Chapter 558

Chapter 558

The Erec training ground, the designated venue for Lumern’s official gatherings, was packed to capacity. Every single student enrolled in Lumern had assembled there. Today marked a significant occasion: the retirement of the current Vice Student Council President and the inauguration of his successor.

“Is it common practice to hold such an elaborate ceremony just for the Vice Student Council President?” Juen remarked, her brow furrowing slightly as she stood at the absolute front of the first-year magic department cohort.

“From what I understand, they usually merge it with the main Student Council President’s inauguration,” Shasha replied from her spot in the front row of the summoning department right beside Juen, flicking open her hand fan with a dramatic flourish. “In fact, during his own inauguration last year, Senior Leo went ahead and nominated Senior Hark on the spot.”

“Ah…”

Because the first-year students had not yet arrived at the academy back then, they had never witnessed Leo’s inauguration ceremony firsthand. Even so, the tales of that day had been kept alive, passed down like a myth by the older students.

“He openly invited the upperclassmen to challenge him if they had any objections to him taking the mantle of Student Council President. Wow, he really is something else,” Shasha squealed, letting out a sharp “Kya~!”

“It certainly leaves an impression… When Senior Hark tried to turn down the Vice Student Council President role, Senior Leo simply told him to get on with it. I wouldn’t have the nerve to do that.” As Juen shook her head in disbelief, Habidun, who was positioned in the knight department ranks, chimed in.

“Did you catch the rumor? Word is Senior Leo completely shook up the second-year student council.”

“I heard about that. Apparently, the full roster is going to be revealed alongside this ceremony.”

“Any guesses on who actually made the cut?”

The freshmen were burning with curiosity regarding the newly appointed members of the second-year student council.

—The Vice Student Council President, Hark Liguard, is now arriving.

Right on cue, a student council official acting as the master of ceremonies on the Erec training ground stage announced Hark’s entrance. Because student council functions were intended strictly for the student body, the faculty members observed the student-led proceedings from below the platform.

Taking his place on the stage, Hark scanned the gathered classes before speaking into the microphone.

—Over the past year, I have guided Lumern in my capacity as the Vice Student Council President. Thanks to your diligent cooperation, this period has been both fulfilling and profoundly rewarding for me. I extend my deepest gratitude to all of you who supported my leadership, despite my personal flaws. Yet, every beginning must inevitably meet its conclusion. As I am on the verge of graduation, continuing to shoulder these administrative duties and responsibilities is no longer feasible…

Hark delivered his farewell address with an incredibly grave and earnest tone. However, in stark contrast to his somber words, the corners of his mouth kept twitching upward uncontrollably.

‘He’s grinning practically from ear to ear.’

‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen Senior Hark look this overjoyed.’

‘Is getting relieved of duty really that wonderful?’

The Lumern students stared blankly at Hark as he pressed on with his speech, doing everything in their power to bite back their amusement.

—The individual succeeding me as Vice Student Council President is Elena Zeron. I trust that you will all extend the same cooperation to her.

With those final words, Hark turned to depart from the platform, only for a student council official to interject.

—Do you have any parting words of wisdom for your fellow students?

Hark paused at the inquiry, reflecting for a brief moment before offering his final piece of advice.

—Work your absolute asses off. Pfft… Puh-kuh-huh-huh-huk!

Ultimately, Hark completely dissolved into laughter, utterly thrilled to finally be liberated from the burdens of the Vice Student Council President position.

—Hark Liguard, step off that stage this instant, bow down, and prostrate yourself on the ground.

Hark’s expression froze instantly at the sound of the freezing voice, which seemed capable of cutting right through the midsummer heat.

“Why—why are you doing this to me! Senior Leo said the exact same thing to everyone last year!”

“Hmph… It appears you’ve cast aside all propriety now that graduation is in sight, is that it?” Halind offered a frosty smile, casting a stern gaze up at the platform. “A directive issued by the Student Council President is one thing; openly mocking the student body is an entirely different matter.”

Hearing those words, a pale-faced Hark scrambled down from the stage, dropped his head, and laid flat on the dirt of the training ground. It mattered little that he was the most formidable fifth-year in the knight department or a departing senior; in the presence of Halind, he was reduced to a helpless lamb.

As the crowd watched Hark with nervous sweat, Elena gracefully made her way up the steps. Grasping the hem of her academy uniform skirt, she gave a delicate, slight dip of her knees and smiled warmly at the audience.

—I am Elena Zeron, and though I still have much to learn, I have accepted the mantle of Vice Student Council President. I look forward to working alongside all of you over the coming year, my fellow students.

Upon hearing Elena’s refined greeting, the first-year boys couldn’t help but flush a deep crimson. The female students were equally captivated, looking up at Elena—the absolute epitome of an exemplary honors student—with eyes full of reverence.

