Episode 22. The Popular Kid Goes to the Student Council (2)

“…”

Looking at the Student Council membership application form Moon Surin was holding out, various thoughts crossed my mind.

Starting from ‘Why is this Unnie here?’ to thoughts like, ‘How much more attention will this draw?’

“… President-nim. Why did you come all the way here?”

There were too many students around, so I used the title ‘President-nim’. Since Moon Surin called me Junior-nim, she’ll probably understand that much.

“We decided to think about it yesterday, didn’t we? You’ve thought enough, right?”

Clearly, Kim Young-han said this morning that the Student Council recommendation tickets were one per person. She came looking for me to use it on me.

Even the Student Council President came personally.

‘There’s no way I can refuse this.’

“Please don’t come looking for me personally next time. What kind of things are you trying to hear again?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t normally do this, but I came to see your face too. Hehet.”

Hoo… Moon Surin wouldn’t normally have this kind of personality.

Clearly, in the game, Moon Surin has a cautious and prudent personality.

Probably, the cause of that must be stalkers and severe paparazzi.

But she ended up meeting me before the stalkers even appeared and when the paparazzi weren’t severe.

In the original game, Lee Hoyeon and Moon Surin meet after the events have already progressed.

Therefore, no matter how much Lee Hoyeon might have liked him, Moon Surin had no choice but to approach slowly. ‘What kind of photos will be taken again?’ ‘What kind of rumors will spread again?’ These worries are the reason that comes to mind first.

But now, she ended up meeting me too early.

Therefore, she is approaching like this, expressing her feelings for me without hiding them.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Moon Surin]

• [ Affection : 38 ]

• [ Lust : 17 ]

• [ Appetite : 30 ]

• [ Fatigue : 40 ]

When we first met, her affection level was 20, and the fact that it doubled without much interaction is the proof.

This kind of sudden increase is rather a bit burdensome.

I don’t know what kind of backlash there might be.

“Haa… Okay. Of course, I have to join.”

“Good. Then let’s meet at the Student Council after class.”

“Yes. See you later.”

Moon Surin left the lecture hall, smiling broadly.

After Moon Surin left, the cadets were quietly staring at me.

I can see the female students whispering amongst themselves so I couldn’t hear.

‘Ah, I’m going to get so much attention, it’s going to kill me.’

My head starts to hurt thinking about what posts will be uploaded on EveryDay again.

In the end, I put on an expression as if nothing had happened and turned my eyes back to the thesis.

*

After morning and afternoon classes ended, there’s a place I need to visit before going to the Student Council.

The Student Council won’t run away, but Lucy will run off to the dormitory.

Since I absolutely have to join Lucy’s social club, I approached Lucy.

“Lucy. You’re making a club this time, right?”

“Huh? Who did you hear that from? I’ve only told Lumi so far… Did you perhaps hear it from Lumi?”

“Ah, no. I overheard you and Lumi talking a little while ago.”

“Uheung. So? Are you interested too?”

“Yeah. It’s good to have many friends, isn’t it?”

Bullshit.

Excluding Lumi and Lucy, I won’t exchange a single word with those guys there.

“But aren’t you joining the Student Council? Will you be able to do our club activities while doing Student Council work?”

“Think about it the other way around. If there’s someone belonging to the Student Council in the club, wouldn’t club activities become easier?”

“Ooooo!”

Lucy’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Accepted! Accepted! Since it’s the minimum of 3 people with me, you, and Lumi, we just need to decide on the supervising professor. I’ll look into finding the supervising professor.”

“Okay. See you next time.”

Lucy, perhaps feeling good, slung her bag over her shoulder and scurried out.

“I guess I should go to the Student Council.”

I’ve lived the school life for over 15 years, but I’ve never even imagined joining the Student Council.

‘I’m really having all sorts of experiences in [S*xual Education].’

Victoria Academy has a separate building that provides club rooms for club activities.

The club building is 17 floors total, and the Student Council resided on the top floor, the 17th.

On the walls of the club building, banners promoting various clubs were hung.

“Magic Research Club, Tea Ceremony Club, what’s this Insect Collecting Club? There’s all sorts of stuff.”

There were also many clubs that seemed completely unrelated to Victoria Academy.

I took the elevator up to the 17th floor.

Ding dong-

As the doors opened, the student council room, restroom, lounge area, etc., were visible.

Without much thought, I opened the door to the student council room and went inside.

‘I’ll just go in, grab anyone, and say I’m here to see the Student Council President-nim~ It should work.’

The student council room, at first glance, was set up like a company office.

Hologram computers were installed on each personal desk, and indeed, three people were staring intently at their screens, tapping away at their keyboards.

Seeing how red and bloodshot their eyes were, it didn’t seem like they’d been doing that for just a day or two.

