Chapter 29

"......I'm sorry."

It seemed like Ishihara was forcing out an apology.

Kim Tae Yang, you still haven't learned your manners.

I replay the recording on my phone.

[And I'll even give you my underlings. Though I doubt that will happen. Hahahahahahaha!!]

Ishihara's face stiffens as he listens to the humiliating voice.

"You agreed to be my underling. You should use honorifics."

Where did this casual speech come from?

"I'm sorry......"

"Good. From now on, always use honorifics."

"Yes......"

"If you understand, get out."

"Yes, I understand."

Ishihara leaves the room with a dejected look.

I turn my gaze to Shinazaki Rin, who looks as if she has lost everything.

"You?"

"......I'm sorry."

She apologizes in a dazed voice.

"Right. You can go now."

I wave my hand.

Shinazaki Rin slowly shakes her head.

"......Not yet...... Kim Deok Sung...... I have something to tell you."

Something to tell me?

"What is it?"

"Chairman wants to meet you. The treasure you wanted...... the Black Stone, he will personally hand it over to you."

The Chairman is Shinazaki Ichiro.

He wants to see me.

'Did I make Shinazaki Rin fall because of this?'

The current Shinazaki Ichiro is still a cold-blooded man who hasn't realized his gentle heart for his daughter.

If he wants to see me, there's only one reason.

'He wants to recruit me.'

Since I need the Black Stone anyway, meeting him shouldn't be a problem.

"Alright."

"The Chairman will contact you first."

"I understand. You can go now."

After delivering her message, Shinazaki Rin leaves the room with a dazed expression.

Now, only the initial member is left in the room.

An awkward silence fills the air.

"......You're still as rough and straightforward as ever."

Olivia breaks the silence.

Seriously, who would think she's not a light novel heroine?

In this aspect, she's still as naive as ever.

If I say anything, it will just lead to a pointless argument.

I don't bother responding.

Instead, I eat the remaining apple with a toothpick.

Olivia speaks in a small voice.

"But it might have been a little satisfying...... What am I saying?!"

She's making a fuss all by herself.

I finish the plate of apples.

"I'm done."

"What, what?! You, you really! This is the problem with your straightforwardness!!"

Olivia shouts with a red face.

Ah, I'm surprised.

Now, I can't even tell when her tsundere button is pressed.

I shake my head and turn on my phone.

It's been a while since Nodoka from the newspaper club left.

Considering the speed of rumor spread these days, the news has probably reached Korea by now.

It's time to check the results.

First, I access the Academy Channel.

[Exclusive! Miss Shinazaki, the young master of the Ishihara Group, performs dogeza to Kim Deok Sung! (Photos included)]

[The promised dogeza, here it is~~~ (≧▽≦)/(≧▽≦)]

[>> Did you wait for this day? www]

[Is it fake? (｡ŏ_ŏ)]

[>> It seems real? (・□・；)]

[>> The newspaper club only publishes the truth, right? www]

[The real dogeza of Miss and Young Master wwww so funny wwwwww I didn't expect to see it in real life]

[Some people didn't know about the dogeza promise between the two? www]

[Miss Shinazaki definitely knew, but this is the first I've heard of it from Young Master Ishihara]

[The Korean student wwww real dogeza wwww how rare wwwww]

[>> Completely rare wwwww]

[>> I didn't expect them to actually do it www]

As expected, Shinazaki Rin and Ishihara Daiki are being thoroughly ridiculed on the school community.

Well, it's their own fault.

They shouldn't have made such a bet. I would never do something like that.

I close the Academy Channel.

After taking a deep breath, I access the Korean internet.

[Japan sinks!! The K-Hero Kim Deok Sung, who has captured the world's attention, topples Japan's top talent at Shuou Hero Academy! The shocked reactions of the Japanese! The K-Hero Kim Deok Sung, who has upheld Korea's pride in Japan, is in the spotlight!!]

[The president of the Japanese Hero Association couldn't stop his shock and tears! The story behind Miss Shinazaki Rin, Japan's top talent, bowing to the K-Hero! Analysis of why the K-Hero Kim Deok Sung won this Korea-Japan battle, which has captured the world's attention!!]

