Chapter 80: Zeryon Academy Boycott

During the Founding Festival, while all the children were having a great time, the members of the student council were taking a much-needed break, their faces tired.

“Ha, we can finally rest a little now.”
“Seriously, this time, everything overlapped so much I thought I was going to die.”

The student council members expressed their exhaustion from the event schedule.
The Nikita incident and the vice president’s absence.
Preparing for the Founding Festival.
And on top of that, the upcoming international academy solo exhibition after the festival.
The student council was being overwhelmed by an unending wave of tasks.

Perhaps because of this, even when rumors of unsettling movements among the students circulated, the student council couldn’t respond significantly.
They were too busy, and besides, they thought there was no way the students would cause a major incident.

“By the way, where’s the president?”
“He went to the student council room.”
“Is he just going to sleep there again?”
“No way.”

The student council members didn’t seem to have much trust in the president.
Even under normal circumstances, more people sought the opinions of Vice President Nikita than President Sylvester.
Thus, President Sylvester held a rather unreliable position.

“The president worked hard for today too, you know.”
“Yeah, that’s true.”

Although Sylvester was often called an incompetent president, since Nikita’s disappearance, he had been working diligently in his own way.
The student council members were trying not to blame him too much at this point.

“Guys, holy crap, look at this!”
A student burst into the classroom where the student council members were resting.
When the members, puzzled, turned their attention to the paper the student was holding, they all stood up in shock.

[The current student council is wrong.]
The text accused the student council of corruption and misconduct.
It questioned whether the current student council was truly just.
Below, it listed numerous acts of corruption committed by previous student councils—dating back to a time before Nikita’s term as vice president.

The student council had always been a part of Zeryon Academy’s history.
Over that long period, there had been some who engaged in improper acts within the council.
During Nikita’s tenure as vice president, such issues had been eradicated, and the current student council was not involved.
However, it was uncertain if the current students would see it that way.

To make matters worse, the implicated individuals weren’t limited to alumni; current professors, associate professors, and teaching assistants were also named.

When groups of people gather, problematic individuals are bound to emerge.
Even if the student council was innocent, many students harbored resentment toward professors, associate professors, and teaching assistants.
As long as even one of their names appeared, student anger would inevitably spill over onto the student council by association.

“This is insane. This is just incitement! We didn’t do any of this!”
“…It’s not about us. This targets not just the student council but the very foundation of Zeryon Academy’s corruption.”

A sharp-witted member of the student council realized the true meaning behind the paper.

“Moreover, this information could only come from someone deeply familiar with the student council or the academy.”
The member swallowed nervously.

“It just happened to blow up during our term. Someone is deliberately trying to uproot the corruption at the core of both the student council and Zeryon Academy.”

At that moment, everyone felt the presence of a massive force at work—one far beyond what mere students could handle.

“W-What do we do?”
“What do you mean, what do we do? This is…”
“First, we have to collect all these papers! If we don’t, we might get dragged down with it!”
“But wouldn’t that make it look like we’re admitting guilt?”

The student council members began to murmur anxiously.

Originally, there should have been someone here to take command of the situation, but there was no such capable individual present.
Perhaps because of this, the student council was becoming increasingly chaotic.

BOOM!
At that moment, something echoed in their ears—a distant explosion.
The sudden sound left the student council members frozen in place.

Screech!
“What are you all doing here?!”
The door burst open, and a black-haired boy appeared.
It was none other than Hanon Airei.

“The student council room has been taken over by those shouting for a student council boycott!”
Hearing his shout, the student council members widened their eyes in shock.
If nothing else, allowing the student council room to be occupied was something they couldn’t overlook.

“Everyone, follow me! First, we take back the student council room!”
“Those bastards, they’ve really gone too far!”
“They think the student council is a joke. Just watch!”

All the student council members charged out of the room at once.

After they had left, Hanon let out a deep sigh, adjusting the slightly bothersome wig on his head.

“I helped out, but I didn’t think it would escalate to this.”

Hanon Airei—his true identity was Hania Rapididia in disguise.

After devising the boycott plan with Hanon, Hania had been supporting him and the boycott group by feeding them information.
Initially, Hania had intended to personally lead the boycott group.
But after witnessing how Hanon managed the group, she decided to step back.
This was something Hanon should handle.

‘I still can’t figure out what kind of person he is.’

Hanon had a deeper understanding of Zeryon Academy than even the information Hania had painstakingly gathered.

At first, Hania had planned to root out corruption in alignment with Iris’s wishes.
But with Hanon’s involvement, not only the corruption but also the academy’s darkest secrets were on the verge of being completely exposed.

Hanon even went so far as to suggest replacements for the positions vacated by uprooting the corruption.
The replacements were to be arranged through the Third Princess’s faction.
The Third Princess’s faction enthusiastically cooperated, thrilled at the chance to plant their people within Zeryon Academy.

The situation had escalated to the point where Iris was receiving praise from Duke Robliaju.
Iris, in turn, expressed her gratitude to Hania for her efforts, thanking her for doing so much for her.

Receiving Iris’s gratitude should have been a joyful moment.
But Hania felt uneasy—because the person who truly deserved the thanks was not her, but Hanon.

‘…If only he hadn’t insisted on keeping it a secret.’

Hania and Hanon had made one agreement regarding this matter:
Hania was not to reveal to Iris that Hanon had been involved.

Because of this, even as she received Iris’s praise, Hania couldn’t shake her discomfort.
Merely taking credit wasn’t her style.

