Episode 49 Club (2)
“Oh, by the way, I think I need to find a professor to be in charge of the club. There’s also a written test next week, so I think it wouldn’t hurt to prepare in advance.”
“I guess they’ve decided on a club name,” Ryozo muttered, as if he had just remembered something, before each of them returned to their classes.
“That’s right. After all, the professors will be busy grading the written exams right after. There’s no harm in asking in advance. Then, Saki, do you have a professor in mind?”
“Hmm, well. I can’t think of anyone in particular. It’s been a while since I’ve taken a proper class.”
Saki Ryozo shrugged his shoulders indifferently. Weapon showed a dumbfounded expression. Ryozo took out the yokan and started mumbling.
“Don’t worry. I have no intention of missing out on top spot on this midterm written exam.”
“… … .”
Weapon just moved his lips and didn’t say much in response. Although his pride was hurt, he seemed to accept her words obediently. Chloe looked back and forth between the two of them as if it was someone else’s business.
“Anyway, that’s fine. If there’s a professor you can think of, tell me. If you can find a professor who can be your advisor, I’ll write up a draft of the plan so you can submit it right away.”
Weapon continued, scratching his chin absentmindedly.
“For your information, only professors and above can be club advisors, so tell me who you can think of.”
There was a clear hierarchy among the academy’s faculty. For example, in Korea, instructors in charge of guiding and guiding students and providing practical training were like middle and high school teachers.
The professors at Joaquin Academy were not much different from those in Korea. They lectured to students and conducted research in harmony with graduate students in their individual labs.
Since the establishment of a club is usually a study session with a strong academic purpose, it is said that professors serve as advisors. I think it may be a way for them to select the next slaves.
“… As far as I know, Professor Guk Seiton from the Department of Ethics is already in charge of another club, so it won’t work out… … Professor Yujiro Kanma from the Department of Humanities is someone who only stays in his lab, so it’s hard to meet him in person… … .”
Weapon muttered, stroking his chin. Chloe, who had been listening, opened her mouth in a deafening voice.
“Then how about the professor in the Department of Home Economics? That professor’s lectures are popular and he’s very kind.”
“Oh, Professor Damien. But he’s so busy that he probably won’t be able to do it. In fact, there’s no one like him.”
He smacked his lips as if he was sorry about the weapon.
Among the faculty and staff of over 500, there are only about thirty professors. If you count the number of professors who teach first-year students, that’s up to ten.
After considering all the factors, there was no one suitable to take on the task of founding a club.
As it is the world’s best academy, it is not only about on-campus lectures.
“… You say you encourage club activities, but what kind of system is this?”
“That’s what adults do.”
Ryozo just shrugged his shoulders.
“Does anyone come to mind, Sword Maiden?”
Someone who comes to mind… … .
I listed the faces that I could remember in my head and crossed them out one by one. While I was briefly organizing the faces like that, an exclamation mark appeared above my head.
“Is it okay if it’s ‘professor level’ or higher?”
When I asked casually, Weapon tilted his head and answered.
“That’s right. But there are almost no professors above me in the academy.”
“It’s not like there isn’t one, right?”
As I said that, I took my cell phone out of my pocket. Ryozo, who had just finished eating the yokan, asked me.
“Where are you calling from?”
“The principal’s office.”
* * *
“Oh, shit!”
Claude von Beimharg, one of the five elders of the Joaquin Academy. He gritted his teeth and let out a fit of rage mixed with curses.
Cladi cracked the cap off the glass with his teeth and poured it into a glass filled with ice. He had already poured the cold water down his throat before the glass was half full.
Gulp.
At the same time, my Adam’s apple started to swell.
Phew!
A clear liquid burst out of his mouth like a fountain. In an instant, the scent of alcohol began to faintly permeate the office.
The liquid mixed with saliva flowed from the corner of Claude’s mouth. He looked down at his glass with a blank expression.
“…alcohol?”
Judging by the taste, it is not just any alcohol, but the ‘Royal Scotch 28 Years Old Black Label Edition’ that Claude himself acquired with great difficulty through an auction half a year ago.
It was a top-quality liquor worth tens of millions of won per bottle. Why was this liquor, which should have been in a personal wine rack, in this glass bottle?
