#373
Awaken, hero!
Seira blushed and smiled.
[Little one. Since that day ten years ago, I have been living like a machine, without the meaning of life… Until you showed up, that is.]
Swish.
Seira unfolded her fan.
She spoke.
[From the moment you appeared and we talked, perhaps I have fallen for you. Little one… You were my one and only salvation. The very reason for my existence. That remains true now and will for all eternity. I believe it. Little one, no, you will rise.]
Seira waved her fan gently.
[So I will wait here. My beloved little one. Hehe.]
Her words ended, and the next person appeared…
[Hello! Kim-kun! It’s Mayuzumi Mayu!]
The striking pink-haired busty beauty, Mayuzumi-sensei.
[Even though I sometimes might fail as a teacher, I still am your teacher! Until the end, I’ll protect and believe in you, Kim-kun! Because I… am your teacher who loves you! So cheer up! Yap!]
Mayuzumi-sensei smiled and struck a fighting pose.
As her overly cheerful greeting ended, a girl with ivory hair appeared right beside her.
The Undertaker, Wilhelmina Heisenberg.
[…Hello, Kim Deok-Sung.]
Wilhelmina, holding a worn teddy bear, blushed and buried her chin in it.
[…I, I’m not good with words… can’t say it well… But…]
Wilhelmina placed her hand over her heart.
[…Whenever I see you… it hurts here… My heart races… I don’t know why… And you made a promise… didn’t you?]
Wilhelmina’s golden eyes looked toward him.
[You said you would help… resurrect my brother… So please keep your promise… You idiot…]
Wilhelmina blushed and looked down.
As her words ended, someone else appeared.
A beauty with gray bobbed hair in a black suit.
[Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.]
It was Han Seo-Jin.
She immediately bowed politely as she greeted him.
[Mr. Kim Deok-Sung is the one I dedicate everything to and my idol. During the time I serve you, my loyalty has never wavered even once. That remains the same today. Whatever your true identity or who you are… that is not a topic for someone like me to presume to think about. You are already the great hero who has saved me, and South Korea.]
Han Seo-Jin spoke with a blank expression.
A fiery madness flickered in her eyes.
A sense of maddening madness settled in.
[So, I firmly believe that Mr. Kim Deok-Sung will rise to save everyone, and the world, without a doubt. I hope you can continue without being swayed by the manipulatives of the Messiah. My dear Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.]
As Han Seo-Jin finished speaking, a beauty in an idol outfit appeared beside her.
It was Yoo Se-Ra.
[Oh, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! Long time no see. Have you been well? Haha.]
Yoo Se-Ra blushed.
Her beige hair swayed in the air.
[Ahem. I guess Seo-Jin already said all the cheesy stuff, right? So I’ll keep it simple. I’m just a powerless, ordinary person, but I still want to cheer you on! Because I like you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung… I love you! So… please wake up!]
Just as Yoo Se-Ra closed her eyes and shouted…
A brown-haired, bobbed maid appeared beside her.
[Master’s Master. It’s been a while. I am Bella.]
It was Bella, Olivia’s personal maid, who had now joined my harem.
[The young lady must have insisted on being by your side as her dedicated maid, no? I share the same opinion as the young lady. My body and heart already belong to Master’s Master. I, Bella, will serve Master’s Master together with the young lady. For life.]
At the moment Bella politely lifted her maid dress to greet…
A red-haired, bespectacled beauty appeared beside Bella.
Ishihara Saori.
She was Ishihara Daiki’s little sister.
[Deok-Sung-chan! Long time no see. Saying this makes me a bit shy. Hehe. Deok-Sung-chan, you know I’m your biggest fan, right? But to think Deok-Sung-chan was a reincarnator who knew the future in another world! That’s such an awesome setup! Even more amazing! I’ve fallen for Deok-Sung-chan again! Kya! Oh, I definitely need to join Deok-Sung-chan’s harem!]
Saori blushed as she waved her loose, white gown sleeves.
What? She wants to join my harem?
This world really is out of its mind, just like a light novel.
[Deok-Sung-chan! I believe that my favorite Deok-Sung-chan won’t succumb to such trials! You can do it! Hehe. If you want to add Saori as an additional heroine, you better wake up right now! I’ll be waiting! Kya! I just said that! Saori is so embarrassed.]
