Faced with the Student Council President's enthusiastic invitation, your options would appear like this:
YesN
If this were a game, the screen would now be waiting for Hara Kei to make a choice. In his previous life, he would have skillfully pressed the "Esc" key to save, then tested both options to see which path he preferred before committing.
Unfortunately, although he now had a system panel, it did not allow him to save and reload. Once a decision was made, there was no going back.
For Hara Kei, the choice was simple. He didn't even need to think.
"Thank you for your kind offer, Goko-senpai, but I'm afraid I lack the skill and experience necessary to take on such a responsibility."
"Huh?" Goko's tone had a hint of playful reproach, as if she hadn't quite caught the subtext. "If you feel unqualified, isn't that all the more reason to join the Student Council? There's no other place in St. Eden Academy that can give you a greater boost than this."
"…Goko-senpai, I mean that I don't want to join the Student Council."
"I heard that," she said lightly, "but that's not the answer I want to hear, so I'll pretend I didn't understand."
…She just said that outright?!
Hara Kei blinked in surprise at her frankness, but it also made her resolve clear. He didn't argue; pointless words like that were a waste of time—and Hara Kei hated wasting time more than anything.
He fixed her with a direct gaze, staring into her eyes that were both amused and challenging, and asked bluntly:
"Why me?"
Goko's smile widened. She seemed genuinely pleased.
"Not getting caught up in meaningless things… decisive and efficient—that's a quality I value."
"Well, if you insist on a proper explanation, there are actually quite a few reasons," she continued, stroking her chin as if lost in thought. "Being a transfer student like me is a plus. Looking good and giving people a pleasant feeling? That's a plus. Your performance in the 'Fuyuma Wasa incident' and the 'Classical Music Club incident'? That's a plus too. But all of those are just bonuses."
"But the real reason," she said, pulling a document from her desk and tossing it to him, "is this."
Hara Kei caught the file gracefully. To his surprise, it wasn't some personal skills analysis or dossier on him. In fact, it had nothing to do with him at all. This document had existed in this world for centuries—long before Hara Kei was even born.
He read the title aloud:
Magna Carta.
Latin. Meaning:
"The Great Charter."
"You can read Latin? Another bonus point," Goko said with a small laugh. "This… is my 'enemy.' And to defeat it, your existence is indispensable."
…???
Hara Kei prided himself on his comprehension skills, but even he couldn't parse the logic of what she had just said.
Seeing his expression, Goko smiled knowingly. "It's normal not to understand immediately. Don't worry—I'll explain everything in detail."
She leaned back in her obviously expensive chair, which perfectly supported her elegant posture. Hands clasped beneath her chin, she seemed lost in memories.
"Like you, I entered St. Eden Academy through the special transfer exam. But unlike most transfer students, my reason for coming here wasn't a bright future or personal growth. I entered for just one thing. That thing was…" She paused, looked Hara Kei in the eye, then said simply:
"Money."
"Not the scholarship you get for passing the exam. I mean the three billion yen per year that comes under the Student Council President's control." She said it matter-of-factly. "My family isn't rich, but I love managing money. When I heard that at this school, the President could control such a vast sum, I made my decision. I had to become Student Council President."
After saying this, Goko paused, letting Hara Kei absorb her words.
Hara Kei held the Magna Carta in his hands and nodded to show he was listening.
"Another bonus point," Goko murmured, frowning slightly but still smiling. "Just silently understanding without staring at me weirdly or asking, 'You like money that much?' or 'Is that really why you came to this school?' … my instincts weren't wrong."
Without waiting for a response, she continued casually, "After all the struggles, I eventually became the Student Council President." Her tone was light, almost like commenting on the weather. But Hara Kei knew from his experience with St. Eden Academy's game that this achievement had been incredibly difficult—even for a player with the system's help, let alone a normal student from a modest background.
This wasn't Teyvat—there were no magical powers to act as cheats. Goko's success came entirely from her skill and intelligence.
"And then," she said, pointing at the document Hara Kei still held, "when the previous president handed over her position to me, she also handed over this—the Magna Carta."
"You know the origin of St. Eden Academy, don't you, Hara Kei?"
He nodded. "It was founded as a church school."
"Exactly. To be precise, it was a school established by the English, and this Magna Carta from England became a symbol of pride, passed down through generations of Student Council Presidents. It was apparently established as a tradition by the first president."
"They treat it as a symbol of democracy to remind future generations…" Goko's lips curved into a smile tinged with cruelty, and her words were sharp enough to send a chill down the spine:
"Hilarious, isn't it?"