Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student - Chapter 189

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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189

The rumor that Leo had visited the Horticulture Club spread throughout all the clubs in an instant.

Since it was the period leading up to Lusejeon, it was a sensitive time due to budget issues.

Therefore, the clubs generally welcomed Leo’s appearance.

Among them, quite a few clubs had ulterior motives to squeeze even more budget from the seemingly easy 1st-year future student council president.

“This doesn’t seem like it would qualify for additional budget support?”

“Huh?!”

The head of the Magic Engineering Department who heard Leo’s words showed a shocked expression.

“Why? Why? Why! Why can’t we get additional budget! I heard the Horticulture Club got some!”

The 4th-year Magic Engineering Department head, Jeim Dect, asked indignantly.

Looking at such Jeim, Leo said.

“A spatial teleportation magic formula that drastically reduces magic stone consumption. This was the Magic Engineering Department’s long-term project that’s been ongoing for the past 2 years, right?”

“That’s right! Once completed, it’s research that will bring in far more money than all the budget we’ve used so far!”

“Be honest. How complete do you think it is from your perspective, senior?”

“It’s almost complete!”

“Almost?”

Leo made an expressionless face.

At those words, Jeim flinched and then said.

“A-about half.”

“Half?”

“We’ve solved all the difficult parts, so now only the minor details remain!”

“Senior, you’re graduating next year. When the Magic Engineering Department head graduates, who’s going to continue this?”

“I have capable and smart juniors!”

At Jeim’s words, the Magic Engineering Department members sighed.

This was the same Jeim who would constantly berate them for not understanding this or that.

But now that he was desperate, he called them capable.

‘How can he be exactly like the previous department head.’

‘Well, still, if we want to get the budget, we need to play along.’

All the Magic Engineering Department members had invested at least half a year of time into this magic research.

So they wanted to secure more budget somehow.

“That’s right, Leo. We’ll continue the project after our senior graduates!”

“Yeah, since it’s research that’s been ongoing since our graduated senior’s time, it keeps developing!”

The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd years appealed for the necessity of the research.

‘Well, it’s not theoretically impossible.’

Leo looked at the magic formula.

He could see that the research had indeed progressed considerably.

However, it was still a magic formula where producing results was a distant story.

“Still, it’s not something that can be presented at Lusejeon. The additional budget is meant for preparing for Lusejeon, isn’t it?”

At Chen Xia’s words, Jeim sighed “Hah-” and put his hand to his forehead.

“Oh no, oh no. This is why the Knight Department won’t do. Magic research has presentation value even while it’s in progress. Actually, our Magic Engineering Department has been praised as excellent by Seirun professors every Lusejeon!”

“Yes. That’s why you’ve been consistently behind in evaluations compared to Seirun’s Magic Engineering Department, which presents practical magic formulas, as it says here?”

When Chen Xia said this with her characteristic gentle smile, Jeim got fired up.

“Magic is a realm of exploration and creation! Don’t compare us with Seirun’s Magic Engineering Department that pursues only practical things without dreams!”

“Exactly! Exactly!”

“Our Magic Engineering Department is determined to stake everything on completing this magic! We’ll bring about a revolution in the world!”

The Magic Engineering Department students showed enthusiastic reactions to Jeim’s speech.

“Now! Then let me explain one by one why our Magic Engineering Department needs additional budget! Blackboard! Chalk!”

At Jeim’s shout, Magic Engineering Department students brought a portable blackboard and chalk.

“Spatial teleportation magic works by folding space to move, right? To reach distant spaces, you inevitably have to fold large spaces, so it requires a lot of power! So! You fold the space into small pieces repeatedly! Like a spring! Then the mana consumed…”

Watching Jeim begin his complex explanation, Chen Xia looked at Leo with a troubled expression.

After all, Chen Xia was a complete novice when it came to magic.

Hearing such difficult explanations, she couldn’t properly grasp the reasoning.

Leo listened to Jeim’s explanation while nodding “Oh- Oh-” in agreement.

At this, Jeim smiled triumphantly to himself.

‘Professor Ren and senior Torua also evaluated our research as excellent!’

The reason the Magic Engineering Department could receive large budgets without results was largely due to the influence of Ren and Torua, who liked new attempts.

Since they had considerable influence in the Magic Studies Department and Torua was the vice student council president, there had been no budget worries until now.

