Chapter 43
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Academy's Exemplar
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[I'm sorry, Young Master Rubelt. Chisaki committed such a foolish rudeness...]
The master scolded Chisaki and immediately apologized to me.
"It's fine, Master. No one was hurt... and I was glad to see Chisaki's skills, which you've praised so highly."
[Young Master Rubelt is as magnanimous as ever. But calling Chisaki by her name so casually...]
My usual dad-bragging mode activated without fail.
"I called her 'Miss' at first, but she told me to just use her name. When the master says something, I have to follow."
[I see.]
He still seemed a tiny bit upset.
But I had a secret weapon.
"Oh, right, Master. I heard from Chisaki that you didn't drink the Thunderclap Brew with her first just to share it with me? As your disciple, I'm honestly... thrilled."
[What? Oh, that girl Chisaki again...]
"And she seemed really upset that you drank all the Thunderclap Brew with me."
[Chisaki! Didn't I tell you in advance that the Thunderclap Brew was just for me and the young master? And you're complaining again!]
[I wanted some toooo!]
"Yes, it showed. So this time, I'll prepare an extra bottle so you and Chisaki can enjoy it together."
[Gulp...! Is that true, Young Master Rubelt?]
"Of course. As your disciple, I can't just stand by while you and your daughter are on bad terms. So please come with Chisaki in two days, and I'll have the Thunderclap Brew ready."
[Ha, ha, hahaha! Well, I'll be! You've made me show such unnecessary consideration again, Young Master Rubelt!]
He seemed completely cheered up now.
Alcohol works wonders on Master, as expected.
"It's not consideration. This is all out of respect for you as my master. I'll be waiting in two days."
[Hahaha! I'm looking forward to it too!]
[Dad! This rock is heavy! Can I put it down now? Huh?]
[No! Hold it for one more hour!]
[Eeeek!]
After ending the call with Master, I checked the next female candidate profile for Sihoon.
I swiped through the tablet rapidly, scanning the info at high speed.
After reading all the profiles, I found someone who seemed perfect for Sihoon.
A woman who wasn't a heroine from Blaze Blood and wasn't particularly my type.
And conveniently, someone with a high chance of connecting with Sihoon.
She'd probably become our class president.
Kim Yesel.
From a fairly well-off, ordinary middle-class family—not poor.
Mana awakening started in middle school.
She had a personality that made her step up first to help anyone in trouble.
That's why she'd always led by example and served as class president every year.
She wielded a magic staff like Yume and specialized in healing magic.
Her style: straight black hair with a red headband, black eyes.
Her looks were decent enough, and her figure was a bit above average.
According to the intel, she was likely to join the volunteer club.
As the protagonist, Sihoon was upright and always eager to help others—they were a perfect match.
In subculture, the class president archetype was prime heroine material.
But in Blaze Blood, with all those other quirky heroines, the class president was just an extra.
Ah, but even extras appeared regularly.
Just in text dialogue boxes, no illustrations.
At the end of school scenes.
Class President: Attention! Salute!
Cadets: Good work, everyone!
That repetitive pattern.
No voice lines, naturally.
I called Rize on my phone.
"You called, Young Master."
"Rize, take a look at this. Doesn't she seem perfect for Sihoon?"
I showed Rize Kim Yesel's profile.
"...She does seem like a great match. In many ways, she'd complement Sihoon's meddlesome nature and his knack for getting along with people."
"Right? Great. Then she's the target for Operation Cupid: Sihoon Edition."
"It's not just Sihoon— you're quite the meddler yourself, Young Master. Most people wouldn't go this far for a friend's love life."
"Think about it, Rize~ If Sihoon stays single like this, he'll get drunk someday and whine to me about his misery. I don't want to hear that."
"Just block him."
"As a friend, that's a bit much... Plus, Sihoon's helped me out secretly in so many ways. Time to pay him back."
"Sihoon's blood... I mean, yes."
"Exactly. With Sihoon around, the hunter society, humanity, and the Eldra family will prosper even more. Of course I have to step up as Cupid."
There were plenty of events for them to get close. The class president election, of course, plus the first dungeon practical and later joint training sessions.
I'd rig the groups—forcefully or plausibly—to pair Sihoon with her and build up those events.
