Chapter 169: Club Application Acceptance The current Student Council President of Frieden Academy was a Fourth Year student who went by the name of Theo Ashborne. He was the eldest son of a Ducal Family that came from the Solara Kingdom. It was a kingdom that lay west of Avalon and had friendly ties with it. Theo Ashborne was the embodiment of nobility refined by responsibility. As the current Student Council President of Frieden Academy, he carried himself with a calm authority that few could challenge. With short blond hair always immaculately groomed and eyes like sharpened glass—cool, analytical, and always watching—Theo was both admired and feared by the student body. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was very good at what he did. In fact, he was so good that it made others feel as if he wasn’t human. This was what made him scary in the eyes of those who had wished to cause trouble for him in the past. Many claimed that he was a monster hiding inside a human vessel. Many rumors surrounded him. While some were true, others were simply spread by the people who feared him. And just like always, the perfect president of Frieden Academy sat at his office desk, busy signing papers that were passed to him by his secretary. "It’s always busy this time of year," Theo’s secretary, Cassandra, muttered before placing a cup of tea on the table. "There are so many people applying for club creation. Do they really think that the academy has a budget for them all?" "It is within their rights to apply for club creation," Theo replied as he stamped a seal of approval on the documents that he had just finished signing. "But, not all of them deserve it right, President?" Cassandra smirked as she looked at a couple of documents placed neatly on the left of the table, each marked conspicuously with the seal of rejection. "Right." Theo nodded. "Some are just made out of the passion of youth, without any goal in mind. Just like this one..." Cassandra glanced at the document that the student council president was holding. It was none other than a completed club application form. "Endless Horizon?" Cassandra arched an eyebrow, amused. "Let’s see what this club is about." The president allowed Cassandra to take the document from his hands and read its contents. —— Frieden Academy – Club Formation Proposal Proposal for the Establishment of the Student Organization: Endless Horizon Submitted by: Alex Stratos (President) Lavinia Hartwell (Vice President) Members: Charles Lambert (First Year) Chuck No Rizz (First Year) Nessia Var (First Year) Dim Dim (Club Mascot) Club Name - Endless Horizon Mission Statement: "The world does not end at the edge of the map, beyond it is an Endless Horizon." Endless Horizon is a proposed student organization built around the ideals of exploration, discovery, and daring purpose. Our vision is to create a community of adventurers, researchers, and pioneers within Frieden Academy who strive to push beyond the known, not recklessly, but with resolve, discipline, and unity. The name "Endless Horizon" reflects our guiding belief that no matter how far we’ve come, there is always more to seek, more to learn, and more to uncover. Whether within ancient dungeons, forgotten ruins, or uncharted frontiers, we intend to reach places where the sky seems to touch eternity, and return with knowledge worth sharing. Objectives: — Conduct sanctioned dungeon expeditions and field adventures to enhance practical experience. — Research and record magical phenomena, artifact history, and rare ecosystem encounters. — Promote interdisciplinary teamwork across combat, magic, history, and survival fields. — Serve as a bridge between theory and fieldwork, enhancing the Academy’s scholarly output. — Publish expedition reports and journals to contribute to Frieden Academy’s growing archives. Membership Requirements: Open to students of all years who meet minimum competency or show potential. Members must pass the basic Orientation on Field Protocol and Safety (provided internally). Full adherence to Academy standards during all operations! Faculty Advisor: Rowan Vademont ——— "... I was very impressed with what’s written here until I reached the last part," Cassandra commented as she pinched the bridge of her nose. "Seriously, their Faculty Advisor is the Headmaster? What nonsense is this?" Theo scoffed. "I did a background check on Alex Stratos and Lavinia Hartwell. Both of them are scholarship students. Alex Stratos was the top ranker in the Trial of Defense, while Lavinia Hartwell was first in the Might and Magic Trial." Cassandra frowned. "So, that means that they both have potential. However, putting the Headmaster down as their Faculty Advisor is too much. Did they make this club application as a prank?" "I wish," Theo replied. "Unfortunately, I received a call from the Headmaster earlier, informing me to accept this club application." "What?!" Cassandra’s eyes widened in shock after