Book 1 Chapter 558

558.

Erec training ground, where Lumern's official events are held.

All the students in Lumern gathered there.

Today was none other than the day of the Vice Student Council President's retirement and inauguration ceremony.

“Do they usually have such a grand inauguration ceremony for the Vice Student Council President?”

Juen, standing at the very front of the first-year magic department students, made a puzzled expression.

“I heard they usually combine it with the Student Council President's inauguration ceremony,” Shasha, standing in the front row of the summoning department next to Juen, replied, dramatically unfolding her fan.

“Actually, last year, Senior Leo even nominated Senior Hark for the position during his inauguration.”

“Ah…”

First-year students hadn't entered school at the time, so they hadn't personally seen Leo's inauguration ceremony.

However, the inauguration ceremony itself was passed down like a legend through the senior students.

“He told them to challenge the upperclassmen if they were unhappy with him being the Student Council President. Ah, he's really cool.”

Shasha shrieked, “Kya~!”

“It is impressive… He told Senior Hark to just do it when Senior Hark refused the Vice Student Council President position; I wouldn't even dare.”

As Juen shook her head, Habidun, standing in the knight department line, opened his mouth.

“Did you hear? Senior Leo supposedly reorganized the second-year student council?”

“I heard. The list seems like it will be announced together this time.”

“Who do you think became a member?”

The first-year students were extremely curious about the newly formed second-year student council.

-Vice Student Council President, Hark Liguard, is entering.

At that moment, a student council executive, who was MCing on the stage of the Erec training ground, announced Hark's appearance.

As student council events were for the students, the professors watched the inauguration ceremony led by the student council from below the stage.

Hark, standing on the stage, looked around at all the grades and spoke.

-For the past year, as Lumern's Vice Student Council President, I have led Lumern. Thanks to your good work, I was able to spend a desirable and rewarding time. I am very grateful to those of you who followed me, despite my shortcomings. But just as there is a beginning, there is an end. For me, who is about to graduate, to continue serving as Vice Student Council President and handle duties…

Hark began his retirement speech with a solemn and serious demeanor.

However, unlike his voice, the corners of his mouth were constantly twitching.

‘His mouth is practically hanging from his ears.’

‘I've never seen Senior Hark so happy before.’

‘Is he that pleased?’

Lumern students stared blankly at Hark, who continued his speech, trying their best to suppress their laughter.

-My successor as Vice Student Council President is Elena Zeron. I hope everyone will follow her well.

With those words, Hark tried to step down from the stage.

Then a student council executive asked.

-Do you have any last words for the students?

Hark paused at that question, pondered, and then said.

-Work your asses off. Pfft… Puh-kuh-huh-huh-huk!

Hark eventually burst into laughter, seemingly overjoyed to be freed from the position of Vice Student Council President.

-Hark Liguard, get down from the stage immediately, bow your head, and prostrate yourself.

Hark's face instantly stiffened at the cold voice that seemed to blow away even the summer heat.

“Why, why are you doing this! Senior Leo also told me to just do it last year!”

“Hmph… It seems you no longer care now that you're graduating, do you?”

Halind smiled coldly and looked up at the stage.

“Ordering as Student Council President and mocking students are distinctly different.”

At those words, Hark, his face pale, stepped down from the stage, bowed his head, and prostrated himself on the training ground.

Whether he was the strongest fifth-year in the knight department or a graduating student, in front of Halind, he was merely a lamb.

As everyone sweatily watched Hark, Elena calmly ascended the stage.

Elena, holding the hem of her school uniform skirt and bending her knees slightly, smiled gently.

-I am Elena Zeron, who, though lacking, has taken on the role of Vice Student Council President. I look forward to working with you all for the next year, fellow students.

At Elena's elegant greeting, the first-year male students unconsciously blushed.

The female students also looked at Elena, who displayed the perfect image of an honors student, with admiring eyes.

Since entering Lumern, the first-year students had almost no occasion to encounter Elena.

This was partly because she was busy with missions and partly because Elena herself didn't feel the need to show her face to the first-year students.

Crucially, the biggest reason was that Elena had stopped her reckless behavior ever since Leo became the Student Council President.

For the first-year students, who had only encountered Elena through rumors, her current appearance was their first impression.

Therefore, they were impressed by her image, which was referred to as the Queen of Lumern.

Of course, other grades felt completely different.

‘Why is she acting like that? Did she eat something wrong?’

‘Why is she like that? I'm worried.’

‘My stomach feels uneasy.’

Not only her classmates in the fourth year, but also third and second-year students, looked at Elena with trembling eyes.

“I heard Senior Elena was a very scary person. Not at all, though?”

“She seems like a kind person.”

“Whoa!”

First-year students gasped in admiration, looking up at Elena.

Elena was naturally born with a captivating, magical charm that drew people's eyes.

A power that could enchant people just by using magic.

It was a power that could easily turn into a curse, but Elena's genius allowed her to perfectly control it.

Originally, she had used that power to engage in unruly behavior, but now it acted as absolute charisma.

Elena smiled sweetly at the first-year students and waved her hand elegantly.

-First-year students are indeed cute. So fresh~

“Senior Elena!”

“You're amazing!”

“Kyaaak!”

An enthusiastic reaction erupted among the first-year students.

‘Don't be fooled! She's a witch!’

Other grades looked at the first-year students with pity.

-First, having been entrusted with the operation of the student council by the Student Council President, I have newly selected new executives to lead the next student council. Today, I would like to take this time to introduce the new student council members to you all. First, we will start with the fourth-year student council.

The professors also looked surprised, watching Elena diligently introduce the next student council members as Vice Student Council President.

