Chapter 487
It was an intense battle.
Led by Simon, the student council members finally succeeded in breaking through the monsters and reaching the pavilion where the waterfall flowed.
Haa! Haa!
Everyone collapsed as if their legs gave out, panting heavily. For some reason, the monsters that had been chasing them so persistently no longer approached and instead retreated.
“Good work, my dear students!”
Hongpeng rose to her feet with a smile.
“I’ve been waiting for you.”
Even while gasping for breath, nearly choking on it, the four of them exchanged glances and smiled.
They had managed to complete the general subject schedule that so many 2nd-years’ had aimed for: Jane’s Darkness Dynamics – Bahil’s Katarology – Hongpeng’s Magical Combat.
“Professor, huff! Huff! But this exam was waaay too much! Huff!”
Dick sprawled out on the ground, completely drained. Maelyn scolded him for being rude in front of the professor, though her lips were curved in a small smile, showing that she agreed.
“Well then.”
Hongpeng held up the course registration forms she had received from the four and picked up her quill.
“First, Dick Hayword. Your combat was ordinary, but I liked the way you adapted various weapons appropriately.”
Dick’s eyes widened as he shot up to a sitting position.
“Y-you saw me? As an observer?”
Hongpeng smiled with her eyes and nodded.
“In second-year Intermediate Magical Combat, you’ll also learn weapon handling. You broke several spears during the fight, but once you learn properly, you’ll be able to create excellent synergy with your specialty, enchantments.”
“Wow, thank you so much!”
Hongpeng then gave evaluations to Kamibarez and Maelyn.
For Kamibarez, she said that her small build was no disadvantage at all in combat, and in fact, she cleverly used it to bounce monsters away with her original combat techniques.
For Maelyn, she pointed out that her body was generally sluggish and her reaction speed slow, but her kicks showed real talent.
“Your hand techniques were lacking, though. But your piercing skill, Sky Calamity, was very good. You’ve clearly mastered that one.”
“!”
At those words, Maelyn’s face flushed red again. Dick giggled beside her, and she shot him a death glare.
“And finally, Student Simon.”
Hongpeng looked at him. Simon felt a wave of tension but nodded firmly.
“As an professor, I tried to find flaws, but there was nothing worth pointing out. Overall, your combat was extremely well-rounded. Your fundamentals are rock solid, and your use of terrain in battle was excellent.”
She gave him a bright smile.
“Even including the majors, you are the best in Class A, Simon.”
Awe-filled sighs escaped Dick, Maelyn, and Kamibarez behind him. Simon bowed politely.
“Thank you.”
“Is there a particular branch of Magical Combat you’d like to study in second year?”
Simon looked down at his palm for a moment, then clenched his fist.
“In second year, we can study weapons, correct?”
“Yes.”
Simon grinned.
“Then I want to properly learn the greatsword techniques you use, Professor.”
She tilted her head slightly with a sweet smile.
“Alright.”
* * *
Thus, course registration was complete.
Since once registered, courses could not be changed, the students lamented on the way back to the dorms.
According to Dick, there had been a disaster during registration for Jane’s Darkness Dynamics.
Over 200 students had crowded in, but the maximum capacity was only 60. That left 140 students out in the cold, which caused a massive scheduling mess.
As a result, last year’s Class A stars ended up taking most of the slots.
Student council members, Jaime, Cindy, Claudia, Hector and his faction, and so on. It practically turned into an exclusive Class A course. Students from other classes were upset and booed.
—Haven’t you taken the Keyzen test a few times already? If you don’t like it, then win.
—Losers always complain too much.
But when Maelyn and Hector cut them down coldly, no one could retort, and the dissent was quickly silenced. In Keyzen, such whining was nothing more than the grumbling of the defeated.
In celebration of having put together the best possible schedule, Simon and the student council members went back to their dorms, washed up, and gathered in the council room for a small party.
Since all the other students had collapsed, the afternoon classes were canceled. Time was needed to clear away the remaining monsters on campus and Endolas’ cards.
