“Are you seriously saying you want to take me with you back then?”
“You know well. You’re indeed sharp. Truly a hero, one of a kind in our country. Hahaha!”
No sooner had my words ended than the President’s senseless flattery rang in my ears.
Being praised for something so trivial didn’t make me feel good at all.
In fact, it sent chills down my spine.
Just how far is this national pride nonsense going to stretch?
Swish.
The President pulls a letter from his pocket.
“This is an engagement invitation from the French royal family.”
[An engagement ceremony for Olivia and William, at Notre-Dame Cathedral… In a week.]
The Black Prince reads the French text on the invitation.
“When the engagement reaches its climax, and you storm into the cathedral with the help of an inside accomplice to declare that this engagement is null and void, I plan to expose this recording.”
Swish.
The President pulls out a USB drive.
“What if William insists it’s a setup?”
“The position of the President of South Korea is meant to be used for such moments, isn’t it? I guarantee the contents of this recording diplomatically, so you needn’t worry.”
The President speaks decisively.
He’s willing to stake South Korea’s credibility and his own diplomatic standing for this?
It’s slightly burdensome, but I appreciate it.
At this point, Han Seo-Jin could be said to be cooperating.
“But that might not be enough. Unfortunately, the disparity in power between South Korea, France, and England is quite clear. If those two countries ignore it, it’s over.”
It would certainly be shocking, but if they intentionally ignored it, it could just vanish.
Both France and England are major powers in this world.
“That’s when you’ll step up.”
The President’s eyes sparkle.
Me? Step up?
“I’ve heard that heroes speak with their swords. England prides itself as a nation of knights. If you challenge William to a duel over Princess Olivia, he’ll have no choice but to accept the proposal, especially with the recording’s exposure looming over him.”
An engagement battle.
I knew this would happen.
[The President is right, partner. Ultimately, this matter has to be resolved by the partner. That’s what gives it meaning. This time, I will also help with all my might. I can’t let that trash take my lovely and precious sister. Absolutely not.]
The Black Prince’s words echo in my head.
‘I know. I can handle that much. I promised Olivia then.’
I’ll keep my word.
It’s already set in my mind.
[Partner. You really do keep your promises, huh?]
The Black Prince says.
The President’s eyes glisten.
Linda.
“Next up is Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, it’s your turn. On the surface, Prince William’s stats are superior to yours.”
He says.
“But that’s just the difference in apparent specs. Considering the situations you’ve resolved so far, we believe your power exceeds what is visible. Furthermore, there’s intel suggesting William’s drug supply isn’t up to par.”
Hearing the President’s words gives me a slight chill.
He knows way too much.
Did the National Intelligence Service dig this up again?
Just as I was surprised, suddenly—
Grab.
The President takes my hand.
Wha—why all of a sudden?
“So, I believe you will definitely defeat William and reclaim Princess Olivia. Not just me, but everyone in our overseas delegation, and in fact, all fifty million citizens of South Korea have complete faith in your victory. You are the great hero of our nation.”
Great hero?
Wait, why is that title reserved for Admiral Yi Sun-sin being attached to my name?
Sparkle.
The President is holding my hand like a fan at an idol meet, shooting me a burdensome gaze.
Is our country really okay with this?
“We at the National Intelligence Service will do everything we can to support your victory, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. So please, rest assured.”
Han Seo-Jin, standing behind, speaks in a calm voice.
[Partner, the President is right. Let’s blow that drugged-up prince to the other side of the English Channel together! You can do it. Partner.]
The Black Prince is shouting excitedly in my head.
“Ah, yes. I understand. I will repay your faith.”
I discreetly pull my hand away.
Still, holding hands with a middle-aged man is a bit much.
“Ah…”
The President lets out a regrettable sigh.
Yikes, it’s creepy when a man does that.
Sigh, I can’t really say anything when he’s offering help.
Holding back my nausea, I ask the President.
“Is that all there is to the discussion?”
Actually, there isn’t much more to say.
Now that we have a rough plan, we just need to execute it through close cooperation with the National Intelligence Service, as Han Seo-Jin said.
I casually toss out the question to wrap up the conversation.
That should be it.
“Of course not. But there’s something I’d like to personally ask you.”
The President says, blushing a bit awkwardly.
A man blushing, huh?
Ugh.
It feels like the Korean food I just ate is about to come back up.
And he wants to ask me for something?
It can’t be anything extreme, can it? Like, assassinate someone?
“C-Could I have your… autograph? If possible, I would love a selfie together too.”
The President hands me a photo card with my face on it and a black marker.
What the heck?
Huh? An autograph?
I’m not getting the President’s autograph, but he wants mine?
[Uh, this is a bit…]
Even the Black Prince shakes his head at this surreal situation.
“Was that too difficult a request? If so, I’m sorry.”
The President puts on a disappointed face.
I really don’t want to see a middle-aged man looking disappointed.
Ugh.
To ease my churning stomach, I take a sip of green tea.
Much better.
“…N-No, I will do it.”
The President could be considered my biggest sponsor right now.
It’s not like I can’t do something as simple as give an autograph.
“Are you serious?”
The President asks, surprised.
It’s better not to look at his facial expression.
“Yes.”
Swish.
I hand over a photo card with my signature made by a gel pen.
The President’s face lights up with a genuine smile as he receives the signed card.
“Thank you. I’ll make sure to hang this in the President’s office. After I leave office, I’ll take it home and pass it down through generations!”
The President says with an emotional tone.
Is this really something to pass down through generations?
I’m so embarrassed I could die.
