While the campaign was underway.
Eun Suhyeok and Seong Dasom called us together and suddenly made a momentous announcement.
“Dasom is pregnant. We wanted to let you know as soon as possible, so we’re telling you like this.”
“We got checked at the hospital, and I’m five weeks along!”
“….”
Eun Suhyeok rubbed the bridge of his nose with a proud look, and Seong Dasom made a V with her fingers, overjoyed.
My friends and I couldn’t help but be shocked by the news.
‘Those seniors, honestly….’
I never thought I’d see the case of a couple entering the Academy and graduating as a trio happen right around me.
I offered my congratulations along with my friends while inwardly clicking my tongue.
At the same time, I didn’t forget to give Eun Suhyeok a stern talking-to in private.
“You acted all high and mighty, lecturing me about using contraception properly…. Senior, aren’t you ashamed? Is this befitting of a Student Council President?”
“Ahem! I said to be careful with contraception if you weren’t confident you could take responsibility. Isn’t that obvious? But I was confident I could take responsibility….”
“Ah, is that so.”
“Besides, Dasom and I are married. We simply shared our love as husband and wife, so why bring up the Student Council President? It’s not like I’m having promiscuous relationships with women I don’t know….”
“Nyeah, nyeah—.”
“….”
Eun Suhyeok’s excuses are funny.
He’s also something of a perfectionist, and opportunities to tease him, since he normally never shows any gaps, are rare.
I deliberately stretched my philtrum and replied perfunctorily.
He bit his lip hard, as if he was about to tear up.
Then he spoke in a threatening tone, as if he’d been waiting for this.
“Well, we’re about to graduate, so it won’t be a problem for our Academy life, but let’s see what happens to you.”
“We’re being careful, okay?”
“Yes, make sure you keep being careful. Though who knows if things will go your way.”
“….”
Smirking spitefully.
Eun Suhyeok was practically hurling curses at me.
I found it absurd.
‘No, if Haneul and I had a child, it wouldn’t be a curse but a blessing. So… is he blessing us right now?’
Anyway.
Eun Suhyeok is petty and childish.
Before I ended up influenced by him while playing along, I decided to change my attitude.
“Either way, you must be in a good mood. Congratulations on the pregnancy, Suhyeok-senior. I hope the baby is born healthy.”
“Thank you for the congratulations, but… isn’t that something Dasom should be hearing instead of me….”
“That’s right, Gyeonu-hoobae! So hurry up and congratulate me too! And are you still going to call us ‘senior’ so distantly? I heard you live as oppa and dongsaeng with Gaeul-hoobae and Minju-hoobae, so I’m a little hurt! You got close to us first! That’s mean. From now on, call us hyung and noona comfortably!”
“Sure, Dasom-hyung, Suhyeok-noona.”
“…!”
Seeing the people I care about happy makes me happy too.
I couldn’t help but giggle.
Afterward, we spent a pleasant time eating dinner together.
“I’m telling you again, unlike us, you still have a year left before graduation. So be careful.”
“We’re being careful, I told you. That won’t happen, absolutely not.”
“Hmph, nothing is absolute in this world.”
* * *
The Student Council President election was fierce.
Among the candidates who entered the race, Yeon Haneul was leading in the polls, but the support for O Junsik right behind her could not be ignored.
The two waged a close battle.
But as Yeon Haneul emerged victorious over O Junsik in the election.
“So this will be my office from now on.”
Yeon Haneul was excellently elected as Student Council President, and Lisa as Vice President.
Naturally, they were overjoyed.
And on the day they visited Eun Suhyeok’s office to receive the handover, Yeon Haneul grinned broadly again.
As if excited anew, she stroked the desk in the office.
I spoke to her.
“You like it?”
“Yeah, I like it!”
Yeon Haneul smiled brightly.
Soon after, our eyes met, and we giggled mindlessly.
Since Eun Suhyeok, Seong Dasom, and Lisa happened to be away on business, we decided to enjoy a little PDA.
“Hmm….”
I sat Yeon Haneul on the office desk.
And I shared a kiss with her.
She gently pulled me in, mingling our tongues and exchanging saliva.
At the same time, she tapped my leg with the toe of her shoe.
“Are you provoking me right now?”
“Is it not allowed to provoke you?”
“No, it is.”
Before I knew it, Yeon Haneul had fallen backward, lying spread out on the desk.
As I looked down at her, I was seized by a strange ecstasy.
You could call it a conquering feeling.
‘To take down Haneul, now the Student Council President, in the office….’
The Student Council President, who represents the collective will of the entire student body, Yeon Haneul, is lying beneath me right now.
I couldn’t help but be excited.
Meanwhile, she seemed to be burning up as well.
Her red eyes grew hazy.
“If we do this here… we shouldn’t….”
“Since you’re not officially the President yet, isn’t it okay?”
