Chapter 113: The Student Council

One Day, in Class 1-A

It was the brief lull between lectures, that hazy stretch of time when students relaxed just enough to forget the next lesson was already creeping closer. Conversations drifted lazily through the air, chairs scraped softly across the floor, and a few bold souls dared to nap with their heads resting on folded arms.

Then the classroom door opened.

The simple sound of it sliding aside cut cleanly through the chatter. One by one, voices died down. Heads turned. And in an instant, every gaze in the room was drawn toward the figure who had just stepped inside.

A murmur rippled through the class.

“Isn’t that… the student council president?”

“Yeah. Flora Grace-sama. Third-year valedictorian.”

“She’s as beautiful as ever…”

Even the restless air seemed to still in her presence.

Rena and Alice noticed her at the same time.

“Flora-san?”

“Why would Flora-sama be here…?”

Flora let her calm, poised gaze sweep across the room. Her posture was immaculate, her steps light yet unhurried—every movement refined to perfection. Before long, her eyes met those of the two girls in the back.

“Oh—she’s coming this way.”

“I don’t have a bad feeling about this, but… what could she want?”

Flora stopped directly in front of them, her expression blooming into a gentle smile.

“It has been a while, Rena-chan, Alice-chan.”

““It’s been a while!””

Rena’s close relationship with Flora needed no explanation. As for Alice, the Blanc Count family had maintained deep ties with the Grace Margrave household for generations. Their families’ long-standing alliance meant that the two girls had met often since childhood, crossing paths at gatherings, seasonal balls, and private visits.

Flora inclined her head slightly.

“This may be a somewhat lengthy matter, so could you both come to the student council room during lunch break? I only came to relay that.”

““Understood!””

“Hehe, you’re both as lively as ever. Then I shall see you at lunch.”

With that, she turned gracefully and departed the classroom as smoothly as she had entered, her presence lingering even after the door closed behind her.

“““““…………”””””

Their classmates—boys and girls alike—remained frozen, captivated by the elegance of her every gesture.

Her dominance in high society since childhood was no exaggeration. The polish, the refinement, the almost magnetic charm—it was all the result of years spent dazzling nobles and dignitaries alike.

Watching her retreating figure, Rena let out a quiet breath.

“She’s incredible, as always… The way Flora-san carries herself. It’s like… she has this overwhelming ability to captivate people.”

“Then why don’t you just ask her to teach you? You’re neighbors, aren’t you?”

“Yeah… but that feels way too presumptuous. She’s always so busy, too…”

“Well… that’s true.”

Flora managed to remain the top student of the third year while fulfilling her duties as student council president every single day. She moved through the academy with an almost constant urgency, so busy that even Rena and Alice often hesitated to approach her.

And yet, whenever their eyes met, she would always wave with that same gentle smile.

Her character shone through in the smallest gestures.

Alice leaned on her desk, resting her chin on her hand.

“Flora-sama has always been amazing, but I feel like she’s leveled up even more this year. I can’t explain what exactly changed… Oh, that reminds me—Rena, you came to the capital with Flora-san, right? Did something happen on the way?”

“Ah—well. We were attacked in the forest by a former A-rank adventurer party that had turned to banditry. But… if you put it that way, that’s about it?”

“About it…? You’re saying that like it was just another Tuesday. That’s a once-in-a-lifetime life-or-death situation!”

“Well… compared to a war with a neighboring territory, or the Western Front, it wasn’t that bad…”

“I suppose…”

At the Western Front, Ryu had fought alongside Alice’s father, Count Blanc. During that time, neither Rena nor Alice had been able to rest easy.

And on top of that, Rena had personally experienced war against the neighboring Manthester Barony.

Compared to that, an A-rank adventurer was hardly worth trembling over.

“So how did you defeat those A-rank adventurers?” Alice pressed.

“Um…”

“Oh! Did the Grace Margrave family’s contracted B-rank adventurer party defeat them? What was their name again… Silverwing Oath?”

“Y-Yeah! Something like that!”

“I see… That must have been awful for both you and Flora-sama.”

Rena felt Ryu’s name rise to the very tip of her tongue—but she swallowed it down.

(Ryu-oniisama probably wouldn’t like having that spread around… Sorry, Alice.)

In truth, if he knew that being part of Rena’s proud stories was even a possibility, he would likely consider it the greatest reward imaginable. But Rena’s thoughtfulness deserved to be respected.

