Chapter 79

The carriage grows quiet.

"Hehe."

A smile plays on Olivia's lips.

As I watch Olivia eating with her fork, I use my chopsticks to pick up some lotus root stir-fry and eat it with my rice.

'Not bad.'

I was curious about the taste of this dish, which often appears as a side dish in Japanese home cooking, but it's not bad.

The bento is for one person, so it disappears quickly when we eat together.

After finishing the bento box, I peel and eat the boiled egg Olivia packed.

"The egg is pretty good, too."

It tastes better as a dessert after finishing the meal.

"Huh, h-h-how can I be happy with such meaningless praise...!?"

Olivia's cheeks turn pink, and she pouts.

I start to feel sleepy after finishing the egg.

Maybe it's because I didn't sleep well last night.

I'm tired.

I need to take a nap.

"Hey, Olivia. I'm going to sleep, so wake me up when we arrive."

"W-what kind of ridiculous order is that...?"

Without even listening to Olivia's full response, I close my eyes and fall asleep.

*

Deok-sung Kim falls asleep instantly.

Olivia's lips twitch as she watches him.

"Ugh... Really... So unpredictable, so terrible..."

Despite her harsh words, her heart is pounding so loudly she fears it might be heard outside.

Thump, thump.

Olivia's face turns red as she realizes her heart's rapid beating.

'...Idiot. Messing with a lady's feelings like that...'

Recently, Olivia has felt her emotions spiraling out of control.

Just now, for example.

Originally, a childish seat-grabbing contest would have been beneath her, but she participated.

When he grabbed her wrist at Tokyo Station, she didn't even have the presence of mind to retort as usual.

Her heart was pounding so hard that she was too busy trying to calm it down.

When he suggested sharing the bento, it was the same.

When he asked her to feed him, something lovers might do, she almost wanted to cover her own mouth.

'How could I do such an embarrassing thing...!'

But even Olivia didn't imagine that he would actually feed her.

Moreover, recently, Deok-sung's behavior has become much more lenient towards her.

Actions that would have elicited harsh words in the past now pass without comment.

Even to the point where other girls complain about her receiving favoritism.

Just now, for example.

Although she made a mistake by bringing boiled eggs and soda based on Bella's advice, he didn't scold her.

He even said the boiled egg was good and suggested sharing the ekiben, which he clearly bought for himself.

His seemingly indifferent but thoughtful consideration.

'...Idiot, fool. You're so sweet in unnecessary ways, which is why other thief cats keep clinging to you!'

Thump.

Olivia's face turns hot again.

'Maybe... I... like other thief cats... have fallen for... this fool.'

──Perhaps.

No.

Maybe much earlier.

From the day she became his personal maid, or even from the day she learned about his background.

She has...

When Olivia's thoughts reach this point.

Thud.

Deok-sung's head leans towards her shoulder.

"W-what?!"

Olivia is startled, suddenly becoming his pillow.

Asleep, Deok-sung doesn't respond.

His breathing, resting on her shoulder, echoes in her ear.

Her heart, which she had long ignored, beats even faster.

The emotions she had suppressed surge through her like a wild current.

Thump, thump.

Feeling the pleasant heartbeat, Olivia closes and opens her eyes.

She reaches out with a trembling hand and strokes Deok-sung's black hair.

"Really... Such an incompetent person... Of course, you can't do anything without me, your all-purpose maid."

So, I'll continue to stay by your side.

Olivia swallows the rest of her words and affectionately strokes Deok-sung's hair.

A faint smile appears on her face.

*

[...We are arriving at Kyoto Station.]

The distant announcement.

"Get up."

The familiar voice from right next to me.

"We've arrived in Kyoto. You need to wake up."

Arrived?

I open my eyes.

As my blurry vision clears, I see Olivia looking at me with a red face.

And my head is resting on her shoulder.

Wait, resting on her shoulder?

I quickly lift my head.

"You must have been quite tired. Did you sleep well?"

Olivia speaks without her usual stammer, smiling warmly and in a gentle voice.

"That's... "

Our eyes meet.

Unlike usual, she doesn't avoid my gaze or pout, but smiles warmly.

Her blue eyes, porcelain skin, platinum hair, and striking beauty stand out even more today.

She was always cute, but is she really this beautiful?

I feel a bit awkward.

I pull my head away and look elsewhere, trying to deflect.

"I guess I did sleep well... "

"Hehe. You should be grateful to me, your personal maid. I had no choice but to take care of you. Got it?"

Olivia speaks in her usual haughty tone.

Yeah, this is the tsundere Olivia I know.

