Book 1 Chapter 892

892.

The Hero's Tower, located in the very center of Lumern.

This place could be said to be the core of Lumern.

First, there is the principal's office, where the principal, who can be said to have the highest status in Lumern, resides.

There is also the student council president's office, where the student council president is.

In other words, it is the place where the supreme leaders of professors and students are located.

Lumern's principal, Riina, was drinking as usual with a casual posture.

"Come to think of it, there was a lot of external backlash when the principal first took office, but now all that talk has disappeared?"

Kal tilted his head as he walked through the corridors of the Hero's Tower.

As Kal said, when Riina first took office, there was constant noise.

First, the board of directors showed hesitation due to her being from the shadows.

There was also strong opposition from the majority of alumni.

However, there were no major problems internally.

With the approval of Lumern's chairman, Altech Zerone, the board's dissatisfaction was temporarily resolved.

The alumni's backlash subsided when it became known that it was a recommendation from Halind and Sedjen.

Halind and Sedjen were the ones being discussed as the most powerful candidates for principal after the death of the former principal, Kalian.

With the support of those two, public opinion shifted to "let's wait and see."

"She has the ability."

Kal nodded at Leo's words.

Considering the commotion at the beginning of her tenure, Riina should have had a presence, whether good or bad, but her presence has rapidly diminished since becoming principal.

In other words, it means that Lumern is being operated very stably.

Yet, Lumern's changes have been drastic.

Last year's mentor system.

This year, a commuting dormitory for all grades.

"Crucially."

"Yeah?"

"Since Principal Riina took office, Lumern has become safe from Hero Hunters and Tartarus's monsters."

"Really?"

"Yes. Think back to your first year."

During the midterm exams of the first semester of the first year, two students were targeted by Tartarus.

Chloe from the Department of Magic and Sen Liu from the Department of Summoning, who is no longer at school.

In addition, in the second semester, the cursed king Kigors, who was long ago subjugated by Kalian, almost revived, and a clone of the monster queen Silatuna had infiltrated the school.

It wasn't that Kalian's abilities were lacking, but rather that these incidents occurred because they attacked Lumern in ways that exploited heroes' weaknesses.

However, such incidents completely disappeared from the second year onwards.

"Now that you mention it, you're right?"

As Kal exclaimed, Leo said calmly.

"It means Principal Riina is active."

Protecting heroes in the darkness.

That could be said to be the specialty of the shadows.

And Riina, as a shadow, is a figure whose status is comparable to that of the Emperor of the Shan Empire.

"Should I have prepared a bigger gift?"

Kal looked at the beautifully wrapped box of cookies in his hand with a serious expression.

Leo, Kal, and Elena, the top executives of the student council, were on their way to the principal's office after being summoned by Riina.

"Why are you carrying that?"

"A bribe. I might have to get a special promotion again after the second semester ends, so I thought I'd ask her to look favorably upon me."

"…It's too far from Principal Riina's taste?"

The wrapping paper looked very girlish at first glance.

"With gifts, the unexpected is important."

It was when Kal winked one eye.

"Kal."

"Yes, Elena-senpai."

"After you visit the principal's office, organize the changes in the first semester midterm and final grades for all students."

"Suddenly?"

"It's not sudden. Since the semester has started, don't you need to understand it as the acting student council president?"

"That's… right?"

"Do it by today. I have to report to the president today."

Elena, who was shivering in the cold wind, said, twirling her hair with her fingers.

Seeing that, Kal smiled and muttered to himself.

'She's being petty.'

She was trying to cause trouble for Leo by creating work.

The problem is that this pettiness causes trouble not only for him but also for the entire student council.

Even Elena herself.

Seeing Elena trying to cause trouble for Leo by dragging herself and those around her, Kal glanced sideways.

As Leo shrugged, Kal nudged Leo's side with his elbow.

It was a signal to let go.

Leo glanced at Elena and said,

"Are you a child?"

At that unkind attitude, Kal covered his face, and Elena's expression became even colder.

Leo took out a candy from his pocket and offered it to Elena.

"Want one?"

Of course, Elena didn't even glance at the candy.

"Is Elena-senpai Chelsea? Would she be appeased by something like that?"

Kal chuckled at Leo's words.

"I did my best."

Kal burst into a hollow laugh at the shameless answer.

At that moment.

"I also wanted to see the president when she was a child and when she grew up."

"…"

Kal turned his head towards Elena at the mumbled words that were meant to be heard.

Elena was looking at Kal with a petulant expression.

"Leo."

"Why?"

"Become five years old."

"Leave it. She'll calm down on her own."

"…"

At that answer, Kal gave a mournful smile.

A moment later.

The three arrived in front of the principal's office at the top of the Hero's Tower.

Knock knock-

"Come in."

