Damn Tsundere Princess
As soon as Olivia gave her command, all the heroines gathered.
Rin, Eri, Makoto, Evangelin, Haru, and even Beatrice.
The seven beautiful girls, including Olivia, stood amid the chaos of Beppu city.
“Why the hell are we here…?”
Beatrice spoke in a small voice.
She knew the identity of the threat looming over her.
An at least EX-ranked danger was lurking right here.
But she couldn’t tell anyone that.
Using the identity of Trixie Smith, her true identity was the Saintess of the Cult, the villain organization.
To unveil the secret of the Red Lotus demon’s curse, she would inevitably have to reveal her identity as a saintess.
‘That kind of ending… I don’t want it…’
But she couldn’t have that.
If the fact that she was a villain, or more specifically, the saintess of the Cult, became known…
Those who had treated her kindly until now, and indeed the whole world, would surely point and accuse her.
Sure, she had been used, but still, she was a villain.
Beatrice wasn’t foolish.
She was very aware of how people viewed villains.
That’s why it terrified her more.
Unlike her past, where she was essentially imprisoned deep within the Cult, enjoying freedom with her classmates was everything to her now.
She had finally found a happiness she never wanted to lose.
Even if it was a lie, a dream that would eventually fade, Beatrice wanted to continue this happiness.
That’s why she never wanted to reveal her true identity.
Shudder.
Just then, Beatrice’s hand trembled.
Squeeze.
She felt warmth in her hand.
Beatrice turned her gaze to the side.
There stood Evangelin.
Winking, she whispered in Beatrice’s ear.
“Trixie, you’re okay.”
Evangelin already knew Beatrice’s true identity.
As a princess of the British royal family, and the only hero of the British royal family following William’s demise, MI6 had reported Beatrice’s identity to her after the incident.
However, Evangelin kept Beatrice’s identity a classified secret known only to the intelligence agency and herself.
After all, Beatrice was merely a pawn being used, and more importantly, she was her friend.
Out of respect for her friend, she had kept this from Beatrice, so Beatrice still didn’t know that Evangelin was aware of her true identity.
“Ah, I understand, contractor… Hmph. I am the saintess of the Red Lotus. I am not weak enough to depend on a contractor.”
Beatrice boasted.
With that, her heartbeat calmed down.
For some time now, Beatrice had stopped trying to read Evangelin’s thoughts.
It wasn’t necessary to read them, as her friendship and feelings were conveyed loud and clear, just like now.
The friendship and feelings were conveyed just as they were.
That’s why Beatrice still didn’t read Evangelin’s thoughts.
Thanks to Kim Deok-Sung’s intervention, the twisted flow of the original story in the canon had created one friend for Beatrice, who had no connections with anyone else.
“After all, Kim Deok-Sung is so kind.”
Evangelin smiled.
Kim Deok-Sung had ordered her to hide the danger of the EX-rank villain until the very end, and Evangelin knew the hidden intention behind that command.
It was a decision made out of concern that Beatrice’s true identity might be discovered.
To protect the identity of Beatrice, who had no significant connections, and to safeguard the happiness she was enjoying under her disguise as “Trixie Smith,” Kim Deok-Sung had taken it upon himself to face the EX-rank villain alone.
[Forgiveness and all, I never planned to do anything in the first place…]
Kim Deok-Sung’s words echoed in Evangelin’s head.
When they were in the hot spring together, she had asked him to forgive Beatrice, and that was his reply.
He was literally protecting that answer through self-sacrifice.
Even at this very moment.
Thump.
Evangelin’s heart raced.
Her face turned red.
“That person is truly a hero possessing kindness, courage, and responsibility…”
Evangelin’s eyes sparkled.
Because Evangelin was a hero herself, before being the princess of England, she could feel it.
Many people have the title of hero, but only a few of them come close to the dictionary definition of one. After overcoming the great disaster, gates became no longer an incomprehensible calamity but a controllable risk and a means to make money, and heroes were reduced to a part of the gate industry.
Unlike during the great disaster, modern heroes fight for wealth and honor, not for the weak or human civilization.
A time when true heroes have gone missing.
Kim Deok-Sung is a true hero who emerged in such an era.
