Magic department classes are typically held in the lecture halls of the Magical Studies main building. However, today’s Magic Exchange was set to take place in the grand Elterion Hall, the largest of the academy’s three multipurpose buildings.

Having no clue what the Magic Exchange even was, there’s no way I’d have known the venue had changed. If I’d tried to find the classroom on my own, I’d definitely have gotten lost. Luckily, I had my attendance-assisting maids. Thanks to them, I made it on time.

…Yes, that’s right. Once again, I tried to sneak in a bit of oversleeping but was utterly defeated by the battle maids. My win rate against them lately is downright pathetic. They come armed with superior gear and numbers, always striking at my most vulnerable moments, barging in after breaking down the door. What am I supposed to do?

I need to come up with a strategy, or I’ll end up becoming diligent at this rate.

By the way, the interior of Elterion Hall’s practice arena is huge. As expected of the imperial academy, meticulously maintained by the empire, the facilities are pristine.

At the center stood a wide, square platform where students would engage in magical duels. Surrounding it were circular bleachers, rising in tiered rows like a colosseum or an arena.

The stands were already packed with people. It wasn’t just students from the magic and magical engineering departments or their associates. Right in front of me was a student with a gleaming sword propped up conspicuously, and there were others who didn’t emit even a trace of mana. Students from other departments had clearly skipped their classes to sneak in and watch.

I’m jealous. So jealous.

I want to skip class and go have fun somewhere else too.

Everything’s just irritating. Being dragged out here early in the morning is annoying. The unnecessary noise around me is grating. Most of all, I’m pissed that my turn is apparently last, yet I have to sit here from the start, holding my spot.

Slumped on the stone steps, I hugged my knees and curled up, then slowly slid sideways. The cold stone sent a chill up my body. It was hard and uncomfortable, not exactly pleasant, but once I lay down, it wasn’t that bad.

“Is this… a stone bed?”

The unpleasant cold started to feel like a refreshing coolness, and my eyes began to close involuntarily. The constant chatter of the crowd faded into the distance.

“…*Snore*, ugh!”

My consciousness started to slip away.

*

The Magic Exchange wasn’t just a practical magic class. It was one of the few official events at Elterion Academy where outsiders were allowed limited access during the week, post-entrance ceremony. Essentially, it was a showcase to attract donations and sponsorships.

As a stage to display the talents of the magic department students—the pride of Elterion Academy—it naturally drew significant attention.

This year’s Magic Exchange saw even more visitors than usual. Notably, the Magic Tower, the highest authority in the wizarding community, had sent representatives.

“I heard the freshmen this year are pretty impressive.”

“Raymond was making quite a fuss, wasn’t he?”

“By the way, is the rumor true? They say there’s an advanced mage among the freshmen.”

“It’s true, but apparently they’re in magical engineering, not the magic department.”

“Well, as long as they’re not in the swordsmanship department with those blade-obsessed lunatics, it’s fine.”

“…An advanced mage in the swordsmanship department would be catastrophic in its own way.”

As various conversations buzzed in the stands, the battles on the platform were somewhat one-sided.

It was expected that second-year magic students would dominate first-year magical engineering students. Framed as “guidance,” it was really just a chance to put the magical engineering freshmen in their place.

What was unexpected, though, was how thoroughly the second-year magical engineering students were getting crushed by the first-year magic students.

“Lost again?”

“The magic elites are something else.”

“Still, shouldn’t at least one of them win…?”

Sure, the magic department is generally superior, but a one-year gap should count for something. This year, the magical engineering department was struggling unusually hard. Every match so far had ended in victory for the magic department.

“Boring. Why am I watching a bunch of kids show off?”

A Magic Tower wizard observing from the VIP seats clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

“Confirming the third princess’s magical prowess was the only worthwhile part.”

His voice carried a hint of disappointment.

“What can we do if the magical engineering students are overall subpar? Our magic department kids knock them out before they can even show their full potential.”

“It’s called the golden generation, but it doesn’t seem that impressive.”

“Just wait. The real deal hasn’t shown up yet.”

Dean Raymond’s voice held a strange confidence.

As the Magic Tower wizards frowned skeptically, the professor overseeing the practicals called out, “Next up, Estelle Myers from second-year magical engineering and Edwin Belka from first-year magic department. To the platform.”

The moment Estelle’s name was called, the previously quiet magical engineering students erupted in cheers.

“Looks like that student’s the hope of magical engineering.”

“But she’s up against a tough opponent. Belka, of all people.”

“Top student versus top student… this duel might actually be worth watching.”

Estelle was the hope of the magical engineering department. Not just her peers but seniors, assistants, and even professors placed unwavering faith in her—the “Star of Magical Engineering.”

As Estelle stepped onto the platform, the cheers reached a fever pitch.

“Estelle, you got this! You have to win!”

“You’re our only hope!”

“Show them the power of magical engineering!”

Estelle flashed a bright smile, waving her arms enthusiastically, encouraging the crowd’s support.

Across from her stood Edwin, the top freshman in the magic department. Hailing from the prestigious Belka family, renowned for their magical prowess, he’d been hailed as a genius since childhood. Despite his young age, his aura already outshone Estelle’s.

His jet-black hair swept back, Edwin’s eyes glinted coldly.

“I’d rather be facing that Lunaris girl.”

His gaze wasn’t on Estelle but beyond her, toward the stands. Amid the noisy crowd, a certain gray-haired girl was snoring loudly—*snore, wheeze*. That gray-haired witch, who’d humiliated him once before, was the opponent Edwin truly wanted to crush, not some so-called star of magical engineering.

At the professor’s signal, Edwin swung his arm first. A wave of dark mud surged across the platform.

Estelle, as if expecting it, deployed a defensive spell. A transparent barrier pushed back the mud with force.

