Chapter 557
Chapter Title: Student Council Recruitment
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The next morning.
Having returned to Lumerne, Leo passed through the school gates and headed for the second-year classrooms.
Normally, a student staying out overnight without permission was grounds for punishment.
However, members of the student council were exempt from that rule.
Since the student council managed the school's overall affairs, there was no telling when they might have to make an urgent trip to Lumeria City.
*It’s convenient being the student council president at times like these. Though Celia and Chloe will probably nag me a bit.*
Leo smirked, thinking of the two of them, a stickler for rules and a model student.
*Today’s first class was Combat Theory, right?*
Leo checked his schedule in his head and made his way to the Combat Theory lecture hall.
Even before the doors opened, a clamor of voices could be heard from within.
*Creeak—!*
The moment Leo opened the door and stepped inside, the buzzing chatter came to an abrupt halt.
Just as Leo was looking at the students with a puzzled expression.
“Leo!”
Dade and the other male students from his first-year class rushed over to him.
“What is it?”
“Hey, what happened! I heard you stayed out all night with Elena-sunbae!”
“I did.”
“Gasp! Are you perhaps dating Elena-sunbae?”
“What happened between you two?”
“There were rumors that you two have had a thing for a while now, is that true?”
Leo let out a hollow laugh at the boys’ questions.
“What do you mean, what happened? We just had dinner and I stayed the night, that’s all.”
“S-Stayed the night?”
“Where? Where did you stay?”
“You can tell us, can’t you?”
The boys swallowed hard.
As Leo was about to let out another dry laugh at his friends, who were holding their breath and focused solely on him.
“Class rep, be honest. How far did you go with Elena-sunbae?”
“Ugh!”
“Hey! When did you get here!”
“And how can you ask something like that so openly!”
The boys stared at Illiana, horrified.
Looking back at them, Illiana narrowed her eyes.
“I can’t believe it. Are you guys idiots?”
“I don’t want to be called that by you!”
Dade retorted indignantly.
Illiana shot Dade a look as if he were pathetic.
“You think the other students can’t hear your perverted thoughts just because you’re whispering in the classroom?”
Dade and the other boys looked embarrassed.
“That’s why if you’re curious, you should just ask outright!”
It was a very Illiana-like way of thinking—charge headfirst into everything.
“You’re that curious about how far we went?”
“Of course. They say the most interesting thing in the world is other people’s love lives, right?”
Illiana’s eyes sparkled.
“So? Are you two really… a thing?”
“And if we are?”
“Hmm. It’s a little disappointing, but I get it. The class rep is cool. I’d say he’s definitely handsome enough for girls to fall for him.”
*Mhmm-hmm!* Illiana crossed her arms and nodded.
Watching her, Leo chuckled.
“I was just invited to the Jer-on estate.”
“Aha!”
Illiana nodded in understanding.
Hearing that he was invited to the Jer-on estate, the other students also looked crestfallen.
“I feel like an idiot for letting my imagination run wild.”
“Who was it! Who started that weird rumor!”
A boisterous clamor filled the room.
Shaking his head at the scene, Leo walked over to where Karl was.
Chloe, who was sitting next to Karl reading a magic tome, spoke.
“From now on, be careful not to act in ways that could be misunderstood, Leo.”
“Oho? What kind of misunderstanding?”
At Chloe’s words, Karl grinned slyly.
“Don’t tell me, Chloe, did you think Leo and Elena-sunbae spent a passionate night together? Wow, what a vivid imaginat—”
*C-c-crackle—!*
“A joke! It was a joke! I’m joking!”
A fearsome chill swirled from Chloe’s hand.
The surrounding temperature plummeted, and a thin layer of ice began to form.
Seeing Chloe huffing and puffing with a beet-red face, Karl waved his hands in alarm.
As Chloe stormed off, Karl slumped onto his desk.
“Ughhh—I almost died for teasing her.”
“Then why do you tease people?”
“Because it’s fun. Alright, up we go.”
Karl sat up and said.
“Leo, I’ve narrowed down the candidates for the student council you mentioned.”
“Already? That was fast.”
“Hah, I’m good at handling this kind of stuff, aren’t I?”
Karl said with a smug look.
“These three are the candidates for the operations committee.”
Karl took a notebook from his pocket and opened it.
The names Chloe, Abad, and Duran were written there.
