He looks at Beatrice and speaks.
[Hey, it’s been a while since I’ve talked to someone other than my partner, so it’s a bit awkward. Please bear with me.]
Black Prince, Raul Napoleon Bonaparte.
He has used psychometry to the point of mental interference to talk to the Saintess.
The footage is merely a record and a memory.
The person within it cannot possibly speak.
Beatrice’s face stiffens.
“Who are you?”
Confronted with this unprecedented situation, Beatrice asks the Black Prince.
[Me? You don’t need to know. My partner just told me to pass this on.]
The Black Prince gives a handsome face an irritating smirk.
[Saintess of the Cult, Beatrice. I’m curious why you’ve transferred in disguise as Trixie Smith. What’s your purpose for infiltrating here, and why do you want to read my partner’s memory?]
The moment she hears that…
“Hiik!”
A hiccup escapes from Beatrice’s mouth.
How is this even possible?
How could my identity be so easily revealed?
This can’t be.
Impossible.
It’s terrifying.
Who is that man suddenly speaking to me, and what on earth is the identity of that Kim Deok-Sung guy?
Could it be that I’ve unintentionally poked the bear, or rather, provoked a monster like the Messiah?
Memories of peeking into the Messiah’s abyss-like black eyes flash through Beatrice’s mind like a trauma.
The black eyes of the Messiah overlap with Kim Deok-Sung’s.
“Kyaaaaaaah!!”
Cold sweat streams down Beatrice’s entire body.
She screams, collapsing to the ground, raising her hands over her head.
“Y-you, stay away from me! You black beast!”
As soon as Beatrice finishes speaking, all eyes turn to her.
“What’s going on?”
“Look, the black beast made a girl cry!”
“Could it be true that he can drive women away with just his gaze? I thought it was an exaggeration…”
“To drive away women with just a look is terrifying, that black beast…”
“I heard he’s been with over twelve women! He swaps them out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. And now he’s threatening a new girl?”
“The black beast wouldn’t be satisfied with just twelve women in his harem. It’s not just a coincidence he’s called a beast, right?”
“At this point, he’s not just a beast, but a Harem King, isn’t he?”
“Black Harem King! Kyaaaaaah! Don’t look this way!! I don’t want it!”
It was the moment the black beast evolved into the black harem king.
Hearing the whispers of the extras, Kim Deok-Sung’s face twists coldly.
A curse in Korean quietly slips from his lips.
“Damn it.”
Relative Fairy Effect
Beatrice.
She was already known to use her gift.
However, I didn’t know that her gift wouldn’t work on me.
[Partner, that girl’s gift seems to be in the mental interference category, but it doesn’t seem to work on you?]
Psychometry doesn’t work?
Only two characters in the original have been depicted as ignoring psychometry directly.
Only two characters have directly appeared here.
The final boss, Messiah.
And the protagonist, Kurosawa Yuji.
As for Olivia, who released Durandal, it’s highly suspected that she could disregard psychometry, but there hasn’t been a direct description in the story.
[Hmmm, this mental interference might be something I can turn to my advantage. If the Cult and the Saintess both have mind-interference gifts, it must be her, right?]
The Black Prince mumbles to himself.
[The Saintess of the Truth Cult, Beatrice. The sole survivor of a fallen otherworld civilization, the key to controlling all ruins and artifacts. That girl must be the Saintess Beatrice for sure.]
The Black Prince concludes with a tone of certainty.
It’s convenient for me since I don’t even need to make excuses to the National Intelligence Service. They just spill everything on their own.
‘So, the Truth Cult is indeed the shadow organization that collaborates with the League, huh? I only encountered such characters through the NIS report?’
[Yeah. I’ve seen them a few times, and I’m sure. From what I know… the Saintess and the High Elder, who lead the Cult, don’t get along too well. The High Elder holds the real power, keeping the Saintess in check, while the Saintess is wary of the Elder; it’s a mutual backstabbing situation.]
The Black Prince lectures me as if he knows it all.
[So, what are you going to do, partner?]
The Black Prince asks me.
It’s the question I’ve been waiting for.
‘I’ll use her. I need to keep the High Elder in check through the Saintess. The Elder is allied with the League, while the Saintess is at odds with them, so the enemy of my enemy is my friend, right?’
Saintess Beatrice is a key character with great utility, as she plays a central role in the original story’s final episodes.
