The Student Council's Offer
The aftermath of the Arachne disturbance that had shaken the forest behind our school yesterday was more persistent than I expected.
The school had officially detected an abnormal high-output mana reaction, and they launched a full-scale investigation to determine whether this unidentified mana belonged to a student or an outside intruder. They must have concluded it could develop into a sensitive issue directly tied to student safety.
I sat at the window seat in Class 1-1, watching the mana search team cross the sports field, and swallowed hard.
Gulp.
I can’t get caught…
Revealing Jinny, an Original spirit, was one thing, but if the fact that my summoning method involved rubbing my butt ever got out, my high school life would turn into a punchline overnight.
This bizarre combination of housing a beautiful spirit in my rear end would make perfect headline material. It wouldn’t even be surprising if it made the news tomorrow.
Chaeyeon, who was in the neighboring Class 2, had to be feeling the same way. Whether we liked it or not, we had become the root cause of an incident that forced the creation of a major investigation team. We were both sitting on pins and needles in our respective classrooms.
The knowledge that we had mobilized people in official positions made us feel like prank-calling kids who just wanted the whole thing to blow over quickly.
“…So, ability users have something called a ‘catalyst’ that lets them rapidly recharge their mana.”
The homeroom teacher finished his explanation of catalysts, and the bell rang to signal the end of fourth period.
“This won’t be on the midterms, so I’ll go over it in more detail later!” he added while gathering the tools spread across his desk.
The front door opened almost immediately after the bell.
“Hello, sir.”
The person who greeted the teacher—who was about to head to the staff room—was impeccably polite.
“Ah, Seungwoo. What brings you to our class?”
“I’m looking for someone. I came straight here as soon as class ended.”
The teacher and the senior named Seungwoo exchanged quick handshakes and swapped places. He introduced himself as Han Seungwoo, a second-year member of the student council.
A female student trailed behind him somewhat hesitantly.
Why is Chaeyeon here?
It was Lee Chaeyeon.
The senior called my name.
“Baek Gangjin from Class 1-1. Step outside for a moment.”
Every pair of eyes in the classroom snapped toward me at once.
“…Yes!”
I walked into the hallway with heavy steps, like a criminal awaiting sentencing.
Chaeyeon’s usual confident demeanor had vanished. She fidgeted with her fingers, glancing at me nervously.
“What’s going on…?” I asked, completely lost.
“I have no idea either…”
She shrugged, looking just as confused as I was.
“To think we’d get summoned by a student council senior out of nowhere…”
Both of us were a little intimidated by the student council and the sudden call. We followed Senior Seungwoo with hunched shoulders all the way to the student council room at the far end of the third floor.
The moment we opened the heavy, soundproofed door, a faint aroma of black tea washed over us. The student council president I had met once before was waiting.
Kwon Dohee, president of Gaon High’s student council.
She greeted us with a gentle yet commanding smile.
“Welcome.”
It was just a greeting, but an unusual tension instantly filled the entire room.
She gestured toward the empty seats at the table.
“Hello…”
Last time, surrounded by this same black tea scent, she had offered to scout me as a new member. An S-class top freshman must have looked like valuable talent to the student council.
Of course, I had turned it down because I was terrified of my butt becoming public knowledge across the school.
…Now that I thought about it, I realized I had never given her a proper answer.
“Gangjin, I’d like to hear your response to the offer I made at the entrance ceremony.”
She took a sip from her teacup. Senior Seungwoo set cups in front of us and poured perfectly steeped black tea. A fragrant peach aroma rose to my nose.
“Ah… well, that is…”
I was so nervous I could barely form a simple sentence. Still, I had to say it.
“…It seems difficult for me to join the student council.”
She closed her eyes without the slightest change in expression, as if she had anticipated the answer.
“I see.”
President Kwon projected a hologram chart above the table. It clearly displayed the mana readings from the western forest yesterday.
“Your abilities have already far surpassed the level of typical freshmen.”
She tapped the hologram, and footage from yesterday’s forest incident began to play.
Western Forest Mana Values
High-output reaction confirmed
Video Playback: Arachne Encounter
Baek Gangjin preparing summoning sequence… buttocks rubbing detected
“Especially you, Gangjin… with that butt of yours.”
Her dry remark made my face burn so hot I thought it might explode. I had never imagined anyone might have been watching. Yet the hologram clearly showed me rubbing my butt while preparing to fight the Arachne.
President Kwon seemed to read my embarrassment and continued in a calm voice.
“The school is currently obsessed with finding the source of that wave, but I plan to file this record as a ‘measurement error.’”
“A measurement error…?”
If the student council submitted a false report, the mana search team’s frantic hunt for the truth behind my butt would finally end.
“There is, of course, a condition.”
