I Became the Student Council President of Academy City-Chapter 95

‘I’m not even surprised anymore.’

I spun the spinner again, returning Dal-bi to her original appearance. Then, I placed the spinner back into her arms.

Leaning against the wall, I peered out the window discreetly.

The familiar landscape confirmed my suspicions.

‘As expected, this is the Zero Zone.’

This was the Zero Zone, a desolate, ash-gray city.

There was an official stance that the Zero Zone was outside the reach of the Golden Ram’s blessing, as the boundary of the blessing was unclear.

But as someone who knew the original story, I knew that was just a rumor. The Zero Zone was indeed within the reach of the Golden Ram’s blessing.

‘I’m lucky I know the layout…’

Though the game and reality were different, I at least had a sense of where certain buildings were located. Thanks to that, I didn’t get lost while escaping.

‘Heavenly Ritual Feast…’

The barrier created by the Heavenly Ritual Feast was still emitting its mystical glow.

The God of Gluttony wouldn’t act for someone like me. Hong Gyu and his Army of Gluttony were probably trying to offer me back to the God of Gluttony.

The God of Gluttony was likely angry at having its meal interrupted.

‘Unless I’m completely devoured by the God of Gluttony or Hong Gyu is defeated... that won’t disappear.’

One of us had to be eliminated for this fight to end.

‘Maybe because it’s the Zero Zone. As a devout follower of the Principal, Hong Gyu isn’t just destroying everything.’

I recalled Moon Chae-yeon’s testimony.

This place held all of the Principal’s secret and inhumane actions. With the capture of the Six Sinners, the Zero Zone had regained its purpose.

As such, Hong Gyu, a follower of the Principal, couldn’t act recklessly here.

‘That means it’ll take some time for them to find us, as long as his sister doesn’t arrive too soon.’

Hong Gyu’s sister, Hong Bin.

If she appeared, hiding would be meaningless.

‘Communication is down.’

The barrier seemed to block everything—my smartphone displayed “out of service,” and even the student council pager wasn’t working.

We were completely isolated, essentially trapped like rats.

I leaned against the wall and sat on the floor.

“Ugh…”

Pain shot through my body.

‘My body is in bad shape, and my magic is depleted…’

When magic is drained, it takes time to recover.

Even though my 6th-tier body was still strong within the city, it meant nothing in front of Hong Gyu.

Moreover, it was unlikely that my magic would recover before Hong Gyu found us.

Even if it’s only for a few minutes, I needed to rest and regain as much strength as possible while considering how to escape.

“……”

I looked up at Dal-bi, who was lying on the bed.

A mix of indescribable emotions swirled in my chest. Unable to express them, I just continued to take uneasy breaths.

……

Thirty minutes later.

“Ugh…”

I heard Kim Dal-bi groan.

I quickly got up and approached her.

“You’re awake? How do you feel?”

“……?”

Dal-bi looked at me with a puzzled expression.

“Who are you?”

“What?”

“Who are you?”

Dal-bi asked with a tense expression.

I couldn’t understand the intent behind her question.

“You’re asking who I am? Are you serious?”

Was she joking at a time like this? Could she really be that clueless?

No, it wasn’t a joking expression.

“…Did you forget who I am?”

“‘Forgot’...? Ah.”

Dal-bi suddenly sat up and gently touched her forehead. Her hand was trembling.

“Did I... forget something again?”

“‘Again’?”

“There’s a lot of blanks in my memory… What happened to me? What did I do? Why is my memory like this...? Why is it like this...!? Ugh!”

As she seemed to be entering a state of panic, I quickly covered her mouth.

“Quiet. The enemy is outside, searching for us.”

“……”

Dal-bi lowered her head.

She noticed the bandages I had wrapped around her wounds and then looked at me, nodding.

She seemed to have inferred the situation.

Given the large gaps in her memory, she likely assumed she had fought to the point of exhaustion.

She probably saw me as an ally since I had treated her wounds.

Once she calmed down, I removed my hand. As I tried to put some distance between us, Dal-bi grabbed my sleeve and gently tugged.

“You… know me, right?”

Dal-bi’s eyes trembled violently. She looked terrified.

It was the typical reaction of someone who couldn’t accept the harsh reality they were facing, trying to deny it.

“Who are you…?”

“……”

“Once again, my past… it’s like it never existed… Once again… I hate this feeling….”

My mind froze for a moment at the sight of her.

A flood of memories raced through my mind.

‘…So that’s why.’

I finally understood why Dal-bi’s difficult power seemed to lack any penalties.

Why she would become a great evil that would bring about dystopia.

‘The penalty was her memories. Probably not just any memories, but the important, cherished ones.’

Judging by how she had forgotten me, that seemed to be the case.

I suddenly recalled the contents of the letter Dal-bi had left for me when I entered high school.

─ ‘I’ve become a worthless person in this city… but I’m always on your side. ^_^’

The words written in the letter.

‘It was self-deprecation.’

It was Dal-bi’s way of expressing self-hatred.

