CHAPTER 77: REUNITED

"You seem excited."

Hearing her comment, Kevin’s smile only grew wider.

"Well, this is the first time he’s seeing me like this... in my school uniform and as the Student Council President," he replied with a hint of smugness.

Standing beside him was his secretary—a second-year student with short olive-green hair and light golden eyes. Her expression was amused.

"Prez, you should show that smile to others more often," she said with a chuckle. "Sometimes, people get so nervous around you they forget what they even came to talk about."

Kevin let out a sigh. "You know why I act that way, Sia. If I didn’t keep up that strict image, everyone around me would start slacking off. You remember what happened with the previous President, and yet you still complain."

The former President had been too lenient with the council members. Without proper discipline, they started abusing their authority—and since the head never scolded them, their boldness just kept growing.

"I mean... not like her, but you could at least try to ease up a little," Sia protested with a playful smile.

Kevin shrugged casually. "I’ll try... Ah, here they come."

His attention shifted as the students began filing into the compound, one group at a time, after passing through the security checkpoint.

Today, Kevin was on duty—his job was to guide students to their exam halls and ensure everything ran smoothly, especially preventing any misbehavior.

Other officers were already active, instructing students to form lines and wait patiently. The seating arrangements would only be checked once everyone had arrived.

Classes for the second and third years were suspended today, for obvious reasons.

Given the chilly weather, students were being lined up along the sheltered corridors instead of the open yard.

The academy’s layout was spacious: a large open space occupied the center of the compound, flanked by four towers—one at each corner. Behind Kevin stood the tallest structure—the main building.

Two covered corridors stretched from the main building, connecting it to three other key areas: the library, situated just behind; the ceremonial hall (which also served as an auditorium); and the inner arena used for training and events.

The entire academy was spread out across a vast valley, land once granted to the first headmaster. Though no new buildings had been added since then, the school was well-maintained. Tools, furniture, and paintwork were regularly updated, keeping the place looking clean and functional.

"Ah, there he is."

Sia immediately turned her head, catching the excitement in the President’s voice. She followed Kevin’s gaze and spotted a certain black-haired teenager stepping into the compound.

"So tall..." she muttered under her breath.

He had to be at least 6’4". With broad shoulders, short-cropped hair, and a calm but firm posture, he looked undeniably strong.

"I’m going to meet him. Keep an eye on everything," Kevin said with a grin, already walking toward his brother.

Sia let out a sigh as she watched him go.

Such excitement...

You haven’t smiled this much in an entire year as you have today.

Still, she didn’t stop him.

Kevin finally reached his brother, while many of the newly arrived students stole glances in their direction—especially at Kevin. The badges displayed on his chest caught everyone’s attention.

Some of them had older siblings at the academy, so they recognized those badges immediately and understood the weight they carried.

"You’re on time," Kevin said with a hint of surprise, though he knew no one in the family was more punctual than Arthur.

Arthur shrugged. "This town is boring, so I figured I’d report early."

There were still over two hours left before the test started—he could’ve shown up later, but the market outside hadn’t been worth hanging around.

"Where’s Dad?" Kevin asked, glancing toward the crowd of parents beyond the gates. But with so many faces, he couldn’t spot him.

"He didn’t come," Arthur replied, catching Kevin off guard.

"Is he alright?" Kevin asked quickly.

Arthur shook his head. "He’s sick. I got him checked by a medic. Once today’s assessment is over, I’ll send him back through the portal."

Their father had insisted on staying and accompanying Arthur to the academy. He’d been so persistent that Arthur had to lie, saying he’d skip the exam if he kept pushing.

Only then did he agree—though reluctantly.

"It’s rare for him to fall sick..." Kevin muttered, concern creeping into his voice.

"His workload’s gotten heavier. He’s managing two baronies now." Arthur sighed.

For a moment, silence settled between them. Then Kevin spoke again, more hesitant this time.

"Art... do you think I should take his place and help run things?"

