#358
Time for Responsibility
As soon as I turned on my phone, this caught my eye.
[NATO: “We didn’t expect Korea to win!” America and Europe are envious while Japan is shocked by Korea’s terror response! The world’s worst criminal, the EX-rank villain Soul Reaper, falls to the hands of Hero Kim Deok-Sung! The reason the world is in shock over Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s feats!]
[“From now on, don’t mess with Korea and Koreans. Touch Korea, and it’s the end for you.” Villains around the world are astonished at the EX-rank villain Soul Reaper who was defeated in Korea! The real reason villains won’t touch Korea is that they’re terrified of Hero Kim Deok-Sung? A majesty that even villains who aren’t afraid of America and Japan fear!]
[Hero Kim Deok-Sung saved Korea and the world! The one who subdued the world’s worst criminal, EX-rank villain Diego Morales, is Korean?! The real reason the world is sending thanks and praises to Korea and Hero Kim Deok-Sung!]
Damn that patriotic YouTube!
I feel dazed looking at these flashy, nationalistic videos.
Don’t these guys ever get tired?
[Ah, today too I’m intoxicated by the light of Deok-Sung~]
[Isn’t “light Deok-Sung” just a repetition?]
[Shin.jpg]
[(Photo of Kim Deok-Sung)]
[- It’s so dazzling I can’t see! LOL]
[- Flashbangs from the daytime, whoa!]
[- Kim Deok-Sung, my light, my salt.]
[- Is Kim Deok-Sung your friend? Call him a hero! ;)]
The community was even wilder.
The embarrassing praise posts and comments made me doubt whether I was in South Korea or North Korea.
I can’t adapt no matter how many times I see it.
[Blue House: “President Kang will make a public address regarding an important matter tomorrow morning.”]
What stood out to me last was a short news clip.
A public address about an important matter?
What could that mean?
Don’t tell me it’s about the Messiah?
For now, there was no mention of the Messiah in any information broadcasted by the media or on YouTube.
The opponent I fought and defeated was known as Diego Morales, and not a single word was mentioned about the League or the Messiah.
‘Information concealment?’
If that’s the case, there’s only one possibility.
The National Intelligence Service is hiding the existence of the Messiah.
[Maybe they’ve judged that there’s no need to publicize his information and confuse the world at this point?]
Surprisingly, the Black Prince offers some decent advice after a long time.
I’m putting this out there.
In fact, given the current situation where the final battle is approaching, announcing the existence and purpose of the Messiah would only stir up confusion, and most importantly, that confusion is exactly what the Messiah wants.
In the original work, the governments had deliberately kept his existence a secret due to his nature.
So there’s really no need to do the Messiah any favors.
‘Well, that makes sense.’
All in all, it’s a good thing.
Thinking that way, I released the hug.
Olivia, Rin, Eri.
The three beautiful girls are staring at me.
How long have we known each other, and now I feel shy for no reason.
“Uh, um…”
Facing their gaze feels a bit awkward.
I avoided eye contact and said, “Thank you for taking care of me.”
“Hmph. I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, am your personal maid! Taking care of you is my duty as your maid! There’s no reason for me to receive thanks for doing something so obvious!”
The first to respond was Olivia.
She dramatically placed her hand on her chest and pouted her lips.
“Master! Eri is just really happy that you’re conscious again. Plus, Eri is your slave… so there’s no need to thank me!”
“Hmm. I’m the same. Deok-Sung, I am your future wife, and it’s natural for a wife to care for her husband. There’s absolutely no need to thank me.”
Eri and Rin said almost in unison.
Thinking back, it’s always been like this.
Olivia, Rin, Eri.
Not just the trio of heroines I met early on, but everyone I’ve met at Shuow Academy is inherently kind.
They’re all just the right kind of people to take advantage of.
[Partner. So when are you going to reveal it?]
The Black Prince speaks in my head.
I didn’t ask what exactly he wanted me to reveal.
The Black Prince is talking directly to me.
About this secret I’ve been hiding that I’m from another world, and the feelings of those girls who are pretending not to know.
When will I reveal it?
Despite not being particularly fond of this damned world, I had no intention of ignoring what I’ve done here and the consequences that come with it.
‘I should reveal it tomorrow.’
After all, the final battle is soon.
Whether we win or lose, it’ll all be over in about a month.
If that’s the case, then there’s no need to look away anymore.
It’s time to take responsibility for my actions.
I don’t necessarily have to reveal that I’m a reincarnator…
But I need to let them know everything else and give them a choice.
Whether they want to stay with me or leave my side.
“…”
I closed my mouth.
Olivia, Rin, Eri.
The three of them were looking at me.
“Are you not feeling well? Why does your face look so bad? Did you eat something weird?”
“Deok-Sung, your complexion isn’t good. You didn’t push yourself getting up, did you?”
“Master, are you in pain? Should Eri use her healing hands for you?”
I could see their concerned expressions.
I could hear their voices laced with worry.
I do look pale.
Is that so?
I knew it in my head.
In the original, Yuji was offered a harem ending by the heroines, but Yuji refused.
If I flip those words around, even if I accept all of them, the chance they reject me is almost zero.
Yet, it’s that slim possibility that terrifies me.
What if they don’t accept me? That anxiety was creeping up on me.
This reality I live in is a light novel world, but at the same time, it’s a real world where characters breathe as actual people.
Even if it’s a low probability, the very possibility that such a case could happen might be what I’m truly afraid of.
