[Ladies and gentlemen! Good evening. I’m Jesse Luna, your host and one of the judges for the Miss Seorn Contest!]

The woman’s voice rang out loud and clear thanks to the amplification artifact she wore. Her name was Jesse Luna—an energetic, lively figure with a knack for eloquence, making her a regular choice to MC events like this.

[Let’s see what beautiful ladies will show off their charms tonight! Judge Carter Roer, what are your thoughts?]

[...All I can think is that I don’t understand why I’m here as a judge.]

The weary reply came from a pale-skinned man with hollow eyes—Carter Roer.

He was the instructor in charge of fourth-year combat training, and in many ways the polar opposite of Jesse Luna’s bright, upbeat energy.

[Oh, come on! What are you talking about? We did great together last time, didn’t we?]

By “last time,” Jesse meant the duel commentary they’d done during the Magic Festival.

Back then, Carter had at least understood why he was involved—it was a combat match, after all. But here...

[It made sense for me to commentate a magic duel as the combat training instructor, but this? This is completely different.]

[What are you saying! This is going to be an even fiercer battle than most!]

Jesse launched into an animated explanation of the value this contest held for the women competing.

In the end, Carter could only raise his hands in defeat. Even as a teacher, he simply couldn’t withstand Jesse’s pressure.

They were complete opposites in temperament—so much so that the gap between teacher and student seemed irrelevant—but in a strange way, they made an oddly fitting pair.

[Ah, and here comes our next contestant! Dorothea Reben of the fourth year! The winner of the contest from three years ago!]

Bathed in the spotlight, a young woman with a prim expression stepped onto the stage, wearing a bright crimson dress.

[The powerhouse who won back in her first year! But ever since, she’s been pushed back by stronger rivals! Now she’s on the verge of graduation, but she just couldn’t let go of that lingering regret! But is this really okay? Her grades must be in danger—]

“Hey!”

Dorothea shot Jesse a murderous glare.

Jesse just winked back mischievously. They were both fourth-years and friends, so there was no real restraint between them.

The audience laughed, and the stiff, tense atmosphere eased.

Dorothea gave a brief self-introduction, then sang—a clear, high voice that blended beautifully with the music in the ballroom.

She bowed to light applause and left the stage, after which the judges conferred and scored her performance.

Ludger watched with mild interest.

He’d heard there was such an event, but seeing it in person was unexpectedly entertaining.

If you win, there’s a prize, isn’t there?

The champion could choose anyone they wished for a solo dance. On top of that came a modest cash prize, a dinner for two at the most famous restaurant in Rederbelk, and various other perks.

Enough to stir motivation beyond just the honor of winning.

As he was thinking this, someone timidly approached him.

Sensing the presence, Ludger slowly turned.

He had been subtly releasing mana so that people unconsciously hesitated to come too close. For someone to approach anyway meant they were either skilled enough not to be affected—or too oblivious to notice.

Surprisingly, the person fit both descriptions.

“G-Good evening, Professor Ludger.”

“Good evening, Professor Selina.”

Selina stood there in a soft pink dress, smiling shyly like a flower blooming in spring. She fidgeted with the tips of her fingers, perhaps embarrassed by the formal setting and attire, but even that nervous gesture carried a certain budding charm.

“What are you doing here?”

“Just watching for a bit.”

Ludger tilted his chin toward the floor below, and Selina let out a small “ah” of recognition. She naturally moved to stand beside him, and a faint floral fragrance brushed his nose—neither overwhelming nor too faint.

He glanced at her. She’d been stealing glances at him for a while, and when their eyes met, she gave a little start.

“W-What is it?”

“Nothing. The dress suits you well.”

“H-Hehe. Really?”

It was probably the compliment she’d been hoping for from the start; she smiled brightly. Then, as if suddenly remembering, she hurried to return the courtesy.

“You look great too, Professor Ludger! I mean—the clothes look great on you. N-Not that you don’t look great normally, I just—”

Flustered by her own verbal stumble, she waved her hands, and Ludger simply gave a curt nod.

“I understand what you mean. Thank you for the compliment.”

“Y-Yes...”

Selina sighed inwardly—That’s not quite what I meant.

But she couldn’t think of what else to say. Just standing beside him was enough to blank her mind entirely, to the point where she almost thought it was fine to simply stay like this.

No, no, that won’t do. This is a rare opportunity. Get a hold of yourself, Selina!

She shook her head lightly, as if to clear it, then tried to muster her resolve—only for it to deflate like a punctured balloon.

“Where did you have your dress made?”

The question from Ludger came as a welcome rescue.

“I went with Professor Merilda. I don’t really know much about dresses, so she helped me.”

“She does have a good eye. I don’t see her here—did you two come separately?”

“Oh, we came together, but...”

Selina’s smile turned a touch awkward as she thought of Merilda.

Ludger wondered if something had happened—then Selina’s gaze shifted toward the contest stage.

Naturally, Ludger followed it, and saw something unexpected.

[Ah! And now we have a very special contestant—one of our new faculty this year! The first-year instructor in Curses and Disenchantment, Professor Merilda! Known for her mature beauty and mysterious aura, she’s quite popular herself!]

There she was—Merilda, standing on stage.

“...”

“She... insisted I participate too,” Selina murmured.

“...Isn’t this supposed to be for students?”

“Oh, teachers can enter too. There’s no rule against it. But I heard it’s almost unheard of for one to actually do it...”

Her voice trailed off, but the mixed feelings in it were easy to read.

“...I see.”

