NOVEL NEXT Chapter 77
The more numbers and higher-ranked interdimensional creatures you defeat, the more points you gain.
The ladies began to vacuum-clean the interdimensional creatures in the nest competitively, like a vacuum cleaner.
[Group 12 + 10 points (Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte)]
[Group 12 + 14 points (Kamiya Makoto)]
[Group 12 + 9 points (Nishizawa Eri)]
[Group 12 + 23 points (Shinozaki Rin)]
[Group 12 + 21 points (Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte)]
My hunter watch on my wrist continuously spat out messages by the second.
[Real-time score tally]
[Group 12: 232 points]
[Group 10: 100 points]
[Group 4: 89 points]
In the score tally, the gap between 1st and 2nd place had already spiraled out of control.
As a result, I was able to achieve my desired top score for the practice session without lifting a finger.
Lucky me.
“Oh my. Look at Kim. Seems like someone’s a Black Beast. They say he had the girls on leashes again during this practice.”
“Isn’t he more like the pillar husband?”
“Shouldn’t we be calling him the pillar husband now?”
“Poor princess.”
As always, the extras chattered behind about pillar husbands and such, but I didn’t care.
As long as I reached my goal, does it matter how I got there?
Riding for free really is the best.
[1st Year Exchange Tournament Member Selection Results Announcement]
[Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte]
[Shinozaki Rin]
[Nishizawa Eri]
[Kamiya Makoto]
[Kurosawa Yuji]
[Ishihara Daiki]
······.
[Kim Deok-Sung]
Thus, I barely managed to squeeze into the exchange tournament members with a pull-up.
*
Shuo Hero Academy Dormitory.
Servants’ accommodation.
Naturally, there was also Han Seo-Jin’s room in the accommodation used by the few specific suite users.
Inside the room, posters of Kim Deok-Sung sold in South Korea were haphazardly plastered, and a life-sized standee of Kim Deok-Sung stood in one corner.
Han Seo-Jin was seated at her computer desk.
“Kim Deok-Sung has been selected as a member for the exchange tournament…!”
Han Seo-Jin’s hands trembled slightly.
Kim Deok-Sung.
The only hero candidate from South Korea.
A great man who will bear the security and future of the motherland on his shoulders.
The person she has devoted her body and soul to all her life has once again achieved an immortal feat.
To think he managed to score high marks in midterms at the world-class hero academy, Shuo Hero Academy, filled with geniuses!
Thump.
Han Seo-Jin’s heart raced.
“My Kim Deok-Sung. How could he be so amazing!”
Her face flushed red.
Han Seo-Jin hugged a cushion with Kim Deok-Sung’s face printed on it tightly.
Her body trembled with excitement.
“This is an achievement that must be publicized immediately within the country…!”
His greatness must be known.
She quickly sent out a pre-made press release about Kim Deok-Sung’s midterm scores to domestic media outlets.
Articles related to Kim Deok-Sung would be online in less than 10 seconds.
The Blue House has probably already received a report from the National Intelligence Service director, so there’s no need to worry.
Han Seo-Jin skillfully opened a video editing program and began to work her magic.
[The K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung! Causing trouble again! The reason why K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung smashed the egos of Japan’s top geniuses and ranked high in the midterm exams!? “We simply cannot stop Kim Deok-Sung.”]
[Japan! Sinking again! The Japanese archipelago falls into humiliating silence! Spotlight on the internet reactions from Japan overly jealous of K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s midterm exam results! “The hero nation of Japan is now finished.”]
[K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s top midterm exam scores! Is there a fierce education culture behind this? The world is amazed and applauds the proud K-education culture! “Today’s Kim Deok-Sung and advanced South Korea were built on educational fervor.”]
Han Seo-Jin quickly edits un公開 close-up photos and videos, makes a thumbnail, and uploads it.
As soon as it’s uploaded, views skyrocket quickly.
She clicks on the portal.
[President Kang: “Hearing that candidate Kim Deok-Sung was selected as an excellent midterm exam student brought tears to my eyes. Candidate Kim Deok-Sung’s midterm exam scores are a joy to the nation and a pride of South Korea. The government will support him as he works alone in neighboring Japan.”]
[Kim Deok-Sung, shortlisted as an excellent midterm exam student, surpassing numerous geniuses at Shuo Hero Academy… ]
Just then, as Han Seo-Jin smiles while looking at the rapidly rising news about Kim Deok-Sung:
[Is the President getting involved just because of midterm exam grades? LOL What’s so great about it;; I’m so embarrassed haha National image is really dropping LOL]
She sees hateful comments that wrinkle her pretty brow.
Han Seo-Jin’s face hardens coldly.
She runs a macro program.
[Upvotes 0][Downvotes -15324]
Downvotes soar rapidly.
Han Seo-Jin types quickly on her keyboard.
[Getting nominated as an excellent midterm student is great, but LOL you’re just ignorant LOL Japan fans, go back to your country haha]
With that rebuttal comment, Han Seo-Jin closes her eyes.
“Kim Deok-Sung. Once again, you have elevated your name.”
She grips her trembling hands tightly.
Thump, thump.
Her heart races as if it’s about to explode.
*
After the midterm exams, life at the academy rolls on smoothly.
Except for the constant bickering among the four heroines: the three girls and now even Makoto joining them.
It’s exhausting, so exhausting.
As May, the month of family, passes and June, the beginning of early summer, takes over.
When classes end.
[Announcement: All members of the exchange tournament, please gather immediately in the Chairman’s Room.]
The school announcements ring out.
Kyoto Exchange Tournament.
The core story of Volume 4 of the original work is finally about to begin.
“The prologue of Volume 4 started in the Chairman’s Room when the members gathered for the exchange tournament.”
Creaking,
I get up from my seat and head towards the Chairman’s Room.
Walking through the corridor, I recall the original content.
Just by seeing that the exchange tournament is embarrassingly dubbed Kyoto, it’s clear that in the original, the exchange tournament is essentially just decoration, with a third of its content being akin to touring Kyoto.
Visiting famous tourist spots like Honnoji, Kitano Tenmangu, and Kyoto Imperial Palace, or going to Kinkaku-ji while drawing fortunes during casual events.
“While enjoying the Kyoto tour, the atmosphere changes dramatically when Kasumi-sempai receives the betrayal order from the League.”
Kasumi, after receiving the betrayal order, hesitantly and anxiously enjoys the tour with the protagonist, gradually hesitating to betray him as she’s touched by his kindness.
Indeed, kindness must surely be the ultimate weapon in the light novel world.
“Kasumi-sempai, having hesitated about the betrayal, ultimately succumbs to the threats of the League, who hold her friend Rena hostage, and on the day of the exchange tournament, launches a surprise attack on the Shuo Academy group alongside the League’s underling, the student council president of Meijin Academy.”
After that, it’s a predictable melodrama.
The protagonist, shouting “Kasumi-sempai would never do that!” while Kasumi-sempai cries as she betrays him.
Kasumi-sempai reveals her true form as a chimera, and when asked if she looks monstrous, the protagonist answers without hesitation, saying she’s not monstrous at all but beautiful.
The protagonist.
Kasumi, unable to hold back her emotions after the protagonist’s response, opens up the truth.
Hearing the truth, the protagonist heads toward the underground secret laboratory of the New World League hidden beneath Meijin Academy to save Rena.
A smile creeps onto my lips as I recall the events of Volume 4 in my mind.
“This time, it looks like I can coast through smoothly.”
Unlike the original, with Makoto around, there’s no way I’ll have to struggle this time.
I can leave all the “rescuing” to the protagonist and the heroines while I enjoy some sightseeing in Kyoto.
This time, I’ll really reap the rewards.
Honestly.
They say Kyoto is filled with tourist spots.
Lost in my thoughts about tourism, I unknowingly arrive at my destination.
It seems I was the last to arrive; all the members of the 1st and 2nd-year exchange event are already gathered in the Chairman’s Room.
But wait a minute.
There’s someone here who shouldn’t be.
The silver-haired beautiful girl standing next to the Chairman is Student Council President Saionji Aris.
“Why is Aris here?”
The exchange event is an event only for the 1st and 2nd years.
The 3rd years, who primarily go on field training and dispatch missions, are excluded from the exchange event.
In other words, Saionji Aris isn’t supposed to be a member of the selection.
Why are you here?
Something feels off.
“Looks like everyone’s finally gathered, huh, kids?”
The Chairman, Shinozaki Ichiro, and Yoshizaki Seira put on serious expressions.
“The reason I summoned you all here so urgently is due to an important announcement.”
An important announcement?
Her red gaze scans the exchange members, including me.
Seira slowly opens her mouth.
“Today, Meijin Hero Academy has unilaterally notified us of the cancellation of the exchange event.”
What?
Oops, is it starting now?
I force a calm expression despite feeling flustered.
Meijin Hero Academy is canceling the exchange event?
No matter how much the original story has twisted and caused a butterfly effect, isn’t this going too far?
The entire Volume 4 episode is being thrown out the window.
I should have been enjoying the spoils in Kyoto.
My head is spinning.
“What about Kasumi-senpai? And what happens to rescuing Rena?”
Satou Rena is being held captive in the underground secret laboratory of Meijin Hero Academy.
She is enduring horrific human experiments and abuse that border on torture.
The New World League is keeping the fact that they are using Rena as a test subject to manipulate Kasumi hidden from her.
In other words, to free Kasumi-senpai, I absolutely must go to Meijin Academy.
“Stay calm.”
I cool my heated head.
I recall the information from the original story.
From the outside, Meijin Hero Academy appears to be a normal academy, but in reality, it is a subordinate organization of the New World League.
