Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: The Insider Joins the Student Council (2)
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"..."
Looking at the student council application form Moon Soo-rin was holding out, all sorts of thoughts ran through my head.
Starting from 'Why is this noona here?' all the way to 'How much aggro is this gonna pull?'
"...President. Why'd you come all the way here?"
There were too many students around, so I used the title "President." Since Moon Soo-rin had called me "junior," she'd understand that much.
"We said we'd think about it yesterday, right? I've thought it over plenty."
Kim Young-han had definitely said this morning that student council recommendations were one per person. She'd come to use hers on me.
The student council president had even come herself.
'There's no way I can turn this down.'
"Don't come find me in person next time. What kinda rumors are you trying to start?"
"Sorry. I'm not usually like this, but I wanted to see your face. Hehe."
Sigh... Moon Soo-rin wasn't supposed to have this kind of personality.
In the game, she was cautious and prudent.
The cause was probably the stalker and the aggressive paparazzi.
But the stalker hadn't appeared yet, and the paparazzi weren't that bad. Then she ran into me.
In the original game, Lee Ho-yeon met Moon Soo-rin after those incidents had already started.
So even if she liked Lee Ho-yeon, Moon Soo-rin had no choice but to approach slowly. Worried about what photos might get taken, what rumors might spread.
But now, she'd met me way too early.
That's why she was expressing her feelings openly and approaching like this.
★ Heroine Status ★ [Moon Soo-rin] Favorability: 38 Lust: 17 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 40 It was 20 when we first met, and without much interaction, it'd doubled. That's the proof.
This sudden spike felt a bit burdensome. Who knows what backlash it might bring.
"Haa... Fine. Of course I'm joining."
"Great. Then see you at the student council after classes."
"Yeah. See you later."
Moon Soo-rin beamed and left the lecture hall.
After she was gone, the cadets were quietly staring at me.
I could see the girls whispering among themselves, out of earshot.
'Ah, this is gonna pull insane aggro.'
My head already hurt thinking about what would pop up on EveryDay.
In the end, I put on a straight face like nothing happened and turned back to my paper.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After morning and afternoon classes ended, there was one place I had to stop before heading to the student council.
The student council wouldn't run away, but Lucy would bolt back to the dorms.
I had to join Lucy's social club, so I approached her.
"Lucy. You're starting a club this time, right?"
"Huh? Who'd you hear that from? I only told Lumi... Did you hear it from her?"
"Oh, no. I overheard you talking with Lumi earlier."
"Eung. So? You interested?"
"Yeah. More friends is always better."
Lies. Except for Lumi and Lucy, I wouldn't exchange a word with anyone there.
"But aren't you joining the student council? Can you do club activities on top of that?"
"Think of it the other way. Having a student council member in the club makes activities easier, right?"
"Ooooh!"
Lucy's eyes sparkled.
"You're in! You're in! Now we've got the minimum three: me, you, and Lumi. I just need to find an advisor prof. I'll handle that."
"Okay. Catch you later."
Lucy slung her bag over her shoulder and dashed off happily.
"Guess it's student council time."
I'd been in school for over 15 years, but student council? Never even dreamed of it.
'I'm really trying all sorts of things in [SexA].'
Victoria Academy had a separate building for club rooms to support extracurriculars.
The club building was 17 stories tall, with the student council on the top floor, 17.
The walls were plastered with banners promoting various clubs.
"Mana Research Club, Tea Ceremony Club, Insect Collecting Club? What even is that? They have everything."
There were tons of clubs that seemed totally unrelated to Victoria Academy.
I took the elevator up to the 17th floor.
Ding-
The doors opened to the student council room, restrooms, lounge, and such.
I opened the student council room door without much thought. Grab someone and say I was here to see the president, right?
The student council room looked like a corporate office at a glance.
Each desk had a holographic computer, and three people were glued to their screens, hammering away at keyboards.
Their bloodshot eyes suggested this wasn't a one- or two-day thing.
"...Did I walk into the wrong place?"
I turned back to check—it said Student Council Room, not Central Student Council Office.
Wait, same difference?
"What brings you here?"
While I stood there dumbly at the entrance, a girl who looked like an executive came over and spoke to me.
"I'm here to see the Student Council President. I got a recommendation."
"Ah~ You're Ho-yeon, right? Your reputation precedes you; you really do have a nice vibe."
"Uh? Oh, thanks."
"President~ Ho-yeon's here."
"One sec!"
From the door labeled [Student Council President's Office] inside, there was a clattering sound.
About two minutes later, Moon Soo-rin emerged from the president's office in a crisp cadet uniform.
"Sorry, did I keep you waiting? Wanna come in?"
I followed Moon Soo-rin into the president's office.
The student council president's office was impeccably neat and tidy.
Moon Soo-rin personally brewed some coffee and brought it over.
"Here, drink this."
"Thank you."
*Sip.*
I didn't know what kind it was, but I was grateful it wasn't instant coffee like what Professor Im Sol gave.
"One more person's coming, so hang tight a bit."
One more? That's weird.
I could kinda understand pulling strings to get me in because she liked me, but why add another?
Wait, what if it's not because she likes me?
What if she's just balancing things out since I'm the only one with a recommendation, worrying about fairness or whatever?
That thought made my face heat up.
"Ho-yeon, what's wrong? You okay?"
"No... Just had an embarrassing thought all of a sudden."
"Oh? Is it because you're in noona's private space?"
Seeing Soo-rin noona laugh "fu fu fu" calmed my nerves.
That smile of hers couldn't come without real affection. She definitely likes me.
For now, guess I wait for this other person.
