Chapter 35

The noisy skirmish is over, so it's time to have lunch now.

After all, soon there won't even be a moment to think about eating.

The cherry blossom festival is now over.

After lunch, in the afternoon, we decided to proceed with the boat ride, the main event of the day, according to our planned schedule.

The duck boats and rowboats on the lake, a famous feature of Inokashira Park.

Since both boats can only seat two people, there might have been an embarrassing argument between Olivia and Rin at the dock, but it didn't actually happen.

"Hehehe. As expected, you chose me."

During the lunch box battle at lunchtime, Olivia, who had already won, had already settled the matter of riding the rowboat with me.

It's a kind world indeed, where you can prevent embarrassment with just a lunch box.

The lake scenery I've seen in animations spreads before my eyes.

Duck boats and rowboats float on the lake, surrounded by pink cherry blossoms.

I can see couples, families, and friends chatting and taking photos on the lake.

'Now I understand why the boat ride is a feature of this park.'

The scenery is absolutely beautiful.

Compared to the park, which was packed with tourists and incredibly noisy, the calm lake is like heaven.

Now I feel like we're really on an outing.

Yeah, this is what cherry blossom viewing is all about.

Click.

I take a picture of the lake scenery with my phone.

The scene of cherry blossoms and the lake is captured in the photo.

Even though this beautiful scene won't last much longer, we should enjoy it while we can.

Even the best scenery is appreciated after a meal.

Still, it feels good to be out after a long time.

"Let's go to the center of the lake."

I say to Olivia, who is sitting right in front of me, facing the lake breeze.

The gate opens right below the center of the lake.

Olivia, who was holding the oars in both hands, trembles.

"It's all good, but why do I, a noble princess of France, have to row this thing?! Really, you're a complete fool who has no respect for a lady! Idiot! Moron! Sea cucumber! Sea urchin! Squid!"

Olivia, whose tsundere button has been pressed, shouts with a red face.

Fortunately, there aren't many people around to hear her on the lake.

Adapting to her unpredictable tsundere remarks is still difficult.

I feel embarrassed.

"Don't whine."

I find rowing the boat annoying.

Since we have a super rowboat, there's no need for me to do such physical labor.

It's only natural for Olivia to do it.

And what kind of lady is she?

By the time you become a hero candidate, you already have strength far beyond that of an ordinary person.

It might be annoying, but to complain about rowing is just whining.

"Ugh..."

Olivia groans.

"Fine, fine. I can't help it. I'm your personal maid, after all! This is also part of my duty as a personal maid..."

Olivia mumbles and starts rowing.

The rowboat on the lake moves toward the center.

Her rowing skills are quite good, and we quickly reach our destination.

Olivia puts down the oars.

"Worst, lowest, you have no sense of mood at all, moron..."

She pouts.

Rustle.

I take out a dango from the paper bag I bought at the kiosk in front of the dock.

A skewer with round, brown-sauced dango in my hand.

Because of Rin's passionate argument that dango and matcha are essential for cherry blossom viewing, I tried matcha on the grass earlier, but honestly, it wasn't to my taste.

It was bitter and astringent.

I don't understand why people drink tea or coffee for their bitterness.

If you're going to eat something, isn't something sweet the best?

"Here, eat this."

I hand a dango to Olivia.

Her eyes widen.

"Are you giving this to me now?"

"Yeah."

We're in the same boat, so it would be awkward for me to eat alone.

This snack doesn't cost much.

It's perfect for showing off.

The kimbap and yubu chobap were quite delicious earlier.

Olivia's face turns red.

"What... what... what... what are you talking about...?"

Olivia's face turns red.

She turns her head away.

"Such obvious praise... I, I don't feel anything at all!! Humph!"

She finally asks seriously.

I sigh.

"You're always too blunt, and that's always the problem!"

And now she's nagging.

I shake my head.

Well, it's not the first time Olivia has said something that doesn't make sense.

Since the outing atmosphere is good now, there's no need to ruin it.

Anyway, we won't be able to enjoy it much longer.

I throw the empty wooden skewer into the lake.

"Hey, you, littering is a crime!!"

Olivia shouts with a red face.

What, which button did I press this time?

This is ridiculous.

Just as I was about to say something out of exasperation,

Bubbles start to rise from the nearby water.

"What is it?"

Olivia's eyebrows twitch.

Rustle.

I crumple the paper bag in my hand and load it with magic power.

Hum.

The magic power core and black stone in my chest resonate, doubling the magic power.