“Hania.”

At that moment, she heard someone call her name abruptly.
Startled, Hania almost turned her head but stopped herself.
Her current appearance was not Hania but Hanon.
Yet the voice had unmistakably called for her.

In the quiet hallway, there was no one else around.
Following the voice, Hania turned her gaze.

Standing there was a girl with honey-blonde hair.
Her crimson eyes glimmered as she smiled, but for some reason, that smile felt chilling.

“Hanon, where is that person?”
It was Isabel Luna.

At her question, Hania instinctively shuddered, feeling a wave of unease.
Had Isabel always given off this kind of aura?

When Isabel used to follow Hanon around, she was as bright as a golden retriever, exuding a sunny disposition.
But now, there was no trace of emotion in her demeanor.
Even Hania could feel an oppressive chill so intense it sent shivers down her spine.

“…I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m right here.”
Hania feigned ignorance, though she doubted Isabel would believe her.

Just as expected, Isabel didn’t show any particular reaction.
“Oh, that’s fine. I think I can guess where he is.”

Hania quietly swallowed hard as Isabel turned to leave.
As Hania watched her retreating figure, Isabel seemed to remember something and spoke again.

“Oh, by the way, Hania. When that person feigns ignorance, her eyebrows rise a little more.”

Hania flinched at those words, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Isabel smiled casually, as if nothing had happened.
“You should remember those little details. After all, you’re supposed to be playing the role of his girlfriend. Shouldn’t you perform it properly?”

With that, Isabel turned away and left.

Hania, staring blankly after her, brushed the sweat from her hair.
Though Hania typically refrained from swearing, this moment felt like an exception.

“…Hanon, you’re so damn screwed.”
It was the only thought that came to mind.

Biting her lip, Hania turned and began to sprint.
“Ah, you really are a handful.”

* * *

In the main building’s hallway, left vacant by the professors during the Founding Festival, commotion echoed loudly.
The source of the noise was the boycott group occupying the student council room.

As the student council members returned to the main building, they began to clash with the occupiers.

Meanwhile, the boycott members were not only searching through the student council room but also digging up incriminating evidence left behind in the professors’ offices.

“…Why are you doing this?”

A voice interrupted my thoughts.

I was currently in the student council room, disguised as Vikarmern.
As an extra precaution, I had wrapped my real form in an additional layer of concealment using the Veil Bandages.

Though I appeared as Vikarmern, it was a version created entirely from the Veil Bandages.
Thanks to this, the lightning scars on my body remained hidden.

Sitting on the floor next to me, bound tightly, was the student council president, Sylvester Drapen.

If he’s asking why I’m doing this, the answer is simple: to advance the scenario.
But explaining that wouldn’t make him understand.

“I’m just setting things right.”

The Zeryon Academy student council is fundamentally flawed.
But that’s not the only issue.
Given how long Zeryon Academy has existed, it’s inevitable that seeds of corruption have sprouted within.
It’s a sad truth, but stagnant waters inevitably rot.

‘Originally, the academy was established by the sage Zeryon to nurture heroes.’
But as time passed, Zeryon Academy began to develop internal issues.

The corruption scandals surrounding the student council were merely a reflection of these deeper problems.
And these scandals were catalysts, triggering a cascade of other issues.

‘It’s the perfect time for the roots of malice to take hold.’
At my calm response, Sylvester let out a dry chuckle.

“Vikarmern.”
Sylvester recognized me.

“The things you’re doing won’t truly set things right. In the end, it’ll all just repeat itself.”

He wasn’t wrong.
Even if we replace the corrupt professors, there’s no guarantee the newcomers will be any cleaner.
But I’m confident about one thing.

The close aides of the Duke of Robliaju, who will soon take up positions as professors or associate professors at the academy, will focus on running Zeryon Academy properly for the foreseeable future.
For them, proving that the Third Princess’s faction is more capable of running the academy than the First Prince’s faction is a critical obligation.
As such, the academy will likely operate more cleanly than ever—at least for a while.

‘What happens after that, I can’t say.’

This situation gives me an even better chance to uproot malice more thoroughly.
It’s an outcome that benefits me greatly.

“Sylvester, stop talking nonsense.”

The voice cutting through Sylvester’s words belonged to Rozamin, the leader of the boycott.
He glared at Sylvester with eyes blazing with anger.

“Your words are just excuses.
Don’t you dare tear down someone trying to make a change when all you’ve done is sit by and do nothing out of incompetence.”

I was genuinely surprised.
At first, Rozamin had seemed somewhat clumsy and unserious.
But through his dedication to the boycott, he had grown significantly.

Rozamin genuinely wanted to change Zeryon Academy.
Moreover, he aspired to become someone who could set things right.

‘So this is how people grow.’

Originally, Rozamin was no more than a minor villain in Act 4.
But now, in this reality, I’m seeing sides of him that never existed in the original narrative.

“…I see.”

Hearing Rozamin’s words, Sylvester accepted them more easily than I expected.
“But sometimes, the incompetent should know when to stay silent.”
He added with a bitter smile.

BOOM!

At that moment, another explosion echoed from the direction of the main building.
This one was far larger in scale than the previous ones.

Sylvester frowned and looked up, clearly displeased.
“If you were going to target something, you should’ve stuck to the student council.”

Sylvester could already predict who was behind this.
“There’s no way the professors implicated in this corruption would sit idly by.”

The corrupt professors of Zeryon Academy—
One of them had finally decided to make a move.