“Plan B, we need to activate the Philosopher’s Stone production plan. Request all related resources from the Soviet government.”
The Philosopher’s Stone.
A crucial item for the New World plan.
Plan A involved obtaining the black stone, which serves as the prototype, and transforming it into the Philosopher’s Stone; Plan B meant acquiring the materials to create the Philosopher’s Stone from scratch.
Plan A is cost-effective but slow, while Plan B is fast yet expensive.
Due to Messiah’s efficiency-oriented personality, they had stuck to Plan A until now.
However, for Messiah, who was confident in the existence of an ideal existence, costs were no longer a concern.
Time was efficiency.
Using the power of the superpower Soviet Union, obtaining the materials for the Philosopher’s Stone should be entirely possible.
“Understood.”
“What do you think the timeline will be?”
“About a year…”
“That’s too long. Make it happen in six months.”
“Understood. Master.”
The Professor nodded.
“Alright. Oh, and soon there will be a cultural festival at Shuo Hero Academy.”
At Messiah’s words, the remaining apostles swallowed hard.
“The cultural festival at Shuo Academy is one of the few events where the academy is opened to the outside. Let’s utilize this event…”
Messiah’s gaze shifted towards the apostles.
“Attack the academy.”
The real New World plan will begin the moment the Philosopher’s Stone is completed.
The Philosopher’s Stone has not yet been finished, and the wounds from a decade ago inflicted by the Sword Saint have not completely healed.
Thus, this is a warning.
A warning from Messiah to the enemies who dare to disrupt the League’s events and the New World plan.
It’s a message not to underestimate the League due to past failures.
While the focus shifts to the Shuo Hero Academy through the academy attack, the completion of the Philosopher’s Stone and healing of the wounds will signal the true start of the New World plan.
A chillingly sweet smile settled on Messiah’s lips as all calculations were done in their mind.
“I will follow your orders, Master!”
Hearing the apostles’ response, Messiah closed their eyes.
The New World shimmered before their eyes like a mirage.
*
After finishing all the events, I boarded the President’s private plane with my club members at Seoul Airport and finally returned to the longed-for Shuo Hero Academy.
That night.
I lay down on my dormitory bed.
Summer vacation was coming to an end.
School would start soon, and the second semester would begin.
[Partner, will you study hard in the second semester?]
The Black Prince asked.
I wonder if I’ll even have time to study.
I might not have time.
As soon as the second semester starts, we’ll soon begin preparing for the cultural festival.
The cultural festival.
Images from volume 7 of the original work spring to mind, scattering all around.
With the official plot now meaningless, I don’t know if the cultural festival episode will proceed like in the original.
However.
Please, let’s avoid events like a cosplay tea house or a prince and princess play.
To do that.
‘I definitely have to become a member of the cultural festival executive committee.’
Becoming a member of the cultural festival committee is my only option to help with student council tasks.
And the main heroine of the cultural festival event is none other than Student Council President Saionji Aris.
Even if the flow of the original has been twisted, if something happens at the cultural festival, it’s likely to be related to Aris.
Thus, I must legally linger near Aris as a committee member.
Not anyone else, but me.
I closed my eyes, thinking of the cultural festival.
The long summer vacation is finally over.
I miss that feeling of national pride.
[Partner, wake up.]
I hear someone’s voice from a distance.
I turn over.
I’m tired.
I want to sleep more.
I shouldn’t be waking up at this hour······.
[Partner! You have to wake up! Did you forget today is the first day of the second semester?]
The Black Prince’s morning call resonated in my head.
Second semester, first day.
Hearing the words piercing my mind like a dagger was like a jolt to my senses.
I lift my heavy eyelids.
“Ugh······.”
I stretch.
Every bone in my body screams.
Getting back into my routine after indulging in lazy sleeps during vacation feels like torture.
Summer break was the best.
‘I wish every day could be a holiday······.’
Where there is a beginning, there is an end.
The long summer vacation has finally come to an end.
It means saying goodbye to the carefree lifestyle.
[Stop talking like a kid and get ready for school, partner.]
The Black Prince’s cold remark came unexpectedly.
I sighed and got out of bed, heading to the bathroom to wash up.
“Kim Deok-Sung, here’s your uniform.”
The person welcoming me after my wash was Han Seo-Jin.
With her impeccably neat gray bob and black suit, she held up the uniform, pressed and cleaned, looking even better than a luxury vacation combat outfit.
“This is the uniform I washed and ironed in preparation for your return to school.”
Han Seo-Jin’s gray eyes sparkled.
No matter what, I’m not used to this level of over-exaggerated etiquette.
“I’ll put it on myself.”
“No, I’ll do it for you.”
As if putting it on me was even an option.
I waved my hands in panic.
“······Understood. If you change your mind at any time, just call for me. Kim Deok-Sung. I’ll leave your prepared backpack here.”
Han Seo-Jin bowed her head and closed the door behind her.
Her eyes looked a bit disappointed at the end.
No way, right?
Anyway, I absolutely can’t be late on the first day of the second semester.
After finishing my preparations, I grabbed the backpack that Han Seo-Jin had prepared and left my room.
Arriving on the first floor of the dormitory, I encountered someone.
“Deok-Sung. Good morning. Did you sleep well?”
A girl with a deep blue ponytail and a light smile places her hand on her large chest.
It was Shinozaki Rin.
“Eri-ring has arrived! Master, how do I look in my school uniform? It’s been a while, right? Isn’t it pretty? Hehe. Truly, the number one beautiful girl in the universe, Eri-ring, is the best?”
“Hehe. As expected, Eunha’s number one beautiful girl, Eri-ring, is the best, right?”
Suddenly.
Eri appears next to her, making a V sign with her fingers.
She’s full of energy since morning.
“Master, I also… came with Eri. Good morning.”
Makoto, who was beside Eri, shyly laughs while brushing her hair behind her ear.
Her face turns bright red.
Her bobbed hair sways in the autumn breeze.
A bob is definitely better than a short cut.
“You! You still have the bad habit of oversleeping! If you had woken up just a bit later, you would have been late! What on earth were you doing last night?! You should live a more regular life. Do you understand? Just to let you know in advance, I’m not saying this out of concern for you or anything!”
Finally, Olivia puffs her cheeks and blushes.
It seems Yuji and Ishihara went ahead, as I can’t see them anywhere.
[As expected, my little sister. The cutest.]
Ignoring the Black Prince, who has returned to his foolish mode, I let out a sigh internally at that moment.
“Deok-Sung…”
A shy voice whispers in my ear.
“G-give me my bag…!”
Rin reaches out with a flushed face.
A bag?
What bag?
“Oh, I’m the one carrying your bag today…”
Rin adds softly, her face still red.
Carrying a bag?
What am I, some delinquent? Why on earth is this happening?
“Hmph…”
Olivia pouts.
Her face turns red.
“Tch… I envy the cow. Eri-ring wants to carry Master’s bag too.”
Eri clicks her tongue.
Why would you want to carry that?
“…I’m jealous. I hope my turn comes quickly.”
Makoto wiggles her fingers.
Is that something to envy?
I’m getting dizzy from their nonsensical behavior.
“Come on…”
Rin squeezes her eyes shut and extends her hand toward me.
This situation is familiar.
It feels like she won’t move an inch if I don’t give it to her.
I’ve been living this light novel school life for six months now.
This much I can see with my eyes closed.
“Okay, take it.”
Letting out a sigh internally, I hand over the bag.
“Thank you! Deok-Sung. For trusting me with your bag! As your future perfect wife, I will take good care of it all the way to the classroom!”
Rin shouts loudly while hugging the bag.
Aren’t they embarrassed doing that?
I’m dying of embarrassment here.
“Isn’t that the Black Beast?”
“It’s totally the worst, making a girl carry his bag. Beast. Pervert.”
“How did you train her… to ask to carry the bag? I’m scared.”
“Sorry. Please don’t eat me. I’m sorry…”
“I heard Miss Shinozaki warms Black Beast’s bed naked every night.”
“Black Beast treating a lady from Japan’s top prestigious family like a puppy… maybe that’s impressive…!”
The extras’ banter pierces my ears, just as expected.
This damned Black Beast rumor doesn’t die down, even as the second semester starts.
But what is this?
Why does this feeling, which is less repulsive than Korean nationalism, feel so weird?
Am I going nuts?
“Let’s go if the squabbling is over.”
Shaking off useless thoughts, I walk to school with my four girls.
HR is starting soon. I need to get to the classroom before I’m late.
It must be done.
*
Shuo Hero Academy.
1st Year A-Class Classroom.
Creak.
As the sliding door opens, the classroom scene is revealed.
The chatter of the cadets immediately shifts to me.
“Look over there, it’s the Black Beast!”
“There are already four girls… and they’re all super popular beautiful girls in a harem…!”
“What on earth is he doing up there on his bed at night…?”
“They say he goes for 1:5!”
“1:5? More like 1:13!”
“Beast! Pervert! Scoundrel! The worst!”
The cadets start murmuring.
My head spins in a direction completely different from how I was dubbed a “champion” back in Korea.
It feels like my taste buds are about to go numb from alternating between Korean spicy peppers and light novel wasabi.
Just as I was about to say something.
“Can you all just shut your mouths?!”
Olivia shouts, her face flushed.
The classroom instantly quiets down as if cold water has been splashed on them.
“Don’t you think it’s ugly to gossip behind others’ backs?”
The extras are left speechless by Olivia’s words.
I can see some of them awkwardly turning their heads away in embarrassment.
Yeah.
Now that’s refreshing.
It feels good.
“And….”
Olivia’s face reddens again.
This feels ominous.
Why does something weird always happen at times like this?
“A-A-Ah, I-I haven’t done anything that shameless yet! So, all those rumors going around are just rumors! You got that?!”
She places her hand on her chest and shouts.
“Did you hear? She said he hasn’t done it yet!”
“Then does that mean she’s planning to later? Like in a porn video?”
“Goodness….”
The extras start whispering again.
“Eeek!!”
Olivia lets out a distressed sound.
Ugh. Of course.
“Alright, let’s just sit down.”
It’s just a light novel world, anyway.
No matter what I say, they won’t stop talking.
It’s better than lurking in the dark gossiping.
“You….”
“Thanks for stepping in.”
That’s that.
Gratitude is gratitude.
Her face flushes at my words.
She speaks in a low voice.
“… Idiot, fool…”
Olivia puffs her cheeks.
[Oh, partner. A true player. Naturally dropping lines that hit the hearts of girls without even realizing it. Impressive. Should I give you a passing necklace?]
The Black Prince’s frivolous voice echoes in my head.
A passing necklace? What on earth did I pass?
As the classroom buzzes again, I take my bag from Rin and find my seat.
When my desk buddy Makoto sits next to me.
Creak.
“Hello, cadets! It’s Mayuzumi-sensei!”
The sliding door at the front of the classroom opens, and Teacher Mayuzumi strides in with pink hair flowing, holding the attendance book and a pointer.
“Cadets, did you all have a good summer vacation? Mayuzumi-sensei had a great time too!”
With the sound of her high heels, Mayuzumi-sensei stands at the podium and picks up a white chalk to write on the blackboard.
[Transfer Student]
The words written on the blackboard read “Transfer Student.”
“A transfer student? At this time of year?”
“I wonder what kind of cadet it’ll be? I’m curious!”
“I hope it’s definitely a beautiful girl!”