During this cleanup period, students were allowed to register for any classes that still had open slots. This led to the less popular liberal arts courses filling quickly.
Maelyn registered for Understanding Mana.
Dick registered for Economics.
Kamibarez registered for History of Races.
Simon, satisfied with his 7 courses and his duties as Student Council President, had no intention of adding more. But after Jane visited the council office, things changed.
—A Student Council President, a model for all, taking only 7 courses? Unacceptable.
Jane scolded him.
And then Simon learned something new: as Student Council President, there was actually a mandatory liberal arts course he had to take.
* * *
The next morning.
“......”
Simon sat with a blank expression, looking around.
A small, elite class with only 20 students.
Not a single familiar face.
‘...I’m screwed.’
Just from a glance, every student here exuded nobility.
The male students wore slicked-back or perfectly parted hair, some even wore makeup and expensive watches. The female students were draped in lavish jewelry, exuding an aristocratic madam-like aura, hiding their mouths behind fans as they laughed, ohohoho.
‘What is this... some kind of high-society club?’
Simon felt like he’d been dropped alone onto a deserted island.
And since it was a common subject, there were even juniors and seniors together—actually, most of them were third-years.
“You there~”
‘?’
At a high-pitched voice, Simon turned his head.
A gaudy-looking male student with blond hair parted 8:2 approached, winking exaggeratedly. His badge marked him as a third-year. Simon quickly wiped his expression and greeted politely.
“Yes, senior.”
“Mmm~ mmm~ You’re the Student Council President, aren’t you? So dashing, really.”
Thick double eyelids, a tall nose, and overly flamboyant gestures.
It was nauseating.
Simon felt his breakfast sandwich rising in his throat.
“Simon Follentia. Follentia? Sorry, but which kingdom’s fiefdom do you manage?”
“The Leshill fiefdom of the Baldwin Kingdom.”
“Ooh~ my. I don’t recall it. Maybe if you tell me a neighboring fiefdom, I’ll recognize it?”
‘Please, just go away.’
But holding back his true thoughts, Simon answered kindly.
“Ah, yes. Next to Leshill there’s a fairly large fiefdom called Hove—”
“Hove! Baldwin’s Hove! I know it! Their coffee is simply marvelous! It’s famous even in the Carlos Kingdom~! Coffee grown in high altitudes with warm climates has such a strong aroma and acidity! For your father to manage a region like that, he must be truly remarkable!”
‘It’s not even my fiefdom, it’s the neighboring one…’
Simon kept a polite smile, but a headache was creeping in.
Just then, like a savior, another third-year called out.
“Sharier! What are you doing? Didn’t I ask to borrow some ink?”
“Ah, right. Sorry!”
The one called Sharier winked.
“Let’s talk more later, alright?”
Simon wanted to refuse, but he couldn’t say no to a senior. He just forced an awkward smile.
As Sharier walked away, Simon stroked his chin.
‘Sharier, Sharier... Where have I heard that name...? Ah!’
He pulled out his student council notebook and flipped through it until he found the entry.
‘What?! That guy is ranked 8th overall?’
Representative of the Spiritology Department—and 8th place overall.
Sharier Tenier.
Contrary to his flashy appearance, he was an incredible powerhouse.
‘I’ll need to be careful.’
Having lived in Keyzen, where ability was everything, Simon couldn’t help but see people differently the moment he heard their rank.
The strongest third-year of Spiritology. What kind of black magic will he use?
Come to think of it, all the third-years here were either immensely wealthy or immensely skilled.
At the same time, none of them seemed to harbor hostility or jealousy toward Simon for being elected Student Council President as only a second-year.
Was it because their self-esteem was so high? Or perhaps they were people who simply had no reason to worry about such things. In Keyzen, where competition was a virtue, they seemed to belong to another world entirely.
“...Ah, h-hi! President!”
Simon turned his head.
This time, a girl with twin tails and a white ceremonial jacket over her uniform approached.
‘So she’s also taking this class. Makes sense.’
