Chapter 15

[That's all.]

It's a long message from Han Seojin.

I sigh and send a text.

[Good job.]

[Thank you.]

An immediate reply comes back.

I sigh again and look at my phone.

I see chaotic nationalistic YouTube thumbnails and astronomical view counts.

No matter how I think about it, it's infuriating.

Is he making money off my name while I get nothing?

I can't forgive that.

I send another message to Han Seojin.

[Report all the videos and channels on YouTube that are using my image for profit and redirect the earnings to me.]

[Will take care of it promptly.]

Another instant reply.

Unlike someone who calls herself a 'dedicated servant,' he is reliable.

Anyway, now those view counts will turn into my money.

It's time to start making money.

I'm already suffocating because of the nationalistic wave.

This kind of side income is justified.

“What’s so good?”

“Well, the chicken galbi is delicious.”

I answer Olivia's question naturally.

Hearing my answer, Olivia says confidently,

“There’s no way the place I chose wouldn’t be delicious, right?”

Instead of answering, I pick up a piece of chicken galbi with my chopsticks and eat it.

It’s not just empty words; the chicken galbi here is surprisingly delicious.

Except for the high price, which is typical for a Korean tourist spot.

I’m starting to feel full.

I put down my chopsticks.

“Olivia.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Her blue eyes turn to me.

“I have a favor to ask.”

“A favor?”

Olivia’s eyes widen.

“Sure enough, you need me again! What kind of favor?”

She gives a confident smile.

Since she’s so excited, I should get straight to the point.

“I’d like you to teach me the White Flame Sword Style.”

Olivia’s face turns serious.

“That’s...”

She trails off.

“It’s the Bonaparte Royal Family’s secret technique. I can’t just teach it to an outsider. Bu-but... No, that’s not it.”

Her face turns red, as if she’s having some unnecessary fantasies like a light novel heroine.

I expected this response.

In this world, skills, including sword styles, are often passed down within families or sects.

But I need the White Flame Sword Style.

I need to learn both the White Flame Sword Style and the Black Light Sword Style, the two secret techniques of the Bonaparte Royal Family, to access the hidden technique, the Heaven and Earth Sword Style.

In the final chapter, Olivia, who masters the Heaven and Earth Sword Style, becomes as strong as the protagonist.

Given that, I can’t miss this opportunity.

“If I teach you the Black Light Sword Style?”

I need to dangle the bait.

The Black Light Sword Style.

The skill of the Black Prince, a forgotten secret technique of the Bonaparte Royal Family.

“B-Black Light Sword Style?!”

Olivia’s eyes waver.

Her hands tremble.

“Yes. I’ll teach you the Black Light Sword Style, and you teach me the White Flame Sword Style. It’s a one-to-one exchange. What do you think?”

Olivia’s lips quiver.

She looks conflicted.

I wait for her answer calmly while eating the chicken galbi.

“Just a little...”

When I’ve almost finished the remaining chicken galbi, she speaks.

“...I need some time. I’ll let you know later.”

I look up.

Olivia’s face is confused.

I draw a smile on my face.

I’m 100% sure she’ll agree.

She has always admired the Black Prince and followed in his footsteps.

There’s no reason for her to refuse the chance to learn his skill.

All that’s left is to wait.

“I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible. Preferably within two days.”

Because I need to beat Shinozaki Rin.

“Sure.”

Olivia nods.

Her gaze turns to the empty chicken galbi pan.

“What? Why is it all gone? Did you eat it all?”

Isn’t that obvious?

“If you’re upset, order more.”

“Grrr! Idiot! Stupid!”

Olivia glares at me.

That day,

I finally arrived at the dormitory after finishing another plate of cheese chicken galbi with her.

*

Suburbs of Tokyo.

There’s a traditional Japanese mansion that doesn’t fit the landscape of the high-tech city with its skyscrapers.

It’s the mansion of the Shinozaki family, one of Japan’s most prestigious families.

In the heart of the Shinozaki mansion,

In a room with tatami mats overlooking a Japanese garden, a middle-aged man with dark green eyes and hair sits.

He is the EX-rank hero of Japan and a monster who has secured a seat among the new era’s strongest, the New Crowns.

He is the head of the Japanese Hero Association, the Sword Demon (劍鬼) Shinozaki Ichiro.

His melancholic green eyes turn to the blue ponytailed girl, Shinozaki Rin, kneeling on the tatami.

“The student you’re scheduled to spar with, his name is definitely Kim Deok-sung, right?”

“Yes.”

