Book 1 Chapter 486

486.

Everything was settled once Leo defeated Tamus.

His army, resurrected by Tamus's spirit magic, disappeared when he fell.

The Kingdom of Carnel also found stability.

And once things were concluded, a person was dispatched from Lumerne to organize the situation.

It was none other than Hark, the vice president of Lumerne's student council.

Hark's face grew serious when he heard that dead heroes were being resurrected as undead by the Necromancer King.

Then, when he heard about the true nature of the Justice Guild, he clucked his tongue.

And when he heard that most of the executives, including Justice Guild Master Jerome, had died, Hark…

"Hey! Hark!"

"Snap out of it!"

He clutched the back of his neck and collapsed.

Hark, as vice president, was handling all of the student council president's duties.

The problem was that ever since Leo became president, major incidents had been ceaseless.

The rapidly changing global situation.

The role of hero candidates accordingly.

A war with documents, invisible to others, tormented Hark.

It was so bad that people even said the current student council was the toughest in Lumerne's 3000-year history.

Leo was dumping all the enormous workload onto him.

Furthermore, Hark had been the epitome of a lazy student since enrollment.

It couldn't be helped, as his mana attribute was 'accumulation' through sleep.

Yet, even so, Hark was the top honors student in his grade.

As such, he showed highly capable aspects even as acting student council president.

After hearing the story from Leo, who returned to his room after handing over the situation, Riel said excitedly.

"That's why Senior Hark is amazing."

Riel's eyes sparkled.

"He's incredibly capable, and his character is well-defined! Ah! I'm envious of that uniqueness."

"Character?"

"Yes. He's famous even in other schools as Lumerne's Sleeping Vice President."

"He's got all sorts of strange nicknames."

It was when Leo muttered as if it were curious.

The door opened and Hark entered.

"Hello, Senior Hark!"

Riel greeted him energetically.

"Uh-huh."

Hark, who greeted such an Riel with hollow eyes, sat down in front of Leo.

"It's an incident that would turn the entire student council upside down, but you're so calm."

"Ah. The Lumerne student council is full of talented people."

"Yes. Well said. President."

Hark said with a serious face.

"You see, I'm now in the second semester of my fifth year. I'm busy, and it doesn't seem good for the juniors if I, who will soon leave, run the school in place of the president. So I think I should resign from my position as vice president. As you said, our school has many capable students."

"Retirement? That's troublesome. Senior, you can still work more. Everyone thinks highly of your student council management."

"Please, let me retire."

"Don't talk nonsense. Ah, then I'll install a bed in the vice president's office. If you don't like that, I'll make arrangements so you can work from your room without coming to the student council."

"Kuaaaak!"

"Senior Hark! Calm down!"

When Hark, with his eyes rolled back, lunged at Leo, Riel was startled and stopped him.

As a commotion arose, the student council students waiting outside also rushed into the room.

And they dragged Hark out.

"Appoint Elena as vice president! Let me retire! Retire… Mph mph mph!"

Hark, who was struggling and thrashing, was dragged out with his mouth covered.

"Leo. How long do you plan to work Hark to the bone?"

When one of the fifth-year students carefully asked, Leo smiled faintly.

"Until the moment he graduates."

At those words, Niel Roda, a fourth-year student who was the student council secretary, nodded and scribbled something on the record sheet.

"Vice President Hark requested retirement, but President Leo would not permit it. He plans to make him work until the day he graduates."

Mmm-hmm! Niel, who nodded, muttered to himself.

'I have to leave the student council by any means before I become a fifth-year.'

"Senior Niel, do you want to leave the student council?"

"H-eek? M-master?"

Niel was terrified by the grim reaper-like voice that came from behind him.

'H-how? Did my Master Leo learn mind-reading or something?!'

"Oh, no. Of course not? I must assist Master. Ahahahahaha."

Niel smiled awkwardly and shook his head.

Seeing Niel like that, Leo smiled and said.

"You can come in as you please, but you cannot leave as you please."

The faces of the other fourth-year students, including Riel, turned pale at those words.

The fifth-year students let out a mournful laugh.

'Not only Hark, but all of us will work until the day we graduate.'

***

Leo, who entrusted all important tasks to his student council seniors, spent his time leisurely.

Leo was leisurely reading a book in the shade of the drill ground.

Riel, taking the initiative, gathered the orphan soldiers on the drill ground and told them stories of heroes.

As befitting a class representative, Riel's heroics score was also top within her grade.

As such, there were many interesting stories, so the orphan soldiers listened attentively.

"The people of the Kingdom of Carnel don't seem to have a very good image of heroes."

Anyas, who approached Leo, said.

"It's natural since the Justice Guild abandoned them. But thanks to your efforts, not everyone feels that way, right?"

"But we are shadows."

"As I said before, what does that matter? All you have to do is do your best in your respective positions."

Leo said without taking his eyes off the book.

"What about the follow-up measures?"

"First, we are moving to stop the war. In the case of the Kingdom of Carnel, the king and prime ministers will be dethroned, and Crown Prince Jeremin will inherit the throne."

