Book 1 Chapter 917

The Lumern student council president's office overlooked a significant portion of Lumern's classroom wing, though not as extensively as the principal's office.

Kal brought a chair in front of the student council president's office window and sat cross-legged on it.

With binoculars pressed to his eyes, he continuously reached for a popcorn tub wedged between his legs with his free hand.

"Crunch-! Crunch! Whoa! Ferena won with ease?"

"Hey! What are you doing so leisurely while others are working!"

"Cough! Choke! Choke!"

As Celia shouted with narrowed eyes, Kal, with popcorn stuck in his throat, pounded his chest.

Chelsea smiled faintly, watching Kal.

"Shall I hit it for you?"

"What a coincidence, you're so in sync."

At those words, Celia gave a cold smile.

Seeing Chelsea approach, loosening her finger joints, Kal waved his hand and quickly drank some water.

"Hoo! Don't misunderstand. I'm not just goofing off."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Analyzing the first-years."

"Didn't we already finish analyzing the first-years' capabilities? We already compiled their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, didn't we?"

Chloe asked with a puzzled expression as she placed the documents on Leo's desk.

At her words, Kal shrugged.

"We finished analyzing their strengths and weaknesses as hero candidates."

"Huh?"

"But we haven't finished analyzing their capabilities as shadows."

Kal's words made the three girls widen their eyes in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Shadows?"

Chelsea and Chloe wore surprised expressions, while Celia seemed lost in thought, as if she had some inkling.

"Nearly half of this year's incoming students were originally shadow candidates."

"No wonder. I thought many of the knights' department students this year had strange combat styles. So that's why, because they were shadow candidates."

Celia nodded as if she finally understood and asked Kal,

"By the way, Kal, when did you know that? Did Leo and Sia tell you beforehand?"

"No, I knew from the first day of admission."

"What?"

Kal's answer seemed unexpected, and Celia's expression also showed surprise.

"I sparred with the first-years on the first day of admission. There were some guys with strange movements back then."

"But you have almost no combat experience with shadows, do you?"

"No. But their movements felt strangely similar to Sia's. Thanks to that, I was able to notice."

At Kal's words, the three could only sigh in disbelief.

They were once again impressed by Kal's keen observation.

"I feel it sometimes, but you're really amazing."

"Am I?"

Kal scratched his head at Celia's admiration.

For Kal, it was difficult to grasp how great his observational skills and analytical abilities were.

"It's truly amazing, so have some confidence. You are a respectable hero representing us."

"Hmph."

As Celia praised Kal, Chelsea suddenly smiled with a smug look.

"What's with that unpleasant laugh?"

Celia scowled.

In response, Chelsea, like Celia, swept her hair back and said,

"No, hearing it directly from you is a very pleasant resonance. The words 'a hero representing us'."

Celia's face contorted horribly.

"This [Wind Bird] represents our Lumern, just like Leo-oppa."

"Yeah. Yeah. You're so great."

"A hero candidate shouldn't act like that towards a hero! Show more respect. Hero candidate Celia Zerdinger. You are beneath me now."

"Bring it on. I'll smash you right now and prove I'm not beneath you."

"Hmm."

"Why? Are you scared?"

"No. It's bullying for a hero to fight a hero candidate carelessly. Fine. I'll grant you a lesson. Ask me to fight, please."

"You damned brat!"

"Such trivial provocations are useless against me now. In the future, I'll be tall."

Chelsea, floating in the air with her legs crossed, looked down at Celia and chuckled, "Ohohoho-."

Furious, Celia was about to draw her sword.

"Celia. Why are you getting so worked up over a joke?"

"Let go! Chloe! I'll turn this shrimp into dust!"

Provoked, Celia shouted, spitting fire from her mouth.

Kal, eating popcorn, said,

"Chelsea. What's with your attitude towards someone who might become your sister-in-law?"

"Who's your sister-in-law!"

Chelsea glared at Kal with her eyes wide open.

Amidst the ensuing uproar, Leo entered the student council president's office.

"You all have so much energy today."

"Leo! Give me a mission that can achieve great deeds right now! I'll go and resolve it!"

Celia grabbed Leo and shook him violently.

Leo, swaying back and forth, replied calmly,

"If such missions were lying around everywhere, everyone would have become a hero."

"That's right! That's why only special people can become heroes! And what if you become a hero? You became one later than me anyway?"

"Kyaaaaak!"

Provoked by Chelsea, Celia's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek and lunged.

Of course, Leo caught Celia by the waist and lifted her up before that.

"Hey! Even if you're going to stop me, must you do it so humiliatingly! Let me down!"

"Ahahahaha!"

With her feet off the ground, Celia shouted with a deeply flushed face, while Chelsea clutched her stomach, pointed, and burst into laughter.

"It hurts! It hurtsttttt!"

Then she screamed as Leo pinched her cheek.

Watching Leo calmly stop the two, Chloe said to Kal,

"Kal, doesn't Leo seem really mature sometimes?"

"He does."

"He seems like an old man."

"He is an old man."

"Huh?"

"I said so."

Kal smiled playfully.

As the commotion subsided, Leo, sitting on the sofa, asked Kal,

"Kal. Did you watch all the first-year sparring matches?"

"Of course!"

"I've already spoken with Seirun, Azonia, and Demian, so we can depart now."

"Ooh! A business trip! A business trip! Uhahahaha!"

