REAPER SCANS

Legendary Hero is an Academy Honors Student

[Translator – Aine ]

[Proofreader – Ash ]

Chapter 189

The rumor of Leo’s visit to the gardening club spread through the campus like wildfire.

It was a sensitive period due to budgetary concerns, with Lumeiren approaching.

That was why all the clubs were eager to see Leo.

Among them, several clubs hoped to secure additional funds from the seemingly easy-going first-year student council president.

“Why aren’t we getting any extra budget?”

“Huh?!”

The president of the magical engineering club, James Decht, looked stunned at Leo’s words.

“Why? Why? Why isn’t there any additional budget for us? The gardening club received some!” James, a fourth-year student, demanded angrily.

Leo addressed James directly.

“A teleportation sorcery technique that drastically reduces the consumption of sorcery stones. It’s a long-term project that your club has been working on for two years, right?”

“Yes! It’s research that will generate more revenue than the budget we’ve received once completed!”

“Be honest. How much of it is completed, senior?”

“It’s almost done!”

“Almost?”

Leo maintained a neutral expression.

James flinched and added, “Uh, maybe halfway.”

“Halfway?”

“We’ve tackled all the difficult parts. Only some troubleshooting left!”

“Senior, you’re graduating next year. Who will take over when you leave?”

“I have many capable and intelligent juniors!”

The members of the magical engineering club sighed at James’ response.

James, who once claimed to be clueless, now asserted his competence only when desperate.

‘How can he be the best person to lead this group?’

‘But we need to cooperate to secure the budget.’

The magical engineering club members had invested at least six months into this project.

They were determined to obtain more funds.

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

“Yes, it’s research we’ll carry on after our senior graduates, so it’s continuously evolving!”

The first, second, and third-year students emphasized the research’s importance.

‘Well, it’s not impossible in theory.’

Leo assessed their project.

The research had indeed made significant progress.

However, it was still far from yielding results.

“But it’s not suitable for exhibition at Lumeiren. The additional budget is reserved for the projects present at the exhibition, correct?”

At Chen Xia’s comment, James sighed and placed his hand on his forehead.

“Oh, oh. That’s why the Knight Studies Department can’t participate. Sorcery research is worth presenting even if it's still in progress. Our magical engineering club has been praised by Seiren professors at every Lumeiren!”

“Yes. Well, according to this report, you’ve always lagged behind in evaluations compared to Seiren’s magical engineering club, which presents practical sorcery techniques?”

Chen Xia spoke with a gentle smile, which made James bristle.

“Sorcery is about exploration and creation! Don’t compare us to the Seiren magical engineering club! They focus solely on practicality without any artistic vision!”

“That’s right! That’s right!”

“Our magical engineering club is willing to risk everything to perfect this sorcery! That’s how we’ll change the world!”

The students of the magical engineering club responded enthusiastically to James’ speech.

“Now, let me explain why our magical engineering club needs additional money in our budget! Blackboard! Chalk!”

At James’ command, the students brought out makeshift blackboards and chalk.

“Teleportation sorcery involves folding space to move through it, right? To reach a distant location, you must fold a large space repeatedly, which requires significant effort! So, you must fold the space smaller and smaller, like a spring! Then the mana consumed…”

Chen Xia glanced at Leo with a troubled expression, struggling to follow James’ complex explanation.

As a layman in sorcery, Chen Xia found it difficult to grasp the intricacies.

Leo nodded in understanding while listening to James’ detailed explanation.

James smiled inwardly at Leo’s reaction.

‘Professor Len and Senior Torua have both evaluated the potential of our research as excellent!’

The large budget the magical engineering club had received, despite lacking results, was largely due to the influence of Len and Torua, who supported their innovative projects.

Len and Torua had considerable sway in the Sorcery Department, and with Torua as the vice president of the student council, the department’s budget was secure for now.

‘Leo Plov is also a sorcerer! He’ll surely recognize the value of our research!’

