"...!"
When that half-mocking voice reached the ears of the three girls present, they all jolted in surprise.
Only because, before that, none of them had heard the door open, nor noticed any movement at all.
The voice had come so suddenly, silently, and without the slightest warning that all three girls rose from their seats.
Then they saw him.
"You're the E601 Squad, right?"
A boy wearing an undergraduate uniform had appeared on the podium in the squad room at some point. With both elbows resting on the desk, he leaned against the podium and looked down at the three girls, then suddenly smiled.
"Sorry I'm late. I haven't been to the squad building in a long time, so I couldn't help looking around a little. I didn't keep you waiting, did I?"
There was a hint of playfulness in Luo Zhen's voice, making it impossible to tell whether he was serious.
But the three girls present could no longer care about that.
They stared at Luo Zhen, who had appeared on the podium, completely unable to hide their shock. Their faces were filled with utter astonishment.
There was no helping it.
"You... you're..."
Misora pointed at Luo Zhen with a trembling finger.
"Wha... whaaaaa..."
Lekti was even more completely flustered.
"You've got to be kidding..."
Even Riko muttered as though she were too shocked to believe it.
There really was no helping it.
Others might not recognize the man before them, but as Aerial Combat Mages of Mistgun, failing to recognize him would mean they had completely wasted their time there.
After all, he was not only the most legendary and world-famous figure in all of Mistgun, but also someone known by everyone throughout the entire Floating City League.
"The Magecraft King..."
No one knew who had whispered