Chapter 269
Chapter 269
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 269
Chapter Title: So There Was This Method (1)
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It seemed like he was making a concession, but in truth, it was only natural.
'Shenyang, where the Moyong Family is located, isn't just a day or two away.'
That was exactly what I'd thought when I heard about the birthday banquet being held there.
"Of course we should go. With midterms over this semester, if the remaining academic schedule gets backed up, it could cause issues for next year's academy entrance exams, right? I won't forget my duties as a student, and I'll handle my responsibilities perfectly."
At my words, Principal Kyung Hye-sa-tae let out a deep sigh.
"Sigh. Whatever circumstances Binni doesn't know about, it must stem from a sense of justice, and since you're so sharp and decisive... I have no grounds to scold you further. Go ahead, even though you're busy. As long as it turns out as you promise, there's no reason to refuse."
"Yes, sir!"
"Oh, the documents issued under the Operating Committee and the Principal's name have been sent to the Student Council office. From now on, all official correspondence for Student Eon Yong-un will go there."
"Yes, sir!"
I responded loudly, gulped down the now-tepid tea during our chat, and left the principal's office.
'Nothing difficult about it.'
I'd chosen courses from the start that I could ace for high grades.
No matter what assignments they gave, I could handle them easily.
In fact, all I had to do was explain the situation to the professors and ask for substitute assignments in place of the finals.
'There is the matter of expanding the newsletter business to Guangxi, but the framework is solid, and Eun So-jeo will be thrilled to handle it.'
The other Student Council president's duties were minimal.
Just approving the next dormitory autonomy council president for the Four Great Dorms and allocating Mabangyeon materials to each autonomy council.
The Student Council president position was newly created, so electing one among all current students would be chaotic with voting.
But dormitory autonomy council presidents were handled internally by each dorm.
Excluding Cheongjuk Hall, where I was vice head of autonomy, the others just needed final approval.
'The Mabangyeon materials should be sorted by Je-gal So-jeo by now.'
That too would just need final approval.
With those thoughts, I headed lightly to the Student Council building.
But as I neared,
I saw Mabangyeon research students bustling in, each carrying books and documents to the Student Council office.
'...What the hell is that?'
My steps quickened.
Rushing into the Student Council office, I was greeted by towering stacks of documents and research students adding to them.
One research student spotted me and spoke up.
"Director, you're here!"
Then, from between the document towers, my younger siblings poked their heads out, half-buried.
Among them, Dang Ok-gi quickly ratted out her childhood friend.
"Eon Yong-un! Seol-ji caused trouble!"
"...Je-gal So-jeo?"
"Yong-un! You're here!"
"I want to leave."
Seeing my expression darken,
Eon Yong-myeong and Namgung Yun hurriedly made excuses.
"Big brother, I tried to stop her."
"This one's beyond stopping. I clearly said it needs your approval, Eon Yong-un."
Ignoring the two, I turned to Je-gal Seol-ji.
"So, what the hell is all this?"
"Um. You entrusted me with Mabangyeon matters and Student Council office staffing, right?"
"...I did."
"While talking with the advising professors about distributing Mabangyeon materials to the autonomy council offices, we decided to attach Mabangyeon as a department under the Student Council office. Mabangyeon needs your approval for so many things anyway, and while the research lab is close to Cheongjuk Hall, it's far from here, right?"
"It is far..."
I'd given her the authority, and it was an efficient move.
But simply relocating Mabangyeon didn't explain why my siblings were piling documents like mountains and scribbling away.
"But that doesn't seem to be the end of it? For a move, you'd just stack bookshelves and files in empty rooms, so why are they holding brushes?"
"Seol-ji here decided to expand the archive!"
"...Explain yourself."
"While at it, I thought it wise to add another archive for backups in case of fire or such, so we decided to store it on Mount Wudang."
"...So you're transcribing them."
"Yes. The Wudang Sect has agreed to guard the Mount Wudang archive. We just need to document it and copy everything over!"
Mabangyeon materials were all classified security-level documents.
