Book 1 Chapter 917

917.

The Lumerun Student Council President's office, though not as grand as the Principal's office, offered a fairly good view of Lumerun's classroom building area.

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

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

"Crunch-! Crunch! Ooh! Perena won easily, didn't she?"

"Hey! Everyone else is working, what are you doing chilling out by yourself!"

"Cough! Choke! Choke!"

As Celia, with her eyes blazing, yelled, Karl, choking on popcorn, thumped his chest repeatedly.

Chelsea smiled faintly, watching Karl.

"Shall I hit you instead?"

"For once, we're on the same page, aren't we?"

At that, Celia gave a chilling smile.

Karl waved his hand frantically, seeing Chelsea approaching while cracking her knuckles, and quickly drank water.

"Phew! Don't misunderstand. I'm not playing around."

"Then what are you doing?"

"Analyzing the first-years."

"Haven't we already finished assessing the first-years' capabilities? And you've already organized their strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement, right?"

Chloe asked with a puzzled expression, placing documents on Leo's desk.

At her words, Karl shrugged.

"As Hero Candidates, their strengths and weaknesses have been identified."

"Huh?"

"But their capabilities as Shadows haven't all been assessed yet."

At Karl's words, the three female students' eyes widened in surprise.

"What do you mean by that?"

"Shadows?"

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

"Nearly half of this year's new students were originally Shadow candidates."

"No wonder. I thought there were many kids in the Knight Department who enrolled this year with peculiar combat styles; so that's why, they were Shadow candidates."

Celia nodded as if she finally understood, then asked Karl.

"But Karl. How long have you known that? Did Leo and Shia tell you beforehand?"

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

"What?"

Karl's answer seemed unexpected, and Celia also looked surprised.

"I faced off against the first-years on the first day of admission, didn't I? There were some guys with peculiar movements back then."

"But you hardly have any combat experience with Shadows, do you?"

"No, I don't. But oddly enough, they felt similar to Shia. Thanks to that, I was able to notice."

At Karl's words, the three couldn't help but be amazed anew.

They were newly impressed by Karl's keen observation skills.

"I sometimes feel this, but you're truly amazing."

"Am I?"

At Celia's praise, Karl scratched his head.

For Karl, it was difficult to truly grasp how remarkable his observational and analytical skills were.

"You really are amazing, so have some confidence. You're a full-fledged hero representing us."

"Hmph."

As Celia praised Karl, Chelsea suddenly smirked with a smug look.

"What's that? That unpleasant laugh?"

Celia frowned.

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

"Oh, it's just that hearing it directly from you resonates very pleasantly. That phrase, 'a hero representing us.'"

Celia's face twisted terribly.

"This [Wind Bird] here does represent our Lumerun, just like Brother Leo."

"Yes, yes. You're so great."

"A Hero Candidate shouldn't show such an attitude to a Hero! Show more respect, I mean. Hero Candidate Celia Zerdinger. You are currently beneath me."

"Come at me. I'll crush you right now and prove that I am not beneath you."

"Hmm."

"Why? Are you scared?"

"No. If a Hero just fights a Hero Candidate, it's bullying. Alright. I'll bestow some teaching upon you. Try asking, 'Please fight me.'"

"This damned brat!"

"Such meaningless provocations don't work on me anymore. In the future, I'll be tall, you see."

Chelsea, floating in the air with her legs crossed, looked down at Celia, laughing 'ohohoho-'

Fuming, Celia immediately tried to draw her sword.

"Celia. Why are you getting so worked up over something said in jest?"

"Let go! Chloe! I'll just… that little squirt!"

Provoked, Celia screamed as if spitting fire.

Karl said, eating popcorn.

"Chelsea. What kind of attitude is that towards someone who's going to be your sister-in-law?"

"Who said I'm a sister-in-law!"

Chelsea glared at Karl, her eyes narrowed.

Amidst the clamor and shouts, Leo entered the student council president's office.

"Everyone's full of energy today too, I see."

"Leo! Just give me one mission that I can accomplish a great feat with right now! I'll go and solve it!"

Celia grabbed Leo and shook him vigorously.

Leo, swaying back and forth, answered calmly.

"If such missions were just lying around everywhere, everyone would be a hero."

"Exactly! That's why only special people can become heroes! And what's the point of becoming a hero? You became one later than me anyway, didn't you?"

"Kyahhh!"

Provoked by Chelsea, Celia, with narrowed eyes, let out a shriek and lunged.

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

"Hey! Even if you're stopping me, do you have to do it in such a humiliating way! Put me down!"

"Ahahahahaha!"

Celia, with her feet off the ground, shouted with a completely red face, and Chelsea clutched her stomach, pointing and laughing wildly.

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts!"

Then, her cheek was pinched by Leo, and she shrieked.

Watching Leo easily calm the two down, Chloe spoke to Karl.

"Karl, sometimes when I look at Leo, isn't he really too mature?"

"He is."

"He's like an old man, I tell you."

"He is an old man."

"Huh?"

"That's right."

Karl smiled playfully.

As the commotion died down, Leo, seated on the sofa, asked Karl.

"Karl. Did you watch all the first-years' sparring matches?"

