Chapter 14

"It's unbelievable..."

Olivia muttered in a low voice.

I can't help but agree this time.

The fact that the extra National Intelligence Service agent is faster than the Phantom Bella?

"It's an honor to meet you, Candidate Kim Deok-sung. I am Han Se-jin, who will be in charge of your support duties."

The NIS agent, Han Se-jin, knelt on one knee and greeted me in Korean with a polite tone.

"Oh, really? You came faster than I thought. How did you get here?"

"My gift is Speedster. I have confidence that I won't lose to anyone in terms of speed alone."

Han Se-jin lifted her head.

Speedster.

A person with ultra-high-speed abilities.

"You were a Hunter, then."

Ground Zero is off-limits to civilians, so it's a natural conclusion.

Han Se-jin bowed her head and said,

"I'm embarrassed to admit, but I hold an SSS-class Hunter certification."

"An SSS-class Hunter, huh? It seems the higher-ups are quite interested in me."

In a country like South Korea, which doesn't have heroes, an SSS-class Hunter is a valuable talent.

Well, even so, a Hunter who can't use superweapons is just a sidekick to heroes in the field.

Still, to have a top-class talent in the country assigned as my dedicated agent...

I can feel anew how seriously they expect from me in Korea.

"I will do my best to support you, Mr. Kim Deok-sung."

Han Se-jin finished her greeting and stood up.

Her gray eyes turned to Olivia.

"Princess Bonaparte. It's an honor to meet you. I am Han Se-jin."

Han Se-jin bowed her head and greeted her politely.

What is she saying?

French?

"You speak our language quite fluently? And your attitude... Well, you're not as bad as I thought. Nice to meet you too."

Olivia replied in an unknown language.

It seems to be French.

"Please cooperate well."

"I will."

Their conversation ended.

The atmosphere doesn't seem bad, so they're not insulting each other.

"I won again this time. I didn't know the agent coming would be a Speedster."

"Ugh! Really... Grr!"

Olivia puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

She fidgeted with her fingers and then, lifting her head, said with determination,

"Fine, fine. Since it's a bet, there's nothing I can do. I'll acknowledge your victory!"

"Alright, then. It's been a while since I got a free meal from a classmate."

The last time I got a free meal from a classmate was a year ago, when I had pork belly at a job interview.

"You can choose the menu."

"Sure, go ahead."

"What?! That's such a lackluster response!"

As I waved my hand to show I didn't care, Olivia flared up.

"Mr. Kim Deok-sung."

Han Se-jin's quiet voice echoed in the deepest part of the room.

"Is the artifact you mentioned this artifact?"

She scanned the artifact with the Hunter Watch on her wrist and asked in Korean.

I nodded.

"Yes. It's called the Chalice of Baptism, an artifact that grants gifts to ability users after birth."

"Gifts, you say?"

Han Se-jin was startled and then nodded.

"Indeed... So that's why you instructed cooperation with France. Mr. Kim Deok-sung's insight is truly extraordinary."

Her gray eyes sparkled.

Like a fanatic welcoming a cult leader.

Why is she so overwhelming?

I sighed.

"The first task you've been given, I'll handle it until it's done."

"Alright. I trust you."

"Thank you!"

Han Se-jin, who saluted like a soldier, looked determined.

"Princess. It's Bella."

"Bella!"

The second guest appeared at the entrance.

A striking young woman with a spotless maid uniform, brown short hair, and a look that didn't fit the gloomy cave at all.

Olivia's personal maid, Bella.

"Why are you so late!"

"Late? What do you mean...?"

Bella's poker face slightly cracked.

After Olivia explained the situation, Bella nodded.

"...So that's how it happened. I understand. Princess, please be more cautious in future bets."

"Ugh... I understand..."

Bella's calm voice made Olivia nod in agreement.

This is a historic moment where the reputation of 'Olivia's class bully' from the domestic fandom is realized.

Bella, who instantly calmed Olivia, came to me.

"You must be Mr. Kim Deok-sung. It's an honor to meet you. I've heard a lot about you from the Princess."

Bella greeted me, slightly lifting the ends of her maid uniform.

