“Delicious. Red bean porridge.”
“Hmph! I didn’t really expect any thanks or anything!”
“I’m leaving.”
“Go ahead, do whatever you want!”
Olivia stumbles over her words as she awkwardly sees me off.
Leaving her behind, I walk through the night campus back to the dormitory.
Oh, right.
I almost forgot to check the ‘K-nationalism’ YouTube.
I had quite a performance at Inokashira Park, so there must be tons of ‘K-nationalism’ videos uploaded.
Gotta check if the money copiers are working well.
I connect to the internet.
That’ll do just fine.
Taking a deep breath, I open the YouTube app.
Colorful thumbnails grab my attention.
[Japan! Continued humiliation! Without K-hero Kim Deok-Sung, Japan’s hero nation security is at risk? Why did the President of the Japan Hero Association kneel and cry while grabbing K-hero Kim Deok-Sung’s pant leg to request humiliating support? The hero achievements Japan has been proud of were actually empty? A spotlight on Japan’s shocking reality where they can’t even handle a single villain!]
[(Overseas Reactions) Watch stunned reactions from Japanese people after seeing K-hero Kim Deok-Sung’s great performance in the Inokashira Park Terror Defense! A collection of Japanese people shedding tears of emotion after seeing Kim Deok-Sung. “He’s way better than our heroes. Kim Deok-Sung is the best. I envy Korea for having him.”]
[K-hero Kim Deok-Sung! Teaching Japan what a ‘hero’ really is! Japan is turned upside down by Kim Deok-Sung’s tough education! Even the Japan Hero Association secretly envies K-hero Kim Deok-Sung’s remarkable achievements in Inokashira Park Terror Defense! An anonymous Japan Hero Association official confessed, “I want to learn everything from Kim Deok-Sung. He is our master.” Shock confession!]
‘This is insane.’
These ‘K-nationalism’ YouTube thumbnails are evolving every time I see them.
And today, there are even overseas reactions.
Wait, why show that to the Japanese people?
Also, true, Shinozaki Ichiro is keen on making me his son-in-law, but he didn’t kneel before me.
I wish he would, though.
Every time I see Rin acting all weird because of that shady guy, it makes my blood boil from my sleep.
I still remember the horrifyingly sour taste of the pickled plum lunchbox Rin made.
[Views: 4,556,555 times]
But every time I refresh and see the astronomically rising views, my disgust fades in an instant.
These views are all my money.
Since that duel with Rin, the YouTube royalties deposited into my personal account have been in the hundred million range.
Financial therapy really is the best.
I close YouTube.
This time, I check the Academy channel.
Now that I’m on the watch list of the New World League, I need to find out how my position in the academy is.
[(Breaking News) Shuo Academy student shines in Inokashira Park Terror! Defeating villains under the command of Kim Deok-Sung!]
[Kim Deok-Sung’s command? He didn’t do anything though, www]
[>> Right? I heard he just gave commands, www]
[>> Why is Kim Deok-Sung’s name in the article? Σ(O_O)]
[>> Just a simple bait, ww]
[I heard the Platinum Knight Princess and the Samurai of the Cold Wind did all the work though.]
[>> The Knight Princess did it all! （・∀・）v]
[>> What about the Samurai of the Cold Wind?]
[>> Hey there, two fans ww stop fighting ww]
There are two fans over there, haha, stop fighting, haha!
[Anyway, Kim Deok-Sung did nothing, haha.]
[Nishizawa-chan is beautiful. (*≧∀≦*) Eunha rank beautiful girls are the best! (*´∀`*)(*´∀`*)]
[So you like Nishizawa? What a masochist, haha.]
I skim through the comments on the article posted by Amano Nodoka from the newspaper club.
Completely contrasting reactions to the nationalistic YouTube channels.
The responses were varied, but generally, they tended to undervalue me while overvaluing the other cadets.
“Good.”
I’m satisfied.
I hope they keep underestimating me.
I need to stand out eventually, but if I draw too much attention, the New World League might start keeping an eye on me.
I absolutely hate fighting those crazy people without any preparation.
I turn off the academy channel.
Take a deep breath.
What’s left is the domestic portal reactions, but do I really have to check?
Since my biggest sponsor is Korean, I should check the reactions, but I really don’t want to.
“Ugh…”
I shut my eyes and log into the domestic portal.
I open my eyes.
[South Korean hero candidate Kim Deok-Sung! Saving Japan! Highlighting his great achievements during the Inokashira Park terror attack!]
[President Kang: “The Republic of Korea is grateful for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s achievements… His actions have advanced Korea-Japan relations and elevated Korea’s status on the international stage…”]
[Anonymous source from the Japan Hero Association: “Kim Deok-Sung’s role was crucial in this terror attack.”]
[Number one man you want to marry this year: Kim Deok-Sung… How far will the Kim Deok-Sung craze go in Korea?]
[Hallyu idol Yoo Se-Ra’s shocking confession: “My ideal type is a man like Kim Deok-Sung… I find him charming as he struggles in Japan.”]
