Chapter 551
Chapter Title: The Vice President's Condition
-----------------------------------------------------------------
551.
Luke glanced to his right.
Seated there were the fifth-years, who could be considered the pinnacle of the student body, seniors as revered as the heavens.
In the very center of the fifth-years, in what could be called the seat of honor, sat Hark, the vice president who was effectively running Lumerne.
‘To be precise, he’s practically lying down.’
He had tilted his chair back, balancing it on its rear legs, with his head thrown back and both feet propped up on the desk.
Judging by the steady rise and fall of his chest, he was clearly sound asleep.
‘He won’t fall over, will he?’
After a moment of worriedly watching Hark, Luke’s gaze shifted to his right again.
The fourth-years were seated there.
And in their midst, Elena sat with a straight posture, reading a book.
Elena, known as Lumerne’s greatest beauty and hailed as its queen, seemed to exude a natural elegance.
Based on appearances alone, she was the very picture of a diligent honor student.
The problem was that the book Elena was reading was a grimoire designated as a ‘forbidden text’ in Lumerne.
‘Are they both allowed to act like this?’
This was the student council, a place where the school’s representative students gathered for meetings.
Yet the two students who formed the council's core were, by any measure, exemplary delinquents.
For Luke, attending as a grade representative, it was a sight he simply couldn't get used to.
“Luke.”
“Ah, yes! Senior Lil.”
“Your mana trait is mana amplification, correct?”
“Yes.”
“I’m so envious. Mine is just so painfully ordinary. When I see a brilliant talent like yours, I’m truly jealous.”
“Oh, come on, you’re far more amazing, senior.”
“No. You are the more amazing one, Luke.”
As Lil looked at him with genuine envy, a scene flashed through Luke’s mind.
It was from a few days ago at the magic department’s practical training grounds.
*CRUUUUNCH!*
‘Aaaargh! The golem we poured our entire first semester into!’
‘This thing is too weak. I think you need to make it sturdier?’
‘You’re the monster! You monster girl!’
‘Who are you calling a monster girl! I have the perfectly respectable title of Spirit Master of the Gale!’
‘Is that really important right now?!’
It was the image of Lil destroying a combat golem, built by the third-year magic students, with her bare hands.
‘Didn’t they say that was made of pure mithril?’
Luke broke into a cold sweat as he looked at Lil.
“Ah, so ordinary. I’m just too ordinary.”
The first-years could only stare bizarrely at Lil, who considered herself an ordinary person.
But the students from the other years seemed used to it, remaining unfazed.
‘I thought I had gotten somewhat used to Lumerne.’
Lumerne continued to exist far beyond the first-years’ common sense.
Just then, Hark, who had his head tilted back, lifted it.
Elena closed her grimoire as well.
At the same moment, the door opened, and Leo walked in.
After confirming that Leo had taken his seat as the student council president, Hark spoke in a voice thick with exhaustion.
“Alright, now that the president is here, shall we begin the meeting?”
Normally, the student council president would lead the meeting.
However, since Vice President Hark was in charge of the practical affairs of the current council, Leo simply watched the proceedings in silence.
Although Hark yawned repeatedly with a sleepy face, making his annoyance blatantly obvious, he fulfilled his role splendidly.
“Now, for the final item on the agenda. It’s regarding the entrance exam for next year’s new students.”
At his words, the first-years flinched.
“This year’s exam supervisor is… Huh? What is it?”
Hark looked at Juen, who had his hand raised high, and said.
“If you have something to say, say it.”
“Yes! Juen Tobidna from the first-year magic department! If the exam format hasn’t been decided yet, I strongly recommend last year’s entrance exam format!”
“We all think that’s a great idea!”
“We were able to learn so much from our seniors during the entrance exam!”
The entire first-year council contingent spoke in unison, agreeing with Juen.
“Too bad, but it’s a rule that Lumerne’s entrance exam changes every year.”
Making the impossible possible is one of the important virtues of a hero.
That’s why the entrance exam was also the very first trial for Lumerne’s students.
