The Class Representative Selection, Part 2

"As you all know, the selection for the class representative takes place once a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠year, at the beginning of the semester."

The students ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of the Special Class looked at Eden with bright, expectant eyes.

"Of course, there are benefits. You will receive extra points when applying to the Imperial Knights, and you will be granted command of the class during tactical operations."

The representative of the Imperial Academy's Special Class. It was naturally a position that any young student would covet.

"I'll ask you directly. Any student who wishes to run for the Special Class representative, raise your hand."

The moment he finished speaking, a hand shot up. It was exactly who everyone expected.

"I will participate."

"...Understood, Princess Cheri von Astria. I shall register you."

Every student's gaze shifted to the back. Regardless of the attention, Lee Cheri maintained her haughty posture. Her expression practically dared anyone to challenge her.

The atmosphere stirred at Cheri's declaration. Challenging the princess to win the class representative seat at the Imperial Academy? It was a guaranteed path of thorns.

...Perfect!

But for me, this was the ultimate opportunity. A chance to face Lee Cheri head-on without any interference. I couldn't let a golden opportunity like this slip away.

"I-I will participate too!"

But before I could even raise my hand, a voice rang out right next to me.

"Right. Merchi Redford, was it?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Registered."

...Seriously, I can never predict what this guy will do.

"I will also participate."

"Yeong-sik de Russell, registered."

Eden jotted down my name in his notepad. Just as I was wondering if it would end with the three of us—

"Here! I'll participate too!"

"Ok-ja de Blackwood, noted. If anyone else wants to participate, come find me by the end of the day."

Perfect. With Ok-ja joining the fray at the last second, I now had the chance to get revenge on both of those damn girls at the same time.

Just as expected. Those attention seekers... Huh?

I had anticipated Ok-ja's participation to some extent. However, her motive seemed a bit different.

After lowering her hand, Ok-ja stared straight at me. Her brow was furrowed in a sharp scowl, her cheeks puffed with spite. Then, she drew a finger across her throat in a slicing motion.

"Hah."

How pathetic. I let out a scoff and stealthily flipped her the bird. At that—

Slam!

"You fucking...!"

The curse slipped out of Ok-ja's mouth in an instant.

That idiot.

Does she not know what anger management is?

"Ok-ja de Blackwood. What was that? Do you have something to say?"

"N-no, sir."

Eden frowned at her response.

"...Be careful next time. It won't end with just a warning."

"I-I'm sorry."

A chuckle escaped me as I watched Ok-ja tremble with rage. She really was simple-minded. Staring back at her, I mimicked her throat-slitting gesture.

Just you wait. I'll crush you soon enough.

Ok-ja's face flushed bright red with fury. As she squirmed in her seat, Lee Cheri physically held her down.

"That is all for the schedule. Today, we will proceed with the theory class as announced."

Eden added one last thing.

"Before that—Yeong-sik, Ok-ja, Seoyeon, and Princess Cheri. Please step outside for a moment."

Huh? What was this about?

Summoned out of the blue, I walked out into the hallway, completely clueless. The Rosemary members followed closely behind. Ok-ja was still huffing and puffing, glaring daggers at me.

Eden's expression was unusually serious. Lee Cheri was the first to ask.

"What is this about all ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠of a sudden?"

"The principal has summoned you. Let us head over."

I was the only one who flinched at those words.

The principal's office was located on the top floor of the academic building.

In a room lined with bookshelves, the principal sat across a desk from me and the Rosemary members. Eden stood by the door, creating an atmosphere that felt almost like he was guarding or monitoring us.

"Thank you for coming. So you are the hero candidates."

He wore a warm, genial smile, just like he had during the entrance ceremony. He was a man with long, white-streaked hair tied back. Judging by his wrinkled face, he was quite advanced in years.

I was probably the only one feeling tense in this situation.

What is he plotting?

"Lord Raoul, why have you summoned us?"

"Princess Cheri, forgive my late greetings. As you know, I have arranged this meeting to discuss matters regarding the Total Lunar Eclipse."

Sweat pooled in my clenched fists as I listened to their conversation.

Should I check his status window again?

But the look he had given me last time was still vivid in my mind. He might notice if I activated the status window.

Mercury.

- Speak.

That's the guy who was under the influence of black magic last time. Please watch him with me to see if he does anything suspicious.

- ...Understood.

My plan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was to rely on Mercury's help for now instead of opening the status window myself.

"Your situation is different from the other academy students. You enrolled here to learn theory and martial arts in preparation for the Total Lunar Eclipse."

"We are aware."

"Naturally, the academy will provide a separate management system for you. This is also the command of His Imperial Majesty."

"What? Imperial Father did...?"

Hmm, so that's the angle.

"On weekdays, you will attend classes alongside the other students. On weekends, we would like you to undergo practical training with the knights."

"...What kind of practical training are we talking about?"

"Your homeroom teacher, Professor Eden, will explain the details."

Eden, standing behind us, nodded and took over.

"The practical training we have in mind is joint training. Most of you have never even faced a monster before. From now on, you will work together to fight them."

"What! The four of us together?"

"...Ok-ja de Blackwood, is there a problem?"

"N-no, it's nothing."

Ok-ja swallowed her words, flustered.

I could guess why she was acting like that.

She probably hated the idea of training with me.

