At the Karath Academy, Shion Lan was practicing the spell he had neglected while thinking to himself,
"All these ceremonies have kept me away from my training. The tournament is just around the corner, and I still haven't mastered the spell I want."
Around him, his classmates watched him, the young man who had recently become the academy's hottest topic.
"Do you think he's entering the tournament?"
"It looks that way. Otherwise, why would he be training this hard?"
"What about Sol Hart?"
"What about her?"
"Isn't Sol Lady Neumann's disciple? And doesn't she like Shion?"
"I think she'll be cheering for the man she loves!"
"No, for her fellow disciple! Didn't you see how determined Sol looked when she registered for the tournament?"
"Yeah. Besides, if Lady Solan wanted Shion to win, she would've stopped Sol from participating."
One of the girls suddenly suggested,
"What if it turns out like those romance novels where the heroine intentionally gives the hero an easy victory?"
Several students shook their heads.
"If it were Solan, maybe we'd understand... but would she really be cruel enough to force Sol to do something like that?"
While they were chatting, Solan Neumann entered the Noble Division's training grounds.
The moment everyone recognized her, silence spread through the area. Since she was still disguised as Sol Hart, the students instinctively avoided her.
"Lord Lan, may I have five minutes of your time?"
Shion opened his eyes and sighed inwardly.
'I hope her madness doesn't follow me into the academy...'
He walked over to her anyway.
It was obvious she was furious.
Giving in, he asked,
"What happened?"
"What was that I just heard?!"
Shion blinked in confusion.
"Honestly... since returning to the academy, I've only left the training hall to attend classes, eat, or sleep. I have no idea what's happening in the outside world."
Solan pulled out an announcement bearing the Jewel Guild's seal.
"They publicly declared they'll be supporting you in the tournament!"
"...And what's wrong with that?"
Before Shion could answer, Pearl Jewel stepped between them.
Seeing her only increased Solan's anger.
"And why couldn't your guild support someone else instead?!"
Pearl smiled calmly.
"Because Lord Lan is strong and has a genuine chance of winning. He's also extremely popular among the nobles and within the academy. At the moment, he's probably the second most famous person after Her Highness."
She paused before adding with a teasing grin,
"Oh, by the way... why don't you direct your anger toward the girl who danced with your mistress's beloved instead of me?"
A crack nearly appeared in Solan's disguise.
Before things exploded, Shion stepped in.
"Still... isn't it unreasonable to announce something like this without asking me first?"
Pearl answered immediately.
"One of the contract's conditions is that it must be signed by the family's representative. Since you're currently living at the academy, your legal representative is your mother."
She smiled proudly.
"And she was absolutely delighted. She signed it without hesitation."
Ignoring the stunned Solan completely, Pearl stepped closer to Shion.
"Which means... Lord Lan will officially represent the Jewel Guild in this year's tournament."
The moment she finished speaking, Shion grabbed Pearl by the sleeve and hurriedly pulled her away.
"Sol! Please calm down!"
He sensed the killing aura erupted from Solan but....In an eerily calm voice, Solan replied,
"Very well... Defend her all you want, Shion."
She smiled.
"We'll see how you deal with Solan later."
She quickly left before her disguise completely broke apart.
Pearl chuckled.
"By the way... how did you survive after dancing with Her Highness?"
Shion's body instinctively trembled.
"I didn't get a peaceful night's sleep for nearly a week."
Pearl laughed.
"She's just insecure. Otherwise, why would she be afraid of an ordinary girl..."
She suddenly stopped.
"...Right. She's technically dead."
Shion let out a deep breath.
"I think Sol has already gone... so you can stop provoking her."
He tried to leave, but Pearl grabbed his sleeve.
"As representatives of the Jewel Guild, it's our duty to help you train."
Shion silently stared at her, clearly expecting her to let go.
She completely ignored his expression.
"According to the specialists in our guild... we can raise you to the Fourth Level."
Shion paused.
That immediately caught his interest.
"I just hope Solan doesn't mind..."
"What kind of training are we talking about?"
Pearl's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"Come with me."
Shion followed her while feeling an inexplicable sense of danger.
'Whatever happens... I have to reach the Fourth Level.'
...
Meanwhile...
Through her spirits, Solan watched Shion leave.
"Shion wouldn't betray me with that girl... would he?"
Bloom and Polter immediately stepped forward to comfort her.
Although Solan was naturally jealous, there were only two women she truly disliked,
Pearl Jewel...
...and Princess Jina Joul.
Unfortunately for Shion, those happened to be the two women who kept crossing his path.
Bloom spoke gently.
"My Lady... Lord Lan isn't the type to toy with people's hearts. He truly loves you."
Polter nodded.
"Your heart is pure... but don't you think your jealousy is becoming a little excessive?"
Walking in circles, Solan replied,
"I know Shion would never think about another woman.
I also know that red-haired girl isn't his type. She relies too much on seduction."
Mentioned Jina.
"And that blonde girl...
Shion has never looked at her as a woman.
Only as the Crown Princess.
...But even so..."
Solan concluded,
"I don't trust those idiots!"
She continued pacing.