Feeling the pleasure of double magic power flowing through my magic circuit, I throw the blackened paper bag into the water where the bubbles are rising.

[Screech!]

Splash!

A monster from another world, the Alligatorman, a B-rank aquatic humanoid, leaps out of the water with a roar.

"Monster? How... how...!"

Olivia is flustered.

[Growl!]

[Screech!]

The Alligatorman roars and surfaces.

Other people start to murmur when they see this.

Click.

I take a picture with my phone.

I immediately send the picture to the Association President Ichiro's contact.

[Emergency Report]

[Monster appearance at Inokashira Park. Suspected gate opening.]

[Please issue an emergency report and request support troops. Temporary command authority is entrusted to me, Kim Deok-sung, a first-year student at Shuei Hero Academy.]

If I did this much, that perverted uncle should understand.

The original story's content comes to mind.

In the original, Yuji, driven by a sense of duty to protect everyone, jumps into the lake without reporting or requesting support.

Olivia, worried about Yuji, jumps in with him, and they discover the gate at the bottom of the lake.

It's a typical lighthearted and unrealistic plot of a light novel.

'So, in the end, he gets hit and loses to the villain while trying to defeat the boss.'

I click my tongue.

But not anymore.

Since I've taken care of the aftermath, there's no way for the gate or the villain to escape.

Hum!

A chilling warning sound comes from my phone as a text message arrives.

[Emergency Report]

[Monster appearance at Inokashira Park. Suspected gate opening.]

[Please move to the nearest air-raid shelter immediately and be on guard.]

[Heroes and hunters at the scene, please temporarily follow the command of Kim Deok-sung, a first-year student at Shuei Hero Academy.]

[We will provide more information as it becomes available.]

Association President Ichiro.

If that uncle wanted to test my abilities, I thought he would entrust me with command authority, and it went as expected.

After all, the only heroes and hunters in this park are our group and Nishizawa Eri.

[If you received the emergency report, gather next to me. Right now.]

[Isihara, you, shoot to keep those alligator guys in check.]

I send a message to the group chat I created for the cherry blossom festival.

"Did you get the message?"

"Yes, but... aren't you nervous? This is a real situation!"

Olivia's eyes tremble.

I turn my head.

Bang! Bang!

Gunshots ring out.

[Screech!!]

The Alligatormen, who were raising their heads above the water, are knocked back by the golden magic bullets fired by Isihara.

The Golden Sun is more obedient than I thought.

"Not really."

"......Hmph."

Olivia crosses her arms.

She does this even in such a situation.

I ignore her and look around.

Nishizawa Eri, the girl in the baracouta coat, sunglasses, and mask, looks flustered.

"Hey, Nishizawa Eri."

I shout, infusing my voice with magic power.

"Who, who is Nishizawa Eri? Did you, did you mistake someone?"

I hear her awkward formal speech.

Given that she sticks to her concept even in a real situation, it's truly a light novel world.

I sigh involuntarily.

"Stop showing off and take off your disguise. I knew you were following us from the beginning."

Do you think putting on a baracouta coat completes your disguise?

"Who, who is Nishizawa Eri?"

I'm going to lose my mind.

I hold back the curses rising to my throat and say,

"Did you get the emergency report? Who's the on-site commander? Do you know what will happen if you don't follow my command? You'll be disciplined by both the Association and the Academy, you know?"

That's why I wanted the command authority.

Nishizawa Eri's head bows.

Her hands tremble.

"......Filth, worst, lowest, I feel terrible."

With familiar insults, she takes off her fedora, sunglasses, and mask.

Her beautiful face, even when distorted, looks unpleasant.

"Black hair, how can a trash like you have command authority...?"

Nishizawa Eri, who is clearly upset, contorts her face.

Anyway, she has no manners.

This is even worse than Shinozaki Rin.

If you're annoyed, why don't you get closer to the Association President?

"Stop talking nonsense and gather here. If you don't want to be disciplined."

Carrot and stick?

You're just the stick.

"Trash, filth, the world's worst, lowest, pervert, lecher..."

Nishizawa Eri keeps insulting me while rowing.

This is what bullying is.

Now I understand why hunter protagonists in light novels always cry out for justice and soda.

Web novels are the best, after all.

Bang!

Meanwhile, gunshots keep ringing out.

It doesn't take long for everyone to gather near the boat I'm in with Olivia.

"So, what are we going to do now?"

Olivia, with her arms crossed, asks.

Bang!

Isihara's gun barrel emits a golden magic light.