Chapter 558
Chapter Title: A Changing of the Guard
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558.
The Erek Training Grounds, where Lumerne’s official events were held.
The entire student body of Lumerne had gathered there.
Today was none other than the day of the farewell and inauguration ceremonies for the student council vice president.
“Do they normally hold such a grand inauguration for the vice president, too?”
Ju-en, standing at the very front of the first-year mages, asked with a puzzled look.
“I heard they usually do it along with the president’s inauguration.”
Next to Ju-en’s line, at the front of the summoner department, Shasha answered, snapping open her fan.
“In fact, Senior Leo nominated Senior Harke during his own inauguration last year.”
“Ah…”
The first-years hadn’t been enrolled yet at the time, so they hadn’t seen Leo’s inauguration firsthand.
But the story of the ceremony itself had been passed down like a legend through the department seniors.
“To think he told the upperclassmen to challenge him if they had a problem with him being president. Ahh, he’s just so cool.”
Shasha let out a small squeal.
“It was incredible… And when Senior Harke refused the vice presidency, he just told him to do as he was told. I could never.”
As Ju-en shook his head, Habideun, standing in the knight department’s line, spoke up.
“Did you hear? Senior Leo supposedly reorganized the second-year student council.”
“I heard. They said the list will probably be announced today.”
“I wonder who made it.”
The first-years were extremely curious about the newly formed second-year student council.
-Vice President Harke Liguard is now entering.
Just then, a student council officer acting as the emcee on the Erek Training Grounds’ stage announced Harke’s arrival.
Since student council events were for the students, the professors watched the student-led ceremony from below the stage.
Standing on the stage, Harke looked out over the entire student body and spoke.
-For the past year, I have led Lumerne as its student council vice president. Thanks to all of your hard work, I was able to spend that time in a commendable and rewarding way. I am deeply grateful to all of you for following my lead, despite my shortcomings. But where there is a beginning, there must also be an end. For me, a graduating senior, to continue serving as vice president is…
Harke began his farewell speech with a solemn and serious demeanor.
But contrary to his voice, the corners of his mouth were twitching uncontrollably.
‘He looks like he’s about to grin from ear to ear.’
‘This is the first time I’ve seen Senior Harke so happy.’
‘Is he really that thrilled?’
The students of Lumerne stared blankly at Harke, trying their best to hold back their laughter as he continued his speech.
-My successor as vice president is Elena Jer-on. I hope you will all follow her well.
With those words, Harke started to leave the stage.
The student council officer asked him.
-Do you have any last words for the students?
Harke paused at the question, thought for a moment, and then said.
-Enjoy the grind. Pfft… Pffhahahahaha!
Overjoyed to be liberated from the duties of vice president, Harke finally burst into laughter.
-Harke Liguard, get off that stage immediately and press your head to the ground.
A voice so cold it could banish the summer heat instantly made Harke’s face freeze.
“Wh-Why are you doing this! That punk Leo told me to just do as I was told last year!”
“Hmph… I see you’ve gotten bold now that you’re about to graduate.”
Halind looked up at the stage with a cold smile.
“There is a clear difference between giving an order as student council president and mocking the students.”
At those words, Harke’s face turned deathly pale as he descended the stage and pressed his head to the ground of the training field.
Whether he was the strongest fifth-year in the knight department or a graduating senior, in front of Halind, he was nothing but a lamb.
As everyone watched Harke with a cold sweat, Elena calmly walked up onto the stage.
Lifting the hem of her school uniform skirt, Elena curtsied slightly with a gentle smile.
-I may be lacking, but I am Elena Jer-on, and I will be serving as your vice president. I look forward to working with all of you for the next year.
At the sight of Elena’s elegant greeting, the first-year male students blushed without realizing it.
The female students also gazed at Elena with admiration, seeing her as the perfect model student.
Since entering Lumerne, the first-years had rarely had the chance to see Elena.
She was busy with missions, and she herself hadn’t felt the need to show her face to the first-years.
The biggest reason, however, was that Elena had stopped her troublemaking ways ever since Leo became president.
For the first-years who had only heard rumors about Elena, this was their first impression of her.
Thus, they were captivated by the sight of the woman called the Queen of Lumerne.
Of course, the other grade levels felt completely different.
‘What’s with her? Did she eat something weird?’
‘Why is she acting like that? This is unsettling.’
‘I have a bad feeling in my stomach.’
Not only her fourth-year classmates but also the third and second-years watched Elena with trembling eyes.
“I heard Senior Elena was supposed to be terrifying. She doesn’t seem like that at all.”
“She seems nice.”
“Uwahh.”
The first-years let out gasps of admiration as they looked up at Elena.
Elena was born with a magnetic aura that naturally drew people’s attention.
The power to enthrall others simply by using her mana.
It was a power that could have easily become a curse, but Elena’s genius allowed her to control it perfectly.
She had originally used that power as a basis for her troublemaking, but now it manifested as absolute charisma.
Elena smiled warmly at the first-years and waved gracefully.
-The first-years are so cute. So fresh and green~
“Senior Elena!”
“You’re amazing!”
“Kyaaah!”
An enthusiastic response erupted from the first-years.
‘Don’t be fooled! She’s a witch!’
The students from the other grades looked at the first-years with pity.
-First, as I have been entrusted with the management of the student council by the president, I have selected new officers to lead the next council. Today, I would like to take the time to introduce the new members to you all. We will begin with the fourth-year student council.
Even the professors looked surprised as they watched Elena diligently introduce the next student council members in her role as vice president.
They had already heard that Elena would become the vice president, but they had never expected her to perform her duties in such an exemplary manner.
