I Became the Leader of Academy City

6 – Rule 4. The Dean monitors the anticipated villain. (2)

‘To monitor Lee Se-ah, I need to create a contact point first.’

There needed to be an environment where we could naturally meet and become close.

It would be foolish to secretly monitor Lee Se-A, who was probably quite perceptive.

‘If we are to find common ground… is volunteer work the only option?’

With different grades and different clubs, the only real possibility to connect with this person was perhaps Lee Se-A’s main activity: volunteer work.

Just then, Lee Se-A was volunteering three days a week at a free food bank named ‘Love Meal’. It wasn’t an official activity of the volunteer club. She had been doing it even before her entrance to Asung High School.

However, there was a risk involved.

‘Then Lee, Se-A might view me suspiciously.’

On the surface, I was the person who ‘had pre-empted Anomia’s plan and resolved the subway kidnapping situation’.

Hence, it didn’t make sense for me to be unaware of the fact that Anomia’s target was Lee Se-A.

What if I suddenly started volunteering and got involved with Lee Se-A?

It was obvious that she would harbor doubts.

‘Is there a more natural way?’

Let’s think.

A way to naturally build a connection with Lee Se-A.

A way to monitor her.

As I was wondering, I arrived at the shoe rack.

“Huh?”

There was a note inside the locker. Another love letter?

I read it.

[ Senior, feel free to monitor me as you please. I won’t run awayㅋㅋㅋ – Se-A Lee]

“……”

Without hesitation, I signed up for the ‘Love Meal’ via my smartphone.

Why did I even worry about a guy who would become the master of the black market… Suddenly a feeling of self-doubt arose.

……

“Today, my heart flutters at the thought of helping our struggling neighbors…, hehehehe….”

“Giggle…”

“Chuckle…Poor guys, we’ll ‘do good deeds’ for them…!”

After school,

Se-A Lee’s steps were light as she headed to the Love Meal with her volunteer club peers.

I was headed to the same destination as them. However, foreseeing an awkward atmosphere, I kept my distance and walked far behind them.

“Welcome, Se-Ah!”

“Oh, hello!”

Se-Ah and her company are welcomed by volunteers upon arrival at the free meal center, ‘Love Meal’.

The volunteers there were all of a similar age to me. Judging by their non-uniform attire, barring Se-Ah and her company, they were probably dropouts, expelled, or on a leave of absence from school.

I watched the situation from outside before going in. It was during when Se-Ah and her company were donning red aprons over their black school uniforms.

“Eh? Are you new…?”

“I am An Woo-Jin.”

As a volunteer asked awkwardly, he removed his hat and greeted politely.

The emblem of school disciplinary captain was taken off his uniform and put inside his pocket.

“?”

Se-Ah glanced at me and started whispering to her company.

That was a natural reaction.

Any Asung High School student who didn’t know me was likely a dumb spy, or a hikikomori that had disconnected themselves from the world. At least, Se-Ah’s company didn’t seem to be of that sort.

A smile bloomed on the face of the volunteer greeting me.

“Yes, Woo-Jin. Welcome! We will open the doors at 6 p.m. We will prepare the free meal until then. If it’s okay with you, could you handle the rice?”

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Thank you.”

From then on, the volunteer lightly explained the tasks I had to do. There were no complicated tasks, so there was no need to think hard.

I took off my school jacket, wore a red apron, and headed towards the thermal machine. Se-Ah’s gaze was still felt. When I glanced back, our eyes met.

Se-Ah was smiling brightly. It appeared that she was very glad to see me.

‘What had I been so careful about….’

I couldn’t tell when she found out I was watching her.

I just felt like a fool for trying to spy on a girl like her.

Se-Ah’s company bowed their torso in greeting. It was a sign of respect towards the disciplinary captain. I just nodded my head and pulled the cart.

The large rice containers were stacked vertically, ready to be heated. I moved the hot rice containers from the thermal machine to the cart, and left them in a spot where they could be switched out anytime during the meal service.

At the time nearing 6 p.m.

I stood in front of the rice container, holding a ladle.

Next to me, in charge of serving the soup, was Se-Ah. She repeatedly stirred the soup pot filled with bean paste soup using a ladle.

