NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Unexpectedly ambushed, Kasumi gasps for air.
Clang!
A shadow spear strikes her neck, ringing with metal.
Kasumi’s pure white neck is now covered in violet scales.
The draconic instinct, sensing the threat, activates instinctively to protect her.
“Such a basis.”
Swoosh.
A black paper airplane collides with Kasumi’s barrier and vanishes.
The dragon eyes, split vertically, tremble faintly.
Click.
I snap a photo of her transformed dragon form with my smartphone.
“Evidence obtained. Cloud auto-upload complete.”
While looking at Kasumi, I place my hand on Durandal, ready to switch to combat mode at any moment.
The reason she didn’t pull out her trademark weapon earlier is that unauthorized use of such weapons is prohibited on campus, except for duels and practice.
But now that school rules mean nothing, considering Kasumi’s personality, the possibility of her fighting back is incredibly low—still, it’s not zero.
“The game is over, Hoshino Kasumi.”
With my right hand grasping Durandal’s hilt, I wave the phone showing her dragon form with my left.
Kasumi’s head droops.
Her hands shake uncontrollably.
“Yeah······.”
Kasumi speaks in a low voice.
“······As my junior said, it’s all over. Of all places, right here······.”
There’s a hint of moisture in her voice.
Having been used by the dark forces all her life and unable to form genuine relationships due to her identity as a spy, this shabby place is the only sanctuary for her.
And now that her identity is forcibly exposed in such a place, it seems her mental state has collapsed.
But that’s her problem. Not mine.
‘As expected, no fighting back.’
Just like heroines who do laundry in light novels, Hoshino Kasumi is originally kind and gentle, feeling doubt about her spy work and secretly wishing someone would stop her.
So the odds of her fighting back are extremely low.
But at the same time, being a spy for the New World League, she’s a potential risk.
‘Better dismantle the ticking bomb quickly.’
I have no intention of being betrayed like Yuji, the main character.
I won’t let a New World League spy roam the academy unchecked.
Kasumi raises her head.
She gazes at me with empty, unfocused eyes.
“······What are you going to do with me now? Hand me over to the association? Or tip off the press?”
“No. I have no such plans.”
To take down the final boss, I need Kasumi too.
And if I publicly reveal that she’s a spy, the provoked New World League might do something reckless.
I’m not foolish enough to take such dangerous risks.
Kasumi’s eyes tremble.
Wrapping her arms around her shoulders, she speaks in a shaky voice.
“Then, why······. Are you seriously going to blackmail me with that photo······? Are you planning to make me hug you or something?”
Damn, really.
How does such a thought even come up in this situation?
It’s so mystifying and creative that I can’t even respond.
“I’m not doing that. No way in hell.”
Upon hearing my answer, Kasumi’s expression darkens.
She mutters in a feeble voice.
“······Right, even Junior doesn’t want to hug a monster like me······.”
She bangs her forehead lightly.
This is getting ridiculous.
It seems I’ve vastly underestimated this crazy world.
“It sounds like you’re having some useless delusions······. I don’t give a single damn about your identity, whether you’re a chimera or a human or whatever.”
“······You don’t hate my body?”
“No, I really don’t care! Why would I even have to hate it?”
Kasumi shakes her head furiously.
What the hell is this insane nonsense?
As I engage in this destructive conversation with her, a moment of enlightenment hits me.
Damn, this isn’t the time for that.
“Just know this. What I expect from you is just one thing.”
Fighting through the moment of clarity, I continue.
“Betray the New World League and become my informant.”
Kasumi’s eyes widen in shock.
“If you obediently follow my orders from now on······ I’ll make sure to save your friend that those bastards have taken hostage at the right time. I’m a person of clear rewards and punishments.”
Satou Rena.
The other sole survivor of the Chimera Project along with Kasumi, currently in a comatose state.
The true reason why the New World League, with its supposed good nature, could force Kasumi into betrayal.
Mentioning her makes Kasumi’s hands shake.
“If you refuse, I’ll just spread that photo all over the association and the internet. The choice is yours. Oh, and if you do something weird, I have it set to automatically send emails from the cloud, so don’t try any funny business.”
Having said my piece, I sit back and look at her.
The approach was a bit bratty with a blonde tan vibe, but in the end, Kasumi has only one option.
To become my slave number two.
Number one is Olivia, so she’s number two.
I whistle while waiting for her response.
After a moment of awkward silence, she finally says.
“······I’ll do it.”
The birth of number two.
You’re not alone (Illustration Available)
“That’s a wise choice.”
I throw her a compliment.
She quietly nods.
“From now on, you’re a double agent. You will report all instructions and orders from the New World League to me the moment you receive them, and keep me updated on the situation. And don’t forget, under any circumstances, my orders take priority.”
“If I listen to Junior······. You really will save Rena, right?”
Kasumi asks with a trembling voice.
“Yeah. I promise.”
No matter how much I might dislike it, I have no choice but to rescue her.
Satou Rena is also a supporting heroine character, needed when facing the final boss.
After all, there isn’t a single female character in light novels that doesn’t eventually fall for the protagonist.
Unless we’re talking about characters in their thirties or mothers, I guess?
But if they’re too old, it’s a problem. If they’re over a hundred, there’s a 100% chance they’re a heroine character.
I can’t let my little sister be careless either. Just look at how many light novels have titles that include ‘little sister.’
No, nowadays even mothers are joining the heroine ranks under the name “Mama.”
‘What kind of bullshit is this?’
It makes me want to curse out loud.
Here it comes.
This is all because the protagonist saw the naked body of the wrong heroine back then, causing a butterfly effect.
What an adorable fool.
I will definitely collect this debt, even if I have to pull out his spine.
Or maybe I should just tell the protagonist to save me.
At that moment.
Kasumi hesitates and looks at me as she speaks.
“Then… as a promise… can we pinky swear?”
She extends her pinky towards me.
I suddenly can’t breathe.
I feel like I’m going to lose it.
“…Is it… not okay…? I want to receive the promise from Junior…”
Kasumi lowers her head.
Her expression darkens again. Kasumi’s pinky trembles.
Her hand shakes.
‘Think positively, think positively.’
An old sage once said, if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it.
Are you really gaining someone’s trust with just a pinky swear?
That’s a miracle that can only happen in a sweet light novel world.
If it were a web novel, I wouldn’t be able to rest easy even after finding common ground. I’d have to strap on a magical contract or make a mana vow to keep them in check.
If I can just endure a moment of embarrassment, I’ll have Unit 2 completely in my grasp.
Yeah. Let’s think like that.
I reach out and link my pinky with her trembling finger.
“I promise. If you fulfill the role of a double agent faithfully and follow my orders obediently, I’ll definitely not only rescue Satou Rena at the right moment but also give you a chance for revenge on those fools.”
Through our intertwined pinkies, I can feel her warmth and tremor.
Kasumi’s cheeks turn red.
“So you have to promise too.”
It wouldn’t be fair if it’s just me.
She nods her head.
“…Okay. I promise… I will be a loyal spy for Junior.”
A faint smile appears at the corners of Kasumi’s mouth.
“Alright.”
I quickly withdraw my finger.
I feel like I might die from embarrassment.
“Ah…”
Kasumi lets out a low sigh.
But it doesn’t matter; I need to say what needs to be said.
“Since we’ve made a promise, it’s only natural that my orders come first. From now on, report all your actions to me. Don’t leave anything out.”
Kasumi is a dangerous variable.
I need to track her movements.
Her eyes widen.
“All of them?”
“Yeah. It’s an order. Do you not want to?”
She shakes her head vigorously.
“Ah, no. I don’t mind. It’s just that… how should I put it…”
How should you put it?
“I feel like I’ve really become Junior’s… and it hits me. Hehe.”
Kasumi twirls her lavender hair around her finger as she speaks.
What on earth is she thinking?
I’m really getting tired of countering her every single time.
Ah, whatever. Let her fantasize as she wants.
“…Is that the end of the orders?”
She looks at me.
“Join the reading club.”
I need to join the reading club to have an official connection with Kasumi.
“Okay, got it. Can you wait a moment?”
She stands up and rummages through her desk drawer, pulling out a membership application and handing it to me along with a pen.
I take the pen and start filling out the application.
At that moment.
I feel a soft touch on my arm.
The scent of lavender fills my nose.
I turn my head.
“Kim Deok-Sung. So, Junior really is that Korean cadet, huh?”
Kasumi is right next to me.
Her ample chest brushes against my arm.
Was that intentional?
I quickly pull my arm away.
“What are you doing right now?”
I’m at a loss for words.
“Junior… that’s too much.”
Kasumi’s expression darkens.
“What’s so wrong?”
What now? What’s the problem?
“Looks like Junior doesn’t like my hideous monster body either…”
“I really hate the body of that hideous monster…”
Anyway, who would have thought she isn’t just any light novel heroine? Her deception is truly passive.
I always wonder why a non-human heroine character has a complex about something as trivial as horns.
There are plenty of people with horns and scales out there on the internet, after all.
This is just a cheap, convenient setting leftover from trying to lower the heroine’s self-esteem so she can fall for the protagonist quickly.
“Seriously, what a shady author.”
A beauty who doesn’t know she’s pretty? Where on earth do those exist?
With a face like a beautiful golden spoon, is a little horn or scale really that big of a deal?
Some people look like blond, tanned hooligans! When I look in the mirror every morning, I think, ‘Isn’t this alright?’ and then suddenly have a moment of clarity?
Ah.
Suddenly thinking about that deceiving protagonist who acts like a regular high school student with a handsome face makes me even angrier.
“Who says I’m hideous? Can we tone down the deception and get some self-awareness? Please. Don’t tick me off.”
It’s like those mobile game communities, posting daily deceit whenever summoning season comes around; it’s deception all the time, every breath!
“…Junior…”
“I don’t think you realize yet, but even if you have horns and scales, you’re undeniably beautiful enough to make me, a guy with a dirty impression, feel bad. So please stop the nonsense in front of me. It’s pissing off the trashy junior over here. Got it, senpai?”
Deception should be permanently banned.
Kasumi’s eyes widen.
Her cheeks flush pink.
“W-what…?”
Even throwing in a light novel exclamation.
What a ridiculous mess.
Kasumi lowers her head.
“Uh… yeah…”
She starts playfully fiddling with her violet hair.
“Th-thank you… for comforting me…”
“Don’t get it twisted; it’s not comforting. If you keep playing tricks with that appearance one more time, I’ll abandon the double espionage and just post a photo online. Understand?”
Is this some kind of talent?
People really need to know when to stop.
“Hehe. Yeah.”
Kasumi laughs.
“Hmph, hum hum hum♪”
What the hell could be so great about turning someone’s insides upside down?
I can’t understand Olivia either; the mindset of a light novel heroine is beyond me.
With a sigh, I hand her the completed club application form.
“Here. The application.”
“Got it.”
She hugs the application form like a doll.
“I’ve definitely received the application from the junior.”
Kasumi smiles.
“Welcome to the reading club, junior.”
“Ah, yeah. Whatever.”
I give a half-hearted nod and get up from my seat.
“Well then, do well in the reading club activities. I’ll be on my way now.”
I need to review today’s lessons.
Damn studying, damn school and everything.
Kasumi lowers her head.
“…That’s too much. You’re a bad junior.”
“What now? Why?”
“…Are you just going to leave after messing with a girl’s body and feelings like this? Planning to go see a knight princess? You’re such a player, bad junior.”
My head’s pounding.
What the hell did I do to deserve this crap with 5700 characters worth of nonsense?
“I’m going to study. Study. Review!”
“Review?”
Kasumi tilts her head, then immediately covers her mouth with her hand and laughs.
“You’re cute, junior.”
This is insane.
“Enough already, I’m leaving.”
“Wanna see if I can teach you about reviewing?”