Chapter 30
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Became the Academy's Student of Interest
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Black water drop pattern, white, with a ribbon.
It felt like a magic spell granting this oppa the strength to live on as the protagonist of Onahole Academy.
'Outfit: no abnormalities.'
Today, I stepped out of the house wearing the uniform Serena had mended for me.
"Ah, there’s the senior!"
"Is it true he collects onaholes?"
"Hug me, please!"
The number of female students gathered in front of the academy just to catch a glimpse of me felt even larger than yesterday.
If your talent was Onahole Collector, you'd normally be branded a total loner.
But for a face genius like Kim Sanghyeok, it gets repackaged as "that handsome oppa's charming flaw♡"... Proving looks really are everything.
"Alright, everyone, line up. Form a line."
"Eek! I'm number one! Hug me, please!"
Squeeze.
Unknown female students clinging to me begging for hugs. They weren't heroine-tier, but the cute ones hanging off me didn't feel bad at all...
But this heat didn't seem normal.
"Kim Sanghyeok."
As I pondered how I'd ever play around with and photo-op all these girls,
one heroine parted the crowd like waves.
It was Isabella, Student Council President of Etsol Academy.
This was the first time meeting her with so many spectators around.
Everyone squealed in delight at the shoujo manga setup, watching us happily,
but I knew she'd come for something unpleasant.
'Still.'
She'd never once approached me for good news anyway.
And yet, she was beautiful enough to make me think it was fine.
The tight white pants accentuating her long legs, the black jacket over her riding outfit fitting her like a queen,
and her long, flowing silver hair shimmering with life in the sunlight.
Even the blue eyes glaring at me disapprovingly, the pursed lips, and the round forehead—all of it was lovable as she singled me out.
"No unnecessary physical contact between the sexes. Violating regulations right in front of the academy? You've got guts."
She looked at me like trash, a pre-criminal.
Still sexy and pretty. A heroine impossible to hate.
'I see.'
So this was how the average extra girls felt just now?
"Sorry, President."
"What are you all standing around for? Disperse! Gather like this again for the same reason, and it's demerit points!"
"Eep, yes ma'am!"
With one stern warning, the Student Council President scattered the massive group of girls.
Impressive. A true Student Council President heroine.
Arms crossed, she kept eyeing me with clear displeasure.
Scanning me head to toe in that high-pressure way dominant women have.
"The uniform. You're finally wearing it right today."
...If I weren't Charm 999 Kim Sanghyeok but the ugly original protagonist, what venom would I have heard here?
Even under the eagle-eyed President's scrutiny, my appearance passed muster today. That was amusing.
"Thanks to my little sister."
"You didn't do anything to those girls, did you?"
Her suspicion level was so high it startled me.
"Wasn't the misunderstanding cleared up?"
"I'm grateful you saved the teacher. But I'm the one who has to prevent incidents like that from happening again in the academy."
"What if I said I won't?"
"Your words carry no weight, Kim Sanghyeok. A D-rank cadet's guarantee changes nothing."
...Fair point.
I had no credibility to speak of right now.
"In academy society, just possessing a dangerous ability can get you isolated or even executed.
The only reason you're talking to me now is because the teacher wanted to protect you."
That extreme?
Not entirely unexpected. Even when revealing my ability to friends during the devil merchant incident, I asked them to "keep it secret" because
it felt like something to share only among truly trustworthy people.
"So what happens to me now?"
"Follow me."
Where to?
I thought it'd be another drag to the Student Council Room at first.
But we were heading away from the lecture buildings. Meaning no morning classes planned.
'Am I really getting hauled off?'
After climbing a few hills on campus, we entered a building I'd never seen.
The hallway was deserted.
Just me and the Student Council President...
"This is the Chairman's office. He'll tell you about your disposition."
"Disposition..."
Just for having Personality Excretion?
Pretty harsh...
"Can I go in?"
"Wait. Looking closer, it's a bit disheveled."
"Huh..."
Smooth.
Isabella approached and reached for my tie.
"Hold still."
A floral scent wafted strongly.
Perfect height difference, looking down at the President's pretty face—the ideal angle...
I couldn't think straight.
'Like a bride. Student Council President...'
Say it and die?
"There. Don't forget you're an academy cadet anywhere and maintain your dignity."
"You're not hauling me away?"
"I'd like to."
Gulp.
"Not yet."
Knock knock.
The Student Council President turned and politely knocked twice.
"It's Isabella. I've brought the student."
"Come in."
First time seeing the academy Chairman.
In a spacious room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the academy grounds, a man with pomaded slicked-back hair turned to us.
Tall and sturdy like a tiger, the scar over his eye gave him a retired soldier vibe.
"You're Kim Sanghyeok?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sit anywhere."
I sank into the plush guest sofa.
"Relax. Not calling you here to scold."
Easier said than done.
"I've heard the report on your ability. The academy awakens at least ten such dangerous talents every year."
"Ten of them?"
"Indeed. In this position, you see plenty. Of those ten, half get isolated, three executed, one becomes a contributing hunter or hero."
"...And the last one?"
"Flees. To somewhere society can't touch."
I got why he'd called me here.
"I want to be a hunter."
"Haha, is that so? But with an ability as dangerous as yours, could the academy keep nurturing you?"
"Probably not..."
"What we judge most carefully is character. Is it just a dangerous power on an otherwise fine person, or was it given to someone already dangerous...?"
"..."
Character...
Thinking of Goo Sanghyeok's usual behavior, no good review there.
End of the line?
"Seridwen was really looking out for you."
"Haha..."
Sighhh.
I had connections too.
Without an SS-rank hunter's backing, I wouldn't even be here.
Thanks, pretty teacher.
"Want to stay at the academy?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"I want to be an oppa my little sisters can be proud of."
My first goal when starting Onahole Academy.
"But your demerit record makes it hard to say you've been that oppa so far."
"..."
No words...
Just rehashing what I'd heard in the Student Council Room.
"How about we wipe that slate clean and you do some good deed for the academy?"
"I'll do it."
No room to be picky.
"You'll act as a hero for a while."
"Pardon?"
The conclusion was so absurd I had to ask again.
"Isabella."
"Yes."
"As of today, Kim Sanghyeok is your assistant."
"...Understood."
...What?!
Becoming a hero wasn't in my plans...
And my mentor's the Student Council President?!
'Isn't this the hero route?'
"Uh, on second thought, heroes don't suit my aptitude..."
"Heroes save people. Pay's lousy, low ranks are basically volunteers."
"..."
Basically a suffer-for-nothing role.
"So few volunteers... Always short-handed."
No kidding...
With a dangerous ability like mine, hero work's the surest way to launder it, but...
"Wh-what if a hero commits a crime? Isn't that worse?"
"Haha. You'll have one of Seoul's top heroes by your side."
Gulp.
Isabella circled behind the sofa and gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
Squeeze.
Urk!! It's tightening slowly!
"Don't worry. If you get bad ideas, I'll send you off as painlessly as possible."
Send me where...!?
"Isabella's seen your ability firsthand, so no better fit. Well? Will you accept?"
So that's why she picked me up early morning?
An unwanted hero gig.
I had zero interest in the grunt work...
"Choose wisely, Kim Sanghyeok."
Isabella whispered in my ear.
"...I believe you can change."
...
After shoving Personality Excretion on an SS-rank hunter and getting caught, I couldn't walk away empty-handed.
'I can keep my academy life.'
Seridwen said she'd try.
She must've spoken to the Chairman directly. To protect me...
"I'll do it..."
"Then I'll leave most matters about you to Isabella. Alright with that, Isabella?"
"Yes."
Isabella smiled faintly.
"This is my first 'Student of Interest' who's going to need so much hand-holding, but I'll teach you well."
...From day one, I felt targeted,
and now I've officially evolved into the academy-sanctioned, her personal Student of Interest...
"Do you agree to our academy's management process, Sanghyeok?"
"I agree."
Agreeing meant
giving Isabella license to meddle in everything about me, putting me under her management.
[Received Student of Interest Project from Chairman Wilhelm]
[♡Our student needs interest and love♡]
[Praise lots and lots~! Criticism is NO NO!]
'What is this...'
"That's the core of our process. Go on, open it."
Firing up the panel brought up a calendar like a mobile game's attendance check.
"What's this?"
"'Good Job'... Kids these days might not know it?"
Flinch.
I could guess from the vibe...
Isabella slipped behind me and stamped a mark with her hand.
And on today's date,
"Student of Interest Kim Sanghyeok, Good Job♡"
...appeared.
"...Kuk."
Isabella laughed.
...Does tormenting me feel that good? Huh?
"Note that stamp can't be duplicated. Oh, and don't even think of stealing it from me."
"I wouldn't..."
Humiliating...
'Give back the serious atmosphere from when you said your dangerous ability might require restraint!!'
Being chained up and growling would've been way hotter!
Men die for that romance!
Not a "Good Job" stamp!!
"Just a demo, so I'll erase the first stamp, Kim Sanghyeok."
"..."
The "Good Job" mark with Isabella's SD character vanished, leaving me oddly disappointed.
"Get stamps without fail for three weeks. Doesn't have to be daily. It's up to Isabella anyway."
"Sounds like my academy life hangs on the Student Council President's mood."
"Feel hurt? Become an S-rank hero then."
...Was fleeing the academy the right answer?