As expected, Professor Raiden couldn’t keep his promise. Something had come up that prevented Anella’s transfer.

I had a rough idea of what that “obstacle” might be.

‘So the principal has accelerated his research into dark magic detection.’

As I left the First Main Tower after parting with Professor Raiden, I organized my thoughts.

Dark mages hide their identities perfectly, infiltrating various parts of the magical world. Due to mages’ inability to detect them, dark mages were free to cause chaos, which formed part of the original story's world-building.

But that didn’t last forever. At a certain point, Elteman Eltewin developed a spell to detect dark magic.

‘It seems he developed it earlier than expected.’

Elteman likely wanted to test his dark magic detection spell. And as expected, he would want to screen the most suspicious new transfers himself.

Although the spell had limitations and couldn’t be used on just anyone, its existence alone was a turning point in the game, where the player’s faction gained a critical advantage over dark mages.

Since it was a powerful spell that could shift the balance of power, it only appeared in the later episodes. However, the speed at which it was developed depended on how fast the player progressed through the storyline.

Typically, players encountering *Aether World Online* for the first time would see this spell developed by their third year or, at the latest, right before graduation, by which time it had limited effectiveness due to the story’s conclusion. However, a handful of veteran players could advance the storyline to trigger it as early as the second semester of their second year. Only one player worldwide had managed to complete the spell by the end of their second year’s spring break.

That player, known by the nickname “Dalso,” was also the only one I had been close with in the game.

Thinking of him brought a small smile to my face. Those were simpler times, back when I viewed this world as nothing more than a game.

‘At any rate… this means I’ll need to visit Anella often.’

In reality, I had broken my promise as well.

Though I’d promised her transfer to Stella, she’d now have to wait until next year to enter as a first-year student.

Currently, Anella had managed to escape dark mage society, but she still had much to learn to integrate as a human, requiring someone to look after her.

I couldn’t rely on Zelliel to handle everything for her indefinitely.

“Baek Yuseol.”

“…Hmm?”

Lost in my thoughts and checking off my to-do list, I heard Hong Biyeon’s voice behind me.

‘What’s this?’

For some reason, her voice felt unfamiliar.

While I hadn’t seen her recently due to *League of Spirits* practice, we’d crossed paths in class occasionally and exchanged a few words. But today, her voice sounded different.

“Oh… what’s up?”

Turning to look at her, I noticed Hong Biyeon wasn’t wearing her Stella uniform.

She wasn’t dressed extravagantly—just a modest black pleated skirt paired with a fitted white shirt. A black jacket and beret complemented her outfit, contrasting against her silver hair and making her colors stand out.

Students were technically allowed to wear casual clothes after classes, but most wore their uniforms with pride as Stella cadets.

Only a few students, like Hong Biyeon, who exuded confidence without needing Stella’s label, would choose casual clothes. I, too, took pride in my uniform and wore it all the time.

“Why are you standing there staring? You look dumb.”

“No, I just… Your outfit looks nice.”

“…Really?”

At my offhand compliment, Hong Biyeon briefly looked down, twirling a lock of her hair with her finger, before lifting her head and saying,

“Let’s go get dinner.”

“Now? It’s not even seven…”

“We’ll eat out. By the time we get there, it’ll be dinner time.”

“Why? Are you busy? …You, a commoner?”

“Well, not really.”

In truth, I didn’t have any pressing matters, so if I went back, I’d just continue training.

Despite practicing *League of Spirits* daily, I still maintained at least three hours of training. But with my limited talent, it wasn’t nearly enough. I’d need double, even triple the practice to keep up with the story's accelerated pace.

I knew the reality.

With the storyline speeding up so drastically, I could enter a “main episode” at any time.

That terrified me.

When the time came, would I be prepared? Could I survive in that place, being as weak as I was?

Ten years from now? It didn’t feel that far off. Even before Stella Academy’s graduation, a significant event could happen.

Ever since I started involving myself in this world’s storyline, everything had changed.

But...

“…You’re not going?”

As Hong Biyeon’s expression darkened, I felt unable to refuse.

“N-No? I’ll go. I thought I had something scheduled, but now that I think about it, it’s fine.”

Hong Biyeon’s lips curled into a faint smile, and she turned and started walking. I wondered if she would wait for me to catch up, but then again, expecting her to act normally was probably too much.

“So, what are we eating?”

“I’ll tell you when we get there.”

I felt confident I wouldn’t regret this decision.

Just watching Hong Biyeon walk with the sunset behind her made me feel alive.

---

However, Baek Yuseol quickly regretted following her so eagerly.

He hadn’t expected this kind of menu.

“What… is this?”

The image Hong Biyeon projected was that of a princess. The type who’d eat caviar for breakfast, truffle fries for lunch, and a luxurious steak with a glass of wine for dinner.

So, I assumed we’d be going to some upscale restaurant.

“Coconut sand.”

“Yeah, I see that on the menu… but what country is this from?”

“It’s not a traditional dish. It’s just popular in countries with palm trees.”

The palm trees in *Aether World* differed slightly from Earth’s. Although they bore similar coconuts, they occasionally contained a rare animal called a “Coconut Licker.”

These animals were smaller than coconuts and rare, making them expensive delicacies reserved for the wealthy, as Hong Biyeon explained.