They had already heard that Elena would become the Vice Student Council President, but they had not expected her to perform the role in such an exemplary manner.

From the fourth-year student council to the third year.

Then it was the second year's turn.

“Wow, all the top students in the departments in the second year are on the student council?”

“The members are incredibly prestigious.”

Not all honors students with good grades are interested in student council work.

Therefore, it was a very unusual case for all the department tops to be in the second-year student council.

“I don't know about others, but Eliza Hergin is definitely a surprise.”

“That delinquent student?”

Not only seniors but also teachers cast gazes mixed with doubt.

Eliza's shoulders trembled.

“That's why everyday conduct is important.”

“Chen Sia! Are you making fun of me right now?!”

Eliza snapped back at Chen Sia.

If it had been any other student, she would have reacted more fiercely, but Eliza was uniquely weak to Chen Sia.

Even amidst this, Elena continued to call out the names of the second-year student council members.

-Lastly, Student Council President's Proxy, Kyle Thomas.

At Elena's words, the entire student body began to murmur.

“Student Council President's Proxy?”

“Kyle Thomas?”

The undisputed last-place student in the second-year magic department.

No, the undisputed last-place student in the entire second year.

He was famous for miraculously surviving every time he was on the verge of expulsion by getting good grades, but only just.

So, when it was announced that such a Kyle would be the Student Council President's Proxy, all the students couldn't help but be surprised.

“Senior Kyle!”

Juen clapped her hands together and bounced up and down.

“Is it because he's close friends with the President?”

“Nepotism? No way.”

However, when the first-year students subsequently whispered, she frowned.

“Hey! You guys! Are you disrespecting Senior Kyle…?”

“Do you think Senior Leo would entrust his proxy position to someone just because they're close?”

Habidun said coldly.

“First of all, he survived because of his skill, didn't he?”

“Are the second-year seniors the kind of people who would just watch others get high positions due to connections?”

“We underestimated him during the entrance exam and got badly burned.”

“Professor Halind also said he's a senior with much to learn from.”

“Now that I think about it, I can't guarantee I'll still be in Lumern next year. If you think about it that way, isn't that amazing?”

The first-year students showed reactions that indicated they understood.

Meanwhile, Kyle, who had gone up to the stage, let out a deep sigh.

“I really don't know if I should be here.”

“What? Fix that servile attitude. You're now Brother Leo's proxy.”

Chelsea said with a frown.

“Kyle tends to underestimate himself.”

At that moment, Elena, who had turned off the magic megaphone, smiled sweetly.

“I don't entrust important positions to incompetent people. Have a bit more confidence, Kyle.”

“Thank you.”

“Yes. So, I look forward to working with you, my slave.”

“Did you just say slave?!”

“No. You misheard.”

“I heard correctly! You clearly said slave!”

“It must be your imagination.”

Elena giggled and clapped her hands.

Soon, the introduction of the first-year student council members was also finished.

-For the next year, I will work diligently to reform the student council and lead Lumern well. This concludes, Vice Student Council President Elena Zeron.

‘Did she just say she’d “reform the student council”?’

‘That means she's going to work them to the bone.’

The student council members laughed mournfully.

After the inauguration ceremony, Juen approached Kyle.

“Senior Kyle! Congratulations on becoming the Student Council President's Proxy!”

“I don't know if it's something to celebrate.”

Kyle laughed mournfully.

Just as the students were about to disperse.

-Oh, wait, wait.

Elena, who was about to descend the stage, came back up.

-I forgot to mention an important announcement.

Elena gently tapped her head with her fist.

-There is an announcement from the Student Council President.

Everyone's gaze turned to Leo, who had remained silent throughout the inauguration ceremony.

-It's about the LuSe War. Everyone knows that this LuSe War will be held in Lumern, right?

Everyone nodded.

The LuSe War was an annual event.

As such, preparations had been underway little by little since the beginning of the semester.

-The Student Council President said he wanted to hold this LuSe War a little specially.

“Specially, how?”

-Not just Lumern and Seyrun, but Azonia and Demian too. A school competition where all the Hero Academies gather to compete for supremacy.

At those words, all the students' faces hardened.

The professors also gaped.

Hark, who had been dragged away by Halind and bowing his head, involuntarily sprang to his feet.

“This is the first I'm hearing of this?”

“Senior Hark told me not to even mention school management matters anymore, so I discussed it with Senior Elena,” Leo replied with a smile.

“Hey! Even so, you should have told me about something like that much earlier!”

Hark shouted furiously.

Suddenly planning a competition where all the Hero Academies gather?

It was an outrageous idea.

Everyone looked at Elena.

-It's a very difficult task. We have to contact other Hero Academies and plan everything from scratch.

At Elena's words, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

Since Leo became Student Council President, school management was under the authority of the Vice Student Council President.

Even if the President made such a suggestion, it would be over if the Vice Student Council President rejected it.

-But Lumern's motto is 'Exceed your limits!' If it can't be done, we must make it happen, right?

However, at Elena's subsequent words, all the students' faces turned pale.

-If everyone works like dogs, we'll be able to finish preparations in time for the LuSe War schedule. So, understand that this LuSe War will be a competition involving all four schools.

Leaving those words, Elena descended the stage.

Screams erupted from various places at the unilateral notification.

At that moment, Leo came up onto the stage.

-Starting today, Senior Hark will be the Vice Student Council President's Proxy. You need to coordinate schedules with other schools, so please report to the student council immediately.

At those words, Hark slumped back into his seat and muttered with a dazed expression.

“Was this why he made Elena the Vice Student Council President…?”