She lets out a breath.
Aris bows her head at me with a flushed face.
“Thank you, Kim Deok-Sung. Thanks to you, I’m feeling better now. I owe you one.”
“Oh, there’s no need to thank me.”
“Still, thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
After receiving several thank-yous, I was finally able to continue the on-site inspection with Aris.
“Now, all that’s left is…”
After some minor happenings, the inspection of the street stall was almost complete.
Aris’s gaze landed suspiciously on a black tent.
“It’s just the fortune-telling shop the vice president runs.”
I already knew this without Aris needing to say it.
In the original work, there was a scene where the protagonist and Aris entered the vice president’s fortune-telling shop to see their romantic fortunes.
Getting your fortune told with tarot cards at a cultural festival is an unavoidable cliché in light novels.
“Let’s go in.”
“Understood, Kim Deok-Sung.”
Swoosh.
We entered the tent through the entrance.
Inside sat a beautiful girl with olive-colored hair, dressed as a witch and wearing a pointed hat — Morishita Miho, the student council vice president.
On the desk was a softly glowing crystal ball and a deck of tarot cards.
Even in broad daylight, the dim lighting was exactly like something out of an anime.
“Welcome, President. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Morishita Miho smiled brightly at us.
Unlike Nagamine Reiji, the secretary who secretly loves Aris, Morishita plays the role of a helper who subtly assists the student council president in her romantic endeavours.
In the original work, after Aris joined as a heroine, she often sought Morishita’s advice to catch the protagonist’s interest.
“We’ve come for an on-site inspection, Vice President.”
“Yes, yes, I know, President. Since you’re here, why not get a fortune told? What about you, Kim Deok-Sung…”
Miho squints at me.
“…I can’t see anything about the future with my psychic abilities. This is a first for me…”
Like all fortune-tellers in Japanese subculture, Miho has the peculiar trait of having eerily accurate readings.
In the original, she would have discussed love troubles with the protagonist while looking at his fortune.
“Unfortunately, it seems Kim Deok-Sung can’t get his fortune told.”
Miho licked her lips while glancing between Aris and me.
“Then let’s just have the President get her fortune told.”
Tap tap.
Miho taps the card deck with her finger.
“Even though I don’t believe in such superstitions as tarot card reading… for the sake of the site inspection, I guess I can’t help it.”
“Well, there’s no helping it for the field inspection.”
Swoosh.
Aris sits down.
Seeing this, Miho claps her hands and says,
“Great! Then let’s fortune-tell the president’s love fortune!”
A smile forms on Miho’s face.
“Vice-President? Love fortune? That’s…”
Aris’s gaze wavers.
Her eyes flicker towards this way.
Aris’s face slightly flushes pink.
“Um, is that a no, President? I promise to keep the results a secret from everyone else, so let’s take a look.”
Swoosh.
Morishita Miho pulls out a tarot card deck and says,
“…Again, I don’t believe in fortune-telling or superstitions.”
Hmm.
Aris clears her throat with a slightly reddened face.
“Y-Yes, understood. Then please pick the first card that symbolizes the start, President.”
Swoosh.
With trembling hands, Aris picks the first card and places it on the table.
The card she drew is card number 0, The Fool.
“Next, please pick the second card that symbolizes the process.”
Smack.
This time, the card Aris drew is card number 8, The Strength.
“Lastly, please draw the third card that symbolizes the result!”
The last card she draws is card number 19, The Sun.
Smack.
The three cards are placed neatly on the table.
Watching this, Aris’s pupils sink.
She asks with a serious expression,
“Vice-President, what does this mean?”
“The Fool symbolizes adventure, meaning your love life, President, might start off wandering or facing difficulties. Perhaps you like someone but are denying it to yourself, causing you to wander.”
Flinch.
Aris’s body shudders.
Her face slightly reddens.
“…That’s not it, Vice-President. I am the Student Council President of Shuo Academy. I have never harbored feelings for anyone.”
Aris speaks with a trembling voice.
“It’s just a reading. There’s no guarantee everything will hit the mark.”
Smirk.
Miho smiles.
Smack.
Miho points to the Sun card next to The Fool and says,
“Next is The Strength card, which represents courage. It means that for the President to seize love, courage is necessary during the process. If you muster up the courage, it suggests you can definitely achieve love.”
“…I am braver than anyone, Vice-President.”
“The last card, The Sun, symbolizes a bright future. If you gather your wandering heart and summon the courage to seize love, it means a bright future awaits.”
A bright future.
Aris mutters in a low voice.
“For instance, a happy marriage with the person you like. Welcoming them home with a naked apron while preparing dinner, or a bath, or maybe I could… say, ‘Me first?’ in that kind of married life, President.”
Whoosh.
Aris’s face turns completely red.
She speaks in a slightly flustered voice.
“…Marriage is… such a shameless thought! I’ve never even considered that!”
“Oh my, saying you’ve never considered that means you’ve thought about other things you’d like to do with someone you like? President?”
Aris’s silver eyes tremble.
It shakes.
Her face turns bright red.
“That’s not it. I definitely don’t have someone I like. I guess fortune-telling is just complete nonsense and superstition. None of it is true. Well then, I’ll get up now.”
Creak.
Aris rises from her seat.
Our eyes meet.
Twist.
Aris turns her gaze away.
I can see her reddened earlobes.
“President! You can do it! I’m always on your side! Just summon your courage and knock that person down, then make it a done deal!”
Whistle.
Miho whistles.
My head spins.
What? Done deal?
Knock down?
“······Thank you for your hard work, Vice President. Well then, let’s go, Kim Deok-Sung.”
Aris fans herself as she pulls me outside the fortune-telling shop.
After wrapping up the street vendor inspection, Aris, still showing signs of redness, asks me,
“Where is the next inspection location?”
“The Annex.”
A place where club rooms are gathered.
Since the clubs are holding cultural festival events separate from classes, it’s necessary to check that aspect too.
“Sounds good. Then let’s inspect the Cooking Club first.”
The Cooking Club?
I wonder why my club got picked first, but I was planning to stop by anyway.
No matter.
“Understood.”
So, when Aris and I arrive at the Cooking Club room, we are greeted by:
[Cooking Club Cosplay Cafe!]
[We proudly offer K-Desserts like macarons and shaved ice!]
[Female guests only.]
The signboard is dizzying just to look at.
“Master! It’s Eri-nyan☆ Welcome-nyan! Our cafe is male-free, but you’re a special exception, Master♥”
Dressed in a maid outfit, with a red collar and wearing cat ears and a tail, it’s Eri.
What in the world is this bizarre concept?
Black Beast Harem Club?
A cosplay cafe, really.
How shocking.
It’s standard in Japanese manga and light novels to have either a cosplay cafe or a theatrical play during cultural festivals.
In the original “Weakest Hero,” there’s a theater but no cosplay cafe.
In other words, this crazy scene I’m witnessing never existed in the original work.
And what? K-Dessert?
What’s so special about Korean desserts that it’s proudly displayed like this?
A cultural festival cosplay cafe meeting Korean desserts?
What an unsettling valley of discomfort!
“What is this? Nishizawa? This scoundrel outfit······.”
Aris’s face turns red.
Eri’s outfit is a low-cut maid dress with some exposure.
As she boasted, her B-cup has a bit of volume.
Twitch.
The cat ears on Eri’s head move.
Why are they moving?
“Saionji-senpai is here too. Hehe. Welcome! I will serve you and Master with the best service!”
Ding.
Eri’s collar bell rings.
I’m dumbfounded.
Squeak.
Eri opens the door.
Inside the surprisingly spacious cosplay cafe, there are quite a number of customers.
Since they only accept female guests, I’m the only problem here.
“Look everyone! Master Eri’s Master has arrived!”
Twitch, twitch.
Wobble, wobble.
The cat ears on Eri’s head perk up, and her cat tail sways.
The cat’s tail swayed.
With Eri’s voice, all eyes in the Cosplay Cafe turned to me.
“Is that the Black Beast?”
“Didn’t they say no guys allowed here?”
“Don’t you know? This is the Black Beast Harem.”
“I heard he enjoys his harem play with the beautiful girls he’s collected in the clubroom every day.”
“They say the lights in the clubroom never go out at night, and strange sounds echo.”
“A Harem Club! Scary! Aah!”
I could hear the whispers of the extras.
What?
Harem club?
That’s ridiculous.
Who even calls it a harem club?
Just as I was about to say something.
“Everyone!”
Thud.
Aris slammed her folder down on the table.
Her words made the clubroom fall silent like a mouse had died.
“I’d appreciate it if you could refrain from making indecent remarks.”
A small smile appeared on Aris’s face.
“As the Student Council President of Shuo, I can’t just let it slide.”
An unknown black aura, like something out of an anime, began to rise from her body.
The extras gasped and closed their mouths at the sight.
Finally, it’s a bit quieter now.
[Partner. Saionji, doesn’t something seem to bother you a bit?]
Before Raul could finish speaking, Aris turned to look at us.
She slightly pouted her lips and said,
“…It seems Kim Deok-Sung also needs to uphold some decorum.”
Could it be she’s upset?
Just as I was about to respond.
“Hunyang! Eri-nyang is scared of Senpai Saionji!”
Slap.
Eri clung to me.
Hunyang?!
I was already feeling queasy.
Is she really feeling alright today?
Noticing Eri, Aris narrowed her brows.
“Nishizawa.”
“Hunyang!”
Eri jumped in surprise.
“I’d like you to stop any inappropriate romantic interactions and guide us to the table.”
At Aris’s words, Eri let go of me.
“Got it, Master! This way!”
She shook her orange twin tails and led the way to the table.
A table covered with a pink tablecloth.
“Here’s the menu!”
The menu was placed on the table.
“Press the bell when you’ve chosen!”
Eri pointed at the call bell on the table and disappeared.
An unnecessarily fancy menu with lace.
[Doughnut Macaron]
[Chocolate Cookie Bingsu]
[Honey Bread]
[Brown Sugar Bubble Tea]
[Fried Soboro]
…
Familiar items I’d seen in cafes back home.
But isn’t brown sugar bubble tea from Taiwan?
“Kim Deok-Sung.”
I heard Aris’s voice.
“Do you have a recommended menu? I’m not familiar with Korean cuisine…”
Aris spoke to me with a slightly embarrassed expression.
“Let’s just order two fried soboros and two bubble teas.”
This isn’t a proper cafe; it’s a temporary cafe at a culture festival, so I can’t expect great quality.
I decided to just order anything.
The menu stated the fried soboro was directly purchased from Daejeon, so it should be decent.
“Understood.”
Aris nodded.
Beep.
When I pressed the call bell, Eri appeared.
“Master! Have you decided on the menu?”
“Two bubble teas and two fried soboros.”
“Got it!”
