Chapter 172

172

The café inside the first-year classroom block.

Ris arrived with the coffee he had ordered and sat down in front of Leo.

When the first-years around them noticed Leo and Ris, their eyes widened and they began whispering.

A meeting between the first-year representative and the fifth-year representative, who also happened to be the student council president, was surely of interest.

Moreover, with the recent revelation that Leo’s maternal family was Zerdinger, attention towards them was bound to grow even further.

The next generation’s Zerdinger master and his cousin—anyone could see this was a combination that could discuss the empire’s hegemony.

At that moment, a few female students approached Ris with reddened faces.

“Excuse me, President! Could we possibly ask for an autograph?”

“Me too! We’re from the Department of Knights!”

The two first-year female students, their eyes sparkling, requested an autograph.

“It’s not that difficult. Keep up the hard work in your studies.”

“Thank you!”

“Wow, it’s the President’s autograph!”

The two female students, who had been rejoicing with squeals of delight, noticed Leo and waved at him with bright smiles.

“Well, Leo. See you in the next class!”

Watching the two girls leave happily, Leo spoke up.

“You seem very used to this.”

“You get used to it. Since you’re the year representative, you’ll probably experience something similar when your juniors approach you, right?”

At Ris’s words, Leo looked puzzled.

“Senior representatives from other years don’t seem to be as popular as you, Ris-senpai.”

Harc Ligard from the fourth year often spends his days sleeping and ignores those around him.

Elena from the third year is the school’s queen. Though Leo sees her casually, she always has a large number of bodyguards surrounding her.

And Lil from the second year, while friendly and warm, has a tendency to hold onto her juniors too tightly, unwilling to let go. This means that once a first-year gets caught in her grasp, they’re stuck listening to hours of stories.

Because of this, the first-years have grown wary and avoid approaching her.

At Leo’s words, Ris chuckled softly.

“Well, they’re a bit unusual, aren’t they?”

“Unusual might be an understatement.”

While secretly laughing in amusement, before Ris began to speak again.

“Anyway, let’s put this kind of talk aside for now.”

Click.

Ris lifted his coffee cup.

Taking a sip, he smiled faintly.

“The coffee here is as good as ever.”

“It seems you haven’t been here in a while?”

“Since my first year, this is my first time back. You know, the Lumeran curriculum is busier than expected.”

After placing the coffee cup down, Ris leaned back comfortably against the backrest.

“Surprisingly, I’ve never had much time to reminisce. It’s only now, as a senior, that I’ve finally had the leisure to visit this nostalgic place.”

At Ris’s words, Leo nodded.

“Right, with Ris-senpai being the heir of the Zerdinger family, there must’ve been even less time.”

As the heir of the great hero lineage Zerdinger, Ris would have undoubtedly had even less time for social activities.

Celia is also a flawless top student, well-known within the first year. She maintains this standard as the direct heir of the Zerdinger line, refusing to allow even the slightest blemish.

As Celia’s older brother and the Zerdinger heir, Ris must have been leading an absolutely perfect school life.

‘With his character, he must have been even stricter with himself than Celia.’

This is why Ris is known as the flawless student council president.

In this Lumeran, where talented students abound, he rose to the top.

The student council president acknowledged and respected by all students.

That was none other than Ris Zerdinger.

“Yeah. Anyway, thanks to my hard work, I’ve now reached a point where I can fully enjoy my school life.”

Ever since the second half of the year began, the fifth-year students have largely been relaxed.

For five long years, they have navigated through competition and survival.

With graduation just around the corner, there’s no particular reason to stress anymore about competition or survival.

The fifth-year students of Lumeran, once the second semester begins, transfer responsibilities of clubs and department jobs, spending their time leisurely.

The professors don’t interfere much either.

It was essentially granting rest to the students who had worked hard for five years.

Ris seemed no different.

He mentioned that the student council duties had been handed over.

“Though, there are still some headaches remaining.”

“Heading headaches?”

“The next student council president.”

At Ris’s words, Leo recalled two students currently rumored for the role of the next student council president.

The first was Harc Ligard, from the fourth year.

Not only was he going to be a fifth-year next year, but he was also among the top three strongest in the entire Department of Knights.

Additionally, he was the heir of one of Lumeran’s three great hero families.

“Considering year level, skill, and background—there really isn’t anyone better than Harc.”

Ris sighed gently.

“However, the guy isn’t particularly interested in the student council president position. He considers himself unsuited for the role.”

“That’s surprising. From what I’ve heard, he supposedly wants to become the student council president to counteract Senior Elena.”

“While it’s true that Harc and Elena aren’t on good terms, Harc doesn’t really care whether or not she becomes the president. The rumor likely stemmed from the fact that some fourth years don’t like Elena.”

At Ris’s explanation, Leo rested his chin and thought about Elena.

‘She does tend to make enemies.’

Leo released a small laugh.

Regardless of what others think, she follows her own path, doing whatever she pleases.

While one might perceive her as a reckless troublemaker, the fact remains that Elena possesses the ‘ability’ to act in such a way.

In particular, it’s known that Elena has been involved in many disputes with seniors from the year above her since the beginning of the semester.

‘In that sense, maybe she’s somewhat similar to me?’