If it’s predictable, it’s not a trial.
Therefore, Lumerne’s entrance exam changed every year.
A collective sigh of disappointment came from the first-years at Hark’s words.
“We could have gotten our payback, too!”
“What a waste!”
Watching them, Hark continued.
“The overall supervisor for this entrance exam is Professor Halind.”
The atmosphere in the entire student council froze.
Halind, known as the Wailing Wall of Lumerne, was currently in charge of the first-years, but he remained a figure of terror for all Lumerne students.
“Professor Halind has asked us to select the necessary personnel from each grade, so after the meeting, the grade representatives should handle the selection.”
Hark said indifferently and was about to get up from his seat.
“Alright, since all agenda items have been covered, let’s conclude the meeting here.”
“Wait a minute.”
Just then, Leo spoke up.
At his words, Hark furrowed his brow as hard as he could.
“What? Again? What is it?”
“As the student council president, there’s one motion I’d like to propose.”
“As the student council president?”
A corner of Hark’s mouth curled up.
“You don’t even handle the practical work, yet you want to exercise your authority as president? Even if you are the president, don’t you think that’s an overreach of your authority?”
Hark openly displayed his animosity toward Leo.
At the sight, not only the first-years but also the usually relaxed upperclassmen wore tense expressions.
The students swallowed hard.
Since Leo’s inauguration as president, there had been no overt friction between him and Hark.
Leo was the president, but he had delegated the real power to Hark.
This student council was effectively Hark’s council.
For the past year, it was Hark who had wielded power as Lumerne’s leader.
And Leo had never once asserted his authority as president.
‘That’s why there haven’t been any clashes until now, right?’
Even the fifth-years looked back and forth between Leo and Hark with tense faces.
This could be called the first clash between the powerless president and the vice president who held the real power.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
Hark smiled coldly.
Seeing this, the fifth-years nodded.
‘Even if he is Leo Flove, Hark can’t just let this slide. Interfering carelessly in the student council that he… that we have led for a year.’
The fifth-years’ chilly gazes turned to Leo.
‘Leo Flove, we know you’re great. But your influence over the student council should start from next year…’
“You think you can do anything because you’re the president?! Because you’re a hero?! Because you were chosen by a god! You ungrateful junior, making your seniors do all the work! Do you have any idea how sleep-deprived I’ve been since becoming a fifth-year because of you!”
‘This bastard! He’s just holding a grudge because he couldn’t sleep!’
The fifth-years cursed Hark in their minds.
The dark circles under his eyes.
The bloodshot whites of his eyes.
His appearance was a literal testament to ‘sleep deprivation.’
Just as the tension mounted.
“Senior Hark, you’ve always been sleeping whenever I’ve seen you, but you were sleep-deprived?”
“That’s right, Luke. Senior Hark needs much more sleep than others. He’s become quite irritable this past year, probably because he’s been so sleep-deprived.”
Hark’s murderous gaze shot toward Lil and Luke.
Luke flinched at the look, but Lil clenched her fists and said.
“Even if he’s become irritable, I still respect you, Senior Hark! You’ve done a wonderful job running the school as vice president!”
“Lil, you need to correct yourself. His personality wasn’t good to begin with.”
Elena chimed in with a smile from the side.
‘Stop it, you idiots!’
‘The atmosphere is already tense enough!’
The students screamed internally as they watched Lil, who was fanning the flames without any ill intent, and Elena, who was openly pouring oil on the fire.
“President, what motion were you trying to propose?”
A fifth-year student council member asked, trying to mediate.
“I was planning to change the vice president, starting today.”
“What? That was the most important agenda item. You should have said so earlier. Let’s restart the meeting.”
As if nothing had happened, Hark beamed with a bright smile.
Chen Xia, one of the student council secretaries, raised her hand.
“Senior Hark, we’re supposed to have lunch now, you know?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. No one is leaving until this meeting is over.”
“But even the president shouldn’t be able to make a big decision like appointing a vice president on his own, right? Especially since he hasn’t done anything for a year.”
“Who said such nonsense? The president’s word is absolute.”
Hark said, his eyes blazing.
Looking at Hark, Leo spoke.
“Then please recommend a candidate for vice president.”
“I recommend Elena Jer-on.”
“I recommend Lil.”
Hark and Elena spoke at the same time.
Lil, who was suddenly nominated for vice president, blinked her wide eyes.
Hark’s lips curled into a smirk as he said.
“Now, now, what’s this? As someone who’s about to become a fifth-year, you should take on the role of vice president, right?”
“Since it’s going to change next year anyway, wouldn’t it be more stable for Lil to hold the vice president position long-term?”
“Lil still has much to learn. And I’m sure you can teach her a lot.”
“Oh? You flatter me.”
“No, I’m serious. I’m sure your administrative skills are better than mine.”
“How could I possibly do as good a job as you, Senior Hark?”
They laughed and praised each other, but their eyes were deadly serious.
‘You suffer too.’
‘As if I would.’
In truth, this year’s student council was one of the busiest in Lumerne’s history.
With a series of major incidents, the student council, which managed the entirety of Lumerne, inevitably had an enormous amount of work to deal with in the aftermath.
Elena, who had assisted the vice president, had spent her days just as busy as the previous student council president, Lis.
Naturally, Hark, who was responsible for the president’s practical duties, had suffered to the point where his head felt like it would explode.
And considering the current state of the world, next year’s Lumerne student council would be even busier than this year; it would certainly be more, not less.
A career in running the Lumerne student council could be the best credential after graduation.
In the first place, the Lumerne student council president held influence comparable to a nation’s king.
Not only could one gain great fame, but it also opened up a smooth path after graduation.
But beyond all that, it was a position coveted by any of Lumerne’s high-achieving students who always aimed for the top.
‘The problem is that they’re both delinquents.’
Just as Leo clicked his tongue.
“If you entrust it to me, I will do it.”
Lil said with a serious expression.
Looking at her, Leo replied.
“Rejected.”
“Why, brother?”
Leo looked at the crestfallen Lil and said.
“Senior Lil, you don’t have any administrative skills.”
“That’s not true! I can do it well! Right, everyone?”
Clenching both fists, Lil looked at her third-year classmates.
At her gaze, her classmates looked away.
“Let’s just leave it to Senior Elena.”
“Yeah, Lil. I don’t think you’re the one.”
“When it comes to combat, maybe, but not administration.”
“The president certainly has a good eye for people.”
At her classmates’ words, Lil’s shoulders slumped.
Everyone’s gaze turned to Elena.
Receiving their stares, Elena smiled sweetly.
“Look away.”
The second, third, and fourth-years flinched and turned their heads.
Although she had been relatively quiet after becoming a fourth-year, Elena Jer-on was the student once known as the Queen and Witch of Lumerne.
Looking at Elena, Leo said.
“Senior Elena, please take the position of vice president.”
Elena twirled a strand of her hair and said.
“No. Get someone else to do it.”
“I believe you’re the right person for the job, senior.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re capable.”
At those words, Elena stared at Leo for a moment.
“Do I have the right to refuse?”
“You don’t.”
After looking at Leo for a short while, Elena spoke.
“Fine. But I have a condition.”
“A condition?”
“Yes.”
Elena smiled beautifully and said.
“Go on one date with me.”
Everyone in the student council was shocked by her words.
“S-Senior Elena. A date with brother as a condition? Isn’t that too strange?”
As Lil expressed her bewilderment, Elena’s eyes widened.
“Hmm? Is there a problem? It’s just one date, isn’t it?”
“W-Well, but, how should I put it? It seems a little… inappropriate?”
“I wonder what kind of naughty things our cute Lil has been imagining to think a date is inappropriate?”
“I-I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort!”
As she looked at the red-faced, shouting Lil, Elena rested her chin on her hand, smiled sweetly at Leo, and said.
“So? What will it be, President?”
At Elena’s words, Leo replied leisurely.
“That’s not a difficult request.”
“Does that mean?”
“Let’s do it. The date.”