“Still… what if we get caught….”
“If we don’t get caught, it’s fine.”
Contrary to her hesitant attitude.
Yeon Haneul was moving her hands and feet to grope my body.
Cute.
Pretty, lovely.
I teased her rabbit ears, then began unbuttoning her uniform.
Pale skin was revealed.
Gulp.
I moved my hand further….
That was the moment.
“…!”
A commotion sounded from outside.
Yeon Haneul and I, who were gradually falling into the throes of passion, had no choice but to come to our senses and panic greatly.
Her rabbit ears shot straight up.
“Uh, what do we do? My clothes….”
“Hide for now.”
“Uh, where?!”
There was no time for a long conversation.
I hurriedly improvised and pushed Yeon Haneul, who was adjusting her uniform top, under the desk.
Then I sat down in the chair, pressing my body close to the desk to hide her.
Almost simultaneously.
“Gyeonu, Haneul! You must be hungry!? We bought tteokbokki and sundae! Fried stuff too!”
“Hmm? Gyeonu, what are you doing sitting there? Where’s Haneul?”
“Hmph, perhaps you wanted to feel what it’s like to be Student Council President? How childish.”
Seong Dasom, Lisa, and Eun Suhyeok opened the door and entered the office.
I welcomed them as nonchalantly as possible.
“Welcome, everyone. And wow, the tteokbokki looks delicious….”
“….”
How to get out of this situation.
This is bad.
I worried, sensing Yeon Haneul fidgeting under the desk.
‘First, I need to get those three out of here so Haneul can come out….’
I racked my brain.
Then I realized.
‘Ah, damn….’
Lisa, Seong Dasom, and Eun Suhyeok.
All three were looking at me with narrowed eyes.
Unfortunately.
We were already caught.
“So Haneul is there. Sigh…. Gyeonu, Haneul, I understand that the two of you are practically newlyweds and that you get heated quickly the moment your eyes meet… but could you please restrain yourselves in the Student Council room? Especially since Haneul is now the Student Council President and must be careful about her conduct. We’ve already planned to appoint Minju as head of the Student Guidance Committee, so what are we going to do if you act like this?”
“Oh my, maybe we should have come a little later. Make sure to lock the door from now on. For your information, that desk is wide and sturdy, so it makes for a good bed. Personally, I preferred the sofa, though. The baby in my belly probably liked the sofa too…”
“There’s no need to say such things. It could become controversial. Do Gyeonu, Yeon Haneul, what is the meaning of this on the first day of the handover? I implore you, please do not become so distracted by your relationship that you neglect your duties as Student Council President.”
Lisa Grace let out a sigh openly.
Seong Dasom smirked, touching her cheek.
Eun Suhyeok furrowed his brow.
“I’m sorry….”
I had no choice but to apologize obediently to the three of their scoldings.
Soon after, Yeon Haneul, who had roughly straightened her clothes and crawled out from under the desk, did the same.
So ashamed, we couldn’t raise our heads….
* * *
Time passed, and it was now December.
With the all-out war between the Hunter and Villain factions drawing near.
The second semester had ended.
Many students living in Academy City returned to their hometowns, either for fear of being caught in the flames of war, or to watch over the fate of the country together with their precious people.
On the other hand, students with a strong sense of chivalry remained in Academy City to prepare for any unexpected situations.
My friends and I were no different.
“Cheers! Merry Christmas in advance, everyone!”
“Cheers!”
December 24th, the day before Christmas.
Under Go Eunbi’s lead, we held a year-end party.
Many usual acquaintances attended the party, including Hong Yena, Yu Noeul, and Su Hoguk.
So Hyeyul also briefly showed up, had a few drinks with Gang Hanbyeol, exchanged New Year’s greetings, and left.
Meanwhile.
‘What’s with the dress code….’
Thanks to Go Eunbi’s aggressive push.
Everyone attending the party had to wear attire reminiscent of Christmas without exception.
Like Santa or Rudolph….
As a result, I found myself unwillingly wearing a one-piece Rudolph outfit and a Rudolph nose.
Gang Hanbyeol, Bak Sagun, Yong Haerang, and the triplets were in the same identical outfits.
The girls….
“Gyeonu, how do I look? Am I pretty?”
“Gyeonu, Gyeonu! Aren’t we pretty!? Hurry up and tell us we’re pretty!”
“Yum yum….”
Taking advantage of Yeon Haneul’s absence, Yeon Bada, Nam Yuri, and Cha Eunsol came up to me.
They were mostly dressed in Santa girl outfits.
I let out a wry smile.
“Yeah, you’re pretty. It suits all of you.”
“Oppa, what about me? If you don’t say I’m pretty, I won’t give you a present!”
“Gyeonu! What about me!?”
“Hmph, why is everyone so desperate to get his evaluation?”
