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

 

Baek-seo spoke firmly.

 

“I think it’s a matter of respect. If there’s such a lack of respect between seniors and juniors, it could become problematic. Especially in the Disciplinary Committee, where hierarchy is crucial. It’s kind of problematic.”

 

‘Baek-seo…!’

 

What a clear answer!

 

Her straightforwardness never disappoints.

 

“Huh…?”

 

Ye-song looked surprised, not expecting such a response from the usually kind Baek-seo. An unexpected silence followed.

 

Eventually, Ye-song spoke reluctantly.

 

“Is that… so?”

 

As previously mentioned, Baek-seo is Ye-song’s idol.

 

Even if it was me, she hesitated to call Baek-seo a kkondae.

 

Baek-seo looked at me.

 

“What about you, Leader?”

 

“I agree with the Vice-Leader.”

 

“There you have it.”

 

Baek-seo and I exchanged words naturally, as if we had anticipated this flow.

 

Ye-song let out a frustrated groan, pondering for a while before speaking again.

 

“Then, let’s put that answer on hold and move on to the next question! Do you often say things like ‘Back in my day’ and tell juniors that things are easier now?”

 

“I haven’t said it often, but I did emphasize that the current system is better than last year’s, considering the stricter discipline I implemented.”

 

“Then…! If you saw a junior arriving later than you for club activities, would you find it bothersome!?”

 

“Unless I arrived early due to a busy schedule? Even so, I’d think juniors should arrive earlier than me.”

 

“Do you think juniors should attend gatherings as much as possible…?”

 

“Wouldn’t that be better? As new members, they should make an effort to build camaraderie.”

 

Ye-song paused, seemingly struggling with her next question, as if the answers she received weren’t what she expected.

 

As Ye-song bombarded me with questions, Baek-seo answered each one with a serene smile, never hesitating. Each time she did, she would turn to me and ask, “What about you, Leader?” and I would have no choice but to respond, “Me too.”

 

Ye-song was taken aback, unable to pull her pranks because Baek-seo preemptively gave the answers she expected from me.

 

‘This is….’

 

In hindsight, wasn’t this a situation that could have damaged my image?

 

It felt like the Vice-Leader had taken the burden for me, almost as if she was protecting my image.

 

“Hm….”

 

Baek-seo awkwardly smiled, twirling a lock of her hair around her finger.
Her eyes darted to the side.

 

It seemed like she was intentionally acting awkward, but given her kind and pure nature, that couldn’t be the case.

 

Then, Baek-seo looked back at Ye-song and me, cautiously asking.

 

“Am I a bit of a kkondae?”

 

“No, no, Baek-seo! You could never be a kkondae!”

 

Ye-song reacted hastily, shaking her head vehemently.

 

If Baek-seo, who was considered a goddess and an angel at Ahsung High School, was a kkondae, then the term “kkondae” would need to be redefined to mean “saint.”

 

Ye-song then turned back to me with a forced smile, nodding.

 

“Um, I guess the question was wrong! If the world considers Baek-seo a kkondae, then the world must be wrong!”

 

That value judgment was certainly valid.

 

It wasn’t our Vice-Leader who was wrong; it was the world.

 

Ye-song, looking dejected, returned to the sofa.

 

She seemed like a child who had found a toy she wanted but couldn’t play with it.

 

Then, she lowered her head.

 

“I was arrogant… I’m sorry for trying to determine if you’re a kkondae with my narrow-minded thinking….”

 

“Um? There’s no need to apologize. I don’t understand why you’re saying sorry.”

 

Baek-seo looked puzzled but then smiled benevolently and patted Ye-song’s head.

 

Taking advantage of the moment, I asked.

 

“So, what about your skirt?”

 

“I’ll lengthen it….”

 

Ye-song conceded and retreated.

 

That was satisfactory.

 

“By the way, how many questions did you plan to ask?”

 

Baek-seo kindly asked Ye-song.

 

“About 12? Never mind, I’ll just drop them all… I’ve lost the mood. I’d rather enjoy more of Baek-seo’s attention….”

 

Hmm.

 

However, this…

 

‘It ended too easily.’

 

The crucial questioning didn’t happen.

 

‘But….’

 

Ye-song probably asked these questions playfully, but they unexpectedly presented me with a serious issue.

 

It wasn’t just about maintaining my dignity and authority as the Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

That was just the bare minimum responsibility of a leader.

 

How should I lead the Disciplinary Committee in the future?

 

How should I balance honesty and pretense at every moment?

 

I had to find the appropriate middle ground….

 

“Leader, are you deep in thought?”

 

“Leader, thinking dirty thoughts?”

 

My contemplation about my attitude as the Disciplinary Committee Leader was abruptly interrupted by the puppy and the angel.

 

……

 

“Three days ago, around 12:49 PM, there was a hostage situation at the second cafeteria.”

 

The setting sun shone through the window, softly illuminating the room. I liked the atmosphere, so I left the lights off.

 

Sitting at my desk, I listened to the Vice-Leader of the Disciplinary Committee, Oh Baek-seo, as she briefed me on the incident. She stood in front of me, looking at the documents as she continued speaking.

 

While attentively listening, I occasionally glanced at the hand holding the clipboard. Though her burn had healed and the bandages were off, I still felt concerned.

 

“The perpetrator held a victim and caused a commotion against the cafeteria staff. They even used magic.”

 

The cafeteria club managed the school’s meals.

 

They were responsible for planning balanced diets suitable for the students’ age and development, cooking, and serving.

