Chapter 557

The next morning.

After returning to Lumene, Leo passed through the school gates and headed for the second-year classroom.

Normally, students were punished for spending the night off campus without permission.

Student Council officers, however, were exempt from that rule.

Since the Student Council managed affairs throughout the academy, its officers never knew when they might urgently need to leave for Lumeria City.

'Being Student Council President is convenient at times like this. Though Celia and Chloe will probably lecture me.'

Leo chuckled as he thought of the two principled honors students.

'Our first class today was Combat Theory, wasn’t it?'

After checking the schedule in his head, Leo headed for the Combat Theory classroom.

He could hear a commotion from inside before he even opened the door.

Clatter—!

The moment Leo entered, the murmuring abruptly stopped.

He was looking at the students in puzzlement when—

“Leo!”

Tide and the other boys who had been in his class during their first year hurried over.

“What?”

“Hey, what happened? I heard you spent the night off campus with Elena Sunbae!”

“Yeah.”

“Gasp! Are you dating Elena Sunbae?”

“What happened between you two?”

“I heard you two have had something going on for a while. Is that true?”

Leo laughed incredulously at their barrage of questions.

“Nothing happened. We just had dinner and spent the night.”

“S-Spent the night?”

“Where? Where did you sleep?”

“You can at least tell us, can’t you?”

The boys swallowed hard.

Leo was watching his friends hold their breath and focus entirely on him when—

“Class Rep, be honest. How far did you go with Elena Sunbae?”

“Gah!”

“When did you get here?”

“How can you ask something like that outright?”

The boys stared at Eliana in horror.

Eliana narrowed her eyes at them.

“Unbelievable. Are you guys idiots?”

“You’re the last person I want to hear that from!”

Tide snapped.

Eliana gave him a pathetic look.

“Do you think whispering among yourselves in the classroom means no one else knows what filthy thoughts you’re having?”

Tide and the other boys looked embarrassed.

“So if you’re curious, just ask outright!”

It was a line of thought typical of Eliana, who preferred charging headfirst into everything.

“You’re that curious about how far we went?”

“Of course. They say the most entertaining thing in the world is someone else’s love life.”

Eliana’s eyes sparkled.

“So? Do you really have that kind of relationship?”

“What if we do?”

“Hmm. I’d be a little disappointed, but I’d understand. You’re handsome, Class Rep. I suppose it makes sense that women would fall for you.”

“Mm-hmm!”

Eliana crossed her arms and nodded.

Leo chuckled at her.

“I was only invited to House Zeron.”

“Oh!”

Eliana nodded in understanding.

Once they heard that he had merely been invited to House Zeron, the other students looked deflated.

“I feel like an idiot for imagining all sorts of things.”

“Who was it? Who started that ridiculous rumor?”

The classroom grew noisy again.

Shaking his head, Leo walked over to Carr.

Chloe, who was sitting beside him reading a grimoire, spoke.

“Be more careful about doing things that could cause misunderstandings next time, Leo.”

“Oh? What kind of misunderstandings?”

Carr grinned slyly at Chloe’s words.

“Don’t tell me you imagined Leo spending a passionate night with Elena Sunbae. Wow, what a vivid imagina—”

Crackle—!

“I’m joking! It was a joke!”

A terrifying wave of cold surged from Chloe’s hand.

The temperature around them plummeted, and a thin layer of ice began spreading across the room.

Carr frantically waved his hands at the red-faced Chloe, who was huffing with fury.

Whoosh—!

After Chloe stormed away, Carr collapsed over his desk.

“Ugggh. I nearly died just for teasing her.”

“Then why do you keep teasing people?”

“Because it’s fun. Heave-ho.”

Carr straightened and continued.

“Leo, I narrowed down the candidates for the Student Council members you mentioned.”

“Already? That was fast.”

“Hmph. You know I’m thorough when it comes to this sort of thing.”

Carr puffed out his chest.

“These three are the candidates for administrative officers.”

He pulled a notebook from his coat and opened it.

The names Chloe, Abad, and Duran were written inside.

“Abad and Duran are both heirs to their respective families, so they’ll be meticulous with administrative duties. Chloe also proved her abilities when she served as the Class 1 representative during our first year.”

If one had to choose the most difficult first-year class to manage, it would undoubtedly have been Class 1, which included Celia and Duran.

