Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: Regular Meeting (2)
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Sudden mockery hits me out of nowhere, leaving my mind in a fog.
Why are these bastards so desperate to take me down?
Glancing at the blue brooch on his chest, I see the shorty is a second-year male cadet.
Anyone would think he was my damn boss.
"Promotions Department newbie. Sit down already. If you're late, at least act like Elise."
The guy at the far end of the right side speaks up.
His face matches the one from the photo with Moon Soo-rin last time. It's the vice president.
The men on the right shoot me hostile glares, while the women on the left send positive signals.
...What the hell is this shitty vibe?
A deep gut feeling warns me not to sit on the right.
💖 Heroine Status Window 💖 [Moon Soo-rin] ❤️ Favorability: 62 💋 Lust: 40 🍽️ Appetite: 50 😴 Fatigue: 85 Current Status: The vice president's gang is picking on Lee Ho-yeon, who already looks exhausted, leaving her extremely displeased. On the verge of exploding. Her face shows fatigue from last night's vigorous sex. Somehow, I feel bad about it.
I get the picture now.
Right side is the vice president's crew, left is the president's faction.
I naturally take the seat next to Elise.
I feel glares from the right, but I ignore them and look at Moon Soo-rin.
Her expression is dark, so I nod with a reassuring smile.
"Haa... Let's begin the regular meeting. The first agenda was managing students for next week's midterms, but we'll address yesterday's dungeon training terror incident first."
Moon Soo-rin glances at me and moves on without comment. Good.
Ruin my image all you want, but not hers. Especially not over some guy getting her riled up—that could damage her mentally.
"Eight dead, twenty-two injured. Other details are in the materials in front of you. The academy will handle the rest. Our job is to calm the students' unrest. Any opinions?"
"Perfect, the person involved is right here. How about asking junior Lee Ho-yeon, President?"
"...Vice President. Is that really something to say?"
"It's fine. What do you want to know?"
I answer before Moon Soo-rin can respond.
Vice President Shin Dong-min glares at me with obvious hostility.
He must have noticed how close Soo-rin and I are getting.
Otherwise, he wouldn't be so openly aggressive.
Dragging me into this meeting forcibly is probably part of it.
"There must be plenty. As someone who was there, think of something to say for the other cadets."
'Is that what a fucking human says...?'
His words insult all the terror victims, including me.
"Right. Or spill some heroic tale about slaying the ogre. Pfft..."
The shorty who sniped me earlier chimes in from the side.
"Hey! That's too much! Is that what you say to a junior who survived a terror attack?"
"What's wrong with it? Did Lee Ho-yeon lose anything to the terror? He even gained a career boost from killing the ogre. Right?"
"That's not the point! Are you really the student council?"
The secretary next to the president jumps in to defend me.
I'm grateful, but Moon Soo-rin's face is about to burst. I need to step in before she does.
"I'm so grateful that our seniors care so much for their juniors."
"...What?"
"Your support for a junior's success is truly admirable. How can I repay such kindness, seniors?"
I say it staring straight at the shorty senior.
"Jeez. Getting hyped up everywhere must make you think you're hot shit. Why haven't you stood out at the academy then, Mr. Big Shot?"
What the fuck. Midterms haven't even happened yet.
Beating up a classmate or the dean mentioning me won't convince them. Proving it with test scores might work, but who knows.
...What if I beat up a senior?
"If you can't believe it that much, senior, how about a spar? We can stream it on SNS."
"Wh-what?"
These types always falter when someone they see as weak pushes back. Idiots.
"...Promotions newbie. Is that how you talk to a senior?"
The vice president jumps in, unable to watch the flustered shorty.
"Senior? Do I have to treat someone who talks like that as one, Vice President?"
"...As expected from an orphan. No manners."
The vice president mutters it staring at me.
"...?"
I'm momentarily stunned speechless.
Striking straight for the personal attack just because I didn't add "nim."
"Vice President!"
"President, am I wrong? Putting an orphan with no parents in the student council... It's a stain on us."
Crazy bastard.
"Crazy bastard."
His remark is so unhinged, I blurt out my thought.
Luckily, I have no tragic orphan memories, so it doesn't hurt, but it pisses me off.
Still, human psychology plants biases even if you resist.
'He looks normal, but he's actually gay!'
Suddenly, all his past actions seem off.
It's inevitable.
That's what he was aiming for.
Even if it tarnishes his image, he wanted Soo-rin to know I'm an orphan.
"Vice President... I'm truly disappointed. Judging people like that."
But that's short-sighted.
No matter how pretty and kind Moon Soo-rin is, she's not a trophy for an average guy.
She handles almost all the student council and academy paperwork alone. Takes real talent.
She wouldn't open up to a secretive guy like me without checking my background first.
"President, everyone says that on the surface. But their true feelings differ. The student council must be perfect. No need for flaws. That's the way for Victoria Academy."
Damn, how do I handle this?
He's so brazen, it gives me a headache.
Anyone would think he's a dedicated patriot for the council.
"And, Promotions newbie. What did you just call me? Did I hear wrong?"
"..."
"Acting like that toward the vice president spits on the face of the president who recommended you. Know that?"
I ponder my response.
Honestly, this wasn't the plan.
Pretend to ally with the vice president who hired the stalker, then dramatically save Lucy like before.
But he was hostile from our first meeting, and Lucy's unresolved Felix trauma lingers in my mind.
The plan's already busted.
"Apologize sincerely now, and I'll give you a chance to take it back."
Do I really need to bow when I'm not wrong?
I don't even want to fake cooperating with a psycho like him.
Only concern: acting too rogue might hurt Soo-rin who recommended me.
But I have image management via Promotions activities. I'll smooth it over.
"Apologize first for calling me an orphan, and I'll apologize too."
"Such pointless pride. If you hate losing to me, want to spar me too? Makes sense—sparring the student council vice president is the best way to prove your strength."
Shin Dong-min smirks unpleasantly.
A duel, huh.
He's not weak. Didn't get vice president for nothing.
Plus, the original game's power balance is messed up.
Average cadets are fine, but third-year named characters are A-rank hunter level or higher.
Probably botched scaling as villains get stronger with the protagonist.
Moon Soo-rin hits A-rank or beyond upon awakening.
Who knows how strong Shin Dong-min is.
In the original timeline, he's nothing compared to an ogre, but this is earlier.
I'm known as a fire mage. He's definitely water attribute.
Confident in his skills and advantageous matchup.
"Laying out the stage for you... but are you the type who chokes?"
"Thank you for the opportunity, Vice President."
He didn't expect me to accept; his eyes narrow.
Other seniors look shocked.
Moon Soo-rin stays expressionless since she knows I really killed the ogre, but why isn't Elise surprised at all?
"Ha, fine. When? I'm good now."
Shin Dong-min lowers his voice threateningly.
"Let's make it big. Midterms end soon, then the festival. We can do it as a student council friendly match event."
Victoria Academy's festival always has student council events to hype the mood.
I'm proposing our duel as this festival's event.
"Fine. I accept."
"V-Vice President! No need to bother with trash like him!"
"In exchange, if I win, kneel and apologize for insulting me right then."
The vice president ignores the yapping shorty and fixes on me.
He wants to humiliate me publicly. But will it work?
"What if I win?"
"What?"
"What happens if I win? I need rewards too."
"Jeez. Name anything, I'll grant it. And apologize for mouthing off to me now."
I shrug.
Honestly, I don't think I'll lose.
"Vice President."
A cold voice echoes through the meeting room.
Moon Soo-rin at the head seat glares at Shin Dong-min with an expression I've never seen.
"Leave the meeting room."
"President. I got heated. Sorry."
Shin Dong-min finally grasps the situation and bows, but it's too late.
