"Thank you, esteemed mentor, for your promotion! This student is endlessly grateful!"

"Hmm." Flann, basking in his petty authority, felt quite smug watching the tearfully grateful young student before him.

Just as Dilin had suspected, the other two teammates—besides Astrid—had left his squad largely due to this half-Elf mentor’s meddling. True, his superiors had only ordered him to warn Dilin off: make the human boy sensible enough to abandon any improper thoughts about the princess of the Elven Forest. Elves were proud; they disdained using authority to bully others.

But Flann, a half-Elf desperate to prove his loyalty to the Elves, twisted the task beyond recognition. His bitterness ran deep. How dare this human brat overstep with the Divine Maiden—a holy figure even he, a half-Elf, wouldn’t dare gaze upon? Where was his respect?

So Flann secretly approached Dilin’s other two teammates. He leveraged his connections to offer them far better squad resources. A principled Divine Maiden might have refused, but Flann was certain: anyone joining a blind Divine Child’s team must be nobodies—illegitimate heirs from obscure Divine Maiden families, too ashamed to share their surnames on first meeting. These "wild" Divine Maidens craved status. What better path than joining a promising squad? On Caleburn, many such illegitimates had founded clans through sheer strength, burying flawed origins with glory.

Flann preyed on that hunger. He offered reassignments. As expected, the two Divine Maidens agreed instantly, abandoning Dilin without hesitation—nearly kneeling to chant, "After drifting half my life, I regret not finding a true master sooner. If you’ll have me, I’d honor you as my foster father!" Now, they even thanked Flann for the betrayal.

"Did you do as I instructed?" Flann loomed over the young man, a head taller.

"Rest assured, I excel at this. Honestly, Dilin’s a terrible teammate—mediocre talent, barking orders as captain, ignoring our feelings. How does he even deserve teammates? I don’t know how he got into this prestigious academy!" The youth spoke with righteous indignation.

"Good." Flann nodded, satisfied. His task? As Dilin’s ex-teammate, spread rumors to make freshmen sneer at Dilin, ensuring no one joined his squad. Then, at the Freshman Crown Cup next month, Dilin—alone—would claim last place. *Brat, you dared call me a dog? Think I can’t crush you?*

"And the other one?"

"Leni? She hasn’t seen reason yet."

Leni—the other teammate. This youth had sold Dilin out instantly, but the girl, though accepting Flann’s offer after hesitation, refused to slander him. *Trying to eat your cake and keep it too? If you sell out teammates, do it decisively. No wonder you’ll stay worthless.* Flann masked his contempt with polished grace.

"Handle this. Do it boldly. Someone will cover for you if trouble comes. After all… some students provoke the wrong people. You understand?" Flann erased the youth’s doubts, urging him to attack Dilin freely.

"Mentor Flann, you have my word." The youth’s eyes flashed with understanding.

*Say you’ll find no teammates this month—you won’t.* Flann smirked inwardly after the youth left. *Dilin probably doesn’t even know disaster’s coming.*

Ironically, the very person he’d just mentioned drifted past him at that moment.

"…Oh? Isn’t that Dilin?" Flann’s cold voice cut through the air as the boy walked by as if he didn’t exist. "Ignoring your mentor on campus now?"

"Huh?" Dilin turned, spotting Flann. A flicker of fly-like impatience flashed in his eyes. "Oh. Hello, mentor. Goodbye."

"Hold it."

"Anything else, mentor?"

"Dilin, the Crown Cup’s near. Still no teammates? I’d hurry—if you don’t want to make a fool of yourself at the Freshman Crown Cup." Flann sneered.

"Not your concern. Besides…" Dilin stuffed his hands in his pockets, tilting his head with an odd stare. "Who told you I have no teammates?"

"Hah! If you can’t find any, just quit and—" Flann’s eyes bulged. "What did you say?!"