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March 2nd had arrived—the entrance ceremony for Zerion Academy.

All the students were moving toward the academy’s auditorium for the event.

Among them were us, now third-year students.

“Ugh, I can’t believe we’re already in our third year.”

Seron spoke in a slumped pose, clearly bewildered by the idea that we were now the oldest students at school.

“Seron, you're a third-year now. Show some dignity,”

Eve advised her from the side, prompting Seron to glance at her.

“Being too stiff will just scare the first-years away.”

“Ugh.”

Eve looked seriously conflicted.

Seron wasn’t exactly one to talk, either.

Meanwhile, Card was habitually scanning the first-year students with a practiced eye.

There was no longer any need to gather intel from women, but it seemed the habit was deeply ingrained.

“You!”

At that moment, Isabel, who had arrived ahead of us, waved us over.

“This way.”

Since there were enough seats for everyone, we could sit wherever we liked.

Responding to Isabel’s call, we moved toward her, where we also found a slouching Sharin beside her.

“Huusbaannd~”

Sharin waved sleepily.

After greeting them and sitting down, Isabel quietly asked,

“How are you feeling?”

Her face was filled with concern about the Dragon egg.

“No major issues yet. I’m okay. I plan to meet with Xenia after the ceremony—her Celestial Magic might help.”

“I really hope it gets resolved.”

Isabel sighed deeply.

I could feel her beautiful heart in how she worried about me as if it were her own problem.

“Isabel, let’s go see Lucas again sometime soon.”

Wanting to repay her kindness, I brought it up.

Last time, it had been just Isabel and Rina; this time, I planned to organize a larger group.

As third-years, we were more familiar with the Demon Dungeon and had more freedom of movement.

As long as it wasn’t during the palace period, we could get a professor’s permission and go.

Isabel smiled faintly at my words.

“Okay.”

Her face seemed relieved just from hearing my offer.

“Sweet potato prince.”

At that moment, Seron tugged at my collar.

“Isn’t that Senior Nikki?”

She sure added a cute twist to the name.

Seron pointed toward where the first-years had gathered.

Among them was a woman wearing a black veil unlike the others.

Brown hair flowed out from beneath it.

It was Nikita in disguise—Sekita.

“Hmm.”

Seron made a nasal sound, then suddenly clung to my arm like a red badger standing guard.

Then Isabel, without a word, gently pulled my other arm into hers.

At some point, Sharin also reached out and grabbed one of my hands tightly.

Eve’s look of disdain deepened.

Card was snickering nearby, clearly enjoying the scene.

“Wow, pretty scandalous for this early in the morning.”

A voice came from behind me.

It was Hania, seated with the other members of Team Iris.

“Mind if I sneak in from behind too?”

“Could you not?”

“Well, since you asked so nicely, I’ll let it go.”

Hania chuckled briefly, then leaned in with a quiet message.

“I found something new about Lady Iris.”

My gaze immediately turned to Hania.

She signaled with her expression that we’d talk later.

“Ahem, students—welcome.”

At that moment, the headmaster’s voice boomed through the auditorium, followed by a microphone test.

We sat up properly, putting off our conversation.

The headmaster’s speech followed.

It was a standard welcome address—nothing particularly noteworthy.

After the speech, the final part of the ceremony began.

“We will now call the names of students who will come up to the stage.”

It was time to announce the valedictorians and salutatorians of each department.

My gaze fixed on the stage.

This year’s magic department had two standout first-year students competing for top honors.

Xenia Niflheim, a user of Celestial Magic.

Sekita, a user of ancient dragon magic.

Everyone was curious to see which of them would claim the top spot.

The favorite was clearly Xenia.

But Nikita’s firepower had been unexpectedly overwhelming as well.

Everyone watched with anticipation.

The headmaster opened his mouth.

“Valedictorian of the Magic Department.”

Who would it be?

Everyone held their breath.

“Xenia Niflheim.”

The students reacted with an unsurprised “of course.”

Although Nikita had wielded ancient dragon magic impressively, it couldn’t compare to Celestial Magic in most eyes.

Under her veil, Nikita showed no change in expression.

But one person reacted very differently.

Xenia stood frozen in place, eyes wide open.

She didn’t move, even after being called.

Only when the assistants noticed and spoke to her did she snap out of it and ascend the stage.

“Salutatorian: Sekita.”

Nikita’s new name was called, and this too met with general approval.

The rest of the department honorees were announced in turn.

Once all the valedictorians and salutatorians had gathered on stage,

The microphone was handed to the top student of the Magic Department.

“Now, Xenia Niflheim, as the top student of the Magic Department, please share your thoughts.”

Xenia accepted the mic and stood blankly for a moment.

Eventually, she seemed to find her words and slowly opened her lips.

“I cannot accept that I am the top student of the Magic Department.”

