Chapter 187
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News of the unprecedented event—the birth of a first-year student council president—spread across the world in an instant.
Leo had already been drawing an unusual amount of attention.
He was an unheard-of All-Class, and his actions were far from what one would expect of a first-year.
On top of that, he firmly held the position of year representative among the current first-years, who were being hailed as Lumerne’s golden generation.
He was, in every sense, a young hero candidate overflowing with noteworthy qualities.
But now, by ascending to the position of student council president, he had proven he was no mere rookie.
In particular, the fact that he was the contractor of a Phoenix became an even greater point of focus.
Furthermore, he had even fought to a draw with Lis, the strongest student at the academy.
The first-year sparring evaluation had become a subject of worldwide interest.
Lumeria City, already bustling as the center of the world, was now flooded with massive crowds eager to hear news from Lumerne.
The birth of a new hero always thrilled the people.
And the heroic tales of a boy like Leo were more than enough to excite them further.
With the world situation growing grim due to various recent incidents, Leo’s emergence was like a ray of sunshine.
The public’s reaction was fervent, as if a new hero had already been born.
Along with him, the other first-years, lauded as the golden generation, also found themselves in the spotlight.
Expectations for this year’s Lumerne first-years were already at their peak after the Gigantes subjugation during the first semester.
Now, with a student council president emerging from their ranks, the way people viewed the entire grade had changed.
While the world outside Lumerne focused on Leo and the first-years…
Inside Lumerne…
“I’m… completely burned out…!”
Karl said, his voice trembling as he lay slumped over his desk, pleading.
“What kind of test has no multiple-choice questions and is all written answers!”
Iliana tore at her hair.
“How can an exam be this hard…”
Even Chelsea, one of the top students in the entire first year, let out a pained groan.
Regardless of the world’s reaction, the teenagers were overwhelmed just trying to survive the exams before them.
The difficulty of the written tests was incomparable to the first semester’s midterms and finals.
No matter how the outside world saw them, they were being tormented by the exam schedule.
On the last day of exams, a day that should have had them jumping for joy, the entire first-year class was wiped out.
It was then, while everyone was sprawled out in a daze.
*Screech-!*
The door opened, and Halind and Sera entered the classroom.
The students flinched and reflexively shot up straight in their seats.
*Thud. Thud.*
Halind walked calmly to the lectern, placed the attendance book down, and curled his lip into a smirk.
“Looks like you all enjoyed the exams.”
*‘Like hell we did!’*
*‘It was seriously difficult!’*
The students screamed internally, lodging their silent protests, but none were brave enough to voice them.
Without even glancing at his students, Halind spoke.
“Good work on the exams, everyone. I hope you all survive this time as well.”
At his words, the students’ faces filled with emotion.
“If any of you receive a recommendation for withdrawal, I’ll show you hell before you leave, so you’d better hope that doesn’t happen.”
Of course, Halind’s follow-up remark sent their moods plummeting back to rock bottom.
As the classroom atmosphere sagged, Halind continued.
“Anyway, now that the exams are over, I have an announcement.”
“A-An announcement?”
“What is it now?”
All of Class 5 wore tense expressions.
And for good reason.
They were first-years who had become all too accustomed to Lumerne.
They knew all too well that the academy wouldn't let them relax their guard just because exams were over.
*‘A-A new practical training?’*
*‘Or is he going to give us some ridiculously hard assignment?’*
Everyone held their breath, focusing on Halind’s every word.
“One month from now, the Lumerne-Seirun Games will be held.”
“…”
“…”
At his words, everyone’s eyes went as wide as a rabbit’s.
A moment later…
“Ooooh!”
“The Lumerne-Seirun Games!”
“It’s finally time for the Lumerne-Seirun Gaaaaames!”
Cheers erupted not just from Class 5, but from the other classrooms as well.
It was only natural.
The Lumerne-Seirun Games were, quite literally, the biggest event of the academic year.
It was a stage to showcase not just academic achievements and skills, but everything they had built up over their time at the academy.
