Chapter 92 : The Student Council
Join the student council.
If Namgung Il had not misheard, it seemed that Cheon Hong-ryeon had surely said that.
"The secretary position is vacant, you see."
"..."
"If you don't like that, I'll make a position you want. How about it?"
Cheon Hong-ryeon added with a smile still on her lips.
A condition that felt quite advantageous to Namgung Il.
Just by listening to that tone, it seemed that the will to recruit Namgung Il into the student council was strongly felt.
However.
"I don't want to."
Namgung Il answered firmly without a moment's hesitation.
'Am I crazy to join the student council?'
He didn't want to get involved with this insane woman anymore.
But if he were to join the student council, wouldn't that mean he would have to see Cheon Hong-ryeon often, regardless of his own will?
A relationship that was neither close nor particularly bad. Just that much distance was appropriate with Cheon Hong-ryeon.
"I didn't know you would refuse so coldly without even thinking about it."
"Things in the world don't always go as planned. Then, is it alright if I leave now?"
"No."
What else is left?
As Namgung Il asked with his two eyes, Cheon Hong-ryeon continued.
"Before that, I'll explain what advantages there are if you join the student council."
"...?"
"Listen to all of that and then decide again."
Seeing her say that, it seemed that Cheon Hong-ryeon had not yet given up on him.
Although it didn't seem like his mind would change no matter what advantages there were, since it seemed she wouldn't let him go until he had heard everything, in the end, Namgung Il crossed his arms and looked at Cheon Hong-ryeon.
"Please speak."
"If you join the student council, there are as many as five advantages."
Oh, five?
Namgung Il reacted moderately and continued to listen to Cheon Hong-ryeon's words.
"First, just by joining the student council, you become an object of envy to the students. Especially, there have been almost no cases of a first-year joining the student council until now."
The student council had a strong feeling of existing above the students.
That was why most students wanted to enter it, and in fact, to become a member of the student council, it was common to have to show an outstanding aspect in at least one area.
"Namgung Il of the student council, just by having that title in front of your name, your evaluation will change."
"..."
"You'll probably be very popular with the girls. Especially since you have a pretty face."
Although her personality is eccentric, it seems her eyes are normal.
Namgung Il thought so in his heart and quietly nodded.
"Second, you can use the student council's budget."
"The budget? Isn't that originally used for the students?"
"How much do you think the student council can use in a year?"
"..."
When Cheon Hong-ryeon asked, Namgung Il was lost in thought for a moment.
'To the point where she said the student council would bear the cost without a second thought even if a whole building was blown away...'
Wouldn't the amount be quite considerable?
Namgung Il set the amount quite generously and answered.
"...Is it about fifty thousand gold?"
Pfft—
As soon as she heard Namgung Il's answer, such a laugh flowed from Cheon Hong-ryeon's mouth.
"Ah, sorry. I didn't think you would set the amount so low."
"..."
"I can't tell you exactly, but you can think of it as much more than that."
To the point of scoffing at fifty thousand gold like that.
Although he couldn't predict it exactly, Namgung Il could at least know that the student council's budget far exceeded his imagination.
"Well, anyway, it means that the student council's budget is ample and sufficient."
"..."
"It's at a level where there's still some left after using it for the students. So if you want, you can also use it for the student council."
In any case, budget allocation was one of the student council's authorities.
If one just attached a reasonable justification, it was a part that even the principal could not carelessly interfere with.
Although one might be criticized by the students if one used it for personal purposes openly, it meant that if one didn't care about such criticism, the student council could use it as they pleased.
'Well, this is so-so.'
The second advantage felt less attractive to Namgung Il than the first advantage.
Because this side had also secured a considerable amount of money.
If he calculated the profits from the taverns he had received from Su Majin, there was no reason for Namgung Il to be short of money.
"This doesn't seem to be much. Then how about this?"
"..."
"Third, the student council can take classes as they wish."
When Cheon Hong-ryeon mentioned the third advantage, this time Namgung Il's reaction was more certain than before.
As if she had noticed that, Cheon Hong-ryeon smiled seductively and tempted Namgung Il.
"If you want, you can skip classes as you please. Still, you can always get a top grade."
"I-is that really true?"
"Yes. Since there's student council work, the teachers also understand that part."
This... is a little good?
Among the advantages she had mentioned so far, the third advantage felt the most attractive to Namgung Il.
"You like this kind of thing? Then I think you'll like the next one even more?"
"...?"
"Fourth, the student council is somewhat free from the school rules."
"What does that mean?"
"Well, I can't do anything about it up to a really serious level, but it means that things like wandering around after curfew or leaving the academy overnight are allowed."
In the past, Namgung Il had often snuck out of the academy to drink secretly at night.
But if he were to join the student council, would he be able to just go out through the main gate confidently without having to sneak out like that?
Namgung Il had wished to try that at least once since a long time ago.
"And this is the last one."
"..."
"If you join the student council, you can become close with me. To be able to have a close relationship with me, who is not only the student council president but also pretty..."
"I still don't want to."
Namgung Il said firmly, cutting off Cheon Hong-ryeon's words in the middle.
What on earth was the fifth advantage, even if he didn't know about the others?
Although he didn't know if Cheon Hong-ryeon had said that as a joke, the fifth one felt harmful rather than an advantage to Namgung Il.