The more events like that repeated, the more familiarity grew.
Especially for two people with similar, compatible personalities.
And Sihoon had the perfect protagonist personality and character.
No way the class president wouldn't fall for him.
"Heh heh heh heh heh."
"Young Master, that's the sinister laugh from the drama you've been watching lately."
"You noticed? As expected of my Rize~."
"Yes, I'm your dedicated maid who knows and understands everything about you, Young Master."
Rize introducing herself so proudly was adorable too.
"Today, we'll elect a class president."
Day three of enrollment.
The class president election began.
It felt a bit early, but from the school's perspective, picking someone to lead and manage the class sooner was more convenient.
"Anyone who wants to be class president, raise your hand."
Three people raised their hands at Instructor Dias's words.
All three were as expected.
One was Kim Yesel, the future wife of Sihoon, who'd never skipped class president duty in school.
The other two were Blaze Blood heroines.
One was the bright, cute idol type.
Nakazawa Aika.
Blonde short ponytail with a red ribbon in the center.
Her eyes were the same red as mine.
Main weapon: greatsword, fire attribute.
The other was the cool, sexy idol type.
Anastasia Garnov.
Nickname: Asha.
Blue straight hair, silver eyes.
Main weapon: dual pistols, ice attribute.
They were once in the same group but split due to creative differences and now worked for rival agencies.
They were rivals—and bitter enemies.
Even early in Blaze Blood, this election was a minor gag event where your choice of who to support affected their affection.
Why a gag?
No matter who you picked, neither became president.
Bonus: Aika ran for popularity and attention.
Anastasia ran because she couldn't lose to Aika.
"Three candidates. Come up one by one and make your pitch."
"I'll go first~."
Aika, hand shooting up, bounced forward cheerfully.
"Hi hi~ Number one idol, Nakazawa Aika here~! Everyone knows my face, right?"
She winked with a chirp, speaking in third person.
Having heard it so often in the game, it didn't feel cringy.
And Aika was cute and stunning anyway.
Cuteness erases 90% of the cringe.
Several guys in class were gaping at Aika, dumbfounded.
"Aika really wants to be class president! I'll be number one popular here too! And I'll work super hard as president! Vote for Aika, everyone~."
Aika beamed and returned to her seat.
"Hmph."
For a split second, she smirked at Anastasia.
"...!"
I didn't miss Anastasia's face turning fierce for an instant.
A expression I'd seen often in Blaze Blood cutscenes.
Next, Anastasia stepped forward, lightly tossing her hair.
"Anastasia Garnov."
She smiled maturely, with a hint of sexiness.
"Unlike certain people who fool around claiming to be number one, I plan to take class president duties seriously. It's not a game. Nice to meet you."
"... "
Anastasia smirked at Aika.
No words, but Aika's aura screamed fury.
Most cadets, oblivious to their tension, were entranced by Anastasia's smile—guys lost in it, girls mixing envy and admiration.
Finally, Kim Yesel stepped up.
She bowed politely and spoke.
"Hello, I'm Kim Yesel. I..."
Kim Yesel listed her class president experience so far, explained how efficiently she could handle duties, how she'd serve the class, the benefits for classmates, how she'd relay important info to the instructor—detailing everything meticulously.
In Blaze Blood, it was just "Female Cadet A gave a speech."
But hearing it live, it was clear why she became president.
Even the guys dazed by Aika or Anastasia, and the other girls, grew calm as they listened.
Everyone was probably thinking the same.
'Yesel should be president.'
Her speech was so specific, structured, and reassuring about future academy life.
Glancing at Aika and Anastasia, both gaped in defeat—classic gag faces from the cutscene.
"Now, voting begins. Write your chosen candidate on the papers being passed out and put them in this box."
Soon, all cadets submitted. Instructor Dias checked each one.
And the winner was...
"Kim Yesel is this class's president from now on. Best of luck. Cadet Kim Yesel."
"Yes!"
"Aika lost...!"
"Urgh...!"
After the election, I asked Sihoon.
"Sihoon, who'd you vote for?"
"Huh? Yesel. After that speech, no choice."
"Knew it?"
Good job, Sihoon.
Of course you'd vote for your future wife.