It was an unexpected question, but Leo, who was reading the speech, answered calmly.
"No, there isn't. Why?"
"I feel like Leo's mood has been a little different than usual these past few days."
Chelsea, who said that, crossed her arms and tilted her head from side to side as she looked at Leo.
"Hmm!"
Then he made a slightly suspicious expression and pushed his face closer.
"Suspicious."
"what?"
"You left me behind because you were bored when you were alone."
"Is that strange?"
"Because Leo never once said he was bored when he was left alone."
Chelsea grumbled in a small, hushed voice.
Of course, Chelsea knew the reason very well.
The years we lived were inevitably different, the things we achieved were different, and because of that, the burdens we shouldered were also different.
Chelsea have already joined the ranks of heroes.
But she was still a student and a teenage girl.
An age where you can laugh and chat with friends, immerse yourself in things you like, and find something fun to do.
Sometimes it's okay to put everything down and enjoy the moment.
But it wasn't Leo.
In the past, as a hero who saved the world.
And once again, everything that awaited Leo as the hero who would save the world was more harsh than Chelsea could have imagined.
So when Leo said he was bored, Chelsea couldn't help but be taken aback.
Since entering Lumerne.
No, maybe Leo had never felt bored since he was born.
Every moment, I chewed over the past and prepared for the fights that would come in the future.
Because I was always lost in thought even when I was doing nothing.
Leo said after hearing Chelsea's words.
"You have good observation skills."
"Because I'm always watching over you, Leo."
"It's a little perverted and scary. I just got goosebumps."
"What the!"
Chelsea opened her eyes.
Leo burst out laughing at that and patted Chelsea on the head.
"It's not a big deal, so don't worry too much."
With those words, Leo took his hand off Chelsea's head.
Chelsea asked, smoothing her hair.
"Really?"
"okay."
Chelsea nodded at Leo's answer and changed the subject.
"Is that the congratulatory speech for this year's graduation ceremony?"
"Yeah. Chloe wrote it."
"I want to see it too!"
Leo handed Chelsea the speech as she spoke with a bright smile.
Chelsea hummed as she read her speech.
Leo thought to himself as he looked at Chelsea like that.
'It's tea-like.'
A subtle change that happened to Leo.
Although she didn't show it, Chelsea, who was close to Leo, noticed the change.
Everyone forgot about Lena, the girl from the future.
Except for Leo.
I remember Seirun and Luna, but those memories were also distorted.
A change in perception.
Only Leo remembered everything.
Even Leo can't help but feel pressured.
Even though I tried not to show it, I couldn't shake off the feeling of anxiety, and that brought about a subtle change.
Although he said it was no big deal, Chelsea won't take it at face value.
'You must be considerate of me.'
Leo smiled faintly.
"Hmm. Leo, you don't seem to fit my usual image."
Chelsea nodded, sharing a similar opinion to Chen Xia.
"Still, I think she's right as student body president. She's like Chloe."
Chloe must know that this speech is different from Leo's image.
But it was a very fitting speech for the student council president of Lumeren, not Leo Plov.
Chelsea smiled and returned the speech to Leo.
"What are you going to do during winter break, Leo?"
"I'll be resting at the palace except for the coronation of Sia. Lord Sith said he's prepared something."
"Then give me some special training. I'd like to stay at the Arhi Palace during winter break."
"Did you get permission to come home?"
"huh."
"What did other kids do during vacation?"
Because he was busy preparing for the graduation and closing ceremonies, Leo barely had time to talk to his friends after the Lusei Festival.
"The sword is ready to move."
"Ready to move?"
"Yeah. Looks like the whole family is moving into the Hergin family's territory."
"Oh. You must be busy."
"Illyana said she'd be taking a magic class, and Niel's sister's going to go hunt monsters with the family, so she'll be following them. Tayden said he's going to meet with the beast summoners..."
Leo nodded as Chelsea told him about her friends' vacation plans.
"But Leo, the graduation ceremony will be held quietly, right?"
"Why do you ask that?"
"I thought Leo might have prepared something given his personality."
