New Transfer Student
Time flew quickly after the school trip.
If this were the original story, the day when Kim Deok-Sung would have terrorized Shuo Hero Academy with the exclusive weapon, the Cursed Sword Tirping, provided by the Professor would have passed without incident.
The ugly ending of Kim Deok-Sung from the original’s Volume 9 floats in my mind.
The moment when Kim Deok-Sung, who gained immense power at the cost of blood, lifespan, and soul from the Cursed Sword Tirping, went berserk and was killed by the combined attack of Yuji and Kusunagi, who awakened through True Naming Liberation.
In the anime, Kim Deok-Sung, rendered in unnecessarily good animation, left behind a tragic line declaring, “Kurosawa Yuji, I will hate you even in hell,” while dying like a chump.
If I hadn’t done anything since being reincarnated, I would have likely experienced that gruesome ending first-hand by now.
I probably wouldn’t even be alive.
Just thinking about it sends shivers down my spine.
When I watched it in the anime, I felt slightly uneasy, but being the actual person involved sends goosebumps all over my body.
[Partner, what’s wrong? You don’t look good.]
The Black Prince’s words echoed in my head.
Sure, I managed to prevent the events of Volume 9, but…
The issue is Volume 10.
Volume 10.
In this grand episode, the enraged Professor, upset by Kim Deok-Sung’s failure, directly leads a group of otherworldly beings, including an Omega Rank Otherworldly species, in a terror attempt with the aim of destroying the academy.
For the first time, the EX Rank villain appears, and Seira’s Prime Mode makes its debut, allowing the protagonist Yuji, supported by Seira’s Prime Mode’s assistance, to barely secure victory against the Professor.
Even then, it was merely pushing the Professor back, not completely eliminating him—a common genre trope of letting the villain live for plot convenience.
Perhaps because my path has changed, and I became the owner of Durandal, the Professor hasn’t tried to tempt me with an exclusive weapon.
As of now, the Professor in this world has shown no signs of movement, even though the timeline has long surpassed Volume 10.
Then again, why would he offer me a cursed sword like Tirping when I possess the transcendent weapon Durandal?
The original Kim Deok-Sung was caught in a typical trope, succumbing to his feelings of inferiority and snatching the cursed sword.
The Professor must have some sense about that.
So now…
“Next week is finally the Sports Festival!”
During HR time.
Scratch, scratch.
Mayuzumi Mayu writes “Sports Festival” in large characters on the board with chalk.
That’s right.
In the original story, the Sports Festival is the main episode of Volume 11.
The Sports Festival is the main episode of Volume 11.
Originally, it was supposed to feature Muramasa, who has taken over Haru’s body, appearing as a villain leading a horde of monsters to attack the Sports Festival.
But here······.
At the end of my turned gaze, I see Haru.
As our eyes meet, Haru smiles, showing her teeth.
“Deok-Sung Oppa! Ni-shi-shi-shi. Isn’t Haru super awesome? Super cute, right?”
Jang-lang-jang-lang.
The bracelet on Haru’s wrist, adorned with impressive nail art, jingles.
The main villain for the Sports Festival episode has already been dealt with back in Seoul during summer vacation.
But for some reason, I feel uneasy.
Messiah.
That guy isn’t one to stay docile like this.
I did ask Seira to reinforce the academy’s security, but now the flow of this world has slipped from my grip.
It’s impossible to predict how Messiah will make his move.
So, enhancing my own strength is the best course of action.
The problem is that I haven’t reached EX rank yet.
[Partner. Are you worried it’s because of your mental state?]
“I suppose you could say that.”
This time, I answer Black Prince’s question directly.
[Hmm. The more you strive to reach that mental state, the farther it seems. It’s better to train in a state of no thought, no distraction.]
He claims to be a Hong Kong martial arts movie fan, and now he’s using metaphors like they’re from a martial arts novel.
