The sound of cheerful laughter and distant fireworks echoed across the Division Festival, mingling with the scent of roasted snacks and sugar-drenched pastries.
Clara twirled around in a lollipop-themed dress she designed herself, her brothers and sisters clinging to her legs like playful vines.
"Everyone! This is Valac Keebow and Konchie, the second and third sons! That one drooling is Sin Sin, and the quiet one hiding behind my leg is Ran Ran! And this is my super-strong mom!" Clara beamed as she gestured dramatically to her family.
The Valac family was a whirlwind of color, noise, and hugs. Her mother—a tall, cheerfully chaotic woman with the same wild energy as her daughter—smiled warmly at Iruma and Alice.
"Thank you both for being Clara's friends," she said gently, bowing slightly. "And for looking after my little girl."
Iruma gave a humble nod, unsure how to respond as she suddenly grabbed his hands and shook them excitedly.
"And yesterday—ooh! Your fight with that yellow-haired student? It was amazing! The way you flew through the air like a firework and—" she gasped. "—and then exploded with that glowing purple titan?! Wahh! Our whole family rewatched it on a crystal five times!"
"Titan?" Iruma blinked. "You mean… Susanoo?"
"Whatever it is, it was awesome!"
The woman immediately started pulling toys and snacks out of her bag like a street vendor, handing them to both Iruma and Alice with pure glee.
"Here, here! Have a toffee eyeball, and some rattling popcorn, and maybe this lizard whistle—"
"Mooom!" Clara whined, red in the face. "We gotta gooooo! We have to show my family the festival!!"
"Aw, alright, alright!" Her mom ruffled her hair, handing Alice one last candy eyeball before being dragged off by her bouncing children.
The moment the chaos vanished, a low and ominous aura settled around Alice.
"…She's here."
Iruma turned in confusion—only to see a beautiful, elegantly dressed woman approaching, twirling a parasol with glittering magic gems and batting her lashes dramatically.
"Alice-chan~!" Amaryllis sang as she rushed over and immediately wrapped her arms around her son. "You left me behind again! I had to finish all my work alone while you had fun~! That's so mean!"
Alice's eye twitched. "David was supposed to watch you…"
A brief pause.
Then realization struck his face like lightning. "…Wait. He never said anything about that. I just told him to… bring you."
"Which he did! After I gave him a lap pillow and ear cleaning, of course~ He fell asleep immediately~!" she giggled.
"You seduced my servant," Alice deadpanned, dragging a hand down his face.
Ignoring her son's mortification, Amaryllis turned with theatrical grace to Iruma.
"And you must be Iruma-chan. Alice talks nonstop about you~ He even begged me to train you both together! And as his loving mother—" she clutched her chest dramatically—"—I must honor his request."
Iruma's eyes widened.
"Train… with Alice?"
"Every afternoon. At our estate. I'll provide tea, magical guidance, and of course—physical conditioning!"
She twirled a finger and winked. "Also, these fireworks you designed… Are they by any chance an erotic tool?"
"WH—MOTHER!!"
Alice immediately shoved her away from Iruma with a look of sheer horror. "Stop saying weird things to him!! We're visiting Professor Raim, remember?! You said you'd behave!!"
Amaryllis gave a sly, satisfied grin as she let herself be pushed away, deliberately making it seem like Iruma's answer had somehow confirmed her suspicions.
Iruma stood there, unsure if he should collapse or combust. But behind the embarrassment, behind the heat in his cheeks and the absurdity of the moment…
There was a cold steadiness in his voice when he finally answered:
"…I accept."
Alice blinked, turning to him.
Iruma's eyes were half-lidded, calm and unwavering.
"If she's one of 13th crown… then I'll learn. Because I have a dream."
He didn't finish the sentence. He didn't have to.
Alice knew.
Iruma wanted strength—not for fame or glory. Not even for protection anymore. He wanted to be strong enough to kill someone… when the time came. If the world forced him to.
In that heavy silence, Alice blinked in surprise—just in time to see Iruma's lips curl slightly upward.
Because in the distance, Amaryllis had tripped over a balloon animal. Alice grumbled under his breath and shoved his mother again.
