The President's Unexpected Praise
Back home, I was filling in the assignments for the classes I'd missed due to mentoring when a voice came from outside the door.
"Young master? Are you asleep? Should I not come in? Young master? Young master?"
It was Latte. Thinking I was asleep, perhaps? I closed the nearly finished assignment, stood from my seat amid her vigorous whispering from beyond the door.
“Come in.”
“Ah! You're not asleep!”
At the sound of my voice, Latte flung open the door and stepped inside. Unlike at the cafe, she was dressed in a maid outfit here in the mansion—a fresh gap that caught my eye.
“What's up?”
“Ah, the report from today!”
With those words, she handed me a USB drive.
“Sound quality okay?”
“Yes! These are the conversations filtered through primary processing, and I've sorted the files inside by time, table number, and a brief summary of the content.”
These were the recordings of the conversations from the people who'd visited the cafe today—the ones I'd judged most useful.
“Didn't take too long?”
“Ah, no! The secretary office folks helped, so it wrapped up quicker than expected.”
“Good. Perfect. You did great.”
“Hehe.”
I stroked the head of Latte, who'd handled her first day flawlessly, and eyed the files. With this, my preparations for the information war at the academy were complete.
Next up: bracing for the storm ahead.
Today's meeting with the club director had gone satisfyingly, but a guy like Ray Pendragon would surely see through the hidden agenda and prepare countermeasures.
“I did ask Yuri to help, though.”
She'd promised to delay word of today's events reaching the chairman's ears as long as possible—buying me a little time.
I had to settle things within that window.
“By the way, the cafe work—wasn't too tough?”
“No! When I first entered Niflheim as a newbie inmate, the senior villains had me running coffee errands—never dreamed it'd pay off here. Easier than I thought!”
“R-really?”
I couldn't see the connection, but... if Latte said it was fine, then it was.
Well then.
The next day, upon arriving at the academy, I gathered the kids right away and began explaining today's tasks.
“We're gonna be pretty busy today.”
The children clustered around me during break time, eyes sparkling. Had laying the groundwork about a new strategy plan worked its magic?
“Is it that?! To celebrate becoming a silver club, we take over the other clubs or something?!”
Jinwoo Bivalt kicked off with a terrifying opener. Sea-a shook her head in disbelief.
“Are you nuts? I've been busting my ass behind the scenes to boost our club's rep! No way!”
Thus rebuked by our club's promotion and image specialist Sea-a, he deflated. Even Choi Yeon, who'd dropped by our class for a visit, hung her head.
“......I was looking forward to it.”
......What exactly had she been expecting? Probably picturing me challenging random clubs to duels like some dojo-destroyer rampage.
“Not why I said we're busy. This is.”
I pulled out the pamphlet from my cube and spread it on the table.
Together with You: ‘Famiglia’
“Our new business item. Support policy for small clubs.”
A Famiglia support system targeting clubs struggling on academy funding alone. It clearly explained selling club-made goods via external corporate ties and returning the profits.
“Hm? Boss, it says Seoul Hero Academy is partnering—but you got their approval already?”
Youngje, having already skimmed it, asked.
“Nah. Time to go get it.”
“Huh?”
Han Yujin. Han Yujin student, please come to the president's office.
Repeating. Han Yujin...
The classroom speakers crackled to life with faint noise—even before morning assembly, drawing stares from Famiglia kids and others alike.
“I'll be right back to get the okay.”
Getting the president's approval? Not that hard.
I left the kids behind, exited the class, and headed to the president's office. Heo Seokgi, already waiting, smiled brightly at me.
“Shall we go in? Yujin.”
“Thank you, President.”
We entered and took our seats. President Heo Seokgi spoke first.
“The shoes. You're wearing them.”
Noticing the black fog boots he'd given me, he beamed proudly.
“How are they? Comfortable enough?”
“Yes. They've gotten me through quite a few scrapes. Thank you.”
Thanks to those boots, infiltration successes—and lives saved—numbered plenty. I meant it sincerely.
Satisfied, the president nodded.
“Glad to hear it. Now... you had a favor to ask, Yujin?”
With the mood eased, he got to the point.
“Yes. A request only you could grant, President.”
He leaned back, stroking his chin at my earnest words.
“A favor from you, of all people? You're not about to cause some incident at the academy, are you? Even I can't cover something huge.”