hearing those words. "The Headmaster personally approved of it? Does that mean that he’s really the Faculty Advisor of that Club?" "No," Theo answered. "He said that he will look for a club advisor for them among the staff. However, this club is as good as accepted since the Headmaster is backing them." "... Just who are they to receive this VIP Treatment?" Cassandra’s frown deepened. "This is the first time that the Headmaster has done something like this." "I have also voiced my complaint to the Headmaster, and he said that although this club will be approved, they won’t receive any budget from the academy," Theo explained calmly. "I guess that’s the trade-off they must accept to get their club accepted." Theo usually rejected the club application that came from Commoners unless they had made a very compelling reason for the establishment of their club. Out of a hundred club applications, he had only approved one of them. Alex’s club would be the second one to gain his "reluctant" approval. "So they are a club in name only?" Cassandra cocked her head slightly. "What’s the point then? If they don’t receive any financial support from the academy, their activities will be greatly limited since they won’t have the necessary funds." Theo simply shrugged. Elegantly, of course. "Also, dungeon expeditions and field explorations require academy tickets, which cost money as well," the bewildered secretary continued. "They’re just scholarship students. How will they have the money to burn?" "That’s their problem." Theo gestured for Cassandra to return the club application to him. "However, tell our people to closely monitor their activities. If they break any rules, we will immediately terminate their club." Cassandra understood what he was implying. "Poor kids. Is this what you meant by youthful passion, President?" Theo nodded before stamping his seal of approval on Alex’s club application form. "All clubs must submit their activity records at the end of the first quarter of the year," Theo stated. "If they are unable to show any proof that they have been doing club activities, their club will be terminated." Cassandra felt sorry for the First Years who had gotten their way through the back door. This was what Theo, who strictly followed the rules, hated the most. Now that they had attracted the attention of the student council president, all their club activities would be heavily scrutinized from this moment onwards. —— Inside Ironheart Dormitory... "Let me get this straight... Our club application will be approved, but we won’t have any funding for club activities?" Nessia asked in disbelief. "Yes," Alex replied. "But don’t worry too much, Nessia. Lavinia and I will provide the funds for our club activities." The Catkin princess had received ten thousand gold coins from her grandfather before he returned to the Hartwell Clan. That was supposed to be Lavinia’s tuition fee for her enrollment. However, since she had managed to become a scholarship student, the academy promptly refunded those ten thousand gold coins. In addition, all scholarship students received a monthly stipend of 20 gold coins. An average family of four or five living in the Capital City of Harmonia needed at least five gold coins per month to survive. In the countryside, five gold coins was enough for a similar family to survive for a couple of months. In other words, as long as the scholarship students were thrifty and responsible, they would be able to save up since the food and lodging in the academy were free. "Also, Nessia, our club will be self-sufficient once we start our explorations and dungeon expeditions," Alex pointed out. "But Charles, you will not be allowed to make any dungeon dives, okay?" Charles didn’t protest. He knew that the moment he entered a dungeon, his passive skill, Challenger’s Mark, would activate. It would force the monsters from the lower floors to go to the upper floors, which would cause a monster outbreak inside the dungeon. For the sake of everyone’s safety and well-being, dungeon dives were something Charles had to sit out. "Fine." Nessia sighed. "Since I know what you guys can do, I’ll trust you this time." Chuck, who had been listening to the conversation since a while ago, decided to ask a question. "Are you sure the club will be approved?" Chuck inquired. "I don’t want to be a party pooper, but Theo Ashborne is very strict when it comes to clubs created by the scholarship students." Alex and Lavinia exchanged a glance before nodding at the same time. "Don’t worry, our club will be accepted without fail," Lavinia assured. "We’ll just worry about the fundings and activities later." Chuck was still doubtful about their club application. But since Lavinia sounded confident, he decided to believe her words. He was very excited about spending time in the club that he had made with his friends, so he was looking forward to the adventures that they would have during their first year at the academy.