Unexpectedly Becoming the Student Council President

To read until the final chapter. p atreon.com/casca02

The Disciplinary Committee, a large force which plays a crucial role in ensuring student safety during important exams, including practical evaluations. They step in as supervisors when teacher resources are insufficient.

The practical evaluation was only a week away, and I awaited approval of the final proposal outlining the Disciplinary Committee's supervision plan. It focused on the deployment specifics: when, where, and how to position committee members.

'I must carefully consider placement, considering the possibility that one of the Six Sinners is among our students….'

It wasn't a matter to be taken lightly.

We didn't know exactly when the Six Sinners would appear.

'…The Necromancer.'

In the game, the Six Sinner who attacked Ahsung High School was known as 'The Necromancer.'

They concealed their identity behind a skull mask, rendering identification impossible.

Why would they choose the practical evaluation to cause trouble? …I don't know.

Understanding their motive beforehand would be ideal, but it was difficult to figure out.

'Anyway, in the game, Ahsung High School failed to apprehend them. We cannot allow that to happen.

The Disciplinary Committee cannot afford failure. The Necromancer's attack led to the impeachment of the Disciplinary Committee Leader at Ahsung High School.

I had to be extra vigilant.

The practical evaluation takes place over a wide area and is conducted by grade over four days.

The practical evaluation spans a large area and spans four days, organized by grade. Second-year students oversee first-year evaluations, third-year students monitor second-year evaluations, and fourth-year students supervise third-year evaluations. The remaining staff oversee the fourth-year evaluations.

'It would be easier to handle if we knew which grade's evaluation they would target….'

But we couldn't know.

We also couldn't just deploy strong members for the entire evaluation.

The practical evaluation lasts a long time. They're only human, so fatigue would set in, and the Necromancer, intending to attack Ahsung High School, wouldn't overlook any suspicious circumstances.

'We also need to be prepared for necromancy.'

The Necromancer specializes in controlling undead minions, making them formidable in large-scale battles.

Therefore, we must prepare countermeasures against necromancy discreetly, avoiding any alarm among the students.

First, let's review the suspects….'

Alone, I reviewed the documents—a list of students with high magical power based on school measurements.

The criterion was 'power levels that wouldn't be strange for a 5th Tier or higher.'

The Six Sinners are inherently powerful. While the Necromancer is among the weaker ones, they still rank as a top-tier 5th Tier fighter, indicating significant magical prowess. Under optimal conditions, they could rival even a 6th Tier.

'There are about 50 suspects.'

Ahsung High School is one of the major academies, so it attracts many geniuses above the 5th Tier. However, the number itself wasn't very high, narrowing down the candidates to 50.

Among them, the Disciplinary Committee accounted for the highest proportion, comprising 28 members.

This underscores the Disciplinary Committee's esteemed status, leading in combat prowess. However, it also highlights that even the Committee cannot be fully trusted.

'It would be good if we could confirm their unique abilities….'

Identifying the suspects' unique abilities is difficult unless the individuals willingly disclose them. There is a prevalent culture of treating unique abilities as sensitive private matters, and many people hide or lie about them to protect themselves.

Given that very few people manifest unique abilities, the uncertainty about how such rare powers might be used, and the potential risk of being targeted by criminals, this is a complex social phenomenon.

So, those whose unique abilities were clear and unrelated to necromancy were excluded from suspicion.

'I'm not sure about the physique….'

The Necromancer always wore a hooded robe, so their physique was unknown. At least they weren't tall, so students with large builds were excluded from suspicion.

Knock, knock.

Just then, a knock sounded on the door of the Disciplinary Committee's executive office.

"Come in."

I was the only one in the office.

I raised my voice.

The door opened, and our top-tier expressionless talent walked in. The emotionless junior.

She saluted and stood at ease in front of my desk.

"Good work, Leader."

Her tone was flat and emotionless.

I looked away from her and resumed reviewing the documents that needed approval.

"Report."

The intensity of her surveillance on Lee Se-Ah had decreased compared to before. Now, it was more about casually observing her and reporting back.

