Chapter 147 – Candidate No. 7, Kang Geom-Ma (4)

‘…That’s all.’

Supervisor Ha finished her explanation with a barely audible murmur.

She merely stated the essential points: as a first-year student, Kang Geom-Ma had the right to run in the student council elections and could choose between numbers 6 or 7 on the ballot.

Originally, she had also planned to subtly hint at a recruitment offer, but…

Supervisor Ha cautiously raised her eyes and met the sight of a certain girl’s sky-blue hair.

‘That girl…’

The student’s eyes shone with a burning blue glow.

That girl had completely cut off any attempt by the Association to approach Kang Geom-Ma.

Her name was Saki Ryozo. At first, Supervisor Ha wasn’t sure, but after analyzing it, she understood.

The surname Saki was a clear reference to her lineage. In other words, she was the daughter of Saki Kojima, one of the Seven Star Heroes and the current leader of Japan.

‘If I had known, I would have refused any confidentiality agreement from the start…’

She had made a mistake.

But to justify herself, the problem was that just the idea of being alone with Kang Geom-Ma terrified her.

If he could kill magical beasts by giving them heart attacks, what would happen to her?

If they accidentally locked eyes, she might be sent straight to the afterlife!

Supervisor Ha simply didn’t have the courage to look him in the face.

One of the basic principles of sales was to establish eye contact with the client.

When she trained at the Association’s Academy, they drilled that rule into her relentlessly.

But in this case, even breathing near those black eyes didn’t seem like a safe option.

At that moment, she completely discarded Chief Sung’s order to establish a friendly relationship with Kang Geom-Ma.

‘Sorry, Chief Sung.’

She bit her lower lip.

If she had managed to convince Kang Geom-Ma, the Strategic Planning Department would have more than exceeded its annual quota.

The Association’s leadership had their eyes on Kang Geom-Ma, just as they did on Leon.

But her life was more valuable than her job.

Surely her boss, who was probably being scolded by the director right now, would understand.

‘But how do they expect me to talk to a student who can’t even be measured with numbers?!’

While Supervisor Ha lamented in silence, Kang Geom-Ma rested his chin on the table.

His expression twisted in displeasure.

“So, the reward is to run in the student council elections.”

His icy voice filled the room.

Knock, knock.

He tapped the table with his fingernail.

“That’s it?”

“……!”

Supervisor Ha instinctively lifted her head.

‘What?’

They were talking about the opportunity to run in the elections for the student council of Joaquin Academy, the most prestigious institution in the world.

Only second- and third-year students could normally apply, and doing so significantly raised the prestige of their families.

But Kang Geom-Ma frowned as if thinking, “All this effort for this nonsense?”

His eyes clearly reflected complete indifference to such an honor.

For him, that kind of recognition held no value whatsoever.

Supervisor Ha couldn’t understand it with conventional logic.

But who was Kang Geom-Ma?

The genius known as the Saint of Sashimi.

A lunatic who would unsheathe his sword without hesitation at the slightest provocation.

And lunatics, by nature, were people with completely unhinged minds.

She knew this well because even the President of the Association had a similar aura.

Their way of thinking was different.

They felt happiness and sadness in ways completely detached from ordinary people.

So, as a mere mortal, Supervisor Ha had no way of knowing what had triggered his reaction.

A shiver ran down her spine.

Her hands, resting on the table, started to sweat.

“I-I’m sorry.”

She had no idea what she was apologizing for, but her instincts compelled her to do so.

At that moment, Ryozo lightly tapped Kang Geom-Ma on the arm.

“Geom-Ma, think about the other person a little too. When you act like that, it really feels like the air is suffocating.”

“Ah.”

Kang Geom-Ma scratched his neck awkwardly. He seemed to have calmed down.

Only then did Ryozo let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Also, listen until the end before reacting. Supervisor Ha hasn’t finished speaking yet, right?”

“Ah, yes, yes.”

Supervisor Ha nodded quickly, her eyes watering as she tried to catch her breath.

At that moment, she thought that bringing this girl along had been a blessing.

Ryozo continued.

“From the beginning, all of this has been very unusual. From the simulation test to the offer to run in the elections. There’s something more, isn’t there?”

