Chapter 224

Chapter 224

Bamboo Forest Manager.

Episode 224: The Arranged Meeting

My head was spinning from the complexity.

The outside noise that I couldn’t hear until just now lingered in my ears like tinnitus.

It felt like a mental effort to refuse to accept the current situation.

The sofa, which I thought would be soft, pushed against me as soon as I sat down.

The tea the president served was strangely luxurious.

Recognizing it as the president’s effort, I took a sip, and my mind felt clear again.

“Yes, I am the administrator.”

When I told the president that, he let out a short sigh. He must be thinking, “Why me?”

“But I have nothing to do with my father or family for that. I’m here to sort out the incident in the Bamboo Forest as an administrator.”

“Ahem.”

“You were already caught from the start. Even if you keep silent here, I would have found out eventually.”

I wanted to believe it was someone else related to the president who did it.

That would be much simpler to handle.

But judging by his expression, it seemed that Anonymous407 was indeed the president.

“Sigh.”

The president took a sip of tea and let out a heavy sigh. His eyes were skeptical, as if searching for the root of where things went wrong for him.

“I am indeed Anonymous407.”

Hearing it directly from the president made the future seem more uncertain.

But it was an undeniable fact that had come to me, and the president was the only one asking me for help.

“First of all, I want to know why you suddenly did such a thing.”

“……”

“I need to know. You understand what happened because of you, don’t you?”

It doesn’t just end with this recent incident.

Last time, Anonymous407 was involved in the conflict between the freshmen and the upperclassmen.

“Well, I didn’t start the fire back then, did I? There was a group chat where the Theater and Film department students were talking behind the upperclassmen’s backs…”

He knows it very well.

It’s really so annoying.

“That’s right, but it was the president who poured oil on it in the Bamboo Forest, wasn’t it? Thanks to that, the division in the Bamboo Forest didn’t stop for a while!”

“Ahem.”

“You did it on purpose, didn’t you? I can’t imagine someone like you wouldn’t know what you did.”

Perhaps feeling a bit guilty from my words, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat off his forehead.

“I didn’t expect it to spread that far.”

“So, you’re saying it was an intentional act?”

“Ahem, yes.”

Why do I have a headache?

My head was throbbing, and I felt a surge of irritation regarding this man.

But I held my anger back and asked again.

“Why did you do it?”

“……”

“You must have a reason! All the posts written by Anonymous407 were full of insults. Really, every single word was malicious!”

Even if you’re hiding behind anonymity, there are things you shouldn’t say to people.

But Anonymous407 went beyond that.

Literally the worst.

He wrote just to hurt others. Nothing more, nothing less.

And it was the president of all.

I was so taken aback that I asked, and the president took a deep breath and clenched his fist.

Then, he expressed his resentment, not fitting his age.

“Weren’t you all the same?”

“…What?”

“Weren’t you all the same? Saying the uni is a mess. Blaming the president, blaming the professors, saying the uni is a dump. Didn’t you all curse?”

An anonymous community.

Especially Gahyeon University’s anonymous community.

Then, naturally, there are bound to be posts criticizing the university.

There were people targeting professors, some mocking, and of course, some who criticized the president.

“Things you can’t say upfront. Isn’t that what your beloved community is for?”

“……”

“Since last year.”

The president chuckles incredulously while nodding.

“I’ve been watching since last year. Seeing what you all are chattering about in the Bamboo Forest.”

Strictly speaking, Gahyeon University’s Bamboo Forest wasn’t officially affiliated with the university.

It was something passed down by seniors, and it eventually fell into my hands.

“It was enough to make one shudder. Professors, teaching assistants, the president. Even the cleaning ladies working at the university.”

“Whew.”

“They were criticized and mocked relentlessly. As if that were the purpose of life.”

There was one thing that Anonymous407 always included in their remarks.

– You’re using the Bamboo Forest, so that’s why your life is like that.

They would specifically criticize Bamboo Forest users. Not the entire Gahyeon University student body, just the Bamboo Forest users.

“I’m aware it’s that kind of era now. Where people have no qualms about criticizing others online. Freedom of expression? Well, that’s the era we are in.”

So the president also seized the opportunity to enter the Bamboo Forest. For someone at the level of the president, getting in would be simple.

“I’ve read your criticisms so much that I…can even mimic your tone. Did you know that? How much I deliberate and revise before writing?”

He says he wasn’t even this nervous when writing papers, and the president gives a hollow laugh.

After a while, as if drained, his shoulders slump and he gives a bitter smile.

“However, it must have been wrong.”

I didn’t feel the need to say anything.

He already knew.

“Yes, it was wrong. It feels like I’ve stepped too far. It’s amusing to realize I’ve crossed the line only now.”

A victim turned perpetrator.

It seemed undeniable that the president was a victim.

Even though it’s the fate of those in high positions, there was definitely a part that was used as a scapegoat in the Bamboo Forest.

But it couldn’t be denied that he was also a perpetrator.

“Anonymous7 is a student receiving a full scholarship.”

With a bitter smile, I looked down at the teacup. I tapped the now cold teacup with my finger and continued speaking.

