Book 1 Chapter 189

189

The rumor that Leo visited the Horticulture Club spread throughout the entire club in an instant.

As it was the period before the Lucerne Festival, it was a sensitive time due to budget issues.

Therefore, the clubs were generally welcoming of Leo's appearance.

Among them, quite a few clubs harbored a scheme to extort even more budget from the easygoing first-year, the next student council president.

"I don't think additional budget can be provided for this."

"Huh?!"

The president of the Magic Engineering Club made a surprised expression upon hearing Leo's words.

"Why? Why? Why! Why can't we get an additional budget! The Horticulture Club received it!"

James Dect, the fourth-year president of the Magic Engineering Club, asked indignantly.

Leo looked at James and said,

"A spatial displacement magic spell formula that drastically reduces the consumption of magic stones. It was the Magic Engineering Club's long-term project, ongoing for the past two years, wasn't it?"

"That's right! Once completed, it's a research project that will bring in more enormous sums of money than all the budget we've spent until now!"

"Honestly, from your perspective, how complete do you think it is?"

"It's almost finished!"

"Almost?"

Leo maintained an expressionless face.

At his words, James flinched and then said,

"Uh, half."

"Half?"

"All the difficult parts have been solved, so now only the minor details are left!"

"Senior, you're graduating next year, aren't you? If the Magic Engineering Club president graduates, who will take over this?"

"I have capable and smart juniors!"

The Magic Engineering Club members sighed at James's words.

It was James who would often scold them, saying they couldn't even understand this.

But now that he was desperate, he called them capable.

'How can he be just like the former president?'

'No, still, to get the budget, we have to cooperate.'

All the Magic Engineering Club members had invested at least half a year's time in this magic research.

So, they wanted to somehow secure more budget.

"That's right, Leo. We will take over and continue the project from our senior!"

"Yeah, since it's research that has been ongoing since our graduating senior's time, it continues to develop!"

The first, second, and third-years appealed for the necessity of the research.

'Well, it's not theoretically impossible.'

Leo looked at the magic spell formula.

He could tell that a lot of research had indeed progressed.

However, achieving results was a far-off story for this magic spell formula.

"Still, it's not something to present at the Lucerne Festival, is it? The additional budget is for preparing for the Lucerne Festival."

At Cheon Sia's words, James sighed 'Hoo-', then put a hand to his forehead.

"Oh, come on. This is why knight studies just won't do. Magic research has presentation value even when it's still in progress. In fact, our Magic Engineering Club has been praised as excellent by the Sayrun professors every Lucerne Festival!"

"Yes. But it says here that we were consistently outranked in evaluations by the Sayrun Magic Engineering Club, who presented practical magic spell formulas?"

When Cheon Sia spoke with her characteristic gentle smile, James bristled.

"Magic is the realm of exploration and creation! Don't compare us to the Sayrun Magic Engineering Club, who only pursue practical things without dreams!"

"Hear, hear! Hear, hear!"

"Our Magic Engineering Club intends to stake everything on completing this magic! And bring about a revolution in the world!"

The Magic Engineering Club students showed an enthusiastic reaction to James's speech.

"Alright! Then I'll explain point by point why our Magic Engineering Club needs an additional budget! Chalkboard! Chalk!"

At James's shout, the Magic Engineering Club students brought a portable chalkboard and chalk.

"The principle of spatial displacement magic is to fold space and move, right? For the entrance to reach a distant space, it inevitably requires folding a large space, so it's bound to take a lot of power! So! You fold the space several times into small sections! Like a spring! Then the mana consumed…"

Cheon Sia looked at Leo with a troubled expression as James began his complex explanation.

After all, Cheon Sia was ignorant of magic.

Listening to such difficult explanations, she couldn't properly grasp the reason.

Leo listened to James's explanation, nodding in agreement with 'Oh, oh—'.

At that, James secretly smiled with satisfaction.

'Professor Ren and Senior Torua also evaluated our research as excellent!'

The Magic Engineering Club was able to receive a large budget without showing results largely due to the influence of Ren and Torua, who liked new endeavors.

Since they had significant influence in the Magic Department and Torua, who was the vice student council president, gave his support, there had been no budget worries until then.

'Leo Flobe is also a mage, after all! So he'll surely acknowledge our research!'

