Chapter 14 (Continued)

 

The Ahsung High Disciplinary Committee erupted in cheers.

 

Doha, having secured the victory, snorted arrogantly.

 

“How could anyone do such quick mental arithmetic…?”

 

“This is basic mental arithmetic.”

 

Jin-du was in disbelief.

 

He had always thought no one in Academy City could match his mental arithmetic skills.

 

Even if it was Yoo Doha, the only person who had ever beaten him, it seemed impossible.

 

An unexpected sense of helplessness began to overwhelm Jin-du, making his body tremble.
In a final effort, Jin-du decided to ask,

 

“…Do you remember? When you participated in the math competition.”

 

“What, you knew me? So what?”

 

“Why did you stop after just one participation?”

 

“That? Well, just because….”

 

Doha winked her right eye and dug into her right ear with her pinky finger.

 

“It was boring.”

 

“……!”

 

That one sentence stirred intense feelings of doubt within Jin-du.

 

The stage he had taken so seriously was just a brief amusement for Doha.

 

Jin-du couldn’t say another word.

 

He just lowered his head, shaking with self-doubt.

 

Doha observed Jin-du for a moment before speaking.

 

“Hey.”

 

“?”

 

Her voice was serious.

 

“Leader Ahn Woo-jin didn’t become our school’s Disciplinary Committee Leader for nothing.”

 

Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Doha’s mind.

 

Last year, when Yoo Doha was a first-year student.

 

During a survival test in a forest on the outskirts of Academy City, a dangerous incident
occurred involving a group of monsters due to a security breach in the test site.

 

Students, driven into a panic by the monster attack, were unable to evacuate.

 

At that time, Ahn Woo-jin hid the students in a nearby temporary shelter, locked the door, and fought the monsters to buy time.

 

─ “You shall not pass here.”

 

Despite having his flesh torn by strong jaws and coughing up blood from heavy blows, Woo-jin fought the monsters, roaring at them.

 

Senior members of the Disciplinary Committee and one of the few teachers in Academy City arrived just in time to help Woo-jin defeat the monster horde.

 

Afterward, despite bleeding heavily, Woo-jin casually checked on the students’ safety first.

 

Doha couldn’t understand Woo-jin no matter how much she thought about it.

 

How could he risk his life and fight such a lonely battle to protect the students?

 

So she asked.

 

Why did he fight so desperately?

 

Doha regretted asking right away.

 

Even she thought it was a ridiculous question. It was especially inappropriate to ask such a question to her savior.

 

But Woo-jin responded nonchalantly, as if it were the most obvious thing.

 

─ “I’m the Disciplinary Committee Leader.”

 

Doha could never forget Woo-jin from that day.

 

She would never forget him for the rest of her life.

 

“He became the leader because he deserves it. If you don’t understand, at least keep your mouth shut.”

 

“…….”

 

“A fool who can’t even do proper mental arithmetic.”

 

With a blunt insult, Doha stepped off the stage.

 

* * *

 

‘As expected of our treasurer!’

 

Thank you!

 

I wasn’t sure about her personality or intelligence, but I trusted her mental arithmetic abilities.

 

With this, Ahsung High and Mayeon High were tied.

 

“Tsk….”

 

Jae-ho clicked his tongue.

 

It seemed he was quite upset after witnessing the overwhelming defeat of Mayeon High’s pride.

 

“The next game is the last one. What will it be?”

 

“…You’ll see.”

 

Jae-ho’s tone was cryptic, suggesting he had something special in mind for the final game.

 

Jae-ho responded, his eyes filled with resentment as he stared at the stage.

 

“Now, for the final game. The strongest person with enhanced physical strength through magic. In other words, the person with the most power. Please step forward.”

 

“I’ll go.”

 

Unable to bear it any longer, Jae-ho decided to step up himself.

 

There was no more room to retreat.

 

Jae-ho looked at me.

 

“How about you join, Leader Ahn Woo-jin?”

 

“What?”

 

“We should have a proper match between us.”

 

I see.

 

He wanted the final game to be a showdown between the leaders.

 

‘…Why me?’

 

I didn’t want to.

 

If I lost, it would be humiliating.

 

The reason I could plan a competition under the guise of recreation was that my subordinates were incredibly capable.

 

Memory genius Park Minhyuk, mental arithmetic prodigy Yoo Doha, all-rounder Oh Baek-seo….

