Episode 33: This Isn’t a Gun, It’s a Staff [2]

 

“Are you seriously saying that in this situation~?”

-Squeeeeeeze…!!

“Gwaaaaaaah…!”

Eve’s fingers were pulling my cheek with all her might.

Baek Si-ah was right in front of us, but any semblance of dignity as student council president had completely vanished… Seriously…

‘Please save me…! Baek Si-ah…!’

You want to try this on someone, don’t you?

You want to prove that your creation works against strong people, don’t you?

You want to fight, don’t you? Your instincts are screaming for it.

As I looked at Baek Si-ah with all my prayers in my eyes, she disengaged her armor and held my hand while saying:

“I think you should rest for today.”

Ah.

“Excellent choice, Si-ah Yang.”

“Thank you. Even I’m not shameless enough to fight a president who’s completely drained of mana… And you do look quite exhausted, President.”

“No, if I drink a potion—”

-Squeeeeze~

‘I can’t even speak.’

“Now, how many of those potions has our student council president drunk~?”

“…Seven highest-grade ones?”

The moment she heard the answer, Eve’s grip intensified tremendously.

“And you still want to drink more mana potions?! Drinking too many reduces your natural mana regeneration! You definitely learned this in first-year classes~!!”

“Gyaaaaah…!”

With my cheek still in Eve’s grasp, I was dragged back to the dormitory.

‘Please save me…!’

I flailed desperately and looked at Baek Si-ah with pleading eyes, but…

“Ah, Chairman. Here’s the leftover mithril from reforging.”

“Oh, leftover mithril? Thanks~”

Baek Si-ah was already handing the remaining mithril to Eve and heading back to the dormitory.

‘After all I’ve done for her!’

I revitalized the blacksmith shop for her, and the mithril… Well, it belonged to the academy, but I compressed and reforged it. Considering all that, I provided over 40 billion won worth of free labor, and she just abandoned me like this?

After that, I was forcibly teleported to my room by Eve.

“If you’re uncomfortable, tell A-yul in the next room.”

“………The ropes are uncomfortable.”

Bound head to toe, I was confined to my room until she finished remaking my earrings.

“Sorry, but I can’t relax until those earrings are remade. By the way, I noticed your sleep hours have decreased a lot lately. You should get at least 8 hours of proper sleep.”

“……..Did those earrings have biosignal detectors or something?”

“Secret~”

And so, I had to spend my golden weekend lying in bed.

“Se-ah Yang, whose hair is this…? It’s not A-yul Yang’s, and the color doesn’t match the Chairman’s either.”

“Could you put away that hideous sword first before we talk?”

While being interrogated by Lee Seo-yun, who suddenly barged in demanding an explanation for the mysterious strand of hair, I learned three things: Lee Seo-yun wasn’t blind, she opened her eyes fully when seriously using her power, and her irises were yellow.

…

…

…

In the student council room, a student noticed my missing earrings and asked about them.

“President, you’re not wearing the earrings you always had today?”

“Ah, they broke during sparring. I sent them for repairs.”

As I said this, I uncomfortably touched my neck area—the sensation of something like a strap on my fingers and the slight tightness around my throat was utterly unpleasant.

‘……..I have to wear this choker until the earrings are repaired.’

Thankfully, it was a band-type choker that could be hidden by pulling my collar up, but if it had a bell attached, it would literally be a dog collar. Worse, it made jingling noises when I walked—absolutely mortifying.

“…….Sigh.”

Because of this, I was wearing a black turtleneck under my uniform, making things stuffy.

“Oh right, speaking of time…”

As the student council member left upon remembering something, I pulled down my turtleneck to let in some cool air.

“Haa… If not for the ventilation magic, my clothes would’ve been drenched in sweat by now…”

They said the earrings would be delivered today—how much longer do I have to endure this?

-Murmur murmur

‘Come to think of it, it’s noisy outside.’

Did someone get publicly confessed to in the hallway?

-Creeeak

“I’ve uploaded the student council president election notice and application forms to the central screen—!”

“What? I saw the participant list on the notice—you’re really not running?”

‘Ah.’

That explains it.

