Book 1 Chapter 92

"I'll refuse."

"Why? I'll spoil you a lot."

The corners of her eyes curved softly.

The sight was incredibly alluring and fatal.

Even Lil, another woman, blushed at the sight.

"I'm expensive."

Elena wore a slightly dazed expression.

Lil's eyes widened in surprise.

"Pfft."

A puff of air escaped Elena's lips.

"Hahahahahahaha!"

Elena clutched her stomach and laughed.

Watching Elena laugh until tears streamed down her face, Lil backed away with an expression that screamed, 'This senior is truly strange!'

"An interesting one has arrived."

"It seems everyone is gathered."

Rhys, the 5th-year representative, entered the tent.

"Senior Rhys! It's nice to meet you!"

Lil stood at attention in front of Rhys, her eyes sparkling.

"Yes, have you been well?"

"Of course! Your great performance, senior! I listen to it every day!"

"Lil, can't you treat me half as well as you treat Senior Rhys?"

"It's been a while, Elena. How was the mission?"

"It was boring."

Elena replied with a bored expression.

Rhys, as if he expected it, approached Hark, who was snoring on the floor.

"Hey, Hark. How long are you going to sleep?"

"Huh?"

Hark, who had been sleeping soundly until now, took off his eye mask and groggily opened one eye.

The 4th-year representative, despite his small stature, was a stunningly handsome young man.

"Yawn. When did you get here, senior?"

"Just now."

Hark yawned widely and said as he sat up.

"Senior Hark. Hello!"

"Huh? What was your name again?"

"It's Lil."

"Ah, yes. The 1st-year representative!"

"No, I'm the 2nd-year representative now."

"Huh? Was that so?"

Whether he was still disoriented from waking up or naturally not interested in others, Hark rubbed his eyes with a hazy expression.

"Well then."

However, as soon as he woke up, his expression changed.

"Let's have a match, senior."

Rhys chuckled as he watched Hark, who was smiling belligerently and slapping his palm with his fist.

"I'll spar with you later."

"I want to fight now."

"You want to start a fight as soon as you wake up? As expected, you're barbaric."

"Hmph! I think I'm better than you, who drags all sorts of trash into your faction? Elena Zerone."

"Aaaah! S-seniors! It's a big deal if you fight here! The professors will kill us!"

Lil was terrified watching Elena and Hark glare at each other with murderous intent.

As both were strong candidates for the next student council president, their relationship was very bad.

In fact, aside from that, their fundamental beliefs were completely opposite.

Watching them, Rhys asked Leo.

"What do you think of the year representatives?"

"They seem to get along very well."

"……."

Lil's jaw dropped as she looked at Leo.

'A-as expected, Leo is not an ordinary person!'

Rhys, with a somewhat bewildered expression, looked at Leo and said.

"Both of you, stop it. Aren't you ashamed in front of your juniors?"

At Rhys's mediation, Elena and Hark backed down.

"Are you Leo Flov? I've heard a lot about you. My name is Hark Leaguard."

"I am Leo Flov."

Hark, who had been fierce in front of Elena, softened his expression in front of Leo.

"Year representatives, are you all gathered? If so, change into your ceremonial attire."

An assistant who entered the tent said so and left the room.

"Ceremonial attire?"

"You don't know?"

As Leo looked surprised, Lil tilted her head.

"For school-wide events where all students gather, year representatives always wear ceremonial attire."

Lil took out a neatly folded ceremonial robe from a corner of the tent and handed it to Leo.

"We are year representatives, so we shouldn't be the same as regular students."

Hark also took out his ceremonial robe, as if accustomed to it.

Indeed, there were two rooms that looked like changing rooms inside the tent.

Leo, Rhys, and Hark entered the right changing room.

The student representative ceremonial attire was much more formal than the Lumerne students' uniforms worn during events.

After changing clothes and going outside, a commotion could be heard from the women's changing room.

"S-senior! Where are you touching!"

"You said I was dangerous in front of the 1st-year junior earlier!"

"Th-that's actually… Aaaah! Stop touching me!"

"There's no time! Hurry up and get ready!"

Hark shouted.

A short while later, Lil emerged with a flushed face, followed by Elena with a mischievous smile.

"Ahem!"

Lil cleared her throat and adjusted Leo's clothes in front of him.

Elena chuckled, watching Lil fuss over him like an older sister.

"How kind. You take good care of your 1st-year junior?"

"I've been determined since last year to treat the year representatives well. When I was a 1st-year, the senior representative only played pranks on me."

"Oh my. Who would do such a wicked thing?"

Elena put her hand to her cheek and shook her head.

"Mmm! I can feel the dignity of a year representative! Leo."

Lil smiled with satisfaction and nodded.

As the five of them left the tent, a magnificent sight unfolded.

Students in ceremonial attire were lined up.

Starting with the smaller 5th-year class, students from the 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st years were lined up by department.

At the front of each year, the top students of each department held their department flags.

If the top student was also the year representative, the second-ranked student stood in their place.

As Leo hesitated about whether to go to the 1st-year side, Lil spoke.

"Leo, the year representatives are here."

Lil pointed to a small platform below the main stage.

At the very front of the student body.

It was literally the position for the five students representing the Lumerne school.

The year representatives stood in order.

All eyes were fixed on the backs of the year representatives.

Some with admiration, others with rivalry.

Leo could feel the gaze of various emotions directed at him.

'As expected. Everyone wants the position of year representative.'

Standing here, he could clearly see it.

Among the many geniuses at Lumerne, these were the most special individuals.

Literally, the position closest to future heroes was that of a year representative.

Those aiming higher would do their best to reach this position.

