Behind the Scenes (1)
As soon as the promotion match ended and we returned, Hye-ji wore a gloomy expression, said she was heading back first, and disappeared into the dormitory. Even when I called out to her, she didn't answer. I sent her a few messages, but the number one in the chat room refused to disappear. In a fit of desperation, I even tried calling her.
"Don't come looking for me. Everything's fucking shit."
I got scared and stopped contacting her after that.
Elsia said she was going to the Great Forest with her escort elves over the weekend for some public sentiment management. By process of elimination, that left only Jeong Ayeon. When I contacted her, I thought she'd be at the Martial Arts Guild, but she said she was at the Academy, so I immediately called her over. And so, here we were.
"Jeong Ayeon, shouldn't you normally be at that guild polishing statues right about now?"
"This weekend, this lady has been granted leave."
"...It's the weekend. What the hell kind of leave is that, fuck."
[Working on the weekend? That child truly shows the qualities of a researcher!]
'Your professor blood keeps boiling like this. Three straight days of HAL gaslighting incoming.'
[I'm sorry! Please don't do that!]
At that moment, the researcher came to mind. I definitely needed to meet him soon anyway. With Jeong Ayeon here, I got straight to the point.
"Perfect timing. Buy me something to eat."
"...If you're going to spout nonsense, this lady will take her leave."
"Oh my, I accidentally took a photo of someone throwing up?"
"Would this lady be honored to treat you to a meal, my lord? I beg of you."
In an instant, the offensive and defensive roles between me and Jeong Ayeon completely reversed. I blocked her hand as she slyly tried to snatch my phone, then casually headed toward the cafeteria.
On the way, several new posters were plastered all over the campus bulletin board, catching my eye. I pointed at them and asked Jeong Ayeon.
"What's that?"
"Hmph. To be so ignorant and unenlightened—your future truly worries me."
"There's still space left if I print out one of your photos and stick it up here?"
"It is the student council president election period."
'Where the fuck does this bitch think she's showing off?'
[You little devil...]
There were quite a lot of candidates for an election period. Wondering why, I asked Jeong Ayeon again.
"Why are so many people running for it?"
"You really seem to know nothing at all, my lord."
"Oh my! There's even a video?"
"When on earth did you film that video!!"
Jeong Ayeon's simple explanation followed. Soon, they would be electing a student council president to serve for one year at the Academy. Grade didn't matter, but most applicants were first-years moving up to second year. Third-years were too busy preparing for job hunting. Finally, according to Jeong Ayeon, those with voting rights were students treated as 'people' under labor law, staff, and professors.
[Isn't the novel serialization period overlapping with election season?]
'Kim Shinu is running.'
[That's election law violation!!!!!!]
"Even if you win, it's not that big of a deal, right?"
"Contrary to appearances, once elected, the student council president holds absolute power."
"Should I run too?"
"Stop it. You have nothing particularly outstanding to offer."
Student council president. Absolute power. But it wasn't time yet. Before turning away, I quietly muttered while looking at the election posters.
"Next time, baby."
[If you say that line, the chances of there being a next time drop dramatically, don't they?]
'Shut up.'
The next day.
Today I was moving alone because I had somewhere urgent to go. I didn't bring anyone with me this time. It was purely for my own goal.
That's right. I was heading to the research building.
Today was Sunday. A day when professors were absent and only researchers came to work. And mostly only master's course researchers showed up. My goal today was to meet those researchers.
[What exactly are you planning to stir up this time?]
'It's for groundwork.'
Since I'd been dragged around by Professor Pilyong from the beginning of first year, I now knew the locations of all the professors' research buildings by heart. First stop was Professor Pilyong's research building. Sure enough, a large number of researchers were sluggishly moving around inside.
When I appeared, they all fixed their hollow eyes on me and naturally reached for their ability scanners, so I stopped them.
"Everyone here is a master's course researcher, right?"
"...Yes, that's correct."
Just in case, I had prepared a meticulous question to confirm they were master's researchers.
"What is a professor?"
"Son of a bitch."
"What about a PhD?"
"Fucking bastard."
Perfect. I took a short breath and started the engine.
"Researchers, thank you for your hard work on a Sunday."
"What is your purpose here?"
"I'll get straight to the point."
Feeling the paper in my pocket, I spoke to the researchers again.
