He shrugged his shoulders.
“It’s nothing much. I’m a bit interested in your goals too. You know, the New World League guys.”
The New World League.
The biggest villain organization in the original work, and the enemy that wiped out the Kurosawa family of the protagonist.
A fanatic group that indirectly controls all the villains, crime organizations, and terrorists in this world, believing that the end of the world is salvation.
To deal with them, the protagonist is absolutely necessary.
“So, I thought our goals might align. I want to get a bit closer.”
“How will you prove that you’re not one of their accomplices?”
The protagonist’s eyes sparkle.
Seriously, he’s terrible at acting.
“They wouldn’t approach like this so carelessly, would they?”
“Well, that’s…”
“And if I really were one of their cronies, would the proud French Knight Princess have acknowledged me as the master of Durandal?”
He grins and points to Durandal at his waist.
The protagonist is left speechless.
Well, in any case, there’s only one answer the protagonist can give.
“…You’re right.”
Acknowledgment.
After a brief silence, I whistled.
Honestly, my argument was flimsy as hell.
Just because Olivia acknowledged me doesn’t prove I’m not one of their pawns.
But this is a ridiculously sweet light novel world.
The naive, no, the foolhardy protagonist can’t help but take my words and Olivia’s authority seriously.
“Sorry. I doubted you for no reason.”
He bows his head, genuinely looking sorry as he extends his hand to mine.
I just talked a bit and got an apology; this really is a kind world.
“No, it’s fine. It happens. I don’t mind.”
Here, I have to pretend to be magnanimous.
That way, I can siphon even deeper into the protagonist’s core.
I shake hands with Yuji.
“Thanks.”
He smiles.
“You’re actually a pretty good guy, huh?”
That cringeworthy line is just a bonus.
What’s up with him?
Ugh, it makes my stomach churn. I almost gagged.
“Well, it’s not that great.”
I murmur and pull my hand away.
As expected, who isn’t a fool here?
If a web novel protagonist acted like this, there’d be instant backlash in the comments after just one chapter.
This level of skinship with a guy is more than enough.
“Anyway, I look forward to working together, Kurosawa.”
“Likewise, Kim.”
Yuji smiles like a shonen manga protagonist.
Using last names instead of first names in Japanese culture still doesn’t sit well with me.
Japanese culture calling by name is really hard to get used to.
Just as the conversation with the protagonist was wrapping up.
Bzz.
My phone vibrates in my pocket.
I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone.
There’s a text message.
[Kim! This is your homeroom teacher Mayuzumi Mayu. Please come to the staff room.]
My homeroom instructor, Mayuzumi Mayu, had summoned me.
*
Shuo Hero Academy Main Building.
The four-story building with the staff room looked just like it did in the anime.
First-year staff room on the second floor.
Creak.
I slide open the door and step inside.
“Mayuzumi Sensei?”
I call out to my homeroom instructor Mayuzumi.
Peek.
A splash of pink hair pops up over the partition.
Next, a pure white hand raises.
“Kim! Over here!”
Her voice sounds just like an anime voice actress’s, ringing in my ears.
I still can’t get used to it.
I walk towards the waving hand.
There sat Mayuzumi Mayu.
With cherry blossom-like pink hair cascading down to her shoulders, dressed neatly in a gray suit, and wearing an innocent expression, the slender beauty beamed up at me from her swivel chair.
‘This is more than I expected… Where on earth should I focus my gaze?’
Her presence was striking against the white dress shirt, with a bust like something out of an anime, suddenly skyrocketing her popularity.
Mayuzumi Mayu. Her nickname among fans is Mayu-sensei.
Originally a just minor character, her popularity exploded after the anime adaptation, prompting the author to include her into the protagonist’s harem as a supporting heroine.
Before becoming an instructor, she was known as the ‘Destruction Magical Girl’, an S-rank hero from Japan who cleared many high-rank gates.
‘An S-rank hero… Considering her original feats, Mayuzumi-sensei’s usefulness is undeniable.’
I gaze at Mayuzumi while recalling the original setting.
“What are you thinking about in front of your teacher?”
Mayuzumi-sensei’s voice rings in my ears.
“Why did you call me?”
I say as I sit down in the seat set for me.
“Well, since you missed class due to your duel with Bonaparte and ended up in the hospital, I wanted to see what kind of student you are.”
“That’s all?”
So, she just wanted to bother me?
“You’re quite the cynical student, aren’t you…? That makes me sad…”
Mayuzumi pouts for effect.
I rub my forehead.
If there’s one downside to the light novel world, it’s that everyone I meet acts like they sprang straight from a Japanese manga.
Damn.
“You haven’t been to class for two days! You didn’t even receive your textbooks. So I prepared a special set of your textbooks and a summary of the last two days’ lessons just for you!”
Mayuzumi grunts as she places a thick textbook and a stack of printouts with a thud on the desk.
“Here you go!”
“Oh, um, thank you.”
I take the books and printouts she prepared and start flipping through them.
Magic theory, introduction to summoning, history after the great disaster, ecology of other worlds…
Just glancing at the contents makes me feel dizzy.
No matter how well I know the settings of this world, seeing them laid out as professional academic subjects makes my head spin.
I feel like shit.
‘What the hell?’
Swearing comes out naturally.
To continue this peaceful life, I at least need to make it to the middle rank.
That’s how I can meet the expectations being poured on me back in Korea and satisfy my sense of national pride.
But now I’m being told to study this ridiculous nonsense?
The me who had zero talent for studying back in school?
‘I’m losing it.’
I’m about to go crazy.
In those academy web novels, people just open their status windows and coast through.
Why the hell don’t I have a status window? Is this not a web novel, but a light novel instead?
No.
Maybe I need to say “status window” for it to actually show up.
I’ve never said ‘status window’ out loud until now, right?
It’s worth a shot.
“Status window.”
I say it in Korean.
Nothing appears before my eyes.
“STATUS WINDOW!”
I shout a little louder.
Still nothing.
Hmm, maybe it’s because I’m speaking Korean?
Since this is a light novel and not a web novel, do I need to say it according to light novel clichés?
“Status.”
That doesn’t work.
“Status open.”
Not showing up.
What the hell.
How can they do this to me?
They just sent me to a light novel world and won’t even give me a status window?
Are they seriously making me study this damned textbook?
Back then, I should’ve just wrapped things up in a 5700-character note.
“Kim-kun…?”
I hear Mayuzumi-sensei’s voice.
She’s looking at me with a pitiful expression.
“Are you feeling unwell? After your duel with Bonaparte?”
Her tone is filled with concern.
I shake my head and respond seriously.
“No, I’m fine.”
“Well, that’s a relief, but…”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“Ah, no!”
Mayuzumi-sensei shakes her head vigorously.
“Tomorrow during HR, you’ll be introducing yourself, so think about what you want to say! It’s your first homework from me!”
Self-introduction.
A common thing in Japanese academy stories.
I wondered why that didn’t come up earlier.
“Yes, yes.”
I nod absentmindedly, cramming textbooks and prints tightly into my bag before standing up.
“Well, I’ll be on my way now.”
“Kim-kun! You must think about it! Self-introduction!”
I leave the teacher’s office while Mayuzumi-sensei sees me off.
Ah, but seriously, what do I do about studying?
Suddenly, I feel the heat under my feet.
To catch up on two days of missed classes, studying what I’ve missed is essential.
The problem is, this isn’t something I can understand on my own through self-study.
Who can I ask for help?
The protagonist?
He’s useless when it comes to theoretical studies and would just be a pain.
Then it must be…
“Olivia is the only one.”
The only one with the official setting boldly stating she’s a master of both martial arts and academics is the princess of France.
It’s absurd, but here I am, facing such a realistic issue.
I sigh and turn on my phone.
I guess I’ll have to retrieve the black stone a little later.
Well, it’s not like it’s going anywhere, and right now, I’m the only one who knows what the black stone really is, so it’s fine.
I choose Olivia from my contacts and make the call.
Bingo!
Shuo Hero Academy library. Special study room.
Normally, a mere C-rank like me wouldn’t be allowed in a special study room that’s only open to top-class honors students.
“I knew you’d come asking for help! As expected, nothing works without me!”
“Looks like nothing gets done without me!”
But if the Princess of France is here, that changes everything.
Just after leaving the staff room, Olivia, who got my call, asked for just an hour because she was in a hurry, and out of kindness, I decided to wait.
And this is what I get.
“Hehe.”
Olivia covers her mouth, beaming with what’s dubbed the ‘lady’s laugh.’
I’m slowly getting used to reactions like something out of a Japanese anime.
Oh no, I shouldn’t be getting used to this.
What a crazy world.
“This setup is pretty decent.”
I look around.
A room enclosed by soundproof walls, with a table and chairs in the center.
There’s a computer on the table, and against the wall, a coffee machine and beverage dispenser, along with a bag of biscuits.
“Right? Right? You like it, don’t you?”
Olivia’s eyes sparkle.
I put my hand to my forehead.
“So, was the reason you made me wait an hour just to rent this study room?”
It’s the beginning of a new semester, not an exam period, so the competition for study room rentals should be minimal.
So why did she need an hour?
I need to review quickly.
“Of course not! Hehehe…”
Olivia giggles while covering her mouth again.
She sets a paper bag she’d been holding on the table.
“I prepared this for you.”
“What is it?”
“Tada! It’s seasoned chicken!”
Rustle.
She pulls out a box of chicken from the paper bag and opens it.
The nostalgic aroma of seasoned chicken fills the study room.
My hands tremble.
My heart races.
Without thinking, Korean words spill out.
“What the…?”
This is the first time I’ve genuinely been taken aback since being reborn in this damn world.
I remembered muttering it casually, but I never thought she would actually get it.
The Princess of France brought back Korean seasoned chicken from Japan?
This is absurd.
Did she really bring it just because I asked?
“Hehe. You can rejoice even more! This is the ‘seasoned chicken’ that I personally ordered at Shinokubo, and it’s ‘boneless’ too!”
Olivia shrugs her shoulders as if asking for compliments.
Shinokubo.
A Koreatown in Tokyo.
I vaguely remember hearing it was the heart of the Korean wave back in the original world.
Looks like Shinokubo is still a K-pop hotspot in this world.
“Well, thanks.”
I express my gratitude in Japanese.
Olivia deserves praise for bringing back such hard-to-get seasoned chicken.
I’m someone who believes in rewards and punishments.
This definitely makes the hour wait worthwhile.
“Not like I brought it just to receive your thanks! But I will graciously accept it.”
She’s feeling proud.
With the seasoned chicken, even her tsundere act seems adorable.
I tear open the wooden chopsticks and grab a piece of seasoned chicken to pop in my mouth.
The sweet and spicy flavor I haven’t tasted in a while floods my senses.
“It’s delicious.”
“Of course it is! I carefully chose this chicken after much thought.”
Olivia, saying that, grabs a plastic fork.
“Let’s give this traditional Korean food a try.”
I decide not to correct her misconception that seasoned chicken is traditional Korean food.
