“Huh.”
“Seriously.”
After the top-ranked examinee, Ryu—a commoner from the 158th Crescent Academy freshman class—finished sharing his oh-so-insightful thoughts, someone in the crowd let out a nervous laugh. Suddenly, the auditorium was filled with an awkward tension that weighed heavier than gravity itself.
Though no one explicitly voiced their thoughts, every single freshman who used to be an examinee had the same idea swirling in their heads.
Because let’s be real, Ryu’s comment about how the GolemHit test—a notoriously difficult part of the entrance exams—was “not too hard,” totally sounded like subtle shade. It came across like a flex: “Oh, you couldn’t get first place? Pfft, sucks to be you.”
It already bugged them that some random nobody commoner took the top spot meant for someone better. But add the cherry on top? He didn’t just act arrogant during his acceptance speech for the number one student, but he also kept his speech embarrassingly short—at a whole ONE MINUTE long.
In the rage-filled auditorium, all the students’ eyes were subtly gravitating toward the same spot.
Sitting in the front row with her long, flowing golden hair draped perfectly over her shoulders was a girl. She sat up straight like she was carved out of marble, her expression completely composed.
While everyone else was fuming over Ryu’s lack of decency after his speech and subsequent departure from the stage, this blonde didn’t bat an eyelid.
The girl in question, Elaine St. Claire, ranked second in the exams and had been everyone’s golden child to grab the top spot.
Her reputation was so solid that most people assumed she’d ace the entrance exams without breaking a sweat. With her striking golden hair complemented by her serene beauty, she radiated an aura of superiority. Of course, Elaine didn’t need her looks—her unparalleled talent was already well-known.
Elaine, the third daughter of the legendary St. Claire family, renowned as the premier knights of the Crescent Empire—she had been called a once-in-a-generation prodigy since she was young. Her achievements had the entire Crescent Empire holding their breath for her next steps.
When she completed the exam and received a score of 177, everyone in the vicinity automatically assumed she had secured first place. However…
Well, let’s just say the point difference wasn’t exactly what anyone had expected—it was embarrassing.
Clomp-clomp—splat.
While the master of ceremonies continued with her speech at the podium, the students’ gazes couldn’t help but drift back towards Elaine and her neighboring seat… occupied by Ryu, the top-ranked, black-haired commoner.
It was only natural since they were sitting in their seats according to their rankings: Elaine, in second place, next to Ryu, in first. Their seating arrangement was the embodiment of the awkward tension filling the room.
While everyone shot daggers at the pair, Ryu seemed unbothered—so unbothered, in fact, that he might as well have been invisible to Elaine. Or at least, that’s what he pretended.
Thump.
As Ryu shuffled over to sit next to Elaine, she subtly flinched but managed to suppress any outward signs of curiosity she felt toward the strange boy. Despite her rigid posture, Elaine was acutely aware of the commoner now sitting beside her, her eyes shifting ever so slightly while her gaze remained fixed on the front.
When Ryu leaned forward thoughtfully like he had the weight of the universe on his shoulders, Elaine couldn’t help but sneakily observe him.
“Hmm… I’ll ask him later. For now, let’s get through this meal,” Elaine decided, watching Ryu intently frowning and staring at the floor as though it owed him money.
Meanwhile, Ryu himself was scratching his head, furrowing his brows as though trying to uncover some cosmic mystery. He was entirely oblivious to the world around him.
Unlike the others who glared daggers at him, Elaine didn’t harbor any resentment against Ryu. She simply found it hard to find the right moment to break the ice and strike up a conversation.
Clunk.
The thought of initiating one filled her with an uncharacteristic nervousness.
—
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes, all members are prepared.”
“Good. This is our best and only chance right after the exam is over and everyone’s on guard less.”
As the sun dipped towards the horizon, painting the sky in shades of violet and soft pink, a mysterious group quietly observed Crescent Academy—the prestigious institution that nurtured the future of the Crescent Empire.
Clad head-to-toe in black garb, the identities obscured beyond recognition, the group stood united with a heavy sense of purpose. These weren’t just any shadows—they were battle-ready members of the notorious criminal organization: the Black Raven.
The Black Raven’s operation this time wasn’t small potatoes. In fact, it was a massive, challenging mission that could define their place in the underworld hierarchy of Crescent. Their goal? Kidnap Elaine St. Claire, the third daughter of the famous St. Claire family, who had recently participated in the academy’s entrance exams.
“This single mission will secure our dominance in Crescent’s underground.”
Indeed, the Black Raven had been locked in fierce competition with the Ten Arms Organization for control over the Crescent Empire’s capital city’s lucrative underworld operations. With the right resources at stake, the Black Raven had agreed to this perilous job involving none other than Elaine St. Claire. If they succeeded, it would bring an unimaginable sum of money into their coffers.