“So this is… a pricey meal?”

It was hard to believe. It looked like a coconut with a sandwich on top.

Hong Biyeon had somehow found a pair of sunglasses, which she perched on her forehead as she held the coconut sand in one hand.

She had a non-alcoholic coconut wine next to her. While students in Adolevit’s royal palace might have access to alcohol, it wasn’t sold to students here.

*Sip.*

Despite the high price, I felt some resistance, but since it was her treat, I took a cautious bite.

Then, to my surprise…

It tasted amazing.

No, it was beyond amazing—it was heavenly, the kind of dish that made you wonder if a deity had created it. It was like the first time I had a tuna cracker after joining the military, an unforgettable moment.

As I devoured the coconut sand, I looked up, puzzled, at Hong Biyeon, who was sipping her coconut wine and enjoying the cool outdoor breeze.

“Hey, can you even taste this?”

After all, Hong Biyeon had a condition that impaired her sense of taste. There seemed no point in her coming all the way here to eat an expensive meal.

She responded with a faint smile, taking a small bite of the coconut sand. After swallowing, she replied,

“I can taste it.”

“…Really?”

“Did your sense of taste return?”

“No.”

“Then how can you taste it?”

“Well…”

Without a hint of emotion, she casually remarked,

“When I eat with you, I can taste it.”

Huh?

Stunned, I stopped mid-bite and looked up at her.

Realizing her words, Hong Biyeon’s face showed visible embarrassment—a rare departure from her usually stoic expression.

“Don’t overthink it. It’s nothing.”

“…Okay.”

Though she tried to dismiss it, her words left me unsettled.

Because I knew the condition for Hong Biyeon to regain her sense of taste.

After that, a silence fell between us, neither of us daring to speak.

‘…What do I do?’

What if he misinterpreted what I said? Or maybe… would that even be so bad?

‘What am I thinking?’

Unable to bear the silence, Hong Biyeon spoke first.

“…Baek Yuseol.”

“Yeah?”

He responded indifferently, sipping his drink and avoiding eye contact.

Although she had called out to him, she found herself at a loss for words. She wanted to say something, but her mind went blank.

“Do you… have something to say?”

Growing impatient, Baek Yuseol prodded her, and after a long pause, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“…I need to discuss something about Lady Aizel.”

As she spoke, her mind went blank again. After all that thinking, the best she could come up with was a topic about Aizel. But it wasn’t entirely a lie—she had wanted to discuss Aizel with Baek Yuseol at some point.

“Aizel…”

This wasn’t what she truly wanted to say. Sighing, she downed her drink in frustration and placed the cup on the table with a clink. She then clasped her hands together and propped her chin up, speaking firmly.

“It’s about her… father.”

---

Stella Academy typically had a minimum of three professors per subject, along with about ten assistant professors.

 Considering there were over a thousand students per year, it was a modest number, but they managed.

Popular subjects had over ten professors, while less popular subjects had fewer.

However, the *Dark Magic Countermeasures* course, despite its importance, only had four professors.

Earning a doctorate in countering dark magic was extremely challenging, and few were qualified to teach at Stella.

While other schools barely had one, Stella could boast four—until recently.

After the “School War” over summer break, two professors quietly resigned due to Elteman Eltewin’s influence, and another left due to personal reasons, leaving just one.

*Thud!*

- Oh my, it seems now there are none left.

“Krrgh…”

The Witch Queen, Scarlet Maiden, laughed with a childlike grin as her white hair swayed.

She looked down at the man struggling under a pile of rocks—Professor Hayton, the last remaining professor of *Dark Magic Countermeasures* at Stella.

Though his injuries weren’t life-threatening, they were severe enough to keep him out of classes for several months.

- So...

Scarlet glanced up at Stella Academy’s main gate.

She had planned to enter incognito as a “transfer student,” but Elteman Eltewin’s defenses were too strong, forcing her to take a more aggressive approach.

- I didn’t mean to be so… forceful.

She cast a spell over the fallen Professor Hayton, granting him a peculiar “blessing.”

After all, she did feel a little sorry for injuring him.

When he woke, he might gain a new insight, perhaps advancing as a mage. If he seized the opportunity, he could even reach the next level.

- But if he doesn’t… well, that’s life!

With a casual stride, Scarlet entered Stella Academy. Walking along the beautifully paved road and the endless starlit gardens flanking her, she looked ahead.

At the imposing tower of Stella, resembling a grand castle, she smiled.

It had been a long time since she last visited this place. She felt oddly excited, her heart fluttering as if she were a new student herself.

- So, Baek Yuseol attends here, does he?

Humming to herself, she snapped her fingers, and the fainted Professor Hayton vanished.

In exactly six hours, news would spread of Professor Hayton’s severe injury, leaving *Dark Magic Countermeasures* without an instructor.

Since it was an urgent matter, they’d need a new professor quickly. But Elteman Eltewin was away, investigating a strange phenomenon near the World Tree with the Dwarf King.

Thus, interim authority would fall to Vice Principal Aki Hayden.

While he didn’t have the power to make major decisions, he could fill the vacant professor position.

- The academy’s even prettier than before.

Hands clasped behind her back, Scarlet danced her way into Stella, ready to explore the faces of the “adorable children” within.