EX rank supporting role’s replay in a prestigious school - Chapter 86

Cheol Kim, Suhyuk Joo’s bodyguard, and secretary.

Recently, his biggest problem was Suhyuk, who looked down these days.

He has been at Suhyuk’s side since Suhyuk’s childhood, but he never saw him this depressed.

‘Did something happen in school?’

He tried investigating Eun-kwang High as much as possible within Cheol Kim’s authority, but he didn’t find anything fishy.

‘It’s probably something that normal people like me can’t comprehend.’

Suhyuk was the best among the most gifted and prodigious heirs and heiresses of the world.

He was also bright, deep-thinking, and keen for a 17-year-old.

That’s why Cheol Kim couldn’t possibly guess the real reason.

The real reason was, of course, because Suhyuk was anxious that his crush might hear rumors about his engagement.

‘I need to help Suhyuk if I can.’

Cheol Kim decided to help the best he can and parked the air-stretched limousine in front of the Southern gate.

Just, then, Suhyuk, who was waiting for his ride, climbed into the back seat and greeted him brightly.

“Cheol, I’m here!”

Suhyuk looked the brightest he’s been this week.

Cheol Kim was relieved, but put on a straight face and asked,

“You’re here. School ended early today?”

“No, I skipped afternoon classes and club activities!”

“…… Did you say ‘skip class?’”

“Yes!”

Cheol Kim couldn’t match skipping class and Suhyuk Joo, the perfect student.

At Suhyuk cheerfully talking about going to his friend’s former school, however, Cheol could not but help feel better.

“I decided to go tuxedo shopping next week with a friend. Ui-shin bought one before entering high school, but Hyo-don said he doesn’t have one.”

Those names were the ones Suhyuk often mentioned.

“I’m thinking of getting a new one for me, too. Since there’s a party next weekend.”

Usually, Suhyuk left Cheol Kim to choose his attire.

Cheol received instructions for Suhyuk’s tuxedo of the party on board from the upper bosses.

Cheol wasn’t provided with a detailed explanation, but he guessed that the instructions were related to Hyeji Oh.

Cheol read Suhyuk’s intentions.

‘He’s acting fast and smart, as always.’

Disguising it as small talk, Suhyuk was telling Cheol that he doesn’t want to get involved with Hyeji Oh.

“If it’s shopping for a personal thing, you might want to use your personal account.”

Kim Chul also decided to reveal his thoughts.

Suhyuk usually shops using the credit card given by Juo group’s chairman.

If he does so, all his spendings were likely to be reported to them.

‘He’ll catch the meaning of my words.’

Suhyuk knew that fact, but Cheol saying it was revealing that he supports Suhyuk.

“Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Thank you, Cheol.”

Cheol smiled at Suhyuk’s response.

*    *    *

There were many systems and laws for players in this world, including player-exclusive laws, but player politicians were rare.

This was because if a player became one, it was perceived that they would rather live in worldly riches than contribute to clearing Other-worlds. It was frowned upon and was thought of as a waste of precious psychic abilities.

‘It’s like an active sports player not investing in sports and going off to do politics.’

However, even in this kind of environment, there was a player that suddenly arose in the field of politics.

Guk-eon Sung, member of the assembly.

He was a new politician who ran as an independent without a political party and was elected by the constituency of Eun Kwang-gu.

‘I heard he graduated from Eun-kwang High, but I didn’t know he was the School president 15 years ago.’

During the general election campaign, Guk-eon Sung put out the slogan “A safe world without any worries about the Other-world.”

Also, at the time of the general election, he proposed that ‘once a week, I will be the largest contributor of clearing Other-worlds that are SR class or higher.’

Since being elected, Guk-eon Sung had never broken this promise until his death during his term in the game.

“Brother Guk-eon! Did you get to meet your former homeroom teacher? Are you hurt again? You aren’t going to use recovery item cards?”

He must’ve been injured while clearing an Other-world because he was in a cast.

I was wondering why his driver opened the door for him because he hated getting special treatment. It was all due to his injury.

“It’s been a long time, Siwan. No, I didn’t get to see him. I got hurt during an Other-world domination yesterday. If he sees me like this, all he’ll do is worry. So I just canceled. I’ve been getting injuries all week, and the doctor was angry and refused to use an item card, so I just had to cast it.”

“This didn’t get reported on the news?”

At those words, Guk-eon Sung burst into a cheerful laugh.

“Hahaha! My assistants asked me to sell the image of a hard-working player by using the injuries, but how could I show the people this embarrassing state?”

Hahaha! he laughed again, ringing my ears.

‘So this is the laughter of the ‘Matchless Guk-eon.’

It was when the conflict between the government and the player association reached the peak.

The ruling party has attempted to forcefully amend the Player-exclusive Law by a loophole in the National Assembly Advancement Act.

