Buzz… buzz…
That evening, after all classes had ended.
Leo, returning to the boys’ dormitory, noticed the commotion and asked a fellow first-year student passing by.
“Is something going on?”
“Huh? Leo?”
The student, upon seeing Leo, wore a very perplexed expression.
This was a student from the Department of Magic who, at every opportunity, belittled Leo’s family background and origins.
With many prestigious families within Lumeran, there were plenty of students who, regardless of any great achievements, looked down upon those from peripheral kingdoms like Leo’s.
But strangely, this student seemed to be subtly scrutinizing Leo’s eyes.
Upon seeing this, Leo quickly understood why the dormitory was in such an uproar.
‘The rumors have spread.’
It seemed the fact that Leo’s maternal family was Zerdinger had spread throughout the entire school.
As Leo entered the dormitory, the eyes of the male students immediately turned toward him.
Ignoring all those gazes, Leo headed up to his dorm room.
Since he had to head out later to give private tutoring to the princess and couldn’t even rest in the evening, Leo was in an unpleasant mood.
Creak—
Upon opening the door, Leo found the room in utter chaos.
The first thing he noticed was Fiora, who had transformed (Polymorphed) and was standing on the bed, hiding behind it.
Looking around the room, in the highest position inside—on top of the wardrobe—was Kiran, who had built Leo’s textbooks into something resembling a castle wall.
Finally, by the window, Elshi was perched, watching the scene.
“What are you doing?”
Fiora turned her head from the bed at Leo’s question.
“Leo! Help me drive away that wicked fairy—”
Whoosh! SMACK!
Kiran suddenly emerged from atop the wardrobe and hurled a pebble that struck Fiora squarely on the back of the head.
“HAHAHAHA! That’s number 89 successful hits! You really are useless!”
In response, Fiora nervously picked up the pebble to retaliate, but Kiran cleverly hid behind the stack of books.
Fiora, looking quite angered, began puffing her cheeks and trembling.
“What’s going on, anyway?”
At Leo’s question, Elshi scratched her cheek.
“Kiran ate all the snacks that Fiora had hidden.”
“No, that’s not true! She destroyed the things I’ve crafted first!”
“Crafts? Aren’t those pitiful toys you created to mess with the students on the Island of Beasts?”
“Are you calling a phoenix pitiful?”
“Stupid fairy!”
Watching the childish bickering between the phoenix and the fairy, Leo sighed deeply.
‘If the summoners outside knew these two were behaving like this, how much would they weep?’
“Stop fighting and both come over here.”
At Leo’s command, both Fiora and Kiran approached him with disgruntled looks.
“You two are known as the three great familiars of the realm. Quit these childish squabbles. Shake hands as a gesture of reconciliation.”
Both Fiora and Kiran gave obvious looks of reluctance at Leo’s mediation.
However, eventually Kiran reluctantly extended his hand.
“Hmph! Being the elder and leader, I extend my hand for unity! Consider yourself honored to receive the apology of the Fairy Prince!”
Kiran, looking quite smug, extended his tiny hand, which Fiora then took.
“Ha! Feel the magnanimity of my kindness—ugh!”
As soon as Fiora grabbed Kiran’s arm, she began spinning him in circles.
Once she finally let go, Kiran shouted angrily.
“Of course I wouldn’t apologize to a bird like you who’s only obsessed with food! Get ready!”
“Bah! Bring it on!”
With that, the two of them rushed back to their respective fortresses and resumed their standoff.
Watching this, Leo spoke.
“Settle this before I get back.”
With that statement, Leo left the room.
He was filing an application to go out at night.
Elshi watched Leo’s retreating figure and waved.
“Have a safe trip.”
“Celia, Chelsea. Is it true that Leo-senpai is the talented person you both claimed?”
In the central area of Lumeran, at a high-end restaurant near the Hero’s Tower, Shasha spoke elegantly.
In response, both Celia and Chelsea, who had been staring daggers at each other, glanced at Shasha curiously.
“I heard the recruitment offer you made to him was rejected.”
Chelsea asked, puzzled.
“Yes. Seemed like Leo-senpai only intended to join the faction led by someone he acknowledges,” replied Shasha.
The three were having a casual conversation.
Zerdinger and LeWalyn were the right and left arms of Rodren. Their relationship was more than the usual sovereign-vassal dynamic.