[Is Kim Deok-Sung’s form insane, haha? This is K-hero, haha!]
[Light Deok-Sung, King Deok-Sung, God Deok-Sung]
[King God Emperor Deok-Sung… I’m sorry for doubting you once… I will repent…]
[I’m not a Japan fan, just neutral, but honestly, Kim Deok-Sung did nothing, just commanded, right? Korean media should stop boosting and read some objective Japanese articles. Facts (link)]
[Recommended 0] [Disapproved -2342352]
[- wls]
[- Beer tax]
[- I’m not XX = I am XX]
[- Proud hero nation Japan leaves leadership to a Korean cadet, what class, haha.]
[- Nope, an official from the Japanese Hero Association directly said they couldn’t do it without Kim Deok-Sung, haha.]
[- Hi, likable member Asuka, haha ^^]
[- Japan fans keep creeping out like cockroaches, haha. Get lost back to your country, haha.]
I feel dizzy.
My face is burning.
It’s a different kind of dizziness than the cringe-worthy reactions and dialogues from a light novel world.
And really? Number one man you want to marry? This is a bit much, don’t you think?
Just when I couldn’t take it anymore and was about to close the portal.
Bzzz.
My phone vibrates.
[Mr. Kim! It’s Mayuzumi-sensei! Sorry for the late message. (╥﹏╥)(╥﹏╥)]
A message from Mayuzumi-sensei.
[What’s going on?]
I type back.
The read receipt appears with an ellipsis.
[The chairman was quite impressed with your recent achievements! He called you to the Chairman’s Room to award a commendation! After school, I’ll guide you to the chairman’s room! (°▽°)/]
The reply is unbelievable.
The chairman?
Yoshizaki Seira?
There’s no way she would want to see me just for a commendation.
The only possibility is…
‘Is it because of Ichiro?’
Shinozaki Ichiro.
That guy who has been showing an unnecessary amount of interest in me lately must have triggered this.
A sigh escapes me.
There’s no reason to refuse the chairman’s call.
Since it’s come to this, I might as well get everything I can.
[Got it.]
[Great! So don’t forget your appointment with me tomorrow! Sleep well, Mr. Kim! (∪｡∪)｡｡｡zzz]
I check the reply and turn off my phone screen.
It’s about time to actually go to bed.
*
The next day.
After all classes finish.
I arrive in front of the Chairman’s Room, following Mayuzumi-sensei’s guidance.
Following Teacher Mayuzumi’s guidance, I arrived at the Chairman’s Room.
“From here on, you have to go alone, Kim. You can’t be rude to the Chairman, understand?”
“Yes, yes.”
I casually brushed off Teacher Mayuzumi’s advice and opened the heavy door in front of me.
Creeeak.
As I opened the door, the scene in the Chairman’s Room came into view.
A floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the schoolyard, a neatly organized bookshelf filled with books.
An office so spacious it felt empty, complete with an office chair and a guest reception table.
And there, sitting on a plush, luxurious sofa, was a beautiful girl with white hair wearing a gothic dress, looking like she was 15 years old—Yoshizaki Seira.
“Welcome. So, you must be the famous Korean student, Kim Deok-Sung.”
Yoshizaki Seira smiled seductively as she sipped her matcha.
Her character setting popped into my mind.
Though she looks 15 years old, she’s actually over 60 years old.
I just accepted it when I saw it in light novels or anime, but experiencing this setting in reality is downright bizarre.
If the whole “ask for a hug and boast about bust size” vibe felt off, then what do I even call this?
It’s like a ridiculously unrealistic being is right in front of me, leaving me speechless and my sense of humor soaring to the heavens.
I thought I was getting used to this world yesterday, and I thought I was well-prepared.
What a delusion.
There’s a reason for the phrase “three days of determination.”
Unbelievable. Is that really 60 years old?
“Sit down.”
The sight of a 15-year-old girl speaking like a grandmother transcended bizarre and reached the point of surreal.
In a daze, I took a seat in the spot she indicated.
“If you’d like some matcha, would you care for it?”
“N-no… uh, it’s okay.”
I almost slipped into casual speech.
Sixty years old, you say.
I’m going crazy!
“Tsk tsk, today’s youngsters. Always looking for sweets, what a problem.”
Yoshizaki Seira clicked her tongue like a grandmother.
I guess I’ve been underestimating this world too much.
I clenched my fist. I needed to pull myself together.
“Why did you call me here? Surely it’s not just to give me an award certificate?”
Yoshizaki Seira’s eyes narrowed.
A smile crept onto her lips.
Oh please, just don’t act all mysterious.
It doesn’t suit you.
“Oh? Have you realized that the award ceremony isn’t my true intention? As expected of Ichiro’s chosen talent.”
As anticipated, the mastermind was Ichiro.
I genuinely felt like I was kneeling down like a thumbnail from a national pride YouTube video.
“Your performance during the recent terror attack was impressive. It seems people are underestimating you, but not me. Without your leadership, I would have lost precious students like children to villains…”
Swish.
Yoshizaki Seira handed me a stiff piece of paper.
