Chapter 1: The Feast of Kabedons and Its Underbelly

“Ru~mi~a!”

“!”

Her name called out of the blue, Rumia’s consciousness, which had been wandering through distant days, snapped back to reality.

“What’s wrong? Your hands stopped moving. Are you tired?”

When Rumia turned around, there stood a girl with silver hair that shimmered as if molten sterling had been poured into strands, her hands on her hips, smiling. It was Sistine, Rumia’s best friend.

“No, it’s nothing… I was just lost in thought for a bit.”

Rumia brushed back her fluffy, cotton-like blonde hair and returned a smile.

The place they were in was the multipurpose hall of the academy’s student union building, located in the southwest corner of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy grounds.

This vast, sprawling space was bustling with students—members of the student council, the social ball organizing committee, and willing volunteers—all gathered to prepare for the traditional event, the Social Ball, now just three days away. They were cleaning the hall, carrying in large props and tables, setting up decorations, and discussing catering duties and service assignments, everyone uniformly busy at work.

“I’m really sorry… It feels like you got dragged into helping because of me…”

Sistine lowered her eyes, speaking apologetically.

She was close friends with a girl named Rize, the student council president of the magic academy, and often helped her with various tasks.

In fact, Sistine was currently acting as the leader of the general student volunteers for the event preparations, serving as a liaison between the student council and the organizing committee, handling various tasks and coordination.

Seeing how busy Sistine was, Rumia had decided to help with the preparations alongside their other best friend, Re=L.

“Neither you nor Re=L have any ties to the student council or the organizing committee…”

“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry, Sistie. Stuff like this is fun, you know?”

Rumia said this brightly, trying to ease Sistine’s sense of burden.

Her desire to support her busy friend was genuine, and while the relentless pace of these preparations was dizzying… it was, truthfully, enjoyable too.

“If anything, thank you for letting me join in, Sistie.”

With that, Rumia resumed her task of polishing candelabras.

“What… what a good girl…”

Meanwhile, Sistine couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by Rumia’s earnestness…

“Excuse me, Rumia-san… Could we talk for a moment?”

A male student approached and called out to Rumia.

He had the air of a flashy, frivolous rich boy, clearly used to charming girls.

“…Yes?”

“Ugh… Here we go again…”

Rumia paused her work, tilting her head like a curious bird, while Sistine blatantly covered her face with her palm.

Unfazed, the male student flashed Rumia a sweet smile and said,

“Rumia-san… Do you have any plans to participate in the dance competition at the upcoming Social Ball with anyone?”

“Um… Not at the moment, no…”

“Is that so? Oh, it’s such a shame for a lady like you not to participate.”

The boy gave Rumia a charming smile.

“If you’re open to it… how about joining me as my partner for the dance competition—”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I appreciate it, but I’ll have to decline.”

Rumia clasped her hands together, bowing awkwardly with an apologetic look.

“…”

As if he couldn’t believe he’d been so thoroughly and swiftly rejected, the boy froze with a strained smile…

“Waaahhh! Damn it! Rumia-chan’s guard is too tough!!”

Eventually, he ran off crying.

“Honestly, every single one of them has such obvious ulterior motives…”

Sistine, who had watched the entire exchange, let out a deep sigh.

“The Social Ball isn’t supposed to be some flirty pickup event… It’s meant to foster personal growth through interaction with others… mumble mumble…”

The Social Ball. It was one of the annual traditional events held at the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy.

Designed to encourage mingling among students who often stayed within their tight-knit communities, the event aimed to deepen bonds between peers. Its guest list included academy alumni, students from other institutions like the Kleitos Magic Academy, and occasionally even high-ranking imperial officials, local nobles, or Her Majesty the Queen herself, making it a surprisingly grand party.

“Sure, the Social Ball does have a traditional dance competition as one of its events…”

“Where male-female pairs compete to show off their ballroom dancing skills, right?”

Rumia gave a wry smile, and Sistine nodded, visibly annoyed.

“Exactly. And the female partner of the winning couple gets the privilege of wearing a magical dress called [Robe de la Fae] for one night… but there’s this rumor tied to it…”

“They say, ‘The couple who wins the [Robe de la Fae] will be happily bound together in the future,’ right?”

A memory of a story her mother once told her resurfaced in Rumia’s heart.

“Yeah, because of that superstition, all these guys with obvious intentions have been relentlessly hitting on you lately! Ugh, it’s so annoying!”

Sistine scanned the room with irritation.

Sure enough, there were boys scattered around—clearly not part of the organizing team or helping with setup—who were awkwardly lingering, stealing glances at Rumia from afar.

They were all biding their time, waiting for the right moment to ask Rumia to be their dance partner.

When Sistine shot them a sharp glare, the boys quickly averted their eyes and casually slinked away…

“Ugh, seriously!”

For the record, Sistine hadn’t received a single invitation so far.

Her nickname, The Mithril Fairy, wasn’t just for show. (Note: Mithril is a metal renowned for its beauty but also its extreme hardness and inflexibility, making it notoriously difficult to work with.)

“…But wow, Rumia, you’re really popular, huh?”

Sistine cast a slightly envious glance at Rumia.

“R-Really…?”

“So… don’t you have any plans to join the dance competition with someone?”

“!”

Caught off guard by Sistine’s sudden question, Rumia froze mid-task.