The familiarity I felt when I reunited and spoke with Dal-bi was also due to this.

In the original story, Dal-bi must have lost many of her memories as she unleashed the true power of her unique ability.

In the end, all that remained in Dal-bi’s mind was the detestable version of herself.

She must have accepted what she had become and ultimately broken down.

And today, Dal-bi had pushed herself to her limits, using her utmost power to save me.

As a result, it seemed she had lost many of her memories.

“Haa.”

I took a deep breath.

I felt disgusted with myself for having told Dal-bi that I hated her, for taking a vague stance because our relationship was no longer just a matter between the two of us, but because we were on opposing sides—me defending the city, and her trying to destroy it.

‘How much of an idiot was I?’

The image of Baek-seo, who had her unique ability forcibly taken from her.

The sight of Dal-bi, who was now confused after losing her memories.

Both were clear evidence of my foolish actions.

Of my powerlessness.

I bit my lip.

I clenched my trembling fist tightly.

Blood began to seep out.

I was furious.

It felt like my insides were being torn apart.

I wanted to destroy everything.

The Six Sinners, the Principal, the Spartoi, and even Goliath.

I wanted to crush them all.

“Hey…?”

Dal-bi’s cautious voice rang in my ears, probably because I hadn’t said anything for a while.

I had never really thought about how I should react when I learned the whole truth about Dal-bi.

But now, I thought I knew.

As the Student Council President, I had whipped myself into shape, telling myself that I had to prevent the dystopia from occurring, all while wearing a mask.

But now, I would throw all of that away.

All the complicated interests.

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The disgusting underside of the city.

The dignity I had cultivated while being bound by laws and rules.

I would throw it all away.

I would discard the mask I had worn like a piece of trash and live according to my true desires.

To do that, I would seize the power I needed.

And love the people I could love.

Something that had been tightly wound in my mind snapped. I felt like I had finally found a clear answer.

“I see… So you’ve forgotten who I am.”

I bent slightly to meet Dal-bi’s eyes.

Having discarded the mask of the Student Council President and everything else, I could finally recognize the emotion that had quietly lingered in my heart.

Regret.

I still harbored a small regret for Dal-bi.

“Then I’ll remind you.”

What emerged after that, without any emotional obstacles like those from childhood, was—

“I’m the person who likes you.”

—a pure smile.

Dal-bi’s eyes widened in disbelief. She looked like a startled puppy.

I guessed that Dal-bi had kept her precious memories of me intact until now. How could I not realize that she still had lingering feelings for me?

So now, I would also fight for you.

Because I still liked you.

“Someone like me… you like me?”

I nodded.

“I should be asking. Can someone like me like you?”

“I don’t… know.”

“Last time, I said some harsh things to you. We fought, too. I’m sorry. That was my mistake.”

“I don’t remember any of that…”

“I remember.”

Dal-bi’s head trembled at my firm declaration.

“I remember everything.”

Dal-bi seemed unsure of how to respond. She was probably confused.

A lack of memories doesn’t lead to the absence of the past.

Even if all the traces of the past were erased, it wouldn’t matter.

As long as I remembered, Dal-bi’s past wouldn’t be lost.

I just smiled gently to reassure her.

“Can you move?”

Dal-bi shook her head.

“I can’t move… I’m out of magic, too. What happened?”

“Well… there was a battle. We barely managed to escape. Just rest for now. I’ll explain everything once you’re better.”

“……”

I gently patted Dal-bi on the bed, like soothing a baby.

“It’s okay. Everything is okay.”

“Mm…”

Dal-bi was mentally exhausted due to her confusion, still deeply fatigued.

But thanks to my efforts to reassure her with a smile, she quickly fell back into a peaceful sleep.

Her soft, rhythmic breathing was endearing. I stroked her hair before leaning back against the wall to rest.

Ten minutes later.

A sharp sense of awareness surged through me.

A massive concentration of magic was approaching. It seemed Hong Gyu was closing in with the remaining soldiers of Gluttony.

‘So, they’re coming.’

Judging by how they had stopped searching and were now moving in one direction, they must have borrowed his sister Hong Bin’s abilities.

‘This feeling…’

I looked down at my hands.

Focusing my attention and energy during the rest had brought forth a more palpable sensation.

The sensation from earlier when the God of Gluttony’s magic had forcefully tried to invade my magic circuits.

‘The God of Gluttony’s magic must have done something to my circuits… something feels different.’

The magic that had tried to consume me seemed to have triggered something within my magic circuits. It was like touching a bomb ready to explode.

It felt similar to when I fought Han Seo-jin, but heavier. Like a dam full of water, ready to burst.

My magic had always been unusually pure.

With such high growth potential, it might have reacted intensely to strong stimuli.

Clenching my fist tightly, I stepped out of the hospital room.

The hallway was bathed in the light of the magic emanating from the Heavenly Ritual Feast. I walked down the corridor, pulling out the retractable baton from my belt.

Click! The hidden rod extended fully from inside.

It was the Iron Dragon Staff.

With it in hand, I exited the abandoned hospital.