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Chapter 80: Boycott at Zerion Academy

While the children were excitedly enjoying the festivities of Founding Day, the student council members were taking a moment to rest, each looking utterly drained.

“Phew, finally a chance to catch our breath.”

“Seriously, this time the schedule was so packed I thought I was going to collapse.”

The student council members were lamenting the sheer workload they’d faced.

The Nikita incident, the vice president’s absence, preparations for the Founding Festival, and the upcoming International Academy Individual Tournament right after the festival—

The student council was being crushed under an avalanche of tasks.

Perhaps that’s why, despite rumors of unsettling activity among the students, the council didn’t act decisively.

They were too busy and assumed that students wouldn’t dare stir up any major trouble.

“By the way, where’s the president?”

“He went to the student council room.”

“Isn’t he just going there to sleep again?”

“No way.”

The council members didn’t seem to have much faith in their president.

Many often turned to Vice President Nikita for decisions instead of President Sylvester.

Thus, Sylvester was not in a particularly respected position.

“Still, the president worked hard for today’s events.”

“That’s true.”

Sylvester, often labeled an incompetent president, had been working earnestly since Nikita’s disappearance.

For that reason, the council members were trying not to criticize him too harshly.

“Guys, look at this!”

Just then, a fellow council member burst into the classroom where they were resting.

The others, curious, turned to look—and when they saw the writing on the paper he held, they all stood up at once.

[The current student council is corrupt.]

The paper listed accusations of corruption and misconduct, questioning whether the student council could truly be trusted.

The content detailed historical corruption by past councils, dating back to before Nikita’s tenure as vice president.

The student council had existed as long as Zerion Academy itself, and over such a lengthy period, there had inevitably been bad actors within its ranks.

While Nikita had eradicated such misconduct during her time, the current council couldn’t guarantee that students would view them as entirely innocent.

What’s worse, the list implicated not only alumni but also currently employed professors, associate professors, and teaching assistants.

Wherever people gather, problems are bound to arise.

Even if the council was uninvolved, many students held grudges against certain faculty members, and seeing those names on the list would inevitably ignite a fury that would engulf the student council as well.

“This is outrageous! We didn’t do anything like this!”

“...It’s not about us. This targets the entire legacy of Zerion Academy’s corruption, including the council’s.”

One sharp council member immediately grasped the document’s true intent.

“And the information—this isn’t something just anyone could know. It must’ve come from someone deeply embedded within the academy.”

They swallowed hard, sensing the enormity of the situation.

“It just happened to explode during our term. Someone’s made up their mind to uproot not just the council but the very foundation of Zerion Academy’s corruption.”

At that moment, they all felt the presence of a colossal force—a tide far too vast for mere students to control.

“What should we do?”

“What else? First, we collect these papers! If we don’t, who knows what will happen to us!”

“But confiscating them will make it seem like we’re admitting guilt!”

The council members erupted into frantic debate.

Normally, someone would step up to take charge, but there was no one in the room capable of doing so.

The absence of strong leadership only deepened the chaos.

Boom!

Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the distance, freezing everyone in place.

Screech!

“What are you all doing here?!”

A black-haired boy burst into the room—Hannon Irey.

“The student council room has been taken over by students calling for a boycott!”

At his shout, the council members’ eyes widened in shock.

They couldn’t stand by while the council room was occupied.

“Everyone, follow me! First, we take back the council room!”

“Those bastards are really pushing it!”

“They’re making a mockery of us, the student council!”

The council members all stormed out in unison, rushing to reclaim their territory.

After they’d left, Hannon let out a sigh.

He adjusted the bothersome wig on his head.

“I helped, but I didn’t think it’d escalate this much.”

Hannon Irey’s true identity was Hania Rapidedia, disguised as Hannon.

After devising the boycott plan with Hannon, she had supported the boycott group and fed them information.

Initially, she intended to lead the movement herself.

However, after witnessing how Hannon orchestrated the group, she stepped back.

This was Hannon’s stage, not hers.

‘He’s such an enigma.’

Hannon understood Zerion Academy more deeply than the intelligence Hania had gathered.

Hania’s initial plan, driven by Iris’s will, was merely to root out corruption.

But with Hannon involved, not just the corruption but every dirty secret of the academy was being unearthed.

Hannon even proposed planting a new foundation after the old one was uprooted.

The Third Princess’s faction eagerly stepped in to supply replacements, thrilled at the opportunity to embed their people into Zerion Academy.

Iris was so pleased that Duke Robliage himself praised her.

She, in turn, thanked Hania for her efforts, expressing her deep gratitude.

Receiving Iris’s gratitude was heartwarming, but it felt misplaced.

The true credit belonged to Hannon.

‘...If only he hadn’t sworn me to secrecy.’

Hania had promised Hannon she would keep his involvement in this matter a secret from Iris.

Thus, despite the praise, she felt uneasy.

Taking credit for someone else’s work wasn’t her style.

“Hania.”

At that moment, a voice called her name.

She instinctively turned but stopped herself.

She wasn’t Hania now; she was Hannon.