It was an award certificate for outstanding students, stamped with the seal of the President of the Japan Hero Association and the Chairman of Shuo Hero Academy.
Inside the accompanying envelope, there was a check for five million yen.
Looks like a reward.
I’m really happy to have received some easy money.
I tucked the award certificate and the check envelope away.
“I feel this award and prize money alone are insufficient personally. Is there anything else you desire? If it’s within my power, I will grant it.”
Finally, the main topic was upon us.
Granting wishes.
Considering Yoshizaki Seira’s personality, this would surely be a test for me.
After all, she’s the Chairman of the academy and is planning revenge against the New World League, who killed her colleagues from Five Crowns.
It wouldn’t hurt to make a good impression.
I repeated the request I had prepared yesterday.
“I would like for the Student Council President to be assigned as a field supervisor for the upcoming model gate practice.”
“Are you referring to Saionji?”
“Yes. For the safety of the students in case of unforeseen circumstances, and to have the academy’s strongest…er, the Student Council President supervising, I believe the juniors will have much to learn.”
Oh, the day I would end up saying the cringeworthy word “strongest” would come!
I barely managed to keep my hands from shaking.
The setting of the Student Council President popped into my head reflexively.
Saionji Aris.
The title heroine from volume seven of the original work.
With the moniker Silver Queen, which screamed light novel vibes, she is a superpower that claimed the runner-up spot in last year’s Great Game.
She’s a powerhouse who came in second place in last year’s Great Game.
“She’s perfect for the mock gate practice episode preparation.”
With the cherry blossom festival over, what’s left is the finale episode of volume 1: the mock gate practice.
As typical for battle academy light novels, first-year students get stuck inside the mock gate due to some sort of accident, and to make matters worse, a real interdimensional creature shows up, causing chaos.
Naturally, the culprit behind the accident is set to be the New World League.
But unlike the original story, having taken out Vulture, no one knows how the New World League will play into this.
They could summon an even stronger interdimensional being, a villain could pop up, or nothing might happen at all.
At this point, I’m light-years away from the original plot, and if an interdimensional being or villain shows up that the first-years can’t handle, my life ends right there.
“I can’t die so pathetically without even making a return.”
That’s why I’ve got the Student Council President as my insurance.
In the original work, her skills were so strong that even the protagonist, Yuji, struggled before his true power was unleashed.
No matter what comes, she’ll handle it all.
“Oh. So you’ll be supervising the scene, Saionji-san… It’s nothing much, but interesting. It’s been a while since I’ve made a personal offer. Are you not going to ask for anything for yourself?”
This is meant for me.
Such a delusion wouldn’t fly in the cold world of web novels.
This world seems so nice, kind, and flowery-headed.
I nod.
“Yes, that’s sufficient.”
“Eh. Tsk. How boring. I’m not satisfied. I’ll consider this as just a concession, so go ahead and tell me another request.”
Yoshizaki Seira clicks her tongue.
Ah, hearing someone who looks 15 say that just doesn’t compute.
Add in that bizarre goth fashion sense, and it’s even more jarring.
If she confuses things and throws in extra perks, I won’t complain.
Anyway, as expected, she played along.
Now it’s time to make my second request.
“If you really want to… then fine. My second request is…”
Yoshizaki Seira’s gaze turns toward me.
Feeling pressure just from her gaze is a first for me.
“It’s the disciplinary committee regarding Nishizawa Eri.”
You’re in trouble now.
Let’s head for slave bread, dog collar dogeza, and now a disciplinary one too.
I’ll make sure you experience everything except expulsion.
Responsibility and kindness.
Click.
Yoshizaki Seira sets down her matcha.
Her gaze sharpens.
“Disciplinary committee? Why’s that?”
Her voice has turned slightly cold.
She’s questioning me with a subtle demeanor.
But I have the justification on my side.
“Nishizawa Eri did not follow my commands when she was granted on-site command authority during the operation within the gate. This is recorded in the report submitted to the association and in my Hunter Watch data, and Olivia, Kurosawa, Shinozaki, and Ishihara, who were present at the time, can testify. Feel free to cross-verify.”
Nishizawa Eri.
I’ll make sure you regret it, just like everyone else.
If it were the typical protagonist, they’d probably think, “She must have her reasons,” and let it slide, creating a ton of drama, but I absolutely cannot do that.
How long does the petty revenge of a selfish loser linger?
“…Well, you have a point. That makes sense. But why do you want to put a classmate on the disciplinary committee? I’ve heard you and Nishizawa don’t get along. Is it perhaps due to your personal feelings about her?”
Yoshizaki Seira asks.
Clearly, she’s testing me again.
But this is a question I expected.
So I must give the exemplary answer.
For the sake of perfect revenge.
“I won’t deny that I have personal feelings toward her. However, I’ve learned that as heroes in the academy, we must distinguish between public and private matters, and I strive to adhere to the norms I’ve been taught.”
Completely denying my feelings is a rookie move.
A bit of acknowledgment raises my persuasion levels.
Yoshizaki Seira’s eyes narrow.
