Chapter 453
"Once students have chosen their departments, they can join the Summoning Department where the seniors are waiting."
Nodding at the assistant professor’s words, Simon adjusted his tie nervously. Then he stepped toward the table where the third-year students were waiting.
The second-year classmates, Simon’s peers, cheered and clapped at his joining the Summoning Department. But
"......."
"......."
The third-years were not. Every one of them had cold expressions, like ice, and some openly showed displeasure.
‘It must be because of the Student Council President position.’
Simon had anticipated the resistance from the third-years.
The deal between Phantasus and Aizel was strictly between the two of them. The other third-years were completely left out of the negotiation.
The reason they couldn’t say anything now was that the names Phantasus and Aizel intimidated them; it wasn’t because they supported Simon. Recognizing the current situation clearly was far more important than being obsessed with the Student Council President title.
Of course, Simon had expected such cold treatment, so he calmly maintained his expression and continued walking.
Seven tables.
Among them, Simon headed for the third table from the left. It was easy to spot because a flag with a zombie emblem was stuck in the table.
"......."
Even as Simon approached, the third-years of the Summoning Department did not welcome him.
Walking silently through the quiet, Simon gave a slight nod to the student sitting at the front before passing by.
"Wait a moment."
At that moment, the student at the front seat stood up.
"Even so, a junior has joined the department; you should greet them."
Waves of hair falling over his forehead, sharp eyes, a prominent nose and cheekbones, with a charming smile and voice—he was, simply put, the classic princely type.
"My name is Leonard Feiron. Ranked 4th overall, and I’m the representative of the Summoning Department."
He extended his hand, and Simon politely clasped it, introducing himself.
"Simon Follentia. Top of the second-year class and Student Council President."
Hearing the immediate mention of “Student Council President”, Leonard’s expression stiffened slightly, but that trace vanished from his face within a second.
The two shook hands, and Leonard glanced around, saying,
"Hey guys, what’s the hold-up? You’re embarrassing me."
Only then did the Summoning Department students jump to their feet, clapping and cheering.
Leonard clearly had strong popularity.
And.
‘...This person is insanely strong too.’
Simon couldn’t help but feel awe for the person whose hand he was shaking.
Third-years really were on another level.
And yet this person was only ranked fourth. Aizel who had taken first place for two straight years… what on earth was his deal?
"Thank you."
Finishing the handshake with Leonard, Simon moved on, when a man with a pomade hairstyle and fish-like features extended his hand.
"Will Douglas. Ranked 12th."
"Nice to meet you."
This was the same person who had been glaring at Simon when he first approached the Summoning Department. Simon shook his hand with a hint of tension. This fiery type’s next move was predictable.
‘He’ll try to squeeze my hand when we shake… huh?’
But he didn’t. Simon shook hands lightly as usual, and just as he was about to release his hand—
"Ah."
Will didn’t let go.
"You know, everything in life has an order."
Suddenly stepping closer, Will tilted his head.
"Think about it. You’re waiting in line early in the morning at the cafeteria, and some guy who looks super tough comes, pushes everyone aside, and takes the first spot."
His deep, rough voice dropped quietly.
"Sure, you could understand that. Normal people, instead of making that ‘tough guy’ their enemy, just swallow it and accept it. But."
Will’s facial muscles contorted.
"That tough guy brings some nobody he claims to be friends with to the very back seat."
"......."
"And then suddenly, the tough guy leaves the front spot because he has something to do. But that nobody is still standing in the front? Then let me ask one thing."
His mouth opened.
"What do the people in the back think…?"
"What are you doing grabbing a junior, Will?"
Will flinched, turning his head.
A girl with cream-colored hair and striking eye makeup frowned, glaring at him.
"Senior Benya!"
Simon said with a lively expression.
Benya Vanilla.
A third-year with a somewhat eccentric mind aiming for world domination. She was the president of the same ‘Mutant’ club as Simon and heir to the Vanilla family.
"Hello, young master!"
She winked and waved. Meanwhile, Will’s expression darkened.