‘Leo Flobe is also a mage after all! So he’ll surely recognize our research!’

Jeim was confident of this as he put down the chalk.

“How is it?”

“It’s impressive.”

“Right? So about the additional budget…”

“But in this state, it seems like we should cut not just additional budget but even next year’s budget.”

Crack-!

At Leo’s unexpected words, Jeim’s body stiffened.

“You! You didn’t understand my explanation, did you?”

“I understood it too well. That’s why I’ll now explain the reasons why it should be cut.”

Leo picked up the chalk and pointed out all the parts that needed correction and improvement on the blackboard where Jeim had given his long speech.

Clack-

Leo put down the chalk and looked at Jeim, who was gaping, and said.

“If you research in this direction, you can reduce the budget. So it should be cut, right?”

What Leo mentioned were improvements that Jeim also knew about.

The reason he didn’t explain them was to somehow create grounds for securing budget, but Leo had pointed them out precisely.

“W-wait! We have other research besides this magic…”

“You said you’d stake the Magic Engineering Department’s honor on completing this magic to bring about a revolution in the world. So you shouldn’t worry about other research and should focus only on this research. Sia. Check the budget cut and report it to senior Elena.”

“Got it, young master Leo.”

“Huh? E-Elena?”

Hark, who handled practical affairs, didn’t particularly like magic.

So magic-related matters would definitely be left to Elena.

And Elena was also the acting director.

She was like the source of the Academy’s budget.

‘She’d be happy to cut unnecessary expenses.’

Elena would definitely cut the budget mercilessly like this.

Torua, who had been a reliable supporter of the Magic Engineering Department, was scheduled to graduate.

As for Ren, the other pillar of support.

‘Student Leo said to cut the budget? Then we should cut it.’

That’s obviously what he’d say.

It was a famous story that Ren was making every effort to recruit Leo into the Magic Studies Department.

In the end, Jeim had no choice but to grab Leo’s trouser leg and plead.

“Please, anything but budget cuts! We don’t need additional budget! Please!”

Other Magic Engineering Department members also grabbed Leo’s feet and begged desperately.

In the end, the Magic Engineering Department didn’t receive any additional budget.

The next place they visited was the physical training club ‘The Power’, mainly composed of Knight Department students.

Leo and Chen Xia looked at ‘The Power’ members doing strength training and said.

“…Do you need additional budget support?”

“We do. We need to buy supplements that help with muscle training.”

“Do those actually help?”

“Of course. Behold! These magnificent forearms!”

The Power’s 4th-year head Dick Bickler showed off the muscles in his arms.

Seeing the massive muscles ripple, Chen Xia was impressed.

“Leo! As you well know, in real combat, aura and technique are important, but physical training is just as crucial. We at The Power aim for higher realms through physical conditioning! Look! At this beautiful body!”

With a sharp intake of breath, muscles bulged all over Dick’s body.

Seeing this, Leo said.

“You don’t really need to build muscles like that for actual combat. I’ll mark it as no additional budget.”

“No, don’t be so decisive. Just a little… huh? Even half would be good. No, even a quarter…!”

Dick pleaded with his junior.

Clubs that had schemed to easily extract additional budget just because Leo was a 1st year often ended up with budget cuts in the worst cases.

As this happened, by evening Leo was being treated like the grim reaper by the club presidents.

“Welcome, Leo.”

Selia greeted Leo as he stopped by the Art Club.

“The Art Club president is.”

“She ran away saying you were scary. Said the Art Club doesn’t need additional budget.”

Selia let out a small sigh seeing how the president, who had been dreaming of getting budget from Leo until just moments ago, had fled after hearing the rumors.

Hearing this, Leo tilted his head.

“She ran away before I came? Hmm? Is there something she feels guilty about?”

“No! There’s nothing to feel guilty about! Nothing!”

Miriam Juliet, the Art Club president who had been hiding in the Art Club Storage Room, came running out in panic, bursting through the storage door.

Having rushed over breathlessly, she calmed her rough breathing and said.

“W-welcome to the Art Club! Since you’re here, would you like to see the works we’re submitting to this Lusejeon?”

“Yes.”

Leo readily nodded.

Guided by Miriam, Leo and Chen Xia toured the works being created.

Among them, what stood out most was none other than a painting of Phoenix.

“It’s magnificent. The expression of flames is especially amazing.”