[K-Hero Kim Deok Sung! Finally conquering Japan! The reasons why the top daughter of Japan's most prestigious family and the third generation of Japan's top conglomerate bowed and begged for mercy in front of the K-Hero Kim Deok Sung, causing Japan to fall into a state of shock and silence!!]

["Never underestimate Kim Deok Sung." The K-Hero Kim Deok Sung, who has become the hope of the world!! His super-strong performance is boosting Korea's status on the international stage! Japan is shocked, America is paying attention, and France loves the K-Hero!!]

Just looking at the thumbnails makes me feel dizzy.

The double dogeza photo taken by Nodoka is embedded in the thumbnails, along with a cleverly edited photo of the sweating Shinazaki Ichiro.

But now, even the thumbnails of the national pride YouTube channels don't make me angry.

Because.

[1,344,566 views]

The views have already hit the million mark, and all this money is now mine.

Money multiplies.

Unlike the black card and government support, which are reported in real-time to the government, the earnings from the national pride YouTube channel are personal funds that only I can use.

I open the portal site with a smile.

[Kim Deok Sung did it again! Japan's top talent, Shinazaki Rin, is defeated by Kim Deok Sung in their battle! Japan, plunged into a state of shock......]

[(Photo) Shinazaki Rin and Ishihara Daiki, bowing and kowtowing to Kim Deok Sung, the Korean hero candidate, taking over Japan!]

[President Kang: "In this battle, he showed the will of Koreans to the world....... His performance, which brings glory to our country, made my heart burn and tears flow......."]

[Today's Japanese Language Corner: Dogeza (土下座)]

[Kim Deok Sung's Korea-Japan battle victory! 50% off sale on Japanese electronics!]

[Click the like button for the victorious Kim Deok Sung team ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Likes: 134,235] [Dislikes: –1]

[Kim Deok Sung can't stand it ㅋㅋ]

[Kim Deok Sung! Kim Deok Sung! Kim Deok Sung!]

[Look at how fast the likes are going up ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[We are living in the age of Kim Deok Sung...]

[The main character is overworking ㅋㅋㅋ]

[One Japan-lover's dislike is disgusting ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[Honestly, isn't it a bit too much to say Korea has surpassed Japan with this battle? Objectively, Japan still has a stronger hero force, right?]

[- wls]

[- Real name verification for dislikes]

[- Come on, Japan-lovers ㅋㅋ]

[- Stop crying and speak up ㅋㅋㅋㅋ]

[- If you're going to say this, why use Korean? Write in Japanese ㅋㅋ]

[- In Japan, they wouldn't accept a Japan-lover like you ㅋㅋ]

The depths of national pride are there.

My mind is spinning.

No matter what, this is a bit much.

My face feels hot.

There's a limit to flattery, and this is just madness.

I sigh and close the portal site.

If I keep looking, I might lose my mind.

Rumble.

My phone vibrates and a message appears.

[This is Chairman Shinazaki Ichiro. Kim Deok Sung student. Let's meet now.]

Shinazaki Ichiro, the chairman of the Japanese Hero Association.

He has sent the message as Shinazaki Rin predicted.

Make me a man.

Ginza. A high-end sushi restaurant.

The spacious restaurant, with its impressive Japanese traditional interior, is eerily quiet.

I am led inside by a staff member.

A tatami room with a view of a Japanese garden.

Across the rectangular table, he is there.

"You must be Kim Deok Sung student."

A man with dark green hair and melancholic green eyes.

He is Shinazaki Ichiro, Shinazaki Rin's stepfather.

"Please sit."

I sit down as invited.

Shinazaki Ichiro.

The chairman of the Japanese Hero Association and a key character in Volume 2.

Numerous details about him flash through my mind.

'He is a dangerous figure now.'

The most important point is that he is a dangerous opponent at this moment.

Before the washing machine starts, the current Shinazaki Ichiro is a madman who will stop at nothing to erase the shadow of the Sword Saint.

This character even raised suspicions among fans who hadn't read the original when he first appeared in the anime, wondering if he was the mastermind.

However, after being 'saved' by the protagonist at the end of Volume 2