Saori blushed.
Just as I thought, “How awkward,” at that moment…
[Brother! It’s me, Ishihara. If you’re the brother I know, you won’t collapse here. Hehe. How could the brother who corrected my troublemaker habits that even our father couldn’t fix just faint here? It’s absurd! Brother! Hurry and get up!]
Next to Saori appeared her brother, Ishihara Daiki.
He was shaking his fist.
[Mr. Kim. It’s me, the Association President. A harem plan? To dare take my daughter, Rin, as a wife with other women, to change her surname… How infuriating! But… if the savior of the world is going to do so, there’s nothing I can do about it. Hahahaha.]
Beside Daiki appeared a middle-aged man with green hair.
It was Shinozaki Ichiro.
He awkwardly smiled.
[… Thanks to you, I’ve gained a daughter, a real family. I still appreciate that, but now is not the time for idle chatter; it’s time to get up. The Son of the Sword Master, Kurosawa, and all the heroes in Tokyo, the citizens of Tokyo, and the people of Japan are waiting for you to rise. Hurry up.]
Just as Shinozaki Ichiro finished speaking, another man appeared.
[Long time no see, Kim Deok-Sung, Professor, or should I say Jude? I never thought I would stand against the League in the Final War.]
It was the Professor.
He awkwardly smiled.
He laughed brightly.
[You are the one who awakened me from the wrong path. You fulfilled my master’s wish for happiness, a wish I was unable to achieve. I cannot stand by and watch you struggle against someone like the Messiah. You must rise again. I will not be able to bear seeing my master sad because of your death.]
He spoke while laughing.
What a way to become unhappy again.
According to his words, that couldn’t happen.
As soon as the Professor finished speaking, Kamiya Ritsuko appeared.
[Hmph! Kim Deok-Sung, it’s me, Ritsuko. I don’t have much to add between us, but please take care of Makoto. I feel a bit ashamed saying this, but I genuinely hope you get back up, for our Makoto’s sake.]
As Ritsuko fell silent, a black-haired beautiful girl appeared next to her.
It was Kusunagi, the final victor heroine of the original story.
[…You heard what the Master said, right? Kusunagi doesn’t have strong feelings about you anymore, but… If the person in charge goes away, it’ll be troublesome for Kusunagi too. I don’t want to admit it, but you’ve captured Miss Haru’s heart… I don’t know. Just get up already.]
Kusunagi finished her words, glaring this way.
Kusunagi too?
Just then, a familiar middle-aged man in a suit appeared next to Kusunagi.
[Kim Deok-Sung. This is President Kang Myung-Hyun. Thanks to you, our South Korea has risen from a nation of heroes to a strong nation. The 50 million citizens of South Korea have regained pride in our country because of you. The national security of South Korea has also been resolved thanks to you. You are South Korea. You are the idol of 50 million citizens of South Korea and a true hero. So please rise.]
It was President Kang Myung-Hyun.
He spoke.
[50 million citizens of South Korea stand behind you.]
As soon as the President’s words ended, one, two, three… countless people started to appear behind him.
[Kim Deok-Sung! Get up!]
[The opponent is the Messiah, the leader of the terrorists aiming to destroy the world! Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! You must not lose!]
[Get up! Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! Stand up quickly!]
They were the citizens of South Korea.
The cheers of 50 million citizens filled the infinite black space, sparkling like stars.
But that wasn’t all.
[Get up! Black Beast!]
[If not you, then who can do it?]
[We aren’t just extras!]
[We believed in you, Black Beast!]
[Hey now, Black Beast! You’re the pride of our Shuo Hero Academy!]
[Defeat them all!]
Flash! Flash!
Behind the citizens of South Korea, other apparitions began to appear.
The extras who usually whispered useless rumors around, students of Shuo Hero Academy surrounded me and threw supportive messages.
[We don’t care who you are! You are already our savior!]
[World savior! Please save this world!]
[Blow the Messiah away!]
[Help Kim Deok-Sung!]
[Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! Get up!]
[This world needs you! Black Beast!]
