After a bit more back-and-forth, filled with Lavine's complaints and Riley's unbending insistence, the little fairy finally threw her hands up and surrendered to her master's outrageous orders.

"Fine, fine! I'll go," she huffed, crossing her tiny arms with the dramatic flair unique only to ancient beings stuck in small bodies.

"But you know, I was actually excited to see the festival matches, right? I've been waiting for this week…!"

Riley chuckled softly. A hint of guilt tugged at him—just a hint.

As an ancient mage, Lavine was the type who greatly enjoyed observing battles, especially those fought by future prodigies.

She adored seeing sparks of potential and talent, and she delighted even more in finding disciples on a whim—though Rose didn't actually need her teachings in the first place.

Perhaps that was the real reason Lavine sounded so dissatisfied; she wanted to see if there were any other promising candidates besides Rose, someone worth grooming… someone interesting.

"Don't worry," Riley said, patting her lightly with a finger, "I'll get a copy of the academy's recordings. At least the fights that stand out."

Lavine rolled her eyes so hard her entire head tilted with the motion. "Then that would just be fights that involve you, Master. That's not exactly helpful."

"Trust me," he replied with a small grin, "there are a lot of geniuses besides me in this world. And I'm sure you're very aware there are some promising ones from the other academies too, right?"

Lavine hesitated for a moment, her wings flickering faintly. "…Well, I did detect a few. Besides those two elves, obviously. But…" She sighed in defeat. "Well, it doesn't matter anymore. I understand that the demonic worshippers take priority. So I'll trust you on your offer, Master."

Despite her reluctant acceptance, Riley could feel the small pout radiating off her.

Riley smiled and gently patted Lavine's head.

"Just call for me immediately if things get dangerous."

"Haaah, who do you think I am? I'm the Grand Magus Lavine Chronos, you know." She crossed her tiny arms with theatrical pride. "Mere demonic worshippers are nothing to me."

"I trust you," Riley said calmly, "but dealing with worshippers is different from dealing with demons."

Lavine paused. She couldn't deny that.

The chances of actual demons intervening—however small—were real.

And while regular worshippers were beneath her level, actual demons were a different matter entirely.

Still, her pride wouldn't allow her to show hesitation.

"Well," she huffed, lifting her chin, "if they're not even on a demonling's level, then it hardly matters. They're all just fodder to my magic anyway."

Riley didn't disagree.

Lavine then smiled—sweet, bright, and dangerously unhinged.

"I don't think anything will happen, but yes, yes, I'll call for you immediately, Master. After all, you're the only one meant to kill me~"

Riley narrowed his eyes, not sure whether to sigh or ignore that line as usual.

With a quick spin in the air, Lavine waved goodbye. "I'll be back before you miss me~!"

Her small figure burst into a trail of glimmering blue dust that scattered across the sky like stardust.

Despite her reluctant tone earlier, her aura trembled with excitement.

For the first time in ages, she was free to move around the world without needing Riley's constant mana flow.

She intended to enjoy herself—he could feel that much.

Riley watched the trail fade until the last spark dissolved.

Only then did he glance at his watch.

Still morning. Almost noon.

He exhaled slowly.

Whether she was at her usual spot or not was uncertain, but he couldn't delay this any longer.

Seeing her act strangely once could be dismissed as coincidence.

Seeing her replicate Seo's technique was another matter entirely.

Evelyn was brewing something in the background.

He was sure of it now.

Riley closed his eyes briefly, letting his mana flare outward in a controlled wave. His consciousness spread through the academy grounds like a transparent veil.

He expanded his mana sense—

—and pinpointed Evelyn's exact location.

.....

"Hmm… looks like he's fully aware now…."

Perched atop one of the academy's secluded rooftops—an isolated stone spire normally off-limits to students—a breathtakingly beautiful young woman stared down at the sprawling grounds below.

Her hair fluttered in the crisp wind as the giant metal hands of the clocktower behind her ticked steadily, each resonant clack echoing through the still air.

Her expression was calm… almost too calm.

A faint smile tugged at her lips while her fingers danced, tracing glowing runes through the air one after another.

Each rune shimmered, dissolved, then reconstructed into a new sigil as though she were rehearsing a spell she already perfected.

"You didn't think he'd realize this quickly?" a playful voice asked.

Evelyn chuckled softly—her chuckle, light yet edged with mischief.

"Fufu~ I know he may be slow sometimes," she murmured to herself, "but with how brazen I've been moving, it was only natural for him to notice sooner or later. Though it's a shame… I wanted him to at least figure things out after Snow finished her part."

Her blue eyes gleamed as she lifted her gaze toward the clear sky.

Yes. Snow's progress.

Everything was moving faster than she intended—but not incorrectly.

Her smile widened, beautiful yet unsettling.

Evelyn—Riley's female clone, and arguably the most unpredictable existence related to him—laughed quietly under her breath.

"I know everyone's overly sensitive about his growth… and the others' as well." She tapped a finger against her cheek thoughtfully. "But this method is the fastest. Dangerous? Absolutely. But as long as he doesn't fully accept it—doesn't completely believe what's unfolding—causality won't collapse."