“… Did I come into the wrong room.”

Turning back and checking again, I realized it wasn’t just the student council room, but the main student council room.

Wait, isn’t that the same thing?

“What brings you here?”

As I was standing blankly at the entrance for a moment, a female student who looked like a student council executive came up and spoke to me.

“I’ve come to meet the Student Council President-nim. I received a Student Council recommendation.”

“Ah~ Um, you’re Hoyeon-ssi, right? As expected, you have a good impression.”

“Yes? Ah, thank you.”

“President-nim~ Hoyeon-ssi is here.”

“Just a moment!”

From the door inside the student council room labeled [Student Council President’s Room], a loud udangtangtang sound was heard.

About 2 minutes later, Moon Surin, dressed in a neat cadet uniform, came out of the Student Council President’s room.

“Sorry. Did you wait? Will you come this way?”

I followed behind Moon Surin into the Student Council President’s room.

The Student Council President’s room was impeccably neat and organized.

Moon Surin personally made coffee and brought it to me.

“Have this while you wait.”

“Thank you.

Jjok.

I was grateful that, whatever kind of coffee it was, she didn’t give me instant coffee mix like Professor Im Sol.

“One more person has to come, so please wait just a little.”

One more person is coming? That’s strange.

I can somehow understand her putting me in the Student Council because she likes me, but why would she put one more person in?

Wait a minute, maybe she’s not choosing me just because she likes me?

I didn’t even have the intention of getting the rice cake, but did I get ahead of myself thinking about recommendation tickets and fairness all on my own?

As that thought occurred, my face suddenly turned red.

“Hoyeon-ah, what’s wrong? Are you sick?”

“No… it’s just that an embarrassing thought suddenly occurred to me.”

“Oh my, is it because you came into my personal space?”

Seeing Surin Noona laughing Huhu- gave me peace of mind.

That smile of Surin Noona’s is a smile that couldn’t come out without affection.

It’s certain she has affection for me.

Should I wait for the person who is supposedly coming for now?

“Speaking of which, I heard you’ve been close with Professor Im Sol lately?”

“Huh? How did you know?”

“It was quite famous? You must be the first cadet to enter Professor Im Sol’s personal lab.”

“Ah….”

It seems the incident where I had a scuffle with the Magic Research Club at the Magic Institute has already spread.

Rumors spread unnecessarily fast.

“Still, be careful. Professor Im Sol is pretty and capable, isn’t she? She has many fans, so someone might start thinking suspiciously of you, Hoyeon.”

“Then isn’t talking with you right now also dangerous?”

“Huh? Oh my, are you already teasing me? Huhu.”

Good.

It seems like I earned points from that conversation just now, for sure.

I think if I keep earning points like this little by little, I’ll win her over soon, but things in the world never unfold easily.

I must maintain my vigilance.

“President-nim. A guest has arrived.”

At that moment, the voice of the executive who had guided me earlier cut off our conversation.

Why didn’t they come just a little later?

“Yeah, let them in.”

Beolkyeok.

The door opened, and a woman with shimmering blonde hair and pure white skin entered.

I couldn’t help but be surprised seeing her.

★ Heroine Status Window

[Alice]

• [ Affection : 16 ]

• [ Lust : 20 ]

• [ Appetite : 30 ]

• [ Fatigue : 50 ]

‘What is this? Why is she here?’

Alice has no connection to the Student Council.

No matter which route you take, she never even comes near the Student Council.

Alice greeted Moon Surin as if ignoring the thoughts in my head.

“Hello. President-nim. I am Alice from first-year Class A.”

Then she plopped down in the seat next to me.

Of course, the only seat available was next to me.

“Welcome. Alice-yang. Shall I get you a cup of coffee?”

“No, thank you. President-nim. By the way, is Cadet Lee Hoyeon also joining the Public Relations Department?”

“Yes. That’s right. It seems like it will be fine if the two of you take charge of the Public Relations Department.”

“… Yes. I understand.”

Wait a minute.

Teacher. The pace is too fast.

Public Relations Department? What is that?

I wanted to join the Disciplinary Committee though…?

“Um, look… President-nim? What is this Public Relations Department?”

“Are you sitting here without even hearing about that?”

Alice looked at me with eyes that seemed genuinely confused, rather than accusatory. No, is this even my fault?

“Oh my, I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you beforehand.”

Then what was the point of me worrying alone about recommendation tickets and fairness…

Right. That can happen.

It’s not like this is the first time I’m experiencing such absurdity, so I’ll endure.

“The Public Relations Department is a newly established department for promoting Victoria Academy. On a small scale, it starts with promoting the Student Council, and on a large scale, you’re planned to go out externally as promotional ambassadors representing Victoria Academy.”

“Am I really doing such a tremendous role? I’ve never done anything like that.”

