Chapter 544
This year’s club season was being held for three days in the central plaza of the freshman campus.
The seniors opened club booths to recruit new members with enthusiasm, while freshmen wandered around in groups, checking whether there were clubs that suited their tastes, and enjoying the various trial activities.
However, problems began to arise from the very first day, and by the second day, they had become serious.
“Freshman participation is dropping?”
Simon, who had been urgently summoned over the weekend, spoke while putting on the Student Council President’s coat. Beside him, Maelyn was hurrying along, holding a stack of files.
“Yeah. You’ll see for yourself once we get there.”
The two of them arrived at the central plaza.
Sure enough, the number of people had noticeably decreased.
“There are fewer freshmen here than second years now. It wasn’t like this last year.”
“Yeah, the cause is probably…”
Maelyn continued with a serious look in her eyes.
“…the overheated recruitment war.”
Because of the student council’s policy changes this year, securing new members had become even more important than before. Of course, keeping them was also important, but one could only maintain members if they were secured first.
So the second years, who were the main drivers of club management, were moving more aggressively than ever.
Naturally, competition over the freshmen intensified—and soon, they began promoting outside the designated plaza area set by the school.
Whether it was the freshman campus streets, the library, cafes, or even the dining halls, second years with badges could be seen shoving flyers into people’s hands. Some even went as far as—
—Ahaha! Excuse me, Professor! Hi, kids! We’re the Dungeon Research Club, and…!
Promoting recklessly right before or after classes.
Freshmen, due to their curriculum, had little direct contact with upperclassmen; the competition was usually among themselves. To freshmen who still found seniors intimidating, such approaches only caused discomfort.
And that wasn’t the only issue. At least the second years who were actual club members tried to restrain themselves for the club’s image. But those who simply wanted to “help a friend” went out and promoted recklessly, causing bigger problems.
—Hey, hey, you’re really not joining? Seriously? After I asked you this much?
—A senior calls you and you just ignore him?
—Keyzen’s a total mess now, really…
Excited to finally interact with underclassmen after a long time, they were just repeating the same kind of hazing their own seniors had once done to them.
What should have been a festive club season had turned into an atmosphere of intimidation, and freshmen began to avoid the central plaza altogether.
“S-Seriously bad…”
Simon wiped away the sweat dripping down his face after hearing the explanation.
Just then, a voice shouted from afar: “Simon~!”
Kamibarez and Dick came running.
“What’s with all this chaos on a weekend morning?”
Dick yawned with his hands stuffed in his pockets. Behind him, the student council’s direct servants were dragging along second years who had been caught promoting outside the designated areas.
The captured second years laughed sheepishly.
“Hey, Dick, tell them to let us go. Come on, what’s the big deal?”
Simon and Maelyn walked over. Maelyn sighed and crossed her arms.
“Calling yourselves seniors who survived a year at Keyzen… Look at the disgrace you’ve become.”
“That’s right! Reflect on your actions!”
Kamibarez scolded with her hands on her hips. The second years laughed awkwardly.
“Come on, cut us some slack. No freshmen are visiting our booths, so what else can we do? We have to promote outside.”
Another second year glared sharply.
“Hey, let’s be real—this is really our fault? If the student council had done better promoting to the freshmen in the first place…!”
“Don’t you dare blame others, you idiot!”
Maelyn kicked his shin as hard as she could. The boy yelped in pain, clutching his leg and hopping around.
“Get your facts straight! It’s because of stunts like yours that the freshmen aren’t coming!”
“Gah! That hurts like hell! Tch! Just because you’re on the student council doesn’t mean you can hit people!”
“Sounds like you still haven’t had enough.”
Maelyn reached for his collar, but Simon stopped her, stepping in.
“All of you, return to the dorms. You’re not even official club members, and if you keep disrupting the school schedule like this, I’ll have no choice but to recommend disciplinary action.”
At the word discipline, their smirks immediately vanished.
After sending them back, Simon divided up roles.
“Dick, mobilize all thirty of our council servants and strictly crack down on outside promotion.”
“Okay!”
“Maelyn, Kami, gather the club presidents. At least the ones who are still here.”
“Got it.”
“Yes, Simon!”
* * *
In the end, the student council had no choice but to intervene.