It’d be better to just watch a light novel reaction.
At least that would be familiar; this is seriously hard to endure.
“Mr. President, here’s a selfie stick.”
A man with a Taegeukgi badge, presumably the Blue House secretary, hands a selfie stick to the President.
After the President attaches his smartphone to the selfie stick, he turns to me.
“Let’s take a photo…”
“Yes, I’ll take it for you.”
“Thank you.”
Swish.
The President sits next to me.
He makes a peace sign and says,
“Say kimchi!”
“Kimchi.”
I don’t want to, but I do it as a service.
Click.
The sound of the shutter as the photo is taken.
“Oh, ohhhh! A photo of Kim Deok-Sung!”
The President exclaims in excitement.
The aides in the room look on with jealousy.
This has gone beyond mere excitement into something terrifying.
“I’ll get this photo printed and hang it on the wall of the office with your signature! Hahaha! A photo with Kim Deok-Sung’s autograph! Hahahahahaha!”
The President laughs maniacally while looking at his phone.
The composed President from earlier has completely vanished.
It’s a scene so frightening and grotesque I can’t bear to look.
[…..Partner, can we not stay here any longer?]
‘This time, I agree with you.’
I nod in agreement with the Black Prince.
This place has already lost its sanity.
We need to get out of here.
“Ahem, ahem. I must’ve shown a rather unbecoming side of myself. I apologize for getting too excited…”
It seems the President has finally regained composure as he blushes and clears his throat.
“It’s okay.”
Just as I was sighing and saying something I didn’t mean…
A quick knock, knock.
I hear a shushing sound in my ear.
Turning my head toward the window, I see a bamboo waterwheel in a Japanese-style garden.
Why is this damned bamboo here of all places?
It feels like there’s not a moment’s peace in this crazy world.
Anyway, the general plan to rescue Olivia has been outlined.
Now all that’s left is to take the President’s private jet to France.
My master will be protected by Eri.
Shuo Hero Academy.
Dormitory.
In front of Kim Deok-Sung’s room.
The girl with orange twin tails, Nishizawa Eri, knocks loudly on the door and shouts.
“Master! It’s me, your cute galaxy’s number one beautiful girl Eri!”
Today, I won’t lose to any rivals.
With that mindset, Eri sneaks out of the room she shares with her roommate, Makoto, and knocks on Kim Deok-Sung’s door.
However, there was no response from inside.
“Master?”
Eri tilts her head.
Is he still not awake? Somehow it feels eerily quiet, like a dead mouse.
“Is something wrong, Master?”
Worry is clearly etched on Eri’s face.
Worry is plastered all over her face.
She touches the collar around her neck while pressing her ear against the door.
“Ugh.”
With a short grunt, Eri channels her magic.
Sparkle.
With a small flash of orange, magic concentrates in her ears.
If he’s really still sleeping, she should be able to hear even a breath now that her hearing is magnified by magic.
But Eri hears nothing.
“Master, is he not there?”
Eri’s face turns pale.
The chance of Master not being on the other side of the door is high.
Eri’s hands tremble as she reaches that conclusion.
“Eri-ring… could I have been abandoned?”
Eri bites her lip.
She shakes her head vigorously.
No, that can’t be true.
Kind Master would never abandon her.
That day.
Even while waiting in the rain at Inokashira Park, he was the one who didn’t abandon her in the end.
There’s no reason for him to do so now.
“Master. Just stay there. Eri-ring will save you!”
Swish.
Nishizawa Eri pulls out her chain scythe.
Zing.
Orange magic wraps around the chain scythe.
With that, Eri slams the door lock.
Boom!
With an explosion, the door lock breaks off, and the door swings open forcefully.
“Master…?”
Inside Kim Deok-Sung’s room, which is now open, there was no one there.
Gulp, gulp.
Goldfish in the aquarium that Rin rescued during the festival, the tengu mask Eri bought herself, and the black teddy bear Kasumi won at the shooting game decorated the room, which felt shockingly cold.
“Master…”
Eri’s shoulders droop.
She touches the tengu mask hanging on the wall, speaking softly.
“Suddenly disappearing, oh, no. Master isn’t the kind of person to abandon Eri-ring! Master, something must be happening, right?”
No one was there to answer Eri’s monologue.
Eri bites her lip.
She picks up her phone, scrolling through her contacts, and dials Kim Deok-Sung.
Ring, ring, ring.
No answer.
Eri lowers her head.
“…Master.”
Her voice trembles.
“No way, right? Master? No way?”
Tears well up in Eri’s eyes.
Something must be going on.
Then she needs to ask someone else.
Someone who might know Kim Deok-Sung’s whereabouts.
With trembling hands, she touches Han Seo-Jin’s contact.
As Kim Deok-Sung’s secretary and the one who assisted with Makopi’s love date plan, she might know where he is.
Ring, ring.
As the call connected, Eri’s ears are filled with the tone.
[Hello. This is Nishizawa.]
Han Seo-Jin’s calm voice resonates in Eri’s ears.
The moment she hears her voice.
Tears that Eri had been holding back start flowing down her cheeks.
“Han Seo-Jin! Master, Master… right now…”
Sniff, sniff.
Eri’s words trail off as she tries to swallow her tears.
[I understand what you are saying. But I can’t talk right now, so please wait a moment.]
Click.
Han Seo-Jin’s call disconnects.
Thud.
Eri collapses to the floor.
Drop, drop.
Tears that trickle down hit the ground.
“Ma-a-ster… Master… Eri-ring misses you so much… Master…”