James, convinced of this, put down the chalk.

"How is it?"

"It's impressive."

"Right? So, the additional budget…"

"But in this state, it seems like we'd have to cut not just the additional budget, but next year's budget as well."

*CRACKLE-*

At Leo's unexpected words, James's body stiffened.

"You! You didn't understand my explanation, did you?"

"I understood it very well. So, I will now explain why it needs to be cut."

Leo picked up the chalk and brought it to the chalkboard where James had delivered a long speech, pointing out all the parts that needed correction and improvement.

*Clack-*

Leo put down the chalk and spoke, looking at James, who was gaping.

"If we research in this direction, we can save on the budget. So, shouldn't we cut it?"

What Leo said were improvements that James also knew about.

The reason he hadn't explained them was to create an excuse to secure more budget, but Leo had pointed them out accurately.

"J-Just a moment! We have other research besides this magic…"

"You said you'd stake the honor of the Magic Engineering Club on completing this magic and bringing about a revolution in the world. So, you should focus solely on this research and not worry about other research. Sia. Check the budget cuts and report to Senior Elena."

"Understood, Young Master Leo."

"Huh?! E-Elena?"

Hark, who is in charge of practical matters, doesn't particularly like magic.

So, it was clear that anything magic-related would be left to Elena.

And Elena is also the acting chairman of the board.

She's practically the source of the school's budget.

'She'd probably be happy to cut unnecessary spending.'

Elena would clearly cut the budget mercilessly.

Torua, who had been a reliable supporter of the Magic Engineering Club, was set to graduate.

As for Ren, another pillar of support…

'Student Leo said to cut the budget? Then we'll cut it.'

He would obviously say that.

It's a well-known story that Ren is putting in all sorts of effort to bring Leo into the Magic Department.

In the end, James could only grab Leo's pants leg and plead.

"Please, anything but budget cuts! We don't need additional budget! Please!"

Other Magic Engineering Club members also grabbed Leo's feet and begged and begged.

Ultimately, the Magic Engineering Club received no additional budget.

The next place they visited was 'The Power', a physical training club centered around students from the Knight Department.

Leo and Cheon Sia looked at the members of 'The Power' doing strength training and said,

"…Do you need additional budget support?"

"Yes, we do. We need to buy supplements that help with muscle training."

"Do they actually help?"

"Of course! Look! At these magnificent forearms!"

Dick Bickler, the fourth-year president of The Power, showed off his arm muscles.

Cheon Sia admired the sight of the huge muscles rippling.

"Leo! As you know, in real combat, aura and technique are important, but physical training is just as important. We, The Power, are aiming for an even higher level through physical training! Look! At this beautiful physique!"

With a 'Hup!' of effort, Dick's entire body's muscles swelled.

Leo looked at him and said,

"You don't necessarily have to build that much muscle for actual combat. I'll make it that there's no additional budget."

"No, don't say it so firmly. Just a little… huh? Even half would be fine. No, even a quarter…!"

Dick pleaded with his junior.

Clubs that had schemes to easily obtain additional budget just because he was a first-year often ended up having their budgets cut in the worst-case scenario.

By evening, Leo was being treated like a grim reaper by the club presidents.

"Welcome, Leo."

Celia welcomed Leo, who had stopped by the Art Club.

"Where is the Art Club president?"

"They said you were scary and ran away. Saying the Art Club doesn't need additional budget."

Celia sighed softly, seeing the president, who had been full of dreams of securing a budget from Leo just moments ago, run away after hearing the rumors.

Hearing that, Leo tilted his head.

"They ran away before I arrived? Hmm? Is there something pricking their conscience?"

"No! There's nothing! Nothing!"

Miria Juliet, the Art Club president who was hiding in the club's storage room, screamed in fright, kicked open the storeroom door, and rushed out.

Pantingly, she calmed her ragged breathing and said,

"W-Welcome to the Art Club! While you're here, would you like to see the works we're submitting to the Lucerne Festival?"

"Yes."

Leo nodded readily.

Guided by Miria, Leo and Cheon Sia looked at the works being created.

The most eye-catching among them was none other than a painting of a phoenix.

"It's wonderful, isn't it? The depiction of the flames is particularly amazing."

"Right? Celia drew this."

"Ohh."

Leo admired it and looked at his cousin.

