Today was PhantastusвЂTMs last day in Leshill. He sat in a formal seated position on the mountain ridge, while behind him, Simon stood with a tense expression, steadying his breath.
"Then, IвЂTMll begin."
"Come at me anytime, Successor!"
It was the final assignment of PhantastusвЂTMs lessons: to cast вЂTMSleepвЂTM on him directly and be evaluated. It was time to pour out everything he had learned over the past week.
Simon began to meticulously draw a five-layered вЂTMSleepвЂTM magic circle, one layer at a time, on PhantastusвЂTMs back. The moment he activated the final, fifth layer...
PhantastusвЂTMs eyes widened drastically.
вЂTMWh-Where is this...?вЂTM
A brilliant blue sky, a warm sun, a field where flower petals drifted on the breeze. It was unbelievable. The woman he had longed to see, the woman from his dreams, was holding out her hand to him.
"Phantastus, my little sleepyhead. How long are you going to sleep?"
The man next to her spoke. "Hahaha! ItvЂTMs good to dream. Just dream big! ThatvЂTMs how you become a great person!"
Tears streamed down PhantastusвЂTMs face. "Mother! Father!"
"Brother, what are you doing?" a little girl asked, holding out her hand. "Hurry up! We promised to go fishing today."
"Merida...!"
Phantastus, now a little boy, sat with his family by a picturesque lake, eating a packed lunch and fishing. He was happy.
"You can catch the most amazing fish in this lake! Want to give it a try, Phantastus?"
"Yes!"
Having returned to his childhood, PhantastusвЂTMs behavior became childlike as well. He smiled brightly and jumped around before grabbing his fatherвЂTMs fishing rod.
"Father!"
"Hm?"
"IвЂTMs sorry! And thank you!"
His father laughed, looking embarrassed. "Haha! WhatvЂTMs this all of a sudden? So mushy."
"Hey, my brotherвЂTMs a dummy! The fishing rod is shaking!"
Phantastus held back the tears that threatened to spill and pulled hard on the taut fishing line.
вЂTMWhoooosh!вЂTM
With a fierce splash, a large fish shot out of the water and flew into the sky.
"Wow! My brother caught a big one!"
"ThatвЂTMs my boy! IвЂTMs so proud of you!"
"TonightвЂTMs dinner is fish soup."
Seeing the three of them smiling brightly, Phantastus let his tears flow freely.
And then...
PhantastusвЂTMs eyes flew open. He saw a canopy of lush leaves, with sunlight streaming through the gaps. He lifted his arm. The small hand of a boy was gone, replaced by a thick, bear-like palm.
He saw his hairy legs. He touched his face. His skin was coarse, and the area near his eyes was damp.
"President Phantastus."
When he looked to the side, the black-haired boy was watching him, his expression fraught with tension.
"H-How was it?"
Phantastus stared at Simon, his reddened eyes wide.
It wasnvЂTMs a nightmare. It wasnvЂTMs the dream of his parentsvЂTMs murder. How long had it been since he had dreamed of that happiest time in his life?
Phantastus clenched both fists and roared.
"PERFECT!!!"
вЂTMFwutter-fwutter-fwutter!вЂTM
Leaves rained down from the trees, and startled mountain birds took to the sky. Simon let out a sigh of relief and smiled.
"Was it a sweet sleep?"
"Yes! It was a sweet sleep!" Phantastus grinned. "TherevЂTMs nothing more I can teach you, Successor! You may descend the mountain!"
Simon bowed deeply. "Thank you so much for everything!"
"I should be the one saying that!" Phantastus grabbed SimonvЂTMs hand, his eyes filled with emotion. "For letting me have vЂTMthat dreamvЂTMs one more time, I am truly grateful!"
Phantastus finished his preparations to leave Leshill. SimonvЂTMs family, and even the residents of Leshill he had grown fond of, gathered to bid him farewell. The week had been short, but with Phantastus around, Leshill had been a lively place.
"IvЂTMs sorry for being so loud at night! Hahahaha!"
"Farewell, Phantastus!"
"Come visit again if you get tired of adventuring!"
As Phantastus waved and moved away, he looked at Simon and gave him a thumbs-up. "YouvЂTMs be a great Student Council President, Successor!"
Simon smiled. "IvЂTMs do my best!"
