Editor : Amethyst00



Leo headed straight to the club building with Chen Xia.

“Come to think of it, Leo-doryeon, didn’t you say you were going to start a Hero Research Club?”

Seeing Chen Xia tilt her head while biting her index finger as if she had just remembered, Leo made an indifferent expression.

“I was. But I became student council president before I could make it.”

“That’s a shame. I was thinking of joining the club you were going to make.”

“You must be quite interested in heroes, huh?”

“Is there anyone who dislikes heroic tales?”

Just as Chen Xia said.

As it was called the Age of Heroes, many people admired heroes.

And naturally, heroic tales were also an object of admiration.

If you grabbed any Lumene student and asked, everyone had at least one heroic tale they liked.

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Chen Xia nodded faintly with a soft smile.

“They’re just cool.”

At her murmur that seemed to gaze toward some distant ideal, Leo tilted his head.

“You sound like someone who could never become one.”

Chen Xia widened her eyes and looked at Leo.

“Didn’t you enroll in Lumene because you dreamed of becoming a hero?”

Watching Leo’s back as he spoke casually while walking, Chen Xia couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Leo-doryeon, do you know you sometimes really sound like an old man?”

“Really?”

“See? You don’t even deny it.”

Chen Xia leaned forward slightly to look up at Leo.

“Maybe you are an old man really did become young again?”

‘I mean, I *was reborn.’*

Thinking once again that she was oddly sharp, Leo let out a small chuckle.

Meanwhile, the two arrived at the club building and immediately began their student council inspection work.

“Where should we start?”

“Mm. The Horticulture Club is nearby, so how about we start there?”

“Let’s do that.”

Nodding, Leo headed with Chen Xia toward the Horticulture Club.

When Leo looked around the area near the Horticulture Club, he had a dumbfounded expression.

‘At this point, it’s practically a jungle, isn’t it?’

It was the time of year when summer had just passed and autumn was approaching.

While students were already wearing spring–autumn uniforms, the area around the Horticulture Club maintained a humid climate due to magic.

It wouldn’t have been strange to call it a mini-jungle.

Upon entering the Horticulture Club, countless plants came into view.

Leo’s expression subtly changed.

“There are even phantom beast-type carnivorous plants mixed in?”

“Yes. It’s Lumene’s Horticulture Club — they wouldn’t grow ordinary things, would they?”

Watching Chen Xia shrug, Leo said,

“I heard the Art Club and Music Club carry out fairly normal activities.”

“That’s true. But among Lumene’s clubs, quite a few have dangerous activities.”

As a student council executive, Chen Xia was well-informed about the school’s internal affairs.

“And we do have ordinary fruit trees too.”

While walking by, she reached out, plucked an apple, and crunch— took a bite.

Leo glanced at the tree she had picked from.

On the tree were not only apples, but also a variety of other fruits mixed together.

‘At this point, it’s basically a chimera.’

It was clear that someone with considerable expertise in magical engineering was part of the Horticulture Club.

Leo and Chen Xia headed toward the club room.

Then, several large flower buds opened their mouths wide and lunged at them.

If they had been ordinary people, they would have been horrified, but Leo and Chen Xia didn’t even flinch.

It wasn’t just because they were the honor students of the first year.

If one were startled by something like this, survival at Lumene would be impossible.

Leo dodged the attacking flower buds, grabbed the stems, and subdued them, while Chen Xia flicked her finger and delivered a snap! to the bud.

Pahk!

Of course, the carnivorous flower hit by her finger flick was sent flying.

Piii!

Just then, a sharp whistle sounded.

Immediately, the rampaging carnivorous flowers quieted down.

“Who’s here? We don’t usually get visitors at the Horticulture Club.”

Parting the foliage, a female student appeared.

Wearing a 4th-year badge and the emblem of the Department of Magic, she had light green hair and green eyes.

Chen Xia spoke to her.

“We’re from the student council.”

“Huh? You’re Chen Xia, right? Are you here because of the Lumeiren Competition? And… Leo Plov?”

When the 4th-year Horticulture Club member saw Leo, she flinched.

“We're here for inspection….”

“Oh my! Student Council President! What brings you to such a humble place!”

Completely disregarding the fact that Leo was a first-year, the 4th-year student rushed forward, rubbing her hands together.

