Here’s how it’s going to be, I’m heading to the Blue House.
Bam.
The hologram window in front of Muramasa shuts down.
The message she just sent must have spread through every communication channel in this small country.
A smile appears on Muramasa’s face as she removes her mask.
Whoosh.
As she flies in airplane mode over the skies of Seoul, the cityscape comes into view beneath her.
The alarm was issued and civilians evacuated so quickly that the concrete jungle of this megacity with a population of ten million seems eerily empty.
Beneath her, gates are opening endlessly.
Zap! Zap!
All of them are gates of at least Zeta rank.
Even if the entire power of this country is mobilized, they won’t be able to prevent the permanent destruction of Seoul.
“What’s the plan now, Muramasa?”
The hulking man flying beside her, Manhunter, asks.
“The Son of the Sword Master will have no choice but to follow on the day he possesses Kurosawa Haru’s body. And most likely, his closest friend, Kim Deok-Sung, will accompany him as well.”
Muramasa speaks in a cold voice.
“He will die by my hands, with the face of my little sister. Kim Deok-Sung and Kurosawa Yuji. The biggest obstacles to the New World plans will be wiped out of our way.”
Manhunter responds in his deep voice, “I really like that scenario. So where will the stage for the tragedy you designed be?”
“The center of this country and another key target of this plan.”
Beneath Muramasa, Gwanghwamun Plaza, Gyeongbokgung Palace, and the Blue House are visible.
“It’s the Blue House.”
A cold smile graces Muramasa’s face.
*
“Kurosawa, who’s Haru?”
Ishihara asks at just the right moment.
At Ishihara’s words, Yuji sinks into his seat, his trembling hands speaking for him.
“Haru is my little sister, my sister…”
Yuji bites his lip.
“But you said all your family died that day ten years ago… Oh, I’m sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. Ishihara. I thought the same. I thought I was the only one who survived the tragedy that day…”
Yuji bites his lip again.
His shoulders tremble.
This should have a dramatic BGM playing with flashbacks in an anime.
His fists shake.
“How dare those League bastards brainwash Haru like that! I can’t forgive them! I will punish them and save Haru!”
Boom.
A black flash erupts from Yuji’s body.
Full-body gloves stick to him.
Swoosh.
He draws the Japanese sword-type weapon, Kusunagi Tsurugi.
“Right now!”
It’s hard to believe his compatibility is only F rank given the overwhelming magical power radiating from Yuji.
He seems done holding back now.
Zing.
A flight booster appears behind Yuji.
His head is already starting to hurt.
Just like the original story, whenever he goes all out, something bad is bound to happen.
Especially since Yuji hasn’t even awakened his true liberation yet.
In the original, he survived even after losing against an S rank, but facing Muramasa now would mean certain death.
He’s going to die.
There’s no way around it.
“Hyung-nim! Please stop Kurosawa! That guy talks a lot about his dead family every time we train together. I understand why he’s so mad, but if he goes off now, it’ll be dangerous! You’re the only one who can stop Kurosawa!”
Ishihara hurriedly says as he comes closer to me.
His eyes are trembling.
[Partner. Are you really going to just watch your friend?]
The Black Prince’s serious voice echoes in my head.
A sigh escapes my lips.
Ishihara is right.
Even if I use logic instead of emotions, letting the original protagonist go on a rampage right now is a recipe for disaster.
If Yuji, the protagonist of this world, dies here, the chances of stopping Messiah will drop to zero.
But to calm him down, I have to dish out some gay lines to a black-haired guy and it’s just horrifying. I feel a strong aversion.
I’m reminded of the bro-mance scenarios from web novels and I feel even worse.
But I have to do it.
‘I’m not gay. I have zero interest in men. I like women.’
I keep repeating this to myself with a sigh.
This is a light novel world. I have to act according to light novel logic.
And as the friend character trying to calm the rampaging protagonist, I have one job.
To smack him.
I gather magic into my hand.
Vwoooom!
Black magic condenses.
Then, I swing and smack the back of Yuji’s head.
Thwack!
The sound of a crisp hit echoes through the pavilion.
“Ugh!”
Yuji lets out a groan.
His gaze turns towards me.
“Kim…?”
Confusion fills his eyes.
I take a deep breath.
Because now I have to drop some cheesy light novel friendship lines after a long time.
Even before the dialogue comes out, my limbs feel cringy and the space-time folds around me.
Ugh, damn it.
If I ever catch the author who sent me and that bastard Messiah to this crummy light novel world, I’ll make sure to carve him up!
“Are you coming to your senses?”
“Why… why did you stop me, Kim…? I have to save Haru! She’s being tortured by those guys! It’s not her will to be like this! Haru was such a kind girl, so…”
Yuji mutters with tearful eyes and a voice laced with resentment.
Tears stream down his face.
He looks as handsome as any actor or idol could be, and seeing him cry is a sight.
While someone else looks like a total jerk.
“I need to save her! It’s my duty as her older brother!”
“And what if you go die solo? Who will take responsibility for your sister? Hey, do you still not get why she took off her mask? It’s clearly a trap. They’re trying to lure you in. And you want to crawl right in there? With no plan at all?”
This is why the emotionally-driven light novel world is a problem.
“That’s… true, but…”
Yuji’s magic wanes.
“So get it together! If you die like that, it’ll be a hassle for everyone. If you want to save her, you need a solid plan. I’ll help you.”
The protagonist can’t die here.
Because then I’d be in trouble.
I need to mess up Messiah and absolutely have to return to the original world.
Plus, I’m the only one capable of battling Muramasa right now.
I have to buy time until Seira arrives.
“Thank you for offering to help. But this is my problem, so I have to handle it myself…”
Yuji says with a determined expression.
This is why being a pushover is an issue.
Even when I say I’d help, he rejects me, the lame light novel protagonist, and it drives me insane.
It’s infuriating to see him refuse even when I’ve laid everything out for him.
Soda really is the best after all.
I take another deep breath.
“It’s not your problem, Kurosawa Yuji.”
“Yuji.”
As I heard my name, Yuji’s eyes widened.
Ugh.
I really don’t want to do this.
Suppressing the cringe, I grab Yuji’s shoulders.
“Your problem is also my problem as your friend. So…”
Ugh.
The kimchi and boiled pork I had earlier threaten to make a comeback.
Barely holding back the bitter taste of stomach acid, I deliver my final line.
“We’ll save Haru together, you and I.”
Regardless, even if I tell him to stop, he’ll be the kind of guy to rush towards Muramasa just to see his sister’s face.
If that’s the case, I might as well keep him in my sights and control the protagonist.
That was the rational thought, while emotionally, my hands and feet were trembling and my blood was boiling.
Ah, damn it.
What kind of honor made me spew such disgusting lines?
If Messiah and that author guy get caught, they’re finished.
“…Kim!”
Kurosawa Yuji cries and hugs me.
Cold sweat trickles down my back, and goosebumps surge.
Ugh, damn it.
A guy hugging me like this.
What is this gay situation?
I may have instigated this, but it’s making me want to vomit.
If this were a web novel, it would be a 5,700-character note.
I immediately push Yuji away.
“Got it, so stop clinging to me.”
Men shouldn’t hug like this.
Ugh. This isn’t humanity; there’s no bromance in this genre.
“Thank you, Kim. Really, thank you…”
I let the tearful Yuji be and sigh.
A guy hugging me makes me feel dirty.
My body is still trembling from the repulsive bromance lines and this gay situation.
Even before the operation has started, I feel like my mental fortitude’s already hit rock bottom.
[Good job, partner. Whispering counsel and comforting like that is what true friendship looks like!]
The Black Prince spits out some vomit-inducing dialogue.
What friendship? Friendship?
Friendship is bullshit.
I really wish he would stop with the nonsense.
“Anyway, it seems like things are roughly settled, so we need to draw up a concrete plan…”
But honestly, there’s not much to plan.
We’d find out the location of Muramasa and the other 13 Apostles through Han Seo-Jin and raid them with the people here.
With three of us as S-rank power alone, taking out the rest of the minor mobs is easy if we just have the other members handle it.
Overwhelming them with numbers is the best strategy.
Just then, while I was thinking that way…
“Kim Deok-Sung-nim.”
Han Seo-Jin called out to me.
“Creatures emitting magical waves like William have appeared all over Seoul. There’s also a rampaging gate causing a stampede, and otherworldly beings are pouring out. Currently, our domestic forces can’t handle it.”
She speaks in a hurried tone.
Tspat.
Han Seo-Jin brings up a holographic map of Seoul on her hunter watch.
A blue hologram with red dots scattered all over it is gleaming.
“These red dots indicate all the newly appeared enemies.”
Monsters and a stampede?
My face contorts.
“And as mentioned earlier on the broadcast, the villain, Muramasa, is heading towards the Blue House.”
Han Seo-Jin looks at me and continues with a stern expression.
“If this continues, Seoul will be reduced to ruins. Therefore, to protect Seoul, we must inevitably…”
She suggests splitting our forces.
Dealing with the otherworldly beings and monsters rampaging all over Seoul.
And taking down Muramasa heading toward the Blue House.
That’s the only way to split our team.
“Damn it.”
Fixing one problem leads to another.
Even if we take down Muramasa and the other 13 Apostles, the open gate and the rampaging otherworldly beings won’t just disappear.
However, ignoring the destruction of Seoul to bring all our members to the Blue House isn’t a good option either.
After all, I am the only hero power with a Korean nationality.
If it’s revealed after the crisis that I ignored the destruction of Seoul, my reputation is definitely going down the drain.
If this fact becomes known after the situation is resolved, my reputation will surely be thrown into the trash.
The value of Korea in this world is limitless.
There’s no stupid reason for me to undermine my own country’s status and diminish its value.
I’m dizzy with national pride, but it is absolutely necessary to stop that Messiah guy.
[The League folks are quite clever. They’re forcing us to spread our power.]
The Black Prince speaks seriously.
“We will split up our forces.”
Everyone’s gaze turns to me after I speak.
“How are we going to split up, Master? I want to go with you, Eri.”
Eri is the first to speak up.
She looks at me with a serious tone, unlike her usual self.
“Deok-Sung, take me with you. Last time you protected me, so this time I’ll protect you.”
Rin’s eyes are on me.
I hear her resolute voice.
“Are you really thinking of leaving your exclusive maid behind? Your side is mine, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Do you understand?”
Olivia places a hand on her chest, huffs, and turns her head.
“Master, let me stay by your side as your sword!”
“Junior, me. I worked hard with Teacher Mayuzumi this time. Take me with you. I’ll be useful to you, Junior.”
Makoto’s eyes spark, and Senior Kasumi speaks to me.
I shake my head at their words.
“No, except for me and Kurosawa, the rest of the members will confront the enemies all over Seoul under Han Seo-Jin’s orders.”
At my words, the five girls’ eyes flutter.
“Olivia and Han Seo-Jin will handle the enemies at Gwanghwamun Plaza, and if they need support, they’ll switch to the Blue House. You two are my backup just in case.”
Gwanghwamun Plaza and the Blue House are so close that you could almost touch them by falling.
With someone like Olivia, they could reach the Blue House within seconds of a support request.
Olivia bites her lip after hearing this, and Han Seo-Jin nods.
“The Blue House… Kurosawa and I will go. That place has that bastard’s sister, too.”
I still don’t know who the other S-rank villain with Muramasa is.
But among the S-rank villains of the New World League, only Muramasa possesses transcendental weaponry.
If it’s an S-rank villain without transcendental weaponry, Yuji can hold his own in a fight.
Moreover, like a true protagonist, Yuji gets stronger the more cornered he is.
It shouldn’t be too intense of a crisis, but against an S-rank villain without transcendental weaponry, he’d merely serve as a sparring partner to awaken Yuji’s potential faster.
So the protagonist is overpowered.
Still, just in case, I stationed Olivia nearby.
This is about as good a plan as can be derived from this situation.
It’s worth a shot.
I’m a bit annoyed that the strategy of just crushing them with numerical superiority got tossed out the window, but there’s nothing I can do.
It seems like a damn hard world for a light novel.
“If that’s the Master’s will… Got it. Eri, I’ll follow the Master’s will. Eri is a good slave…”
Eri bows her head.
She touches her collar and rushes towards me.
“So Master, you need to be careful. Eri really wants to go for a naked walk in the park at midnight with you.”
Eri whispers into my ear.
What on earth? Why is she bringing up a naked midnight stroll?
Unbelievable.
Just as I’m laughing awkwardly at Eri’s words…
Suddenly.
Rin grabs my hand.
She speaks to me with a trembling voice.
“Deok-Sung. This time… don’t get hurt. Please.”
Her words leave me speechless.