'If it were me in the past, I might have been tempted by the rest.'
Even if the last part was so-so, the parts about taking classes as one wished or being free from the school rules were quite tempting.
But in this life, hadn't he entered the academy on his own two feet?
Although he wouldn't know if he had been forced to enter the academy in the past, now the life of a student was more appealing to Namgung Il.
'Well, one way or another, that woman is the biggest problem.'
In fact, although he had made all sorts of excuses, there was nothing that Namgung Il would lose by joining the student council.
Just because one became free from classes or school rules, it didn't mean one couldn't live the life of a student, right?
In the first place, the fact that the student council president was Cheon Hong-ryeon was the decisive reason why Namgung Il had refused that proposal.
Although he had reacted to Cheon Hong-ryeon's words to some extent until now, Namgung Il's mind had been the same from the beginning.
"Then I'll consider that I've heard everything and will leave now."
"..."
"Goodbye."
Before Cheon Hong-ryeon could say anything else, Namgung Il unilaterally said goodbye and quickly left the spot.
In the end, Cheon Hong-ryeon was left alone in the room.
As her slightly dazed eyes cleared, Cheon Hong-ryeon burst out laughing.
"Was I dumped?"
To think that there would be a man who would dump her so unilaterally.
Cheon Hong-ryeon just laughed for a long time at the experience she was having for the first time.
Swoosh—
Soon, stopping her laughter, Cheon Hong-ryeon took out the ornament from her hair with her hand and brought it in front of her eyes.
Cheon Hong-ryeon, who was looking at the ornament with an expression that was the opposite of when she had burst out laughing earlier.
Looking at the ornament she had received back from Namgung Il, Cheon Hong-ryeon muttered to herself in a low voice.
"Namgung Il, why did you return this to me?"
No one answered that question.
* * *
Namgung Il poured liquor into the cup placed in front of him.
With a clear sound, the clear liquor flowed down like a stream.
After filling the cup with liquor, Namgung Il drank it all in one gulp.
"Kuh—"
Because of this first cup, Namgung Il could not quit drinking.
Besides that, the beautiful night view seen beyond the window.
Namgung Il was currently at the Dragon Pattern Tavern, drinking.
'The view from here is as beautiful as it was in the past.'
When he sat here, he felt as if he had become a god.
Wasn't that why people insisted on the top floor even if they had to pay that expensive price?
Looking at the lights spread out below his feet now, Namgung Il was not even envious of the emperor.
"Uh... Namgung Il."
"...?"
"Isn't it a little much to be drinking in a place like this?"
Just then, Jeong Hyeon-yeong, who was sitting opposite, said with a bitter expression.
"Why? Is the liquor not good?"
"Th-that's not what I mean..."
The taste of the liquor was, of course, the best.
The best clear liquor and side dishes. And outside, the beautiful night view.
Although it was at a perfect level where it couldn't be any better, Jeong Hyeon-yeong knew well that such a liquor and view required a corresponding price.
As if he had noticed what Jeong Hyeon-yeong was concerned about, Namgung Il smiled and said.
"Don't worry about the money. I'll pay for everything here today."
"I can't do that. It's not a penny or two, so I can't be indebted to you..."
"Think of this as me repaying my debt to you guys today."
"...?"
"If you guys hadn't worked hard, I would have lost the bet with Hwang Dong-jae. Today is a celebration of that."
Besides Jeong Hyeon-yeong, Jong Seo-eon was also here, and for some reason, Gwangcheon was also with them.
Namgung Il pointed to the two with his eyes and said.
"Those brats are eating well, right? You just don't worry and eat."
"...Are you really sure? No matter how much you're from the Namgung Clan, the price of liquor here seems to be no joke."
"I have enough money to afford this."
"..."
In the end, as if he had given up, Jeong Hyeon-yeong received the liquor that Namgung Il was pouring.
"Now, have a drink. Then your useless thoughts will disappear."
"..."
"Hurry up and drink."
Namgung Il said and drank again.
And Namgung Il, who was looking at the empty cup as if he were refreshed.
Seeing that, Jeong Hyeon-yeong unknowingly swallowed his dry saliva.
'...I don't know!'
If the cost exceeded later, he could just pay for it himself.
Although he might have to use up all his allowance because of that, it couldn't be helped.
With the determination to live as a pauper for a while, Jeong Hyeon-yeong tilted the cup back.
"...!"
"See, it's heaven, right?"
"Ahem..."
When Namgung Il asked, Jeong Hyeon-yeong refilled his own cup without a word.
As expected, once one feels the taste of that first cup, it's all the same that one can't help it.
Namgung Il looked at the night view again with a smile.
'I never thought this place would become mine.'
Namgung Il had also been a little surprised when he had found out about that later.
To think that the Dragon Pattern Tavern was among the taverns that Su Majin was running.
When he thought that the place he had frequented in the past was now his, Namgung Il felt that it was quite funny.
"General manager, what do you mean by that?"
Just then, a loud voice was heard from the stairs.
"If an escort leader of the World Escort Agency comes to a tavern run by the World Escort Agency, shouldn't you naturally give priority to a seat?
"...?"
"But to say there's no seat on the top floor. I can't understand those words."
The World Escort Agency?
As that name came out, Namgung Il's gaze naturally moved to the stairs.
(End of Chapter)