She lowered her hand, her voice dipping into a whisper laced with amusement.

"After all… the best lies are always those woven with the most immaculate truths."

Fwoooosh…!

A sudden distortion of wind spiraled beside her—a short, sharp burst that displaced the air like someone stepping through reality itself. Evelyn didn't flinch.

She only turned her head, smile unchanged.

Standing there was a flawless mirror of herself… except younger, sharper, and undeniably male.

Riley Hell.

Her original.

He stared at her with a cold, controlled expression.

"Evelyn…" His voice was steady, but it carried weight. "I think you have some explaining to do."

Evelyn's smile softened into something more elegant, almost warm if one didn't look too deeply.

"Fufu~ I suppose I do owe you quite a few explanations."

She rose gracefully to her feet, dusting off her skirt before stepping closer—close enough that their identical auras subtly clashed in the air between them.

She tilted her head, eyes gleaming with wicked amusement.

"Now then…" she purred.

"Where should I start~?"

....

"Hmm… so you're Riley's little sister, correct?"

"Y-Yes…" Reina answered stiffly.

"I see, I see!" Clara leaned closer, studying her face with overly sparkling eyes. "I can totally see the resemblance now. Ahh, that explains it—so that's why Lucas seemed super interested in you."

"I-I beg your pardon??" Reina blinked rapidly.

"My, no need to be so polite—oh, right!" Clara tapped her forehead lightly. "I forgot to introduce myself. Hello, junior of mine. My name is Clara Luminaria, second-year magic division, currently ranked third in the S-Rank class. And your opponent for this match."

"Y-Yes… uhm… I was already aware of that. Uh… it's nice to meet you, Senior Clara?"

"Fufu, just call me Clara. After all, your brother and I are quite close."

She waved her hand casually, then added with a meaningful smirk, "Business-wise, of course. So don't go misunderstanding, okay? I really don't want any trouble from his girls just because his cute little sister said something weird."

"…Yes." Reina wasn't sure how to respond to that, so she simply nodded.

As Clara happily continued talking, Reina couldn't help wondering what on earth she was doing here. Was this really okay?

This was her designated backstage waiting room… and on the opposite side was supposed to be Clara's room.

And yet here the senior was, sitting comfortably in her space, chatting away like an older cousin visiting for tea.

They were clear opponents. A match was literally about to start.

"Uhm, senior—"

"NOW THEN, LET US INTRODUCE… CLARA LUMINARIA!!"

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena, making Clara jolt slightly before she smiled.

"Oh my, it seems I lost track of time." Clara stood smoothly, brushing her uniform. "Let us face each other properly on stage, Reina."

"Y-Yes…"

Reina watched her senior walk toward the wrong exit—or well, the correct exit for her—but leaving through Reina's side nonetheless.

Once Clara disappeared down the entrance tunnel, Reina sat there frozen, head slightly tilted.

"…Should I… still use this side?" she muttered to herself.

The silence of the room offered no answer. Only her growing confusion.

.....

"Hm? You're here, Lucas?"

"Oh—Kagami!"

Above the loud murmuring of the crowd in the VIP section, Kagami stepped inside and immediately spotted Lucas, who waved him over with an enthusiastic gesture. Kagami took the seat beside him, still a little puzzled.

"I didn't expect to see you here," Kagami said, brows raised. "Honestly, I thought you'd finish your match and head straight back to training like usual. You never take breaks."

Lucas laughed a little too quickly. "Haha, well… I had some free time today, so I figured I'd watch the match."

"Hoh?" Kagami tilted his head, looking at him sideways. "Is it because Riley's little sister is participating?"

Lucas froze.

Only for a second.

Just a tiny pause in breathing.

But it was enough—far enough—for Kagami to catch it.

A slow, knowing grin curled on Kagami's face, though he kept his tone perfectly neutral.

Lucas cleared his throat.

"A-Actually yes… Junior Reina is a great friend of mine, so I wanted to support her, you see."

"Mmhm…" Kagami hummed, as if agreeing, though the amusement in his eyes said he was storing that reaction away for later teasing.

He decided not to bring it up further.

After all, he had a vague understanding of Lucas—someone who, if he wanted to, could gather admirers as easily as Riley.

Kagami's private theory sounded ridiculous even in his own head, yet watching Lucas now… he wasn't entirely unconvinced.

"But what about you?" Lucas asked, trying to shift the focus away from himself. "Are you also here to cheer for Reina?"

"Well," Kagami said, stretching lazily in his seat, "you could say I'm interested in the match… but what I'm more interested in is Clara's performance."

"Huh?" Lucas blinked.

"Looks like we're supporting two different fighters today, bud."

Their gazes met.

A silent spark snapped between them—

not of hostility, but of rivalry.

Two supporters, two goals, and one arena.

The atmosphere between them quietly transformed into a competitive flame, each man inwardly determined that his fighter would be the one to shine on stage.

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