“Abad and Duran are heirs to their respective families, so they’ll be thorough with operational duties. Chloe also proved her abilities as the class rep for Class 1 back in our first year.”
If one were to pick the most difficult class in the first year, it would have been Class 1, with Celia and Duran.
For starters, Celia and Duran themselves were like cats and dogs, snarling at each other whenever they had the chance.
On top of that, their high self-esteem made them greedy for leadership positions.
Even now, in the second-year Knight Department, there were separate factions following Celia and Duran.
Of course, they weren’t openly hostile, but they harbored a strong sense of rivalry.
*Chen Xia is doing a good job mediating between them.*
Chloe had perfectly performed her duties as the class representative for Class 1, which contained those two.
It went without saying that not only her best friend Celia but even Duran acknowledged Chloe.
“Next up are Celia, Chelsea, and Woreden. The three of them are perfect for the disciplinary committee.”
Celia was, without a doubt, the most well-behaved student among the second years.
“And that Chelsea girl is ridiculously good at spotting wrongdoing, isn’t she? Anyone can see she’s meant for the disciplinary committee.”
Karl chuckled playfully.
“As for Woreden, he’s not interested in others and has a strong individualistic streak, but as a student, he's ideal. He hasn't been faulted by the professors once since he enrolled.”
Just as Karl said, aside from not mingling well with other students, Woreden was second only to Celia in terms of having a flawless school record.
He recommended several other students as well.
Since Lumerne's administration was vast, a few more names were added later on.
“Are all these people interested in student council work?”
At Leo’s question, Karl nodded.
“Yeah, I subtly brought it up, and they were all interested. Well, some of the top students in their departments didn’t think they needed to help the student council, and others weren’t interested because they didn’t want to bow down to you.”
Karl grinned.
“But if you ask them, I’m sure they’ll all join the student council.”
“Really? Then could you gather them after school?”
Karl gave a thumbs-up.
“No problem! Leave it to me! I’ll tell them to meet at the Afternoon of Plenty.”
The Afternoon of Plenty was one of the most popular restaurants on the Lumerne campus.
“The Afternoon of Plenty? That won’t be cheap.”
“In a way, this is the inauguration of our year’s student council, right? We have to do it in style!”
“That’s true.”
“So, about that, Leo.”
As Karl spoke in a suggestive tone, Leo smirked and took a black card from his pocket.
“Ooh, is this the student council president’s card that can even hire a military-sized mage mercenary corps!”
Karl said as he took the card.
“Then I’ll hand out the invitations to the candidates during lunch. I actually already made them.”
***
That evening.
When Leo arrived at the Afternoon of Plenty, the manager bowed his head.
“We’ve been expecting you, Lord Leo. I will show you to the annex.”
The manager led Leo to the annex that Karl had reserved.
Karl, who was waiting in the annex, looked puzzled when he saw Chen Xia and Eiran following behind Leo.
“I get Xia, but why Eiran?”
“Am I not allowed to come?”
Seeing Eiran ask with her ears drooping, Karl waved his hands dismissively.
“No, that’s not it. Since you’re here, you might as well enjoy it with us!”
“Yes!”
Eiran smiled brightly and sat down with Chen Xia.
After Leo took his seat, the students Karl had invited began to arrive one by one.
“Karl! Did you order this too?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You have to order this! It’s the most delicious thing here!”
Illiana said, showing Karl the menu.
“What’s the occasion? What brings you here?”
“I only came because Leo Flove said he had something to say.”
When Celia asked with narrowed eyes, Duran replied coldly.
“Woreden. Could you pass me that?”
“…”
At Eiran’s words, Woreden passed the plate in front of him to her.
The meal proceeded in a free and boisterous atmosphere.
Karl, sensing the mood, cleared his throat. *Ahem!*
“Alright, now to explain why we’ve all gathered here…”
*Bang—!*
Just then, the door flew open, and Eliza entered with a deeply scrunched face.
“Eliza?”
Karl looked surprised.
Eliza walked up to Leo and crossed her arms.
“Leo Flove, why wasn’t I invited?”
“Huh? What? Eliza, you weren’t uninvited, you just didn't get an invitation at all?”
At Eliza’s words, Illiana’s eyes widened, and she tilted her head, muttering.
“Is Eliza being ostracized?”
At Illiana’s thoughtless remark, Eliza’s eyes shot up.