"Of course!"

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

"Oh! A business trip! A business trip! Hahahahaha!"

Karl laughed energetically and sprang up from his seat.

However, contrary to his hearty appearance, Karl's face looked sad.

Watching Karl, Leo had a slightly apologetic expression.

"I'm sorry. Karl, please cheer up a bit."

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

Karl gave a thumbs up!

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

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

"I'm not ready yet."

"What have you been doing until now, not preparing?"

"The first-years' sparring matches just finished now."

"You should have done it faster."

"Even if you tell that to me…"

At Elena's unreasonable demand, Karl made a tearful face.

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

Karl dejectedly left the student council president's office.

"Well then, Leo. I'll be back."

"Thanks for your hard work."

Elena smiled sweetly at Leo's words, closed the door, and left.

"Are Senior Elena and Karl going on a business trip?"

"They're going to watch the first-years' sparring matches at other schools."

"Why?"

"Karl will put together the party composition for the test. This integrated practical training assignment is to conquer 'The Book of Shadows'."

"The Book of Shadows?"

At Leo's words, Chloe looked surprised.

All schools had assessed the first-years' levels, but party compositions considering Heroes and Shadows had not yet been taken into account.

The first-years' sparring matches held today at Lumerun, although the first-years didn't know it, were also sparring matches between Hero Candidates and Shadow Candidates.

"There seems to be a need to reassess everything. But can Karl do it alone?"

At Chloe's words, Leo tapped around his eyes.

"Because Karl's discernment is reliable."

That's why Leo entrusted this task to him.

"Seriously, when you look at Karl, he has an awful lot of work, doesn't he?"

"If he goes with Senior Elena, he'll be exploited again."

Celia and Chelsea shook their heads.

"Elena trusts him immensely, you see. I hear she's even planning to have Karl select the next Vice Student Council President?"

"Huh?"

At Leo's words, Chelsea and Chloe's eyes changed in an instant.

'Oho? So Karl is the one choosing?'

'Karl.'

Meanwhile.

"Ugh!"

"Why?"

Elena gave a puzzled look, watching Karl suddenly shiver.

"No, I suddenly got a chill…"

"The weather has gotten a little colder. Be careful not to catch a cold, especially when you go to Seirun."

Watching Elena send a worried look, Karl gave a melancholic smile.

"You're saying that because if I catch a cold, I can't work, right?"

"Oh? Is that all you think of me?"

Elena's eyes widened.

"Even if you catch a cold, I'd make you work while giving you painkillers. I told you to be careful because if you catch a cold, you'll be the one who suffers more."

"…"

Karl gave a sad smile.

'I should have just voluntarily withdrawn instead of advancing to third year.'

***

Perena was washing a mop with a sulky expression.

As punishment, she couldn't use summoning beasts for cleaning.

After finishing cleaning the bathroom, as Perena was tidying up the cleaning tools, Zereb came to visit.

"You're working hard."

"Hmph."

"You noticed it too, didn't you?"

"What?"

"That the school divided 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 that?"

"Because you're the first-year Shadow leader."

"Says who?"

"I would've thought you'd have a complete grasp of which first-years are Shadows."

Perena stared at Zereb, who was calling her the leader, with an incredulous expression.

However, just as Zereb thought, she had indeed identified who the Shadow-origin students were.

Perena sighed and said.

"You're right. Today's sparring matches were only between those from Hero Candidate backgrounds and Shadow Candidate backgrounds."

"Oh no."

As what he had been unsure about turned out to be true, a look of unease appeared on Zereb's face.

"Why?"

"Could it be that the school is identifying our backgrounds and trying to discriminate against us?"

"Are you an idiot?"

"What?"

"Lumerun knew we were Shadow candidates even before we enrolled. Have you forgotten who our school's principal is?"

"…"

"And if they wanted to discriminate, they would have done so long ago. Chances are, the Principal coming to Lumerun in the first place is related to the Shadows. That's why there are Shadows among the second-year seniors too."

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

It was a new fact for Zereb, so he reacted with surprise.

Perena clicked her tongue, looking at Zereb, and finished tidying up the cleaning tools as she spoke.

"And what if we're discriminated against?"

"What?"

Perena gave a slightly chilling smile.

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

"…"

Zereb's face hardened slightly.

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

Watching the cynical Perena, Zereb said.

"But… the Student Council President said there's not much difference between Heroes and Shadows…"

"Yes. He truly believes that. And he will genuinely strive to make such a world a reality."

"…"

"Nothing changes overnight."

"But, Senior Chen Shia also became a Hero, didn't she?"

"That Senior is special. She was naturally born to be a Hero. Snap out of it."

"…"

"A Hero is a Hero, and a Shadow is a Shadow."

"Then why did you enroll in Lumerun? Didn't you enroll thinking you could become a Hero?"

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

Perena chuckled.

"I came to Lumerun to assist my sister more closely."

"Oh dear, well now."

Perena and Zereb flinched.

"Miss Eliza's younger sister has a cute face, but her insides are quite twisted, aren't they?"

Chen Shia, who had appeared between the two of them without them noticing, was smiling faintly.