"Hm~ Hm~ Hm~"
Cristo humd cheerfully to himself as he strolled out of his dormitory room, hands tucked casually behind his head.
His steps were light, almost playful, as though the rules of Killian Hall didn’t quite apply to him.
Technically, they weren’t supposed to be wandering around just yet—the restrictions were clear enough—but that was only about leaving the premises of Killian Hall entirely.
Inside, there wasn’t anyone stopping him, and he wasn’t the type to sit still for long anyway.
Their journey had been exhausting.
Probably the longest of all the students who had just arrived—even compared to those who used magical floating ships.
Coming all the way from the eastern empire wasn’t a short trip, and Cristo felt every mile of it still in his bones.
But now that they were here, the tiredness lted away, replaced by curiosity and that boyish eagerness he could never quite suppress.
The air of the academy was different.
The architecture, the colors, even the way the staff moved—it all spoke of a culture and tradition far from his own.
And Cristo loved it.
Every ti his eyes caught on sothing strange or unfamiliar, that giddy little spark inside him lit up.
"It really is nice seeing things you’d never normally see back ho," he murmured under his breath, lips quirking in a smile. "A change of pace, a new atmosphere... this is exactly why I enjoy traveling."
His humming picked up again as he turned down another corridor, peeking through the wide windows where the evening light poured in across the stone halls.
"It would’ve been nice if Hajey could enjoy this as well..." Cristo’s smile dimd just slightly.
He knew his partner too well—stoic, restrained, always carrying that sharp edge of duty on his shoulders.
Hajey wasn’t the type to slow down and take in the sights.
Not when he had other things on his mind.
"Well, considering the real reason we’re here..." he trailed off, scratching the back of his head, "it’s only understandable he acts the way he does. High clan matters really are... complicated."
For a brief mont, Cristo’s tone grew thoughtful.
There was a world of difference between Hajey’s burdens and his own.
For Hajey, this trip was heavy with expectations, obligations, even old scars.
For Cristo, it was an adventure.
And maybe that was exactly why they fit so well together—two completely different worlds forced into partnership.
He quickly shook his head, forcing the heavier thoughts away with his usual grin.
"Well, it doesn’t really matter. As long as I do my part—as his ally, and as his friend—that’s enough for ."
Roaming deeper into the endless halls of Killian Hall, Cristo eventually found himself stepping into one of the larger open atriums.
The space was wide and high-ceilinged, with streams of light spilling in from tall windows, the stonework polished so clean it reflected faint silhouettes.
He wasn’t the only one wandering about either—clusters of students from other academies moved through the area, their voices and laughter bouncing faintly against the walls.
Apparently, everyone had the sa idea as him: to explore.
It was odd, though.
Despite how massive the dormitories were, they had yet to see many of the academy’s actual residents.
Most had been temporarily relocated to make room for the incoming students, but still—it felt almost strange, as if the real heart of Killian Hall was intentionally hidden away.
And maybe that was exactly what gave the place such an air of mystery.
After all, this wasn’t just a school—it was the gathering ground for the academy’s top students, the best of the best.
For newcors like them, it was natural to be curious, even restless, glancing around for even a glimpse of those who would one day beco rivals.
Even if no one wanted to openly admit it, the academy students were academy students for a reason.
Their nas were already spoken with respect; their futures practically written in gold.
That truth had only beco sharper when they first laid eyes on Princess Snow.
Her presence alone had been a statent—her strength wasn’t just in her title, nor in the authority tied to her bloodline.
It radiated from her very being, a quiet yet overwhelming aura that made the others realize the gap they were standing at the edge of.
Cristo’s humming had faded by now, replaced with a more subdued pace as he took in the sight of students grouping together, trading words, laughing, or sizing each other up.
"We’re really inside the academy!"
"Wow... it’s just like the stories—no, even grander than the rumors!"
"Hey, wait—did you seriously just pull out a recording stone for Princess Snow? That’s illegal! Hand it over!"
"Oi! Give it back, that’s mine!"
"You idiot, you’ll get us expelled before the battles even start..."
Laughter and bickering echoed across the marble halls, the sound mingling with the distant hum of mana-lamps burning faintly along the high walls.
Groups of students stood clustered together in twos, threes, and whole crowds, voices rising in excitent and curiosity as they pointed at the massive pillars, the glittering chandeliers, and the sheer scale of Killian Hall.
"I wonder how powerful our future opponents will be..."
"Don’t even joke. Just look at this place! If the building alone feels overwhelming, what about the students trained here?"
"Right? And how the hell are we even supposed to navigate this maze? I nearly got lost three tis already."
"Sa! And hey—have you guys seen any of the actual academy students yet?"
"No, but I swear if one just showed up right now, I’d probably pass out. The gap between us is unreal..."
Cristo leaned casually against the wall, eyes half-lidded but ears pricked.
He enjoyed the noise for what it was—a chorus of fresh impressions, nerves, and little slips of gossip.
"Maybe we should form alliances," one student whispered in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. "If it ends up being team battles, it’d be suicide to face these guys alone."