From the fourth-year student council to the third-years.
And then it was the second-years’ turn.
“Wow, are all the top students in the second-year departments on the student council?”
“The lineup is incredible.”
Not all high-achieving honor students were interested in student council work.
That was why the second-year council, composed entirely of the top students from each department, was a highly unusual case.
“I can understand the others, but Eliza Hergin is certainly a surprise.”
“That delinquent?”
Murmurs of doubt came not only from the upperclassmen but also from the teachers.
Eliza’s shoulders trembled slightly.
“This is why your usual conduct is so important.”
“Chen Xia! Are you mocking me right now?!”
Eliza snapped at Chen Xia.
She would have reacted more fiercely to any other student, but Eliza had a particular weakness for Chen Xia.
Amidst the chatter, Elena continued to announce the names of the second-year student council members.
-And finally, the Acting Student Council President, Karl Thomas.
At Elena’s words, a murmur spread through the entire student body.
“Acting Student Council President?”
“Karl Thomas?”
The undisputed last-place student in the second-year magic department.
No, the undisputed last-place student in the entire second year.
He was famous for miraculously surviving every time he was on the verge of expulsion by getting good grades when it counted, but that was it.
For such a student as Karl to be appointed Acting President, it was no wonder everyone was shocked.
“Senior Karl!”
Ju-en clasped his hands together and jumped up and down.
“Maybe it’s because he’s best friends with the president?”
“Nepotism? No way.”
But he frowned as the first-years behind him began to whisper.
“Hey! You guys! Are you looking down on Senior Karl…?”
“Do you really think Senior Leo is the type of person to give his deputy position to someone just because they’re friends?”
Habideun said coldly.
“Besides, didn’t he survive this long on his own skill?”
“Do you think the second-year seniors would stand by and watch someone get a high position just through connections?”
“I learned my lesson underestimating him during the entrance exam.”
“Professor Halind even said he’s a senior with much to learn from.”
“Come to think of it, I can’t even guarantee I’ll still be at Lumerne next year. When you think of it like that, it’s pretty amazing, isn’t it?”
The first-years seemed to be convinced.
Meanwhile, Karl, who had gone up to the stage, let out a deep sigh.
“I really don’t know if I should be here.”
“What’s with that pathetic attitude? Fix it. You’re Leo’s deputy now.”
Chelsea said with a frown.
“Karl, you have a tendency to underestimate yourself.”
Just then, Elena, having turned off the magic amplifier, smiled warmly.
“I don’t entrust important roles to incompetent people. Have a little more confidence in yourself, Karl.”
“Thank you.”
“Of course. So I’ll be counting on you from now on, my dear slave.”
“Did you just call me a slave?!”
“No. You must have misheard.”
“I heard you perfectly! You definitely said slave!”
“I’m telling you, you’re mistaken.”
Elena giggled and clapped her hands.
Soon, the first-year student council members were also introduced.
-For the next year, we will work ourselves to the bone to lead Lumerne well. This has been your Vice President, Elena Jer-on.
‘Did she just say she’d work the student council to the bone?’
‘She means she’s going to work us to death.’
The student council members laughed sorrowfully.
After the inauguration ceremony, Ju-en approached Karl.
“Senior Karl! Congratulations on becoming the Acting Student Council President!”
“I don’t know if it’s something to be congratulated for.”
Karl laughed forlornly.
Just as the students were about to disperse.
-Oh, one more thing.
Elena, who had been about to step down, walked back onto the stage.
-I forgot there was an important announcement.
Elena tapped her head with her fist.
-There is a message from the Student Council President.
All eyes turned to Leo, who had been quiet throughout the inauguration.
-It’s about the Luse Tournament. You all know that this year’s tournament will be held at Lumerne, correct?
Everyone nodded.
The Luse Tournament was an annual event.
As such, preparations had been underway since the beginning of the semester.
-The president said he wants to hold this year’s tournament a little differently.
“Differently, how?”
-Not just Lumerne and Seirun, but Azonia and Demian as well. An inter-academy tournament where all the hero academies gather to compete.
At those words, every student’s face hardened.
The professors’ mouths fell open.
Harke, who had been forced to kneel with his head down by Halind, shot up to his feet without thinking.
“This is the first I’m hearing of this!”
“You told us not to even bring up matters of school management anymore, Senior Harke, so we discussed it with Senior Elena.”
Leo replied with a smile.
“Hey! Even so, you should have told me something like this sooner!”
Harke shouted.
Suddenly planning a tournament involving all the hero academies?
It was an absurd idea.
Everyone looked at Elena.
-It is a very difficult task. We’ll have to contact the other hero academies and draw up a new plan from scratch.
At Elena’s words, everyone let out a sigh of relief.
Ever since Leo became president, school management had been the vice president’s authority.
Even if the president suggested something, if the vice president rejected it, that was the end of it.
-But our Lumerne’s motto is ‘Surpass your limits!’ If it can’t be done, we’ll just have to make it happen, right?
But Elena’s next words made the entire student body’s faces turn pale.
-If everyone works like a dog, we should be able to finish the preparations in time for the tournament. So, please be aware that this year’s Luse Tournament will be a four-school competition.
Leaving those words behind, Elena descended from the stage.
Screams erupted from all over at the one-sided announcement.
Just then, Leo walked up onto the stage.
-Starting today, Senior Harke’s position is Acting Vice President. We need to coordinate the schedule with the other schools, so please report to the student council office immediately.
At those words, Harke collapsed to the ground, muttering with a dazed expression.
“So this is why you made that girl the vice president…”