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Xenia Niflheim.

Now officially my younger sister, she visited Zerion Academy.

The reason was to handle the affairs related to her brother's death.

I thought I’d see her at this year’s entrance exam, but not like this.

I hurried my steps.

“You had a sister?”

Seron, following behind me, was fussing with her hair for some reason.

I had no idea what difference it was supposed to make.

Isabel was also fixing her ribbon several times.

“What are you both so concerned about?”

They were being ridiculous.

Isabel glanced at me while still fixing her ribbon.

“If I marry you, then she’ll be my sister-in-law.”

Sister-in-law.

At her words, I turned to Isabel.

“You’re already thinking about marriage with me?”

Instead of answering, Isabel simply smirked.

The atmosphere turned a bit strange.

Then Seron suddenly shoved her head between us.

“If you’re going to get married, it should be with me! I’m the one who helped Prince Sweet Potato get his emotion back!”

Isabel flinched slightly.

She looked at Seron with narrowed eyes.

“It’s fine. I’ll help him find the rest.”

Even with Seron’s provocation, Isabel didn’t back down one bit.

“Mawwiage?”

At that moment, a familiar voice rang out from behind me.

Before I noticed, Sharin had crept up right behind me and peeked her head out.

Apparently, she had come after hearing that Xenia was visiting the academy.

She must be interested in divine magic too.

Sharin stared at Isabel and Seron, then turned to me.

“I’m the fiancée.”

She held up the ring on her ring finger.

“The one getting married is me.”

Sharin boasted proudly.

Now that I was back in Hannon, she’d started to assert her claim as my fiancée more strongly again.

“Wow, what a mess.”

Another familiar face appeared.

Wearing a Zerion Academy uniform—Card.

Card had decided to re-enroll at Zerion Academy.

Turns out, he hadn’t dropped out—he’d just taken a leave of absence.

What a sly guy.

“Public indecency.”

Eve appeared right behind him.

My eyes widened.

“Eve, you came with Card? Don’t tell me…”

Eve raised an eyebrow, not understanding what I meant at first.

Then, realizing it, she glared fiercely, full of contempt.

“Vikamon’s dead, so now you want to act like Hannon died too?”

Oof, that’s harsh.

“Ouch, that hurt a little.”

Card gave her a sorrowful look, and she cleared her throat.

“I just have no interest in romance. I don’t want to live indecently like someone.”

I couldn’t argue with that.

Even I knew the situation around me wasn’t exactly normal.

But here’s the bigger problem.

I was getting used to this.

Is this okay?

I was starting to worry.

When I get all my feelings back, would I be able to settle things so easily?

I glanced between Isabel, Sharin, and Seron.

And Nikita too.

My head was spinning, but I shook it off.

Ultimately, I couldn’t make any conclusions until I had all my feelings back.

For now, it was about Xenia.

As I resumed walking, everyone followed behind.

Soon, we arrived at the guest room of Zerion Academy.

The arrival of the noble lady from a prestigious magical family known as the heirs of Zerion.

Aside from us, there were many students who had come to get a look at Xenia.

The crowd surprisingly made way.

“It’s Sharin.”

“Sharin’s here.”

Across all the grades at Zerion Academy, she was undeniably ranked number one in magic studies.

Since she came to see Xenia, everyone was naturally curious.

Both were the most promising figures in the magical world—it made sense.

Sharin glanced at me and puffed up with pride.

I felt the urge to pinch her cheek for no reason, but there were too many eyes watching, so I held back.

“With Sharin—”

At that moment, I spotted a familiar face among the students.

“Lightning bastard.”

As soon as Dorara saw me, he scowled.

Gone was the sweet-talking act he had put on around me when I was Vikamon.

I thought he might’ve figured out I’m Vikamon…

Judging by his reaction, he hadn’t.

Well, it’s hard to immediately believe someone is the same person.

He didn’t have much personal contact with me anyway.

Even the dragon transformation could be chalked up to coincidence.

Or maybe he just didn’t want to believe it.

“What’s someone who got wrecked by an Apostle doing here?”

Dorara spoke with a sneer.

“Got bored?”

I couldn’t say I came to see my sister, so I gave a vague reply.

Dorara frowned.

“Lady Xenia is heartbroken after losing her wonderful brother. Don’t come gawking at her over something so trivial.”

He warned me like some male lead out of a romance novel.

“And what are you here for?”

“Hmph, obviously, I came to offer comfort, as someone who witnessed Instructor Vikamon’s final moments.”

I mean—who even are you?

Then a memory suddenly came back.

It was a conversation I had with Hania.

Xenia had once said she’d marry the man stronger than the strongest mage at Zerion Academy.

Marriage is a promise between a man and a woman.