Yet the voice had clearly called her by name.

In the silent corridor, she was alone.

Following the voice, she turned her gaze.

Standing there was a girl with honey-blond hair and vivid crimson eyes, smiling.

But that smile carried an eerie undertone.

“Where’s Hannon?”

It was Isabel Luna.

At her question, Hania felt an instinctive chill run down her spine.

Was Isabel Always Like This?

When Isabel used to follow Hannon around, she was as cheerful as a big golden retriever.

But now, no emotion could be felt from her.

Even Hania felt a chilling sense of oppression emanating from Isabel.

"…I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I’m right here."

Hania tried to play dumb for now.

But she didn’t think Isabel would believe her.

As expected, Isabel didn’t show much reaction.

"Oh, well, that’s fine. I think I have a rough idea of where he is."

Hania quietly swallowed hard.

Isabel turned around and walked away without sparing her a glance.

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As Hania stared at Isabel’s retreating figure, Isabel suddenly opened her mouth, as if she’d remembered something.

"Oh, right, Hania. When that person plays dumb, their eyebrows rise a little higher."

Hania flinched visibly.

Isabel smiled brightly, as if it was nothing.

"That’s the least you should remember. After all, you’re playing the role of his girlfriend, aren’t you? Shouldn’t you perform properly?"

With those words, Isabel turned and left.

Watching her disappear, Hania brushed her sweat-dampened hair back.

Although Hania usually tried to curb her swearing,

"…Hannon, I think you’re fucked."

At this moment, nothing else came to mind.

She bit her lip hard and began to run.

"Geez, you really are high-maintenance."

* * *

Meanwhile, at the Academy

In the main hall of the academy, emptied even of professors during Founding Day celebrations, a commotion erupted.

The source of the noise was the boycott group occupying the student council room.

Members of the student council had returned to confront the occupiers.

In the midst of this, the boycott members rummaged through the student council room and even the professors’ offices for evidence of corruption.

"…Why are you doing this?"

A voice reached my ears at that moment.

I was currently in the student council room.

Moreover, I was in the guise of Vikamon.

Just in case, I had wrapped an additional layer of Veil Bandages over my original appearance as Vikamon.

In essence, I was Vikamon disguised as a Vikamon made of Veil Bandages.

Thanks to this, the lightning scars on my body were hidden.

Next to me, the student council president, Sylvester Drapen, sat bound on the floor.

If someone asked why I was doing this, the answer would be simple: to advance the scenario.

But explaining that wouldn’t make them understand.

"I’m just correcting what’s wrong."

The student council of Zerion Academy was fundamentally flawed.

That wasn’t all.

As Zerion Academy had persisted for a long time, insidious issues had taken root unnoticed.

It was a sad truth, but stagnant water inevitably turns foul.

‘Originally, Zerion Academy was founded by the wise Zerion to nurture heroes.’

But over time, internal problems had arisen within the academy.

The corruption involving the student council was just one example of Zerion Academy’s dark side.

And it led to various compounding issues.

‘A perfect breeding ground for wickedness.’

Hearing my blunt response, Sylvester let out a hollow laugh.

"Vikamon."

Sylvester still remembered me.

"The things you’re doing won’t truly fix anything. In the end, the same mistakes will be repeated."

He wasn’t wrong.

Even if the corrupt professors were replaced,

there was no guarantee the new ones would be any better.

But I was sure of one thing.

The confidants of Duke Robliage, who were about to take positions as professors or associate professors at the academy.

For now, they would focus on properly managing Zerion Academy.

They were obligated to demonstrate that the third princess’s faction could manage the academy better than the first prince’s faction.

So, at least for the time being, the academy would operate more cleanly than ever before.

‘What happens later is uncertain.’

For now, this would give me a cleaner slate to root out the true wickedness.

For me, it was an advantageous outcome.

"Sylvester, stop spouting nonsense."

At that moment, Sylvester was cut off by the leader of the boycott, Rojamin.

With eyes blazing with anger, Rojamin glared at Sylvester.

"Your words are just excuses. Someone as incompetent as you, who stood by and did nothing, has no right to undermine those trying to make a change."

I was genuinely surprised.

Rojamin, who had initially seemed somewhat frivolous,

had grown significantly through his commitment to the boycott.

Through this boycott, Rojamin was earnestly trying to transform Zerion Academy.

He wanted to be someone who righted wrongs.

‘Is this what they mean by everyone grows?’

Originally just a minor villain in Act 4, Rojamin now showed sides of himself I had never seen before.

"…I see."

Sylvester surprisingly accepted Rojamin’s words easily.

"But sometimes, it’s better for an incompetent person to remain silent."

He said this with a sly grin.

Boom!

At that moment, another explosion echoed through the main building.

This time, the explosion was of a different magnitude.

Hearing it, Sylvester raised his head with a displeased expression.

"If you were going to cause trouble, you should’ve stuck to the student council."

Sylvester anticipated who would act next in this mess.

"Do you think the professors implicated in this corruption would sit idly by?"

The corrupt professors of Zerion Academy.

One of them had finally made their move.

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