I Became the Leader of Academy City

9 – Rule 6. The Discipline Head shuns the limelight (2)

The day of the promise had come.

I submitted a sparring request at school and brought along a healer. We were now waiting right in front of the sparring grounds.

Naturally, the duel between me and the Sindorim Swordmaster had stirred up a great deal of buzz. So many Asung High students gathered that even the spectator stands were overspilled.

I grasped this fact by watching the live broadcast on Jitube.

“Viewer count 140,000…!? What is this…?”

I had expected a large crowd, but not to this extent…

The viewer count on Shin So TV, which was broadcasting live, was nearing 140,000. Since neither Shin So nor I had even appeared yet, it was clear that the viewer count would skyrocket once the duel began.

“The spotlight is on us. Several schools are watching.”

Vice Head Baek Seo spoke while looking at his smartphone.

“The Discipline Head of Mahyeon High supported us! That ‘Amunjang’! Oh, even the Student President of Sein High! All the big shots are sponsoring! They’re saying they support both you and Shin So, Chief?”

“Is that so…?”

Junior Officer Ha Yesong laughed insincerely while looking at his smartphone.

‘Sponsorship? Why are they so desperate to show off?’

I felt like screaming.

I hadn’t anticipated the situation would escalate to this.

The Discipline Head of Mahyeon High?

The Student President of Sein High?

What next?

Is even Hanyang Federation Academy watching?

“Chief, this is huge! The General Student Council of Hanyang Federation Academy has left a chat! They’re asking for a good duel!”

‘Damn it…’

As if those guys would be watching the spar out of pure interest.

They’re probably drooling, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Discipline Head of Asung High’s weakness as they munch on popcorn.

Proving my worth in the Discipline Committee is something I welcome.

However, showcasing my fighting style to other schools wasn’t exactly a pleasant task.

“Seems like everyone is ridiculously free.”

“Isn’t it great? Director, you’ll become really famous, hehehe.”

Why are you so cluelessly cheerful?

Before long, we arrived at the dueling ground. As expected, it was crowded with people.

I moved onto the dueling ground amidst the cheering of Ahsung High students. At the same time, a fireball flew in from somewhere and landed on the opposite side of me.

Whoosh!

Boom!

The fire spread around, revealing a male student wearing a goblin mask. It was Sindorim, the Sword Master.

‘Impressive…’

I couldn’t help but admit.

Even before the duel started, I had already lost in the ‘cool’ department.

“Ahhh! Awesome!”

“Shindo! Shindo!”

“Shindo! We love you!”

“Shindo, defeat the director!”

The students were thrilled by Shindo’s glamorous entrance. Ha Ye Song was no different. I wasn’t sure whose side he was on.

Even his presence was enough to drive people crazy.

I suppose he is quite the YouTuber.

Anyway, the sight was extremely uncomfortable.

Shindo stretched his arm towards the audience. Slowly, the voices of the students died down.

Looking at his impeccable, strutting posture brought up the feeling of ‘As expected of the Sword Master of Sindorim’.

“Director, I sincerely thank you for obliging my overbearing request.”

Shindo bowed respectfully.

‘So you knew it was an unreasonable request.’

Even after causing such a jump, you still perfectly manage your manners.

“Hmm.”

I took a light breath, gathered my emotions, and slid on a pair of black gloves.

Now, it was time to deal with this annoying guy.

“Name tag.”

“Yes?”

I pointed to the school uniform name tag on my chest with ‘Ahn Woojin’ written on it.

“Not wearing your name tag on your chest constitutes a violation of school rules. I’ll deduct points for that. Challenging the student conduct committee is also a clear act of disruption of duty. Punishment is in order. Furthermore, all profits made from this broadcast will be considered illegal gains as a result of unlawful actions and will be confiscated by the student conduct committee.”

I spoke according to the rules.

Perhaps it’s a characteristic of this academy city.

Here, within the jurisdiction of Ahsung High School, the school’s rules are equivalent to law.

I’ll need to consider the constitution, fairness, morals, and societal justice, but the rules I mentioned are effective immediately.

“That’s…!”

Shin So’s voice trembled.

“I’m sorry, but I implore you to let this one slide just for this duel! As a challenger, I wanted to compete man to man against the conduct leader…!”

Perhaps it was his fervent spirit of challenge that faced an unexpected harsh reality head-on. Shin So yelled at me, as if pleading for me to recognize his sincerity.

His attitude was exceedingly unpleasant.

He really had the nerve to show such defiance.

Our duel becoming such a hot topic meant that this guy was likely to earn a tidy sum of pocket money.