President Kwon glanced at both Chaeyeon and me.
“Will you two join the student council?”
I felt a wave of shame at having my secret exposed.
“Are you threatening me with the fact that my awakened area is my buttocks?”
“This isn’t a threat. I need students like you—people who truly understand how to utilize their abilities.”
“And if I refuse?”
A subtle battle of nerves passed between us. Honestly, I was angry. It felt like someone had planted a camera on me and was now exposing my most humiliating secret against my will.
Chaeyeon stood between us, fidgeting anxiously as she tried to read the room.
“If you refuse…”
What could she really do? At worst, the whole school would learn I was a butt awakener. The student council had always seemed like a good place. If I didn’t carry the embarrassing title of butt awakener, I probably would have joined willingly. But recruiting new members by exploiting their weaknesses? No thanks.
“…What a shame!”
Huh?
President Kwon smiled brightly and set down her cup.
“Even if you refuse, I won’t spread rumors that you’re a butt awakener.”
Had she read my mind? The conversation was heading in a completely different direction than I expected.
“Haha! Excuse me, could I speak with Gangjin alone for a moment?”
Chaeyeon let out an awkward laugh to ease the tension and quickly pulled me out of the room.
We stopped on the staircase leading to the rooftop.
“Baek Gangjin, are you stupid?”
“What?”
“Senior Han Seungwoo already noticed us, and the student council president offered to help by filing a false report. She’s extending her hand.”
I thought of the mana search team still combing through the mountain behind the school.
“If we join the student council, no one can investigate our mana without permission. Your embarrassing summoning method will be protected as confidential student council information.”
Chaeyeon stepped closer and looked me straight in the eyes.
“If the search team keeps investigating and picks up your mana signature, things could get really annoying.”
If they caught us, we might be forced into an interview where I’d have to demonstrate my awakened area and ability. The powers of an S-class top freshman were perfect gossip material. The entire school would find out I was a butt awakener in no time.
I didn’t want that kind of mass attention. If it had to come out, I wanted to reveal it slowly, one person at a time.
“Trust me and let’s do this. It’s much safer than trying to hide everything alone.”
Chaeyeon’s persuasion somehow cleared the tangled thoughts in my head. Spending the next three years of high school connected to strong allies who understood me seemed like the smarter choice. This was ultimately about creating comrades who could protect and support the secret of my butt.
“…Yeah. Being in the student council would make school life a lot easier.”
At my answer, Chaeyeon’s shoulders relaxed and she smiled.
“We’ll try it together. If it doesn’t feel right, we can always leave.”
Knowing I had gained reliable allies who would guard my secret made this feel like a pretty good deal for my school life.
Yes. This was probably the better choice.
We returned to the student council room right away. Senior Seungwoo had disappeared somewhere. Only President Kwon remained, leaning back in her chair and staring blankly at the ceiling.
“So, did you talk things through?”
She looked at us with expectant eyes.
Chaeyeon and I nodded.
“You’ll let both of us join the student council, right?”
“Of course!”
She smiled warmly and handed us a pen along with the membership application forms.
“Write your names here.”
Chaeyeon took the pen without hesitation and began filling hers out. I followed suit.
“I look forward to working with you.”
President Kwon took the completed forms and answered with a smile.
“We’re family now. I’m the one who should be saying that—I look forward to working with you!”
After classes ended, Chaeyeon and I headed to Jungshim Taekwondo together.
True to her word, the moment we submitted our applications, President Kwon informed the investigation team that yesterday’s abnormal mana wave in the western forest had been a measurement error. The team accepted the student council president’s statement without question and withdrew.
…It actually worked?
The walk home felt far more peaceful than yesterday now that the weight had been lifted from my chest.
“I should tell Dad I joined the student council today, right?”
“Yeah, the director will be thrilled.”
We chatted lightly until we reached the dojo entrance.
Normally at this hour, Uncle Lee Cheolsu would be shouting hearty commands while instructing the students. Today, however, an eerie silence filled the building.
Swish. Thwack—!
Sharp friction sounds and the noise of air being sliced leaked through the gap in the door.
Chaeyeon and I exchanged glances before I carefully opened the dojo door.
“Huh…?”
In the center of the training hall, on the wide mat, an unbelievable scene was unfolding.
Uncle stood with sharp, serious eyes, facing off against someone. His precise, disciplined movements clashed with the red-haired boy’s lightning-fast agility. Intense waves of mana swirled across the mat.
The atmosphere between them was far too tense to call it mere practice. The pressure they radiated made even the Arachne we fought yesterday seem trivial.
“Dad’s… sparring?”
Chaeyeon’s voice carried clear bewilderment.
A sparring match with Uncle Lee Cheolsu.
This was going to be really interesting.