Silver Promotion and a Bold Proposal
After wrapping up all the morning classes, club time rolled around. Unlike usual, Yuri didn't slip in through the window but came straight through the main door of our sub-room.
“Junior? The club manager wants to see you for a bit?”
“Looks like things went smoother than I thought.”
Now completely at ease, Yuri leaned back against the sofa in the president's office.
“Oh, and congrats.”
“Pardon?”
Her sudden congratulations caught me off guard, furrowing my brow in confusion. She pulled an envelope from her pocket and set it on the table.
“What's this?”
“Club promotion certificate. You're a silver club now?”
She grinned as she said it. I opened the envelope and checked the contents—papers and a certificate confirming our promotion to silver club status.
“……Faster than I expected. I figured it'd take longer.”
Right now, we were in no position to pick fights with the student council. Considering the president's twisted personality, I thought it'd get rejected once or twice at least. But it sailed through surprisingly easy.
Yuri shot me an incredulous look.
“Junior. Have you forgotten who you've been bringing to the academy lately?”
“Ah.”
Was she talking about when Elder Gwak Chunsik and Sword Saint Choi Seonho caused a scene? The elder even stayed on as an academy instructor, and recently Han Yeo-eun had dropped by too. No way they could outright ignore a club backed by heavyweights like that.
“……I was ready to go straight to the elders if it got rejected. Good thing it didn't.”
“What? You really just said you'd tattle like it's nothing.”
“Then don't do anything worth tattling about.”
Like anyone wants to. Just run things fair and square.
“Anyway…… whatever! I delivered the goods, so back to business. The club manager wants to meet at the cafe in a bit.”
“Which cafe?”
“There's any besides the new one that just opened in the academy?”
“Right.”
Business must be booming.
Even though afternoon classes should be in session, the cafe was packed with students. Looked like people sneaking out during breaks or club members gathering.
Then it hit me—something felt off compared to yesterday.
Wait a sec. Haven't the hamsters gotten a bit bigger?
“Latte.”
“Yes~? Cafe latte for the custo— Oh? Young master?”
Perfectly adapted to cafe life now, Latte jumped in surprise mid-order as she spotted me.
“Latte. The hamsters look bigger. Any changes?”
Not just a bit—they were several times larger, plump bodies waddling as they carried trays.
Latte just smiled brightly, like it was no big deal.
“Oh, that? With more customers, the hamsters couldn't handle the volume alone, so we hired some guinea pig staff too.”
“……Guinea pigs?”
No wonder they seemed huge. Looking closer, the hamsters were scurrying around cleaning every corner.
“Smart move. They're faster now too.”
“Right?”
Handing her business reins was the right call. If she kept coming up with ideas like this, the cafe would thrive even more.
“What brings you here this time of day, young master? I've got all the important intel logged already.”
“Nah, not that. Meeting someone here. Just stopping by.”
“Oh, got it. Thought you came to check on me. Haha!”
She scratched her head sheepishly, laughing it off.
I wondered what kind of boss she pictured me as. Realizing I'd only ever seen her in combat zones, I decided to let it slide.
Yeah, I could see why she'd be intimidated.
“Keep up the good work.”
“Yes, sir! Thank you!”
Heading up to the second floor, I found crowds oohing and aahing over the guinea pigs.
And in the corner.
“There she is.”
The person I was looking for: a hamster striking poses on the table, and a woman snapping photos with her phone.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
She startled at my voice, shoving her phone in her pocket.
“You're earlier than I thought.”
She casually sipped her coffee like nothing happened.
“You said you wanted to meet, so.”
I sat down, and she fixed me with a sharp glare.
“Mind telling me why you called me here?”
Maybe because of that student council auditor we chased off recently? Her expression wasn't friendly.
“If it's a waste of time, I won't let it slide.”
Her hand trembled on her phone.
……No way she's mad I interrupted her hamster pics?
Anyway, down to business.
“Glad you like the cafe. Makes me happy so many people do.”
“……What're you on about?”
She looked baffled.
“Didn't you know? This cafe's mine.”
“What?”