Still, Alice was the top student of their year.

Her instincts were sharp.

“Wait a second. That means Ryu-sensei became head of the Arden Viscount house, fought a war with the Manthester Barony, went to the Western Front, dealt with an A-rank adventurer attack, served as an imperial envoy, and was appointed lecturer at the Imperial Academy—all within a little over a year, right?”

“Ah… yeah. I guess that’s technically true.”

“And yet he shows no signs of fatigue, and yesterday he was enthusiastically lecturing about lightning magic?”

“Lightning magic is his favorite.”

“Well, of course it is. It’s his specialty.”

(Something’s off… This sense of inconsistency isn’t my imagination. Even if it’s a B-rank party endorsed by the Grace house, defeating A-rank adventurers is extremely difficult. Especially while protecting Rena and Flora-sama. That increases the odds that Ryu-sensei participated. And if Flora-sama witnessed him in battle… could that have influenced her?)

Alice took a slow breath.

“Let me ask again. It was Silverwing Oath who defeated the A-rank adventurers, right?”

“Yep! It was an amazing fight! I almost wish you could’ve seen it too, Alice… ehehe…”

“Hmmm…”

(Judging by Rena’s expression, she’s definitely hiding something. But if she doesn’t want to say, pushing her would be cruel. I’ll drop it.)

A few seconds later, the bell signaling the next lecture rang. Rena let out a silent sigh of relief.

(There’s no way I can tell her that Onii-sama summoned a gigantic dragon and had it swallow the enemies whole… Absolutely not…)

As promised, the two girls made their way to the student council room.

Knock, knock.

“Rena Arden.”

“Alice Blanc.”

“Please, come in.”

““Excuse us.””

The door slid open with a soft clatter.

Inside—

“Rena-chan, Alice-chan. Thank you for coming.”

Flora sat elegantly behind the student council president’s private desk.

And…

“For both of you—good work.”

For some inexplicable reason, Ryu was lounging on the sofa, casually sipping coffee.

“Ryu-oniisama!!!!”

Rena’s face broke instantly into radiant joy.

Alice, on the other hand, wiped a bead of awkward sweat from her temple.

“Ryu-sensei… what exactly are you doing here…?”

“What am I doing? Isn’t it obvious?”

He lowered his voice, adopting the coolest tone he could muster.

“Where Rena is, there I am. It is one of the fundamental laws of this world.”

“I… see…”

(What on earth is he talking about…?)

Rena’s eyes sparkled.

“O-Onii-sama…”

Ryu took a slow sip of coffee, thoroughly satisfied.

(Heh heh heh… Once again, I have embodied the ideal older brother. Coffee tastes especially fine today.)

Flora cleared her throat delicately.

“Ryu-sensei heard of the matter at hand and immediately came to offer his assistance.”

“Um… doesn’t that just mean he came here uninvited?”

““““…………””””

“Now then, let us proceed to the main topic.”

“Understood.”

(Ah, she forcefully changed the subject.)

The truth was that Ryu had overheard “a certain matter” in the staff room earlier. Curious, he had traced the student council president’s mana signature and noticed she was heading toward Rena and Alice. Judging by the brevity of their conversation, he correctly predicted she would summon them at lunch—and thus he arrived first.

That “certain matter” was—

“To be direct, we would like the two of you to join the student council starting next term.”

““T-The student council?!””

“Yes. The student council.”

Flora smiled serenely.

The student council—within this Imperial Academy, it was an elite decision-making body composed of only a select few students, governing the academy for the sake of its students.

Membership carried immense benefits.

Those who joined were exempt from entrance examinations and tuition fees should they choose to enroll in the Imperial Graduate Institute after graduation.

Alternatively, they could enter national service directly—whereupon the academy’s headmaster would personally issue a recommendation for one of the limited high-ranking bureaucratic positions.

Either way, to have one’s name listed among the student council was to have one’s future secured.

You might think it only natural that the top and second-ranked students be chosen—

“Brilliant intellect. Moral integrity. Refined appearance. Only those who possess all three are invited. In short, you two belong to the chosen side. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, Onii-sama!”

“Thank you… Hearing it put that way makes me a little happy.”

As for the appearance requirement—well, the student council was effectively the face of the academy. It could not be helped.

At the very least, nobility was not a requirement.

And so, under Flora’s recommendation, it was decided that from the next term onward, both Rena and Alice would take their places among the ranks of the student council.