"What am I preparing?"
"Like, conspiring with the graduates to prepare for the final exams or something like that. The kids are on guard. Leo oppa, he'd be more than capable of that."
"That's not happening."
"Really?"
'Am I that untrustworthy?'
Leo burst into laughter as he watched Chelsea, who remained suspicious until the very end.
'Well, considering what I've done so far, it's understandable to be suspicious.'
Leo shook his head, thinking it was karma.
***
All the students of Lumeren were lined up.
Graduates stood at the very front, and the faculty stood on the podium.
The graduation ceremony will now begin. I am Shasha, a second-year student in the Summoning Department. I will be following in the footsteps of Senior Runba and will be hosting and commentating at various events. Thank you for your continued support.
With Runba's graduation, Shasha has taken over the role of commentator and host at all official and unofficial events in Lumeren.
Unlike the well-mannered Runeba, Shasha conducted the event with strict etiquette, as befitting the successor to the Rodren Empire.
-There will be a congratulatory speech from the principal.
At those words, Riina stepped forward to the podium.
Leena, standing in front of the loudspeaker, said.
-Fifth graders, you've worked really hard up until now with the difficult school life.
The graduates looked deeply moved at those words.
Looking at those graduates, Riina chuckled.
-But don't you guys know that? Society is harder than school? Do you think it'll end once you graduate? In fact, what you've been through so far will feel easier?
The graduates' faces hardened as they watched Riina giggle.
-You will taste the bitterness of society! You guys are now X... ... .
-Pull it out.
Harlind's cold voice cut off Riina.
Professor Yura, one of Harlind's confidants, took Riina away.
-The principal's congratulatory address is over. Following this, Professor Harlind will deliver a congratulatory address on behalf of the teachers...
"This is unacceptable! Why is Harlind giving a congratulatory speech as a representative of the teachers? We need to re-elect! I wasn't even a candidate in the first place!"
-Yes, Professor Sedzen. But Professor Sedzen was too busy at the time of the candidate selection...
Sasha said in a panicked voice.
When we were selecting candidates for the graduating class congratulatory speech, we couldn't bring ourselves to bring up the topic of congratulatory speeches to Sedzen, who was already burdened with a huge workload.
By the way, the reason Sedzen was busy was because he took on all of Harlind's work in order to show off his competence.
Sedzen shouted at Shasha's words.
"How inelegant! I, Sedzen, always give the graduating class speeches! This year, once again, I..."
-Bring that guy out too.
In the end, Harlind, who could no longer stand to watch, spoke coldly, and Harlind's confidants, Professor Ain and Professor Ren, subdued Sedzen.
"Profit! Let go! Let go! You dirty dogs of Khalind!"
Professor Sedzen's desperate cry reverberated.
After a while.
The commotion died down and Harlind began his speech.
-Congratulations on your graduation.
That was the end of it.
Sasha asked in a bewildered voice as Harlind tried to return to his original position.
"Uh, is this the end?"
"Is this the end?"
Sasha, who was in charge of the event, started to cry.
Juen, who was watching the scene, muttered softly.
"It's a bit pitiful to see him struggling like that."
"I know."
My classmates nodded.
As Harlind was about to leave the loudspeaker, he hesitated and turned around.
Sasha's face brightened slightly at the sight.
I thought things would go smoothly, but those expectations were shattered when Harlind opened his mouth again.
-Up until your third year, most of you were going to be expelled.
Harlind looked around at the frozen graduates and said.
-It's not because you're a problem generation, it's because you've become overly dependent on one person.
Harlind's gaze, as he explained the reason, briefly rested on Elena, who was leading the way as the valedictorian.
"But you've changed. You're now able to overcome your own limitations without relying on anyone else. Never forget that."
With those words, Khalind's real congratulatory speech ended.
The graduates burst into applause.
After the faculty's congratulatory remarks, there was a congratulatory speech by Leo, the student body president.
All the students looked tense, worried that Leo might cause some unexpected accident.
But Leo's speech also ended without any major incident.
"It looks like this year will pass without any problems."
Abad chuckled at Carl's words.
"Yeah. I thought something would happen since it was Senior Elena's graduation."
Elena Zeron, queen and tyrant of Lumeren.
She was also the culprit behind the current generation of graduates being called the 'problem generation'.
-Then, there will be a graduation celebration performance by the fourth-year seniors. The fourth-year representative, senior Lil Luce.
Lumeren's graduation ceremony concludes with a celebratory performance prepared by the fourth-year students, one year below the graduating class.
The reel moved forward with restraint.
And then he approached Elena, who was leading the fifth graders, not on the stage.
"My seniors are graduating! I'm so touched!"
Lil, who spoke powerfully, shouted powerfully.
"Graduation! Congratulations!"
"Congratulations!"
The fourth graders repeated what Lil said.
Looking at those fourth-year students, the graduates felt complex and subtle emotions.
It wasn't a feeling of dislike.
What do you think, when the first junior you met sincerely congratulates you on your graduation?
My eyes turned red.
"thanks!"
"I enjoyed school life because of you guys."
"You guys, do your best next year too!"
The 5th graders expressed their gratitude to the 4th graders.
one side.
Elena silently looked at Lil, who was standing proudly in front of her, and then quietly called out to the students on either side.
"Niel, Runba."
If Elena was the valedictorian and the representative of the magic department, then these two were the representatives of the knight department and the summoning department, respectively.
"Huh? Why?"
"Get ready."
"what?"
"It seems like our cute juniors have no intention of letting us go."
Elena smiled brightly.
"But! Aren't congratulations congratulations and resentment resentment?"
Lil also smiled brightly.
Of course, the eyes were not smiling.
"Our generation suffered a lot because of our seniors."
The fifth graders were taken aback when Elena's thoughts seemed to have hit the mark and the fourth graders' mood changed.
Certainly, Lil's generation suffered a lot because of Elena's generation.
From the moment I entered school, I was tossed around by the Elena generation who showed their teeth to the third-year students.
Lil still sometimes dreams about what Elena said to him when he was in first grade.
Who do you think you'll spend more time at school with?
Elena's threats during her time as a loser.
For fourth graders, the first and second years were really difficult.
Fortunately, things were a bit easier after Leo entered school and became the student body president, but if I had been careless, my third and fourth years could have been difficult.
"One hour from now. I'll just vent my frustrations for exactly one hour. After that, we'll forget everything."
The fifth graders froze at Lil's cold voice.
After a while.
"Hey! Grab the graduates!"
"Catch it and step on it!"
The fourth graders all rushed towards the fifth graders.
"Hey! You guys, this is insubordination!"
"What the heck! You're a stranger after you graduate!"
The fourth graders laughed at the fifth graders' shouts.
Some fifth graders were caught and trampled in a blanket.
"Senior Elena! I'll hit you just once, no! I'll hit you ten times!"
Lil suddenly summoned his battle hammer and rushed towards Elena.
Elena shrugged and dodged into the air.
Lil chased Elena and shouted at the third-years.
"Third graders, catch the fifth graders!"
It was impossible to catch a 5th grader with the skills of a 1st or 2nd grader.
"Ha, but senior. How can we help our graduating seniors...?"
When Jureden spoke in confusion, Lil laughed sinisterly.
"Jureden. Who do you think you'll spend more time at school with?"
At those words, the third graders had no choice but to join the fifth grade rally with tearful faces.
"Hey! I've been so good to you... Aaak!"
"Huh?! Wait a minute! I got hit in the bone! I got hit in the bone...!"
The desperate screams of the fifth graders wrapped in blankets echoed through the air.
Sasha looked at the graduation ceremony in disarray, her face clouded with tears, and then looked at Leo.
"Senior Leo. What should I do?"
At those words, Leo looked at Harlind.
Harlind, who normally wouldn't sit idly by and watch this situation unfold, thought for a moment and then clicked his tongue.
The fourth graders would have expected Harlind's punishment.
Still, the fact that he planned something like this meant he was prepared.
"It's better than karma."
There was nothing else to say.