CHAPTER 120

“There’s such a story? I see, I see. Okay, first things first, let go.”

Ban Hee-Yeol, who was being dragged away by the ear, pried himself free.

His gaze lingered on Jae-Hyeok’s ankle for a moment before he said, “A beastman dares to infiltrate Lion’s Castle and target students. I won’t just stand by and watch. Leave the rest to the Student Council.”

Since Jae-Hyeok had even mentioned Professor Lee So-Yeong’s name, his information about the beastman was likely true. As the Student Council vice president, Ban Hee-Yeol had to step forward.

For one, if he played an active role in such a big matter, it would increase his odds of winning the president’s seat.

But also...

-Your role is to guide the students.

Jae-Hyeok’s words lingered in his mind.

Ban Hee-Yeol had always aimed for the position of Student Council president, intent on proving to his father that he was worthy of inheriting his title. Yet even when he’d become the vice president, his father’s reaction had remained cold, looking at Ban Hee-Yeol with the same disapproval as always.

Why was that?

Ban Hee-Yeol hadn’t understood it until today. Aiming to stand at the top misses the point. What matters is the reason for being there and living up to the role... I wish Father just explained it in words. Tsk. There was no need to leave it unsaid for this brat to beat the reason into me.

Although he grumbled, Ban Hee-Yeol didn’t blame his father at all. Instead, he was filled with guilt. His father must have been anxiously waiting for him to grasp the mindset of an aristocrat.

“My friends are in danger, so how can you talk about leaving things to later? Even if we left now, there’s barely enough time to solve this.”

“You... ”

Ban Hee-Yeol stared at Jae-Hyeok, who was trying not to reveal his injured ankle from saving Ban Hee-Yeol earlier.

Both now and as kids, Jae-Hyeok had always had the mindset of an aristocrat. Even now, although Jae-Hyeok disliked him, he still sought his help for the sake of others.

It seemed he was always qualified to stand at the top.

Ban Hee-Yeol suddenly said, “I guess you grew up being disciplined by Duke Kang Dae-Guk. You were educated well from an early age. In a way, I envy you. Thanks to your strict father, you grew up quickly.”

“Did you land on your head when you fell from the ninth floor earlier?”

Bam!

Who dared to accuse his father of domestic violence?

Jae-Hyeok frowned and kicked at Ban Hee-Yeol’s back.

This time, Ban Hee-Yeol didn’t take the hit. They weren’t in a deserted corner but at the entrance to the Student Council building. There were many people around so naturally, he couldn’t lose face. Ban Hee-Yeol jumped away as his hair rustled from the wind off Jae-Hyeok’s kick.

Ban Hee-Yeol clicked his tongue. Even with a serious ankle injury, this guy still wants to beat on me.

“You shouldn’t move carelessly with an injured foot.” Ban Hee-Yeol reached into his robe and took out a potion bottle filled with a liquid as blue as the sea: it was a high-grade potion, the highest-priced potion found on the market.

“You probably don’t have money at home, so take this.”

“Thanks.” Jae-Hyeok took it happily. He was already receiving free potions from Jaegyeong Pharmaceuticals, but most of those were low-grade. Besides, it’s polite to accept favors.

Ban Hee-Yeol said, “You’re quick-witted. If you refused, I was going to make fun of you for only caring about your pride.”

“It’s a hundred years too early for you to tease me.”

“You never know until you try. By the way, are the students targeted by the beastman Jang Yeon-Ju and Roh Jun-Yeop? It seems like you have a pretty close relationship with the Shooting Club?”

Ban Hee-Yeol naturally led the conversation toward the Shooting Club. He’d long suspected that Jae-Hyeok was the one who pulled Roh Jun-Yeop down from the position of manager and installed Baek Do-Jin as the acting manager.

I wonder, how will you describe your relationship with the Shooting Club? Jae-Hyeok, just how long do you think you can remain hidden with so much circumstantial evidence?

Ban Hee-Yeol opened his fan to hide his triumphant smile. He looked forward to watching Jae-Hyeok squirm for an excuse.

However—

“Yeah, our relationship is pretty deep. The Shooting Club is mine,” Jae-Hyeok said honestly; given Ban Hee-Yeol’s position, he would learn the truth sooner or later anyway. “It isn’t just the Shooting Club. If Noble hadn’t refused to disband, I would’ve had them directly under me as well. ”

No one knew, but there had always been a scar on Jae-Hyeok’s heart, constantly itching, always reminding him of everything he... no, the Kang family had lost.

“The Swordsmanship Club and the Magic Tower could also be mine later... ”

Lion’s Castle was one of those things. There was a time when the Yaksha had stood on these lands as its savior and protector. Father defended Pearl Island. Originally, this gate should belong to my Kang family.

“...Maybe even the entire Lion’s Castle.”

Jae-Hyeok usually hid the scars in his heart. He knew his feelings were petty and ugly. But even still. He wanted to get back what was stolen, even if it might seem like a child’s tantrum to others.

“How foolish.”

As expected, Ban Hee-Yeol sneered. Nevertheless, Jae-Hyeok didn’t regret revealing his true intentions. On the contrary, it felt refreshing.

