Chapter 151: Student Council Election (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 151: Student Council Election (1)
A few days later, in the academy's backyard.
"...Boss, you're running in the student council election? No, wait, isn't it against school regulations for a first-year to run in the first place?"
Weapon asked, his face a mask of disbelief. Ryozo glanced at me before answering on my behalf.
"The special reward the middle-aged instructor mentioned before the Ogre Subjugation Test—that was the right to run in the student council election."
I flinched slightly. Wasn't this a violation of my secret agreement with Supervisor Ha?
...But on second thought, it was something everyone would find out anyway. Once the election started, the fact that Leon and I were candidates would become public knowledge.
The fact that she spoke so openly about it was proof of the tight bond between our club members.
Of course, it also helped that Senior Hana wasn't here. Ryozo was still wary and suspicious of her.
Just when I thought the subtle tension between them had died down, it had flared up again a few days ago.
I didn't ask Ryozo what triggered it. I just had to trust that she had her reasons. That was how much I completely relied on her judgment and intuition.
While I was lost in thought, Ryozo and Weapon's conversation drifted into my ears.
"Honestly, I'm all for our Boss running for president. Think about it. None of the cadets know what he's actually done."
"...Well, things are tangled up in a mess, but you're not wrong."
Ryozo nodded.
"No matter how tangled the situation is, hard work should be rewarded with the status or compensation it deserves. But our Boss hasn't really gotten any of that. Instead, those brainless bastards just looked down on him because of his background."
"……."
Ryozo remained silent. Her silence was also a gesture of agreement. Today, of all days, it was hard to find any fault in what Weapon was saying.
"In a way, this is a great opportunity. I don't know what got into him, but since the Boss is taking the initiative, we should help him out. Right, Saki?"
Weapon grinned. Ryozo thought for a moment, then let out a deep sigh.
"Yeah, yeah. You're right, Weapon. And let me tell you one thing. I was planning to help Geomma the moment he said he was running."
"……."
Weapon squinted at Saki. Looking slightly guilty, she suddenly flared up.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?!"
"No, just... I was wondering if you're really the Saki I used to know. I can't believe someone could change this much in just a few months. You used to just lounge around with sweet red bean jelly stuffed in your mouth... Uh, wait, whoa."
Saki glared at Weapon in silence. At her suddenly shifting gaze, Weapon instinctively swallowed hard.
It was the exact same look she had when she used to beat him up. Like that day he got thrashed within an inch of his life on a rainy day.
...They say silence is golden. Weapon, you really have a talent for shortening your own lifespan with that mouth of yours.
I listened quietly to their banter before speaking up. There was one thing I needed to make clear.
"First, let's get one thing straight. I'm not running for the election for something like honor. To be precise, I don't care about the title of 'Student Council President' itself; I just need the Association Pass that comes with its authority. As long as that condition is met, whether I'm president or not doesn't matter to me."
Saki apparently hadn't expected this, as she dropped her sweet red bean jelly. She seemed somewhat shocked by my statement.
However, I couldn't hide my true intentions from my club members at this point. That would be incredibly rude to the people volunteering to support me. It was only right to honestly state my goal and get their response.
Above all, I detested troublesome positions like student council president. I already had a mountain of things to do outside of my studies.
Therefore, wasting time being bogged down by useless administrative duties was absolutely out of the question. I had zero intention of reluctantly taking on the role either. My plan was to get exactly what I needed and bail.
With both of their eyes fixed on me, I spoke in a low voice.
"But that doesn't mean I'm running with a half-hearted attitude. Either way, to get the Association Pass, we have to win the election first. We'll worry about what comes after when the time comes. That's our style, isn't it?"
Only the objective had been adjusted; what we needed to do remained the same. Fortunately, both of them nodded. It wasn't because I was a smooth talker, but largely thanks to the trust we had built up over time.
"...Anyway, it means we still have to win this election. But thinking about it, it's going to be incredibly tough."
Weapon scratched his head vigorously. His messy hair reflected his troubled state of mind.
He continued with a grim expression.
"I hate to rain on your parade, but rumor has it that the seniors running for president this year are all incredibly formidable."
"Who's running?"
"First, from what I know, the current Student Council President is running for re-election. And though it's not confirmed, there are rumors that the current Vice President is also running. They'll probably be Candidate Number 1 and 2. The rest, Numbers 3, 4, and 5, are all rumored to be third-years..."
Weapon's face stiffened. Composing his expression, he elaborated.
"Actually, Candidates 4 and 5 are just filler. The ones we need to watch out for are Numbers 3, 2, and 1. Especially the current Student Council President, who will likely run as Number 1—he'll be our biggest obstacle in the election."
"Ah, that guy. He's a senior famous for being a total psycho. Wasn't his nickname 'Berserker'? They say once he loses his mind, even a group of instructors can't hold him back."
Saki spun her index finger near her temple.
Suddenly, her gaze lingered on me for a moment. Then, she muttered softly under her breath.
"...But then again, our side isn't exactly normal either."
* * *
At the same time. In a meeting room filled with a solemn atmosphere, seven cadets sat around an oval table.
Some crossed their legs, some folded their arms, and others played on their phones. Though their postures varied, their expressions all carried the same air of arrogance.
"What, the President didn't show up today either? This is the student council's last regular meeting!"
A tall male cadet clicked his tongue and grumbled. His discontented eyes were fixed on the head seat of the oval table.
The seat of the Joaquin Academy Student Council President. In the dimly lit student council room, it was the only chair that sat with its back to the window. It had been his long-cherished desire.
Yet, that seat had remained empty for an entire year. To be precise, there was a clear owner, but the person in question simply never showed his face.
He was treating the president's seat—a position whose mere occupancy was an honor to one's family—with utter disregard.