Shinozaki Rin answers.

“Kim Deok-sung, Kim Deok-sung...”

The events of today come to his mind.

The Baptismal Hall.

The shocking artifact that grants Gifts after birth.

The student who discovered it was definitely Olivia, the French princess.

“The Korean hero candidate, his name was Kim Deok-sung.”

His eyes narrow.

“Interesting.”

Rin remains silent at Ichiro’s muttering.

In this family, her role is merely a tool.

It’s not allowed to question the head of the clan.

“Rin.”

“Yes, Master.”

“Will you lose in this sparring match?”

“Under the name of Shinozaki, I will never lose.”

“Make sure you keep that promise this time.”

At Ichiro’s words, Rin’s eyes turn cold.

“Yes, Master.”

Drip, thud.

The bamboo water receiver, sozu, in the garden falls to the ground with a splash.

Even dogwood has its uses.

In the Shuou Hero Academy dormitory.

A special single room reserved only for top-class students.

A spacious room that’s more like a hotel suite than a dormitory.

Olivia sits at a table on the balcony, stroking a white porcelain teacup and groaning.

“Ugh...”

It was a really long day.

As she recalls the events of the day, a breeze blows across her cheeks.

“I really think it was too much.”

After school,

When Kim Deok-sung came to her and suggested they go out together.

To be honest, she might have been a little, just a little, hopeful.

He’s not particularly to her liking, but she still wanted to walk the streets normally with someone.

In her homeland, France, where everyone looks up to her, that’s impossible.

Ever since she became the successor through the Black Prince’s will,

She hasn’t been able to walk freely outside the Versailles Palace and the royal villa.

Because wherever she went, she was followed by admiring and expectant gazes.

So Olivia felt a sense of kinship with Kim Deok-sung.

As the only hero candidate in Korea, he must feel the same way.

That’s what she thought.

“I investigated all the famous spots in Tokyo, but it all became pointless...”

Not just Shinjuku, but also Harajuku, Odaiba, Shinjuku, Kichijoji, the Tokyo Tower observation deck, the Tokyo Skytree and Sumida Aquarium, and high-end sushi restaurants in Ginza.

There were so many places she wanted to visit, and she had made all the plans.

Like the night before a school trip.

She had even dressed up in anticipation of the outing.

Now she’s in a bad mood.

“Is your master’s master bothering you?”

Bella’s voice fills the air, and a warm cup of tea is poured into the cup in front of her.

“W-Who’s bothering me?”

Olivia is startled.

“I-I’m not bothered. I-I just... I was looking forward to a normal outing, that’s all.”

She pouts.

Olivia’s shoulders slump.

A faint smile appears on Bella’s lips.

“How was dinner with your master’s master?”

Click.

Bella places a bowl of eclairs with chocolate cream on the table in front of Olivia.

“It was...”

Olivia looks at the eclairs and licks her lips.

“It wasn’t bad, no, it was terrible. We didn’t even see 1% of the planned course!”

“Is that so?”

“...”

At Bella’s question, Olivia falls silent.

His next words come to her mind.

A one-to-one exchange of the Black Light Sword Style and the White Flame Sword Style.

‘Brother’s skill...’

It’s an offer Olivia, who admires the Black Prince, can’t refuse.

Unconsciously, she feels her heart leaning towards it.

She lifts the teacup and drinks the tea.

The strange bitterness of the cold tea lingers in her mouth.

“...It wasn’t the worst day.”

A smile forms on Bella’s lips at Olivia’s answer.

Drip.

The empty teacup is refilled with warm tea.

*

Beep.

As I swipe my student ID, the dormitory door opens.

I drag my tired body and fall onto the bed.

The soft mattress and blanket welcome me.

Beds are the best.

“Thanks for your hard work until late.”

I hear the protagonist’s voice in my ear.

I turn my head.

The same black hair, but the face of the protagonist, who is annoyingly handsome.

“What are you doing up so late?”

Because of the extra cheese chicken galbi order, I almost missed curfew.

It’s time for normal people to sleep, so if he’s not sleeping,

“Do you have something to say? Is it just flattery?”

The annoying guy.

“That’s... I absolutely didn’t mean to flatter. I’m really sorry if it sounded that way!”

He gets up from the bed, bows deeply, and clasps his hands.

Damn.

This crazy world tests me every day.

I press my temples, which are throbbing, and say,

“Enough. Let’s get to the point.”

“Rin, or Shinozaki, told me. Shinozaki has a sparring match scheduled with Kim, you.”