As Lunchtime Draws to a Close
As lunchtime wound down, the seven Holy Marks named after the Seven Virtues had gathered in the student council room—or four of them, at least. They were there to discuss two agenda items, but the meeting hadn't even started yet.
"Humility's absent. Charity's seat is empty. Patience said she'd come but hasn't shown up. Why are there so many deadbeats in our grade? Huh?"
Yeo Min-seo, holder of the Kindness Holy Mark, sighed at the empty chairs. With three out of seven missing, there was no way to proceed. She flipped idly through the papers in her hand and continued.
"Patience, fine, she at least made it to school. But why the hell hasn't that Humility bastard shown up?"
"His dad's funeral. That's what he said."
"Third funeral excuse already. Does he have three dads? What is he,吕布?"
Yeo Min-seo crumpled the papers in her grip. It was behavior utterly at odds with her title. The room's atmosphere stiffened instantly.
"Whatever. We'll just do it without them. First item—"
Drag—!
Just as she was about to start, the door slid open. Kim Jin-seo stepped in slowly, panting heavily.
Yeo Min-seo shot her a sharp, subtle glare.
"You made it? You're late. Really late."
"Sorry. Something came up."
"Sure, you've got your reasons. Five minutes late and all. Latecomers always do."
Kim Jin-seo's eyebrow twitched for a split second. But that was it. She bit her lip, swallowed her rising anger, and took her seat.
Tap tap.
Yeo Min-seo, at the head of the round table, straightened her papers with a knock.
"Everyone who's coming is here, so let's start the meeting."
She rifled through her documents. Normally, Humility's Holy Mark holder ran things, but that guy had been absent for two weeks straight. So Yeo Min-seo, Kindness, was taking charge.
"First item: Reports of Satanists infiltrating Florence. Evidence from the 'barn magic beast incident' and the 'Go Jun-min case.' Orders came down to hunt them. High chance they're among the freshmen. That's why the teachers handed it off to us."
"Any way to find them?"
Kang Dae-man, Diligence Holy Mark, asked. He looked seated, but there was no chair under him—he'd been doing transparent chair sits since before the meeting even began.
"Look at this first, then talk."
Yeo Min-seo spread papers across the table. CCTV stills from the Florence barn.
All the photos shared a common thread: a man in a black hood and mask, drawing some unidentified magic circle.
"What's with the black guy? And that's a blessing circle, right? Color's weird, though."
Kang Dae-man squinted at the images.
"He's the Satanist, obviously. Think before you ask?"
Yeo Min-seo snapped irritably.
"Right. So what's he drawing? A blessing circle?"
"Not a blessing circle, idiot. Black magic circle. Shut up if you don't know. No dumb questions."
Kang Dae-man glared at Yeo Min-seo. She glared right back. Sparks flew from their locked eyes.
The tension turned murderous. The others didn't dare intervene, just watching silently. It devolved into a back-and-forth between Kang Dae-man and Yeo Min-seo.
"Humility. We could use that guy to track 'em."
"Yeah. But he's been skipping. No guarantee he'll cooperate."
"Ah. But you've been nitpicking everything I say. If you're gonna argue, offer a solution, no?"
"Ooh, spot on. Guess hanging with morons like you lowered my IQ. Sorry."
Kang Dae-man shot to his feet. He started striding toward Yeo Min-seo, but a slender arm blocked him.
"Enough. No fighting."
Han Su-ryeon, Temperance Holy Mark. She flipped through papers and continued.
"Only barn CCTV? Where'd the Go Jun-min thing go down?"
"Right nearby. City park area."
"Any CCTV from there?"
"Nah. All smashed. Zero evidence on Go Jun-min—"
Yeo Min-seo answered casually, then her eyes lit up as an idea hit her.
"Wait, actually, there is. We've got the one eyewitness right here. Kim Jin-seo."
Kim Jin-seo's shoulders jerked. Yeo Min-seo smirked creepily at her, madness glinting in her eyes.
"Anything ring a bell? Something weird when Go Jun-min turned into a demon species?"
"......Don't remember."
"Don't lie. Cooperate, will ya?"
Kim Jin-seo bowed her head, taking a deep breath. Just recalling it choked her. The name Go Jun-min alone tightened her chest.
"For real. I don't remember."
I don't want to remember. And honestly, the memories were fuzzy anyway. Even if she did, she wouldn't say it out loud.
"Fine. Don't wanna talk? Whatever. Late, no cooperation. Real useful."
Blatant sarcasm. Kim Jin-seo seethed but stayed silent, enduring it. She hated even talking to Yeo Min-seo. Arguing always left her the loser.
Han Su-ryeon, who'd been studying the photos, finally spoke up.
"These pics alone? No way to ID him. Wait for Humility and hash it out then. Sound good?"
Yeo Min-seo nodded.
