Chapter 551

551.

Luke glanced to his right.

There, seated were the seniors who could be considered the pinnacle among the sky-like seniors–the fifth-year students.

Right at the center of the fifth-years, in the most prestigious seat, sat Hark, the current vice president of the Student Council who practically runs Lumeran.

‘Precisely speaking, he’s almost lying down.’

Leaning his chair back so that it was supported only by its rear legs, with his head tilted backward and legs resting on the desk, it was evident he was in deep slumber.

With his chest rising and falling evenly, it was clear he was sound asleep.

‘He won’t fall, will he?’

Luke’s concerned gaze lingered on Hark before moving to the right.

There sat the fourth-years.

Among them, Elena sat upright, reading a book.

Elena, renowned as the most beautiful senior and often called the Queen of Lumeran, radiated an innate grace.

At a glance, she appeared to be the epitome of a diligent top student.

The issue lay in the book Elena was reading–a banned magic book, categorized as forbidden literature in Lumeran.

‘Is it alright for both of them to behave this way?’

This was the Student Council, a place where representatives of the school convened for discussions.

Yet, the two key members of this council seemed like exemplary delinquent students.

As a grade representative, Luke found the scenario impossible to adapt to.

“Luke.”

“Yes! Lil Senior.”

“Luke’s mana attribute is certainly amplification, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“I’m envious. I’m too normal, unlike you with your shining talent. It’s genuinely admirable.”

“Ah, Senior, you’re the one who’s more incredible.”

“No, Luke, you are.”

Lil’s envious gaze made a scene flash through Luke’s mind.

It was an instance from a few days ago in the Department of Magic’s practice hall.

Ku-ka-ga-ga-ga-gang!

“Kaaaahaaaaaa! Our first term’s golem is burning away!”

“This feels too weak. We might have to make it stronger?”

“Are you a monster? This monster woman!”

“Who called me a monster woman? I have the prestigious title of Gale Spirit Master!”

“Is that even important right now?”

That was Lil, destroying with her bare hands the battle golem crafted by the third-year students of the Department of Magic.

“That’s definitely pure mithril, right?”

Luke watched Lil, beads of cold sweat trickling down his face.

“Aaah, so plain. I’m too plain.”

While Lil casually downplayed herself as “normal,” the freshmen looked at her with a strange expression.

But the students from other grades were unfazed, as if they were accustomed to it.

“I thought I had adapted to Lumeran.”

Yet, Lumeran continued to surpass the freshmen’s common sense.

At that moment, Hark, who had been reclined with his head tilted back, sat up.

Elena also closed her magical tome.

As the door swung open, Leo entered the room.

Once Leo sat in the Student Council president’s position, Hark, with a voice filled with fatigue, stated:

“Alright, since the president has arrived, let’s start the meeting.”

Originally, the meeting was supposed to be presided over by the Student Council President.

However, the current Student Council’s actual operations were managed by the Vice President, Hark. Hence, Leo quietly observed as Hark carried the meeting forward.

Hark, appearing sleepy, stifled yawns repeatedly while displaying the evident annoyance of the task at hand, but diligently fulfilled his role.

“Alright, lastly: the agenda concerning the entrance examination for next year’s freshmen.”

At this, the freshmen gave an involuntary shiver.

“The examiner for this year… hmm? What is it?”

Hark looked at Juen who had suddenly raised her hand.

“If you have something to say, go ahead.”

“Yes! I’m Juen Tobidna from the first-year Department of Magic! If the examination method hasn’t been decided yet, I strongly recommend we use last year’s entrance examination!”

“We all believe it would be the best!”

“We learned a lot from the seniors during the entrance examination!”

In unison, the entire first-year Student Council expressed agreement with Juen.

“Unfortunately, it’s a rule in Lumeran that the entrance exams change every year.”

Turning the impossible into the possible is one of the crucial virtues of a hero.

Thus, the entrance exam is the first and foremost ordeal faced by the students of Lumeran.

If it were predictable, it wouldn’t be an ordeal.

