Editor : Amethyst00



In the café in the first-year classroom building.

Rhys brought over the coffee he’d ordered and sat down across from Leo.

The nearby first-years, spotting the two together, widened their eyes and began whispering.

The first-year grade representative and the fifth-year grade representative, who was also the student council president are meeting face-to-face.

No one could help but to be interested.

And ever since the revelation that Leo’s maternal family was none other than the Zerdingers, that interest had only intensified.

The next successor of House Zerdinger, and his cousin.

Anyone could see that this was a combination capable of shaping the empire’s balance of power.

At that moment, a few female students, faces flushed, approached Rhys.

“Um! President! Could I get your autograph?”

“Me too! We’re from the Knight Department!”

The two first-year girls’ eyes sparkled as they held out notebooks.

Smiling, Rhys signed them both.

“It’s nothing difficult. Study hard.”

“Thank you!”

“Wow! The President’s autograph!”

Kyaa—! Kyaa—!

The delighted girls squealed and waved brightly at Leo before leaving.

“Well then, Leo, see you next class!”

Watching the two leave happily, Leo commented,

“You seem very used to this.”

“Because I am. You’ll be the same once the new batch of juniors comes in—you are a grade representative, after all.”

At Rhys’s words, Leo made a puzzled face.

“It doesn’t seem like the other grade representatives are nearly as popular as you, though.”

The fourth-year grade representative, Hark, spent most of his time sleeping and barely interacted with anyone.

The third-year grade representative, Elena, was the school’s “queen.”

Leo could talk to her freely, but there were always countless members of her guard lingering nearby.

As for the second-year grade representative, Lyl, she was kind and affectionatem, but her affection for her juniors was overwhelming. Once she caught you, you’d be stuck listening to her talk for hours.

Because of that, most first-years were too scared to approach her anymore.

At Leo’s words, Rhys chuckled.

“Well, those guys are a little eccentric.”

'More than a little,' Leo thought, stifling a laugh.

“But anyway, let’s leave that topic for later.”

Clack—

Rhys lifted his cup of coffee.

After taking a sip, he smiled faintly.

“The coffee here hasn’t changed.”

“It’s been a while since you last came?”

“First time since my first year. You know how hectic things are in Lumene’s department schedules.”

Setting his cup down, Rhys leaned back comfortably against his chair.

“Suprisingly, there’s never been much time for nostalgia. It’s only now, as a graduating senior, that I’ve had the leisure to revisit old places.”

Leo nodded.

“True. You must’ve had even less time than most, being the Zerdinger's successor.”

As the successor of one of the empire’s greatest heroic families, Rhys would’ve had no choice but to devote himself wholly to his studies and duties.

Celia, too, was known as a flawless honor student among the first-years as she determined never to give anyone the slightest reason to criticize her as a direct Zerdinger descendant.

Her brother, Rhys, the successor himself must have lived an even stricter, more disciplined life.

'Knowing his personality, he’s probably even harsher on himself than Celia is.'

It was no wonder he was called the “flawless” student council president.

In Lumene, a place overflowing with gifted students, he stood at the top.

The student council president that respected and admired by all.

That was Rhys Zerdinger.

“Well, thanks to all that effort, I can finally just enjoy school life now.”

By the second semester, most fifth-years were relaxed.

They’d spent five long years clawing through competition and survival.

With graduation approaching, there was no reason to obsess over either anymore.

By this point, most Lumene fifth-years passed on their club or department positions and spent their days leisurely.

Even the professors refrained from interfering.

It was, essentially, a well-earned rest after five years of struggle.

Rhys didn’t seem much different.

He explained that he’d already finished handing over his student council duties.

“Well, there is still one headache left, though.”

“A headache?”

“The next student council president.”

At that, Leo immediately recalled the two names being discussed as potential successors.

The first was the fourth-year Hark Rigard—soon to become a fifth-year, one of the top three swordsmen in the entire Knight Department, and the successor to one of Lumene’s Three Great Heroic Houses.

“In terms of year, strength, and background, honestly, there’s no one better than Hark.”

Rhys sighed lightly.

“But he has no interest in the position. He doesn’t think he’s fit to be president.”

“That’s unexpected. Rumor has it he wanted the spot just to keep Elena-sunbae in check.”

“It’s true they don’t get along, but Hark doesn’t actually care whether she becomes president or not. Those rumors exist because the fourth-years don’t like Elena much.”

Leo propped his chin on one hand, picturing Elena.

'Yeah, she’s definitely the type to make enemies.'

He gave a wry smile.

She never cared about what others thought and she just did whatever she wanted.

