Academy Retirement Diary of the Student Council President

Episode 41: Yu Eun-ha [2]

by Afuhfuihgs

As I reached my hand outside the window, the previously invisible silver chains materialized instantly.

-Clank, clank

Even when searching for gaps, the mana chains showed no openings—utterly flawless.

“Hmm… unnecessarily tight, aren’t they?”

“This is an artifact painstakingly crafted by the Guild Leader-nim. The chains disappear for the wearer’s convenience, only materializing when attempting to leave designated areas.”

“Thanks for explaining.”

While blankly watching news reports about recent events as I stared at this optimal kidnapping-restraint item, sensational headlines dominated every channel.

[Shocking explosion and massive Gate suddenly appear in Yongsan Rich Village! What were the Heroes doing?!]

[Raon Academy Student Council President critically injured after being caught in Gate incident.]

…

[Is Raon Academy’s Student Council President the real power behind Yuseong Group?]

[Yuseong Group stocks plummet 14%]

‘Ah, classic Korean media.’

Every headline was engineered to be clickbait.

Feeling embarrassed by channels dissecting my personal details, I switched to a station objectively reporting the incident. A young female anchor was briefing viewers:

[“Breaking news: A massive Gate suddenly appeared near Yongsan’s affluent district. While details remain unclear due to subsequent barriers, heroes who breached them confirmed… Yoon Se-ah, daughter of former Yuseong Group CEO and current Raon Academy Student Council President Yoon Seong-ho, sustained life-threatening injuries…”]

-Beep

Seriously? Blocking news too?

“Such sensational news is mentally harmful.”

“…But I experienced it myse—”

“You have no memory of the actual events. Unpleasant recollections might surface.”

This woman was unshakably principled.

‘Annoying. Eve assigned me a watchdog.’

With my legs immobilized, escaping this Striker-class close-combat hero was impossible.

“Should you need anything, please make requests through me.”

“…No, it’s fine. Sorry to trouble you.”

“Not at all. During this long period, I’ve been exhausted handling Vice Guild Leader Eve’s paperwork, overtime duties, and managing the academy’s affairs on the Guild Leader’s behalf. Finally, I can return to being Yu Han-ra—Golden Guild’s A-Rank Hunter!”

‘Is this the same person from earlier?’

I turned to see the woman shedding tears of relief. Her calm, chestnut hair and scarlet eyes had projected professional composure earlier, but now I saw the soul of a graduate student on the brink of collapse.

While I understood assigning a top-tier hunter (ranked 57th nationally) to prevent chain-breaking escapes felt excessive, my immobilized body left me no choice but to recuperate in this warm room as Eve instructed.

‘Will I recover before the Student Council election?’

With my phone confiscated, I couldn’t even reassure people like Kang A-yul or Lee Seo-yun.

‘…Yu Eun-ha’s stats were remarkably high.’

Suddenly, Yu Eun-ha’s status window from when she’d hurled vitriol at me resurfaced in memory.

<><><><><><><><><><>

<Name: Yu Eun-ha>

<Age: 18>

<Alignment: Good>

<All stats increase by one tier when facing specific targets> (Target change cooldown: 7 days) (Current target: Yoon Se-ah)

<Stats>

<Strength: A>

<Defense: B+>

<Stamina: B>

<Agility: A+>

<Luck: A>

<><><><><><><><><><>

‘High stats are one thing, but how’d she get the protagonist’s skill?’

Did she inherit it when the protagonist died?

‘The third-life Yoon Se-ah said she burned Seo Jian before Eun-ha’s eyes.’

Irritatingly, she’d listed me as her Wanted target.

‘Though without it, capturing me would’ve been harder.’

While understandable, it still rankled. I wanted to blast her face with a full-powered Void Strike, but… as someone who loved the original work, and seeing her self-reflection… she’s like a sister. I’d let it slide.

Setting Eun-ha aside, Mephisto’s remnant was the real concern.

