Chapter 58

It was certainly an act of self-loathing and tenderness, wanting to save Shinazaki Rin but being unable to do so.

That's why she asked for help from me, her only friend and roommate.

To save Shinazaki Rin, who had been mistreated until now.

As he said, only Kurosa's new sword could correct the twisted mind of the Association President.

Yuu thought this.

'After all, you were also concerned about Shinazaki, Kim.'

The fact that Shinazaki Rin had a crush on Kim Deok-sung was so well-known in the academy that there was hardly anyone who didn't know.

It was a natural result, given that she had publicly confessed in the classroom.

Yuu knew about Rin's crush and, since she was a precious childhood friend to him, he secretly cheered for her to be with Kim Deok-sung as she wished.

However, he was honestly a bit resentful of how Kim Deok-sung kept pushing her away despite her persistent advances.

But that was a misconception on Yuu's part.

Kim Deok-sung was also concerned about his childhood friend Rin's feelings.

Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to tell her story to Yuu.

'Kim, you're a good friend.'

A smile appeared on Yuu's face.

Indeed, he was the kind of man that childhood friend Rin could fall for.

He deserved to have Rin.

Yuu thought this.

'I should tell this good news to Shinazaki, who likes Kim.'

While thinking of the idea that would make Kim Deok-sung panic if he heard it, Yuu washed the dishes with a sponge.

It was a night where dreams diverged.

'I really am a mess of a woman.'

"Get up, Kim Deok-sung."

A familiar voice came from afar.

"It's your turn for night watch this time."

Night watch?

Suddenly, memories of his military service came to mind, and he was wide awake.

His eyes snapped open.

"Got up, huh."

Inside the spacious but dark tent.

There, Rin, a girl with a navy ponytail and a small flashlight, stood.

Of all things, a flashlight.

It reminded him of the military.

"......Wasn't I the last watch today?"

In his half-asleep, half-awake state, he remembered today's night watch schedule.

He was the last watch, and Rin, unfortunately, was right before him.

In the military, the least desirable times for night duty were the second watch and right before the last watch.

"Good job, Rin."

Today, Rin looked pitiful.

He got out of his sleeping bag and stood up.

"Th-thank you......"

Rin's face turned red.

He put on his shoes.

He went outside.

It was closer to dawn than night, being the last watch.

The clear night air filled his lungs.

"Ugh."

While stretching, he sat down in front of the burning campfire.

Whoosh.

The crimson flames flickered in his eyes.

The cold morning air and the warm heat of the campfire mixed to create a comfortable temperature.

Damn Ishihara and Kurosa for chopping firewood with an axe and sweating.

'There won't be any major events until the last day, I guess.'

The original content reflexively came to mind.

Of course, there were several daily events between yesterday's lucky pervert scene and the last night's courage training, but they didn't significantly impact the story.

It would be fine to just let them pass quietly.

'Courage training......'

An event that couldn't be missed at the interim school.

Of course, since "The Weakest Hero" is a school battle story rather than a slice-of-life, the courage training isn't just a simple horror event.

The interim school administration sets up a large-scale magical barrier called the Illusion Fog, which restrains the students' senses, and the goal is to reach the destination by avoiding various obstacles and illusions within it.

It can be considered a training to test the students' senses.

As expected of a light novel, it starts with a lucky pervert scene where Rin clings to the protagonist, saying she's scared, but in reality......

"Kim Deok-sung."

Rin's voice reached his ears as he recalled the original content.

What a surprise.

He looked up.

There, Rin stood with a hesitant attitude.

"What is it? Can't sleep?"

"It's......an awkward time to sleep right now."

"Ah, yeah......that's true."

He nodded.

After all, he had also stayed up all night when he was right before the last watch.

Rin fidgeted with her fingers and spoke to him in an uncertain voice.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?"

"When have I ever asked for your permission? Do as you please."

Honestly, it was a bit pitiful that she was right before the last watch.

It wouldn't matter if she sat next to him.

"Really? Thank you."