Naturally, apart from the duel, he must have become greedy for the profits too.

Really… He is full of nonsense.

“…Having it your way, huh.”

“Yes?”

I grabbed the brim of his cap, tilted it slightly down, and glared at Shin So.

Although I stood here under the pretext of a duel, what I was about to do wasn’t actually a fight.

“You seem to need some education.”

Discipline, that is.

* * *

“Vice president, what do you think is the reason I sponsored Shin So TV?”

In the executive room of the Mihyun High School student conduct committee.

As Lee Jeho, the conduct leader, watched the live broadcast of Shin So TV on his tablet, he asked his deputy.

“…I’m not interested, you know?”

“…….”

Lee Jeho shot a look at the deputy. It was a plea for him to ask the question.

The deputy head expelled a silent sigh and posed a question, “Yes, Director. Why did you sponsor this?”

“It’s to signal to Aseong High that our Mahyeon High’s disciplinary committee is watching,” answered Director Lee Je-ho, with a faint chuckle fluttering from his lips as he slightly lifted his glasses.

“What if the Sindorim Swordmaster turns out to be more skilled than anticipated, causing even a slight challenge for the head of Aseong High’s disciplinary committee? Even if there isn’t a struggle, if it becomes apparent that their level of strength is inferior to ours?”

“In that case,” he continued, “it would indirectly convey that Mahyeon High’s disciplinary committee is stronger, allowing us to leverage that knowledge in future disputes.”

“……”

“Yes, from now on I will ensure that explanations are not left to me alone.”

Deputy Head crushed Lee Je-ho’s plan of self-dialogue with a concrete response.

Stripped of the opportunity to appear even slightly intellectual, Lee Je-ho glared resentfully once again at the Deputy Head.

“Regardless…,” he added, “within our relationship a certain logic of power must be involved. Since our ‘educational districts’ are adjacent, conflict is inevitable.”

In the academy city, the self-governing jurisdictions of each academy are referred to as ‘educational districts’.

With these districts abutting one another, historically, incidents often led to jurisdictional disputes.

Therefore, for large academies like Aseong High, Mahyeon High, or Sein High, an intervention of power dynamics was unavoidable.

Hence, “If even the slightest flaw is shown by Aseong High’s committee head, he will become our prey,” Lee Je-ho asserted, lips curling into a crafty smirk as he pushed up his glasses. A cunning laugh seeped from the corners of his mouth.

The deputy head merely responded with a disinterested “Yes…” as he had no intention of engaging in conflict with Aseong High.

“Soon it’ll begin.”

Just then, the student referee climbed onto the Aseong High sparring ground appearing on the tablet screen.

Whoosh! Shinso unsheathed the sparring sword.

Though it resembled a blade, its edge was hardly sharp; it was closer to a thin bludgeon.

“Are both contestants ready?” the referee inquired.

At this, Shinso nodded, while Woojin merely showed an indifferent response.

‘An Woojin… he certainly appears extraordinary at first glance.’

His true abilities were unknown, but an imposing and heavy aura befitting of his position as committee head emanated from An Woojin.

A tense atmosphere enveloped the sparring grounds.

The students in the stands held their breaths, fixated on Woojin and Shinso.

“Ready!”

Shinso took his stance.

“Begin the sparring match!”

With the declaration of the referee, Shinso explosively launched himself off the ground toward Woojin.

“……!?”

Soon, Je-ho’s eyes widened a bit, and his mouth dropped open in surprise.

The assistant director, intrigued by Je-ho’s shock, waddled over to stand behind him and joined in watching the broadcast of ShinsoTV.

“Whoa, shh.”

The assistant director unwittingly let out a common exclamation of admiration.

He immediately understood why Je-ho was astonished.

Just minutes ago.

At the sparring grounds of Ahseong High School.

When the Sindorim Swordmaster first set eyes on Ahn Woojin, he felt a strong sense of intimidation. Woojin’s mere presence seemed to temporarily weigh down the atmosphere of the sparring grounds.

He had a tall, handsome appearance, and due to the brim of his cap casting shadows, his aquamarine eyes shone with a noble light. His gaze was sharp like a well-forged blade, cool, and utterly composed.

Not a hint of hesitation or unease could be detected. There was not the slightest fluctuation of emotion present in his eyes.

Unknowingly, Shinso swallowed dryly.

Just as prey instinctively recognizes a predator, his heart raced, and all his nerves tensely focused.

That’s why Shinso was certain.

The match with the Senior Swordmaster would catalyze his own growth to the next level.

