Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Jin Se-hee tentatively reached that conclusion, tilting her head to the side.

It was an answer based on intuition and guesswork, but she couldn't help feeling something was a little off.

Still, she couldn't say it was entirely wrong, so it had to be treated as one possible hypothesis.

'It's true that dating openly would attract a lot of attention. Other students aside, those two are the representatives of the Student Council. On top of that, they share duties, so if they got entangled in a personal relationship, questions of fairness would arise. The chairman and the Chancellor wouldn't look kindly on it either.'

In the end, there was only one way for the two of them to date in secret.

And that was to leave no room for controversy in the first place.

Could it be that Seo Hyun-woo had spread the rumor in advance precisely for that purpose?

'By steering things toward the impression that he has a girlfriend while naturally dragging the Vice President into it. Then, when he issues a denial afterward, the students will be suspicious but won't believe the rumors anymore. Once that happens, whether the two of them are actually dating or not becomes a matter outside everyone's interest.'

If that was the plan, it was well worth attempting for Seo Hyun-woo.

Even if it failed, he had nothing to lose, and if it succeeded, he'd have achieved exactly what he wanted.

But the reason Seo Hyun-woo would go to such lengths to win Baek Seo-yeon's heart was something she couldn't understand.

'Does he want the Vice President that badly? Well, I suppose it's not entirely incomprehensible. She's highly skilled, and her work performance is exceptional. Her looks can't even be compared to the other female students. But.......'

Jin Se-hee stopped her train of thought right there.

To be honest, anyone at the level of a department head should be considered roughly equal to the Vice President in terms of ability.

Above all, she had never once thought she fell behind Baek Seo-yeon in any regard.

Upon reaching that conclusion, Jin Se-hee found herself growing inexplicably angry.

'He did all this just because he's blinded by a woman? Has the President really changed completely after all?'

Jin Se-hee clenched her teeth and began glaring at Seo Hyun-woo.

The Seo Hyun-woo she knew had been cold and assertive with his authority, but he'd never shown a single opening.

He never made mistakes in handling his duties and always tried to resolve situations objectively and fairly.

So why had that same Seo Hyun-woo become such a sentimental person?

"Is something not to your satisfaction? Glaring at me like that isn't going to change anything."

"Was there really nothing going on between you and the Vice President?"

"It almost sounds like you're hoping something did happen. Nothing happened. You'd have been more entertaining if you'd challenged me to a Rank Battle instead."

"......You've changed too much. What on earth made you change like that?"

"That I can answer for certain. Life's too hard. I'd love to live a normal life, but it's just not working out."

But Seo Hyun-woo's lament didn't resonate with Jin Se-hee at all.

It only seemed like he was making unfunny excuses to gloss over the situation.

The old Seo Hyun-woo probably wouldn't have created this kind of controversy in the first place.

"How truly disappointing. Where did the person you showed us at the morning meeting go?"

"Is scolding others and flaunting your own power really that impressive? I don't think so. You can't lead the Student Council that way."

"But that's exactly how you've been leading the Student Council all this time. That was the President's way."

With those words as her last, Jin Se-hee stood up from her seat.

Then, without sparing Seo Hyun-woo so much as a glance, she walked out of the Student Council President's office.

Seo Hyun-woo simply sipped his tea slowly, wearing a faint smile.

'......So this is what made Jin Se-hee attracted to Seo Hyun-woo. A personality that's overbearing yet values nothing but efficiency in work. In short, she likes the competent bad boy.'

***

"Huff...... Huff......"

A male student in a navy-blue uniform panted for breath as he injected a needle into his own arm.

His veins, which had been a pale green, swelled as if they would burst, gradually turning black.

Intense pain and convulsions came with it, but by now he had grown as accustomed to it as one could be.

"Vice President...... My Vice President......"

Kim Tae-jun, a Full Member of the Enhancement Department, pulled out his smartphone and zoomed in on the photos saved on it.

Every single one of the dozens of photos showed only Baek Seo-yeon.

Walking somewhere, looking down at the flower garden, wearing the faintest hint of a smile.

Nothing was more precious to this male student, and they were also the driving force that let him endure the agony and suffering from the injections.

"How can she be this beautiful...... She must become mine."

Kim Tae-jun's gaze swept through the dozens of photos in order.

But his rapidly moving gaze froze on a single photo.

In the photo, Baek Seo-yeon was captured walking side by side with Seo Hyun-woo.

Before long, Kim Tae-jun's hands began trembling violently, and his face twisted into a grotesque expression.

"The likes of you, dating the Vice President? My Vice President!"

Unable to contain his boiling rage, Kim Tae-jun clenched his fist with all his strength.

The smartphone was crushed completely, shards of the screen scattering across the floor.

From Kim Tae-jun's right hand, a blackened liquid was slowly seeping out.

"A bastard who can't do anything without his special-type ability, and he dares! He was just lucky, nothing more!"

Kim Tae-jun screamed and threw a swift punch at the wall.

Cracks spread across the wall before it collapsed entirely.

Kim Tae-jun's right arm had turned completely black, and beyond that, its form was gradually growing indistinct.

"Once I've adapted to this power, you'll be the first I kill. The Vice President is mine alone. No one can take her from me."

***

Inside the Student Council President's office.

Seo Hyun-woo was gripped by tension for the first time since arriving in this world.

The protagonist, Kang Jin-ha, had enrolled at Miterich, and the rumor that he and the Vice President were dating had already spread.