“I mean, you didn’t participate in the competition last year either, right? You’re a former royal, so you’re probably great at dancing… It feels like a waste.”

“Uh… well…”

“And that dress you get to wear if you win… [Robe de la Fae]… Didn’t you used to really want to wear it? You could just ask someone to join you…”

Rumia fell silent for a moment, as if searching for her true feelings…

“Hmm… I do want to wear that dress… but that legend, you know…”

In the end, she arrived at her usual conclusion.

“‘The couple who wins the [Robe de la Fae] will be happily bound together in the future’… Got it. You’re the type who actually cares about stuff like that… Hehe, such a romantic girl.”

Sistine giggled, finding it endearing.

“Look, Rumia, that superstition has no basis whatsoever. It’s been proven through magical analysis that [Robe de la Fae] has no power to bind people together romantically.”

She puffed out her chest proudly, launching into a lecture.

“In the end, since the competition requires couples to participate, it’s usually pairs who are already close who join. And to win, they’d have to practice dancing together a lot. If a couple gets along that well, it’s only natural they’re more likely to end up together in the future. That’s the real truth behind the superstition.”

“I think you’re right, Sistie… but still, it just feels like… you know. So I think I’ll just dance and chat with people without worrying about the competition this year.”

Sistine fell silent for a moment, deep in thought…

“W-Well, then… um…”

For some reason, she hesitated, stumbling over her words and looking off in another direction…

“How about… Glenn-sensei? Yeah, why don’t you ask Sensei to join you…?”

She fidgeted with her silver-threaded hair, her voice high-pitched and unsteady.

“…Huh?”

Rumia blinked in surprise, her long eyelashes trembling with confusion.

“I-I mean! You like Sensei, don’t you!? If it’s with him, you probably wouldn’t care about that superstition, right!? Yeah, if you want to wear [Robe de la Fae], you should enter the competition with Sensei! A-And if you pick a dance partner early, those annoying guys will probably give up—”

Rumia gazed at her friend with a wry smile, feeling like a mother attuned to the subtle emotions of a teenage girl.

(She’s so hopeless…)

As Rumia saw it, Sistine had feelings for Glenn, even if she wasn’t aware of them herself.

Deep down, Sistine probably wanted to ask Glenn to the competition herself… though she’d never admit it.

That superstition. On the surface, Sistine refused to believe in such illogical, curse-like nonsense… but somewhere in her heart, her romantic side secretly did.

However, Sistine had convinced herself since childhood that her destined partner would be “a truly great magician, like her father or grandfather.” To her naive, love-inexperienced mind, dancing with Glenn—who was far from that ideal—was unthinkable.

So, she likely wanted Rumia and Glenn to pair up quickly to brush aside her own unconscious conflict… That was probably what was going on in Sistine’s heart.

(…This level of clumsiness is honestly a bit worrying for her future…)

Well, setting that aside for now.

Rumia imagined it: joining the competition with Glenn, winning, wearing the dress she’d always dreamed of… and dancing with him.

(Hehe, that sounds nice… That scene… It’d be wonderful…)

Just picturing it made her heart race, her cheeks flush, and filled her with a blissful warmth.

How wonderful it would be to strive toward that future with Glenn by her side.

(…But no. I can’t wish for that… I can’t.)

Yes, Rumia had made a vow to herself.

When she was exiled from the royal family and taken in by the Fibel family, truly becoming one of them… Rumia had sworn something to herself.

Rumia and Sistine. If they ever desired the same thing, then—

She would let Sistine have it. That would be her way of repaying her.

So—

“Thanks, but I’m not really good at being in the spotlight… Besides…”

With a mischievous, playful smile, Rumia said,

“Why don’t you join the competition with Sensei, Sistie?”

“Wha—Me!?”

Instantly, Sistine turned beet red, her voice cracking as she rambled.

“W-W-Why would I have to join the competition with that tactless, prideless excuse of a magician!?”

“But don’t you secretly want to wear [Robe de la Fae] too?”

“W-Well, sure, I guess! I mean, that dazzling [Robe de la Fae] is practically every girl in the academy’s dream!”

“Then why not ask Sensei to join you for the dress? You don’t believe in that superstition, right?”

“That’s true, but… still… why does it have to be him of all people…?”

“Because, when it comes down to it, you and Sensei are pretty in sync, aren’t you? Like during that ruin expedition the other day…”

“T-That’s just… his thinking is so simple and predictable, that’s all…”

“You’re good at dancing, right, Sistie? I bet you and Sensei could go far.”

“N-No way! I mean, he’s such a lazy slob… And there’s no way he’d even accept my invitation…”

“Hehe, why not make him a bento? I bet Sensei would happily agree then.”

“Ugh… That’s true…”

Sistine recalled how, with Glenn’s perpetual broke state and semi-forced dieting, bribing him might not be as hard as she thought.

“Um… Are you sure this is okay, Rumia? …Me dancing with Sensei…?”

“Haha, don’t worry about me! You’re always so busy with organizing, Sistie. You should let loose and enjoy the event for once. That’d make me happy too.”

“Mmm…”

With her escape routes blocked and everything laid out for her, Sistine finally seemed to entertain the idea of asking Glenn to join the competition.

“Y-Yeah, you’re right… As a female student at this academy, I do want to wear [Robe de la Fae] at least once… And when I think about it, Sensei’s probably the only guy who’d dance with me…”

With a determined nod, Sistine clenched her fist.

