The grand auditorium was packed with people.
A clear, resonant voice echoed from the center of the stage.
"In just the first quarter of this year, our disciplinary committee uncovered 97 violations of school regulations…"
Students, the dean, vice-dean, professors, and even external guests were gathered for this major event.
Yet Chloe delivered her presentation smoothly, without a hint of nervousness.
She was an elite who rose to the position of disciplinary committee leader, surpassing countless competitors.
Not only did she possess upright ethics, but her presentation skills were exceptional.
Guild representatives didn't hold back their praise.
"As expected, Ark's disciplinary committee leader is something else."
"Of course. Aside from the student council, it's where the best talents gather."
"Chloe Maiden… The more I see her, the more I want her."
"She's the most sought-after second-year in the recruitment race. Our guild's been sponsoring her for a year, so give up."
"Hah, you think you're the only ones? Our guild doubled our sponsorship this time."
The sponsorship funds pouring into Chloe were growing daily.
The rumor that she'd become a delinquent's slave was still just that—a rumor.
Meanwhile, little Tomo was bored stiff at this event.
"Yawn…"
"Dean, don't fall asleep."
"Mmm… Mommy, I wanna sleep more… And tell Vice-Dean she won't make friends living like that…"
"Don't pretend to sleep-talk while saying what you really think. Do you think I'd fall for that?"
"I almost said that… Yawn."
The dean stretched, barely shaking off sleep.
The vice-dean whispered in her ear.
"The highlight of the presentation is starting. Pay attention."
"It's the same old performance review every time."
"It's about Kim Taeyang."
At the mention of Kim Taeyang, the dean's eyes widened.
"Hm? The delinquent's been quiet lately, hasn't he?"
"Heh heh heh. You'll see."
Chloe inserted the prepared USB.
Seeing this, Shin Hyewon clenched her fist.
'You're done, Kim Taeyang…! Cheating on exams, harassing female students, threatening professors, robbing convenience stores, stealing from labs…! No matter what you try, you can't escape my trap!!'
Victory was already assured.
Soon, fabricated evidence of Kim Taeyang's crimes would flash across the giant screen, exposing him to the world.
Once public opinion turned, his expulsion would proceed without a hitch.
'Goodbye to those tacky rumors…!!'
Flash-!
Finally.
Large text appeared on the screen.
–On-the-Spot Report: The Shocking Truth About First-Year Kim Taeyang…! 24-Hour Close Coverage of Ark's Nuke-Level Delinquent…!
The auditorium buzzed.
Kim Taeyang.
He was already a superstar at Ark.
His name alone drew attention.
And "shocking truth"?
It was a phrase as clickbait-y as a tabloid headline…!
"Kim Taeyang is a notorious delinquent representing the first-years, enslaving peers and forming a delinquent gang to disrupt Ark. Our disciplinary committee designated him a primary target and conducted 24-hour surveillance for the past week. Let's see the results."
A video appeared on the screen.
It showed Kim Taeyang walking Pomi.
"Look closely. Here, his constellation Pomi defecates near a flowerbed."
Woof woof!
Pomi's bark echoed from somewhere in the audience, sounding excited to see herself on screen.
Showing everyone her poop might be embarrassing…
But Pomi didn't seem to care about that.
Anyway.
In the video, Kim Taeyang picked up Pomi's poop and put it in a plastic bag.
"Kim Taeyang cleaned up Pomi's waste thoroughly. Not only that, he even picked up nearby litter, displaying exemplary behavior. Truly a moral student, right?"
"?"
The auditorium buzzed again.
Wasn't this supposed to be an exposé? This was way too mundane.
The most shocked was, of course, Shin Hyewon.
'W-What's this…?!'
It was so absurd her brain felt like it twisted into a question mark.
The video continued.
"Furthermore, as a disciplinary committee member, Kim Taeyang stopped delinquents from climbing the wall and lectured them. Such a beautiful sense of morality…!"