Which was why the Lumeran entrance exam changed annually.

Hark’s words caused a cascade of sighs among the first-years.

“We could have repaid them!”

“What a waste!”

As he observed this, Hark stated:

“The overall manager for this year’s entrance exam is Professor Halind.”

At this, the entire Student Council atmosphere froze.

Halind, known as the “Lamenting Wall of Lumeran,” currently manages the first-years but remains a terrifying figure among Lumeran students.

“Professor Halind has requested that each grade select the necessary personnel for assistance. The meeting is delegating this responsibility to the grade representatives.”

Hark nonchalantly announced this before he attempted to rise from his seat.

“Well, with that, all agenda items have been covered. Let’s adjourn the meeting.”

“Wait a moment.”

At that, Leo spoke.

Hark furrowed his brow deeply in response.

“Why again? What is it this time?”

“There’s a piece of business I’d like to propose as Student Council President.”

“As Student Council President?”

Hark smirked.

“Though not handling any practical duties, you intend to use the authority of the Student Council President? Don’t you think that’s an overreach of power, even though you are the president?”

Hark openly showed his resentment towards Leo.

This caused not only the first-years but also the more relaxed students from other grades to display tense expressions. The students swallowed nervously.

Since Leo had taken office as Student Council President, there had been no apparent friction between him and Hark.

Though Leo was the president, he had delegated the practical authority to Hark.

In essence, this was Hark’s Student Council, and over the past year, it was Hark who had wielded power as the de facto leader of Lumeran.

Furthermore, Leo had never once used the president’s authority to assert any kind of authority.

‘So that’s why there hasn’t been a clash until now?’

The fifth-years also observed Leo and Hark with tense expressions.

This was the first friction between a Student Council President who lacked actual authority and a Vice President who held it.

“Any response?”

Hark smirked coldly.

Observing this, the fifth years nodded their heads.

‘Even if you’re Leo Flove, as Hark, this isn’t something that could be tolerated. After a year of… our leading the Student Council, meddling without permission is unacceptable.’

The chilling glances of the fifth-years were directed at Leo.

‘Leo Flove, we know you’re exceptional. But wielding influence over the student council starting next year is…’

“You’re the President, huh?! You’re a hero, huh? Just because you were chosen by the gods, do you think that excuses everything? Disrespectful ingrate, do you even know how much sleep I’ve lost since becoming a fifth-year thanks to you?”

‘What a b*stard! This is nothing but resentment from his sleepless nights!’

The fifth-years silently cursed Hark.

His dark circles and bloodshot eyes revealed nothing but “sleep deprivation.”

Just as the atmosphere tightened, the moment was:

“Vice President Hark is always sleeping when we see him, and yet he’s apparently sleep deprived?”

“That’s correct, Luke. Hark needs more sleep than others. He’s become very irritable due to his sleep deprivation over the past year.”

Hark’s menacing gaze turned towards Lil and Luke.

Luke showed a flinching expression under this gaze, but Lil clenched her fists and said:

“Despite his irritability, I still respect Hark Vice President! The school operation under him as Vice President has been impeccable!”

“Lil, that’s an exaggeration. His personality wasn’t good to begin with.”

Elana, smiling beside her, chimed in.

‘Stop it! You two!’

‘The atmosphere is already hostile!’

As students watched Lil fanning the flames without any malice and Elana explicitly adding fuel to the fire, they cried out in despair.

“President, what business were you intending to present?”

At that moment, a member of the fifth-year Student Council intervened to mediate.

“I intended to change the Vice President starting today.”

“What? That was the most important matter, wasn’t it? You should’ve mentioned it earlier. Let’s start the meeting again then.”

In an instant, Hark grinned cheerfully.

One of the student council secretaries, Chen Sia, raised her hand.

“Vice President Hark, it’s almost lunchtime, right?”

“Stop joking. No one is leaving until this meeting concludes.”

“But isn’t it inappropriate for the Student Council President to arbitrarily elect a new Vice President when he hasn’t contributed to anything this year?”