"True. Better to swallow your pride and make deals now than regret it later."
"But who’d even trust us? Every academy here is competition..."
And then, the conversations shifted—nas began to drop, nas that carried weight.
"Hey, do you think the magical geniuses, Alice Holloway and Rose Brilliance, are going to participate?"
"From what I heard? They will."
"Then there’s no point even trying to win against the Magic Departnt! Those two are monsters..."
"I heard Rose rewrote a spell matrix mid-battle last year... and Alcie? She’s been publishing magical theory papers since she was fifteen."
"Gods above... no wonder people call them prodigies."
The group across from Cristo gave a nervous laugh, but the unease in their voices was real.
And then another voice broke through the chatter:
"I heard there’s also a ridiculously strong knight in this academy."
"You an the one from the rumors?"
"Yeah. They say he singlehandedly cleared multiple S-Class dungeons along the Germonia Empire’s borders. Supposedly, his aura control is unmatched. I think his na was... Luke? Or Lucas, maybe?"
"No, no—you’ve got it mixed up. That’s soone else."
"Oh? Then who?"
"I’m not sure of the details, but his na’s been popping up everywhere lately. Even back in our kingdom, his na reached the newspapers. Riley Hell, wasn’t it?"
At that na, Cristo’s gaze sharpened ever so slightly.
The idle smile on his face didn’t fade, but his focus narrowed.
Riley Hell...
That was the na he had been tasked to look into.
He had expected his target to be known, yes, but not to the point that rumors of him were spreading across borders, bleeding into the ears of other kingdoms.
That kind of reach ant notoriety—and notoriety ant danger.
He exhaled softly through his nose, his arms folding behind his head as if he were only stretching.
’Maybe I should’ve dug a little deeper before arriving here...’
Cristo liked surprises. He liked pressure. It was thrilling to unravel mysteries without having the full picture.
But now, as he thought of the restrictions placed upon them—of the limits on their movent within the academy grounds—he realized that this little gamble of his might turn around and bite him.
Still... a grin crept onto his lips.
That only makes things more exciting.
Listening even more intently, Cristo sharpened his focus, filtering through the noise of overlapping voices until he honed in on the group still whispering about Riley Hell.
"Riley Hell, huh..." one student murmured, arms folded, eyes flicking around to make sure no instructor was nearby. "I’ve heard plenty of rumors about that guy. Didn’t they say he was supposed to be the hero of the academy after that incident with the fallen genius, Dorothy?"
"Hero? Hah." Another scoffed under his breath. "That’s not the version I heard. Everything I’ve heard about him sounds less heroic and more... bizarre."
"Oh? Like what?"
"Last I checked, people were saying Riley Hell’s infamous for—get this—seducing every woman he lays eyes on. Supposedly, he doesn’t stop there either. So claim he... impregnates them the mont he sees them."
"Hahaha—!" one student burst out laughing before quickly covering his mouth. "That’s too absurd! How could anyone believe that? If that were true, he’d have been banished long ago, not walking freely inside the academy."
The first speaker shrugged, a sly grin on his lips. "Rumors are rumors. There’s always a spark of truth hiding sowhere in them."
"But the real kicker," another added, lowering his voice like he was sharing the most scandalous secret in the world, "is that Riley Hell is Princess Snow’s fiancé."
"E-Excuse ?!" a chorus of shocked voices followed, disbelief plastered across their faces.
"Yeah. I didn’t believe it either until my father told directly. And that’s not all—he’s not only engaged to Princess Snow, but also to Alice Holloway and Rose Brilliance."
"Wha—three...?!"
"And apparently," the boy went on, savoring their reactions, "he even has a hidden fiancé, from Grand Duke Luther Heaven’s bloodline. Word is, the Emperor himself and the Grand Duke both gave their blessings for all of these marriages."
"That’s insane..."
"No, that’s impossible! No one—no matter how strong—could manage that kind of life!"
"Hahahaha, imagine the chaos in that household!"
The group erupted into uneasy laughter, half mocking, half awestruck.
Cristo, however, froze. His eyes widened as a bead of cold sweat traced down the back of his neck.
The laughter faded into background noise as the weight of what he’d just heard sank in.
Ku-ku-ku... unbelievable.
He had known his target was important—Hajey’s warnings alone had told him that much.
But this? If even a fraction of what was being said held truth, then Riley Hell wasn’t just another top student to observe.
He was entangled in the highest echelons of power, tied by blood and promise to people Cristo’s clan wouldn’t dare cross lightly.
Rumors or not, Cristo’s instincts scread.
He trusted his instincts more than any official report, more than any lecture drilled into him by his martial brothers.
Right now, they were blaring alarms.
’So, this is the man I’m tasked with keeping track of... A hero, a scoundrel, a prince-in-law, maybe even all of the above. No wonder Hajey insisted we tread carefully. One wrong move around him, and we won’t just be noticed—we’ll be crushed.’
Cristo leaned back against the wall again, forcing a grin onto his lips to keep up appearances.
Riley Hell......
Haah~ I’m getting excited~
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