Chapter 454
“Si, Simon! No… our Student Council President! You don’t… still have some kind of grudge against me, do you?”
“What?”
At those words, Maelyn, who had been keeping her composure, burst out laughing.
As expected, this girl really was from a political family to her bones.
“Why are you always looking to switch allegiances from the very first day of term?”
“Ah! I’m serious!”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you just ask him directly.”
“Aaahhh~”
Unlike usual, Elisa clung to her with a whiny, short-tongued voice, but Maelyn brushed her off as if annoyed.
“You spent the whole first year getting crushed by Simon. If anyone has a grudge, it’s you against him, not the other way around. Simon won’t have any.”
“R-really? That’s a relief…”
“Yeah, right.”
Both turned their heads.
A girl stood in the middle of the hall, staring at them through sunglasses. Maelyn’s expression stiffened ever so slightly.
‘Rank 6… Meridiana.’
She was already known as the queen of Toxicology.
Her nickname: the Queen Bee.
Of course, that was because of the type of black magic she used.
“Simon Follentia becoming the Student Council President this time around carries a lot of meaning.”
She spread out her palm.
“Keyzen is a place of absolute meritocracy. That means any other second-year who defeats Simon can claim the presidency too.”
“Hah.”
Maelyn sneered coldly.
“You think you can do what even Shatel couldn’t against Simon? Go ahead and try.”
“The vice president speaks the truth! Simon is really strong!”
Elisa immediately clung to Maelyn’s side like a bat. Meridiana turned her head toward her.
“Politician. You’d better pick your side carefully.”
“Huh?”
“Because before long, the position of Student Council President—”
Her head turned toward the platform.
“—will be stolen by Aseraz.”
The moment those words fell, the crowd erupted into cheers.
“Rank 5! Aseraz Mikel chooses… Summonology!”
Maelyn’s head snapped toward the stage in shock.
Aseraz chose Summonology? He expected Darkness Dynamics or Katarology!
Waaaahhhhh!
The Summonology table went wild.
Rank 1, Rank 3, and Rank 5—all chose Summonology.
It was practically a clean sweep.
‘…Just what are they plotting?’
Maelyn’s gaze grew serious as it turned toward Rank 6, Meridiana, now walking up to the stage.
* * *
‘Aseraz Mikel.’
Sitting alone at the back of the table, Simon rested his chin on his hand as he watched him being welcomed warmly by the Summonology seniors.
He didn’t know much about him.
The little he did know was that he had rocketed up from the lower ranks, surpassing all the special admissions, and cemented himself at Rank 5. And that he had beaten Maelyn in written exams for both semesters of the first year, taking overall 1st place.
He too, like Hector, was being treated specially and sat among the third-years, where Leonard and Will bombarded him with questions.
“……”
At that moment, while answering the seniors’ questions, he suddenly turned his head.
‘Hm?’
He was glaring straight at Simon.
An icy feeling washed over him, as if a wave of bitter resentment had struck his body.
When Simon didn’t avert his gaze, he eventually turned back and resumed speaking with the seniors.
Meanwhile, the next Top 10 department selections continued swiftly.
Rank 6, Queen Bee Meridiana—Toxicology.
Rank 7, Ghost Ship Elisa—Spiritology.
Both were treated as new “faces of the department” and made the second-year representatives.
“Keyzen’s vice president! Rank 8, Maelyn Villene chooses Darkness Dynamics!”
Naturally, Maelyn chose Darkness Dynamics. Jane smiled in satisfaction and shook her hand.
Since Student Council members cannot simultaneously hold other posts like club president or department representative, Maelyn did not become the representative.
The Darkness Dynamics seniors were still intent on pushing Shatel, the giant-blood, to become their department representative, but it wouldn’t be easy.
“Rank 9! Elishia Rosenfeld chooses Haematology!”
“Rank 10! Jule Vincere chooses Magical Combat!”
The newly ascended Rank 9, Elishia, became Haematology’s representative, while the curse-swordsman Jule Vincere became Magical Combat’s representative.
With that, the Top 10 selections were finished, and every department now had its second-year representative.
‘I’ll need to remember them all.’
Simon took a small notebook from his shirt pocket and began jotting down names.
These representatives would be people he’d have to meet often, talk with, cooperate with—or clash against. It was natural for the Student Council President to know them well.
Katarology: Merida Hugh Ikel
Darkness Dynamics: Shatel Maer (tentative)
Summonology: Hector Moore
Spiritology: Elisa Celine
Haematology: Elishia Rosenfeld
Toxicology: Meridiana Anne Sudden Death
Magical Combat: Jule Vincere
‘Seriously?’
Simon let out a dry laugh after finishing his notes.
‘How is it that not a single one of them is ordinary?’
Discussions with these representatives would be nothing but difficult. Not a single easy person in the bunch.
Even Summonology, Simon’s own department, had Hector as its representative. Elisa, who openly opposed Simon, had become Spiritology’s representative.
The only one who seemed remotely approachable was Jule Vincere, the curse-swordsman. Apart from how aggressive he became in battle, he was otherwise decent.
‘Rank 4 Merida, Rank 6 Meridiana, Rank 9 Elishia.’
Simon drew thick circles around the three new names in his notebook.
‘These new faces will be the key players.’
While Simon mulled over school governance, the other students’ choices continued.
The overall trend was clear: Darkness Dynamics, headed by Jane, held overwhelming dominance. Their 60 slots would soon be filled.
Katarology followed closely behind. The absence of Keyzen’s star professor, Bahil, had subtly affected the numbers.