“Alright! I’ll ask him to join the competition!”

“Hehe, good luck, Sistie!”

It felt like watching a baby take its first step after standing up for the first time.

“Of course! But just to be clear, I don’t have any ulterior motives! I’m saying it again, I don’t believe in that superstition at all! I’m only joining to wear that dress! And I’m only asking Sensei because I don’t have any other good partners! That’s it!”

Her face flushed red, Sistine frantically explained herself.

Rumia could only give a wry smile at her hopelessly stubborn friend.

At that moment.

“Yo, you two. Working hard, huh? Good job.”

Out of nowhere, the man himself—Glenn—appeared before them.

“By the way, I’ve got something to talk about…”

““Glenn-sensei!?””

Caught off guard by Glenn’s sudden arrival, both Rumia and Sistine were visibly shaken.

But Rumia, recovering quickly, immediately nudged Sistine forward.

“Go on, Sistie. Here’s your chance.”

“R-Right!”

Taking a deep breath, Sistine steeled herself and approached Glenn.

“S-Sensei! Um, it’s not like I care who I dance with, and I don’t have any other good options, so it’s just a last resort! A last resort, but… if you’re okay with it—huh…?”

But Glenn gracefully sidestepped Sistine as she approached, passing right by her…

And strode purposefully straight toward Rumia.

“U-Um… Sensei…? Is something up…?”

Overwhelmed by the strange intensity and pressure Glenn exuded, Rumia instinctively stepped back.

One step… two steps… three steps…

“Ah…”

The moment Rumia’s back hit the wall with a soft thud.

Bam!

Glenn slammed his right hand against the wall beside Rumia’s face, leaning in close.

At a distance where they could feel each other’s breath, Glenn gazed down at Rumia’s flustered face… and with a roguish smirk, he said,

“Hey, Rumia. At the Social Ball’s dance competition… dance with me.”

““What!?””

Stunned by Glenn’s uncharacteristically forceful approach, Rumia and Sistine were left speechless.

The sudden turn of events caused a stir among the surrounding students.

“I know you’ve been getting asked to be a dance partner by countless guys… but I’m not handing you over to any of them. I’m the one who’s gonna escort you.”

“U-Um… Sensei…?”

Even the usually composed Rumia could only flounder like any teenage girl in this moment.

Her escape was blocked by the wall and Glenn’s right arm, leaving her no way out.

Her hands, clasped tightly at her chest, were faintly sweaty from nerves. Her heart pounded painfully, and her cheeks burned as if scorched by flames.

“Heh, I don’t care what you think. If you refuse my offer, I’ll fail you.”

Glenn’s words, half-serious, half-teasing, toyed with Rumia’s heart.

Today’s Glenn, observing her like this, seemed unusually wild.

“S-Sistie…”

Rumia glanced at Sistine, pleading for help…

“T-That’s great, isn’t it!? You secretly wanted to dance with Sensei, right, Rumia!? Just say yes! …Huh!? Me!? N-No, it’s not like I have to dance or anything! Haha, hahahahaha…!”

But Sistine was in complete panic mode, utterly incapable of throwing her a lifeline…

“Don’t worry, I won’t let you down. I’ll make sure you get to wear that rumored magical dress… [Robe de la Fae]. So, just nod your head like a good girl, alright?”

“Ah, au… But, I…”

Rumia tried to slip away through the unguarded left side…

But in that instant, bam! Glenn’s left hand blocked that side too.

“Let me make this clear… You’re not getting away.”

Leaning even closer, Glenn stared straight into Rumia’s eyes. Unwaveringly straight.

Rumia felt as if she were being drawn into those eyes.

Her hidden feelings for Glenn. Her consideration for her beloved friend. The magical dress she’d dreamed of as a child. The legend tied to it… Her thoughts swirled chaotically, her heart pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

Completely thrown by Glenn’s sudden, forceful advance, Rumia couldn’t think clearly enough to consider everything or refuse him…

Nod.

And so, Rumia Tingel—the beauty renowned across the academy for her impenetrable guard—finally nodded in agreement.

“…Ah…”

Rumia herself was shocked that she’d been swayed so easily.

And then…

“Gwaaaahhh—! A kabedon!?”

“So that’s what Rumia-chan was weak to!?”

The venue erupted into a cacophony of wails from the male students, a veritable hellscape of despair.

They all pounded the walls in unison, tears of blood streaming down their faces.

“Alright, good girl, Rumia. …Sorry, but honestly, even if you’d refused, this was already a done deal! I mean, I’ve already submitted our names for the competition without asking! Glad you agreed so easily, haha!”

Spouting his usual nonsense, Glenn finally released Rumia, stepping back from the wall.

“U-Um… Sistie… I’m sorry… I just…”

Still pressing her racing heart, Rumia apologized awkwardly to Sistine.

“D-Don’t worry about it! I’m the one who suggested you and Sensei in the first place! And it seems like Sensei really wanted to dance with you! It’s not your fault!”

Sistine’s clumsiness was almost pitiable at this point.

“B-But Sensei! Why Rumia!? And so forcefully… D-Don’t tell me you actually believe in that superstition!? That you have feelings for Rumia…!?”