“You must’ve suffered with the heat here! If you were coming, you should’ve told us in advance! Come, come, inside!”

Her attitude was so polite it was questionable whether this was really how a 4th-year should treat a 1st-year.

‘As expected, when budgets are involved, they’re sensitive.’

Club leaders weren’t just upperclassmen.

Lumene’s club activities were so advanced they often served as deep professional training, immensely useful even after graduation.

In related fields, it wasn’t uncommon for them to conduct research that went beyond the level of a mere club.

And the most important thing in research was funding.

Because of that, club leaders were always starved for research funds to pursue their work freely.

‘So what if he's first year? He’s the student council president! The money source!’

The Horticulture Club president, Ninea, would have bowed even if her visitor were a goblin.

Leading Leo and Chen Xia into the clubroom, Ninea kicked open the door and shouted,

“Everyone, bow your heads and kneel! The money so—no, I mean! The next Student Council President has arrived!”

“Huh?”

“St–Student Council President?”

The Horticulture Club members all jumped up in surprise.

Then they rushed to surround Leo and Chen Xia.

“Welcome!”

“ It’s a great honor to have your visit!”

“The banner! Bring out the welcome banner!”

The students gave an enthusiastic welcome.

All of them were from the Department of Magic or the Department of Summoning.

“Hmph. Such an important guest, visiting a shabby place like this.”

At that moment, a first-year student, Eliza, who had been sitting at the far end of the clubroom trimming her nails, spoke nonchalantly.

“You're in the Horticulture Club?”

“Yes. I like flowers.”

Whoo! Blowing on her nails, Eliza stood up from the sofa.

“For someone who says she likes flowers, there weren’t any flowers outside.”

“Th–that’s because! The seniors’ tastes are so weird…!”

“Weird, huh? Then why is our Eliza-ssi still staying in such a weird place?”

Ninea said with a sneer, and Eliza snorted.

“Hmph! Once I become the Horticulture Club president, I’ll get rid of all those bizarre plants and make it a proper beautiful flower garden!”

“Noooooooo!”

Ninea wailed, clinging to Eliza.

“Don’t do that! These are the children I’ve been raising for four years! They’re like my own kids! Eliza! Don’t do it! Wahhh!”

A prodigy like Eliza would naturally become the next president someday.

Thinking that all the plants she had nurtured might die in the future, Ninea cried with genuine sorrow.

“Ah, fine! I won’t! Kyaa?! Stop pulling on my skirt!”

Eliza panicked and tried to shake Ninea off.

There was no dignity to be found in her as a 4th-year senior or as a president.

Yet despite her usual fiery temper, Eliza couldn’t do anything against Ninea.

‘A natural enemy, huh.’

While Leo thought that inwardly, Eliza barely managed to calm Ninea down.

Then she cleared her throat.

“Hmm! Anyway, since you’re here for student council business, it must be for inspection and budget assessment, right?”

Eliza’s eyes sharpened.

“Then shall we talk?”

At that, Leo glanced toward Ninea.

“Isn’t there already a president for the Horticulture Club?”

“I’m the vice-president. And I handle all the budget matters.”

Hearing that, Leo looked at Ninea.

“Yeah. Since Eliza joined, the club’s finances have gotten much better.”

“The president tends to buy any plant she likes, even if it empties the sub-budget.”

“My goodness, what an irresponsible person…!”

“She’s your senior!”

“Anyway, Eliza! For the Lumeiren Competition, we should secure as much budget as possi—”

“She’s not helping, so take her away.”

As Eliza spoke coldly, the 3rd-year Horticulture Club members grabbed Ninea by both arms and dragged her off.

“This is mutiny! Hey! Argh! Listening to a first-year! Don’t you have any pride as senio— Mph! Mph! Mph!!”

“You’re not one to talk.”

“Just come quietly. We’ll leave the extra budget to Eliza.”

Watching the scene, Chen Xia chuckled and took out her memo pad.

Eliza guided them to a sofa and table on one side of the clubroom, where she sat across from them.

Clapping elegantly, another first-year brought out tea and snacks.

“This is an expensive tea.”

When Chen Xia sipped it in admiration, Eliza smiled, holding her cup.

