Chapter 557

When the morning arrived, Leo made his way back to Lumerne, stepping past the main campus entrance and walking toward the lecture hall assigned to the second-year students.

Under normal circumstances, any pupil who remained away from the dormitories overnight without prior permission would face strict disciplinary action.

Yet, those serving as officers on the student council were granted special immunity from this particular academy regulation.

The reasoning behind this privilege lay in their responsibility over the entire campus administration; no one could predict when an urgent matter might require their sudden departure to Lumeria City.

‘Holding the position of student council president certainly has its perks during moments like these. Even so, I can already anticipate a lecture from Celia and Chloe.’

A soft laugh escaped Leo’s lips as the images of those two rule-abiding top scholars crossed his mind.

‘If I remember correctly, the opening period today is Battle Theory.’

After mentally reviewing his schedule for the day, Leo redirected his steps toward the designated room for Battle Theory.

A wave of boisterous conversation leaked out into the hallway before he even reached the entrance.

Screeech—!

The instant Leo pulled the door back and stepped inside, the lively buzz within the room died down in a split second.

Faced with this sudden hush, Leo scanned his classmates with a look of sheer confusion.

“Leo!”

A crowd of peers from his original term, with Tate leading the pack, immediately swarmed around him.

“What’s going on?”

“Man, give us the details! Word on the street is that you spent the whole night out with senior Elena yesterday!”

“That’s right.”

“No way! Does this mean you and senior Elena are actually together?”

“What really went down?”

“People are whispering that the two of you have been secretly seeing each other for ages, is that a fact?”

A dry, amused chuckle escaped Leo as he listened to their rapid-fire interrogation.

“It’s nothing like what you’re thinking; we simply shared a meal and I stayed the night.”

“A… a whole night?”

“But where? In what kind of place did you sleep?”

“Come on, you can share the secret with your boys, right?”

The group of young men collectively swallowed hard in anticipation.

Leo found himself grinning as he observed his companions standing perfectly still, hanging onto his every word with bated breath.

“Be real with us, class president. Just how far did things progress between you and senior Elena?”

“Whoa!”

“Whoa there! Where did you come from?!”

“How do you even have the nerve to bring up something so private out loud?!”

Caught completely off guard, the boys whipped around to face Iliana.

Iliana fixed them with a sharp, judgmental glare.

“Honestly, it’s mind-boggling how foolish you all are.”

“Look who’s talking! I definitely won’t take that from you!”

Tate snapped back.

In response, Iliana merely cast a look of deep sympathy and pity toward Tate.

“Do you genuinely believe that keeping your voices down in the middle of class hides the scandalous things running through your minds?”

At her words, Tate and the rest of the boys flushed crimson with embarrassment.

“If a question is bothering you so much, the correct path is to demand answers upfront!”

This blunt approach perfectly captured Iliana’s personality, as she preferred charging straight ahead without overthinking the consequences.

“Are you truly that invested in finding out the details of my evening?”

“Naturally! After all, isn’t observing the romantic affairs of others the finest entertainment available?”

Iliana’s eyes shone with intense curiosity.

“Well? Is there an actual romance blossoming between you two?”

“And what if that were the case?”

“Hmm. While it might be a bit of a shame for the rest of us, it makes complete sense. Our class president is remarkably impressive, after all. It’s only natural that women would find someone of his caliber utterly captivating.”

Nod, nod—! Folding her arms confidently across her chest, Iliana gave a series of firm nods of approval.

Amused by her elaborate reasoning, Leo let out a soft laugh.

“The reality is that I received an official invitation to the estate of the Zerion family.”

“Oh, I see!”

Iliana replied with an understanding nod.

The moment the phrase concerning the Zerion family residence left his lips, a wave of visible disappointment washed over the surrounding audience.

“We let our minds run wild with all those scenarios, and now we just look ridiculous.”

“Seriously, who started this whole fabricated story in the first place?!”

Complaints rang out across the classroom.

Witnessing their dramatic shift in attitude, Leo simply shook his head in amusement and made his way over to Karl.

Seated right beside Karl with her nose buried in a mystical grimoire, Chloe spoke up without looking away:

“Moving forward, you should exercise greater caution to avoid behaving in ways that invite false assumptions, Leo.”

“Oh, really? And what sort of assumptions are we talking about?”

Karl interjected, a mischievous smirk spreading across his face at Chloe’s remark.

“Don’t tell me, Chloe, that your mind instantly jumped to Leo sharing a passionate rendezvous with senior Elena? Man, your thoughts are far wilder than I expected…”

Creeeak, crack—!

