“I found youuuu.” A gleeful voice sang out as the top half of a bald head appeared from underneath the ground.

In front of the strange hairless child, a small group of kids could be seen remaining from the academy’s entrance test. Each one was standing in opposition to the other. The human mole’s eyes focused on the most villainous and powerful of those remaining. He was even willing to eliminate the two gophers who stood next to him through thick and thin throughout the entire entrance test. They took painful blows for him and did everything they could to protect him and ensure his enrollment into the academy, only to be thrown away at the end by the very person they were entrusted to defend.

“Hmph. What use are you two if you can’t even deal with two filthy peasants?” With a splitting arc of lightning, the two lackies were blasted out of the arena.

‘BOSSSSSSS!!!!’ The mole-like child couldn’t help but cry out.

He’s finally found his boss. The one that his mother told him to look out for since he was a young babe. The one that by sticking to his leg and proving himself useful would elevate both himself and the Noble House Mercer! A quick burrow to in front of his new boss, the Mercer’s only heir popped out in front of the lightning child.

“Boss! Yvet Mercer, at your service!” Yvet bowed toward the surprised villainous prodigy, his head shining from the sun’s rays.

“...” A hostile look appeared on the noble’s face but one that soon turned into a calculating one. “You wish to serve me?” He asked.

“Yes! It would be my greatest wish to provide the most excellent help that I can provide in aiding you, boss!” Somehow Yvet bowed even deeper than before, getting on his knees and everything.

“I see...” He smirked. “I’ll give you a chance to prove your words with actions. Prevent these two mongrels from touching me and I'll allow you to become my servant.”

“I don’t want to be a servant Boss! I want to become your one and only right-hand man! Your number one henchman! Your greatest lackey among all others!” Yvet set out his terms clear and for all to hear.

“Is this guy crazy...?” Rosalina whispered.

“Heh... Uh, maybe?” Leo didn’t want to be rude but it was hard calling the guy sane.

“...” Elizabeth silently stared on and watched.

“I’d call you mad but you clearly know my greatness if you're willing to go this far to work under me. Very well, eliminate one of those two while also preventing them from laying a finger on me and you will get your wish.” Lucy posted his demands.

“I’ll get right on it, Boss!” Yvet shot up from the ground.

A piece of the arena shot up like a pillar that smashed Yvet in the face, sending him flying toward the two commoners, Leo and Rosalina. Blood leaked down his nose and mouth from the rock pillar but a wide grin was on his face. Yvet was sent flying at an impressive speed that shocked everyone watching the final contestants. Leo and Rosalina were barely able to react when he appeared in between the both of them with a long-staffed hammer swinging at them.

“What?!” Leo placed his sword in front of him to defend, unable to do anything else in such a short amount of time.

“So quick?!” Rosalina was in the middle of preparing a spell to defend herself or attack.

Yvet’s hammer smashed into Leo’s sword. The clash between the rock and iron weapon didn’t even hold for a second. Leo was sent flying into Rosalina and the both of them flew toward the outside of the stage! Two childish screams echoed out from pain and surprise. Elizabeth’s eyes slightly widened while a small smile was forming on Lucy’s face.

Determination and unwillingness filled Leo’s eyes. His magical core roared in response to his refusal to lose. This entrance exam was everything to him. How could he make his grandfather proud and improve the life of his village if he lost here?! Especially to someone like this?!

Leo grabbed Rosalina’s hand as a roar of flames erupted from his back, slowly reversing his momentum in the air. Now the two were flying toward Yvet fully prepared to fight him. This time, they wouldn’t be caught off guard. They’d put him in his place and then take out that arrogant noble behind him, together!

“Oh wow. I guess you’re the protagonist then? Lucky me.” Yvet smiled as he stomped the ground with his foot.

A rock pillar burst from the ground right in front of the protagonist and his future or current love interest, stopping their forward drive completely. The two slammed face-first into the piece of earth as Yvet shot his palm forward, conjuring another earth spike from the arena to crash into their sides. And with that, they were knocked out of the arena and eliminated.

Leaving only three children remaining: Lucy, Elizabeth, and Yvet. Lucy erupted with maniacal laughter as he clapped and walked over to Yvet. He placed his palm on Yvet’s shoulder as pride filled Yvet’s body. As Yvet was expecting words of praise, he was suddenly met with a painful electric shock as something etched itself into his body.

