I Became the Leader of Academy City

13 – Rule 8. The Head of the student council must maintain his dignity even at the exchange meeting (2)

Ma-Hyun High School.

One of the major autonomous high schools in the academy city.

Of all the academies, the intermingling with Ah-Sung High School and its jurisdiction, that is, the education district, was most frequent here.

Due to that, disputes frequently arose due to disciplinary issues of criminals commuting between the two districts.

Ever since then, the bone of contention deepened, and both schools often growled at each other.

So, it was famously known to be the worst with Ah-Sung High.

Since I became the head of the student council, there were no disputes with Ma-Hyun High.

Of course, I was prepared that it could happen in the future.

I didn’t know that today could be the day.

“Hopefully the exchange ends safely…”

I sent a morning prayer to God, even though I have no religion.

I wished that God, Buddha, or the Golden Sheep would answer my prayers.

The student council exchange was scheduled to happen twice this year.

Ah-Sung High would host in the first semester, and Ma-Hyun High in the second.

So this time, the exchange meeting was to be held at Aseong High School.

Our Aseong High welcomed the Mahyeon High students, dressed in their maroon-colored uniforms.

“We sincerely welcome the students of Mahyeon High School.”

“Thank you for the warm welcome, students of Aseong High School.”

The student council presidents of both schools took the lead and greeted each other affably.

‘The student council president has to be that person, right?’

The girl from Mahyeon High, beaming like a flower in full bloom, was indeed their student council president.

Around her smile, it seemed as if a flower garden fit for a romance comic had blossomed.

So, the atmosphere of the disciplinary committee standing behind her was thrown into dramatic contrast.

If one could say, rather gloomy.

Our disciplinary committee was the same.

Because we were on guard with one another.

The disciplinary committees greeted each other as well.

“Welcome, the disciplinary committee head of Mahyeon High. I am Ahn Woojin, the head of the committee here, and this is Oh Baekseo, the vice head.”

“Ha-ha, nice to meet you, Head Ahn Woojin. I’m Head Lee Jeho, and this is Vice Head Shin Gayeon.”

We shook hands, out of courtesy.

“Ha-ha.”

“Heh.”

Oh boy, that’s quite a strong grip.

Let’s not have a showdown here….

This bespectacled male student disciplinary head, Lee Jeho.

He was openly showing his wariness towards me.

I recognized him in an instant as a cub tiger concealing its claws.

Ready to scratch my face at any moment.

Then I had no choice but to show my wariness as well.

“Oh, it’s nice to see both sides smiling at each other. That’s a relief.”

“It’s fortunate to see signs of a good relationship blossoming so soon.”

The student council presidents from Mahyeon High and Aseong High spouted nonsense as they watched us.

I’m already getting irritated.

At the thought of seeing this guy twice.

“Please, come in! We’ve prepared a lot of delicious things for you!”

Ha Ye-song welcomed the students of Ma-hyeon High School with a bright smile.

It was fortunate that Ye-song was so cheerful.

We went to the banquet hall and enjoyed the buffet-style food and drinks prepared there, with the support of the student council.

The unpleasant atmosphere was somewhat neutralized thanks to the lively music filling the hall.

The student council presidents had agreed to dine separately with key members of the student council in a private space.

Meanwhile, I had no choice but to join the student leader and vice-leader of Ma-hyeon High School for a meal, along with vice-president Oh Baek-seo. It was inevitable. The picture would look strange if we weren’t together.

Amidst the tense atmosphere, only the cutlery moved until Lee Je-ho, the student leader of Ma-hyeon High, raised his glass and spoke.

“I’m not pleased.”

Je-ho muttered as if talking to himself.

His gaze was fixed on the banner hanging on stage.

Emblazoned on the banner was ‘A-seong High School & Ma-hyeon High School Exchange Meeting’.

“It’s not right that A-seong High is listed before Ma-hyeon High.”

Je-ho tutted with his tongue.

‘He actually says that out loud?’