‘My hazy memories suggest I unconsciously used Mephisto’s power while blacking out to escape.’

If this continued, I risked becoming Mephisto’s puppet or dying from side effects.

‘I’ll go to England this summer.’

Originally planned for the second semester to teach the protagonist Stellar Magic, Eun-ha’s interference changed everything.

‘Should compile hidden piece lists matching their core stats. I’ll take whatever’s left.’

The protagonist was already overpowered and would master Stellar Magic alone. Maybe I’d go to Europe solo or create a club as Student Council President… No, definitely going alone.

…

“By the way… any notebooks here?”

As I wheeled toward my temporary room for writing supplies, Yu Han-ra’s expression darkened.

“We’ve sealed the main gate. No intrusions possible. Defense magic is operational.”

Creeping closer, I overheard her discussing someone approaching the Safe House—an intruder?

“Someone’s outside the Safe House?”

She startled at my voice. “Just preparing your bedtime routine.”

Clearly hiding something. I retreated strategically.

“The Guild Leader’s unused parchment bundles remain in the basement study. I’ll bind them into a book for you.”

“…Thanks.”

‘Strange. Most caretakers in recovery centers look miserable, but she’s radiant.’

Even while fetching paper, Yu Han-ra beamed. She genuinely enjoyed this work.

‘Don’t people usually hate patient care?’

Her kindness complicated things—I’d grow attached, making departure harder.

‘Infuriating.’

Four minutes later, she returned with a spellbook-like tome straight from medieval fantasy webtoons. I immediately began transcribing knowledge.

-Scritch-scratch

“You write quite elegantly.”

I documented hidden piece locations, optimal Gate leveling spots for the protagonist, and personal notes. As I pondered my academy return timeline…

“…Huh?”

“Take the house. Student Council Presidents have free travel privileges anyway.”

Eve suddenly appeared, tossing me a card key to a Golden District apartment—a four-minute commute to the academy.

“Thank you.”

‘Getting prime real estate just like that?’

Though if I resigned as president, these privileges would vanish. Pointless for someone planning to quit after dethroning the protagonist.

“I’d prescribe absolute rest, but you wouldn’t listen. Just stay until elections. Then I’ll remove the chains.”

As I numbly held the key, Eve prepared to leave with Yu Han-ra.

“Let’s go, Han-ra.”

“I excel at dishwashing and cleaning! If you ever need a housekeeper, choose m—GYAAAAAH?!”

“Just come along—?”

Yu Han-ra’s final image—being dragged away restrained—was unmistakably that of a graduate student.

‘…Sorry. I prefer living alone.’

Bye-bye.

…

[“Are you okay?! Do you know how worried I was…!!”]

“Don’t worry, A-yul. I’m recovering at the Chairman-nim’s Safe House. I’ll return before elections.”

[“Se-ah, don’t push yourself. Only come back when fully healed.”]

Finally contacting Kang A-yul and Lee Seo-yun—who’d learned of my critical condition after leaving first—their relief was palpable.

“Calls done. Time for gemcrafting?”

After Azathos’s spear impaled me, I’d gained a strange ability—likely a new skill from the injury.

-Clatter…!

“More gems lately. Initially just dropped marble or quartz.”

My new hobby began when gemstones started falling from my bisected left hand. Surprisingly skilled, my crafted jewels could grace exhibitions. The calming effect kept me at it during downtime.

Today’s drop: amethyst matching my hair color.

“Amethyst is tricky but fun.”

As I headed to the second-floor workshop, a monitor flickered oddly—the front gate camera showed darkness.

“That camera’s pointed at…”

Switching feeds revealed the cause: someone collapsed before the Safe House gate, blocking the lens.

‘Wait.’

Short hair. A painfully familiar silhouette.

‘…Eun-ha?!’

In frigid weather, she lay unconscious wearing only a thin windbreaker.

-Thud!

My feet moved before conscious thought, rushing through hallways toward the gate.

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