Chapter 577: Continental Festival 6

“Hm~ Hm~ Hm~”

Cristo hummed cheerfully to himself as he strolled out of his dormitory room, hands tucked casually behind his head.

His steps were light, almost playful, as though the rules of Killian Hall didn’t quite apply to him.

Technically, they weren’t supposed to be wandering around just yet—the restrictions were clear enough—but that was only about leaving the premises of Killian Hall entirely.

Inside, there wasn’t anyone stopping him, and he wasn’t the type to sit still for long anyway.

Their journey had been exhausting.

Probably the longest of all the students who had just arrived—even compared to those who used magical floating ships.

Coming all the way from the eastern empire wasn’t a short trip, and Cristo felt every mile of it still in his bones.

But now that they were here, the tiredness melted away, replaced by curiosity and that boyish eagerness he could never quite suppress.

The air of the academy was different.

The architecture, the colors, even the way the staff moved—it all spoke of a culture and tradition far from his own.

And Cristo loved it.

Every time his eyes caught on something strange or unfamiliar, that giddy little spark inside him lit up.

“It really is nice seeing things you’d never normally see back home,” he murmured under his breath, lips quirking in a smile. “A change of pace, a new atmosphere… this is exactly why I enjoy traveling.”

His humming picked up again as he turned down another corridor, peeking through the wide windows where the evening light poured in across the stone halls.

“It would’ve been nice if Hajey could enjoy this as well…” Cristo’s smile dimmed just slightly.

He knew his partner too well—stoic, restrained, always carrying that sharp edge of duty on his shoulders.

Hajey wasn’t the type to slow down and take in the sights.

Not when he had other things on his mind.

“Well, considering the real reason we’re here…” he trailed off, scratching the back of his head, “it’s only understandable he acts the way he does. High clan matters really are… complicated.”

For a brief moment, Cristo’s tone grew thoughtful.

There was a world of difference between Hajey’s burdens and his own.

For Hajey, this trip was heavy with expectations, obligations, even old scars.

For Cristo, it was an adventure.

And maybe that was exactly why they fit so well together—two completely different worlds forced into partnership.

He quickly shook his head, forcing the heavier thoughts away with his usual grin.

“Well, it doesn’t really matter. As long as I do my part—as his ally, and as his friend—that’s enough for me.”

Roaming deeper into the endless halls of Killian Hall, Cristo eventually found himself stepping into one of the larger open atriums.

The space was wide and high-ceilinged, with streams of light spilling in from tall windows, the stonework polished so clean it reflected faint silhouettes.

He wasn’t the only one wandering about either—clusters of students from other academies moved through the area, their voices and laughter bouncing faintly against the walls.

Apparently, everyone had the same idea as him: to explore.

It was odd, though.

Despite how massive the dormitories were, they had yet to see many of the academy’s actual residents.

Most had been temporarily relocated to make room for the incoming students, but still—it felt almost strange, as if the real heart of Killian Hall was intentionally hidden away.

And maybe that was exactly what gave the place such an air of mystery.

After all, this wasn’t just a school—it was the gathering ground for the academy’s top students, the best of the best.

For newcomers like them, it was natural to be curious, even restless, glancing around for even a glimpse of those who would one day become rivals.

Even if no one wanted to openly admit it, the academy students were academy students for a reason.

Their names were already spoken with respect; their futures practically written in gold.

That truth had only become sharper when they first laid eyes on Princess Snow.

Her presence alone had been a statement—her strength wasn’t just in her title, nor in the authority tied to her bloodline.

It radiated from her very being, a quiet yet overwhelming aura that made the others realize the gap they were standing at the edge of.

Cristo’s humming had faded by now, replaced with a more subdued pace as he took in the sight of students grouping together, trading words, laughing, or sizing each other up.

“We’re really inside the academy!”

“Wow… it’s just like the stories—no, even grander than the rumors!”

“Hey, wait—did you seriously just pull out a recording stone for Princess Snow? That’s illegal! Hand it over!”

“Oi! Give it back, that’s mine!”

“You idiot, you’ll get us expelled before the battles even start…”

Laughter and bickering echoed across the marble halls, the sound mingling with the distant hum of mana-lamps burning faintly along the high walls.

Groups of students stood clustered together in twos, threes, and whole crowds, voices rising in excitement and curiosity as they pointed at the massive pillars, the glittering chandeliers, and the sheer scale of Killian Hall.

“I wonder how powerful our future opponents will be…”

“Don’t even joke. Just look at this place! If the building alone feels overwhelming, what about the students trained here?”

“Right? And how the hell are we even supposed to navigate this maze? I nearly got lost three times already.”

“Same! And hey—have you guys seen any of the actual academy students yet?”

“No, but I swear if one just showed up right now, I’d probably pass out. The gap between us is unreal…”

Cristo leaned casually against the wall, eyes half-lidded but ears pricked.

He enjoyed the noise for what it was—a chorus of fresh impressions, nerves, and little slips of gossip.

“Maybe we should form alliances,” one student whispered in a hushed, conspiratorial tone. “If it ends up being team battles, it’d be suicide to face these guys alone.”

