#379
Graduation Ceremony
Two years after the end of the final war.
The ruins of the Broken World were sealed again in Tokyo Bay, atop which the newly built Shuo Hero Academy was constructed.
March, the spring with blossoms in full bloom.
Unlike Korea, where the February graduation ceremony is the trend, Japan’s graduation takes place in March.
Yes, today is the day I finally graduate from this tedious light novel world’s academy.
In my sight, blossoms were everywhere.
Parents and juniors attending the graduation ceremony could be seen.
“It’s the Black Beast!”
“Messiah!”
“Our Super Star!”
“Wow! Seeing him up close, he seems a bit charming!”
“I want to be part of the Messiah harem too!”
Extras who spotted me swarmed like clouds.
It was a scene that I wanted to get used to but found hard to adjust to.
It’s been three years since I started living in this damned light novel world, but I just can’t adapt.
Moreover, every time I hear that ridiculous title “Messiah,” I feel like my hands and feet are disappearing.
Please, stop it.
“Partner!”
From a distance, the Black Prince who regained his human form called out to me.
Next to him stood Olivia, also dressed in her uniform, puffing up her cheeks.
The Black Prince.
Raul Napoleon Bonaparte.
The Black Prince boasted about his resurrection as if some grand legend was hidden behind it, but in reality, it wasn’t that impressive.
Two years ago, when Messiah opened the World Gate, items, people, and creatures from the real world and the light novel world traveled back and forth through small gates that opened all over the world. Among those who came to this world was a parallel universe’s Black Prince.
The problem was that the parallel universe’s Black Prince died immediately after the dimensional shift, and coincidentally, the Black Prince of this world resurrected by inheriting the body of that deceased counterpart.
To put it simply, it was a case where I, Kim Deok-Sung, fused my soul with the body of my parallel universe’s self.
According to Ishihara Saori, the Black Prince’s resurrection was a miracle involving incomprehensible odds, but well, it’s light novel clichés, so I accept it.
Anyway, thanks to unintentionally resurrecting by fusing with an ordinary person’s body, the current Black Prince was no longer a superhuman.
“Here, here! Hahahahahaha! Be grateful! This Black Prince has personally prepared a corsage for our partner!”
The Black Prince shook a corsage, a flower decoration to pin to the chest, while looking at me.
In contrast to Korea, where flower bouquets are a tradition, the standard for graduation in Japan is wearing a corsage.
Usually, parents attach it, but since I have no parents, the Black Prince prepared it instead.
“There. Done.”
The Black Prince pinned the corsage to my chest.
He dusted off his hands.
What the hell, why would the Black Prince be pinning that on me?
That’s ridiculous.
“You! What’s with that outfit?! I cannot accept it as your exclusive maid!”
Standing next to me, Olivia turned red and pouted.
Swipe.
Olivia approached and touched my uniform shirt collar and tie with her white hands.
“Okay. Now it’s fine. Just a bit acceptable. Hmph. Anyway… you can’t be without my services, you know! Hohohohoho!”
Olivia covered her mouth with her hands, bursting into a lady-like laugh.
It’s been three years of her insisting on being my exclusive maid; can it please stop?
My face is all flushed now.
At that moment, I heard a familiar voice in my ear.
Turning my head, there she was.
A cute girl in a white gothic lolita outfit with striking ivory braids.
It was the Undertaker, Wilhelmina Heisenberg.
“…Hi. Today… graduation…?”
“Ah, yes…”
“Congratulations…”
At my response, Wilhelmina blushed and clapped lightly.
As I nodded to her congratulations, someone interjected.
“…Hmph. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have come to a place like this, you thief.”
A tall blonde guy wearing sunglasses appeared beside her.
Damian Heisenberg.
He was Wilhelmina’s younger brother, whom she desperately wanted to save, and a great hero who held the number one position in the Five Crowns.
Damian’s resurrection happened exactly one year ago.
After defeating Messiah and getting the Philosopher’s Stone, along with research materials from the League’s headquarters, he was the result of my orders and the cooperation of Saori, a character considered the greatest genius in the world.
I handed over all related research materials from his base, and it turned out that even the results involving Saiori, the greatest genius character in this world, came from collaborating with Wilhelmina under my orders.
Since it’s virtually impossible to resurrect without using the Philosopher’s Stone, it’s practically the same as me being the one resurrecting him. The problem is, Damian Heisenberg is a serious siscon character.
I should’ve known when it explicitly said siscon in the setting book.
Thanks to that, every time we met, it was always like this.
When Damian adjusted his sunglasses and glared at me.
“…Damian, you can’t do that to your benefactor. You jerk.”
