Selecting the Class Representative, Part 3

"I'm going to kill those two bastards," Ok-ja muttered, her voice dripping with venom.

Before the morning classes could even begin, her glare was already locked onto Yeong-sik and Merchi, who were sitting near the front.

"Calm down. Why do you even care?"

"Seriously? Unnie, are you really okay with this? They literally challenged us!"

"So what? Are you saying you think we'll lose?"

"...Huh? No, that's not what I meant!"

Lee Cheri scoffed at Ok-ja's flustered response. Her face was a picture of absolute composure—the haughty, aloof demeanor that Princess Cheri von Astria was famous for.

In truth, however, Cheri's mind was far from peaceful. And there was only one reason for it.

That anchovy-looking bastard...

It was because of the one person who had scored higher than her on the entrance exam. On top of that, he had dared to volunteer for the class representative position even after she, the Imperial Princess, had already put her name forward. It was a blatant provocation, born of the arrogant confidence that he could defeat her.

Cheri ground her teeth. To think she was being overshadowed by a nobody like him. What would her imperial father think? What would the other students in the Special Class say about her?

I'll show you tomorrow, Cheri thought, her eyes smoldering with anger.

She had no intention of taking her titles as Princess and Hero candidate for granted. If she couldn't back them up with raw skill, popularity would vanish in an instant. She had learned that harsh lesson all too well during her past life as an idol.

"Good morning, Princess Cheri!"

"You look absolutely stunning today as well."

As she was lost in thought, two female students sitting in the front row turned around to greet her.

"Yes, good morning," Cheri replied, offering a sweet, eye-curving smile. It was a radiant, blooming expression, completely different from her cold look of a moment ago—the very same smile that had captured the hearts of countless men during her idol days.

Sure enough, she could feel the male students stealing glances at her from across the room.

"Thank you! Good luck tomorrow, Princess, and you too, Lady Ok-ja!"

"Please beat those creepy guys!"

"Are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠you kidding? That goes without saying," Ok-ja smirked, her lips curling upward at the students' encouragement.

"As expected of Lady Ok-ja!"

"We'll be rooting for you! Oh, by the way... why didn't Lady Seoyeon apply for the representative position?"

At the sudden question, Choi Seoyeon, who was sitting nearby, stammered hesitantly.

"Huh? Oh, well... because the unnies applied... hehe."

"Unnies...?"

"Aren't you three the same age?"

"Ah! Right! I mean, my friends!" Seoyeon squeaked, quickly correcting herself.

She was always like this, foolishly soft-hearted. Watching her, Cheri sighed and spoke up.

"Seoyeon, if you say it like that, people will think we pressured you not to run."

"Oh, right. I'm sorry."

"...Sigh."

Cheri shook her head. Now was not the time to worry about her fellow members. The only thing that mattered was the selection match tomorrow.

She didn't need cheers, and she didn't need concern.

All Cheri cared about was proof.

She was going to personally show everyone who the Imperial Princess was, and why she was on an entirely different level from those wretched bastards.

"I have confirmed that there are no additional applicants. Therefore, for tomorrow's representative selection, the four existing candidates have been randomly paired up."

The next morning.

As our homeroom teacher, Eden, scribbled in the air, the details materialized on the blackboard behind him.

Oho.

So I'm up against Ok-ja first.

This matchup wasn't bad for me at all.

"I expect a clean, fair competition from everyone. The most important aspect of this duel is mutual respect."

Sure, sure. Whatever you say.

We gave Eden a perfunctory nod of agreement.

"Lord Yeong-sik, will you be alright?"

"Huh? About what?"

"Lady Ok-ja. Rumor has it she possesses the greatest magical talent of any academy freshman in history. Please be careful not to get hurt."

Merchi, sitting next to me, whispered in a worried tone.

"Right, right. You do your best too."

"Yes! Honestly, just being able to face the ladies of Rosemary in a duel means I've already achieved my goal."