All the conditions were in place, and today was the day the first incident would occur according to the story's flow.

'Even if I didn't intend it, the rumor about dating Baek Seo-yeon was bound to spread no matter what. And it's today that the incident finally erupts.'

Seo Hyun-woo had completely stepped away from his work and was staring up at the ceiling.

Until now, he had been performing the Student Council President's role without issue, but from here on, he needed to act a little more seriously.

If even one thing went wrong here, it would cause problems for the story's progression going forward.

'But variables will arise. Since I'm filling Seo Hyun-woo's role in his place. That's exactly why I need to find out in advance.'

Seo Hyun-woo had no intention of following the original novel's plot as it was.

Changing his own personality and attitude, spreading rumors about having a girlfriend, even the outcome of today's incident.

All of it was nothing short of an experiment to prepare for future variables and consequences.

'First, Jin Se-hee has changed her perception of me. I spread the rumor early, but so far, nothing has happened yet. If that's the case, then the psychology of the main characters and the major incidents aren't strongly connected......'

Seo Hyun-woo had been focusing on the character relationship map and the occurrence of events.

And only now was he able to organize those two aspects to some degree.

Looking at the conclusion alone, the main characters had shown changes both large and small, but those changes didn't seem to significantly affect the occurrence of events.

'In some ways, that's a good thing. It means no matter what I do, the major incidents will inevitably occur. But in the long term, what kind of changes might arise......'

"President, it seems you didn't hear my knock again."

"Ah, you're here? Nagging is fine, but take this first."

Seo Hyun-woo immediately turned his head and placed a small box on the work desk.

Baek Seo-yeon opened her mouth with a puzzled expression.

"What is this?"

"Your birthday gift. I thought you might still be holding it against me, so I figured I'd prepare one."

"......Were you that eager to hear me tell you to see a doctor?"

"Then you can accept it and come with me."

Seo Hyun-woo let out a small laugh and rose from his seat.

Baek Seo-yeon struggled to accept what was happening before her eyes, yet she picked up the gift box all the same.

She had once confronted him about not knowing her birthday.

But how could she have ever predicted that incident would come back to her in the form of a birthday gift?

"You didn't need to go out of your way for this. It's......"

Baek Seo-yeon was about to say something but hesitated.

It was related to the Student Council's conventions.

But it wasn't a rule that had to be strictly followed, and Seo Hyun-woo must have known that when he decided to prepare the gift anyway.

"I can hear that kind of thing because I gave you a birthday gift. What would you have said if I hadn't?"

"Do you think I'd say something different over something like this?"

"We'd have to wait and see when the time came. But since that time will never come now, I can't prove it."

"Haa......"

Baek Seo-yeon let out a small sigh and followed Seo Hyun-woo to sit on the sofa.

The birthday gift was wrapped in elegant wrapping paper and ribbon.

Having received a gift she hadn't even expected, her heart seemed to grow needlessly confused.

"You can open it now if you'd like. It's nothing that impressive."

"......For now, I'll accept it gratefully. I never expected you to remember my birthday and even give me a gift."

"I put quite a bit of thought into it. Your family is fairly well-off, isn't it? No matter what I gave you, it wouldn't be easy to satisfy you."

"That's subtly snide of you. But since it's the truth, I won't deny it."

"I'm not being snide. If you found out what the gift actually is and ended up disappointed, wouldn't that be a little pitiful for me?"

"That won't happen. Because you gave it with me in mind."

Having answered that, Baek Seo-yeon immediately began unwrapping the box.

Inside the wrapping was a deep blue box.

When she lifted the lid, inside was a light purple flower-shaped hairpin.

"Hmm...... If you don't mind, may I ask what this gift is meant to signify?"

"It seemed like it would suit you. It happened to be a similar color to your eyes. I know you don't bother dressing up, but a hairpin should be fine, shouldn't it?"

Unlike other female students, Baek Seo-yeon wasn't one to adorn herself much.

Miterich was fairly permissive as long as it wasn't tattoos, flashy jewelry, or other excessive embellishments.

Yet Baek Seo-yeon never deliberately altered her uniform's fit or wore heavy makeup.

She simply wore the black uniform that symbolized the Vice Student Council President and applied only minimal makeup.

"I didn't expect you to worry about my appearance as well."

"Isn't it a waste? With looks like yours, you'd be pretty no matter what you did."

"......That compliment is far too blatant."

"Then should I call someone pretty ugly instead of pretty?"

Upon hearing those words, Baek Seo-yeon seemed to smile for just a moment before reverting to her indifferent expression.

Then she promptly took out the hairpin and tried placing it on her head.

"Then let me hear the President's opinion. Where do you think this hairpin should go?"

"Hmm...... The right side would be good. Ah, from your perspective, the left."

Baek Seo-yeon immediately stood up and walked toward the full-length mirror.

After adjusting her hair a few times, she secured it firmly with the hairpin.

"Is this good?"

"It suits you perfectly. You've proven my excellent taste on my behalf."

Even as Seo Hyun-woo looked at Baek Seo-yeon, the sharpness never left his gaze.

Today was Baek Seo-yeon's birthday, and also the day the protagonist Kang Jin-ha would make his first move.

Sometime this evening or during the night, that bastard would likely attack Baek Seo-yeon.

'She celebrates her birthday only to be hit with something terrible right after. When the time comes, Kang Jin-ha will come to her rescue on his own, but...... I should keep watch regardless. A variable might've arisen because of me. Depending on the situation, I'll have no choice but to step in myself.'