“Rank 40! Cindy Vivace to Spiritology!”
“Rank 62! Sabrina Giuseppe to Toxicology!”
Spiritology and Toxicology were also filling rapidly. Each time someone was called into Toxicology, Rank 400 Dick grew tenser, clutching his chest.
“Ughhhh… kkhhh! Hhhhuuhhh!”
Dick writhed, groaning as though his lifespan were being shaved away.
“Ah, my heart can’t take this! I should’ve studied more! It’s all coming back to haunt me! Ghhhk!”
“Cheer up, Dick! There’ll definitely be a spot for you!”
Kamibarez clenched her tiny fists and smiled encouragingly. Just then, the proctor’s voice rang out.
“Ranks 90 to 100! Please prepare to come to the stage!”
Kamibarez jumped to her feet.
“I’ll be going now, Dick!”
“…Y-yeah. Thanks, Kami.”
Dick waved with a face aged several years in an instant.
Moments later—
“Rank 95! Kamibarez Ursula to Haematology!”
A joyous cheer burst from the fifth table to the left.
“Ursula! Ursula’s here!!”
“Big sis loves you dearly!”
“Welcome, little vampire!”
Kamibarez sat at the Haematology table, showered with affection from the third-year seniors. Every gesture, every word drew intense reactions, leaving her flustered.
‘At least Kami will adapt quickly.’
Simon smiled warmly, watching Kamibarez being doted on.
The rankings soon pushed past the 100s into the 200s.
“Rank 280! Serne Eindark to Summonology!”
This time, an explosive cheer erupted from Summonology—louder than ever. The third-years were losing their minds.
“Ah, has Summonology gone insane?”
“Why is the Ivory Tower successor going into Summonology?!”
The seniors of Darkness Dynamics, who had been secretly anticipating—no, outright convinced—that Serne would come to their side, were stunned.
As Serne, with her ivory-colored hair flowing, walked toward the Summonology table, the exalted third-year seniors rushed over. A few male students even reached out their hands, offering to escort her, but Serne simply smiled and passed them by.
“Welcome to Summonology, Serne.”
Even Leonard wore a dazed smile. But unlike the other overexcited peers, he remained seated, maintaining his dignity.
“I’m surprised. If you were going to join our side, you could’ve given me a hint.”
Instead of answering, she let out a sly laugh, flashing a fox-like smile with her eyes.
The faces of the male seniors standing behind Leonard flushed bright red. To them, she was nothing short of a bewitching enchantress.
With her chin proudly raised, Serne strode past Leonard, her heels clicking crisply against the floor.
“S-Serne!”
“Can we talk for a bit?”
Several seniors, unwilling to give up, hurried after her. But Serne merely responded with another teasing smile, brushing off their advances as if they weren’t worth a thought.
“As the rumors said… no, more than the rumors.”
Serne’s steps halted. Rank 12, Will, stood squarely in front of her.
“And I’ve heard another rumor.”
Will placed a hand on her shoulder. She tilted her head, winking up at him.
“They say you’ve been recruiting talents directly into the Ivory Tower. That you lure students in with your charm, then, after getting them expelled, scoop them up for the Tower.”
He bared his teeth, lowering his voice so only she could hear.
“Well, I know it, and I still don’t mind being lured. What about you, our dear junior? Interested?”
Smack.
Serne brushed his hand off her shoulder, smiling faintly. Will grinned, mistaking it for acceptance—until she spoke.
“Your breath stinks, senior~”
Her single, lilting remark sent Will’s face flushing scarlet.
Serne swept past the frozen Will and the third-years with her proud, graceful gait. Then—
“Mind if I sit here?”
She sat confidently across from Simon, who had been sitting alone.
Placing both hands under her chin like a flower bloom, she tilted her head and gave an adorably sweet smile.
“…You.”
Simon let out a small sigh.
“You sure you can handle the consequences? They’re still your seniors, after all.”
At that, she gave a mischievous grin and whispered playfully:
“Ook. Ookiki.”
Simon couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
While Simon and Serne were conversing, a loud announcement rang across by Belya.
“Rank 287! Loraine Arkbold chooses Summonology!”
At last, the biggest topic of this year’s second-years had been decided.
After shaking hands with Aron, she stepped down from the stage and made her way toward the Summonology table.
The reaction of the Summonology seniors was exactly as expected—by now, their throats were hoarse from cheering.
“W-welcome, Loraine!”
“Glad to have you. Ahem, I’ll be in your care.”
Still, the seniors seemed somewhat intimidated by her.
And no wonder—she was the daughter of Neftis, the ruler of this school. Unlike with Serne, their reception wasn’t a wild frenzy of adoration but rather formal and restrained.
“It’s an honor to have you. I’m Leonard, Rank 4 and department representative.”
“Hello! I’m Benya.”
“Rank 12, Will here. Hahaha! Didn’t think even the young lady would come our way!”
Loraine bowed her head politely, no different from any other second-year student.
“I am Loraine Arkbold. I still lack much and have many things to learn. Please guide me freely.”
It wasn’t the repeated bowing and scraping others did before seniors, it was mature, respectful, the courtesy of an equal.
The third-years, in turn, couldn’t treat her lightly. Even Will, who had been brazen enough to make advances on Serne, gave Loraine only a greeting before quickly pretending not to see her.
Step. Step.
Loraine walked past the seniors without hesitation and stopped directly in front of Simon.
The seniors continued to watch her closely.
Loraine glanced once at Serne, seated opposite Simon, then turned to him with a gentle smile.
“May I sit beside you?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters