"Senior! Senior!!"
"…Ugh."
Through barely opened eyes, Chloe saw a guy's face.
It was blurry, and her heavy eyelids made it hard to focus.
"Senior Chloe! Are you okay?"
"Who…?"
"Let's get you to the infirmary! I'll carry you!"
"…"
Chloe closed her eyes again.
***
"Taeyang's seriously insane?!!"
"He took all of Chloe Maiden's whips!!"
"No, he beat her!! Is his body made of steel or what?!"
"That disciplinary president collapsed in a sweaty mess!!"
"Heh heh heh! As expected of Taeyang!! We believed in you!!!"
Classes were over for the day.
The delinquent crew followed me around, yapping nonstop.
"Screw the disciplinary committee! We're invincible! Taeyang's a god!!"
Thinking about it, it made sense they'd cling to me.
Ark is a graveyard for delinquents.
Act even slightly rebellious, and the disciplinary committee targets you.
You'd either get whipped by the crazy queen Chloe Maiden or end up her slave.
And I, Kim Taeyang, defeated that absolute evil of delinquents.
"Hey! Stop being annoying and get lost!!"
"Taeyang! Can't you train me? I wanna be as strong as you!!"
"Me too! Me too!!"
That's fine and all,
But their constant pestering was getting on my nerves.
Training these extras would be pointless—they wouldn't grow much anyway.
No matter how much I tried to shoo them away, it didn't work.
Beating them up would just give the disciplinary committee an excuse to come after me.
A uniform violation gets you 1,000 lashes, but assault could land you in the dungeon, which would be a hassle.
So, I decided to think differently.
These guys are the only classmates who actually like me right now.
With my looks, family background, and behavior, Kim Taeyang's got a scary, bad-guy image.
But these punks love that vibe.
I pointed at the guy with the rooster-like hair.
"Hey! You! What's your name?!"
"You're finally asking my name! I'm Hangnam! Ban Hangnam!! Nice to meet you!!"
"What? Hangnam? Hahaha! That's a freaking hilarious name!!"
"Haha! If you think it's funny, that's good enough for me!"
A delinquent named Ban Hangnam…
Really drives home that this is a game world.
"Hangnam! You're the action captain from now on!"
"M-Me? Action captain?!"
"And all of you, follow the code of conduct I'm setting!"
"We'll follow it no matter what!"
"I'm in too!"
"Taeyang's word is law!!"
I called it a code of conduct, but I hadn't actually planned anything.
It was just to keep these idiots from causing trouble.
"Rule one! Don't be late to class!"
"Okay! That's easy!"
"Rule two! Wear your uniform properly!"
"That's easy too…!"
"Rule three! Don't start fights!"
"Uh… doable…!"
"Rule four! Look kind and friendly!"
"Huh…? That's… doable?"
"Rule five! Don't steal or borrow other students' money or stuff!"
"Wait, Taeyang. Something's off. If we don't steal or borrow… you mean we have to buy stuff?"
Hangnam finally sensed something weird.
I wondered how to convince him.
But then I got annoyed.
Screw it, I'll just bulldoze through…!
"You bastard!!!! Daring to defy your leader?!!!! Already plotting a coup as action captain?!!!!!"
"Eek!! N-No way?! You're my hero! I'd never betray my role model!!"
"Then shut up and follow!!! In my crew, my word is absolute!!!!!"
"S-Sorry!! I wasn't thinking…!!"
It worked…?
Guess their brains are too fried since they're just extras.
Works for me.
"Taeyang's got a plan!!"
"Some crazy-ass plan, no doubt. Heh heh heh."
"I'm already pumped to follow the code!! Kekeke."
"No tardiness, proper uniforms, no fights, kind eyes, no stealing—my heart's racing just thinking about it!! It's gotta be some insanely bad shit despite how it looks!!!"
How does that even count as bad…?
The real insane thing is your imagination, not my code…
"Kim Taeyang, you're gonna plunge Ark into total fear!!! You're the ultimate madman!! Hahahaha!!"
I've got a feeling the truth coming out later might cause a big backlash…
But what kind of storm could these extras even stir up?
"You Punks! If You Get It, Get Lost!! You're Too Loud!!!"
"Got it, boss! We'll follow the code from now on! Let us know if you think of anything else!"
Impressive loyalty.
They'll definitely be useful as lackeys.
After the storm passed,
Only Seol Harin and I remained on the way home.
She'd been trailing behind but sidled up to me.
"I have a question."
"Huh? What is it?"
"How… how did you endure that whipping? You didn't even seem to feel pain…"
At this point, Seol Harin hadn't received the "Sled Dog's Instinct" stigma.
So, she couldn't understand how I withstood the lashes.
I could tell her the truth about the stigma, but that might shatter her mental state again.
Stress is bad for muscle growth.
Better to dodge the question.
"Huh? Not feel pain? Getting whipped hurts like hell, obviously!"
