Chapter 16

Shinazaki Rin told the protagonist about the sparring match agreement.

I had already anticipated such a scenario.

It's not really a surprising story.

The protagonist urges me.

"Let's get to the point."

"You might already know, but I want to give you a word of advice anyway."

This is the problem with light novel protagonists.

They tend to beat around the bush.

I'm starting to get annoyed.

While having the useless thought that at least Olivia is pretty,

"Be careful of the head of the Shinazaki family."

The protagonist's advice rings in my ears.

My heavy eyelids, weighed down by fatigue, snap open.

The head of the Shinazaki family.

I know exactly who he is.

Shinazaki Ichiro.

The current strongest person in Japan.

The mastermind behind using Shinazaki Rin as a tool, and the man who was the perennial second-in-command until the protagonist's father, the Sword Saint, died in a New World League terrorist attack.

He has an obsession, love-hate relationship, and admiration for the Kurosawa family that goes beyond imagination.

'Because of this, Ichiro despises the protagonist, who bears the Kurosawa name but is only an F-rank.'

The core of the second volume's story is about the protagonist gaining recognition as the Sword Saint's successor through a sparring match with Shinazaki Ichiro, and further liberating Shinazaki Rin from her fate as a tool, thus 'saving' her.

Shinazaki Ichiro, who acknowledges the protagonist, becomes a hero at the end of the second volume, as is typical in light novels, after some emotional manipulation and a change of heart.

'But for now, he is indeed a dangerous person.'

Shinazaki Ichiro's title is the President of the Japanese Hero Association.

Thanks to today's ruin exploration, there's a high possibility that my information has leaked to him.

Especially since I've become entangled with Shinazaki Rin.

If Ichiro, with his twisted pride, decides to do something, it can't be ruled out.

The protagonist, Kurosawa Yuzi, is giving me advice after considering all these possibilities.

"You can actually give some decent advice."

Even dog poop has its uses.

"If my presumptuous advice was helpful, I'm glad... but really, be careful."

He warns me.

I nod.

Sure, he made a big deal out of it, but even if Shinazaki Ichiro does something, this is Shuei Hero Academy.

The presence of a principal on par with him limits his actions.

He won't allow anything that goes too far, given his twisted pride.

At most, he might try to use Rin to pressure me.

I can handle that.

"Alright. I will."

"Okay."

While listening to the protagonist's response, I turn off the light and close my eyes.

A long day is finally over.

*

The next day.

Sixth period class.

A lazy breeze comes in from the window, probably because it's spring.

"There are two main types of interdimensional beings: ordinary and advanced. Ordinary interdimensional beings, from F-rank to S-rank, can be defeated with just the power of hunters. However, from Zeta-rank and above, advanced interdimensional beings have stronger magical barriers, making it impossible to defeat them without the existence of ultra-powerful weapons that can penetrate all magical barriers..."

I hear Mr. Mayuzumi's lecture.

These basic concepts are already in the setting book, so I already know them.

But it doesn't hurt to hear them again.

I don't have a status screen, after all. Damn it.

Rustle, rustle.

I take notes, summarizing on my notebook.

Then,

The screen of the smartphone on my desk flickers.

I unlock it, and the identity of the notification is revealed.

It's a message from Olivia.

[Class is almost over.]

[Do you have anything for me to do today?]

She's sticking to her role as a dedicated maid, even in the wrong parts.

[No]

I really don't have anything for Olivia to do today.

I have other things to do.

[Why not? No plans to go out like yesterday?]

[Not the ruins!]

The message keeps blinking.

I rub my forehead.

A familiar pattern.

Of course, I know how to deal with it.

[If I must say]

[There is one thing]

[What is it? Something I need to do?]

Olivia's reply comes quickly.

[White Flame Sword Style]

[That...]

Olivia's message cuts off.

[I'm still thinking about it.]

[The deadline is tomorrow.]

[I know that too!]

That's enough.

Given Olivia's personality, she'll now be so engrossed in thinking about the White Flame Sword Style that she won't have any other thoughts.

