Chapter 259

Chapter 57. Tail Chasing (7)

Out of nowhere, a boy with gray hair appeared.

Elvin’s eyes widened as he spotted him, and he smiled happily, shouting, “Senior Parcheka!”

Mond Parcheka.

A third-year student in the Magic Department and Elvin’s direct senior.

He’s also known as the right-hand man of the current Student Council President. At his arrival, the two executives next to Elvin bowed their heads in respect.

Meanwhile, Mond approached while receiving their greetings and patted Elvin’s shoulder with a grin.

“To secure a decisive victory in the current situation, we need something big.”

Not just any false rumor to tarnish Iris’s reputation, but a solid blow that could knock her down entirely.

He had an oddly confident air about him.

With a face full of expectation, Elvin asked, “Do you have some brilliant plan?”

“Of course. We’re going to frame the opponent for violating election rules and disqualify them.”

“D-disqualify?”

The two executives gasped in shock.

However, Elvin’s expression remained unchanged. If anything, his eyes sparkled with interest.

“I want to hear more.”

“It’s simple. We manipulate the votes.”

“……!”

“We just put in a number far exceeding the actual voters, ensuring the opponent wins.”

Then, the election committee would start an investigation, and naturally, the most suspicious one would be the opponent who won the election.

“And as long as the election committee is on our side like now, Iris Senior will undoubtedly get disqualified.”

Following that, a re-vote would ensure the current Student Council’s victory. The candidates outside of Iris wouldn’t even count as opposition to the council.

“I hear this method was used back in the day. Apparently, there was someone just as clueless as Iris Senior then.”

“I see. So, we can win without provoking that barbarian.”

As Mond shrugged off his explanation, Elvin nodded in admiration.

Was it because the annoying problem was resolved?

A bright smile bloomed on Elvin’s face, while the two other executives couldn’t hide their anxiousness.

“Um, but….”

“What?”

“If we use a method that’s been discovered before, won’t it be a big deal?”

“No, there’s no way we’ll get caught.”

Mond shook his head firmly.

Then, with conviction, he added, “This isn’t about deciding national matters or picking a leader; it’s just an election for a one-year Student Council President.”

So nobody would care.

The professors didn’t particularly mind who became the Student Council President either.

“I get it!”

“As expected of you, senior.”

“Thanks. You’ve been a big help.”

With the two students leading the way, Elvin nodded in agreement. Suddenly, Mond cleared his throat and glanced at Elvin.

“Ahem! Speaking of which, Elvin.”

“Yes, senior?”

“About that tea leaf gift.”

Out of the blue, Mond brought up the tea leaves.

However, Elvin didn’t seem taken aback.

Rather, he nodded as if he expected the topic.

“Are you talking about the Leaves of Draga?”

“Exactly. The quality was quite good. If you have any extra, could I get some more?”

His eyes held an unusual earnestness.

Mond’s hands quivered lightly, showing he was quite anxious. Elvin looked at him closely and let out a soft sigh.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t manage that right now. Other seniors wanted it too, so it’s all gone.”

“R-really?”

“But don’t worry.”

Seeing Mond’s expression darken, Elvin smiled gently.

“I’ve recently managed to restock. So once the election is over, I’ll gift it to you first.”

“A-really? Are you serious?”

“Yes, I promise.”

With Elvin’s words, a broad smile spread across Mond’s face. Their secret conversation ended with a brief chuckle.

A while later.

In the forest wrapped in silence, there was suddenly a rustling sound nearby. Not far from where Elvin and Mond had been talking.

“I didn’t mean to overhear…,”

A quiet voice followed.

Moments later, the sound of leaves crunching filled the air as someone jumped down from a tree.

A gray-haired girl with glasses.

She had been discreetly hiding her presence and was now staring at the spot where Elvin and Mond had disappeared.

“…I just caught wind of something big.”

Silfi Rudrik.

She had been on her way to the library, taking a shortcut as usual, when she unexpectedly stumbled upon Elvin’s group and climbed the tree in a daze.

Hiding her presence, she was just waiting for them to leave when she had overheard their unexpected conversation.

“And to top it off, the Leaves of Draga…”

Draga is a type of plant that grows in the desert, known as poison among desert tribes.

However, when its leaves are properly dried and used in small amounts in water, it can cause powerful intoxication, excitement, and hallucinations.

Simply put, it’s a drug.

Thinking about this, Silfi’s expression became serious. But only for a moment, as she soon let out a dry laugh.

“Well, it’s not my business, anyway.”

The distribution of drugs in the academy and the fact that the current Student Council was up to no good was of no concern to Silfi.

Thus shaking off her thoughts, Silfi turned again. Shortly after, as she approached the library, her original destination…

“Oh, Silfi!”

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang in her ears.

Instinctively turning her head, she saw a girl waving at her.

With blonde hair and turquoise eyes.

It was Ivella Elea’ad, one of the few friends she had made here.

‘And…’

Next to Ivella stood a topless barbarian. The now-famous figure in the academy, Ulan.