Suddenly, a fleeting question crossed his mind, and a thick blood vessel formed on Claudia’s wrinkled temple.
“What the hell is this kid!”
The fury in Claude’s eyes grew even more intense. He wiped his mouth nervously with a gold-embroidered handkerchief.
Then, feeling a sense of exhaustion creeping in, I sank deep into the sofa and muttered absentmindedly.
“…father.”
Limon von Beimhark. He was the father of Claude himself and a great man known to the world as Gwangho (狂虎), one of the Seven Sacred Heroes.
However, 40 years ago, my father received orders to go to war against the 6th Army Corps Commander Basmon.
The public hailed him as a noble hero, but young Claude’s character was greatly distorted in the face of public acclaim.
In addition, the assassination plot against Claude that was carried out by the Beimhark family immediately after his father’s death in order to take over the family. Such experiences accelerated Claude’s twisted course.
He harbored poison in his heart. He turned the assassination plot against himself and killed his relatives, and reestablished the discipline that had been shaken by his father’s absence.
And finally, at the young age of thirty, he was able to obtain the honor of being a senior member of the Joaquin Academy.
However, the dark nature that had already been tainted since childhood had been transformed into anti-humanitarian thoughts. Claude accepted that it was her destiny to guide foolish humanity and firmly maintain the absolute chosen people system.
In order to control the ignorant masses and the lowly subjects, a public enemy was needed, and since humanity had a huge enemy called the Demon Tribe, they were able to secure the legitimacy of their power.
But variables tend to come without warning.
Leon van Reinhardt.
The next hero chosen by heaven who has manifested the ‘miraculous protection’, the only power that can subdue the Demon King. Claude felt a great sense of crisis at his appearance.
Of course, the gap in power between humans and demons was so great that the possibility of Leon van Reinhardt defeating the Demon King would be close to impossible.
However, there was the hero of the beginning, Balor Joaquin, who sealed the 1st Legion Commander ‘Lycan’, the worst and most evil demon, despite being a mere human.
Since the legend was a real precedent, Claude couldn’t help but be greatly shaken.
‘That should never happen.’
When he made up his mind, someone came to him and made him an offer he couldn’t refuse.
-I’ll help you deal with that brat candidate, Elder!
A mere female instructor. Normally, I wouldn’t dare speak to her. The level of distinction between herself as a senior and a mere instructor was clear.
But the moment I met her cold, burning eyes, it was engraved in my bones as if it was imprinted on me who was high and who was low.
Half-human, half-horse, villain.
A human who made a direct contract with a commander-level mine. A race that gave up humanity and chose magic power.
Claudie let out a long sigh. Her stomach started to hurt as she thought of the female instructor’s face.
“… Even without that brat Leon, things are already a pain in the ass, but that lowly special promotion brat is making things even more complicated.”
Auditore expressed his position that he would not proceed with the assassination unless the reason was clear, even though he had ordered it through the Elders.
However, since it is the opinion of the Academy’s senior members, we will go through the verification process, but it will likely be sluggish.
It wasn’t Claude’s style to rely solely on a family of shady assassins who were obsessed with formalities and didn’t take bribes.
However, it would be against my dignity to be swayed by that villainous female instructor. Considering how I got slapped in the ear the other day, I wouldn’t be able to handle it even if I changed it several times.
‘X years.’
If he was going to trample on them, he would do it. Claude had the power and wealth to do so.
After rolling the ice for a while, he poured the liquor into his mouth.
“First, I have to make sure that lowly bastard is taken care of.”
Claude rolled the dial pad on her phone with her finger. A short dial tone rang in her ear, and the person on the other end quickly picked up the phone.
⎯Yes, Elder Claude von Beimharg.
“Call the Undertakers.”
Cladi moved only her wrist, leisurely making the sound of rolling ice so that the person on the phone could hear it.
* * *
A warm, breezy morning in early summer.
I opened the door to the Academy’s administrative office early, before the ordinance began.
We haven’t reached the 5 member requirement for founding a club yet, but since the written exam is next week, we plan to at least submit the plan first.
The interior was decorated with antique wooden furniture and a rather high ceiling for an office. The employees were each sipping a cup of coffee.
‘Do office workers live with coffee in their mouths?’