And with that, she dropped a bombshell.

＊＊＊

The students murmured in surprise.

For the top student to declare she couldn’t accept her own ranking—it was a shock.

Even the assistants and professors were taken aback.

The headmaster stared blankly, as if wondering what on earth this impudent child was talking about.

“I’m not trying to belittle my own magical aptitude or talent.”

Xenia’s magical ability was among the best in the world.

It wasn’t for nothing that people had speculated she was of Jerion’s bloodline even before the truth came to light.

“I’m just saying I can't accept being placed as the top student when there’s someone more outstanding than me.”

Xenia slowly turned to look at Nikita.

Under her veil, Nikita wore a surprised expression.

“In this entrance exam, I clearly realized that I was lacking compared to Miss Sekita, who stands next to me.”

Xenia had not lost to Nikita at all.

If anything, in terms of magical power and skill, Xenia was superior.

Nikita had only just stepped into the world of magic, whereas Xenia had devoted her entire life to it.

Both had overwhelming talent.

But the gap between them couldn’t be bridged in just a year.

In fact, Xenia had higher scores than Nikita overall.

But in one area — combat — she had fallen short.

Even among the third-years, Nikita had already earned the title of top student in martial combat.

When it came to battle, she was peerless.

To be honest, Xenia had just been unlucky.

There was no way she could beat Nikita, who had far more experience in combat, especially within the Demon Dungeon.

It seemed Xenia had taken that moment to reflect on her own shortcomings.

‘That perfectionist streak of hers...’

I let out a small, helpless laugh as I looked at Xenia.

She was very much a perfectionist.

Even if she lost in just one aspect, she would feel as if she had been defeated entirely.

In the realm of battle — the most critical aspect in the Demon Dungeon — she had fallen behind Nikita.

So, she couldn’t accept being named top student.

It was a very Xenia-like way of thinking.

“Pfft.”

At that moment, Nikita burst out laughing.

The other students didn’t seem to notice because of the veil, but I could see it clearly.

Nikita, amused by something, laughed for a moment and then quietly whispered.

“As expected of you, big sister — you’re just like his little sister.”

“…What?”

Xenia looked puzzled, but Nikita didn’t elaborate.

Instead, she took the microphone that Xenia had been holding.

“Because of all this, I believe Xenia is all the more deserving of being top student.”

Nikita began to turn the awkward atmosphere around in an instant.

“Being a first-year student means you’re in a position to learn a lot, to grow as a student. It’s the year when, being the youngest in the academy, one strives the hardest to improve.”

She kept steering the atmosphere skillfully.

“Despite achieving the highest academic score in the Department of Magic, Xenia focused on her shortcomings. I believe this attitude is exactly what befits the top student of the first-year Department of Magic.”

Who else but a former vice president could handle the situation so perfectly?

“Xenia, thanks to you, I’ve learned a lot. I’ll do my best as the runner-up.”

Nikita gave Xenia a warm smile.

Before I knew it, the students had started clapping one by one.

A look of bewilderment appeared on Xenia’s face.

She hadn’t expected to reclaim her top student title in this way.

“Ahem, next, the top student of the Combat Department.”

In the meantime, the headmaster resumed the entrance ceremony.

The brief commotion caused by Xenia’s unexpected speech ended peacefully.

After this, the first-year students would have lunch, individual interviews with professors, and receive their dorm assignments.

There would be a brief break during lunch.

I decided to use that time to meet with Xenia.

As I moved to find her, I spotted a group of first-year students in the distance.

Some of them flinched the moment they saw me.

I could also hear murmurs among them.

“That’s the person.”

“Yeah, from the entrance ceremony.”

I guess the impression I left at the ceremony had been too strong.

Apparently, rumors had already spread among the students.

Pushing through their stares, I scanned the first-years, but I had to tilt my head.

Xenia was nowhere to be seen.

In the end, I had no choice but to ask the students from the Magic Department.

“Hey.”

“Y-Yes, sir! H-Hannon-Senior!”

One student from the Magic Department responded nervously to my call.

“Did you see where Xenia went?”

I had waited for her on the way to the dining hall, but she hadn’t shown up.

Clearly, she’d taken a different path.

“Ah, I-I think Xenia went toward the eastern park earlier.”

The eastern park.

It was the place I’d talked with her last time.

“Thanks.”

“Y-Yes!”

Hearing the student’s anxious reply, I hurried toward the park.

There was something I needed to ask Xenia about — the egg of the ancient dragon.

As I searched through the park, it didn’t take long to find her.

Xenia was at the very spot where I had once comforted her.

“Xenia.”

At the sound of her name, she flinched and looked toward me.

And then, I was caught off guard by the tears welling up in her eyes.

“You… are you crying?”

“N-No. I mean, well…”

Xenia was sitting in the park, crying all by herself.