I Became the Academy's Kibitz Villain-Chapter 400: Hey, Try Try (1)

“Whoo….”

The president, who had been personally responding to the flood of calls from various countries, placed the receiver down and slumped onto the sofa.

“Mr. President.”

“This is complete chaos.”

While the secretaries had all left to take a brief break, the president and Taejo were the only ones remaining in the office.

“Baek Seol-hee, what is this? First, she’s having an affair and claiming she’s pregnant, and now suddenly it’s a man….”

“That’s….”

“No way.”

Suddenly.

The president quickly sat up.

“Baek Seol-hee, is she staging some kind of massive national scam right now?”

“Pardon?”

“Wait, wait, wait….”

The president rapidly skimmed through the scattered documents on his desk.

“At the time Baek Seol-hee claimed she’d get pregnant from an affair, the academy’s curriculum changed, Do Ji-hwan, the librarian, participated in the Jeju Island staff trip… I see. So that’s how it is.”

The president let out a hearty laugh, as if a weight had been lifted.

“Baek Seol-hee, hahaha, she’s got me good.”

“Mr. President?”

“Taejo. We’ve all been fooled. Baek Seol-hee didn’t just randomly pick Do Ji-hwan…. You knew, didn’t you?”

“…….”

Taejo lowered his head slightly, wearing a deeply apologetic expression.

“I’m sorry. I was threatened—she said she’d kill me if I told anyone.”

“To that extent?”

“They are close enough to make a public bombshell announcement to the entire world. Half of it might be a joke, but the other half is probably sincere.”

Did they really have such a conversation?

No.

However, Taejo deliberately misled the truth with bold claims to keep the president from feeling disappointed.

“Taejo. Let’s just clarify one thing. Do Ji-hwan—can he be trusted? Or not?”

“He’s not a saint, but I can vouch for him as trustworthy.”

“……Is he an ability user?”

“I’ll keep that confidential.”

“You’re not trying to imitate Gwang Ik Gong, are you?”

As the president pressed, Taejo shrugged, while the president, looking slightly more at ease, began gathering the scattered documents into a single pile.

“Well, whether it’s an affair or whatever, if she wants to have a child with the man she wants, it’s not something the state should interfere with. This isn’t the previous administration, after all.”

At the president’s loaded remark, Taejo clenched his fists briefly.

“Grandfather, I have a question.”

“Go ahead. What is it?”

“…How many female ability users has this country forced to ‘patriotically’ act in the name of reproduction?”

“Taejo, that’s…”

“I won’t mince words. How many were coerced into ‘childbearing’?”

“…….”

The president pressed his hand against his forehead.

“This country was mad. And that madness still lingers. Thanks to you and Irin, I barely managed to take control of the administration, but had we failed, Irin would have been targeted as well.”

“That’s…”

“If it were up to me, I’d want to overturn everything. But if I did… nearly ten million people would lose their jobs in an instant. And the country would become a puppet, controlled by those… over in East Chosun and West Chosun. Haha.”

The president shook his head in self-mockery.

“Changing things slowly from within is no easy task. But today, I feel like I’ve seen a new glimmer of hope.”

The president nodded deeply as he watched the screen in his office, showing Baek Seol-hee entering his suite.

“Sometimes, you have to fight madness with even greater madness. Isn’t it remarkable? That woman, Baek Seol-hee—only 25 years old—dropped a bombshell like that on the entire world. Thanks to her…”

The president picked up a photocopy of a pregnancy order that was on his desk.

“I was able to send off one of Haegneul’s followers and create an opportunity to elevate the nation’s stature.”

Rip.

He tore it in half and then again into smaller pieces.

“Up until now, it feels like we’ve been trapped within Haegneul’s frame for far too long. Taejo. Not just me, but it’s time for you to step out of that frame too.”

“Grandfather.”

“For the remainder of my term, I’ll place my faith in you and that man, Do Ji-hwan.”

The president firmly pressed the Taeguk Watch on his wrist.

“I’ve spent years worrying about being humiliated by those who’d take Haegneul’s sponsorship after my term ends. I even considered cooperating with them just to protect our family. But watching Baek Seol-hee made me think—if that 25-year-old girl can stand against the world for the person she loves, then what have I been doing all this time?”

“Grandfather….”

“You’ll have to help me out a lot. I’ll be spending time reviewing and filtering through my people, so you do your best as well.”

“Understood. Then….”

“Go out and meet as many women as you want.”

“…What?”

The meaningful conversation suddenly took a sharp turn into something else entirely.

“Do Ji-hwan managed to win over not just two S-class women, but even more. Shouldn’t you also actively meet more women from now on?”

“Excuse me, Grandfather?”

“A woman in love will stand by her man, no matter how terrible he is, as long as she believes he loves her.”

“…So you’re telling me to increase the number of women who love me?”

“Right. Make them truly stand by your side. Regardless of power, wealth, or the image of ‘Armored Taejo,’ even if you’re the child of a traitor, create women who would slap you and call you a ‘bad guy,’ only to embrace you tightly. They… will genuinely be on your side.”

“No, Grandfather. I’ve decided to stop living as ‘Armored Taejo’ and go back to being myself….”

“Just live as you are! That’s the only way you can survive!”

