Book 1 Chapter 187
The news of the unprecedented major event of the birth of a first-year student council president spread worldwide in an instant.
Leo's attention-grabbing nature was already exceptional.
The fact that he was the first-ever all-class representative and his unusually remarkable actions, unbelievable for a first-year.
Adding to that, he firmly held the position of class representative among the current first-year generation, known as Lumerun's golden generation.
He was, in every sense of the word, a young hero candidate brimming with points worth noting.
Now, by ascending to the position of student council president, he had truly become more than just a rookie.
His status as the Phoenix's contractor, in particular, became an even more attention-grabbing factor.
Furthermore, he had managed to secure a tie with the current strongest student, Lis.
The first-year sparring evaluation was literally the subject of global interest.
Lumeria City, known as the center of the world and already crowded, was thronged with countless people eager to hear news from Lumerun.
The birth of a new hero always excites people.
Especially the heroic tales of a boy like Leo were enough to further stir people's emotions.
In these recent times of global unrest due to various incidents, Leo's appearance was like a ray of sunshine.
The public's reaction was already enthusiastic, as if a new hero had already been born.
Along with him, the first-years, who were praised as the golden generation, also received attention.
With the subjugation of Gigantes in the first semester, expectations for Lumerun's first-years had already reached their peak.
Moreover, with a student council president emerging from the same first-year cohort, the perception of their year was entirely different.
As external attention focused on the entire first-year class, including Leo.
Inside Lumerun…
"Ah, I've burned myself out…!"
Kal, slumped over his desk, pleaded in a trembling voice.
"What kind of test has absolutely no multiple-choice questions and is all short answer?!"
Iliana tore at her hair.
"What kind of test is this tough…"
Even Chelsea, one of the top students in the entire first-year class, moaned.
Regardless of the world's reaction, the teenagers were overwhelmed trying to cope with the exams right before them.
The difficulty of the written exams was incomparable to the midterms and final exams of the first semester.
No matter how the outside world viewed them, they were literally suffering from the exam schedule.
Even though it was the last day of exams, which would normally be cause for celebration, the entire first-year class was exhausted.
As everyone lay there, out of their minds.
*Creak!*
The door opened, and Halind and Sena entered the classroom.
The students instinctively jolted upright, correcting their postures.
*Thump- thump-*
Halind walked calmly to the podium, placed down the attendance book, and smirked.
"It seems everyone enjoyed the exams."
'There's no way we enjoyed them!'
'They were really difficult!'
The students screamed internally, protesting in their minds, but none dared to voice it aloud.
Halind spoke without even looking at the students in charge.
"You all worked hard on the exams. I hope you all survive this time as well."
The students showed moved expressions at his words.
"If anyone receives a recommendation for withdrawal, I'll show them hell before they leave the school, so you better hope that doesn't happen."
Of course, the students' spirits plummeted again with Halind's subsequent words.
As the classroom atmosphere grew heavy, Halind announced,
"In any case, the exams are over, so there's an announcement."
"A, an announcement?"
"What else is it?"
The entire fifth class tensed up.
It was understandable.
These were first-year students who had become thoroughly accustomed to Lumerun.
They knew all too well that the school wouldn't let them relax just because the exams were over.
'A new practical session?'
'Or maybe they're going to give us an incredibly difficult assignment?'
Everyone held their breath, concentrating on Halind's words.
"One month from now. There is the Lucé Battle."
"……"
"……"
At his words, everyone's eyes widened like a rabbit's.
A moment later…
"Ooooh!"
"Lucé Battle!"
"Finally, the Lucé Battleeee!"
Cheers erupted not only from Class 5 but from other classes as well.
It was understandable.
The Lucé Battle was, in every sense of the word, the biggest event of the academic year.
It was a venue to showcase everything accumulated throughout their school life, not just their academic achievements and skills.
Students involved in club activities often held presentations during the Lucé Battle.
In addition, the school opened its grounds widely, and many external guests visited.
It was an event that truly deserved to be called a school festival.
Watching the excited reactions of the students, Halind smirked.
"Of course, that's only if you don't get a recommendation for withdrawal."
Halind, once again dragging the mood down, added,
"This Lucé Battle will be held in Seirun, not Lumerun."
The Lucé Battle is held annually, alternating between Lumerun and Seirun.
And this year was Seirun's turn to host the Lucé Battle.
"As you all know, our school has been losing to Seirun in the Lucé Battle for the past few years."
At his words, the students showed expressions of indignation.
"It's a regrettable situation for the school."
A hint of annoyance appeared on Halind's face, which usually showed little emotion.
It was proof that he was quite displeased.
"Rest well over the weekend. Starting next week, the selection matches for each event will begin, so prepare yourselves."
The Lucé Battle is an event that all students participate in.
However, there are also competitive events where representatives are selected.
Becoming a representative for the Lucé Battle is a matter of great pride.
And in some events, representatives are chosen without regard to academic performance.
"That is all."
After finishing the announcements, Halind left the classroom.
Then, the students of Class 5 began chatting amongst themselves, gathering in groups of close friends.
"Chelsea, you were in the music club, right? Are you going as a club representative?"
"Yes. I'm in charge of soprano."
"A first-year, surpassing the senior club members?"
"That's amazing!"
"You haven't heard her sing? It's incredible."
Chelsea was apparently the ace of the music club.
Despite being a first-year, her voice was said to be beautiful and lovely, which led to her being chosen as the club representative.
"Kal, what does your club do?"
In response to Teid's question, Kal grinned and made a circle with his fingers.
"The seniors say that the Lucé Battle is very profitable, so we're thinking of several business ideas."
"By the way, any club presentation requires a lot of budget, right?"
"Yes. The music club also needs more budget than usual for stage setup and performance preparation."
"Commercial clubs also need their business reports approved to participate in the Lucé Battle."
"Normally, the student council handles that, right?"
As the class buzzed with talk about club activities, all eyes turned to one side of the classroom.
Leo, who had been reading a book indifferently, as if uninterested in club activities, looked up.
"What are you looking at?"
Before him was the student with the highest authority.
Of course, the actual work was delegated to the vice student council president, Hark, and his full student council president duties wouldn't begin until next year.
But even so, did Leo lack power?
Not exactly.
"Class President! Class President! You know! You know!"
Iliana scurried up to Leo, crouched down, and looked up at him with sparkling eyes.
"If the Magic Sword user club had just a tiny bit of budget, we could create and showcase a really amazing magic sword!"
The Magic Sword user club's presentations primarily involved the creation of magic swords.
Magic Sword users, who wield both swords and magic, were all specialized in creating magic swords.
Some of them were even more skilled at creating magic swords than alchemists.
Starting with Iliana, the students of Class 5 gathered around Leo.
"Leo! This time, Wyvern fangs have arrived in Lumeria City! I want to research summoning with them, but I don't have enough budget!"
"Class President! I, too!"
As the same classmates gathered around him with sparkling eyes, Leo nodded and took out a notepad from his pocket.
"Tell me what you need."
"Ooh!"
"Generous! Class President!"
"It's good to have the student council president in our class!"
Some of them cheered.
Chelsea and Kal, watching the scene, clicked their tongues.
Nella, the beautiful girl who always wore a languid smile, asked the two.
"Don't you two have any requests for Leo?"
"No."
"You've been in the same class as him for half a year, and you still don't know his personality?"
Leo, having written down all his classmates' requests in his notebook, stood up and walked towards the classroom entrance, muttering.
"My first job as student council president is to punish my classmates for their corrupt requests. I feel so bad. Should I also conduct internal investigations of the clubs here?"
"Hey! Catch him!"
"Catch him!"
"Ahhh! Class Presidenttt!"
"We were wrong!"
The students of Class 5 clung to Leo's legs.
***
After the exams, Leo headed to the student council president's office in the Tower of Heroes.
Even though Hark was in charge of the handover, Leo, as the student council president, had to show his face at the student council.
As Leo entered the student council president's office, the student council members were busy working.
"It's Leo."
"Welcome, Leo!"
The fifth-year students smiled brightly at Leo.
To the seniors on the verge of graduation, Leo was a very cute junior.
"You seem busy."
"Yes. We're busy with the Lucé Battle."
"Take it easy. Have some snacks here."
"Huh? Is this for us?"
"As the next student council president, you even take care of the student council members!"
"I was running low on sugar, so this is perfect."
"Are you already at an age where you're low on sugar? Well, you have aged quite a bit over five years."
"Do you want to die?"
The fifth-years glared at each other, bickering.
In fact, these were expensive snacks that the Class 5 students had stuffed Leo with as a bribe.
Since Leo didn't like snacks, they became treats for the student council executives.
After leaving the fifth-year seniors behind, Leo entered the student council president's office.
Inside, Hark, with a dazed expression, was receiving the student council president's duties from Lis.
"As expected of the successor to Ligard. There's really nothing I need to teach you?"
Lis said with a smile, patting Hark's shoulder.
Hark, his eyes dark with lack of sleep, rubbed them and said,
"No. Couldn't I have taken over Torua senpai's duties and he could have taken over Lis senpai's duties?"
Hark pointed to Elena, who was receiving the vice student council president duties from Torua in a corner, her face pale and tired.
Elena smiled faintly at his words.
"How could I, a third-year, surpass Senior Hark and become vice student council president?"
"Hey, you were the one who was making a fuss about becoming student council president until the first semester!"
"Elena doesn't remember those things~ Hark oppa~"
"Don't call me by the childish nickname you used when we were young. It's disgusting."
Hark scrunched up his face.
These two, famously known for their animosity, were now, for some reason, having a one-sided tantrum from Hark towards Elena.
In reality, Elena found Hark's suffering quite satisfying.
Meanwhile, Lis spotted Leo.
"You're here?"
"Yes."
Nodding, Leo walked to the window of the student council president's office and looked out, saying,
"I am deeply honored that the successors of Zerone and Ligard, two of Lumerun's three great families, have agreed to help me, who is lacking, with the student council's work."
"You… when you become a second-year, I'll immediately challenge you to a duel and pass on the student council work to you!"
"Please do."
Hark clutched the back of his neck at Leo's calm words, while Elena chuckled softly.
"I heard you're busy preparing for the Lucé Battle. Is there anything I can help with?"
In response to Leo's question, Lis said,
"Could you go inspect the clubs?"
"Club inspection?"
"Yes. Around this time, everyone is busy preparing for the Lucé Battle. They're busy with things they need or budget requests. Can you handle that? That's also part of the student council president's job."
"Understood."
Leo nodded.
"It will be difficult alone, so I'll assign you a secretary."
With those words, a familiar first-year girl with black hair entered the room.
"Please take care of me, Leo-sama."
It was none other than Chen Xia.
Seeing her smiling, Leo tilted his head.
"Come to think of it, you said you were part of the student council."
"Yes."
"Then have a good trip."
Lis sent the two first-years on their inspection.
Watching their retreating backs, Torua tilted his head.
"Is it okay to send two first-years?"
At that, Lis rested his chin on his hand and pointed at Hark.
"Looking at this guy, don't you think it's enough?"
Leo, who thought of exploiting Hark, famous for his laziness, as soon as he became student council president, was certainly not ordinary.
At Lis's words, Torua nodded.
"Indeed."