...Ah, so that's why you applied?

I shouldn't even be surprised.

In any case, I knew that crazy bitch Ok-ja's abilities better than anyone. Her mana stat was over 50. It was a vast, astronomical gap compared to mine.

"So, is the trump card you mentioned yesterday ready?"

"Ah, that? It still needs a bit more time."

"Hmm. Are you really not going to tell me what it is?"

"If I told you, it wouldn't be a trump card, would it?"

"...I suppose so," Merchi muttered, his face instantly falling into a pout.

A short while later.

It was the final class of the day: Monster Encyclopedia Theory.

"Surprisingly, the monster that has killed the most humans is the slime. You should avoid engaging them whenever possible..."

My pen flew across the parchment as the professor lectured.

Everything was fresh and fascinating. The traits of monsters that varied by terrain and climate, and the hunting methods tailored to each. I didn't even know why I found it so interesting, but filling my head with this knowledge gave me a strange sense of satisfaction.

"Let me ask a question. Slimes primarily live in packs inside dungeons. Why is that?"

No one raised their hand. Having zero prior knowledge of monsters, I obviously didn't know either. But in times like this, I had a cheat code.

Mercury, what's the answer to that question?

I shot my hand straight up into the air.

"Ah, you again. Go ahead, Yeong-sik de Russell."

"Slimes are weak to heat, so they inhabit dungeons where sunlight cannot reach them."

"Excellent. It's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a fact so basic that most people tend to forget it."

A smile naturally spread across my face at the professor's praise. Recognized once again! This bizarre feeling of validation was starting to feel like a drug.

After that, I didn't stop asking and answering questions. I covered monster traits, hunting methods, and even how to cook them.

"Whoa... As expected of Lord Yeong-sik," Merchi whispered, looking at me in awe.

Yes, keep it coming. Admire me more.

Somehow, the theory class ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had turned into my personal stage. I, who had been completely invisible just this morning, was now in a non-stop dialogue with the professors. It was a completely new sensation—showing off knowledge that only I possessed.

Well, it's all thanks to Mercury, but still...

As long as I was the only one who knew I was cheating, it didn't matter. The professors seemed so impressed that some of them began directing their questions straight to me. But the real problem lay elsewhere.

Wait, why are the other kids looking like that?

Unlike the professors, the students' faces were stiff and cold. For some reason, the looks they were giving me were far from pleasant.

What, is that how students in this world look when they're impressed?

Despite my confusion, Merchi kept showering me with praise.

"You asked me to help you study, but you were lying all along. I knew it!"

"Hey, don't flatter me too much."

"And humble, too... I feel like you'll snatch my top rank in no time. Haha."

Yes, this was the normal reaction. The other students were probably just shocked by my vast knowledge.

"That concludes today's lecture. Yeong-sik de Russell? Your answers were highly impressive. Feel free to visit my office anytime if you wish to discuss these matters further."

"Yes, sir! Thank you."

Man, getting recognized by a professor. Was I finally going to live the life of a popular kid? From now on, other students would probably swarm me with questions about theory. I couldn't believe a day like this had actually come.

*Tap, tap.*

At that moment, someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

"Huh?"

"Um, excuse me. Could you... take a look at this?"

It was a pink-haired student sitting behind me. She handed me a neatly folded note. What was this?

I could say with absolute certainty that this was the first time in my life a girl had ever approached me first. And a cute one at that. Suppressing my racing heart, I took the note.

What could she possibly want to say? Could it be...?

"Th-thank you! I'll read it right away!"

"Huh? No, I didn't write it. The other students did..."

"What?"

Confused, I unfolded the note. Inside, it read:

My mind went blank. From those venting raw frustration to those politely pointing out my behavior, the message was clear.

My head drooped in sheer embarrassment.

I had been so excited, completely oblivious to how everyone else felt.

I was an idiot. A complete and utter idiot.