“…”

Faced with Sistine’s frantic questioning, Glenn stayed silent for a moment, his expression unreadable…

“Heh, isn’t it obvious? Money, duh! I’m after the prize money for the winning couple! I heard there’s a cash reward, right?”

With a wicked grin, Glenn shot Sistine a look that screamed trouble.

“Ughhh, my wallet’s in serious trouble this month, y’know? The only girl in this whole academy who’d help a guy like me out is probably Rumia, right?”

“…Tch, I knew it’d be something like that… You’re the worst…!”

Sistine glared at Glenn with half-lidded eyes, but neither she nor Glenn noticed the fleeting look of relief that crossed her face for just a moment.

“…What’s that, White Cat? Got a problem? It’s just a silly little dance competition in the academy. I can ask whoever I want, can’t I? It’s not like there’s a fee or a rule saying who I can invite.”

“Sure, that’s true! But there’s still a proper way to go about it and some basic respect to show! You’re always so clueless when it comes to treating girls with any kind of delicacy—!”

As Sistine starts to slip into her usual lecture mode…

“Hah! Got it, White Cat… You’re jealous, aren’t you? Your best friend Rumia’s getting all the attention, invited to dance left and right, and it’s eating you up inside, huh? Pfft… Talk about a small-minded girl!”

Glenn says something he really, really shouldn’t have.

“No worries, I’ll do you a favor. How about I convince one of the guys in class to dance with you? Poor little White Cat-chan needs a partner, right? I bet Rodd or Kai would be thrilled to—!”

Snap.

It’s the same old, familiar routine by now.

A terrifying surge of wind magic gathers in Sistine’s left hand…

“You—《idiooooooooooot》————!”

“Gyaaahhh!? Why!?”

And just like always, Glenn is blasted skyward, soaring toward the ceiling…

While being hurled through the air by Sistine’s spell…

(…Tch, what a lousy role to play…)

Glenn clicks his tongue in his mind, resigned to his fate.

(…I feel bad for Rumia and White Cat, but this time, I can’t back down…)

That’s right. Glenn has a reason he has to attend the competition with Rumia.

He absolutely needs to win his way through the competition… for Rumia’s sake.

(That’s it… I’ll protect Rumia… and this academy…! No way I’m letting that wretched woman do whatever she wants…!)

Feeling weightless as he floats through the air…

Glenn’s thoughts drift back to the infuriating events from just moments ago—

—The timeline shifts slightly backward.

Half an hour before Glenn invited Rumia as his partner and got blasted by Sistine…

“Ughhh, what a drag~”

Glenn grumbles with genuine exasperation, trailing behind a female student walking ahead of him.

“Why the heck do I have to deal with this annoying nonsense…?”

“That’s what you get for your own actions, sensei.”

The girl glances back at Glenn with a mischievous smirk, her eyes teasing.

With a calm yet piercing gaze that seems to see through people’s hearts and a refined, mature beauty, the girl exudes an air of sharp intelligence. Her name is Rize Filmer, the talented student council president of the academy.

“Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever~”

Glenn responds to Rize’s words with a half-hearted shrug.

Due to a string of pay cuts piling up, Glenn had ended up in a situation where he was forced to pay the academy instead of being paid. To get that debt waived, the academy had recently ordered him to serve as an extra pair of hands for the overworked student council president, who was swamped with preparations for the upcoming social ball.

“Tch, from hauling heavy stuff to investigating suppliers for ingredients, haggling over prices, and acting as a go-between for the academy’s higher-ups… They’re working me like a damn cart horse…!”

“But thanks to you, sensei, everything’s moving along smoothly, and it’s been a huge help.”

“Wait a sec! You totally pulled some strings to get me stuck under your command, didn’t you!? No matter how I look at it, the tasks I’m getting were clearly set up for me in advance!”

“…Hmm? Whatever could you mean?”

“And of all people, even Celica was like, ‘Make sure you help Rize properly, or no dinner for you!’ She seemed weirdly fond of you… When the heck did you manage to charm Celica!?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that… I merely visited Professor Arfonia the other day, who’s recovering at home after falling ill during that recent ruin expedition. While I was there, I just happened to mention how much Glenn-sensei has been helping me out…”

“You sneaky little fox…!? (Also, Celica, you’re way too easy!)”

This shrewd girl, Rize, is a year ahead of Sistine and has been dragging Glenn into all sorts of troublesome tasks ever since they crossed paths during a certain incident.

(…What did I ever do to deserve this…?)

Glenn can’t for the life of him figure out why this cunning student council president keeps targeting him. It’s also a mystery why Rize, who’s usually cool and composed with everyone, seems to enjoy herself so much when she’s messing with him.

Well, whatever. For now, Glenn trudges along behind Rize, his arms loaded with stacks of documents for the social ball.

Eventually, the two arrive at the grand lecture hall in the western part of the Alzano Imperial Magic Academy grounds.

Stepping inside, they spot the academy’s music club, formed into an orchestra, arranged in a semicircle on the stage at the far end. The musicians, holding violins, cellos, and other instruments, are diligently rehearsing the pieces they’ll perform at the social ball.

For the club, this is one of their rare chances to shine, so it’s no surprise they’re pouring their hearts into practice.

“…What a marvelous performance.”

Rize, completely captivated by the orchestra’s playing, speaks with admiration.

“If they keep this up, the ball will surely be a splendid event.”