She seemed genuinely shocked, like first she'd heard.
“No one told you?”
“All I heard was Hanwol Group snagged the business rights…… Come to think of it, you're with Hanwol Group too.”
Nodding as it clicked, she glanced at the hamster now perched on my shoulder.
“The concept's brilliant. A cafe that didn't exist in the academy, with Awakener staff using rodents for labor. Heard rumors of similar spots overseas, but seeing it firsthand? Impressive.”
Overseas it was cats, right? Cats don't listen well, but people loved 'em anyway.
“So, why'd you want to meet?”
She scooped a bite of cake from the plate.
It must've been good— a huge slice was nearly gone.
“Working on my next business venture. Need the club manager's input and approval.”
“……Next business?”
“Oh. That cake you're eating— like it?”
She tilted her head at my abrupt question, eyed the cake, then spoke.
“Yeah. Great cake. Sponge texture's perfect, quality ingredients, overall excellent. Could sell well on the market too.”
“Recipe Development Club made it.”
“……Huh? This?”
But that wasn't all.
“The coffee you're drinking? Barista Club roasted those beans.”
I'd hand-picked the raw beans myself, but they handled the roasting.
“Meaning over half the food sold downstairs isn't mass-produced—it's wholesale from club activities. Get what that implies?”
“Your business partners with academy clubs for symbiosis. Not buying that obvious pitch.”
“Close…… but no. The real key? Club-made goods can compete on the open market.”
Academy clubs produce top-tier stuff. Seoul Hero Academy gathers the nation's best students. Sure, it's geared toward training combat-ready future heroes.
But that's not all.
Some burn out from endless fighting. Others have talents suited to crafting, not combat.
And Awakener society doesn't run on fighters alone. It needs a solid supply chain—like plants and herbivores propping up the food pyramid.
But what's the academy's current setup?
“As you know, the club structure favors combat types. They hunt, take requests, even external gigs. Production clubs? Lucky to join festivals or school events.”
Weak clubs can't survive long. Recipe Development Club getting recognition for killer recipes was the exception.
Academy grants cover basics, but growth needs investment—which needs results—which needs cash.
Vicious cycle. Most clubs shrink to hobby groups, buried in debt like that board game club.
“That's why I'll sell their goods via my business rights. Becoming their distributor.”
I declared it boldly, placing a document envelope in front of her.
“My business plan.”
Simple concept: Buy from production clubs. Sell outside. Return profits to them.
Seo Yeon-su scoffed after skimming it.
“Think we didn't know this simple idea? We tried it last year. And it—”
“—Crashed and burned.”
“You know and still wanna try?”
Last year's council tried the same. Total failure.
Reasons? Obvious.
“No distribution network, poor marketing. 'Seoul Hero Academy Made' was all they had. And the biggest issue?”
Fees.
This damn council gouged them.
“We had to keep distribution prices low for accessibility. We cut fees as much as we could, taking losses. What more could we do?”
“Nope. Not enough.”
Classic student council flaw: rigid thinking.
“I'd go premium. 'Market won't buy expensive'? Old news. People don't want cheap and good. They want exclusive.”
Premium strategy.
“I'll sell academy goods 'expensive' outside. Leverage the mystique. And—”
——I have the power to distribute and brand it perfectly.
She swallowed hard.
“Just approve and execute. Congrats— it'll be your legacy.”
I leaned in, voice gaining strength.
Orator
“Succeed, and struggling clubs break even. Accounting headaches gone. Future generations will call it the academy's first and greatest era! What do you say? I can make everyone prosper.”
Her eyes shook wildly.
Prestige, results, legacy—irresistible.
But more. She'd get it perfectly.
Before student council, her club dissolved under money woes.
That's why I sought the club manager specifically.
“Please. Make the right call.”
I bowed and stood.
She stared at the plan, pupils unsteady.
Probably thinking: If only I'd heard this back then. If, if, if…
Turning to leave, her soft voice followed.
“……If it goes as planned, I'll review positively.”
“Thank you.”
I meant it. This could help so many.
And—
——Clubs would rely on me, not the council.