Code-named “A,” the leader of this clandestine operation adjusted his position as he watched the Academy gates intensely. His fingers unconsciously fidgeted with the scroll of binding magic in his pocket, ready for the decisive moment.
“St. Claire…”
—
“Move.”
“Let’s begin. Don’t underestimate her because she’s young. She’s Elaine St. Claire, daughter of the St. Claire family and known as a prodigy. Be careful, and avoid detection.”
“Affirmative.”
Satisfied that students were exiting the academy premises, A signaled his team to action. The plan was relatively simple: Elaine, overconfident in her abilities, hadn’t brought any guards to the exams, only a servant. One of the Black Raven operatives, disguised as a carriage driver, would maneuver her vehicle into an isolated location while several men would lie in ambush to take her out.
Three agents would tail the carriage discreetly while thirty members would be waiting at the designated spot, ready to spring their trap.
“No way she could resist thirty men, even if she is hailed as a prodigy.”
A’s voice carried a mix of determination and greed as he tightened the grip on his binding magic scroll. This operation was a matter of life and d*ath—not just for Black Raven, but for his personal ambition.
“Once the carriage reaches our location and Elaine steps out, they’ll surround her. If she puts up a fight, we’ll deploy the magic scroll.”
“This is guaranteed to succeed.”
With unwavering confidence, A arrived at the ambush spot. To his surprise, his team wasn’t making a sound. Not a peep. The usual telltale rustle of movement had vanished, giving them perfect stealth.
“Guys? Are you ready?”
The eerie silence of the forest stretched endlessly. A scanned the perimeter cautiously. Even a rookie would be impressed by how quiet his team was, A thought proudly.
“Alright, feel free to confirm your positions. Anyone?”
Still no response.
Suddenly, as though materializing out of thin air, A found himself face-to-face with someone.
The twilight had faded into a single hue, the darkness concealing the surroundings. But A’s trained eyes caught sight of this mysterious figure clad in dark robes, eerily similar to his own outfit.
“Who…?”
“Are you the last one?”
“Wha-? Gurk!”
Before A could finish his sentence, the figure had covered the perceived five-meter distance in an instant, seizing him by the throat and lifting him off the ground.
“Ugh… GAAK!”
“So, you’re the boss, huh? The last piece of the puzzle?”
Gagging for breath and unable to react, A could only watch helplessly as his life began slipping away.
‘This… this can’t be happening. I’m going to d*e!’
“GAH-K!!”
Just before the darkness consumed him, the figure loosened his grip and tossed A unceremoniously to the ground.
“Cough… croak… ugh!”
Even for A, who’d faced countless dangerous situations before, this sudden brush with d*ath left him utterly shaken. He couldn’t stop coughing as he clutched at his throat, desperate for air.
‘What… is this?!’
“So, why were you planning something so shady?”
“Croak… ugh… h-huh? Who…?”
“Guess we’ll call it ‘Winter,’ since you didn’t answer.”
A tried to respond but only managed to emit ragged gasps, his voice strangled by shock.
The figure regarded him calmly.
“Summer vs Winter?”
“Huh… wha—?”
“Wow, you recover fast for a boss! Already able to make sounds.”
“Wh-why?”
“Since you didn’t answer my question last time, we’ll go with Winter.”
A watched helplessly as the figure extended his hand toward him. Instinctively, he shut his eyes, unable to muster any resistance.
A primal fear surged within him, like a gazelle staring down a lion—fight or flight was no longer an option.
A strange humming noise filled the air.
“WHAAAT?”
The freezing cold hit A like a freight train. Opening his eyes, he found himself no longer in the forest but surrounded by an imposing snow-capped mountain.
The once darkened sky had transformed into a bluish hue, with a biting wind howling around them. The sheer vastness of the glacier looming before him was overwhelming.
“Wow, this is cold. Shall we go?”
“What… what IS this?!”
A finally turned his gaze to find the mysterious man standing by his side, casually brushing himself off.
He possessed an alien charm, with deep black hair and matching eyes, wearing a black coat identical to A’s own. Yet his grin was disarmingly innocent.
In the blink of an eye, the man was gone.
“W-what sorcery is this?!”
“A… A-sama!”
“Wha?”
To his side, he heard a voice. Looking over, he saw one of his operatives shaking uncontrollably, hugging themselves in the freezing cold.
A instinctively mimicked the shiver, his hands reaching for warmth. In his pocket, he found something odd—a scroll… but one that now felt eerily empty.
—
This, this was not part of the plan.
