"In hindsight, it seems I spoke out of turn," Yujin remarked calmly, his voice devoid of tension.

The Headmistress’s mana filled the air, forming a spell circle—a standard two-dimensional circular construct, unlike the intricate, multidimensional magic arrays Yujin was known for.

He observed her spell with detached curiosity, reflecting on the conversation they’d just had.

Yujin mentally reviewed his words, analyzing how they might have triggered her.

His delayed contact after arriving at the academy? His explanation had been truthful. He omitted the part where he noticed Alicia’s demonic presence and decided to alert them, but his intentions had been to avoid inconveniencing them. Admiring the academy grounds and delaying contact had also been genuine.

When asked how he bypassed the spatial distortions, he had answered honestly—navigating the distortions had been effortless for him.

His cryptic remark urging them to hurry to the dormitory? Officially, he’d dismissed it as a light joke, but it had carried subtle undertones. He had sensed the demon’s presence and felt compelled to notify them.

His explanation for being with the princess? That had required more fabrication. The truth—that Alicia had been drawn to the magi radiating from Enkeos’s horn he carried—would only raise suspicions. So he’d lied, claiming their meeting was coincidental.

As for the cardigan, he truly hadn’t known about it. He had assumed Alicia dropped it in her haste and spoke honestly on that matter.

But when questioned about why the princess had collapsed…

Yujin knew that admitting he’d sealed the magi would require revealing his knowledge of the demon inside her. That would lead to inquiries about his methods and awareness.

And with the Headmistress’s intense gaze, he suspected any misstep would result in direct confrontation.

Thus, he had opted for honesty laced with subtle intimidation.

He recalled his statement:

"Come to think of it, it seems Her Highness is harboring a demon."

A calculated admission.

"It’s curious, isn’t it? Why would someone as esteemed as a princess be at an academy while succumbing to demonic corruption?"

He had shifted the focus onto her. The Headmistress’s stiffened expression had confirmed his suspicions—they already knew about the demon inside Alicia.

By framing the situation this way, Yujin subtly implied that he was the victim, while the academy bore responsibility for harboring the princess under such circumstances.

Had he pressed too hard?

"Why did you bring this up?"

The Headmistress’s voice had grown icy, her expression hardening. He had clearly touched a nerve.

Still, Yujin had maintained his composure, offering a benign smile as he replied:

"Who can say? Perhaps the Headmistress knows better than I do."

A statement meant to keep the pressure on her while feigning innocence.

But it seemed he had inadvertently provoked her further—or perhaps she simply decided that eliminating him would be more convenient.

Her intent became clear as her mana surged, forming a spell designed to attack.

"Well, if it can’t be helped…"

Recognizing the hostility, Yujin allowed himself a wry smile.

Raising a hand, he let his crimson eyes partially open.

A low hum resonated as mana filled the air.

Woong…

“…!”

The Headmistress’s eyes widened.

Her spell circle began to unravel, crumbling as though it had been seized and dismantled by an invisible force.

Crash!

"What in the—!"

She immediately recognized the phenomenon.

"Magic inversion!"

A technique that seized control of an opponent’s magic through superior mana manipulation, redirecting their spell or canceling it outright.

It was a rare and highly advanced skill, effective only when the caster significantly outclassed their opponent.

The Headmistress was no stranger to using such techniques herself—but being on the receiving end was a first.

"Ugh!"

The gulf in power was evident, yet she couldn’t afford to falter. She had already initiated hostilities, and hoping for mercy now would be foolish.

But before she could act further—

"『Void』."

Fwoosh!

"…Ah?"

At Yujin’s utterance, a chilling stillness fell over the garden.

The Headmistress felt her strength dissipate, her connection to mana severed.

No, it wasn’t just her.

She couldn’t sense any energy—not mana, divine power, magi, or aura. It was as if the very essence of the world’s energies had vanished.

"This… can’t be…"

Her voice trembled. She knew exactly what this was.

The ability to rewrite reality with a single word.

A power more divine than mortal.

The hallmark of dragons—their ultimate authority.

"…Dragon Tongue?"

Her gaze lifted to meet Yujin’s, her entire being trembling.

He stood before her, his crimson eyes fully revealed, their vertical pupils gleaming like molten fire.

A chill ran down her spine as the realization set in.

***

The Karrandar Family.

Long ago, the Karrandar family took its name from a legendary dragon, their ancestor. This family existed not as part of any nation but as a sovereign force unto itself.

Those who inherited the noble blood of dragons refused to serve under any kingdom. To them, building a human-formed nation was beneath their dignity.

Thus, they sought to remain lofty and independent. They recognized only their bloodline as their power base, rejecting noble titles even when offered by neighboring countries.

By their nature, their isolation did not hinder their growth.

The Karrandars, blessed with draconic blood, were natural prodigies in magic. Teach them one spell, and they would comprehend ten more. Their mana was leagues above that of ordinary humans.

Among these magical geniuses, one individual stood out as a true prodigy—Ines Karrandar.

She was a child born with the purest dragon blood of her generation. Without being taught, she mastered spells by intuition, and her mana surpassed even the extraordinary capabilities of her peers.

To Ines, her talents and lineage were a source of pride. Unlike other prodigies who lamented their inability to understand ordinary people, she considered her abilities a blessing.

For her, magic was a joy. She reveled in her craft, and the admiration of others only fueled her passion.

As she delighted in her gifts, a question arose:

"If my talent is this extraordinary, what must the dragons themselves be like?"

This curiosity spurred her to study not only magic but also the transcendent beings revered as the masters of the arcane—dragons.

Though much of the ancient knowledge about dragons had been lost over millennia, Ines pieced together fragments of their grandeur.

She learned that dragons' magic was beyond human comprehension, requiring only their will to manifest.

Their ultimate power, it was said, could rewrite the very laws of the world with a single word.

This power, the pinnacle of magic, was known as:

"Dragon Tongue."

The ability to reshape reality with mere speech.

Ines, captivated by this revelation, dreamed of learning the secrets of Dragon Tongue directly from a dragon.

She even ventured into the Great Labyrinth, where the remaining dragons were said to dwell. But…

"I never got to meet one."

Dragons, legendary for rarely appearing before mortals, never granted her an audience.

Despite her disappointment, Ines had believed her lineage might earn her special recognition. Yet, even with her exceptional blood, the dragons remained elusive.

But now…

"A d-dragon...?"

She stood face to face with one.

A real dragon, wielding the Dragon Tongue.

The figure before her, in human guise, let out a weary sigh, his voice tinged with amusement.

"Headmistress, shall we have an honest conversation for once?"

The weight of his crimson, slit-pupil gaze bore down on her, leaving no doubt—she was in the presence of a true dragon.