Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: The In-Crowd Joins the Student Council
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Moon Soo-rin sis: [Junior. Hello?]
Sender is Moon Soo-rin sis. Why's she suddenly messaging me?
Still, it doesn't feel bad. Time to unleash those romance cells I've been hiding.
Me: [Hello. What's with the polite tone, sis? lol]
Moon Soo-rin sis: [Hehe. First text, so I was trying to be polite!]
Me: [What's up?]
Moon Soo-rin sis: [Can't I just message you for no reason? Whine.]
Was I not supposed to ask for the point right away? My romance cells are so dead, I can't even tell what's wrong.
Anyway, why is this sis so cute?
I sent a reply for now.
Me: [No, no! Of course I'm happy if you message me, even if you're busy.]
Moon Soo-rin sis: [Well, there is a reason. You know club promotions start this week, right? Hey, Ho-yeon, were you thinking of joining the Student Council?]
Student Council?
Suddenly the Student Council?
This sis is jumping the gun again. In the game, club activities were just contrived devices to get tangled up with the heroines at the same time.
There was no route for joining the Student Council. What do I do?
Me: [Thanks for the offer. There's still plenty of this week left, so let me think it over a bit and get back to you.]
Not sure, but should I have rejected it more firmly? As an original shut-in loner, my conversation skills are still lacking.
Asking me to suddenly live like an extrovert is too much for me.
Moon Soo-rin sis: [Got it. Let's talk about it again tomorrow. Think hard about it tonight!]
Me: [Sure thing, sis. Have a good night.]
Moon Soo-rin sis: [You too~ (cat turning off the light emoticon)]
Aah, whatever.
The clubs I had in mind were Lucy's friendship club.
It already has two heroines: Lumi and Lucy. With two heroines, incidents and accidents pile up there, making the friendship club essential.
Elise is in reading club. Nam Da-eun is in the rest club. Moon Soo-rin is in Student Council.
At Victoria Academy, one club per person is mandatory. That's why even Nam Da-eun joins the rest club, though she doesn't actually participate.
No major events worth calling them happen in Elise's reading club. So I planned to just join Lucy's friendship club, but out of nowhere, I get a request from the Student Council.
"No matter how I think about it, skipping it seems right."
The Student Council is surely full of kids from prestigious families and guilds. I'd never fit in there.
Time's an issue too. The Student Council demands sacrificing personal time, but I already spend tons on heroines, main story, personal training, and studies. I'd need two bodies to handle it.
Come to think of it, isn't the Student Council elected by vote? Weird. No mention of votes in the original game. Probably not important enough to detail.
I pretended to mull it over out of courtesy, but yeah, I should decline.
"Wait, isn't the Guidance Committee part of the Student Council too?"
The Guidance Committee is definitely under the Student Council. Should I try that?
Victoria Academy's Guidance Committee differs from other schools.
It's not busybody stuff like checking conduct or uniforms. It's an organization for internally resolving school incidents.
Young cadets gaining power leads to lots of incidents and accidents.
Relying on public authorities each time would tarnish the academy's reputation, so the Guidance Committee handles it.
'The more I think, the better it seems.'
As Guidance Committee, I can roam the school freely, even hunt for hidden opportunities.
Unlike the Student Council, it doesn't meet daily, so it won't cramp my friendship club or personal time much.
Any big incident needing Guidance Committee intervention is one I'd get dragged into anyway.
"Good. Decision made."
With the dilemma settled, time for bed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "I'm Lee Ho-yeon from first-year A-Class."
"Yes. We'll blacklist you across all Victoria Academy clubs."
"Handle it thoroughly. That lowly scum ignored our Mana Research Club and slandered the advisor professor."
"Don't worry. Every club will recoil at the name Lee Ho-yeon."
In the Mana Research Club room, the club's vice president and the academy's club president were making a backroom deal.
Surprisingly, the Mana Research Club had massive influence among clubs. Lots of members, and vice president Kim Hyun-do came from a long line of magical nobility.
Plus, the club president had a post-grad contract with Kim Hyun-do's family guild in exchange for favoritism.
Thus, the Mana Research Club's clout surpassed all but the Student Council.
"Uh, you're sure he has no backup?"
"Don't worry. Orphan with no guild ties. He got briefly famous for a photo with the Student Council president, but it turned out to be nothing. Proceed without fear."
"Got it."
"You gotta crush types like him so hard they can't even squirm—that's how they learn their place."
"Exactly. It'll go just as you say, vice president."
"Lee Ho-yeon. I don't know how you fooled Professor Im Sol, but I'll make sure you pay...!"
Kuhaha! Hahaha!
The two men's hearty(?) laughter filled the club room.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Ding-a-ling— Ding-a-ling—
Tuesday, a strong and fine morning!
Waking up in the dorm feels routine now.
Though dragging myself up to the alarm is still torture.
After shaking off the grogginess, I washed up and peered into the bathroom mirror.
"Damn, I really am handsome..."
No lie, it's unreal. Straight nose, vibrant skin and lips without any products, perfectly masculine eyes.
The kind of face that boosts your shoulders just walking with me, but one girls hate introducing to others.
I donned the cadet uniform, pinned the first-year brooch on my chest, and left the dorm.
Feeling extra refreshed today—like something good's coming.
"Ho-yeon! Wanna go together?"
A guy's voice from behind. Only one close male friend I have.
Blond delinquent Kim Young-han. Sounds sketchy, but he's just got the look. Solid guy.
That's why we get along despite me chasing heroines.
This guy's loyal to the end.
In the original game, he warns the protagonist of crises, digs up info from nowhere.
Late-game, even when a threatening group holds his life hostage for info, he never spills.