 

With them around, I was confident we wouldn’t lose.

 

But imagine a duel between the leaders.

 

What if I lost after my team had performed so well?

 

It would dramatically tarnish my honor as the Disciplinary Committee Leader and severely damage my reputation…!

 

Those who already doubted my capabilities would grow even more skeptical.

 

Moreover, the score between Ahsung High and Mayeon High was tied.

 

This was the highlight, the final game.

 

Considering that this match would conclude the pride battle between the two committees, the pressure was immense.

 

Therefore,

 

‘It would be best to avoid this challenge….’

 

“Leader…!”

 

“Leader, you’re not backing out, are you? We’ve done our part, now it’s your turn.”

 

Secretary Minhyuk and Treasurer Doha urged me.

 

“Leader?”

 

Perhaps due to my hesitation, even Baek-seo looked at me with questioning eyes.

 

‘Ah….’

 

Only then did I realize.

 

‘Now that I think about it, it was secretary versus secretary and treasurer versus treasurer, wasn’t it?’

 

The lineup was such that now, the other leader wanted to step up, and if I didn’t respond…

 

‘I can’t avoid this…!’

 

A leader of Ahsung High’s Disciplinary Committee couldn’t afford to act cowardly.

 

“Hmm…, I suppose I should.”

 

In the end, I had to pretend to be nonchalant as I stood up.

 

A cold sweat dripped down my cheek.

 

‘This is bad….’

 

If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn’t have prepared this recreation….

 

“Leader, fight on…!”

 

“If you lose, I won’t let you off, Leader.”

 

With the cheers from the secretary and the treasurer, I headed to the stage with Vice-Leader Oh Baek-seo.

 

‘The opponent is a genius who has reached the fifth rank, one of Mayeon High’s top fighters….’

 

He would have the upper hand in most games.

 

It was truly worrisome.

 

My steps felt heavy.

 

I felt like my legs might give out at any moment.

 

As I walked, the cheers from the committee members filled my ears.

 

“Leader, Vice-Leader!”

 

“You look great…!”

 

“Please defeat Mayeon High!”

 

Maintaining a cold exterior, I listened to their cheers.

 

I was acutely aware that every member of the Disciplinary Committee, except for those on duty, was present.

 

I wanted to close my eyes tightly.

 

But I barely resisted the urge, inwardly praying with all my heart.

 

‘I can’t lose, I can’t lose, I can’t lose…! I must win…! Please, let me win…!’

 

I pleaded.

 

If there’s any divine entity, please hear my prayer. Please….

 

‘I can’t lose. Think of this as a cliff. If I fall, it’s over. Finished…!’

 

“Leader.”

 

In the midst of hypnotizing myself, Baek-seo’s voice caught my attention.

 

“What?”

 

I tried to maintain a calm demeanor as I looked at Baek-seo.

 

“You know I serve you, right?”

 

“?”

 

Why bring that up now?

 

“You can win. Let’s defeat their leader. If you win, I’ll give you a reward.”

 

Baek-seo smiled kindly.

 

What could I say….

 

The Vice-Leader always seemed to say what I needed to hear at the right moment.

 

Almost as if he could read my mind.

 

‘Surely that can’t be the case.’

 

Did I let something slip?

 

No… I was keeping a poker face, so that couldn’t be it.

 

It must just be encouragement from her as the Vice-Leader.

 

A reward, huh.

 

“By the way, can I ask what the reward is in advance?”

 

“Well…, maybe the stockings I’m wearing now.”

 

“!”

 

My eyes instinctively moved towards Baek-seo’s legs, covered in black stockings.
I quickly regained control of my eyes and brought them back to their original position.

 

“Don’t joke like that. Especially as a Disciplinary Committee member.”

 

I gave her a stern look.

 

“Haha, sorry.”

 

Baek-seo laughed softly, covering her mouth with a lightly clenched fist.

 

I realized once again, I could never let my guard down around her.

 

‘…But I feel a bit better.’

 

Maybe it was the nature of the joke.

 

Perhaps it acted as a shock therapy, relieving some of my tension.

 

Baek-seo and I got on the stage.

 

Jae-ho stood on the opposite side.

 

“The leaders of each Disciplinary Committee have stepped forward.”

 

The announcement came, signaling the beginning of the final showdown between Ahsung High and Mayeon High.

 

The host, Ga-yeon, stood next to Jae-ho as she spoke.