*Snicker.*
Wilhelmina puffed her cheeks and gave Damian a slap on the back.
“Ugh! Sorry, sis! Grr… Just you wait, how dare you steal my sister’s heart… I won’t forgive you! Kim whatever!”
Damian shook his fist with golden aura sparkling from behind his sunglasses.
Seeing that, Wilhelmina’s face turned red in embarrassment.
She lowered her head.
“Sorry… little brother… immature…”
Although Damian is younger in terms of age and Wilhelmina is older, judging by their looks, it’s a combination where the muscular handsome Damian looks like the older brother and the 15-year-old small-framed Wilhelmina looks like the younger sister. It’s a bit ridiculous hearing her say that.
“It’s fine.”
I waved my hand.
A siscon character acting like this isn’t something new; I’m already enlightened.
Hearing my words, Wilhelmina chuckled softly.
This was a scene we couldn’t have seen in the original where Damian gave up on resurrection.
Would Wilhelmina, who chose Damian’s ascension in the original, have been as happy as she is now?
Probably not.
Indeed, people must do what they want to.
At that moment, I heard a voice.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, the graduation ceremony will begin soon. Please enter.”
“I will guide you. Lady, Young Master, Master’s Master.”
*Flash.*
With a gray flash, Han Seo-Jin appeared.
Following her, Bella emerged from the shadows.
In front of me was the entrance to the Grand Auditorium adorned with a graduation congratulatory banner.
“Well then, partner. Enjoy the graduation ceremony.”
“…We’ll be… right behind you…”
“Humph.”
With Bella and Han Seo-Jin leading the way, I headed towards the entrance of the auditorium with Olivia.
Behind me, I could hear Damian, Wilhelmina, and the Black Prince’s voices bidding me farewell.
[The graduates are entering. Please welcome them with applause.]
As I entered the auditorium, the sound of first and second-year students rising from their seats and applauding filled my ears along with the emcee’s voice.
*Clap clap clap clap clap.*
With thunderous applause, I took my seat as a prepared third-year graduate alongside Olivia.
[First, we will hear from the Chairman.]
With the emcee’s announcement, Chairman Yoshizaki Seira appeared with a box of oranges.
A box of oranges?
No way, right?
Seira placed the box of oranges in front of the podium and used it as a stepping stool.
Standing at just the right height for the microphone, Seira spoke.
“Greetings. I am the Chairman of Shuo Hero Academy, the White Empress Yoshizaki Seira.”
With a serious expression, Seira scanned the audience with her crimson gaze.
“Today marks the graduation ceremony of the third-year students. It feels like just yesterday was the entrance ceremony, yet here we are at graduation. Time truly flies….”
Seira’s opening remarks dragged on painfully.
Talking about becoming excellent heroes in society and other things that are nice to hear but completely unimportant, I was zoning out when suddenly.
“…Good. This is where my opening remarks end. Now it’s time for the student representative to give the graduation address. Student representative… my beloved future son-in-law, little Kim Deok-Sung. Come forward.”
Seira blushed as she smiled bashfully while looking this way.
What? Little Kim Deok-Sung?
Future son-in-law?
This is absurd.
“Eeeeeek!”
“Black Beast!”
“Our savior!”
“You’re the best! Savior!”
As soon as Seira finished speaking, the solemn graduation hall erupted into cheers and applause like a concert.
There were people whistling too.
Is this really a graduation ceremony?
I already knew I had been designated as the student representative, but I never expected to be called out like this.
Letting out a sigh, I stood up and walked onto the stage.
Once on stage, I saw Seira standing on the box of oranges looking down at me.
She locked eyes with me and flashed a lethal smile.
Ignoring Seira’s grin, I began reading aloud the farewell speech I had memorized yesterday.
“Hello. I am Kim Deok-Sung, a third-year student of Shuo Hero Academy and the student representative… your savior.”
Why must I state this embarrassing title directly?
As I barely restrained my awkwardness, I continued with my lengthy introduction.
“I take this opportunity to express my gratitude on behalf of all the graduates to the teachers who participated in this graduation ceremony, distinguished guests, and fellow students. Over the past three years….”
When I thought of the last three years, memories of everything that happened at the academy flooded back.
I defeated the Messiah, and after witnessing the end of the original story, it was as if all the villain attacks and accidents during academy events had completely vanished.
The incidents during external activities or events of the academy have all disappeared.
Peace has come to the world after the epilogue, as if by magic.
Thanks to that, I was able to lead a rich school life over the past two years.
It wasn’t your typical school life; it was one that seemed like it belonged in a youthful love comedy light novel, which was a bit of a problem, but hey, it was alright in its own way.