“Hahaha! Hearing you say that makes me proud as the club’s advisor!”

A man standing beside Rize responds with a satisfied grin.

He’s a portly middle-aged gentleman. Despite his middle-aged paunch, he carries himself with dignity rather than sloppiness, exuding an air of authority. His name is Laurence Tartaros, a magic professor at the academy who also serves as the music club’s advisor, a true man of culture.

“Oh? You’ve brought in an outside conductor this time?”

Rize remarks, glancing at a man energetically waving a baton in front of the orchestra.

“Yes, the student who usually conducts injured their arm… So, we decided to hire a very renowned figure in the field for this occasion.”

“That’s unfortunate for the student, but it’s fortunate you secured such a skilled conductor early on. The performance can change drastically depending on the conductor.”

“Hmph! It’s just some guy waving a stick. Doesn’t make a lick of difference!”

Meanwhile, Glenn—dragged into this against his will, stuck carrying heavy loads, and forced to sit through a music discussion he couldn’t care less about—is in a foul mood, acting like a petulant child.

“The social ball’s just about eating, drinking, and dancing, right? Nobody cares about the music! Just slap a record on a phonograph and call it a day!”

“Now that I think about it, the piece they’re playing… It’s ‘Sylphid Symphony,’ which will be used for the dance competition at the ball, isn’t it? It feels slightly rearranged, though.”

“Oh, you noticed! As expected of the student council president, you’ve got a keen ear! Or rather, a refined ear, perhaps? Hahaha!”

Laurence lets out a hearty laugh as Rize listens closely to the music.

“Rearranged~? I can’t tell the difference at all~!”

“Unfortunately, the arrangement for Sylphi Symphony No. 8 didn’t make it in time, so we’ll only be using up to No. 7 for the event…”

“No. 7 is more than enough. And… hehe, listening to it naturally lifts my spirits. It preserves the original’s atmosphere while perfectly suiting the lively mood of a student gathering. Who arranged this marvelous piece?”

“Actually, the one who suggested this arrangement is the very person conducting today—”

“Ughhh! What a bunch of idle weirdos, I’m so jealous! Just doodling musical notes on paper all day? Trade jobs with me, I’m begging you!”

Glenn rudely interrupts the elegant conversation between Rize and Laurence.

“…Glenn… sensei…?”

“Eek!?”

Rize turns to Glenn with a chilling smile that freezes his spine, and he instinctively shrinks back.

Normally, Rize is kind and impartial to everyone as the student council president, so it’s easy to forget… but she’s definitely not someone you want to anger. Glenn suddenly remembers this crucial fact.

“A-Ahem! Looks like the esteemed student council president still has some business to discuss! While you’re busy, this lowly, bottom-tier magic instructor will go help with the table-moving or something!”

With that, Glenn bolts from the scene as if his life depends on it.

At the academy’s storage building, a short distance from the lecture hall…

Naturally, Glenn has no intention of willingly doing something as strenuous as moving tables…

“Ugh… What a drag… I can’t deal with this…”

He’s slumped against the outer wall of the storage building, in the middle of a full-blown slacking session.

In front of him, a group of students is working together to haul tables, chandeliers, and other furnishings from the storage to the venue.

“Whoa, Re=L-chan, that’s incredible!”

“Mm. This is easy.”

Looking closely, Glenn spots some familiar faces. There’s Re=L, the perpetually sleepy-looking, doll-like girl, along with Kash and Cecil—students from Glenn’s class.

Re=L, being a girl, was initially assigned to polish silver candelabras with Rumia. But her excessive strength meant she kept bending the expensive candelabras out of shape, so she was reassigned to this heavy-lifting duty.

“No way I’m losing to Re=L-chan!”

“Stop, Kash! You’ll die if you try to copy her!”

Re=L effortlessly carries a towering stack of tables, passing by Glenn. Kash, recklessly trying to mimic her, is quickly restrained by Cecil.

“Geez… They’re really going at it.”

Glenn watches the scene with a mix of exasperation and amusement…

When a janitor in work clothes, who had been helping carry chairs among the students, suddenly sets down a chair and approaches Glenn.

The janitor stops right in front of Glenn, looking down at him.

“…Huh? What’s up… Wait, you—!?”

Glenn looks up lazily at the janitor, then freezes, eyes widening in shock.

“…Same old Glenn, huh?”

The man in work clothes removes the cap he’d been wearing low over his eyes.

Long black hair spills out, and sharp, hawk-like eyes are revealed.

The man’s true identity is—

“Albert!? W-What the—Why are you here!?”

It’s none other than Albert Frazer, Special Missions Executive No. 7, 《The Star》, of the Imperial Court Mage Corps.

“We need to talk. Follow me.”

Without waiting for a reply, Albert turns on his heel and starts walking.

“Uh, sure, that’s fine, but… don’t you think there’s something weird about your getup right now?”

“…”

Albert, striding ahead briskly, remains silent.

Albert leads Glenn to the academy’s back garden.

The area is shaded by dense coniferous trees, slightly dim, and completely deserted.

“This area’s already under a Warding Barrier… What’s so important that you’d go to these lengths?”

Ignoring Glenn’s question, Albert swiftly removes his disguise, shedding the work clothes like a magic trick and instantly returns to his usual black mage corps uniform.

