[Chapter 12]
[Kim Deok-Sung] [Nishizawa Eri]
It wasn’t Ishihara’s name; it was Nishizawa Eri’s.
Why is she showing up here?
Even if she’s suspended, she participates in important practices, so there’s still a chance we could be in the same group.
But seriously, this is ridiculous.
At that moment, my face twisted.
Buzz.
My smartphone buzzed.
[Master ε٩(๑> ₃ <)۶з]
[I got a message from the pairing teacher! ＠＾▽＾＠]
[Please do well in the model gate practice ヾ(≧∇≦)ゞ]
A message from Nishizawa Eri arrived.
Look at those emojis.
I closed the messenger without reading it.
Kim’s luck was at least good.
I haven’t had a single good thing happen since this morning.
Who’s bearing what?
After class.
I arrived at the reading club room, keeping the notifications from Nishizawa Eri’s incessant messages about wanting to see my face turned off.
The room looked as empty and cold as usual.
Sitting at the center table was Hoshino Kasumi.
She smiled at me.
“Welcome back, Junior. I’ve missed you.”
There are two days left until the model gate practice.
I need to squeeze some information about the New World League from Kasumi-senpai.
“Have you found out about what I asked before?”
“Of course. I’m your loyal spy, after all. I won’t let you down, but Junior, I’m a little disappointed…”
“What now?”
My head started to spin.
I was getting used to the title “Junior” by now.
But why on Earth is there disappointment out of the blue?
Kasumi hid her face behind a book, looking grim.
“Junior, I heard you made Nishizawa a slave without consulting me. You even put a collar on her? First the princess, now the academy’s idol… You’re the Black Beast, Junior.”
I rubbed my forehead.
I can’t believe I’m hearing that damn nickname from Kasumi-senpai.
“Let’s get to the point.”
My stomach felt queasy.
If I had known this would happen, I wouldn’t have eaten that greasy cutlet for lunch.
“I’m your first, you know… but your number one slave is me… Junior, you’re bad. A beast.”
I slapped my forehead.
I never thought I’d hear a boast about slave chains in this context.
“Let’s get to the main topic, senpai.”
My head was pounding.
What on Earth am I hearing here?
Is this a contest about slave chains or something?
“Okay, I get it. But I’m the only one who meets with you like this. I’m cool with it. You’re a man of charm, after all.”
“Oh, please. Senpai, let’s get to the point.”
Charm? What charm? Just hearing it gives me goosebumps.
Kasumi is great and all, but that mouth of hers is a problem.
Damn.
It really is a horribly unlucky day today.
“Yeah, I got it.”
Hoshino Kasumi’s face grows serious.
She puts down the book that was covering her face.
“The otherworldly creature deployed for this operation is the Gamma rank Yatagarasu.”
Gamma rank.
It’s a step above the Delta rank Black Spider that appeared in the prototype gate from volume one.
Considering that Alpha, Beta, and Gamma rank otherworldly creatures are classified as the top-tier beings among high-ranking otherworldly creatures, it’s no surprise that the New World League is highly sensitive to capturing Vulture.
While it’s not comparable to the Omega rank otherworldly beings called catastrophic, it’s still excessively powerful for a single operation.
‘Good thing I requested Aris to be deployed.’
As of now, only I and the Hero Association President know about Aris’s deployment.
The Student Council President’s participation as the on-site supervisor will only be revealed to other students right before the class.
She’s truly my trump card.
‘If it’s Yatagarasu, it’s the weakest among gamma ranks; Yuji and Aris should be able to handle it.’
Alright. This much falls well within expected parameters.
There shouldn’t be a problem.
I can just coast through this one, again.
The Student Council President and the protagonist will do the fighting.
I can just eat a snack while watching, like last time with Vulture.
Watching a fight is the best entertainment, after all.
Just as I was joyfully musing this,
“And the new league member Mad Hatter is also scheduled to infiltrate.”
A thunderous noise crashed into my ears.
What? Who?
Mad Hatter?
