Book 1 Chapter 557
557.
The next morning.
Leo, who had returned to Lumerne, walked past the school gate and headed to the second-year classroom.
Normally, unauthorized overnight stays by students are subject to punishment.
However, in the case of student council executives, they were exempt from that school rule.
This was because the student council managed the entire school, so it was impossible to know when they might suddenly need to go to Lumeria City.
‘At times like this, being the student council president is convenient. Though Celia and Chloe will probably nag me a bit.’
Leo let out a chuckle, thinking of the two honor students who were sticklers for rules.
‘Was today’s first class Battle Theory?’
Leo checked his timetable in his head and headed to the Battle Theory classroom.
Loud chatter could be heard even before the classroom door opened.
Creak-!
As 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!”
First-year classmates, including Tate, rushed over to Leo.
“Why?”
“Hey, what happened! They said you stayed out overnight with senior Elena yesterday!”
“Yeah.”
“Gasp! Are you perhaps dating senior Elena?”
“What happened?”
“They say you two have been an item for a while, is that true?”
Leo let out a hollow laugh at the boys' questions.
“Nothing really happened, I just ate dinner and slept over for a night.”
“A, a night?”
“Where? Where did you sleep?”
“You can tell us, can’t you?”
The boys gulped.
It was then that Leo chuckled, looking at his friends who were holding their breath and focusing on him.
“Class president, tell us honestly. How far did you go with senior Elena?”
“Ack!”
“Hey! When did you get here!”
“And how can you ask something like that so brazenly!”
The boys were startled and looked at Iliana.
Iliana narrowed her eyes at the boys.
“It’s incredible, are you guys idiots?”
“I don’t want to be called that by you!”
Tate retorted.
Iliana looked at Tate with a pitiful expression.
“Do you think other students won’t know about your lewd thoughts just because you’re whispering in the classroom?”
The boys, including Tate, looked embarrassed.
“So, if you’re curious, you should ask directly!”
That was typical Iliana thinking, always rushing into things no matter what.
“Are you that curious about how far we went?”
“Of course, I am. They say the most interesting thing in the world is other people’s love lives, right?”
Iliana’s eyes sparkled.
“So? Are you two really an item?”
“What if we are?”
“Hmm. It’s a bit regrettable, but I understand. The class president is cool. Shall I say he’s attractive enough for girls to fall for him?”
Hmm-hmm-! Iliana crossed her arms and nodded her head.
Leo chuckled, looking at Iliana.
“I was just invited to the Zerion family’s residence.”
“Aha!”
Iliana nodded.
When he said he was invited to the Zerion family’s residence, the other students also looked disappointed.
“We imagined all sorts of things, and now we feel like fools.”
“Who was it! Who started that weird rumor!”
Loud voices were heard.
Leo shook his head at the sight and walked toward Karl.
Chloe, who was sitting next to Karl and reading a magic book, said,
“Next time, be careful not to do anything that could cause a misunderstanding, Leo.”
“Oh-ho? What misunderstanding?”
Karl grinned slyly at Chloe’s words.
“Surely, Chloe, you didn’t think Leo spent some hot time with senior Elena, did you? Wow, what an imagination…”
C-c-c-crack-!
“Joke! It’s a joke! I’m joking!”
Terrifying cold air swirled from Chloe’s hand.
The surrounding temperature dropped sharply, and thin ice formed.
Karl, seeing Chloe fuming with a bright red face, shrieked and waved his hands.
Whoosh-! Karl slumped over his desk, watching Chloe leave.
“Ugh- I almost died for teasing her.”
“Then why do you tease them?”
“Because it’s fun, hehe.”
Karl sat up and said.
“Leo, I’ve already shortlisted the student council member candidates you mentioned, you know?”
“Already? That’s fast.”
“Hmph, I handle these things efficiently, don’t I?”
Karl said with a proud expression.
“These three people are the candidates for the operations committee.”
Karl pulled out a notebook from his pocket and opened it.
Chloe, Abad, and Duran’s names were written there.
“Abad and Duran, as heirs to their respective families, will handle operational tasks thoroughly. Chloe also proved her ability by being the class president of Class 1 in her first year.”
If one were to pick the most challenging class in the first year, it was indeed Class 1, where Celia and Duran were.