"This is the interior of Kim Taeyang's dorm. Contrary to rumors, there are no torture devices or SM tools here. Only barbells, weight plates, and the raw scent of a man's home gym. He trains here with Seol Harin, building their friendship. How wholesome…! Everyone, give Kim Taeyang a big round of applause!!"
Clap clap clap.
Not many clapped.
Just Chloe, Seol Harin, and the dean.
"Delinquent-kun is amazing! He looks like he's killed a few people, but he picks up dog poop, litter, and even sets an example as a disciplinary committee member…! Sugoi!!"
"Tch… This can't be…"
"Vice-Dean was right! Delinquent-kun's highlight reel is thrilling! I see now how exemplary he is, despite his looks!!"
"No, something's wrong—"
As Shin Hyewon tried to shout,
A male student in the audience wailed.
"LIES!!!! It's fabricated!!! No way it's real!!!! Taeyang, look me in the eyes and tell me!!! Is this really you?! Were the rules you forced on us not to destroy Ark, but to maintain order?! ARGH!!!!!!"
It was Rebel Guy.
He'd believed Kim Taeyang was secretly plotting to ruin Ark.
But to be presented as a model student at the performance review…?
Even Rebel Guy couldn't shake the feeling of being used…!!
"Huh? You dare doubt my intentions?!!"
"S-So you had a plan all along?!"
"Don't ask obvious questions!!"
"Sorry!!"
But confronting Kim Taeyang was futile.
As Rebel Guy was quickly subdued, the disciplinary committee rose up.
"Damn it! We have to stop the presentation!"
"Grab Senior Chloe!!"
"Kyaaah!"
Shin Hyewon had already stormed the stage.
"Chloe! What the hell are you doing?!!"
"What are you doing, Vice-Dean? Trying to ruin the performance review?"
"Put up the real data! Expose Kim Taeyang's true nature as planned!!"
"Oh, you mean this?"
Chloe pulled a USB from her pocket.
It was the one with the fabricated evidence.
And then—
Crunch!
It was now a thing of the past.
"Whoops, I accidentally broke it. Heh."
"Chloe…! How dare you…!!!"
Shin Hyewon advanced threateningly, but Chloe wasn't fazed.
Instead, her voice praising Kim Taeyang grew louder.
"Kim Taeyang, with his impeccable sense of morality…! We've misunderstood him!! He's not a bad student!!! As you've seen, he's more moral and upright than anyone!!! He's not Ark's nuke—he's its savior!!!!"
With those words, the auditorium descended into chaos.
"The video's fake!!! The God of Delinquents, Kim Taeyang, can't be this good!!!!"
"Master! Let's go train now♡"
"Snap out of it, Chloe!!"
"Damn it! The boss has been brainwashed!!"
"We have no choice now!! Take Kim Taeyang down here and now!!!"
"Stop the disciplinary committee brats!!! Protect the universe's greatest delinquent, Taeyang!!!!"
The disciplinary committee charged at Kim Taeyang.
Rebel Guy's group stood against them.
Caught in the violent chaos, second-years joined the disciplinary committee.
Most first-years subtly sided with Kim Taeyang, fueled by their resentment of the committee.
"First-years, are you insane?! Protecting Kim Taeyang? Are you out of your minds?!!"
"We don't need the violent disciplinary committee—we've got the vigilantes!!"
"Stupid freshmen! You were sucking up to Kim Taeyang on the forums, and now you show your true colors!"
"You seniors use the forums too?"
"W-Who said I use that?! I just heard about it!!"
The auditorium was a mess.
The performance review had turned into complete pandemonium.
Then—
BOOM!
The auditorium doors burst open, and three female students appeared.
Student Council President Seol Hajeong.
Vice-President Kuma Rodriguez.
And Secretary Lena.
"Everyone's fighting so passionately, huh? Kuma, take care of it."
At Seol Hajeong's command, Kuma stepped forward.
Her massive frame swelled as she let out a thunderous roar.
"STOP IT──────────────────!!!!!!!"
A voice so loud it could be mistaken for Kim Taeyang's…!
The auditorium fell silent in an instant.