Since it was the height of club season, most club presidents were already present, so they could quickly convene a meeting.
“The freshmen’s unease is serious. From now on, please restrain yourselves.”
It was the side effect of overheated competition.
The presidents, being aware of the current situation, nodded in agreement.
The more external recruitment increased, the fewer freshmen actually visited the booths—the most important part of club season.
“But you know…”
One president muttered, chin resting on his hand.
“The club season’s reputation is already ruined, isn’t it? Even if we start controlling things now, will freshmen really come back to the booths?”
“That’s right. The student council should show some kind of countermeasure too.”
“Honestly, wasn’t this overheated competition encouraged by the council in the first place? If you’re really Keyzen’s student council, shouldn’t you have predicted the side effects?”
Grumbling voices rose, complaints spilling out from the presidents dissatisfied with the new policy.
Maelyn jumped up, furious.
“You bastards!! You screw everything up and then just blame—!”
“Maelyn.”
Simon calmly placed a hand on her shoulder, signaling her to sit down again. Then he looked around at the gathered presidents.
“Fine. The student council will figure something out. For now, trust us and focus only on promoting within your booths.”
After the meeting ended, the presidents left. Maelyn immediately shook Simon by the shoulders.
“Hey! What are you thinking? Why would you say something like that in front of them?!”
“We’ll just have to make it work somehow.”
Simon smiled as he said it. At that moment, Dick came over.
“Hey! Simon! I spread the servants just like you said. The second years are already pulling back.”
“Good.”
“Meeting’s done?”
“Yeah, went fine. But Dick—”
Simon turned to him.
“What’s trending among the freshmen these days?”
“Trending? Out of nowhere?”
“Yeah. It’s important.”
Dick furrowed his brow in thought.
“Well, the hot stuff right now is probably… opera or theater.”
Maelyn frowned.
“Seriously? That kind of old-people stuff is trending with freshmen?”
Dick nodded.
“Don’t play dumb. Remember that young rising star at the Langerstine Grand Theater? The one we saw at our Inauguration? Seiyur! He’s a massive hit with the younger crowd, way more than with old nobles.”
Maelyn grimaced in disbelief.
“…That fool is really that popular?”
“You didn’t know? During the last mission evaluation, all the freshmen were scrambling for assignments near Langerstine just so they could watch Seiyur’s play! Their professors tore into them for it.”
Simon thought back. Now that he considered it, Seiyur had indeed been the MC at the Inauguration—and the popularity had been explosive.
“This could work.”
Simon smiled.
“More than just work.”
Dick grinned.
The two boys exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming with the same idea.
Then, together, they turned to look at Maelyn.
“W-Wait! Why are you two looking at me like that?!”
Her face flushed red as she crossed her arms protectively over herself.
* * *
The next morning.
Langerstine Grand Theater.
“Marvelous performance this morning, Seiyur!”
Portly elderly gentlemen flocked toward Seiyur, showering him with praise.
“Your delicate gestures depicting the era of severance and downfall are reminiscent of the legendary actor Mortis from fifty years ago!”
“The layered portrayal of one man’s life—what a masterpiece! Your performance poses an excellent theme for reflection!”
“Hahaha! Thank you, gentlemen.”
With a greasy smile beneath his thick brows, Seiyur shook hands with the patron nobles.
After about ten minutes of fan service with the sponsors, Seiyur whistled and strode away with a jaunty step.
“Haha! Seiyur!”
The theater owner, grinning ear to ear thanks to the recent explosion in ticket sales, rushed over and embraced him.
“Good job with the morning performance. Rest up and give us a strong evening show too!”
“You can count on me.”
“Fans are flocking from all across the continent just to see you! Haha, why on earth did you only appear so late!”
As the owner slapped Seiyur’s shoulder with laughter, a commotion broke out in the back.
“You can’t come in any further!”
“What the hell is this?!”
At first, everyone thought it was just another group of Seiyur’s rabid fans barging in. But the scene turned out quite differently.
Step, step—
Three sharply dressed men and women strode past the security, heading straight for them.
“Who are you people?!”
The theater owner shouted.
The woman in the center removed her sunglasses, revealed her face, and pulled out a notebook from her coat.
“We’re from Keyzen.”