Arthur looked at him, surprised. "You? I thought you were set on becoming a Hunter."

"I am," Kevin said. "But someone has to take care of Westmere eventually. I don’t want Father to hand it over to just anyone. He’s put too much into that place."

Arthur didn’t say anything at first—but for the first time, he could feel it. Kevin had changed. The academy had reshaped his thinking.

He seemed... dependable.

Arthur placed a firm hand on his brother’s shoulder. "He’s not old yet. He can still handle the barony for a while. And when the time comes... let’s talk it over together, alright?"

Kevin gave a faint smile and nodded. "Alright."

"President!"

A hurried voice broke through their moment. Kevin turned to see his secretary rushing toward him, her expression tense.

"Two students have started a fight in the corridor! Please come right away!"

Kevin’s expression shifted. With a brief glance at Arthur, he nodded and immediately headed off in long strides.

Arthur, with nothing better to do, shoved his hands into his pockets and began strolling after them at a relaxed pace.

’Well, this might be entertaining.’

....

"She gave it to me!"

The black-haired boy’s voice thundered through the corridor, thick with rage.

"She clearly threw it at me! It’s mine!" the other retorted, his bob-cut hair swaying as he squared up, defiance burning in his eyes.

Tension crackled between them. Both boys emanated a faint aura, strong enough to make the air feel heavy, as if the very walls held their breath.

Between them, like a sacred relic, sat a single rose—placed delicately atop two folded handkerchiefs to keep it from touching the ground.

Around them, a crowd of students had gathered, drawn by the escalating drama. Whispers and chuckles passed through the group, but no one dared step in.

It wasn’t unusual that no professors were present. With the upcoming assessment, nearly all instructors had been assigned as invigilators, leaving the halls poorly supervised.

At the edge of the chaos, a silver-haired girl stood with her arms crossed, eyes rolling in visible exasperation.

It was the same princess Arthur had once saved years ago.

Someone had sneakily tucked the rose into the bag earlier, and in pure indifference, she had casually tossed it aside.

And now—this fight had broken out.

She was well aware of her popularity... but this? This was absurd.

Tch. Boys fighting over a flower she didn’t even know she carried? She was already planning her exit, hoping to slip away before a teacher arrived and dragged her into this nonsense—

—but then her breath hitched.

Her eyes locked onto something—someone—across the crowd.

For a split second, everything else disappeared.

’W-What...’ her heartbeat stumbled.

She only caught a glimpse—just his eyes, peeking over the shoulder of another student—but that was enough.

Those deep, oceanic eyes.

They looked as if they could swallow the world whole... and yet, they shimmered with such haunting beauty that once you met them, it was impossible to look away.

She knew those eyes.

She had memorized them long ago.

There was no room for mistake. No hesitation in her heart.

’It’s him!’

Without another thought, Elowen surged forward, pushing past the stunned students, desperate to get a clearer view.

She couldn’t lose sight of him now.

However, before she could have pushed through the crowd and appeared before him, a blond man stood before her.

"Where do you think you are going?" He asked, his voice heavy.

Elowen frowned, wanting to push him away so she could reach him—but then her gaze landed on the shining badges on his chest.

She cooled down a little and calmly stated, "I spotted a friend."

The man frowned, "After creating this mess you believe I will let you go just like that?"

Elowen bit on her lip, her fists clenched, and it took every fiber of her being not to shout at the boy before her.

With her jaw stiff, she spoke, "I have nothing to do with them, so stand aside and let me go." She clarified, her urgency barely contained.

However, "Before that, mediate the situation or I will have to report this matter to the teachers." With his gaze growing cold, the President added, "And you know what will happen when I do that."

Elowen stomped on the ground. "You are annoying. Guh!" She reluctantly turned and returned to the group. As she did, she peeked through the crowd again...and as she thought, he was gone.

’But still...’ she wasn’t disheartened. Since she knew she would find him.

After a long wait, she was going to get reunited with him~

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A/N:- Thanks for reading.