We were preparing to welcome the people lining up outside.

“By any chance, have you seen today’s fortune?”

“?”

Suddenly, Se-Ah popped a question. Her voice was soft and fluttering, like the wings of a butterfly.

Her eyes were focused on me.

“Horoscope?”

“Well, I’m a Sagittarius. And you, the head of the discipline committee?”

“I’m Sagittarius too.”

“Ah, we have something in common?”

Se-Ah chuckled.

A horoscope, suddenly I was curious.

“What’s today’s horoscope?”

“Be careful with those you encounter today. They could either be a promising connection or cause distress.”

Swiftly.

I pulled out my smartphone to check my horoscope for the day.

“…What are you doing?”

“Cross-checking. I can’t rest assured without verifying these things.”

“Oh wow~, you truly live up to being the head of the discipline committee! I never expected this…! Very impressive, really.”

Se-Ah seemed amused.

“Sure enough.”

The Sagittarius horoscope was identical to what Se-Ah said.

Swiftly. I put my smartphone back in my pocket.

“Senior, do you think we’ll form a good or bad bond?”

I supposed it might be a bad one.

I was to catch the villain, and she was trying to be one.

“How am I supposed to determine that for all the people I meet today?”

“Oh, you’re so cold. It’s all for fun, just fun. By the way, have you frequently participated in volunteering activities?”

Se-Ah smoothly continued with a new topic.

Despite this being the first time we had a conversation, there wasn’t an ounce of awkwardness.

I can’t quite describe it… it felt like the conversation flowed effortlessly from the start?

‘Don’t let your guard down….’

I’m certain all of this is Se-Ah’s intention.

In the game, Yisea becomes the head of the Dahwa faction and the monster of the black market. As such, her business acumen is excellent, and her ability to mesmerize people is considerable.

If you’re not careful about how she manipulates her snake-like tongue, you might find yourself entranced by her at any time.

It’s important to be careful.

“I didn’t really. You?”

“Do you need water?”

Keeping a steady eye on her prey.

Yisea wore an inscrutable yet subtle smile.

“You came here knowing everything.”

“……”

…That’s right.

We were not in a place to innocently chatter as if we knew nothing.

Ding!

“Six o’clock! Please come in one by one.”

At this very moment, the door opened and a crystal bell rang, and a servant led the people standing in line outside into the soup kitchen.

Everyone was either a teenager or a young adult.

They were given a fair amount of rice on the trays they brought. Although I closed my mouth out of nothing to say, the chatter next to me was non-stop.

“Enjoy your meal. The miso soup I had earlier was amazing!”

“Wow, your bangs are beautifully trimmed. Did you do it yourself? Wow, can you help me with mine next time?”

“Ah, your complexion has improved ever since you started dating.”

“Oh, you’re refusing the extra side dish…. You’re going to regret it?”

He had been volunteering here for years and was so outgoing that he looked friendly with everyone.

Even I felt a certain kinship with him.

Honestly, it was quite pleasing to see him laughing and chatting with people.

However, Yisea is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. You shouldn’t be deceived by her exterior.

“Do I…bother you?”

“What?”

All of a sudden, Yisea asked me.

“I haven’t been looking at you.”

“Did you? I’m sure you’ve glanced at me six times, right? Or…did I mistake it?”

Yisea smiled mischievously.

Indeed, I had stolen a few glances.

But once again, I realized.

It was clear that everything had gone awry from the moment I decided to secretly watch over this person.

……

“Great work everyone!”

“Good job, all of you~.”

The door to ‘A Meal of Love’ closed, and the clean-up was finished.

“Giggle… There wasn’t much food waste. We’ve reduced the waste…!”

“Keke… It feels rewarding to have served so much.”

The group, which included Iseah, laughed slyly, as though they were conspiring to commit a crime. Judging by their expressions alone, they seemed like criminals plotting a heinous offense.

However, the content of their conversation was as wholesome and heartwarming as something you’d find in a primary school language book.

As I shrugged off the apron and slipped back into my school jacket, my eyes met Se-ah’s. Flashing a sly smile, she spoke to her friends.

“You guys go ahead. I have a commitment with the student guidance chairman. Maybe it’s about the recent incident or something to discuss related to the student guidance affairs?”