Pretending to stretch, I look around.

Olivia, sitting diagonally behind me, pouts while looking at her phone.

'Annoying.'

I can see her mouth moving.

Just as I'm about to chuckle at the absurdity,

I feel a gaze from the side.

I turn my head.

My eyes meet those of my seatmate, Nishizawa Eri, with her distinctive orange twin-tails, known as the top-ranked beauty in the prefecture.

Her amber eyes tremble.

"I'm not in a good mood."

Nishizawa mutters softly and moves her desk with a thud.

Wait a moment.

Weren't our desks originally separated?

I review Nishizawa Eri's character.

From a single-parent family, the school idol, the world's most beautiful woman, who developed a dislike for men due to her father's abuse in childhood, and as a result, began to admire strong women.

The person she admired the most in the original story was:

'The successor of the Black Prince, the Platinum Knight Princess Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.'

The content of the setting book comes to mind clearly.

That's why.

Suddenly moving her desk closer and peeking at my text messages.

It's a typical reaction from her.

'This is going to be a hassle.'

Just as my head starts to spin.

The class bell rings.

Today's class is over.

"See you next time, students."

As I hear Mr. Mayuzumi's farewell, I stand up from my seat.

There's not much to do today.

The essence of Japanese school life, an indispensable cliché:

Joining a club.

Birth of the second heroine

I grab my bag and leave the classroom.

I can feel Nishizawa Eri glaring at my back, but it doesn't matter.

It's a natural move for her, a big fan of Olivia.

'She'll probably try to distance Olivia and me, just like in the original story.'

Most of the early third volume is about this plot.

Nishizawa Eri, who can't tolerate the protagonist and Olivia becoming closer after the events of the first and second volumes.

In the end, she challenges the protagonist to a sparring match to separate Olivia, the noble French princess she admires, from the man she despises.

The same content.

It seems to be a bit earlier, but there's nothing I can do about it.

'Because Olivia is acting as my personal maid, Nishizawa's boiling point has undoubtedly lowered.'

She already dislikes men due to childhood trauma.

To see the noble French princess she admires reduced to a personal maid of a minor country student?

She must be furious, like the protagonist in a harem manga who watches his innocent childhood friend being seduced by a tanned blonde delinquent from a closet.

'Anyway, I need to prepare for Nishizawa Eri too, soon.'

Preparation isn't that difficult.

The explanation sounds serious, but in the light novel atmosphere, it's not a serious matter and is just a comedic episode.

But it's still a hassle.

'They both want to die in a battle.'

If it weren't for the New World League, that crazy Apocalypse cult group.

I could have cut ties with everyone and enjoyed a happy possession life while looking for a way to return to my original world.

But to defeat the New World League and the final boss, Messiah, I need all the supporting characters.

Not a single one can be missing.

Because the final boss in a light novel is a being that can only be defeated by the protagonist, heroines, comrades, and the power of hot friendship, effort, youth, bonds, love, and a hymn to humanity.

Damn!

'The world where the villain organization and the final boss are ridiculously strong, and the balance is completely messed up.'

There's nothing I like about it.

If the world I possessed was a web novel instead of a light novel!

I would have fully utilized the web novel's characteristic of the protagonist doing everything alone, monopolizing all the lucky encounters and connections arranged for the protagonist, and easily defeating the final boss.

But this is the world of a traditional mainstream battle light novel, where the protagonist has to become strong without any lucky encounters.

In this damn world, even a lucky encounter is a luxury.

I'm already doing well to have found this much.

'That's why light novels are in decline in Korea these days.'

Lack of catharsis, lack of catharsis.

Still, it was quite entertaining to read.

Life is a comedy when viewed from a distance, and a tragedy when viewed up close.

"Damn."

A sigh escapes me.

I really need to use everyone, including the protagonist, harem members, comrades, and supporters, to the bone to make it worth it.

That's why I'm here in the first annex, which is full of club rooms.

The bulletin board at the entrance of the first annex.

Club activity promotion posters are haphazardly posted.

I check