After half a day in the air, the four of them started out marveling at the view, chatting excitedly right in front of Leo.
Then they turned sleepy and began nodding off.
Leo even suggested they rest a little—Cassell wasn't close.
As if they dared to sleep.
The thought of charging into enemy headquarters filled them with a weird thrill.
If they got exposed, they'd be enemies of the entire campus.
Then, as their plane crossed jagged mountain ranges, the world opened up below.
"We're here," Leo said.
The reminder snapped their attention back to the windows.
When they saw the buildings nestled among winding mountains, their eyes lit up.
Cassell College—founded in 1901 by the Secret Party, the world's largest dragon-slaying organization—was a military academy built to train hybrids to hunt dragons.
Yes.
A dragon-slaying major.
Every student here was a hybrid. The school's purpose was simple: forge them into dragonslayers.
Over a hundred years old, and still breathtaking.
If they didn't know how hostile this place was going to be, they'd honestly want to take photos like tourists.
As a military academy, Cassell had its own runway.
When the plane touched down and they stepped off, someone was already waiting.
Yu Jin assumed the welcome was for Leo—the Lionheart Society president should have some status.
But when a balding, bespectacled middle-aged man approached them, it became clear.
He was here for them.
"My name is Gerd Rudolf Manstein," he said. "Professor at Cassell College. Perhaps your future instructor as well. On behalf of Cassell, I welcome all four of you."
He smiled at the four students von Schneider had hinted might be A-Rank bloodlines.
Cassell hadn't seen an A-Rank in a long time.
Bloodline ranks determined a hybrid's class.
A-Rank was the highest tier below S-Rank—and S-Rankers showed up only once in years.
You could imagine how rare A-Rank was.
Behind Manstein, Yu Jin quietly linked to the chat group.
Meanwhile the Doctor—thrilled by the professor's attention and the academy's apparent importance placed on them—nearly exploded with excitement.
"P-Professor!" he stammered. "I'm A-Adam! I'm honored to come to Cassell and become a student! We'll shine for the organization!"
Manstein, despite having seen plenty of weirdness, had never met someone who treated the school like a secret superhero society before even signing anything.
A smile slipped out.
"No need to be nervous. I've heard about you. Very impressive. And I heard you've been having… financial difficulties?"
The four of them immediately looked embarrassed.
Doctor played the poor-guy card. "We'll work part-time and pay tuition later."
That made Manstein laugh.
"Ha! Cassell doesn't charge tuition. Not only that—we provide a generous scholarship every year…"
Before he could continue, a cough sounded beside him.
"Professor Manstein," Leo said with a polite reminder, "I know you're excited, but maybe we shouldn't linger on the runway. They've traveled all day. Let them rest."
"Right, right." Manstein turned back to Yu Jin and the others. "You've had a long trip. Go rest. We'll talk more afterward."
"There's no need!" Doctor grabbed Manstein's hand, eyes shining like a cultist in the presence of his god.
"Professor, I can't wait to join immediately! You have no idea how long I've dreamed of this. Ever since my body mutated, I've been waking up every morning hoping some secret invitation would arrive. Now you're here—how can we endure even a few hours of waiting? Even if we rest, we'd just be too anxious! Please, let us enroll right now!"
Manstein hesitated.
He didn't know their backgrounds yet. Normally Cassell verified students thoroughly.
But rules were made to be broken.
And it wasn't strictly necessary.
Besides, the academy already had more than ten "problem students." What were four more?
"…Then come with me. But there are some things I need to tell you first."
Yu Jin couldn't hide his joy.
In everyone else's eyes, they were just excited to join Cassell.
Which was… technically true.
Leo watched them follow Manstein away. Then he headed straight for another building.
He knocked on a door, waited for permission, and went inside.
"Professor von Schneider. The four are with Professor Manstein for enrollment orientation. They should be official students soon."
Von Schneider was supposed to be happy.
Instead, he looked grim—like a husband waiting outside an operating room.
Leo felt his scalp tighten. Please don't tell me something else is happening. I just got back.
"What happened, Professor?"
"Those four… aren't right."
Von Schneider's already stern face was darker than ever.
"Can I ask what you mean?"
"Tell me, Leo. What kind of existence leaves no trace of past information… and then suddenly appears in the world?"
Leo's face went cold.
He knew only one answer.
Dragon.
"Dragon!"