“Their mother wasn’t around. After graduating high school, they worked hard in a factory, and when their father passed away, they were able to attend university thanks to the insurance money.”

“……”

“And even now, they don’t take a single break from part-time jobs.”

“Ha, ah… Indeed, I’ve done something terrible.”

“They are demanding an apology. They say their deceased parents didn’t do anything wrong to deserve such insults hurled at them.”

At my words, the president pressed his eyes with his thumb and forefinger and then spoke.

“Call them in.”

“Are you sure?”

“It’s something I must face. If you intend to spread this incident, do as you please. I’ll accept it.”

The president closed his eyes gently.

Watching him, I slowly stood up and headed toward the door.

Then, I made a call.

“Senior, could you come to the president’s office for a moment?”

A few minutes later.

Senior Ju-hee, who usually wore a work jacket, came in wearing a white blouse.

It seemed she had dressed up a bit because it was the president’s office.

“Uh, hello. I’m Min Ju-hee, a third-year English major.”

Senior looked back and forth between me and the president, wearing a bewildered expression.

It’s hard to understand what kind of combination this is.

It can’t be helped.

Senior Ju-hee doesn’t know that I’m the administrator, nor does she know that the president is Anonymous407.

The president slowly gets up and approaches senior Ju-hee.

Then he bows deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

A sincere apology felt from the heart, accompanied by polite speech. It didn’t seem like an apology to a student much younger than him.

“Pardon? What all of a sudden…?”

“For carelessly belittling you and your parents without any wrongdoing from you. I’m sincerely sorry.”

“…!”

Senior Ju-hee’s eyes tremble slightly.

It took a moment, but it seems she finally started to understand the situation.

“It doesn’t matter if you spread it. It’s true that I did something I shouldn’t have. I’m sincerely sorry.”

Senior Ju-hee, who was staring blankly at the president, glances at me.

I didn’t react much either.

It meant leaving everything to senior Ju-hee’s decision.

Her deliberation wasn’t long.

“I only intended to receive an apology from the start. But considering your position, Mr. President, you should have been more careful with your words. No matter…even if it’s anonymous.”

Then she rolls up her sleeves slightly.

Oh.

“One flick on the forehead. Let’s end it with that. Let’s pretend this never happened.”

When senior Ju-hee suggests with a smile, the president thanks her and offers his forehead.

“Wait, hold on!”

As I urgently approach the president.

Whack!

With a sound that makes you think the skull might have shattered, the president’s body falls backward.

If I hadn’t caught him urgently, he would have fallen completely.

“Heuk! Heu-keuk!”

I think I fainted for a moment there.

The president, looking distressed, asked me what had just hit him.

“It’s all good now.”

Senior Ju-hee left the president’s office with a bright smile.

Well, she almost did.

“Woojin, let’s talk later. I have to head straight to my café job now.”

“Oh, yes, ma’am.”

She left, exuding her usual commanding presence.

Anyway.

“My, my head’s not pierced, right?”

“Don’t worry, it’s not.”

I helped the disoriented president to his feet.

“Make sure to post an apology in the Bamboo Forest. I’ll also have a word with senior Ju-hee.”

“Alright.”

“And congratulations on becoming the third admin.”

“…Hmm?”

I continued with a smile, addressing the puzzled president.

“Please manage excessive profanity accordingly. Of course, you can’t just block people indiscriminately. I’ll give you the authority to make such judgments.”

“To, to me?”

“That’s the original rule of the Bamboo Forest. If you find out the identity of the Administrator, you become one yourself.”

“Heh… Hehehe.”

Laughing in disbelief, the president suddenly remembered and asked again.

“Third admin?”

“The second one was just appointed.”

– Anonymous407 (Admin3): Dear Bamboo Forest students. Due to my previous behavior…

– Anonymous7 (Admin2): I resolved things well with Anonymous407 through conversation. Thank you to the Administrator who helped.

Naturally, the Bamboo Forest was in chaos for a while.

However, rather than cursing, it ended with a trivial conclusion that the two resolved their issues through conversation.

↳ Anonymous294: Damn! They have seen the abyss!

↳ Anonymous11: At this point, the Admin is scarier, you crazy bastard.

↳ Anonymous404: They both seemed so ridiculous fighting, so I claimed both for myself!

↳ Anonymous198: The Admin played the ultimate role and opened both lines, conquering the female.

↳ Anonymous69: Sex?

↳ Anonymous59 (Admin1): Welcome, newbies.

↳ Anonymous388: Thumbs up for Admin1, who’s happy about getting a successor.

And so the story came to an end.

The Bamboo Forest will probably stay quiet until the final exams.

Kim Woojin skimmed through the Bamboo Forest once more, smiled, and stepped out of the dormitory.

It seemed that some people found it amusing that Anonymous407 had become a kind of bulletin board slave.

“Nice, very nice.”

Humming, Kim Woojin headed to the bike storage to get to the next lecture.

A few minutes later.

A post appeared in the Bamboo Forest.

– Administrator: (photo)

A photo of a bike with just one wheel left, just like last time.

With a comment added.

– Administrator: I’ll really kill the bastard who stole my bike.