Considering that the last episode starting from Volume 18 is caused by the High Elder’s downfall in the Volume 17 conclusion, the Saintess taking over the Cult, and the imbalance of power due to the Cult joining forces with the protagonist, she is a master key that I must acquire by any means necessary.
Even if it means enduring this hellish light novel world’s ending to return to my original world.
[The League, right. That plan to utilize the Saintess to keep them in check is brilliant. But how?]
The Black Prince asks.
If I were the light novel protagonist, I’d slowly influence the heroine with ‘kindness,’ but unfortunately, I’m not the light novel protagonist.
I don’t have the time or reason for that.
A sucker has a sucker’s life, and a cider path has a cider path’s life.
‘I’ll apply strong persuasion to pressure her.’
I can see the Saintess looking flustered as she cannot read my memories.
It’s exactly the same expression she had when he first met the protagonist, Yuji, in Volume 14, unable to read his mind.
Her totally broken face, recreated with unnecessarily good animation, unfolds before my eyes.
It’s funny enough to make me laugh.
Wasn’t that called “kao-gei” in Japanese? I remember that the Saintess’s mental breakdown scene became an internet meme captured from that scene.
It’s actually hilarious in person.
Anyway, if I can take advantage of this current situation, I could turn the Saintess into my long-term piece.
In the original, Beatrice’s near-obsessive interest in the protagonist, Yuji, stemmed from the fact that Yuji was the only one who could stand against her because he, like Messiah, couldn’t be read by her psychometry.
In a way, I might be able to recruit the Saintess even faster than in the original.
Unlike the protagonist, who didn’t even know what ability he was hit with and couldn’t counter-attack, I’m now at the stage of counteracting and reverse using it, surpassing merely ignoring the Saintess’s gift.
‘Black Prince. Can you relay my message to the Saintess through mental interference?’
[I think I could.]
‘Then convey this: Saintess of the Truth Cult, Beatrice. I’m really curious about why you’re disguised as Trixie Smith and what your purpose for infiltrating here is, and why you’re trying to read my memories.’
“What’s your purpose for sneaking in here? I’m really curious about why you want to read my memories.”
[Got it.]
The moment the Black Prince relayed my words.
“Yikes!”
The Saintess hiccups.
“Ahhhhh!”
She looks at me like she’s seen a ghost and lets out a shrill scream.
“Get away from me! Don’t come any closer, you Black Beast!”
As soon as Beatrice finishes her shout, all looks in the vicinity turn toward us.
“What’s going on?”
“Look, the Black Beast made a girl cry!”
“Is it true that just making eye contact will send you packing?”
“Yikes, the Black Beast…”
“They say he’s bedded over twelve women by now, right? I heard he switches them out for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. And now he’s threatening to add a new one?”
“There’s no way the Black Beast would be satisfied with just twelve in his harem. That’s just asking for trouble!”
“At this point, isn’t he more of a Harem King than just a beast?”
“Black Harem King! Ahhh! Don’t look over here!! I don’t want any part of this!”
What?
Not just a Black Beast but a Harem King too?
“What the hell.”
This is seriously driving me nuts.
Who even calls someone a Harem King?
Whoooosh.
The Saintess sneaks behind Evangelin, peeking her face over her shoulder.
“A real pervert! Despicable! The worst! Black Harem King!”
“To think he could chase someone away with just a handshake, that’s terrifying…”
“Instant conquest, right? Just from a glance…”
“Ah, no! Don’t look over here! I have a boyfriend! I’m so sorry!”
The ongoing chatter of the extras buzzes in my ears.
She puffs up her cheeks and glares over here.
[What should we do, partner?]
‘I know your ultimate goal, and I also conveyed that you and I share a common adversary in the League Master.’
She flinches.
Seems like my words made the Saintess tremble in fear.
Her one eye is locked onto me.
A mix of fear and confusion on her face.
I’d say we’ve made some progress in Stage 1 of capturing the Saintess.
[I sent it.]
‘Good. Well done, Black Prince.’
[Being praised by a greenhorn partner feels strangely weird…]
Just as I was about to respond to the Black Prince’s nonsense, Evangelin speaks to me.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Trixie doesn’t seem to be feeling well today. I’ll take care of her, so let’s meet tomorrow at the start of the group exploration activity.”
Evangelin helps the trembling Saintess as she looks at me and winks.
“And don’t pay too much attention to the rumors circulating among the common folks. No one can deny that you are the greatest hero of this era, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Now, I must take my leave.”
Your tone just adds to the pressure!
With that, the duo of princess-like Evangelin and the 2nd-grade syndrome girl exit, leaving only me and Rin on the playground.
“Hm. What can I say, they were like a storm. Don’t you think so, Kim Deok-Sung?”
Rin looks at me and speaks up.
“Yeah.”
Usually, I wouldn’t agree, but this time I do.
Compared to the Saintess and Evangelin, Rin beside me is a true celestial being.
No matter how much of a light novel world it is, there are limits.
Those two are just too much.
Honestly, the old Rin from the rude times was way better.
At least her speech was normal by this world’s standards.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
That’s sincere.
Is this what they call relative celestial effect?
“What…?”
Rin’s face turns beet red.
She bows her head and pouts her lips.
“Come on, let’s go. We need to prepare for the exploration.”
“Ah, got it…”
I lead the suddenly quiet, pink-faced Rin out of the playground.
Starting tomorrow, the real group exploration training begins.
We need to prepare well, so we’re ready for any unforeseen variables.
*
Okinawa. Coral Beach.
Beach.
Beach Hotel. Meeting Room.
A quiet traditional Japanese room with tatami mats.
Across a table with two cups of oolong tea sits a middle-aged man in a yukata, his gloomy green eyes staring blankly.
The man’s name is Shinozaki Ichiro.
He is the President of the Japanese Hero Association and the adoptive father of Shinozaki Rin.
Slurp.
Ichiro takes a sip of oolong tea.
The astringent taste envelops his tongue.
“I heard the group research training starts tomorrow.”
Plop.
Ichiro sets the teacup down on the table.
“You’ll be in the same group as Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, right?”
His gaze shifts across the table.
“Yes, Father.”
The response comes from the beautiful girl with a navy blue ponytail, Shinozaki Rin.
She gazes at Ichiro with determination sparkling in her eyes.
“This time is different from last time at Imgan School. I will absolutely win his heart this time.”
Rin’s navy blue eyes gleam.
Trixie and Evangelin.
The two girls cannot be called rivals just yet.
Didn’t he say directly earlier?
“It’s a relief to have you around.”
Thinking of his sweet words directed at her makes Rin’s face turn a vibrant shade of crimson.
Thump.
Rin’s heart races.
Olivia, Eri, Makoto, Kasumi, Aris.
Now, with no rivals, it’s the perfect opportunity.
A chance for the underdog to make a comeback in the race.
“This time… I will capture your heart, Kim Deok-Sung.”
Rin bites her lips.
“For that… I need your help, Father.”
And that’s why.
Rin called her father, President Ichiro.
“I’m sorry for bothering you during your busy schedule, Father.”
Rin bows her head.
Using the power of President Ichiro feels like a cowardly move.
Even Rin is aware of that much.
But without this, she’ll only fall further behind in the race.
In that case, she had to use it without hesitation.
Falling behind is worse than death.
“No, not at all. If it’s my daughter’s request, I should prioritize it above everything else, right?”
Ichiro smiles faintly.
Rustle.
He pulls out a pocketbook from his sleeve.
“This will be helpful. Rin.”
Flap.
Rin opens the pocketbook she received.
“What is this…?”
“It’s the detailed map of the deserted island you and Kim Deok-Sung will be visiting for your group’s exploration. It includes food gathering points, camping spots, and even a full list of resident monsters.”
Just as Ichiro said, the book contained excessively detailed descriptions.
With the pocketbook in hand, Rin bows her head.
“Thank you, Father.”
A smile blooms on her lips.
With this, she should be able to help him during the exploration enough to show her image as a supportive wife, not just someone who leeches off his efforts like at Imgan School.
If she can also showcase her recently improved cooking skills…
She could certainly win his heart.
A rosy future paints itself in Rin’s mind.
Walking along the romantic deserted island beach at sunset, just the two of them, listening to the waves and seagulls, and then getting kissed by him.
“Kuh…”
Thump.
Just imagining it gets her all flustered.
Rin’s face flushes.
“No need to thank me, Rin. I can do anything for you, my daughter.”
Ichiro chuckles.
“So cheer up, Rin. You must make him the son-in-law of the Shinozaki family. Shinozaki Deok-Sung. What a lovely ring that has!”
Ichiro continues to speak.
Son-in-law.
Hearing that word makes Rin bite her lips.
“I’m sorry, Father.”
Rin silently apologizes to Ichiro.
If the Harem Plan succeeds, Kim Deok-Sung will never be the son-in-law of the Shinozaki family.
