“Once we arrive, a welcome event will start, so please keep that in mind. Kim Deok-Sung and his party.”
Han Seo-Jin announces like a host.
As the bus we’re on enters the Blue House.
“We have arrived at the Blue House. It serves as the residence of the President of South Korea and is home to administrative offices assisting the president. Today, this is where the welcome event for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung and his party will take place.”
Han Seo-Jin passionately explains about the Blue House, unusually animated today.
“So, it’s like Japan’s prime minister’s residence, huh… I didn’t expect such hospitality. Deok-Sung, you’re truly amazing.”
Rin, sounding serious, remarks after listening to her explanation.
Her navy-blue eyes sparkle.
I don’t bother responding.
I’m feeling overwhelmed.
My insides are bubbling with anxiety. I want to stop the bus right now, but, frustratingly, it keeps heading toward the Blue House.
“…Idiot, dummy.”
Olivia quietly takes my hand.
My racing heart calms down a bit.
I turn my head.
“What, what are you looking at?! Hmph.”
She turns red and avoids my gaze.
I don’t know why she looks unnecessarily cute today.
A smile unconsciously forms on my lips.
Still, the pressure I felt eases a little.
“We have arrived.”
The blue-tiled building, the main building of the Blue House, which I’ve only seen on TV, appears before my eyes.
I can’t believe I’m seeing this in person.
At the foot of the stairs in front of the main building, children waving the Korean flag, the president and his wife, government officials, and a crowd of reporters are waiting.
I’m already feeling dizzy.
Tap.
The bus stops.
The door opens.
“It’s Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!”
“There’s a pretty lady too!”
“Nice to meet you!”
Joyful children with Korean flags greet me.
Among them is President Kang Myung-Hyun.
He’s already got tears welling up in his eyes, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe them as he looks at me.
“Kim Deok-Sung. Welcome back to your homeland.”
Countless cameras and reporters’ gazes are on me from beyond the photo line.
Oh, I’m seriously dying from the pressure.
Tightly.
Olivia holds my hand.
“…Idiot, dumbbell.”
She whispers softly in my ear.
“Come on, gather your strength and go. The universe’s biggest idiot.”
Olivia gives me a gentle push on the back.
With her slight nudge, I find myself standing in front of the president.
[Partner, you’re not going to stutter or anything, right? The motherland is watching you. Don’t be too pressured. Just say a light word.]
The Black Prince advises in my head.
I feel a bit of my tension lift.
Still, the nauseating pride remains, but at least it’s slightly better.
Anyway, it’s a bit better.
I say as I shake hands with the President.
“It’s nice to see you again, Mr. President.”
“Hahaha! The honor is mine, seeing you again, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
The President’s cheeks are soaring high.
He looks like an elderly man who’s just met his idol, grinning from ear to ear.
The government officials beside him are also looking at me with sparkly eyes that don’t match their age.
It’s double the queasiness.
Click.
Click click.
Click click click.
At the moment the President and I shake hands, an endless barrage of camera flashes explodes.
After the handshake, I stand next to the President as he guides me.
“Ah, this is… the French Princess. It’s an honor to see you again.”
The interpreter conveys the President’s words.
“I’m Princess Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte from France. It’s an honor to see you again, Mr. President of Korea.”
Olivia strikes an elegant pose and shakes hands with the President.
As expected, camera flashes go off.
After the handshake, Olivia stands by my right.
“…You were decent earlier. For an absolute fool, though. Hmph.”
Olivia turns her head and pouts.
Is that a compliment or an insult?
[My sister is giving you the best compliment. Be grateful, partner.]
The Black Prince translates Olivia’s words for me.
So it was a compliment.
“Shinozaki Rin… you said you’re a lamb, right? Nice to meet you. Welcome to Korea.”
“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. President. I am Shinozaki Rin from the Shinozaki clan.”
Rin shakes hands with the President, standing rigidly.
After the handshake, she comes to my left.
“Miss Nishizawa Eri. Nice to meet you. Welcome to Korea.”
“…It’s nice to meet you.”
Eri, showing her usual dislike for men other than me, shakes hands briefly before darting away.
After the handshake, Eri stands behind me.
“Eri-Ling. Being next to you is the best as always.”
She whispers in my ear from behind.
To hear “Master” in the Blue House is giving me double the nausea.
“Miss Hoshino Kasumi. Nice to meet you. Welcome to Korea.”
“Ye-yes? Th-thank you! I-it’s an honor to meet you too… Mr. President of Korea…”
Passing by a flustered Kasumi, who’s showing her shy self as usual.
“Miss Kamiya Makoto. Nice to meet you.”
“Y-yes! It’s an honor too!”
Makoto seems tense, nervously biting her tongue.
“Mr. Kurosawa Yuji. Nice to meet you. Enjoy your time in Korea.”
“Nice to meet you for the first time. It’s an honor.”
Yuji, behaving like a true protagonist, shows no signs of being flustered.
“Mr. Ishihara Daiki. Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too, Mr. Kang Myung-Hyun.”
Ishihara, despite his blonde tanned delinquent appearance, is quite polite.
The long handshake event finally concludes.
The President smiles and spreads his arms.
“Well then, shall we take a photo with our Kim Deok-Sung and his companions? These are friends chosen from all the metropolitan cities across the country to meet Kim Deok-Sung and his group.”
Sparkling eyes.
As soon as the President finishes speaking, the children holding the Korean flag beam with excitement.
What can I say? They are just kids.
I guess I just have to give up.
I sighed inwardly.
“Then let’s do kimchi.”
The President grins.
“Kimchi!”
And my entourage echoes him.
The party.
Click!
After taking a few photos, I was finally able to face the next event on the agenda.
“Next, we will have the singing of the national anthem.”
With the host’s voice, the military band in the great garden in front of the Blue House plays the national anthem.
I can’t not sing this.
After army roll call, who would have thought I’d find myself singing the national anthem again?
I’m losing it.
“Until the East Sea and Baekdu Mountain dry up and wear away, may God protect us······.”
As I awkwardly sing the anthem, I sneak a glance to the side.
I can see the President shedding a few tears while singing along.
Seriously, what is this?
“······Long live our nation.”
The national anthem has ended.
“Next, we will have the ceremonial inspection.”
Ceremonial inspection?
I turn my gaze to the great garden in front of the Blue House, which I had been looking at without thinking.
The honor guard from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, along with the traditional honor guard dressed in hanbok I saw earlier, stand in neat rows with a red carpet laid out in front.
What is happening? Am I the U.S. President or something? Why do I need a ceremonial inspection?
“Let’s go, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
The President smiles and suggests to me.
Oh, here we go again with the stomach churning.
I can’t back out now.
I really shouldn’t have come to Korea.
Damn it.
Like a cow being led to slaughter, I step down from the inspection platform with the smiling President and walk the red carpet.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is entering!”
The host shouts in a booming voice.
[Baam-bap-baram-bam bam bam~♪]
As soon as I step on the red carpet, the military band starts playing that annoying march tune I couldn’t stand during my service.
After the intro melody plays four times, a chorus I’ve never heard before bursts out.
“For Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, salute! Attention!”
“Loyalty!”
I’ve run out of energy to curse at this point.
Everything feels so absurd that my mind is going blank.
The soldiers who meet my eyes have bright, sparkling gazes.
Some even have teary eyes.
Seriously, don’t people dislike being dragged into events like this?
Considering the military’s nature, they’d probably rehearsed this to the point of exhaustion.
When I was a soldier, just hearing about the division commander’s event would freak me out.
And yet, there’s not a single person here who dislikes this event?
This must be cosmic horror or something!
After finishing the ceremonial inspection while walking around the grand plaza with the President, my body and mind feel utterly worn out.
I just came here for summer camp, so why am I receiving a ceremonial inspection at the Blue House?
I can’t take this any longer.
I want to take a break.
“Well, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Now there will be a welcome dinner at the guesthouse. Many guests are eagerly waiting for you, so please don’t miss it.”
But of course, reality was harsh.
The President looked at me with eyes sparkling like a fan meeting a celebrity, and I couldn’t refuse the offer.
Damn.
This isn’t the end?
Countless requests for handshakes
After the welcome ceremony, I was ultimately dragged along to the state dinner being held at the Blue House guesthouse with the President.
Honestly, I’ve only eaten bibimbap on the plane today, so I’m quite hungry.
But eating in this atmosphere?
I wonder if I can actually enjoy it.
The Blue House guesthouse.
On the plush, luxurious carpet, there are round tables covered in white tablecloths that you’d usually see in a fine dining restaurant.
As I enter, the eyes of everyone inside the guesthouse turn to me in unison.
“All dignitaries from various sectors, including politics and culture, have gathered here to meet our Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
“Everyone has gathered.”
The President explains with a kind smile.
Twinkle, twinkle.
The eyes of those seated sparkle.
Among them, some are sniffling, and others are on the verge of fainting.
[Oh, our partner. Talk about explosive popularity!]
The Black Prince’s voice echoes in my head.
I really didn’t want this kind of popularity.
My stomach is already starting to churn.
“Alright, please take your seats.”
Following the President’s invitation, we sit down.
Thankfully, we’re at a different table from the President.
Only nine of us, including myself, and also Han Seo-Jin.
“Today’s menu is a Korean course meal that captures the taste and charm of our country.”
Han Seo-Jin, seated at the table, speaks in a calm voice.
“Korean food! Eri-Ring, I wanted to eat Korean food!”
The first to react is Eri.
Her orange eyes shine brightly.
“Deok-Sung, your homeland’s food… I’ve always wanted to try it.”
Rin responds with a serious expression.
She bites her lip with determination.
“Junior, I’m so looking forward to this.”
“Wow wow wow…”
Kasumi-senpai smiles, while Makoto’s face turns red.
What a sight to see light novel heroines invited to a national pride banquet.
Is this the light novel world or the national pride world? I’m seriously confused about my identity.
I make eye contact with Olivia sitting next to me.
“…Hmph.”
She turns her head away, her face flushed.
Yeah.
At least Olivia’s consistent attitude is a bit comforting.
Just as I’m thinking this.
I feel someone’s warmth on my trembling left hand.
It’s Olivia.
She’s holding my hand under the table.
“Don’t be so embarrassingly nervous. You might make a silly mistake. Got it?”
Olivia says with a grumpy tone, her gaze fixed on the floor.
My churning stomach feels a little calmer.
“Okay.”
“…I’m not saying this because I particularly like you! If you mess up, it’ll ruin my prestige as your personal maid! So that’s why I’m telling you! Don’t misunderstand! Hmph!”
After whispering a quickly delivered tsundere line in my ear, Olivia turns her head.
A smirk escapes me.
I feel like I can breathe a little easier now.
Just then.
“There will be a toast from the President.”
With the host’s words, the President steps onto the stage decorated in red and blue Taegeuk colors.
He holds a champagne glass in his hand.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, the pride of South Korea and a national hero, has returned today with his fellow students. Let’s all welcome him with applause, everyone!”
A national hero, huh.
That title makes me feel embarrassed to the point of guilt every time I hear it.
I’d rather be called the Black Beast or the Black Harem King.
I’m sorry, Admiral Yi Sun-sin.
Ah, I want to go to Japan.
Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap.
The thunderous applause fills the banquet hall.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung carries a heavy responsibility as our country’s only hero, raising our nation’s status with numerous achievements abroad, and safeguarding the free world from threats. He is already a national hero and a global K-hero loved by all! Sniff…”
Tears flow from the President’s eyes.
Why is he crying again?
Trying to hide my bewildered expression as I look around, I’m shocked.
The banquet hall has already turned into a sea of tears.
