414.
When Juen opened her eyes, she saw an unfamiliar ceiling.
After blinking a few times, Juen hastily sat up.
“…Where am I?”
Confused, she glanced around until she realized she was in the ward and let out a defeated laugh.
‘I lost.’
Bulge-
At that moment, the door opened, and Kal walked in.
“Juen, you’re awake?”
“What happened?”
“Shock due to magical power depletion.”
Kal pulled a chair from the ward and sat beside Juen’s bed.
“It was an extremely close call. If it hadn’t been for a location advantageous to Aina, you would’ve won…”
“I lost, plain and simple.”
Clutching her teeth, Juen responded to Kal’s words.
“Everything else is just an excuse. The result doesn’t change.”
“…True.”
Kal, who had intended to console Juen, closed his mouth and gave a wry smile.
Watching Juen’s bowed head in silence, Kal felt uneasy.
“Hey, why are you crying?”
Juen’s shoulders were trembling slightly.
“I’m sorry. You really helped a lot.”
While Juen had devised the winning strategy against Aina, it was Kal who had predicted and analyzed her moves.
“This is what a mentor should do. Don’t cry. You were truly amazing, okay?”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. But it’s just so frustrating.”
“It’s okay. You only lost once. It’s just the end-of-term tournament for first-years, right? You’ll have plenty of chances to make up for it in the future.”
Kal comforted the frustrated Juen.
The end-of-term tournament’s first round for the first-years ended and Lumeran was abuzz with chatter.
The most prominent attention was undoubtedly given to Luke.
His unexpected and astonishing victory garnered much attention.
Questions like “Why was such a person the student council president’s mentee up until now?” began to fade.
“Luke student! Why did you hide your strength until now?”
“Was it a strategy to make other students let their guard down?”
Newspaper club students swarmed around Luke, firing off various questions.
“It was due to Leo-senpai’s training method.”
“Hmm? What was the student council president’s training like?”
At that question, Luke’s face went pale.
‘What kind of training did he receive?’
Seeing Luke’s trembling body, the newspaper club students had peculiar expressions.
Next in the spotlight was the match between Aina and Juen.
“Aina student, what are your thoughts on facing Juen student?”
“She was very strong.”
Aina, glancing downward, replied softly and left for the dormitory without further comment.
Students who claimed to be part of “Team Aina” looked perplexed and chased after her.
Watching them, Luke muttered under his breath.
“She doesn’t seem happy.”
“Maybe she didn’t expect to struggle this much. She almost lost.”
Class leader Shasha from Luke’s first-year class answered, fiddling with her hair.
“Still, great job, Luke. You’ve brought honor to our class.”
Scratching his head at Shasha’s comment, Luke replied.
“I look forward to our match.”
With a smirk, Shasha added.
“Ha ha- Shasha Ciene Rodren, you won’t even get the chance to face Luke Eldar. You’ll lose to me first.”
“What are you saying?”
“That will never happen, because you’re going down first.”
“Such fiery words from you yourself, Habidden Virsen.”
The air crackled with tension between Shasha and Habidden.
Watching them, the other students backed away slowly.
“Initially, I’ve always thought I should beat Luke Eldar.”
“Isn’t that my plan as well?”
The growling duo turned to Jane, a student from Class 10 and Chen Sia’s mentee, who gave them an indifferent look.
“Didn’t you guys always ignore Luke? You didn’t know his abilities until now, right?”
“Ever since Luke became Leo-senpai’s mentee, I’ve decided to beat him.”
Shasha’s snickering comment made Jane grin mischievously.
“Jealous?”
“No way?!”
Watching Shasha’s beet-red face flare up, Habidden chuckled.
“Tsk, Shasha Ciene Rodren, how vulgar.”
Fuming at Habidden, Shasha turned to Luke.
“Luke, you tell them! Between me and this guy, who do you want to fight more?”
“Obviously, I prefer to fight you since we’re both from the Department of Knights.”
“I want to fight both of you.”
Rubbing his cheek, Luke replied.
From Luke’s perspective, both Shasha and Habidden were students he’d admired since entering first-year for their prowess.
They were also the kind of strong individuals he wanted to test his own abilities against someday.
“I want to test how far my current strength will go against these guys.”
That was Luke’s honest sentiment.
Of course, both Shasha and Habidden would never agree with Luke’s reply.
“Choose, Luke Eldar.”
“Choose, Luke.”
Watching the two approach him with fierce expressions, Luke grimaced.
“Someone help me!”
Since neither Shasha nor Habidden were favorable matches, the first-year students turned a blind eye to Luke.
Amidst the chaos, a second-year, Nella, observing the scene muttered.
“Leo’s mentee is quite popular.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”
Ylliana nodded her head.
“I could do without that kind of popularity, though.”
The end-of-term exams weren’t just for the first-years.
After the first-years’ tournament concluded, the exams proceeded by grade.
However, since the first-year tournament was the main event of this term’s exams, the tests for other grades were wrapped up relatively quickly.
As for the first-years, the written exams were completed early, and the tournament continued.
Luke smoothly claimed victories, climbing higher each time.
Top students from other departments steadily achieved victories as well.
In Juenn’s case, despite drawing an unfavorable bracket, she made her way back into the main tournament by winning the losers’ bracket.