"That red-haired woman is far too cunning. She might use Aunt Rita just to get closer to him.
And she could keep trying to seduce him."
With an angry look,
"As for that little princess...
She could simply issue a royal summons and force him to meet her...
...and then..."
While listening to her endless worries, Bolter sighed inwardly.
'Is there seriously no one else in this world besides Shion?'
...
Meanwhile...
Pearl led Shion to another section of the academy.
The moment he arrived, he was slightly surprised.
An entire training complex had been prepared exclusively by the Jewel Guild.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked,
"What kind of training am I going to undergo here?"
Pearl pulled out several documents.
"The first phase is a complete evaluation of your abilities."
Waving the documents, she spoke,
"Based on the results, our experts will design the most efficient training program to help you reach the Fourth Level."
"What level are these experts?"
"Our chief instructor is at the Fifth Level.
The instructors working under him are all Fourth-Level experts."
As soon as she finished speaking, they entered the facility.
Several young fighters were already training inside.
"There are others participating in the tournament whom we've decided to sponsor."
Smiling, Pearl continued,
"I hope you'll get along with them."
Shion looked around.
Students from every class were present.
Even first-year students.
Although he had known from last year that first-years were allowed to participate, almost none had dared to enter because they were usually crushed by older competitors.
Until now, only members of the Six Great Families and the royal family possessed both the courage and strength to compete.
Yet this year, there were surprisingly many first-year students from other divisions.
"It seems I recognize quite a few familiar faces."
Among them stood Harry Gill, his former classmate from the Common Division and the disciple of the Barbarian Hero, Hurricane.
Harry noticed him as well.
Silence lingered between them for a moment.
Shion simply turned around.
'He still hates nobles. Since I'm one of them now, he'll only become a headache.'
Then Harry's voice echoed loudly.
"Shion Lan! I challenge you! Right here and now!"
Shion lazily answered,
"If you want to fight me, wait until the tournament.
I have training to do."
Without giving him time to finish, Harry rushed forward.
The tip of his sword stopped directly over Shion's heart.
"You'll fight me! Here! Now!"
"What are you doing? Have you lost your mind?"
Shion merely raised an eyebrow.
"What next?
Will you stab me?
Kill me in the middle of the academy?
Seriously injure one of the tournament's participants?"
Harry's eyes widened slightly.
Shion stepped closer.
"You may hate nobles and enjoy fighting them.
Do you have some kind of allergy to them?"
Shion continued with a cold tone,
"If one noble hurt you when you were young...
...he was still just a human being.
So what now?
Will you kill every human?
Do you think nobles are some giant organization that deserves collective punishment because of one person's mistake?"
Veins bulged across Harry's forehead.
Shion continued calmly.
"I know nothing about your past.
I also know you won't tell me.
And honestly...
I'm not interested."
After giving Harry one final glance, Shion walked away without allowing him another word.
Still standing there, Harry was approached from behind by two young men.
"Hey."
"What do you say to a friendly spar?"
Harry turned around.
It was Baro Ferrer and Fiore Tai.
Both had already reached the Second Level and were on the verge of forming their second Aura Star.
Harry snorted.
"I don't bully children."
Before he could finish speaking...
The tip of a spear stopped inches from his throat.
A raging sword aimed directly at his heart.
Harry instinctively stepped back.
The two youths immediately halted their attacks.
Fiore laughed.
"We just wanted to imitate your dramatic entrance."
Baro sneered,
"You actually thought we were serious."
Harry frowned.
"It seems an older student needs to teach you two an important lesson."
The three of them headed toward one of the arenas.
Baro lowered his spear.
Fiori raised his sword.
Harry proudly released his aura.
Four Aura Stars appeared behind him.
Although still a Third-Level warrior, his pressure was overwhelming.
"Let's begin."
He expected the two boys to retreat after witnessing his strength.
Instead...
Both of them grinned.
"Good."
"Otherwise..."
"This battle would've been boring."
They charged him together in perfect synchronization, instantly irritating Harry.
...
Meanwhile...
Shion and Pearl approached four instructors.
Among them was a woman Shion immediately recognized.
"Lady Lucius?"
It was Fery Lucius, Vione Lucius's mother—the same woman Shion had confronted at the beginning of the academic year.
Yet now her entire demeanor had changed as a peaceful atmosphere surrounded her.
She smiled warmly.
"It's good to see you again, Lord Lan."
Pearl introduced the instructors.
"We have a Water Mage, a Fire Mage, a Water Swordsman, and a Fire Swordswoman."
She continued,
"All of them are Fourth-Level experts.
You may begin training with whichever instructor you prefer."
Shion considered it for a moment before replying,
"As far as swordsmanship is concerned...
I'm satisfied.
I'd rather focus on improving my magic."
Before he could approach the Fire Mage, the Water Swordsman stepped forward.
"So...
You believe you're already too good to train under us?"
A powerful water aura erupted from his body, carrying the overwhelming force of a tidal wave.
Shion felt an odd sense of déjà vu.
Deciding not to waste his time, he calmly replied,
"I want magical training.
I don't need sword training.
So...What exactly is the problem?"