First of all, Celia and Duran themselves were constantly bickering whenever they had the chance.
Furthermore, they had high self-esteem and a strong desire for leadership positions.
Even now, in the second-year Knightry department, there were separate factions following Celia and Duran.
Of course, their relationship wasn't openly hostile, but they harbored strong rivalry towards each other.
‘Chen Shia is mediating well in between.’
Chloe perfectly carried out her duties as class president of Class 1, where the two of them were.
Not only Celia, who was Chloe’s best friend, but even Duran acknowledged Chloe, so that said it all.
“Next are Celia, Chelsea. And Wareden. Those three are perfect for the disciplinary committee.”
Celia was, without a doubt, the most well-behaved student among the second-year students.
“Chelsea is incredibly good at finding faults, isn’t she? Anyone can see she’s a disciplinary committee member.”
Karl chuckled playfully.
“Wareden, he’s naturally not very interested in others and has a strong individualistic tendency. But as a student, he’s ideal. He’s never been criticized by professors even once since enrollment, has he?”
As Karl said, aside from not socializing well with other students, Wareden was second to none to Celia in terms of being flawless in his school life.
In addition to these, several other students were recommended.
As the Lumerne administration itself was vast, a few more names were added later.
“Are all these kids interested in student council work?”
Karl nodded at Leo’s question.
“Yeah, I subtly sounded them out, and they were all interested. Well, in the case of the top students of each department, some thought they didn’t really need to help the student council. And some didn’t show interest because they didn’t want to bow down to you, but…”
Karl grinned.
“If you ask, they’ll all definitely join the student council.”
“Really? Then, can you gather them after school?”
Karl gave a thumbs-up!
“No problem! Leave it to me! I’ll ask them to meet at ‘Afternoon of Abundance’.”
Afternoon of Abundance was a popular restaurant among those located in Lumerne.
“Afternoon of Abundance? Won’t the cost be considerable?”
“In a way, it’s the inauguration ceremony of our grade’s student council, isn’t it? We should do it grandly!”
“That’s true, too.”
“Speaking of which, Leo.”
As Karl spoke in a subtle voice, Leo chuckled and pulled out a black card from his pocket.
“Oh, is this the student council president’s card that can even hire a magic mercenary corps of army size!”
Karl, holding the card, said,
“Then I’ll hand out invitations to the candidates at lunchtime. I actually already made them.”
***
That evening.
When Leo arrived at Afternoon of Abundance, the manager bowed.
“We’ve been waiting, Lord Leo. I’ll show you to the annex.”
The manager led Leo to the annex that Karl had reserved.
Karl, who was waiting in the annex, looked puzzled when he saw Chen Shia and Eiran following behind Leo.
“Shia, I can understand. But why Eiran?”
“Am I not allowed to come?”
Karl waved his hand, seeing Eiran ask with droopy ears.
“No, it’s not that. Since you’re here, you might as well enjoy it!”
“Yes!”
Eiran smiled brightly and sat down with Chen Shia.
After Leo sat down and some time passed, the students Karl had invited arrived one by one.
“Karl! Did you order this too?”
“No, I didn’t.”
“You have to order this! This is the most delicious!”
Iliana said, showing Karl the menu.
“What’s up? You’re all here?”
“I just came because Leo Flove said he had something to say.”
Celia asked, narrowing her eyes, while Duran spoke coldly.
“Lord Wareden. Could you pass me that, please?”
“……”
At Eiran’s words, Wareden handed her the plate in front of him.
The meal proceeded in a free and boisterous atmosphere.
Karl, who had been observing the mood, cleared his throat, “Ahem-!”
“Alright, then, let me explain the reason we’ve gathered here…”
Bang-!
Just then, the door opened, and Eliza entered, her face crumpled.
“Eliza?”
Karl looked surprised.
Eliza walked up to Leo and crossed her arms.
“Leo Flove, why didn’t you invite me?”
“Huh? What? Eliza didn’t decline the invitation, she wasn’t even invited?”
At Eliza’s words, Iliana’s eyes widened, then she tilted her head and mumbled,
“Is Eliza being ostracized?”
Eliza glared at thoughtless Iliana.
