Chapter 8 (Continued)

 

Why is it causing a stir, and why is she telling me?

 

Just as I was pondering this, another message came in.

 

[Ha Yesong: Leader!!!]

 

[Ha Yesong: Big news!!!]

 

[Ha Yesong: Check out the latest Shinso video!!]

 

[Ha Yesong: It’s huge!!]

 

Even Ha Yesong was excited.

 

‘What is it?’

 

I accessed JTube on my smartphone and went to ShinsoTV. There was a new video uploaded early this morning, which seemed unrelated to his usual sword dances.

 

The title was ‘To the Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader.’

 

In the current Academy City, if someone referred to the “Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader,” it was obviously me.

 

I clicked on the video immediately.

 

In the video, the male student in the goblin mask, Shinso, greeted the camera and began to speak.

 

─ I am pursuing strength. I envision a future where I will be called the ‘Sword Saint.’
To achieve that, I believe I must challenge strong opponents and build my legend.

 

‘Ah.’

 

I could guess what he was going to say.

 

Please.

 

We haven’t even met yet; don’t do this….

 

─ Ahsung High School Disciplinary Committee Leader!

 

Sure enough, Shinso uttered the name that should not be spoken.

 

─ From the first day of the semester, you protected many students from an armed group that hijacked the subway. You may not know how deeply I was moved by your heroics.

 

I don’t care.

 

─ Moreover, you command the famous genius, Vice President Oh Baek-seo. I can’t even fathom how incredible you must be! So, I earnestly wish to have a match with you. Please, teach me a lesson! I beg you!

 

Shinso respectfully bowed his upper body.

 

In the end, he said the dreaded line.

 

‘What lesson? Is this a martial arts world?’

 

Shinso’s challenge video, no, his challenge letter, was rapidly climbing the real-time trending video rankings. No, it was soaring.

 

Viewers showered the video with countless likes.

 

The comments were going wild.

 

While some students criticized Shinso for suddenly challenging me, most were eagerly anticipating a match between me and Shinso.

 

Naturally.

 

People always seek exciting entertainment.

 

And if that entertainment is linked to their daily lives, the interest magnifies even more.

 

‘What a selfish jerk.’

 

I was annoyed.

 

This attention-seeker pursued only sensationalism and his own self-fulfillment, completely disregarding my wishes. It was clear he had thought about this extensively, but if this was the result, all I could offer was a stream of expletives.

 

Given how much attention this had garnered, it was hard to ignore it now. Shinso had probably anticipated this.

 

Damn attention-seeker.

 

This has become troublesome….

 

Moreover, Shinso praised me as the ‘famous genius Oh Baek-seo’s leader.’ He might have had pure intentions, but this essentially touched my sore spot.

 

‘There are still many members who are dissatisfied with me being the leader….’

 

Although my heroics during the subway incident on the first day had lessened the skepticism towards me, quite a few second and third-year members still questioned my capabilities.

 

I had planned to gradually build my track record and quell those doubts, but Shinso had just reignited them.

 

“Leader.”

 

While I was deep in thought, Oh Baek-seo called me.

 

A faint scent of tea filled my nostrils.

 

She had quietly placed a warm cup of tea on my desk.

 

“What are you going to do about him?”

 

“Shinso?”

 

Baek-seo nodded.

 

She wore her usual gentle smile, but the atmosphere felt different, colder.

 

“Do you want me to handle it?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Baek-seo spoke calmly, yet firmly.

 

“You don’t need to deal with such a nuisance. It’s obvious the match will be recorded, so I’ll warn him that any further challenges will be met with severe penalties. We have the regulations and precedents to back it up.”

 

Baek-seo’s voice was gentle but resolute.

 

It seemed she too was annoyed by Shinso’s challenge.

 

However.

 

“That won’t do.”

 

“What?”

 

I knew she was suggesting this out of concern for me, but following her suggestion would lead to complications.

 

‘If I let the Vice-Leader handle this….’

 

It would be fine if most members regarded me as a suitable leader for the Disciplinary Committee. However, in the current situation, delegating this to the Vice President would only highlight her authority.

 

My authority as the Disciplinary Committee Leader would be overshadowed by the Vice President’s.

 

‘That can’t happen…!’

 

I couldn’t allow that.

 

I had worked too hard to get to this position.

 

“I’ll do it.”

 

In fact, this might turn out well.

 

I could potentially use Shinso’s proposal to my advantage.

 

‘If I overwhelm him, it could actually improve my image within the Disciplinary Committee.’

 

I didn’t know how strong Shinso was, but it was definitely another opportunity to showcase my skills to the Disciplinary Committee.

 

…Well.

 

This might just be a justification I’m coming up with.

 

“There’s no need for you to step up….”

 

“It’s just that he annoys me. So, I’ll handle it.”

 

Honestly, I was just annoyed.

 

I wanted to personally teach this disrespectful junior a lesson.

 

“Hm…. Alright. Let’s do that.”

 

Baek-seo responded with a kind smile.

 

* * *

 

Under ShinsoTV’s challenge video, Woo-jin’s comment was posted.
It stated that he accepted the challenge.

 

“The Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader has accepted Shinso’s challenge.”

 

At Mayeon High School, which was known as Ahsung High’s rival,
their Disciplinary Committee Leader, Lee Jae-ho, adjusted his glasses with a stern expression after hearing the report from his Vice President.

 

“The Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader… That’s the guy who became the leader over Oh Baek-seo, the famous genius, right?”

 

Last year, Lee Jae-ho was certain that the 45th Disciplinary Committee Leader of Ahsung High would be the genius Oh Baek-seo.

 

However, the result was different.

 

An unexpected male student had taken the position over Oh Baek-seo.

 

That student was Ahn Woo-jin, the 45th Disciplinary Committee Leader.

 

“This is getting interesting. Finally, I can analyze what kind of guy Ahn Woo-jin is.”

 

Shinso, who Ahn Woo-jin had to face, was known to be a tier 4 or higher in skill.
Top-tier fighters within the academy, like Lee Jae-ho, had already analyzed Shinso’s videos.

 

So, this match would be a perfect opportunity to gauge the abilities of the 45th Disciplinary Committee Leader of Ahsung High, Ahn Woo-jin.

 

But they weren’t the only ones interested.

 

“Repeat that. The Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee Leader is going to duel Shinso? You mean that JTuber?”

 

“That’s great. I’ve been curious about how skilled the head of discipline at Aseong High School is.”

 

“Now we can finally confirm his skills properly.”

 

Most of the academies with autonomy in Neo Seoul showed interest in the news of the public duel between An Woo-jin and Shin So.

 

At some point, the duel between the two became the biggest topic in the academy city.