 

I clicked my tongue while looking at the perpetrator’s details in the report.

 

“Hostile acts against the cafeteria club are equivalent to challenging the school. There’s no room for leniency. According to the school rules, they should be punished as severely as possible.”

 

“Understood, I’ll reflect that. But 600 students have submitted a petition for the perpetrator’s exoneration. Should we ignore that?”

 

“What?”

 

“A petition…? 600 students in just three days?”

 

Baek-seo nodded.

 

Attacking the cafeteria club was an act that hindered public interest. It was an inexcusable crime.

 

I couldn’t understand why as many as 600 students supported the perpetrator.

 

…Wait.

 

“Why did the perpetrator do it?”

 

“They didn’t like mint chocolate being on the menu. The incident was triggered because mint chocolate was served that day.”

 

I inhaled sharply.

 

“Also, they couldn’t tolerate the fact that mint chocolate appeared on the menu three times this month.”

 

“Three times…?”

 

“The new nutritionist in the cafeteria insisted on including mint chocolate.”

 

This was unbelievable.

 

“In any case, it’s a serious crime, so we should punish them with the maximum severity…”

 

“Vice-Leader.”

 

I narrowed my eyes, placing my arms on the desk and looking at Baek-seo intently. For some reason, Baek-seo smiled brightly when our eyes met.

 

“Yes, Leader?”

 

“As the Disciplinary Committee Leader, I command you to reduce the severity of the punishment as much as possible.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“It was a crime committed for the public good. There are plenty of grounds for mitigation.”

 

The person was a hero who sacrificed themselves for the future of the school.

 

Even so, they broke the rules, and they had to be punished accordingly.

 

‘Argh.’

 

It frustrated me that this was all I could do.

 

I’m sorry, hero, that I can only offer you this much.

 

“Hmm, understood.”

 

Baek-seo shrugged her shoulders.

 

‘What?’

 

She accepted it just like that?

 

Baek-seo made a gesture indicating she had finished her report, organizing the documents on her clipboard and hugging them close.

 

“You’re not asking for a reason?”

 

“I serve you closely, don’t I? If it’s your command, I’ll follow it without question. I’ll handle the mitigation accordingly.”

 

“……”

 

Baek-seo was speaking with an air of natural authority.

 

I leaned back in my chair.

 

“Hm…”

 

“Leader, what’s the matter?”

 

I knew.

 

‘In the game, she wasn’t this compliant.’

 

Although Baek-seo’s role in the game was minor, it was clear she wasn’t someone who followed the Disciplinary Committee Leader so obediently.

 

With all the recent attention I’d been paying to Baek-seo, various thoughts had been crossing my mind.

 

This made me realize even more.

 

“No, it’s just that I’m grateful.”

 

That Baek-seo was very important to me.

 

Baek-seo seemed surprised by my answer, then she smiled kindly.

 

“Really?”

 

Suddenly, Baek-seo leaned towards me, a playful glint in her eyes.

 

“If you’re grateful for my loyalty, why not praise me?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Sometimes, Baek-seo would come at me like this, catching me off guard and tugging hard at my words.

 

“Occasionally, I need some praise to recharge my motivation.”

 

She smiled mischievously, her eyes full of anticipation.

 

‘This is a bit burdensome…’

 

She turned my “I’m grateful” into an excuse for praise.

 

It seemed like it would be difficult to just let this pass.

 

The words that immediately came to mind were ‘capable and beautiful.’ Baek-seo was a woman I liked enough to consider as the top candidate for the vacant position of my bride.

 

However, saying ‘beautiful’ to someone who wasn’t particularly close could make them uncomfortable and risk awkwardness between us.

 

“Hmm, then….”

 

From a colleague’s perspective….

 

I decided to give some neutral praise.

 

“You’re capable, strong, and diligent. Among the people I’ve seen, you’re close to perfect. That’s why I want to keep you by my side.”

 

“…Really?”

 

“Yes. You’re always reliable and dependable.”

 

“Hmm. Would you pat my head too?”

 

“Huh? No…? This hand was meant to scratch my head.”

 

Baek-seo, with her usual gentle smile, straightened up.

 

Her lips twitched intermittently. The way she clutched the clipboard tightly suggested she was tense.

 

“Good thing. If you had done that, I wouldn’t have been able to stand it.”

 

“?”

 

Unable to stand it?

 

Oh.

 

‘Was it that cringy…?’

 

I belatedly realized.

 

I had just made some really cringy statements.

 

As I replayed my words, I felt my hands and feet curling.

 

The reason Baek-seo’s hands trembled slightly as she clutched the clipboard must have been because she was trying hard to suppress her cringes.

 

Swiftly, Baek-seo turned and moved towards the table, tidying up her belongings.

 

Her movements seemed quicker than usual.

 

“Leader, I’m done for the day, so I’ll be heading out.”

 

“Oh, okay… See you tomorrow.”

 

“See you tomorrow.”

 

Baek-seo smiled at me once more before leaving the room.

 

Her walking speed was faster than usual.

 

“…Ugh.”

 

I put my hand on my forehead.

 

I’m not oblivious.

 

The reason Baek-seo didn’t continue her playful banter and instead quickly left.

 

She was trying to suppress her cringes and not show it.

 

‘I should have just said something like ‘you’re competent’ and stopped there….’

 

I meant to give a simple answer but ended up being too honest.

 

Today, it might have tarnished the image Baek-seo had of me.