At that time, Guk-eon popped out of nowhere in the National Assembly, took over the Assembly alone, and fought a siege of the National Assembly.

Guk-eon Sung played defense against more than 100 members of the ruling party, which was broadcast live nationwide on National Assembly TV, and since that day, Guk-eon Sung has been called the “Matchless Guk-eon.”

He was already popular because he was cold to his opposing parties but warm to the citizens, but with this incident, his popularity rose even more.

“So, you’re the Anonymous Supernova, Ui-shin Cho. Nice to meet you. I’m Guk-eon Sung.”

The bold impression of Guk-eon was the spitting image of his election posters.

He was known to be a badass, and likewise, he didn’t seem to photoshop his pictures.

“Hello. Ui-shin Cho.”

As I greeted him, the secretary covered Guk-eon’s coat over his shoulders to hide the casted arm.

However, Guk-eun gave me a friendly slap on the back with his other arm. And off his coat went.

His secretary must’ve been a player too because they caught the coat with amazing reflexes.

The subtle expression of the secretary showed the usual struggle between them.

“Let’s go for dinner! There are a lot of things I want to hear from my juniors!”

My back stung a little, but my playable character slapped me on the back, so I couldn’t complain.

*    *    *

The place where Guk-eon Sung took me and Siwan was a Korean cuisine restaurant.

Guk-eon also invited the secretary to eat with us.

However, the secretary refused very vigorously, saying that there was work left to do, and left the three of us.

Seated in a floor chair with a Korean traditional cushion, Siwan asked Guk-eon something.

“Where did Mu-young go?”

“We had a fight.”

“What? Why?”

I think that Mu-young guy is one of my playable characters.

“Well, I protected him while clearing the Other-world and got injured from it.”

Yeah, I was right.

The strongest of the stealth-type playable characters, ‘Colorless’ Mu-young Jeon.

He was Guk-eon’s chief secretary and also served as his bodyguard.

‘They usually go to Other-worlds together…… But Guk-eon, who is Mu-young’s boss and the one he’s supposed to protect, always shielded Mu-young and got hurt from that. He had rights to be angry.’

Siwan seemed to think the same because he also spoke against Guk-eon.

“Eh, it’s your fault, brother.”

“But Mu-young is more of a school junior than a bodyguard to me. How can I let him just take the blow for me?”

“If you keep that up, he’s going to quit someday.”

“Haha! I’ll think of what to do when it actually happens.”

Guk-eon smiled with an easygoing expression.

In the end, according to the game, Mu-young couldn’t leave Guk-eon and stayed by his side until death.

“I’ve heard a lot about your contributions. But still, I want to hear about them directly from you, Ui-shin.”

Guk-eon Sung liked to see and judge people with his own eyes.

“The entrance exam incident and the Jamsil Baseball Stadium incident. Tell your story, please. I want to know how my Junior became a hero!”

There was a faint psychic wave in the eyes of Guk-eon as he said that.

‘His eyes are blessed by a superior being, so it holds special powers.’

So this was some kind of test.

‘Guk-eon looks energetic, naive, and clumsy, but he’s a Second-line member of the assembly, great at negotiating and politics. He’s busy, not to mention injured. He didn’t come here just to see his school juniors.’

I began the story, pretending that I did not notice his intentions.

“Yeah, then I’ll talk about the incident of the entrance exam.”

I spoke while answering questions that Guk-eon and Siwan asked from time to time.

By the time I ended my story, Bek-kimchi jeonbyung* and the main dish, roasted duck with Cordyceps mushrooms, came out.

*jeonbyung is a Korean traditional food that is a little bit similar to crepes… maybe. The wrapping is usually made with buckwheat. Bek-kimchi is a non-spicy type of kimchi. So Bek-kimchi jeonbyung is a not spicy kimchi crepe. Something like that.

“Thank you for telling me, Ui-shin.”

The psychic wave in his eyes had disappeared.

“Fortunately, you’re not an Original clan member or their descendant.”

“Ugh, Guk-eon! How many times do I have to tell you, Ui-shin is a nice kid!”

“There are Original clans or descendants who hide among humans pretending to be good people, right? Even with this ’eye’, it is difficult to identify the Original clan and descendants who really mean to hide their identity. If you make them talk this long, I can detect the faint waves flowing out of them, though.”

“for Pete’s sake, Brother……! Sorry, Ui-shin.”

“Hahaha! I can’t trust anything after the big Other-world collision. Sorry about that!”

Siwan and Guk-eon apologized.

Is he worried that the Anonymous Supernova, his little cousin’s friend, is an Original clan?

Or is there another reason?

“That’s okay. Instead, I want to hear your story, senior Guk-eon Sung.”

“My story? Sure, I can tell you about my adventures anytime.”