[Thanks to this Black Prince’s help, you’ve already experienced that mental state once. It’s just a matter of time; you’ll definitely reach it. This Black Prince guarantees it. You ought to be grateful! Hahahahahaha!]
Black Prince’s voice echoes in my head.
If it’s the Black Prince’s confidence, there’s no room for doubt.
I will definitely reach EX rank.
“The question is, when?”
[Don’t worry about that. Partner. Even now, you’re inching closer to that mental state. If you keep working hard like this, you’ll make it before winter break ends. This Black Prince will also help with your training!]
By this year.
The original story’s final episode background is set just after winter break ends and the third semester starts.
Right now, it’s still the second semester, and winter break hasn’t come yet, so there’s plenty of time.
That might be true based on the original.
[Or, if it’s a life-or-death scenario like when dealing with Berserk last time······. Maybe in the face of death, I could forcibly manifest the survival instinct’s memories of that mental state.]
Black Prince speaks in a serious tone.
Awakening in a life-or-death situation.
It’s a cliché often seen in Korean web novels and Japanese light novels for dramatic scenes.
But whether that cliché would operate in this world where reality has taken over is uncertain.
Who knows how long my luck will hold out?
“I can’t just rely on luck.”
[Yeah. That’s how my partner should be. Hahahahahaha! How about I give you a pass necklace?]
In my head, Black Prince starts talking about a pass necklace.
What on earth has he seen on the internet?
Just as the serious atmosphere breaks and I’m bemused, I hear voices of excitement from the students.
“It’s finally the Sports Festival!”
“I was feeling down because the school trip got cancelled but now it’s the Sports Festival!”
“I’m already looking forward to it.”
The voices of the excited first-years resonate in my ears.
Buzz-buzz.
In an instant, the 1st Year A-Class Classroom becomes as noisy as a market.
Seeing this, Mayuzumi Mayu bangs her pointer against the blackboard.
Linda.
“Students, please quiet down a little!”
The classroom suddenly falls silent at Mayuzumi-sensei’s words.
Seeing this, Mayuzumi-sensei smiles.
“Alright! Then let’s start with the announcements regarding the Sports Festival. First off! Our class has been assigned to Team Red!”
What Mayuzumi-sensei announces first is the team allocation.
The Sports Festival at Shuo Hero Academy is held as a Red vs. White competition.
The entire academy randomly assigns classes to either the Red or White team and they compete against each other.
Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate, our class has ended up on Team Red just like in the original story.
“Team Red!”
“They said Team Red!”
“Is that a good thing?”
“I prefer white.”
Voices from the extras can be heard.
Mayuzumi-sensei continues with the announcements.
“The events are determined to be the three-legged race, mission relay, ball toss, and mounted competition!”
Such standard and utterly boring choices were already presented in the original work.
To think I have to do a Sports Festival again at this age, just like I did ten years ago in high school.
I’m already feeling tired.
“Whoa! It’s the three-legged race!”
“Eep! Who will my partner be?”
“I’m already excited!”
I can hear the voices of the extras in my ears.
Wait, three-legged race?
I remember that in the original, there were dozens of pages of dull catfights about who the protagonist’s three-legged race partner would be.
No way?
“Master, you’ll partner with me for the three-legged race, right?”
As if waiting for the moment, my classmate Makoto whispers in my ear.
“Now, hold on! Are you really suggesting to partner with another cat burglar instead of your loyal maid, huh? Your three-legged race partner should obviously be me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Don’t forget it!”
Clang.
No sooner had her voice ended than Olivia shot up from her seat, pointing at me and shouting.
Her already big voice sounds even louder today.
“What’s this? Bonaparte. This time it’s Shinozaki Rin’s turn. Kim Deok-Sung, let’s be three-legged race partners! Hehe. If you want, we can have some natural contact during it as well…”
Rin laughs proudly.
Her large chest sways slightly.
Definitely, with those assets, we might just touch while running in this three-legged race…
No, that’s not what’s important right now.
This is driving me crazy.