The embossed Keyzen emblem froze the theater owner’s face stiff. Even the guards, who had been brandishing batons, froze in place as if turned to stone.
The woman tucked away the notebook and spoke coldly.
“I’m Mojo, from the Keyzen student council.”
When Keyzen was involved, the best move was always to tread carefully. The owner began to sweat profusely, bowing his head.
“W-What brings the esteemed Keyzen here…?”
“Bring him.”
Thud.
At her word, the two enforcers at her sides seized Seiyur by the arms.
Seiyur, bewildered, struggled in vain.
‘W-What kind of strength is this?!’
Of course, resistance was impossible. He was subdued instantly, leaving the theater owner leaping in protest.
“What are you doing! Even if you’re from Keyzen, this is…!”
Expressionless, Mojo handed Seiyur a slip of paper.
<We know you’re free this afternoon, so shut up and come do a paid show.>
—Maelyn.
“Hahahaha!”
Only then did Seiyur burst out laughing, glancing at the theater owner.
“Ah, so that’s all! Theater master, I’ll just be performing at an external event for a while.”
“All of a sudden? Wh—where?”
As the enforcers finally released his arms, Seiyur straightened his collar and flashed a grin.
“It seems the adorable boys and girls of Keyzen desire my presence.”
* * *
“Everyone together! Raise a toast to youth!”
Boom! Bang!
On the stage of the freshman campus’ central auditorium, Seiyur raised a sound-amplifying crystal and sang energetically. His gestures conjured surging waves and howling storms.
“Oh, heavens!”
A thunderous sound blasted forth.
Below the stage, freshmen leapt and shouted his name with fervor.
The popularity was nothing short of overwhelming. At the sound of Seiyur’s voice, it felt as though all 900 freshmen had gathered at once.
“Give us your passion!”
Singing boldly, Seiyur stepped back and pointed to his side. A dazzling spotlight swung onto a Keyzen girl standing there with another crystal microphone in hand—her face hidden by a cat mask.
“Give us your passion!”
She lifted her voice gracefully, and the freshmen, enraptured by Seiyur, widened their eyes in shock.
With a slight furrow of her brow, she vaulted into the high notes.
“Hear it! The toast of youth—!”
“Wooooaaahhh!”
Her near-perfect high pitch sent the crowd into an uproar.
“Who is she? She’s wearing our school uniform!”
“An actress? Or an actual student?”
“She’s amazing!!”
At this moment, her popularity rivaled Seiyur’s.
Though cheers rang from every side, her masked face burned crimson. Tiny tears welled in the corners of her eyes.
‘Why am I singing in front of my own school?! I hate this! I hate this! I hate it so much!’
Regardless, the passion of the performance only climbed higher.
Simon and Kamibarez watched with sparkling eyes, while Dick nodded gravely.
“This was your choice of performance, Maelyn. Tough it out.”
Simon chuckled awkwardly.
“But she’s really good.”
“She is!”
Not only was she not falling behind the professional actor Seiyur, Maelyn was actually overwhelming him with her tone and power.
The performance, starting at the central plaza, was a massive success.
Its aftermath naturally revitalized the club booths. Countless freshmen who came for the show funneled into the booths afterward, while second years, now relieved of pressure, treated their juniors warmly.
Just yesterday, two or three second years had swarmed a single freshman in desperate competition. Now, freshmen lined up in front of booths willingly. Order was finally being restored.
“President! What magic did you pull? Thank you so much!”
Even the club presidents were all smiles. The ones who had scolded Simon angrily during the meeting now fully enjoyed the festival.
“Good. Keep working hard.”
Simon waved back without resentment.
Solving the freshman shortage in one blow, the student council’s reputation soared.
A council capable of summoning even a superstar like Seiyur when needed.
Who would have thought that the man Simon briefly encountered during last year’s dispatch evaluation would rise into such a sensation? Fortune was on their side.
“Oh my, what an amusing event.”
A familiar voice came from behind.
When Simon turned, Serne was approaching with a lewd smile.
“A mysterious cat mask, hm. Sounds like someone I know. The voice is awfully familiar too.”
Simon let out a soft laugh.
“You came, Serne?”
Superb.
When are we getting more free chapters?
Thanks for the new chapters