486.
Leo’s defeat of Tamus brought an end to all the matters at hand.
The army that had been resurrected by Tamus’s Spirit Magic disappeared without a trace once he fell.
The Kanel Kingdom, too, found stability.
And after the conclusion of events, someone was sent from Lumeran to sort out the situation—none other than Hark, the Vice President of the Student Council of Lumeran.
Hark’s face grew serious upon hearing the tale of how dead heroes were being resurrected as undead by the Demon King.
Then he clicked his tongue when he learned of the true nature of the Justice Guild.
And when he heard that the majority of the Justice Guild’s senior members, including its Guild Master Jerome, had died:
“Hey! Hark!”
“Snap out of it!”
He collapsed, grabbing the back of his neck.
As the Vice Student Council President, Hark had been handling all the practical affairs of the Student Council.
The problem was that ever since Leo became the Student Council President, large-scale incidents had not ceased.
The rapidly changing world situation.
The role of Hero Candidates in response to it.
And a war with documents that only Hark seemed to see—these things were tormenting him.
Indeed, there were even whispers that the current Student Council was the toughest in Lumeran’s 3000-year history.
Leo was pushing off all his immense responsibilities onto Hark.
And to top it all off, Hark had been a notorious lazy student since he entered school.
It was inevitable, given that his mana attribute was based on ‘accumulation’ through sleep.
But despite all that, Hark was the top student in his year.
For this reason, he also proved to be extremely competent as Acting Student Council President.
After hearing the situation briefing and returning to his room, Leo was met with excitement from Lil, who said:
“So, Vice President Hark is something extraordinary, isn’t he?”
Lil’s eyes sparkled.
“He is extremely skilled, and his character is so distinct! Ah! I envy the uniqueness.”
“Character?”
“Yes. When you say ‘the sleeping Vice President of Lumeran’ in other schools, he’s quite famous.”
“That’s quite a strange nickname.”
As Leo muttered in amazement, the door opened and Hark entered.
“Vice President Hark, hello!”
Lil greeted him energetically.
“Yeah.”
Hark greeted her with a listless gaze before sitting in front of Leo.
“Man, you’re calm about an event that’ll turn the entire Student Council upside down.”
“Ah. The Lumeran Student Council is full of talented individuals.”
“Yeah. Good words, President.”
With a serious face, Hark said,
“Now, I’m entering the fifth year, second semester. And it’s getting busy. I feel it wouldn’t be good for the younger students if someone like me, who’s about to leave soon, continues managing the school. So, I think it’s time for me to step down from the position of Vice President. There are plenty of competent students in our school, as you said.”
“Retirement, huh? That’s troublesome. You can continue working, you know. Everyone thinks highly of how you manage the Student Council.”
“Please, let me retire.”
“No way. If you insist, I’ll have a bed installed in the Vice President’s office. Or, if you prefer, I’ll arrange for you to handle your duties from your room without coming to the Student Council.”
“Kkkkrrrraaaaaagh!”
“Vice President Hark! Calm down!”
As Hark, his eyes flipped and flailing, lunged at Leo, Lil panicked and shouted.
In the ensuing commotion, other Student Council members waiting outside rushed into the room.
They dragged Hark away.
“Appoint Elena as the next Vice President! Let me retire! Retire… ugh ugh ugh!”
Struggling and resisting, Hark was eventually dragged off with his mouth covered.
“When do you plan to continue exploiting Hark?”
One of the fifth-year members asked cautiously, and Leo smiled faintly.
“Until the day of graduation.”
Hearing this, the fourth-year student in charge of student council records, Niel Loda, nodded and scribbled something down.
“Vice President Hark requested retirement, but President Young Master Leo did not approve. He plans to keep him working until graduation.”
Hmm, Niel nodded and muttered to himself.
“I need to find a way to leave the Student Council before I reach the fifth year.”
“Niel senpai, do you want to leave the Student Council?”
“Hyiek? Do, Do Master?”
Niel froze hearing the ominous voice from behind.
“Er, how? Did Master Leo learn mind-reading magic?”
“A, no. I’m sure that’s not possible. I need to assist Master. Hahahahahaha.”
Niel awkwardly laughed and shook his head.
Watching Niel, Leo smiled and said,
“Joining is voluntary, but leaving is not.”
Upon hearing this, Niel and the other fourth-year students went pale, including Riel.
The fifth-years let out a wistful laugh.
“We’ll all be working until graduation—not just Hark.”
Having entrusted all the important tasks to the Student Council seniors, Leo was enjoying some leisure time.
In the shade of the Training Ground, Leo was leisurely reading a book.
Meanwhile, Lil was enthusiastically gathering the orphan soldiers in the Training Ground and telling them stories about heroes.
True to her role as a grade representative, Lil had the top score in heroics within her year.
Thus, she had many engaging stories to tell, and the orphans were eagerly listening to her.
“The image of heroes in the Kanel Kingdom isn’t very good, is it?”
Approaching Leo, Anyas said.
“It’s only natural since Justice Guild abandoned them. But thanks to your efforts, it’s not all of them, right?”
“We are just the shadows.”
“As I’ve said before, what’s wrong with that? Just doing your best in your own place is enough.”
Leo continued, without lifting his eyes from the book.
