Chapter 17

Kasumi stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and tightly held the letter containing the secret that her mother had given her.

Bang!

The shadow blade struck her neck, making a metallic sound.

Kasumi's once snow-white neck was now covered in purple scales.

The dragon's mark had instinctively activated to protect her upon sensing the threat.

"Based on this."

Swoosh.

A black paper airplane hit her defensive barrier and disappeared.

Her vertically slit dragon eyes trembled.

Click.

I took out my smartphone and took a picture of her in her dragon form.

"Confirmed evidence. Automatic upload to the cloud complete."

I placed my hand on Durandal, ready to switch to combat mode at any time in case of an emergency, while looking at Kasumi.

She hadn't taken out her superweapon earlier because using unauthorized superweapons in the school, except for practice and sparring, was prohibited.

But now that the rules were meaningless, considering Kasumi's personality, the probability of her lashing out was extremely low, but there was still a possibility.

"The game is over, Kasumi Hoshino."

With my right hand on Durandal's handle and my left hand shaking the smartphone showing her dragon form, I continued.

"None. I have no intention of doing that."

Kasumi was necessary to defeat the final boss.

If her identity as a spy were revealed now, the New World League might do something unpredictable.

I wasn't stupid enough to risk such a dangerous situation.

Kasumi's eyes wavered.

She wrapped her arms around her shoulders and spoke in a trembling voice.

"Then, why... Could it be that you're going to blackmail me with those photos... or, make me do something else?"

Fucking hell, really.

How could such thoughts come to mind in this situation?

It's really hard to say anything about how mysterious and creative.

"No, I have no interest in that. Do I even need to dislike it?"

Kasumi shook her head.

What the hell is she doing?

The conversation with her about such destructive content made me enter a sage time.

Shit, not now.

"Alright, I have one request for you, senpai."

I continued, overcoming the sage time.

"Betray the New World League and become my informant."

Kasumi's eyes trembled.

"If I follow your orders well... Will you really save Rena?"

Kasumi asked in a trembling voice.

"Yes, I promise."

I had to save her anyway.

Sato Rena was a secondary heroine and necessary to face the final boss.

In light novels, there's no female character who doesn't fall for the protagonist.

The only exceptions might be characters over 30 or mothers?

But even mothers are joining the heroine ranks as "mam" characters these days.

'What the hell is this?'

Cursing came naturally.

This was all due to the butterfly effect of the protagonist seeing the wrong heroine's naked body.

Such a naive and innocent kid.

I would definitely extract this price, even if it meant breaking his back.

Or I could just ask the protagonist to save her.

At that moment,

Kasumi hesitated, then looked at me and said,

"Then... as a sign of the promise... Can we pinky swear?"

She extended her pinky finger to me.

My breath caught in my throat.

I felt like I was going to lose it.

"Can't... Can't we...? I want to... accept your promise..."

Kasumi bowed her head.

Her expression darkened again. Her pinky finger trembled.

Her hand shook.

'Think positively, positively.'

The old sage said, "If you can't avoid it, enjoy it."

To gain someone's trust with just a pinky swear?

It's a miracle that only happens in the gentle world of light novels.

If this were a web novel, I'd have to use a magic contract or a mana oath to secure her loyalty.

But if I just endure this brief embarrassment, 2nd Unit will be completely under my control.

Yes, think that way.

I extended my hand and linked my pinky finger with hers.

"I promise. If you faithfully fulfill your role as a double agent and follow my orders, I will definitely save Sato Rena at the right time and give you a chance to take revenge on them."

Through the linked pinky fingers, I could feel her body temperature and trembling.

Kasumi's cheeks turned red.

"So, senpai, you also promise."

It's unfair to only make me do it.

She nodded.

"Okay. I promise... to be a loyal spy for you."

A faint smile appeared on Kasumi's lips.

"Alright."

I quickly pulled my finger away.

I felt like I was going to die of embarrassment.

"Ah..."

Kasumi let out a low sigh.

Anyway, I had to say what I needed to say.

"Since we've made a promise, it's obvious that you should prioritize my orders and report everything you do to me. Don't leave anything out."