And Iruma…
…smiled.
Every family has a story, he thought. And they always show their true faces around the ones they love.
It was embarrassing. Ridiculous. And somehow, nice.
As night fell over Babyls, the sky shimmered with lingering embers from the festival's final fireworks. But even that spectacle paled in comparison to the buzz within the Grand Assembly Hall, where the final event of the Division Party—the Awards Ceremony—was just beginning.
Spotlights illuminated the center stage. The rows of students quieted in anticipation as the imposing figure of Student Council President Ameri Azazel stepped up to the crystal podium, her eyes stern, voice poised.
"Thank you all for participating in the Division Festival. Today, I present the awards to the most exemplary Divisions."
There was a soft round of applause, respectful and subdued.
Ameri turned a page.
"The Great Effort award, going to the third place Division… goes to the Succubus Division."
Cheers erupted from the colorful, flamboyant group of girls as they stood, waving and blowing kisses into the crowd.
"Their tremendous exuberance significantly uplifted the festival's atmosphere," Ameri explained. **"As a result, they are awarded the **'Gorgeous Division Room'—a reward suited to their… aesthetic preferences."
The room chuckled.
"In second place," Ameri continued, "we recognize the Magecraft Development Division."
Polite applause followed, mixed with murmurs of respect.
"By creating a platform for students to exchange knowledge and experiment with original spells, they embodied the core of academic advancement. Their prize is increased Division funding, and they may self-select their next presentation."
Heads from that Division nodded proudly, some already brainstorming topics.
Then came the final reveal.
"And the first place award…"
A beat of silence. Iruma leaned forward, eyes slightly hopeful.
**"…goes to the Broadcast Division."
A surge of applause and surprise followed. The students at the front, still wearing their crystal headsets and speaking softly into recorders, looked stunned—then erupted into excited cheers.
"They remained calm under unexpected pressure and kept broadcasting for two days straight," Ameri said, her expression unreadable. "Their stamina and dedication preserved the entire festival's record."
Some clapped in admiration, while others whispered.
"I thought the Magical Tools Research Division would win…" one student muttered.
"Wasn't Kirio with them?" another whispered.
Ameri, hearing this, added firmly:
"Unfortunately, the Magical Tools Research Division has been disqualified due to the previous incident caused by a member's unauthorized behavior. The judges have agreed it would not be fair to award them."
Iruma's hands curled slightly at his side.
Kirio… I'm sorry.
He remembered the promise he made to the troubled boy, and the quiet smile Kirio had given him before walking away. There was no protest from Iruma—only a soft, resigned nod.
He accepted it.
Just as Ameri prepared to close the ceremony, a low, gravelly voice echoed through the speakers.
"Before we end—"
All heads turned as Professor Kalego took the mic with a stern glare that silenced the crowd in an instant.
"This entire Division Party was… troublesome."
Murmurs rippled through the hall.
"Especially that one Division…" he continued, glaring toward a certain section. "…that voluntarily performed a dangerous, unsupervised demonstration without informing any teacher."
Several students winced.
Sabro looked away.
Iruma didn't flinch.
"However…" Kalego sighed. "Many students voted in support of that same event. It required a variety of magical applications, teamwork, and adaptability. I've reviewed the footage."
A pause.
"From Rank 3… I hereby promote Suzuki Iruma to Rank 5."
Gasps echoed in the room. Clara screamed in joy. Alice's eyes widened, and then a soft, proud smirk curled his lips.
Iruma blinked—before a small grin tugged at the corners of his mouth.
He didn't celebrate. He didn't shout.
But the weight of those numbers—3 to 5—meant everything.
I'm getting there, he thought. Step by step.
"Also," Kalego added, "the rest of Team Dark Feather… you all gain one rank as well."
Clara threw her arms up. "Yayyy! Snacks and Ranks for everyone!!"
Alice crossed his arms but gave Iruma a nod.
The audience burst into applause again—this time louder, freer, joyful.
As the lights dimmed and the ceremony ended, a soft wind stirred through the windows.
The Division Party was over.
But for Iruma… something deeper had begun.
The climb to the top.