I started walking down the hallway, leaving the three behind, who saluted me again as if bidding farewell to an emperor.
And as I walked, I couldn't help but glance at the system still floating in front of me.
"Hyeondong…" I thought, without looking back. "Even if your potential is low, your loyalty is remarkable… and I appreciate it. I'll help you evolve."
The classroom was empty. I sat alone, staring into space with my forehead resting on my hands.
"I've definitely gotten ahead a few days…" I thought. "I've progressed faster than expected. Though the meeting with the leaders of the other high schools… I think it's scheduled for a week from now."
My gaze drifted to the details of the desk. I wasn't nervous… but I was focused. The system was accelerating my rise, and I knew that every step I took now echoed throughout Gangbuk.
"Leader of West Gangbuk High…"
It didn't sound bad. Though it wasn't a title I sought. I didn't see myself as a king or a hero.
Then, without warning, a chair next to me moved slightly. I hadn't heard her arrive.
She appeared, sitting elegantly, legs crossed, her hair styled in that perfectly messy way that seemed intentional, eyes fixed on me with a mix of teasing and curiosity… Baek Chaerin.
She observed me with an arched eyebrow, as if I were an interesting lab experiment.
"Wow… such a solemn scene," she said playfully. "Our dear Suhyeon Kim, alone in class, planning your next conquest."
"I'm not conquering anything."
She feigned surprise.
"Not? And uniting the North, South, and East high schools? That's just a friendly meeting?"
"It's leadership, not royalty." I leaned back slightly. "I don't want a crown. Just a new order."
"How humble…" she murmured sarcastically, resting her chin on her hand. "The new leader of West Gangbuk… martyr aura included."
Her lips curved into a playful smile, expecting me to continue the joke. Instead, I leaned toward her calmly and spoke slowly.
"Are you having fun, Chaerin?"
She blinked just slightly. Her smile remained… but her eyes became more attentive.
"A little."
"Because I am," I said, gently rising from my chair.
She didn't understand at first. I stood beside her silently, leaning in slightly. Without warning, I extended my hand and gently lifted her chin.
Chaerin tensed instinctively. Her body froze for a second, her expression hardened… but her cheeks also flushed very, very slightly.
I looked her straight in the eyes, not removing the calm smile from my lips.
"But be careful," I murmured quietly. "Girls who get too close… risk falling for the protagonist."
She parted her lips, surprised.
"W-what…?"
I slowly released her chin, still looking at her, and returned to my seat. Chaerin remained silent, bringing her hand to her face in a slight gesture of confusion. Her confident demeanor had been shattered.
And although she tried to regain her composure immediately, she couldn't help but look away for a few seconds… while her cheeks continued burning with embarrassment.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and feigned a calm smile.
"The protagonist?" she murmured, not looking at me. "What adorable arrogance."
"Adorable and effective," I replied, resting my elbow on the desk and turning toward her. "Your face says it all."
She shot me a quick glance but didn't respond immediately. She just leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. She had lost control of the conversation, and she knew it.
"Are you always like this with every girl?" she asked at last, still not looking at me. "Or only with the ones who catch your attention?"
"Not every girl sits beside me after sunset."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to read beyond my words.
"Is that a disguised confession or a strategy?"
"What if it's both?"
Chaerin's eyebrow arched slowly. For the first time in the conversation, she seemed genuinely interested.
"You like playing with fire, don't you?"
"It's not fire if you also want to get burned."
A few seconds of silence filled the classroom.
Chaerin broke it with a small, contained laugh. She brought a hand to her lips and shook her head, still blushing.
"You're different, Suhyeon Kim."
"Different from whom?"
"From yourself… before. Though now that I think about it…" Her voice lowered slightly. "Maybe this version was always there. No one had awakened it."
I looked at her a moment longer without replying. She sighed softly, resting her elbows on the desk.
"Just be careful, leader," she said in a more serious and soft tone. "Many will want to test you now that you're at the top."
"Then I'll make sure not to fall."
"You better," she replied.
She slowly stood, took her bag, and walked toward the exit. Before crossing the door, she paused, turned her face slightly over her shoulder, and said:
"And don't call every pretty girl you see at night 'princess.' If you repeat lines like that, you could cause misunderstandings."
"I know," I replied without moving. "But I don't need to repeat them… if I've already found the only princess worth saying them to."
Chaerin's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She turned immediately and left the classroom without another word.
One week later.
The afternoon sun slanted over the buildings of Gangbuk. The three of us walked side by side.
I walked in the middle.
To my left, Gukja, in his sweat-soaked uniform with a makeshift bandage on his arm. To my right, Hyeondong, with that mix of awkwardness and pride that made him stand out unintentionally.
We didn't speak. Yet, my mind was full of noise.
"Exactly one week since I defeated Hajun Gu. And since then… I hadn't missed a single day. I remembered everything clearly."
"First, I organized a meeting with Hyeondong and the first years. It wasn't about respect or loyalty. I already had their respect. What I needed was information."
"To my surprise, Hyeondong already had names, faces, and descriptions of the other Gangbuk leaders. North, South, and East already had emperors… I had just taken the throne of the West."
"Next came the training. Before dawn every day, I dragged Gukja out of bed and took him to the park. Cardio, punches, defense. His body hated every session, but his will didn't break. And that was what mattered."
"At night, I went out alone looking for fights because of the system's hefty rewards. But all I got were bronze cards. Fifteen, to be exact. Useless cards."
"But to keep growing… I had to aim higher. The moment had come. The moment to meet those who ruled the rest of the map."
Meanwhile, Hajun Gu. Since I defeated him… he hadn't returned to class. And no one had seen him since.
"Hajun Gu is a key piece. With someone that strong on my team, I wouldn't just reinforce my authority… I'd consolidate an empire."
"The problem is, he can't be convinced with nice words. Hajun Gu must be won over with actions. With conviction."