Chapter 107

Chapter 107

Election Campaign for the Student Council President (8)

The election for the student council president is the most attention-grabbing event among the early semester activities for students. This is particularly notable as the previous student council president, Veros, who had served two consecutive years, has graduated. While Veros was known for being moderate and quiet during his tenure, he was nonetheless a commendable president who managed to coordinate well between the faculty and students without major incidents.

The position of student council president at the Sylvan Academy is no small matter. The president can exert substantial influence on the academys operational policies, mobilize various student resources including department heads if desired, and, in times of crisis, wield authority almost on par with the principal.

Moreover, the symbolism of the position is far from trivial. Students who have served as president at Sylvan often find themselves subsequently handpicked for influential roles in various magical towers, royal court positions, and administrative jobs in many cities, just by the virtue of having that experience. For those with decent lineage, it could even serve as a stepping stone into the political scene centered around the imperial capital. Thus, its a coveted position that many ambitious students dream of attaining at least once.

From in front of the Obel Hall to the entrance of the student square, the wide-open space was already packed with numerous students. The crowd was so enormous that the academy had to deploy safety officers.

The podium on the first floor of Obel Hall was large, but it remained uncertain if the voice of the speaker would reach the back of the gathered crowd, despite the use of amplification magicwhich wasnt foolproof.

And that concludes my speech.

Wowwwwwww!

There were a total of four candidates for the student council president. Among them, the two receiving the most attention were Rortel and Tanya. The heir to the Rosetailor family who announced his candidacy with the support of Princess Fenia, and the acting head of the Elte Commerce Association, which practically dominated the economic rights of the student dormitories.

The confrontation between the two candidates was keenly observed by both the students and the academy staff, and now the results were becoming somewhat more predictable.

Our next student council president, Rortel!

If he can lead a trade company at his age, hell surely do well as student council president!

Theres no one better suited for president than Rortel Kehlern!

You can feel the sincerity in his platform! Why would the representative of Elte Commerce even want to be student council president if not for a clear purpose!

Hes got my full support! The next president will be Rortel!

As Rortel finished his speech and stepped down from the podium, a thunderous cheer poured out. Rortel, still exuding his presence while waving his hand on his way down, had completed his turn at the podium gracefully despite the elaborate dress decked with laces.

Rortel had no desire to become the student council president. Only a few employees of Elte Commerce were privy to this fact.

Nonetheless, looking at Rortel now, smiling amidst the cheering crowd and exiting the stage, it seemed utterly unremarkable for him to be elected as president.

Having lived his entire life as a merchant, it is highly unlikely that Rortel would put aside his duties at Elte Commerce to focus on the role of student council president. Yet, to anyone looking, he seemed to be giving his all to become president, receiving the most overwhelming response from the public.

Having proven his abilities over an extended period as the de facto ruler of Elte Commerce, his manifesto seemed to hit all the right notes, as if scratching an itch for the public.

Not to mention, he has managed to garner considerable support among the students through political funding facilitated by the academy staff.

The higher one rises, the more people watch when they fall.

Rortel continued to wave cheerfully, offering a sly smile to the eyes watching him.

Just as his past was illustrious, so too were his enemies numerous. Dealing with the public always means not being surrounded solely by allies. Especially for those factions harboring resentment against Rortel, likely resentful trade partners who had been forced to reluctantly nod along with various demands pushed by Elte Commerce.

One recent example was the incident with Laplace Bakery, which almost ceased receiving supplies due to a problem with an unscrupulous owner who attempted to secure priority supplies through excessive orders. It was not a pleasant experience.

To sum it up Elte Commerce had leveraged its position in charge of the dormitory marketplace to bully its trade partners with almost brazen impunityfor the most part under seemingly legitimate pretenses. However, to those on the receiving end, the legitimacy of those actions mattered little.

While they may all harbor resentment toward Rortel, the growing influence makes it difficult for them to voice their displeasure openly.

Rortel was someone who could even turn that animosity to his advantage.

By now, all the material should have been circulated.

Having fully descended from the podium, Rortel removed one piece of jewelry after another, adorned on his body. The blue rose-shaped hairpins, earrings with dark red beads, and the dangling laces. With each piece of pretense removed, he felt a return to his mercantile origins.

Waiting in front of the podium were his secretary Lien and henchman Dune in a respectful stanceemployees of Elte Commerce.

Handing over the removed jewelry haphazardly, Rortel let down his hair and entered the first floor of Obel Hall.

Kadek and Nox?

Theyve escaped as planned.

Good. What about the documents we circulated to our trade partners?

Theyve taken the bait. It will probably be exposed during the election period.

A brief exchange with his secretaries. After receiving all the necessary reports, Rortel once again looked out towards the square from the entrance of Obel Hall.

Although the immense crowd was chanting his name in unison, Rortels expression had cooled.

She was well aware. Public support is like the sea; it comes in waves, crashing in like a high tide, only to recede as if it had never been there at all.

The documentation that Elte Commerce had distributed to the trade partners in the dormitory implicated Rortel in embezzlement of company fundsa fabrication by Rortel himself.

Since Rortel considered himself and Elte Commerce as one, he had no reason to embezzle funds from the company.

The important thing was merely needing an imperfection to bring himself down.