Then, with his piercing gaze fixed directly on Glenn, after a brief silence, Albert reveals a shocking truth…

“…No way… An assassination plot against Rumia, using the ‘Social Ball’ as cover…!?”

“Exactly. The Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom have finally made their move.”

Glenn trembles with shock, while Albert delivers the news with detached calm, as if it’s someone else’s problem.

“Don’t mess with me! That’s not what we agreed on! They were supposed to back off from Rumia, weren’t they!?”

“Stop yelling. The situation’s changed.”

Albert responds coolly, unfazed by Glenn grabbing his collar and shouting.

“Just like our Imperial government isn’t a monolith, the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom aren’t either.”

“So what!?”

“We’re still investigating the reasons, but it seems their organization has split into two factions based on differing policies. One, the ‘Status Quo Faction,’ centered around veteran members… and the other, the ‘Radical Faction,’ led by newer members. This division seems to have emerged around the time they began working on ‘Project: Revive Life.’”

Platinum Alchemy’s ‘Project: Revive Life’—a forbidden ritual magic that artificially resurrects the dead. It was the Original Magic of the late genius alchemist Sion Rayford, impossible to replicate without him. A pipe dream.

Yet, for some reason, Rumia’s ‘Ability’ makes it achievable—

“It’s already common knowledge that the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom are targeting the princess. The ‘Status Quo Faction’ aims to ‘secure’ her person, but the ‘Radical Faction’ is set on ‘killing’ her.”

“…Why?”

“Still under investigation.”

Albert snorts irritably.

He seems frustrated by the unfathomable depths of the enemy organization.

“At any rate, after the incident at the Platinum Magic Research Institute, the organization as a whole decided to temporarily back off from the princess, and the conflict between the two factions settled down for a while…”

“…But now, the ‘Radical Faction’ has gone rogue, defying that decision?”

“Exactly.”

“Damn it…!”

Truly, they’re as incomprehensible as ever. But expecting rational behavior from a group of lunatics like the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom is a waste of time.

More importantly—

“Where are you going, Glenn?”

“Where do you think?”

Glenn pauses mid-step, halted by Albert’s sharp, commanding tone.

“I’m reporting this to the academy. No way we can go ahead with a ‘social ball’ under these circumstances! It’s gotta be canceled!”

“About that—”

Albert starts to say something, but Glenn completely ignores him and breaks into a run.

But then, right in front of Glenn—

Boom!

A towering wall of crimson flames suddenly erupts, blazing with overwhelming intensity.

“What—!?”

The unnatural ignition is clearly the work of magic.

The scorching heat, enough to singe the air and prickle his skin, forces Glenn to leap back.

“You—!? Albert, what the hell are you—!?”

“It wasn’t me.”

Albert denies it coldly… and at that moment—

“…No, Glenn.”

Rustle. From the shadows of the trees, a woman steps into view before Glenn.

She’s a young woman, around twenty years old—roughly the same age as Glenn.

Her fiery crimson hair is tied into a side ponytail with a braid. Her features are strikingly refined and beautiful, but there’s a chilling cruelty to her expression. Her almond-shaped eyes, burning with a dark purple flame, and the thin smirk on her lips give off an unmistakable air of disdain toward others. Dressed in the uniform of the Imperial Court Mage Corps, she stands with her arms crossed, exuding confidence and sending Glenn a cold, sidelong glance—a figure he could never forget.

“You… Eve…! Eve《The Magician》…!”

She’s Eve Ignite, Glenn’s former superior—the head of the Imperial Court Mage Corps’ Special Missions Annex and Executive No. 1《The Magician》. She’s also the heiress of the ancient and noble Ignite ducal family, one of the empire’s most prestigious houses.

“It’s been a while, Glenn. I’m glad to see you.”

“Hmph… You’re the last person I wanted to run into…!”

“Oh? It seems that I’m quite disliked. And to think that I took such good care of you back then.”

Eve《The Magician》chuckles softly.

“…I haven’t forgotten… A little over a year ago, during the Jatice incident, you used me and Sera as bait…! You didn’t send Albert to back us up…!”

“Yes, that’s right. And what of it?”

While Glenn struggles to contain his anger, Eve seems to be thoroughly enjoying herself.

“What, are you saying Sera’s death was my fault? That’s rich, blaming me for your own failure. You’re the one who couldn’t protect her. Don’t whine about it now—it’s pathetic.”

“…!”

Grit. The sound of Glenn grinding his teeth and clenching his fists echoes sharply.

His glare at Eve is now a blaze of pure fury.

“I’ll admit I made a miscalculation. Losing a valuable asset like Sera was a blow, and to top it off, you failed to take down Jatice《The Justice》. Thanks to that, my record took a hit. Honestly…”

“You…!?”

“Oh, but enough about trivial things. Let’s get to the point.”

Eve brushes off Glenn’s seething rage with a casual wave, as if it’s nothing.

“In short, we’re not canceling the ‘Social Ball’ at the academy. We won’t inform the academy of anything… Instead, our Special Missions Annex will quietly take down the enemy.”

“What!? What the hell are you thinking, you lunatic!?”

“The enemy organization’s scheme this time is being directly orchestrated by the core of the radical faction—the Second Order《Adeptus Order》. This is the perfect opportunity to capture that person and grab hold of the enemy’s tail… We can’t let it slip away, can we?”