Better than all the fighting and bickering.
So finally, after spending my second and third years, today has arrived.
Graduation.
The end.
The event that traditionally marks the conclusion of most Japanese school stories had finally come.
But unlike a light novel or school tale, my life will continue on even after graduation.
There are still things left unfinished.
“······This is the end. I’m Savior Kim Deok-Sung, the representative of the graduates.”
As my farewell speech ended, the deafening applause rang in my ears.
“Congratulations on your graduation, dear husband♡”
A peck.
Seira handed me the diploma tube and graduation cap and then lightly kissed my lips.
A sudden kiss?
What a surprise.
My face felt hot.
“Woooooah! Are you already bragging about your harem?!”
“How could you steal the heart of the cute president······? That’s too cruel······.”
“But if it’s the Savior’s harem, I guess there’s nothing one can do about it.”
“Right? I heard there are lots of beautiful girls across the nation trying to enter the Savior’s harem!”
“I want to kiss too!”
I could hear the voices of extras whispering in my ear.
Why are they acting like that in an official setting?
“Fufu.”
As Seira finished the kiss, she grinned wickedly.
I clicked my tongue and rubbed my lips as I stepped down from the stage.
[Next will be the awarding of diplomas······.]
After that, the graduation ceremony proceeded normally according to the agenda.
Awarding of diplomas, speeches from alumni and dignitaries, awarding of graduation certificates, etc.
Finally, after the lengthy event ended, as I stood up holding the diploma tube…
“Master! Master! Let’s take a graduation photo! Let’s take one!”
I heard a familiar voice from afar.
It was Eri.
She looked at me with her orange eyes, holding a diploma tube in one hand and a DSLR camera in the other.
“Today, I agree with the words of the washboard (literally—washboard, meaning thin and fit person). Graduation ceremony needs a graduation photo.”
“Nishishishi. Deok-Sung Oppa. Haru will definitely take one with you, right?”
“I want to······. I want to take a graduation photo with my lord!”
“Hmph······. Of course, the seat next to you is reserved for your loyal maid Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, right?”
As soon as Eri finished her sentence, the heroines who just graduated with me came up to me.
Eri, Rin, Haru, Olivia, and Makoto all turned their gazes toward me.
“Wow, looks like you’re pretty popular with the ladies!”
“Tch.”
“Kim is always a popular guy.”
“I’m jealous. Bro.”
Watching me, the Black Prince rubbed his nose, Damian clicked his tongue, and Yuji chimed in while Ishihara spoke in an envious tone.
“······I also······ want a photo······.”
“Kim Deok-Sung. You haven’t forgotten about me, have you? I came here on leave just for your graduation ceremony.”
“Bad junior, I also······ came with President and Rena······.”
“And me! As your mentor, I’m taking a graduation photo too!”
“Hem hem. It wouldn’t do for this body, the chairman, to miss out on our little graduate’s photo.”
“Master’s master. May I also take a photo with you if it’s alright?”
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung! I want to take a photo with Seo-Jin too!”
“Deok-Sung-chan! Me too! I’m going to take a graduation photo with Deok-Sung-chan!”
“Oh my. Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. You aren’t planning on leaving out the girls, are you?”
“Lady Yeoui. I will make sure to give the Holy Maiden of Red Lotus a chance to be captured in this shot.”
“······.”
And that wasn’t all.
Aris, now an active hero, along with Senior Kasumi, and even Mayuzumi-sensei, who was my homeroom teacher during my third year, Seira, Wilhelmina, Bella, Yoo Se-Ra, Han Seo-Jin, and even Evangelin and Beatrice who flew over on a royal jet from the UK, plus Ishihara Saori and Rena, who is Kasumi’s friend.
All the connections I had made up until now were coming to me.
Just when I thought it would pass by peacefully, I was right about this.
“Alright, let’s take a photo. Click!”
Pressing my throbbing temples, I took all the heroines and other members outside.
We ended up at the school’s lawn where the cherry blossoms were blooming brightly.
“Then, I will take the photo. Setting up the DSLR timer now.”
Han Seo-Jin quickly joined the line after setting up the DSLR on the tripod.
Click.
As the DSLR timer started, the photos were taken.
After taking a few pictures, I was finally freed from the commemorative photo.
The heroines spread out a mat under the cherry blossoms and started chatting happily.
As I watched that scene, Olivia approached me and asked.
“So, what are your plans after graduation?”
“Well······.”
I trailed off at Olivia’s question.
After taking the graduation photo, it finally felt like I had truly graduated.
Originally, my last graduation ceremony was the one I had in my previous life at university… but I was way too busy with job hunting to attend the graduation event.