“Right? Selia drew this one.”

“Oh.”

Leo looked at his cousin with admiration.

Selia primly brushed her hair back.

And there was a sculpture as magnificent as Selia’s painting.

Leo paused as he looked at that sculpture.

The sculpture was none other than Luna with a benevolent smile.

‘That really doesn’t suit her.’

He let out a hollow laugh and asked.

“Whose work is this?”

Even at a glance, it showed extraordinary skill.

“It’s Woreden’s.”

“Woreden? He’s in the Art Club too?”

“Yeah. He doesn’t come often, but his sculpting skills are amazing.”

“Oh.”

Leo nodded with admiration.

After the artwork appreciation ended, Miriam asked Leo.

“What did you think of everything you saw?”

“Excellent.”

“Of course! The Art Club has been beating the Art Club of Seirun in exhibitions every year!”

Seeing Miriam confidently puff out her chest with an “Ahem!”, Leo said.

“Then shall we talk about the budget now? Don’t you think the Art Club’s budget is too much?”

Thud-

Miriam collapsed to the ground as if her legs had given out.

And she looked up at Leo with terror-stricken eyes.

“P-please, anything but cuts…”

“I’m joking.”

Leo left the Art Club with a smile.

Selia, who had come out to see him off, narrowed her eyes.

“Leo.”

“What?”

“You’re enjoying this.”

“Yeah. It’s fun.”

‘…He’s already like this, I can’t even imagine how scary he’ll be when he starts doing student council president work in earnest.’

Thinking that her cousin would be more than capable of ruling through fear, Selia shook her head.

That evening.

Lumern’s annual banquet was held.

Every year after the second semester midterm exams ended, Lumern would gather all grades for a banquet.

An event marking the end of summer and the beginning of autumn.

And autumn was also the season when Kail had defeated the Great Heroes.

This banquet also carried the meaning of celebrating the day peace was restored.

‘I didn’t even know it was autumn back then.’

The Main Auditorium attached to the Tower of Heroes.

All grades were seated, sharing a meal.

Meanwhile, wind fairies flew around above the auditorium, giving gifts to the students.

Since this was a time that had heralded new hope, there was also a tradition during this period for adults to give children gifts they had wanted.

Leo too had received various gifts from his parents around this time every year.

But this year was a bit strange.

“…The amount of gifts is no joke.”

Leo made a displeased expression seeing the wind fairies busily bringing him gift boxes.

Cal checked the names written on the gift boxes and clicked his tongue.

“They’re from power holders of various countries and factions. Hearing that you became student council president, they’re probably trying to curry favor with a gift offensive.”

Rip-!

Leo unwrapped a palm-sized box and checked its contents.

Inside was a necklace.

“Wow, this is an artifact from Diaden!”

Cal exclaimed in admiration.

“Diaden… wasn’t that the magic workshop Chelsea favors?”

“Right. It’s a place even decent noble families can’t afford.”

Cal examined the necklace carefully, clicking his tongue.

“It has shield magic on it. This is an extremely expensive item, and they’re giving this as a gift? They must really want to get on your good side.”

At Cal’s words, Leo put the necklace back in the box.

“I don’t really need it.”

“It’s better than not having it, right?”

Cal chuckled and looked at several gift boxes.

“This one doesn’t have a sender’s name?”

As Cal said, a long box simply wrapped in brown paper had no sender’s name.

“Items from outside go through safety inspections when they come in, so it shouldn’t be dangerous, but… it’s suspicious.”

Chelsea, who had been focused on eating beside them, said while chewing pasta.

Rip-!

Leo unwrapped it with a puzzled expression.

An old, smooth wooden box was visible.

Leo carefully opened the lid.

Click-!

And what came out was a plain-looking longsword and a letter.

“A longsword?”

Chelsea and Cal wore puzzled expressions.

Among all the luxurious gifts being sent, an ordinary longsword.

“I can sense some unusual mana though….”

“Wait, this is a material I’ve never seen before?”

Cal, who came from an alchemist family, said in surprise.

Leo carefully ran his hand over the longsword’s surface and muttered.

“Dragon bone.”

“What?”

“Dragon bone?!”

At the shocked exclamation, the surrounding gazes focused on Leo.

Leo checked the contents of the letter.

It was written in small, neat handwriting.

-Congratulations on becoming student council president. I hope you put it to good use.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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