Rin sat next to him.

*

Kim Deok-sung and Rin.

An awkward silence hung between them.

Rin's lips trembled.

'Ugh, I am such a......'

She fidgeted with her fingers.

Thump thump.

Rin's heart pounded as if it would burst.

Yesterday.

Since realizing her crush in the cave, she had been in this state.

She couldn't bear the embarrassment.

Suddenly, she remembered when she had publicly confessed in the classroom.

'How could my former self do such an embarrassing thing......'

Rin lowered her head.

Her ponytail swayed in the wind.

An action she would never do now that she had realized her crush.

Not only that.

All the disgraceful acts she had committed in the name of a beauty trap played in her mind in real-time.

Making poisonous dishes, flaunting her chest size and virginity, everything.

'I really am a mess of a woman......He might hate me......'

Rin bit her lip.

She remembered the first time they met.

When she couldn't acknowledge his skill in defeating Olivia, when she knew about Kurosa and his situation but couldn't understand it.

She had challenged him to a duel out of the blue.

'There were other ways besides a duel.'

In fact, it wasn't even a situation that required a duel.

But she insisted on a duel out of her own inferiority complex and ugly stubbornness.

After that, Rin continued to provoke him.

'I must have been a woman he couldn't help but hate. I am.'

Rin realized this too late, only yesterday.

Even if she were Kim Deok-sung, she wouldn't like a woman with low womanly skills, poor cooking, and no backbone.

'Yet, you, this man......for me......'

Rin bit her lip.

She only learned from her conversation with Yuu, the previous night watch.

Kim Deok-sung.

He had asked Yuu to help resolve the conflict with the Association President for her sake.

"Kim did this for you, thinking of you, and even asked me for help. Shinazaki, why don't you apologize to Kim for what you did wrong?"

Yuu's words echoed in her mind.

Her heart pounded.

'For me......'

Saying one thing to her face and being kind to her behind her back.

What a bad man.

Rin muttered this to herself and called out to Kim Deok-sung.

"K-Kim Deok-sung......"

"What is it?"

"Th-that......"

His black eyes looked at her.

Rin's words were stuck in her throat.

Her face turned red.

Rin averted her gaze and lowered her head.

"......I'm sorry. For everything I've done to you......all of it......was embarrassing. Insisting on a duel with you......provoking you......I want to apologize for all of it here. I'm really sorry, Kim Deok-sung."

Rin's hands trembled.

"Since I'm such a stubborn woman, it's only natural that you hate me......But even so, I don't want to be a shameless woman to you until the end."

Tears streamed down her face.

She didn't want him to hate her.

But he would hate her.

Rin buried her head between her knees.

Crack, crack.

The sound of burning firewood echoed in her ears.

*

It was fine that Rin suddenly apologized.

But he didn't understand why she was crying.

It was confusing.

Rin wasn't usually such an emotionally unstable character.

Well, this was reality, not fiction, so it could happen.

A sigh escaped his lips.

Honestly, he still found Rin unlikable, but in a kind world, not accepting an apology could lead to trouble.

He clutched his aching heart and spoke awkwardly.

"......You did a good job apologizing."

"Even an apology like this......you'll accept it?"

Rin sniffled and cried.

The protagonist and others couldn't distinguish between acting and real emotions.

So, when a cross-dressing heroine appeared later, everyone would mistake her for a man.

"I'll accept it, so stop crying."

He was afraid someone might see.

"U-uh......okay. I understand."

Rin wiped her eyes with her sleeve and lowered her head.

"Still, you're a bad man, Kim Deok-sung. The worst of the worst."

Rin muttered.

Hearing such things from Kasumi-senpai was so common that it didn't affect him much.

"......Here. I got these kirimochi for us to eat."

Rin handed him two skewers of white rice cakes on wooden sticks.

Kirimochi.

A must-have at Japanese campfires, grilled mochi.

This time, the preparation was unusually thorough.

"Um, would you mind grilling my share too......?"

Rin asked,