Chapter 2

To cut to the chase, the awakening was a success.

The practice of self-harm in the training room has paid off.

The rusted longsword has been transformed into the legendary sword Durandal and is now in my possession.

The minor issue is that I was out cold for more than half a day, causing all my remaining schedule to be canceled.

Events like the presidential breakfast at the Blue House, the farewell concert for Kim Deok-sung, the candidate's national farewell concert, the signing event, and the airport farewell ceremony.

‘Thankfully, that’s a relief.’

I let out a sigh of relief.

The presidential breakfast is one thing.

Farewell concert? Signing event? Airport farewell ceremony?

If I had to do all of that? I don’t even want to imagine it.

Regaining my senses, I barely managed to board the flight to Japan and attended the opening ceremony, narrowly avoiding being late.

"Our Shuoh Hero Academy, as the best hero education institution in the nation and the world, has consistently produced excellent heroes who protect humanity..."

I lifted my head.

The sight of the cadets came into view.

True to the world where Japanese light novels have come to life, all of them have full-color, rainbow-colored hair.

At the academy, only I and the protagonist Yuji have black hair.

‘Is it because the color of their magic light directly manifests as their hair color?’

The original setting came to mind reflexively.

Of course, our great protagonist is an exception to this rule.

‘What a ridiculous idea.’

A convenient setting to rationalize the full-color hair of Japanese characters.

It’s absurd that this is the reality I have to live in from now on.

Ha, really. Damn it.

"Representative of the new students, Miss Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte. Please come to the podium."

The principal called out the name of the top-ranked student.

Clack, clack.

With the sound of her shoes, she ascended the podium.

Platinum hair that reached her waist, blue eyes, and porcelain skin.

A beauty like a painting stood on the podium.

My eyes narrowed.

Would it really look like this if an anime were turned into a live-action?

In any case, there’s no doubt she’s incredibly beautiful, as the setting dictates.

"Oath. We, the students of Shuoh Hero Academy, will abide by the school rules..."

Olivia’s enchanting voice filled the auditorium.

All the cadets’ gazes were fixed on her.

My gaze also turned to her.

To experience the scene from the first episode of the first season of the anime in person.

It’s a new feeling.

"...I solemnly swear."

The oath ended.

The principal and Olivia exchanged greetings.

Olivia’s blue eyes swept over the cadets in the auditorium.

Our eyes met.

A hallucination? No.

"..."

Because Olivia’s gaze precisely lingered on the Durandal at my waist.

The intense eye contact with the main heroine was brief.

Olivia bowed to the cadets.

"...That’s all."

As I listened to her voice, I bit my lip.

Why is this damn world starting at hell difficulty?

I won.

Shuoh Hero Academy.

The world’s top hero academy, built on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay.

An elite institution where only the most talented are allowed to enroll, even in the hero-strong nation of Japan.

The top-ranked student at Shuoh Hero Academy is a guarantee of being a genius among geniuses.

A prestigious position that any candidate would envy.

But not for Olivia.

‘Big brother...’

Olivia clenched her fist tightly.

Raul Napoleon Bonaparte, the Black Prince.

A hero who saved the world and his homeland, France, from the great disaster 30 years ago, and who died 10 years ago after saving her from the Omega-rank interdimensional creature, Fafnir.

A cousin who cherished her more than anyone.

To fill the void left by her deceased brother, she cannot be satisfied with just being the top-ranked student.

She must reach the highest position.

Necessarily.

She slightly bit her lip.

"...I solemnly swear."

Perhaps that’s why.

What might be an exciting opening ceremony for someone else feels like a trivial rite of passage to her.

She greeted the principal and turned around.

Cadets with various hair colors were visible.

The atmosphere was filled with excitement.

‘Disappointing.’

Her blue eyes turned cold.

Hero.

A superpowered individual who wields a personal weapon.

A bulwark that protects humanity and the world on the front lines of interdimensional invasions.

But no one here, not a single one, acknowledges the heavy responsibility that comes with being a hero.

They are merely intoxicated by the promised future of wealth and fame that the title of hero brings.

It’s not just the cadets.

After the Five Crowns and the first-generation heroes ended the great disaster, heroes and hunters forgot their responsibilities, and humanity forgot the crisis.

Gates and interdimensional invasions became manageable risks, and interdimensional creatures became cash cows.

‘I don’t like it. Not at all.’

Olivia could not accept such a reality.

It’s an act that dishonors the death of the Black Prince, Raul.

That’s what she thought.

Just as Olivia was about to withdraw her disappointed gaze.

A cadet with black hair entered her field of vision.

‘Black hair?’

Olivia’s eyes flickered.

Black hair.

It was the hair color of her admired brother, the Black Prince, Raul.

‘The same magic light as big brother...’

Considering how rare black magic light is, the only cadet with black hair at Shuoh Academy might be this guy.

Olivia’s gaze turned to the black-haired cadet.

His ruffian-like face and the sword hilt at his waist captured her attention.