With renewed confidence, James set down the chalk.

“So, what do you think?”

“That’s great.”

“Right? So about the additional budget…”

“But if this is the case, we might have to cut not only the additional budget but next year’s budget as well.”

James froze at Leo’s unexpected words.

“You didn’t understand my explanation?”

“I understood it all too well. Let me explain why we need to cut it now.”

Leo picked up the chalk and pointed out all the parts of James’ long theoretical explanation that needed fixing and improvement.

Tak- Tak- Tak-

Leo set down the chalk and addressed the astonished James.

“If you pursue research in this direction, we could reduce the budget significantly. So, we should cut it, right?”

Leo’s comments highlighted a point of improvement James already knew.

James had avoided mentioning this to secure a budget, but Leo had instantly and accurately pinpointed it.

“Wait! We’re not conducting any research other than this particular field of sorcery…”

“You promised to complete this sorcery with the honor of the magical engineering club and change the world. So, focus on this research and leave the rest. Chen Xia, let’s review the budget cuts and report them to Senior Elena.”

“Okay, Leo.”

“Huh? Elena?”

Hark, who managed the practical aspects, wasn’t particularly fond of dealing with anything related to sorcery, so he would likely leave sorcery-related matters to Elena.

Elena, as the acting chairman, controlled the school budget.

‘It would be beneficial to cut unnecessary expenses.’

Elena was known for her ruthless budget cuts.

With Torua, a strong supporter of the magical engineering club, scheduled to graduate, and Len, another pillar, likely to back Leo’s decision, James had no choice but to cling to Leo’s pant legs and beg.

“Please, at least spare the current budget! We don’t need any extra money! Please!”

The other magical engineering club members also clung to Leo’s feet, pleading desperately.

In the end, the magical engineering club did not receive any additional budget.

Next, they visited ‘The Power,’ a physical training club primarily made up of Knight Studies students.

Leo and Chen Xia watched the members of 'The Power' engaging in strength training and asked.

“… Do you need additional budget support?”

“Yes. We need to buy supplements to help build muscle.”

“Does that really help?”

“Of course. Look at these impressive arms!”

Dick Bickler, the head of The Power and a fourth-year student, flexed his muscular arms proudly.

Chen Xia was astonished by the bulging muscles.

“Leo, as you know, in real combat, Aura and combat techniques are crucial, but physical training is just as important. We at ‘The Power’ aim to reach a higher level through physical training. Look at this remarkable physique!”

Dick’s muscles swelled even more.

Leo replied, observing him, “You don’t need to build muscles like that for real combat. I’ll have to decline your request for the additional budget.”

“No, don’t be so stubborn. Just a little bit… Even half would be fine. No, even a quarter…”

Dick pleaded with his junior.

Many clubs that had tried to get additional budgets just because Leo was a freshman often ended up having their budgets cut.

By evening, Leo was being treated like a grim reaper by the club presidents.

“Welcome, Leo.”

Celia greeted Leo at the art club.

“Is the art club president here?”

“She ran away because she was scared of you. She said the art club didn’t need any additional budget.”

Celia sighed softly, noting that the president, who had hoped for a budget, had fled upon hearing the rumor of Leo’s cuts during the day.

Leo tilted his head at this.

“She ran away before I got here? Huh? Is she alright?”

“No! I’m fine! Nothing wrong at all!”

Miria Juliet, the head of the art club, burst out from the club’s storage room, panting heavily and calming her breath.

“Welcome to the art club! While you’re here, would you like to see the works we’ll exhibit at Lumeiren?”

“Yes.”

Leo nodded eagerly.

Guided by Miria, Leo and Chen Xia admired the artworks being prepared.

The most striking piece was a painting of a Phoenix.

“It’s wonderful. The depiction of the flames is especially impressive.”

“Right? This is Celia’s painting.”

“Wow.”

Leo looked at his cousin with admiration.

Celia brushed her hair back modestly.