Seeing that, Chen Shia smiled sweetly, then approached silently and twisted Iliana’s neck.
“Please continue your story, Miss Eliza.”
Chen Shia said, moving the limp Iliana aside.
Leo looked at Eliza with a troubled expression.
“Karl was the one who sent the invitations.”
At that, Eliza glared at Karl.
“Well, uh… you weren’t interested in student council work at all, were you?”
As Karl scratched his cheek and spoke, Eliza gritted her teeth.
“Still, you should have sent an invitation! I might have become interested!”
“He probably didn’t invite you because he thought you wouldn’t be much help to the student council.”
In that chilling atmosphere, Duran let out a scoff.
Eliza’s eyes turned incomparably colder than when she looked at Iliana.
“Duran.”
“Why are you calling me, Chen Shia?”
“Would you like me to twist your neck too, Duran?”
When Chen Shia asked with a bright smile, Duran clicked his tongue and abruptly turned his head.
It was then that the students secretly applauded, watching Chen Shia subdue Duran with words.
“So? Are you interested in student council work, Miss Eliza?”
When Chen Shia asked with a sweet smile, Eliza snorted.
“I’ll do better than anyone else here, you know?”
“Of course, I think so too. So, you’re joining the student council, right?”
“Of course!”
“Wow-! Miss Eliza joining the student council! That’s reassuring! Sign here.”
Chen Shia smiled and handed over the membership form.
Eliza paused as she was signing it.
“Wait. Are you tricking me…”
“Welcome to the student council, Miss Eliza.”
Chen Shia snatched the membership form from Eliza’s hand and returned to her seat.
Eliza gaped, watching her.
“Well, Eliza did get in rather haphazardly.”
“If you know I joined haphazardly, please invalidate it!”
As Eliza shouted urgently, Leo looked at Chen Shia.
“No, I have no intention of canceling it, so go back.”
Eliza plopped onto a chair, watching Chen Shia speak firmly.
Leo spoke, watching Eliza cup her face.
“The student council will be busy from now on. So, I think I’ll need your strength, all of you here.”
At that, Eiran clenched both fists and said,
“If you need my help, please tell me anytime! Although I’m lacking, I will do my best to help Lord Leo!”
Eiran’s face, flapping her ears and showing strong enthusiasm, looked very reliable.
Watching her, the other students muttered to themselves.
‘No, this is Lumerne student council business.’
‘You’re an exchange student, get a grip.’
It was then that the students exchanged glances, looking at Eiran who seemed to have forgotten her status as an exchange student.
“Miss Eiran.”
“Yes! Miss Shia!”
“Miss Eiran is a Seirun student.”
“Ah…”
At Chen Shia’s words, Eiran bowed her head deeply.
With her ears drooping, she looked truly pathetic.
“Anyway, lend us your strength.”
At Leo’s words, Abad said,
“Since you say it like that, it’s hard to just stand by. You’ll join too, Duran?”
“Hmph.”
Duran snorted but didn’t deny it.
Thus, all the invited students expressed their intention to join the student council.
Watching them, Karl said,
“See, I told you it would work out?”
“You did.”
Leo chuckled and said to Karl,
“Karl, I’ll be counting on you too from now on.”
“For what?”
“You should join the student council too.”
“……”
At that, Karl’s face stiffened.
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
“In the student council?”
“Yes.”
“……”
“By the way, I’m putting you in charge as the interim student council president.”
“Why! Why are you giving me such an undeserved position!”
Karl clutched his head and cried out as if screaming.
“I originally intended to give you another task, but seeing how you handled things today, I think you’ll do well enough as interim student council president.”
“Aargh!”
Karl shrieked.
Chelsea, who was watching this, asked Abad,
“Brother, isn’t there not much work for an interim student council president?”
“If someone else were president, there wouldn’t be much. But Leo has a lot of reasons to be away. And the vice president is senior Elena.”
Perhaps not for Leo.
But Karl, in the position of interim student council president, would be perfect for Elena to boss around.
“It’s a problem to be too competent without realizing it. Well, it seems Karl was the only one who didn’t expect himself to be in the student council at all.”
It was Karl’s mistake to underestimate himself too much.
Chelsea clicked her tongue.
“He’s crushed by the disaster he brought upon himself.”