Although Lee Se-Ah had realized she was being watched, it wasn't possible to stop surveillance completely.

Additionally, the reason for receiving verbal reports was to avoid leaving records.

"No special incidents. Lee Se-Ah is still leading her group and focusing on good deeds. It's the same as usual."

"Alright. Thanks for your effort."

Normally, the reports ended like this.

The reduced intensity of her mission was a factor, but the main reason was that Lee Se-Ah hadn't made any significant moves in school.

However, no matter how cautious Lee Se-Ah was, she would inevitably make significant moves by next semester. This was when she would become the leader of the Do-hwa Group and the ruler of the black market, which happened in the second semester of this year. It was also when she would die.

…Besides that.

"I'll take my leave now…."

"Han Seo-jin."

"Yes."

The emotionless junior, Han Seo-jin, responded calmly without any special reaction.

"How is your work with the Disciplinary Committee going? Have you adapted yet?"

Seo-jin was listed among the suspects.

Upon further investigation, it turned out her magic power was higher than expected. She lived up to the potential I saw in her.

So, she naturally caught my attention. She was one of the top suspects, the so-called 'Number 1 Suspect.'

Top suspects would be monitored closely by the strongest members of the Disciplinary Committee, like me, Oh Baek-seo, and Ha Yesong.

Among them, I decided to personally keep an eye on the expressionless junior since she was the talent I had noticed.

Today was also the last report day before the practical evaluation, so I decided to have a brief conversation.

"..."

Maybe because I attempted to initiate a conversation, which was unusual.

Seo-jin looked at me silently, trying to gauge my intentions before speaking.

"…There are still many areas I need to improve, but I've adapted to most tasks. Thanks to the excellent guidance from the seniors."

"That's good."

I looked up from the documents and met Seo-jin's eyes.

"Come to think of it, you said your reason for joining the Disciplinary Committee was to uphold order, right?"

"Yes."

As expected.

Even though she had mentioned such a pretentious and embarrassing reason for joining, Seo-jin's expression didn't change at all.

"Is there anything else you'd like to do in the future?"

"…I'm not sure I understand."

"I meant exactly what I said. You don't strike me as particularly honest."

"..."

Seo-jin remained silent, not answering. Maybe my words hit the mark.

"Starting with your reason for joining. If you were sincere, I apologize."

"…Actually, I joined to build my resume. I thought I needed to show enthusiasm during the interview, so I said those things. I'm sorry if I disappointed you…."

"I didn't say that to hear an apology. Everyone's the same. Including me."

"Yes?"

I leaned back in my chair.

"My goal is similar to yours. If I complete my term as Leader successfully, I'll be able to secure a good position after graduation. In other words, my goal is also to build my resume. Most people are like you and me."

"…I see."

"That's what I want. To get a good position and live well. Do you have something like that?"

Seo-jin looked down and thought for a moment before speaking.

"…I want to see the ocean."

"The ocean?"

"That's the only thing that comes to mind."

The ocean….

For a moment, her expressionless face seemed to crack slightly. I realized this was the first time Seo-jin had given an honest answer, always hiding her emotions.

In my previous life and various media in this world, the vast and blue ocean beyond the sandy beach had the power to make people's hearts flutter. It's natural to have a longing for the sea.

However, in the current era, going to the sea is forbidden.

There's no safe route to the sea, to begin with.

To see the sea, you'd have to graduate high school, obtain an explorer's license, and venture outside, prepared to lose your life more easily than an insect due to the dangerous monsters outside.

"…Are you going to laugh at me?"

"?"

Unexpectedly, Seo-jin's words caught me off guard.

Seo-jin looked straight into my eyes with her emotionless face.

"Why would I?"

"Because it's nonsense. Everyone knows it's dangerous, and I want to see a sea that's no longer beautiful."

Was she saying her desire was worthless?

I recalled the images of the sea brought back by explorers.

The sea's landscape had changed so much that one wouldn't necessarily want to see it anymore.

But.

"Nonsense? I think it's cool."

"Yes?"