💖 Heroine Status Window 💖 [Moon Soo-rin] ❤️ Favorability: 62 💋 Lust: 40 🍽️ Appetite: 50 😴 Fatigue: 90 Current Status: Need to remove the vice president from my sight right now. (Extreme stress state. Caution needed) I stepped in to keep Soo-rin from exploding... but she did anyway. Can't blame her; enduring that would make her a saint.
"The vice president isn't in a state to conduct the meeting properly. Don't make me say it twice. Leave now."
Moon Soo-rin's aura is terrifying.
It's like facing a predator as prey—instinctively overwhelming.
She only gets this serious in the original when catching the stalker. Shows how much stress she's under.
She just got briefly riled because of me; Shin Dong-min isn't in a position to challenge her.
Talent, skill, family, council standing, popularity—she outclasses him everywhere.
That's why he hires stalkers to harass her pathetically.
"...Yes. Understood. Need to cool my head. See you next week."
Shin Dong-min judges retreat is best and leaves the room.
"Alright, let's resume the meeting."
With Shin Dong-min gone, Moon Soo-rin continues leading.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "So, I'd like to do another Promotions Department activity. With yesterday's unfortunate incident, we need to lighten the mood."
The meeting reaches the final agenda.
Of course, no one else spoke; Soo-rin handled it solo.
Last item: Promotions Department activities.
I was ready with an idea for this.
"How about volunteering somewhere?"
"Volunteering?"
"Yes. I visit an orphanage every weekend. We could film there. The kids know me well, so shots would look good."
"Oh ho..."
Moon Soo-rin looks impressed, like she didn't know.
Elise turns to stare at me too.
It's all thanks to Baek A-young, but it feels rewarding.
If they investigated me but missed this, did they only check right after we met at the cafe?
"Sounds good. Volunteering is perfect for image management. Plus, storytelling with Ho-yeon volunteering directly... Ah, uh... S-sorry. That was a slip."
"It's fine. That's what I had in mind."
It was the plan all along.
Use what you can.
The public eats up emotional stories.
A handsome promising academy cadet, orphan background, volunteering weekly at an orphanage?
Jackpot material.
Guaranteed hit.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Volunteering is set for this weekend.
Today's Friday; Sunday is the day after tomorrow.
Why so soon? To divert attention fast.
Shift eyes from the academy terror to Lee Ho-yeon's sad backstory.
Cliché tactic, but clichés endure for a reason.
After the meeting, I memorize the shorty's face as he leaves.
'See you next week in joint class.'
Right before midterms, joint classes with second-years to boost freshmen experience.
Since I'm at odds with the vice president, might as well torment his lackey too.
"Ho-yeon."
As I savor dark thoughts, Moon Soo-rin calls me.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Lumi, could I make these cookies?"
"Hmm, probably tough at home..."
"Yeah, figured..."
Lucy and Lumi chat cozily in a cafe.
The twins spend most free time together—meals, shopping, studying.
Heads together, they watch a video on handmade cookies, Lucy's recent obsession.
"Ung... What's up? Making them for Ho-yeon, maybe?"
"Uh. Y-yeah? I mean, just... as thanks. Hehe."
"..."
To Lumi, Lucy clearly likes Lee Ho-yeon.
But Lumi can't fully trust her judgment.
Her social circle has been tiny.
And she's anxious.
Her closest friend and beloved family Lucy, versus her secret crush Lee Ho-yeon.
If Lucy likes him too, what then?
Could she really choose one?
"Wow, look at these cookies. Yummy, right? But looks hard too."
Ugh.
Watching Lucy fret over cookies for Ho-yeon, Lumi's mind grows tangled.
"Lumi? What's wrong? Ah, that cake from earlier giving trouble? I told you not to eat so much~."
Lucy's bright smile is the most trustworthy thing.
Memories of leaning on each other flash by.
Recent events left Lucy unstable.
Asking about Ho-yeon now might be risky.
But Lumi already lied to Lucy about him. She doesn't want to betray her again, and curiosity overwhelms.
Finally, Lumi speaks.
"Lucy. Do you... like Ho-yeon?"