A few weeks passed after he parted with Phantastus. Simon honed the sleep curse he had been taught and continued his training while helping Richard with his duties as lord. He kept in touch with Dick, Meirin, and Kamibarez through letters.
And finally, four days before the start of his second year at Kizen...
"IvЂTMs be going now!"
It was time for Simon to leave Leshill. In the garden, Nephthys had sent people to prepare a teleportation circle.
"Have a safe trip, Simon!" Richard exclaimed, his face flushed with excitement. "Always act in a manner befitting your status as Student Council President! Never bow your head to any provocation or trial!"
"Yes, Father."
Anna held SimonvЂTMs hand, her eyes welling with tears. "Please just come back healthy. Eat three meals a day, donvЂTMs overwork yourself studying, be careful of carriages in the city, and write if anything happens."
"I will, Mom!"
Amidst the growing light of the teleportation circle, Simon took in the sight of Richard and Anna one last time.
"IvЂTMs be going now!"
With those final words, his body was enveloped in light.
Langerstine, the capital of the Dresden Kingdom and the port city closest to Lok Island. It was the city of beginnings, where Simon had first arrived after leaving Leshill. The tall, grand buildings and the staggering number of people were just as he remembered.
"Alright, then."
This labyrinthine city had become familiar after a few visits. Simon walked at a leisurely pace. Langerstine was just a stopover. He had arrived four days before the start of the semester for a simple reason: it would be a shame to go straight to Lok Island. He planned to meet up with the members of Team 7 and hang out first.
вЂTMIвЂTMs so excited!vЂTM
His heart pounded. This was the first time he was going on a trip with friends his age purely for fun, not for a mission or a dispatch evaluation.
Of course, besides having fun, Simon had one other purpose.
вЂTMSwish.вЂTM
He took out the Student Council PresidentvЂTMs badge he had inherited from Phantastus. That purpose was...
вЂTMRecruiting Student Council officers!вЂTM
Naturally, the Student Council couldnvЂTMs be run by the president alone. Simon needed people to help him.
вЂTMvЂTMs So, who should you pick for the Student Council officers?vЂTM
вЂTMs When Phantastus was in Leshill, Simon had asked for his advice on this very matter.vЂTM
вЂTMs Yes!vЂTMs
вЂTMs ThatTMs simple!vЂTMs vЂTMsPhantastus had spread his arms.vЂTMs Just form the Student Council with your closest friends!vЂTMs
вЂTMs What?vЂTMs vЂTMsA rather dumbfounded sound had escaped SimonvЂTMs lips.vЂTMs
вЂTMs Phantastus had grinned, showing his teeth.vЂTMs IsnвЂTMs that strange?vЂTMs
вЂTMs Well... wonvЂTMs be criticized for picking only my acquaintances? It feels like when corrupt officials give public positions to their close friends...vЂTMs
вЂTMs Hahahahahaha!vЂTMs vЂTMs Hearing that, Phantastus had laughed boisterously, slapping the table.vЂTMs YouvЂTMs re more naive than you look!vЂTMs
вЂTMs ...ThatTMs not a very glorious compliment, but thank you.vЂTMs
вЂTMs This isnvЂTMs not a matter of political seats that run a country or balancing factions. ItvЂTMs a schoolvЂTMs student council! The members will be five at most.vЂTMs vЂTMsHe had crossed his arms.vЂTMs ItvЂTMs no matter what anyone says, the Student Council officers are your vЂTMsclosest aidesvЂTMs! They have to implement school policies and stay busy, but if opinions are divided and they fight amongst themselves, you wonvЂTMs get anything done! It would be worse than just doing it alone!vЂTMs
вЂTMs Ah...vЂTMs
vЂTMs Remember this. Picking the Student Council officers is strictly the vЂTMsright of the Student Council PresidentvЂTMs! You must pick people you can trust, people who will take your side no matter what external pressures arise!vЂTMs
People he could trust. People who would take his side. Simon mulled over those words carefully.
vЂTMs And the four hundred second-years who have survived until now are already the best talents on the continent! Whoever you put in the position, theyvЂTMs do their part!vЂTMs
vЂTMs ThatvЂTMs certainly true.vЂTMs
vЂTMs All the past presidents have done it this way, so you donvЂTMs need to worry about that. In fact...vЂTMs vЂTMsPhantastus had looked up at the sky with eyes full of reminiscence.vЂTMs In a place like Kizen, meeting four trustworthy friends is the hardest part.vЂTMs
By the time he finished his recollection, he had arrived at the meeting spot. The path was familiar, as it was near the beach where they had ridden the Nether Whale in their first year. Walking along the coast, he saw a large port bustling with ships. Next to it was a small park. This was their designated meeting place.
