Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Forgiveness and Recognition
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As the festival wrapped up, students gradually gathered for after-parties, while the streets filled with those heading home.
Kang Hyun sat in a cozy café with Kim Jeong-min, escaping the chilly autumn night, and they were able to chat for a bit.
"You didn't even text. When did you get here?"
"Hmm, I might've been a little late reaching out, but I sent three or four messages today."
"Oh?"
Kang Hyun pulled out his phone, half-disbelieving, and checked the chats. Sure enough, there were multiple messages about his arrival today, sent at regular intervals.
Now that the tables had turned, Kang Hyun flashed a sly grin.
"I was pretty busy today."
"You little punk. Switching tactics already?"
Kang Hyun gave an awkward laugh, but Kim Jeong-min sipped his coffee with a nonchalant expression, like it was no big deal.
"Running for student council president?"
"Yep."
"Cute kid. You're really making the most of school life."
"It's not as easy as it seems."
"With all the tough stuff in this world, that's nothing. Go for it. If you lose, you lose. How's your studying going?"
Kim Jeong-min's calm, no-worries attitude was enough to put Kang Hyun at ease.
The events of the day felt distant, fading into the background.
And then came the surprising story.
"Honestly, when I first heard, I was against it. But Chorok threw such a fit. She insisted you had to do this."
"Prosecutor, you know Senior Dan Chorok?"
"Of course. I scouted you back in high school. Think I'd lose track of my juniors?"
"You're really into mentoring juniors."
Even at Kang Hyun's teasing remark, he responded with a serious look.
"Senior-junior bonds at school turn into mutual support down the line. Stay close with her. She seems to trust you a lot."
"That's just how she is."
"No kidding—she even came to me for advice."
"What?"
"She stopped by earlier and we talked for a while. She's upset that you got mad."
Kang Hyun sipped his coffee in silence.
He wasn't sure what her angle was or where she was headed.
But as a senior, he knew she genuinely liked him and was looking out for him.
She just wanted her promising junior to succeed.
"Let me give you some advice. In this game, there are rivals and competitors, but no real enemies. What does it take for that to hold true?"
"..."
Kang Hyun couldn't come up with a pat answer as the man paused thoughtfully.
It was a question that pierced right through his own dilemmas.
"It's simple. Forgiveness and recognition."
"Forgiveness and recognition?"
"Forgive them and acknowledge them. That's how you avoid making enemies."
He seemed more earnest than ever, utterly convinced it was sound advice.
It might just be the answer Kang Hyun was seeking—and something he still lacked.
There were plenty of people dividing into factions, judging by strength alone. Acting with both forgiveness and recognition in that world sounded incredibly tough.
But there was no doubt that "forgiveness and recognition" was the goal to aim for.
Only then could Kang Hyun nod vigorously in agreement.
"Sound like an old fogey?"
"No. Like a senior."
Kang Hyun stood and gave a light bow. The man brushed off his clothes and rose too.
"It's a long way back to Incheon. Next time, treat this big bro to a meal."
"Got it. I'll save up my allowance."
Kang Hyun managed a faint smile, as if he'd escaped the chaos and confusion.
Then he headed straight somewhere.
The student council room at school.
Where Dan Chorok was likely to be.
No—it was certain she was there.
He pushed open the building door, strode down the hall, and spotted a man's silhouette.
"Lee Myung-hwan?"
"Yeah. You here?"
He looked utterly exhausted—probably from a drinking session.
"Senior, you're wasted."
"Booze?"
"Looks like it was a rough day."
He let out a heavy sigh, hesitating as if about to say something.
"Spit it out if you've got something to say."
"Sorry about today..."
"What're you sorry for?"
"No one said school execs were coming, and I feel like I put unnecessary pressure on you... I don't know exactly what happened, but..."
He must've heard Kang Hyun had left before things wrapped up.
Guessing that was why Dan Chorok had drowned her sorrows, he eyed Kang Hyun with pity and guilt.
Sensing it, Kang Hyun said casually,
"My bad for overreacting. Came to apologize. Call me for the next event. Sorry for dipping early."
"Nah."
"I'll head in for a sec. Talk later."
Lee Myung-hwan nodded, his face still downcast.
Passing him, Kang Hyun carefully opened the door.
Creak.
Cooo...
There was Dan Chorok, asleep on the sofa under a blanket. He sat quietly beside her.
Her face was scrunched up, radiating exhaustion.