Simply put, good guy. No downside keeping him around.
Not emergency rations, but reliable meat shield—solid buddy chow.
"Yeah. Let's go."
Like typical guys, walking in silence felt fine. Then Kim Young-han spoke up.
"You decided on a club yet?"
"Me? Got two in mind."
"Oh? I'm eyeing tea ceremony and fishing clubs. What about you?"
Tea and fishing? Totally mismatches the blond delinquent vibe. Dye it black then, dude.
"Student Council and Lucy's friendship club, I think."
"Student Council? You get a recommendation?"
"Recommendation? What's that?"
"You don't know? To join Student Council, you need a rec from a current officer."
What bullshit is this? Is Sex Academy communist Korea? No such setting.
"Isn't Student Council elected by vote?"
"They change every two years. This one's from last year, so one year left. Mid-term entry needs an officer's rec."
What kinda idiotic system? Blatant parachute drop.
"Ah, gotcha. Didn't know."
"Yeah, but recs aren't given lightly. Not official rule, but usually for filling vacancies."
At least they pretend.
Why's the situation suddenly complicated?
No mention of Student Council vacancies.
Means Moon Soo-rin wants me in for no reason—like a parachuted newbie by the president.
Perfect for pointless aggro.
"Join me in fishing? Let's hunt big ones."
I ignored Kim Young-han miming reeling in a fantasy rod and headed to the first-year classroom building.
"Victoria Academy elite mages' club! Recruiting new Mana Research Club members!"
"Swordsmanship club urgently seeks freshmen~ First come, first served—one spot, come train your sword skills~."
"Fishing club! Become one with nature and feel new joys!"
Club promo really ramped up. Dozens of cadets handing out flyers on the path.
"Isn't that the fishing club you wanted? Check it out."
"Oh? Yeah? Come with."
"Nah, I'm not joining..."
Kim Young-han dashed for a fishing club flyer, chatting with the promoter.
"Sigh."
No plans to join, but can't ditch him, so I stood nearby.
"So, two new member spots available, right?"
"Yes, yes! Plenty for both! Truth is, we haven't gotten many newbies since last year... Aiming for ten-plus this year."
"Then two application forms, please?"
"One of you isn't me, right?"
"Obviously you, Ho-yeon. Become one with nature too."
"No, I'm not doing it."
"Um, excuse me. You're Kim Young-han, right? And the new guy's Lee Ho-yeon?"
"Yeah, that's me, but I wasn't planning to join..."
"Sorry. Only one spot left now—hard for Lee Ho-yeon to join."
"...Huh?"
What nonsense? Didn't you just say ten newbies this year?
"What do you mean? You said two spots easy."
Even Kim Young-han questioned the promo cadet.
"Sorry, my mistake. With Kim Young-han joining, it'll fill up."
"...."
What? This uneasy feeling?
I wouldn't join anyway, but switching tune right after my name? Smells fishy.
"Okay. No spot, nothing to do."
"Huh? Ho-yeon! Where you going!"
"Going ahead. You join and catch up."
Fishy or not, annoying. Wasn't joining anyway.
But the second they heard my name, promo cadets busy on the street parted like the Red Sea miracle.
Then blatantly avoided eye contact, pretending to chat with others.
"...."
Something's definitely up...
Sigh. Can't just ask.
Just head to class.
With unease in my chest, I made my way to the academy.
Kim Young-han caught up soon, saying the fishing promo started pitching to others right after I left.
"Felt off to me too, so I bailed."
As expected from the non-delinquent blond—loyal guy.
Sitting in my seat waiting for homeroom professor, I felt two stares from the side.
Glancing over, one was Lumi. She startled wide-eyed at eye contact and whipped her head away.
What's her deal?
'I can join the same club as Lumi anyway, so it'll be fine.'
Too many heroines means too much to juggle. Care for Lucy and Lumi in the friendship club.
The other was extra rival Do Jin-hyuk. Practically exuding killing intent.
Really don't get it. What'd I do? Nothing wrong except being the protagonist.
Maybe that's the issue?
Sure, people hate without reason sometimes. As a villain from the start, maybe destined that way. Poor kid.
Slide—
Classroom door opened, homeroom professor Kim Jin-hyuk entered.
Black suit, slicked-back hair as usual.
"Everyone scouting clubs well? One club mandatory, so join up."
He calmly delivered his piece as always.
"Dungeon practical next week. As you know, no attendance or attitude scores at Victoria Academy. Skip all classes—if tests rank first, you're first."
That's why Nam Da-eun skips later. Practical's already top anyway.
"But dungeon practical includes process scores. Enter by group, but individual scores assigned. Don't force heroics disrupting team play for points—penalties apply. Judge wisely."
In short, teamwork training. Essential for hunters or guild work.
"Today's class normal, no specials. Questions?"
"...."
"None? Prepare."
Homeroom professor Kim Jin-hyuk left those words and exited.
Class erupted the moment he left.
'Time to prep too.'
No need for theory, but no point skipping and souring prof impressions.
Pulled papers from bag and started reading. Endless papers.
Slide—!
Door opened again.
Bit early for theory prof—must be early today.
Kept reading, thinking that.
But surroundings noisy for a prof entering.
"Ha, Student Council president? Why in a first-year room?"
"Isn't there a Lee Ho-yeon here?"
"Y-yeah, he's there..."
"Thanks. Hehe."
A voice that shouldn't be here rang out. Looking for me, even.
Thud thud.
Lifted head—Moon Soo-rin stood before me.
Oh crap, bad news. That thought flashed.
"Junior, thought it over?"
She beamed an impossible-to-refuse beautiful smile while holding out the Student Council application form.