"It hurt…?"
"My mental and physical strength are just insanely badass, so I powered through!!"
"…"
She looked shocked, but in a different way.
Was that too much?
Whatever.
Time to hit the gym.
"Hey, sow! Stop dawdling and hurry up!! Today's a big day!! Leg day, baby!!!!"
"I-I'm coming!"
Seol Harin seemed to move a bit faster.
***
The next day,
ArkGal, the Ark community, was completely overtaken by Kim Taeyang.
–Honestly, if you think Kim Taeyang's kinda cool, upvote
I'll start lolololol
↳ Upvote
↳ Taking 1,000 whips, is that real?
↳ Is his body made of stone or what lol
↳ Whipping a rock ;;
↳ Chloe-senpai drenched in sweat was so hot…
↳ Die, idiot.
–Disciplinary committee's screwed!!!
Kim Taeyang wrecked the disciplinary president!!
↳ Not exactly wrecked;; Taeyang just took a ton of hits lol;; They say the president wasn't feeling great that day;;
↳ Disciplinary committee's done for
↳ This guy's from the disciplinary committee
↳ That glasses nerd?
–Let's be real, the disciplinary president was awful
Beating kids and throwing them in jail over nothing.
Kim Taeyang gave her a reality check, agree?
From now on, let's call him Ark's "Dark night."
↳ It's knight, not night, moron. Talking about a dark night, lol.
↳ Only freshmen and delinquents are scared of Chloe; what nonsense.
↳ True. Freshmen just blindly freak out and treat the disciplinary committee like trash.
↳ Fact is, the disciplinary committee kept Ark clean, but these clueless freshmen are making a mess smh.
Half the opinions supported me.
Half condemned me.
Chloe Maiden may come off as a sadistic, power-hungry pervert, but among second and third years, she's actually well-regarded.
Her presence keeps delinquents in check.
She's also not as rigid as she seems.
She doesn't whip just anyone for not wearing a uniform.
She's only strict with obvious delinquents.
Anyway, the important thing is that my image has softened a bit.
–As of today, I'm withdrawing my support for Kim Taeyang
From today, I'm no longer just a supporter.
Kim Taeyang and I are one.
Any attack on Kim Taeyang is an attack on me.
If there are 7 billion Kim Taeyang fans in the world, I'm one of them.
If there are 10 million Kim Taeyang fans, I'm still one of them.
If there's only one Kim Taeyang fan, it's probably me.
If there's not a single Kim Taeyang fan left, then I've left this world.
Kim Taeyang, my love.
Kim Taeyang, my light.
Kim Taeyang, my darkness.
Kim Taeyang, my…
***
↳ (Moved…)
↳ Upvoting while taking off my pants
↳ This is insane, lol
↳ Ark's standards are so low, stanning a delinquent moron, lmao
↳ These freshmen are legendary, lol. Ark's done for, haha
↳ The "Ark's doomed" guy showed up, lol
↳ Look at these old farts gatekeeping, lmao
↳ Gatekeeping? Moron, Kim Taeyang's gonna get expelled soon anyway
↳ He's already on the professors' bad side, yup, won't last long
↳ Calling us old farts when it's just a one or two-year gap? You're all old farts in my eyes! (This is what they call a "rhyme" these days, right? Lol)
↳ This guy's for real?
↳ Professor…?
Hmm…
Guess I'll only check ArkGal occasionally for my mental health.
Today was the first weekend since starting at Ark.
A crucial day for students.
The reason? Club recruitment.
It was the day when restrictions on freshmen joining clubs were lifted.
First-years were busy scouting for clubs, while second-years were busy recruiting new members.
Naturally, I had a club in mind.
Of course, my choice was more about stealing constellations than actual club activities.
"Hey, Pomi! Time for a walk!"
"Woof!!"
Just in case, I decided to bring Pomi along as a bodyguard.
You never know what might happen while heading to join a club…
***
While every club was busy scouting freshmen,
The disciplinary committee had already selected a few students as new members.
Their criteria were simple but strict:
1. Must be an exemplary student.
2. Must be strong enough not to cower before delinquents.
3. Must have a good reputation to uphold the disciplinary committee's prestige.
Only elite students could join.
Chloe had already picked one such candidate.
"Juhyeok, thanks for joining. The disciplinary committee needs talents like you."
"No, I'm the one honored."
It was Kang Juhyeok who carried the sweat-soaked, collapsed Chloe to the infirmary.
Impressed by his exemplary behavior, Chloe decided to recruit him.
"You know we're facing a major crisis, right?"
"Because of Kim Taeyang?"
"Exactly. He's a type of delinquent even I've never dealt with. That's why your role is so crucial."
Chloe saw Kang Juhyeok as Kim Taeyang's counter.
He was in the same year and class, perfect for keeping an eye on him.
While not on par with Kim Taeyang or Seol Harin, he was skilled in his own right.
