The Emperor's New Clothes
"Um... Senior?"
My voice scattered weakly into the air-conditioned breeze. The man on the sofa didn't move a muscle. He wore nothing but a single pair of underwear. The blanket that had been barely covering his stomach had given up its duty and lay completely crumpled on the floor. His back muscles, exposed in all their natural glory, glistened under the student council room's antique lighting. I stood there in total brain shutdown, trying to figure out how to process the visual terrorism that had just slammed straight into my retinas.
"Hey, newbie." The senior murmured without even opening his eyes. "Don't stare so hard. You'll wear them out."
"Ah, no! I just heard it was a meeting, so...!"
The senior rose with obvious annoyance. "Meeting? Oh, has it already been that long?" The moment he sat up, I instinctively whipped my head away.
"Whoa?! More importantly, is it really okay to be sitting around school in just your underwear?"
"Quit chirping like a baby chick. It's giving me a headache." Instead of answering, he stared at my flustered face like I was the weird one and let out a big yawn. Had this person's sense of shame completely evaporated along with his mana?
"Oh my, Gangcheol senior. Here we go again."
A voice of salvation rang out from behind me. It was the student council president, Kwon Dohee. Behind her came Chaeyeon, Seungwoo senior, and Sua senior, filing in one after another. Dohee senior casually kicked the fallen blanket across the floor and tossed it toward the senior.
"Senior, there are freshmen present. This isn't exactly educational."
Dohee senior lightly tapped the legs of the panty-clad senior as he awkwardly stood up.
"Please put some clothes on. How many times is this now?"
"Haha, sorry. The air conditioner felt so nice that I got carried away by the sense of liberation."
It wasn't even summer yet, but the student council meeting room was already blasting cold air. No wonder I felt that chill the moment I reached the door...
The panty senior smiled sheepishly and began picking up his school uniform pants from the corner, pulling them on piece by piece.
"Since there are some new faces, let me do proper introductions."
Dohee senior pointed at the man who was slowly, almost luxuriously, getting dressed.
"This is the third-year Joker, Choi Gangcheol senior."
"Joker?"
I found it slightly fascinating that she introduced him with that title. Meanwhile, Chaeyeon looked like she'd seen something she shouldn't have and couldn't decide where to rest her eyes.
"My ability is The Emperor's New Clothes."
The Emperor's New Clothes. It was definitely the fairy tale about a king who gets tricked by swindlers and parades around completely naked.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't think about it too strangely."
Seungwoo senior and Sua senior simply wore calm, everyday smiles, as if this was completely normal student council business. They each took their preferred seats and began preparing for the meeting. That's when the door slid open with a rattle—a sharp-eyed male student wearing a dark navy cardigan stepped inside.
"Sorry I'm late."
He apologized for his tardiness, but the clock showed 12:58. For a one o'clock meeting, he was essentially right on time.
"Right on time," Dohee senior said, powering up the hologram table before addressing the newcomer. "This is your first time seeing the freshmen in person, right? Go ahead and introduce yourself."
The young man pulled out a chair and sat down, his eyes scanning both me and Chaeyeon.
"I'm second-year Jeong Taeo. Nice to meet you."
"Hello."
"Hello, senior."
Chaeyeon and I were sitting side by side. At his greeting, we reflexively half-rose from our seats and bowed.
Once Taeo senior had settled in, Dohee senior gathered everyone's attention.
"First of all, it seems Gangjin was curious about the 'Joker' title he heard when Gangcheol senior was introduced earlier."
"Ah, yes. That's right."
It sounded like a nickname for some kind of wild card. Did it have something to do with the student council's ranking system?
"Our student council uses position titles instead of traditional ranks like 'president' or 'vice president.'"
Dohee senior scattered her mana, shaping it into the form of trump cards.
"It's far more intuitive for missions that way."
"And it makes you feel like a badass secret agent," Choi Gangcheol senior added with a nod.
"What exactly is that supposed to mean?"
Dohee senior gave a small snort and continued, pointing at each card in turn.
"A (Ace). Gaon High's student council president, leader of the council, and the one with final decision-making authority. That's me."
"K (King). Strategy planning and vice president. Han Seungwoo."
"Q (Queen). Supply, healing, and medical support. The council secretary who maintains the members' health and mana vitality—Yeon Sua."
"J (Jack). The field commander and general affairs officer. Jeong Taeo, who just arrived."
The whole thing felt strangely like a sentai team setup, which was a little cringeworthy, but it also gave off serious secret society vibes. Most of all, since this was the group I now belonged to, I felt a strange thrill of excitement.
"Oh... Then what about the Joker?"
At my question, Seungwoo senior answered with his arms crossed.
"The Joker is like the head of the disciplinary committee. It represents overwhelming firepower that goes beyond established tactics."
Seungwoo senior glanced around the room, then asked Dohee senior, "Speaking of which, where's Iseo?"
"Iseo has family matters to attend to. She won't be able to participate in this 'Residue Intensive Cleanup' operation."
Iseo? I thought I remembered seeing the name 'Song Iseo' on the participant list when I was first added to the student council group chat.
So she was a second-year senior.
Dohee senior nodded and gestured toward Choi Gangcheol senior, who was still buttoning his shirt.
"That's why, for this operation only, we've brought in the third-year Joker—Gangcheol senior—to fill her spot."