“Girl, I’ve fallen for Kim Deok-Sung once again.”
Clap.
Evangelin prayed with her hands together.
Her heart raced.
Until now, her feelings towards him had been more like admiration for the person who saved her, closer to a fan’s longing.
It was true she liked him, but she hadn’t been so deeply infatuated as to dedicate all of herself to him seriously.
But that was no longer the case.
They say that a person’s true self is revealed in a crisis, and the heroic aspects shown by Kim Deok-Sung in urgent situations were enough to truly capture the heart of the English princess.
Evangelin noticed Olivia in her line of sight.
Whoosh.
Against the backdrop of the blazing city of Beppu, a slender beautiful girl with platinum hair danced in the night sky, and at the end of her blue gaze was a destroyed ryokan.
“…”
Evangelin and Olivia’s eyes met again.
Evangelin realized it now.
Unlike her, Olivia had been a promising successor to the Black Prince, expected by all of France.
Having been raised as a hero since childhood, it made sense that she, who hadn’t acknowledged anyone as a hero besides herself, recognized Kim Deok-Sung and became his devoted maid.
Perhaps Olivia had noticed his heroic side long before her.
The difference in trust between someone who had known his true worth and herself, who had only realized it now, was perhaps perfectly understandable.
Evangelin thought so.
“What are you looking at, Princess Stewart?”
Olivia, meeting Evangelin’s gaze, threw a comment.
“Hawawawa. It’s nothing much. Just…”
Evangelin awkwardly laughed and turned her head.
In her sights appeared the faces of other heroines.
“So, Bonaparte, what was the reason for summoning us?”
“Hey.”
With a dignified stance, Shinozaki Rin, gripping her katana, responded.
“Your Highness. Nothing happened to Master, right?”
“I’m feeling a bit uneasy…”
Holding hands, Eri and Makoto looked worried.
“…Haru, I suspected something from the start. Something must be happening with Deok-Sung, right? Olive elder sister, am I right?”
Lastly, Haru, usually playful, looked serious without a trace of mischief on her face.
The common thread among them was that they all genuinely worried about Kim Deok-Sung and had feelings for him.
‘Of course, Kim Deok-Sung. Any girl would fall for him. He’s the epitome of a hero’s charm.’
At that moment, as Evangelin touched her flushed cheek with one hand, she murmured inwardly.
“Everyone, quiet.”
*Thud.*
Olivia slammed Flamberge onto the floor.
All eyes turned to her.
“Right now, we received intel that that fool is fighting an EX Rank villain alone at the ryokan.”
Cold silence fell at Olivia’s words.
“So from now on, I will transfer the field command to Kurosawa Yuji… and as his devoted maid! I will go save him!”
*Thud.*
Olivia placed her hand over her heart.
Her blue eyes sparkled.
“If you all really care about that fool…! Follow me!”
Olivia scanned the heroines with her gaze.
Though she spoke confidently, facing an EX Rank villain was basically a suicide mission.
In a situation where her own life was at stake, she would genuinely go to help him…
“Of course you would say that, Bonaparte.”
Olivia’s thoughts were interrupted by Rin’s voice.
Rin’s dark blue eyes grew cold.
“And I won’t just follow you. I will lead the way. For Deok-Sung.”
“Me too! I want to go save Master!”
Eri raised her hand immediately after Rin finished speaking.
“I will go too… as the lord’s sword!”
Makoto bit her lip to strengthen her resolve.
“Deok-Sung oppa will be saved by his ultra-cute gal little sister Haru. You can just suck your fingers, older sisters. Hehe.”
Haru grinned mischievously.
“I will go too! Together with Trixie!”
“Huh?!”
Finally, even Beatrice, surprised but not rejecting the idea with Evangelin, followed suit.
Olivia’s face turned slightly red as she saw them.
“You all…”
She hadn’t expected anyone other than herself to feel a sense of responsibility as a hero.
In the worst-case scenario, she had imagined she might have to support him alone as his devoted maid.
But she never anticipated that everyone would follow her.
“What’s this, Your Highness? Are you moved?”
“W-Wait, that’s not it!? Hmph! As your devoted maid, it’s only natural that you follow my orders! Anyway, let’s start with the operation briefing!”
