The Angel's Eye Spots Monsters
"How the hell did this happen? You a fan of mine too? Otherwise, this random kidnapping makes no sense. Not that it's a real kidnapping, of course."
"Pardon?"
"I just said I wouldn't repeat myself. Compared to your potential, maybe your head isn't all that sharp."
Panuell clicked his tongue faintly, muttering as if he didn't like my question much. From the way he said it, he didn't seem like a fan after all. So then, what the hell was this about?
"I asked if you wanted to join the student council."
"I'd be interested. But don't you have to go through an interview to join?"
"If that were the case, why would I bother coming all the way here to talk to you myself?"
Panuell spoke as if he could slot me right into the student council if I wanted. "...You look like you don't get it. Too many eyes around here—let's move somewhere else. You, get up. And you too."
Panuell pointed at me, then at Serena sitting in the back row.
"Ah... You're not talking about me, are you?"
"You got it. If you understand, both of you follow me."
Panuell brushed past me and headed out the back door.
"Haa... This is why I hate getting attention."
Serena grumbled softly, dragging her feet as she followed him. Weird. If he was just calling me out because he was a fan, there'd be no reason to drag Serena into it too.
Something else must be going on.
I shelved the idea that he was just being nice because he was a fan. No point racking my brain now—nothing came to mind anyway. All I could do was follow him with Serena.
"Have a safe trip~"
"Yeah, be back soon."
I replied to Ume's brief send-off and stepped out the back door into the hallway. Right away, I saw Serena's slightly annoyed face.
"...."
"...."
I tried exchanging glances to see if she knew anything, but it failed immediately. Of course—Serena's got those half-lidded eyes. No way to read her gaze.
"No need to look so nervous. Even if I'm a weirdo, I wouldn't pull anything shady with everyone watching."
Panuell leaned against the wall, scanning me and Serena.
"Good to know. I was starting to think I'd get jumped by that school violence I'd only heard rumors about."
Serena replied coolly, slowly leaning back against the wall too. Somehow, I felt like I was the only one here with any proper manners.
"Anyway, straight to the point. You two—want to join the student council? I could personally slot you in special."
"I'd love to."
I nodded without a second thought. I could ask why later. No way was I passing up an opportunity like this.
"Name?"
"Park Jeonghyeon."
"Noted."
Panuell tapped each of my shoulders with the side of his hand, like some kind of ritual, then spoke.
"Park Jeonghyeon, from this moment, you're a student council member."
What? It was that simple? Just brushed off like nothing? I was wondering what face to make at this deflating turn of events when Serena spoke up.
"I'll pass."
"Too bad. Mind if I ask why?"
"No special reason. Just not interested in joining... and..."
Serena trailed off, then finished with a small smile.
"Living up to someone's expectations feels a bit heavy on my shoulders."
There was a faint sense of unease in her smile.
"Well, if you're not into it, I won't force you. That's all, then—you can head back."
"President, if it's not too rude, could I ask one thing?"
"Go ahead."
He nodded, so I voiced the question I'd been holding back.
Well, I tried to.
"Why us two...?"
"Why I called just you two for this offer? Yeah, I figured."
"...Exactly."
I blinked and nodded. Panuell chuckled and pointed to his right eye.
"It's because my eyes are a little special."
"Your eyes?"
Serena cracked open her left eye slightly and asked.
"Yeah, my eyes. They've got a special ability."
Looking closely at his right eye, I saw a faint pattern etched into it.
"When I channel mana into my eyes, I can see people's potential."
Panuell had an ability like that? I'd just thought of him as some NPC who tossed out student council quests now and then—never imagined he'd have something special like this. Gotta stop assuming side characters don't have powers just because they're not the lead. Easier said than done.
"So you called us out because you saw our potential?"
"Bingo. The others weren't bad, but you two stood out big time."
Panuell pointed at Serena and continued.
"First off... what's your name?"
"Serena Eldrain."
"Ah, Eldrain, huh. That explains the ridiculously sharp potential."
Panuell nodded at her name and added,
"Yours was like a blade—sharp enough to feel like it'd slice me if I got too close. And huge too. Second biggest I've ever seen."
Serena was second? How monstrous was number one?
"And you, Park Jeonghyeon."
Before I could even wonder, Panuell pointed at me.
"You're off the charts, a total monster. No doubt about it. You've got the biggest potential I've ever seen. So massive it drowned out everyone around you."
Ah, so I was the monster. Guess my Consciousness Synchronization potential got read. Otherwise, his assessment of me over Serena wouldn't even make sense.
"So the second I saw you, I thought, no matter what crazy goals or scumbag personality you've got, I have to get you on the student council."
Panuell patted my shoulder.
"Even if... well, you don't look all that useful right now. But my eyes don't lie. You'll turn into a bigger monster than me someday. Let's do our best."
His evaluation was worlds apart from the aptitude test. Coming from the student council president—who got the job through raw power—it made my shoulders tense up naturally.
Yeah. My potential is limitless.
"Ah, yes. Looking forward to working with you."
"Thanks for humoring my whims, both of you. You're free to go now."
"President! Dragging people out like that out of nowhere makes it hard for me to clean up!"
Just as Panuell turned to leave, Yorbenil stepped out from Class A's front door, pouting as he protested.
"You cleaned it up fine in the end, didn't you? I trust you with that stuff."
"Sure, but... please rein in that capricious side when people are around."
"Got it. Oh, late intro—this is Park Jeonghyeon. Just made him a member."
"That's... abuse of power, you know?"
"I'm the president—who's gonna complain? I judged with my own eyes, so no worries."
"What!? You told him about your eyes?"
"He asked. Had to answer."
"Aigoo..."
Panuell pointed to his right eye, and Yorbenil let out a shallow sigh before turning to me.
"...I'm Yorbenil, second-year. As he said, I'm the vice president."
"Park Jeonghyeon, first-year Class A. Nice to meet you."
He forced a smile at my greeting and adjusted his glasses.
"Likewise. Looking forward to it. Anyway, shouldn't we head back, President? Class is about to start."
"Right. We'll head out first, then. See you later."
Panuell gave a small wave. Yorbenil bowed slightly. The carefree angel and the sharp devil—every time I saw them, it felt like their roles were swapped. I swallowed a laugh at the ironic duo and turned to head back to class.
"Don't you ever resent that eye?"
Serena, who'd been quiet, spoke up to their retreating backs.
"You mean mine?"
Panuell turned, paused in silence, then shrugged.
"Eh, it's a hassle sometimes, but not something I'd resent. In the end, it's just another blessing for me."
"A blessing..."
Serena murmured his words softly, closing her half-open left eye again.
"Kinda jealous."
For a split second, the smile vanished from her lips.
"Jealous or not, I'm not ripping it out for you, so don't even dream. I've only got the one."
"Ahaha, good thing I don't have a hobby of coveting other people's eyeballs. Just pure curiosity. Thanks for humoring my cheeky question. I'll head in now?"
Just like that, she was back to her cool, graceful self, turning and walking briskly to the back door of the classroom. The black longsword on her back swayed as usual.
Peaceful lunchtime at Providence. The sun's warm, sleep's creeping in, body's going all languid.
And me?
"Kyaa~! Too cuuute~!"
I'm flailing around in Karen's arms.
...How the hell did it come to this?