I couldn't understand why Seo-jin felt cynical about her own aspirations.

"Nature always cycles. By now, some parts of the ocean might have regained their old beauty. A lot of time has passed since 'The Hole' closed."

The Hole.

A massive gate that once appeared in the Pacific Ocean.

The Hole unleashed countless monsters, beginning with the Tier 9 Golden Sheep, causing widespread chaos.

Now, the Golden Sheep had closed it.

"In that case, you might be the one to find that beautiful sea."

"...?"

"Having such a wish, I think that's cool."

It was my genuine feeling.

Such desires are what drive progress in the world.

Seo-jin blinked slowly, her expression remaining impassive.

"I see. Thank you," Seo-jin replied, inclining her head in acknowledgement.

There wasn't much else to discuss.

I couldn't just ask, 'Are you one of the Six Sinners?'

Han Seo-jin was a talent I acknowledged.

A promising prospect.

I just hoped she wouldn't turn out to be the Necromancer and end up fighting against me.

"You can go now."

"Yes. Goodbye, Leader."

Seo-jin saluted and left the office.

***

Walking down the corridor after leaving the office, Han Seo-jin thought.

Seo-jin planned to release the undead and complete her mission during the practical evaluation before leaving Ahsung High School. However, she encountered an unexpected variable after enrolling at Ahsung High School.

The Disciplinary Committee Leader.

When she was assigned the infiltration mission at Ahsung High School by the Head Principal, the Disciplinary Committee Leader wasn't considered a key figure.

Seo-jin didn't think much of the Leader's solo resolution of the Anomia train terror incident either.

However, after joining the Disciplinary Committee as part of her plan, Seo-jin was surprised by the Leader.

─ 'So, you want me to keep an eye on Lee Se-Ah?'

The Leader had assigned Seo-jin to monitor Lee Se-Ah.

Seo-jin felt uneasy and tense.

Why her, of all people?

Could it be that she had aroused suspicion?

Seo-jin recalled asking the Leader why she was given a personal assignment.

─ 'Because you're in the same class as Lee Se-Ah in the first year at Maehwa Hall. You just stood out the most.'

It was a flimsy reason.

A vague response that couldn't be disputed.

At that time, Seo-jin secretly used one of her necromantic abilities.

The derived ability of the 'Sixth Sense.'

The sense to discern whether someone is telling the truth or lying.

And she found out.

'It was a lie.'

Seo-jin determined that the reason given by the Leader was a lie.

There was undoubtedly a hidden agenda behind the Leader's actions.

'They must have noticed something suspicious about me.'

The Leader was rumored to know a lot about Anomia.

Seo-jin had dismissed these as mere rumors, but being personally called and assigned a task with a lie made her suspicious.

─ 'Thank you for trusting me, Leader. I will deliver the best results.'

Thus, Seo-jin did her best to avoid the Leader's suspicion, diligently performing her tasks and going above and beyond what was asked.

It was an act to show her dedication as a new member of the Disciplinary Committee.

Although the intensity of the surveillance on Lee Se-Ah had lessened, Seo-jin couldn't afford to be careless.

'There must be no setbacks in the plan. If the Leader shows signs of suspicion during the practical evaluation….'

Then there was no other choice.

She would have to deal with the Leader first.

As she walked, Seo-jin stopped and looked out the window. The outdoor swimming pool used for swimming classes came into view.

─ 'I think it's cool to have such a wish.'

"...."

The Leader's words echoed in her mind.

Using her ability, she confirmed that his words were sincere.

She thought back.

Whenever she expressed her desire to see the ocean, others' responses were always filled with insincere platitudes.

They treated her like a dreamer trapped in her own world or a foolish person chasing meaningless dreams.

The only person who hadn't laughed at her desire was the Head Principal.

However, she never expected to hear such genuine admiration.

Seo-jin lowered her gaze and whispered to herself.

"He's a kind person…."

After pondering the Leader's words for a while, Seo-jin resumed walking.

***

Time passed, and the practical evaluation began.

To read until the final chapter. p atreon.com/casca02