Book 1 Chapter 486

486.

Everything was settled with Leo defeating Tamus.

His army, resurrected by Tamus's spirit magic, vanished as he fell.

The Kingdom of Kanel also found stability.

And after things concluded and to organize affairs, someone was dispatched from Lumen.

It was none other than Lumen's Vice President, Hark.

When Hark heard the story of fallen heroes being resurrected as undead by the Necromancer King, his face grew serious.

Then, hearing about the true nature of the Justice Guild, he scoffed.

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

"Hey! Hark!"

"Snap out of it!"

He collapsed, clutching the back of his neck.

As Vice President, Hark was handling all the practical duties of the President.

The problem was that ever since Leo became President, there had been no end to major incidents.

The rapidly changing global political landscape.

The role of hero candidates in accordance with that.

A war against paperwork, invisible to others, tormented Hark.

To the point where it was said that the current student council was the most difficult in Lumen's 3,000-year history.

Leo was offloading all of the tremendous workload.

Moreover, Hark had been the epitome of a lazy student since he enrolled.

Given that his mana attribute was 'accumulation' through sleep, it couldn't be helped.

However, even so, Hark was the top honors student in his year.

As such, he also showed immense competence as the acting student council president.

After handing over the situation and returning to his room, Leo heard Lil speak excitedly.

"So, Hark-senpai is amazing."

Lil's eyes sparkled.

"He's incredibly competent, and his personality is also distinct! Ah! I envy that specialness."

"Personality?"

"Yes. The Sleeping Vice President of Lumen is famous even at other schools."

"What strange nicknames he's acquired."

It was as Leo murmured in surprise.

The door opened, and Hark entered.

"Hark-senpai, hello!"

Lil greeted him energetically.

"Uh-huh."

Hark, with sunken eyes, greeted Lil and sat before Leo.

"This is an incident that would throw the entire student council into an uproar, yet you're so calm."

"Ah. Lumen's student council is full of talented people."

"Indeed. Well said, President."

Hark said with a serious face.

"I'm entering my second semester of 5th year now. I'm busy, and it doesn't seem good for the juniors for someone who will be leaving soon to manage the school in place of the President. So, I think I should step down as Vice President. As you said, our school has many talented students."

"Retire? That's problematic. Senpai can work a bit longer. Everyone thinks highly of your student council management."

"Please, let me retire."

"Don't even think about it. Ah, in that case, I'll install a bed in the Vice President's office. If you don't like that, I'll arrange for you to do your work from your room without coming to the student council."

"Kuaaak!"

"Hark-senpai! Calm down!"

Lil, seeing Hark about to lunge at Leo with wide, manic eyes, desperately intervened.

As the commotion arose, students from the student council who were waiting outside rushed into the room.

And they dragged Hark out.

"Tell that Elena girl to be appointed Vice President! Let me retire! Retire… Mmph mmph mmph!"

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

"Leo. How long do you intend to keep Hark under your thumb?"

One of the 5th-year students asked cautiously, and Leo smiled.

"Until the moment of graduation."

At those words, Niel Rhoda, a 4th-year student serving as student council secretary, nodded and scribbled something in his record.

"Vice President Hark requested retirement, but President Leo-sama did not grant it. He plans to have him work until the day of his graduation."

Nodding in satisfaction, Niel muttered to himself.

'I need to get out of the student council by any means necessary before I become a 5th-year.'

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

"Hiiik? P-President?

Niel, startled by the voice from behind, which was like that of a grim reaper.

'How? Has my Leo-sama learned telepathy?!'

"N-no, that's impossible? I must assist President-sama. Ahahaha."

Niel shook his head with an awkward laugh.

Watching Niel, Leo said with a smile.

"You can enter as you please, but you can't leave as you please."

Hearing those words, Niel and the other 4th-year students turned pale.

The 5th-years let out mournful laughter.

'It seems we'll all be working until the day of graduation, not just Hark.'

***

Leo, having entrusted all important tasks to his senior student council members, enjoyed leisurely time.

Under the shade of the training ground, Leo was leisurely reading a book.

Lil, taking the initiative, gathered the orphan soldiers on the training ground and was telling them stories of heroes.

As the grade representative, Lil's Hero Studies scores were also top in his grade.

Because of that, he had many interesting stories, so the orphan soldiers listened intently.

"The people of Kanel Kingdom don't have a very good image of heroes."

Agnas approached Leo, who said that.

"Naturally, since the Justice Guild abandoned them. But still, thanks to your efforts, it's not like that for everyone, is it?"

"We are just shadows, though."

"As I said before, what does that matter? As long as you do your best in your own position."