Olivia hastily shifted the topic at Eri’s remark.
At her direction, all the heroines gathered around.
And moments later, the newly prepared heroines soared into the sky.
Their destination was the destroyed ryokan.
Where Kim Deok-Sung was.
*
*Cough.*
Blood poured from his mouth.
His entire body was battered.
[Partner!]
The voice of the Black Prince echoed in his mind.
“To hold on to this extent… quite impressive. I commend your unyielding will.”
Berserk’s voice whispered in his ear.
It was a voice filled with pure kindness, void of any taunting.
And that made it even more annoying.
As if someone who was a villain from a light novel was actually praising him here.
That kind of praise brought him no joy at all.
“Ugh.”
The shape of the ryokan building had vanished completely.
The beautifully arranged Japanese garden and the impressive outdoor hot spring with its steaming water had all been shattered and disappeared without a trace due to the battle.
The impressive outdoor hot springs were completely destroyed by the battle’s aftermath, disappearing without a trace.
I don’t want to get up.
But I have to get up.
Sigh.
I plant Durandal into the ground as I rise.
My whole body is shaking.
“As a reward for your praise, I shall show you my true name’s liberation. Consider it a honor.”
I hear Berserk’s voice in my ear.
Wait, what?
True name liberation?
“Hrunting, true name liberation──”
WooOOOOO! Blood red magic swirls around the gigantic sword he lifts.
The blade trembles.
“──The blood-drinking cursed sword!!”
Crackle!
With his booming voice, space tears apart.
Gooooooo!
Red winds swirl around Berserk.
Flap.
The combat gloves draped over his body flutter in the wind.
Fizzles!
Red magical sparks shoot out from the vortex.
An overwhelming storm of magic rushes towards Berserk.
Drop, drop.
Concentrated red magic falls to the ground like blood.
The cursed sword Hrunting.
A unique weapon with the ability to absorb the blood of enemies, enhancing its function the more it drinks, regardless of dimension, hero, or hunter.
The true name liberation of Hrunting, the blood-drinking cursed sword, temporarily liberates all the blood it has consumed, amplifying the user’s physical strength and magical power with its simple yet powerful effect.
Additionally, it gains a vampiric ability where it heals the more it wounds the opponent.
His red mane rises into the sky with a red magic aura.
An overwhelming magical shockwave distorts space around it.
“From now, I will fight you earnestly! Kim Deok-Sung!”
Flash.
His eyes shine with a red light.
Shit.
Just like a light novel villain, he starts off easy and, seeing it won’t work, gradually releases more power.
Union is still not achieved.
The odds are nearly 0%.
Bitter taste.
This is why gambling should never be done.
Gambling is a shortcut to disaster.
This is nothing but a sweet potato situation.
Honestly, I prefer the quick and satisfying pace of web novels over light novels.
Light novels can go eat dirt.
“Cry!! Cursed sword Hrunting──! Blood──! Strike!!”
WooOOOOOOO!!
With Berserk’s middle school disease line, a tremorous sound erupts from Hrunting.
It’s a scene I’ve seen in animations.
But unlike the original protagonist, I can’t block that attack without union or mental deployment.
Is this how I’m going to die?
Not even getting to see the original world.
Just like this…
At the moment my vision blurs.
“Castle of Britannia──!!”
A familiar voice splits the night sky.
Flash.
With it, a pink barrier envelops me.
KABOOM!!
The barrier clashes with the red magic wave, creating an explosive sound that shakes the ground.
“You!”
A voice echoes from afar, one that shouldn’t reach here.
Flash.
Along with a platinum flash of light, her figure appears.
A bit messy, but still shimmering with platinum hair.
Tears welling in her blue eyes.
It was Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
Her tear-streaked, warm hand touches my cheek.
“You’re the universe’s biggest fool…”
Is she really talking about being the universe’s biggest fool in this situation?
As I think that, my vision tilts and flips upside down.
Stagger, caught.
Olivia catches my collapsing body.
Her teardrops touch my skin as they flow down from her eyes.
Whispering to her ear while embraced in Olivia’s warmth.
“…Damn tsundere princess. I told you not to come.”
Crying for no reason and making a fuss.
I said I would handle this alone…
