Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: We're Fucked!
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Ark's student council president wields real power.
Just the fact that they can declare martial law all on their own is proof of how ridiculously unfair that authority is.
They even hold regular meetings with the professors.
A student council president on the same level as professors.
The student organizations and disciplinary committees actually had even greater authority than the faculty.
Every year, droves of elite students vie for the position.
That heated election battle is even implemented as an in-game event.
But for a true veteran player, skipping the election altogether and snatching the seat through cowardly, underhanded means is half the fun, right?
"I'm not planning to hand over this position easily."
Seol Ha-jeong forced a smile.
There was no leisure left in her smile now.
Even that concrete mask of hers would crack like ruins once everything was stripped away.
"Kukuku. That's why I said I'm going to take it from you, isn't it?"
"...Unexpected. I didn't know you had ambitions for the seat, Taeyang. Has my power caught your eye?"
"Hey, hey!! All I'm trying to do is set Ark straight!!!"
Power?
I couldn't care less about that.
To this veteran player, the student council president meant only one thing.
The hidden event that only unlocks if you're on good terms with the student council president...!
When playing as Kang Ju-hyuk, there was an event that only opened on Seol Ha-jeong's route.
The problem was that Seol Ha-jeong wasn't even a character in the official version.
It's all fuzzy...
It wasn't a route I'd grinded through thoroughly.
So I'd decided to become the student council president myself.
More precisely, the 'acting' president, but either way, I was going to step up personally and uncover that hidden event.
"Do whatever you want. But keep this in mind. The only way you become acting president is if I step down voluntarily. In other words, unless I resign, you won't touch this seat until next year."
In short, she had zero intention of resigning.
But what if she were locked in a room where resigning was the only way out?
Not that I planned to actually imprison her.
I'd just make it so she had no choice.
"Kukukuku. You're so cute when you act all high and mighty without knowing your place."
"......"
"Looking forward to your consecutive losses in the practical finals! Hey!!"
I gave her the warning and left the meeting room.
As of today, I was part of the student council.
By the end of the practical exams, I'd be the acting president.
And I'd make that declaration while sitting on top of the groveling Seol Ha-jeong...!
*
The largest bulletin board on campus.
A poster smack in the center halted students in their tracks.
📢 POSTER 📢 Sun Ranch x Guidance Committee
>Anti-School Violence Campaign! -Are you being bullied on campus? -Report it to Sun Ranch or the Guidance Committee right now! -The livestock crew will hold your hand! "Campus bullying, huh..."
"Isn't Sun Ranch the biggest problem? Turning girls into brood sows and all..."
"Those girls turn into total wrecks every evening, shambling around like zombies."
"You know, the personal training."
"That Yas PT?"
Sun Ranch's image was still in the gutter.
The livestock students had denied any forced Yas sessions, but even that was interpreted as a cover-up.
It was only natural.
Who would see Kim Taeyang as a moral student after he'd turned countless girls into brood sows and publicly deep-kissed Seol Ha-jeong and Lena?
"Oh? It's the student council president."
"Why's she alone...?"
Seol Ha-jeong, passing by in the hallway, stopped too.
Kuma and Lena, who always stuck by her side, were nowhere to be seen.
They'd long since glued themselves to Kim Taeyang.
"......"
Seol Ha-jeong stared blankly at the poster.
The emotions it stirred in her were worlds apart from the other students'.
Bullying...?
She couldn't care less what Sun Ranch was up to.
She had her own problems.
But that word 'bullying' stabbed at her chest like a needle.
It wasn't guilt that flashed her little sister's face in her mind.
It was what Kim Taeyang, Kuma, and Lena had all said in unison.
I'm not bullying Harin...
Squeeze.
Her fist clenched tight.
A ghostly aura—enough to call it demonic energy—filled the hallway.
The kids edged away from Seol Ha-jeong.
She didn't even notice.
She just kept staring at the poster.
"...Ha-jeong noona? Didn't you hear me?"
She turned to see a male student.
Kang Ju-hyuk.
"Ju-hyuk."
"Noona, is something wrong?"
