The Angel Forming a Club (7)
“President……”
The student council president always spoke like this. She uttered words that no one could easily believe, boldly claiming she could achieve what others deemed impossible. And those boastful words of hers would, in time, become truth in her hands.
An angel? No way… Or could it be……?
So the few student council executives gathered here had no choice but to rethink Refri.
“So, what you mean is… you want to make Refri your colleague, President?”
“Hmm, a hero and guardian angel aren’t just simple colleagues.”
“Not just colleagues?”
With a tsk, a man stood up. He was a handsome guy with a half-hearted attitude and a cynical air. At first glance, he looked less like a student and more like a thug who’d rolled out of the underworld. But the academy uniform he wore and his somewhat immature demeanor proved he wasn’t an adult yet.
“Then what……”
He was a third-year in the Assassin Department and the student council’s number two. And above all, he was the famous eldest son of the owner family of the massive guild ‘Hanshin’.
His name was Gusanghyeok.
“…are you saying he’s your boyfriend or something?”
“…Ahh, why say something so embarrassing.”
Yusihyun feigned embarrassment with expert nonchalance. Gusanghyeok tsked again, as if annoyed by her act, and turned away.
“This is driving me crazy… President. Aren’t you getting more brazen by the day?”
“Vice President. Your words are too rough.”
Yusihyun looked at him with a fearful shrink, as if terrified. If it was acting, it was flawless.
Gusanghyeok flinched, as if she was the truly scary one, and quickly turned his head away.
“We don’t have any reason to worry about some brat like that in the first place. That insane plan to ‘convince’ Professor Hexi to fall failed.”
“Ugh… Sanghyeok, I’m sorry… I was so stupid… I thought Professor Park Jinho would turn a blind eye for sure.”
Turn a blind eye to drugs? Even if Park Jinho was a warrior who didn’t care about means or methods… what the hell was this about?
“…Professor Park Jinho would never overlook something like this!”
“Is that so? I thought otherwise… See, I really am dumb. Hiiing.”
Yusihyun made a pouty face.
“Could Professor Park Jinho have… rediscovered the humanity he abandoned long ago?”
For a split second, Yusihyun’s eyes gleamed coldly. The executives averted their gazes from each other and looked at Gusanghyeok with pitiful expressions.
“Hoo.”
Gusanghyeok sighed and spoke.
“President. So what exactly do you want?”
“…Hmm.”
Yusihyun slowly stood. With a radiant smile, as if genuinely looking forward to what was coming, she grabbed Gusanghyeok’s shoulder.
“If our Mari had her angel stolen from me……”
She whispered in his ear.
“…I wonder what kind of face she’d make? And… how cute would that face be?”
Hearing that, Gusanghyeok answered her question in a flat, emotionless voice.
“You crazy bitch.”
“Ahh, Vice President… your words have been too much since earlier!”
Yusihyun made another aggrieved face, huffed in offense, and stormed out of the student council room.
“……”
The council members moved to leave as well.
“Everyone, stop.”
But at the vice president’s cold command, they froze like statues.
“Sit back down. We still have unfinished business.”
As the executives sat, Gusanghyeok declared in a sharp voice.
“Is the Club Festival prep going well?”
“Yes, Vice President. Everything’s on track without issues.”
The Club Festival—literally a festival where Central Superhuman Academy’s clubs gathered. It was a huge event that even drew local residents. But it went beyond mere fun……
“Then, as usual, clubs that fall short on performance this time……”
“…will face downsizing or closure. Of course, high-performing clubs get priority budget allocation.”
“Good. This is our chance to deal with that annoying first-year……”
That annoying first-year. The irritating boy whose methods were unknown, but who’d exploded in popularity with professors and other students alike. And on top of that.
My angel? Hah, angels vanished from this world thousands of years ago—what nonsense.
Gusanghyeok was so baffled by the president’s words that he didn’t even feel like getting angry.
But whatever. Why are these guys making faces like they don’t wanna do it? It’s not like this is our first or second time.
Gusanghyeok glanced around. Most of the executives wore reluctant expressions. One of them spoke up.
“Um… Vice President.”
“What.”
“For this Club Festival… how about we just let it be?”
Just let it be? What the hell?
“What’re you talking about? Why bring this up now?”
“Even if we don’t rig it… a volunteer club like that has no chance of succeeding, right?”
“Exactly. A brand-new club with only three members can’t score high in the festival. Even without us doing anything……”
“Yeah.”
The executives began nodding. Some even smiled brightly, as if finally relieved.
“Ha, that first-year……”
Gusanghyeok finally understood the situation.
Even our own executives have fallen for that first-year? Is he not an angel but a devil at seduction or something?
Finishing his thought, Gusanghyeok raised his fist high.
Bam—
He didn’t feel rage, but he feigned it to intimidate the executives.
“You joking right now? You forgot who you are just ‘cause that first-year put on a little show?”
He cleared his throat and began acting furious.
