**Chapter 94: Student Council Gathering**
That afternoon, Rest made his way to the conference room adjacent to the Student Council room. The academy, attended by many children of nobility, had a large Student Council with significant authority, and thus was provided with exclusive conference rooms and lounges accessible only to relevant personnel.
Inside the conference room, long tables were arranged in rows, accompanied by chairs. As first-year students, Rest and the Rosemary Sisters took their seats at the back.
After a short wait, the Student Council officers and members of the Executive Committee gathered in the conference room. There were twenty officers alone, with forty members in the Executive Committee. It was quite a sizable group, but with members from five departments across three grades, it didn’t seem excessive.
“Hello, everyone. Thank you for coming,” Andrew, the Student Council President, finally appeared. Flanking him were his aides, Youthgos Betras and Riranda Marker.
“The reason I called you all here today is simple. Soon, we will be hosting the biggest event of the first half of this year… the Magic Hunt Festival.”
Standing before the assembled Student Council members, Andrew began to speak.
The Magic Hunt Festival was literally an event for hunting magical beasts, held every year from late spring to early summer, after the breeding season of the magical creatures had ended. Participants included students from the Magic Department, Knight Department, and Priest Department, with the latter primarily participating as medical staff. Even students from the Civil Official and Arts Departments could join if they wished.
Set against the backdrop of the plains and mountains outside the Royal Capital, the academy students would form groups to hunt magical beasts, competing for the number and size of their catches. In this world, magical beasts were humanity’s natural enemies. Hunting these creatures was a duty for the nobility, who were tasked with protecting the populace, which is why such events were organized at the academy.
“Although participation is voluntary… typically, around two hundred students take part. As you may know, injuries occur every year during the Magic Hunt Festival. Just two years ago, there were five fatalities. As the Student Council, we must do everything in our power to ensure the event runs smoothly. Officers will handle the operations, while the Executive Committee will act as rescue staff in case of emergencies.”
The Student Council would work behind the scenes alongside the faculty during the Magic Hunt Festival. The meeting today was likely convened for this purpose.
“I will distribute the materials shortly, and I want you to follow them for your assignments and duties. The third-year students will take command, so please follow their instructions. Especially for the rescue staff, your work will be crucial to the safety of the participants. I urge you to take this seriously.”
Andrew turned his gaze to one of the seated students. Receiving a nod, the student stood up and spoke.
“I will be leading the rescue staff. I am Isis Carbelt, a third-year student from the Magic Department. I will do everything in my power to ensure that no one loses their life, so please lend me your support.”
The tall girl who greeted them had a dignified presence. Dressed in a boys’ uniform, her short hair gave her a unique appearance. This was Isis Carbelt, a formidable leader of the Executive Committee, who had already secured a position as a Court Magician despite still being a student. With her striking features and aura, she seemed to attract more admiration from girls than boys, and in fact, there was even a fan club dedicated to her within the academy. Rest had greeted her when he joined the Executive Committee, and while they were not particularly close, they had exchanged a few words.
“For the first-years, this will be your first Magic Hunt Festival… I sincerely hope you do not push yourselves too hard. On average, one rescue staff member dies every three years. Please remember that this is not a training exercise, but a real battle. Of course, you are free to withdraw if you wish. However, that would mean leaving the Executive Committee.”
A slight tension filled the conference room. Nevertheless, it seemed that none of the students appeared intimidated. Those who joined the Executive Committee were all experienced in combat against magical beasts. There were no cowards among them who would flee in fear at this point.
“Very well. Now, let’s discuss the detailed assignments. Please turn to page five of the materials.”
After that, they discussed the arrangements and emergency responses for the Magic Hunt Festival, and the after-school meeting came to a close.
A week later, as planned, the Magic Hunt Festival commenced.