Aside from Sharin, who’s the strongest male mage at the academy?

Right in front of me—Dorara.

That’s why Dorara was under the delusion that Xenia wanted to be engaged to him.

I understood where the idea came from, but… it was pitiful.

“Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?”

As expected, Seron, the most aggressive among us, snapped at Dorara.

But even with her criticism, Dorara only looked relaxed.

“What would a dumb martial arts major know?”

Now he’s insulting the martial arts major.

In an instant, all the martial arts students glared at him, but Dorara remained shameless.

“Dorara, don’t say things like that. It’s offensive to the other martial arts students too.”

Eve, always the voice of justice, pointed out Dorara’s wrongdoing.

Perhaps realizing he'd crossed a line, Dorara corrected himself.

“Fine, the dumb ones are just Forehead and Lightning Bastard.”

And then Dorara was suddenly lifted into the air.

It was Sharin’s magic.

Before we knew it, Isabel had grabbed Dorara by the collar.

“W-what the!”

“Tone it down.”

Isabel twisted Dorara’s collar tightly while smiling.

Even to me, that smile looked deadly.

“Get a grip. Got it?”

“Y-yes ma’am.”

Isabel and Sharin gave him a firm warning.

Dorara couldn’t say anything back and just moved his lips silently.

“Uh, uh…”

When Isabel finally let go, Dorara tumbled to the ground.

Then, looking annoyed, he came over to me.

“Who are you calling dumb? I’m plenty smart.”

I never thought I’d live to see someone standing up for me like this.

At some point, Sharin also came to my other side and gently leaned her head on my arm.

The kids all stared at the two of them in surprise.

Sharin being affectionate made sense—she was my fiancée—but they didn’t expect Isabel to act that way too.

“Idiot.”

Seron muttered at Dorara.

Then she glanced my way and snorted like she was unimpressed.

Why is she picking a fight with me too?

Creeeak—

Just then, the door opened.

Dorara quickly stood up and fixed his clothes.

Xenia, having finished her greeting with the principal, stepped out.

With her snowy white hair and petite figure, she was stunning in appearance, much like Vikamon.

Everyone gasped at her entrance.

Dorara especially took in a sharp breath.

The cloak she wore bore the crest of the Count of Niflheim.

It was a symbol that she had come as a representative of the Niflheim family.

Realizing the crowd only after stepping forward, Xenia froze for a moment.

Then, when she saw us, her eyes widened.

Isabel and I knew her.

She seemed to recognize me too.

Xenia took a deep breath to compose herself, then looked at me.

“Senior Hannon.”

She called out to me first, of all people, wearing a slightly bitter smile.

“Would you mind speaking with me for a moment?”

Even with Sharin standing right in front of her, she requested to talk, shocking the others.

“Uh, what?”

The most stunned among them was Dorara.

He looked like he couldn’t believe she had called on me and not him.

Leaving the shocked Dorara behind, I nodded.

“Of course.”

“W-wait a moment!”

Dorara made a final desperate move, stepping forward.

Xenia looked at him curiously.

“Uh, aren’t you going to talk to me too?”

Xenia blinked.

“Uh… who are you?”

She tilted her head and asked gently, as if wondering whether she was supposed to know him.

Dorara was completely shot down.

He was left in a stunned state, unable to move.

“Don’t worry, you can ignore him.”

I said to Xenia, and she nodded and began walking.

I gave the others a look, and they tactfully backed off since it was clear Xenia wanted to speak with me alone.

And so, the two of us left together.

All Dorara could do was watch us walk away in despair.

* * *

We went to a nearby park.

It was raining, but Xenia had cast a spell, creating a round barrier so we could sit comfortably inside.

Patter, patter—

The sound of rain hitting the barrier filled the air.

The atmosphere was quite peaceful.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

I asked Xenia, who was quietly staring up at the sky.

There was a trace of sorrow on her face.

It seemed Vikamon’s death had hit her harder than expected.

“I’m sorry. I had a lot I wanted to say, but my mind’s kind of blank right now.”

Xenia rubbed her eyes for a moment.

“Xenia.”

“Ah, I’m okay. Just a little tired.”

She forced a weary smile, telling me not to worry.

“I guess… even if he was a pathetic older brother, he was still my brother.”

Xenia slowly looked down at the ground.

“I keep wondering if things would’ve turned out differently if I had stopped him from being excommunicated.”

Her fists clenched tightly.

“I knew he was reckless enough to cause trouble after being cast out.”

Now, tears welled up in her eyes.

Losing her brother was clearly devastating.

“Sob… at least he wouldn’t have died like that.”

Xenia broke down in tears, unable to hold them back any longer.

Seeing her like that, I couldn’t help but make a hesitant face.

“Uh, well…”

Her brother was right here.