“You’re the student council of Central Superhuman Academy. And that first-year is a rebel who bared his teeth at us.”
Gusanghyeok declared coldly.
“If you keep siding with the rebel like this, I’ll have no choice but to see you as rebels who’ve turned against the council too.”
His gaze pierced the executives.
“So, are you rebels?”
…Not a single one answered.
On the outskirts of Central Superhuman Academy stood a small cathedral. Living there were the angel-pretending-to-be-an-angel Refri, the black mage Soya with her airheaded quirks, and.
“Professor?”
“Yeah?”
…Professor Hexi of the Archery Department.
“What brings you to our cathedral? And what’s with all that luggage you’re carrying?”
No, she was planning to live there.
Refri eyed Hexi, who was loaded up with bags on her back. Hexi hung her head slightly embarrassed, staring endlessly at Refri’s face.
“Ah……”
Hexi savored the sight of Refri stepping out the door. How beautiful the angel looked bathed in morning sunlight. His flowing golden hair evoked the abundance of wheat fields before harvest, and his sparkling green eyes were like emeralds fit for a crown. Hexi smiled as if she owned the world.
“So……”
Hexi placed a hand on Refri’s shoulder.
“…nice……”
She was on the verge of losing her mind, drool nearly forming……
“…Professor. Professor!”
Only Refri’s angelic voice snapped her out of it. And in that moment.
“Uuum.”
Soya’s voice came from behind.
“Refri, what’s that noise…? Who’s here……?”
Still half-asleep, Soya looked both pitiful and adorable. Her animal-print pajamas were stained with all sorts of reagents, and her unkempt hair—since Refri hadn’t brushed it—was a bit sad. But rubbing her eyes as she stumbled out… she was utterly cute.
“Yeah……”
“Who is it? Don’t tell me……”
The dazed Hexi who’d been staring at Refri vanished. The Hexi who’d smiled like she owned the world was gone too.
With the coldest demeanor imaginable, she watched the girl emerging from inside.
Hexi whispered quietly into Refri’s ear.
“Angel… don’t tell me that girl is the hero candidate you’ve chosen this time?”
“Professor Hexi. You can’t just throw around words like ‘angel’!”
“Answer me.”
Refri thought for a moment.
It’s best to hide that Soya or the others are hero candidates. If the Demon King’s army catches on, they won’t sit idle.
The Four Heavenly Kings member Drumark he’d met before had even pegged Yumari and Hongwol as the professors’ prized disciples, showing their sharp intel. Why else would the Demon King’s army invest such resources in Central Academy? Obviously to scout future hero candidates.
That’s how dangerous the info is. Even for Hexi, better to keep it hidden.
Refri steeled himself. And right away, the angel put on an innocent, clueless face.
“Hero candidate? What’s that? Something to eat?”
“Ah.”
At the angel’s pure, questioning expression, Hexi naturally bought it.
“Got it for now.”
“Not ‘got it,’ say ‘okay.’”
“Yeah, okay.”
Now it was time for the main point.
“Professor, what brings you to the cathedral?”
“Oh, I’m gonna live here too.”
Hexi beamed, dropping a line that wasn’t funny at all. That was the moment.
“…What?! No, what do you mean!”
Squawk— Soya burst out mid-toothbrushing and pointed furiously at Hexi.
“This is me and Refri’s dorm! Plus, I’m in Magic Engineering, and Refri… what department are you even in? Anyway, you don’t take Archery classes—how can you, no, a professor, live here?!”
Hexi looked at Soya. Then slowly opened her mouth.
“Then is it okay for students to cohabitate freely? Even a boy and girl of different genders?”
“…That’s!”
Out-logicked, Soya immediately turned to Refri. Refri sighed and decided to back her up.
“There were circumstances. Soya had no choice but to leave the dorms due to one-sided bullying from Magic Engineering students, and I forgot to apply for one. So Soya and I agreed to build and live in this cathedral together.”
“Exactly!”
Soya had dropped all politeness now.
“Bullied by Magic Engineering students… That’s our professors’ failure in student management. If that’s the case, Klein or the others would approve this exception.”
“Then get out. No, leave!”
Soya, now done brushing, stuck right behind Refri and jabbed her finger at Hexi.
Soya… Hexi’s still an academy professor, you know?
Refri felt the urge for a forehead flick after ages.
Hexi ignored the brat’s finger-pointing and continued.
“But even with circumstances, a boy and girl sharing space looks highly improper.”
“N-not improper at all. Totally not.”
Soya’s cheeks flushed as she clung to Refri.
“Really? Not even a little improper? Magic Engineering student, you’ve never had an improper thought?”
“Eek!”
Soya couldn’t respond. Seeing that, Hexi spoke slowly.
“That’s why I’m here. To protect the angel—no, to supervise you two.”
“Professor, you don’t mean…”
Hexi smiled. A somehow sinister smile.
“Yes. Starting today, I’m the dorm supervisor here.”