart, desperately searching her feelings for the right words.

Proposed to by Leos… the man she admired as a child—how did she feel about it?

Happy. Of course, she was happy. How could she not be?

As a child, hadn’t she dreamed of this moment countless times?

But—at the same time, Sistine’s heart felt strangely cold.

“I’m sorry, Leos… I can’t accept your marriage proposal…”

As Sistine quietly bowed her head, her silver hair flowed softly.

At her age, marriage was legally possible, and in the empire’s upper class, marriages to carry on bloodlines traditionally happened early. Even as a student, there was nothing formally unusual about Sistine, from a prestigious magical family, marrying into the Kleitos earldom…

“…I don’t dislike you. In fact, I think fondly of you. But… I’m not ready to marry anyone yet.”

With that, Sistine looked up at the sky.

There, as always, loomed the majestic, grandiose silhouette of the illusory Sky Castle.

“I made a promise to my grandfather. I swore to unravel the mystery of Melgalius’s Sky Castle. To reach that castle in the sky that he longed for. To do that, I still have so much more magic to study… Honestly, I’m not ready to build a family with anyone yet… So…”

Then.

“Haha, still the same as ever, Sistine. Are you still talking about that dreamy nonsense?”

Leos said it naturally, neither mocking nor belittling her.

“Magical archaeology… Exploring ancient ruins, excavating magical artifacts, and ultimately aiming to unravel the mysteries of ancient civilizations and recreate their magic in the modern day… But no one has ever succeeded. It’s meaningless and impossible, Sistine. It’s time you faced reality. It’s… a sad truth.”

His tone was genuinely concerned for her.

“Your grandfather… Redolf-dono, too, could have left far greater achievements in magical history if he hadn’t been so obsessed with magical archaeology… I don’t want you to repeat Redolf-dono’s mistakes.”

“…!”

Sistine clenched her fists tightly.

That was it—the reason she couldn’t fully accept Leos.

“Right now, it’s the era of military magic research. With rising tensions with the neighboring Rezalia Kingdom, the importance of next-generation military magic research and development has never been greater. I want to make my mark in this field. To make the Kleitos name resound throughout the empire—no, the world. And for that… I need a good partner to support me.”

When had it started? When had Leos begun dismissing her grandfather’s research—her dream—as worthless? When had he become so fixated on military magic?

If Leos had even slightly acknowledged what Sistine was striving for… If he had, maybe, just maybe, she might have been swayed by him. There could have been a future where that happened.

“Lend me your strength, Sistine. Give up on magical archaeology and support my military magic research. With your support… I’m certain I can achieve great things. And of course, I won’t let you want for anything. My family has considerable wealth. I’ll guarantee your happiness.”

But… in the end, Sistine and Leos were fundamentally incompatible in their values.

“I’m sorry, Leos. Just as you have your dreams you won’t compromise on… I have mine. I can’t give up on ‘Melgalius’s Sky Castle’…”

“Can you… surpass Redolf-dono?”

Leos’s words made Sistine look up in shock.

“Your grandfather, Redolf Fibel-dono, was a true genius, a peerless mage. The impact of his achievements in his youth on modern magic is immeasurable. Even he… could not make a dent in ‘Melgalius’s Sky Castle.’ Can you unravel its mystery? Can you really surpass Redolf-dono?”

That… was something Sistine had always been secretly anxious about.

Redolf Fibel—Sistine’s grandfather—was a mage of the sixth rank, Saede. It was said that if he hadn’t been consumed by magical archaeology, he could have reached the seventh rank, Septende. A genius mage Sistine felt she could never match. Even her father, Leonard, a skilled mage himself, had said, “As a mage, I can’t even come close to Father’s level.”

And lately, the more Sistine studied magic, the more painfully she realized just how far above her grandfather truly was.

That’s why she had always been anxious.

Could she really surpass her grandfather?

Was she doomed to achieve nothing, wasting her life in vain?

Those fears, that anxiety she tried so hard not to think about… Leos had just ripped them open.

“I just… don’t want you to waste your life, Sistine. I want you to seize happiness as a woman…”

Leos spoke soothingly to the trembling Sistine.

Deep down, Sistine had vaguely known it.

Leos was probably right. A mage of her caliber, continuing to pursue magical archaeology… would almost certainly achieve nothing, produce nothing, and throw her life away.

“…, …”

She must have known it deep down, frustrated by her own inadequacy… which was why tears now welled up in the corners of her eyes.

“So, Sistine. For a fulfilling, abundant life… come with me…”

At that moment.

“Don’t spew that sophistry, you bastard.”

Step.

Glenn stepped in front of Sistine, glaring at Leos.

“S-Sensei!? Why are you here…?”

Sistine hurriedly wiped her eyes.

“Let me ask you one thing, White Cat. Did your late grandpa ever regret challenging ‘Melgalius’s Sky Castle’?”

“N-No way… Sure, he seemed frustrated that he couldn’t unravel its mysteries… but Grandfather never had the slightest regret about the path he chose…”

“Then that’s your answer.”

Glenn glanced back at Sistine with a confident smile.