“Exactly. What’s the point of getting evaluated by that shameless oppa….”
Before I knew it, Yu Gaeul, Go Eunbi, Min Arin, and Ham Minju showed interest and approached.
Yu Gaeul, with a large bundle on her shoulder, tried to tease me as always.
Go Eunbi struck a sensual pose that didn’t suit her.
Min Arin and Ham Minju grumbled but seemed to care about my reaction.
And then.
“Hehe. Gyeonu, what about your instructor? I’m wearing something underneath too, want to see? Ah, I can’t show you here, so we’ll have to go to another room.”
“Ugh…. The skirt is too short…. My knees….”
“Come on, it covers more than a swimsuit, so what’s the big deal? Our princess looks great in it!”
Yu Noeul, Lisa, and Shin Seora appeared as well.
Yu Noeul joined in Yu Gaeul’s prank, Lisa was fidgeting awkwardly, forcibly tugging at a skirt that wouldn’t stretch, and Shin Seora was clinging to her.
I let out another wry smile.
“Haha….”
Why, how come.
Why does everyone want my evaluation?
Are they teasing me?
I don’t know.
Still, since they seemed to want it so badly, I decided to say what they wanted.
“All of you are pretty. It suits you well.”
To my answer.
Each of the girls reacted.
That was when I felt a gaze.
“Gye. On. U?”
“….”
Hearing that chilling voice.
I couldn’t help but flinch.
I turned around.
“Did you say pretty?”
“Uh…. You’re… prettier….”
Yeon Haneul was smiling brightly.
But it was not a smile.
I quickly made excuses.
And then I tried to soothe her.
But then.
“Gye. On. U?”
“….”
Gang Hanbyeol, why are you too….
I felt it was unfair, not knowing what I had done wrong.
“Anyway, Merry Christmas in advance!”
“Happy early New Year!”
“Let’s get along well next year too!”
A few days passed.
Finally, the all-out war had arrived.
* * *
December 31st.
Late at night on the cusp of the end and beginning of a year.
Unlike previous years, the people of the world watched the broadcast screens quietly with their precious ones.
And in the broadcast, in Haemong-dong, District 7 of Academy City.
“….”
Toegwi Seo Jeongjin.
Family Head of the Divine Sword Do House, Suwang Do Yeik.
Family Head of the Demon Blade Min House, Griffin Min Hwiseong.
Family Head of the Iron Fortress Gwon House, Gwon Haeil.
Family Head of the Righteous Yong House, Mujon Yong Suhwan.
Family Head of the Snow Spear Eun House, Sinchang Eun Homin.
Family Head of the Black Horse O House, Geumo O Jinhyeok.
Family Head of the Flame Bow Ham House, Singung Ham Seokgyo.
Family Head of the Soft Flame Nam House, Ouroboros Nam Sion.
Family Head of the Circulating Cha House, Yeonggun Cha Seoyun.
The Family Heads of the Five Great White Magic Houses, excluding the Family Head of the Radiant Seong House.
Along with them, renowned Hunters were preparing for the imminent all-out war.
“We’ve prepared this much, so surely he won’t not come, right?”
“No, he will definitely come.”
“The world is watching this place. If he doesn’t show up even now… he’ll become a laughingstock.”
11:57 PM.
With three minutes left until midnight, the Hunters exchanged brief words.
O Jinhyeok snorted, Seo Jeongjin spoke with conviction, and Min Hwiseong held a long pipe.
“Don’t let your guard down, everyone.”
“Just thinking about fighting with all my strength after so long makes my heart pound. I’ll be the one to take down Tacheon.”
“Toegwi won’t stay still…. I’ll just look for opportunities from afar. You all handle the rest.”
11:58 PM.
Gwon Haeil warned the others, Yong Suhwan burned with fighting spirit, and Ham Seokgyo spoke indifferently.
“You’ve grown weak.”
“…I don’t know what you’re talking about. Stop babbling nonsense and focus on the war.”
“It’s reassuring to have the seniors here. I’ll help without getting in the way.”
11:59 PM.
Eun Homin opened his mouth indifferently, and Nam Sion replied in a displeased tone.
Cha Seoyun maintained his humility.
Then.
“He’s here.”
12:00 AM, midnight.
The moment the old year passed and a new year began.
Do Yeik looked up at the night sky.
Countless subspaces were forming in the night sky above, where drones and helicopters flew.
From within them.
“You all gathered without fleeing. Good, are you prepared?”
“….”
Tacheon and the Villain Alliance descended.
Landing on the rooftop of a ruined building, Tacheon looked down at the Hunters and clicked his tongue, shrugging his shoulders.
He commanded the Villain Alliance.
“Attack.”
Immediately, the all-out war began.
Both camps let out roars.
I Became the Mid-Boss’s Childhood Friend