Chapter 486
Chapter Title: Aftermath
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486.
With Leo's defeat of Tamus, the incident was finally brought to a close.
His army, resurrected by Tamus's necromancy, vanished the moment he fell.
The Kanel Kingdom, too, found stability.
And so, with the matter concluded, Lumerne dispatched someone to manage the aftermath.
It was none other than Lumerne's Vice President of the Student Council, Hark.
When Hark heard that dead heroes had been resurrected as undead by the hand of a necromancer king, his expression grew grave.
Then, when he heard about the true nature of the Justice Guild, he clicked his tongue.
And when Hark heard that most of the Justice Guild's leadership, including its Master, Jerome, were dead...
“Hey! Hark!”
“Snap out of it!”
He clutched the back of his neck and collapsed.
As Vice President, Hark was responsible for all of the Student Council President's practical duties.
The problem was that ever since Leo had become president, major incidents had been happening one after another.
The rapidly changing state of the world.
The role of hero candidates in response.
A war with paperwork, invisible to others, tormented Hark.
It had even gotten to the point where people were saying the current student council was the most overworked in Lumerne's 3,000-year history.
Leo was dumping an enormous amount of work on him.
On top of that, Hark had been the epitome of a lazy student since he first enrolled.
Given that his mana trait was 'accumulation' through sleep, it couldn't be helped.
But despite all that, Hark was the top student of his year.
As such, he showed himself to be an extremely competent acting president.
After the situation was handed over, Leo returned to his room, where he told Lil what had happened. She exclaimed in excitement.
“That’s what makes Senior Hark so amazing.”
Lil's eyes sparkled.
“He’s incredibly competent, and he has such a distinct character! Ah! I’m so envious of that uniqueness.”
“Character?”
“Yes. He’s famous even at other schools as Lumerne’s Sleeping Vice President.”
“What a strange nickname.”
Leo was muttering in wonder.
Just then, the door opened and Hark walked in.
“Hello, Senior Hark!”
Lil greeted him energetically.
“Uh, yeah.”
Hark, his eyes hollow, returned her greeting before sitting down in front of Leo.
“This is an incident that’s shaken the entire student council, yet you look so calm.”
“Ah, that’s because the Lumerne Student Council is full of talented people.”
“Right. Well said, President.”
Hark said with a serious face.
“I’m entering my second semester as a fifth-year now. I’m busy. And it wouldn’t be good for the underclassmen for someone who’s about to leave to be running the school in the president’s stead. So, I think it’s time for me to step down from my position as Vice President. Like you said, our school has plenty of competent students.”
“Retire? That’s a problem. You can still work more, senior. Everyone thinks highly of how you run the student council.”
“Please, just let me retire.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Ah, how about I install a bed in the Vice President’s office? If you don’t like that, I’ll make accommodations so you can work from your own room without having to come to the student council office.”
“Kraaaaaah!”
“Senior Hark! Calm down!”
As Hark’s eyes rolled back and he lunged at Leo, a terrified Lil tried to hold him back.
The commotion brought the student council members waiting outside rushing into the room.
They then dragged Hark out.
“Just appoint that Elena girl as Vice President! Let me retire! Let me reti— Mmph, mmph!”
Struggling and thrashing, Hark was dragged away with his mouth covered.
“Leo. How long do you plan to work Hark like this?”
One of the fifth-years asked cautiously, and Leo smiled brightly.
“Until the very moment he graduates.”
At those words, the fourth-year student council secretary, Niel Roda, nodded and scribbled something on his record sheet.
“Vice President Hark requested to retire, but President Leo did not grant permission. The plan is to make him work until the day he graduates.”
Nodding to himself, Niel muttered inwardly.
‘I have to find a way to get out of the student council before I become a fifth-year.’
“Senior Niel, you want to leave the student council?”
“Eek? Y-Young Master?”
Niel jumped in fright at the voice that sounded like the grim reaper from behind him.
‘H-how? Did Young Master Leo learn mind-reading or something?!’
“N-no, of course not. I have to support you, Young Master. Ahahahaha.”
Niel shook his head, laughing awkwardly.
Leo looked at him and said with a smile.
“You were free to join, but you’re not free to leave.”
Hearing this, the faces of Lil and the other fourth-year students turned deathly pale.
The fifth-years let out mournful laughs.
‘It’s not just Hark. We’re all going to be working until the day we graduate.’
***
Having entrusted all the important work to his student council seniors, Leo enjoyed a leisurely time.
In the shade of the training grounds, Leo was relaxing and reading a book.
Lil had taken the initiative to gather the orphan soldiers in the training grounds and was telling them stories about heroes.
As befitting a class representative, Lil’s scores in Heroics were the highest in her year.
She had plenty of interesting stories to tell, and the orphan soldiers listened intently.
“The people of the Kanel Kingdom don’t seem to have a very good image of heroes.”
Anya remarked as she approached Leo.
“The Justice Guild abandoned them, so of course they wouldn’t. But thanks to your efforts, not everyone feels that way, right?”
“We are but shadows, though.”
“I’ve said it before, but what does that matter? Everyone just has to do their best in their own position.”
Leo said, his eyes still fixed on his book.
“What about the follow-up measures?”
“For now, we are moving to stop the war. In the Kanel Kingdom’s case, the king and his ministers will be deposed, and Crown Prince Jeremin will inherit the throne.”
During the crisis, Jeremin had shown he had more than enough qualities to be a leader.
Public sentiment had already turned against the current king, so making Jeremin the new king was a simple matter.
Although he was an ordinary person who couldn't wield special abilities, his selfless devotion to the people of the capital had left a deep impression not only on the citizens of this country but also on the shadows.
“As shadows, we shouldn’t interfere with the world’s affairs… but since he’s already being called a hero, it shouldn’t be a major issue.”
Anya smiled gently.
Secretly helping him ascend to the throne was her own unilateral decision.
As Leo smirked at Anya,
“I’ve told you time and again, I’m not that great of a person. My brother is the one who is truly amazing!”
Lil was passionately proclaiming to the orphan soldiers.
“But the knights said you were like a goddess, Commander.”
One of the orphan soldiers raised his hand and said, but Lil shook her head.
“As I said then, I am not a god. If there is anyone who is like a true god, it is my brother over there!”
The orphan soldiers’ gazes turned to Leo.
Hearing this, Anya clapped her hands.
“As expected of Lady Lil. To call Lord Leo a god. You have a discerning eye!”
As Leo clicked his tongue at the enthusiastically clapping Anya,
“The three of you, you were here.”
Jeremin approached them in the royal palace’s training grounds.
“I heard you were leaving tomorrow. Is that true?”
At Jeremin’s question, Lil nodded.
“Yes. Our capable seniors are handling the aftermath. We must return to school and focus on our studies.”
“Ah, I haven’t even been able to properly thank you all. Then, I shall hold a party tonight. As grand as possible…!”
Lil smiled gently and placed her index finger on Jeremin’s lips, who was speaking in a fluster.
“You know as well as I do, Lord Jeremin, that caring for the people devastated by the war comes first, don’t you?”
“L-Lady Lil.”
“I will be waiting for the news that you have become a wonderful king, Lord Jeremin.”
Jeremin stared blankly at Lil as she winked, then spoke.
“Lady Lil, I will be sure to invite you to my coronation.”
“That would be an honor!”
“C-can I write to you? I mean… I’d like to let you know how these children are doing.”
“Yes! That would make me very happy. I’ll be sure to reply right away.”
Jeremin’s face brightened.
“I’m so happy to have made a new friend! I’m sure we’ll be great friends, Lord Jeremin!”
But his shoulders slumped upon hearing Lil’s words.
Leo clicked his tongue as he watched her.
“Ruthless.”
“Lady Lil is famous. She’s pretty, has an upright and easygoing personality, so she’s popular enough to be mentioned among students from other schools, not just Lumerne. She’s actually received many confessions.”
“Really? I haven’t heard any rumors like that.”
“That’s because she shoots them down unconsciously, just like that.”
“I see. But how do you know all that?”
“As a shadow, it is basic to keep track of the personal information of hero candidates.”
Leo clicked his tongue at Anya's words.
And so, their time in the Kanel Kingdom came to a close.
***
Upon returning to the academy, Leo and Lil submitted their mission reports and went back to their respective dorms.
Early in the morning.
When he returned to his dorm, it was completely empty.
Although a tremendous amount had happened, the time Leo had spent on his practical mission was very short.
As a result, Leo became the first student among all the second-years to complete his mission assignment and return.
Entering the dorm lounge, Leo picked up a newspaper.
In the Lumerne dorms, newspapers carrying news from around the world were delivered every morning.
‘Still no mention of this incident yet.’
The fall of the Justice Guild.
The undeadification of dead heroes.
And the erasure of their names from the Hero Record.
The fall of the Justice Guild alone was bound to cause a massive stir.
‘But compared to the two events that will follow, that’s nothing.’
It would likely be an event so tremendous it would turn the world upside down, a world that probably wouldn't be surprised by much after the resurrection of Erebos’s fragments.
‘I should tell Mel to handle it well.’
Leo was sighing and reading through the newspaper.
“Hm?”
He paused when he saw an article that took up an entire page, written in massive headlines.
Then, he let out a smirk.
“You finally did it.”
The article was about Seirun’s Lunia.
It was a special feature announcing that Lunia had formed a pact with a Phoenix.
In addition, the news that she had become the next Student Council President of Seirun was also reported.
“Everyone is steadily growing.”
Leo was smiling.
*Flutter-!*
The window opened, and a bird-shaped, low-level wind familiar flew in.
*Chirp-chirp-!*
The familiar delivered a letter to Leo and immediately flew away.
Seeing this, Leo checked the letter with a puzzled expression.
‘A summons from the Headmaster?’
***
*Swoooosh-!*
A deep forest somewhere in the eastern part of the continent.
This was a forest untouched by human feet.
A gentle autumn breeze blew.
*Rustle- Rustle-*
The sound of stepping on fallen autumn leaves echoed.
The sound of crumbling leaves resonated quietly.
The sound of an autumn forest.
*Rustle- Crunch- Swish- Swish- Swish- Swish-*
The sound of the woman’s footsteps changed.
Soft, vibrant blades of grass.
A spring scene unfolded before her eyes.
At last, the woman carefully sat down in front of one of two tombstones.
“I… I’m here, Master.”