Chapter 5
It all happened in the blink of an eye. Setsuna had planned to let him go and then head into the president's office to check on Brynhildr, but an impulse struck her first—she wanted to give him a taste of real pain. So, the moment Kang Han-beom stepped out of the Student Council President's Office, she drew her sword and swung it at him without hesitation.
True to her status as a cadet at Valkyria Academy, her draw was superhuman—far too fast for any ordinary person to even perceive. Han-beom, caught completely off guard by the idea that she'd actually attack him right in front of the president's office, was like a flounder on a cutting board, utterly defenseless before her blade. The distance between his uniform and Setsuna's sword was less than the thickness of a sheet of paper—a moment of imminent peril where Setsuna was certain of her victory.
"This time, he's definitely in striking range. This time for sure, wha—?!"
"Heh heh heh, that was dangerous, dangerous. Swinging such a risky thing around in front of the president's office~?"
"Kgh…!"
Missed again today?! Impossible. At this range?! I was sure I'd sliced him this time!
A perfect ambush, a perfect draw. How had he dodged it? Setsuna's eyes widened in shock at the sight of Kang Han-beom evading her strike unscathed, even from that utterly collapsed posture—a feat no ordinary person, not even most superhumans, could react to at such close quarters.
"What trick did you pull off? You should've been cut down under my blade and carted away!"
"Who knows? Heh heh, why do you think?"
He flashed that lecherous, infuriating grin, as if rubbing it in. Setsuna clicked her tongue, glaring at him with a mix of regret and fury for failing to land the blow, while replaying the scene in her mind.
Something was off. Did I leak killing intent without realizing? No, no. My draw was flawless…
Crystal clear. Sure, rage boiled up every time she saw his face, but as someone aspiring to be a Valkyrie, she couldn't just kill people on a whim. When she swung at the straw dummy or drew her sword, her mind was as calm and still as placid water—she was confident of that. So how did he always dodge her flawless, killing-intent-free strike, chipping away at her pride? Setsuna ground her teeth audibly, glaring daggers at Han-beom as he smirked vilely, his lust for her on full display.
"Just you wait…!"
"Yeah, yeah. Don't go ambushing people from behind just because you're mad. I heard somewhere that scars on a swordsman's back are a disgrace. Train harder, Setsuna-chan?"
"You're no swordsman yourself! And who gave you permission to call me—!!"
"Oh man, morning patrol time~"
"Don't run away!"
She moved to ready her next strike, but he bolted off into the distance. For a guy with a body like a 2-meter brute, his agility was astonishing—infuriating as it was, Setsuna had to admit he was one hell of a specimen.
"Ah, President! Are you okay?!"
Snapping back to reality, she realized she'd been so fixated on punishing that lech that she'd forgotten to check on Brynhildr. Setsuna rushed into the Student Council President's Office.
"No need for the fuss, Vice President Setsuna. I'm perfectly fine."
"Ah…"
Thankfully, Brynhildr looked just as composed as ever. Setsuna's admiration and awe for her superior—who had safely protected herself from Han-beom's clutches and even bested him—surged anew.
But sadly, that was only skin deep.
"Ugh…♡"
"President?"
Dangerous… The massage did melt away the fatigue I'd built up these past few days, but for some reason, my body… that place… feels so stuffy…♡
Brynhildr was bewildered by her body, which had grown even hotter since Han-beom left—thanks to the coffee laced with his schemes and the aphrodisiac touch of his hands kneading her shoulders. She just didn't want to worry her precious junior and vice president by showing it.
It's not serious. My body was just thawing from the tension. A little time and…
She kept taking deep breaths, trying to calm her heated body without letting Setsuna notice. But just as Setsuna let out a relieved sigh, her expression suddenly turned grave, and she spoke to Brynhildr.
"Kang Han-beom is dangerous. You should cast him out now, while you can…"
"I know you harbor ill feelings toward him and what worries you. But those aren't reasons to expel him."
Setsuna bit her lip at Brynhildr's irrefutable words. That vile lech who always popped up to ruin things whenever she and Brynhildr shared a moment or she tried to confess her feelings.
It's been like that since last year, from our first meeting!