Most importantly, he had a personal grudge against Kim Taeyang…!
"Thinking about Harin… I can't sleep… Every morning and night, she goes to his room and comes out exhausted. What kind of horrific things is she enduring…!"
Kang Juhyeok clenched his fists.
In his imagination, Seol Harin was submitting to Kim Taeyang's massive "weapon" daily.
In reality, she was submitting to heavy weight plates, but still.
Anyway.
"I'll make sure… to throw that guy in the dungeon…!"
"Yes! I'll do my best too!"
Chloe gripped Kang Juhyeok's fist, adding her strength.
And in that moment—
"…"
"…"
An awkwardly intense pink atmosphere flowed between them.
"…Thank you, senior. If it weren't for you, I might've broken down."
"W-What kind of silly talk is that?! Helping a struggling freshman is just what a disciplinary president does!"
"Senior…"
"Yes…?"
Their faces drew closer.
Even at a time when his childhood friend might be getting ravaged by a giant delinquent,
Kang Juhyeok's reproductive instincts didn't waver.
That's just how a harem game protagonist rolls.
CRASH!!
"…?!"
A commotion broke the moment.
It sounded like a ruckus in the hallway.
"Senior…! That voice… Could it be?!"
"Damn it! It's him!!"
The two tensed up, waiting for the door to open,
Looking like a ragtag hero party facing a demon king.
***
"Swordsmanship Tournament 10-Year Champion! Join the Ark Kendo Club and become a 'Sword Demon'!"
"Knowledge is power!! Join the reading club 'Bookworm' for exam cheat sheets!!"
"Come to the Vtuber fan club…! You can join exclusive streams with the super-popular Vtuber Kain-chan…!!!"
"Ugh, shut up, you weebs! You're ruining our club promotions!!"
"Urgh…! Being a weeb isn't a crime!!"
The school plaza was packed with club booths.
Each club was busy enticing freshmen to join.
But one person silenced them all.
"K-Kim Taeyang…?!"
The blonde, muscle-bound delinquent, Kim Taeyang.
'Don't make eye contact!'
'That guy can't join our club!!'
'He's gonna beat up the weebs…!!'
The plaza fell silent in an instant.
It was hard to believe hundreds of students were gathered there.
"Huh? Why're you all acting shy?! Swordsmanship, reading, those lame clubs? I wouldn't join even if you offered me a truckload of girls!!!"
His blatant disrespect for the school's clubs would've enraged any dedicated club member.
'Thank goodness…!!'
'Thanks for thinking they're lame!!!'
If it hadn't been Kim Taeyang saying it.
The club members breathed a sigh of relief.
Kim Taeyang marched straight toward a male student.
The two had history, having clashed twice already.
"Hey, glasses nerd!!!"
A scrawny second-year with glasses.
He and Kim Taeyang had been at odds since their first meeting.
"Urgh…! My name's not glasses nerd!!"
"Huh? Then what is it?!!"
"It's Kim Angyeong!!"
"Hey, hey!!! That's no different from glasses nerd?!!!!!"
Kim Taeyang grabbed Kim Angyeong by the collar, shaking him.
He naturally transitioned into a headlock and dragged him along.
"Glasses nerd!! Take me to the disciplinary committee!!!"
"W-Why the disciplinary committee?!"
"Huh?! I've got business, that's why!!! Stop yapping and lead the way!!!!"
"Ugh…!"
Kim Taeyang's relentless bulldozing.
Caught in his wake, Kim Angyeong had no choice but to guide him to the disciplinary committee office.
"W-What business do you have with the disciplinary committee…?"
BOOM───────!!
Kim Taeyang kicked the door open.
It nearly flew off its hinges as it swung wide.
His entrance twisted the faces of Chloe and Kang Juhyeok inside.
Kim Taeyang's voice echoed through the office.
"Yo!!!!!!!!"
"Urgh…!"
His sheer presence felt like it pushed them back…!
'Just a greeting, and my hair's fluttering…?!!'
It was actually the fan, but his aura was so intense it felt like more!!
Swish-
Chloe and Kang Juhyeok instinctively grabbed their weapons.
"Y-You! Here to confess to breaking the rules?! Too bad! It's the weekend, so dress code's free!!"
"Huh? What's that supposed to mean, tiny sow?!!"
Kim Taeyang pulled a crumpled paper from his pocket.
The A4 sheet looked pathetically small in his hand.
It had a familiar format.
"Tch…! No way!!!"
Chloe's pupils shrank.
A bead of sweat raced down her back,
And her prediction was spot-on.
"It's an application form!!!!!"
"…?!!!"
"Disciplinary president!!!!! Celebrate my joining with a joyful booty dance!!!!!!! Hey!!!!!!!!"
The school's top delinquent had submitted an application to join the disciplinary committee.
'So… why the hell would you do that?!!'
It was the day Chloe's mental state collapsed.