"A new dungeon was recently discovered in the northern mountain range. A few knights scouted it and confirmed it is inhabited by slimes. We believe it is the perfect place for your first practical exercise."

"S-slime... What is that?"

This time, it was Choi Seoyeon. She asked hesitantly, glancing around. It made sense; girls who had done nothing but broadcast on Earth wouldn't know anything about monsters.

"You do not know what a slime is?"

"...No."

"Hmm, since you all said your memories haven't fully returned... Very well. Let me explain briefly. A slime is..."

Eden began explaining, tailoring it to a beginner's level.

The conclusion remained the same. The four of us would train together on weekends, starting with a trip to the Slime Dungeon this very weekend.

While I wasn't highly experienced, I had fought an ogre before, so this wasn't a big deal to me. The Rosemary members, however, reacted quite differently.

"What? A slimy monster? I-it's not dangerous, is it?"

"Huh, promise me, mis... I mean, Professor! You're going to fight with us, right?"

"...Seoyeon, Ok-ja. Calm down."

Shit.

Listening to them was giving me a headache.

To think their stats were distributed to people like this. You should have just given all that power to me, you damn Goddess Mercury.

"...Haha. Do not worry too much. Sir Eden here will guard you well."

"I-I'm sorry."

"O-okay..."

Choi Seoyeon and Ok-ja responded to Principal Raoul's reassurance. Lee Cheri simply let out a silent sigh.

"Then, what does our other candidate think? The Hero of Knowledge, was it?"

I flinched.

Raoul's eyes turned to me. The murderous intent I had felt last time flashed through my mind, making me shudder slightly, but I forced myself to remain calm.

"I'm fine with it. A slime seems like a suitable opponent for a first real battle."

"Excellent. I will continue to relay information like this from time to time. I leave the future of the Kaiser Empire in your hands, heroes."

That was all the principal had to say. Just as I was about to stand up after saying my goodbyes, Mercury's voice suddenly echoed in my mind.

- Wait.

Huh? What is it?

- Open his status window.

What? But...

- It is fine. Check it.

Right on cue, the principal offered me a handshake.

"I heard from His Imperial Majesty. It was the Hero of Knowledge who informed him of the date of the Total Lunar Eclipse. With seventy-one days remaining, the academy will support you to the best of our ability."

"...Thank you."

"If you have any more information to share, feel free to visit this old man anytime."

"Yes, I will."

Flash.

I activated the status window the moment our hands met.

Huh...?

Unlike last time, the status window was clean. There was no mention of black magic anywhere.

"Well then, I wish you all a pleasant academy life."

Furthermore, even though I had activated the status window, the principal showed no reaction whatsoever.

What's going on? The vibe is completely different from last time.

It didn't feel like he was just pretending not to notice. With both Mercury and me observing him, we would have caught even the slightest shift. Yet, unlike yesterday, there wasn't a single hint of dissonance today.

Left with no other choice, I said my goodbyes and headed back down to the classroom.

"Phew..."

It was a deeply unsettling meeting. Neither I nor Mercury could figure out what was going on. For now, all I could do was be extremely cautious.

My head was starting to throb. It seemed a peaceful academy life was officially out of the question.

Since it was the first day of the semester, most of the classes were just introductions to the subjects.

Monster Encyclopedia Theory, Imperial History, Applied Swordsmanship, Magic Studies, and so on.

Back in Korea, I had built a wall between myself and studying. On top of that, I was now facing theories I had never heard of and massive, thick textbooks.

My chest should have felt tight, and I should have been on the verge of despair.

That would have been the normal reaction.

But why...

...is studying actually fun?

What was this? My heart fluttered at the thought of learning new concepts.

The world of monsters I had never known, the history of the Kaiser Empire, and above all, the theory of martial arts! I wanted to run back to the dormitory right now and bury my nose in the books.

"Did something good happen, Yeong-sik?"

"Huh? Oh."

"You look like you're filled with pure ecstasy."

At Merchi's comment, I cleared my throat and wiped the grin off my face.

"Ahem. Really? By the way, Merchi, you said you placed first in the written exam too, right?"

"That is correct."

"Then how many hours a day did you study?"

"Me? Hmm, well, I already know all the material, so I don't really need to study anymore. But before entering the academy, four to five hours a day was my baseline."

...What a smug bastard.

Four to five hours a day. It sounded like a lot, but the amount of time I had poured into martial arts since arriving in Ruesellon far exceeded that. If it was just that much, I could easily invest the time with a happy heart.

"I'm planning to study about that much from now on. Can I ask you questions sometimes?"

"Fufu. It is not as easy as it sounds."

"...Are you going to help me or not?"

"Ah, of course I will help! What else are roommates for!"

"...Alright, thanks."

While I still had my doubts about him being the top student in practical skills, his placing first in the written exam made sense. With his scrawny frame and smudge-covered glasses, he looked exactly like someone who did nothing but lock himself in a room to study.

And to be fair, whenever he answers, he actually does know quite a lot.

Just then, Merchi turned to me and asked a question.

"Are you going straight back to study today?"

"Hmm? No."

Merchi tilted his head at my reply.

"Then working out? What are you planning to do?"

"Heh, there's something much more important than that."

"Pardon? Something more important...?"

I pulled out the item I had packed in my coat and grinned.

"Revenge, you could say. Heheh."

Merchi wore a somewhat horrified expression, but I decided to ignore it.