Translator: Wan ED/PR: Personal Ghost
23. 50% attendance rate (6)
Ju Su-hyeok’s bodyguard and secretary, Kim Cheol.
Recently his biggest worry was the depressed-looking Ju Su-hyeok.
He was at Ju Su-hyeok’s side since he was young, but it was the first time he saw him without energy like this.
‘Did a problem occur in school?’
Kim Cheol tried to probe around the entire Eungwang School within the possibilities of his authority, but he couldn’t find anything strange.
‘I can’t guess it, it should be a big problem.’
Ju Su-hyeok was most outstanding even among the children of the business world, which overflowed with geniuses and talents.
Ju Su-hyeok possessed sharp intellect with a sensibility and deep thinking which was difficult to expect from a barely seventeen year old.
So Kim Cheol couldn’t fathom it at all.
In fact, Ju Su-hyeok was just worried and anxious that his crush would hear rumors about his engagement.
‘Is there anything I can do to help Su-hyeok?’
When Kim Cheol made a resolve like this while parking the air stretch limousine in front of the south gates.
Ju Su-hyeok, who had been waiting, climbed into the backseat while giving a bright greeting.
“Cheol hyung, I’m here!”
Ju Su-hyeok had the brightest appearance he had shown this week.
Kim Cheol hid his relief as he asked:
“Hello, did classes end earlier today?”
“I skipped afternoon classes and club activities!”
“… Did you say you skipped classes?”
“Yes!”
Kim Cheol thought that the word ‘skipping’ didn’t go well with the model student Ju Su-hyeok.
However, seeing Ju Su-hyeok talk about visiting his friend’s alma mater with a cheerful voice, he decided it didn’t matter.
“I decided to go look for a tuxedo next week with friends. Uisin said he bought one before entering the school, but Hyodon said he doesn’t have a formal suit.”
Ju Su-hyeok spoke the names of the two school friends he mentioned often.
“I also think of getting a new one. For the next weekend boat party.”
Usually, Kim Cheol was in charge of matters related to Ju Su-hyeok’s attire.
Kim Cheol received orders about Ju Su-hyeok’s clothes from the top ahead of the boat party.
He didn’t hear a detailed explanation, but he could guess those clothes were related to Oh Hyeji.
Kim Cheol read Ju Su-hyeok’s intentions.
‘As expected, young master-nim leaves no gaps.’
Ju Su-hyeok was informing Kim Cheol he has no intention of being tied with Oh Hyeji while pretending to do small talk.
“It would be better if young master-nim used a personal account when shopping for personal expenses.”
Kim Cheol also decided to show his intentions.
When shopping, Ju Su-hyeok usually used the credit card given him by the chairman.
And when using that card, there was a high chance that the details of the transaction would be reported to the chairman.
‘If it’s Ju Su-hyeok, he would be aware of it.’
Ju Su-hyeok would also know that, but he bothered to mention it to show his intention of supporting Ju Su-hyeok.
“Yes, I also think so. Thank you, Cheol hyung.”
Kim Cheol smiled at Ju Su-hyeok’s reply.
***
In this world, there were many institutions and laws for Players, including Player Special Law, but the actual Player politicians were rare.
It was because there was a negative perception that if a Player possessing valuable superpowers became a politician, they would stop conquering otherworlds and start leading an easy life.
‘If an active sport athlete declares they won’t practice sports anymore and become a politician, they will get cursed. The Players are the same.’
There was a Player who had entered that world of politics like a comet.
The member of the National Assembly, Seong Gukeon.
He ran for a candidate seat independently, without a party, and was elected as a new and outstanding politician with the Eungwang District as a local constituency.
‘I heard that he graduated from Eungwang School, but I had truly no idea that he was that Student Council’s president from 15 years ago.’
During the general election campaign, Seong Gukeon ran with the slogan ‘Safe world without worries about otherworlds’.
While Seong Gukeon was running for a seat in the National Assembly, he presented a promise: ‘At least once a week, I’ll be the highest otherworld conquest contributor for an otherworld of SR rank or higher.’