All eyes, including those of the first-years, turned toward the student council.
"It's the student council…!"
"The third-years' field training is over! The student council's back!!"
Click-clack-
Seol Hajeong walked forward slowly.
Her sleek bob swayed, and the crisp sound of her heels exuded an unapproachable elegance.
But what was shocking wasn't her grace or stride.
With each step, a red footprint was etched into the floor.
Crunch…!!
Following those footprints, skeleton soldiers with glowing red eyes rose from the ground.
One skeleton per step.
As if she were the mother of the undead, skeletons spawned in Seol Hajeong's wake, marching like an army behind her.
By the time she reached the stage,
The number of undead was more than enough to control the students.
She gently patted Chloe's head.
"Chloe, I didn't delegate the student council's authority to you to make a mess of Ark like this. A little mistake this time, huh?"
"P-President…?"
Chloe's eyes trembled like an earthquake.
"No need to apologize. I'm planning to fire you."
"Fire me…?"
Chloe glanced at Kim Taeyang.
She valued her position as disciplinary committee leader, but betraying Kim Taeyang now was out of the question.
Seol Hajeong snatched the microphone and declared:
"The disciplinary committee's performance review ends here. Furthermore, as the committee has failed to uphold Ark's order, effective immediately, the student council hereby revokes all of its authority."
"R-Revoked?!"
"The student council will take over the committee's duties. And—"
As she continued, Shin Hyewon grabbed her microphone-holding hand.
"Seol Hajeong…! You think you can decide this on your own?!"
Thwack!
Instantly, Kuma, standing beside Seol Hajeong, roughly swatted her arm away.
"Hey, Vice-Dean. Don't touch the president so carelessly."
"Kuma! How dare you…!"
"Pfft. Not scary at all. The Vice-Dean who fainted after getting wrecked by the big-dick delinquent?"
"T-That's just a rumor!!"
The rumor that Shin Hyewon had been pounded into unconsciousness by Kim Taeyang in a public restroom had already spread across Ark.
Her reputation as vice-dean was significantly tarnished.
Seol Hajeong took over from Kuma.
"Even as vice-dean, you can't interfere with the decisions of the elected student council, can you? With those unsavory rumors swirling, wouldn't it be wise to lay low for a while?"
"You… If you think you can do whatever you want, you're mistaken…!"
Shin Hyewon, the disciplinary committee's advisor,
Had a poor relationship with the student council.
The committee itself wasn't on good terms with them either.
Ignoring the fuming Shin Hyewon, Seol Hajeong continued.
"There's been a lot of talk about this year's freshmen. Not only are they disrupting Ark's order, but they're even threatening the disciplinary committee. From what I see today, it's not just rumors."
A strange atmosphere settled over the auditorium.
The first-years tensed, sensing something big was coming,
While the second-years smirked as if justice was served.
"Thus, the student council will conduct the 'Student Council's Trial' for all freshmen."
"The Student Council's Trial…!"
"Such a brutal thing!"
"But what is it?!"
"Let me explain. The student council, including myself, will each oversee a room with a unique theme. You'll face off against us in these rooms, and you must win in at least three out of five to pass. The rules of the challenges will be revealed on the day."
"President!"
"A question?"
"Yes! I'm Rebel Guy from the first-years! What happens to students who fail the trial?"
"Oh, what did we decide on that?"
Seol Hajeong tilted her head, and Lena quickly whispered in her ear.
"Ah, right, that's it! Those who fail will be expelled!"
"Tch… That's…?"
The student council was the pinnacle of Ark's hierarchy.
Seol Hajeong, Kuma, and Lena were third-years who had achieved significant results during their field training.
Some said their level was comparable to top-tier heroes.
"Isn't that too harsh? How are we first-years supposed to beat seniors?"
"Don't worry too much. The difficulty will be adjusted appropriately. For most students, it'll be an easy evaluation."
Seol Hajeong's words were sincere.
This was, after all, just a giant net to weed out Kim Taeyang's group.
