Chapter 473
“Special Admission Number One, Sasha Endrasil! Please come up to the podium!”
The surroundings fell silent, as if a mouse had died. Not only the thousand freshmen, but even the outsiders seated above were startled by the name Sasha.
“Who’s Sasha? Do you know her?”
“Never heard that name before.”
“Wasn’t the Mercenary King supposed to be Number One?”
Ignoring the murmurs of her classmates, Sasha walked toward the podium.
She was completely unrecognizable.
Her eyes shone with intelligence, her once-skinny frame had filled out and she had grown taller. Her short brown hair now gleamed with vitality. And wearing the Keyzen uniform, she was a far cry from the shabby orphan she had been back in the Neutral Zone.
She looked as though the ugly duckling had turned into a swan.
Even Simon stared at her with a surprised expression as she passed by.
Sarak—
The two crossed paths. Simon turned his head back, and Sasha too looked back. She waved her hand.
“See you later, Simon senior.”
“Yeah.”
Simon smiled faintly.
“Congratulations on being Number One.”
She replied with a bright nod.
Sasha then stepped up onto the podium. Arthur, who had arrived earlier, glanced at her, and she too took her place beside him, muttering brusquely:
“What are you staring at?”
“N-no. I just wondered if maybe you knew the Student Council President or something…”
“What’s it to you?”
Her curt reply made Arthur think, Guess she’s in a bad mood today, and he turned his head away.
Soon, the attendant placed papers containing the oath in front of them.
“Keep pace with me.”
“No way. You match my pace.”
The two bickered briefly, then raised their hands, shouting almost in unison:
“Oath!”
“Oath!”
As their voices rang out, the other freshmen too raised their palms and echoed the words.
‘This feels… strange.’
Watching from the podium for the Student Council President’s inauguration, Simon smiled with satisfaction.
‘So those two are Special Admission Number One and Two.’
While the oath continued steadily, Sasha’s gaze drifted toward Simon.
She gave him a quick wink, then suddenly sped up her recitation. Arthur, caught off guard by the sudden tempo change, kept fumbling his lines, drawing laughter from the freshmen.
“Agent Simon!”
In the middle of the oath, the host Seiyur Griezmann approached Simon quietly.
“Oh, it’s been a while, Seiyur.”
They shook hands warmly.
“Fate is truly remarkable.”
Seiyur said, looking at Sasha.
“That orphan from the Neutral Zone could grow into Keyzen’s Special Admission Number One, that I, once a lowly agent, am now hosting this ceremony at Keyzen, and that you, Agent Simon, are here as Student Council President.”
“Yes.”
Simon’s voice carried a mix of emotions.
“It really is amazing.”
Just then, the freshmen’s oath ended. Seiyur stepped forward, leading the audience in applause, while Sasha and Arthur exchanged sharp glares as they descended from the stage, clearly already at odds.
At that moment, the curtain behind the podium drew back, and an attendant gestured.
“President! This way!”
“Yes, coming.”
Passing behind the curtain into the backstage area, Simon was taken aback. Attendants were rushing around preparing for the next segment.
Nearby, a middle-aged man with a bulging belly wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. When Seiyur called his name, he hurried out, greeted by applause from the students.
“President, your turn is right after this.”
An attendant said quickly, flipping through papers.
“You know the procedure, right? Before the vice-chancellor, you lay down the Skull Staff and kneel on one knee. Then the vice-chancellor will drape the Student Council President’s cloak over you, that’s the finale. Simple, right? It’s like the Necromancer’s Oath. Then you just give a short speech, something casual about becoming president.”
Simon blinked nervously.
“Staff? What staff?”
“Here it comes.”
Two attendants strained as they carried in a huge ceremonial staff topped with a skull. It looked heavy just at a glance.
“Oh, and you have to hold it with one hand.”
“……”
Simon tried lifting it in one go, but gave up. Only when he poured Darkness into both arms did he barely manage to raise it. A wry smile tugged at his lips.
‘Guess I’ll have to use Internal Darkness Divergence if I want to lift this with one hand.’
An attendant peeked past the curtain, then turned to Simon.
“President! Time to get ready!”
“Yes. By the way, who’s the vice-chancellor…?”
“Vice-Chancellor Jane, of course. Normally the Chancellor would come, but as you know, she’s far too busy.”
Just then, the man’s mumbling stopped, and Seiyur’s closing remarks rang out, followed by applause.
“Alright, President, you’re up!”
* * *
VIP Box, 3rd Floor of Keyzen’s Grand Auditorium.
There, elders and dignitaries of the Dark Alliance lounged in ornate chairs, watching the entrance ceremony.
“This year’s ceremony is utterly dull.”
“The host is a washed-up necromancer, Special Admission Number One is a commoner, and Number Two is a mercenary.”
“A mercenary I can tolerate, but Sasha Endrasil? Never even heard of her.”
“They say she’s a rootless brat from the Neutral Zone. Neftis must truly be getting old.”
“Last year’s freshmen were far more outstanding.”
Leaning back in his seat, Dick Hayword smirked as he listened.
‘Yes, yes. I knew you’d be grumbling like that.’
When that boring man’s speech ended, it would be Simon’s turn for the inauguration. The speeches were almost finished.
‘Now’s the moment!’
Snap!
Dick snapped his fingers. At the signal, drururuk—! a cart on wheels rolled to a stop before the VIPs.
“Wh-what is this?”
Startled, the elders turned their heads.
Clack!
Attendants from the Student Council politely uncorked bottles of whiskey and poured the amber liquid into elegant glasses. Then they spread tablecloths over the armrests of the old men’s chairs, set the glasses down, and laid out water-soaked napkins.
“The students prepared this for our honored elders.”
“Oh-ho—”
The once-grumbling elders’ faces lit up as if by magic.