“Long time no see. How have you been?”

“I’ve been well. I’m just glad to see you both back safely.”

“Yeah, we were a little late.”

Ivella smiled awkwardly.

In that moment, something captured Silfi’s attention. A bundle of papers held tightly in Ulan and Ivella’s arms.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, this?”

“It’s an election flyer.”

“Election?”

“Yeah, actually, we volunteered to help Senior Iris, who’s running for Student Council President.”

Ivella explained the situation in detail, from when she first met Iris Senior to why she decided to help her.

In this process, Silfi learned that Ulan and Ivella supported Iris.

‘Wait, if it’s Iris Senior…’

This was the name mentioned in the chat among the Student Council executives, the opponent they planned to disqualify through schemes.

Realizing this, Silfi’s eyes widened.

Just then, the silent Ulan suddenly tapped Ivella on the shoulder.

“Ivella.”

“What?”

“It’s about time we move.”

“Oh! It’s already that time, huh? Well, we’ll head out first. See you in class tomorrow!”

They still had plenty of election flyers left.

Understanding Ulan’s hint, Ivella bid farewell to Silfi and turned to leave.

Meanwhile, Silfi bit her lips as if in thought and suddenly reached out.

“Wait, just a second!”

Maybe due to her rather loud voice?

Ulan and Ivella turned to look at Silfi in unison. Taking their gazes, Silfi hesitated for a moment before explaining why she called them.

“Actually, I happened to overhear something just now…”

She intended to tell them about the conspiracy she had unintentionally overheard involving the Student Council executives.

If it were someone else, she probably wouldn’t have mentioned it, but Ulan and Ivella were exceptions.

They had been stuck with her in the underground ruins of the Source of Magic before. Plus, they were among the few she could call friends.

After Silfi finished her tale.

Ulan and Ivella’s faces stiffened, refusing to budge.

“…Is that true?”

“Yeah, I heard it for sure.”

Silfi nodded seriously.

Ivella bit her lips hard, letting out a low groan. This was because the Student Council executives were planning some ugly schemes.

On the other hand, the reason Ulan’s face had hardened wasn’t just because of that. One particular word that slipped from Silfi’s story was crucial.

‘Leaves of Draga.’

A potent hallucinogen and a raw material for drugs.

Although it grows in the desert, the Desert Order doesn’t utilize it, mainly the Abyss Worshippers use it for rituals related to the Abyss.

And from what Silfi had heard, it was Elvin who mentioned the Leaves of Draga. A guy who reeked of Abyss Worshipper vibes.

‘Anyway, it’s definitely related.’

I need to investigate further.

As Ulan recalled the scent Elvin had exuded, his eyes glinted ominously. Meanwhile, Ivella, organizing her thoughts, turned again to Silfi.

“Thanks for telling me, Silfi.”

“Uh, it’s nothing. Just a small thing.”

“I think it’ll be a big help. I’ll make sure to reward you once the election is over.”

“Huh? No, I’m fine with that…”

“Then see you tomorrow!”

Even as Silfi waved it off, Ivella didn’t reply and grabbed Ulan’s hand.

Then they left hurriedly.

To soon relay this information to Iris. Watching the two fade away, Silfi muttered softly.

“…I feel a bit envious.”

If only I had been born into a normal noble family in the Empire instead of the Desert Order, I could likely enjoy my school life like Ulan and Ivella.

Silfi sighed heavily.

However, this wasn’t solely due to her unfulfilled wishes. In fact, there was a deeper reason she couldn’t help but sigh.

A few days ago.

A letter had arrived for Silfi.

The sender was Count Deorg. A cultist hunter feared by the Desert Order, and the very person currently holding the strings to Silfi’s life.

The letter was short and to the point.

“I have a few questions. I will be coming to the academy soon, so wait at our usual meeting place this coming Friday morning.”

Just like that, he was coming to the academy.

At that moment, Silfi felt her heart race and her body tremble unconsciously. She was gripped by a primal fear.

‘What on earth does he want to ask?’

She had already told him everything she knew.

Whatever he asked, she had nothing more to answer.

That made her even more frightened. If he discovered her lack of value, there would be no reason for Count Deorg to spare her life.

‘I hope it’s nothing serious…’

Silfi tightly shut her eyes.

After managing to shake off her suffocating thoughts, she resumed her steps.

Just then, she felt a sudden presence.

What is it? Could it be Ulan and Ivella returning?

With curiosity, she turned her head. However, the person who came into view was someone unexpected.

“Phew, I finally found you.”

A girl, breathing heavily.

Like Silfi, she wore the red tie symbolizing a first-year student. She took a moment to catch her breath before speaking.

“Hello! If it’s not too much trouble, could you spare me a moment?”

“Who are you…?”

“I have some questions I’d like to ask.”

Looking at her with a smile, the girl seemed familiar. With hair like the night sky and eyes as blue as the ocean, Silfi soon recalled her name.

It was none other than Noa Darshen.