Chapter 300
Grandma’s Cooking
Kugung.
With an animation sound effect, Seira’s face hardened ominously.
Her eyes fluttered.
“H-Haru, what did you just say?”
“The menu selection is so old-fashioned. It’s totally hilarious. Hehehe. What’s with the red ginseng jelly? It’s so funny.”
Haru squinted her eyes and laughed.
“Seiratang’s grandma’s bento is totally compared to my super cute JK-style bento, right? Hehehe.”
Swish.
Haru presents a cute bear character bento.
“Hmm. The menu does have a bit of an antiquated vibe.”
Rin coughs awkwardly at Haru’s words.
“That’s right, President. Eri also thinks it’s a bit old-fashioned.”
Eri cautiously speaks up.
“Y-Yeah, but the taste should be fine, right? Like rustic grandma’s cooking…”
Makoto speaks to Eri from the side.
Of all things, rustic grandma’s cooking.
Is Makoto really trying to comfort her with that?
“There’s no need to look further. My bento is the winner! Ohhohohoho! Truly, the invincible and undefeated Bonaparte Royalty!”
With flair, Olivia places her hand over her heart and declares victory.
Her four-tiered Korean bento certainly did look quite delicious.
“Ugh…”
Seira bites her lip.
She lowers her head.
“…Kid.”
Seira’s gaze shifts towards them.
“D-Did my bento really taste that b-bad…?”
Seira stutters.
She seems genuinely shocked, her hands trembling.
She looks at her own menu.
Lotus root, burdock and carrot stew, salmon and radish stew, grilled horse mackerel, and white rice topped with pickled plum.
With matcha, yokan, and red ginseng jelly in a thermos.
True, it felt a bit lacking in trendiness.
If in Korea, it would be like a lunchbox with fried egg, fried kimchi, pink sausages, stir-fried anchovies, seaweed powder, and white rice—similar to a nostalgic lunchbox.
[Brings back old memories. Sister, you’ve liked lotus root stew since back in the day… Partner, food is innocent. It’s made with your sister’s genuine effort, so don’t treat it too harshly.]
The Black Prince sighed and spoke.
There was nothing incorrect in the Black Prince’s words.
In reality, Seira loved matcha, yokan, and lotus root stew.
Since she liked them, there was also a setting that she was quite skilled at making them.
“Well, you’re not half bad,” I guess?
Due to her long experience, Seira was ranked second right behind Eri, who was hailed as the absolute best in the cooking department listed in the setting book.
Not that her cooking skills are outdated; it’s just that all her dishes scream old-fashioned.
I mean, really, do you think you can just toss food around?
Plus, I actually kind of like nostalgic bento boxes.
I remember often buying them to save money during my college days.
“First, let’s give it a taste.”
“Y-Yeah! Here it is.”
Seira hands me the chopsticks.
Everyone’s eyes are glued to my chopsticks.
*Swallow.*
Seira gulps nervously as she watches me.
I pick up some stewed lotus root and pop it into my mouth.
“Well, how is it? Kid.”
The sweet and salty flavor blends with the texture of the lotus root in my mouth.
“It’s delicious.”
“Phew, what a relief! As expected, my cooking skills haven’t rusted!”
Before my praise even finishes, Seira puffs up like a peacock.
“Our Deok-Sung oppa is such a good person. Hehe. He even knows how to respect his elders.”
Haru bursts out laughing at that.
Respecting elders?
“Haru, what do you mean by respecting elders? That’s some nonsense!”
“Hehehe. Seira-chan’s grandma! Are you in denial about reality?”
“Humph. Is it possible to say such things after tasting my cooking?”
Surprisingly, Seira comes back strong.
*Click.*
She lays out her bento box.
“Now, everyone, taste and marvel at my magnificent cooking skills!”
Seira goes for a strong rebuttal against Haru’s provocation.
“Hmph…”
Haru’s eyes narrow.
As the youngest daughter of the Kurosawa family, it’s natural for Haru to know Seira, Rin, the Association President, and everyone else.
She must have some memories of tasting Seira’s home-cooked meals as a child, so I’m puzzled by her behavior.
Plus, they still live together, right? Does Seira not cook for Haru?
Haru grabs her chopsticks and tries some salmon and radish stew.
“So, how is it? Haru? My serious cooking?”
“…Tch. What gives, Seira-chan’s grandma? Why is this way better than usual? Don’t tell me you’re trying to show off for Deok-Sung oppa? That’s just absurd. Hehe.”
Haru says with a laugh.
Seira’s face hardens and then relaxes at her words.
“Hmph. Still tasty, right? My food. Everyone else can eat some too. Hehe. I brought enough bento for everyone!”
Seira spreads out the food.
“Seira-chan’s grandma can’t help but be a grandma, huh? Seeing you cook with such generous portions. Hehe.”
Haru laughs at that, and just as Seira’s brow starts to furrow, the cold atmosphere is broken by Rin.
“Thank you for the meal, President.”
She picks up her chopsticks and tries Seira’s burdock and carrot stew.
“It’s delicious.”
“Hmm.”
Seira, slightly pleased with Rin’s compliment, reddens her face as she fans herself.
Just then, while I held my chopsticks.
“Hey you! Try my bento too!”
“Master! Please taste my and Makopi’s bento as well!”
“Milord…”
Olivia, Eri, and Makoto each shove their homemade bentos in front of me.
“Deok-Sung, what about mine…?”
“Oppa! Aren’t you going to try the adorable JK’s homemade lunch? Nishi-shi-shi. It’s a golden opportunity to taste the lunch that all the JKs are super jealous of!”