Ever since arriving at Lumern, the freshmen had scarcely encountered Elena. This was partly due to her constant absence on various missions, and partly because Elena herself saw no particular reason to flaunt her presence before the underclassmen. Most importantly, the primary reason was that Elena had entirely abandoned her notoriously wild antics from the moment Leo assumed the role of Student Council President.

To the first-years, who had only known Elena through wild campus rumors, this formal appearance served as their genuine first impression of her. Consequently, they were utterly mesmerized by the figure widely celebrated as the Queen of Lumern.

Naturally, the remaining classes viewed the display in an entirely different light.

‘What on earth is she playing at? Did she lose her mind?’

‘Why is she acting like this? It’s genuinely terrifying.’

‘This is making my stomach churn.’

It wasn’t just her fellow fourth-year peers; even the third and second-year students watched Elena with visible apprehension.

“I was told Senior Elena was terrifying. She doesn’t seem like that at all, though?”

“She looks incredibly gentle and kind.”

“Wow!”

Gasps of pure admiration rippled through the freshmen as they gazed up at Elena. By nature, Elena possessed an innate, enchanting allure that effortlessly captured the attention of anyone nearby—a latent trait capable of mesmerizing onlookers through the mere application of magic. While such an ability could easily become a curse, Elena’s sheer brilliance allowed her to maintain flawless mastery over it. In the past, she had channeled that charm into disruptive antics, but now it manifested as pure, undeniable command.

Elena flashed a dazzling smile toward the underclassmen, waving her hand with perfect poise.

—The first-years truly are adorable. So wonderfully refreshing~

“Senior Elena!”

“You are absolutely incredible!”

“Kyaaak!”

A wave of passionate cheering erupted from the freshman ranks.

‘Don’t let her fool you! That woman is a witch!’

The upperclassmen could only look upon the oblivious freshmen with profound pity.

—To begin, having been trusted with managing student council operations by our Student Council President, I have personally appointed a new roster of executives to guide the upcoming administration. I would like to use this occasion to introduce these new student council members to everyone. We shall commence with the fourth-year council representation.

The professors present expressed visible astonishment as they watched Elena meticulously introduce the incoming council members in her capacity as Vice Student Council President. They had been briefed on her appointment to the role, but they had never anticipated she would execute her duties with such flawless decorum.

She progressed steadily from the fourth-year appointments down to the third-years. Finally, it was time for the second-year announcements.

“Wow, every single top-ranking student from the second-year departments is on the council?”

“That is an incredibly high-profile lineup.”

It was common knowledge that achieving top grades did not automatically translate to an interest in student council governance. Thus, assembling every top-ranked department student into the second-year council was an extraordinarily rare feat.

“I can wrap my head around the others, but seeing Eliza Hergin up there is a genuine shock.”

“The notorious troublemaker?”

It wasn’t just the older students whispering; even the faculty members directed skeptical glances toward the stage.

Eliza’s shoulders gave a visible flinch under the scrutiny.

“And that is exactly why one’s daily behavior matters so much.”

“Chen Sia! Are you actively mocking me right now?!” Eliza snapped right back at Chen Sia. Had it been anyone else, she would have lashed out with far greater ferocity, but Eliza harbored a peculiar inability to stand up to Chen Sia.

Even amidst the minor squabbles below, Elena continued to announce the names of the second-year council inductees.

—And lastly, serving as the Student Council President’s Proxy, Kyle Thomas.

The moment Elena uttered the name, a collective murmur rippled through the entire student body.

“The Student Council President’s Proxy?”

“Kyle Thomas?”

He was the undisputed bottom-tier student of the second-year magic department—no, the undisputed lowest-ranked student across the entire second-year class. His notoriety stemmed from his uncanny ability to miraculously dodge expulsion time and time again by pulling just enough academic weight at the final second. Therefore, learning that someone like Kyle was being elevated to the position of Student Council President’s Proxy left the student body entirely dumbfounded.

“Senior Kyle!” Juen clapped her hands together excitedly, hopping up and down.

“Is this happening simply because he’s tight with the President?”

“Favoritism? There’s no way.”

However, when the surrounding freshmen began whispering skeptically, Juen’s expression soured.

“Hey! All of you! Are you seriously looking down on Senior Kyle…?”

“Do you honestly believe Senior Leo would hand over his proxy powers to just anyone merely because they hang out?” Habidun cut in sharply. “For starters, he kept his place here through actual capability, didn’t he?”

“Are the second-year upperclassmen really the type to sit back and watch someone climb to a high position solely through nepotism?”

“We completely misjudged him during the practical entrance examination and paid dearly for it.”

“Even Professor Halind noted that he is an upperclassman we have a great deal to learn from.”

