Leon’s POV
The journey out of the Great Forest turned out to be surprisingly smooth, with the Treants no longer obstructing our path or causing us to lose our way. Maybe my defeat of the three Dryad leaders earned me a bit of favor—if that’s what it took to get us out without further hassle, then so be it.
Our traveling group had a new addition: Aegis. She still wasn’t talking. Maybe she was struggling to accept that she’d be living with me, especially since I’m a guy and I “stole” her Princess. Whatever the reason, she kept her silence as we walked together.
Finally, after what felt like an endless stretch of forest, we emerged into the open air. It didn’t take long to find Maya—she was camped out just beyond the forest’s edge. Her tent was set up behind her, and she was busy cooking something over a crackling fire.
“Your Majesty…” Aegis’s voice was tense as she braced herself for battle, her grip tightening on her spear.
“You don’t need to worry, Aegis,” Artemis said calmly, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “She’s with us.”
Aegis lowered her spear at that.
We approached Maya, who was already on her feet. The moment she spotted us, her face erupted into a warm, radiant smile. Her silver hair glistened in the sunlight, swaying with every enthusiastic movement.
“Welcome back, Master and Princess Artemis!” Maya exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine joy as she performed a deep, graceful bow. Her silver hair cascaded around her like a shimmering waterfall. “I’ve prepared a feast for you. I figured you’d be ravenous after that grueling journey.”
“Oh yeah? Great job, Maya,” I said, wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into a heartfelt embrace. My lips brushed against hers in a tender kiss.
“Wha…?!” Aegis gasped, her eyes widening in disbelief at the intimate display. “W-What are you doing, kissing another woman that isn’t the Princess, right in front of the Princess?!”
Maya, finally noticing the new addition to our group, turned her gaze towards Aegis. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. “Who is she, Master?”
“This is Aegis. She’s going back with us to the human land to learn more about it,” I explained, my voice steady.
“Hmm… So, is she going to become one of your women as well, Master?” Maya’s tone carried a mixture of curiosity and a hint of teasing, as if she was already imagining the possibilities.
“W-Wha…?! What are you saying?!” Aegis stammered, her voice quivering with fury. “I have absolutely no intention of becoming one of his women! I would never accept that!” Her eyes blazed with pure, unrestrained anger, her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. If she were blushing, I might have called her a tsundere, but this was raw, natural hate.
“You don’t need to worry about Leon having too many women, Aegis,” Artemis said, her voice soothing.
“B-But Your Majesty, he’s cheating on you…” Aegis’s voice trembled, a mix of outrage and disbelief shaking her words. Her face twisted in frustration, as if she couldn’t fathom the idea of such an arrangement.
“Well, he’s not exactly cheating,” Artemis said with a nonchalant shrug. “I mean, she was the first one before me, and I’m sure there are plenty more who were ahead of me and became Leon’s women. To put it another way, I’m not officially the legal wife if Leon decides to marry the girls he’s been with in order. I’m up against some fierce competition, like a princess from a massive kingdom. So, you get the idea. In the end, I might just end up as one of his mistresses.”
“I-I can’t allow you to be just pushed down to the level of a mistress, Your Majesty,” Aegis said, her voice trembling with a mixture of shock and indignation. “T-There’s no way… You’re meant to be our next Queen!”
“Well, Leon will just become King of both the Kingdom of Bethlan and the Elven Kingdom. That’s all there is to it,” Artemis declared, her tone so casual it was as if she were discussing the weather. “Which, I suppose, is one step forward toward your ultimate goal, isn’t it, Leon?”
“Yes, that’s right,” I replied. Artemis knew I wanted to have the world in the palm of my hands. Owning both Bethlan and Elvenia was definitely a step in the right direction.
Aegis stayed silent, clearly reluctant to go against Artemis. She had a massive crush on her and a deep admiration for her as their Princess. Whatever Artemis decided to do with her life, Aegis had no say in the matter.
“Well, discussing something like that isn’t exactly appropriate here,” I said, my tone firm yet casual. “Let’s have some food first, and then we’ll head back to Academy City.”
“You’ve got that right, Leon,” Artemis responded.