 

Meanwhile, I glared at her, steeling my resolve.

 

‘Say whatever you want. If it seems even slightly unfair, I’ll protest immediately…!’

 

In fact, even if the game was fair, if it seemed disadvantageous to me, I planned to find a reason to protest. My brain was already working at full capacity for this.

 

“Vice-Leader, quickly announce the next game.”

 

Jae-ho adjusted his glasses, never taking his eyes off me.

 

“Yes, the next game is….”

 

The Disciplinary Committee members brought a sturdy table and two chairs, placing them between Jae-ho and me.

 

“Arm wrestling. However, magic reinforcement is allowed.”

 

Arm wrestling?

 

The committee members started murmuring among themselves.

 

A smile spread across Jae-ho’s face.

 

“This should be interesting.”

 

He seemed pleased with the choice of the game.

 

Now that I thought about it, didn’t he call for the strongest person earlier? And the game turned out to be arm wrestling….

 

‘This seems… too fair.’

 

There appeared to be no room for objections.

 

Arm wrestling.

 

A very straightforward competition to determine who was stronger.

 

And in arm wrestling, I felt I had a fair chance.

 

“In this event, the use of magic is permitted. Only up to body reinforcement. So, this arm wrestling match will not only test physical strength but also magic ability.”

 

In other words, it was a test of which side’s abilities were superior.

 

“Leaders, please step up to the table.”

 

* * *

 

“Hmph.”

 

Jae-ho adjusted his glasses and smiled, but internally, he was sweating bullets.

 

‘If I lose, it’s all over…! I absolutely can’t lose!’

 

With both Disciplinary Committees from Ahsung High and Mayeon High watching.

 

The secretary and treasurer had already lost, damaging Mayeon High’s pride.

 

The score was tied, and this was the final match.

 

Feeling the pressure, Jae-ho had decided to step up himself.

 

‘I spoke out of anger and called out Ahn Woo-jin…! I should have held back!’

 

Jae-ho clenched his fist, regretting his impulsive decision.

 

He felt he had no choice but to challenge Woo-jin to a leader versus leader match.

 

However, he quickly adjusted his thoughts.

 

‘No, those determined eyes and expression… He would have stepped up even if I hadn’t called him…!’

 

A leader versus leader match would have happened regardless.

 

The immense pressure bore down on Jae-ho.

 

If he lost here….

 

Mayeon High’s Disciplinary Committee’s pride would be shattered, and they would be seen as inferior to Ahsung High.

 

Moreover, after watching the sparring video between Woo-jin and the Sindo-rim Swordmaster, Jae-ho held a high opinion of Woo-jin.

 

The earlier disparaging remarks were merely to provoke him as part of their psychological warfare.

 

That’s why he had backed off when Baek-seo intervened.

 

‘Damn, why does this guy have such an imposing aura!? He looks unnecessarily strong…!’

 

From the moment he first met Woo-jin, Jae-ho had seen no sign of weakness.
Woo-jin was calm and stern.

 

Because of this, an inexplicable sense of intimidation radiated from Woo-jin.

 

Jae-ho swallowed dryly.

 

Suddenly, his mind was flooded with various anxious thoughts.

 

‘Did you hear? Our school’s leader lost to Ahsung High’s leader!’

 

‘They arm-wrestled with magic reinforcement, I heard.’

 

‘The secretary and treasurer got defeated too, at their own games.’

 

‘So what? Our Disciplinary Committee is inferior to Ahsung High’s?’

 

‘Is our Disciplinary Committee that weak?’

 

‘Pathetic.’

 

He imagined the students gossiping, the reputation of Mayeon High’s Disciplinary Committee plummeting, and screamed internally.

 

‘Calm down, Lee Jae-ho…! Your honor as Mayeon High’s leader is on the line here. You must win, even if it means risking everything…!’

 

Jae-ho felt extreme tension.

 

A slight lapse in concentration, and his legs might give out.

 

“Bring it on, Leader Ahn Woo-jin. Let’s see who’s superior here!”

 

“That’s exactly what I want.”

 

Jae-ho smirked confidently, while Woo-jin maintained a cold demeanor, lightly lowering his head and holding the brim of his cap.

 

The two men placed their elbows on the table and clasped hands.

 

And then.

 

‘Please let me win…!’

 

‘Please don’t let me lose, please…!’

 

Both men earnestly prayed inwardly.