During the crisis, Jeremin showed sufficient qualifications as crown prince.

Public sentiment had already turned away from the current king, so making Jeremin king was very simple.

Although he was an ordinary person who couldn't wield special abilities, his dedication to the people of the capital, not sparing his own life, left a deep impression on the people of this country as well as the shadows.

"As shadows, we shouldn't interfere with global affairs… but since we're already being called heroes, it shouldn't be a big problem."

Anyas smiled faintly.

Secretly helping him as he became king was Anyas's unilateral decision.

While Leo chuckled, watching Anyas.

"As I've said repeatedly, I am not a great person. Brother is truly the great one!"

Riel spoke excitedly to the orphan soldiers.

"But the knights said you looked like a goddess, Captain?"

When one orphan soldier raised his hand and spoke, Riel shook her head.

"As I said then, I am not a god. If there is truly a god-like person, it is my brother right there!"

The orphan soldiers' gaze turned towards Leo.

Anyas clapped his hands upon hearing that.

"Indeed, Lady Riel. To call Sir Leo a god. You have extraordinary perception!"

It was when Leo clicked his tongue, watching Anyas clap enthusiastically.

"The three of you, you were here."

Jeremin approached the palace drill ground.

"I heard you're leaving tomorrow, is that true?"

Riel nodded at Jeremin's question.

"Yes. Our capable seniors are handling the aftermath. We need to return to school and focus on our studies again."

"Ah, I haven't even properly thanked you all. Then, I will host a party tonight. As grandly as possible…!"

Riel smiled faintly and then covered Jeremin's mouth with her index finger as he frantically spoke.

"Sir Jeremin, you know that taking care of the people devastated by war comes first, don't you?"

"La- Lady Riel."

"I'll be waiting for the news that you've become a wonderful king, Sir Jeremin."

Jeremin stared blankly at Riel winking one eye, then said.

"Lady Riel, I will definitely invite you to my coronation."

"That would be an honor!"

"Ca- can I write letters? I mean… I'd like to inform you about these children."

"Yes! That would make me very happy. I'll reply right away too."

Jeremin's face brightened.

"I'm so happy to have made a new friend! We can definitely be good friends! Sir Jeremin!"

But soon, upon hearing Riel's words, he slumped his shoulders.

Seeing Riel like that, Leo clicked his tongue.

"She's malicious."

"Lady Riel is famous. She's beautiful, her personality is very upright and easygoing, so she's popular enough to be mentioned among students from Lumerne as well as other schools. She's actually received many confessions."

"Really? I haven't heard any such rumors."

"Because she unconsciously just brushed them off like that."

"I see. But how do you know such things so well?"

"As a shadow, it's basic to keep track of a hero candidate's personal information."

At Anyas's words, Leo clicked his tongue.

Thus, the schedule in the Kingdom of Carnel concluded.

***

Leo and Riel, who returned to school, submitted their mission reports and went back to their respective dorms.

Early morning.

Upon returning to the dorm, the dorm was empty.

Although an enormous amount of things had happened, the time Leo spent on his mission practical was very short.

As a result, Leo became the student who completed his mission assignment and returned the fastest among all second-year students.

Leo, who entered the dorm lounge, unfolded a newspaper.

Newspapers containing various world news are delivered to the Lumerne dorms every morning.

'No mention of this incident yet.'

The downfall of the Justice Guild.

The undeath of dead heroes.

And the erasure of names from the Hero Record.

Even just the downfall of the Justice Guild was bound to cause an enormous stir.

'But compared to the two incidents that will happen later, that's nothing.'

It would probably be an enormous event, with the resurrection of the Erebus fragment, that would turn a world upside down that wouldn't normally be surprised by anything.

'I should tell Mel to handle it well.'

It was when Leo sighed and read through the newspaper.

"Hm?"

He paused, seeing an article that occupied an entire page of the newspaper, written in huge letters.

And then he chuckled.

"You finally did it."

The article was about Lunia of Seirun.

The news that Lunia had formed a pact with the Phoenix was reported as a major feature.

In addition, the news that she had become the next student council president of Seirun was also conveyed.

"Everyone is steadily growing."

It was when Leo smiled.

Flap-flap-!

The window opened and a low-grade wind spirit beast in the form of a bird flew in.

Beep beep beep-!

The spirit beast that delivered the letter to Leo flew away again just as it came.

Leo, seeing that, checked the contents of the letter with a puzzled expression.

'A summons from the principal?'

***

Shwaaaah-!

A deep forest somewhere in the eastern part of the continent.

This was a forest untouched by human footsteps.

A gentle autumn breeze blew.

Rustle- Rustle-

The sound of crunching fallen autumn leaves echoed.

The sound of crumbling leaves quietly reverberates.

The sound of the autumn forest.

Rustle- Crunch- Soft crunch- Soft crunch- Soft crunch- Soft crunch-

The sound of the woman's footsteps changed.

Soft, vibrant grass blades.

A spring scene unfolded before her eyes.

Soon, the woman carefully sat down in front of one of the two gravestones.

"I… I'm here. Master."