NOVEL NEXT Chapter 99
Kasumi-senpai’s eyes widen.
Her purple eyes tremble.
“Junior… I’m touched. I never expected to hear a thank you from you. I thought you were a kind but shy bad boy who would definitely pretend not to know. But you actually thanked me, so I…”
Kasumi-senpai tears up.
But wait, why is she saying that?
She never thought I’d say thank you?
If someone heard that, I’d look like a total jerk!
Sure, I have my selfish, petty moments, but I’m not a complete monster.
“Kasumi. Here’s a handkerchief.”
Rena hands a handkerchief to Kasumi-senpai.
She wipes her tears with the handkerchief from Rena and hugs me tightly.
“I’m really touched, Junior. I really can’t live without you. I’ve given my body and heart entirely to you, you know? Remember, I’m your most loyal spy, Junior. Junior…”
“Ughhh!! N-no! No touching! Senpai! That’s against the rules as your personal maid! Let go of me!! Ugh!”
Olivia separates me and Kasumi once again.
Good job, Olivia.
That’s our tsundere!
“Tch. Bonaparte sure is quick on the uptake. I don’t really like quick-witted juniors.”
“Hmph. I also don’t like senpais who charge in recklessly! One Shinozaki is more than enough for that kind of behavior!”
Just when Olivia and Kasumi-senpai were about to start another feud.
Clunk.
The door opens.
“Kim Deok-Sung! I heard you were awake, so I rushed over!”
“Master! I heard from Eri that you’ve awakened! Did you miss me? I really missed you!”
“My lord, you’re up.”
Through the open door, I see Shinozaki Rin, Nishizawa Eri, and Kamiya Makoto.
As always, Rin is striking a heroic pose with her hand resting on her enormous chest, glancing at me.
“Master!!”
And the first one to rush over is Nishizawa.
“My lord, are you feeling a bit better?”
Makoto timidly asks.
All these dizzying people have gathered.
Ugh, seeing them together already gives me a headache thinking about the messy future ahead.
I press my temples.
“Everyone, please be quiet and go outside!! The doctor said I need complete rest right now, okay?”
Olivia screams.
How does she know my head hurts?
Indeed, among this group, Olivia really is the most princess-like.
“Bonaparte. Shouldn’t you also leave then?”
“Exactly. Your Highness. Cutting in line is against the rules!”
“I agree. I want to stay by my lord’s side too.”
Hearing Olivia’s words, Rin, Nishizawa, and Makoto protest in unison.
Seeing that, Olivia places her hand on her chest.
“Because I am… his personal maid! Naturally, I have the duty to take care of him. Do you understand?”
“Well, I am his loyal maid! Of course, I have the duty to take care of him by his side. Do you understand?”
Olivia lets out a triumphant giggle.
A sigh escapes me.
Why are we talking about loyal maids now, seriously?
This is ridiculous.
“Then as a senior, I also have the obligation to take care of Junior! So, I will stay too.”
“That’s just nonsense, Bonaparte. In that case, I will be by Kim Deok-Sung’s side as his future wife!”
“I am the sword of my lord, so I will protect him.”
“Of course, Eri should be by Master’s side. Because Master is Eri’s Master!”
The four of them vehemently oppose Olivia’s statement.
I’m boiling inside.
I’d rather die than be in this situation.
“Cheer up, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Whether she knows how I feel or not, Rena takes my hand and whispers in my ear.
Rena clenches her fist.
Where the heck did she learn that?
What a total mess.
Anyway, it ended pretty well, even though there were a few bumpy moments in between.
I have no more business in Kyoto.
Only thing left is to go back to Shuo Hero Academy in Tokyo.
‘When I go back to the academy… I need to train a bit and come up with a way to keep everyone together for emergencies.’
I was prepared for the twists of the original story, but introducing three members of the 13 Thunders is pushing it a bit too far.
At the fourth volume, this is the situation, and there’s no guarantee that even stronger enemies won’t appear.
In a web novel world, I’d be the sole hero blowing things up left and right with my luck, but unfortunately, this is a nasty light novel world where going solo isn’t an option.
I can’t do it alone.
I need to utilize others.
To do that, I need a way to keep all of the original characters I can use at the academy together.
That way, when I give the mobilization order, they won’t hesitate to gather and take the hits for me, right?
This time, I really need to coast through.
‘How about a club activity?’
Yes, club activities would be great.
I should contact the chairman and ask to promote the temporary club, the Reading Club, to a formal one, and forcibly make Yuji and Ishihara join.
I can’t die alone.
Let’s all die together.
It’s troublesome if competitors keep increasing.
Shuo Hero Academy.
Chairman’s Room.
In a strangely spacious office, a silver-haired girl sips matcha with a serious expression.
Swish.
In front of the youthful-looking girl with a black lace fan, Yoshizaki Seira, stands Student Council President Saionji Aris.
“I’m glad the mission related to the Kyoto training group was wrapped up well. Hoshino and Satou are back in their places, right?”
Seira gazes at Aris with her crimson eyes.
“Yes, but the existence of Doctor Moromoro, who died in the association’s prison, continues to weigh on my mind. In the end, we learned nothing about the League’s intentions. Everything is shrouded in mist…”
Aris trails off her words.
As she mentioned, a few days ago, Doctor Moromoro, who had been imprisoned in the association, died of a heart attack.
It was an obviously unnatural death, but the association could not determine the exact cause.
This fact kept haunting Aris.
Seira, hearing Aris, bites her lip.
“That’s undoubtedly the work of the League’s leader, Master….”
The fan covering Seira’s mouth trembles slightly.
Master.
The enigmatic leader of the League, whose alias and real name are unknown.
Ten years ago, he killed four of the Five Crowns and manipulated his apprentice into betraying them, making him a sworn enemy.
Since that day, Seira has been tracking him, but the only information she has managed to obtain is the word “Master.”
She doesn’t even know if Master is a man or a woman, what his name is, or what alias he goes by, let alone their objectives.
But one thing is certain.
‘They are targeting the Broken World.’
The Broken World.
Broken World.
Beneath the artificial island where Shuo Hero Academy is established lies an enormous ancient ruins.
The League and the Master undoubtedly have their sights set on the Source of the Meridian, located at the very core of the Broken World.
The power veins that appeared in this world after the grand disaster.
The source of the majestic and colossal flow of magical energy that spreads like a web beneath the land across the globe; the power contained within the Source of the Meridian is unimaginable in scale.
It is a place with potential capable of bringing about the destruction of the world.
What if that tremendous power falls into the hands of evil?
The mere thought is horrifying.
“I cannot allow that to happen.”
Thus, the League must be stopped.
For revenge, and for the world.
As Aris looks at Seira, her silver eyes grow cold.
“…Tosagupang, huh? I wonder how the League will react.”
“First, we must strengthen the academy’s security and ask Ichiro-kun for cooperation.”
“Understood.”
At Seira’s words, Aris nods.
“Then let’s end our official conversation here… Aris.”
“Yes, President.”
“Ah, A-chan.”
At Seira’s words, Aris flinches.
Snap.
As Seira snaps her fingers, the lace fan in her hand folds and gently floats up, lightly tapping Aris on the head with telekinesis.
“You should call me ‘big sister’ when we’re talking privately.”
“…Seira… big sister…”
Aris stutters as her face turns red.
A smile appears on Seira’s lips.
“Good. A-chan. How has it been since we returned from Kyoto with our little one? Is everything going well?”
At Seira’s question, Aris panics.
Kim Deok-Sung’s face pops into her mind.
The times she drunkenly complained to him, and the night she fell asleep in his arms.
His warm embrace…
Thinking of the sensation, Aris shakes her head.
‘W-What an embarrassing…’
Nothing happened.
Yes, according to his words, nothing happened that day.
Aris waves her hands.
“Th, that… Deok-Sung and I are not like that… Also, you shouldn’t misunderstand, big sister!”
“Hehe. Is that so?”
“Yes! We agreed that nothing happened between us, so let’s leave it at that!”
Aris says in a flustered expression, slipping into Kansai dialect.
She closes her eyes.
Seira’s face slightly stiffens.
With a wave of her hand, the lace fan that was floating beside Aris flies into her grasp.
Seira unfolds the fan again.
“A-chan, are you really okay with pretending nothing happened?”
Hearing her words, Aris opens her eyes.
“Th, that…”
She recalls how he treated her normally despite seeing her as a simple countryside girl.