Seeing this, Chen Xia smiled sweetly, then appeared silently behind Illiana and dealt a swift chop to her neck.
“Please continue your story, Miss Eliza.”
Chen Xia said as she moved the limp Illiana aside.
Leo looked at Eliza with a troubled expression.
“Karl was the one who sent the invitations.”
At those words, Eliza glared at Karl.
“Well, I… you weren’t interested in student council work at all.”
As Karl spoke, scratching his cheek, Eliza ground her teeth.
“You should have sent an invitation anyway! I might have become interested!”
“He probably didn’t invite you because he didn’t think you’d be of much help to the student council.”
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Duran let out a sneer.
Just as Eliza’s eyes turned incomparably colder than when she had looked at Illiana.
“Duran.”
“What is it, Chen Xia.”
“Would you like me to snap your neck too?”
When Chen Xia asked with a bright smile, Duran clicked his tongue and whipped his head away.
Just as the students were inwardly applauding Chen Xia for verbally subduing Duran.
“So? Are you interested in student council work, Miss Eliza?”
When Chen Xia asked with a gentle smile, Eliza scoffed.
“I could do a better job than anyone here.”
“Of course, I think so too. Does that mean you’ll be joining the student council?”
“Obviously!”
“Wow! To have Miss Eliza join the student council! That’s so reassuring! Please sign here.”
Chen Xia handed her an application form with a smile.
Eliza paused as she was signing it.
“Wait. Are you trying to trick m—”
“Welcome to the student council, Miss Eliza.”
Chen Xia snatched the application from Eliza’s hand and returned to her seat.
Eliza’s mouth gaped open as she watched.
“Well, Eliza ended up joining in a bit of a rush.”
“If you know I was rushed into it, then nullify it!”
As Eliza shouted urgently, Leo glanced at Chen Xia.
“No can do. I have no intention of canceling it, so go back to your seat.”
Seeing Chen Xia speak so firmly, Eliza slumped into a chair.
As Eliza covered her face with her hands, Leo spoke.
“The student council is going to get busy from now on. That’s why I think I’ll need your help.”
At those words, Eiran clenched both her fists and said.
“If you need my help, please tell me anytime! I may be lacking, but I will do my best to assist you, Lord Leo!”
Eiran’s face, with her ears twitching in strong determination, looked incredibly reliable.
Watching her, the other students muttered to themselves.
*‘No, this is for the Lumerne student council.’*
*‘You’re an exchange student, get a grip.’*
Just as the students were exchanging glances at Eiran, who seemed to have forgotten her status as an exchange student.
“Miss Eiran.”
“Yes! Miss Xia!”
“You are a Seirun student.”
“Ah…”
At Chen Xia’s words, Eiran’s head dropped.
With her ears drooping, she looked truly pitiful.
“Anyway, lend me your strength.”
At Leo’s words, Abad spoke up.
“If you’re going to put it like that, it’s hard to just stand by. You’re going to join too, right, Duran?”
“Hmph.”
Duran scoffed but didn’t deny it.
And so, every student invited that day expressed their intention to join the student council.
Watching the scene, Karl said.
“See, I told you it would work.”
“You were right.”
Leo chuckled and said to Karl.
“Karl, I’ll be counting on you from now on too.”
“For what?”
“You have to join the student council too.”
“…”
At those words, Karl’s face hardened.
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“In the student council?”
“That’s right.”
“…”
“For the record, I’m appointing you as the Student Council President’s Deputy.”
“Why! Why are you giving me such an undeserving position!”
Karl cried out as if in agony, clutching his head.
“I was originally going to give you a different role, but seeing how you handled things today, I think you’ll do a great job as the President’s Deputy.”
“Gaaah!”
Karl screamed.
Watching him, Chelsea asked Abad.
“Brother, doesn’t the Student Council President’s Deputy have very few duties?”
“If someone else were president, that might be true. But Leo is often away, isn’t he? And the Vice President is Elena-sunbae.”
Leo might be one thing.
But Karl, in the position of Deputy, was the perfect person for Elena to boss around.
“It just goes to show that being too competent without realizing it can get you in trouble. Well, it seems Karl was the only one who had no idea he would end up in the student council.”
It was Karl’s mistake for underestimating himself so severely.
Chelsea clicked her tongue.
“He’s being crushed by a disaster of his own making.”