What could be so demanding, so full of worries? She looked drained and weary.
"Why go that far?"
As Kang Hyun spoke, she stirred at the sound, blinking groggily up at him.
After a long moment, she slowly opened her mouth.
"What. Something else bug you?"
Her voice held no emotion, but Kang Hyun could tell she was deeply upset.
He replied evenly.
"No. Sorry, Senior."
"Whatever. I'm cutting ties with you, so don't worry."
He spoke to her back as she rolled over.
"I'll do better."
"...At what."
"Heard what Director Gong Hyun-jeong said to me?"
"Yeah."
"So you're gonna block my run now?"
"I've got principles too."
She spoke slowly.
"I get it. Politics always tags along with the law. Connections, factions. I'm young, you're young, but we both know that."
"Yeah."
"But I've got principles. Choosing for ourselves, not them."
"..."
"I want me to succeed. And you too."
She rolled back over and slowly extended her hand.
An offer of reconciliation.
"We're not gonna spend our lives just in school. Lawyers and prosecutors, judges and prosecutors. Who knows how we'll cross paths later."
Kang Hyun thought.
The dream of flipping the outdated pyramid system like an hourglass, shaking up the legal world rife with conventions and politics.
Breaching the dam to drain the stagnant water and fill it fresh.
Maybe impossible.
But he could resolve to try his best.
Like Dan Chorok.
Like the old him.
Click.
Kang Hyun reached out and took her hand.
The room was dark, unlit, filled only with their distant breaths.
But now their eyes met. They hadn't spoken it, but they shared the same thought.
Lifelong comrades.
Such bonds weren't forged by grand events.
If hearts connected, they formed easily—and could last until death.
The spark for his student council run was now greenlit.
No backing down now—the real campaign was ahead.
"We'll fill out the council members step by step. VP candidate too."
"Good call. With the interim committee in place, think of them as the core team. Campaign funds?"
"Per Article 17 of the election bylaws on public campaign financing, I've posted the deposit. To ensure the student council election isn't swayed by candidates' finances and to give those with good policies a fair shot, expenses can be up to 10% of the semester's student fees. Right?"
"You know that's not enough."
"Yeah. Business school's loaded, so we gotta spend smart to keep up."
"Alright, let's hit the essentials first."
Dan Chorok was an expert at this. Kang Hyun, on the other hand, was clueless.
No way it'd go smoothly on his own, but now he had a solid ally.
"Promo materials and posters are handled centrally by the election HQ, so check the spending limits. Anything extra's on us."
With her and others pitching in, support grew.
Backed by the law school council and those around him, preparations clicked into place.
Of course, there were hiccups.
"We said start at A-1 zone and go clockwise with greetings."
"Wasn't it counterclockwise?"
"You hitting up the business school crowd?"
"No?"
"Sigh."
"We'll redo it."
But as strategies solidified, Kang Hyun felt like he was soaring.
"Hello. Number one, Kang Hyun. Nice to meet you."
Meeting tons of people boosted his confidence naturally, and promotions got organized.
"There's a consulting info session today—lots of folks there."
"Got it."
Elections weren't just about eloquence or smarts.
It was showing you could connect with people.
Judging and deploying showmanship effectively and timely.
And how big your support network was.
October flew by like this, campaigns nonstop into mid-month.
"Who you voting for?"
"Huh?"
"Student council election's end of the month."
"Isn't it unopposed?"
Once word spread about Kang Hyun's candidacy, even the indifferent started paying attention.
The usually overlooked election was turning into a major event.
Then one Thursday, as things went smoothly—
Clunk.
"Senior?"
"...Do I have to go? Yes, sir."
The plain student council room.
Dan Chorok was on the phone, looking grave.
"No, I'll attend. Thank you. Come in."
Click.
"...?"
"Why're you here?"
"Something up?"
She tried hiding her unease but spoke to Kang Hyun with a resigned expression.
"The alumni association."
"Yeah?"
"They've got interest in the student council president race."
Korea University's General Alumni Association.
A powerhouse external group dominating university affairs.
Their clout and prestige, built from successful alumni, were infamous inside and out.
Hence the saying: "Get your face in with the alumni."
But their gatherings? Mostly to be avoided.
Epic benders with rivers of booze. Show up for "networking," and you'd likely embarrass yourself or regret it big time.
Yet Kang Hyun's gut screamed:
This was a spot he absolutely had to hit.