How to Survive as the Academy Student Council President

Rebecca hesitated for a moment before accepting my proposal.
"Fine. I’ll accept it."
And so, I succeeded in developing a new route leading into the Underworld—the optimal path for obtaining artifacts.
Of course, until Rize changes her class to Special Merchant, she won’t be able to deal in high-grade items.
Right now, she’s merely an appraiser.
But if she gains experience through steady trade under Panopticon and eventually advances to a Special Shop merchant, then I’ll be able to acquire excellent artifacts through her.
That’ll take some time, so let’s endure until then.
***
By the time I returned to the Union, it was already well past midnight.
The lights in the Student Council Office were still on, and sure enough—Ciel was waiting for me.
I’m certain I told her to go home. Even on weekends, she’s annoyingly diligent.
When Ciel saw my tired expression, she gave a polite bow.
"You’re late, sir."
"Yeah. I was out looking for funding sources."
This trip to the Underworld had several purposes, one of which was to secure financial backing.
Since the discussion with Rebecca went well, I could call it a success.
"I see. Did you gain anything from it?"
As Ciel asked, I shrugged while unpacking my things.
"Nothing immediate. But I made a solid investment, and in the long run, it’ll definitely pay off."
Rize is basically a goose that lays golden eggs. If I feed her well and let her grow, the return will be tremendous.
And since I’ve now established ties with Rebecca and set up trade, only profit awaits from here on.
However, when I mentioned there were no immediate gains, Ciel shot back in that predictable, mildly scolding tone.
"…Of course you didn’t."
After everything I went through, this was the reaction I got?
No way I was letting that slide.
'Ciel seems to be expecting I brought something back while I was out. I can use that.'
I placed my bag on the table and said casually,
"Oh, right. I forgot. I didn’t get you any donuts. Sorry if you were hoping for some."
Elef’s Donut Shop is one of the Academy’s treasures—you can’t just buy their donuts whenever you want.
Even last time, I had to use my infamous reputation to barely get the last remaining set. They don’t even sell this late at night.
When I said there were no donuts, Ciel immediately turned to leave without hesitation.
"…Then I’ll be going now. Please rest well."
Just as she gathered her documents and was about to step out—
"But instead."
Thock—
I pulled out a beautifully wrapped box of macarons I’d hidden in my bag and set it on the table.
The Underground City is like a melting pot where countless cuisines from across the continent coexist.
It’s filled with exotic delicacies you’d rarely find in the Union.
This particular macaron set came from Panopticon’s Western Branch—different flavors entirely from those sold in the Union’s downtown cafés.
"What do you think?"
When I presented the vibrant macaron set, a faint sparkle appeared in Ciel’s eyes.
"Has a new dessert shop opened nearby? Where did you get these…?"
I answered with playful spite.

"If you find out, you’ll get hurt."
***
Panopticon Western Branch, Reception Room.
After the boy and girl had left.
Having finished his report, Alfredo returned to Rebecca.
"Miss, Lady Rize has been safely escorted and provided with a secure residence. As for the magical tools business and related ventures, we’ll proceed step by step."
"Good work. By the way—she’s the one from that list, right?"
At Rebecca’s question, Alfredo nodded subtly.
"Yes. Lady Rize was listed as an A-grade recruit. Since she lived within Red Hound territory and already caught their attention, recruitment was tricky—but she came to us on her own. That gives us the justification we need."
It wasn’t as if Panopticon could have been unaware of a talent Red Hound had its eyes on.
They didn’t yet know she possessed the Mystic Eye of Replication, but since a rival faction had marked her, they’d already listed her among potential A-rank recruits for her latent potential.
Of course, forcibly taking her would’ve risked sparking a conflict between factions—but since she voluntarily sought their protection, that issue no longer applied.
"Click— how long do we have to keep watching those bastards’ moods?"
"Once Big Brother, who’s still hospitalized, passes away, the succession struggle should finally end. Until then, things will stay unstable."
Though Panopticon was the dominant power in the Underworld, its control didn’t extend to every corner of the massive subterranean city.
Beneath the Meteor Isles lay a vast network of caverns spreading like an anthill.
Across those tunnels, numerous regional factions lurked in the shadows, waiting for their chance—Red Hound among them.
In fact, they were even part of the Resistance alliance currently opposing Panopticon.
An irritating thorn stuck in their throat. They’d love nothing more than to crush them all immediately.
"Whatever. If they so much as touch that girl, crush them."
"Understood. By the way, Miss—do you have any idea who that boy was earlier?"
Alfredo brought up the young man who’d had the nerve to visit this place.