“True. Better to swallow your pride and make deals now than regret it later.”

“But who’d even trust us? Every academy here is competition…”

And then, the conversations shifted—names began to drop, names that carried weight.

“Hey, do you think the magical geniuses, Alice Holloway and Rose Brilliance, are going to participate?”

“From what I heard? They will.”

“Then there’s no point even trying to win against the Magic Department! Those two are monsters…”

“I heard Rose rewrote a spell matrix mid-battle last year… and Alcie? She’s been publishing magical theory papers since she was fifteen.”

“Gods above… no wonder people call them prodigies.”

The group across from Cristo gave a nervous laugh, but the unease in their voices was real.

And then another voice broke through the chatter:

“I heard there’s also a ridiculously strong knight in this academy.”

“You mean the one from the rumors?”

“Yeah. They say he singlehandedly cleared multiple S-Class dungeons along the Germonia Empire’s borders. Supposedly, his aura control is unmatched. I think his name was… Luke? Or Lucas, maybe?”

“No, no—you’ve got it mixed up. That’s someone else.”

“Oh? Then who?”

“I’m not sure of the details, but his name’s been popping up everywhere lately. Even back in our kingdom, his name reached the newspapers. Riley Hell, wasn’t it?”

At that name, Cristo’s gaze sharpened ever so slightly.

The idle smile on his face didn’t fade, but his focus narrowed.

Riley Hell…

That was the name he had been tasked to look into.

He had expected his target to be known, yes, but not to the point that rumors of him were spreading across borders, bleeding into the ears of other kingdoms.

That kind of reach meant notoriety—and notoriety meant danger.

He exhaled softly through his nose, his arms folding behind his head as if he were only stretching.

’Maybe I should’ve dug a little deeper before arriving here…’

Cristo liked surprises. He liked pressure. It was thrilling to unravel mysteries without having the full picture.

But now, as he thought of the restrictions placed upon them—of the limits on their movement within the academy grounds—he realized that this little gamble of his might turn around and bite him.

Still… a grin crept onto his lips.

That only makes things more exciting.

Listening even more intently, Cristo sharpened his focus, filtering through the noise of overlapping voices until he honed in on the group still whispering about Riley Hell.

“Riley Hell, huh…” one student murmured, arms folded, eyes flicking around to make sure no instructor was nearby. “I’ve heard plenty of rumors about that guy. Didn’t they say he was supposed to be the hero of the academy after that incident with the fallen genius, Dorothy?”

“Hero? Hah.” Another scoffed under his breath. “That’s not the version I heard. Everything I’ve heard about him sounds less heroic and more… bizarre.”

“Oh? Like what?”

“Last I checked, people were saying Riley Hell’s infamous for—get this—seducing every woman he lays eyes on. Supposedly, he doesn’t stop there either. Some claim he… impregnates them the moment he sees them.”

“Hahaha—!” one student burst out laughing before quickly covering his mouth. “That’s too absurd! How could anyone believe that? If that were true, he’d have been banished long ago, not walking freely inside the academy.”

The first speaker shrugged, a sly grin on his lips. “Rumors are rumors. There’s always a spark of truth hiding somewhere in them.”

“But the real kicker,” another added, lowering his voice like he was sharing the most scandalous secret in the world, “is that Riley Hell is Princess Snow’s fiancé.”

“E-Excuse me?!” a chorus of shocked voices followed, disbelief plastered across their faces.

“Yeah. I didn’t believe it either until my father told me directly. And that’s not all—he’s not only engaged to Princess Snow, but also to Alice Holloway and Rose Brilliance.”

“Wha—three…?!”

“And apparently,” the boy went on, savoring their reactions, “he even has a hidden fiancé, from Grand Duke Luther Heaven’s bloodline. Word is, the Emperor himself and the Grand Duke both gave their blessings for all of these marriages.”

“That’s insane…”

“No, that’s impossible! No one—no matter how strong—could manage that kind of life!”

“Hahahaha, imagine the chaos in that household!”

The group erupted into uneasy laughter, half mocking, half awestruck.

Cristo, however, froze. His eyes widened as a bead of cold sweat traced down the back of his neck.

The laughter faded into background noise as the weight of what he’d just heard sank in.

Ku-ku-ku… unbelievable.

He had known his target was important—Hajey’s warnings alone had told him that much.

But this? If even a fraction of what was being said held truth, then Riley Hell wasn’t just another top student to observe.

He was entangled in the highest echelons of power, tied by blood and promise to people Cristo’s clan wouldn’t dare cross lightly.

Rumors or not, Cristo’s instincts screamed.

He trusted his instincts more than any official report, more than any lecture drilled into him by his martial brothers.

Right now, they were blaring alarms.

’So, this is the man I’m tasked with keeping track of… A hero, a scoundrel, a prince-in-law, maybe even all of the above. No wonder Hajey insisted we tread carefully. One wrong move around him, and we won’t just be noticed—we’ll be crushed.’

Cristo leaned back against the wall again, forcing a grin onto his lips to keep up appearances.

Riley Hell……

Haah~ I’m getting excited~

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