Ban Hee-Yeol was a person who knew everything about the Kang family’s situation. So long as Ban Hee-Yeol had a conscience, he wouldn’t easily mock Jae-Hyeok and would have a bit of sympathy in his heart.

“That can’t happen while I’m still around.” Ban Hee-Yeol declared while turning his back to Jae-Hyeok. His yellow-green coat fluttered gorgeously in the wind and caused the surrounding scenery to dim. Every cell in his body was focused on looking as noble as possible. “I, Ban Hee-Yeol, won’t let you take the Student Council from me.” If you want everything here, please just wait until I graduate...

Jae-Hyeok scratched his head. Ban Hee-Yeol's heroic words lingered strangely in his mind, but he couldn’t say why.

***

Lobby of the Student Council building.

Squatting on the stairs, the female secretary spotted Ban Hee-Yeol walk through the front door and asked, “Why do you look completely fine?” She threw the potion and gauze roll she was holding into her inventory before Ban Hee-Yeol looked up.

“What’s with that disappointed reaction?”

“Damn. Busted.”

“Maintain a kind heart. If your face doesn’t look good, you should at least have a good personality.”

“Ah? Isn’t that something that should be said to you?”

“My face is very beautiful.”

“That guy earlier... Kang Jae-Hyeok, right? You look like a squid standing next to him.”

“...Alright, I can’t pretend I didn’t hear that. Listen, the differences in our looks are a matter of taste. Taste! You can’t say one is above the other.”

“Then, it’s the same for my face. I don’t feel outclassed standing next to you. So why do you keep calling me ugly?”

“Because you still aren’t as good as me in my eyes.”

The secretary nodded. “I see, I see. And in my eyes, you aren’t as good as Kang Jae-Hyeok. To me Kang Jae-Hyeok is perfect, and you’re like a squid in comparison—from now on, that’s just my personal truth.”

“Umm.” Ban Hee-Yeol, who never lost a verbal argument thanks to his twisted logic, shut up for once.

The female secretary let out a snort and got up. “Should I contact the disciplinary department?”

“Uh, yes. The safety of the students is under threat, so we need to find the beastman as soon as possible. I won’t ignore that guy’s request.”

“That was a request? Are you sure it wasn’t a threat... ”

“That’s just how the Kang family is. They’re all violent.”

Ban Hee-Yeol’s expression was brighter than usual. He looked in a good mood despite having been assaulted and knocked out of a ninth-floor window.

Is he a pervert or something?

***

Early next morning, there was a commotion among the students.

“Hey! Is the disciplinary department crazy?”

“It’s an order from the Student Council. Calm down.”

The disciplinary department controlled every path leading to the main building, stopping students for hair inspections. For a democratic country, it was an absurd scene.

“Even the staff for aristocratic families aren’t subjected to hair checks, you lunatics!”

“It’s just like those damn Communists right before the great upheaval!”

“What’s next, are you going to shave our heads clean?”

“Quiet! Calm down and pay attention!”

Just as students’ complaints were growing louder, the head of the disciplinary department stepped forward, and the shouts became whispers.

The head of the disciplinary department was no ordinary person. Whenever there was a debate about the strongest student at Lion’s Castle, his name was brought up as a candidate. The head of the disciplinary department had a body as big as a bull’s and a terrifying scowl to match. His loud voice silenced the scene in an instant. “The Student Council has no intention of interfering with your hairstyles. Don’t get us wrong.”

The head of the disciplinary department nodded toward two disciplinary members behind him, who then dragged a student onto the platform.

The student who was forced to sit in a chair screamed. “Let go of me! I said to let go! What did I do wrong to deserve this?”

Judging by the color of his tie, he was in the second year, and his face had several deep wrinkles. He was a middle-aged man who’d awakened late and entered school late.

“Quiet.”

The head of the disciplinary department put his hand on the middle-aged student’s head.

What?

Was he going to smash the student’s head?

The impression that the head of the disciplinary department gave off was so vicious that the students immediately got nervous.

The middle-aged man looked like he would faint at any moment.

“I-I’ve never broken a school rule in the past two years!”

The frightened middle-aged man was as stiff as a statue as he defended himself. But in the next moment, the students who had been watching the situation nervously couldn’t shut their mouths.

The head of the disciplinary department had suddenly ripped off all of the middle-aged man’s hair... no, on second glance, the head of the disciplinary department had just ripped off a wig.

The middle-aged student’s bald head shimmered in the morning sun.

"Kyaaaak!”

One of the female students screamed in shock.

Some other students giggled at the middle-aged man’s head, which was now as red as a boiled octopus from embarrassment.

However, most of the students remained silent. They were completely confused by the ridiculous situation. “What the hell is going on?” Do-Jin, who was watching this scene, clicked his tongue in disbelief. How could there be such a big operation?

Among the crowd, a few students had chills down their spines and broke out in a sweat.

“Ugh. What’s that horrible smell?”

The students who were gathered around covered their noses.

It seemed the beastman who had infiltrated Lion’s castle in search of Elder Song’s whereabouts was among the crowd.

Worst-case scenario, I might have to start a massacre to escape. The beastman tightened his sweat glands, and his skin became harder than steel.