“Morgan Dial.”

The name that came out of Lotus’s mouth was indeed unfamiliar.

“Of course. If it were Ian’s name, I would have heard it by now.”

During the break after one morning class, Liche stopped organizing her notes and sighed. The characters didn’t register well in her eyes.

“Tyariche. Heard you’re participating in Cexelphone. Did you submit the application?”

Isra, sitting next to her, initiated the conversation. Once shocked by Liche’s affinity with magic, that was a thing of the past. Isra, claiming that there was no rival other than Tyariche, always guarded the seat next to Liche.

Pythonus murmured from Liche’s pocket upon hearing Isra’s words.

“Yes, I submitted it last week. Isra, aren’t you going?”

Although Isra always seemed less involved compared to Liche, she was quite skilled in magic. She participated in Cexelphone last year, so Liche thought she might go again this time.

“I was late for Professor Rumbla’s class last time. Because of that, the professor is watching me carefully. If I miss attendance once this semester, it’s a D.”

“Doesn’t your absence due to Cexelphone participation affect anything?”

“It doesn’t affect attendance, but it does affect Professor Rumbla.”

“…Should I talk to the professor for you?”

“It’s okay.”

The witch with violet eyes remained unchanged over the years. Although Liche found it annoying to listen to, Isra seemed indifferent.

In fact, Liche was creating excuses not to go after hearing that Tyariche was participating, so she felt relieved that it worked out well.

“Why bother participating in Cexelphone when Tyariche is going?”

Despite acknowledging Liche’s skill, Isra showed no intention of participating, thinking of the obvious outcome.

Isra, seemingly considering the matter closed, brought up another topic.

“What did Duke Lordwick say?”

“He said, ‘Do well and come back.'”

Liche replied, recalling Blake’s words heard through the communication device. She worried that Blake might oppose or express concerns about participating in the competition, but he supported and respected Liche’s choice.

“Don’t get hurt and all that.”

Surprisingly, the one who expressed anxiety with a lot of fuss was someone else.

Upon hearing the news of Liche’s participation, Duke Hibetzman and Duke Serdia immediately contacted her.

It was because they were concerned that Liche, a Rettiom, was getting close to another country.

“Come with me.”

“Uh, Duke Hibetzman. Because I’m attending without a guardian…”

“If you don’t have a guardian, how about a wolf! Call me a companion!”

“…I’m very grateful, but I think my squirrel will be scared.”

Refusing to follow to the competition venue caused some trouble. If she hadn’t declined, it might have led to her participating in the competition on behalf of Duke Hibetzman.

‘Dukes are worried for a reason. I’m a Rettiom.’

So, there would be concerns. Even if people didn’t know that she was a Rettiom.

During the time when the great stars came to the academy.

Liche thought that since she was revealed to other ability users, the news of her true identity would gradually spread.

However, surprisingly, the news stopped at the principal, ability user families, and their closest allies. She spent seven years in such a way.

‘Anyway, it will eventually be revealed.’

By now, Blake was 41 years old. People who doubted the lifespan of ability users began to emerge as the previous generation of ability users, including Deon, were reaching or crossing their forties.

Nevertheless, Blake seemed to imply that he would keep the secret until Liche graduated.

“What about Senior Derkedion? By the way, Senior, for some reason, you don’t seem very pleased about participating in the competition.”

“That’s…”

Liche hesitated and opened her mouth. Recently, something was bothering her more than the Cexelphone competition. “My brother can’t be reached.” No matter where he was or what he was doing, there was no contact. Even Philip, who went down to the estate with her, was the same.
“Derkedion senior? …Hasn’t he been in touch for about half a day?”

“It’s been about a week.”

“A week?”

Isra’s face expressed disbelief at Liche’s response.

At the beginning, there were rumors that Derkedion disliked his commoner sister, but after seeing the two of them together for a few years, it became something students couldn’t ignore.

‘Derkedion really likes his sister a lot.’

Quietly, the story spread among students that Derkedion was a fool for his younger sister.

Of course, because it was strictly forbidden to talk about it in the presence of the parties involved, especially in Deon’s ears.

So, it was not unreasonable for Isra to be surprised by Liche’s words.

‘He hasn’t contacted Liche? Derkedion senior?’

But it seemed to be true.

Liche let out a deep sigh.

Worry. Although Deon wouldn’t be easily influenced by someone, ‘Where on earth is he going and what is he doing…’