Olivia’s pupils dilated. Her hands trembled slightly.

‘Durandal?’

No doubt.

The legendary sword Durandal.

The item she had been searching for all her life, the relic of her brother.

Her eyes turned cold.

‘I’ll remember this.’

Staring at the black-haired cadet, Olivia bowed.

The opening ceremony was over.

*

Life is a mess, and it’s hard to get by.

The same goes for lucky encounters.

Durandal is not just any item.

It’s the item the main heroine has been searching for her entire life, a personal weapon used by a great hero of France.

If I got it for free, there would be no consequences?

‘That’s absurd.’

Therefore, the current situation was something I had anticipated.

Of course, I have a plan.

"Where did you get that sword?"

The problem is that the timing is too early.

In the auditorium after the opening ceremony.

In this empty place, I am now having a heated after-action with the main heroine.

Olivia’s cold gaze is fixed on me.

The expression of someone who despises the unworthy wielding power.

Ah, in the anime, it was a reward from the industry.

"I got it from the government."

Fluent Japanese came out of my mouth.

The most useful part of the memories and experiences I absorbed from Kim Deok-sung is his native-level Japanese and English skills.

"From the government? That’s absurd..."

"If you don’t believe me, here’s a certificate. Check it out."

I handed her the prepared certificate.

In this world, Korea is a minor hero nation, but it is still a sovereign state.

The scope of what the government can do for its only hero candidate is beyond imagination.

Even if it means using the nation’s credit for an individual.

‘Issuing a certificate is a very easy task.’

Olivia’s eyes trembled as she read the certificate in Japanese and English.

"Now, are you a bit less curious?"

"...Durandal is my brother’s relic..."

She moistened her lips.

A sigh escaped her.

I knew this would happen.

There’s no way Olivia would back down.

If she did, it would be a character break. A character break.

"So?"

"In the hands of an unworthy person... I can never entrust it."

"Are you going to use the logic of power?"

I crossed my arms and sneered.

"It’s not the logic of power."

Olivia spoke with a serious tone.

"...I will challenge you to a duel to test your worth."

"What if I refuse?"

"Then, as you said, we will have to resort to the logic of power."

Olivia stated it as if giving a notice and closed her mouth.

My expression crumpled.

I may be the top in Korea, but that’s only in Korea.

On a global scale, things are different.

If Olivia, backed by the prestige of the hero-strong nation of France, pressures me?

The certificate will become a piece of paper, and I will have to give up Durandal.

That’s what she means by the logic of power.

A room-bound Lü Bu is sad once again.

"Damn, this is a mess."

I cursed in Korean.

The situation is unfolding exactly as I expected.

The problem is that my mood is terrible.

There’s no such thing as a fair thief.

"What did you say?"

A question mark appeared on Olivia’s face.

I took a deep breath.

I cooled my heated head.

I can’t get excited. It will ruin things.

I didn’t take Durandal without a plan.

I did it because I thought it was worth a try.

I’m almost there.

I spoke in Japanese again.

"No, nothing. A test? Sure. It’s all good. But a C-rank like me dueling an A-rank like you? Isn’t that too unfair?"

Her face stiffened.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Let’s put a handicap on your magic power. To my level."

A handicap on magic power.

She will take the bait, the poisoned bait I prepared.

Without a doubt.

Because.

"...If that’s the case."

This is a ‘kind’ light novel world where human goodwill is never doubted.

It’s absurd, but that’s how it is.

"It’s fine."

I laughed.

"By the way, just to be clear, you’re not saying I should win, right?"

"A draw."

Olivia said firmly.

"I don’t expect anything more."

"But what if I win?"

"That won’t happen."

"What if it does?"

In response to my persistent question, Olivia made a disdainful expression.

She spoke in a cold voice.

"If such an impossible thing were to happen... I will become your personal maid."

"Are you serious?"

"I swear by the name of the royal family, I will not lie."

When I asked again, I got a firm answer.

Well, her confidence isn’t misplaced.

Even with a handicap on magic power, she is the best talent in France.

There’s a fundamental difference in talent between a minor nation’s candidate who got lucky with Durandal and her.

She must have thought I wouldn’t be able to bring out Durandal’s full power.

But that’s not the case.

It’s not my concern.

Her spouting light novel clichés about becoming a personal maid is also not my concern.

Anyway, to make sure this is a light novel world.

"Alright."

I drew Durandal from my waist.

Swoosh.

A cold sound, and the gleaming blade was revealed.

Olivia’s pupils trembled at the sight of Durandal.

"To save time, let’s finish this quickly."

I summoned my magic power.

The magic veins in my chest heated up.

The magic power flowing through the magic circuit was greedily consumed by Durandal.

Puff.

Steam rose from the blade that consumed the magic power.

Click, click.

Starting from my right hand holding the sword, a black-glowing glove quickly covered my entire body.

Whirr.

A layer of magic field was added to the fully revealed black full-body armor.