"Did you see that? Look how disappointed that pig looks. Don't tell me he thought he was getting confessed to? Pfft, ahaha!"

A shrill laugh and awkward pronunciation. I turned my head to see Ok-ja laughing at me. And she wasn't the only one.

"Pfft, serves him right."

"So annoying. He acts like he's the only smart one here..."

"See? There's a reason the ladies of Rosemary hate him."

The students of the Special Class giggled and whispered among themselves. In an instant, my mind went completely numb.

This again.

It was a scene all too familiar to me.

The same mockery I had endured day after day back in Korea.

My body instinctively tensed up, shrinking back.

"You are not the only one taking this class. Know your place," Cheri said coldly.

"Pfft, as expected of Unnie! You asshole, how dare you disrupt the Princess's class?" Ok-ja chimed in.

Every eye in the room was locked onto me. I lowered my head without a word. I couldn't defend myself this time. It was my fault for disrupting the class. I could only hope they would calm down...

But then.

"What do you think you are doing?"

...Huh?

Merchi, who had been sitting next to me, stepped in between me and the members of Rosemary.

"No matter how much I adore the ladies of Rosemary, I cannot allow you to speak to Lord Yeong-sik in such a manner."

"What the...? This pervert is at it again."

"I do not care how you view me. However, you must apologize for what you said to Lord Yeong-sik."

"Wh-what did you say?"

As Ok-ja flared up, Cheri raised a hand to hold her back.

"How insolent. Didn't I make myself clear before? If you want an autograph on that filthy drawing of yours, you'll have to lick my boots. Shall I give you that opportunity right now?"

"Th-that..."

This idiot was hesitating again.

Merchi's intervention snapped me out of my daze.

What the hell am I doing?

I was acting like a total pushover. After all the blood, sweat, and tears I had poured into this new life, I was about to let myself fall back into my old, pathetic habits. I felt utterly disgusted with myself.

"Sigh, dammit."

I slowly raised my head and looked Ok-ja and Cheri dead in the eye.

"Fine. Let's say, for the sake of argument, that I was in the wrong."

"What?"

"I'm glad you realize it," Cheri sneered, scoffing at me.

"But you know what? Out of everyone here, you two are the last people who have any right to lecture me."

"...Unnie, can I just kill this guy?" Ok-ja growled.

"I spoke up because you were disrupting the class. As your classmate, I believe I have every right to do so," Cheri replied smoothly.

Her attitude was as arrogant as expected. Behind them, Choi Seoyeon was fidgeting anxiously, looking back and forth between us.

"Oh, really? Then should I start sharing some truths too? Who you really are, and what exactly you did to me? Everyone's watching, after all."

"What bullshit! You dare threaten us?" Ok-ja shrieked.

"Hey, brat. You clearly don't understand the situation you're in. Say one more word, I dare you."

"Wh-what?" Ok-ja stammered, caught off guard by my sudden shift in tone.

As Ok-ja faltered, Cheri stepped forward once again.

"Don't make this bigger than it needs to be. I can easily pull rank if I have to."

As expected, that threat was still her go-to card.

"Let me give you a warning of my own," I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠said. "Provoke me one more time, and you'd better be prepared to take this to the very end."

"The feeling is mutual. I swear on my honor as a princess, if you threaten us again, I will not let it slide."

"Try me."

Cheri frowned at my uncompromising tone. I didn't back down, staring her right in the eyes.

"Fine... our duel is tomorrow anyway. If you're so confident, let your skills do the talking."

"Gladly. Now, if you're done talking, why don't you get lost?"

Cheri's brow twitched. Letting out a sharp sigh, she grabbed Ok-ja and walked away.

Yeah, we'll see about that tomorrow.

I packed my things, suppressing the anger boiling inside me. But right then, Merchi suddenly shouted after them.

"You two had better watch out tomorrow! Lord Yeong-sik has a secret trump card up his sleeve!"

...Shut the hell up, you idiot.