Setsuna recalled the day in the academy garden when Brynhildr had offered her the vice president position.
—It's you and no one else. It might sound odd to ask a freshman to be vice president right away, but I knew from the moment I saw you. You're the only one I can trust as my right hand.
—President…
Her pent-up admiration, respect as a warrior, and budding love for Brynhildr had exploded, and she'd been about to pour her heart out right there.
—Move! Get out of the way! The world will end!
—President, I… I… Wh-what?!
—Freshman…?
—Aigoo, I smelled yuri wafting from somewhere…?
But out of nowhere, like a wild boar crashing through, Kang Han-beom barreled toward them.
—He plowed through the hedge with his body…? What the hell are you doing?!
—What else? If I run into the student council president, I have to show my respect, right?
—Even if it's kissing the back of her hand… Something even I haven't done yet?!
—St-stop that…!
Not content with that, he'd knelt before Brynhildr in front of her, kissing her hand and acting like a total thug. From their very first encounter, he'd been a disaster—how could Setsuna possibly feel anything but contempt?
But if that were all, it might've been bearable.
—Oh, did I interrupt a good time? Heh heh heh…
—What the hell is that laugh?! Get lost!
—Wait, freshman. What's your name? The guidance committee chair position is open. Think you could take it?
—President?!
—…Me?
And from that day on, not only did he sabotage every budding moment between her and Brynhildr, but he'd leer at them with naked lust whenever he got the chance. No wonder she hated him.
Recalling that infuriating day, Setsuna put extra force into her words, as if she'd caught him red-handed.
"You know it too, President! He's definitely got ulterior motives. Every day, cadets come to me begging to pull him from the guidance committee chair position!"
"I know that too. But we can't expel someone just for creepy stares when he's performing his duties admirably."
"Kgh…!!"
It's true, I've never seen him do anything to the other cadets.
All he gave them were looks. In his year as guidance committee chair, she'd never heard a single report of sexual harassment or assault—just uncomfortable stares. Even his occasionally risqué comments during duties never crossed the line. Hell, he even hid it behind a friendly smile around Brynhildr!
So he only harasses me like that? That scheming bastard!
Remembering how he'd flash that sleazy grin at her from angles Brynhildr couldn't see, Setsuna ground her teeth and pressed her case against Han-beom despite Brynhildr's words.
"It's only a matter of time. He's a ticking time bomb. He got away with it today, but who knows when—"
"That's why."
"Pardon?"
"I know he has ulterior motives. I've known since our first meeting."
"You've known?"
Then why… why keep him as guidance committee chair, as your close aide? Before the questions could fill her head, Setsuna felt her face heat up at Brynhildr's smile directed at her. Brynhildr continued.
"There's a saying: keep your enemies close. Whatever his schemes, with you and me—Vice President Setsuna—watching him up close, his claws won't reach the academy, no matter what."
"Ah…"
That made sense. With eyes like theirs on him constantly, he'd never dare reveal his true intentions.
"Besides, it's not just you and me in this academy."
The many standout women here. They'd stop him the moment they saw his villainy, no words needed. And indeed, in the past year, he'd committed no misdeeds—proof the strategy worked. By placing him in such a visible role, Brynhildr had exposed him to everyone else's eyes too. Setsuna was in awe of the perfect ploy.
A flawless plan. Barring some wild variable, Han-beom would never reveal his dark heart before graduating.
"As expected of you, President!"
"Heh heh, don't flatter me. It's just a little trick, hngh…♡"
"President?"
"Nothing… it's nothing."
Right—as long as no variables cropped up. Setsuna tilted her head at Brynhildr's complicated gaze toward her phone, but as her senior quickly shifted her eyes back to her, Setsuna's admiration and affection reignited.
"So don't worry. My right hand is you alone, Vice President Setsuna."
"President, actually…!"
Setsuna moved to finally confess the feelings she'd held back since last year. But—
Bang—
"Ah, sorry! Forgot something here… Whoa, detecting indecency in the president's office…"
"I-I'll kill youuuu—!!!"
With perfect timing, Kang Han-beom barged back in, grabbed his bag, and fled. Setsuna drew her sword again and chased after him.