“Is this how it ends?”
Old School Building.
Creak, bang.
With a loud noise, the door to the Health Room swings open.
“Hehehehe…”
Maeda Shinji enters with a sinister laugh.
“It’s almost time… it’s all coming to an end.”
Kim Deok-Sung.
I’ll destroy him and claim Saionji Aris for myself.
I could do anything for that.
Even if it meant teaming up with someone suspected of being a terrorist.
“The humiliation will be brief…”
After all, the cultural festival is just for the common folks.
For Maeda Shinji, who has been thoroughly educated as the heir of the Maeda Conglomerate, the lives of ordinary civilians were worth less than ants.
It didn’t matter to him if a few people died in the ensuing chaos.
In fact, the thrill of easily achieving his goals with the minor sacrifices of the masses fueled Shinji’s excitement.
Cleaning up would be easy with the power of the Maeda Conglomerate behind him.
[You ready?]
A distorted voice came from the Bluetooth earpiece in Shinji’s ear.
“Of course. Just keep your promise.”
[I will, so activate the magical barrier.]
“Understood.”
Click.
The communication cut off.
The magical barrier came into view for Maeda Shinji.
All he had to do was inject his magic into this barrier, and his role would be over.
Just as Shinji was about to summon blue magic in his right hand without hesitation…
“That’s as far as you go.”
A familiar voice, one that shouldn’t be here, reached Shinji’s ears.
He turned around.
There stood a beautiful girl with stunning silver hair, Saionji Aris, her silver eyes gleaming coldly.
Beside her was the black-haired boy, Kim Deok-Sung.
Maeda Shinji’s face twisted upon seeing the two.
“…Traitor. Maeda Shinji.”
Aris’s eyes turned icy.
Even when she saw Shinji on the CCTV, she had hoped it wouldn’t be true.
Maeda Shinji.
He had always been her loyal subordinate, the model disciplinary committee head, faithfully executing her orders as student council president.
But standing here, witnessing the situation firsthand…
Aris finally realized the truth.
Maeda Shinji had betrayed her.
She bit her lip, feeling the betrayal surge within her.
Seeing her expression, Maeda Shinji’s face warped with distress.
*
“How?! How could this happen?! The plan was supposed to be flawless!”
“How is this possible?! How could this happen?! The plan was perfect!”
Maeda Shinji, floundering, shouted at me and Aris.
How can he be such a typical third-rate villain with lines like that? It’s truly impressive.
“If you surrender now, considering the contributions you’ve made to the academy, I won’t press any major charges against you.”
Aris spoke coldly.
Sparks of silver flashed around her body.
Shinji was someone who had gained considerable trust from Aris. His betrayal was a significant shock to her, just as depicted in the original work. Even now, Aris’s lips trembled with feelings of betrayal.
“Surrender? Me? To someone like you?”
Shinji adjusted his glasses.
“Huh, hehehehe, huhuhuhuhuhu, HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA!”
Maniacal laughter spilled from his lips.
Shinji’s eyes were tainted with madness.
“How dare you suggest I surrender! As the heir of the Maeda Conglomerate, why should I submit to a mere country bumpkin like you?”
“T-That’s?!”
Aris stumbled at Shinji’s words. Her body flinched. So she knew all along. It was just like in the original plot. It wouldn’t make sense for her not to know.
“How did you find out? Don’t underestimate the information network of the Maeda Conglomerate! You’re just a bumpkin!”
“T-That’s ridiculous…”
Aris’s gaze wavered. Her hands trembled.
In the original work, Shinji revealed Aris’s identity in front of the protagonist and heroines, creating a moment of chaos. Naturally, Yuji, like a true light novel protagonist, would whisper comforting words to persuade her to embrace her identity as a country girl. This scene was quite iconic in the original work.
Recalling that moment, I took Aris’s hand.
“Senpai.”
I held her hand tightly, and she looked at me.
“Kim Deok-Sung…”
“It’s okay.”
“But I… I don’t deserve your comfort…”
Aris stammered. Her expression hardened. Mentioning she didn’t deserve comfort revealed her guilt for earlier being cold to me. It didn’t really matter if she didn’t say it. I already understood her feelings.
Aris still hadn’t fully accepted her identity as a country girl. In that state, growing closer to me gave her fear of reverting back to that identity. While she showed a relaxed side around me, it likely wasn’t intentional.
Right now, Aris was still trapped in the mold of a perfect being.
“I said it’s fine. I already told you that it’s okay. So it really doesn’t matter.”
“Kim Deok-Sung…”
Aris looked slightly startled by my words. Her face turned red.
“So, get a grip and as the Student Council President of Shuo Hero Academy, apprehend that guy.”
I pointed at Shinji.
Like a true third-rate light novel villain, he was listening intently to our conversation.
“…I understand. I apologize for showing such an ugly side of myself.”
“I see you’ve shown a side of yourself, my apologies.”
Aris bites her lip.
For now, I’ve managed to calm things down temporarily.
But this is just a stopgap.
After everything is over, just like in the original story, I’ll need to take my time and persuade Aris thoroughly to truly wrap up her tale.
This isn’t finished yet.
If there had been enough time, I would have done that, but right now we’re in the middle of a battle.
We can’t just chat idly with the enemy right in front of us.