If nothing happened, would all the conversations they had that day disappear too?
Aris’ cheeks blush pink.
“Then, I…”
Her voice loses strength.
“I am… I mean, I am the Student Council President of Shuo Academy, Silver Queen, Saionji Aris.”
Aris’ speech returns to standard language from her dialect.
She cannot reveal her countryside girl side.
“It must be… so.”
She must remain the perfect superhuman lady indefinitely.
So, regrettably, that day’s events must be treated as if they never happened.
But why does a part of her heart keep poking and prodding?
Aris bites her lip while placing her hand over her chest.
“…I see.”
Seira replies, her face hiding behind the fan.
A smile surfaces at the corners of Seira’s mouth.
Aris, whom she sees as both a daughter and a younger sister, brings her nothing but delight.
On the other hand, she feels relieved that Aris still hasn’t realized her romantic feelings.
Having more rivals would be troublesome…
It’s troublesome when things keep piling up…
Seira bit her lips at that thought.
“How could I have such childish thoughts about someone like a daughter…?”
Seira’s eyes trembled.
“Did I really have sincere feelings for a kid who’s much younger than me…?”
No, that can’t be.
It shouldn’t be that way.
That’s embarrassing.
The kid is just a kid.
It must be that way.
Seira suppressed her relief and said, “Right. If you ever have a hard time… just consult me anytime, okay?”
“Yes, I understand. Onee-chan.”
Aris replied with a faint smile.
This was something that happened right after the training group returned from Kyoto.
*
The day after returning from Kyoto training.
Hoshino Kasumi summoned all the members of the club to the club room.
Under the pretext of a post-event party.
I too received her call and was on my way to the club room.
Of course, I had already discerned her intentions.
“The reason she called is obvious.”
She must be planning to declare the dissolution of the reading club.
The last scene in Volume 4 of the original work shows the redeemed Kasumi telling the protagonist Yuji, “Since we now have juniors, we don’t need the reading club anymore. It’s disbanding.”
That moment was highlighted as one of the most touching scenes in the fandom, even well-produced in the anime.
The Tree Wiki describes it in a sentimental tone, stating, “Kasumi, now saved and no longer alone, wraps up the hollow club activities and becomes genuine with the protagonist, marking the incredibly emotive conclusion of Volume 4.”
“No, I can’t let that happen.”
The reading club can’t be disbanded.
The club activities need to continue.
For no one else but me.
“I’ll live for myself now.”
To clear away the sweet potato and walk the path filled with fizzy cider, the club activities are absolutely necessary.
[Partner. Isn’t that a bit selfish? People need to learn to share, you know.]
The Black Prince’s voice echoed in my head.
“Shut up. Everyone is inherently selfish.”
If there’s someone who isn’t selfish, they’d be a saint.
And that’s why saints are rare.
[Well, you do say you’ll live only for yourself, yet you subtly care for others. That’s what they call tsundere, right?]
Tsundere?
Is this guy out of his mind?
Who’s a tsundere?
“Your sister is the tsundere.”
What era are we in to be talking about tsundere?
[That can’t be denied. My lovely little sister Olivia does have those tendencies… Wait a second. Partner, are you being sneaky with your words?]
“I’m almost there, so stop being noisy and shut it. If you want to see your sister.”
[Tch… ]
The Black Prince clicked his tongue and fell silent.
It’s nauseating when a guy acts cute.
Fortunately, after that, the Black Prince didn’t open his mouth again.
Entering the annex, I opened the club room door.
Creek.
As I stepped inside, I was greeted by:
“Junior! You made it. You’re the last to arrive.”
Hoshino Kasumi was seated in her usual spot by the window.
“Master, you’re here?”
Sitting next to her and waving was Makoto.
“Master! Master! Eri-ling has really missed Master today! You didn’t forget Eri-ling’s wish, right, Master?”
Nishizawa, still unable to shake off the Eri-ling title, was being cheeky.
“Welcome, Kim Deok-Sung. I was waiting for you and didn’t take my eyes off the door!”
Shinozaki Rin waved her hand, and then,
“Hmph! How could you be late? Seriously, you’re a complete mess in terms of manners, aren’t you, mister?”
Olivia glared at me with her arms crossed.
Kasumi, at the corner of the rectangular table, was sitting by the window.