"Don’t interfere, Benya Vanilla."
"It seems your greeting is done."
Benya said, pointing at Will’s hand.
"Can I now greet my club junior?"
"Hey."
Will roughly let go of Simon’s hand and glared at her.
Doing this in front of a junior, and with so many watching, was a clear provocation.
"Do you take me lightly?"
"Haah."
"Just because you’ve got Vanilla backing you…!"
"Will!"
At that moment, raising his voice to restrain the two was none other than Leonard.
"Benya is ranked 7th. No matter how happy she is to see a junior, she should greet first before you shake hands. This time, you made the mistake."
"Leonard…!"
"Let’s keep the order, just like you said."
Will twisted his lips and walked away. Simon turned to look at Leonard.
‘He’s sharp.’
Leonard scolded Will, but in reality, he had saved him. Later, Will would probably quietly thank him.
"Anyway, welcome! I always knew you’d come to conquer the Summoning Department!"
Benya extended her hand, and Simon shook it.
"Thank you, senior."
"Too bad you became the Student Council President~ I was thinking of letting you take the club president role."
Normally, second-years became club presidents. Third-years were often out on external duties or held other positions.
"Toto or Fitzgerald would do well too."
"Yeah! Probably."
Simon felt relieved that there were people welcoming him warmly.
Benya said she’d briefly go to the restroom and stepped outside. Simon sat alone behind the second-year table, past the third-years.
‘So empty.’
Stretching his legs and leaning back in his chair, Simon heard a loud cheer erupt from the stage.
"Rank 2, Shatel Maer has chosen the Darkness Dynamics! Everyone, applause!"
The giant half-blood Shatel Maer walked forward and shook hands with Jane.
Simon thought it was the obvious choice. Shatel had incredible physical abilities and specialized in the Darkness Dynamics as a necromancer.
After that, Hongpeng made a series of eager, licking gestures. She probably wanted to train the giant’s blessed body in combat.
Waaahhh!
When Shatel chose his department, a tremendous cheer erupted from the table right next to Simon’s.
The Darkness Dynamics table.
The third-years jumped up and cheered, some even climbing the table and spinning their blazers.
"A giant half-blood in our department!"
"Welcome, Shatel!!"
The reaction was completely different from when Simon entered the Summoning Department.
Shatel descended from the stage and reached the Darkness Dynamics table, where the seniors greeted him with cheerful smiles.
Bang! Boom!
Colorful celebratory fireworks crafted with elemental magic lit up the room.
Normally, using dark magic indoors was prohibited, but today even the professors seemed to turn a blind eye.
The reserved Shatel just nodded as he sat. Soon, seniors crowded around him, firing a barrage of questions, refusing to leave him alone.
"Next is rank 3, Hector Moore! Step forward!"
Before he knew it, it was Hector’s turn.
Simon, who was also quite interested, straightened his neck to watch. Soon, Hector could be seen drawing a card from the Altar of Fire.
“A quick decision, impressive! Hector Moore’s choice is the Summoning Department!”
Yaaaahhhhh!
This time, the cheers came not from somewhere else, but from the table where Simon was sitting.
“Welcome! Moore family!”
“To the Summoning Department!”
Even Will, who had been so aggressive earlier, and Leonard, the department representative, were clapping and smiling.
The summoning students had given instruments to skeletons and were performing a grand orchestral piece.
“So, he’s coming to the Summoning Department.”
Hector was a versatile all-rounder who excelled at every subject, but it seemed he had chosen to further strengthen the Moore family’s “Dragon Form”. After all, a corpse dragon clearly fell within the realm of summoning.
When Professor Aron shook Hector’s hand and he arrived at the Summoning Department table, everyone greeted him with loud laughter.
“Welcome to the Summoning Department. I’m Leonard, the department representative and fourth in overall ranking.”
“Yes, I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m Hector Moore.”
True to his nature, Hector was polite toward his seniors. Simon, sitting alone, propped his chin on his hand and watched.