“Y-Yes, of course! The elected student council president will receive a pass granting access to the Korean branch of the Hero Association.”

“That means the president will be able to enter and exit the Association freely, correct?”

At that moment, Kang Geom-Ma’s dark eyes glowed slightly.

Until now, the reward of being a candidate had seemed insignificant, but a pass to the Association—that changed things.

Kang Geom-Ma spoke.

“So I can enter any facility within the Korean branch?”

Sensing his change in attitude, Supervisor Ha hurriedly responded.

“Yes, except for classified archives, you can access any facility. For example…”

“Does that include the artifact storage?”

“Yes, the artifact storage is also included in the permissions.”

“One more question. Is the Monolith also under the Association’s custody?”

“The Monolith? Ah, that stone? Yes, the Association manages it, and in fact, it is stored in the Korean branch. However, there are restrictions. You cannot enter with companions, nor is it allowed to touch it.”

“……!”

Kang Geom-Ma’s eyes, which had been filled with disappointment, regained their shine.

Supervisor Ha murmured to herself.

“But… if you see it in person, you’ll be disappointed. They call it an artifact, but in reality…”

“It doesn’t matter.”

For him, that was enough.

The system had already marked his next objective: 「The second fragment of 【？？？】.

And if the Monolith was related, then it was all worth it.

The simulation test was no longer just a wasted effort—it was an investment with guaranteed returns.

However, the real challenge was yet to come.

In two weeks, the election would take place.

It wasn’t a confrontation where brute force alone was enough.

If he wanted to stand at the top, he would need more than just power.

Information. Strategy. Manipulation.

Everything would be necessary.

Kang Geom-Ma stared at Ryozo. She tilted her head curiously.

Then, he turned his gaze toward Supervisor Ha.

With an expression full of conviction, he said:

“I will run as number 7.”

***

…One hour later, Chief Sung returned looking like a walking corpse.

With an exhausted face, he collapsed into his chair and leaned his back against the rest.

Supervisor Ha, who had quietly approached, handed him a can of coffee.

“Good work, Chief. Drink this to recover.”

“…Don’t you have any decent coffee? I can’t stand canned coffee, it’s too sweet.”

“I went to the café on the first floor a while ago, and an Americano cost almost 20,000 won. Considering our allocated budget, while we’re here, we’ll have to settle for canned coffee.”

“The cost of living in this place is ridiculous… Only the rich can afford it.”

Chief Sung clicked his tongue and reluctantly opened the can.

“What happened with the Saint of Sashimi?”

In the industry, Kang Geom-Ma was known as the Saint of Sashimi, a nickname that suited his image perfectly.

Hearing the question, Supervisor Ha visibly shuddered.

“Don’t remind me… I thought I was going to die. That oppressive atmosphere when he looked at me…!”

“And how did the proposal go? Did he show any interest in the Association?”

“It’s hard to say.”

Supervisor Ha touched her cheek with her index finger, lightly pressing her small dimple.

Recalling her conversation with Kang Geom-Ma, she gave a brief summary.

“At first, he seemed to hate it. But as soon as I mentioned the access pass to the Association, his attitude completely changed. He became incredibly receptive, his eyes shining with excitement. He seemed especially interested in the Monolith.”

Chief Sung froze, his can stopping mid-way to his mouth.

“The Monolith? That stone? Why?”

“I don’t know. To be honest, I didn’t even dare to ask him more. Even now, if I think about it too much, I get chills. By the way, how did things go with the director? You were called in because of the students fainting during the test, right?”

“Well, partly… but it seems there are issues with the Gehenna Gate.”

The Gehenna Gate.

The portal that connected the Demon Realm of Gehenna with the human world.

“Huh? It’s been stable for 700 years. Why now…?”

“The director used her Poet’s blessing and detected an anomaly. That’s why she requested an investigation from the Association… and, of course, I also received a massive scolding.”

“…Nothing will happen, right? I mean, it’s unlikely, but if the Gate were to collapse…”

“……”

Chief Sung shook the can in his hand, as if trying to shake off dark thoughts.

Then, he downed the last sip in one gulp.

“This has no taste… Supervisor Ha, inform the others that we’re leaving early today. We deserve a reward after all the risks we took. Since we’re in Wonju, let’s go eat Korean beef.”

