Chapter 404
Chapter Title: The World Summit
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404.
With the mission practicum concluded and the first and second years returning to Lumerne, the academy regained its vitality.
Lumerne was a school where one had to constantly compete and strive to survive.
As a result, students were expelled from every grade, every year.
That was why the first and second years made up the largest portion of Lumerne's student body.
With the entire first and second-year classes away for the mission practicum, it was true that Lumerne itself had seemed sparsely populated.
“See? School is the best. The outside world is dangerous. Nothing but hardship out there~ Isn't it great just studying like this?”
Karl stretched languidly as he spoke after the morning magic class ended.
At his words, Chloe, who was organizing her textbooks, smiled brightly.
“Oh, really? In that case, should we take this opportunity to review today's lesson?”
“Sorry. I'm allergic to the word 'review'.”
Karl said slyly.
Chloe narrowed her eyes at him.
“Finals are just around the corner. What are you going to do?”
Chloe asked, her eyes still narrowed.
In response to Chloe's words, Karl burst out laughing. “Wahahaha!”
“Tomorrow is another day!”
At that, Chelsea, who was leaving the classroom with Abad, widened her eyes.
“You have a sun?”
“That's a little harsh, don't you think?”
“But it's the truth, isn't it? Karl, your school life is dark. Just like Celia Jerdinger's hair.”
At Chelsea's merciless words, Karl let out a mournful laugh.
Amidst this, Abad spoke up.
“Personally, I hope you survive, Karl.”
Hearing Abad, Karl, who was leaning back in his chair, sighed. “Haa…”
“You think I don't want to? In that case, want to help me make a cheat sheet?”
“Karl.”
As Chloe glared, Karl shrugged.
“It's a joke, a joke. Not that Abad would ever go along with something like that, anyway.”
Abad Llewellyn, the most handsome boy of the second year with his ever-gentle smile, was, contrary to his soft appearance, exceedingly cool-headed and firm.
He was the opposite of Chelsea, who, despite her sharp words, always looked out for others.
“Anyway, I wonder what the practical assignment for the final exams will be.”
“The midterm assignment was about familiars.”
“We didn't have any particularly special classes this time, did we?”
Chloe, Chelsea, and Abad discussed the assignment.
Listening to their conversation from the side, Karl muttered.
“Sometimes I feel like I don't belong here.”
“Why?”
Leo asked as he gathered his textbooks, and Karl shook his head.
“It's clearly a gathering of the top honor students in our year.”
Leo chuckled at his words and stood up.
“Going to lunch?”
“Yeah.”
“Let's go together.”
As Karl got up from his seat, Leo spoke.
“I have plans today.”
“Plans? Can I tag along?”
“I don't see why not. I'm eating with the student council.”
Karl's face clouded over.
Having been dragged to the student council before due to a drug commotion, Karl wanted to avoid it.
Shuddering at the memory, Karl said.
“I'll pass.”
Leo burst out laughing at his response.
“What about you guys?”
“We have plans today. We're having a meal with the students from Rodren.”
Abad said with a smile.
“I also have lunch plans with Celia today.”
Chloe said she had plans with her best friend, Celia.
“Alright, see you later then.”
Leo nodded and left the classroom.
***
The student council of the Hero's Tower.
“Ooh, if it isn't the student council president?”
A fifth-year student council member greeted Leo with a pleased expression as he entered the office.
“Hello, senior.”
“With Hark and Elena away, you're the one showing up to the council office, Leo.”
The fifth-year male student, Toren, looked amused.
The two core members currently leading the student council's work, Hark and Elena, were away on a dispatched mission to Elehem, each leading their own dungeon raid party.
As two students vying for the title of the strongest in their year, it was only natural for them to be dispatched to Elehem, where a large-scale hero dungeon had appeared.
As a result, there was no one left to manage the student council, which was why Leo, who had been hands-off with council duties, had come.
“You might be the youngest student council president in Lumerne's history, but you're also probably the first ghost member president.”
“I'm still only a second year. I have to learn diligently before you seniors graduate.”
As Leo spoke with a smile, Toren made a strange face.
“The way I see it, you'll probably still ignore your council duties even when you're a fifth year.”
“No way.”
Leo shrugged slyly, but Toren didn't believe him.
And for good reason. Even though Leo was the president, he was still bossing around the current top fifth year.
Leo was someone who could work Hark, the official strongest in Lumerne, to the bone without batting an eye.
Toren had studied alongside Hark for five years as a classmate in the Knight Department.
*I can say with certainty that Hark is having the toughest school years of his life right now.*
From his first year, Hark had been the top of his class.
As the heir to the Liguard family, one of Lumerne's three great houses, even the upperclassmen had never dared to treat him lightly.
Although he napped constantly, day in and day out, his grades were also at the top of his year.
He had a bad relationship with Elena Jer-on, who was a year below him, but even Elena, known as the Queen of Lumerne, and her faction couldn't dare to mess with Hark.
And then last year, a student appeared who tormented even that Hark.
That was Leo.
Toren shook his head.
*Once we graduate, Leo will probably dump all the student council work on Elena Jer-on.*
And when Elena graduates?