Celia and Duran were constantly at each other’s throats, snarling whenever they got the chance.

On top of that, they were both fiercely proud and eager to assume leadership roles.

Even now, the second-year Knights Department was divided between those who followed Celia and those who followed Duran.

Although the two groups were not openly hostile, they viewed each other as intense rivals.

'Chen Xia is doing a good job mediating between them.'

Chloe had performed her duties as Class 1’s representative flawlessly.

Not only Celia, her closest friend, but even Duran had acknowledged Chloe. That alone said everything.

“Next are Celia, Chelsea, and Walden. Those three would be perfect as disciplinary officers.”

Needless to say, Celia was the best-behaved student in the second year.

“Chelsea has an uncanny ability to find anything someone has done wrong, right? She’s obviously suited to disciplinary work.”

Carr giggled mischievously.

“Walden may have little interest in other people and be fiercely independent, but as a student, he’s exemplary. Not once since enrolling has he given the professors anything to criticize.”

Just as Carr said, aside from his reluctance to socialize with the other students, Walden’s school life was nearly as impeccable as Celia’s.

Carr recommended several other students as well.

Given the sheer scope of Lumene’s administration, they eventually added several more names.

“All of them are interested in Student Council work?”

Carr nodded at Leo’s question.

“Yeah. I sounded them out, and they were all interested. Of course, some of the top students in each department didn’t think they needed to go out of their way to help the Student Council. Others weren’t interested because they didn’t want to work under you.”

Carr grinned.

“But if you ask them yourself, they’ll definitely join.”

“Really? Then could you gather everyone after class?”

Carr shot him a thumbs-up.

“No problem! Leave it to me! I’ll ask them to meet us at the Afternoon of Abundance.”

The Afternoon of Abundance was one of the most popular restaurants operating on Lumene’s campus.

“The Afternoon of Abundance? That won’t be cheap.”

“In a sense, this is the inauguration ceremony for our year’s Student Council. We should make it grand!”

“You have a point.”

“Speaking of which, Leo....”

When Carr spoke in an insinuating tone, Leo chuckled and pulled a black card from his coat.

“Oh! So this is the Student Council President’s card, the one with enough funds to hire an army’s worth of magical mercenaries!”

Carr exclaimed as he accepted the card.

“Then I’ll hand out invitations to the candidates at lunchtime. Truthfully, I’ve already made them.”

===

That evening.

When Leo arrived at the Afternoon of Abundance, the manager bowed.

“We have been expecting you, Lord Leo. I will escort you to the private annex.”

The manager led Leo toward the annex Carr had reserved.

Carr was waiting there. When he spotted Chen Xia and Eiran following behind Leo, he looked puzzled.

“I understand why Xia is here, but why Eiran?”

“Am I not allowed to come?”

Eiran’s ears drooped as she asked, making Carr wave his hands frantically.

“No, that’s not what I meant. Since you’re already here, you might as well enjoy yourself with us!”

“Yes!”

Eiran smiled brightly and sat beside Chen Xia.

Once Leo took his seat, the students Carr had invited began arriving one after another.

“Carr! Did you order this too?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“You have to order it! It’s the best thing on the menu!”

Eliana held up the menu as she spoke to Carr.

“This is unexpected. You actually came?”

“I only came because Leo Plov said he had something to tell us.”

Celia narrowed her eyes at Duran, but he replied coldly.

“Walden-nim, could you pass me the plate in front of you?”

“....”

At Eiran’s request, Walden silently passed her the plate.

The meal continued in a relaxed and lively atmosphere.

After observing the room for a while, Carr cleared his throat.

“Ahem! Then allow me to explain why we’ve gathered—”

Bang—!

The door suddenly flew open, and Eliza entered with a fierce scowl.

“Eliza?”

Carr looked surprised.

Eliza walked over to Leo and crossed her arms.

“Leo Plov, why wasn’t I invited?”

“Huh? What? Eliza, you didn’t refuse the invitation—you never received one?”

Eliana’s eyes widened before she tilted her head and muttered,

“Is Eliza being ostracized?”

Eliza’s eyes flashed at Eliana’s thoughtless remark.

Seeing that, Chen Xia smiled sweetly, glided over without a sound, and twisted Eliana’s neck.