Conversely, those standing here had to defend their positions from challengers.

'This is interesting.'

Leo's lips curled into a smile.

Lil, who had been looking tense seeing Leo, stuck out her tongue.

'Even now, I get nervous standing here. To not care about the gaze of all the students and even laugh, your capacity is different. Truly different.'

Meanwhile, Elena's eyes sparkled as she looked at Leo.

In the meantime, Principal Kalian appeared on the stage.

Seeing this, Rhys spoke.

"Everyone… Attention!"

*Crack!*

All Lumerne students stood at attention with precision.

"Salute… the Principal!"

*Thump!*

With precision, all years struck their left chest with their right fist.

It was a greeting offered to great heroes.

As Kalian lightly raised his hand, everyone returned to their original posture.

"My dear students. Did you rest well over the weekend? Today is also a bright day! I hope you all put your best effort into your studies this week!"

Following this, Kalian's speech began.

"Therefore, as the saying goes, heroes!"

As the boring and meaningless spiritual education continued, the students looked bewildered.

This was a major event that had not happened since the entrance ceremony.

It was an event that happened only when there was something important, and yet they were giving such predictable speeches, causing confusion not only among the students but even the professors.

"Hoooh. It's too much to call the students here so early in the morning."

Finally, Elena, who was at the very front, yawned lightly and covered her mouth.

A few professors glared fiercely at Elena.

However, the student, known as the queen of the school, didn't flinch.

Instead, as if annoyed, she gestured to her side with her right hand.

"Zzzzz-"

*Nod… Nod…*

There, Hark was dozing off, nodding his head.

Seeing this, the professors clutched their necks.

'Are they really like this!'

'How can you be like this and still be a year representative!'

'Show an example as a year representative! You delinquents!'

Despite the year representatives acting out right in front of them, Kalian continued his tedious speech.

"Elena Zerone, Hark Leaguard. Follow me to the faculty office after the event."

A chilling voice that froze the air echoed through the amplification magic.

Elena and Hark flinched and snapped to attention.

The owner of the voice was none other than Halind, who had taken the microphone instead of the supervising professor.

Seeing this, Kalian smiled brightly.

"Oh! Professor Halind. As expected, the students listen to you the most…"

"Principal, please get to the point quickly."

"I will do so."

Halind was one of the two professors feared in Lumerne.

"Ahem. Then, let's get to the point."

"Why did you give such a boring speech until now?"

The supervising professor, who took back the microphone, asked in confusion, and Halind replied curtly.

"Because the main point is too short, so he was awkward just talking about that."

Halind was also one of the three professors who understood Principal Kalian better than anyone.

"Of course, that main point may not be trivial."

Halind looked at the principal with a serious expression.

"From today onwards, Lumerne Academy will cut off all means of external communication until the 1st-year departmental competition ends."

"……?"

For a moment, everyone had an expression of incomprehension.

"Professors who commute from Lumeria City will remain at school, and students will be strictly prohibited from going out or staying out. Merchants operating in Lumerne will not be allowed in from today, so naturally, restaurants, convenience stores, and cafes will all be closed."

Students, as well as professors, wore expressions of bewilderment.

"Naturally, communication through magic is also prohibited. Letters and parcels cannot be sent or received."

The professors quickly regained their composure.

However, the commotion among the students did not subside.

A blockade! Literally an unprecedented situation.

As the entire student body murmured, Leo narrowed his eyes and looked at the principal.

'He means he's going to catch the traitor.'

***

After the school assembly ended, the students headed to the cafeteria in a state of panic.

"This is unbelievable! I can't even go to the convenience store for a month!"

The most panicked were the female students.

The closure of convenience stores, cafes, and restaurants also meant that they couldn't buy snacks.

"Damn! If I had known, I would have hoarded snacks and made a killing! No! I should talk to the baking club members…!"

At Kale's words, Chelsea's eyes sparkled.

"Let's go quickly! Kale!"

"Alright! Just wait, baking club! Leo, let's go!"

"I need to change my ceremonial attire, so go ahead."

"Got it!"

Kale and Chelsea, skipping breakfast, ran off in a hurry.

For the students, snacks were a matter of utmost importance.

Leo, who burst into laughter watching them, headed to the tent to change his ceremonial attire.

There, Lil was sitting on the floor.

"It was a terrible time."

"It seems like it was quite something."

"Yes. Senior Rhys had to leave early due to student council work, so there was no one to stop them."

It seemed Elena and Hark had a spat.

"If Professor Halind hadn't intervened, they would have really fought."

"I had something to say to Senior Elena, so I'll have to find her separately later."

"Leo, are you planning to meet Senior Elena?"

"Yes."

Lil stood up and sighed.

"I don't recommend it."

"Why?"

"As I said earlier, she's a bit of a dangerous person."

"But I have something to ask her."

Lil sighed.

"If you must meet her, I won't stop you… but it probably won't be easy to meet her."

"Isn't she just in the 3rd-year classroom building?"

"No. Senior Elena rarely attends classes."

At Lil's words, Leo's expression became strange.

"That person is a genius."

Despite rarely attending classes, she is the year representative.

"She spends most of the day at her mansion before returning to the dormitory."

"Mansion?"

"Yes. Senior Elena uses the private property of the Zerone family as her personal club building."

"The scale is different."

"She's the heir of Zerone. Anyway, if you want to meet her, you have to go there first, and she doesn't meet people easily."

"I guess I have to go. Thanks for letting me know."

Leo smiled faintly.

"Be careful when you go, Leo."

"……?"

As Leo looked puzzled, Lil clicked her tongue.

"The Queen's followers are very jealous."