*He'll pass it to Lil.*
Lil Luce, the representative for the year above him.
She was also an exceptionally talented student.
And when even Lil graduated, he would surely pass the student council work on to his own brilliant classmates.
*Well, it has nothing to do with me, I guess.*
Toren shrugged and said.
“I called you today because there's a rather important matter that needs your approval.”
“What is it?”
“Let's talk about it later when the others arrive.”
Toren said as he organized some documents.
Just then, a fourth-year female student from the Knight Department entered the student council office.
“Ah, Young Master Leo. You were already here. I should have gone to escort you.”
Niel Roda.
She was from the Roda family, a vassal to the Jerdingers, and also served as Celia's knight.
She was originally in the art club, but after Leo became the student council president, she joined the council to help with its affairs.
It was her own wish, as well as her family's.
The Jerdinger family wanted to solidify the position of Leo, who had become the youngest student council president after Lis, as much as possible.
The conditions for joining the student council were normally quite strict, but since Niel was an honor student, there were no major issues.
“Hello, Senior Toren.”
Niel greeted him with a radiant smile.
A moment later.
The student council office door opened, and a fifth-year student from the Magic Department entered.
Upon seeing his face, Niel's expression soured.
It was none other than Machel Rujia, who belonged to a vassal family of the Llewellyns.
Naturally, he and Niel were like cats and dogs.
“It's been a while, Young Master Leo.”
Machel treated Leo with the utmost respect.
Although Leo was from the Jerdinger family, he was first and foremost a friend of Chelsea and Abad, and furthermore, a mage who had achieved incredible feats in the magical world at a young age.
Even though Machel was his senior and older, he had more than enough reason to treat Leo politely.
“I heard Chelsea was eating with the students from the Rodren Empire. You didn't join them?”
“The student council work is busy. It's a shame, but I came here thinking I should grab a quick bite and get to work.”
Most of the upper-year student council members were absent, having followed Hark and Elena to Elehem.
Therefore, these three were the only upperclassmen remaining in the student council who could discuss important matters.
“Alright, let's begin the student council meeting. First, regarding the club budgets before summer vacation.”
Toren, who was acting as the secretary, looked at Machel with a cold expression.
“Machel. I hear the Magical Engineering Department is asking for another budget increase. In preparation for the Luse Competition in the second semester.”
“That's right. Magical engineering inevitably requires a large budget.”
At Machel's words, Niel narrowed her eyes.
“Still, this is going too far. Senior Hark always approved the budget with his authority as vice president, but this seems a bit much.”
The two from the Knight Department raised objections, but Machel didn't bat an eye.
“This was already discussed and settled with Hark. Or should I call for Jaim Dect? He could explain why the extra budget is necessary.”
At Machel's words, Toren pressed his temples.
*If we call him, he'll probably start foaming at the mouth and spouting incomprehensible nonsense.*
Jaim Dect was from the Magic Department, but he was a close friend of Hark's since their first year.
As such, Hark had granted Jaim's requests.
Of course, it was true that the Magical Engineering Department had achieved many outstanding results this year, but it was still difficult to allocate any more additional budget.
Just then, Leo, who had been listening quietly, spoke up.
“Should I go talk to him? Or will you, Senior Machel, go and explain it nicely?”
At Leo's words, Machel hesitated for a moment.
Then, he readily nodded.
“I will explain it to Jaim myself.”
“Then let's agree that there will be no additional budget allocation.”
Watching Leo resolve the issue of the Magical Engineering Department's extra budget so simply, Toren spoke.
“That Jaim fellow is going to come running here, foaming at the mouth, you know.”
“He definitely won't. If he doesn't accept it, I'll go see him myself. Well, not that Senior Jaim would want to talk to me.”
Jaim Dect, the head of the Magical Engineering Department, would have a fit and run away whenever he saw Leo.
That was because last year, he had underestimated Leo, the first-year student council president, and tried to swindle a larger budget, only to face a crisis where his budget was nearly cut instead.
For mages engaged in magical research, the scariest words in the world were 'budget cut'.
In that sense, to Jaim, the existence of the student council president—an absolute authority who could logically cut the Magical Engineering Department's budget—was more terrifying than the Grim Reaper.
Thus, starting with the club agenda, the student council meeting proceeded.
A short while later.
Toren brought up the final item on the agenda.
“There's one matter that came from the school's board of directors just before today's meeting.”
At Toren's words, everyone looked puzzled.
It was rare for the Lumerne board to deliver an agenda item directly.
“You all know that the world is buzzing about the first and second years' mission practicum, right?”
Everyone nodded at Toren's words.
The first and second years had completed their entire schedule and returned to their daily lives at the academy.
However, the ripple effects from the Elehem incident were far from over.
“Discussions regarding the Elehem issue, as well as last year's [Return of the Nebula's Progenitor] and the recent [Return of the Comet's Mage]. I hear that the hero academies have been discussing the need for a venue to have in-depth talks on these various problems.”
Toren handed a document to Leo, the student council president.
Looking at it, Leo narrowed his eyes.
“A World Summit?”
“Yes.”
Toren nodded.
“To coincide with the final exam schedule. A [World Summit] will be held here at Lumerne.”