Then Rin and Haru chime in too.
Looking at the lunch box in front of me, I let out a sigh internally.
We have a cavalry battle in the afternoon, though.
Will I even have the energy to do that after eating all this?
Even so, they put a lot of effort into making these lunches, so it feels wrong not to eat them.
“I should at least taste it.”
[Oh, partner. You’ve become quite charming, haven’t you? You’re getting closer little by little to the ideal gentleman look every day.]
Ignoring the Black Prince’s nonsense, I pick up my chopsticks and put food in my mouth.
Everyone’s gaze focuses on me.
“It’s delicious.”
No matter whose lunch it is, all the food is mostly tasty.
Even Rin’s lunch, which used to feature poisonous dishes, is pretty decent today.
The Heroines’ expressions brighten.
I eat the lunch while receiving their glances.
So, what do we do in the afternoon?
*
After finishing lunch.
Under the cool shade of the parasol, Olivia prepared fruit for dessert, and Seira served yokan and matcha.
“Master!”
Eri called out to me.
“What are you going to do about the cavalry battle?”
At Eri’s words, everyone’s attention turns this way.
The cavalry battle, the final event of the Sports Festival, is the only event where gifts and magical power usage are permitted, making it the highlight of Shuo Hero Academy’s sports day.
The rules aren’t that different from a typical cavalry battle.
Teams consist of four members, and if you snatch away the headband from the rider on top, that team is disqualified.
The difference is that in the Shuo Academy’s cavalry battle, everyone is split into red and white teams, participating in a large scale battle reminiscent of war.
It was the climax of the sports festival episode, depicted with flashy artwork in the anime.
And just like in light novel episodes, during the cavalry battle, the main villain Muramasa interrupts and the sports festival gets put on hold.
Honestly, whether it’s an academy story or any other school event, nothing ever goes as planned until the end.
At this point, maybe we should consider not holding school events at all?
Anyway, unlike the original, Muramasa has already been defeated in Seoul.
While we can’t rule out the possibility of other villains showing up like during the school trip, we are in the heart of Tokyo.
This is Japan’s capital.
Unlike then, most of Japan’s hero forces, including the Japanese Hero Association, are gathered here, and due to a series of incidents, the academy’s security has been reinforced, so there shouldn’t be a situation where we’re helpless like during the school trip.
I really hope it goes that way.
If something happens again, then I’ll have to deal with it then.
“Master, of course you’re teaming up with Eri-Ring for the cavalry battle, right? Eri-Ring! I want to be under you!”
Just when I was thinking about all of this.
Eri’s voice snaps me out of my thoughts.
Wait, what?
You want to be under me?
Due to Eri boldly raising her hand and saying something ridiculous, everyone’s attention shifts toward us.
“Yikes! You want to sit under a galactic rank beautiful girl during the cavalry battle?!”
“Black Beast, are you really planning to do those kinds of things in broad daylight when it wasn’t even enough at night?! Treating the academy’s idol like a doormat!”
“Are you trying to flaunt that you’re dominating the mind and body of Eri, the Galaxy Rank Beautiful Girl and the academy’s top idol?! Black Beast, you truly have no blood or tears!”
“I had my suspicions the moment you called him ‘Master.’”
“Black Beast… totally a perv! A perverted fiend!”
Voices of the extras can be heard.
“My lord! Me too! I can totally be under Eri-chan too!”
Then Makoto, eyes shining, raises her hand.
You think you can be under her?
What on earth am I hearing right now?
My head is spinning.
This is a development that didn’t even exist in the original.
In the original story, the protagonist teamed up with three guys including Ishihara and faced off against the white team.
The heroines participated in the cavalry battle as a team of heroines and extras.
But now, everyone wants to be on the same team as me, and they even want to carry me as a rider?
I feel like I’m going to lose my mind from the novel’s overwhelming twist.
“Everyone, stand aside! Deok-Sung, I’m the perfect candidate to be under you. If you want, I’ll support you with my soft and ample chest and body!”
Rin bites her lip and speaks in a solemn voice.
Her large chest shakes.
What am I even supporting?
“Nishishishi. Sisters, step back. Deok-Sung oppa, you’ll pick me, right? A golden opportunity to sit on the super cute JK! It doesn’t come around every day! Hari, I might be willing to graciously offer my body… if it’s for Deok-Sung oppa! Nishishishi.”
Haru blushes and covers her mouth with her hand.
“Everyone, quiet down! Hmph! Serving that fool is the duty of me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Naturally, it’s my job to support that fool in the cavalry battle! It has nothing to do with you all! Do you understand?!”
*Clicks tongue.*
Olivia places her hand on her chest and says.
Olivia, not you too.
I’m so done hearing about that damn servant story.
[……]
Maybe because it’s such a hard development to accept even in the light novel world, but even the Black Prince is keeping silent.
Just when that dreadful and embarrassing debate about wanting to be under me was about to continue…
“Everyone, stop. What in the world is going on here?”
Seira quietly interjects with a solemn tone.
[Ooh… Sister! Finally… The wisdom of the elders…]
As the Black Prince exclaims in my head, Seira covers her face with a black lace fan.
“······If you all push like that, won’t it be troublesome for the little one? So let’s fairly decide with a lottery.”
*Tap.*
Seira puts a lottery box on the mat with a serious expression.
[Aah… Sister…!]
I can hear the Black Prince sounding utterly defeated in my head.
Wait, the president is joining in on this too?
The cavalry battle.