"Yeah. Next item: Bae Seong-hyeon. That moron got expelled for moronic shit, so Charity's vacant. Need to re-elect."
"Why's that an agenda item?"
Kang Dae-man snorted.
Yeo Min-seo's brow twisted.
"......I'll explain. Say we re-elect via exam. New guy's another retard, pulls Bae Seong-hyeon crap, gets expelled again. Then what?"
"No problem. Just run another exam—"
"That's why you don't give retards speaking rights."
Yeo Min-seo cut him off. Kang Dae-man's arm muscles rippled under his gym clothes. His patience was fraying.
Undeterred, Yeo Min-seo pressed on.
"Re-election planning takes at least two weeks. Twice? A month wasted. No study time."
"I don't study anyway."
"Figures. Dumb muscle pig."
"Compliment in my line of work. Thanks."
Kang Dae-man grinned back. Yeo Min-seo shook her head with a heavy sigh.
"Anyway. No more time sinks. Pick a solid one this time, coast three years smooth. No Bae Seong-hyeon morons or Kang Dae-man idiots."
"But we can't decide that. Got a plan?"
Han Su-ryeon asked.
"We can influence the re-election exam, right? Use that for an inside pick."
Inside pick. Pre-select the winner, rig the exam scores their way. Straight-up cheating.
Kang Dae-man frowned curiously.
"Why bother? Talent wins out."
"Exams turn on luck sometimes. Some airhead gets lucky, becomes Charity Saint? Out like Bae Seong-hyeon. So pre-pick a safe, long-hauler. Minimize variables."
"Sounds good. Inside pick it is."
Kang Dae-man agreed casually. Yeo Min-seo pulled three sheets from her stack, spreading them out. Each had personal info: grades, family background, essays. Stuff you couldn't get legally.
"My picks: three options. Jeong In-ah, Gu Jun-hyeok."
She tilted her head thoughtfully.
"And Do Seon-woo, though he's iffy."
Do Seon-woo.
The name dropped, and all three reacted at once.
"Wha—? No, absolutely not!"
Seong Ha-yeon, Purity Holy Mark, bolted up. Her first words all meeting. Realizing her lack of poise, she flushed and sank back down.
Thud.
In the commotion, Kim Jin-seo suddenly slammed her head on the table.
Her face was hidden, but red ears peeked through her fallen hair.
"—Ugh."
Now even hearing 'Do Seon-woo' felt off. Thanks to Gu Jun-hyeok's childish taunt at the gym yesterday. She cringed at how she'd fallen for it.
"Hm. Do Seon-woo it is!"
Amid it all, Kang Dae-man bellowed enthusiastically. His massive voice boomed through the room.
Yeo Min-seo's face twisted grotesquely. She was sensitive to noise; his booming baritone always grated. One reason she hated him.
"Hoo."
She exhaled deeply, calming herself, then spoke.
"Do Seon-woo was just a trial balloon. He's out anyway. That's why he's iffy."
"Why?"
Kang Dae-man grumbled.
"One: bad family finances. Charity Saint donates to Florence. He can't afford it. Barely feeds himself."
"Poverty's no crime!"
"Not a crime. But not a virtue either. Why's it called Charity?"
Kang Dae-man blinked blankly. He didn't get it. Yeo Min-seo shook her head at his ignorance.
"Don't get it? Fine. Two: bad rep. Saw that Grange post? Victim this, that."
"Hold up."
Kim Jin-seo, who'd been listening head-down, jerked up. A red mark stamped her forehead.
"Oh Byong-hoon cleared it. Proven rumor ages ago."
"Rumor or not, don't care. His image sucks. Fact."
"Image matters?"
"Yeah. Student council's image tanked thanks to Bae Seong-hyeon. Re-elect Do Seon-woo right after? Kids'll talk."
"His image isn't that bad."
"Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok have better. Why pick him?"
Yeo Min-seo sneered. Kim Jin-seo glared silently. She had retorts, but arguing with Yeo Min-seo always cost her.
Yeo Min-seo smirked at the glare.
"Oh yeah, you went through something similar once, right?"
"......What?"
"No wonder you're defending him. That thing back then? Feels familiar, empathetic?"
Middle school classmates. Yeo Min-seo knew how much that incident tortured Kim Jin-seo—and brought it up anyway.
Just to piss her off.
Kim Jin-seo's face darkened. Her lips quivered.
"Aw, hurt feelings? Just kidding. Sorry~"
Yeo Min-seo grinned insincerely. Kim Jin-seo said nothing, just bowed her head. Opening her mouth might bring tears.
Anyone else, maybe. Not in front of Yeo Min-seo.
Yeo Min-seo smiled triumphantly.
"Anyway, Do Seon-woo's out for those reasons. Pick between Jeong In-ah and Gu Jun-hyeok. I say Gu Jun-hyeok. Him?"
If you're deciding solo, why meet? Just do it yourself.