“This is a gift.” Lucy explained to the confused Yvet.

On his shoulder was now the brand of the Noble House Wyndall, a fearsome lightning bolt. Along with the pain that came with the branding, Yvet felt his magical core grow a little bit. He thought about driving an earth spike through Lucy’s gut and expected some sort of pain or something in response but nothing came. Yvet was relieved it wasn’t some sort of slave branding. While he was prepared to go above and beyond in serving Lucy for his and his family’s future, he didn’t want to lose his free will for it.

“This magic is unique to the Noble House Wyndall. Our lightning magic is in our blood but this is what allowed the Wyndall Family to become one of the top Noble Houses in the last few centuries. With this brand, you’ll find it easier to break your limits as long as you continue to serve me. I don’t think I need to tell you what’ll happen if your words earlier were nothing but flattery.” Lucy crossed his arms.

“Are you sure it was wise to give me this so soon, Boss? I could’ve been acting this entire time just to get close to you. I could’ve been a spy sent by a rival or enemy family. With this brand, I could grow stronger while under your care before eliminating you once I got strong enough or you let yourself become vulnerable enough.” Yvet couldn’t let his Boss be so naïve.

“...” Lucy didn’t have the words to respond to this.

Despite being nurtured from a young age till now, the thought that someone would try to assassinate him never crossed his mind. Nor did the thought rise that someone would try to get in his good graces just to kill him. As one of the top Noble Houses, only a suicidal fool or a Noble Family on its last dregs would attempt such a thing. And both of those things are easily intercepted with a background check.

“Of course, I'm fully devoted to you as long as you continue being the big bad, Boss! I just felt it important to remind you to be careful in the future.” Yvet responded with a smile on his face.

“What do you mean as long as I continue being the big bad?” Lucy asked.

“I-” Yvet’s words were cut off as he was suddenly teleported somewhere else.

Lucy, Elizabeth, Leo, Rosalina, and Yvet soon arrived together in a bright building. In front of them were several adults sitting on ridiculously high chairs looking down at them. The floor was filled with white and black tiles that extended all around them. Everyone was confused about the sudden spatial displacement with Yvet, in particular, falling straight to his butt seemingly the most confused. He placed his palm on the cold floor to reorientate himself. His earth magic was taking in the entire building, allowing him some sense of calm.

“Please never do that again whoever did that...” Yvet weakly asked.

“Greetings.” A soft and kind elderly voice grabbed their attention. “I am your headmaster, Headmaster Dilly.” The old man was by far the tallest of all the other chairs, nearly reaching the ceiling.

“Hello, Headmaster Dilly.” Leo, Rosalina, and Elizabeth all politely bowed.

“Tch.” Lucy softly clicked his tongue in annoyance, a sight that Yvet did not miss, before performing a proper bow to the headmaster. ”Hello, Headmaster.”

“Hello, Headmaster Dilly!” Yvet copied Lucy’s bow, noting that this powerful old mage was probably going to become their enemy in the future from the way Lucy acted towards him.

“Good.” He gave off a friendly laugh. “It's nice to see our top 5 freshmen have great manners! You’d be surprised how often some students are lacking in that department after the entrance exam.”

No one spoke, waiting for the old man to stop laughing.

“According to tradition, the top 3 winners of the entrance exam are chosen to be the leaders of the accepted freshmen. Each three are given the option to accept or refuse the position. However, we have quite the amusing situation this time around due to two of the three already having a special relationship.” His eyes twinkled at Yvet and Lucy.

Lucy shivered in disgust while Yvet was happily confused. He went on to explain further, “Because of this, the three students that will be given the choice of Freshmen Leaders will be Lucy, Rosalina, and Elizabeth instead of Lucy, Yvet, and Rosalina.”

“I accept.” Elizabeth immediately responded.

“I accept as well.” Lucy didn’t hesitate.

“I will do my best...” Rosalina didn’t feel that she deserved this chance but if believed she had the potential, she wouldn’t let him down.

“Great! Great!” He loudly laughed. “The previous year's Freshmen Leaders will meet you at your rooms to explain your responsibilities and duties as Freshmen Leader. I hope you all have a wonderful time at Hades, School of Magic and Knowledge!” The five were soon teleported away once again.