After being elected, Seong Gukeon didn’t break that promise even once during his time of service, until the moment he passed away.
“Gukeon hyung! Did you come here after meeting with your homeroom teacher-nim? Did you get hurt again? You didn’t use a recovery item card?”
As if he got hurt while conquering an otherworld, Seong Gukeon was wearing a cast.
I guess the reason why Seong Gukeon, who couldn’t stand formal procedures, let the driver and attended secretary open the door was because he was hurt like this.
“Long time no see, Siwan. I broke my arm while conquering an otherworld. If teacher-nim saw it, I would do nothing more than worry him even more. I just flaked out and came. Even though I was hurt through this entire week, my doctor got mad and refused to use items and just put on a cast.”
“Wasn’t that caught by reporters?”
At those words, Seong Gukeon burst out into a hearty laughter.
“Hahahee[1]! My staff said to use that injury to sell an image of a hardworking Player, but should I show such a shameful appearance to poor citizens?”
The ‘hahaee’ laughter rang out in the air, pricking the ears.
‘This is the ‘Matchless in the Nation[2]’s laughter, huh?’
The event when the conflict between government and the Player’s Association reached its peak.
The ruling party was attempting to flippantly reform the Player Special Law by piercing the loophole in the National Assembly Development Law.
At that time, Seong Gukeon suddenly appeared in the National Assembly like a ghost and occupied the assembly hall alone against the National Assembly siege.
Seong Gukeon’s national assembly defense blocking more than hundreds of bodyguards of the ruling party was broadcasted nation-wide on TV and after that day, Seong Gukeon started to be called ‘Matchless in the Nation’.
Seong Gukeon was originally quite popular as being harsh to his political opponents but warm to his voters and citizens, but this event dramatically increased his recognition and popularity.
“You’re Unknown Supernova Jo Uisin, huh? It’s a pleasure. I’m Seong Gukeon.”
Seong Gukeon’s distinctive impression was the same as the appearance I saw on the election posters after coming to this world as if it was copy and pasted.
I guess, worthy of a real man, he didn’t make any corrections or similar things to even his posters.
“Hello. I’m Jo Uisin.”
During my greeting, the attending secretary wordlessly covered Seong Gukeon’s shoulder with a coat, attempting to hide the cast.
However, when Seong Gukeon tapped me on the back with a ‘bang!’ with his not wearing a cast arm, the coat was blown away and fell.
The attending secretary caught the falling coat with a surprising reflex as if he was also a Player.
Seeing the attending secretary’s subtle expression, I could see the usual hardships in his eyes.
“Let’s go eat dinner! There are many stories I want to hear from the juniors!”
My back throbbed a bit, but as it was my Playable Character who hit me, I wasn’t angry at all.
***
The place Seong Gukeon took me and Seong Siwan to was a Korean course cuisine specializing restaurant.
Seong Gukeon invited the attending secretary to eat with us.
But the attending secretary said he was busy with remaining work, so he very actively refused and left the three of us alone.
After each of us grabbed a seat and sat down on boryo cushions[3] spread out on the floor, Seong Siwan asked:
“Where did Muyeong hyung go?”
“He is throwing a tantrum.”
“Yes? Why?”
It seemed that the mentioned ‘Muyeong hyung’ was also one of my Playable Characters.
“During that otherworld conquest, I covered Muyeong, and so I got injured.”
It seemed that my thoughts were correct.
The best person for covert actions among Playable Characters, ‘Colorless Man Jeon Muyeong’.
He performed the role of both Seong Gukeon’s head assistant and a bodyguard.
‘They went together to conquer an otherworld like usual but… When the active National Assembly member, who is the target of your protection, covers you and then gets hurt, isn’t it normal to lose your temper?’
As if Seong Siwan had similar thoughts to me, he scolded Seong Gukeon.
“Aye, hyung did wrong.”
“Muyeong is my junior first and bodyguard second. Should I let him get hurt like that in front of my eyes?”
“Then what will you do if Muyeong hyung quits?”