"Do you all think you're receiving appropriate treatment?"
"...And if we say no?"
"What if I could help you receive appropriate treatment?"
"What exactly are you trying to say?"
"For example, being treated as 'people' under the law?"
At that moment, a small spark of longing flickered in the dying eyes of the researchers. It was like a candle that could go out at any second, but the important thing was that the flame had been rekindled.
Of course, they didn't look like they fully trusted me yet.
"Do you really think a mere student could pull that off?"
"I can't do it alone."
"Then don't give us false hope."
"But what if I'm not alone?"
"...Pardon?"
Instead of answering, I pulled out a sheet of paper from my pocket. It was the document I'd received from Cheonma in exchange for Kang Hyuk's home address. The content was, of course, a radical improvement in the researchers' terrible treatment. I carefully handed the paper to one of the researchers.
The researchers, who had taken it with half-doubtful eyes, huddled together and slowly began to read. It didn't take long for their eyes to transform from tiny candle flames into a massive wildfire.
Eyes that had discovered an oasis far away in the desert while dying of thirst. Eyes that saw a passing ship while stranded on a deserted island. Because they had been in despair, hope felt all the more beautiful and sweet. Especially the more realistic that hope was.
Like handing over a holy relic, the researchers knelt and returned the paper to me. The dying look on their faces was gone. What replaced it was embers slowly rising from the ashes. In other words, it was the appearance of 'people' slowly beginning to stand up from hardship.
"Lord Shinu, do you truly believe this is possible?"
"Honestly, with just Cheonma alone, it's still a bit difficult."
"...I see."
Depression began to spread among the researchers again. Wasn't it said that giving hope and then taking it away was even more cruel than leaving them in constant despair? They grew more somber than before, sinking back into hopelessness. At least until my next words.
"But what if we had signatures from Academy officials?"
"You mean us?"
"Not just you all, but signatures from quite high-ranking individuals as well?"
"Ooooooh......."
"And if we even had help from key national figures?"
"Our savior..."
The researchers began shedding tears of hope. I handed them another sheet of paper. This one was for collecting their signatures.
While the researchers were busily signing, Piece spoke to me.
[My dear, the professors won't help at all. Who exactly are you planning to ask for assistance?]
'That's already decided.'
That old man. The son of a bitch who stole my seat at the last professors' meeting. I was aiming for the Chairman.
[...Wasn't that his seat to begin with?]
'First one to sit down owns it.'
Before long, the researchers finished signing and handed the paper back to me. Just in case, I gave them some precautions.
"It won't happen immediately, but I'll make it happen within a year."
"Understood!"
"Just to be safe, please keep this matter absolutely secret."
"Of course!"
One of the people in the center of the researcher group spoke to me.
"Is there anything else you need?"
"Not right now, but once you all become 'people,' I'll ask for your help then."
"Please take care!"
Receiving a ninety-degree bow from the researchers, I left Professor Pilyong's research building. Now it was time to make the rounds to the rest of the professors' research buildings. I began visiting every single one.
Like going on a pilgrimage to a holy site. Reverently and calmly. It truly resembled the appearance of a pilgrim.
I was able to collect signatures from a countless number of researchers. At first they were wary of me just like before. But after shedding emotional tears at the Messiah's words, the sight was truly beautiful to behold.
Even though I'd started visiting from early morning, there were so many research buildings that by the time I returned to the dormitory, darkness had already begun to settle. Of course, the lights in the research buildings never went out.
[My dear, do you not need signatures from the doctoral course researchers?]
'That would actually be poison.'
The doctoral course researchers had the potential to become professors. They were the pupae harboring wicked intentions to use the researchers who weren't recognized as people. They could evolve into professor butterflies in an instant. Moreover, even though researchers should be sticking together, they constantly exploited the master's course researchers whenever they had the chance. So if they learned about today's events, there was a high chance they would cause discord or act uncooperatively. And my Professor Slayer could never tolerate that.
Returning to the dormitory, I carefully stored away the papers with the collected signatures. Then Piece expressed her doubt to me once more.
[But will liberating the researchers actually benefit you?]
'Not immediately. But it's absolutely necessary.'
Martin Luther King. You had a dream. I have a dream too.
Destroying the Academy.
First, securing evidence against the President. Second, liberating the exploited faction.