I couldn’t really grasp Guk-eon’s intent, but I decided to ask the things I was curious about.

“15 years ago, you, the president of the Student Council of Eun-kwang high, succeeded in kicking out the houseparent of the dormitory and the director of the board, who were involved in corruption.”

“ ……Yeah. Did Siwan tell you?”

“I heard you were president of the School 15 years ago.”

I have never seen this history of Guk-eon Sung in the game, although I read his content several times in the game.

It was strange that the tale he had been a legend since his teenage years was not known, even though it was the perfect material to sell as a politician.

“But it’s not known that it’s you, Guk-eon. Is there a reason?”

Guk-eon did not answer immediately.

“I’m not proud of that past. Ashamed of it, in fact.”

“What?”

He succeeded in driving out the dormitory houseparent and the director, who were both involved in corruption, with the power of the students.

How can that be a shameful past?

“I caused a lot of mischiefs while I was in school. I wasn’t fit to be the president of the entire school. I was in class 0 for three whole years, kid.”

He wasn’t just a senior, he was my direct senior from class 0……!

“And then I saw a friend in the cafeteria who was getting beaten by the houseparent, decided to become the Student President and do something.”

A class 0 alumni becomes the school president and now, a member of the assembly.

In addition, according to Siwan, he also got top grades for the entire 3 years.

As expected, my playable character has a splendid history.

“I told the students to vote for me, and I’ll put all those bastards in jail. If I fail to put them in jail during my term, I’ll do anything in my power to drag them down, even if I have to go to jail myself.”

He got voted for such a radical pledge!

“I succeeded, but it took a long time, and there were a lot of kids who were injured- heart and body- for that. Do you think they didn’t do anything while we were doing petitions, protesting silently, and making protest videos? There were also incidents so terrible that the victims refused to give statements of.”

Guk-eon ended the old story with a smile.

“I don’t have the heart to brag about it. If any of my assistants use the establishment of the Ji-ik council to promote me, I’m going to shatter their limbs, hahaha!”

Guk-eon laughed out loud, but his eyes were serious.

“Did you know there’s an Original clan among the members of the board? After the incident, I don’t trust Original clans or their descendants, even if I don’t necessarily make them foes.”

Golden Tiger’s long neglect has created one cause of action for my playable character, it seemed.

Although I suspect there are other causes besides Golden Tiger that led Guk-eon to think like that.

After that, Siwan stepped in, changed the atmosphere, and we finished dinner with a conversation that was appropriate for us.

“See you next time, Ui-shin.”

As I exchanged device codes with Guk-eon, he left with a meaningful goodbye.

He wasn’t the one to say meaningless things, so if he says he’ll see me next time, there really will be a next time.

Wait. Mr. Ham said that I resembled the kid that made Ji-ik council 15 years ago……. In what way do I resemble Guk-eon Sung?

*    *    *

My room in the dorm.

I trained lightly to clear my head, and now it was getting late.

When I opened my device, unread texts poured in.

‘Jiho sent a lot of messages.’

I looked at his most recent texts, and they were incomprehensible.

[Jiho Hwang] You’re not reading your texts at all.

[Jiho Hwang] You’re going to regret that.

What in the world does this mean?

I left them all on read and checked my next text, from the three siblings.

The messages came a few hours ago.

[Yi-ho Eun] Ui-shin oppa…… are you coming today?

[Seo-ho Eun] I heard you were coming this weekend……

What!

Don’t tell me they were waiting for me!

I was going to go to Jiho’s house on the weekend but on Saturday.

Weekends were normally Saturday and Sunday, but Friday can be included too.

In baseball, we put Friday games in the weekend’s three consecutive matches.

[Jae-ho Eun] T.T

[Jae-ho Eun] Shin-su is waiting too!

The youngest, Jae-ho, took a picture of Olmu’s back staring up at the front door.

My Olmu was waiting for me on the cold floor, what was I doing!

As Jiho said, I was regretting it.

[Me] Sorry, I check my texts now.

[Me] I’ll go tomorrow.

I hastily left a message for Silver Tiger’s descendants, but no answer came.

A long time later, an answer came from the eldest son, Seo-ho.

[Seo-ho Eun] Yiho and Jaeho are sleeping

[Seo-ho Eun] promise to come tomorrow, brother!

Seo-ho attached a photo.

It was a photo of Yi-ho, Jae-ho, and Olmu sleeping on the living room sofa.

It was cute, but it hurt to think why they were sleeping like that in the first place.

‘Tomorrow, as soon as I wake up, I’ll buy more gifts as an apology. Then I’ll go to Myung-ho’s mansion immediately!’

I quickly washed up and lay down on my bed to wake up early tomorrow.

And that’s how, Teacher’s Day, or, the day of first-grade class 0’s 50% attendance rate, ended.