Rebecca stared blankly at the ceiling, chewing her cigarette, then shook her head.
"No clue. Said his name was Loen. Judging by his fair skin and hands, he’s not from the underground. Looks young too—probably drifted in from the Union. What do you think, old man?"
At her question, Alfredo spoke cautiously.
"I have a guess. Do you happen to know the House of de Valis?"
"Yeah, that crazy-strong family ruling the Western Front. Oh—wait. Wasn’t their good-for-nothing brat’s name Loen too? Don’t tell me that’s him?"
"…That’s my suspicion. The appearance matches."
Since Alfredo managed most affairs of the Western Branch, he was well-informed.
Naturally, he was familiar with the faces of prominent royals and nobles.
The boy’s features closely resembled the Loen he knew from reports—and even the Union Daily had published a photo with a similar face.
"Hmm. He might be cocky, but he didn’t seem like a thug. Handsome, too. My type."
"……"
…And that’s relevant how?
Suppressing a sigh, Alfredo voiced the lingering doubts in his mind.
"Still, a few things don’t add up if he really is that notorious Loen."
For one, someone with his rumored personality would never have had the guts to march into the Western Branch like that.
He was supposed to be a petty bully who only picked on the weak.
Yet this one had risked his life to come here alone—and the skill and composure he displayed in combat were hardly those of a spoiled delinquent.
If what they’d witnessed wasn’t an illusion, then the information they had on Loen clearly needed updating.
'Then… could the Union Daily’s article have been right after all?'
Alfredo recalled the story that had dominated the paper: an exposé on Loen.
He’d doubted the accuracy of an article written by a student club, but now… he had no choice but to believe it.
He pushed the thought aside and said,
"I’ll contact Gretel to verify the truth. If he really is that Loen, he must have entered the Underworld through Traum Street No. 9. As the gatekeeper, she should know something."
"Do that. Still, if he’s a duke’s son, things just got complicated."
"?"
"We can’t kidnap him. What a waste. Tch."
"……"
All Alfredo could do was sigh quietly at his reckless young mistress.
***
"You useless bastards!"
Crash—!
With an enraged shout, a glass ashtray shattered into pieces on the floor.
Headquarters of the Red Hound, the Underworld’s violent syndicate.
"I told you to grab one orphan girl from the slave market—how hard is that, huh?"
A burly man with his wrist in a cast knelt before the furious boss, bowing his head.
"S-sorry, sir! While we were handling it, a combat mage interfered—"
"A mage?"
"Y-yes! Skilled in close combat too, and wielding some bizarre artifact. I believe information about the girl leaked."
At the report, the man’s fury subsided slightly, and he sat back down.
"…What about the shop she was in?"
"It’s already been moved. Most likely Panopticon took her in."
"So she ended up in their hands after all."
He slammed the armrest of his chair and muttered coldly,
"The Mystic Eye of Replication… if Panopticon’s after her, then it must be true."
"Yes, sir. We tortured her master and got it straight from him. With that girl, anything valuable can be copied."
"Good. If she’s that useful, she’s worth taking by force. Hey."
At his call, a woman approached and bowed.
"Yes, Boss."
"Contact Gulados. They’re already fighting Panopticon forces in the Durhen District, right? We’ll borrow their hands. And…"
He paused, eyes glinting in the dark.
"Contact him—the one on the continent."
***
The next day.
Dragging my exhausted body, I finished morning training and headed to Eredor’s Hall of Truth.
Having come back late from the Underworld, plus the side effects of the Strength Enhancement Stone and Haste spell, my whole body was numb.
Given how pathetic this body is, a bit of payback is to be expected after a brawl like that—but I still can’t get used to this crippling muscle pain.
Thank goodness there’s no swordsmanship class today.
When I entered the lecture hall, Bell spotted me from afar and waved.
I weakly raised a hand in °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° return and, as usual, took a seat in the back.
Hanging my bag on the hook, I pulled out my textbook and opened to today’s material to review.
'Ugh, my eyes hurt.'
Maybe because I hadn’t slept properly for days, my eyelids were heavy, and a dull headache pounded behind my temples.
I was staring blankly at the text with bloodshot eyes, waiting for class to start—when suddenly—
Screech—
The chair beside me, always empty until now, slid back. Someone sat down.
"……"
Whoever it was, they placed their textbook on the desk like they planned to take the class next to me.
Without a word, I turned to glare at the unwelcome visitor.
Yulina Evalanche.
The same Yulina who always sat up front with Beatrice was now, for some reason, sitting right next to me.
I frowned in displeasure and asked,
"…What’s your game?"