"Celicia, don't tell me... you're worried about me?"

Moen suddenly leaned in, so close that it seemed as if he could hear her breathing.

Due to their height difference, at this distance, Moen needed to slightly lower his head to make eye contact, while Celicia had to slightly tilt her chin up, her swan-like fair neck appearing even more graceful.

That's a shame that there wasn’t a wall nearby.

Taking advantage of the light streaming slantwise into Celicia’s eyes, Moen gazed into her icy, lake-like pupils.

It seemed as if he wanted to see past that cold, indifferent frost, to uncover something deeper beneath.

Still that cold.

"The 'worry' you're talking about... If you're referring to the concern that you might just die outside, then yes, that’s it."

Faced with Moen’s sudden proximity, Celicia’s cold expression didn’t change in the slightest.

"After all, Belland has only just recently stabilized after the major incident. If you, the duke's son, were to suddenly die outside, who knows what would that cost? I simply don’t want to be cleaning up endless messes every day."

"That’s the reason?"

"Naturally," Celicia’s icy blue pupils shifted slightly. "What else would you think?"

"So cold-hearted."

Moen sighed lightly, but soon enough his eyebrows arched upward with delight:

"But I’m still happy."

"Hmm?"

"Because..."

Moen took another half-step forward.

This time, they were so close their noses nearly touched.

He scrutinized Celicia’s stunningly beautiful face, rubbing his chin, and chuckling as he said:

"This time, I’ve gotten so close, and yet, you haven’t punch me. This really is—"

"—"

Moen saw Celicia’s sudden sharp, blade-like eyebrows lift instantaneously, and a faint hum of impending doom began to echo in his mind…

"Moen Campbell!"

But just as Celicia was about to say something, a loud shout interrupted her, abruptly extinguishing even the dreadful sense of foreboding rising inside Moen.

"I finally found you!"

The stillness of the forest was shattered, as a crowd of people suddenly emerged from nowhere and surrounded Moen... and Celicia.

They first caught sight of Celicia and, with their pupils shrinking, immediately paid their respectful greetings. "Good morning! President!"

Celicia maintained her impassive demeanor and nodded slightly.

Afterwards, their gazes returned to Moen. The leading man revealed a cruel, wolfish grin:

"Moen Campbell, you didn’t expect this, did you? At the very last moment, at the final opportunity, I’ve come to challenge you!"

"And you are...?"

"Third-year, Bordo Mut!"

"Bordo Mut?"

Never heard of him...

Moen rubbed his chin, sizing up the unfamiliar man in front of him, confirming to himself that he sensed no danger emanating from him. His instincts told him that this man was even less threatening than the previous quartet of misfits he had faced. With an odd expression, he replied:

"Are you sure you want to challenge me?"

"Hah! Just because you've recently took down a few of the strongest third-years doesn’t mean you can act all high and mighty, Moen Campbell!" Bordo sneered.

"I’ve toiled tirelessly for seven days, painstakingly studying to uncover a loophole in the rules. This time, I have an absolute guarantee of victory!"

"A loophole?"

"Exactly!" Bordo exclaimed with excitement. "The rules established by Professor Pulan state that only those who meet the conditions can replace you by defeating you. However! There is no prohibition against people who *don’t* meet the conditions from challenging you!"

"Even if they can’t claim your spot by beating you, they don’t have to. All it takes is for me to defeat you in the end!"

"Do you know why I timed this perfectly to seek you out right now? It’s so you wouldn’t have time to prepare!"

"......"

Moen stared blankly at him for a while, finally piecing together Bordo’s intention.

He turned his gaze toward the crowd surrounding him, raising an eyebrow:

"You all... are seniors, aren’t you? Isn’t ganging up on your junior a little bit... shameful?"

"…Ahem."

The crowd exchanged awkward glances, coughing lightly.

"We don’t really want to do this either, but... Well, he’s offered far too much."

"Don’t worry, Campbell. We won’t hurt you. We’re just here to... drain some of your energy."

"But a challenge requires both parties to agree, right? If I don’t consent to the challenge, then it’s meaningless, isn’t it?"

"Hah, you think I didn’t realize that?" Bordo sneered coldly.

"Why else would I round up this many people to box you in? After all, we’re not the ones in a hurry to make it to the gathering!"

"......"

So, in short... this was just blatant bullying, wasn’t it?

But ironically, this kind of underhanded bullying was much more troublesome than the straightforward challenges.

Fortunately though...

Moen glanced sideways, a peculiar smile curling on his lips:

"Fine. I accept your challenge."

"Really?!" Bordo’s eyes gleamed with excitement. "If that's the case, then let’s…"

"Hold on, no need to rush."

Moen looked at the group of seniors surrounding him with a leisurely expression and said calmly:

"Since you’ve resorted to such despicable tactics, don’t blame me for using my trump card!"

"Trump card?"

"That’s right! Watch carefully! My ultimate move..."

Moen took a deep breath, his eyes glimmering with sharp light, raising his hands high, and then swooped down like an eagle, wrapping an arm around the slender waist of the girl beside him:

"Secret Technique: Hugging-the-Leg Style!"

"......"

For a moment.

The atmosphere froze.

Whether it was Bordo or the senior students encircling Moen, they all wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost, staring in shock at Moen... and, crucially, at the hand holding onto the girl next to him—occasionally giving her waist a slight squeeze.

Who was she?

She was Celicia Leopold!

The renowned imperial princess!

The president of the academy’s student council!

Her icy demeanor, aloofness, disdain for men, and unapproachable aura were all well-known!

She did everything by the book, devoid of personal emotions. This was exactly why, even with Celicia present, the group had dared to encircle Moen.

It was said that once, a hapless senior accidentally touched her hand while confessing his love for her. She froze him into an ice statue and left him on display in the academy square for three whole days and nights!

And yet, Moen Campbell actually dared to...

Sure, they might have an engagement, but there’d never been any rumors of affection between them.

That princess would never go easy on anyone—not even her fiancé!

"......"

Under the pitying gazes of the crowd, Celicia slowly lowered her head to glance at the hand wrapped around her waist. Then, just as slowly, she raised her gaze and looked at the face of the man beside her.

Her expression was chilling, like frozen frost. Her crimson lips parted slightly:

"Get lost."

See?

As expected.

The president, the esteemed princess, discarded all decorum and directly told him to "get lost."

Moen Campbell...

He’s doomed.

Witnessing this scene, everyone thought the same thing as a collective wave of sympathy swelled in their hearts.

A rising star of the academy... Such a shame that he was about to "fall" so soon.

Bordo’s grin nearly stretched to his ears. If Moen Campbell destroyed himself, it would save him tons of trouble.

"What I mean is..."

But just as Bordo was popping champagne in his mind, Celicia suddenly turned her head. Her gaze swiftly swept over the crowd. That icy, bone-chilling expression froze the air, and her eyes finally landed on Bordo:

"I was talking to all of *you*..."

"Get lost."