“Haha! I’ll think about it when that time comes.”
Seong Gukeon smiled with a careless face.
In the end, even Jeon Muyeong couldn’t abandon such Seong Gukeon and remained as his assistant until he died.
“I heard a lot about your performance, Uisin. Even so, I want to hear about it from you in person.”
Seong Gukeon liked to see a person with his own eyes and judge.
“The entrance exam incident and the Jamsil Baseball Stadium incident. I want to hear details. Hear about my junior’s epic tales!”
A faint superpower wave flowed in Seong Gukeon’s eyes who spoke like that.
‘Seong Gukeon’s eyes are a bit special as they’ve received a blessing from a higher being.’
It should be some kind of a test.
‘Even though Seong Gukeon looks rash and careless, he is skillful in negotiations and politics as the 2-term National Assembly member. It’s impossible that he simply wants to see the junior’s face when he is busy and even injured.’
I couldn’t exactly guess Seong Gukeon’s intentions, but I started talking.
“Yes, then let’s start with the incident which happened during the entrance exam.”
I talked while answering questions thrown by Seong Gukeon and Seong Siwan from time to time.
When I finished the story and the main dish, a grilled duck with cordyceps[4] came out following white kimchi wheat rolls.
“Thank you for telling me about it, Uisin.”
The faint flow of the supernatural wave disappeared from Seong Gukeon’s eyes.
“You’re not a Jin or a descendant, huh? Excellent.”
“Ah, Gukeon hyung! I told you a few times that Uisin is a good kid!”
“Aren’t there also Jin and descendants hiding among good kids, pretending to be human? Even with those ‘eyes’ it’s hard to detect Jin people and descendants carefully hiding their identities. If made to speak for this long, a faint supernatural wave will come out, so I can barely detect it.”
“Hyung really…! Uisin, I’m sorry.”
“Hahahee! It’s because there is no one to trust after the Clash of Different Worlds. Sorry!”
Seong Siwan and Seong Gukeon apologized.
Was he worried that Unknown Supernova that is close to his younger cousin may not be human?
If not, was there something else?
“It’s fine, rather there is also a story I want to hear from senior Seong Gukeon-nim.”
“A story from me? I can tell you as much as you want about my exploits.”
I couldn’t fully understand Seong Gukeon’s intentions, but there was something I was curious about and decided to ask about it first.
“15 years ago, senior-nim was Eungwang School’s Student Council’s president who succeeded in expelling dormitory managers and corrupted directors and made the Wings Council.”
“… Yeah. Siwan told you, right?”
“I heard stories about the Student Council president’s actions 15 years ago.”
Even in the game, when the Playable Character, Seong Gukeon’s career was mentioned a few times, there wasn’t such a story there.
It was weird that such a perfect material for selling a moving story of a politician who was creating legends from his teens years wasn’t well-known.
“However, it’s really not known that the Student Council president is the 2-term National Assembly member, senior Seong Gukeon-nim. Is there a reason?”
Seong Gukeon didn’t reply straight away.
“It’s something from my shameful past.”
“Yes?”
He succeeded in kicking out dormitory managers and corrupted directors with the power of students.
Was that a shameful past?
“While I was enrolled, I kept getting into a lot of incidents. I wasn’t a guy who should be a Student Council president. I belonged to class 0 for all three years. Junior.”
Seong Gukeon wasn’t just Eungwang School’s senior, but a great class 0’s senior…!
“At that time, I saw my friend get beaten up by a manager at the cafeteria and decided to become a Student Council president to try to do something.”
A former class 0 and Student Council president and now a member of the National Assembly.
In addition, based on what Seong Siwan said, he was 1st place throughout all 3 years.
As expected, my Playable Character’s career was splendid.
“I asked others to choose me, because during my term as a Student Council president I’ll send those dog bastards to prison. If I can’t do it during my term, I’ll handle them even if that means I’ll go to prison myself, I said, so trust me and choose me.”
Did you make such a bloody sound to make them choose you?!
