Book 1 Chapter 188

188

Leo immediately headed to the club building with Chen Xia.

"Now that I think about it, didn't Young Master Leo say he was going to create a hero research club?"

Leo made a nonchalant expression, watching Chen Xia tilt her head and bite her index finger as if something just occurred to her.

"I did. But I became student council president before I could make it."

"That's a shame. I was thinking of joining the club Young Master Leo created."

"You seem to be very interested in heroes?"

"Is there anyone who dislikes hero stories?"

Chen Xia was right.

In an era called the Age of Heroes, many people look up to heroes.

As such, hero stories are also objects of admiration.

If you grab any Lumern student and ask, everyone has at least one hero story they like.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Chen Xia nodded with a faint smile and said,

"They're cool."

At her murmur, which seemed to gaze at some distant ideal, Leo tilted his head.

"You talk as if you couldn't become one yourself."

Chen Xia's eyes widened as she looked at Leo.

"Didn't you enroll in Lumern because you dreamed of becoming a hero?"

Watching Leo walk away, his words lingering, Chen Xia involuntarily burst out laughing.

"Young Master Leo, do you know that sometimes you're really like an old man?"

"Am I?"

"See? You're not even denying it."

Chen Xia came next to Leo, leaned her upper body forward, and looked up at him.

"Did an actual old man just get younger?"

'Well, he *was* reborn.'

Leo let out a chuckle, thinking she was strangely perceptive after all.

Meanwhile, the two arrived at the club building and immediately began their student council duties.

"Where should we start?"

"Hmm. The Horticulture Club is nearby. Should we go there first?"

"Let's."

Leo nodded and headed towards the Horticulture Club with Chen Xia.

Leo made a dumbfounded expression when he saw the area around the Horticulture Club.

'At this point, it's practically a jungle, isn't it?'

It was the time when summer had passed and autumn was approaching.

Students were wearing spring\/autumn clothes, but the area around the Horticulture Club had a hot and humid climate created by magic.

Upon entering the Horticulture Club, which wouldn't be strange to call a small jungle, numerous plants were visible.

Leo's face subtly changed as he saw them.

"There are also fantastical man-eating plants mixed in, aren't there?"

"Yes. It's Lumern's Horticulture Club. They wouldn't grow ordinary things, would they?"

Leo said, looking at Chen Xia who shrugged.

"I thought the Art Club and Music Club engaged in rather normal activities."

"That's true. But there are quite a few dangerous activities among Lumern's clubs."

Chen Xia, a student council executive, was well-informed about matters concerning the entire school.

"And there are ordinary fruit trees like this too."

Chen Xia reached out, picked an apple, and *crunch*- ate it as they passed by.

Leo looked at the tree she had reached for.

Besides apples, the tree had various other fruits mixed in.

'At this point, it's practically a chimera.'

It was clear that someone with considerable expertise in magical engineering was in the Horticulture Club.

Leo and Chen Xia headed towards where the club room was.

Then, several large flower buds split open and lunged at Leo and Chen Xia.

It was a situation that would have terrified any ordinary person, but Leo and Chen Xia didn't bat an eye.

It wasn't particularly because they were the best students in their first year.

If they were surprised by this much, they wouldn't have survived in Lumern.

Leo avoided the lunging flower bud, grabbed its stem, and subdued it, while Chen Xia flicked her fingertip, striking the flower bud.

*Thwack-!*

Of course, the man-eating flower, struck by the finger, bounced right off.

*Peep-*

Just then, a sharp whistle sound was heard.

At that, the rampaging man-eating flowers quickly quieted down.

"Who's here? Visitors rarely come to the Horticulture Club, usually."

A female student emerged, pushing through the bushes.

Wearing a 4th-year badge and a magic department emblem, she had lime green hair and green eyes.

Chen Xia said to her,

"We're from the student council."

"Huh? You're Chen Xia, aren't you? Did you come because of the Lucerne War? And… Leo Plov?"

The 4th-year Horticulture Club member flinched when she saw Leo.

"We've come to inspe—"

"Oh my! Mr. Student Council President! What brings you to such a humble place!"

The 4th-year student didn't care at all that Leo was a 1st-year, rushing over at tremendous speed and rubbing her hands together.

