Chapter 375
Chapter 375
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 376
Chapter Title: Student Representative Duties
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“Sunwoo, you’re going out as the Taehwi Festival student representative?”
Lunchtime at the Wizard Academy.
Everyone eating at the school cafeteria froze in surprise at my bombshell announcement.
I chewed and swallowed a piece of braised mana shrimp before nodding.
“It just kinda happened.”
“......Oh.”
Lee Seojun’s eyes sparkled.
Yoon Hayoung congratulated me, while Choi Seoyun looked excited.
Yoo Ara, sitting across from me, wore a subtle expression before glancing slyly at Lee Seojun and Choi Seoyun.
“Nice. There are plenty of student rep veterans here, so get some advice from them.”
“Ah, ask me anything you don’t know. I was the student rep last year, after all.”
Choi Seoyun smiled at me.
I gave her a small smile in return, then turned to Yoo Ara.
She stared down at her tray, lost in thought, nibbling at her food.
Ever since she’d had her heart set on the student rep position, hearing I’d gotten it must have stirred up complicated feelings.
Considering how frustrated she’d been with Lee Seojun on the day of my regression when he was running for rep, it was a natural reaction.
That reminded me of Yoo Ara from my previous life, beaming with joy at becoming student rep for the first time.
Since I was partly responsible for things turning out this way, it was up to me to boost her self-esteem, which had taken a hit compared to the original story.
I picked up a braised mana shrimp from my tray and placed it on hers.
At the same time, she looked up, blinking at me.
“......What’s this?”
“Eat up.”
Choi Seoyun, sitting next to me, stopped mid-chopstick at my odd behavior(?).
Lee Seojun paused eating too, giving me a strange look.
Yoo Ara glanced around uncomfortably at the stares before saying,
“......I’m allergic to shrimp.”
I took the shrimp back.
Didn’t know that.
Poor thing, missing out on this deliciousness.
It was a dish that sold out if you were even a little late to lunch.
Then Yoon Hayoung shoved her tray toward me.
“Sunwoo, if you’re not eating the shrimp, give it to me.”
“Sorry, I’m eating it.”
I popped it in my mouth. Yoon Hayoung looked momentarily speechless.
After swallowing, I picked up an apple slice and placed it on Yoo Ara’s tray.
“Then eat this.”
She stopped chopsticking and stared at me. I told her casually,
“You like apples.”
“......How’d you know I like apples?”
“Saw you eating one alone last time, looking like you loved it.”
Of course, that was a lie.
I just remembered a brief line from the original story.
Yoo Ara eyed me suspiciously but silently ate the apple slice.
Suspicion and wariness in her gaze, but she clearly didn’t hate it since she liked apples.
“Have another.”
I added another slice, and she squinted.
“......Why are you suddenly like this?”
“No need to be so guarded. It’s just goodwill.”
“Don’t lie. You’ve got some ulterior motive.”
“Hey now. What do you take me for? Nothing like that.”
She clamped her mouth shut at my words, then bit into the apple.
I smirked watching her.
“By the way, your magic’s improved a ton lately. The detail in your manifestations is insane. The flame heat was no joke.”
“......Yeah?”
“Yeah, for real. Even the legendary Flame Witch at your age wasn’t that good.”
Her eyes still wary. But her lips twitched faintly upward—she was secretly pleased.
“......Flattery won’t get you anything.”
“I’m not saying it expecting something.”
I glanced at the others staring oddly, then whispered to Yoo Ara,
“And I think you’re better than Seojun.”
Maybe I overdid it with her reaction, the one she likes.
She saw right through the empty praise, her gaze turning icy in an instant.
“......Are you trying to piss me off?”
A message popped up before my eyes.
[You have achieved the ‘Deliberate Provocation’ accomplishment.]
[You have obtained 3,000 points as a reward.]
“Everyone, good work today. You’re dismissed.”
As Lee Heeyoung finished homeroom, students started packing up and standing.
—Yawn. Finally over.
—Ugh, tired. Gotta skip training today.
In the noisy classroom,
Yoon Hayoung stretched big and stood, turning to me.
“Sunwoo, wanna train together today?”
“Today?”
I pondered her sudden offer.
Training, huh. Too bad, but I had personal business today.
“Sorry, I’ve got prior plans.”
“Prior plans?”
“Yeah.”
She narrowed her eyes and whispered,
“You’re not planning to mask up and do something weird again, are you?”
I chuckled softly at her question.
“Not this time.”
I stood from my seat. Yoo Ara approached us, and Yoon Hayoung called out.
“Ara~ Wanna train together today?”
“Training? Sure, sounds good.”
Yoo Ara accepted coolly, then looked at me.
“It’s been a while since the Manifestation Club members trained together. You in too?”
Seeing her make the offer, her anger from earlier seemed gone.
I shook my head with a smile.
“Sorry, personal stuff today.”
“......What kind?”
“Secret.”
She thought for a moment, then said regretfully,
“Well, nothing to be done.”
“Next time. Tomorrow or the day after.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Yoo Ara nodded and left for the hall with Yoon Hayoung.
I tidied my desk and headed out alone.
Walking the hall, I ran into B Class’s Lee Seojun, Shin Youngjun, and Lee Hyunju, just finishing homeroom.
