Chapter 96: The Problem With Lance Becoming a Part of the Student Management Council

The classroom door opened intermittently before the start of class. Students walked in with brisk, light steps, and the room filled with the sound of casual, relaxed chatter. There were also those who pretended to be reading while actually eavesdropping on the conversation taking place in the back row.

Lance sat in the back row, and he nodded as he replied, "I turned them down. I didn't think we were a good fit for them."

Hyperion fell silent for a moment. Lance had been frequently coming and going from the most prominent room on the ground floor. Consequently, passing students soon discovered his room number, and the information gradually became common knowledge.

He had previously mentioned that he lived in Dormitory 101. She had also heard that whenever Lance asked visitors for their opinion on his partner, Hyperion, they would invariably wear a somewhat reluctant expression.

Even those who seemed open to the idea would only agree to accept Hyperion if Lance himself joined their group. Notably, he had flatly refused every single offer. Princess Vivian had told Hyperion this when they happened to run into each other.

Ever since Lance had made those strange remarks, the awkwardness between the two women had eased, and their interactions had become somewhat more harmonious. Although they might never fully reconcile the relationship they had in childhood, Vivian had begun to make concessions toward Hyperion, and Hyperion, in turn, had stopped viewing everyone with such suspicion.

While looking at him, she said, "You didn't really have to do that..."

Their recent Shadow Realm challenge had propelled them from Iron Licensed challengers to Copper Licensed ones, bringing them very close to Silver Licensed status.

Because the Southern Continent Shadow Realm Management Association found it difficult to quantify such an extraordinary run, they ultimately calculated the promotion points for this Level 4 Shadow Realm based on a 95% contribution rate, which was the highest possible standard.

Furthermore, having defeated two cultists, the pair was eligible for an additional bounty award of 650 pounds when processing their promotion at the association. However, the rewards from this Shadow Realm challenge didn't stop there.

According to university regulations, students who joined a team would receive additional team points for participating in Shadow Realm challenges. A team's accumulated points directly determined the resources the school allocated to it, such as funding and exclusive facilities.

It also allowed the team to request time off for activities. Furthermore, high-difficulty academy missions undertaken by the team yielded academic credit rewards. This particular Level 4 Shadow Realm run, with its 95% contribution rate, yielded a massive haul of points. It was an amount almost equivalent to the team having monopolized the entire mission.

For teams already looking to recruit new members, a freshman like Lance, who arrived with a huge stash of unallocated points and possessed the kind of overwhelming capability that could carry a squad, was undoubtedly a prime target.

Lance spread his hands and declared, "If they don't respect my companions, I won't even consider joining their team. There's no need for us to endure unpleasantness or for you to suffer any grievances just to get along with them later on."

When it came to joining a team, he prioritized a harmonious atmosphere where members treated each other kindly above all else. If a team couldn't manage even the most basic respect for its own members, there was no reason for him and Hyperion to subject themselves to that kind of misery.

Hyperion could tell that Lance truly respected her. His simple, genuine sincerity was incredibly precious.

"Lance, thank you. But if we can't find a team to join, it seems we'll have to start our own. Otherwise, we won't be able to take on the school's high-difficulty real world missions, and we'd miss out on events, perks, and holidays that would otherwise be available to us."

Lance understood the situation just by looking at Hyperion's expression. It was obvious she still hadn't received any offers to join a team. Except, of course, from unsavory types like Mordan Gasigus. If possible, however, Lance didn't actually want to form a team. He wanted to devote their spare time to their startup venture rather than managing a team. "Alright, we’ll figure out something."

Hyperion nodded. She knew that what Lance really wanted was the time off that teams could get, which allowed for legitimate reasons to skip classes, and access to real world missions that granted practical course credits. His goal was always to skip as many classes as possible without actually slacking off or becoming a delinquent.

Just as the two were discussing this, a female voice drifted over from the nearby aisle. "If you can't find a suitable team, you could join the Student Management Council."

That familiar voice was haughty yet elegant and had made a strong impression on Lance. Both of them turned in unison and saw Princess Vivian standing there with her arms crossed.

She belonged to the class next door, but she had come specifically to see Hyperion. Visiting other classrooms during breaks was quite common here. Students often dropped by other classrooms just to sit in on a lecture.

Puzzled, Lance asked, "What is that?"

Vivian sat down on a chair by the aisle and began to explain, "Since the university has various teams, there needs to be a student organization to manage them. It usually involves thankless tasks like coordinating various teams and resolving disputes, but the council enjoys benefits and perks comparable to, or even better than, those of the official teams.

“Of course, the most important thing is that the president is a man of absolute integrity. No one can abuse their power for personal gain or discriminate against others within the council. Furthermore, regardless of whether you're human or a demon, he values talent above all else."

Vivian herself held the president's character in high regard, which was why she recommended the position to Lance. However, the Student Management Council had to handle conflicts between various groups as well as all manner of campus disputes. A single misstep could land someone in a hospital bed for months, so few newcomers were willing to join.

Vivian worried she might have described it poorly. After all, this guy didn't look like the type who enjoyed conflict. However, to her surprise, Lance's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had discovered a whole new world.

"What do you mean, a thankless task? Mediating conflicts and disputes is exactly what I excel at!" Lance grinned smugly, looking eager to show off his skills and prove his point. "It is our duty to ensure the campus runs smoothly and that students get along harmoniously. Hyperion, let's go check it out right after class!"

Vivian began to feel a sense of foreboding after witnessing Lance's unusual reaction. She had witnessed his performance in the Purgatory Corridor Academy Shadow Realm dungeon. Whenever that guy flashed that sunny, cheerful smile, it meant that the situation was about to become indescribably dire.

Vivian hurriedly stood up and turned to leave, feeling as though she had just made a colossal blunder. She had merely wanted to help Hyperion find a place where she could experience normal campus life. She hadn't expected to potentially alter the future timeline of Ikerite University itself.

If Lance were to join the Student Management Council, the president would be gaining a formidable new assistant. With him handling the disputes, while he might not make everyone happy, he would certainly, and effortlessly, make everyone unhappy!