"By the way, I hear you're getting close with Professor Im Sol lately?"
"Huh? How'd you know?"
"It's pretty famous. You're the first cadet to enter her personal lab, I bet."
"Ah..."
The fight with the Mana Research Club at the magic lab must've spread already. Rumors travel too fast for nonsense like that.
"Still, be careful. Professor Im Sol's pretty and talented. With all her fans, some might start side-eyeing you."
"Then isn't talking to you right now dangerous too, President?"
"Huh? Oh, already teasing your noona? Hehe."
Nice. That convo probably scored some points.
Chipping away like this, I might conquer her soon—but the world never makes things that easy. Gotta stay on my toes.
"President. Visitor's here."
The executive who'd shown me in interrupted our chat. Just a bit later would've been nice. Bummer.
"Yeah, let 'em in."
The door swung open, and in walked a woman with flowing blonde hair and snow-white skin.
I couldn't help but be startled.
It was Elise, the top first-year student.
★ Heroine Status ★ [Elise] Favorability: 16 Lust: 20 Appetite: 30 Fatigue: 50 'What's with her? Why's she here?'
Elise had zero connection to the student council. No route took her anywhere near it.
As if ignoring my confusion, Elise greeted Moon Soo-rin.
"Hello. Student Council President. I'm Elise from first-year A-Class."
Then she plopped down right next to me.
Well, that was the only empty seat.
"Welcome, Miss Elise. Coffee?"
"No thank you, President. By the way, is Cadet Lee Ho-yeon joining the PR Department too?"
"Yes, exactly. If you two handle PR, that'll be perfect."
"...Yes. Understood."
Hold up, teach. Slow down.
PR Department? What's that? I wanted something like the Discipline Committee...
"Um, President? What's the PR Department?"
"You sat down without even hearing that?"
Elise wasn't glaring so much as looking at me like I was incomprehensible. Hey, not my fault.
"Oops, sorry. I forgot to mention it upfront."
Then what was all my agonizing over the recommendation and Discipline Committee for...?
Fine, whatever. Not the first injustice. Suck it up.
"The PR Department was newly created to promote Victoria Academy. Small scale: student council promo. Large scale: representing the academy as publicity ambassadors externally."
"Me, doing something that huge? I've never done anything like that."
"Hmm... It'll be fine. Ho-yeon, you couldn't possibly fail at this."
"...?"
Couldn't possibly fail? What does that mean?
Not to brag, but I've never done influencer stuff. Always holed up gaming. No confidence.
"Haa. Are you really an idiot?"
"Hehe, he might not get it yet. Calm down, Miss Elise."
My dumb expression must've shown, because Elise started laying into me.
"Top freshman guy: you. Top freshman girl: me. Picked for academy promo. Still don't get why?"
Top girl: Elise.
Top guy: Lee Ho-yeon.
Job: publicity. Small: academy ambassador, large: external...
Ah. Got it.
100% picked for looks.
That's why "couldn't fail." Duh, handsome and pretty—just pose and it's a photoshoot.
For Victoria Academy promo, it wasn't about eloquence or skill. The promo itself by hot guys and girls was the point.
Lumi and Lucy were heroines too, so pretty, but Elise had that more balanced beauty, so she got picked.
"Mm, got it."
No, how am I supposed to relate when I've never been good-looking in my life, people?!
I didn't grow up hearing "pretty" "handsome" like you all!
"Not to toot my own horn, but you two could just stand there for photos and outperform most models. No worries."
"Yes, President."
"Yeah."
I answered, feeling super embarrassed, but Elise next to me seemed unfazed—like this was daily life.
"Anyway, I called you today to introduce your new coworkers. Go say hi to the student council folks."
After that, we mingled with the student council members.
"Whoa, PR newbies are face cards fr."
"Nice to meet you~ Nice to meet you~."
"Too bad you missed the VP; he's out on guild business."
Honestly, no big shots in student council.
Girls were average, guys not worth mentioning.
But one: VP Shin Dong-min. Gotta watch him.
Shin Dong-min's the villain in Moon Soo-rin's route. He pines for the president.
No hostility yet, so okay... but stay cautious.
No need to worry until the stalker incident in her route. Plenty of time till then.
And for some reason, the Club President guy saw me, yelped "Eek!", claimed urgent business, and bailed.
Reminded me of the fishing club thing, but we don't even know each other, so probably nothing.
Then they showed us to "the PR room."
"We prepared a club room for PR formally, but..."
Inside: two desks. Plus flashy lighting that didn't fit student council, holo-computer, bathroom, even a bed.
No lie, better than my pre-possession one-room.
"You probably won't have paperwork or office stuff. That's for other execs. Just focus on external activities."
"Got it."
Real mascot hires, huh. But isn't this risky?
Hiring purely on looks without real work—problems?
Whatever. They'll handle it.
"No need to clock in daily. I'll pass on promo gigs as they come. I've got work left, so I'll head out. Chat, get comfy—you two'll work together a lot."
Moon Soo-rin winked at me from an angle Elise couldn't see, then left the room.
Once she was gone, awkward silence hung between Elise and me.
Elise fiddled with stuff at her desk; I just stood there.
'What now?'
Elise showed no sign of speaking first. Should I break the ice?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 『Sub Quest Received.』 [An Insider's Start Begins with Conversation] Elise is an extremely picky character. Have a conversation that suits her tastes for 30+ minutes! Reward: Elise's favorability slight increase. 1 random stat point The quest popped up while I was pondering.
Guess I have to talk now.
A bit nervous, but my insider skills should handle it. Fine.
No matter how elite she is, Elise is a heroine.
That title means she's fated to fall for the protagonist.