......What did he think of me normally? Starting off with quite the wild guess.
“Nothing like that. Quite the opposite—a big help to the academy, the students, and all of us.”
“Help to everyone?”
Intrigue replaced his worry.
“Let's hear it, then. This universally helpful request.”
In truth, my ask wasn't so grave.
“A commendation in your name for the student council, club director, and chairman.”
That afternoon, the entire student body gathered in the convention hall for the first time in ages. It happened once or twice a month, but the sudden notice today left students puzzled—among them, members of the pinnacle student council.
“Yuri, full student council muster? Heard anything?”
Ray Pendragon asked, hands in pockets, heading to the hall. Yuri walking beside him shook her head.
“No clue. Hasn't happened lately. An instructor friend said it was the president's solo order.”
“The president? Something's off.”
Ray frowned deeper at Yuri's words. The treasurer peeked ahead with a grin.
“Doesn't it happen sometimes for commendations? Like, some kid saves a civilian from street goblins or whatever.”
Ray hummed thoughtfully at the treasurer's casual dismissal.
“If it's that, not dying to go... but student council's mandatory?”
“Yes, President.”
“What a hassle~ They could handle it themselves.”
Muttering, Ray opened the convention hall doors—all eyes turned to the entrance. The rare sight of the full student council marching in.
“Whoa~ Everyone's here. Where to sit?”
“Sign up front says ‘Student Council.’ There, probably.”
“Ah, found it. That one?”
Following the placard, they headed forward. Spotting his named chair, Ray sat, crossing his legs.
“Alright, who did what to drag everyone here? Let's watch.”
Grinning expectantly, fingers steepled.
Soon, empty seats filled, the hall buzzing.
“Wait. Those guys here too?”
Ray glanced back, scanning for ‘them’—the ones livening his academy life lately. Maybe they'd be tangled in this?
‘Kyaa! President looked here!’
‘President!’
Fangirls squealed or waved, but Ray smiled routinely and finally spotted ‘them.’
“Back there, huh?”
Top seat but rear-placed, smug smile: ‘Han Yujin.’ Recent first-year topper. Beside him, his club members; nearby, pushed aside, Sword Sage's granddaughter ‘Choi Yeon.’
Then, sensing Ray's gaze? Yujin's eyes met his—grinning slyly. Ray smirked back, intrigued.
“Knew it. You're involved. Right?”
What scheme this time? How'd he move the president? Pondering, Ray faced front as the broadcasting club kid set up the mic onstage.
Thank you all for attending. We're gathered today because the president will personally commend certain individuals.
“Knew it?”
Ray nodded—commendation, as discussed en route.
‘Yeah, let's hear what feat earned a personal prez nod.’
Arms crossed, leaning back.
The commendation will be given by the president himself. The recipient will receive 10 million credits in scholarship from the academy.
The broadcaster stepped down; the waiting president ascended. Applause erupted instantly. He raised a hand lightly—silence.
Hello, students. President Heo Seokgi here. I called you today for one simple reason: two students accomplished something outstanding.
Familiar commendation routine—Ray stifled a yawn, hand over mouth.
‘Street goblin takedown, probably?’
Unexciting. But the president's next words stunned him.
Recipient: Seoul Hero Academy Student Council President Ray Pendragon. Step forward.
“What?”
Stunned by his sudden call, Ray froze as the president repeated.
Step forward.
Gazes converged.
“President getting commended?”
“What'd he do this time?”
“As expected of the president.”
‘No choice but to go.’
Bewildered how he'd become a recipient unbeknownst, but he had to proceed. Rising casually, as if anticipated, flashing a bright smile—facial control was child's play for him.
Approaching the stage, Ray locked eyes with the president: What scheme is this?
The president, still smiling, read from the script.
The above student, through student council activities, made great contributions to establishing a new system supporting clubs struggling with normal economic activities—
“Huh?”
‘Club Economic Support System.’ Great merit in helping establish ‘Famiglia’—
Thus awarded this commendation on strong recommendation of representative hero Gwak Chunsik and vice-representative ‘Choi Seonho.’
“Ah.”
It clicked—Ray Pendragon's eyes twitched.
Ray Pendragon.
‘Ha. Got played proper.’
Ray Pendragon. The first day since becoming president he felt true humiliation.