Se-ah fibbed to her peers.

* * *

The ‘A Meal of Love’ group dispersed, and both Ahn Woo-jin and Lee Se-ah found themselves alone in the park. Night had fallen completely.

“Here, drink up. I’m not sure if this is your favorite.”

Woo-jin held out a can of coffee to Se-ah.

Since they weren’t exactly adversaries and he harbored no ill will towards her, Woo-jin, as her senior, bought her the drink as a proper gesture.

“Wow, I do love coffee. I’ll enjoy it, thank you.”

Se-ah took the warm can of coffee and pressed it against her soft, pale cheek, savoring the warmth.

“It’s warm~.”

They stood side by side, leaning on the fence and sipping coffee from their cans.

The view of the park, illuminated by the street lamps, filled their vision. Flowers bloomed vibrantly, heralding the spring.

The spring breeze caressed their skin as it passed. It was then that Woo-jin finally spoke up.

“When did you know?”

Se-ah smiled slyly, as if she had been waiting for the question.

“Would it be too vague if I said ‘a little late’?”

The Anomia subway kidnapping case.

Surely Woo-jin must have been watching Se-ah even before that incident occurred.

In short, the term ‘a little late’ was in fact recognition of Woojin’s abilities.

“No…, it seems sufficient.”

Woojin understood Se-Ah’s intentions. It was probably praise for ‘having difficulty identifying the surveillance method’.

The point of disconnect between them was that Woojin interpreted the ‘a little late’ that Se-Ah mentioned as ‘during the surveillance through the first-year poker-faced junior’.

‘You’ve done well our poker-face. If the words ‘a little late’ came out of Se-Ah’s mouth, then.’

Woojin nodded with satisfaction.

For the heavyweight of the next black market, Se-Ah, to give such praise, was something.

Although he was caught keeping an eye on her, everyone goes through trial and error. The poker-faced junior was certainly a promising member of the Student Council.

“By the way, senior.”

“Yeah.”

“Why were you keeping surveillance on me? It must have been tiring.”

Direct expression, indeed.

Se-Ah looked up at me and tilted her head, pointing to her cheek with her index finger, all while leaking a foxy smile.

“Did you perhaps fall for me?”

Hardly.

“Would that be so?”

“You’re such a meticulous stalker, after all.”

“Don’t you already know the reason? Is there a need to answer?”

“Ha ha.”

Of course, the question just now was a joke.

Se-Ah looked down at her canned coffee.

Why would anyone, let alone the president of the student council, keep surveillance on her?

There was a high chance that Woojin was looking at several organizations, including Anomia, like an open hand.

And the reason why such a person was monitoring Se-Ah directly, was there anything other than the belief he had discovered her plan to swallow up the black market?

Would her plan be an exception, even when Anomia’s plans had been revealed already?

Se-Ah grinned.

She couldn’t beat this man.

She should have recruited him as a comrade.

“Senior, will you give me your number?”

“……?”

Seah extended her smartphone with a mischievous grin.

Woojin tried to read her intentions for a moment.

“Why?”

“Well, I just want us to become closer. If you’re uncomfortable with that, we could just exchange Coconut Talk IDs.”

Coconut Talk was a messaging app that was widely used by the citizens of Neo Seoul.

There was no problem.

On the contrary, keeping in touch with Seah might even offer the chance to harvest valuable information from her.

Woojin took Seah’s smartphone, considering these benefits.

“Thank you, senior!”

Seah couldn’t hide her excitement as her ID was added as a friend on the messenger.

‘If you just look at this, she seems like an adorable junior….’

Under normal circumstances, she would have made an effort to break down the poker face and become friends.

However, thinking about someday being in opposition to her, and that she would suddenly meet a premature death.

He did not want to become closer to her.

* * *

[ Lee Seah : Ta-dah! ]

[ Lee Seah : It’s Seah ]

[ Lee Seah : Ta! ]

[ Lee Seah : Dah! ]

[ An Woojin : What is it, Seah? ]

……

[ Lee Seah : Senior! ]

[ Lee Seah : What are you doing right now!? ]

[ An Woojin : Why do you ask? ]

[ Lee Seah : Just curious ]

[ Lee Seah : Thinking I might be stalking you ]

[ Lee Seah : (Emoticon covering mouth with both hands and laughing evilly) ]

[ An Woojin : …Go to sleep, it’s late. ]

……

[ Lee Seah : Senior! ]

[Iseah: Senior!]

