Novel's Extra: I Awakened The Strongest Physique From The Start - Chapter 84

Chapter 84: CHAPTER 83 – A New Problem 2.
A While Ago.

The Student Council Hall.

Alex sat on his throne, humming in perplexity. His brows furrowed as he rested his chin on his palm, his gaze shifting from one person to another.

‘What’s with the atmosphere?’ He wondered, his foot tapping the ground rhythmically as he tried to decipher the tension in the room.

Alex delved into his memories, attempting to uncover any clue that might explain the unease. He knew the topic circulating among the council and suspected it was partially to blame, but it wasn’t serious enough to warrant such grim faces.

‘What could have happened in just one day?’ His frown deepened as he failed to recall anything related to the council in the original plot.

But even if there had been something, it must have already changed. Alex had altered the student council the most—business operations, administration, even the names of the positions. Nothing had remained untouched.

‘That’s exactly why this is so hard to figure out,’ he thought, his frustration growing.

His gaze landed on Zahara. Her pink-tinted cheeks betrayed her delight as she swung her legs under the table, humming a tune she’d heard in the jungle the day before.

‘She’s fine,’ Alex concluded. Zahara’s cheerful demeanor was likely due to the kiss they’d shared before arriving. Among everyone present, she appeared the most unaffected by the tension.

‘Hehe, I got another kiss,’ Zahara giggled silently to herself, oblivious to the somber mood in the room. For her, Alex’s presence overshadowed everything else. The other council members were friends she cared about, but compared to Alex, they were insignificant.

Alex’s focus shifted to Lilia. She seemed deeply lost in thought, her brows knitting together occasionally. It was a side of her he rarely saw.

‘What’s bothering her?’ he wondered, staring at her for a moment before resolving to speak with her after the meeting.

‘It’s probably about her engagement,’ he speculated, unaware of Lilia’s quick glance at him the moment he turned away.

‘Dummy,’ she huffed inwardly. ‘Why haven’t you talked to me about Zahara yet?’

The scene from the previous day replayed in her mind, filling her with longing. She imagined all the moments she could have shared with Alex if she’d been the one by his side instead of Zahara.

‘But do I even have the right to complain?’ Lilia turned her gaze away, a wistful light in her eyes. ‘He’s just my friend, after all…’

Oblivious to her turmoil, Alex’s attention was now on Zyrrak Gildspire. The gold goblin’s elongated ears, golden skin, and protruding canine teeth gave him an air of distinction. Despite his height—an average 178 centimeters—he exuded an aura of wealth and power.

Zyrrak, the treasurer Alex had appointed, possessed an extraordinary sense of fortune. He could predict a business’s success or failure with uncanny accuracy. His ability to melt gold and store it in his infinite gold reserve was just an added bonus.

“I told you to be careful, didn’t I, Zyrrak?”

It was then that Theron’s voice sliced through the silence, pulling Alex from his musings. Theron’s finger tapped his armrest in a steady rhythm, his contemplative gaze fixed on the goblin.

‘There’s something off about him too,’ Alex thought, noting the uncharacteristic irritation emanating from the usually composed council head. He had felt it for a while, but as time passed, this irritation seemed to grow.

Yes, it was not always, as Theron still made important decisions without messing them up, but this mood of his had been spoiling the atmosphere of the council for some time.

“I asked a question, Zyrrak,” Theron repeated, his voice sharper this time. His brows furrowed as his grip tightened on the armrest of his throne.

“Let me, senior,” Alex interjected, unable to bear the rising tension any longer. Observing wasn’t helping; he needed to intervene before things spiraled further out of control. He had tried to just observe, thinking that the situation would turn for the better as it always did, but it wasn’t.

‘And what the hell is wrong with you, Fenna?’ Alex’s gaze briefly shifted to Fenna. She sat on her throne with a distant frown, detached from the unfolding drama.

Taking a deep breath, Alex turned his attention back to Theron, who was mirroring his action.

‘What?’ Alex’s eyes widened slightly as uncertainty flashed in Theron’s usually resolute eyes. It was unprecedented. Theron had always been deliberate, capable of contemplation and decision-making, but never unsure.

The moment stretched, every council member—including Fenna and Zahara—noticing the oddity. Zahara especially, with a frown on her face, stared at Theron. It was as if she could sense something off about Theron as well.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Theron gave a curt nod.

“Hm,” he muttered, turning his gaze back to Zyrrak. The goblin, whether out of respect or fear, lowered his head even further.

‘Is this because of the protagonist’s involvement?’ Alex clenched his jaw as a name surfaced in his mind: Ben. It was Ben who had filed the complaint, stirring doubts about the council.

It was a good thing, sure. The guy was going to help him handle many minor issues as well—things that Alex just couldn’t be bothered with, but interfering with his work was a no-no.

And as if one protagonist wasn’t enough, there was also Keryu.

‘Keryu…’ Alex growled internally, recalling the manipulative protagonist—way harder to deal with than Ben. Keryu is seen constantly manipulating Ben throughout the novel, exploiting the righteous protagonist’s naivety.

Alex really didn’t want to kill those guys, as he didn’t feel like he needed to, but still, a thought flickered in his head.

‘I should just kill them.’

But again, it was just a thought. He knew he couldn’t—not yet. He wasn’t strong enough, and even with Vanessa’s rumored strength, he couldn’t risk it all based on what was said in the novel. There were already so many changes in the novel; what if Vanessa being the strongest was not valid anymore as well?

Now, because of those two protagonists, he had to push many of his plans forward.

A strange glint passed through his eyes, a strange button appearing in his hand, which he clicked without having anyone notice it before his gaze returned to Zyrrak, who lowered his head in guilt. “Zyrrak,” Alex called, his tone firm but not harsh. “Look at me.”

The goblin hesitated but eventually raised his head. Guilt flickered in his golden eyes, his shoulders tense under the weight of the room’s collective gaze.

If the student council was a family, and Theron was the strict, rule-abiding, yet loving big brother—one you would fear but respect at the same time—then Alex was the fun big brother, someone you would share things with even if the situation seemed dire.

That was probably the reason for Zyrrak even turning to look at Alex.

Alex leaned forward, his sharp gaze locking onto Zyrrak. “Was it really you?”

Zyrrak’s jaw clenched, and for a moment, it seemed like he might lower his head again. But seeing Alex’s unwavering eyes, he gritted his teeth and nodded.

“Yes.”

A wave of unease rippled through the room. The female council members grimaced, unable to suppress their reactions despite their best efforts. The air grew heavier, every pair of eyes now fixed on Zyrrak as Alex prepared to address the situation.

The situation looked bad, but Alex knew that this was not all there was to it.