The proposal for the exchange event came from them, as part of a plot to eliminate the protagonist Yuji, the Son of the Sword Master.
“The fact that Meijin Academy suddenly unilaterally canceled the exchange event means that the Messiah’s intentions have shifted.”
The problem is, I can’t figure out what that damn final boss is planning.
Has something taken a higher priority than removing the eyesore Kurosawa Yuji?
My head is a mess.
I lift my gaze.
I see the Chairman.
Unlike when it’s just the two of us and he acts all dramatic, his expression is serious now.
It’s a little weird seeing him acting like that with a 15-year-old appearance, but it’s clear he didn’t just gather the exchange members to talk about the cancellation.
Calling forth Aris, the Student Council President, who doesn’t even appear in the original Volume 4 episode, is suspicious as well.
Next to Aris are Vice President Morishita Miho and Secretary Nagamine Reiji.
“I had suspected something was off with Meijin Hero Academy recently, but with this sudden cancellation of the exchange event… This has never happened before…”
Seira speaks with a serious expression.
“So, we decided to send all of you exchange members to Kyoto for training under the Student Council’s guidance to keep an eye on Meijin Hero Academy’s movements.”
Kyoto training, huh.
Not a bad idea.
It sounds just like Seira, known as “Raccoon Chairman,” to come up with a plan like this that’s as cunning as her.
No matter what happens, I still need to go to Kyoto, so it’s actually a good thing.
With the addition of Makoto and Aris and the student council members who weren’t in the original, this is definitely over-spec compared to the original work.
I can easily handle villains like the Meijin Student Council President and the head of the Secret Research Laboratory who appeared in volume 4.
‘The problem is, they might also come out over-spec on the other side…’
Like how the Mad Hatter appeared in the model gate practice, and how Kamiya Makoto and Ritsuko, who appear in volume 8, showed up in the empty spot of volume 3.
It’s tough to predict what variables might lurk in Meijin Hero Academy.
‘Still, I think I can manage with a Student Council President at least.’
They wouldn’t send out EX-rank villains, of which there are only four, among the 13.
Villains below that rank, like S-rank, can easily be handled by the Student Council President.
Aris is a real powerhouse since she even released her true name.
Variables are something you worry about when you lack power.
“Mr. President. Here’s the matcha.”
Clatter.
Entering the room is Ritsuko, the mint-haired beauty in a black suit, who places a teacup on the president’s desk.
Seira takes a sip of the tea.
“Hmm.”
She closes her eyes, then opens them, putting down the teacup.
“It tastes bad. Ritsuko, your training isn’t enough.”
“Th-that’s… I-I tried my best!”
Ritsuko’s Kansai accent pops out.
Seira shakes her head firmly.
“I don’t want to hear excuses. Do it again.”
“Ugh… this damn old hag…”
Ritsuko grumbles.
The moment Seira hears “old hag,” her red eyes turn icy.
“You still have a bad habit of talking back, Ritsuko. Do I truly have to educate you once more?”
“I understand…”
“Bring some yokan with you when you come back.”
“Th-that’s… I bought it to eat for myself…”
“Oh? Who told you to question my orders? You’ve only picked up bad habits, Ritsuko.”
“Yes… I’ll bring it…”
Just like a light novel, taking snacks is the norm.
What a petty old lady.
Sucking the marrow out of a flea.
Is exchanging useless banter a specialty of light novels, even in serious situations?
Ritsuko exits with the matcha.
Seira clears her throat.
“Anyway, since I decided this, any student who can’t participate in the Kyoto training mission should raise their hand now.”
Not a single student raised their hand.
She smiles.
“Good. This is how my disciples should be. Alright then, everyone, have a safe trip to Kyoto.”
Clap.
Seira claps her hands.
Thus, another Kyoto journey begins, similar to the original yet entirely different.
*
Tokyo Station.
The platform where the Kyoto-bound Shinkansen stops.
As expected of a train station in the large city of Tokyo, it’s bustling with crowds.
In the center, a group of Shuo Hero Academy students, including myself, huddle together.
In the front row, the olive-haired beautiful girl, Vice President Morishita Miho, shouts into a megaphone.
“Attention, training group! Please follow the student council’s instructions! If you don’t, we’re leaving you behind☆”
“Please line up.”
By her side, the bowl-haired bespectacled boy, Secretary Nagamine Reiji, adds in a small voice.
Behind the two student council officers, the silver-haired beautiful girl, Student Council President Saionji Aris, stands ready.
Despite the student council’s control, the training group’s excited atmosphere isn’t easily dampened.
The fact that we’re going on a trip to Kyoto makes everyone’s heart flutter.
I’m feeling a bit excited myself.
Kyoto is a common destination for school trips in Japanese works.
Plus, isn’t it the most famous tourist spot in Japan?
“Kim, have you decided who you’re sitting with?”
I hear a familiar voice in my ear.
It’s Kurosawa Yuji.
His gaze is directed at me.
“Uh, that…”