Chapter 436
Today was the last day Phantasus would be staying in Leshill.
Climbing up the ridge, Phantasus sat down in a proper meditative posture, and behind him, Simon stood, breathing heavily with a nervous expression.
“Then, I shall begin.”
“Come at me as much as you like, junior!”
The final assignment of Phantasus’ lesson.
He would cast sleep on him directly and be evaluated. It was time to pour out everything he had learned in a week.
Simon carefully began to draw the five-layered Sleep magic circle, one by one, behind Phantasus.
And the moment he activated the fifth and final layer of Sleep—
“!”
Phantasus’ eyes widened abruptly.
‘Th-this place…?’
A blue sky, blazing sunlight, flower petals fluttering gently across a meadow.
It was unbelievable.
There, the woman Phantasus had longed to see so desperately, the one he dreamed of, was reaching her hand out toward him.
“Phantasus, my little sleepyhead. How long are you going to keep napping?”
The man beside her spoke.
“Hahaha! It’s good to dream. But dream big, you must! That’s how you become someone great!”
Tears streamed down Phantasus’ eyes.
“Mother! Father!”
“What are you doing, brother?”
A small girl stretched out her hand.
“Hurry up! We promised to go fishing today.”
“Merida…!”
Turned back into a child, Phantasus sat together with his family of four at a picture-perfect lake, eating packed lunches, fishing, and spending time together.
He was happy.
“This lake has some strange fish, you know! Want to give it a try, Phantasus?”
“Yes!”
As he became a child again, his behavior also changed to that of a child. Laughing brightly, bouncing around, then soon grabbing onto his father’s fishing rod.
“Father!”
“Hmm?”
“I’m sorry! And thank you!”
His father laughed awkwardly.
“Haha! What’s this all of a sudden? You’re making me embarrassed.”
“Uh, brother, you fool! The rod is shaking!”
Holding back the tears that threatened to spill, Phantasus gripped the taut fishing rod with all his strength.
Swoooosh!
With a surge of water, a massive fish burst out and soared into the sky.
“Waaah! Brother caught a big one!”
“Very fine! My son!”
“Tonight’s dinner will be fish stew.”
As he looked at the three smiling faces, Phantasus’ tears flowed freely.
And then—
“……”
Phantasus opened his eyes wide.
The lush leaves, sunlight streaming through them, filled his sight.
He lifted his arm. The small hand of a boy was gone, instead a thick palm like that of a bear appeared. Hairy legs too.
He touched his face. Rough skin, the corners of his eyes still damp.
“President Phantasus.”
Turning to the side, he saw a blue-haired boy, staring at him with a face full of nervous tension.
“H-how was it?”
Phantasus fixed his reddened eyes on Simon.
Brrr.
Brrrrrr.
It was not a nightmare.
It was not that same dream of when his parents were murdered.
How long had it been since he dreamt of the happiest time of his life?
Clenching both fists, Phantasus roared.
“Perfect!!!”
Thudududududududk!
Leaves cascaded down, startled mountain birds flapped into the sky. Simon let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
“Was it a sound sleep?”
“Yes! It was indeed a sound sleep!”
Phantasus grinned.
“There’s nothing more I can teach you now, junior! Time to descend the mountain!”
Simon bowed deeply.
“Thank you so much for everything!”
“That’s what I should be saying!”
Gripping Simon’s hand firmly, Phantasus’ eyes shone with deep emotion.
“For letting me dream ‘that dream’ once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
* * *
Phantasus had finished preparing to leave Leshill.
Simon’s family, and even the residents of Leshill he had grown attached to, all gathered to bid him farewell. A week was short, but with Phantasus there, Leshill had been lively.
“Sorry for being so noisy at night! Hahahaha!”
“Farewell, Phantasus!”
“Come visit again if adventures wear you down!”
As he waved and walked away, Phantasus turned to Simon and lifted his thumb high.
“You’ll make a fine Student Council President! Junior!”
Simon smiled.
“I’ll do my very best!”
And so, after parting ways with Phantasus, weeks passed.
Simon honed the Sleep Curse Phantasus had taught him, assisted Richard with lord duties, and continued his training. He also corresponded by letter with Dick, Maelyn, and Kamibarez.
And finally—
With only four days left until the start of the second year at Keyzen,
“I’m off!”
Simon too was leaving Leshill. In the garden, Neftis had sent someone to prepare a Teleportation magic circle for him.
“Go forth, Simon!”
Richard, his face flushed with excitement, exhaled through his nose.
“Always conduct yourself befitting the Student Council President! Never bow your head to any provocation or trial!”
“Yes, Father.”
Anna held Simon’s hand, eyes brimming with tears.
“Just promise me you’ll return safely. Eat three proper meals a day, don’t overdo it with your studies, watch out for carriages in the city, and write if anything happens.”
“I will, Mother!”
As the light of the Teleportation magic circle filled the air, Simon fixed the sight of Richard and Anna in his eyes.
“I’ll be back!”
With that last shout, Simon’s body was engulfed in radiant light.
* * *
The capital of the Dresden Kingdom, and the port city closest to Roke Island, ‘Langerstine’.
This was the first city Simon arrived at after leaving Leshill.
Towering, massive buildings, and the countless people that made his eyes widen in awe, it was all the same as before.
“Well then.”
Having visited this labyrinthine city several times, Simon was now familiar with it. He strolled leisurely.
Langerstine was just a stopover. The reason he had arrived here four days before the inauguration was simple.
Because he wanted to meet with his Group 7 teammates and have fun together before going straight to Roke Island.
‘I can’t wait!’
His heart thumped excitedly.
Not a mission, not a dispatch, but a pure trip to hang out with peers his own age, this was the first time.
Of course, for Simon, there was another purpose besides just having fun.