Having fastened only the very bottom button of his shirt and shoved his hands into his pockets, Gangcheol senior addressed the group.
"I struggled through all of second year thinking I'd finally get to relax in third year, but..."
Dohee senior gave him a sly smile. "There's no more reliable firepower to fill Iseo's absence than this senior right here."
Though Gangcheol senior grumbled verbally, the faint smile playing at the corner of his mouth suggested he wasn't entirely unhappy about the situation.
"That's how it is, you baby elephants."
Just like how Uncle Lee Cheolsu's mana manipulation at the dojo had evolved into Jinny's new technique in real combat, I felt the urge to closely observe the mana operation of these second and third-year seniors I'd be working with. I wanted to find parts I could learn from and apply myself.
I was making that bold resolution when my eyes accidentally met Gangcheol senior's exposed chest, which had popped out because he hadn't bothered buttoning his shirt properly.
What a truly strange person.
Clap! Dohee senior clapped her hands once to cut through the messy atmosphere.
"Alright! Before we begin the operation briefing, let's take a look at our first-years' abilities!"
She looked at me with eyes that clearly said show us what you've got.
"Shall we start with Gangjin?"
At Dohee senior's suggestion, I took a deep breath and rubbed my backside a few times. The other members—except for Chaeyeon and Seungwoo senior—watched me with clear interest.
"Jinny, they want you to introduce yourself."
With a burst of golden smoke, Jinny made her flashy entrance.
"Finally, I get to breathe this refreshing air!"
She popped out with her usual energy, shouting boldly.
"Hey, you pretty ladies and you nerds over there! Behold this body's magnificent appear—"
Then she suddenly stopped. Her gaze had locked onto Choi Gangcheol senior, whose shirt was still wide open.
"...?"
Jinny's expression stiffened dramatically. She quietly floated down and hid behind my shoulder. When she spoke again, her usual sassy tone was completely gone, replaced by an extremely polite and calm voice.
"Ah... Hello, everyone. It's a pleasure to meet you all for the first time."
I was more flustered by Jinny's sudden display of perfect manners than anything else.
"I am the lamp fairy 'Jinny,' born from the gathered mana of the fairy tale known as Aladdin..."
Jinny bowed deeply.
"As you can see, I am an Original spirit. Please take good care of me..."
Even while shrinking back timidly, she made sure to mention her status as an Original.
Choi Gangcheol senior grinned and waved at her.
"Oh~!? An Original spirit, huh."
He gave both me and Jinny a thumbs-up.
"The spirit kid's got some really solid energy. Nice to meet you, little one."
"Ah, yes. Please take care of me, senior."
I found this suddenly polite version of Jinny both unfamiliar and incredibly awkward.
After that, Chaeyeon demonstrated her ability. Everyone clapped and marveled at the lightning crackling around her right leg, but Jinny remained strangely quiet, staying hidden behind my shoulder and staring only at Gangcheol senior.
"Then I'll explain the operation. For this midterm exam, we'll need to defend five sectors: east, west, south, north, and the main school building."
Dohee senior suggested drawing lots for fairness. The others drew their assignments one by one. When it was my turn, I reached for a lot, but Dohee senior pulled it behind her back.
"Gangjin, I have a specific area already chosen for you."
"Huh...? Where is it?"
It seemed she had decided on my sector in advance.
"You'll be teaming up with Gangcheol senior to handle the west side."
She had specifically chosen me for the West Abandoned Factory Zone.
"Me?!"
It was the sudden birth of an impromptu duo with the rather peculiar Gangcheol senior.
"That's right. The density of Residues there is too high for a normal Awakener to handle."
Dohee senior placed a hand on my shoulder and gave it a gentle pat.
"With your potential and the senior's firepower, it should be more than enough."
As Sua senior left the meeting room, she added, "Two S-class members? Isn't that overkill?"
Passing by me with the scent of fragrant shampoo, she gave me an encouraging smile.
"Do your best. It'll be good experience for you."
One by one, the student council members left the room until only Dohee senior, Chaeyeon, and Gangcheol senior remained.
"If there's anything else to pass on, just use the group chat."
Gangcheol senior walked out of the student council room without bothering to button his shirt the rest of the way.
"Fifth period is about to start, everyone. Let's break up before we're late."
Dohee senior turned off the lights and closed the door.
"There's still some time left, but make sure you prepare well for midterms. Let's all do our best with the Residue cleanup too!"
Dohee senior skipped away with a bright smile while, across the hallway, I could see Gangcheol senior strolling leisurely with his hands in his pockets.
***
After school...
Chaeyeon had a family dinner, so she headed home right after class. On my way back alone, I couldn't help but chuckle as I remembered Gangcheol senior's ridiculous underwear appearance from earlier.
He really is one unique and strange person.
That's when Jinny, who had kept her mouth tightly shut ever since seeing Gangcheol senior in the meeting room, finally spoke to me cautiously.
Her voice was so serious and low that not a trace of her usual playfulness remained.
When the topic of Gangcheol senior came up, I decided to ask Jinny about what had been bothering me.
"No wonder you suddenly got all polite the first time you saw him..."
The existence of Gangcheol senior had completely silenced the usually bouncy and mischievous Jinny in an instant.
I wondered exactly what kind of person he was.