The Shadow Ruler of the Academy (2)
“What do you mean by that……”
“First!”
Furious after being kicked in the leg, Yuk U-seon shot to his feet with a bellow, but Gong Cheon-gi blocked his path.
“Cheon-gi.”
Slap!
“You bastard! Have you lost your mind?!”
“Huh?”
Yuk U-seon stared at him in bewilderment, never expecting a slap from Gong Cheon-gi.
“How dare you treat the young master like some friend of yours! Do you really have a death wish?!”
“……Cheon-gi, I……”
“Shut your mouth! Don’t say another word from now on.”
Gong Cheon-gi growled low, glaring at him, and Yuk U-seon cowered, clamping his lips shut.
Hoo? As expected.
Jin Yeo-rip smirked at Gong Cheon-gi’s back. The guy had gotten it. He’d anticipated what came next and stepped in before things escalated. And with a single phrase, he’d even created some distance.
Jin Yeo-rip is different from us. He can never be a close friend.
This applied not just to the elders’ kids but to the collateral branch heirs as well. Sly, but…… a bastard’s a bastard.
“What are you all doing, just standing there gawking? Hurry up and clean the academy!”
He then shouted at the children. Under his fierce momentum, the academy kids timidly righted the fallen desks and formed neat lines.
“Young master.”
“……”
“Please forgive U-seon’s rude words and actions. His learning is still shallow, so his thoughts were shortsighted and overstepped.”
Gong Cheon-gi turned and offered a polite apology in a voice loud enough for the entire academy to hear. In the end, it made Jin Yeo-rip look like the villain in everyone’s eyes. What a scheming little shit. Just as rumored, he lacked nothing—speech, manners……
But having heard far too much about him already, Jin Yeo-rip could see right through the intentions behind his words and actions. No need to dig that deep. His clenched fist was trembling visibly.
In truth, this was a first for Jin Yeo-rip too. Pressuring someone with status…… except in the military.
But it couldn’t be helped. He’d steeled himself for it anyway. This was the world he had to live in now.
To fight those trying to steal what was his, he had to stand tall in any situation. Well, having tried it once, it seemed doable. The Twelve Flows boiling inside him even urged him to snap that slender white neck, and he had to calm it down.
Hiding his inner thoughts, Jin Yeo-rip smiled and said,
“So, can I sit now?”
“You mean……”
“What are you waiting for?”
“Pardon?”
“Clean up.”
At those words, Gong Cheon-gi clenched his jaw so hard the muscles bulged. This was probably a first for him too—a life lived looking down on others until now.
Once everything was sorted, the academy fell into a silence so profound not even breathing could be heard.
“Hm? What’s with you all? The chatterboxes from before class.”
Baekhak entered, puzzled, and took his seat.
“And the seats have switched?”
“Yes, starting today, I’ll be sitting here.”
Jin Yeo-rip answered with a smile, and after scanning the children briefly, Baekhak nodded and opened his book.
“Alright, then……”
“Teacher!”
Just as class was about to begin, Jin Yeo-rip shot his hand up.
“What is it?”
“I have a suggestion.”
“A suggestion?”
“Yes.”
“Hm, let’s hear it.”
With Baekhak’s permission, Jin Yeo-rip spoke slowly.
“As the saying goes, when many gather, there must be a leader to guide them.”
“Correct. And?”
“How about we elect a representative for the academy while we’re at it?”
“A representative?”
“Yes, someone to represent the students, communicate with you, and steer our learning in a better direction…… like a class president.”
“Class president?”
“Yes. Can the teacher handle every little thing among the students?”
“Hm, that doesn’t sound bad.”
After a moment’s thought, Baekhak nodded, and a wicked smile crept across Jin Yeo-rip’s bowed face.
Watch closely, Cheon-gi. See how I take over the academy.
Not through brute force like you, but as the so-called legitimate shadow ruler. Baekhak’s keyholder!
“Then how should we choose the representative—or class president?”
As Baekhak asked and the children tilted their heads, Gong Cheon-gi, who’d lost his seat, whipped his head toward Jin Yeo-rip.
Class president? Never heard the term, but it must mean the head of the class.
What’s he scheming?
After a brief ponder, Gong Cheon-gi raised his hand high.
“Teacher!”
“You have an idea? Speak, Cheon-gi.”
Gong Cheon-gi straightened his back and voiced his thoughts.
“The young master has made a fine suggestion.”
But Baekhak’s brow furrowed instantly.
“Young master……?”
“Yes?”
“Have I not told you repeatedly? In private, fine—but this is the academy. How can you mention status in a place where all come to learn as equals? Call him Yeo-rip.”
“Ah……”
His displeased tone made Gong Cheon-gi realize his mistake, grimacing as Jin Yeo-rip smirked subtly.
Idiot.
Baekhak was always like that. In his classroom, all students were equals. Jin Yeo-rip, who knew this well, had always called himself just Yeo-rip in front of the teacher. The recent incident must have stuck in his head, leading to the slip.
Hurt deeper than you let on, huh? That’s called PTSD, trauma. Got it?
“My mistake. I’ll be careful.”
Gong Cheon-gi quickly composed himself and continued calmly.
“However, if the class president represents the students, it should be someone everyone nods to.”
“Correct.”
“So, why not ask everyone’s opinion and have the one with the most votes?”
“Hm, not a bad idea.”
Baekhak nodded, and Gong Cheon-gi shot Jin Yeo-rip a sly glance.
Progressive little shit. Already knows majority rule?
For a second, I wondered if he’s possessed too.
He’d brought up voting to block Jin Yeo-rip from using his status. But with a vote, could he win? The elders’ kids outnumbered them—nine to eight collaterals. Three neutrals among the eight, and Han Iggeom was basically with the elders’ group. He was bound to lose.
But if I’d suggested class president to give you an edge, would I have? This world wasn’t fair. Democracy? Elections? Not here.
At thirty, he didn’t want to brawl with kids over a kid’s seat, but it was his from the start. The foundation to dominate the academy.
“Teacher.”
“Yeo-rip has an opinion too. Speak.”
With permission, Jin Yeo-rip stood, walking the academy slowly with a grave expression.
Alright, time to film a drama convincing Baekhak.
“Ahem! Since ancient times, there have been remonstrators.”
“Remonstrators?”
“It’s said that in the era of Yao and Shun, there were no remonstrators yet the people’s voices flowed freely, but later, to efficiently gather them, the role was created—and that’s when the channels closed.”
“Hoo? You know that anecdote?”
Learned it from a drama. Remembering one cool line isn’t impressive.
But twist it here.
“The class president is like that remonstrator.”
“Class president like a remonstrator?”
“Yes—gathering students’ voices to advise the teacher. How is it different?”
“Hm, continue.”
“However, a class president might only consider students’ views or deceive the teacher for personal gain.”
“True, that could happen.”
“But how can we trust a student vote? If the position leads to misleading the teacher for students’ or personal benefit, it’ll chase popularity over true learning.”
“Hm.”
Remonstrator? What’s that got to do with class president……
The example was shaky, but plausible enough that Baekhak nodded. Gong Cheon-gi’s face twisted, needless to say.
See? That’s the difference between you and me.
Different situation, but quoting a memorable drama line. Looked like it worked great on Baekhak. Scholars loved fancy words, after all.
“Well said…… Your studies run deep, Yeo-rip.”
“You flatter me.”
“So, what’s your opinion?”
“Electing by popularity would bring more harm than good. As Mencius said, ‘Do not trust the worthy, and the state will be empty’—we must appoint the benevolent and wise.”
“Your words ring true.”
Quoting Mencius sealed it; Baekhak nodded vigorously. The kids stole glances at Jin Yeo-rip in awe.
Just the beginning, you brats.
Buoyed by their reactions, Jin Yeo-rip pressed on toward Baekhak.
“Please, wise teacher, judge rightly and assign the role to the most capable student among us.”
Baekhak smiled faintly. A seasoned scholar who’d taught many—he saw through it. The boy was scheming. He’d noticed upon entering: unusual silence, disarray, handprint on Yuk U-seon’s cheeks. Something happened, likely between Cheon-gi and Yeo-rip, given the seat switch. Friction from the kids treating Cheon-gi as leader. Loser: Cheon-gi. They hushed it up, so he’d feigned ignorance. And lately, he’d been rethinking Jin Yeo-rip: genius who learned one and grasped ten, upright character.
“Then, one with benevolence and wisdom.”
“Yes.”
“And superior ability?”
“Naturally. When you’re away, they must teach the children. Learning must continue unbroken.”
“Right. Learning persists until death. So, how?”
“We must test their abilities.”
As Baekhak asked, Jin Yeo-rip glanced at Gong Cheon-gi with a sly smile.
“Of course with an exam. To see who’s most fit for class president.”