"You must have suffered a lot because of the hot temperature, didn't you? If you were coming, you should have told us beforehand! Come, come! Inside!"

Her attitude was so exceedingly polite that one might doubt if it was the correct way for a 4th-year to treat a 1st-year.

'Certainly, they're sensitive about it since the budget is on the line.'

Club presidents are not simply upperclassmen.

Lumern's club activities are often so deeply specialized that they are of immense help when graduating and entering society, more than just typical club activities.

In related fields, research beyond club level is frequently conducted.

And the most important thing in research is cost.

As such, club presidents were always starved for research funds so they could freely conduct their desired research.

'A 1st-year? So what? He's the student council president! He's the money source!'

The Horticulture Club president, Ninea, was confident she could bend her waist at a right angle even if her opponent was a goblin.

Ninea, who had thus guided Leo and Chen Xia to the club room, kicked open the club room door and said,

"Everyone, bow your heads and kneel! The money giver—ah, no! The next student council president has arrived!"

"Huh?"

"The, the student council president?"

The Horticulture Club members jumped up in surprise.

And they swarmed around Leo and Chen Xia.

"Welcome!"

"We sincerely congratulate you on your visit!"

"Banners! Banners!"

The students gave them an enthusiastic welcome.

All of them were students from the Department of Magic and the Department of Summoning.

"Hmph. A distinguished person has graced this humble place with their presence."

Just then, the 1st-year Eliza, who was in the innermost part of the club room, said while filing her nails as usual.

"You were in the Horticulture Club?"

"Yes. Because I like flowers."

Eliza, blowing on her nails with a "whoosh-!", rose from the sofa.

"For someone who likes flowers, there weren't any flowers outside."

"Th-that's because! The tastes of the Horticulture Club seniors are so bizarre…!"

"Bizarre? Why would our Lady Eliza remain in such a bizarre place?"

As Ninea spoke mockingly, Eliza snorted.

"Hmph! If I become the Horticulture Club president, I'll get rid of all those incredibly strange plants and turn this into a beautiful flower garden!"

"Nooooooo!"

Ninea screamed and clung to Eliza.

"Don't do that! These are the children I've diligently raised for four years! They're like my own kids! Eliza! Don't do it! Waaah!"

It was clear that an elite like Eliza would naturally become the Horticulture Club president over time.

At the thought that all the plants she had painstakingly raised might die in the distant future, Ninea truly wept bitterly.

"A-alright! I won't… Aaah?! Stop pulling on my skirt!"

Eliza shrieked and tried to shake Ninea off.

No dignity was felt from Ninea, neither as a 4th-year senior nor as a club president.

But Eliza, who was usually known for her strong temper, was completely powerless against Ninea.

'She's her natural enemy.'

While Leo muttered inwardly, Eliza barely managed to calm Ninea down.

And then she cleared her throat.

"Hm! Anyway, if you've come for student council business, it must be for inspection and budget assessment, right?"

Eliza's eyes sharpened.

"Then, shall we talk?"

At that question, Leo glanced at Ninea.

"Isn't there a separate Horticulture Club president?"

"I'm the vice-president. And I handle all the budget issues."

At Eliza's words, Leo looked at Ninea.

"Yeah. Ever since Eliza joined, the club's finances have improved tremendously."

"That's because the president is someone who would even empty the club budget to buy a plant they like."

"Good heavens, such an irresponsible person…!"

"She's a senior! A senior!"

"Anyway, Eliza! To prepare for the Lucerne War, we need to extract a lot of budget—"

"She's not helping, so drag her away."

Eliza said coldly, and the 3rd-year Horticulture Club members grabbed Ninea by both arms and dragged her away.

"This is insubordination! Hey! Aaahh! Listening to a 1st-year! You have no pride as seniors…! Mph! Mph! Mph!!"

"That's not something a senior should say."

"Come along quietly. Leave the additional budget to Eliza."

Watching this, Chen Xia chuckled and pulled a memo from her pocket.

Eliza had the two sit on a sofa and table at one side of the club room and sat opposite them.

When she clapped her hands elegantly, another 1st-year student brought refreshments.

"That's an expensive tea."

As Chen Xia sipped her tea and expressed admiration, Eliza smiled, holding her teacup.

"Because it's the Horticulture Club. We're also running a tea leaf business in conjunction with the Commerce Club."

"I think I heard something like that from Karl."

In Lumern's clubs, as long as one has the ability, they can engage in economic activities as much as they want.

Of course, a portion of the profits had to be paid to Lumern, but the value provided by Lumern's brand name was enormous to begin with, so the money wasn't wasted.

"You know that budget increases are heavily reflected in economic performance, right?"

"I know. But with this much profit, I don't think additional budget would be needed?"

"It's the Lucerne War. We have a lot to prepare for."

"How much do you want?"

"As much as the Horticulture Club's existing annual budget."

At her words, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

Chen Xia shook her head.

It meant it was excessively much.

"Make it a quarter."

"There's no compromise. We've prepared all the supporting documents to justify this much budget."

Eliza, the heir of the prominent heroic house of Hergin in the Northern Continent, had received thorough heir training not only as a summoner but also as a family head.

As such, she was highly proficient in such paperwork and budget matters.

"Hmm."

Eliza curled the corner of her lips, watching Leo review the documents.

'An increase in additional budget is possible for any amount, as long as reasonable documentation is submitted.'

Eliza elegantly crossed her legs.

'Leo Plov. He did seize the student council president position through skill, but is his work capability just as good?'

Eliza saw through the fact that Leo, though already student council president, being sent on an inspection under the student council president title, was itself a test from the student council.

Therefore, she intended to deal with him to the best of her ability to live up to that.

'I'll squeeze as much as I can out of him.'

"The documents are solid."

Chen Xia, who had sufficient experience with student council work, said with a slightly troubled expression.

Chen Xia's abilities in this area were also inferior to Eliza's.

"What is the Horticulture Club planning to do in the Lucerne War?"

Eliza's eyelids twitched.

"Th-that's…"

"We're going to fight the Seirun Horticulture Club's man-eating plants! For the past four years, our Horticulture Club has been winning—"

"Seniors!"

Eliza sharply yelled, and the other Horticulture Club members dragged Ninea away again.

Eliza pressed her temples firmly and said,

"W-well, anyway! Winning against Seirun is important, isn't it? We desperately need that budget!"

In fact, that much budget wasn't needed.

They had only requested a budget increase because they wanted to make future club activities more comfortable.

'We have to get as much budget as we can while we have the chance!'

Eliza lifted her chin.

"We are demanding our legitimate rights."

If Leo and Chen Xia were upper-year student council members, they would have a thorough understanding of club matters and could find something to nitpick, but the two were blind to club activities.

'What should I do?'

It was then that Chen Xia scratched her cheek.

Leo raised his palm.

*Whoosh-!*

*Cheep?*

Piora appeared, emerging from a summoning circle.

Eliza flinched at the sight.

'A ph-phoenix?'

"Piora."

*Cheep?*

Leo placed the approval document, written for 1\/4 of the budget increase Eliza had requested, in Piora's beak.

"Go get that person's signature."

*Cheep-!*

Thinking she had been given a useless errand, Piora spat out the document.

Leo looked at Piora and said,

"It's something only you can do."

At those words, Piora paused, then lifted her head with a *jerk-!* and firmly nodded.

And then, carrying the document in her beak, she hopped-hopped-hopped towards Eliza.

*Cheep- cheep-!*

"Ugh…!"

Eliza, with a flushed face, began to panic.

Since words wouldn't work, she had no confidence in winning.

*Creak-!*

"Let's go. She'll get the signature herself."

Leo pulled Chen Xia and exited the Horticulture Club.

Watching this, Chen Xia tilted her head.

"Will it be alright?"

"She'll get the signature."

"Miss Eliza seemed quite firm, though."

"Summoners are absolutely smitten with phoenixes."

At those words, Chen Xia pondered for a moment, then let out a dry laugh as if she understood.

"But it seems a bit too much."

"My friend told me that if negotiations seem unfavorable, you should find a weakness and persistently bite at it."

"Hmm? Did you have such a friend? That seems a bit cowardly for a hero to think of."

Leo looked at the surprised Chen Xia and thought to himself.

'But those were the words of Lysinus, who was called the hero among heroes.'

Recalling the King of Wisdom, who was often called a trickster, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

Among the first-years, Chen Xia was the most mature, but it seemed she still had a pure side.

'Or not? Am I and the others, excluding Arion, the dirty ones?'