Ludger looked at Merilda with a trace of pity. Still, the contest’s mood seemed to welcome any participant, and she scored quite well.

Several more people took the stage after that, each showing off their talents.

Then, just as the atmosphere reached a comfortable peak, Ludger’s eyes widened slightly at the next arrival.

[Oh my! We have a formidable contender! A peerless genius, even among the many prodigies gathered here—the most gifted of them all, second-year student Flora Lumos!]

The mention of her name sent murmurs through her fellow second-years.

It was well-known that Flora had never shown the slightest interest in such events. Not even Sheryl could tempt her into joining. For her to not only attend the ball but also step onto the contest stage—

Any thought of surprise vanished when they actually saw her up there.

The calm, serene aura she exuded was enough to still the minor commotion.

Flora’s presence was markedly different from everyone before her—especially since the incident in the capital, after which her hair had turned black.

Where once she had been all sharp edges and cold distance, now she seemed softer, and the indescribable, uncanny air about her was all the more pronounced.

[Oh... Impressive presence, indeed,] Carter Roer muttered, even his half-lidded, perpetually bored eyes showing a flicker of admiration.

[So then, contestant Flora Lumos! What will you be showing us tonight?]

“I don’t have any particular tricks. I thought I’d just demonstrate some magic.”

With that, Flora closed her eyes and summoned her mana.

Chaaang!

A clear bell tone rang through the entire ballroom.

“What was that just now?”

“A... bell sound?”

“It wasn’t just that. It was clearer, more... pure...”

Every gaze turned toward the source of the sound—Flora.

Ludger, too, watched her with interest.

The entire ballroom held its breath.

Then Flora opened her eyes.

Around her, mana flared into dazzling light, painting a brilliant picture in the air.

“Hah.”

Ludger let out a quiet, incredulous laugh.

Behind Flora, a golden radiance surged upward, forming the upper body of a woman so beautiful she seemed like an angel descended from the heavens.

The colossal figure stood with her arms wrapped gently around Flora from behind, smiling serenely with her eyes closed.

It looked like a masterful sculpture, yet it was magic.

I may have shown her something like it before, but to think she’d actually follow it...

It was different from Ludger’s own Demonbane Thousand Hands, but the core principle was the same.

Flora had taken the magic she’d once seen from Ludger and reinterpreted it in her own way.

The radiant golden woman straightened from her slight bow and spread her arms wide.

In a flash, she dissolved into countless motes of light that scattered throughout the ballroom.

Gasps of awe rose from the crowd.

Like children reaching out to pop soap bubbles, people found themselves extending their hands toward the drifting glow.

The light that brushed their fingertips was soft and warm.

It mingled with the sunlight pouring through the windows and vanished in a brilliant haze.

And with it, the ballroom fell silent once again.

Moments later, the quiet was broken by the slow clap of hands.

Everyone’s attention shifted toward the source—

—Ludger, standing at the terrace railing on the second floor, overlooking the central hall.

“That was excellent magic.”

With just that one remark, the tight, breathless atmosphere seemed to dissolve like magic.

“It was nothing,” Flora replied lightly as she stepped down from the stage—though the corners of her mouth twitched uncontrollably, betraying her delight.

Jesse Luna, recovering late, moved to wrap up the moment.

[O–Ohhh! What an incredible display of magic! As expected of the genius among geniuses—Flora Lumos has shown us her greatest strength!]

[Remarkable mana control. And it’s a spell I’ve never seen before. She must have developed it herself—and to use it so freely here...]

Even Carter Roer’s voice held clear excitement as he followed Jesse’s lead.

There was no need to say it—the judges’ scores were unanimously high.

Flora’s victory was practically certain.

No one else stepped onto the stage.

Her performance had been so overwhelming that everyone else lost the will to compete.

Even the judges seemed caught off guard, their expressions tinged with surprise.

It felt as though the contest would end much sooner than expected.

[Are there no more participants? Recommendations are welcome as well!]

Jesse Luna called out loudly after receiving some message from the organizers.

But no one came forward.

Inside, Flora clenched her fist in triumph.

Done.

Her win was secured.

That means I can ask someone for a dance...

Who else could it be? The answer was obvious.

But... what if he refuses?

On second thought, perhaps a dance was going too far—not to mention it didn’t quite match her usual image.

Wasn’t receiving praise for her magic from Ludger enough?

As she wrestled with the thought, the sun slowly dipped lower.

The deep red of sunset spilled through the grand windows into the ballroom.

An inexplicable stillness settled over the hall—

—as though everyone instinctively sensed that something was about to happen.

They didn’t know why, but they could feel it.

And then, the sign arrived.

“W–What?!”

A startled cry rang out from one side—Erendir’s voice.

Even Freuden, standing beside her, was just as shocked.

He didn’t speak, but his wide eyes said it all.

The reason was obvious: Rine.

Fwoosh.

The sound of flames flaring filled the air—

—though people quickly realized it was nothing more than an illusion in their ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) minds.

The sight before them was so startling, so alien, that it had overridden reality.

The pure white dress Rine had worn to the ball was burning.

It wasn’t just catching the hue of the sunset—it was scattering sparks of deep crimson in every direction.

“Uh... wh–what?”

Rine herself sounded just as bewildered.

Meanwhile, the flames around her grew stronger, and then the shape of the dress began to change.

The cloudlike gown of soft white transformed into a blazing, passionate red dress, wreathed in flame.

The vivid sight drew every gaze in the room.

Only Ludger watched with a knowing expression, as though he’d been expecting this.

The magic hour had begun.