Chapter 7 – Rule 5: The Leader Cares for the Vice-Leader

 

Oh Baek-seo.

 

As the Vice-Leader of the Disciplinary Committee at Ahsung High School, she’s known among the students as the “Right Hand of the Disciplinary Committee Leader.”

 

The Baek-seo I know is a master of reading the room. Sometimes, it feels like she can read my mind or see the future. If this were a workplace, Baek-seo would undoubtedly be on the fast track to promotion.

 

Recently, however, she’s been showing signs of strain.

 

‘A strange occurrence.’

 

One of her hands was bandaged due to a burn.

 

Thanks to the healing mage in the infirmary, she would be fully healed in four days, but it was still worrying to see.

 

Since our first year, Baek-seo had always been perfect. This was the first time I’d seen her out of sorts since entering Ahsung High School.

 

‘Well, nobody’s perfect.’

 

Spending more time together as the Leader and Vice-Leader, I began to see sides of her that I hadn’t noticed before.

 

I nodded in acceptance, finding joy in discovering this new side of her. It made her more human.

 

However, that didn’t stop me from worrying.

 

‘…Something bad hasn’t happened, has it?’

 

If Baek-seo showed signs of strain again, I would ask her seriously if something was wrong and use any means necessary to help her.

 

Baek-seo is my closest ally and dear friend.

 

Wadada!

 

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the hallway, and the door to the Disciplinary Committee office swung open.

 

“The wild Ha Yesong has appeared!”

 

As expected.

 

“Welcome.”

 

“Hi, Leader!”

 

Ha Yesong, the member in charge of managing public morals, made her entrance.

 

“Come on in.”

 

Baek-seo, who was reviewing an agenda while sipping tea, welcomed Yesong warmly.

 

“Baek-seo~! You’re beautiful as always! Huff huff!”

 

Yesong enjoyed the affectionate touch of Baek-seo, who was smiling kindly.

 

A usual sight.

 

Yesong idolized Baek-seo and liked her very much.

 

Although this affection turned Yesong into a puppy-like character, it was clearly a positive feeling.

 

“Is your hand okay now? Does it hurt? Our precious Baek-seo’s hand…”

 

“It’s fine.”

 

I looked up from my documents, watching Baek-seo and Yesong interact.

 

“Hmmm…”

 

Since becoming the Leader, I had increasingly felt something whenever I saw Yesong.

 

It was an inconvenience that arose after appointing Yesong as an officer, especially in comparison to Baek-seo.

 

It was the length of her skirt.

 

That kid’s skirt was short, even as an officer. Her legs were too visible.

 

‘Should I mention it or not….’

 

Recalling my past life, pointing out the length of a skirt at work was considered workplace harassment.

 

That’s why I had been deliberating.

 

I didn’t want Yesong to feel sexually harassed.

 

“Leader, do you have something to say to me?”

 

Yesong asked me with a questioning expression.

 

…It couldn’t wait any longer.

 

Today, I had to say it.

 

‘An officer’s shortcomings can directly impact my authority.’

 

I decided this was a matter to be taken seriously. I had a valid reason to point out the skirt length.

 

“Ha Yesong.”

 

“Yes, Leader.”

 

I pointed at Yesong and reprimanded her.

 

“Article 45, Section 5, Clause 2 of the dress code states that the skirt length should not exceed 10 cm above the knee. We respect individual expression, but your skirt is well beyond the limit.”

 

“?”

 

“You are an officer now. You need to strictly adhere to the rules and set an example for the students. If you want to wear a short skirt, wear pants. If you want to show your legs, wear shorts.”

 

“……?”

 

“And especially since you’re in charge of managing public morals, you need to conduct yourself properly.”

 

Hmm….

 

Was that too pedantic?

 

No.

 

‘This is necessary discipline.’

 

How could I condone someone responsible for managing public morals blatantly violating the dress code by wearing such a short skirt and exposing her legs carelessly?

 

Yesong, as an officer of the Disciplinary Committee, needed to comply with the dress code.

 

“…….”

 

But for some reason, Yesong was staring at me with wide eyes without responding.

 

Soon, she reacted unexpectedly.

 

“Kkondae.” (TL – The slang noun kkondae is used by students and teenagers in korea to refer to older people such as fathers and teachers)

 

“What?”

 

I doubted my ears for a moment.

 

I heard a word that didn’t fit me at all.