We settled in for a meal, savoring each bite with a sense of calm before the inevitable journey. Once we finished, we made our way to the teleportation circle, an ancient and arcane structure that would whisk us away to Academy City. I had expected the journey to be more arduous, given the rarity and taboo of teleportation circles in this world. Their very existence was shrouded in secrecy, so finding one seemed almost too easy. But perhaps that’s precisely the point—sometimes, the most valuable things are hidden in plain sight, where you least expect them.
After a while, we arrived at our destination. The area was a small, nondescript patch of plains—barely noticeable but just enough to be slightly off the radar. It wasn’t exactly hidden, but it wasn’t flaunting its presence either. Its proximity to the Great Forest provided a natural barrier, deterring most from venturing too close. Only the bravest of adventurers might dare approach, driven by the lure of potential slaves or the thrill of danger.
The teleportation circle itself was invisible to anyone without a sharp eye for mana. Only someone with a keen perception of mana could see the intricate markings etched into the ground. Fortunately, I had that advantage.
“What should we do next?” I asked Artemis, my gaze still fixed on the hidden circle.
“Step on it, and I’ll recite the spell to activate it,” Artemis said with a determined look.
We followed her instructions, positioning ourselves on the glowing teleportation circle. Artemis began channeling her mana, and her voice erupted in an intricate chant. The incantation was in a language ancient and cryptic, far beyond my understanding. It felt like an ethereal, untranslatable whisper of forgotten times. Did every teleportation circle require such elaborate spells?
The recitation went on for what felt like an eternity, almost a full minute of arcane mumbling. The spell was lengthy and complex, and while I could vaguely grasp its rhythm, understanding or memorizing it was impossible. I recognized the sound but couldn’t replicate it, not without knowing the language.
After the spell concluded, a brilliant surge of light exploded from beneath our feet, enveloping us in a dazzling, all-consuming glow. The sensation was overwhelming, like being yanked through a cosmic tunnel, every fiber of my being swirling in a maelstrom of energy. When the brilliance finally subsided and my vision cleared, I found myself in a room that was both familiar and unexpected.
“This is…” I began, trying to take in the sudden shift in our surroundings.
“The student council’s council room,” Artemis answered, her voice echoing with a mix of satisfaction and relief.
We had been teleported straight back to the academy, and not just anywhere—into the heart of the student council’s inner sanctum. The unexpected location was a bit of a surprise, but given that we had made it back to the academy, it was a fortunate outcome.
***
After some time, I finally trudged back to my dorm room, exhaustion tugging at my every step. Aegis and Maya had headed to the Leonamon with Artemis, who was helping them conceal their demi-human features—those telltale ears and horns that would instantly label them as slaves in the eyes of many.
“Tomorrow marks the start of the second semester, huh?” I muttered to myself, staring at the empty room. The thought of what the new semester might hold was both exciting and nerve-wracking. I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I was prepared to dive into it headfirst.
Hmm… Now that I think about it, it’s been ages since I last saw Shredica. I wondered if she’d finally had her meeting with the Headmaster and got the nod to rise above the bronze rank. I’d need to catch up with her tomorrow and see where she stands.
The next day dawned, marking the beginning of the second semester. The campus buzzed with the same kind of chatter and anticipation as before, but with a renewed energy. I made my way back to my familiar seat, greeted by the sight of my usual classmates. My friends, who had stuck with me through thick and thin, were there, and so was Hereon, still maintaining his usual aloof demeanor.
But despite my eagerness to reconnect, Shredica was conspicuously absent. I’d been looking forward to seeing her again, but she was nowhere to be found. Maybe she was under the weather? Doubtful—she had the tenacity of a cockroach, after all.
“Okay, class, settle in,” Professor Irene’s voice sliced through the murmur of the room. She cast a brief glance my way before quickly averting her gaze. “You might be wondering why one of your classmates is missing.” Her eyes flicked back to me. “That’s because Shredica received a special recommendation directly from the commander. She’s been promoted to Magic Knight. From now on, Shredica is no longer a cadet but a fully-fledged Magic Knight.”
The revelation hit me like a thunderbolt.