Madness.

“Look at that Do Ji-hwan. He’s managed to captivate multiple S-classes with nothing but a baseball bat! Are you telling me my grandson can’t do the same?!”

It spread.

“Even if women from other countries come to Korea to meet Do Ji-hwan, make sure they meet you and think, ‘Oh, what a wonderful man,’ and fall for you!”

The name of that madness.

“Make as many women as possible love you!”

Was love.

[Where is Mr. Do Ji-hwan right now?]

[He’s resting in his room. Please don’t disturb him.]

[Japan’s ‘Nadeshiko’ and Spain’s ‘Carmen’ have publicly expressed their desire to meet Mr. Do Ji-hwan. What are your thoughts on this?!]

[What do I think? Of course, it’s natural. Even just watching his videos from afar makes their hearts flutter so much they can’t stand it. I get it—I feel the same way.]

[Ah, wait… Snow White, this is a public broadcast….]

[Why? Should I be more explicit? When I see Mr. Do Ji-hwan, my uterus just—kyung kyung—]

The video feed cut off.

The recording itself stopped broadcasting at that part, so the rest was never aired.

However, those present at the scene must have heard the rest.

Baek Seol-hee’s explosive statement.

[Congratulations, Mr. Do Ji-hwan. Now all the S-class women will target you.]

“It seems like you’re quite pleased, Chairwoman.”

[Of course. When party members who can raid the Goblin are gathering on their own, it’s only natural.]

Hearing her low chuckle over the old smartphone, I couldn’t help but let out an awkward laugh.

“I’m really not as intense as you make me out to be.”

[Oh, really? Watching you get stronger, I thought we’d need a 24-person raid instead of just 10.]

“If that happens, I might actually die.”

[If you die, I’ll revive you with a Phoenix Feather. Hehehe.]

“Using a Phoenix Feather on something like that… Well, since it’s me, I guess it’s worth it. Just make sure you use it; usually, when you die from that, it’s a heart attack. I’ll just rest right before dying.”

Using a Phoenix Feather on someone who dies while playing around with women feels wasteful.

But if it’s me, the story changes.

[Oh, by the way, make sure you keep your promise, okay?]

“Of course. How could I possibly undermine the Chairwoman’s authority?”

No matter how many S-class women I met.

“I’ll treat them as women, but the decision to make them mothers of my children is entirely yours, Chairwoman.”

[Thank you for respecting my stubbornness.]

“Stubbornness? It’s only natural.”

Pregnancy was off the table.

That was a decision the Chief made, and I accepted her unspoken request.

“I’ll always love you, Chairwoman.”

[Me too. And because I love you, work hard to recruit female ability users. Make as many as you can fall for you—women who can’t live without Do Ji-hwan or the Goblin.]

Everything was for the Secret Society.

New n𝙤vel chapters are published on novelbuddy.cσ๓.

[The more S-class women you meet, the lower their risk of losing control.]

“Wouldn’t it be a problem if someone got overly possessive?”

[Oh, I wouldn’t try to monopolize you, so who would dare? Hehe. If anyone does, spend about a week straight with them. They’ll probably never want to monopolize you again, like Baek Seol-hee or Yumir.]

“Hmm….”

Indeed.

[You see, when humans feel like they’re going to ‘die,’ their mindset changes. If a woman thinks, ‘If I monopolize this man, I’ll die early,’ she’ll eventually come to terms with reality.]

“Did that happen to you?”

[Why else would I have sent you to the Academy?]

For world peace.

[From now on, stay under Baek Seol-hee’s protection. Even at the Academy, no one will dare touch you, so you’ll be able to act more freely. When October comes, the Ability Users World Cup will happen, and you’ll be able to move more freely from the Academy. Until then, hang in there.]

“If you’ve been staying in bed for almost seven months, how could I not endure that much?”

[Hehe, true. And you can still go out at night for excursions. Then….]

Through the receiver, I heard a rustling noise.

[Come on, say hi to Daddy. Daddy, hello!]

“…….”

[Oh, is Daddy too shy to respond? Hehe, see you in three months… or maybe I’ll visit you sooner?]

“…Chairwoman?”

[Look forward to it. Surprise.]

Click.

The call ended.

“…Phew, really.”

I opened my gallery to find an old photo of her taken in October 2024.

“It feels like just yesterday.”

Her most familiar appearance to me.

Though she was smaller now due to excessive mana use, back then, I could understand what Baek Seol-hee meant.

Love at first sight.

The moment I saw her, I realized.

This feeling, no doubt….

‘Did I say this before?’

Though I repeated the same words, I was certain when I looked at her.

If I decided to stay in this world, it was because of this woman—the Chairwoman.

“…Though other reasons are starting to emerge as well.”

A world where I could enjoy economic and emotional freedom.

Villains might be inevitable, but if only there were no demons, it would be perfect.

If even the demon-like figures disappeared, it would be ideal.

Like Haegneul.

“Alright. That method is still the best.”

I might not be able to drop a meteor on Haegneul, but I could drop one on the mind of Haegneul’s chairperson.

“If married men have affairs, who’s to say married women can’t?”

Haegneul’s chairperson.

He had a wife who’s an A-class ability user.