“Who’s saying that nonsense? The word of the President is absolute.”

Hark spoke fiercely.

Looking at the burning passion in Hark’s eyes, Leo said:

“Then recommend a candidate for Vice President.”

“I nominate Elena Zeruon.”

“I nominate Lil.”

Hark and Elana spoke in unison.

Startled by her unexpected nomination for Vice President, Lil’s eyes widened.

Hark smirked as he said:

“How about it? You’ll be entering the fifth year, so it’s about time you take over the Vice Principal’s role?”

“Rather than changing next year, wouldn’t it be more stable if Lil took on the role of Vice President on a long-term basis?”

“Lil still has much to learn. However, you will undoubtedly teach her a great deal.”

“Ah? What a compliment.”

“No, seriously. I’m sure your administrative abilities are far superior to mine.”

“How could I possibly match Vice President Hark’s capabilities?”

Both exchanged hearty laughter while lifting each other up, but their eyes carried a chilling edge.

‘Your turn to try it.’

‘I’ll see about that.’

In fact, this year’s Student Council would rank as one of the most eventful in the history of Lumeran.

Due to a series of major incidents, the inevitable fallout left the Student Council, which managed the school as a whole, overwhelmed with immense responsibilities.

Elana, who had assisted as Vice President, experienced days just as busy as the previous Student Council President, Ris.

Of course, Hark, who bore the brunt of the Student Council’s practical operations, suffered tremendously.

Looking at the current global situation, next year’s Lumeran Student Council was bound to be even busier. The work would either stay the same or increase.

Being a member of Lumeran’s Student Council was one of the most prestigious career milestones post-graduation.

Initially, the position of Student Council President held influence equivalent to that of a king’s.

Not only immense fame but a smooth career path after graduation were guaranteed.

However, beyond all that, it was a position any top student at Lumeran aspired to.

‘They both being delinquent students is the trouble.’

As Leo sighed internally, someone spoke up:

“If you let me, I’ll do it.”

Lil, her expression earnest.

Looking at her, Leo replied:

“Rejected.”

“Why, Brother?”

As Lil made her displeased expression, Leo said,

“Lil, you don’t have administrative skills, do you?”

“That’s not true! I can do it! Right? Everyone?”

She clenched her fists and looked at her third-year peers.

Her peers averted their gazes.

“Let’s entrust it to Elena.”

“Yeah, Lil, I don’t think you’re suitable.”

“Maybe you’re good at combat-related matters, but not administration.”

“The president definitely has an eye for people.”

With everyone’s agreement, all eyes turned to Elana.

Under that gaze, Elana smiled faintly.

“Stop looking.”

The second, third, and fourth years flinched and turned their heads away.

After becoming a fourth-year, Elana lived a relatively quiet life, but she was still renowned as the Queen and Witch of Lumeran.

Seeing Elana, Leo said:

“Please take the role of Vice President, Elana.”

Elana, twirling her hair, said,

“Reject. Ask someone else.”

“I think Elana is the best candidate.”

“Why?”

“Because you’re capable.”

At that, Elana stared at Leo for a long while.

“Is there a veto?”

“No.”

Elana, who was staring at Leo for a moment, said,

“Alright, but I have a condition.”

“Condition?”

“Yes.”

Elana said with a beautiful smile,

“Go on a date with me.”

Everyone in the Student Council was taken aback.

“E, Elena senior, is suggesting a date with the President? Isn’t that a bit odd?”

Lil, confused, asked.

Elana widened her eyes,

“Huh? Is there something wrong? It’s just one date.”

“But, well, how do I put it? It seems a bit inappropriate.”

“Our adorable Lil, what kind of naughty thoughts have you had that you think this date is inappropriate?”

“I haven’t had any thoughts at all!”

As Lil shouted, her face flushed, Elana, propping her chin on her hand, gazed at the amused Leo.

“So, what do you think? President?”

Elana asked.

Leo replied calmly,

“It’s not a difficult request.”

“What?”

“Alright, let’s go on a date.”