Amid the losers’ bracket matches, the biggest issue of this semester finally kicked off.
The summit meeting began.
Students from every grade gathered by department in the Grand Training Ground.
“Wow.”
Ilyana exclaimed with surprise, reading the school newspaper and sticking out her tongue.
“What’s wrong?” Chloe tilted her head.
“It’s just that… Emio might actually get expelled.”
“Oh.”
Ilyana’s comment prompted Chloe to exclaim as well.
Judging by grades alone, Emio possessed a skill level that wouldn’t seem out of place if he stayed at Lumeran until graduation.
However, the events of the first-year tournament complicated matters.
Lament, Emio’s mentee, suffered a shocking defeat in the first match against Luke and was relegated to the loser’s bracket.
The problem was that Juen had also fallen into the loser’s bracket.
Juen emerged victorious in the losers’ bracket match, facing off against the first and third-place students in the Department of Magic. Despite the tough match-up, Juen won decisively.
“The criteria for first-year expulsion aren’t quite clear yet. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
As Chloe spoke, Ylliana gave a sarcastic laugh.
“Professor Halind should be as strict as possible. I wish I didn’t have to see that unlucky face anymore.”
“I agree.”
Chelsea who had been listening nodded.
“But why are you here?”
“Huh?”
“Why don’t you just go join the Department of Knights?”
“Hey! How can you say such harsh things to someone who’s studied together in the Department of Magic?”
In response to Ilyana’s hurt expression, Chelsea raised her eyebrows.
“Not harsh at all. You chose the Department of Magic because you wanted a better view of everything, right? You just use the Department of Magic when it suits you!”
Chelsea’s words made Ylliana dodge the subject.
Watching her, Kal spoke up.
“Should I help you out?”
“Clloe! They’re all ganging up on me!”
Seeing her unfavorable public opinion, Ilyana clung to Clloe.
After a little commotion, Ilyana finally secured her spot and said.
“Still, being the class leader must be great. You get to sit in the VIP seats and watch the power players and heroes of various countries, right?”
Leo stood at the front of the warp gate, ready to welcome world leaders as the student council president.
“Leo, don’t be nervous. I’ll assist you well.”
“Ril-senpai. Thank you for the kind words, but could you look at me while speaking?”
Ril’s eyes were tightly shut, clearly nervous.
The task of greeting world leaders and heroes face-to-face was entrusted to representatives of each year.
Since Hark and Elena were on a mission and would return tomorrow, Ril, being the most senior, had to assist Leo who was still a second-year as the student council president.
She stood rigidly, extremely tense.
“Ugh… Leo, aren’t you nervous at all? Don’t you worry about making a mistake and looking foolish?”
“Not particularly.”
“Leo is truly amazing.”
Ril sighed in admiration.
Since the first time meeting him, she had always considered him extraordinary.
Now, he wasn’t just an incredible underclassman but the student council president and a summoner who had far surpassed her.
“Ril-senpai, just act like yourself.”
“Hmm, then they probably won’t find it strange.”
‘Even if Ril acts like herself, it would seem strange, and if she doesn’t, it’ll seem strange too.’
Leo mumbled internally.
While Ril considered herself ordinary, she had a very unique personality.
Of course, as a Spirit Master, she was quite normal in many ways.
‘Still, she’s not just normal but a monster without any glaring flaws.’
Despite her immense talent, Ril often found herself overshadowed by others and fell into self-doubt.
‘But she never stops putting in effort.’
She was someone who used comparisons as fuel for growth, always looking upward instead of down.
Leo shifted his gaze to Aina.
‘She seems similar to Ril.’
While Ril had her eyes closed due to nervousness, Aina was staring at the ground.
‘She hasn’t gotten over the shock of facing Juen.’
“Aina.”
“Yes?”
Surprised by Leo’s call, Aina jumped slightly.
“You seem to be troubled about something.”
At that, Aina averted her gaze again.
Previously, the Aina who had refused to dodge Leo’s eyes, insisting she sought his recognition, now seemed to be avoiding him.
“Talk to Selia about it. She’s your mentor.”
At Leo’s suggestion, Aina gave a self-deprecating smile.
“Someone like me… Selia-senpai won’t even bother dealing with me.”
“Bashing yourself won’t help, Aina.”
Ril, hearing the conversation, tried to console her but Aina continued to stare at the ground.
Watching her, Leo said,
“Why do you think you have a mentor?”
“Huh?”
Surprised by Leo’s question, Aina raised her head.
However, just then, the warp gate activated, signaling the arrival of various world leaders and heroes, cutting their conversation short.
Flash!
Numerous rulers and heroes of different races arrived.
Each time someone new appeared, the Lumeran students cheered enthusiastically.
Amidst the passionate welcomes,
Flash!
The warp gate activated again, revealing a new figure.
The cheerful Lumeran students faltered briefly.
Not only Lumeran, but the kings and heroes exchanging greetings noticed and all wore expressions of surprise.
Flag-fluttering, they began to move, representing the eastern continent.
There had been many summits since the heroes of the Cataclysm.
But these ones—existing long before those heroes—had never attended a summit until now.
The oldest-standing nation in the world.
The country of Shadows that had written its history in darkness for centuries.
Someone quietly murmured the name.
“The Shan Empire.”
![[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")