The founding members Zerdinger and LeWalyn were more than just contributors to the nation’s creation; they were close friends.
This tradition of a close relationship had been upheld over the years, even now.
Thus, these three girls’ bond was more akin to friends rather than the traditional military hierarchy of master and vassal. They would maintain formal etiquette in public but would enjoy private, casual chats like this.
As they listened to Shasha, Celia and Chelsea exchanged curious looks.
‘That kid would join someone he acknowledges? That doesn’t sound like him at all.’
Celia, who knew her cousin’s nature well, was deep in thought.
Chelsea, whose thoughts mirrored Celia’s, sighed softly.
This overly imaginative princess had clearly misconstrued Leo’s words.
“Because of that, Shasha is scheduled to meet with Leo-senpai shortly.”
“What? Just the two of them?”
Celia looked surprised.
“Yes, he’s supposed to give me advice on summoning. Doesn’t he sound a little adorable?”
Shasha grinned while resting her chin in her hand.
“He’s giving you advice on summoning… don’t you belong to the House of Rodren?”
Shasha looked smug.
The Rodren family was not only the ruler of the Empire but also internationally renowned as great summoners.
Anyone from the Rodren bloodline was endowed with natural talent in summoning. Some even said, if they weren’t the royal family, they could have easily been a renowned summon heroes family.
And Shasha was one of the strongest summoners, imbued deeply with the Rodren bloodline.
“Also, why would you make up some excuse to meet with him? Could you be developing feelings for him?”
Shasha giggled, covering her mouth, while Celia and Chelsea mutually exchanged glances.
The two, known as sworn enemies, were worried about their childhood friend Shasha.
After all, hadn’t they both already been humiliated by Leo when they challenged him in swordsmanship and magic?
“Still, as an Imperial Princess, meeting a young man late at night doesn’t seem appropriate.”
“That’s right. Shall we come with you?”
At this, Shasha firmly shook her head.
“No way. I have arranged to study summoning with Leo-senpai tonight.”
When Shasha gets caught up in her own fantasies, it’s almost impossible to stop her.
Thus, they could only give her their respective advices.
“Don’t get into any strange wagers because you’re being stubborn.”
This from Celia, recalling the week she spent as a maid after failing such a wager with Leo.
“Don’t refuse advice out of inflated pride, no matter how well-intentioned.”
This from Chelsea, remembering the time when her stubbornness almost got her bottom scorched.
Despite their advice, Shasha looked thrilled, her eyes sparkling.
“Hmm… I’m sure he’ll be shocked by my abilities!”
Humming a little tune, Shasha caused both Celia and Chelsea to exchange uneasy glances.
Late at night, the Great Library.
This space, open to all students, provided individual study rooms for students who wished to study both day and night.
Due to the need for extensive research and reference books, many students would use the library until late hours.
Of course, some students exploited this privilege for romantic rendezvous.
‘Though if caught, it could end in utter calamity.’
Though, the librarians were vigilant, keeping an eye out for inappropriate behavior amongst the teenagers.
Leo looked at Shasha, who sat opposite him, and spoke.
“Why can’t you complete the formal contract with the Pegasus even though you’ve done a preliminary one?”
“That’s because my abilities aren’t up to the task.”
To this, Leo replied.
“Are you sure your abilities are lacking? Haven’t you considered that it’s not possible despite your efforts?”
Leo’s comment made Shasha narrow her eyes.
“Leo-senpai, the three great familiars are extremely powerful beings. Without significant spiritual energy, one cannot even summon them, let alone maintain a contract.”
“That’s a given.”
Leo shrugged.
“I just mean, haven’t you considered if your effort has been inadequate?”
“Leo-senpai, I’m not like the other lazy geniuses who rely solely on talent.”
Shasha raised her chin defiantly.
“I’m someone who must lead one of the greatest nations in the world—the Rodren Empire. I believe I must always be the best in my domain. That’s why I didn’t directly enter Lumeran at 14 like Chelsea but went to Scoun instead, to master it within a year.”
A fierce ambition glinted in Shasha’s eyes, shaped by her imperial education since childhood.
“I’m already among the best summoners in Scoun—not just among my year but among upperclassmen as well. Thus, my next target is Lumeran.”
Shasha’s eyes lit up.
“I plan to become the top student, the student council president, and make Lumeran the greatest of the four Hero Academies. That’s how I must be the best.”