“What about follow-up measures?”
“We’re moving first to halt the war. In the Kanel Kingdom, the current king and chancellor will be dethroned, and Prince Jeremin will inherit the throne.”
During the crisis, Jeremin had demonstrated sufficient qualifications as a crown prince.
Public sentiment had already swayed in favor of the current king, so making Jeremin the new king would be a straightforward process.
Even though he was a regular human unable to manipulate abilities but showed no hesitation in sacrificing himself for the people of the capital, his dedication left a deep impression not only on the kingdom’s citizens but also on the shadows.
“While we, as shadows, shouldn’t interfere in world politics…he’s already being called a hero, so it doesn’t seem like it’ll be much of a problem.”
Anyas smiled faintly.
Helping Jeremin ascend secretly was a personal decision of hers.
Watching such Anyas, Leo smirked as,
“Even though I repeat it countless times, I’m not a great person. That title truly belongs to my older brother!”
Lil excitedly preached to the orphan soldiers.
“But didn’t the knights say Master looks like a goddess?”
When one of the orphans raised their hand and asked, Lil shook her head.
“Not then either. I’m not a god. If there’s anyone who truly resembles a god, it’s my brother over there!”
The orphans’ gazes turned toward Leo.
Listening to this, Anyas clapped her hands.
“Truly, Lady Lil. To call Master Leo a god! Your insight is extraordinary!”
As Anyas enthusiastically applauded, Leo clicked his tongue.
“Lord Jeremin.”
“Are you here?”
Prince Jeremin approached the training ground in the royal palace.
“I heard you’re leaving tomorrow. Is that true?”
Nodding to Jeremin’s question, Lil replied,
“Yes. The capable seniors are wrapping things up for us. We need to return to school to focus on our studies.”
“Ah, I haven’t properly thanked all of you yet. Therefore, I’ll host a grand party tonight…”
Before Jeremin could finish his sentence frantically, Lil covered his mouth with her index finger and smiled.
“Shouldn’t looking after the war-affected citizens take precedence, Jeremin?”
“R-Riel…”
“I look forward to hearing that you’ve become a splendid king, Jeremin.”
Lil winked at him, and Jeremin, momentarily stunned, responded,
“Riel, I’ll invite you to my coronation.”
“Then it will truly be an honor!”
“Would it be alright to write letters? I’d like to keep you updated on these children’s stories.”
“Yes! I’ll reply promptly.”
Jeremin’s face brightened.
“It feels as though I’ve made a new friend. We’ll surely become great friends! Jeremin!”
But hearing Lil’s words next, his shoulders slumped.
Seeing this, Leo clicked his tongue.
“Cruel.”
“Lil is very popular. Beautiful, sincere, and straightforward—she’s mentioned even in other schools. She’s received plenty of confessions.”
“Is that so? I haven’t heard such rumors.”
“Because she inadvertently rejects them all.”
“True. But how do you know these details?”
“Mapping out the personal information of hero candidates is a basic task for us shadows.”
At Anyas’s words, Leo clicked his tongue.
Thus concluded their schedule in the Kanel Kingdom.
Upon returning to school, Leo and Lil submitted their mission reports and headed back to their dormitories.
Early morning…
Returning to the dormitory, the place was deserted.
Despite a great many events, Leo’s mission duration had been incredibly short.
Because of that, Leo became the first student in the entire second year to return after the mission.
Entering the dorm lounge, Leo picked up a newspaper.
The Lumeran dormitory receives a newspaper containing world news every morning.
“Still no mention of this event.”
The downfall of the Justice Guild.
The undead transformation of dead heroes.
And the erasure of names from the Hero Record.
Just the downfall of the Justice Guild itself would already trigger huge upheavals.
“But the two events to follow eclipse even that.”
Erebos Piece resurrection would surely overturn the world into unimaginable chaos.
“I should warn Mel appropriately.”
As Leo sighed and continued reading the newspaper:
“Huh?”
He stopped, noticing a headline that took up an entire page of the newspaper.
He then smirked:
“You’ve finally done it.”
The article in question was about Lunia from Seirun.
There was an announcement that Lunia had formed a contract with Phoenix.
Moreover, it also reported her selection as the next Student Council President of Seirun.
“Everyone is steadily growing.”
Leo smiled just as:
Pududuk!
A new form of lower-tier wind familiar flew in and delivered a letter before flying away.
Upon glancing at the message, Leo’s brow furrowed curiously.
“Summoned by the Principal?”
*
Whooshhh!
In a deep forest somewhere in the eastern continent.
This was a forest untouched by human footsteps.
The gentle autumn breeze blew.
Rustle… Rustle…
The sound of footsteps on fallen leaves filled the air.
The crunching sounds of the brittle leaves echoed softly.
Sounds of the autumn forest.
Rustle… Crunch… Squeak…
Suddenly, the soft and lively sound of grass changed underneath her feet.
Before her, a springtime scenery unfolded.
Eventually, a woman carefully sat before one of two gravestones.
“Ah… I’ve come, Master.”
![[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered](https://i3.wp.com/novelhitam.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1743806812-5548-TS-The-Protagonist-is-Conquered.png?resize=85,105 "[TS] The Protagonist is Conquered")