“It’s a jest! Just a harmless jest! I was only kidding!”

An ominous, freezing current began to emanate rapidly from Chloe’s palm.

Within seconds, the atmospheric temperature plummeted, causing frost to crystallize along the surface of the desk.

Observing Chloe’s features flush a deep crimson out of pure irritation, Karl let out a panicked yelp and threw his hands up in surrender.

Whoosh—! Karl collapsed over his workspace as Chloe turned on her heel and stormed off.

“Man… I literally stared death in the face just for poking fun at her.”

“If that’s the case, what drives you to keep antagonizing them?”

“Simply because the reactions are priceless, haha.”

Karl replied, straightening himself up.

“By the way, Leo, I’ve put together a preliminary selection of potential members for the student council based on our discussion.”

“You’re finished already? That was incredibly quick.”

“Well, I pride myself on executing tasks with maximum speed and precision,”

Karl boasted, radiating self-satisfaction.

“To begin, here are the three individuals I propose for the administrative operations branch.”

Reaching into his uniform pocket, Karl retrieved a small ledger and flipped it open.

Listed clearly upon the page were the names of Chloe, Abad, and Duran.

“Given their upbringing as the designated successors of their notable households, both Abad and Duran possess the exact meticulousness needed for systemic management. Meanwhile, Chloe has already demonstrated exceptional competence through her leadership as the representative of Class 1 during our initial year.”

Without question, if anyone were to identify the absolute most troublesome group among the first-year cohorts, it would be Class 1, which contained both Celia and Duran.

The primary issue stemmed from those two individuals, who locked horns and traded barbs at every conceivable opportunity.

Compounding the issue, both possessed immense personal pride and an intense ambition to command.

This division persisted into their present term within the second-year Knightry division, where the student body remained split into distinct circles supporting either Celia or Duran.

While they stopped short of declaring open warfare, a powerful undercurrent of competitive tension always defined their interactions.

‘Fortunately, Chen Shia does an excellent job of acting as a buffer between them.’

Despite the volatile environment, Chloe had managed her responsibilities over Class 1 flawlessly.

Her success was best proven by the fact that not only did her closest companion, Celia, offer full support, but even the stubborn Duran showed genuine respect for Chloe’s authority.

“Moving on, we have Celia, Chelsea, and Wareden. I believe this trio would form an ideal framework for our disciplinary committee.”

Among the entire second-year enrollment, Celia stood out as the undisputed model of proper behavior and decorum.

“As for Chelsea, her knack for spotting infractions and shortcomings is unparalleled, right? She practically radiates the energy of a natural enforcer.”

Karl offered a lighthearted laugh before continuing.

“Then there is Wareden. While he tends to keep to himself and displays a highly solitary nature, his track record as a scholar is pristine. Since the day he arrived on campus, not a single instructor has ever had cause to reprimand him.”

Just as Karl observed, if one overlooked his distant demeanor toward his peers, Wareden’s institutional record was just as immaculate as Celia’s.

At this point, Karl had compiled several alternative recommendations.

Given that the logistical framework of the Lumerne administration itself covered a vast scope, supplementary choices would eventually be integrated into the roster.

“Have these individuals actually expressed a willingness to take on administrative duties?”

Karl nodded affirmatively at Leo’s question.

“Yes, I managed to gauge their inclinations through some indirect conversations, and the response was positive across the board. Granted, a few of the highest-ranking scholars from the various branches felt that committing to the student council offered them no real advantage. Others initially resisted the idea simply because their pride balked at working under your leadership, however…”

Karl’s grin widened.

“The moment you extend a personal invitation, every single one of them will step forward without hesitation.”

“Is that so? In that case, could you arrange a meeting for the entire group once classes conclude today?”

Karl responded with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

“Consider it done! Trust me to handle the logistics. I’ll instruct everyone to assemble at Afternoon of Abundance.”

This particular establishment was widely renowned as one of the most favored dining spots within the borders of Lumerne.

“Afternoon of Abundance? Isn’t the bill for a gathering there going to be rather steep?”

“Look at it this way: this serves as the foundational debut for our year’s student council cohort, doesn’t it? It deserves a proper celebration!”

“I suppose you have a point there.”

“And along those lines, Leo…”

Sensing the underlying hint in Karl’s low tone, Leo smiled faintly and retrieved a sleek black card from within his attire.

“Incredible, is this the legendary authority card reserved for the student council president—the one rumored to hold enough capital to commission an entire legion of costly mercenaries?”