[No one thinks you’re a deceiver! Don’t listen to the Messiah, just get up!]
After that, even more apparitions sparkled and appeared.
Japanese, Chinese, English, Arabic, Russian, Spanish…
Messages of support came in various languages.
It was the world’s people.
Beyond the citizens of South Korea and the extras of Shuo Hero Academy, the apparitions of 7.7 billion people filled the black space like stars.
Among them were Aris’ mother, father, grandmother, siblings, Olivia’s parents the French Emperor and Empress, Evangelin’s father the King of England and his wife, Student Council Vice President Morishita Miho and Secretary Nagamine Reiji, newspaper club member Amano Nodoka, and the reckless brothers of the Shinozaki family, Taro and Jiro, as well as Vice President Nakayama Sojiro and the Professor, a subordinate of the saint, including Satou Rena, Hoshino Kasumi’s friend, and everyone else I had met until now.
Even the King and Queen of England, who are Evangelin’s parents, along with Morishita Miho, the Student Council Vice President, and Nagamine Reiji, the Secretary, as well as Amano Nodoka from the newspaper club, and the troublemaker brothers Taro and Jiro from the Shinozaki family, the Vice President Nakayama Sojiro, and the Professor who was once a subordinate of the Saint, including Kasumi’s friend Satou Rena, were all gathered together.
Hundreds of billions of different cheer messages rained down on me.
Seventy-seven billion different starlights shone brightly upon me.
Yes, it was the universe.
At that moment, I turned my guess into certainty.
This place wasn’t the afterlife or a crossroads between life and death.
This was…
“My world of imagination.”
And there was only one person in this world who possessed the ability to connect humanity’s will in such a way.
Kurosawa Yuji.
There was no doubt he had awakened his ability of visualization.
“That’s right, partner.”
Clap, clap, clap.
As soon as my muttering ended, applause erupted.
Alongside it, someone appeared in the cosmic space where the will of 7.7 billion people shone like stars.
A typical handsome man reminiscent of a Hollywood actor, with black hair and black eyes.
The Black Prince, Raul Napoleon Bonaparte.
He finished applauding and looked at me, speaking.
“Partner. Did you just hear the crowd cheering? Nobody in this world hates you. Everyone here is cheering for you. I feel the same. It doesn’t matter who you are. So…”
The Black Prince said.
“Let’s go back now. To reality. This world needs a partner.”
He extended his hand.
Hearing his words, I bit my lip.
My hand trembled.
“…To receive blind trust from 7.7 billion people despite the significant secret of being a reincarnator being exposed.”
I clicked my tongue.
It was ridiculous.
I thought there would be backlash.
There was nothing wrong with Messiah’s words.
I was a reincarnator.
This meant that, whether I intended to or not, I had robbed Kim Deok-Sung of his life and destiny, seized the affections of the heroines that were supposed to be directed at Kurosawa Yuji, and that I had arbitrarily determined the future of this world as an outsider.
Yet these damned light novel heroines, these characters…
This annoyingly kind light novel world didn’t bat an eye even knowing such critical facts.
Unexpectedly, not a single one of them was left out; they all infinitely trusted me.
“Really a bunch of foolish sweet potatoes. Hey, Black Prince.”
“What is it, partner?”
The Black Prince responded to my call.
I looked at him and said.
“I really dislike this damned light novel world to the point of wanting to curse.”
Saying this, I laughed.
It was the first bright laugh I had since being reincarnated into this world.
The Black Prince, looking at me, smiled back.
Grabbing his hand, I whispered.
“…Seriously, if Kurosawa Yuji awakened the visualization, he ought to take care of Messiah himself like a proper protagonist; why does he keep dumping it on me until the end? Protagonists are such a drag to raise. They can’t even enjoy the sweetness. Ugh.”
Laughter continued to burst out.
Truly, pure laughter.
The Black Prince also laughed at me.
After laughing for a while, I caught my breath, holding the Black Prince’s hand and said.
“Hey, Black Prince. Get ready. We’re going back.”
“Okay. Partner. Just leave it to this Black Prince!”
The Black Prince replied with a smile.
As he did, the cosmic space that surrounded us quickly began to collapse.
Now, it was time to return to reality.