It might make her seem reckless, but the problem was, Elena had the ability to back it up.

Especially, Elena had been known for frequent trouble with her seniors from the year above since the start of the semester.

'In that sense, she’s kind of like me…'

Leo shook his head.

'No, that’s not it. I only get into trouble when people pick fights with me. She’s the one who starts them. I’m the moderate one here.'

“Anyway, though it’s not obvious on the surface, but the truth is, relations between the third and fourth years aren’t good right now.”

The third-years were firmly under Elena’s control.

Naturally, the fourth-years who disliked her couldn’t get along with them.

“For now, the fifth-years are keeping the peace, but once we graduate, that balance will break.”

Rhys let out another sigh.

“If Hark took the position, things would stay stable. But forcing someone uninterested will only backfire.”

“Fair point.”

Leo nodded, then frowned slightly.

“But… why tell me this? I’m only a first-year.”

If Rhys wanted to talk about this kind of issue, second-year Lyl would make more sense—she had more options, more influence.

Yet Rhys had come to Leo instead.

“That’s because we’re just getting to the main point.”

Rhys’s expression hardened.

“Since Hark’s out of the running, the balance’s shifting toward Elena. I feel bad for the fourth-years, but I can’t hand the position to someone with no will to lead. On the other hand, giving it to someone mediocre would be just as bad.”

Leo’s eyes widened slightly.

He’d assumed Rhys would simply pass the position down to the fourth-years.

But giving it to a third-year—Elena, no less—was an extreme move.

“She might be self-centered, but her ability to command the third-years proves she has what it takes to lead.”

Rhys sighed.

“Besides, I think the student council is entering a critical period.”

“A critical period?”

“Yeah. The world situation’s turning dangerous.”

Tartaros, which had long been dormant, was stirring again.

and its influence had reached even the Hero Academies.

Even in Lumene and Seiren, institutions boasting millennia of history, Tartaros had rarely ever targeted the academies directly.

Now, though, while both schools seemed calm on the surface, beneath it they were moving faster than ever.

“Normally, I wouldn’t like the idea, but in times like these, having a long-serving student council president might be for the best.”

If a leader remained consistent, stability followed.

Whether Hark or another fourth-year took the seat, Elena’s presidency was practically inevitable.

And if that was the case, Rhys reasoned, it would be better to give her the position sooner rather than later.

“Besides, while there’s some noticeable gap among first to third years, the gap between fourth and fifth isn’t that big. Well, Elena’s a special case, she’s always ignored grade levels.”

Leo tilted his head.

“Then why not just give her the position?”

After all, it was the current president’s job to appoint a successor.

And it wasn’t unprecedented for a third-year to take the role in Lumene’s history.

“You’re right. In terms of skill, ability, and leadership, Elena fits perfectly. She even wanted the position herself.”

Leo nodded.

“Then what’s the problem?”

Rhys exhaled a long sigh.

“Yeah. There wasn’t a problem.”

“…?”

Leo blinked in confusion at the sudden change in tone.

Rhys rubbed his temple, looking uncharacteristically weary.

'Something must’ve happened.'

“This morning, I called Elena in to discuss the position.”

His face twisted as if recalling a headache.

“But she refused.”

“Maybe she just wanted to mess with you? That’s pretty much her hobby.”

For someone as willful as Elena, that sounded perfectly plausible.

“I thought that too… but she said something different.”

“Different?”

“She told me she’s not fit to be president and then she recommended someone else for the position.”

“Who?”

For Elena of all people to suggest someone else was interesting enough for Leo to lean forward.

Rhys raised a finger and pointed.

“…”

Leo’s brows furrowed.

“No way.”

“Yes way.”

Rhys’s finger pointed straight ahead.

Directly at Leo.

“Leo, she recommended you as the next student council president.”

'That woman, seriously…'

Leo felt a headache coming on.

bl

“Hm-hm-hm~”

In the Third-Year classroom wing.

Elena sat on the café terrace, chin resting on her clasped hands, legs swinging idly as she hummed a tune.

“How strange, Elena. You’re actually attending classes seriously these days. Is it because you’re aiming for the student council president position?”

At her classmate’s teasing, Elena smiled brightly.

“Not really. I’m not interested in that position anymore.”

Her friend’s face froze.

“What?”

“More like, I found something I want to do.”

“And what’s that?”

Elena’s smile deepened.

“It’s a secret.”

In her mind, she pictured a boy.

A white-haired youth radiating the presence of a great hero himself.

Leo Plov.

Her greatest current interest.

And what she desired above all.

'The birth of a flawless, perfect great hero.'