Elisa Celine, owner of the Ghost Ship, ranked 7th overall. Like Simon, one of the very few sophomores in this course.
“What’s the matter?”
She stood there sweating nervously, her face flushed. Truth was, she had been waiting for Simon to be alone before working up the courage to approach him.
She gave a strong ahem! before sliding something onto his desk.
“A-aren’t you... hungry?”
Inside the paper bag was a baguette.
Simon blinked, confused, and she hurriedly rattled off her explanation at lightning speed.
“You know this bread brand, right? Moist inside, crispy outside! Perfect golden ratio of flour, salt, water, and yeast—baked with butter and parsley, with whipped cream inside too—!”
Simon blinked at her again.
“But... why are you giving this to me?”
Her face grew even redder. Because she wasn’t used to this, her breaths came short and quick, and her eyes spun in circles.
“B-because it’s morning! I thought you’d be hungry!”
“I already ate breakfast.”
She squeezed her eyes shut.
‘Hey! I’m Elisa Celine! If I’ve gone this far, you could at least accept it!’
How could someone be this infuriating?
Just because he’s Student Council President now—just because he’s got a bit of power—does he think he can treat her like this?!
Even so, she was the daughter of the Prime Minister!
Never in her life had she been treated this way.
‘Haa, calm down.’
She forced down the bubbling embarrassment and humiliation.
‘I am a politician.’
Her father always said: A politician never bows to a person. They bow only to the power that person holds.
That’s right. She wasn’t delivering bread to Simon Follentia—she was delivering it to his power!
“Yes! I am the bread-shuttle of power!!”
“Huh? What did you just say—”
“Oh my~ ahaha! Look at our president’s shoulders, all stiff!”
Elisa suddenly slipped behind Simon and began massaging his shoulders. Simon jolted in shock, twisting his body with a strangled sound.
“I heard the news! All the student council members managed to register for Professor Hongpeng’s classes, right? Wow, you must’ve gone through a lot! I didn’t even dare to try! The competition was brutal, wasn’t it?”
“Wait, wait!”
Simon grabbed her hand to stop her forced shoulder massage.
“Alright! I get it! Let’s just talk instead—!”
Clatter!
At that moment, the classroom door opened and the professor entered. The students moved gracefully back to their seats.
Unlike other classrooms, there was no rowdiness, only composed elegance even as the professor arrived.
Clatter! Tap!
And Elisa Celine, of course, sat right beside Simon.
Simon stared at her silently, but she simply smiled to gloss it over.
“Ahem! Pleased to meet you, students.”
A man with a peculiar, curly perm hairstyle walked in. His clothes were decorated with countless medals and decorations.
“My name is William Spanzor. I have served as Prime Minister of the Carlos Kingdom, among other posts.”
His sharp gaze swept over the students’ posture.
“You there, young lady. Straighten your shoulders, tuck in your chin, right hand on top.”
Right from the start, he corrected the postures of three students.
Finally satisfied, he continued his introduction.
“One year from now—or a few years at most—you will be leaders, rulers of countless people. I am confident my knowledge and experience will be of great benefit to you.”
This was the liberal arts subject Simon was required to take as Student Council President.
It was called Monarch Studies.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the Washburn Mountain Range, the locals loved to gossip about the mysterious castle at the summit.
From time to time, horrifying screams could be heard.
Bloodstains appeared vividly across the castle walls.
Some said people lived there, others said no. But no one dared venture to such a dangerous place.
And at that very place—
“Is everyone ready?”
“Yes, sir!”
More than thirty necromancers of Keyzen Headquarters prepared their assault.
Every one of them was an elite, a professional of war that Keyzen was proud of.
Though there were thirty-plus necromancers, with the undead they summoned, their forces numbered in the hundreds.
And at the very front stood a man.
“We’ve located the main camp of Magnus, Commander of the 5th Legion. From this moment, we begin the annihilation operation.”
The necromancer in a crow-black cloak raised his communication crystal and spoke.
“Advance.”
The necromancers and their undead surged toward the castle.
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters