Book 1 Chapter 557

The next morning.

Returning to Rumern, Leo passed through the school gate and headed for the second-year classroom.

Unauthorized overnight stays by students were normally subject to punishment.

However, executive members of the student council were exempt from that school rule.

This was because the student council managed the entire school, so they never knew when they might have to rush out to Rumeria City.

'It's convenient being the student council president in times like these. Celia and Chloe will probably nag me a bit.'

Leo chuckled as he thought of the two, a principled straight-A student.

'Today's first class was Combat Theory, wasn't it?'

Leo checked his schedule in his mind and headed for the Combat Theory lecture hall.

Even before the lecture hall opened, a clamor could be heard.

*Screech-*

When Leo opened the classroom door and entered, the murmuring stopped abruptly.

It was then that Leo looked at the students with a puzzled expression.

"Leo!"

Male students from his first-year class, including Teid, rushed towards Leo.

"Why?"

"Hey, what happened! I heard you stayed out all night with Elena-senpai yesterday!"

"Yeah."

"Gasp! Are you perhaps dating Elena-senpai?"

"What happened?"

"There were rumors that you two had been close for a while, is that true?"

Leo burst into a hollow laugh at the male students' questions.

"What happened? I just ate, slept over, and came back."

"A whole night?"

"Where? Where did you sleep?"

"You can tell us, right?"

The male students swallowed dryly.

It was then that Leo burst into a hollow laugh, watching his friends hold their breath and focus on him.

"Class president, be honest. How far did you go with Elena-senpai?"

"Gasp!"

"Hey! When did you get here!"

"And how can you ask something like that so openly!"

The male students stared at Iliana in shock.

Iliana squinted at the male students.

"I can't believe it, are you guys idiots?"

"We don't want to be called that by you!"

Teid retorted.

Iliana looked at Teid with a look of pity.

"Do you think other students won't know your lewd thoughts just because you're whispering in the classroom?"

Teid and the other male students looked sheepish.

"So if you're curious, you should just ask openly!"

It was a thought typical of Iliana, who would charge headfirst into anything.

"How curious are you about how far we went?"

"We're curious. They say the most interesting thing in the world is other people's love lives!"

Iliana's eyes sparkled.

"So? Are you really that close?"

"What if we were that close?"

"Well. It's a bit disappointing, but I understand. The class president is cool, so it's understandable that girls would fall for him."

Mmm-hmm! Iliana crossed her arms and nodded.

Leo chuckled at Iliana.

"I was just invited to the Zerone family."

"Aha!"

Iliana nodded.

When he said he was invited to the Zerone family, other students also looked disappointed.

"We feel like fools for imagining all sorts of things."

"Who was it! Who spread those weird rumors!"

A boisterous voice was heard.

Shaking his head at the sight, Leo walked towards where the swords were.

Chloe, who was sitting next to Kal and reading a magic book, said,

"Be careful about actions that could cause misunderstandings next time, Leo."

"Oh? What misunderstanding?"

Kal grinned slyly at Chloe's words.

"Surely Chloe, you don't think Leo had a passionate time with Elena-senpai? Wow, such a rich imagination…"

*CRACKLE-*

"Just kidding! Just kidding! I'm kidding!"

A terrifying chill emanated from Chloe's hands.

The surrounding temperature dropped sharply, and a thin layer of ice formed.

Kal, his face flushed red and panting, waved his hands in panic.

*WHOOSH-* Seeing Chloe leave, Kal slumped onto the desk.

"Ugh, I almost died for teasing them."

"Why do you tease people?"

"Because it's fun, it makes me laugh."

Kal said as he stood up.

"Leo, I've narrowed down the candidates you mentioned for the student council members."

"Already? That was fast."

"Hmph, I'm definitely thorough when it comes to this kind of work!"

Kal said with a proud expression.

"These three are the candidates for the operational committee."

Kal took out a notepad from his pocket and opened it.

The names Chloe, Abad, and Duran were written there.

"Abad and Duran, as heirs to their respective families, will handle their operational duties thoroughly. Chloe also proved her abilities as the class president of Class 1 in her first year."

If one were to pick the most troublesome class in their first year, it would undoubtedly be Class 1, where Celia and Duran were.

First of all, Celia and Duran were like cats and dogs, constantly bickering.

In addition, they had high self-esteem and were ambitious for leadership positions.

Even now, in the second-year Knight Department, there were separate factions following Celia and Duran.

While they didn't openly confront each other, they harbored strong competitive feelings.

'Chen Xia is doing a good job mediating.'

Chloe performed her duties as class president of Class 1 perfectly.

It was said that not only Chloe, Celia's close friend, but even Duran acknowledged Chloe.

"Next are Celia, Chelsea, and Warden. The three of them are perfect for the Disciplinary Committee."

Celia, without a doubt, was the student with the most impeccable conduct among the second-years.

"Chelsea is great at finding out what's wrong, isn't he? He's clearly suited for the Disciplinary Committee."

Kal chuckled playfully.

"Warden, while he's very uninterested in others and has a strong individualistic tendency. As a student, he's ideal. He hasn't been criticized by professors even once since enrolling."

As Kal said, aside from not getting along well with others, Warden was as flawless in his school life as Celia.

He recommended several other students.

Since the administration of Rumern itself was vast, a few more names were added later.

"Are all these people interested in student council work?"

Leo asked, and Kal nodded.

"Yeah, I subtly sounded them out, and they were all interested. Well, some of the top students in each department felt they didn't need to help the student council, and some didn't show interest because they didn't want to bow down to you."

Kal grinned.

"If you ask them, I'm sure they'll all join the student council."

"Really? Then can you gather the kids after school?"

Kal gave a thumbs-up.

"No problem! Leave it to me! I'll ask them to gather for 'Abundant Afternoon'."

Abundant Afternoon was a popular restaurant located in Rumern.

"Abundant Afternoon? That'll be quite expensive, won't it?"

"In a way, it's the inaugural ceremony for our grade's student council! We have to do it grandly!"

"That makes sense."

"So, Leo."

Kal said in a suggestive tone, and Leo chuckled and took a black card from his pocket.

"Ooh, is this the student council president card that can even hire magic mercenary groups of military size!"

Kal took the card and said,

"Then I'll hand out invitations to the candidates at lunchtime. In fact, I've already prepared them."

***

That evening.

When Leo arrived at Abundant Afternoon, the manager bowed his head.

"We've been waiting for you, Leo-sama. I'll escort you to the annex."

The manager led Leo towards the private room reserved by Kal.

Kal, who was waiting in the private room, looked surprised to see Chen Xia and Eiran following behind Leo.

"It's understandable with Sia, but why Eiran?"

"Can't I come?"

Seeing Eiran ask with her ears drooping, Kal waved his hand.

"No, that's not it. Since you're here, let's enjoy ourselves together!"

"Yes!"

Eiran smiled brightly and sat down with Chen Xia.

As Leo sat down and time passed, the students Kal had invited began to arrive one by one.

"Kal! Did you order this too?"

"No, I didn't?"

"You have to order this! This is the most delicious!"

Iliana showed Kal the menu and said.

"What's with you, you're all here?"

"I'm only here because Leo Flove said he had something to say."

Celia narrowed her eyes and asked, while Duran said coldly,

"Warden-nim. Could you give me that over there?"

"…"

At Eiran's words, Warden handed the plate in front of him to Eiran.

The meal proceeded in a free and boisterous atmosphere.

Kal, observing the atmosphere, cleared his throat with a cough.

"Well then, the reason for gathering here is to explain…"

*SLAM!*

Just then, the door opened, and Eliza entered with a scowl.

"Eliza?"

Kal looked surprised.

Eliza walked up to Leo and linked arms with him.

"Leo Flove, why didn't you invite me?"

"Huh? What? Eliza wasn't invited, not that she refused the invitation?"

At Eliza's words, Iliana's eyes widened, and she tilted her head and muttered,

"Is Eliza being ostracized?"

At Iliana's thoughtless remark, Eliza glared.