"...Nothing."
"Where are you headed? Want me to walk you?"
Seol Ha-jeong started to shake her head, then stopped.
What caught her eye were the three constellations hovering around Kang Ju-hyuk.
"Uh... is there something on my face?"
Seol Ha-jeong smiled faintly.
She brushed at the corner of Kang Ju-hyuk's mouth.
There was nothing there, but she made it look like she was wiping something away.
"Ju-hyuk."
"Yes...!"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
*
"Woo-hoo~ Found some melt-in-your-mouth Hanwoo steak-☆"
It was lunchtime.
Kim Taeyang and the ranch executives had hit the cafeteria together.
"You aren't seriously planning to eat all that, are you?"
"Hah? What are you talking about? I have to eat this much just to maintain this body!"
"It's expensive meat, sure, but these cuts are high in fat. Pick the leaner ones as much as possible."
Seol Harin swapped the tender meat on Kim Taeyang's plate for a tougher-looking piece.
"Hey, hey! Just let me eat!!"
"'Eating is part of the workout.' That's what you drilled into me."
"Hey...!!!"
He grumbled but followed her lead.
After all, he'd been the one to teach her that...
They sat down.
Seol Harin and Lena flanked Kim Taeyang on either side.
"Taeyang, eat mine."
Lena placed some fatty meat onto Kim Taeyang's plate.
Cling-!
Seol Harin's chopsticks blocked Lena's.
A faint sword aura leaked from the chopsticks.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"You stay out of someone else's diet."
"He's not someone else."
"He is to you."
It was a routine spat.
Cloé and Kuma didn't even bother intervening anymore.
That's when Seol Harin's gaze landed on a girl passing by up ahead.
"Mind if I step away to talk to my sister for a sec?"
"Got something to say?"
"Yeah, nothing big."
"Go ahead. Don't start a fight."
Seol Harin rose and headed to her sister.
She sat alone in a corner booth, eating.
Seol Harin took the seat across from her.
"Oh? Come to keep me company so I don't eat alone?"
Seol Ha-jeong smiled.
It was her usual kind, affable smile.
But the area around her was deserted.
Like some backroom old-timer.
A scene unimaginable from her old days.
"Sister, I'll get straight to it. Apologize now, while you still can."
"Apologize for what?"
"For bullying me. If you apologize sincerely, I'll forgive you. Then you won't have to embarrass yourself in the finals. I'll put in a good word with Master."
It was an impulsive offer.
Seol Harin wasn't even sure why she'd said it.
She truly despised her sister.
But part of her might have wanted to go back.
To their childhood.
When the two sisters had been the best of friends in the world.
"Harin, remember when we were kids?"
"...When we were kids?"
"You've been picky about food since you were little, turning the table into a mess. Especially fish—you couldn't stand the smell, it'd make you gag... Mom scolded you a lot for it."
She picked up a piece of meat and brought it to Seol Harin's lips.
Her expression looked genuinely happy.
"Back then, if I did 'ahh~' like this, you'd eat the fish just fine."
"Get that away."
"Yeah, you're not a kid anymore."
Seol Ha-jeong chewed her meat with prim posture.
Her elegance was graceful even in Seol Harin's eyes.
They'd had the same upbringing, but her sister had always seemed innately noble.
Seol Ha-jeong took a sip of water and continued.
"You were so cute back then. You followed me everywhere... I loved our time together. Taking care of you was the first thing I ever did of my own accord."
"Cut the crap. You weren't taking care of me—you were taking everything."
"True, you were always sensitive. That's probably why you got so good at drawing. Artists are delicate and perceptive, right?"
Bam-!
Seol Harin's fist slammed the table.
Nearby students glanced over, but quickly looked away.
"Don't wrap up stealing everything from me like it was some fond memory. It's disgusting."
"It really was good. And I still love you."
Seol Harin stood up.
There was no point talking anymore.
"You act so relaxed even after losing your constellations. So very you... But I don't think I've ever seen it. My sister getting utterly crushed in a spar."
Seol Ha-jeong dabbed her mouth with a napkin.