“It’s the Horticulture Club, after all. We’re working with the Commerce Club on a tea leaf business.”

“I think Carl mentioned something like that.”

In Lumene, as long as you had the ability, you could conduct business freely.

Of course, a portion of the profits had to be paid to Lumene, but given the brand value Lumene provided, it wasn’t a bad trade-off.

“You know that financial performance is heavily reflected in budget increases, right?”

“I do. But with this much profit, I doubt you need any extra budget.”

“It’s the Lumeiren Competition. There’s a lot to prepare.”

“How much do you want?”

“As much as the Horticulture Club’s entire annual budget.”

At those words, Leo looked at Chen Xia.

Chen Xia shook her head.

That meant too much.

“Make it one-fourth.”

“No compromise. We’ve prepared all the justification materials to request this much.”

Eliza, successor to the famous northern noble hero family, House Hergin, had been thoroughly trained not only as a summoner but also as a future head of her family.

Because of that, she was highly skilled at paperwork and budget matters.

“Hmm.”

As Leo reviewed the documents, Eliza’s lips curved upward.

‘As long as you submit rational documentation, additional budget increases can be approved, no matter the amount.’

Crossing her legs gracefully, Eliza thought,

‘Leo Plov. He may have secured the position of Student Council President by his abilities, but are his administrative works equally good?’

She had already seen through the fact that the current student council was testing Leo by having him conduct this inspection.

Therefore, she planned to respond with her utmost effort.

‘I’ll get as much as I can out of him.’

“The documentation is solid,” Chen Xia said, looking a little troubled after reviewing it.

Even she wasn’t as proficient in this area as Eliza.

“What exactly is the Horticulture Club planning to do for the Lumeiren Competition?”

Eliza’s eyelids twitched.

“T–that’s…”

“We’ll fight the Seiren Horticulture Club’s carnivorous plants! We’ve been winning for the past four yea—”

“Sunbae!”

At Eliza’s sharp shout, the other Horticulture Club members dragged Ninea away again.

Pressing her temples, Eliza said,

“A–anyway! Beating Seiren is important, right? We need that budget!”

In truth, they didn’t need that much.

They simply wanted a more comfortable club life, so they asked for an increase.

‘You have to get as much as you can while you can!’

Eliza raised her chin.

“We’re just asking for our rightful share.”

If Leo and Chen Xia had been upper-year council members, they’d have known the club inside and out and could find flaws, but the two of them were inexperienced in club affairs.

‘What should I do…’

As Chen Xia scratched her cheek, Leo raised his hand.

Fwoosh!

Piiya?

Fiora appeared through a summoning circle.

Seeing that, Eliza stiffened.

‘A–a Phoenix?’

“Fiora.”

Piiya?

Leo handed the approval document that had been revised to one-fourth of Eliza’s requested budget into Fiora’s beak.

“Go get her signature.”

Bwak!

Feeling like she was being made to run an errand, Fiora spat the paper out.

Leo said to her,

“You’re the only one who can do it.”

At that, Fiora paused, lifted her head proudly, and nodded firmly.

Then, holding the document in her beak, she pitter-pattered toward Eliza.

Bwak– bwak!

“Ugh…!”

Eliza blushed and began to panic.

There was no way she could win against something that didn’t understand words.

Clack!

“Let’s go. She’ll sign it soon enough.”

Leo pulled Chen Xia along and left the Horticulture Club.

Watching him, Chen Xia tilted her head.

“Will it really be okay?”

“She’ll sign.”

“Eliza-yang seemed rather stubborn, though.”

“Summoners can’t resist a Phoenix.”

At that, Chen Xia thought for a moment, then let out a laugh of realization.

“But that was a little harsh.”

“My friend once told me, 'if the negotiations look unfavorable, find a weak point and bite down relentlessly'.”

“Hm? You have such a friend? That sounds a bit underhanded for someone thinking about heroes.”

Seeing her surprise, Leo thought inwardly.

‘That was something Lysinas, the Hero among Heroes, once said.’

Recalling the so-called Wise Queen, she often also called a con artist, Leo smiled to himself as he looked at Chen Xia.

Among the first-years, she was the most mature, yet it seemed she still had some innocence left.

‘Or maybe it’s just that the rest of us, except Aaron, are the tainted ones?’