That was why the tall male cadet, current Vice President Den Range, ground his teeth.
That sacred seat should have been mine, not yours.
Greed welled up in Den's eyes. He would do anything if it meant he could claim that seat.
Just then, a female cadet resting her chin on her hand giggled softly.
"Vice President, stop staring at the chair so much~ You're going to burn a hole through it. Staring won't make it yours, you know?"
Den's gaze snapped over to her. He glared at her fiercely. The female cadet's name was Sion, the head of the general affairs department of the student council.
"Sion, you say that, yet you registered as Candidate Number 3?!"
"Oh my, did you already reserve that seat for yourself? Why are you throwing a tantrum? Besides, I registered as a candidate because I met the qualifications. Seeing you overreact like this, Den, you must be really anxious, huh?"
Den's temples flushed red. If he had it his way, he would have loved to land a solid punch right on her cheeky jaw.
But Den stopped at clenching his fists tightly. Election season was right around the corner.
There was absolutely nothing to gain by reacting to every petty provocation. Since it was a sensitive time, he had to watch his behavior.
When her provocation failed to work, Sion smacked her lips in disappointment. To think this guy, who usually let his fists do the talking, actually held back. His desire for the president's seat seemed to exceed her expectations.
Well, it's not like the Vice President is the only one.
Sleeping with the enemy. That phrase perfectly described the situation. Out of the seven sitting at this table, five of them, including herself, were planning to run.
Sion turned her head back toward Den. He was suppressing his anger with his eyes closed. Sion spoke to him in a sweet, gentle tone.
"Vice President, I'm sorry. I went a bit too far, didn't I? I just teased you because you seemed so stressed~ So loosen up that face. And honestly, if someone has to win, I'd rather it be you, Den, than the current President."
"……."
Den still kept his eyes closed. However, one corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly. Sion smirked inwardly. What a simpleton.
"I mean, he's the only second-year on the student council, yet he never even shows his face at regular meetings. Today is literally the last council meeting before the election, and he's still a no-show."
"...I don't like that part either. However, it's an undeniable fact that the current President's reign has been the most brilliant in the history of Joaquin Academy."
An unexpected response came from Den's mouth. So he was the type to give credit where credit was due? Typical.
Sion shrugged nonchalantly.
"Sure, I admit he's competent. But calling the current President a monster was only a thing until last year. Look at this year. Real monsters have enrolled under the banner of the Golden Generation. There's that handsome guy named Leon, and then that black-haired guy. What was his name again..."
It was then.
"Kang Geomma."
Everyone flinched mid-sentence. A voice they hadn't heard in a very long time had suddenly cut in.
Sion stiffly turned her head toward the door. A male cadet was leaning against the wide-open entrance before anyone had noticed. His hollow, sickly-looking eyes met theirs.
"President...?"
Sion froze like a stone statue. The President stared at her intently before quickly averting his gaze.
"Seniors, it's been a while."
The President walked slowly into the meeting room. Then, he slumped back into the head seat. With an indifferent expression, he got straight to the point.
"Since it seems like everyone wants to take my seat, I'll let you know. I received word through the Association today that this presidential election isn't just for second and third-years."
"……!"
While bewilderment washed over everyone's faces, only the President remained calm.
"Just so you know, that next Hero candidate whatever-his-name-is that Senior Sion just mentioned, and the Sashimi Sword Saint, Kang Geomma—both of them are running. Well, my message is delivered, so I'll be taking my leave. Good luck, everyone."
No sooner had those final words left his mouth than the oval table erupted into chaos.
* * *
...Evening. A fine-dining restaurant in Wonju, the city where Joaquin Academy was located.
A woman with a sword scar carved across her face sliced into her meat with a knife. The blood seeping from the meat moistened her lips.
A smile played on her lips.
"Mmm~ As expected of Hanwoo, the flavor of the meat is on another level~ And since it's near the academy, the chef's culinary skills are top-notch too."
The man sitting across from her tore into his meat like a bandit. His brow furrowed in deep dissatisfaction.
"Damn it, fifty thousand won for a piece of meat the size of a pebble? Are they kidding me? I should just flip this whole place upside down."
The man stabbed a chunk of steak with his fork and spun it around like a pizza.
The woman looked at him with utter disdain.
"Could you please show some class? Stop embarrassing the person sitting with you."
"Class? We're both villains, what kind of fucking class are you talking about? Our specialty is stabbing people with blades like this, not slicing up tiny pieces of meat."
"You idiot. Behaving like that makes me wonder if you've even properly prepared for 'D-day'."
This time, the man snorted. He tapped his forehead triumphantly.
"I might look like this, but I'm known as a master strategist in the Syndicate. I just finished making the behind-the-scenes preparations for D-day, while also confirming that those Vendetta bastards were completely wiped out."
The fork heading toward the woman's lips stopped. A drop of blood fell from the meat suspended in midair, staining the white tablecloth.
The woman scowled and glared at the man. The thick scar on her face bulged and writhed like a snake.
"You bastard, you're not pulling some other retarded stunt, are you?"
"Haha! Look at you, releasing bloodlust right away. You play human all you want, but in the end, you're just like the rest of us."
"Depending on what you say next, you might end up as the meat on this plate, so use your brain before you open your mouth."
The man laughed out loud.
"You know we have a spy in the academy's student council, right? I heard from him that, for some reason, both of the vessel candidates are running in this presidential election."
"……."
"Isn't the timing just too perfect to be a coincidence? The D-day our Syndicate prepared overlaps perfectly with the day of the student council election."
"What are you trying to say?"
"We kill two birds with one stone that day. Even if we happen to lose one, the remaining one will be more than enough."
The man stuffed two thick chunks of meat into his mouth at once. Chewing vigorously, his writhing mouth opened.