"And one more thing. Since the disciplinary committee failed to uphold Ark's order, they will join the first-years in facing the 'Student Council's Trial.'"
A sly smile curled on Seol Hajeong's lips.
"That means the disciplinary committee could also face expulsion."
"…!"
Chloe, Kim Angyeong, and the rest of the committee clenched their fists at this humiliating decree.
But they couldn't dare object.
The student council's authority was absolute…!
As the elected representatives of the students,
The council's power far surpassed the disciplinary committee's.
After all, the committee's authority was granted by the council in the first place.
"That's all. Good luck to everyone."
Seol Hajeong strutted off the stage, scanning the seats.
Her gaze, searching for a familiar face, stopped in the middle.
"Taeyang-ssi? We keep meeting, don't we?"
"Huh? Don't act friendly, sister sow!!!"
"You're playing coy after we kissed?"
Boom-
The students who heard her words couldn't believe their ears.
Seol Hajeong and Kim Taeyang… kissed?
'That Kim Taeyang…! He's already started?!'
'Seol Harin, Chloe, the Vice-Dean, and now the student council president?!'
'But… how the hell did he seduce the president?!!'
'Obviously with his massive—!!'
A tool big enough to knock out women.
Speculation ran wild that even the student council president had fallen for it.
Misunderstandings about Kim Taeyang only deepened.
***
The moment had finally arrived.
The thrilling student council event!
If I play my cards right, I could steal Seol Hajeong's SSS-grade undead constellation!
An epic opportunity to dominate the student council as its shadow leader…!!
A dream route impossible in the game!!
The Student Council's Trial?
Seol Hajeong might have warned us smugly, but to a veteran like me, it's nothing.
It was only tough back in my newbie days—now I've memorized every strategy.
But I'm playing as Kim Taeyang, not Kang Juhyeok.
I can't afford to be careless…
The day after the chaotic performance review,
I visited Shin Hyewon's office.
Bang bang!!
"Excuse me~"
"…Come in."
Opening the door, I found Shin Hyewon greeting me with a sour expression.
"You… here to mock me?"
"Heh heh heh. Wasn't it hilarious how you were grinning like an idiot, not knowing your mini sow became my slave? You'd win gold in a hidden camera prank contest."
"You punk! Don't get cocky…!"
The vice-dean's eyes twitched.
She was clearly stressed to the max.
Betrayed by Chloe and humiliated by Seol Hajeong in front of everyone—it's understandable.
"So, what's your plan now?"
"…What do you mean?"
"You gonna let that smug president sow get away with it?"
"!"
The disciplinary committee and the student council have bad blood.
It's due to the power structure.
The student council has always dumped the dirty work and villainous roles on the committee,
While maintaining a pristine, angelic image.
Shin Hyewon tried to end this injustice, but she was repeatedly thwarted by Seol Hajeong's schemes—a tragic legend.
It's weird that the vice-dean has less authority than the student council president,
But Ark's always been a crazy school…
Anyway,
That's why I came with a proposal.
"Hey, big sis."
"Don't call me big sis…"
Shin Hyewon and the disciplinary committee.
They share the same enemy as me.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend…!
Form a temporary alliance with the committee to take on the student council…!!
"I could take you as my sow, you know?"
"?"
I didn't mean to propose the alliance like that…
But whatever, I'm used to it now.
I can take back reckless words.
People around me just accept it since I'm seen as a crazy guy anyway.
"…"
But for some reason, Shin Hyewon's ears turned red.
She fidgeted, then shyly replied,
"F-Fine…"
"?"
Wait…
Why is that fine…?
Why the hell are you agreeing to that?!
*
*
*
[TL Note]
You may notice some inconsistency in the use of terms like Principal/Vice Principal and Dean/Vice Dean throughout the translation. This is because the original Korean uses the term 학장 (Hakjang), which can refer to either a school principal or a university dean depending on the context.
Since this is a modern fantasy academy with adult students (most likely over 18), Dean and Vice Dean are the more accurate equivalents. I've adjusted the terminology as I refined the translation to better reflect the setting.
Thanks for your understanding!