Those trade partners, holding grudges against Rortel, would not forgo such an excellent opportunity. To tarnish the capable and moral image that Rortel had built they would reveal the embezzlement and its immorality to the world.

As long as the whistleblowers anonymity remained somewhat protected, there would be no shortage of trade partners aiming to stab Rortel in the back.

An embezzlement scandal would be devastating for the image of student council president, a position expected to maintain integrity.

It would become the catalyst for the beloved Rortels abrupt downfall.

Then, all the spotlight would shift to the other candidate, Tanya, standing opposite Rortel. The contrast effect would be dramatic.

Theres a peculiar catharsis in the downfall of the righteous.

It is during the moment when someone seemingly commanding the world falls meaninglessly that the attention of all converges.

Should that moment be seized to showcase Tanyas steadfastness, Rortel would willingly turn the public against him.

Because it could prove profitable.

She knew it was foolish to stand there, a base act in itself. But she didnt want to run anymore.

All Tanya Rostaylor had done since entering Slyvania was to be surprised, manipulated, and run away. Living a life always looking for an opportunity yet trembling when it finally came felt pitifully pathetic.

Thank you for listening to my story

Barely managing her closing statement, Tanya clutched at coherence, as the room seemed to spin. She didnt want to appear pitiful on the stand.

Even if she would later weep into her pillow in her room, before this crowd, she needed to remain strong.

Crash!

But life doesnt always work out as one wishes. She couldnt withstand the mental pressure and collapsed to the floor amid faint laughter.

Snicker! Chortle! Dont laugh! I feel like laughing too!

With the crowds murmurs behind her, Tanya covered her face, determined not to show her tears. Yet, despair gnawed away at her. Perhaps she had reached her limit.

Just when she thought she had done enough, lifes tide turned, as abruptly as a gust of wind.

Whoosh!

A fierce wind blew, not a gentle breeze of late spring, but a monstrous gale.

Scream! What the All of a sudden?!

Banners fluttered, students clung to each other for stability, some stumbled, while others grabbed at their hair to see through the chaos.

When the wind subsided, everyone caught their breath, even the security personnel were shocked.

What was that?! Ahh Aghh Should we run?!

A wolf, larger than the podium, suddenly appeareda being manifested using the powers of Eenykas resonation, as if it leapt through space.

Howl!

The wolfs howl resounded grandly. Upon its back sat a familiar face, Eenyka Phailober, and a robed boy.

Its! A high-ranking wind spirit! Thats a high-ranking wind spirit! Ive seen it during the elemental allocation exam!

Some students recognized the wolf from when Edgar summoned it at the top of Oransan. He had brought it out, hoping for recognition.

Tanya, too, had seen this spirit materialize. It was the same one her brother, Ed Rostaylor, had controlled at the Altar of Substitution.

The robed boy approached the podium, and looking up, Tanya could see the blonde boys face beneath the cloaks shadow.

She tried to speak, but no words came out as emotions clogged her throat.

A Uh

Seeing this surreal sight made her wonder if it was a hallucination, but

Youve had a hard time because of me, Tanya. Im really sorry about that.

As Eds voice filled her ears, she knew for certain.

Theres a lot to explain, but first, lets deal with the present situation.

Ed knelt and comforted Tanya with a pat on the back.

He stood, donning his cloak, revealing his face, and the crowd gasped.

Is that That man is Ed Rostaylor! Certainly its him I attended elemental studies with him Thats the same Ed Rostaylor they said was dead in the student paper! An impostor? It cant be, can it?! Idiot! Look at the high-ranking spirit! How many people here can handle that?!

Standing before a confused crowd, Ed steadied the podium.

With a cough to clear his throat, silence returned instantly. Everyone was ready to hear what Ed had to say.

What would be his first words? Should he explain his own survival first? That wasnt something he could simply explain away. It would take time.

This was a setting for the student council presidential campaign declaration. Thus, it seemed right to speak of matters appropriate for this occasion.

First and foremost, he needed to address the reputation that Tanya had been shattered.

Only one person could decisively handle thisEd Rostaylor himself.

Hello, this is Ed Rostaylor.

His influence was not immense over all students, but it reached the department heads. Winning them over is a key strategy in the student council presidential race.

I have not been murdered by Tanya Rostaylor, and in fact, I support her more actively than anyone.

The senior class head Luce Merille and the third-year head Eenyka Phailober would follow his lead if persuaded.

Furthermore, the second-year combat head Clevious acknowledged him internally, as did the vice head of the magic department, Zix, and the head of the alchemy department, Elvira, who respected his abilities.

The first-year magic department head Yozeph Wade also knew his merits, so the significance of Ed Rostaylors support went without sayingeven more so with the backing of Princess Penia.

Yet, for Tanya, it was more about support than political gain.

Please understand Tanyas intentions, as her family, I am always here to cheer her on.

From her place on the podium, Tanya swiped at her face repeatedly watching Eds back, her breath caught.

Memories of climbing the estates hills with Ed overlapped with this moment.

Was it the recollection of that distant memory, leaning on him when out of breath?

The memories that had whispered to Tanya through the hard times, that one day she would be rewarded for her struggles.

Nights are darkest before dawn, Tanya had whispered to herself every night, believing there would be an end to the darkness in her life.