Kasumi was a dangerous element.

I needed to track her movements.

Her eyes widened.

"Everything?"

"Yes, it's an order. Don't like it?"

She shook her head.

"No, I don't dislike it. But... it feels like..."

What does it feel like?

"I really... became yours... It feels real. Hehe."

Kasumi twirled her purple hair with her finger.

What the hell is she thinking?

I was tired of refuting her every time.

Ah, whatever. Let her fantasize.

"Is that the end of your orders?"

She looked at me.

"Accept the application to join the club."

To have an official connection with Kasumi, I needed to join the Literature Club.

"Okay. Got it. Can you wait a moment?"

She got up, rummaged through her desk drawer, and handed me an application form and a pen.

I took the pen and filled out the form.

At that moment,

I felt a soft touch on my arm.

The scent of lavender wafted to my nose.

I turned my head.

"Kim Deok-sung. So you're the Korean student, huh?"

Kasumi was right next to me.

Her large chest was touching my arm.

Was this intentional?

I quickly pulled my arm away.

"What are you doing?"

I was speechless.

"You're... too much."

Kasumi's expression darkened.

"What's too much?"

Why again? What's the problem?

"Of course, you also find my monstrous body disgusting... right?"

Anyway, who said light novel heroines don't deceive? It's a passive skill.

I always wonder why non-human heroines have such low self-esteem over something like horns or scales.

There are plenty of people with horns and scales on the internet.

It's a shallow, convenient setting to make the heroine fall for the protagonist quickly.

'Anyway, what a creepy author.'

A beauty who doesn't know she's beautiful? Where are such beauties in the world?

With a face that could be considered a golden spoon in terms of beauty, what's the big deal about horns and scales?

Some people look like a blonde tanned thug, and when they wake up in the morning and look in the mirror, they think, "Is this good enough?" and then enter a sage time.

Ah.

Thinking about the protagonist who pretends to be an ordinary high school student despite his good looks made me even angrier.

"Who said I'm disgusting? Stop deceiving and be objective. Please. Fucking stop making me angry."

It's like mobile game community posts that pop up every day during gacha seasons, deceiving at every breath.

"Ah, ah, ah..."

"Still don't realize it, but with horns and scales, you're still incredibly beautiful, so stop the deception in front of me. It makes me, the thug-like junior, angry. Got it, senpai?"

Deception is a permanent ban offense.

Kasumi's eyes widened.

Her cheeks turned pink.

"Ah, ah...?"

Even the light novel interjection.

It's a bumper year for nonsense.

Kasumi bowed her head.

"Uh-huh... Yeah..."

She fiddled with her purple hair.

"Thank you... for comforting me..."

"It's not comfort, so don't misunderstand. If you deceive me one more time with your looks, I'll forget about the double agent and post the photos online. Got it?"

Is brainwashing a special skill?

People should know their limits.

"Hehe. Okay."

Kasumi laughed.

"Hmph, hahaha♪"

She hummed a tune.

After flipping someone's world, what could be so good?

Olivia is the same, and I can't understand the thought process of light novel heroines.

I sighed and handed her the completed application form.

"Here. The application."

"Got it."

She hugged the application form like a doll.

"Your application to join the club. I've received it."

Kasumi smiled.

"Welcome to the Literature Club, junior."

"Ah, yeah. Whatever."

I nodded half-heartedly and stood up.

"Then, good luck with your club activities. I'm going now."

I needed to review today's lessons.

Studying is dog-like, and school is a joke.

Kasumi bowed her head.

"You're too much. Junior, you're bad."

"What now? Why?"

"You're going to tease a woman's body and heart like this and just leave? You're going to the knight princess, aren't you? Womanizer junior. You're bad."

My head throbbed.

What did a 5700-character note have to do with this ridiculous trial I was facing?

"I'm going to study. Study. Study! Review!"

"Review?"

Kasumi tilted her head, then covered her mouth and laughed.

"Junior, you're so cute."

She's insane.

"Alright, I'm going."

"Want me to help you review?"