Book 1 Chapter 992
"Hoo, this semester is almost over.”
The central lounge of the Lumen Clock Tower Dormitory, being a place frequented by all students, was a hub for student amenities.
Iliana, sitting there, had a melancholic expression as she held the jet-black contents of her mug to her lips.
First-year students passing by looked at Iliana with admiration, and a few male first-year students blushed.
“Wow. Iliana-senpai. You look so relaxed.”
“Is that what they call the leisure of a cup of coffee?”
“I want to be seen like this by underclassmen when I become a second-year… What should I do?”
At the whispers of the first-years, Iliana turned her head, and the whispering first-years wore momentarily bewildered expressions.
Iliana smiled brightly at the first-years.
At that sight, the first-years burst into more exclamations of admiration.
Meanwhile.
Chelsea, sitting opposite Iliana and watching the scene, was simply dumbfounded.
“The coffee smells really good today, doesn’t it, Chelsea?”
‘It’s cocoa.’
Chelsea, with an expression of disbelief, said in a small voice.
“You’ve managed to maintain that concept for a whole year?”
Iliana’s project of appearing as an elegant, beautiful, and strong honor student to the first-year freshmen was still in progress.
Of course, it hadn’t been smooth sailing.
There were several crises along the way.
Especially when she had to take remedial classes after the midterm exams.
However, Iliana managed to overcome the difficult moments by creating an image of it being due to her missions.
As a result, Iliana was still considered an honor student who was skilled in both academics and combat among the first-years.
At this point, students from other years who knew the truth were tacitly keeping Iliana’s secret.
This was because they were curious about the reaction of the first-years if the secret were to be revealed.
“Thanks to you.”
“I’ve seen you for a year, but I still can’t get used to it.”
Chelsea shook her head, recalling Iliana whimpering and clinging to her in places where first-years were not present, as if she had never been like that.
‘She’s quite amazing.’
If the dormitory had been divided by year, like in her first and second years?
It was truly amazing that she could maintain this pretense and deceive the first-years in the current situation where all grades were integrated into one dormitory.
‘Is she not actually an idiot?’
Such a thought slowly crept into her mind.
However, Chelsea soon shook her head, recalling Iliana’s declining grades compared to her first and second years.
‘Well, she’s probably an idiot, so her grades have become a mess because she’s focused on this pretense.’
While Iliana was the best in practical skills among the third-years, her grades in theory and general education were abysmal.
She had avoided remedial classes for the final exams, but only by a hair’s breadth.
“Heh heh. Now, I’ll make next year’s freshmen worship me too.”
Watching Iliana dream of grand plans, Chelsea thought.
‘Should I tell Professor Halind that she’s not studying because she’s worrying about useless things?’
Professor Halind would surely lecture Iliana and give her a stern talking-to.
‘Yes. It would be better for Iliana.’
It wasn’t a malicious thought of enjoying Iliana’s sulking, but a purely good-hearted intention for Iliana’s sake.
As Chelsea nodded, humming, Iliana narrowed her eyes.
‘She’s probably plotting something to trick me again.’
Having been best friends for three years, they understood each other perfectly.
As they were peering into each other’s minds like that.
“By the way, Chelsea, how are your club practices?”
Chelsea belonged to the music club.
Moreover, she was the top ace within the club.
Chelsea’s singing was so outstanding and beautiful that even Luna admired it and gained magical inspiration.
Whenever it was time to sing the school song at Lumen’s internal and external events, Chelsea always represented them.
She was practicing hard for the upcoming Ruse Battle.
The musical they performed with the theater club during the last Twilight Festival had been well-received, so they were doing it again this time.
“It’s going well. And!”
Chelsea puffed out her chest with a proud expression.
“I’ve been chosen to play the role of Luna again!”
As a mage, playing the role of Luna was an infinite honor.
“I’ve been thinking this since the last Twilight Festival.”
Iliana, with cocoa in her mouth, said.
“I don’t think you suit the role of Luna.”
“Heh. Are you jealous?”
“No. I’m telling you sincerely?”
Iliana narrowed her eyes and looked at Chelsea’s chest.
At that gaze, Chelsea smiled faintly and stood up, to which Iliana hastily said.
“If you get defensive now, you’re admitting it!”
‘This guy…!’
Chelsea’s fists trembled.
Just then.
“What are you talking about so interestingly?”
Leo, passing by, approached with a puzzled expression.
Seeing Leo, Iliana smiled and said.
“We were talking about how Chelsea doesn’t suit the role of Luna in this musical. Don’t you think so too, class president?”
At that question, Leo tilted his head.
“I think she suits it.”
“Really?”
“Heh. See!”
Iliana’s eyes widened, and Chelsea wore a triumphant expression.
“Class president, in what way do you think Chelsea resembles Luna?”
“Her personality?”
“Luna has a bit of a quirky side, but a mean person like Chelsea resembles Luna?”
Iliana thought Chelsea would get angry at her words.
However, contrary to her expectations, Chelsea was glaring at Leo.
Knowing Leo’s true identity, Chelsea knew that Leo’s remark about her personality resembling Luna’s wasn’t entirely a compliment.