Eve’s outrageous statement leaves Glenn momentarily stunned.

“Don’t screw with me! You’re planning to face them in the middle of an academy event!? That’s insane! One wrong move, and it’s not just Rumia—innocent students could get caught in the crossfire…!”

“…And?”

Eve glances at Glenn with a look of genuine pity.

“What do you mean, ‘and’… You…!?”

“Ugh, you really don’t grasp the gravity of this, do you? No wonder you tucked tail and fled the military after failing to protect a single woman. Pathetic.”

Eve sighs, furrowing her brow and speaking coldly.

“Throughout the long history of the empire, the Researchers of Heavenly Wisdom have always lurked in the shadows, the worst terrorist group out there. On the surface, they claim to pursue ‘world domination by superior mages,’ but it’s clear from various circumstances that they’re after something far larger and far worse. The only concrete clue we have about their goal is… the [Akashic Records].”

“Yeah, I know that! So what!?”

“Recently, their movements have shifted. We’re still investigating what triggered it, but there’s no doubt that their secret plans involving the [Akashic Records] have moved to the next phase. If things proceed according to their designs, it’ll lead to an irreversible disaster. We need information… and we don’t have a moment to spare.”

“So you’re turning the academy’s ‘social ball’ into a trap, with Rumia as bait!? Just to grab the enemy’s tail…!?”

“The Imperial government and military have already approved this plan. Even Her Majesty, who was initially opposed, has given her final approval… Heh, she’s truly a wise ruler. It’s quite helpful.”

At that moment, Eve’s smug, scheming smile—as if she’d known this outcome all along—convinces Glenn of one thing.

“You…! What did you do to Her Majesty…!?”

Eve’s family, the Ignite ducal house, is an ancient and powerful noble lineage, renowned for producing exceptional mages and serving as the cornerstone of the empire’s magical martial tradition. Its head holds a seat on the Round Table, the empire’s highest decision-making body, wielding significant influence and authority. With that kind of power…

“You’ve always been disgustingly good at these sneaky political games! You pulled some strings behind the scenes, didn’t you!? You forced Her Majesty into a position where she had no choice but to agree…!”

Eve doesn’t respond, only smirking cryptically, but Glenn is almost certain he’s right.

Even the renowned Queen Alicia VII, celebrated for her diplomatic prowess, isn’t omnipotent. She’s currently preoccupied with handling border disputes and diplomatic tensions with the Rezalia Kingdom, which is in a cold war with the empire. She can’t spare the attention to deal with internal threats like this.

Besides, this operation isn’t technically a betrayal of the queen—it could even be seen as an extension of loyalty to the royal family and the empire. Sometimes, she has no choice but to turn a blind eye.

“Hey, Albert… You’re okay with this plan?”

Glenn asks Albert with clear frustration.

Albert remains silent, his lips tightly sealed…

“I’m not convinced. But I acknowledge the strategy’s value. In that case, I’ll simply carry out the mission.”

Eventually, he responded coolly, like ice, in a flat tone.

“…Is that so? I misjudged you, you bastard. Don’t ever show me that smug face of yours again.”

“…”

Glenn turned his back on the silent Albert.

“I don’t give a damn about the military’s schemes. I’m heading to the academy now to—”

“Oh? This strategy is a top-secret matter. If you intend to leak it to outsiders, I’ll have to eliminate you right here.”

“Bring it on, you… You think you can beat me at this range?”

As Glenn reached for [The Fool’s Arcane] in his pocket and spun to face Eve—

“…Hah. Seems you’ve forgotten my title, haven’t you?”

That moment Eve smirked, half exasperated.

Suddenly, towering walls of blazing crimson flames erupted on Glenn’s left, right, and behind him.

In that instant, Glenn finally realized he’d already lost before the fight even began.

(Family Secret Spell [Seventh Garden]!? Damn it, she got me! This entire area is already Eve’s domain!?)

The Family Secret Spell was a type of Original Magic. Unlike typical Original Magic, which incorporated the magical traits of one’s soul, it wove the mana traits in one’s blood—essentially, their magical specialty—into the spell. Unlike most Original Magic, which was limited to a single generation, this secret art could be passed down and refined through a bloodline across generations.

Eve’s Ignite family had long passed down the Family Secret Spell [Seventh Garden], an extraordinary ability that allowed the user to bypass all five stages of activating fire-based magic within a pre-designated area. In essence, it let Eve manipulate flames as freely as her own limbs, incinerating enemies within her domain without needing mental focus, mana manipulation, or spell chants.

Of course, constructing the [Seventh Garden]’s dominion required significant time and effort, and the magic freely wieldable within it was limited to fire-based spells. It also consumed a tremendous amount of mana.

But once the [Seventh Garden] was established and an enemy was lured inside, its power was unparalleled. Within this domain, Eve was the world’s fastest mage, surpassing even Albert’s spell activation speed by far.

And now, with the Family Secret Spell [Seventh Garden] already fully activated as a spell, Glenn’s Original Magic [Fool’s World], which suppressed spell activation, was utterly useless.

“They call me 《Lord Scarlet》. The proud title passed down through the Ignite family, who devoted everything to the magic of heat and flame—the ultimate proof of supremacy in close-range magical combat. Glenn, you’re no match for my flames.”

Eve ignited a small flame at her fingertip, pointing it at Glenn with a confident, provocative smile.