Student council member 1, who just posted the notices, and Kang A-yul entering while reeking of stir-fried pork.

-Thud!

After throwing her bag into a locker, Kang A-yul plopped onto the student council sofa like collapsing.

“How many candidates do you think we’ll get this year?”

Completely ignoring the crumbs, she casually ate snacks while questioning the student council member.

I’m the one who has to clean that up.

“Not sure. Since the President isn’t running, maybe more students weak against psychokinesis will challenge?”

As if to prove her point, over 40 applications flooded in via email within 10 minutes of posting the forms.

“Haa… It’s already piling up disgustingly. We should change the minimum requirement to top 100 rankers…”

Kang A-yul sighed while watching the incoming applications.

‘Well, I’m free now that I’ve quit my duties.’

Just two more weeks until the election ends, and this tedious student council work will finally be over.

‘Now I can focus on rigging the lottery for the protagonist.’

My heart races at the thought of slipping hidden pieces and special skills to the protagonist.

“I’ll help summarize the applications.”

“Sure. We have… about 78 so far. I’ll take odd numbers, you handle even.”

We began reading through the overflowing inbox.

‘All main characters must have applied.’

Seong Arin joined to exploit the president’s privilege of “substituting class attendance with midterm scores if high enough” for better sleep.

Baek Si-ah entered after being provoked by classmates’ sarcasm. Yu Eun-ha joined to defeat Yun Se-ah.

Ecclesia and Hanae Sakura wanted to prove their worth to visiting stakeholders.

Kang A-yul, as per the original story, aimed to steal the presidency from Yun Se-ah.

And the protagonist, Seo Jian… just wanted to fight strong opponents.

‘Yu Eun-ha might not participate this time.’

Originally, her goal after becoming Yun Seong-ho’s adopted daughter was to defeat Yun Se-ah, who disapproved of her, and prove her worth.

But since I never harassed her, Yu Eun-ha enrolled normally and joined the protagonist’s group.

‘If she participates… maybe reluctantly accepting the protagonist’s suggestion.’

Frankly… this election’s winner is practically predetermined.

[Application Form]

Name: Kang A-yul

Grade: 2

Rank: 2

Last Year’s Election Final Rank: 2nd

Weapon: Sword

“A-yul Yang, did you submit your application while organizing them?”

“…When else would I apply?”

After adding Kang A-yul’s form to the list, the next application bore another familiar name.

[Application Form]

Name: Lee Seo-yun

Grade: 2

Rank: 10 (Temporary)

Last Year’s Election Final Rank: Did not participate (transfer student)

Weapon: Sword

‘Too many variables.’

The emergence of another promising candidate equal to Kang A-yul could stir things up.

‘Will the finals become a four-way battle between Kang A-yul, Lee Seo-yun, the protagonist, and Baek Si-ah?’

Seong Arin is still just a first-year with monstrous mana since she hasn’t experienced “that incident.” Baek Si-ah’s armor is stronger due to my early intervention, but would it work against Kang A-yul or Lee Seo-yun?

Even enhanced armor… Wait, maybe?

‘Those additional parts I saw—clearly designed for artillery, attack, and defense.’

Realistically, Baek Si-ah’s combat power should now be strong enough to crush the protagonist without skill assistance.

‘Problematic. If a main character becomes president, they can’t roam with the protagonist.’

That must never happen.

Being president means heavy responsibilities and endless chores… From my perspective of needing to spoon-feed hidden pieces to the protagonist, this could prevent me from delivering those inside Gates.

Most hidden pieces I give are inside Gates anyway.

‘The safest ending… is Kang A-yul or Lee Seo-yun becoming president…’

Then… the biggest variables in this election are undoubtedly Baek Si-ah and the protagonist, Seo Jian.

‘Baek Si-ah’s main goal was proving herself to classmates… She might forfeit after defeating that classmate.’

As a last resort…

“Sigh……..”

[Student Council President Election Application Form]

Name: Yun Se-ah

Grade: 2

Rank: 1

Last Year’s Election Final Rank: 1st

Weapon: Staff

I’ll have to step in myself.

Just eliminate the right candidates (Seo Jian, Baek Si-ah, and other first-year leads) and withdraw due to health issues.