Her eyes quickly scanned my entire body.

"Ah, well, the pleasure is mine."

I waved my hand in greeting.

The current Bella is a common but ambiguous character, 'the Princess's personal maid.'

In the early story, her role is to quietly tackle the out-of-control Olivia as a tsukkomi side character.

Bella's true value is revealed during the engagement episode in Volume 6.

Revealing herself as a 'Phantom,' Bella rises to a sub-heroine in Volume 6 by working with the protagonist to stop the out-of-control prince.

'Now it's my turn to do that.'

Thinking about the story of Volume 6 makes my head spin.

I feel like I've eaten a hundred sweet potatoes.

I need a soda.

This is all because the protagonist saw the wrong heroine's naked body.

Damn lucky pervert.

Still, Bella is a character I can communicate with, which is a relief.

"I'm worried that our young lady might be causing trouble with her maid duties. Master of the Master."

I was a fool to think that.

This crazy world never fails to meet expectations.

If I had known about this terrifying future of possession in advance!

I would have sent a 5,700-character letter to a paid annual academy web novel writer instead of a light novel writer.

If I had, I would be enjoying a simple and happy life at the Hunter Academy in Korea, studying and eating while ignoring the status screen and cringeworthy light novel dialogues.

'What a messed-up life.'

Light novel possession?

If I posted this as a novel on a serial site, it would be cut in half before Chapter 20, followed by a tearful notice and a locked ending.

I'm glad I'm not a writer.

"What, what are you talking about! Bella!"

"Have you already forgotten our agreement, Princess?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

"She's a bit of a burden."

"Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

One word from me and Olivia's reaction became intense.

Ah, I'm getting hungry for a fight again.

"Is that so? Still, our young lady is just not honest, not a bad person. I hope the Master of the Master will look kindly upon her."

"Alright, I understand. I'll do that."

My thoughts changed.

Bella is a good person to talk to, if only she could control her tone.

"Thank you."

Bella smiled faintly.

Olivia pouted but couldn't say anything.

The tsundere suppressor is the best.

"Then, I will take responsibility for this ruin as instructed by our young lady, working with the NIS agent from Korea. I hope you two can now leave the ruin and enjoy your leisure time."

Bella placed her hand on her chest and bowed politely.

It seems the tedious ruin exploration is finally coming to an end.

With the NIS and Bella, I can trust them to handle the aftermath.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah, I was about to leave anyway! We, we have a dinner date to keep... When we came in, I led the way, so when we leave, you lead the way!"

Olivia said, closing her eyes tightly.

A dinner date, huh.

Well, I need to talk to her about the White Flame Sword technique, so it's not a bad idea to get a separate table.

"Please take good care of our young lady. Master of the Master."

"Ugh..."

Hearing Olivia's groan, I left the ruin with a light step.

I have a request.

Tokyo after sunset.

Walking through the bustling streets of Japan, where neon signs and streetlights twinkle, with Olivia.

"It feels like we can live now."

Olivia said, taking a deep breath.

Is the city's smoky air that good?

Her eyes turned to me.

"Where in the world do you take a lady out and bring her to a ruin?!"

Well, it's right here.

High-performance slaves are meant to be used.

"Really! I can't believe it! Ugh!!"

After a loud outburst, she grumbled in a small voice, seemingly embarrassed.

"You, you paid attention... didn't you?"

"What?"

You paid attention?

"Can't you see? You're not only lacking in manners but also in perception!"

I looked at Olivia.

She was dressed in casual clothes, not her school uniform.

Wearing a white shirt that emphasized her chest, a light beige cardigan, and a mini skirt, Olivia puffed out her cheeks and complained to me.

"You paid attention to your clothes."

"Hmph. It's fine that you noticed now."

She turned her gaze away.

It seems she's drinking kimchi soup alone, even though there's no one to give her a rice cake.

"So, what are you going to treat me to for dinner?"

"Cheese chicken."

Out of the blue?

"Cheese chicken?"

"I heard that cheese chicken is a popular Korean dish in Shin-Okubo."

Hearing Olivia, a memory from my past life res