[Iseah: I’m urgent!]

[Iseah: Really big trouble ]

[Iseah: Something big has happened!]

[An Woojin: ?]

[An Woojin: What’s the matter? What happened? ]

[Iseah: I think ]

[Iseah: I considered it a very big problem because it was very boring! ]

[Iseah: Can I go to the guidance office to play? hahahaha]

[Iseah: (An emoticon that sparkles and begs)]

[An Woojin: ….]

[An Woojin: No, only members are not allowed to enter.]

[Iseah: Oh, how disappointing]

……

[Iseah: LOL ]

[Iseah: (Picture) ]

[Iseah: I caught my senior eating lunch! ]

[Iseah: It came out fun ]

[Iseah: LOL ]

[An Woojin: When did you..? ]

[Iseah: Senior]

[Iseah: Eating only instant food is harmful to your body ]

[Iseah: (An emoticon that glares sternly and twinkles)]

[Iseah: If you keep stocking, you should take care of your health first, right? ]

[Iseah: LOL ]

[An Woojin: …I’m busy. ]

[Iseah: hahahaha ]

[Iseah: Do you want to eat with me next time? ]

[An Woojin: No, it’s okay… ]

“Boss, should I make coffee?”

Executive office of the leadership board.

As I lifted my head, I saw the smile of Bu Bun-jang, who was working, Oh Baek Seo. It was a faint smile, as always.

“Good. Please make it tea instead of coffee.”

“Got it.”

Baek Seo walked into the kitchenette right next to us. It was an open space with no door.

As I started to exchange messages with Lee Se Ah via Coconut Talk, I could hear Baek Seo opening the cabinet.

“But Mr. Bu,”

“Yeah?”

“Who are you talking to these days?”

Huh?

Suddenly, a caring voice from the kitchenette sharpened my ears like a flying mosquito.

Despite the friendly tone, I felt an intrusive sensation as if a knife was pressing against my throat.

…Must be my imagination.

“Mr. Bu, you used to not do that much, but these days, you’re doing it quite often.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, to that extent.”

Baek Seo answered firmly.

‘I didn’t do it that often…?’

Lee Se Ah frequently sent me messages on Coconut Talk.

I’ve tried to keep some distance by replying late, but due to Se Ah persistently sending me warm messages, I felt a human guilt creeping in without my realization.

Anyway, I needed to keep a line of communication with Se Ah, so I’ve slowed down my reply speed. Not sure if this is an excuse because of my guilt.

Either way, I couldn’t consider myself as extensively using Coconut Talk.

“Just, there are subjects of the week, right? I started contacting one of them.”

“Oh, I see. It was part of the job? Who is it?”

“Lee Se Ah.”

For a brief moment, the rustling sound of the cabinet stopped.

“…You’re working hard. It’s a subject of the week, so it’s possible.”

Bak Seo nodded in agreement.

Soon after, she brought me my tea.

“Thank you…”

…?

Baekseo’s fingers were reddening as she extended her hand holding the hot tea, steam drifting off her skin. It was clear to anyone who saw that she had just scalded herself.

“Baekseo, your hand…!”

“This? I’m fine. I must have misjudged the water temperature.”

Could she be any more indifferent about it…?

“Doesn’t it hurt…?”

It looked like she had just poured boiling water onto her hand?

How the heck does this even happen?

I couldn’t maintain my poker face, I was too concerned for Baekseo.

Yet, she only responded with a calm smile, making it seem like nothing was wrong.

“Boss, I’m going to go to the infirmary.”

“Uh, go ahead …”

Baekseo started towards the exit.

Opening one of the pair of doors, with an audible ‘thonk!’ she hit her forehead on the other door that remained unopened.

I couldn’t help but jump out of my chair.

“Baekseo!?”

“I’m fine. Not a problem.”

Baekseo left the room, a smile on her flushed face as if she was only slightly bothered by this.

She doesn’t seem to be in great shape today, does she…?