“White Cat, don’t listen to this guy. Follow the path you believe in. You’re the protagonist of your own life. Success or failure isn’t for others to judge—it’s for you to decide. Don’t forget that. (…Heh, nailed it.)”

Glenn’s smug expression was perfect… or would have been, if not for the branches still tied to his head for camouflage, ruining the moment.

Then, he turned a hostile gaze toward Leos.

“Besides, whether White Cat chases her dream or gives it up is a completely separate issue from whether she ends up with you, isn’t it? What’s your deal? Shaking her up, clouding her judgment, then swooping in with your ‘supportive’ act to win her over? That’s your pickup strategy?”

“You again…”

Leos sighed, shrugging.

“Who are you, anyway? This is between me and Sistine… Yes, a matter between the Kleitos and Fibel families. I’d appreciate it if an unrelated outsider stayed out of it.”

Clearly annoyed by Glenn’s interference, Leos shifted the conversation toward him.

“Tch…”

Glenn clicked his tongue. On that point, Leos’s argument was valid.

From Glenn’s limited perspective, Leos and Sistine were officially engaged, approved by their parents. In the upper-class noble society, parental agreements for betrothals carried significant legal weight. When framed as a family matter, an outsider like Glenn had little room to intervene.

It was obvious Sistine wasn’t keen on this marriage, and even setting that aside, Glenn couldn’t stand Leos. His blood was boiling.

Now what? Glenn racked his overheated brain, trying to figure out how to put this insufferable Leos in his place.

“…He’s not unrelated.”

Quietly.

Sistine, who had been looking away, muttered expressionlessly.

“…White Cat?”

“Glenn-sensei is involved.”

“What does that mean, Sistine?”

Sistine steeled herself, looked Leos straight in the eye, and declared clearly.

“Because… Sensei and I are lovers who’ve promised our future to each other.”

“Wha—!?”

For the first time, Leos’s composed expression cracked with shock.

“H-Hey… White Cat…?”

Glenn flinched at Sistine’s sudden bombshell, but…

Please, play along.

Her pleading look made it clear. Oh, that’s the plan, huh? Glenn grinned mischievously.

“So, give up on me, Leos. I can’t marry you…”

“That’s right, Leos-saaan! Gyahahaha! So back off, you dumped, cuckolded loser! Fuhahaha, serves you right! The girl you’ve been pining for all these years has long been another man’s! Ahahahahahahahaha—Pffft, gyahahahahahahahahaha—!?”

However, Glenn seemed to be reading the room a bit too much… or rather, it felt like he’d thrown caution to the wind, thinking anything was fine as long as he could make Leos lose face.

Pointing at Leos, Glenn clutched his stomach and burst into mocking laughter.

If there were ranks for the art of provoking and infuriating others, Glenn’s sharp words and exaggerated expressions would have instantly earned him the seventh tier, Septende. Leos’s face twisted with anger and humiliation in response.

“W-Wait, you idiot! You’re going too far…!?”

Sistine’s hushed reprimand didn’t reach Glenn and Leos, who were already escalating.

“Lies! My Sistine would never be with a vulgar man like you—!”

“It ain’t a lie. Fact is, we’ve long since moved past the ABCs of romance. Just last night, this White Cat was making the cutest little noises for me—on my bed—!”

T/N: It is a Japanese slang used by Japanese girls in the past which is ‘ABCs of love,’ A refers to kissing, B refers to physical contact such as touching the chest, and C refers to sexual intercourse.

“You IDIOOOOT—!”

“—GYAAAH—!?”

In that instant, Glenn was knocked down by Sistine’s high roundhouse kick.

“W-What kind of nonsense are you spouting!? We’ve only gone as far as A!”

Blushing furiously, Sistine wasn’t fully aware of what she’d just said.

(Oof… Sistie, that was a bad move…)

Rumia, who had been anxiously watching Glenn’s sudden charge, glanced around.

The area, previously quiet, was now drawing a small crowd, attracted by the intense atmosphere Glenn and the others were giving off.

(Tch, this might start rumors…)

Glenn’s wild claims could have been brushed off as his usual nonsense.

But Sistine’s oddly specific reaction lent an unsettling credibility to the lie that she and Glenn were lovers.

“No way… I-It’s true…!?”

And indeed, Leos had completely bought their impromptu deception.

“Ow, ow… Y-Yeah, it’s true…”

Giving Sistine a look that screamed, What the hell are you saying? Glenn stood up.

“So, give it up. …It’s not a big deal, right? A guy like you won’t have trouble finding another girl—”

“Don’t mess with me!”

Suddenly, Leos snapped, storming toward Glenn.

“I’m Sistine’s fiancé! I’ve only ever had eyes for her—there’s no way I could give up now!”

“Hmph… So, you’re saying you won’t back off from White Cat? You’ll keep pursuing her?”

“Obviously! Her being with you is just a momentary lapse! She’s meant to be with me! Being with me… is the only path to her happiness!”

“Ha…”

Glenn sighed, exasperated and irritated.