Couldn't entrust them to just anyone.
Had to be done by Mabangyeon professors and research students.
"That's not 'just' a bit of work."
Je-gal Seol-ji started boastfully at first, but sensing my lukewarm reaction,
"...It'll be tough now, but more efficient long-term, right? I pushed it to start sooner and finish sooner. Did I do wrong?"
She checked my mood with a shrinking voice.
"You didn't do wrong. I agree with the direction, but we have an excursion coming up soon."
"What kind? If it's soon..."
"Shh. Details later. For now, just know we need substitute assignments for finals ahead of time."
"Ah, got it."
Watching her, Master clicked his tongue.
- Tsk tsk. She did cause a mess. Well, how could she know you'd meet the Initial King and scout Liaodong matters.
'Sigh. Je-gal So-jeo is smart, but too smart for her own good.'
Too enterprising?
'The intent is good, but you can't chase efficiency to extremes like this. I gave her authority, but I never dreamed she'd merge the two operations.'
- Can you perfect it before that Moyong Family geezer's eightieth birthday or whatever?
'I have to make it possible.'
No point lamenting spilled water.
"For now, younger siblings, submit your course lists to me."
One by one, let's handle it.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After assigning my siblings to transcribe the Mabangyeon materials,
I went around the professor research building, collected substitute assignments, and explained the rough situation to the professors.
"Professor Jeong. There's a major elder in the murim's birthday coming up soon, right?"
"Ah, come to think of it. The Moyong Family's family head is turning eighty."
"Yes. With the Student Council president newly established, how about sending me, as a student representative of Righteous Martial Academy, to attend? But assignments and finals are in the way."
"Good idea. Then I'll give a substitute assignment. My course is a required one anyway, so you and the other students going can do it as a group project?"
My siblings and I shared many courses, and the informed professors assigned group projects.
Normal group projects were hell by another name, but our situation was different.
My siblings had proactively taken roles and gathered materials.
"Eon young master. Blind spots of Haomen and the Beggars' Sect. Cheon and I will handle this."
"Do it."
"...I don't even know why I'm doing this."
"Cheon!"
"Jang-ho."
"...I'll do it."
Plus, I could leverage the Student Council president's influence.
"Influence of Hancheol-gil and Hyeoncheol-gil on the Nine Great Gates and Five Great Families. I can handle Hancheol-gil, and for Hyeoncheol-gil, since Jeomchang Sect is in throat-of-Yunnan Maejin Peak, Senior Mae Jin-ak can help easily? Goong-yun-ah."
"Say it."
"Go to Hyangran Hall and ask Council Head Mae to come to the Student Council office."
"She'll come if you call, but... this is grade-related. Is it okay?"
"It's for the murim, so she'll help."
"...?"
"Anyway, bring her."
"Got it."
Such assignments and short papers wouldn't be sloppy.
"You finished this already? It's not half-assed... No, the research is perfect."
"Pass?"
"Pass. But, the year after next or so. About joining my lab..."
"I'd like to focus on my duties first. How about discussing later?"
"Sure, good. Later then..."
"Later."
"..."
I handled the assignments that way.
"Does this wrap up the assignments?"
"Yes, Yong-un."
"Then Je-gal So-jeo, oversee the Mabangyeon transcription. I'll handle next year's autonomy council president selection with Cheongjuk Hall executives."
"Got it!"
Then I gathered Cheongjuk Hall executives in the autonomy office and spoke.
"Seniors are all here. Let's start. Younger siblings, good work on the assignments. But you saw the Mabangyeon materials piled in the Student Council building's conference room."
At my words, Jeong Hyeon gave a dry laugh.
"It made me want to summon the Primordial Heavenly Venerable."
"Right. We have to sort that mess in three days."
Eun Ha-seong spoke as if no joking.
"Come on, brother. Just transcribing will take less time than organizing, but three days is too short, isn't it? If we devote all day every day, maybe."
"Exactly."
"Pardon?"
"That's what it'll be."
"...When do we sleep?"
"You can sleep forever if you die, so no need to eat well already?"
"..."
With that opener, I asked Gyeong-ryong hyung.
"When I ran for Student Council president, Eun So-jeo said she'd take Cheongjuk Hall, but any other students claiming to run?"
Answering was Yin Ha-yeon.
"No, no other candidates, but me taking it doesn't mean I want to be president."
"Then?"
"I think it best if Senior Jin the president does one more year, and I handle overall operations as autonomy vice head below him."
Hearing it, it made sense.
Other dorms would have third-years as presidents; a second-year as autonomy president would seem a step behind.
'Not to mention wasting a talent like Gyeong-ryong hyung.'
Yin Ha-yeon as president and Gyeong-ryong hyung as subordinate looked off.
I nodded, and Yin Ha-yeon turned to Gyeong-ryong hyung to finish.
"But the president wants to step down?"
Following her gaze,
Gyeong-ryong hyung spoke awkwardly.
"I've done it twice already."
It wasn't incomprehensible.
In other dorms, autonomy president was an honor.
But before my siblings and I entered, Cheongjuk had no sunny days.
Everyone avoided it, so responsibility-driven Gyeong-ryong hyung had held it for two years.
"People might say Cheongjuk has no one, so..."
"If someone says that, I'll rip their tongue... no, correct their attitude. Instill manners."
"..."
"Choose. One more year as Cheongjuk autonomy president. Or step down and grind as my direct Student Council executive."
"...Only those two choices?"
I cracked my neck.
"I can make another, want me to?"
"I'll do one more year as president."
"Decided. Applause."
Clap clap clap clap clap.
Leading the cheers, I spoke again.
"Then Gyeong-ryong hyung and Senior Go Wan-san prepare a yes/no vote for Cheongjuk students on reappointing the president. Senior Ye Hae-su?"
"Yes?"
"You really must take an executive role in the Student Council."
"Pardon?"
"Why so surprised?"
"S-sudden proposal, I was caught off guard."
"Newsletter scope expands to Four Great Dorms now, so best to attend council meetings."
"...True."
"And seeing Je-gal So-jeo stirring things, I need a secretary here. Weren't you in the Public Relations secretary office when dispatched to the Murim Alliance? Help out. Then..."
Before I finished, Ye Hae-su clasped hands prayerfully.
"Then! Will you skip morning training?!"
"Absolutely not."
"..."
I shook my head firmly.
Her face turned ashen.
"I'll greatly increase the newsletter budget and assign dedicated painters and engravers."
At my newsletter push, her face brightened.
"Until now, you needed my final approval to publish, but I'll let you handle it. How's that?"
"G-great!"
She finally nodded.
I clapped to refocus attention.
"Everyone except Gyeong-ryong hyung and Go Wan-san, rush to Student Council office. Execute."
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After sending my siblings ahead to the Student Council office, I prepared a few yes/no vote documents for autonomy president reappointment with Gyeong-ryong hyung and Senior Go Wan-san.
"You two take these to the main building for approval. I'll head to the Student Council office."
"Do that."
Properly formatted, approval was certain.
With their track record, Cheongjuk students would vote yes.
Priority was finishing Je-gal Seol-ji's mess.
Hurrying to the office,
I saw Professor Han Yeong leading Woo So-rung and Eun Ha-seong trying to shoulder loads.
I approached.
"Professor? What are you doing?"
"Ah, Je-gal Seol-ji student said the deadline is tight and asked for help. To make it efficient. While they transcribe, move materials to the new archive on Mount Wudang?"
Running to Mount Wudang with students multiple times was one thing; this was another level.
Even with me helping, four people moving this would take ages.
"When will we move all this like that?"
"True, but security materials can't be handed to just anyone. Any other way?"
"There is. Instead of us struggling alone..."
As I tried explaining another method,
Among research students moving items, Mosan Sect seniors and Solgeo beggars were shifting a coffin with a jiangshi.
'Seeing is believing.'
I unhesitatingly reached toward it.
"Rise."