Kal laughed energetically and jumped up from his seat.

However, contrary to his boisterous demeanor, Kal's face looked sad.

Seeing Kal like that, Leo gave a slightly apologetic smile.

"I'm sorry. Kal, please cheer up."

"No, no. I'm fine, so don't worry about it! This is also something I have to do as a supporter!"

Kal gave a thumbs-up.

Just then, the student council president's office door opened, and Elena entered.

"If you're all ready, let's go."

"I'm not ready yet."

"What have you been doing if you're not ready?"

"The first-year sparring matches have just finished."

"You should have done it faster."

"You're telling me that…"

Kal made a dejected face at Elena's insistence.

"I'll give you 5 minutes. Get ready."

Kal listlessly left the student council president's office.

"Then, Leo-kun, I'll be back."

"Do your best."

Elena smiled brightly at Leo's words and closed the door.

"Elena-senpai and Kal are going on a business trip?"

"To watch the first-year sparring matches at another school."

"Why?"

"Kal will be forming the party for the exam. This integrated practical training assignment is to conquer the 'Book of Shadows'."

"Book of Shadows?"

At Leo's words, Chloe's eyes widened in surprise.

All the schools had grasped the level of their first-years, but party composition between heroes and shadows had not been considered.

The sparring match between first-years that took place at Lumern today was also a match between hero candidates and shadow candidates, unbeknownst to the first-years themselves.

"We need to re-assess the overall situation. But can Kal handle it alone?"

At Chloe's words, Leo tapped his own eye.

"Kal's discernment is certainly reliable."

That's why Leo entrusted this task to him.

"Ah, watching Kal, he really has a lot of work."

"If he goes with Elena-senpai, he'll be worked to death again."

Celia and Chelsea shook their heads.

"Elena really trusts him. I heard she's planning to have Kal pick the next student council vice president?"

"Huh?"

At Leo's words, Chelsea and Chloe's eyes changed for a moment.

'Oh? Kal will be picking?'

'Kal.'

Meanwhile.

"Ugh!"

"What's wrong?"

Elena asked with a puzzled expression, seeing Kal suddenly shiver.

"No, I suddenly felt a chill…"

"The weather has gotten a bit colder. Be careful of colds, especially when you go to Seirun."

Seeing Elena's concerned gaze, Kal gave a mournful smile.

"You're saying that because if I catch a cold, I won't be able to work, right?"

"Oh my? You only think of me that little?"

Elena's eyes widened.

"Even if you catch a cold, I'll give you painkillers and make you work. I told you to be careful because you'll suffer more if you catch a cold."

"…"

Kal gave a sad smile.

'I should have just withdrawn without advancing to the third year.'

***

Ferena was washing a rolling pin with a sullen expression.

As a punishment, she couldn't use her summoned beasts.

After finishing cleaning the restroom, as Ferena was tidying up the cleaning tools, Jereb found her.

"You're working hard."

"Hmph."

"You noticed too, didn't you?"

"Noticed what?"

"That they separated hero candidates and shadow candidates for sparring today."

"Hmph."

"Don't pretend you're not interested."

"What do I care? And why are you asking me?"

"Because you're the leader of the first-year shadows."

"Who said that?"

"I figured you would have identified all the first-year shadows?"

Ferena looked at Jereb, who was calling her the leader, with disbelief.

However, as Jereb thought, she had indeed figured out who was originally a shadow.

Sighing, Ferena said,

"You're right. Today's sparring matches were only between those who were originally hero candidates and shadow candidates."

"Oh dear."

As what she had suspected turned out to be true, a look of anxiety appeared on Jereb's face.

"Why?"

"Isn't it possible that the school is trying to identify our origins and discriminate against us?"

"Are you an idiot?"

"What?"

"Lumern knew we were shadow candidates even before we enrolled. Have you forgotten who our school principal is?"

"…"

"And if they wanted to discriminate, they would have done so long ago. The fact that the principal came to Lumern in the first place is likely related to shadows. That's why there are shadows among the second-year seniors too."

"What? There are shadows among the second-year seniors too?"

Jereb reacted with surprise, as this was the first time he had heard this.

Ferena, who clicked her tongue at Jereb's reaction, finished tidying the cleaning tools and said,

"And what if we are discriminated against?"

"What?"

Ferena gave a slightly cold smile.

"We've always been like that, haven't we?"

"…"

Jereb's face hardened slightly.

"Did you come to Lumern without even that much resolve?"

Seeing the cynical Ferena, Jereb said,

"But… Student Council President-nim said that there's no big difference between heroes and shadows…"

"Yes. He truly believes that. And he'll strive to make that world a reality."

"…"

"Things don't change overnight."

"But… Chen Sia-senpai also became a hero?"

"That's because that senior is special. They were born to be a hero. Wake up."

"…"

"Heroes are heroes, and shadows are shadows."

"Then why did you enroll in Lumern? Didn't you enroll because you thought you could become a hero?"

"Hero? Pfft. You're really naive. That's a privilege given only to special people. You're really talking about a dream, aren't you?"

Ferena chuckled.

"I came to Lumern to better serve my sister."

"Oh my, this is quite something."

Ferena and Jereb flinched.

"Elisabeth's younger sibling has a cute face, but a rather twisted heart, doesn't she?"

Chen Sia, who had suddenly appeared between the two, smiled faintly.