Leo, bursting into laughter at that reaction, ruffled Chelsea’s hair and left, saying he’d see her later.
“The class president seems very busy?”
“She’s the student council president.”
The handover for the graduating fifth-years was also complete.
“Elena-senpai has almost completely let go of her duties, so she can’t help but be busy. Plus, there’s the Ruse Battle schedule coordination.”
“Hmm!”
Iliana crossed her arms and tilted her head.
Seeing Iliana like that, Chelsea narrowed her eyes.
“What kind of trouble are you planning now?”
“Do you think I’m some kind of troublemaker, Chelsea?”
Iliana, smiling sweetly, said.
“The class president must be having a hard time with so much to do lately, right?”
“Right?”
“They say men are attracted to women who support them when they’re having a hard time. So, I was thinking of becoming the class president’s strength.”
“Where did you hear such a thing?”
“From a book.”
“What’s the title of the book?”
“You Who Don’t Know Men! You Can Also Seduce Men.”
“You always read such silly books, don’t you?”
“It’s very informative.”
Although Iliana spoke seriously, Chelsea just looked at her with a look of pity.
Regardless, Iliana pondered seriously.
“How can I help the class president feel energized?”
***
The Ruse Battle schedule, which is just one day away.
Tomorrow, all students will head to Seirun.
Leo, teasing a fan in the student council president’s office, said.
“If you’re just going to stare, why don’t you help a little?”
“Oh my, I’ve retired. Surely, even for you, Leo-kun, you wouldn’t dare order me, who is in her twilight years, to do work, would you?”
Elena, lying on the student council president’s office sofa, replied with a relaxed expression, picking at snacks.
Elena, reading a book in a comfortable position, chuckled as if the content of the book was amusing.
Her appearance was that of an excellent idler, nothing more, nothing less.
As Elena turned a page, she said.
“Speaking of which, after graduation, we won’t be in a senior-junior relationship anymore, will we?”
“We’re still graduates, so we’re seniors and juniors.”
“But officially, we won’t be in a hierarchical relationship anymore.”
Stretching out with a “Ucha-,” Elena got up and tilted her head.
“Now that I’m becoming a member of society, should I try using a different title for Leo-kun from now on?”
“What title will you call me?”
“Uncle. Because even if I don’t know your physical age, there’s a huge age difference mentally.”
“Why don’t you just call me grandpa or old man?”
“Ho ho? That’s not bad either.”
Elena, with a surprised expression, suddenly her eyes sparkled.
“Or how about ‘Oppa’?”
“…….”
“O~ppa~.”
Seeing Elena acting cute and affectionately in a sweet voice, Leo said.
“That’s disgusting.”
“Tch.”
Elena clicked her tongue at Leo’s blunt remark.
Just then, there was a knock, and Ril entered.
“Brother! I’ve finished all the training you mentioned!”
Seeing Ril speaking with a face full of enthusiasm, Elena narrowed her eyes.
“I also want to use a distinctive title like that.”
“Elena-senpai can also call Brother ‘Brother,’ can’t she?”
“It’s strange for a woman to call a man ‘Brother.’”
“Even if Elena-senpai calls Brother ‘Oppa’ or ‘Oarabeoni,’ it would be unbecoming.”
“…….”
A vein popped on Elena’s forehead.
Then, she glared at Leo and said.
“You’re laughing at me in your head right now, aren’t you?”
“Why are you taking your anger out on me who’s just standing here?”
While feigning an expression of disbelief, Leo didn’t deny it.
Ril, who had no ulterior motive, was just bewildered.
“By the way, your master and disciple game is still going on, I see.”
“It’s not a master and disciple game, it’s a real master and disciple.”
Ril believed there was a strong bond of master-disciple relationship between Leo and himself.
“Hmm? If you put it that way, Leo-kun probably has more than one or two disciples.”
Elena smiled sweetly.
“I also learned a lot from Leo-kun. So, I guess I’m also a disciple.”
Elena said spitefully that the relationship between Leo and Ril wasn’t special.
“Th-that’s…!”
At that, Ril became flustered.
Indeed, many people, not only in Lumen but also in other Hero academies, were influenced by Leo.
Leo, listening to the conversation, said.
“Only Ril is worthy of being called a disciple.”
At that remark, Ril beamed, and Elena scowled.
“So, Ril is special?”
“He is special.”
“Heh heh.”
Ril puffed out his chest proudly.
“While you and the others are pushing them from behind, Ril is personally teaching him spirit magic.”
“Hmm? There doesn’t seem to be any need to teach him specifically.”
“No. I have much to learn from Brother.”
“There’s no need to teach him. Ril will find his own path well, but I want to teach him.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m special…”
“I’m curious about what kind of monstrous spirit magic he will wield.”
“…….”
Ril looked at Leo with a somewhat subdued gaze.
Leo just shrugged.
Just then.
Tap-tap-
There was a sound of tapping on the window.
When Leo opened the window, a snow bird fluttered in.
The snow bird, which came to Leo, handed him an envelope with the Seirun seal.
Leo opened the envelope with a puzzled expression and checked the contents.
“It seems I have to go to Seirun first.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Something seems to have come up.”