“Hmm… It’s okay. It’s something you, Hoyeon, can’t possibly fail at.”

“…”

What does “something you can’t possibly fail at” mean?

It’s not something to brag about, but I’ve never done influencer activities in my life.

I always just played games in my room, so I really don’t have the confidence.

“Haa. Are you really that stupid?”

“Huhu, you might not get it. Calm down, Alice-yang.”

Perhaps my dumbfounded expression was too obvious, as Alice started nagging me.

“Among the new male students, it’s you. Among the new female students, it’s me. We chose you for the promotion of Victoria Academy. Don’t you still understand why?”

Among the girls, Alice.

Among the boys, Lee Hoyeon.

The task is promotion.

From being Victoria’s promotional ambassador on a small scale, to being an external promotional ambassador on a large scale…

Ah. Now I get it.

They really chose us based 100% on our looks.

That’s why they said we couldn’t fail.

Indeed, if you’re handsome and pretty, you can look cool just standing there and it’ll look like a photoshoot.

What’s important for promoting Victoria Academy isn’t speaking well or being capable.

The act of handsome men and beautiful women promoting while using their abilities was the important task itself.

Among the new students, Lumi and Lucy are pretty as they are heroines, but inevitably, Alice seems to be the one chosen because she’s a more balanced beauty.

“Hmm, I understand.”

No, I’d have to have been handsome in my life to empathize with you people!

I didn’t grow up hearing ‘pretty, pretty’ since childhood like you guys did!

“It’s a bit awkward for me to say, but just standing still and taking photos, the two of you will have a better effect than most models. So don’t worry.”

“Yes. President-nim.”

“Yes.”

I felt really embarrassed even as I answered, but is Alice next to me not embarrassed because this is her daily life?

“Well, anyway, today I just called you here so that the people who will be working together can at least greet each other. Greet the Student Council members once each.”

After that, we interacted with the Student Council members.

“Wow, the new recruits for the Public Relations Department are really face gangsters.”

“Nice to meet you, nice to meet you~.”

“It’s a shame you came when the Vice President is away due to Guild work.”

Honestly, there are almost no important figures in the Student Council.

The women are also average-looking, and there’s no need to even look at the men.

But there’s only one person.

The Vice President, Shin Dongmin, needs attention.

Vice President Shin Dongmin is the villain of Moon Surin’s route.

He is in love with the Student Council President.

He doesn’t seem to show any hostility yet, so it seems okay… but I should be cautious.

It’s fine not to worry about it until the stalker incident in Moon Surin’s route occurs.

Fortunately, there’s still plenty of time until the stalker incident occurs.

And for some reason, the person who called himself the Head of the All Club Association took one look at me, yelped ‘Hiiik!’, said he had an urgent matter, and disappeared.

For a moment, I recalled the incident with the Fishing Club, but since I’ve never even met the Head of the Club before, it must be nothing, right?

Afterwards, I was shown to a room that would be used by the Public Relations Department.

“Well, we had to prepare a club room for the Public Relations Department as per procedure…”

Inside, there were two desks.

Moreover, there were flashy lights that didn’t fit the Student Council, a hologram computer, a bathroom, and even a bed.

No lie, it was better than the studio apartment I lived in before I was reincarnated.

“You probably won’t have to do office work like paperwork. That’s for the other Student Council staff to handle, and you two just need to focus on external activities.”

“Yes, I understand.”

They really chose us just as face models.

But isn’t this dangerous?

If they only choose people based on their looks without making them do any actual work, won’t that cause problems?

I don’t know.

They’ll probably figure it out themselves.

“You don’t need to come to the Public Relations Department every day or anything. We’ll just do it this way: I’ll let you know when there’s PR work. I have work left, so I’m going to head out. Feel free to stay here comfortably before you go back. Why don’t you two chat a bit? Since you’ll be working together from now on.”

Moon Surin winked at me from an angle Alice couldn’t see and then left the room.

After Moon Surin left the room, an awkward silence lingered between Alice and me.

Alice sat at her seat, fiddling with something, while I just stood there.

‘What do I do now?’

Alice didn’t seem inclined to speak first.

Should I be the one to break the ice?

---

『Sub-quest transmitted.』

[The Start of Being Popular Begins with Conversation]

Alice is a very demanding character.

Have a conversation that matches her tastes for over 30 minutes!

• Reward: Slight increase in Alice’s Affection.

1 Random Stat Point

---

While I was contemplating, a quest appeared.

This means I have no choice but to talk to her.

I’m a little nervous, but with my ‘insider’ skills, I can definitely hold a conversation.

It’s okay.

No matter how much she flies or crawls, Alice is a heroine.

The moment she got the title of ‘heroine,’ it meant she was destined to be underneath the protagonist.