Accepting the item, Karl remarked,

“Perfect. I shall distribute the formal summons to our prospective members over the midday break. I’ve already taken the liberty of preparing them in advance.”

As twilight fell.

When Leo made his appearance at Afternoon of Abundance, the head of staff immediately offered a respectful greeting.

“We are honored by your presence, Lord Leo. Allow me to guide you to the private wing.”

With that, the host escorted Leo toward the secluded dining space that Karl had previously secured.

Karl, already positioned inside the private pavilion, blinked in confusion as he noticed Chen Shia along with Eiran trailing close behind their leader.

“I can make sense of Shia joining us, but what brings Eiran along?”

“Is my presence unwelcome?”

Seeing her crestfallen reaction with drooping ears, Karl hastily gestured to dismiss the thought.

“No, far from it! Now that you’ve made it here, just sit back and have a wonderful time!”

“Thank you!”

Eiran’s expression lit up instantly, and she took a seat right next to Chen Shia.

Following Leo’s arrival, a short period elapsed during which the remaining list of invitees filtered into the room sequentially.

“Karl! Is this particular dish part of what you requested?”

“Negative, that wasn’t on my selection.”

“Oh, you absolutely must add it! It’s easily the best item they prepare here!”

Iliana insisted, thrusting the culinary listing directly toward Karl’s face.

“What is the meaning of this gathering? Why is everyone assembled?”

“My presence here is strictly because Leo Flove indicated there was an important matter to discuss.”

Celia questioned, her gaze sharpening with scrutiny, while Duran offered his perspective in a sharp, icy tone.

“Lord Wareden, would you mind sliding that platter over this way?”

“…”

In response to Eiran’s polite request, Wareden silently reached out and transferred the dish situated before him into her reach.

The banquet continued onward in an unrestrained, lively manner.

Taking note of the jovial ambiance, Karl released a deliberate cough to draw their attention. “Ahem!”

“Very well, everyone, allow me to formally detail the purpose behind bringing us all together—”

Slam—!

Right at that second, the entryway flew open, revealing Eliza as she strode inside with a deeply displeased scowl written across her features.

“Eliza?”

Karl muttered, caught completely flat-footed.

Walking straight up to where Leo sat, Eliza locked her arms together defiantly.

“Leo Flove, what is the meaning of omitting me from this gathering?”

“Wait, what? It turns out Eliza didn’t reject the summon; she was completely left off the guest list?”

Hearing the exchange, Iliana blinked in shock, tilting her chin sideways as she mused aloud,

“Could it be that Eliza is being intentionally excluded by everyone?”

Eliza immediately directed a furious glare toward the tactless Iliana.

Observing the rising friction, Chen Shia maintained an elegant, gentle expression as she glided forward soundlessly and forcefully manipulated Iliana’s neck to silence her.

“Do ignore the distraction and proceed with what you were saying, Miss Eliza.”

Chen Shia requested smoothly, shifting the now-quiet Iliana over to the side.

Leo rubbed the back of his neck, meeting Eliza’s intense focus with an apologetic expression.

“The task of distributing the notices was entirely managed by Karl.”

Upon hearing this revelation, Eliza shifted her hostile gaze directly onto Karl.

“I mean, let’s be fair… you’ve never shown even the slightest bit of enthusiasm for anything involving the student council, have you?”

As Karl uncomfortably scratched at his face while explaining, Eliza ground her teeth together in frustration.

“Even if that were true, the polite thing to do was extend the offer! I could very well have discovered a newfound interest!”

“More than likely, your name was left off because he recognized you would contribute nothing of value to the administrative body.”

Amidst the freezing tension of the room, Duran let out a mocking sneer.

In an instant, Eliza’s gaze grew exponentially more venomous than the look she had previously given Iliana.

“Duran.”

“What do you want from me, Chen Shia?”

“Tell me, would you appreciate it if I gave your neck a similar adjustment, Duran?”

The moment Chen Shia posed the question accompanied by a radiant smile, Duran let out an annoyed hiss and quickly averted his eyes.

Witnessing Chen Shia effortlessly silence the difficult youth using nothing but a pleasant threat, the rest of the scholars quietly offered silent gestures of applause.

“With that out of the way, are we to understand that you possess a genuine desire to participate in the student council, Miss Eliza?”

As Chen Shia inquired with an endearing expression, Eliza let out a proud sniff.

“I am more than capable of outperforming every single person currently sitting in this room, for your information.”

“Naturally, I hold your capabilities in the highest regard. This means you are officially committing to our team, correct?”

“Without a doubt!”