As Leo thought this, he shook his head.

‘No, not really. It’s more like they come to me in the second year. She seems to naturally create drama. I’m the calm one.’

“Anyway, while it may not be apparent on the surface, the relationship between the third and fourth years is not particularly good right now.”

Currently, the third year is dominated by Elena.

Which naturally made the relationship between the third years and the fourth years who don’t like Elena tense and worsens it.

“Right now, the fifth years might be suppressing it, but once we graduate, serious problems could arise.”

Ris sighed lightly again.

“If Harc becomes the student council president, things might stabilize to some extent. But forcing an uninterested individual to the role would surely backfire.”

“That does make sense.”

At Leo nodding in agreement, Ris gave him a curious look.

“Then why are you telling all this to me, a first-year?”

Even consulting Lil from the second year would have been more understandable.

After all, as a first-year, Leo would inevitably have fewer choices than a second-year like Lil.

Yet, Ris had specifically approached Leo to talk about the older students.

“The main point is yet to come.”

Ris adopted a serious expression.

“Because Harc isn’t interested, we’ve naturally leaned towards Elena. Though it might be a little unfair to the fourth years, I can’t hand the student council president position to someone who doesn’t have their heart in it. At the same time, giving it to someone with mediocre abilities would also be a problem.”

At Ris’s words, Leo looked surprised.

However hard he thought about it, he believed Ris would smoothly assign the student council president role to the fourth years.

But suggesting to appoint the position to a third-year was an unexpected bold move.

“Even though she’s unpredictable, by looking at how Elena has taken control of her year, she clearly has the qualities to be suitable for the student council president.”

Ris sighed lightly once more.

“Besides, I think the role of student council president is even more crucial now.”

“Crucial times?”

“Yes. Externally, the current state of the world isn’t peaceful.”

Tartarus, which had long lain dormant, has begun to stir once more.

Moreover, its influence is reaching into the Hero Academy.

In the thousands of years history of both Lumeran and Seirun, there have been few occasions where Tartarus has directly targeted the Hero Academies.

Though outwardly calm, both Lumeran and Seirun are reacting much more quickly than ever before behind the scenes.

“Normally, it might not be ideal, but in these times, having a prolonged term as student council president might not necessarily be a bad thing.”

If a leader continues to maintain their position, the group stabilizes.

Whether Harc from the fourth-year becomes the student council president or another fourth-year takes the position, Elena’s role as student council president is practically predetermined.

Therefore, according to Ris, appointing Elena earlier might be a good idea.

“Besides, until the third year, people often don’t think much of it, but the difference in abilities between the fourth and fifth years isn’t significant. Plus, Elena has never been the type to care about year levels anyway.”

At hearing this, Leo looked puzzled.

“Then why not simply assign Elena as the next student council president?”

Ultimately, selecting the next student council president is the responsibility of the current president. Moreover, there have been times in Lumeran’s history where third-year students have been appointed as presidents.

“You’re right. If we talk about ability, she has it. And in terms of skill as well, Elena would be suitable for the role. Additionally, she has shown interest in the student council president position herself.”

At Ris’s words, Leo nodded again.

“Then there’s no problem, right?”

Watching Leo’s casual query, Ris let out a heavy sigh.

“Hmm, there wouldn’t have been any.”

“What?”

At Ris’s unexpected response, Leo looked bewildered.

After a sip of coffee, Ris pinched his temples.

It was unusual to see such an emotional change from someone who generally doesn’t reveal much.

‘What happened?’

“This morning, I mentioned the student council president role to Elena.”

Ris’s face twisted in irritation.

“Surprisingly, she refused the position.”

“Is Ris-senpai making fun of you? Isn’t messing around with others her hobby?”

Given Elena’s tricky tendencies, it was entirely within her nature to do so.

“Though I expected that, she said something else.”

“Something else?”

“Yes. She refused the position, stating that she isn’t suited to be the student council president. And then, she recommended one person as a candidate for the student council president.”

“Who would that be?”

The unpredictable Elena recommending someone else as the student council president sparked Leo’s curiosity. Before he could speculate further, Ris extended his index finger.

“……”

Leo frowned.

“No way?”

“Yes.”

Ris’s finger pointed directly at him.

Directly at Leo.

“Leo, she recommended you as a candidate for the student council president.”

‘Does that girl…’

Leo could already feel a headache forming.

*

“Sniff, sniff, sniff.”

The café terrace of the third-year classroom block.

Elena sat with her legs crossed, resting her chin on her folded hands, lightly singing some tunes as she tapped her foot.

“Quite extraordinary, Elena. Recently paying attention in class. Is it because you’re aiming for the student council president position?”

When questioned by a fellow classmate from the third year, Elena smiled.

“Not particularly. I’m not interested in the student council president position anymore.”

Surprised by her unexpected statement, the classmate’s expression stiffened.

“What?”

“Besides, I have something else I’d like to do.”

“And what might that be?”

Elena grinned mischievously.

“That’s a secret.”

Elena recalled a certain boy.

A boy with flowing white hair, exuding an aura akin to that of a Great Hero.

“Leo Flove.”

Her current primary interest.

Her sole desire was crystal clear.

“The birth of the perfect Great Hero.”