“Our students did this?”
“Yes.”
Thirsting for a drink, the elders wasted no time moistening their throats with whiskey. Pleasant laughter filled the air.
“Delicious! Mm!”
“Is this a twenty-year-old Bloody?”
“To think the students prepared this—commendable indeed.”
“Look here! They even draped tablecloths over the armrests—these are Old Chairs!”
“Youngsters who know about Old Chairs? They’ve got manners!”
As the atmosphere among the VIPs brightened instantly, Dick’s lips curved into a satisfied smile.
Of course, men of power had been showered with countless receptions, but they were still human. An unexpected gesture of sincerity at an unexpected moment never failed to move them.
And then—
‘Now it begins!’
“This year’s new Student Council President of Keyzen, Second-Year Student Simon Follentia! Please come forward!”
The news that not Aizel, but a second-year had become Student Council President had not been revealed to the public.
So, at the exact moment when the hall should have erupted in confusion at the words “Second-Year President”—
Waaaaaaaah!
A tidal wave of cheers burst forth from the freshmen.
“What the hell’s with them?!”
The ones cheering were none other than the first-years from Langerstine, the very group Simon had brought with him, boys and girls who had witnessed his deeds firsthand.
Simon! Simon!
Led by Arthur, the first-years chanted Simon’s name. Swept up in the excitement, the rest of the freshmen soon joined in, clapping and laughing.
“So the president’s a second-year, huh?”
“Heh heh! What does it matter? Look at how popular he is with the juniors!”
“New wine belongs in new wineskins, indeed.”
The VIPs, already in high spirits after their first drink, didn’t take Simon’s appearance badly at all.
* * *
Meanwhile, on the second floor, several third-years’ faces had hardened.
“He’s really popular with the freshmen.”
“…That makes things tricky.”
With one thousand freshmen, they were the largest cohort in Keyzen. If Simon secured their wholehearted support, even the third-years would be forced to tread carefully.
Step. Step.
Then Simon emerged from behind the stage. With Internal Darkness Divergence enhancing his body, he carried the heavy ceremonial staff in one hand.
Sensing the moment, Seiyur eagerly raised the crowd’s enthusiasm.
“Everyone, please give a great round of applause for our new Student Council President!”
As the hall erupted in cheers, Seiyur turned with satisfaction.
“Now then, Vice-Chancellor! Please step forward—huh?!”
It wasn’t Jane.
Instead, walking with quick, light steps came a small girl with silver hair.
The Witch of Death, ruler of Keyzen—
“It’s Lady Neftis herself!”
“My word!”
Shock rippled through both the elders in the VIP seats and the freshmen below.
“She’s so tall!”
“No, she’s tiny, isn’t she?”
“She looks terrifying!”
“She’s beautiful! Look at those eyes!”
“She’s got three eyes!”
It was perception-augmentation magic. Each person saw Neftis as the image they themselves projected or expected of the Witch of Death.
Of course—
‘Isn’t her robe way too big?’
Simon and the few others who knew Neftis’ true appearance saw only the small girl.
“Surprising.”
“That Lady Neftis herself would come.”
Everyone was astonished. It had been over a decade since the Chancellor personally attended a Student Council inauguration rather than delegating to the vice-chancellor.
Neftis walked quickly up to Simon and stopped before him. He greeted her quietly.
“I didn’t think you’d come in person.”
“Of course I should!”
Neftis folded her arms and smirked.
“Besides, we have a contract, don’t we?”
“…Ah.”
Neftis had promised Simon that she would help him reform the tarnished image of the Legion of Betrayal—the Seventh Legion—and support him so that it could once again operate properly.
This was more than just acknowledging a second-year president; it was part of grooming him as a future legion commander.
Following Seiyur’s direction, Simon laid the heavy staff on the ground and knelt on one knee.
“Yap!”
Neftis made a fluttering motion, like shaking out laundry. A golden flash lit up, and a long coat appeared in her hands.
It was nothing like the standard school jackets ordinary students wore—the legendary Student Council President’s coat, symbol of authority. Neftis stepped forward and draped it over Simon’s shoulders.
Amid thunderous cheers, Simon rose. He bowed first to Neftis, then to the third floor, then the second, and finally to the freshmen on the first.
Seiyur handed him the amplification crystal.
“I am Simon Follentia, Student Council President.”
Simon began his speech.
“I stand here by a grace greater than I deserve. Having accepted this duty, I will never abandon it lightly, for the sake of those who have supported me.”
His gaze flicked briefly toward the second floor before returning.
“The Student Council exists to represent students and safeguard their rights. We will not be blinded by one side’s ideology or opinion, but always strive for wise, rational choices. We will speak, debate, act swiftly, and show results. Please continue to watch over us.”
Amid roaring cheers, Simon handed back the crystal and stepped down from the podium.
In the front row, Maelyn and Kamibarez Ursula rose to applaud, and behind them Sasha, Arthur, Molly, and the other freshmen cheered as well.
Even in the VIP seats, the elders nodded approvingly.
“The young man is polite and speaks well.”
“Nothing wrong with a second-year president, indeed!”
Hearing such words, Dick Hayword smiled faintly as he poured the last of the whiskey into his glass. He stepped forward, watching Simon bask in the spotlight.
“Yes, keep shining up there, Simon.”
He raised his glass.
“I’ll handle the dirty work.”
Tilting the glass slightly in a mock toast, he took a sip.
“Heh.”
At the chuckle behind him, Dick flinched and turned. Standing there was Mojo, the leader of the Student Council’s direct attendants, smiling faintly.
“In the end, Treasurer, you’re still just an eighteen-year-old.”
Face flushed, Dick cleared his throat.
“K-keep it a secret from the kids, will you?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters