Book 1 Chapter 188

188

Leo headed straight to the club building with Chen Xia.

"Come to think of it, didn't young master Leo say he was going to create a Hero Research Club?"

Seeing Chen Xia, who seemed to have just remembered, biting her index finger and tilting her head, Leo wore a nonchalant expression.

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

"That's a shame. I was thinking of joining the club you created, young master Leo."

"You seem to be very interested in heroes?"

"Is there anyone who doesn't like heroic tales?"

It was as Chen Xia said.

As it was called the Age of Heroes, many people admired heroes.

As such, heroic tales were also objects of admiration.

If you randomly ask a Lumerne student, everyone has a favorite heroic tale.

"Really?"

"Yes."

Chen Xia nodded with a faint smile and said,

"They're cool."

At her mumbling, which seemed to gaze at a distant ideal, Leo tilted his head.

"You speak as if you can never become one."

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

"Didn't you enroll in Lumerne dreaming of becoming a hero?"

As Leo walked away, speaking in passing, Chen Xia burst into laughter without realizing it.

"Young master Leo, do you know you sometimes sound like a real old man?"

"Do I?"

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

Chen Xia came up to Leo and leaned forward, looking up at him.

"Did a real old man get younger?"

'Well, I was reborn.'

Leo chuckled, thinking she was strangely sharp.

In the meantime, the two arrived at the club building and immediately started working on student council matters.

"Where should we start?"

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

"Let's do that."

Nodding, Leo headed with Chen Xia to where the Horticulture Club was.

Leo looked at the area around the Horticulture Club with an absurd expression.

'At this rate, it's practically a jungle!'

Summer had passed, and autumn was approaching.

Students were wearing spring and autumn uniforms, but the area around the Horticulture Club was creating a humid climate due to magic.

Upon entering the Horticulture Club, which was not unlike a small jungle, Leo saw numerous plants.

Seeing them, Leo's expression changed subtly.

"There are even beast-系的 carnivorous plants mixed in?"

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

Watching Chen Xia shrug, Leo said,

"I know the Art Club and the Music Club are doing quite normal activities."

"They are. However, many of Lumerne's club activities are quite dangerous."

As a student council executive, Chen Xia was well aware of matters concerning the entire school.

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

Chen Xia reached out as she passed by, picked an apple, and took a bite with a crunch.

Leo looked at the tree she had reached for.

Besides apples, various other fruits were mixed on the tree.

'This is practically a chimera.'

Someone with considerable skill in magical engineering was clearly in charge of the Horticulture Club.

Leo and Chen Xia headed towards the clubroom.

Then, several large flower buds opened their mouths and lunged at Leo and Chen Xia.

A normal person would have been terrified, but Leo and Chen Xia didn't bat an eye.

It wasn't just because they were the top students of their first year.

If they were this easily surprised, they wouldn't have survived in Lumerne.

Leo dodged the lunging flower buds, grabbed a stem, and subdued one, while Chen Xia flicked her fingertip and smacked a flower bud.

*Crack-!*

Of course, the carnivorous flower that was hit by her finger was flung away.

*Beep-!*

At that moment, a sharp whistle was heard.

Then, the raging carnivorous flowers quickly quieted down.

"Who's here? Visitors rarely come to the Horticulture Club these days."

A female student emerged from the bushes.

She wore a fourth-year badge and a magic department emblem, had light green hair, and green eyes.

To her, Chen Xia said,

"We're from the student council."

"Huh? You're Chen Xia? Are you here for the Ruse Battle? And… Leo Frove?"

The fourth-year student of the Horticulture Club flinched upon seeing Leo.

"A inspection…."

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

The fourth-year student showed no hesitation in Leo being a first-year and rushed forward at an incredible speed, rubbing her hands together.

"You must have been suffering from the hot temperature! If you were visiting, you should have told us in advance! Come, come! Inside!"

Her attitude was so polite that it made one doubt if this was how a fourth-year should treat a first-year.

'Indeed, it's sensitive when budgets are involved.'

The club presidents are not simply older students.

Lumerne's club activities are very in-depth, often proving immensely helpful even after graduation and entering society.

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

And the most important thing in research is cost.

As a result, club presidents were always hungry for research funds so they could pursue their desired research to their heart's content.

'First-year? So what! You're the student council president! You're the money source!'

Ninea, the president of the Horticulture Club, was confident she could bend herself into a 'ㄱ' shape, even if the other person were a goblin.

Ninea guided Leo and Chen Xia into the clubroom, kicked open the door, and announced,

"Everyone, bow your heads and kneel! Money da… Ah, no! The future student council president has arrived!"

"Gasp?"

"W-What, the student council president?"

The members of the Horticulture Club were startled and jumped up from their seats.

And they swarmed around Leo and Chen Xia.

"Welcome!"

"We sincerely congratulate you on your visit!"

"A banner! A banner!"

The students gave a passionate welcome.

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

"Hmph. Such a distinguished guest has graced this humble place."

At that moment, Eliza, a first-year student at the very back of the clubroom, said as she trimmed her nails as usual.

"It's the Horticulture Club?"

"Yes. Because I like flowers."

*Hoo-* Eliza, who blew on her fingernails, stood up from the sofa.

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

"Th-that's because! The tastes of the senior members of the Horticulture Club are so eccentric…!"

"Eccentric? Why would our lady Eliza remain in such an eccentric place?"

Ninea said sarcastically, and Eliza snorted.

"Hmph! If I become the president of the Horticulture Club, I'll get rid of all these bizarre plants and create a beautiful flower garden!"

"Noooooo!"

Ninea wailed and clung to Eliza.

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

Ninea, thinking that an elite like Eliza would undoubtedly become the president of the Horticulture Club over time, wept genuinely out of sorrow at the thought that her meticulously raised plants might all die in the distant future.

"Ah, alright! I won't… Kyaaak?! Stop pulling my skirt!"

Eliza shrieked and tried to shake off Ninea.

She showed no dignity as a fourth-year senior or as a club president.

However, Eliza, known for her fiery temper, was unable to exert any force on Ninea.

'A natural enemy.'

Leo muttered inwardly as Eliza finally managed to calm Ninea down.

Then she cleared her throat.

"Ahem! In any case, if you're here for student council work, it's for an inspection and budget assessment, right?"

Eliza's eyes sharpened.

"Then shall we talk?"

At the question, Leo glanced at Ninea.

"Don't you have a separate president for the Horticulture Club?"

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

At Eliza's words, Leo looked at Ninea.

"Yes. After Eliza joined, the club's finances improved significantly."

"The so-called president buys whatever appealing plant she finds, even if it drains the club's budget."

"My goodness, such an irresponsible person…!"

"She's my senior! My senior!"

"Anyway, Eliza! To prepare for the Ruse Battle, let's get a lot of budget…."

"Take her away, she's not helping."

Eliza said coldly, and the third-year members of the Horticulture Club grabbed Ninea by the arms and dragged her away.

"This is insubordination! Hey! Ahhh! Listening to a first-year! Don't you have any pride as seniors… Mmph! Mmph! Mmph!!"

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

"Follow us quietly. Leave the additional budget to Eliza."

Watching them, Chen Xia chuckled and took out a memo from her pocket.

Eliza led the two to a sofa and table in one corner of the clubroom and sat in front of them.

She clapped her hands gracefully, and another first-year student brought out refreshments.

"This is expensive tea."

As Chen Xia took a sip of the tea and marveled, Eliza held her teacup and smiled.

"It's the Horticulture Club. We're also running a tea leaf business in conjunction with the commercial clubs."

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

In Lumerne's clubs, members can engage in economic activities as much as their abilities allow.

Of course, a portion of the profits must be paid to Lumerne, but the value of the Lumerne brand itself is immense, so the money was not considered a waste.

"You know that an increase in budget is greatly reflected in economic performance, right?"

"I know. But with this much profit, you wouldn't need additional budget, would you?"

"It's the Ruse Battle, you know. We have a lot to prepare."

"How much do you want?"

"The same as the Horticulture Club's annual budget."

At that, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

Chen Xia shook her head.

It meant it was excessively large.

"Make it 1\/4."

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

As the heir of the renowned Hergin family, a famous heroic noble house in the northern continent, Eliza had received thorough training not only as a summoner but also as the heir to the family head.

As such, she was very proficient in tasks like paperwork and budget matters.

"Hmm."

As Leo reviewed the documents, Eliza's lips curled up.

'An increase in additional budget is possible regardless of the amount, as long as reasonable data is submitted.'

Eliza elegantly crossed her legs.

'Leo Frove. He might have lost the student council president position through skill, but is his work performance equally good?'

Eliza shrewdly discerned that Leo, the current student council president, coming for an inspection under the guise of student council duties was actually a test by the student council.

Therefore, she intended to do her best to respond to it.

'I'll take as much as I can get.'

"The data is solid."

Chen Xia, who had done a lot of student council work, said with a slightly troubled expression.

Chen Xia was also less capable than Eliza in these matters.

"What is the Horticulture Club planning to do in the Ruse Battle?"

Eliza's eyes trembled slightly.

"Th-that's…."

"We're going to fight the Saerun Horticulture Club's carnivorous plants! Our Horticulture Club has been winning for the past four years…."

"Seniors!"

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

Pressing her temples, Eliza said,

"W-Well! It's important to beat Saerun, isn't it? We desperately need that budget!"

In reality, they didn't need that much budget.

She was simply requesting an increase in budget because she wanted to spend the upcoming club activities more comfortably.

'We need to get as much budget as we can when we can!'

Eliza lifted her chin.

"We are demanding our rightful rights."

If Leo and Chen Xia had been senior student council members, they would have known the club's affairs inside out and could have found fault, but they were both oblivious to club activities.

'What should we do?'

As Chen Xia scratched her cheek, Leo raised his palm.

*Fwoosh-!*

*Peep?*

Fiora appeared through the summoning circle.

Eliza flinched upon seeing her.

'P-Phoenix?'

"Fiora."

*Peep?*

Leo handed the payment document for 1\/4 of the budget increase Eliza had requested to Fiora's beak.

"Go get that person's signature."

*Peep-!*

Thinking she was being given a pointless errand, Fiora spat out the document.

Seeing Fiora like that, Leo said,

"It's something only you can do."

At those words, Fiora hesitated for a moment, then lifted her head and nodded resolutely.

Then, holding the document, she hopped towards Eliza.

*Peep-! Peep-!*

"Ugh…!"

Eliza began to panic, her face flushing.

She felt she had no chance of winning if she couldn't communicate.

*Creak-!*

"Let's go. She'll get the signature on her own."

Leo pulled Chen Xia and left the Horticulture Club.

As they watched, Chen Xia tilted her head.

"Will it be okay?"

"She'll get the signature."

"Miss Eliza seemed quite firm."

"Summoners tend to go weak at the knees for phoenixes."

At that, Chen Xia pondered for a moment, then chuckled as if she understood.

"But it seems a bit too much."

"My friend told me that if negotiations are unfavorable, you should find their weakness and persistently gnaw at it."

"Hmm? Did you have a friend like that? It seems a bit cowardly for someone who's supposed to be a hero."

Seeing Chen Xia's surprised expression, Leo thought to himself.

'Those were the words of Lysinas, who was called the Hero of Heroes.'

Recalling the Wise King, who was also often called a swindler, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

While Chen Xia was the most mature among the first-years, she still had a naive side.

'Or perhaps? Am I and the others, except for Aeron, the ones who are corrupt?'