“I can’t stand this! How dare you, you peasant! Not only did you mock me, but now you’re playing with the Black Beast! I will not forgive you! I absolutely will not forgive you!!”
Maeda Shinji yells, spitting as he clenches his fists.
He was pathetic in the original, but not to this extent.
What’s with him?
“Maeda Shinji, I’ll only ask you one last time to surrender. This is your final chance. Please consider surrendering.”
Zap!
A silver flash erupts from Aris’s body.
She is clad in a silver bodysuit.
She has switched to battle mode.
Aris, now wearing gauntlets, glares at Shinji with a Japanese-style spear in hand.
[Partner, let’s do that too.]
I hear the Black Prince’s voice in my head.
‘What’s that?’
[Transformation.]
That’s what they call transformation.
Ridiculous, but since I have no idea what will happen next, I need to switch to battle mode.
So far, the story has followed the original too closely for comfort, and there’s no guarantee it will continue to do so.
I channel magic into Durandal.
[Durandal Online]
With a dry notification sound, a black flash erupts, and black gauntlets cling to my body.
Having completed the transformation, I draw Durandal and glare at Shinji.
Shinji adjusts his glasses as he takes in our appearance.
“This is absurd. Well, it seems this silly play is about to end. Goodbye.”
As he laughs triumphantly, he releases blue magical energy with his hand.
“From the vulgar Black Beast to the peasant who dares associate with him! Ha, ha, ha! Once this barrier activates, it’s all over!! Aris! You will become my possession!”
Shinji raves, not even switching to battle mode.
Knowing the barrier has already malfunctioned, this is comical.
“Vulgar commoners! Witness my overwhelming power!”
He pours magic into the barrier, spouting lines like a third-rate villain.
Naturally, a broken barrier won’t activate.
“What is this? What the heck?!”
As Shinji looks shocked at the unresponsive barrier, I hear:
[Deoksung Oppa. This side has already been cleared! Seira-chan instantly took down that trickster grandma! Seira-chan might actually be the stronger grandma? Ridiculous. Heeheehee.]
Haru’s voice comes through my communication.
“Any other terror threats?”
[Seira-chan called the association president, and they’re checking security around here, but there doesn’t seem to be any. Heeheehee. Oppa, I did a good job, right? Praise me. Praise!]
If Seira and Ichiro checked and there’s nothing, then there really is nothing.
I feel a bit uneasy about how suspiciously similar things are to the original story.
Are we really going to follow it this closely?
“Alright, good job.”
“Well done.”
I cut off communication with Haru.
“Hey, your accomplice has already been captured, you know?”
“What?…”
Shinji looked flustered upon hearing my words.
His eyes widened.
“If you’re not thinking of surrendering…”
Zzzzzzzzt!!
Silver lightning surrounded Aris’s entire body.
“I’ll subdue you by force.”
Bang!
Inside the Health Room, a silver flash enveloped everything.
Boom!
A deafening noise echoed as the walls of the old building crumbled and glass shattered everywhere.
“Kyaaah!”
With a scream, the flash faded, revealing Maeda Shinji’s condition.
His uniform was torn.
His glasses were shattered.
Aris seized the dagger-like weapon from the now ragged Maeda Shinji and restrained him.
The subjugation of Maeda Shinji was complete.
“It’s over now.”
Huff.
Aris let out a sigh.
The conclusion was disappointingly anticlimactic, almost absurd.
[Still, it’s a relief that this didn’t end with any major incidents, Partner. Yeah, some days are like this.]
Though the Black Prince said that in my head, I felt uneasy.
Is it really ending like this?
It doesn’t make sense.
There must be more to it.
“Kim Deok-Sung. Why does your expression look like that?”
As Aris approached me, her voice tinged with slight concern.
“Is this really the end?”
The disheveled Shinji raised his head.
He smiled.
“Yes. It’s over. Since you refused to surrender, there will be no mercy, and with the Association President stepping in, your proud Maeda Conglomerate background and connections won’t be much help this time. Since we’ve captured your accomplices as well…”
“I’m not dying alone.”
Maeda Shinji spoke in a low voice.
It was a stark contrast to his earlier pathetic demeanor, now filled with meaning.
What does he mean by ‘not dying alone’?
Is he planning to self-destruct or something?
The moment I grasped the hilt of Durandal.
“It’s time.”
“What do you mean time?”
The instant Maeda Shinji said that.
[Breaking news! The perfect superhuman Student Council President! ‘Silver Queen’ Saionji Aris. Until now, we students of Shuo believed she was a typical aristocrat, but in reality, I, Maeda Shinji, the head of the discipline committee protecting the academy’s morals, have discovered she hails from rural Wakayama Prefecture! That’s right! She, a mere rural girl from Wakayama, has been deceiving the top elite of Japan, Shuo students, all this time! As a piece of evidence, here’s her personal details…!]
From outside, Maeda Shinji’s voice flowed through a speaker that was presumably pre-recorded for school announcements.
Maeda Shinji laughed.
Aris’s face turned pale.
Her hands and shoulders shook violently.
Strength left her legs.
“It’s time to broadcast your ugly truth to the whole student body.”
“W-What? To the whole student body…? My identity will be revealed…? No, no way… no…”
Thud.
She collapsed in shock, covering her face with both hands.
No.
What the hell.
This wasn’t in the original plot!