Utterly baffling.

“This is A-seong High after all. Next time we have the exchange meeting, we’ll put Ma-hyeon High at the front.”

“It seems you’ve heard. That was my intention.”

Thanks to Je-ho’s petty grumbling, or not, the silence that had lasted for many minutes was broken, and conversation began to flow.

For that, I was grateful.

“By the way, I’ve been hearing a lot about Director An Woo-jin.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. From the first day in action, solving the Anomia subway kidnapping case alone, to your recent outstanding duel overpowering the Sindorim Swordmaster… You’ve already achieved several noticeable feats. Soon you’ll become quite a celebrity, won’t you?”

“It just happened so. Though I must say the duel with Shinso was rather regrettable.”

Je-ho slightly pushed up his glasses.

“Still, it’s a relief. Director An Woo-jin, you haven’t ‘yet’ bothered us with jurisdiction issues. It seems you have some tact.”

“……”

A subtle attempt at gaining the upper hand.

It was terribly uncomfortable.

“Director Lee Je-ho.”

“Yes.”

“We don’t wish to cause unrest with the student council at Ma-hyun High.”

“Same for us. But, keep one thing in mind. We don’t intend to maintain a friendly relationship with Asung High.”

Isn’t this friend way too blunt…?

The vice president of the student council at Ma-hyun high, Shin Ga-Yeon, gasped slightly as she heard the president’s comment, and gently poked his thigh. As expected, it was an awkward moment.

However, Jeho exhibited a resolute attitude, wiping his slightly greasy lips with a tissue.

“Participation in the exchange meeting was solely based on the instructions of the student council president. I hope there won’t be any misunderstanding.”

Just then, just then….

“…President Jeho.”

He considered staying polite to not upset the Ma-hyun Vice President, but he couldn’t.

This bespectacled friend seems intent to cross the line. If I stay still, it wouldn’t befit the dignity of the council president.

Leaning back in my chair, I said,

“Why not just speak casually? It seems uncomfortable for you to speak in formal language.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yeah, go ahead. We’re the same age, aren’t we?”

“I’m a year older than you, kiddo.”

As soon as he switched to a more casual tone, the discomfort seemed to dissipate.

The atmosphere became more hostile, the prayers uplifted in the morning were forgotten.

This might be better.

“President, your manners….”

Ga-yeon gently reprimanded her president in a soft voice.

“I’m still amazed.”

But Jeho did not stop.

Crossing his arms, he spoke.

“I don’t know why the student council of Asung High, having Oh-baek-seo, chose a fourth-level human as the president … tsk.”

Jeho clicked his tongue.

‘Provocation?’

Whether I thought so or not, Jeho knew that the proposition was my Achilles heel.

In other words, he was provoking me in hopes of making me angry, undoubtedly.

If I showed anger here, it would surely make the situation deeply serious. Yes, Jeho was cockily testing me.

It was time to change the subject.

“Don’t talk nonsense…”

“Do you want to say it one more time?”

“…?”

In the moment when I was trying to avoid provocation and steer the conversation elsewhere, a sharp voice cut through from beside me.

Kind, yet chilling in tone.

It was Baek Seo, sitting next to me, who had spoken.

Baek Seo was just smiling with his lips, but his eyes were fiercely glaring at the disciplinary head of Mahyeon High.

Je-ho and the vice-president Ga-yeon looked visibly taken aback.

Especially Je-ho, who seemed surprised that, instead of me, it was Baek Seo who was getting angry.

“U-jin became the head of the council because he deserves it,” Baek Seo said in a genial yet clear voice while we all kept quiet.

“Why should we be friends with people who can’t even distinguish between others? That’s something we also wonder about.”

Baek Seo smirked.

Despite his utmost polite expression, it was evident that Baek Seo was harboring anger.

“…I see. I apologize for the rudeness earlier.”

Je-ho closed his eyes and pushed up his glasses, clearly revealing his intention to provoke me, the head of the council.