[Partner.]
The Black Prince calls to me in my mind.
But what’s scary is still scary.
I’ve already braced myself for this long ago.
Saying I would take responsibility for everyone.
There’s no backing down now.
“Olivia, Rin, Eri.”
I called their names.
“Did you call? As expected, I’m the first one! Ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho!”
“Deok-Sung, did you call? Hehe. I don’t mind being the second.”
“Eri-Ring is last, so Master’s last will obviously be Eri-Ring’s place, right?”
Olivia, Rin, and Eri each interpreted my words differently.
Looking at them, I said, “Gather everyone for the winter ski trip at my house tomorrow. I have something to discuss.”
At my words, the three beautiful girls nodded.
As a reincarnator, I enjoyed the pleasures of this life, and now it was time to take responsibility for it.
*
The next morning.
After a few simple tests, I was discharged right away.
No one was by my side when I woke up.
It seemed everyone was waiting at home due to my order to gather all the ski trip members, as I mentioned to Rin, Olivia, and Eri.
Instead of the hospital entrance, I headed to the rooftop.
The hospital rooftop overlooking the city of Seoul.
On the helipad, there was a helicopter with the Taegeukgi drawn on it.
“Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
In front of the helicopter was a stunning woman in a gray bob cut suit.
It was Han Seo-Jin.
“Uh, yeah.”
I nodded in response to her.
“I’ve gathered everyone in the meeting room of your residence as you requested. You just need to arrive now, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Meeting room of the residence.
Wait, a meeting room?
Why would there be such a thing in the residence?
I was a bit taken aback, but since they were gathered, I nodded again.
“Alright. Let’s get going.”
“I’ll escort you.”
“Chung! Sung! I will serve you with all my heart! Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!”
As soon as I finished speaking, Han Seo-Jin bowed her head and the helicopter pilot stood at attention saluting me.
Leaving them behind, I boarded the helicopter.
Tutatatatatatata.
With the harsh mechanical sounds, the helicopter took off.
Below our helicopter cutting through the skies over Seoul, I could see the traffic jams of rush hour and the skyline of soaring skyscrapers.
[Welcome, Hero Kim Deok-Sung.]
[Long live Hero Kim Deok-Sung!]
[We wish for the speedy recovery of our hero, Hero Kim Deok-Sung, of the nation and the people.]
In the sky, various advertisement balloons and airships floated.
Even further, I could spot large banners with the Taegeukgi and my cheering messages hung on building rooftops.
Taegeukgi displayed on buildings is now a basic sight.
The flag of Taeguk is now a basic necessity.
No matter how you look at it, this damn national pride of madness is hard to adjust to.
After a brief moment passed.
“I will be landing now, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
With the pilot’s words, the helicopter lands on the ridiculously vast rooftop helipad of a mansion that seems unreal for being in Seoul.
“From here on, I will guide you.”
Following Han Seo-Jin’s guidance, I headed straight to the main building.
Unlike the separate building made of Hanok, the main building is Western-style.
It was a modern luxury house that resembled the residence of a chaebol chairman you’d see in news or dramas.
During last summer break, I hadn’t entered this building as I used the Hanok separate building.
Today is my first time stepping inside.
As I entered the mansion, lavish and luxurious interior reminiscent of a Hollywood movie unfolded before my eyes.
“This way.”
As I walked through the mansion’s corridor, the staff greeted me.
Receiving their greetings, I finally followed Han Seo-Jin’s guidance into the conference room.
Beeep.
The automatic door to the conference room opened, revealing the interior.
They were sitting in an environment evoking an impression of a corporate headquarters meeting room.
Olivia, Rin, Eri, Makoto, Kasumi, Seira, Aris, Undertaker, Beatrice, Evangelin.
And lastly, the sibling duo, Kurosawa Yuji and Kurosawa Haru.
Except for Mayuzumi Mayu and Ishihara Daiki who are in Japan, nearly everyone with whom I’ve built a deep connection in this world was here.
Beeep, clack.
The automatic door closed.
Everyone’s gaze turned toward me.
Normally, it would have been noisy, but the conference room was strangely quiet.
Thump, thump.
My heart was racing like crazy.
I was nervous.
I was much more anxious than when I met Messiah.
I’ve never felt this way before.
[Partner. Hang in there.]
I heard the Black Prince’s voice in my head.
Now I felt a little more composed.
Yeah, what’s the big deal?
Either way, it was something I had to say eventually.
Now is the perfect timing.
Thinking that, I stood on the podium.
Tap, tap.
As I touched the microphone, noise flowed out.
“It’s been a while, everyone. The reason I gathered you all here is…”
My voice echoed through the conference room via the speaker.
It felt kind of embarrassing.
“Cutting to the chase, let’s get to the point. Now that everything is wrapped up, I’ll reveal it. I’m not some oblivious, useless idiot, so I obviously know how you all feel. But I have no intention of choosing just one.”
My face felt slightly warm, but I had to say what needed to be said.
I mustn’t look away.
I resolved to take responsibility.
I continued to look straight at everyone as I spoke.
“So I’m going to take responsibility for all of you. By any means necessary. Of course, if you dislike my solution, I won’t force you. If you have complaints, speak up and leave now. Right this second.”
The moment I pointed to the door.
A faint smile appeared on Han Seo-Jin’s expressionless face.
A brief smile?
Han Seo-Jin is smiling? Of all times, now?
What on earth is going on?