“Oh! Korean beef! Are you paying, Chief?”

“I don’t have money.”

Chief Sung smirked and slid a card between his index and middle finger.

The golden gleam of the plastic made Supervisor Ha flinch.

“W-Wait, that’s…!”

“Corporate card.”

***

Hallway to the Dorm Rooms

Walking slowly, I reflected on the events of the day.

‘Running for student council president, huh.’

An unexpected twist for someone who, just a few months ago, only wanted to stay unnoticed.

I didn’t regret it, but I did feel somewhat empty.

‘Candidate number 7.’

I could choose between number 6 and 7.

When I picked the latter, Ryozo tried to dissuade me.

She said it was better to have a number as close to 1 as possible.

As the daughter of Japan’s lifetime Prime Minister, she had a clear understanding of how these things worked.

Even so, I chose 7.

After all, 7 was a number associated with luck.

‘So Leon took number 6.’

Unintentionally, I had become his rival.

But now that I thought about it… could I beat him?

In a sword fight, there would be no problem.

But an election… that was a different story.

In the original story, Leon became president in his second year without difficulty.

He was handsome, charismatic, and powerful.

And most importantly, he was the protagonist.

An existence beyond reach.

And that wasn’t even considering the upperclassman candidates.

Without a doubt, they would be formidable opponents.

Just thinking about them brought to mind figures with solid foundations and influence.

‘Will the current president run again?’

If he did, his experience would play to his advantage.

The students of Joaquin Academy would know him well and trust him.

On the other hand, I had a significantly weaker status.

I was part of the Wolf Class, which was considered lower-tier, and on top of that, I carried the label of a special student.

It was like trying to run with sandbags tied to my ankles.

Even so, there were possibilities.

Ryozo and Speedweapon.

Both were extremely intelligent and on my side.

We had already worked together before, like when we organized the kimchi booth at the festival.

It was annoying, yes.

But this was the only way to get closer to the Monolith.

I couldn’t just barge into the Association waving a sashimi knife.

‘I’ll have to discuss it more with the team.’

…Just as I reached my room.

“Hm?”

In front of my door, there was a lone package.

I approached and examined it, noticing among several stickers a name written on the sender’s label.

=Volundr=

“He said it would take a week, but it looks like he finished it in three days.”

I entered the room and, without wasting time, tore off the packing tape.

Inside the bubble wrap, a sharp and gleaming silhouette appeared.

It was Murasame, my prized weapon.

Only three days had passed, but seeing it, I felt a strange attachment.

Without hesitation, I drew the blade.

Shing—

The blade sang with a delicate and seductive sound.

Even in the unlit room, Murasame gleamed with its own radiance.

The handle, the finish, the craftsmanship… I couldn’t find a single flaw.

It was a masterpiece by Volundr.

At that moment, a status window appeared in my vision.

== ==

[Murasame (Raindrops)]

Type: Sashimi

Description: A sword once called “the blade that carries the dew.” (……)

Specifications:

Blade Length: (35▶36) cm

Width: 6 cm

Attributes:

Destructive Power: (C▶B)

Reach: E

Durability: (C▶B)

Growth Potential: (A▶S)

Rank: (D▶B-)

[NEW! An additional function has been added.] (Tap to unlock.)

== ==

The stats had improved in every aspect.

Even the sword’s rank had gone up by almost two full levels.

‘Looks like Volundr really put in the effort this time.’

I let out a small chuckle and lowered my gaze.

Though the attribute upgrades were impressive, what really mattered was further down.

Licking my lips lightly, I tapped on the new function.

Flash—!

== ==

1) 〈Authority of the King of the Underworld.〉

The king of the dead who rules the underworld.

Grants access to a fraction of his power.

◈ Abilities and Conditions:

For 5 minutes, any creature cut with this weapon can be subdued and controlled in a quantity of (1).

With greater mastery and additional enhancements, the number of controllable entities may increase.

There is no distinction of species or nature among the controllable entities.

However, the effect is not permanent and has a maximum duration of 10 minutes.

[※ A special condition has been met, granting the unique title 《King of the Underworld》.]

2) [――(Empty)――]

3) [――(Empty)――]

※ Special abilities can only be added using magic stones and are activated randomly.

== ==