“I succeeded, but it took a long time and there were many people who got hurt in body and mind in the meantime. Do you think those guys didn’t do anything while we made signature camping, held silent protests and made a video? There were incidents so horrific that they were hidden and people refused to testify.”
Seong Gukeon smiled sourly as he finished an old story.
“I don’t feel like bragging about it. If there was a guy among my staff who would use the Wings Council founding incident as a publicity card, I think I would crush their limbs, hahaha!”
Seong Gukeon was laughing energetically, but his eyes were filled with sincerity.
“Aren’t there Jin people among Eungwang School’s board members? That’s the fact, so even if they pretend to not belong to Jin people and descendants, don’t trust them.”
Looks like Hwang-ho’s long laziness became one of the principles behind my Playable Character’s actions.
But it seemed there was some other principle behind Seong Gukeon thinking like this, besides Hwang-ho’s behavior.
After that, Seong Siwan cut in to change the mood and we had a conversation appropriate for a senior and a junior, and then we finished the dinner.
“See you next time, Uisin.”
After exchanging device codes with Seong Gukeon, he left such words before parting.
Considering Seong Gukeon’s personality, he didn’t speak out of courtesy, but he truly thought of seeing me next time.
But Ham Geun-hyeong said I resembled the guy who made the Wings Council 15 years ago…. How did I resemble Seong Gukeon?
***
My dormitory room.
When I came back from the light training to organize my mind, it was quite late.
After activating the device, unread messages poured out.
‘The address record is tightly filled with Hwang Jiho.’
Looking only at the most recent messages, he wrote meaningful words.
[Hwang Jiho] I guess you didn’t read it at all.
[Hwang Jiho] You’ll regret it.
What is this guy suddenly talking about?
After I read it and ghosted him, I saw the next message, it was from Eun-ho’s descendants siblings.
The message was from a few hours ago.
[Eun Niho] Uisin oppa… are you not coming today?
[Eun Seoho] We heard you will be coming on the weekend…
What!
No way, were you waiting for me?
I decided to go to play in Hwang Jiho’s house on the weekend, but I thought of going and sleeping on Saturday.
Usually weekends are thought of as Saturday and Sunday, but looking broadly, Friday could also be included.
As in baseball, Friday’s match started 3 consecutive matches on the weekend.
[Eun Jaeho] ㅜㅜ
[Eun Jaeho] The divine beast is also waiting!
Youngest, Eun Jaeho, sent a picture of Snare from behind looking up at the door around the entrance.
Our Snare was waiting on the cold floor? What have I done?!
As Hwang Jiho said, the regrets flooded.
[Me] I’m sorry, I checked it only now.
[Me] I’ll come tomorrow.
I hurriedly sent a message to Eun-ho’s descendants siblings, but no reply came.
Only after a moment, a reply came from the oldest, Eun Seoho.
[Eun Seoho] Niho and Jaeho are sleeping
[Eun Seoho] Make sure to come tomorrow, hyung!
It was a picture of Niho and Jaeho and Snare sleeping curled up on the sofa in the living room.
It was cute, but when I thought why those kids ended up sleeping like this, my mind hurt.
‘Tomorrow, the moment I stand up, I have to buy more gifts with the meaning of an apology. After buying gifts, I’ll head straight to Hwang Myeong-ho’s mansion!’
To wake up fast, I quickly washed and then laid down in bed.
And like this, the Teacher’s Day when the 1st year class 0’s attendance rate reached 50% ended.
*~*~*
[1] Hahahee – it’s ‘hahahat!’ in raws, ‘hat’ sound resembles sounds of spitting a bit, so it could also be ‘haha *spit*’.
[2] Matchless in the Nation – ‘matchless in greatness or severity of something’.
[3] boryo – ‘보료’ are traditional cushions used to sit on the floor, with backrest and additional cushions to support elbows…
[4] cordyceps – Cordyceps militaris
Translator’s note:
When Jin people speak a bit of supernatural energy flows out (fact) → there is supernatural energy in breath (assumption) → OH FUCK. (fact)
Did you see a mistake? 🐞
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