Students in clubs would hold presentations and performances during the games.
Beyond that, the academy would be opened to the public, and a flood of outside guests would pour in.
It was an event that truly deserved to be called a school festival.
Watching the excited reactions of his students, Halind’s lips curled up.
“Of course, that’s a story for those of you who can enjoy it without being recommended for withdrawal.”
Once again dragging the class’s mood into the abyss, Halind said.
“This year’s Lumerne-Seirun Games will be held not at Lumerne, but at Seirun.”
The games were held once a year, alternating between Lumerne and Seirun.
And this year, it was Seirun’s turn to host.
“As you know, our academy has been losing to Seirun in the games for the past few years.”
At that, the students’ expressions turned resentful.
“It’s a regrettable state of affairs for the school.”
A flicker of irritation crossed Halind’s usually emotionless face.
It was proof of just how displeased he was.
“Rest well over the weekend. Starting next week, the selection matches for representatives in each event will begin, so be prepared.”
The Lumerne-Seirun Games was an event in which all students participated.
However, some events required representatives to be chosen.
Being a representative for the games was an immense honor.
And for certain events, representatives were chosen regardless of their academic performance.
“That is all.”
Having finished his announcements, Halind left the classroom.
Instantly, the students of Class 5 began to chatter amongst themselves in their respective friend groups.
“Chelsea, you’re in the music club, right? Are you performing as a representative?”
“Yeah. I’m singing soprano.”
“A first-year, beating out all the upperclassmen?”
“That’s amazing.”
“You haven’t heard her sing, have you? It’s no joke.”
Chelsea was said to be the ace of the music club.
Though only a first-year, her voice was so fine and beautiful that she had been chosen as the club’s representative.
“Karl, what’s your club doing?”
At Dade’s question, Karl grinned and made a circle with his fingers.
“The upperclassmen said the profits from the games are pretty sweet. So we’re brainstorming a bunch of business ideas.”
“By the way, don’t all clubs, especially for things like recitals, need a big budget?”
“Yeah. The music club said their expenses are way higher than usual because of stage setup and performance prep.”
“Even the commerce club needs to get its business proposal approved before it can operate during the games.”
“Doesn’t the student council usually handle that stuff?”
The gazes of the entire chattering class turned to one side of the room.
Leo, who had been reading a book as if uninterested in the club talk, looked up.
“What are you looking at?”
Before them stood the highest power among the student body.
Of course, the practical duties had been entrusted to Vice President Hark, and his official activities as president wouldn't start until next year.
But did that mean Leo held no power?
That wasn't the case at all.
“Class Rep! Class Rep! Hey! Hey!”
Iliana scurried over to Leo and crouched before him, her eyes sparkling as she looked up at him.
“You know, with juuuust a little more budget, the Magic Swordsman Club could make a really cool magic sword to show off.”
The Magic Swordsman Club’s presentation mainly consisted of crafting magic swords.
Magic swordsmen, who wielded both sword and magic, were all specialized in their creation.
Some were even said to craft magic swords superior to those made by alchemists.
Following Iliana’s lead, the students of Class 5 gathered around Leo.
“Leo! A wyvern’s fang just came into Lumeria City! I want to use it for summoning research, but we don’t have the budget!”
“Class Rep! As for me!”
As the students swarmed him with sparkling eyes, Leo nodded and pulled a notepad from his pocket.
“Go on, tell me.”
“Ooooh!”
“So generous! Class Rep!”
“It’s great having the student council president in our class!”
A few of them let out cheers.
Watching the scene, Chelsea and Karl clicked their tongues.
Nella, the pretty girl with her usual languid smile, asked the two of them.
“Aren’t you two going to ask Leo for anything?”
“Nope.”
“They’ve been in the same class as Leo for half a year, and they still don’t get his personality?”
After writing down all his classmates’ requests in his notepad, Leo stood up and muttered as he walked toward the classroom door.
“To think my first job as student council president is to punish my classmates for improper solicitation. This is so disheartening. Should I have all the clubs here internally investigated?”
“Hey! Get him!”
“Grab him!”
“Aaaah! Class Reeeep!”
“We were wrong!”
The students of Class 5 clung to Leo’s legs, dragging him down.
***
After the exams ended, Leo headed to the student council president’s office in the Tower of Heroes.
Even though Hark was handling the transition, Leo, as the president, still had to show his face at the student council.
As Leo entered the student council office, he found the members busily at work.
“It’s Leo.”
“Welcome, Leo!”
The fifth-year students smiled brightly at him.
To the seniors on the verge of graduation, Leo was a very cute junior.
“You all seem busy.”
“Yeah. It’s because of the Lumerne-Seirun Games.”
“Take it easy. Here, have some snacks.”
“Huh? Are these for us?”
“Our next student council president is already taking care of the members!”
“I was just crashing from low blood sugar, this is perfect.”
“You’re already at the age where you crash from low blood sugar? Well, I guess five years here has aged us a lot.”
“You wanna die?”
The fifth-years glared and bickered with each other.
In truth, the expensive snacks were what the Class 5 students had foisted on Leo to buy his silence.
Thanks to Leo’s dislike for snacks, they became a treat for the student council members.
Leaving the fifth-year seniors behind, he entered the president’s office.
Inside, Hark was taking over the president’s duties from Lis, his face completely drained of life.
“Just as expected from the heir of Liguard. There’s not much I need to teach you.”
Lis smiled, patting Hark’s shoulder.
Hark, his eyes ringed with dark circles from lack of sleep, rubbed them and said.
“No. Can’t I just take over Senior Torua’s duties and have that one take over yours, Senior Lis?”
Hark, his face worn with exhaustion, pointed to Elena, who was receiving the vice president’s duties from Torua in a corner of the room.
At his words, Elena smiled sweetly.
“How could a third-year like me become vice president over you, Senior Hark?”
“Hey, you’re the one who was making a fuss about becoming student council president until the first semester, you know?”
“Elena doesn’t remember anything like that~ Hark~”
“Don’t call me by that name you used when we were kids. It’s creepy.”
Hark’s face soured.
Though the two were famous for their poor relationship, right now, Hark was just unilaterally taking his stress out on Elena.
In truth, Elena was finding great satisfaction in Hark’s suffering.
Amidst this, Lis spotted Leo.
“You’re here.”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Leo walked to the office window, looked out, and spoke.
“I’m so honored that two seniors, the heirs of Jer-on and Liguard, the three great families of Lumerne, are helping someone as lacking as me with the student council’s work.”
“You… The moment you become a second-year, I’m challenging you to a duel and dumping all this work on you!”
“Be my guest.”
At Leo’s nonchalant reply, Hark clutched the back of his neck while Elena chuckled.
“I hear you’re busy preparing for the Lumerne-Seirun Games. Is there anything I can do to help?”
At Leo’s question, Lis replied.
“In that case, could you go do a round of the clubs?”
“A round of the clubs?”
“Yeah. Around this time, they’re all busy preparing for the games. They’re swamped with things they need and budget requests. Could you handle that for me? It’s part of the president’s job, too.”
“I understand.”
Leo nodded.
“It’ll be tough on your own, so I’ll assign you a secretary.”
With those words, a familiar first-year girl with black hair entered the room.
“I look forward to working with you, Young Master Leo.”
It was none other than Chen Xia.
As she smiled sweetly, Leo tilted his head.
“Right, you said you were in the student council.”
“Yes.”
“Well then, have a good time.”
Lis sent the two first-years off on their inspection.
Watching them leave, Torua tilted her head.
“Is it okay to send two first-years?”
At her question, Lis rested his chin on his hand and pointed at Hark.
“Looking at this guy, isn’t it more than enough?”
Leo, who was already plotting to work the notoriously lazy Hark to the bone the moment he became president, was certainly no ordinary student.
At Lis’s words, Torua nodded.
“You have a point.”