“Mad Hatter is a risk level B villain. I heard he’s newly recruited into the league. He’s not as tough as Vulture, but since he’s teamed up with Yatagarasu… Junior, is it okay not to inform the Student Council? This is really dangerous.”
I know about Mad Hatter too.
He’s the main villain from volume three and Nishizawa Eri’s father.
Of all the times to have him show up in volume one.
While I expected the ranks of otherworldly creatures to increase, I didn’t think Mad Hatter would be dispatched to the academy after being recruited by the New World League.
‘It’s the butterfly effect.’
Messiah.
That detailed, twisted freak has definitely had a hand in it.
Moreover, my partner is Nishizawa Eri.
Though she’s surprisingly compliant right now, I can’t completely trust her yet.
Especially considering how Nishizawa Eri went berserk upon hearing the truth from Mad Hatter in the original story.
We need an exceptional countermeasure.
Fortunately, I have one card I can play.
‘Wait, thinking about it, if I use her right, I could utilize her as bait.’
A change in perspective.
In the original tale, Mad Hatter’s target is his own daughter, Nishizawa Eri.
So, if I can use her as bait, I might easily capture Mad Hatter.
As I rack my brain, I say to Kasumi,
“Telling the Student Council will only complicate things.”
Inform the Student Council?
No way that can happen.
If I inform them, it will definitely reach the ears of the Association President.
If the President gets involved, the EX rank villain Professor, a betrayer disciple of the Association President and a member of the 13 Apostles from the New World League, will definitely step in.
‘That would be like burning down the entire house to catch a flea.’
There’s no need to summon the Professor, who barely managed to defeat the protagonist and the Association President’s support with his True Name Release in volume eleven.
If we’re not careful, the academy could genuinely be destroyed.
I cannot be the one to shatter the central stage of this world myself.
I can’t break it.
That’s just insane.
“I’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
So I have to be the one to stop it.
After all, security at the academy will be tightened after this terrorist attempt.
As long as that happens, nothing major should happen within the academy until the cultural festival opens to the public.
I just have to get through this one time.
I don’t know why I have to do this, but what a hellish world it is.
‘Damn that author.’
I silently curse the author in my head.
But if I want to live, I have to do it.
I’ll have to collect this debt from the president.
“Junior…”
Kasumi’s eyes widen.
Her face turns red.
I get chills all over my body. A bad feeling hits me hard.
What is it now, why is she acting like that?
Suddenly.
She grabs my hand.
“The junior guarding the academy alone is cool and kind. But I hope you don’t overdo it. You don’t have to carry everything, right? I’m here too…”
No.
What the hell is this nonsense?
Cold sweat drips down my back from the peculiar tone typical of light novels.
Who’s carrying what?
Am I the light novel protagonist? Just picking up the burden blindly?
No way in hell.
I don’t know what kind of delusion she’s under, but I definitely am not doing this because I want to.
‘I’m doing this because I don’t want to die.’
Only the protagonist idiot fights villains out of a sense of duty.
I let out a sigh.
Kasumi may have an excessively weird way of speaking, which is a serious problem, but she’s not a bad person.
In the original story, she’s a traitor, but now she isn’t.
Yeah, if you think about it, the blame lies entirely with this messed-up world and the original author.
“I won’t overdo it, so stop worrying uselessly.”
The protagonist may rush in without thinking, saying something about saving the world, but I have no intention of doing that at all.
I won’t move unless the situation is perfectly prepared.
But it’s still embarrassing.
I pull my hand away.
“Okay, I understand. I believe in the bad but kind junior.”
What do you mean bad but kind?
Good grief.
I clicked my tongue inwardly as I got up from my seat.
“I’m off now. I need to prepare a bit.”
“Got it. Junior. It’s a pity, but it can’t be helped. Take care, and don’t get hurt.”
Kasumi sees me off with a serious face, different from her usual self.
Leaving her behind, I exit the reading room.
Thud.
As soon as the door to the clubroom closes, I pull out my phone and send a text.
[Bella]
It’s my first time messaging Bella.
As soon as I send it, I see that it was read along with those ellipses.