There was also a sculpture that was equally impressive.

Leo paused, studying the sculpture.

It was a sculpture of Luna, smiling affectionately.

‘It’s a little bit off.’

He asked with a wry smile, “Whose is this?”

Even at first glance, the craftsmanship was extraordinary.

“It’s Walden’s.”

“Walden? He’s in the art club too?”

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

“Wow.”

Leo nodded in admiration.

After a while, Miria asked Leo, having finished showing the artwork, “How did you feel about all the pieces?”

“They’re great.”

“Thank you! Did you know that the art club has beaten Seiren’s art club every year at the art exhibition! Ahem!”

Leo responded as Miria proudly puffed out her chest, “Then should we discuss the budget now? Don’t you think the art club’s budget is a bit excessive?”

Thud-

Miria collapsed into a seat as if her legs had given out.

She looked up at Leo with fear-filled eyes.

“Please, don’t take it away…”

“I’m joking.”

Leo left the art club with a smile.

Celia, who came out to greet him, narrowed her eyes.

“Leo.”

“What?”

“You’re having too much fun.”

“Yeah, maybe a little.”

‘… I can’t even imagine how intimidating he’ll be when he starts working as the student council president in earnest.’

Celia shook her head, thinking how her cousin was more than capable of terrorizing others.

That evening, Lumene’s annual banquet took place.

Every year, after the midterms of the second semester, Lumene held a banquet for the students of all grades.

It marked the end of summer and the beginning of fall.

The season when Kyle defeated Erebos.

The banquet celebrated the restoration of peace.

‘I didn’t even realize it was fall back then.’

In the auditorium next to the Tower of Heroes, all the students were seated, sharing a meal.

Amidst the festivities, the wind spirits flew over the auditorium, delivering gifts to the students.

As it was a time heralding new hope, there was a tradition of adults giving children gifts they usually desired.

Leo also received many gifts from his parents around this time every year.

But this year felt different.

“… The amount of gifts is overwhelming.”

Leo made a nervous expression as he watched the wind spirits busily delivering gift boxes.

Carr clicked his tongue after reading the names printed on the gift boxes.

“These are from all of the powerful figures of each country and political faction. They’re trying to ingratiate themselves with you after hearing you’ve become the student council president.”

Riiiip--

Leo opened a palm-sized box and examined its contents.

Inside was a necklace.

“Wow, this is from Dieden?” Carr exclaimed.

“Dieden? Is that the sorcery workshop Chelsea frequents?”

“Yes. It’s a place even the most noble families wouldn’t dare enter without reason.”

Sticking out his tongue, Carr examined the necklace closely.

“It has a shielding enchantment. This is an incredibly valuable item. They must really want to impress you.”

Leo placed the necklace back in the box, replying, “I don’t really need it.”

“But it’s better than nothing, right?”

Carr chuckled and looked at a few more gift boxes.

“There’s no sender’s name on this one?”

As Carr noted, the long box wrapped in plain brown paper indeed bore no sender’s name.

“Items mailed in from outside are inspected upon arrival, so it’s definitely not dangerous, but… this is suspicious.”

Chelsea, busy eating next to them, mumbled through her pasta.

Riiiiip---

Leo opened the box with a puzzled expression.

Inside was an old, smooth wooden box.

Leo carefully lifted the lid.

Thunk-!

Inside was a plain-looking longsword and a letter.

“A longsword?”

“What? It looks so ordinary.”

Chelsea and Carr exchanged puzzled looks.

A plain longsword amidst all the extravagant gifts.

“I sense some unusual mana in it, though…”

“Wait, this material is unfamiliar to me.”

Carr, from an alchemist family, looked surprised.

Leo carefully examined the longsword’s surface and muttered, “It’s dragon bone.”

“What?”

“Dragon bone?!”

Everyone around him turned to Leo in astonishment.

Leo read the contents of the letter.

It was small and neatly written.

“Congratulations on becoming the student council president. Please do your best.”

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