Chapter 189
Chapter Title: A Mysterious Gift
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189
News of Leo’s visit to the Gardening Club spread like wildfire throughout all the clubs.
With the Lumerne-Seirun Exhibition just around the corner, it was a sensitive time for budget discussions.
As such, most clubs welcomed Leo’s appearance.
Among them were quite a few with grand plans to squeeze a larger budget out of the supposedly easygoing first-year president-elect.
“I don’t think we can approve this for additional funding.”
“What?!”
The head of the Magic Engineering Club stared at Leo, his expression one of utter shock.
“Why? Why? Why! Why no additional funding! I heard the Gardening Club got theirs!”
James Dect, the fourth-year head of the Magic Engineering Club, demanded indignantly.
Leo looked at him and replied.
“A spatial magic formula that drastically reduces mana consumption. That’s been the Magic Engineering Club’s long-term project for the past two years, correct?”
“Yes! Once it’s complete, this research will bring in far more money than the budget we’ve used up to now!”
“Be honest with me. In your opinion, how close is it to completion?”
“It’s almost done!”
“Almost?”
Leo’s face was a blank mask.
At that, James flinched before speaking.
“H-Halfway.”
“Halfway?”
“We’ve solved all the difficult parts! All that’s left are the minor details!”
“You’re a graduating senior next year. When the head of the Magic Engineering Club graduates, who’s going to take over?”
“I have capable and brilliant juniors!”
At James’s words, the members of the Magic Engineering Club let out a collective sigh.
This was the same James who berated them for not understanding the simplest things.
But now that he was desperate, they were suddenly capable.
‘He’s just like the last club head.’
‘No, we have to play along if we want the budget.’
Every member of the Magic Engineering Club had invested at least half a year into this research.
So they were desperate to secure more funding.
“That’s right, Leo. We’ll carry on the project after our senior graduates!”
“Yeah, this research has been ongoing since our graduated seniors were here, and it’s constantly improving!”
The first, second, and third-years all appealed for the necessity of the research.
‘Well, it’s not theoretically impossible.’
Leo examined the magic formula.
He could see that a great deal of research had indeed been conducted.
But the formula was still a long way from producing any tangible results.
“Still, it’s not something you can present at the Lumerne-Seirun Exhibition. The additional budget is meant for exhibition preparations, isn’t it?”
At Chen Xia’s remark, James sighed and placed a hand on his forehead.
“See, this is the problem with the Knight Division. Magical research has value even when it’s a work in progress. In fact, our Magic Engineering Club has been praised by the Seirun professors at every exhibition!”
“Yes. And according to this, you’ve been out-evaluated every time by the Seirun Magic Engineering Club, which presented practical magic formulas.”
When Chen Xia spoke with her characteristic gentle smile, James flared up.
“Magic is the realm of inquiry and creation! Don’t you dare compare us to the Seirun Magic Engineering Club, which only pursues practical things without any dreams!”
“Hear, hear!”
“Our Magic Engineering Club is staking everything on completing this magic! We’re going to revolutionize the world!”
The Magic Engineering Club students responded enthusiastically to James’s speech.
“Now! Let me explain, one by one, why our Magic Engineering Club needs additional funding! Blackboard! Chalk!”
At James’s shout, club members brought over a small blackboard and chalk.
“Spatial magic works on the principle of folding space to travel, right? For an entrance to reach a distant location, you inevitably have to fold a large space, which requires a lot of power! So! We fold the space into smaller sections, over and over again! Like a spring! Then the mana consumed…”
Watching James launch into a complex explanation, Chen Xia shot a troubled look at Leo.
After all, she was a layman when it came to magic.
She couldn’t properly grasp the reasoning behind such a difficult explanation.
Leo listened to James, nodding in agreement with an occasional “Hmm” and “I see.”
Seeing this, James smiled inwardly with triumph.
‘Professor Ren and Torua both praised our research as brilliant!’
The Magic Engineering Club had been able to receive a large budget without producing results largely due to the influence of Ren and Torua, who were fond of new endeavors.
With Torua, who had considerable sway in the Magic Department and had been the student council vice president, backing them, they’d never had to worry about funding until now.
‘Leo Flove is a mage, first and foremost! He’ll surely acknowledge our research!’
Convinced of this, James set down the chalk.
“So, what do you think?”
“It’s amazing.”
“Right? So, about the additional funding…”
“But at this rate, I think we’ll have to cut not just the additional funding, but next year’s budget as well.”
*Crack-!*
At Leo’s completely unexpected words, James’s body went rigid.
“You! You didn’t understand my explanation, did you?”
“I understood it all too well. Which is why I’m now going to explain the reasons for the cuts.”
Leo picked up a piece of chalk, approached the blackboard on which James had delivered his lengthy speech, and pointed out every part that needed to be fixed and every area that required improvement.
*Clack.*
Putting down the chalk, Leo looked at the gaping James and said.
“If you conduct your research in this direction, you can reduce expenses. So we’ll have to make cuts, won’t we?”
The improvements Leo mentioned were things James was already aware of.
He hadn’t explained them because he was trying to find any excuse to get more funding, but Leo had pinpointed them exactly.
“W-Wait! We have other research besides this magic…”
“You said you would stake the Magic Engineering Club’s honor on completing this magic and revolutionizing the world. So you should focus solely on this research without worrying about anything else. Xia. Note the budget cuts and report them to Elena.”
“Understood, Young Master Leo.”
“What? E-Elena?”
Hark, who handled practical matters, wasn’t particularly fond of magic.
So he would surely leave anything magic-related to Elena.
And Elena was also the acting director of the academy.
She was essentially the source of the school’s budget.
‘She’ll be pleased to cut unnecessary spending.’
Elena would undoubtedly slash their budget without mercy.
Torua, the Magic Engineering Club’s staunch supporter, was scheduled to graduate.
As for their other pillar of support, Ren…
‘Student Leo said to cut the budget? Then we shall cut it.’
That was likely what he would say.
It was a well-known fact that Ren was making every effort to lure Leo into the Magic Department.
In the end, James had no choice but to grab the hem of Leo’s trousers and plead.
“Please, just don’t cut the budget! We don’t even need the additional funds! Please!”
The other Magic Engineering Club members also grabbed Leo’s feet, begging and pleading.
In the end, the Magic Engineering Club received no additional funding at all.
The next place they visited was ‘The Power,’ a physical training club composed mainly of students from the Knight Division.
Leo and Chen Xia watched the members of The Power working out and spoke.
“...Do you need additional funding?”
“We do. We need to buy supplements that help build muscle.”
“Do those even work?”
“Of course. Behold! These magnificent biceps!”
The Power’s club head, fourth-year Dick Bickler, flexed his arm.
Chen Xia marveled at the sight of the massive, rippling muscle.
“Leo! As you know, aura and technique are important in a real fight, but physical training is just as crucial. We at The Power aim for greater heights through physical conditioning! Look! At this beautiful physique!”
With a grunt, muscles bulged all over Dick’s body.
Watching him, Leo said.
“You don’t really need muscles like that for actual combat. We won’t be providing additional funding.”
“Hey, don’t be so blunt. Just a little… Huh? Half would be fine. No, even a quarter…!”
Dick pleaded with his junior.
The clubs that had schemed to easily get additional funding just because Leo was a first-year often found themselves facing budget cuts in the worst-case scenarios.
By evening, Leo had come to be regarded as a grim reaper by the club heads.
“Welcome, Leo.”
Celia greeted Leo as he stopped by the Art Club.
“The head of the Art Club…”
“She got scared of you and ran away. Said the Art Club doesn't need any additional funding.”
Celia let out a small sigh, recalling how the club head, who had been dreaming of getting more funds from Leo just a moment ago, had fled upon hearing the rumors.
Hearing this, Leo tilted his head.
“She ran away before I got here? Hmm? Does she have something to hide?”
“No! Nothing to hide! Nothing at all!”
Miria Juliet, the head of the Art Club who had been hiding in the club’s storage room, burst out in a panic, kicking the door open.
She ran over, panting, and managed to catch her breath before speaking.
“W-Welcome to the Art Club! Since you’re here, would you like to see the pieces we’re submitting for the Lumerne-Seirun Exhibition?”
“Yes.”
Leo readily nodded.
Guided by Miria, Leo and Chen Xia looked at the works in progress.
The one that stood out the most was a painting of a phoenix.
“This is wonderful. The expression of the flames is especially incredible.”
“Right? Celia painted this one.”
“Oh.”
Leo looked at his cousin with admiration.
Celia primly swept her hair back.
And just as magnificent as Celia’s painting was a certain sculpture.
Leo stopped short as he looked at it.
The sculpture was of Luna, wearing a benevolent smile.
‘How unfitting.’
He let out a dry laugh and asked.
“Whose work is this?”
It was clear at a glance that the skill involved was extraordinary.
“It’s Woreden’s.”
“Woreden? He’s in the Art Club too?”
“Yeah. He doesn’t come often, but his sculpting skills are amazing.”
“I see.”
Leo nodded, impressed.
Finally, after they had finished looking at the art, Miria asked Leo.
“What did you think?”
“It’s all excellent.”
“Of course! The Art Club has beaten Seirun’s every year at the exhibition!”
Miria puffed out her chest confidently. Leo watched her and said.
“Shall we talk about the budget now? Don’t you think the Art Club’s budget is a bit too high?”
*Thud.*
Miria collapsed to the floor as if her legs had given out.
She looked up at Leo with eyes full of terror.
“P-Please, just don’t cut it…”
“I’m joking.”
Leo smiled and left the Art Club.
Celia, who was seeing him out, narrowed her eyes.
“Leo.”
“What?”
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”
“Yeah. It’s fun.”
‘...If he’s like this already, I can’t imagine how terrifying he’ll be when he officially starts his duties as president.’
Celia shook her head, thinking that her cousin was more than capable of ruling through fear.
That evening.
Lumerne’s annual banquet was held.
Every year after the second-semester midterms, Lumerne gathered all grade levels for a grand feast.
It was an event that marked the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.
And autumn was also the season when Kyle had defeated Erebos.
The banquet also served to celebrate the day peace was restored.
‘Though I didn’t even know it was autumn back then.’
In the grand hall adjacent to the Hero’s Tower.
Students from all years were seated, sharing a meal.
Amidst it all, wind spirits zipped about above the hall, bestowing gifts upon the students.
As it was a time that heralded new hope, there was also a tradition for adults to give children gifts they had always wanted.
Leo, too, had received various presents from his parents around this time every year.
But this year was a little different.
“...This is an insane amount of gifts.”
Leo wore a dubious expression as he watched the wind spirits busily bring him gift boxes.
Karl checked the names on the boxes and clicked his tongue.
“These are from the most powerful people in various nations and factions. They must have heard you became the student council president and are trying to curry favor with a gift offensive.”
*Rip-!*
Leo tore the wrapping off a palm-sized box and checked its contents.
Inside was a necklace.
“Wow, is that an artifact from Dieden?”
Karl exclaimed in admiration.
“Dieden, isn’t that the magic workshop Chelsea favors?”
“Yeah. It’s a place even most noble families can’t afford.”
Shaking his head in amazement, Karl examined the necklace closely.
“It has a shield spell on it. This is incredibly expensive. Who would gift something like this? They must really want to get on your good side.”
At Karl’s words, Leo placed the necklace back in its box.
“I don’t really need it.”
“It’s better than nothing, right?”
Karl chuckled and looked at a few more of the gift boxes.
“This one doesn’t have a sender’s name.”
Just as Karl said, a long box wrapped in simple brown paper had no sender’s name on it.
“All items brought in from the outside undergo a safety inspection, so it’s probably not dangerous, but… it’s suspicious.”
Chelsea, who had been focused on her food, commented while munching on pasta.
*Rip-!*
Leo tore open the wrapping with a curious expression.
An old, smooth wooden box was revealed.
Leo carefully opened the lid.
*Click.*
Inside was a plain-looking longsword and a letter.
“A longsword?”
“What’s this? It looks ordinary.”
Chelsea and Karl wore puzzled expressions.
Amidst all the extravagant gifts, a plain longsword was an oddity.
“I can feel a unique mana from it, though…”
“Wait, I’ve never seen this material before.”
Karl, who came from a family of alchemists, said in surprise.
Leo gently ran his fingers over the surface of the longsword and murmured.
“Dragon bone.”
“What?”
“Dragon bone?!”
The shocked cries drew the attention of those nearby to Leo.
Leo checked the contents of the letter.
The handwriting was small and neat.
-Congratulations on becoming the student council president. I hope you will make good use of it.