When Yu Ge realized Luna was looking all over for the person who’d fired the Magic Card that saved her life, his first reaction was to turn and run.

Yu Ge had no idea how to face Luna. Was he supposed to say, “Hey, I’m the one who saved you”?

Saya had warned him before not to use his Magic Cards willy-nilly around the academy. He’d already used one on the very first day of school. What if they kicked him out? He’d only just met such a pretty, cute, and kind girl, too.

Yu Ge didn’t stop until he’d run all the way out of the training grounds. He figured he should avoid seeing her again for the rest of the day. Otherwise, he wouldn’t know what to do. Once things had settled down, he could get to know her little by little.

“Huff, huff.”

Yu Ge braced himself against the wall and panted heavily. So being the hero who rescued a beauty wasn’t as easy as it looked.

“What are you doing here?”

Just as Yu Ge let out a sigh of relief, a familiar voice suddenly came from behind him.

“Whoa!”

Yu Ge jumped in fright and spun around on instinct. Saya stood in front of him with a file in her hand and her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly exasperated.

“Why’re you yelling so loud? You scared me!”

Yu Ge’s sudden reaction startled Saya, too. Her cheeks flushed slightly as she brushed back her hair and held out the file.

“This is your admission notice. Come with me to the training grounds for your entrance test. I don’t think someone with your abilities needs it at all, but we still have to go through the proper procedure.”

“G-Go back?”

Yu Ge froze. If he went back now, he’d run straight into Luna. What was he supposed to do then?

“Go back? Have you already been there?”

Saya tilted her head.

“N-No. Let’s go.”

Yu Ge gave an awkward laugh. He hadn’t just been there—he’d also happened to save a beautiful girl.

“Oh, right. You can’t use your own Magic Cards during the entrance test. Take these and use them instead. The training dummies are pretty weak, so these should be enough.”

Saya walked ahead of Yu Ge. As if she’d just remembered something, she pulled a stack of white-rank Magic Cards from her pocket. They looked like they were all E-rank.

“Weak enough to nearly kill someone?”

Yu Ge thought of the training dummy Luna had fought earlier. It should’ve fallen, but instead it suddenly went berserk and charged at Luna, who couldn’t defend herself. It had nearly taken her life.

“What did you say?”

Saya turned around and stared at Yu Ge in surprise.

“Nothing. Just making a little comment.”

Yu Ge turned his face aside. If he hadn’t stepped in, that sweet, kind girl would’ve been dead.

“Anyway, remember the three promises you made to me.”

With that, Saya led Yu Ge into the training grounds.

As soon as Yu Ge entered the training grounds, he started looking around for Luna. But he couldn’t see her anywhere. She’d probably finished her test and gone to rest. That was a relief.

“You’re Yu Ge, right? I’m sorry, but one of the training dummies went berserk earlier. All the dummies used for the exams are being repaired right now, so we can’t give you your test.”

Yu Ge handed his admission notice to Chris, the new-student training instructor Saya had introduced him to. Chris glanced over it, then gave him an apologetic look.

“Went berserk? You mean one of the training dummies went berserk, Instructor Chris?”

Saya looked incredulous. Something like that had never happened before.

“That’s right. We’re still investigating what caused it.”

Chris nodded.

“So does that mean I don’t have to take the entrance test?”

Yu Ge’s eyes lit up. Talk about good luck. Maybe this was the perk of having connections.

“In that case, I suggest Yu Ge skip the test against the training dummy.”

Saya made the suggestion.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Yu Ge nodded quickly. Turns out this girl was pretty nice after all.

“I’ll be his opponent instead.”

“Yeah, yeah.”

Yu Ge nodded quickly—then his expression froze in an instant. Hold on. What did you just say? Are you messing with me?

“Sounds good to me. Yu Ge’s the only student who hasn’t taken the entrance test yet, after all. And since you recommended him, you’re responsible for him.”

Chris was completely on board.

“Then it’s settled. Yu Ge, get ready.”

Saya’s words sounded like Yu Ge’s final sentence—and there’d be no appeal. She turned and left to prepare for the fight.

Yu Ge looked utterly miserable. Everyone knew Saya was the famous Star Sword Princess, not just at this academy but throughout the entire empire. Now she wanted to fight him. Was he supposed to win or lose?

“Don’t worry. Saya may look serious, but she’ll definitely go easy on you.”

Seeing Yu Ge’s pained expression, Chris smiled and tried to reassure him.

“Thanks.”

Yu Ge rolled his eyes. What else could he do? He had to take the test. Even if he was going to lose, he still had to show them what made him different. This was a perfect chance to make a name for himself at the academy, so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing. Luna might even be somewhere watching him fight.

“Hey, did you hear? The Star Sword Princess is going to be the examiner for the entrance test!”

“Huh? No way. Don’t they use training dummies for the entrance tests?”

“I heard a transfer student showed up at the last minute, and all the training dummies are being repaired, so Saya’s going to take the field herself.”

“I’m going to watch! Saya-senpai’s my idol!”

Meanwhile, Luna had just left the infirmary after getting checked out when she heard people nearby talking about the Star Sword Princess, Saya, fighting someone. Her interest was instantly piqued. As a Mage, Saya was someone everyone admired. Luna didn’t use a sword herself, but watching a powerful fighter could still be a great way to improve her own skills.

When Luna reached the stands overlooking the training grounds, she blinked in surprise. The person standing opposite Saya was the boy who’d been staring at her and getting a nosebleed earlier.

“Could it be him?”

Luna took the golden Magic Card from her pocket and gazed at Yu Ge on the field, murmuring to herself. She’d never seen this card before. It wasn’t even listed in the illustrated compendium in the Library. Anyone who could use a Magic Card like this had to be powerful. She’d be able to tell whether the card belonged to him by watching him fight.

“My dearest fiancée, Miss Luna, what are you looking at?”

Just then, a teasing voice came from behind Luna. A handsome boy with short blond hair and a sly smile walked over to her.

“Xibolai, I’m not your fiancée. Please don’t call me that at the academy.”

Luna shot the blond boy an annoyed look and answered irritably.

“Come on, I’m just exercising my rights a little early. You know our families will be related by marriage soon.”

Xibolai narrowed his eyes at Luna. His gaze made her uncomfortable. Then he noticed Saya on the field, and surprise crossed his face.

“That’s the Star Sword Princess, Saya. Who is that guy?”

“Maybe he’s so strong that the training dummies can’t measure his abilities anymore, so Saya-senpai has to test him herself.”

Luna tightened her grip on the golden Magic Card in her pocket and spoke as if mocking Xibolai.

“Ha! I bet he showed up late. The academy probably doesn’t want an undisciplined new student like him, so they’re having the Star Sword Princess deal with him.”

Xibolai paused, his tone teasing.

“They’re probably trying to crush his confidence once and for all. Ha ha!”