vЂTMs Ah!vЂTMs
Someone was already there. Simon instinctively ducked behind a nearby wall.
vЂTMs Who is it?vЂTMs
He peeked his head out. Skin as white as jade, sky-blue hair that flowed like a stream. She was dressed in a pastel-colored top with a light outer garment, a skirt, and a shoulder bag slung over her arm. The girl stood still, looking at the sky and humming a song. vЂTMsHmm- hmm-vЂTMs Even the simple melody sounded sweet.
vЂTMs ...Ugh, IvЂTMs m suddenly nervous.vЂTMs
Meirin, whom he hadnvЂTMs seen in a long time, seemed more beautiful than ever. Simon clutched his chest. vЂTMsThis is a good chance while were alone, but how do I bring up the Student Council?vЂTMs
Just as Simon was lost in thought, the humming stopped.
"Did you pick up a habit of spying on people while I was gone?"
SimonvЂTMs shoulders flinched. MeirinvЂTMs blue eyes were turned right toward him. He gave an awkward laugh and stepped out from his hiding spot.
"...L-Long time no see, Meirin."
Meirin offered a bright smile and an equally awkward wave. Soon, Simon was standing next to her.
vЂTMsWhooooshvЂ—vЂTMs
An awkward breeze blew between them. They had been practically inseparable all year, so why did it feel so strange now? What should he say? What did he usually talk about with Meirin?
Beside him, Meirin was just as fidgety, idly stroking her hair. Simon felt that, as the man, he should be the one to break the silence. If he could then naturally transition to the Student Council topic, that would be perfect.
"Meirin."
"Ah, yeah."
She looked at him with undisguised gladness. It seemed she had been hoping he would speak first. Talking about the weather was too clichГ©, so Simon decided to ask about someone they both knew.
"Is Se..."
He was about to ask, vЂTMsIs Serne doing well?vЂTMs but he instinctively clamped his mouth shut. vЂTMsWow, IvЂTMs really been away from school life for a while. IvЂTMs completely lost my touch.vЂTMs
"Se-what?"
"Ah, no. I was thinking you look so... sophisticated. YouвЂTMs dressed nicely today. Haha!"
A faint blush colored MeirinvЂTMs cheeks as she let out a playful laugh. "Thanks. As for you, that white shirt youvЂTMs wearing... itvЂTMs your school uniform, isnvЂTMs it?"
vЂTMs Ugh.vЂTMs
SimonvЂTMs face turned red. "How did you know?"
Meirin chuckled. "You always wear a white shirt and black pants when we go to Rochester on weekends, you dummy! Please buy some clothes. You have plenty of money."
"ItvЂTMs all reserved for my undead."
Meirin burst out laughing at his joke. "Oof! YouvЂTMs really something elsevЂ—"
Thankfully, the atmosphere had loosened. While Simon was feeling relieved at having avoided what could have been the worst reunion imaginable, let alone a Student Council proposal, Meirin was sneaking glances at him.
vЂTMs ...Still, though.vЂTMs
She had teased his fashion sense for fun, but in reality, she thought he looked unfairly good in just a simple shirt. Just as Meirin was feeling a familiar fluttery sensation...
vЂTMs NowTMs my chance!vЂTMs SimonvЂTMs eyes sparkled as he seized the opportunity. "Meirin! TherevЂTMs something I really want to tell you!"
"H-Huh?" Meirin jumped, startled by his sudden approach.
"...Um, IvЂTMs not sure where to start," Simon hesitated, beating around the bush.
Meirin blushed slightly. She pretended to be preoccupied, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "...You can take your time."
"Actually, this time I...!"
Just then, they heard a noise nearby. Simon and Meirin flinched and turned their heads.
Dick, who had been hiding behind a bench the entire time, slowly lowered his head. Realizing he had already been caught, he simply stuck his hand over the bench and waved it back and forth.
"DonvЂTMs mind me, carry on! Carry on! Ah, to be young again."
"Hey!!!"

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