[What is it? Your Master’s master.]
Seriously, is she calling me your master’s master through messages too?
[Let’s meet. Just the two of us, no Olivia.]
[Is this a date proposal? If the lady knows, that would be a big deal.]
Now she’s even making my messaging life a hassle.
I wonder why this day feels so long.
[It’s not that. I just have something to say.]
[Is it a love confession? I think it’s too early for our relationship…]
I’m going nuts here, seriously.
Yeah, it’s my fault for thinking she was normal except for the titles.
I should have recognized it since the time she called out her skill names.
[It’s not!!]
[I was joking.]
I thought only Kasumi made such deadly jokes.
Bella is no pushover either.
[I’ll be washing clothes soon, so let’s meet at the dormitory laundry room. There shouldn’t be anyone there.]
After a fierce battle of words, I finally got the answer I wanted.
I got it.
[Got it.]
Taking a deep breath of relief, I close my phone.
It’s mentally exhausting.
I feel like my whole body is worn out.
With heavy steps, I exit the Annex.
*
Dormitory laundry room.
In this place filled with the whirring noise of numerous drum washing machines, she is present.
A maid with a neat impression and a striking brown bob cut.
It’s Bella, Olivia’s personal maid.
“Nice to meet you, Master’s master.”
She lifts the hem of her maid dress with a smile.
Good thing no one is watching.
“It’s our first time seeing each other one-on-one. I must say, my heart is racing more than I thought.”
Bella says with a straight face.
“Quit the nonsense.”
I cut her witty banter sharp as knife.
Bella only jokes around with people she’s somewhat close to.
Her attitude now means she considers me a friend.
Not a bad outcome, but I don’t have the time to entertain her boring jokes right now.
‘This damn world is full of people eager to throw jokes around.’
Witty banter.
If it were localized in the style of Korean web novels, it’d be called “Tiki Taka.”
A decent amount of Tiki Taka is fine by me.
People need to have conversations to live.
But the problem is, this is a light novel world.
Just as you think you’ve become a bit familiar, they toss witty comments right away—it can be quite awkward.
Do they not understand the concept of “cutting the chase”?
I’m sick of this light novel world that drags things out with constant banter.
Indeed, nothing beats a well-paced Korean web novel that knows when to cut off the chitchat.
“Let’s get to the main point.”
“I’m all ears, Master’s master.”
Bella perks up with a serious expression.
“During the model gate practical, I need you to shadow master and hide in my shadow like last time.”
“Is there any special reason for that?”
A look of questioning appears on Bella’s face.
In principle, outsiders are not allowed to participate in the model gate practices.
The reason I asked for the student council president instead of an instructor for supervision is due to this principle.
Of course, after an accident occurs, the rules are changed to require instructors to accompany—it’s just closing the barn door after the cow is gone.
But with her gift, it’s still possible for her to infiltrate the academy’s relatively weak security.
“I got paired with Nishizawa. You know how things are between me and her. I have no idea what she might do next, so I want to be prepared for emergencies. That’s why I need you.”
I use Nishizawa Eri as an excuse to bring Bella into the mix.
While Yuji, Aris, and other students deal with Yatagirasu, I’ll use Nishizawa Eri as bait to lure out the Mad Hatter.
After that, just like the original story, I’ll use the rampaging Nishizawa Eri as a meat shield, and Bella and I will take down the Mad Hatter together.
It’s a perfect plan.
“Nishizawa, huh…”
Bella’s expression turns serious.
A moment of contemplation.
But I know.
If she’s contemplating, it means she’s agreed.
If she intended to refuse, she would have said so from the start.
Wuuuuuuuuuuuung.
I wait for her answer amidst the sound of washing machines.
“….Alright. It’s an honor that Master’s master needs me. As a maid to the lady, I’ve been worried about her as well. I accept Master’s master’s proposal. But I’ll only intervene if it’s a real emergency.”
Bella finally gives her consent.
A grin forms on my lips.
“Good.”
We’re ready.
Both of them don’t like it.