Thus, he had no choice but to forcefully suppress his fear.

“Begin the sparring match!”

Simultaneous with the referee’s declaration, Shinso charged forward with agility.

Magic flowed into Shinso’s practice sword. Whoosh! A blaze of red flame ignited along the blade. It was a fourth-tier technique, converting magical power into the force of elements.

The burning flames spread heat, intensely warming the air. The bright fire, tailing behind Shinso like a comet, created the spectacle of an eastern dragon wrapped in flames soaring toward its target.

Meanwhile, Woojin stood still, merely sending a cold gaze forward.

“I’ll take the first move!”

Kwock! It was the sound of bracing feet for proper positioning. Right after, the red flames traced a precise trajectory.

Whoosh!

The flames surged forward.

Yet, Woojin, with a flexible twist of his upper body, effortlessly ducked back, evading the strike of the fiery blade.

“!”

Astonishment flitted across Shinso’s eyes.

At that moment, something was extracted from Woojin’s wrist, causing a sharp explosion.

Boom!

As Woojin’s weapon burrowed under his chin, Shinso reflexively jerked back. He belatedly realized that its firing range was very short.

What was pulled out was a black baton.

In other words, a handle.

Woojin hit the baton with his other arm. Clang! Two sections of a metal rod sprouted from within the baton.

It was a black three-sectioned staff.

Zzzt!

Woojin’s magic seeped into the magic circuit of the three-sectioned staff. The magic formed the shape of green lightning.

There was no need for a lengthy thought process. Shinso kicked the ground and charged again. A swordsmanship engulfed in flames split the moment and attacked.

It was a flamboyant fiery sword dance.

But it was not the esthetic sword dance that the audience had seen in the video. It was a lethal technique for annihilating an opponent.

Swish! Woojin cleverly moved his body backward, easily avoiding several sword attacks.

Shinso focused.

He could push this.

If he kept this up, he could land a fatal blow on the head of the line.

‘I can see it.’

Suddenly, an opening appeared.

Shinso did not miss that moment.

Whoosh!

A larger amount of magic flowed through the magic circuit of the battle sword, creating a more powerful flame.

In this way, he could land a valid attack on Woojin.

He could take the flow of the combat.

Shinso was certain of that.

Crack!

Burst!

“!?”

The fiery sword attack failed to even score the empty air.

The momentary flash of turquoise light struck Shinso’s wrist. It was a clever attack that exploited the opening in the Shinso’s movement.

In quick succession, powerful electric shocks flowed through Shinso’s arm and spread throughout his body.

“Argh!”

Shinso’s movements became disarrayed as his hand let go of the sword, struggling to regain his posture due to the electric shock.

Thwap!

Whack!

Suddenly, two teal streaks etched into the air.

Crackle! The sound of electricity dispersing and booming shocks exchanged. Shinso had already sustained strong impacts to his arms and neck.

“Cough!”

Woojin’s movements were concise and disciplined, exhibiting a restraint akin to a military drill.

As precise as a blade honed over a long time and faithfully committed to the purpose of subduing the enemy in the most efficient manner.

Woojin’s arm rose. Swoosh! He swung his three-section staff with formidable force.

Bang!

With a sound almost like an explosion, lightning scattered, and a massive shockwave erupted.

Whoosh! Shinso’s body was sent flying, scraping the ground. He halted at the edge of the sparring ring, barely avoiding being disqualified by stepping out.

“Heave…!”

Shinso gasped for breath.

The blast from moments ago was not something that could have been produced by merely swinging a three-section staff.

The impact from moments ago was not a force that could have been generated by simply swinging a three-section staff.

“Shockwave… How…?”

It was clear that the condensed lightning magic created a shockwave, generating even more potent physical force.

It was unbelievable.

He had neither seen nor heard of such a technique before.

Shinso had assessed that Woojin, like himself, belonged to the Fourth Order, judging by the way he fought by merely wrapping lightning magic around his three-section staff.

He did not seem to possess the unique ability that would qualify one as a Fifth Order.

Of course, even within the Fourth Order, there are differences in skill.

But Shinso considered himself quite skilled, too, and thought he should be able to fight on relatively even terms with Woojin, who was of the same Order.

…That was not the case.

The level of magic manipulation displayed was far beyond that of a mere Fourth Order.

“…….”

Woojin picked up the practice sword that had fallen to the ground.

He tossed it lightly back to Shinso.

The practice sword sang a clear note as it approached the altar.

Shock was written all over Shinso’s face as he alternated his gaze between the sword and Woojin.

“Enter.”

Woojin’s solemn command settled in the air.