 

Yesong turned towards me, resting her hand on the sofa’s backrest, and started a passionate speech.

 

“Leader, you’re such an old-fashioned person! Your mindset is stuck in the past! I can’t believe someone like you still exists among the new generation!”

 

I couldn’t believe it.

 

‘She called someone as open-minded as me a kkondae…?’

 

The scolding earlier was for her, me, and the Disciplinary Committee’s sake.

 

And she calls me a kkondae?

 

That’s nonsense.

 

“…Ha Yesong. Even as a joke, that’s hard to ignore.”

 

“Isn’t it true?”

 

“No. You’re the first to call me that, in this life or my past one.”

 

“Yesong covered her mouth and laughed slyly.

 

“Oh, is that so~.”

 

Ye-song slowly approached my desk.

 

There it is, that look in her eyes.

 

The look of someone who has found her prey.

 

“Leader?”

 

Ye-song leaned forward, covering her mouth with her hand and speaking conspiratorially.

 

“If that’s the case, how about a test?”

 

“A test?”

 

“Let’s determine today if you’re really a kkondae or not.”

 

Amusing.

 

Whatever it was, I was confident.

 

“Alright, go ahead.”

 

I accepted the challenge.

 

If Ye-song tried to label me as a kkondae with some bizarre argument, I planned to counter her logic.

 

“How about we involve the Vice-Leader too?”

 

We couldn’t leave our dear Vice-Leader out.

 

“Sounds good.”

 

Baek-seo joined with a smile.

 

“No problem. Shall I ask the question?”

 

Ye-song placed her hand on my desk and boldly asked as if presenting a quiz.

 

“You’re at a Disciplinary Committee dinner at a BBQ restaurant! But your subordinate isn’t grilling the meat and is just busy stuffing themselves. What do you and the Vice-Leader do?”

 

“What…?”

 

‘A subordinate not grilling the meat…?’

 

Could that even happen…?

 

I was flustered by the unexpected intensity of the question.

 

‘It feels uncomfortable…?’

 

The more I thought about it, the more my mouth itched to say something.

 

Recalling my past life, in both the military and the workplace, such a thing was unimaginable.

 

Even here in the Disciplinary Committee.

 

Last year, I diligently grilled the cultured meat…!

 

However.

 

‘Pointing out the grilling and scolding the subordinate would undeniably mark me as a kkondae.’

 

It was an uncomfortable and frustrating situation no matter how I looked at it.

 

At that moment, a doubt arose, making my eyes widen.

 

‘Am I… a kkondae after all?’

 

My hand holding the pen trembled slightly.

 

No matter how much I thought about it, my mind leaned towards the kind of answer a kkondae would give.

 

‘Calm down.’

 

I decided to defer my answer.

 

I straightened up and spoke cautiously.

 

“Let’s reverse it.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Let’s say you’re at a BBQ dinner, and senior students are grilling the meat. If you realized you were only eating, Ye-song, what would you do?”

 

Ye-song answered with a wide grin.

 

“I’d ask them to grill it even better!”

 

!

 

‘How could she say that…!?’

 

Just imagining it made me feel like coughing up blood.

 

‘You should be the one grilling!’

 

Why aren’t you grilling the meat?
The seniors are grilling it, and you’re just eating…!

 

“Hm.”

 

I pretended to be calm, pondering.

 

Should I answer honestly or mix in a bit of a lie to give a diplomatic response?

 

Should I admit I was a kkondae or not?

 

That question weighed heavily on my mind, causing inner turmoil.

 

This was a significant issue involving self-reflection, not just a lighthearted exchange.

 

I reminded myself as if casting a spell.

 

‘As the Leader of the Disciplinary Committee, which ranks number one in Ahsung High School’s power hierarchy, I must clarify this matter. Whether the authority figure is a kkondae affects the satisfaction level of Disciplinary Committee activities.’

 

Even if a Leader had charisma, low satisfaction would lead to decreased loyalty and morale among committee members.

 

Thus, as their leader, I needed to establish my values clearly.

 

‘What a profound question….’

 

In 17 years of reincarnation in this world, I had never faced such a dilemma.

 

What should I say?

 

What answer is most appropriate for the Disciplinary Committee Leader, Ahn Woo-jin?

 

“However.”

 

At that moment, Baek-seo spoke with a doubtful expression.

 

“Isn’t it right to ask a junior to grill the meat?”

 

“Huh…?”