I raised my eyes slightly and examined the department sign.
… faculty and staff personnel, payroll and pension administration, accounting/bookkeeping, taxation, etc… I glanced over the various signs.
“Found it.”
I found the club department at the very back of the administration office. I strode over there.
The department had not yet received all of its employees, so only one person was there. A plump, chubby woman. Her face was visibly tired.
“I came to ask about founding a club.”
As I said that, the department staff member quickly looked me up and down with half-lidded eyes. It must have been some kind of habit that developed from attending an academy attended by children of high-ranking officials.
In the meantime, the employee’s gaze stopped for a moment on my name tag, and then he let out a deep sigh.
And then, before I could even hand over the club founding documents, he glared at me coldly and moved his thick lips.
“Oh, I’m sorry, but to create a club, the club president must come in person and apply.”
“I’m the manager?”
“You?”
An employee snorts in laughter, one corner of his mouth twitching. I guess it’s because of my status as a special promotion student.
‘But, fuck.’
How could someone who is an employee of an educational institution show such an blatant attitude just because he is a cadet? I felt something rising to the top of my throat, and the veins on my temples clumped together.
“Well, if the procedures are followed, it will be created, right? Please accept the application.”
When I spoke in a cold voice, the employee flinched for a moment. Then, she covered up her surprised expression and began to speak sharply.
“Excuse me, special promotion students—no, first-year students too. If you want to apply for club creation, you need to have an advisor, right? Well… It looks like there’s no one who can be the advisor for this club.”
“What does that mean?”
“Do you not understand what I mean? Honestly, do you think there is even one professor in this academy who would be the advisor for a club created by a special student? Well, I guess I should at least be aware of my background.”
I guess it’s just as expected. Because of people like this who are steeped in the idea of chosen people, the academy is on the verge of disappearing.
I would like to pluck out my favorite means of communication from the inside out, but if I do so without any discernment, I become a criminal.
But I have been in the food service industry for nearly 20 years.
I have encountered countless disgusting human beings, so I know the best way to deal with people who are obsessed with this superiority complex.
It’s about being careful with your words. You have to keep a deep silence to control the momentum of the person who is chattering away. But still, your trembling hands are quietly reaching for the sashimi.
I looked down at the employee, forcibly stuffing my hands into my pockets.
To cut, or not to cut, that is the question.
Then, the employee who had been talking nonchalantly flinched for a moment and shook his shoulders slightly. However, soon after, he tried to raise his voice even louder.
Rollin’ Rollin⎯♪ Rollin⎯♬ Hey⎯!!!
The phone suddenly rang. The administrative office was filled with the voices of employees, so the bell rang particularly loudly.
I took out my cell phone. The employee blushed as if he was shocked. I ignored him neatly and answered the phone.
“Oh, hello. I’m at the administration office right now because of the club creation ceremony.”
“Oh my, oh my, look at this kid. He’s so ridiculous. Cadet, do you know where this is? He called… … .”
A female employee who is glaring and grumbling.
“⎯Oh, you’re coming right now? I guess it doesn’t matter though.”
I gave her a cold glare and continued speaking.
“Okay, then I’ll see you soon.”
After I finished the call, I said in a cold tone.
“Once we confirm the person in charge, let’s proceed according to procedure. Since you’re coming.”
“Hey! Who do you trust and are so shameless?! How big of a backer are you? I’m so dumbfounded. Hey, what about me? I’m the cousin of the principal’s close friend! If I tell him, he’ll get one of the special promotion students⎯!”
Hearing that, he started to spit out sarcasm and started to tease me with his twisted lips. He kept snapping at me. Everyone’s eyes turned to him.
A look where hypocrisy is completely stripped away. Yes, this is how it should be done.
“Shh, your voice is too loud.”
I whispered briefly in her ear. This kind of person is not worthy of respect.
“What, what did you say?”
Bam!
At that moment, the administrative office door opened wide.
The administrative staff’s gaze immediately turned in that direction.
For a few seconds, they looked blank as if they didn’t recognize me, but then they all stood up. I smiled faintly at that sight.
“I’m talking about the club advisor.”
I said, pointing behind me with my raised thumb.
“Say hello, it’s him.”
Knock, knock, the low sound of lonely shoes was heard.