“From what I can see… White Cat doesn’t seem entirely uninterested in you. You’ve got a point, and honestly, you might be the one who can make her happy, not me. Maybe I should step back…”

Glenn’s tone shifted, his earlier provocation gone.

“But even if it’s a reckless dream, can’t you at least let White Cat chase it until she’s satisfied? I’m not saying you have to support her… but can’t you at least wait that long?”

For some reason, his expression was now sincere.

“No. If you truly care for someone, you should make them face reality sooner rather than later, shouldn’t you?”

But Leos brushed off Glenn’s earnest words effortlessly.

“A woman’s happiness lies in the home. As long as Sistine is involved with magical archaeology, she’ll never be happy. So, if she’s to be with me, she must completely abandon magical archaeology. Isn’t that obvious? It’s for her own good.”

At Leos’s words, Sistine looked down sadly, falling silent.

She must have realized it. The person she once admired as a child… had become someone fundamentally incompatible with her.

“And now, I’m certain. You, who only indulges Sistine, are indeed not a man worthy of her.”

Leos’s face was no longer the calm, gentlemanly one it had been moments before.

“Prepare yourself, Glenn Radars. By any means necessary… I will surely take Sistine back from you. You’ll come to regret making an enemy of the Kleitos family…”

His eyes, now sharp and ruthless, made Leos seem like an entirely different person.

Sistine couldn’t help but catch her breath at his sudden transformation.

“W-Wait a second, Leos! It’s not about making enemies with the Kleitos family or anything…! I-I’ll just tell the truth! Sensei and I—”

Sistine hurriedly tried to explain as the situation spiraled into something unexpected.

“Hmph. So that’s… your true nature, huh?”

Glenn, eerily composed, stopped Sistine and reached for the glove on his left hand…

“I get it now. No way I’m handing White Cat over to you.”

He pulled the glove off…

“…Huh? Sensei…?”

“I’m White Cat’s lover, and you’re the fiancé her parents picked. Sounds like we’re on equal footing, right? Guess we’ve gotta settle this fair and square to see who’s worthy of marrying her.”

With a flick of his wrist, Glenn tossed the glove at Leos.

“Wha—”

“You up for it?”

Tension rippled through the crowd of onlookers watching the scene unfold.

“A duel. Let’s settle this with White Cat on the line, Leos. If I win, she’s mine. You back off completely. Never show your face around her again.”

“H-Hold on, Sensei!? A duel!? And making me the prize without asking…!?”

Sistine tried to stop Glenn, but it was too late.

“Heh… This is an opportunity I couldn’t have hoped for.”

Leos, with refined grace, picked up Glenn’s glove.

“I welcome this duel… Are you sure? If I win, Sistine is mine. You’ll be the one to back off completely.”

“Fine by me. I’m gonna win anyway.”

“Hmph… I’m looking forward to seeing that smug face of yours crumble…”

The two grinned at each other, fierce and unyielding, before Leos turned on his heel.

“Let’s call it here for now. We’ll discuss the duel’s terms and date later.”

With that, Leos walked away.

The crowd, holding their breath, watched in silence—unbeknownst to them, the number of spectators had grown considerably.

Everyone exchanged glances, whispering excitedly among themselves.

And then.

“You idiot—!? What have you done!?”

The moment Leos was out of sight, Sistine, face flushed red, grabbed Glenn by the collar and shook him while yelling.

“Heh, nailed it☆”

Glenn, unfazed, flashed an infuriatingly smug grin and gave a thumbs-up.

“Nailed it☆, my foot! Sure, I messed up by dragging you into this, but still! There had to be a better way to handle it! How did it come to this!?”

Glenn fell silent for a moment, his expression oddly distant…

“Kukuku…”

Then, his shoulders began to shake as he let out a low chuckle.

“W-What’s with that laugh…?”

“Nah, it’s just… I figured something out.”

“…Huh? Figured what out?”

“Your family… They’re pretty loaded, right? Old, prestigious magic lineage and all. So… if I win this… doesn’t that mean I hit the jackpot?”

Sistine froze, mouth agape, at the utterly deplorable comment that came out of nowhere.

“I was thinking, ‘Man, I really screwed up big time on a whim,’ but now that I think about it, this is a crazy huge opportunity! If I can just ride this chaos and end up with you, I’ll never have to work again!”

Sistine began trembling with rage.

“What’s with that look? Don’t tell me you’re unhappy. We’re lovers who’ve sworn our future together, right? You said so yourself, didn’t you? Declared it loud and clear in front of everyone? Or did you forget?”

“Y-You…”

“So, I gotta ride this wave! For a bright, fun, ridiculously hopeful future where I don’t have to work—”

“《You idiooooooooot》—!”

A blast from Sistine’s [Gale Blow] sent Glenn flying.

“…Wow, things got pretty wild. Wonder what’ll happen next?”

Rumia, watching from the sidelines, gave a wry smile tinged with unease…

“Hey, Rumia… What’s ABC? Is it tasty?”

“Hmm, maybe a bit too soon for you, Re=L.”

“…?”

Re=L, not quite grasping the situation, tilted her head curiously.