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 Kanel, the King and the Chancellors will be deposed, and Crown Prince Jeremin will inherit the throne."

During the crisis, Jeremin had shown sufficient qualities as Crown Prince.

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

Although he was an ordinary person who couldn't wield special abilities, his devotion to the people of the capital, risking his life, left a deep impression not only on the people of this country but also on the shadows.

"We shouldn't interfere with global affairs as shadows… but since you're already being called a hero, there probably won't be much of a problem."

Agnas smiled faintly.

It was Agnas's unilateral decision to secretly assist Jeremin as he rose to become king.

As Leo chuckled at Agnas, who was like that.

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

Lil gave a passionate speech to the orphan soldiers.

"But the knights said you were like a goddess when they saw the Captain."

An orphan soldier raised his hand and spoke, but Lil shook his head.

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

The eyes of the orphan soldiers turned to Leo.

Hearing that, Agnas clapped his hands.

"Indeed, Lil-nim. Calling Leo-nim a god, you have exceptional insight!"

As Leo scoffed at Agnas, who was clapping enthusiastically.

"The three of you are here."

Jeremin approached the royal palace training ground.

"I heard you are leaving tomorrow, is that true?"

In response to Jeremin's question, Lil nodded.

"Yes. Since capable seniors are taking care of the aftermath. We need to return to school and focus on our studies."

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

Lil smiled faintly and then stopped Jeremin's flustered speech with his index finger.

"Don't you think caring for the people devastated by the war is more important, Jeremin-nim?"

"L-Lil-nim."

"I will be waiting to hear the news of you becoming a great king, Jeremin-nim."

Jeremin, staring blankly at Lil winking one eye, said.

"Lil-nim, I will definitely invite you to my coronation."

"Then it would be an honor!"

"C-can I send you letters? So… I want to let you know about these children's news."

"Yes! Then I would be truly happy. I will reply promptly."

Jeremin's face brightened.

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

However, Lil's words then caused him to droop his shoulders.

Watching Lil, Leo clicked his tongue.

"How cruel."

"Lil-nim is famous. Since she's beautiful, has a very upright and straightforward personality, she's popular enough to be mentioned among students not only at Lumen but also at other schools. She actually received many confessions."

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

"Because she unconsciously rejected them like that."

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

"It's basic to grasp personal information of hero candidates as a shadow."

Leo clicked his tongue at Agnas's words.

Thus, the schedule in the Kingdom of Kanel concluded.

***

Returning to school, Leo and Lil submitted their mission reports and returned to their respective dormitories.

Early in the morning.

Upon returning to the dormitory, the dormitory was empty.

Despite the overwhelming number of events, the time Leo spent on his mission practical training was very short.

As a result, Leo became the student who completed his mission dispatch the fastest out of all the 2nd-year students.

Entering the dormitory lounge, Leo unfolded a newspaper.

A newspaper containing world news was delivered to the Lumen dormitory every morning.

'There's no mention of this incident yet.'

The fall of the Justice Guild.

The undead transformation of fallen heroes.

And the erasure of names from the Hero Record.

The fall of the Justice Guild alone was bound to cause a huge stir.

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

It would probably be an earth-shattering event that would hardly surprise the world, with the revival of Erebus shards.

'I should tell Mel to respond well.'

Leo was reading the newspaper with a sigh when.

"Huh?"

Seeing an article that took up an entire page of the newspaper, written in large letters, he stopped.

Then, he soon chuckled.

"You finally did it."

The article was about Lunia of Seirun.

The article about Lunia forming a pact with Phoenix was prominently featured.

In addition, the news that she became the next student council president of Seirun was also reported.

"Everyone is growing steadily."

It was as Leo smiled.

Flap flap-!

The window opened, and a lower-grade wind elemental in the shape of a bird flew in.

Peep peep-!

The elemental, which delivered a letter to Leo, flew away again.

Seeing that, Leo confirmed the contents of the letter with a puzzled expression.

'Summoned by the Principal?'

***

Swish swish-!

A deep forest in the eastern part of the continent.

This was a forest where people's footsteps did not reach.

A gentle autumn breeze blew.

Rustle- rustle-

The sound of stepping on fallen maple leaves echoed.

The sound of fallen leaves crumbling echoed in the quiet.

The sounds of the autumn forest.

Rustle- crunch- shuffle- shuffle- shuffle- shuffle-

The sound of a woman's footsteps changed.

Soft and vibrant blades of grass.

A spring scene unfolded before her eyes.

Eventually, the woman carefully sat down in front of one of the two tombstones.

"I… I'm here. Master."