Leo rested his chin on his hand.
“It would have been easier if you had entered this year, what with Celia and Chelsea around?”
“I don’t intend to rely on Celia or Chelsea’s strength. Only my solo achievements hold true value.”
Shasha raised her head proudly.
“I’m confident. If we consider purely summoning, I could easily claim first place in Lumeran’s freshman summoning department right now.”
To this, Leo smirked.
“Unfortunately, two reasons render it impossible.”
“Me?”
“First, at the top of the Summoning Department, there’s Warden. You can’t beat his abilities—you know he’s a monster.”
As Leo remembered, Warden, known as the monster of the south, undoubtedly ranked within the top three summoners among all the freshmen.
“Secondly, there are two people in your year who could summon a Pegasus right now, even with just the preliminary contract.”
This made Shasha’s eyes flicker.
Until now, she had been calm due to her absolute confidence in her abilities.
But Leo’s counterargument disrupted this confidence.
To add to this, the existence of students who could summon under the same conditions left Shasha feeling unsettled.
“Who are those two?”
“One is Eliza Hergin, and the other is me.”
Leo’s smirk widened.
“I’d even say I could do a formal contract with a Pegasus.”
Infuriated by the challenge, Shasha bristled.
“Are you saying, Leo-senpai, that you’re stronger than me as a summoner?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“Having excessive pride may be good, but arrogance isn’t,” retorted Shasha.
“Determine for yourself whether this is pride or arrogance,” said Leo.
The moment she heard this, Shasha realized the truth.
Leo simply didn’t care about her.
‘He rejected my invitation not because he wanted to test me but because he didn’t care at all?’
Realizing this, Shasha felt humiliated.
‘This person is serious!’
“I don’t learn from someone less skilled than myself.”
Her unnecessary pride had her reject Leo’s guidance.
“Got it? Then I’m leaving.”
Without hesitation, Leo stood up.
Seeing this, Shasha grew even angrier.
“Alright! Then prove it! Show me that you’re a better summoner than me, Leo-senpai!”
“How?”
Shasha extended her spiritual energy, forming a summoning circle in the air.
“You said anyone in my situation could summon a Pegasus. Give it a try.”
The channel for summoning was already open.
A state where anyone qualified could summon.
“Should I succeed, Rodren’s Pegasus might contractually bond with me instead.”
“Hmph. If you do, I’ll accept it. On the contrary…”
Shasha smirked.
“If you fail, you’ll serve as my personal attendant during the joint lessons.”
Caught in unnecessary pride, Shasha had made an absurd bet with Leo.
Though Chelsea and Celia had advised her not to, Shasha was confident.
‘There’s no way he can do it. His spiritual power is nowhere near mine.’
Shasha’s spiritual power was immense.
In raw spiritual energy alone, it was comparable to Eliza’s.
And yet, it was utterly unrealistic that someone like Shasha couldn’t summon a Pegasus, while someone like Leo could.
“If you’re not confident, stop now.”
“Not at all.”
With a smirk, Leo reached out to touch the summoning circle.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
The vision darkened instantly.
Click… click…
The light stones in the room began to flicker.
“Huh?”
Shasha looked up at the ceiling in confusion.
Contrarily, Leo’s face hardened.
“Severing curse? No, something’s slightly different.”
Whatever it was, it was definitely from Tartarus.
Leo quickly touched the summoning circle.
Crackle—!
Sparks began to emanate from the circle.
“…!”
Shasha’s eyes widened.
Crackle! Thunderous BOOM!
A powerful thunder roared.
Flash—!
Another deafening BOOM!
The study room was wrecked by a powerful light and the sparks flying around.
What appeared then was a woman with pure white hair, white eyes, and fully armored in pristine white armor.
“This feeling… It’s not Shasha’s?”
The woman smirked as she crossed her arms and looked at the young boy in front of her.
“To think someone outside the Rodren bloodline would summon me, let alone with such subpar spiritual power…”
A flash of interest lit up the Pegasus’s eyes.
“Who are you?”
“Before introductions, forgive me, but…”
“?”
Crackle—!
Sparks shot out from Leo’s body.
And instantly, the Pegasus reverted to her original form.
“[What? Someone interfered with the contract?]”
Watching the stunned Pegasus, Leo said,
“It seems we need to fight right away. Could you lend me some power?”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