Shin Youngjun grinned mischievously and approached.
“Kim Sunwoo~ Word’s out.”
“What is?”
“You tried hitting on Yoo Ara today and got shot down?”
“For real?”
Lee Hyunju’s eyes widened.
“What’re you on about. Move.”
I shoved his shoulder past him, and he yelped, staggering back.
Heading down the stairs, I bumped into another familiar face.
“Choi Seoyun?”
“Ah, Sunbae.”
Choi Seoyun smiled softly.
Two female students with her stared at me sparkling-eyed and bowed.
“Sunbae Kim Sunwoo, hello!”
“I’m a huge fan!”
“......Uh, yeah. Thanks.”
I nodded and turned to Choi Seoyun.
“Where you headed?”
“Got prep for the Taehwi Festival.”
“Oh, right, you’re singing.”
“Yeah!”
Choi Seoyun singing...... Hard to picture.
Makes me embarrassed for no reason.
Not that I should talk, having to perform in front of everyone.
“......Anyway, do your best.”
“Yes! If you have any questions about student rep stuff, ask me anytime!”
“Got it.”
As I finished and turned to go, Choi Seoyun called back.
“Oh, wait, Sunbae.”
“Hm?”
“But why’d you act like that with Yoo Ara Sunbae today?”
Her tone cautious.
She’d clearly been wondering.
“No big deal. She seemed down lately, so I was cheering her up.”
“Oh...... Yeah, she’s been giving off that vibe. Seems stressed about grades.”
Choi Seoyun nodded in agreement.
The other girls tilted their heads, confused.
“Seoyun, what’s that about?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing! Don’t worry.”
She smiled it off, then bowed to me.
“Sunbae, we’ll get going then!”
With that, Choi Seoyun vanished with light steps.
After greetings with the main cast, I returned to the dorm.
Opening the door, Gretel rushed over, hands clasped at her navel, bowing.
Ever since I joked about selling her to Han Seyeon, she’d been super polite.
Her cuteness mixed with pity made me chuckle bitterly.
“Gretel, no need to worry about Han Seyeon. Relax.”
At Han Seyeon’s name, Gretel flinched.
She wasn’t that bad a person. Guess I made her look villainous.
It was adorable yet heartbreaking, so I hugged Gretel tight.
Hugging her, I headed to the sofa.
—Kurrrrgh!
A grotesque noise from the TV. It was playing a zombie movie.
But different from ones in my old world.
Zombies casting magic and flying around.
Even hurling meteors.
“......Scale’s huge.”
I set Gretel down so she could focus on the movie and flopped on the sofa.
Waiting for my appointment, watching Gretel’s engrossed back made me think of Han Seyeon.
“Now that I think, no contact from Han Seyeon lately.”
She usually messaged daily.
None for three days or so.
Something wrong? Worried, I checked my smartphone.
[How’ve you been, Han Seyeon?]
Sent. Waited a minute—no reply.
Unexpected, given her usual speed.
“......Hm. Probably not off work yet.”
She’d reply soon.
Right then.
Ding.
Message alert. Not smartphone—the smart student handbook.
I checked it immediately.
[Map photo]
[Meet here in 1 hour]
Sender: today’s appointment.
I examined the map. A remote mountain area on the Gyeonggi-Gangwon border.
“Gretel, gonna step out briefly. Wait and watch the movie.”
She stood, hands at navel, bowing.
“Ung-ae.”
I left the dorm, changed via Invisibility into black hat and mask outfit, and headed to the spot.
Far from Wizard Academy, but gate made it quick.
“......Feels like ghosts gonna pop out.”
Chilly early winter wind whipped past.
Sun set, sky dark.
Dense bushes hid everything.
“You’re first.”
A presence and voice from somewhere.
I turned. Smoke rose in the dark.
‘Dark Mist’ ability, exclusive to top demons.
The black smoke enveloping the area took human form, becoming a blonde woman.
“Seonhwa.”
Today’s contact: S-Rank demon Seonhwa.
She crossed her arms, smirking.
“Came with hat and mask again. Everyone knows you’re Kim Sunwoo.”
I stared silently, then spoke.
“Why alone? Didn’t you say you’d introduce someone?”
She’d promised to introduce ‘Haryeong’.
Reason I met her: get hints on the ‘Fourth Journal’ from Haryeong.
“Already talked to her. But the ‘King’s surveillance tightened lately, so she’ll be late unavoidably. Being seen with you put me and Haryeong under suspicion.”
Plausible, so I nodded.
Everyone knew Haryeong and Seonhwa’s deep loyalty to the previous King in demon society.
Seonhwa smiled faintly.
“I’ll fill you in on a few things till Haryeong arrives.”
I nodded.
“First, the King knows your identity. Convinced you’re the Academy’s ‘Kim Sunwoo.’”
As expected. Couldn’t hide after that.
“FYI, we can’t do anything about it. Soon, the King will try to kill you. Definitely.”
A warning. But I smiled leisurely.
“Fine by me. No big deal.”
My nonchalance briefly flustered Seonhwa.
“......Even as the Child of Prophecy, really? You’re not scared of the King?”
I nodded.
“Yeah. Planning to kill the bastard by year’s end anyway.”