Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Class President Election
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After receiving provisional approval for the club, I asked the prospective members if they wanted to join.
"If Geon-ho's doing it, I have to join no matter what. Sounds good to me."
"Tatakum, I shall join this heroic endeavor."
"Supporting my husband's work is a wife's duty too, so I guess I have no choice."
"It's not because I'm worried about you at all. You just kept begging..."
Marren, Tatakum, Heila, Airi.
Not one of the four refused—they all readily agreed to join the club.
'Looking at the members, it's like a first-year all-star team.'
It would've been perfect if Karan had joined too, but unfortunately, he was already in the student guidance committee.
'Anyway, I've gathered all the members, and club activities are on Friday...'
Three days left.
Hero Academy club activities were held for an entire day with the advisor professor present.
'Nothing major should happen until then.'
I figured I'd just kill time for the next three days since even checking the encyclopedia showed no signs of any big incidents.
But an unexpected event greeted me.
"I assume you've all had enough time to get to know each other by now."
Professor Ran walked into the classroom and immediately wrote on the blackboard while continuing.
"Airi's been handling the temporary class president duties so far, but from what I've observed, there seem to be quite a few of you who want to represent the class."
The bold letters etched on the blackboard made everyone realize what was coming next, sparking excitement.
Because the class president at Hero Academy was a bit different from a regular school's class rep.
"That's why we're going to elect one through a proper process. Anyone who wants to run, raise your hand."
"I want to do it!"
"Me too!"
"I absolutely have to!"
Everyone raised their hands, hungry for the position.
"I'll do it."
And so did I.
'So much talent.'
I'd felt it during class assignments, but this class was overflowing with promising students.
That's why there were whispers everywhere about who could handle being the class rep.
—Professor Ran, have you picked a class president yet?
—Rastel over Airi, right?
—Or maybe the quiet Karan?
—What's wrong with Airi? She's perfect for it. I heard she's doing great as temporary rep...
Professors were human too, so they naturally had different preferences for talent.
Some subtly recommended candidates, but Professor Ran ignored them all.
'I need to see for myself and pick.'
The perspective of the professor in charge and the cadets in the class.
A candidate who balanced both views perfectly would be the best fit, she thought.
So she told anyone interested to raise their hand and see who the candidates were.
More kids raised their hands than expected, showing their enthusiasm.
"I want to do it!"
"Me too!"
"I absolutely have to!"
That is, until Kim Geon-ho raised his.
"I'll do it."
Not "I want to"—not even "I have to," but "I'll do it."
That single phrase cooled the heated classroom atmosphere.
Hands that had shot up high started drooping one by one, as if they'd suddenly grasped the situation.
'He really has the class under control.'
This wasn't an ordinary school—it was Hero Academy, full of people who transcended human limits.
To lead one of its classes, you needed something beyond charisma.
'Overwhelming power.'
The martial might that subdued everyone and objectively defined your place.
Kim Geon-ho had proven his with capturing the little giant Pemb, so no one could argue and they lowered their hands.
The moment deep down they thought, 'I can't do better than Kim Geon-ho,' they'd lost.
"If you're doing it, I'd rather do it myself."
"..."
Not everyone yielded to him, though.
Rastel, busy with student council duties, still raised his hand. Karan silently kept his up too.
Airi and Heila had raised theirs at first but dropped them after glancing at Geon-ho, as if a better idea had struck.
"So, three candidates?"
Final lineup: Kim Geon-ho, Karan, Rastel.
No surprise whoever won.
'Now, decide how to pick.'
As Professor Ran pondered voting or another method,
Geon-ho, disliking the stalemate, spoke first.
"If you're representing the class, shouldn't the strongest do it? Guys who couldn't even fight properly in the class tournament, what are they gonna do..."
Class versus class battle.
That was the key difference from regular class reps at Hero Academy.
Literally, classes competed, with the president representing and staking class privileges in minor events.
Fittingly for Hero Academy, it was decided by force, so strength mattered a lot.
"Can't just let that slide."
Even the famously taciturn Karan couldn't hold back and bit the provocation.
"You saying I'm weaker than you? I went easy on you back then, Kim Geon-ho!"
If Karan took the bait, Rastel wouldn't stay out—he snapped back at Geon-ho too.
And that's when Professor Ran realized: this was exactly what Geon-ho wanted.
'He orchestrated this from the start.'
Voting risked split votes, so he steered it to a solo show of power with no uncertainty.
Majority choice had limits, but one-on-one force? He could control it 100%.
That's the confidence Kim Geon-ho had.
"Then let's fight? I don't care. Official spar right now to decide the class rep."
"Fine by me."
"Kim Geon-ho! Then you fight me first!"
Karan and Rastel followed his lead without suspicion.
'At least the class vibe is solidifying. Not bad.'
Professor Ran decided not to intervene, deeming the situation fine.
The cadets deciding their rep among themselves, hashing out opinions—it was beautiful.
Tense for them, comedic for her.
But.
"Nah, not like that. You two come at me."
Geon-ho took it further.
"You ignoring us?"
"What'd you say?"
"Yeah, ignoring you. So 2-on-1 it is."
Utter confidence that even teamed up, they couldn't touch him.
Too much even for stoic Karan—an unforgivable insult.
But rationally, dropping him without effort in 2v1? Profitable.
Rastel thought the same.
'Team with Rastel here, take out the wildcard Geon-ho... not bad.'
'No matter how cocky you are, Kim Geon-ho, think you can win against Karan and me together?'
They exchanged quick glances, enough to align.
"Fine."
"Sure, if that's what you want, can't say no."
Professor Ran judged it time to step in.
"Alright, 2-on-1 official spar. Winner's class president. When?"
Mutual agreement meant 2v1 or free-for-all was fine—just set the schedule.
Geon-ho proposed the spar, so naturally, he picked the time. All eyes on him.
'Tomorrow? Or day after?'
'He looks like he needs prep time, so next week?'
No rush for class rep; just decide when.
Cadets assumed Geon-ho would want prep against multiples—even cocky guys planned.
"Right now."
But he shattered common sense, shocking everyone.
"Not right this second—after school today."
Professor Ran hid her surprise and set it.
Expected at least a day, but instant agreement?
Planned everything? she thought, issuing next instructions.
After school suddenly felt electric.
The official spar for class president was set for after school, so I dove straight into the Mental Realm.
"...So that's how it went. Any tips on how to fight them?"
"No manners at all, that one."
Way to beat multiples? Provocation reason? No plan, no strategy.
Just cool 'cause it fit a Mountain Lord's heir and wastrel's way of life.
Killing? Maybe.
But suppressing in an official spar 2v1? Clear penalty for me.
Needed master's help to resolve.
"Teach me the next stage after Heaven-Earth Shaking—Flipping."
"Shameless to boot... How is this heir such a guy?"
"Master, sorry, but teach instead of lamenting..."
Crack!
Master's hand blurred again, grazing my jaw.
Just a graze, yet heaven flipped, vomit rising.
"Tough for short-term learning, but I'll teach you step by step—with your body."
"Gonna teach but so prickly about it."
"...Harshly, then."
'Fighting one by one wastes too much time.'
Show overwhelming gap.
Practice new technique.
Imagining thoroughly crushing Karan and Rastel, grins wouldn't stop.