Kim Jin-seo grumbled inwardly.
"If you're deciding solo, why meet?"
But Kang Dae-man voiced it.
He had to say what was on his mind or it bugged him.
His point made Yeo Min-seo's eyebrow twitch.
"My judgment's usually spot-on. Can't poll every moron like you or we'd never end."
"Ah! True that. Wanna test?"
"Hit me, asshole. You got lawsuit money?"
A chilling air flowed between them. Kang Dae-man cracked his knuckles, advancing. Yeo Min-seo readied divine power for a blessing circle. Fight imminent.
"Stop."
Han Su-ryeon jumped in, mediating.
"Fight outside. Not here."
If they really went at it, the room would be trashed. She had to prevent that. Desperately shoving them out.
But both were livid. No stopping them.
Yet the fight didn't erupt.
"......Nah. No fighting. What's the point?"
Yeo Min-seo backed down first. She sighed, then smiled at Kang Dae-man.
"Yeah. What's your beef?"
"I want Do Seon-woo for Charity Saint."
"Why?"
"He trains at the gym daily. Diligent, hardworking. That's why."
"That's your reason? Wow, convincing."
Yeo Min-seo sighed, sitting. She'd nearly snapped but swallowed it.
"Still, no Do Seon-woo."
"Why?"
"Told you. Even if we ignore image, donations? He can't pay. Beggar level?"
Her tone heated.
"Can't donate? Can't be Charity Saint to begin with. Get it, old man?"
"Not old man. And money? Earn it."
"Goddamn it, piglet! Not earnable level! You spout crap 'cause you don't get Florence's system."
Frustrated, Yeo Min-seo yelled. Bloodshot eyes.
"Hoo. Fine. Vote. Do Seon-woo or Gu Jun-hyeok. Fair? Democratic."
"Good."
Kang Dae-man agreed. Yeo Min-seo called the vote.
Do Seon-woo: Kang Dae-man, Kim Jin-seo.
Gu Jun-hyeok: Yeo Min-seo, Seong Ha-yeon.
2-2 tie.
"Han Su-ryeon. Why no vote?"
"Abstain. Don't care who."
"What the—? Ugh."
Yeo Min-seo clutched her neck, sighing furiously. Han Su-ryeon smiled at her.
"Just inside-pick both Gu Jun-hyeok and Do Seon-woo."
"One seat."
"Heard re-election allows holy artifacts. Rumor, but."
Han Su-ryeon tossed out a curveball. Yeo Min-seo tilted her head, confused.
"So?"
"Set up a 1v1 between them in the exam."
"......Ah."
Yeo Min-seo got it, gasping.
"They're even skill-wise. Winner's who has pricier artifacts. Basically, richer one wins."
"Pit Gu Jun-hyeok and Do Seon-woo against each other, let money decide?"
"Yeah. Thoughts?"
Han Su-ryeon smiled purely. Yeo Min-seo's grin was wicked.
Kim Jin-seo, who'd listened, spoke urgently.
"That's too unfair to Do Seon-woo."
"Why?"
"Obviously......"
Per the papers, Gu Jun-hyeok was an only child of high priests. Do Seon-woo lost his mom in the Holy War, dad a regular priest on overseas assignment. Gu had the cash edge. Capital battle favored him.
"Do Seon-woo's poor, so 1v1 disadvantages him?"
Kim Jin-seo trailed off. Yeo Min-seo finished for her.
Kim Jin-seo nodded.
"Can't be helped. Losing on cash means unqualified for Charity anyway."
"What? Not about skill then. Just parents' jobs."
"Good parents is talent. And for Charity, parents matter. Florence mechanics. Your dad's chairman. You know."
Charity donates to Florence. Florence reciprocates with perks. Donation size sets council status. Hence, capital over talent.
"Bae Seong-hyeon? Talent zilch. Dad's dBP CEO—donation admission. Right?"
"Still, too unfair—"
"Unfair? Says the girl living off it."
Yeo Min-seo cornered her. Kim Jin-seo flapped wordlessly, then bowed her head.
Her adoptive dad was Florence chairman. Her luxuries? All donation-funded. She was peak beneficiary of this unfair world.
"No objections? Settled. Meeting over. Out."
With that, the meeting ended.
On the way back to class, Kim Jin-seo's heart stayed heavy.
*
After school, a call from Uncle Lee Jin-seong. The holy artifacts promised from Bae Jeong-hwan had just arrived.
Brimming with anticipation, I headed to the worship hall. There they were, gleaming invitingly.
"Whoa. These are wild."
"Right? Worth every penny."
[Mysterious. Couldn't dream of these in my day.]
So we were testing the artifacts' performance—or playing with them, basically.
"No need for a bag anymore. Just store 'em here."
"Yeah!"
Today's underground chapel rang with laughter.
(Continued next chapter)