Edwin’s eyebrow twitched. He’d anticipated it wouldn’t end so easily, but having his attack blocked so effortlessly was unexpected.

Brushing off his surprise, Edwin launched his next spell. Earth Spear, a mid-tier earth spell. As a proper mid-tier mage who’d long surpassed the academy’s basic curriculum, his attack was swift.

Dark spears shot toward Estelle. Swallowing hard, she calmly chanted another defensive spell.

-*Thud, thud!*

Each time the earthen spears struck her translucent barrier, Estelle was pushed back slightly. Still, she held her ground, enduring.

The one-sided dynamic continued. Edwin’s spells came relentlessly, while Estelle used the wide battlefield to her advantage, dodging and casting defensive spells.

Edwin’s face grew increasingly distorted. He held the upper hand, attacking without pause, but not a single hit landed effectively, and his frustration was mounting.

“All you’re going to do is dodge and block, senior?”

He was getting irritated. A magic duel was supposed to be dignified—a clash of refined mana and disciplined will, testing each other’s achievements and gaining new insights.

But scurrying around just to win? That was beneath the dignity of a noble mage.

“Maybe if I hold out, an opening will come?”

Estelle let out a ragged breath, flashing a weak smile.

“Even if it’s ugly and unimpressive, I’ve got to win somehow.”

There’s a lot riding on this.

Her words sounded like a joke, but her eyes still gleamed sharply. Holding out was a strategy in itself.

She was waiting for just one moment.

Edwin scoffed, raising his hand high. Several stone fragments floated behind him, spinning rapidly in the air.

Estelle’s eyes sparkled. Her fingertips traced a crimson magic circle.

She moved first. Flames shot from her hands toward Edwin.

As if waiting for it, Edwin sent the floating stone fragments flying. With a whoosh, they pierced through the flames, exploding right in front of Estelle.

-*BOOM!!*

A massive roar echoed as flames and dust scattered everywhere. Shrapnel and smoke obscured the view.

As the smoke cleared, the scene on the platform came into view. Estelle, coughing and on her knees, with Edwin standing over her, one leg crossed confidently.

“So much for the ‘Star of Magical Engineering.’”

Edwin scoffed, adjusting his collar and turning away, as if he had no further interest in the defeated Estelle.

Biting her lip, Estelle let out a weary sigh before forcing an awkward laugh.

“Haha… guess it really didn’t work.”

She slowly stood, stumbling off the platform. The magical engineering students clapped with sympathetic expressions, saying it was a good try, that she did well.

“As expected of a child from the prestigious Belka family.”

“That Estelle girl wasn’t bad either. Too good for magical engineering.”

The Magic Tower wizards seemed moderately satisfied with the duel.

“Well, for lower-year students, they weren’t bad, but nothing particularly astonishing.”

“For all Raymond’s hype, it’s a bit… tsk tsk.”

Though they still felt it wasn’t worth coming all the way from the Magic Tower.

“Next! The next one’s the real deal!” Dean Raymond interjected.

As soon as he spoke, the professor called the next pair.

“Last up. Kaizel Arberia from second-year magic department and Lunaris Evermoon from first-year magical engineering. To the platform.”

At the word “last,” all eyes turned to the arena.

Kaizel, the top second-year magic student, stepped onto the platform first.

And on the other side…

“…Lunaris? Lunaris Evermoon, where are you?”

No one appeared.

Murmurs rippled through the stands. “Where’d she go?” “Don’t tell me it’s another no-show like the entrance ceremony?”

As the commotion grew, the professor cleared his throat awkwardly, ahem. Sure, he’d said she could skip practicals, but the Magic Exchange was tied to theory classes too, so he’d assumed she’d show.

She skipped this?!

“Lunaris Evermoon!”

He called her name louder, and a pathetic eek echoed from somewhere in the stands.

At the very back, in an obscure corner, a disheveled gray-haired girl blinked groggily, as if just waking up. Her half-closed eyes scanned the surroundings before letting out a long yawn. Stretching her limbs with a loud yaaawn, she groaned.

“Ugh… I slept, but I don’t feel rested.”

Her body ached from napping on the stone floor. She rolled her neck, twisted her shoulders, and loosened her stiff joints.

“Ow… ugh! My body…”

Lunaris balled her fists, tapping her back, then noticed the countless eyes fixed on her.

Feeling a moment of awkwardness, she scratched her cheek and muttered, “Oh, my turn?”

Her voice was still thick with sleep.

She stood, bouncing lightly in place to shake off the grogginess, then leaped toward the platform.

“Eek!”

“Dangerous!”

“Jumping from that height…!”

Before the crowd’s startled cries could settle, Lunaris’s descent slowed. Telekinesis at work. She landed, wobbling slightly, flailing her arms to regain balance.

“Ugh… let’s finish this quick so I can go back and sleep.”

Grumbling with a sulky expression, she caused Kaizel’s face to harden. He was clearly irked at being so blatantly disregarded.

“Fine, I’ll end it quickly, as you wish.”

His low voice dripped with anger. Glaring at Lunaris, Kaizel added, “I’m going all out from the start. No holding back.”

As a strange tension rose, Dean Raymond suddenly shouted, “Lunaris! You know what we talked about last week, right?”

Lunaris shrugged, muttering quietly, “Was gonna do it anyway.”

The moment the professor signaled the start, the space around Lunaris’s right arm warped instantly. Natural mana swirled around her small palm.

“Magic Missile.”

A beam of light shot toward Kaizel so fast it was barely visible.

…And hit a very unfortunate spot.

“*Urk*?!”

With a single cry, Kaizel collapsed, foaming at the mouth.

There was no time to cast a defensive spell.

It happened in the blink of an eye.

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