He wanted a confrontation between council heads.

Had he held a grudge against the entire disciplinary team of Asung High, he would have exploded in anger when Baek Seo started talking thorns.

“Tsk.”

With a light click of his tongue, Baek Seo joined the atmosphere he’d crafted.

“The recreation will start soon.”

He said, looking towards the stage.

“We’ve prepared it full of ‘competitive elements’ for ‘fostering camaraderie,’ so please enjoy it to your heart’s content.”

He emphasized ‘camaraderie’ and ‘competitive elements’ deliberately.

Recreation.

It’s merely a supplementary event meant to spark some joy in an otherwise awkward group activity.

Moreover, since Asung High and Mahyeon High are not on good terms, organizing recreation here could be considered extremely tactless.

But.

What if ‘recreation’ is just a pretense, and the reality is a ‘contest to see who is superior’?

The meaning is completely reversed.

“Excellent. You’ve prepared quite a lot. Enjoy gratefully, Aseong High.”

A sly smile from Je-ho.

Fortunately, he immediately understood the hidden intention of my words.

I knew from the beginning that Je-ho would take an aggressive stance.

Because I had collected information about Je-ho Lee, the current head of the student council at Ma-hyeon High, while preparing for the exchange program.

Je-ho Lee seemed to always aim for superiority over the student council of Aseong High.

‘Just as there is no future for the nation that forgets history’, he seemed to think standing superior to Aseong high, which frequently causes disputes, is the way for Ma-hyeon High.

I respected that meaning.

For the benefit of his own school, judging that he would win in the logic of power.

So he prepared a ‘confrontation’ under the name of a recreation.

Out of respect for his intent, to determine which student council is superior.

‘This is very important, involving my dignity as a student council head and the honor of our student council.’

What good is it to be nice to those who attempt to trample me and stand above?

I guess I would still be treated like a sucker.

So in this game, I had to win.

Then not only will my dignity as the student council head increase, but I’ll also be able to crush the Ma-hyeon High jerks.

Shortly after, the lights went out in the banquet hall and only the stage was lit.

The music in the banquet hall subsided, and soon a student council member from Aseong High grabbed the microphone and went on stage.

“Welcome everyone to today’s student council exchange program!”

All the attention of the student councils was focused there.

A large camera was pointed at the stage.

The camera footage was being broadcast to the banquet hall where other student council members were.

Of course, not all of the student council members were gathered in this banquet hall. If they were, the banquet hall would be packed.

So, after limiting the number of people, other members enjoyed the exchange program in another banquet hall.

“Aseong High has prepared a recreation for a happy day like today.”

The host received formal cheers from the two student councils while introducing the recreation and the prizes.

* * *

“Wow… You prepared a recreation! Good… Will this make the student councils of Ma-hyeon high and Aseong high get along?”

“Of course they will. Look at the two council leaders smiling and chatting so enthusiastically. It seems they get along really well. They already seem like best friends…”

“My, what a happy occasion! My sister’s a really good kid, you know, only hangs out with good kids. So if she’s taken a liking to Jeho, it must mean he’s an outstanding one… Isn’t it great to see?”

The student council president of Mahyeon High glowed with delight as she inspected the atmosphere of the gathering beyond the window with the student council president of Aseong High.

Her eyes shone brightly.

‘People can be more innocent than they seem,’ thought the Aseong High student council president as he sipped his drink.

Initially, he was suspicious of Mahyeon High’s proposal for a social gathering. The sole reason he accepted it was for the sake of maintaining a good record.

He thought it would be enough to keep up appearances.

However, after many interactions with the President of Mahyeon High, he realized the purity of her intentions and set aside his doubts.

‘Why not just become friends?’

A friendly rapport between the two leaderships would ease many hassles during their term.

It’s a good thing for people to hold hands and become friends, isn’t it?

The Aseong High student council president thought as such.

At such a relaxed moment, what he feared the most happened when they reached the last program of the recreation.