“Please continue, Eliza-yang.”

Chen Xia spoke as she dragged the limp Eliana aside.

Leo looked troubled as he faced Eliza.

“Carr was the one who sent the invitations.”

Eliza turned her glare on Carr.

“Well, you.... You weren’t interested in Student Council work at all.”

Carr scratched his cheek as he spoke, causing Eliza to grind her teeth.

“You still should have sent me an invitation! I might have become interested!”

“He probably didn’t invite you because he thought you wouldn’t be of much help to the Student Council.”

Amid the murderous atmosphere, Duran sneered.

Eliza’s gaze grew incomparably colder than when she had glared at Eliana.

“Duran-gun.”

“Why are you calling me, Chen Xia?”

“Would you like me to twist your neck too?”

When Chen Xia asked with a radiant smile, Duran clicked his tongue and jerked his head away.

The other students inwardly applauded as Chen Xia shut Duran down with a few words.

“So, are you interested in Student Council work, Eliza-yang?”

Chen Xia asked with a gentle smile, and Eliza scoffed.

“I would do a better job than anyone else here.”

“Of course. I think so too. Then you’ll be joining the Student Council, correct?”

“Of course!”

“Wow! Having you in the Student Council will be so reassuring, Eliza-yang! Sign here, please.”

Smiling, Chen Xia handed her a membership form.

Eliza was halfway through signing when her hand suddenly stopped.

“Wait. Did you just trick me into—”

“Welcome to the Student Council, Eliza-yang.”

Chen Xia snatched the form from Eliza’s hand and returned to her seat.

Eliza merely opened and closed her mouth as she watched her go.

“Well, Eliza may have been tricked into joining, but....”

“If you know I was tricked, invalidate it!”

As Eliza cried out desperately, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

“No. I have no intention of letting you withdraw, so go back to your seat.”

At Chen Xia’s firm response, Eliza collapsed into a chair.

Leo addressed her as she buried her face in her hands.

“The Student Council is going to become very busy. That’s why I need the help of everyone here.”

Eiran clenched both fists.

“If you need my help, please ask anytime! I may not be much, but I’ll do my very best to help you, Leo-nim!”

Eiran’s ears flapped with enthusiasm, and she looked remarkably dependable.

The other students exchanged glances and thought,

'But this is Lumene Student Council business.'

'You’re an exchange student. Get a grip.'

As the students watched Eiran seemingly forget her status as an exchange student—

“Eiran-yang.”

“Yes, Xia-yang!”

“You are a Seiren student.”

“Ah....”

At Chen Xia’s words, Eiran hung her head.

Even her ears drooped, making her look truly pitiful.

“Anyway, lend me your strength.”

At Leo’s request, Abad spoke.

“If you’re asking us so earnestly, I can hardly stand by and do nothing. You’ll be joining too, won’t you, Duran?”

“Hmph.”

Duran scoffed but did not deny it.

With that, every student invited that day expressed their willingness to join the Student Council.

Carr looked at them and spoke.

“See? I told you it would work.”

“You were right.”

Leo chuckled before turning to Carr.

“Carr, I’ll be counting on you too from now on.”

“For what?”

“You need to join the Student Council too.”

“....”

Carr’s expression stiffened.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

“Join the Student Council?”

“That’s right.”

“....”

“For the record, I’m appointing you Acting Student Council President.”

“Why? Why are you giving me such an important position?”

Carr clutched his head and screamed.

“I was originally going to give you a different job, but after seeing how well you handled everything today, I think you’ll be more than capable of serving as Acting President.”

“Aaaargh!”

Carr shrieked.

Chelsea, who had been watching, turned to Abad.

“Orabeoni, doesn’t the Acting Student Council President usually have very little work?”

“If anyone else were President, that would be true. But Leo is frequently away, and Elena Sunbae is the Vice President.”

Leo might be a different matter, but Carr, as Acting President, was exactly the sort of person Elena would find easy to work to the bone.

“Sometimes it doesn’t pay to show off how capable you are without reading the room. Though it seems Carr was the only one who never suspected he might end up joining the Student Council.”

Carr’s mistake had been underestimating himself too much.

Chelsea clicked her tongue.

“He’s been crushed beneath the disaster he brought upon himself.”

***