I didn’t even get to take my graduation album photo.
So my true last graduation ceremony was, almost ten years ago, at my high school graduation.
It was a ceremony that felt the same yet different from today.
We took funny photos for the graduation album with friends, received bouquets from our parents, and took commemorative pictures in the schoolyard just like now.
In the end…
“…Since I graduated, I should at least eat some Jajangmyeon. Let’s order some Sweet and Sour Pork too.”
I had Jajangmyeon.
Jajangmyeon and Sweet and Sour Pork that my mom and dad bought for me, saying you must eat it on graduation day.
Back then, my mom wasn’t sick.
Back then, my dad’s face had no shadows.
Back then, life was just great. I’d finally escaped the tedious routines of high school and exams, finding freedom.
I was excited about the college life that awaited me.
I thought about how I would get a girlfriend, go on MT (membership training), and get close with seniors and juniors.
Yeah.
That was how it was.
The Jajangmyeon I had back then was the best.
“Jajangmyeon… that’s right. I’ve heard that in Korea, there’s a culture of eating Jajangmyeon on graduation day!”
When Olivia clapped her hands at that moment.
“If it’s Jajangmyeon, I’ve rented a nearby restaurant, invited a chef from a Korean hotel’s Chinese restaurant, and prepared a full-course Chinese meal. Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Zap.
Han Seo-Jin appeared before me in a flash of gray.
Already?
I always feel this way, but Han Seo-Jin is overprepared to a fault.
“…Are we all going together?”
At her words, I nodded and looked up at the sky.
Soon.
Just like back then, a day is definitely coming when I can eat Jajangmyeon with my parents, worry-free.
Because the world-supported bi-directional gate development project, with Wilhelmina, Beatrice, and Saori participating, has finally entered the concrete planning stage.
March.
The sky on graduation day, with cherry blossoms fluttering around, was clear with not a cloud in sight.
Just like three years ago when I first arrived at Shuo Hero Academy after my reincarnation──
It was that kind of sky with cherry blossoms.
As I was thinking like that.
“Wait a moment. Master! The button! The button! Give your second button to Eri!”
Suddenly.
Eri’s pretty face popped up right in front of me.
She looked at me and said.
Button?
Could it be, the cliché where you give your second button to your crush on graduation day, confirming your feelings like in Japanese manga?
“The washboard? What gives you the right to take Deok-Sung’s button? That button obviously belongs to me, the future perfect wife.”
“Junior. Bad boy Junior. You will give me that button… right?”
“…Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. You’re not thinking of giving it to other girls, are you?”
“Teacher too! Teacher wants a button!”
“Hmph. Little one. The button is naturally mine.”
“Ha-wah-wah-wah… I want Master Kim Deok-Sung’s button…”
“Hmph. I have no interest in human culture… but if it’s the button of my partner… I have no choice. This crimson lotus saint shall take it.”
“Master, I also want your button…”
“Button…”
“Deok-Sung-chan! Button!”
“Hmph. Your second button is obviously the possession of your exclusive maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, right?”
The voices of the heroines filled my ears.
Their gazes were fixed on me.
I only have one button, so what is this…
Just then, I was flustered.
“Nishishishi. Aren’t you all foolish? Of course, Deok-Sung oppa’s button naturally belongs to my recently graduated, super cute gal little sister Haru! Aha!”
Haru burst onto the scene with her signature giggle and tackled me head-on.
Thud.
In the sudden ambush, I ended up falling back, tumbling onto the grass with Haru.
My head was aching from the sudden impact.
“Nishishishi.”
As Haru laughed while tracing her fingertip down my chest, she tapped the button.
“Wait! That’s cheating! I want one too!”
“Who decided it’s their button to claim! As the exclusive maid, I…”
I could hear the voices of other heroines.
Thud.
Then, they dove onto Haru and me, obscuring the blue sky with their bodies.
Olivia, Rin, Eri, Aris, Senior Kasumi, Makoto, Haru, Seira, Mayuzumi-sensei, Wilhelmina, Ishihara Saori, Yoo Se-Ra, Bella, Evangelin, Beatrice.
Rumble, rumble.
They squirmed above me, trying to grab my second button.
I can’t breathe.
“Haha. Partner. This is youth, pure youth!”
“…Deok-Sung’s always struggling, huh? Hang in there.”
I faintly heard the encouragement—or was it teasing—from the Black Prince and Yuji in the distance.
A faint scent of cherry blossoms wafted at the tip of my nose.
This chaotic scene with the heroines, familiar yet still hard to adjust to.
Yeah.
This is the wretched light novel world I know.
A smile formed on my lips.
Today, I graduated from high school for the second time.