Celia flipped her hair back with a prim expression.

And there was a sculpture as wonderful as Celia's painting.

Leo paused as he looked at the sculpture.

The sculpture was none other than Luna, wearing a benevolent smile.

'That really doesn't suit her.'

He let out a hollow laugh and asked,

"Whose work is this?"

Even at a glance, the skill was extraordinary.

"It's Woredon's."

"Woredon? He was in the Art Club too?"

"Yes. He doesn't come often, but his sculpting skill is amazing."

"Ohh."

Leo nodded in admiration.

Soon, Miria asked Leo, who had finished appreciating the works,

"How do you feel after seeing everything?"

"They're excellent."

"Then! I mean, the Art Club has beaten Sayrun's Art Club every year at the art exhibition!"

Seeing Miria puff out her chest confidently with an 'Ahem!', Leo said,

"Then shall we talk about the budget now? Don't you think the Art Club's budget is too much?"

*Thud-*

Miria collapsed into her seat as if the strength had left her legs.

And she looked up at Leo with terror in her eyes.

"P-Please, anything but cuts…"

"I'm joking."

Leo laughed and left the Art Club.

Celia, who was seeing him off, narrowed her eyes.

"Leo."

"Why?"

"You're enjoying this, aren't you?"

"Yeah. It's fun."

'…It's already like this, I can't even imagine how terrifying he'll be when he officially starts his work as student council president.'

Thinking that her cousin would be more than capable of ruling with an iron fist, Celia shook her head.

That evening.

Rumerun's annual banquet proceeded.

Every year after the second-semester midterms, Rumerun gathered all grades to hold a banquet.

An event that marked the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

And autumn was also the season when Kyle defeated Erebus.

This banquet also carried the meaning of celebrating the day peace was restored.

'Though I didn't even know it was autumn back then.'

The grand auditorium attached to the side of the Hero's Tower.

All grades were seated, sharing a meal.

Meanwhile, wind spirits roamed above the grand auditorium, presenting something to the students.

As it was a time that heralded new hope, there was also a tradition for adults to give children gifts they usually wanted during this period.

Leo also received various gifts from his parents around this time every year.

But this year was a little strange.

"…The amount of gifts is no joke, is it?"

Leo made a disgruntled expression, seeing the wind spirits busily bringing him gift boxes.

Karl checked the names written on the gift boxes and clicked his tongue.

"They're power figures from various countries and factions. It seems they're showering you with gifts to get on your good side after hearing you became student council president."

*Riiip-!*

Leo tore open the wrapping of a palm-sized box and checked its contents.

Inside was a necklace.

"Wow, isn't this a Dieaden artifact?"

Karl exclaimed.

"Wasn't Dieaden the magic workshop Chelsea often uses?"

"That's right. It's a place that even most noble families wouldn't dare to approach."

Karl shook his head in astonishment and carefully examined the necklace.

"It has a shield magic cast on it. This is an incredibly expensive item, and they're giving it as a gift? They must really want to impress you."

At Karl's words, Leo put the necklace back in the box.

"I don't particularly need it."

"It's better than nothing, isn't it?"

Karl chuckled and looked at a few gift boxes.

"This one has no sender's name?"

As Karl said, the long box, simply wrapped in brown paper, had no sender's name.

"Since items brought in from outside undergo a safety inspection, it shouldn't be dangerous… but it's suspicious, isn't it?"

Chelsea, who was engrossed in eating next to them, mumbled, eating pasta.

*Riiip-!*

Leo tore open the wrapping with a puzzled expression.

An old, smooth wooden box was visible.

Leo carefully opened the lid.

*Click-!*

And what came out was a plain-looking longsword and a letter.

"A longsword?"

"What is it? It looks ordinary."

Chelsea and Karl made puzzled expressions.

Amidst everyone sending lavish gifts, a plain longsword?

"I do feel an unusual mana from it…"

"Wait, this is a material I've never seen before?"

Karl, from an alchemist family, said in surprise.

Leo gently traced the longsword's surface and murmured,

"It's Dragon Bone."

"What?"

"Dragon Bone?!"

At the cries of astonishment, the surrounding gazes turned to Leo.

Leo checked the contents of the letter.

It was a small, neat handwriting.

-Congratulations on becoming student council president. Please make good use of it.