Glenn frantically searched his mind for any possible way to outmaneuver Eve in this situation, but the results were futile. It was like trying to stage a comeback while firmly strapped to a guillotine.

“Damn it…!”

As if saying, “Do whatever you want—boil me, burn me,” Glenn plopped down cross-legged.

Eve spoke to him, sounding slightly troubled.

“But what should I do? Killing you here isn’t exactly wise. Even a defective piece like you has its uses depending on how it’s played… It’d be a shame to lose you now. But from the looks of it, you’re not going to listen to me obediently… So, I’ll play this card instead.”

With a snap of her fingers, the walls of flame surrounding Glenn vanished instantly.

“By the way, your little sister figure, Re=L… She seems to be enjoying her time as a student, doesn’t she?”

“…?”

Why was Re=L’s name suddenly brought up here?

Glenn furrowed his brow, puzzled, but…

“She’s become quite human in the short time I haven’t seen her… for a manufactured doll, that is.”

“What…!?”

A shock hit Glenn as if he’d been struck in the back of the head.

From her tone, it was clear Eve knew Re=L’s true identity.

The only one in the imperial government who should know Re=L’s truth was Albert, so—

(Albert, you bastard, don’t tell me—!?)

Glenn instinctively suspected Albert’s betrayal, but—

(—No, that’s not it! That guy’s a numbers-obsessed, efficiency-driven jerk I can’t stand, but he’d never betray his comrades… Then—)

He caught himself just in time, swallowing the fatal words he nearly spat out.

As expected, when he looked closely, Albert’s hawk-like eyes were narrowed sharply, glaring at Eve with open hostility.

So, then—

“Both of you seem to have been hiding something sneaky… but don’t underestimate my intelligence network. That said, Albert, your cover-up was flawless. If your partner in hiding it hadn’t been Glenn, even I wouldn’t have caught on.”

(Damn it… Did I screw up somewhere…!?)

All Glenn could do was grind his teeth at his own clumsy mistake and bitter regret.

“Now, Glenn. You seem intent on leaking top-secret information to the academy and ruining my plans… but how about I report Re=L’s true identity to the higher-ups?”

“You…! Just how much do you—!”

Glenn’s vision practically turned red with rage.

He was barely holding back the torrent of fury about to erupt, squeezing out every ounce of rationality in his body.

“Re=L is a bit tricky to handle, but she’s a valuable piece. It’d hurt to lose her… After all, she’s the world’s first success of [Project: Revive Life]. Offering her up as an experimental guinea pig or a specimen would, in its own way, be a significant achievement, don’t you think?”

Glenn wanted nothing more than to punch that smug face, but he realized at that moment he’d been completely defeated by Eve. With Re=L now a hostage… there was nothing he could do.

“Don’t make such a scary face. It’s fine. Even I think Re=L is a valuable piece. As long as you don’t interfere with us and everything goes smoothly, there’s no problem at all. If you cooperate, it’ll be even better. So, I’m giving you one order, Glenn《The Fool》.”

“…Huh? Why the hell should I listen to you? I’m not a mage, not military, not anything anymore.”

“Hah… I wish this dog would stop barking. I’m not exactly free, you know.”

As if exasperated, Eve combed her hair with her hand and sighed.

“Have you forgotten my authority as a centurion under Chapter Six, Emergency Clause Nine of the Imperial Military Code? You don’t get to escape military service so easily just by leaving the army, Knight Glenn.”

“You…!”

“And… are you sure about this? With that uncooperative attitude? The fates of the princess and Re=L rest in my hands. Don’t you dare forget that.”

“…Go to hell.”

It was the kind of voice a demon from the depths of hell might have.

But Eve, satisfied that Glenn’s defiance was reduced to mere words, gave a small chuckle.

“Now, to the main point… An enemy organization’s rogue mage is planning to assassinate the princess at the social ball, and we’re going to stop them. Naturally, we need the princess at the venue, and we can’t let unknown individuals get close to her carelessly. A dedicated escort for the princess is absolutely essential. Considering the rules of the social ball and the need for someone who can stay by her side without seeming out of place… the most natural way to protect the princess is—”

—Ending his recollection, Glenn’s consciousness, which had been wandering half an hour in the past, returned to the present.

(That’s right… I have to join the dance competition with Rumia… and keep winning until the end… It’s the only way to keep others from getting close to her on the day of the event, staying by her side as naturally as possible! The more attention Rumia and I draw, the easier it’ll be to spot the enemy targeting her… and in turn, that’ll protect the academy’s people…!)

Of course, it grated on him.

This situation was nothing more than dancing in the palm of that woman—Eve.

But—for now, Glenn had no choice but to dance. Comically. Pathetically.

He had to sprint full-speed along the tracks laid out for him, dressed as a clown.

(Fine, I’ll dance… but you better remember, Eve… I’ll make you cry someday, I swear!)

Renewing his resolve, Glenn prepared to face yet another grueling battle.

But—

(Well… for now, the immediate problem is…)

In his upside-down field of vision.

Glenn glanced at the ground, gradually drawing closer under the pull of gravity.

Oh, right—he was in the middle of being blasted sky-high toward the ceiling by Sistine’s magic.

(Oof, that’s gonna hurt… How should I brace for impact…?)

With a sigh, he prepared for the pain that would hit in a few moments.