After Hector finished greeting the seniors and was about to move down to the lower table where Simon was seated,
“Hey, junior!”
Will draped his arm over Hector’s shoulders in a friendly manner.
“Where do you think you’re going? Your seat is over there!”
Hector turned his head, and Leonard had cleared the seat next to him, smiling and waiting.
With no choice, Hector moved next to Leonard, who patted his back with a warm smile.
“It’s really reassuring that the Moore family has joined us.”
“Yes, I’ll work hard to be of help to the department.”
“Good, in that case—”
Leonard took something out and placed it on the table, sliding it toward Hector.
“...This is?”
It was an armband engraved with the Summoning Department emblem. Leonard smiled.
“Hector Moore. I’d like to appoint you as the second-year department representative.”
“.......”
Hector, who rarely talked back to his superiors, replied coldly this time.
“I have no interest in such a position.”
“It’s because there’s no one else but you.”
Leonard began to persuade him.
“I originally wanted to give it to Simon Follentia, the first-ranked student, but he became the Student Council President, so there’s no choice.”
At that remark, Hector, who had been indifferent, twitched his eyebrows.
“Now.”
There was a strong sense of displeasure in his voice.
“Are you saying I’m just a substitute for that guy?”
“No.”
Hector’s aura was tense, but Leonard shook his head calmly.
“The department representative is a position responsible for all second-year students. While you’re in the department, you’re the top, whether you’re Student Council President or not.”
Leonard smiled warmly.
“It means there’s no one else but you. You’ll stand as an equal to Simon Follentia and be the one who keeps him in check.”
“.......”
Hector pondered for a long moment.
Finally, after careful consideration, he said,
“I’ll accept.”
He took the department armband into his hand.
“Fourth-ranked, Merida Hugh Ikel, is going to Katarology! Applause!”
This time, cheers erupted from the far-left table, where the third-year students of Katarology were seated.
“President Phantasus’ little sister! Nice to meet you!”
“Welcome to Katarology!”
“You’ll be making your own legend too!”
Since Bahil was absent from the event, Merida, having shaken hands with the head assistantChehekle, sleepily made her way to the Katarology table.
After greeting the seniors, she immediately flopped onto the table and began dozing off.
‘Merida must specialize in sleep curses too.’
Simon thought, looking at his own palm. The sleep magic circle, taught directly by Phantasus, quickly spread.
‘I wonder which one will be stronger.’
Seeing Merida fall asleep in an instant, the third-years of the Katarology laughed cheerfully without a trace of ill-feeling. It seemed their department maintained discipline in a more relaxed style, letting the representative take the lead.
“Next, fifth-ranked, Aseraz Mikel! Oh, good. Smart to come out early. Sixth, seventh, and eighth place, get ready under the stage!”
As Aseraz received the loudspeaker orb from the broadcast assistant, Belya asked,
“Hey, you’re not a special admission, but you moved up to fifth this time? You even got first in the written exam?”
“I was lucky. I studied and reviewed well, just focused on the textbook…”
Aseraz said with a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, a girl was watching with a frown.
‘...What a load of crap.’
It was Maelyn, waiting just below the stage.
She had lost first place in the written exam because of him. Twice, no less.
‘Ugh, frustrating! This year, I’ll definitely…!’
“Um, um… vice-president.”
Someone suddenly spoke.
Maelyn looked down and saw a girl with pigtails, nervously fidgeting.
Seventh-ranked, Elisa Celine, who controlled a ghost ship.
“What is it?”
Since she was an unwelcome person, Maelyn replied indifferently.
“Are we friends or something? Why are you suddenly talking to me all of a sudden?”
“…Uh, I, uh…”
Elisa awkwardly bit her lips and stared at her own toes.
“Oh, come on! If you don’t say it quickly, I’m leaving, okay?”
With an exasperated shout, Maelyn prompted her, and Elisa squeezed her eyes shut, shouting,
“Si, Simon! No, our Student Council President! Is there… perhaps… some lingering grudge you might still have against me…?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters