"Who is it?"

Cecilia Xuelian stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped only in a white towel.

"Honestly, why are you just standing there like a statue? Didn’t you hear the knocking?"

Cecilia Xuelian glanced at Sharkai Bai, frozen in place, then walked to the door.

Just as Sharkai Bai snapped out of it and turned, the door slowly opened.

Standing there was Zhiminghan.

Their eyes met—Cecilia Xuelian in her towel, Zhiminghan at the threshold.

An eerie silence hung in the air; neither girl spoke first.

Only Sharkai Bai stood rooted, unsure what to do.

...He’d rather battle other A-rank mages than face this.

*(Should I leave? Yeah, better go! This isn’t my fight.)*

Sharkai Bai turned carefully, tiptoeing back toward the bedroom.

"Oh my, darling~ Is this classmate here for you?"

Cecilia Xuelian spun around, hands on hips, locking eyes on the white-haired boy trying to escape.

"Well then... Zhiminghan, what brings you here?"

Sharkai Bai flushed with embarrassment.

"I only came to check if your injuries improved."

"Thanks... They’re much better, nearly healed, hehehehe..."

Sharkai Bai was trapped between them.

Zhiminghan and Xuelian glared, the air thick with tension.

In the Northern Kingdom’s castle-like stronghold—

"Hmph. So he finally moved in Holy Carthus’s ranking battle."

A long-haired youth set down an investigation report in the dim room.

He always watched Celestial Carving Academy’s battles, but this time, an interesting figure had emerged.

The first meaningful act since that guy joined Holy Carthus a year ago.

Situ Sheng—the Northern Kingdom’s rising genius, leader of the Five Dragon Kings.

He rose slowly, walking to the sole sunlit window.

The white-haired boy’s face flashed in his mind.

His decision was made.

Celestial Carving Academy, Dorm 304.

"...I understand. Farewell, Sharkai."

Disappointment flickered in Zhiminghan’s eyes.

She turned and left.

"Zhiminghan...—!"

"Darling, don’t be fickle!!!"

Sharkai Bai lunged to stop her, but Cecilia Xuelian blocked him, her face icy.

Her glare could kill a Grand Magus.

*(Gulp... I’ll explain to Zhiminghan later...)*

Sharkai Bai swallowed hard, cold sweat on his back.

No doubt—he’d get beaten if he resisted.

"Hehe, youth is wonderful~"

Suddenly, Academy Head Dishi sat on the sofa, sighing.

Dishi, head of Celestial Carving Academy, rivaled Sharkai Manwei in fame.

"You...—"

Cecilia Xuelian’s expression darkened at the old man’s sudden appearance.

She gripped her towel tight and unleashed a full-force blast at Dishi.

"Pervert—!!!"

After the dorm’s destruction, Cecilia Xuelian finally calmed.

"Ahem. Let’s discuss the Five Dragon Kings... heard of them?"

Blood still stained Dishi’s forehead. He restored the dorm with a casual spell, face grave.

"Hey, wipe that blood off first."

Sharkai Bai handed him tissues.

*(If it’s the Northern Kingdom... could it be him?)*

A bad feeling rose.

"Just overhyped mages," Cecilia Xuelian said, stepping out in her S-rank uniform.

"I received their letter—they plan to visit the academy."

Dishi wiped his brow, keeping that "serious-but-hilarious" look.

"Shouldn’t you tell the student council?"

Sharkai Bai lounged on the sofa, ear-picking lazily.

He hadn’t come willingly. Post-ranking battle, he wanted no academy drama.

"I agree with darling~ Why tell us this nonsense, pervert?"

Cecilia Xuelian still seethed over his earlier intrusion.

Seeing their refusal to help—

"Can’t you contribute as academy members? This is about our reputation!"

Dishi’s voice cracked.

"Huh? Reputation? Sorry, I’m a realist."

"Hehe, I’m here only for darling."

"...

These two had zero crisis sense.

"Sigh! Fine—I’ll ask other apprentices."

Celestial Carving Academy, Student Council Room.

Elucia gathered all members for the Five Dragon Kings incident.

"A-rank apprentices from other grades will join us too."

Elucia showed no panic.

Invincible among academy apprentices, she craved this fight.

Her eyes burned with long-lost spirit.

But not all shared her fire.

"Those five are monsters! What a hassle!! My luck’s awful lately!!"

Vice President Wilkor slumped at the table, sighing.

Freshly healed, he questioned life itself.

"Top-ten apprentices won’t join. Confirmed A-ranks: Cecilia Ozbell and Fuxifa."

Aisha entered, back from her investigation.

"No choice then."

Elucia scanned Aisha’s files, spotting the perfect candidate.

"Ahhh, why help someone I met an hour ago!??"

Punished for flirting, Cecilia Xuelian ordered Sharkai Bai to buy girls’ underwear at the convenience store.

"What kind of punishment is this..."

Sharkai Bai trudged back to the dorm, dejected.

The cashier’s judgmental stare haunted him.

Crack...—BOOM—!!!!

As he grumbled, a massive black rift tore open above the academy.

"Your portal’s handy."

"Now that we’re here, get serious."

"Let’s visit the legendary S-rank apprentice first."

"Nervous... the one who beat Situ is here."

"Quiet!"

The Tyrannical Thunder King, Chunri Chengguang.

The Slaughterous Ice King, Nokiyak.

The Steel Body King, Minghai Wei.

The Hourglass of Time, Emperor Feng.

——And their leader, the Fire God, Situ Sheng.

The Five Dragon Kings have arrived.

"A warm-up."

"Is that...?"

Situ Sheng spotted the white-haired boy below.

Chunri Chengguang’s gaze sharpened. A magic circle flared in the sky—lightning struck.

Unprepared, Sharkai Bai was slammed into the earth.

"Mistaken identity?" Situ Sheng muttered, watching the fallen apprentice.

"Long time no see, Five Dragon Kings."

A girl appeared before them.

Behind Elucia stood Wilkor, Aisha, Cecilia Ozbell, Fuxifa, and others.

"...Everyone’s here."

Dishi stepped from the rift, voice low after failing to recruit the academy’s No. 2.

"I’ll set the barrier."

On the dorm balcony, Cecilia Xuelian leaned on the railing, smiling at the chaos above.

"Ah~, how pitiful, darling~~."