Seeing that, Chen Xia smiled and approached without a sound and twisted Iliana's neck.

"Please continue your story, Eliza-san."

Chen Xia said as she moved the limp Iliana aside.

Leo looked at Eliza with a troubled expression.

"Kal sent out the invitations."

At that, Eliza glared at Kal.

"Well, uh… you weren't interested in student council work at all."

Kal said, scratching his cheek, and Eliza ground her teeth.

"Still, you should have sent an invitation! I might have become interested!"

"He probably didn't invite you because he didn't think you'd be much help to the student council."

Duran sneered amidst the tense atmosphere.

Eliza's eyes turned colder than when she was dealing with Iliana.

"Durran-kun."

"Why are you calling, Chen Xia?"

"Would you like me to twist Durran-kun's neck too?"

Chen Xia asked with a bright smile, and Duran snorted and turned his head away.

The students inwardly applauded as Chen Xia subdued Duran with words.

"So? Are you interested in student council work, Eliza-san?"

Chen Xia asked with a smile, and Eliza scoffed.

"I'll do a better job than anyone else here!"

"Of course, I think so too. So, you'll join the student council?"

"Naturally!"

"Wow! Eliza-san is joining the student council! That's reassuring! Please sign here."

Chen Xia smiled and handed her an enrollment form.

Eliza, who was signing there, paused.

"Wait. Are you tricking me…"

"Welcome to the student council, Eliza-san."

Chen Xia snatched the enrollment form from Eliza's hand and returned to her seat.

Eliza's mouth moved as she watched.

"Well, Eliza came in quite haphazardly."

"If you know I joined haphazardly, then void it!"

Eliza shouted urgently, and Leo looked at Chen Xia.

"No, I won't cancel it. Please go back."

Seeing Chen Xia speak resolutely, Eliza slumped into her chair.

Leo said to Eliza, who covered her face with her hands.

"The student council will be busy from now on. That's why I think I'll need your help here."

At those words, Eiran clenched her fists and said,

"If you need my help, please tell me anytime! Although I'm not good enough, I'll do my best to help Leo-sama!"

Eiran's face, with her ears flapping, showed great determination and was very trustworthy.

Seeing that, the other students muttered to themselves.

'No, this is a Lumern student council matter.'

'You're an exchange student, get a grip.'

As the students exchanged glances at Eiran, who seemed to have forgotten her status as an exchange student.

"Eiran-san."

"Yes! Xia-san!"

"Eiran-san is a student of Seirun."

"Ah…"

At Chen Xia's words, Eiran lowered her head.

She looked truly pathetic with her ears drooping.

"Anyway, please lend your strength."

At Leo's words, Abad said,

"Since you've said so much, it's hard to just stand by. You're joining too, Duran, right?"

"Hmph."

Duran scoffed but didn't deny it.

Thus, all the students invited today expressed their intention to join the student council.

Seeing that, Kal said,

"See, I told you it would work out?"

"It did."

Leo chuckled and said to Kal,

"Kal, I'll be counting on you from now on too."

"For what?"

"You have to join the student council too."

"…"

At that, Kal's face stiffened.

"Me?"

"Yeah."

"The student council?"

"Yes."

"…"

"Incidentally, I'm going to make you the deputy student council president."

"Why! Why are you giving me such an undeserved position!"

Kal clutched his head and cried out as if in despair.

"I originally intended to give you another role, but seeing how you handled things today, I think you'll do well as the deputy student council president."

"Kyaaaak!"

Kal screamed.

Chelsea, watching him, asked Abad,

"Brother, doesn't the deputy student council president have much work?"

"If someone else were president, there wouldn't be much work. But Leo has many opportunities to be away. And besides, the vice president is Elena-senpai."

If it were Leo, perhaps.

Kal, who was appointed deputy student council president, was easy for Elena to boss around.

"It's a problem to be too competent and show it off. Well, Kal, he seems to have completely underestimated that he would be in the student council."

It was Kal's mistake to underestimate himself.

Chelsea clicked her tongue.

"He's been crushed by the disaster he brought upon himself."