At the voice from inside, Leo opened the door and entered.

There, Riina was waiting with Sedjen at the desk.

Riina gulped down the contents of her mug and let out a "gck-!" as she wiped her mouth.

Judging by the scent that tickled her nose, it was definitely alcohol.

Kal smiled awkwardly at the sight.

"Principal. Shouldn't you refrain from drinking during work hours?"

"This isn't alcohol. It's water. Water."

Riina said, waving her hand nonchalantly.

Seeing Riina like that, Kal looked at Sedjen.

Sedjen sighed deeply as if he had given up.

When he looked at Leo and Elena, they reacted as if it didn't concern them.

'Right. Let's not think too deeply. Our school is a place where you lose if you think normally.'

That's why Sedjen also had a look of resignation.

Thinking so, Kal took the gift box to Riina.

"Principal. This is a gift."

"A gift?"

Riina, with a listless expression, untied the beautifully ribboned box and checked the contents.

And seeing the high-quality snacks inside, Riina clicked her tongue.

"Well, thanks for now…"

As she took out the snacks, she found a bottle inside and Riina's eyes flashed open.

"…Wow. Student Kal. You are indeed one of our school's top students."

"Student Kal is far from being a top student, Riina."

"Hey. How can you say that so definitively? If you're kind, you're a top student. If you're kind."

"Heh. Thank you for seeing me in a good light."

As Riina patted Kal's head, Kal rubbed his hands together with a fawning smile.

Riina laughed gleefully and took the cookie box to the 'liquor bottle' display shelf.

Sedjen covered his face at the sight.

"Alright! Then."

Riina straightened her posture and said.

"I will explain why I summoned the three of you."

Riina pushed the documents on her desk towards Leo.

"I'm thinking of evaluating the 1st-year students' second-semester practical training."

At those words, Leo checked the documents.

And he looked surprised.

"Is it a joint evaluation with all hero schools?"

"Yes."

Riina nodded.

"The location is Azonia. The schools have already finished their discussions."

"Then isn't it just a matter of announcement?"

Elena said, gently twirling her hair, and Riina shrugged.

"However, not everything is decided yet. The important evaluation task has not yet been decided."

"As it is a large and important event, only a very small number of people in each school are aware of it."

It would be a big problem if any secrets leaked from the grade.

"At the principals' meeting, the opinion came up to entrust the submission of evaluation tasks to the student council presidents of each school."

"Student council presidents?"

"Yes. Exceed your limits, believe in yourself, move forward, pursue possibilities. The student council presidents should be the ones who best embody the school motto of each school. It was judged that submitting tasks from the perspective of the top students would be of great help to the first-year students."

"…"

At those words, Leo looked at Riina.

"You're not just passing it on because it's troublesome, are you?"

"Well, anyway."

Clap-!

Riina clapped her hands to change the atmosphere.

"The student council presidents' meeting will be held in Seirun. I hope you will use your creativity to create trials that will allow first-year students of all races to develop further. Naturally, don't leak this story anywhere."

Riina smiled sweetly.

"But Leo and Elena-senpai should know, but don't I need to know?"

"What are you talking about, Student Kal? You are as important a person in our student council as Student Leo or Student Elena!"

Riina's eyes widened.

"Me?"

"Yes! The most diligent slave of the student council! That's you!"

Riina said with a bright smile, and Kal looked out the window with a dejected expression.

"Well, that's all for the announcements. Ah! And please inform the students about the dance party hosted by the school."

Riina smiled and handed another document to Leo.

The three people who received the instructions left the principal's office.

In front of the principal's office, Leo silently read the contents of the dance party announcement.

Kal had a dejected expression, and Elena exuded a cold aura.

"Kal, here."

After Leo finished reading the announcement, he handed the paper to Kal, who received it.

"Let's go to the student council. We'll be busy with what the vice president ordered."

"…Leo. You go first. I have something to do."

"Really? Alright. See you in the student council room."

Leo waved to Kal and Elena.

Elena snorted lightly as she watched Leo.

After Leo left, as Elena was about to follow suit,

"Wait a moment, Elena-senpai."

"What is it?"

Elena looked at Kal with cold eyes.

Kal, looking at Elena like that, pointed to a sentence in the dance party announcement and said.

[Best Couple Competition.]

"I'll do my best to get you to enter this competition with Leo."

"…"

Elena stared at the sentence silently for a moment, then curled the corners of her mouth upwards.

"I can win the spot as Leo's partner on my own!"

"No. It will be difficult for Elena-senpai to win."

"What?"

Elena's eyes twitched.

As her mood soured, her tyrannical tendencies began to surface.

"I can even explain why."

At Kal's confident words, Elena glared at him.

Kal felt intimidated by that look, but he decided to be firm.

"You must trust me completely, senpai."