“Fantastic! Securing Miss Eliza’s enlistment for the student council provides immense peace of mind. Kindly place your signature on this line.”

Beaming with satisfaction, Chen Shia presented the enrollment document.

Eliza’s quill froze mid-stroke as a sudden realization hit her.

“Hold on a moment. Is this some sort of trap…”

“We are absolutely thrilled to have you aboard the student council, Miss Eliza.”

Before the girl could react, Chen Shia deftly plucked the paper from her grasp and slipped back to her place at the table.

Eliza could only stare open-mouthed at the display.

“It seems Eliza ended up committing under rather chaotic circumstances.”

“If it’s obvious to everyone that I was cornered into this, then tear up that document immediately!”

As Eliza voiced her frantic protest, Leo turned his gaze toward Chen Shia.

“I see no reason to nullify the registration, so feel free to take a seat.”

Left with no alternative, Eliza collapsed into an empty chair, staring blankly as Chen Shia delivered the final word on the matter.

Taking note of Eliza resting her chin heavily in her palms, Leo addressed the assembled group.

“Moving forward, the operational demands placed on the student council are going to escalate dramatically. Because of this, I am calling upon the collective talents of every individual gathered in this room.”

Upon hearing his appeal, Eiran curled her hands into determined fists and spoke up with vigor:

“Whenever an issue arises where my assistance can be of use, please do not hesitate to ask! Even though my skills may be modest, I pledge to exert my utmost effort in support of Lord Leo!”

With her ears twitching with energy and an expression full of unbridled dedication, she appeared incredibly steadfast.

Observing her display, a wave of quiet whispers rippled through the remaining scholars.

‘Hold on, these operations are strictly limited to the Lumerne student council administration.’

‘She seems to have forgotten that her role here is merely that of a visiting scholar; she needs to face reality.’

A series of knowing looks passed between the companions as they observed Eiran, who appeared entirely oblivious to her foreign institutional status.

“Miss Eiran.”

“Present, Miss Shia!”

“Lest you forget, Miss Eiran, your official enrollment remains tied to Seirun.”

“Oh…”

Following Chen Shia’s gentle reminder, Eiran lowered her head in utter embarrassment.

With her ears falling flat against her head, she cut a thoroughly miserable figure.

“Regardless of institutional lines, I would still value your assistance,”

Leo clarified. Hearing this, Abad chimed in,

“When the president puts it in those terms, refusing to lend a hand becomes quite difficult. I take it you are on board as well, Duran?”

“Hmph.”

Duran offered nothing more than a gruff snort, yet he made no move to decline the proposition.

In this manner, every single person who had received a summons confirmed their commitment to serving on the student council.

Surveying the successful gathering, Karl leaned over and remarked,

“What did I tell you? Didn’t I guarantee that things would fall into place seamlessly?”

“You certainly did,”

Leo replied with a soft laugh, before turning a steady gaze back onto his companion.

“And because of that, Karl, I am going to be relying heavily on your efforts moving forward as well.”

“Relying on me for what exactly?”

“Naturally, you are also becoming an official member of the student council.”

“…”

At those words, the confident expression on Karl’s features instantly froze solid.

“Wait… me?”

“Precisely.”

“As part of the administrative team?”

“Indeed.”

“…”

“Furthermore, I am designating you to oversee operations as our acting temporary leader in the role of interim student council president.”

“Are you serious?! What possessed you to thrust such an overwhelming and unmerited burden onto my shoulders?!”

Gripping his hair tightly, Karl wailed aloud in absolute despair.

“My initial plan involved assigning you to a different set of responsibilities, but after observing the remarkable efficiency with which you organized today’s proceedings, I am fully confident you possess the capability to manage the position of interim student council president with ease.”

“Noooo!”

Karl let out a desperate shriek.

Chelsea, who was watching this, asked Abad,

“Brother, isn’t the actual workload assigned to an acting temporary leader relatively light?”

“Under standard circumstances with any other leader, that might be true. However, Leo frequently finds himself called away on external business. On top of that, the individual serving alongside him as vice president is senior Elena.”

While Leo remained unaffected, placing Karl in the role of interim student council president meant he would essentially become the ultimate target for Elena to manipulate and direct at her whim.

“This is the tragedy of possessing exceptional competence without being aware of it. It appears Karl was truly the sole individual in this room who remained completely oblivious to the fact that he would be drafted into service.”

It was entirely Karl’s own fault for grossly miscalculating his own value.

Chelsea shook her head, letting out a small click of her tongue.

“He is utterly devastated by a catastrophe of his own making.”