Simon slowly drew out the Student Council President’s badge, the one he had inherited from Phantasus.
The purpose was none other than—
‘Recruiting student council executives!’
Naturally, the student council couldn’t be run by the president alone. Simon needed people who would help him.
—So, who should you pick for student council executives?
When Phantasus had been staying in Leshill, Simon had asked his advice on this as well.
—Yes!
—That’s simple!
Phantasus spread both arms wide.
—Form your student council with your closest friends!
—Huh?
A slightly dumbfounded sound slipped from Simon’s mouth. Phantasus grinned, baring his teeth.
—Strange, is it?
—Well… wouldn’t I get criticized for picking only people I know? It might look like corrupt officials appointing their friends into public office…
—Hahahahahaha!
At those words, Phantasus burst into boisterous laughter, banging the table with a thud-thud.
—Turns out you’ve got a naïve side after all!
—…Not exactly the most glorious compliment, but thank you.
—This isn’t a matter of political seats or balance of factions that move a nation. It’s a school’s student council! At most, five members.
He folded his arms.
—No matter what anyone says, the student council executives are your “closest aides”! They’ll be carrying out school policies and working busily. If opinions start splitting and fighting from within, you won’t be able to do anything! You’d be better off working alone!
—Ah…
—Remember this. Appointing the student council executives is strictly the “president’s right”! Choose only those you can absolutely trust, those who will stand by your side no matter what external pressures come!
Those he could trust. Those who would stand by him.
Simon engraved those words deeply.
—And the four hundred second-years who survived up until now are already the continent’s finest talents! Whoever you place in a seat will perform their role.
—That’s true.
—Every Student Council President in history has done it this way, so you don’t need to worry. In truth…
Phantasus gazed at the sky with eyes tinged by regret.
—Here at Keyzen, the hardest thing is to meet four friends you can trust.
By the time his reminiscence ended, they had already arrived at the meeting spot.
It was near the seaside they had traveled to in their first year, riding the Underworld Whale, so the road was familiar. Following the coastline straight, they soon saw a large harbor where ships came and went.
And beside the harbor stood a small park. This was the agreed meeting place.
‘Ah!’
Someone was already there.
Without realizing, Simon quickly slipped behind a nearby wall to hide.
‘Who is it?’
He cautiously peeked out to check who had arrived first.
Skin as pale as white jade, hair as blue as a running stream. Wearing a pastel-toned blouse with a thin outer layer, skirt and shoes. A shoulder bag hung from her arm.
The girl stood still, humming a song while gazing at the sky. Even the simple tune, hum-hum, sounded sweet.
‘…Ugh, sudden nerves.’
Seeing Maelyn after so long, she seemed more beautiful than ever.
Simon clutched his chest.
‘It’s a good chance while we’re alone, but… how do I bring up the student council executive talk?’
As Simon fell deep into thought, the humming stopped.
“Did you pick up a habit of spying since last time we met?”
Simon’s shoulders flinched. Maelyn’s blue eyes were looking straight at him.
With an awkward smile, Simon stepped out.
“…L-long time no see, Maelyn.”
Maelyn smiled back, waving awkwardly.
Soon Simon stood beside her.
“……”
“……”
Fwoooosh—
An awkward wind blew past.
Though they had spent the entire year sticking together, for some reason today felt so awkward.
What should I say?
What did I usually talk about with Maelyn?
“……”
Beside him, Maelyn only tucked her hair behind her ear shyly. Simon, as a man, felt he should be the one to speak first in such a moment.
If he could then naturally lead into the student council subject, that would be best.
“Maelyn.”
“Ah, yeah.”
She looked at him with eyes full of gladness. It seemed she too had been waiting for him to speak first.
Weather talk would be too obvious. Simon decided to ask after the others.
“Se—…”
Just as he was about to ask if Serne was doing well, Simon instinctively clamped his mouth shut.
‘Wow, I really have gotten distant from school life. I’ve lost all my touch.’
“Se what?”
“N-no. I meant… se… se—riously nice outfit today. You look pretty. Haha!”
Maelyn let out a playful laugh, her cheeks faintly flushed.
“Thanks. But you, that white shirt you’re wearing, isn’t that your school uniform?”
‘Ugh.’
Simon’s face reddened.
“How’d you know?”
Maelyn chuckled.
“Every time you went to Rochest on weekends, it was always a white shirt and black pants, you dummy! Buy some clothes, will you? You’ve got money.”
“It’s all for undead expenses.”
At Simon’s joke, Maelyn burst into laughter.
“Really! You’re impossible—”
Thankfully, the mood eased.
While Simon sighed in relief that their reunion hadn’t turned into a disaster, Maelyn stole a side glance at him.
‘…Well, still.’
Though she had just teased his fashion, truthfully, even in a plain shirt this guy looked absurdly good, like it was cheating.
As Maelyn felt a ticklish flutter in her chest for the first time in a while—
‘Now’s the chance!’
Simon’s eyes sparkled, seizing the moment.
“Maelyn! There’s something I really want to tell you!”
“Uh, y-yeah?”
Startled by Simon suddenly leaning in, Maelyn reacted with surprise.
“…Um, I don’t know where to begin with this…”
As Simon hesitated, circling around his words, Maelyn’s face grew a bit red. She twisted her hair around her finger, pretending to look elsewhere.
“…You can take it slow.”
“The truth is, this time I…”
Just then, a sound of movement nearby. Both Simon and Maelyn turned their heads with a start.
Swoosh.
From behind a bench, Dick slowly poked his head out.
Realizing he’d already been discovered, he just raised one hand above the bench and waved it casually.
“Don’t mind me, keep going~ keep going~ Ah, youth is wonderful.”
“Hey!!!”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters