“W-wait, Miss Kurosawa, it’s not like that…”
“Shut up.”
“…Understood…”
Kusunagi closes her mouth.
Finally, it’s a bit quiet now.
Anyway, I don’t want to see any more of those dark-haired guys in drag.
I turn my head, thoroughly ignoring Yuji and Ishihara.
“Deok-Sung oppa! How did Haru do? I want to get praised by oppa! Praise, praise! Nishishi!”
Haru, who approached me, smiles.
“Yeah, you did well.”
I guess I should compliment her for doing her delinquent role properly.
“Awesome! Haru has stepped one step closer to my favorite character!”
I decided to ignore the nonsense she added at the end.
“Hmph.”
Aris, sitting next to me, makes a slight pouting face.
Just like a cliché from a light novel cultural festival, the moment comes when everyone we’ve met so far is gathered in one place.
The stage lights turn on.
Screech.
The sliding door opens.
Click, clack.
With the sound of high heels, a beauty with a gray bob in a black suit enters.
It’s Han Seo-Jin.
Wait, why is Han Seo-Jin over there?
Tap, tap.
Han Seo-Jin fiddles with the microphone.
She speaks.
“Hello, audience. I am Han Seo-Jin, the assistant to cadet Kim Deok-Sung, and I’ll be running today’s screening.”
Clap, clap, clap, clap.
Just as her words finish, applause fills the classroom.
“On behalf of the 1st Year A-Class of Shuo Hero Academy, we present the screening of the anime ‘The Heroic Tale of the Black-haired Boy’, crafted with all our efforts here in South Korea.”
It’s really a horrible title, just as I saw on the poster.
“Now, I hope all of you enjoy the show.”
Han Seo-Jin bows her head.
Tap.
The lights go off.
Along with that, light is projected onto the screen.
The audience becomes as quiet as a mouse.
We’ve finally made it this far.
Should I close my eyes?
I glance to the side and see Aris staring intently at the screen.
Our eyes meet.
“!!”
Aris’s pupils widen slightly, and her face turns a bit pink.
“Please focus on the movie, Kim Deok-Sung.”
She whispers softly in a slightly trembling voice.
My ears tingle a bit.
Just as I start to relax a little.
[The Heroic Tale of the Black-haired Boy]
Unnecessarily well-made Japanese typography floats against the sky background.
Why does it have to start with the sky?
Please, don’t do that.
My stomach is already starting to hurt.
[I was just an ordinary boy.]
The scene shifts.
There’s a pretty boy who seems to be wearing a middle school uniform.
Was I that handsome?
Was I good-looking?
The me from the animation, sitting in the back of the classroom by the window, began a light novel-esque monologue.
[If I hadn’t received a C-rank diagnosis during the compatibility test that day, I would probably have remained just an ordinary boy forever. After graduating middle school, I would have moved on to high school and taken the college entrance exam to enroll in university—such a completely average human.]
I was cringing all over.
Who the heck wrote this narration?
Is this some kind of introduction to a light novel volume 1?
What were the best novelists and screenwriters in Korea doing?
[But after that day, my life changed completely, and now I am a student at Shuo Hero Academy, representing my motherland.]
The fluttering taegukgi behind me.
It was beyond embarrassing.
Meanwhile, I had no idea who the voice actor was, but it was even creepier that they perfectly mimicked my voice.
[On the first day of school, the person I faced was──]
With narration flowing mercilessly.
Finally, the second character of this damn animation appeared.
[──the platinum knight princess and France’s best talent, the top of the entrance exam. Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.]
It was Olivia, drawn with more exquisite artistry than the original animation before I was possessed.
Then came the scene where Olivia and I argued, and finally, that line flowed out.
[If I lose this duel, I will become your maid! Hmph!]
Crossing her arms, turning her head, and flushing her face as she delivered a classic tsundere heroine line typical of a school battle anime.
Seeing that dreadful sight, I thought to myself.
I should have put a stop to this damned project when Han Seo-Jin warned me.
Audiovisual torture.
From then on, it was a continuous stream of suffering.
The battle scene directed with incredible animation as if they replaced the animators entirely.
And then, Olivia, who was holding me in a princess carry pose while shedding tears over my defeated form.
[······To say I lost······. I······. What for······.]
It’s hard to watch.
My face was burning.
Did Olivia really act like that after losing to me?
[It can’t be helped······. Though I hate it more than anything······. A promise is a promise. I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, am now your personal maid, Kim Deok-Sung!]
[Why do I have to do that? I don’t need a maid. I don’t want to treat anyone like a maid. I may look like this, but I’m a citizen of a democratic country, you know.]
The next scene was in the hospital room.
Facing Olivia, who was declaring her position as my personal maid, I delivered a line that made my whole body tremble just hearing it.
Wait, when did I ever say such a thing?
Isn’t this historical distortion?
[······Delicious, wagashi.]
[Hmph, I didn’t buy it specifically for you or anything!]
I never said it was delicious.
[But still, I must. With the pride of France and the honor of the Bonaparte imperial family at stake, I promise to be your personal maid! Your will doesn’t matter at all!]
Come on.
Olivia in the animation said this while placing her hand over her chest.
They went out of their way to ensure this was historically accurate.
[Do as you like.]
[Alright. Then from today, I am your personal maid!]
Olivia smiled while blushing.
I can’t believe historical distortion has reached this level; how much worse could the upcoming scenes be?
I felt miserable and embarrassed.
At that moment, while I was thinking that.
“Hey, you!”
I can really hear Olivia’s voice next to my ear.
I jump in surprise.
Turning my head, I see Olivia blushing, sitting right beside me in a revealing Victorian maid outfit, her hand on my ear.
Wait, when did she sit next to me?!
“Really, how dare you make the French Princess, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, sit beside you! Your manners are absolutely atrocious!”
Olivia puffs up her cheeks.
Seems like she’s sulking because she couldn’t sit next to me.
[That’s right. Partner. Your manners are absolutely terrible!]
The Black Prince chimes in my head.
Damn brat.
“Alright. Now that you’re sitting next to me, let’s just keep quiet and watch the movie.”
It’s basically a rule to be quiet during movie watching.
If Olivia keeps shouting like that and gets discovered by the extras, it would be a huge mess.
I really don’t want any expansions to the Black Beast universe.
So please, just stay quietly.
“Hmph. You think I don’t know basic movie watching manners? What do you take me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, for?!”
Olivia whispers in my ear.
Well, at least I’m glad she knows.
Her flushed cheeks puff up again.
Nodding, I turn my gaze to the screen.
And the horrendous showing continued.
[I, Shinozaki Rin, challenge you to a duel.]
[Sure, I accept. Shinozaki Rin.]
There I am, willingly accepting Rin’s duel request.
The cherry blossom festival was even worse.
[We must protect everyone! Protecting civilians from the gate’s monsters is a hero’s duty! I will step up to protect everyone!]
When the gate opened at Inokashira Park and I delivered that speech while gathering the heroines, it was just unbearable.
My hands and feet feel all cringey.
What are we trying to protect?
“Oh my! Is that what the Black Beast did when it blocked the gate?”
“Could be cooler than expected?”
“I might have fallen for him too…”
I overhear the extras whispering.
Who are they making the light novel protagonist?
My head is spinning.
[Nishizawa Eri’s disciplinary action is justified, but her expulsion is unjust. It’s true that she resisted, but it’s caused by her unfortunate family background. Therefore, I will plead for her leniency.]
The scene of the disciplinary committee unfolds.
There’s my heroic self defending Nishizawa Eri, while she blushes.
Oh boy.
The scene zooms in on me fiddling with her collar.
[Master is so kind…]
[Not really, just doing what I should. It’s not kindness or anything.]
[Master!]
[Huh?!]
After the disciplinary committee concludes, a scene shows Eri embracing me in the courtyard.
The animated me blushes while patting Eri, who’s snuggled up to me.
“Hehehe… It’s good to see again… My Eri-chan’s Master…”
I hear Eri’s voice from the front.
“The Black Beast was really kind, wasn’t he?”
“Is that what’s behind Nishizawa’s collar?!”
“Maybe I saw him again today, the Black Beast…”
“He seems worthy of the love of the universe’s most beautiful girl… Agh… As much as I hate to admit it…”
The voices of the extras continue.
The voices of the Straws.
How can anyone think like that after seeing this?
Does common sense not exist in this world?
I feel like my eyes are bleeding.
My head is spinning.
I can’t take it anymore.
I need to stop this crazy nonsense.
Just as I was about to get up.
Snatch.
Olivia grabs my hand.
“Hmph…”
She turns her face away, blushing.
“Bonaparte? When did you get there…?”
A slightly surprised Aris then gently grabs my other hand.
“…”
A blank expression.
But I can see her cheeks are slightly flushed.
With my hands trapped on both sides.
There’s no way out now.
I was stuck in this damned classroom, continuing to endure audio-visual torture.
Already at Imgan School.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, rain starts pouring, and Rin and I enter the cave, soaking wet.
Pitter-patter.
A campfire made from gathered branches crackles.
[Maybe I’m just lacking charm as a woman—no feminine appeal, no cooking skills, no physical attractiveness… all of it…]
Rin buries her face between her knees.
She sobs.
Serious BGM plays in the background.
[What’s that supposed to mean?]
[But I… I…]
[Rin, you are you. There’s no need to compare yourself with anyone else. Feminine appeal? Cooking? Physical attractiveness? None of that matters.]
[Because to you… you have your own charm.]
[Kim Deok-Sung…!]
Rin’s face turns red in shock at my cheesy line.
Wait, did I say that?
I’ve tried to convince myself that I didn’t.
“Ugh…”
In front, I see Rin biting her lip.
“Is that why Miss Shinozaki fell for you!?”
“I think I would too…”
“Wow, my heart just skipped a beat!”
“Is this a harem member recruitment?!”
The extra voices ring out.
No, that’s not it.
What kind of propaganda is this?
‘Please stop…’
My entire body trembles, and my blood pressure skyrockets.
If this continues, I’m going to die.
[Stop? Why? Partner. This is just too fun.]
With the Black Prince’s nonsense comes more audio-visual torture.
This time it was Makoto.
The image of Makoto, who transferred as a guy, flashes quickly.
A shopping mall visited during a mentor outing.
[My lord, does this suit me?]
Makoto shows off a dress she’s wearing, blushing.
[Yep, it suits you well.]
[Doesn’t it look too masculine?]
[Not at all. Makoto, you look your best in that, and you’re beautiful. No matter what anyone says, you’re not a guy, you’re a girl. So have confidence.]
[Okay! My lord! I’ll be confident!]
Makoto clenches her fist, her face red.
Now accustomed to this historical distortion.
“My, my lord…”
I hear Makoto’s voice from the front.
[No! Junior! Aaaahhhh!]
[Was it just this much? The level of Shuo, the best in Japan, isn’t really anything special…]
[You… how dare… how dare you touch my Hoshino-senpai!!]
[You dared to hurt my Hoshino-senpai!! I will never forgive you!!]
The anime continues.
This time it’s the Kyoto Training part.