“What a lewd cow. Are you trying to tempt Master with those useless lumps of fat? Master! This time, choose Eri-ling as your three-legged race partner! Eri-ling is always ready, body and soul, for you!”
As if waiting for her moment, Eri stands up.
Zing.
As Eri glares at Rin, Rin was about to say something to Eri right then.
“Nishishishi. Older sisters, step aside. The super cute gal little sister, Haru, is the only one who truly understands everything about Deok-Sung oppa. Naturally, the partner for Deok-Sung oppa should be super cute younger JK gal Haru, right? Nishishi.”
Haru stands up, her side ponytail tinted red.
What kind of gal is she?
This is really getting ridiculous.
“Aaaah! It’s started already! The Black Beast battle!”
“Who will win this time?”
“Of course, the loyal maid! Princess Knight! Amazing! The Black Beast has already tamed so many beautiful girls…”
“I guess the rumors of a wild party every night are true!”
“I guess the rumors about the daily wild parties are true!”
“To think I’d be a triangle partner with the Black Beast… That’s just creepy… What if just touching hands leads to something scary…?”
“Perhaps a gym outfit Black Beast wouldn’t be so bad?”
“The Black Beast’s pheromones! Just how far do they reach?”
As soon as everyone’s lines wrapped up, the extras started buzzing like it was a prearranged deal.
I knew this would happen.
Just when I was about to say something.
Clang!
Teacher Mayuzumi slams her attendance book on the desk.
Today, she awkwardly smiles, something a bit off compared to usual.
“Students! I’m currently organizing some announcements. Please quiet down! And the triangle partners will be chosen by lottery. So, let’s keep pointless chatter to a minimum. Got it?”
Her voice, usually lively, feels somewhat subdued today.
What in the world is going on with her?
“Teacher Mayuzumi, don’t you seem a bit sharp today, unlike usual?”
“Is it because she doesn’t like seeing the beautiful girls flocking to the Black Beast since she’s a single lady?”
“Poor Teacher Mayuzumi… She’s twenty-four but still single…”
The extras whisper among themselves.
I mean, twenty-four isn’t exactly a spinster!
The standards for spinsters in this insane world are truly ridiculous.
“Be quiet! I told you to be quiet!” Teacher Mayuzumi said again!
Clang.
Seems she got triggered by the spinster talk—this time she slapped the attendance book down with a more serious expression.
Only then did the classroom fall completely silent.
Seeing this, Mayu wiped her brow.
“Phew. Alright then. Let’s move on to the next announcement… The next announcement is…”
The classroom might be quiet, but Mayuzumi-sensei’s expression grows even more awkward.
She usually looks so cheerful, so what’s bothering her today?
Is it really the extras’ spinster attack?
Even in the original story, Mayuzumi-sensei would get incredibly gloomy whenever spinster discussions popped up due to her complex.
After the protagonist harem members joined in, she even became a target for teasing among the heroines because of her age.
Maybe that’s it.
Just when I was lost in thought.
“For the Sports Festival, our 1st Year A-Class will have a special transfer student joining us!”
The completely unexpected words came out of Teacher Mayuzumi’s mouth.
What? A special transfer student?
At this time?
Who could it be?
I can’t even guess.
Evangeline and Beatrice have already returned to England, and Makoto and Haru are already in the same class, so there shouldn’t be another transfer character coming in.
Could it be a third character not shown in the original?
As I seriously pondered this, she continued.
“Let me introduce… students! The special transfer student is…”
Squeak.
Cutting off Mayuzumi-sensei’s words, the mysterious transfer student appeared by sliding open the door.
The identity of that transfer student was…
“Nice to meet you! Fellow first-year A-Class classmates! I am the special transfer student, Seira-tan! Hoohoohahaha!”
Instead of her usual black gothic dress, a silver-haired, red-eyed beautiful girl introduced herself clad in the school uniform.
It was Yoshizaki Seira.
Wow.
Is this real life?