“Reflecting on it now, I can’t even guarantee I’ll avoid expulsion from Lumern by next year. Looking at it through that lens, isn’t what he does pretty incredible?”

The freshmen gradually shifted their tone, offering nods of understanding.

Meanwhile, up on the platform, Kyle let out a heavy, weary sigh. “I genuinely have no idea if I belong up here.”

“What is that? Drop that pathetic demeanor immediately. You are representing Brother Leo now,” Chelsea chided, her brow furrowing.

“Kyle has a bad habit of selling himself short,” Elena remarked, having deactivated her amplification magic as she offered a sweet smile. “I don’t hand off vital responsibilities to people who can’t handle them. Show a little more pride, Kyle.”

“Thank you very much.”

“Of course. I look forward to your hard work, my little slave.”

“Did you seriously just call me a slave?!”

“No. You’re mishearing things.”

“I heard you perfectly clear! You absolutely said slave!”

“It must be a trick of your mind.” Elena chuckled softly, clapping her hands together.

Before long, the introductions for the first-year student council representatives drew to a close as well.

—Over the coming year, I intend to apply myself fully to restructuring the student council and steering Lumern effectively. This concludes my address—Vice Student Council President, Elena Zeron.

‘Did she honestly just say “restructuring the student council”?’

‘That’s code for saying she’s going to drive them into the absolute ground.’

The newly minted council members could only offer grim, hollow smiles.

Following the conclusion of the inauguration, Juen made her way over to Kyle. “Senior Kyle! Massive congratulations on being named the Student Council President’s Proxy!”

“I’m really not sure if this is something worth celebrating,” Kyle replied with a strained laugh.

Just as the crowd of students prepared to go their separate ways, a voice called out.

—Oh, hold on a moment, wait.

Elena, who had been on the verge of stepping off the stage, marched right back up to the microphone.

—I neglected to share a vital piece of information.

Elena tapped her temple lightly with her fist in a playful gesture.

—There is an official directive straight from our Student Council President.

Every eye in the audience instantly shifted toward Leo, who had maintained a completely silent, detached presence throughout the entire inauguration ceremony.

—It concerns the upcoming LuSe War. I assume everyone is fully aware that this year’s LuSe War is scheduled to take place right here at Lumern, correct?

The crowd offered collective nods of agreement. The LuSe War was a permanent fixture on the school calendar, meaning that logistical groundwork had been quietly progressing since the very start of the term.

—The Student Council President has expressed a desire to organize this particular LuSe War in a rather distinctive fashion.

“Distinctive in what way?”

—We won’t just be hosting Lumern and Seyrun; Azonia and Demian will be participating as well. A grand academy tournament where all the renowned Hero Academies assemble to battle for ultimate dominance.

The moment those words left her mouth, the expressions of the students froze entirely. The faculty members stood with their mouths hanging open in utter shock. Hark, who had been sitting dejectedly under Halind’s watchful eye, bolted upright.

“This is the absolute first I’m hearing about any of this!”

“Senior Hark explicitly instructed me not to bother him with matters of school administration anymore, so I chose to iron out the details with Senior Elena instead,” Leo answered, offering a calm smile.

“Hey! Even if that’s the case, you should have given me a warning about something of this magnitude way sooner!” Hark roared in absolute frustration.

To suddenly organize an unprecedented festival bringing together every single Hero Academy? The concept was utterly mind-boggling.

The entire crowd turned their eyes toward Elena.

—Naturally, it presents an immense logistical hurdle. We are required to coordinate with the alternative Hero Academies and map out the entire framework from scratch.

Hearing Elena acknowledge the difficulty, a collective sigh of relief rippled through the crowd. Ever since Leo claimed the position of Student Council President, administrative execution had fallen entirely under the purview of the Vice Student Council President. Even if the President put forward an outrageous concept, it would amount to nothing if the Vice Student Council President simply shot it down.

—However, the defining creed of Lumern is ‘Exceed your limits!’ If a task seems impossible, it simply means we must force it to happen, wouldn’t you agree?

Yet, the moment Elena added that follow-up, the color drained entirely from the faces of the student body.

—Provided everyone works like absolute dogs, we should manage to finalize all preparations right in time for the scheduled LuSe War timeline. Therefore, keep in mind that this iteration of the LuSe War will feature all four major academies.

With that final declaration, Elena swept off the stage.

Desperate groans and complaints erupted across the training ground in response to the abrupt, unilateral decree. Right at that moment, Leo stepped up to the microphone.

—Effective today, Senior Hark will assume the role of the Vice Student Council President’s Proxy. Given the immediate need to iron out schedules with the opposing institutions, please report to the student council headquarters without delay.

Upon hearing his assignment, Hark collapsed back down onto the ground, whispering with a thoroughly hollow, dazed expression.

“So this is the real reason he pushed Elena into the Vice Student Council President seat…?”