A smile still played on her lips, peeking through the fabric.
"Right. You're looking forward to seeing me lose, huh? Taeyang is definitely a strong hero. Chosen by so many constellations too..."
Seol Harin cut her off.
"What are you talking about?"
"Hm...?"
"It won't be Master who beats you. It'll be me."
Seol Ha-jeong's eyebrow twitched.
She was indeed scheduled to fight every student in Kim Taeyang's class.
It was to evaluate the freshmen combat skills.
That was her role in the finals.
But there was only one matchup she anticipated.
Kim Taeyang.
No one else was her match.
Not even Seol Harin, called the Next Sword Saint.
And yet.
Here was Seol Harin, baring her teeth like a smug beast.
"Can I take those words at face value?"
"I've been getting stronger nonstop since meeting Master."
Seol Harin's palm rose above Seol Ha-jeong's head.
She shied away from even casual touch with strangers, let alone family.
Especially a sister she loathed.
It was an unexpectedly gentle gesture.
Though the words whispered near her ear still dripped with killing intent.
"Go ahead and struggle. I'll drag you down until you apologize...!"
Seol Harin left without looking back.
She rejoined Kim Taeyang's group without so much as a glance.
After she was gone, Seol Ha-jeong sat frozen, unable to eat.
How many minutes passed?
Gulp.
She finally swallowed her dry saliva.
Harin... you've grown so well...
She never imagined such provocation.
From the girl who'd only ever yelled and fumed.
To think she'd boldly pat my head.
Squeeze.
The fork in her hand bent.
Her mask was peeling away.
*
As exam period nears, campus quiets down more than usual.
In that sense, finals were an unexpected breather.
The heroines have gone quiet!
Everyone was busy studying.
Which gave me some breathing room too.
I'm the noisiest guy around.
But that's just Kim Taeyang's trait.
Sitting on a nighttime street bench, savoring the serene vibe—now that's what suits the real me...
Weeeeeng-
"Hah?! You dare suck my blood...?!!!"
Ha. These mosquito fuckers...
Why do I have to deal with mosquitoes even in a possessed world?
Guess I'll head in and watch some YouTube...
Just as I turned to go.
A familiar silver head of hair swayed in the distance.
Seol Ha-jeong?
It was definitely her.
And Kang Ju-hyuk was with her.
Hm... why are those two together?
Does she have more to squeeze out of him?
I started tailing them.
Seol Ha-jeong was such a shady character, she warranted close surveillance.
They arrived at the old practice grounds behind the school.
No one ever came here.
Bad location, and the new facilities were way better.
What were they up to in this dingy spot?
Curiosity piqued, I watched.
The area was dead silent.
Their voices carried clearly.
"I'm counting on you. This is to get Harin back and normalize Ark."
"If it's to beat that Kim Taeyang guy, of course I'll help!"
Beat me? As if.
I'm the one true hope of this world!
"Let's begin."
Seol Ha-jeong unrolled an old document.
Yellowed parchment—clearly an artifact.
But... it looked familiar?
Isn't that a Constellation Contract?
It resembled the 'Luminous Contract' I'd used to steal Luminous.
An artifact that forced a contract with a constellation.
Seol Ha-jeong, you bitch.
Are you trying to steal Kang Ju-hyuk's 9-star constellations?
My head spun.
If she gained new constellations, the fight could drag on pointlessly.
Kang Ju-hyuk's were all 9-stars, with protagonist buffs making them cheat-level.
Fortunately.
Seol Ha-jeong had trash hands.
"I, Seol Ha-jeong, propose a temporary sponsorship to the Phantom Knight Plancel."
Phantom Knight Plancel?
Why go after the one that's half mine already?
Is this the instinct of defeat...?
"Thanks, Ju-hyuk. This'll be a huge help in the practicals."
"I'll cheer you on! Take down that Kim Taeyang guy!"
Last time she dragged in Mom to make trouble...
This time, constellations.
I could end it less embarrassingly if she'd just stay put...
Anyway.
We're fucked!
Not me—Seol Ha-jeong!!!