Feeling a bit more at ease, I turn my gaze to the window.

Kyoto.

The main stage of the original story's fourth volume, where Mei-jin Hero Academy is located.

Wah, wah, wah.

The trainees move directly to their hotel after arriving in Kyoto.

The familiar scenery of Kyoto Station and the landmark Kyoto Tower pass by.

'Finally in Kyoto.'

The scenery I've only seen in manga now unfolds before my eyes, making me feel a renewed sense of excitement.

Following the student council's lead, we head to the hotel.

After unpacking at the hotel, which Mei-jin Hero Academy has rented out entirely, we gather in the grand hall as instructed by the student council president.

The trainees line up in rows.

In front of them stands the silver-haired girl, Arisu Saijo, flanked by the vice president and secretary.

"This Kyoto training program will last ten days. First, we plan to make official contact with Mei-jin Hero Academy and negotiate."

Ten days.

The exact same schedule as in the original story.

The difference is that the student council, not the teachers, is leading the trainees.

In other words, there isn't a single teacher in the training group.

'Did they form the training group with only trainees to avoid provoking Mei-jin Hero Academy?'

In the original story, the teacher who accompanied the exchange, Mayuzumi-sensei, wasn't particularly helpful.

Teachers in academy stories are usually as useless as police in horror movies.

But still, a teacher is a teacher.

The chairman must have thought that if a teacher accompanied us, the already suspicious Mei-jin Hero Academy might outright reject the training program.

"Silence. Please be quiet."

When the trainees get too noisy, Nagamine Reiji gives them a warning.

The trainees quiet down as if doused with cold water.

A glint appears in Arisu's silver eyes as she looks at me.

"That's a valid question. Kim Deok-sung. However, as the student council president representing Shouou Hero Academy, if I request the training using the council's authority, they might try to stall, but they won't be able to refuse. Is that a satisfactory answer?"

The authority of the student council.

I didn't expect the student council's power in the light novel world to be so useful.

Well, it is a light novel student council, after all.

But that's not the only thing I'm curious about.

"I have one more question."

"Go ahead, Kim Deok-sung."

"Since we're in Kyoto, aren't we going to do any sightseeing?"

Sightseeing is a significant matter.

In the original world, I was just a casual fan who had never been to Japan.

While the story progression is important, a bit of sightseeing wouldn't hurt, right?

Since the student council is handling the initial contact, there's no need for me to get involved.

As soon as I finish speaking, Nagamine Reiji, standing next to me, exclaims excitedly.

"Sightseeing during a mission! What nonsense... President, such a question..."

"Calm down, Nagamine."

Snap.

Arisu raises her left hand to calm the agitated Nagamine Reiji.

A faint smile appears on her ice-cold face.

She's smiling?

In the original story, Arisu is known for her expressionless demeanor, and she only smiles in three specific situations:

When she shows her true self as a country girl, when she's extremely upset, or when she's extremely happy.

Since she's not showing her country girl side, it must be one of the other two.

Arisu's lips part.

"Do you not understand Kim Deok-sung's intention, Nagamine? He's suggesting reconnaissance under the guise of sightseeing."

What?

"Indeed, I see. My insight was lacking. President."

They start misinterpreting my words without me saying anything.

It's ridiculous.

"Is that correct, Kim Deok-sung?"

Arisu asks, looking at me.

Since it's too late to say I just wanted to have fun, I nod.

"Kim, are you actually a great person?"

"I didn't know."

"I want to be praised by President, too!"

The trainees' murmurs reach my ears.

It's a rare positive conversation.

"Our training group is officially here for a Kyoto trip. Staying at the hotel without any sightseeing program might raise unnecessary suspicion. It would be more natural to actively enjoy sightseeing. Good point, Kim Deok-sung."

Arisu speaks calmly.

"Any more questions?"

"No."

I've asked everything I needed to.

"Very well. The student council will handle the team assignments, so all trainees will conduct reconnaissance while sightseeing at designated locations."

Clap.

Arisu claps her hands, ending the meeting.

Now, all that's left is reconnaissance, or rather, sightseeing.

Hooray for the light novel's convenient settings.

*

The first day of the training, on the streets of Kyoto.

The team members assigned to me by the student council are:

"Hehe. Being in the same team as Master is super lucky! Eri-ling is already excited?"

"Master, please take care of me..."

Nishizawa and Mako.

Nishizawa grins and fiddles with her dog collar.

"Hey, Nishizawa. Your constant chatter gives me a headache, so shut up. And can you stop with the dog collar and that annoying third-person speech?"

Honestly, I can't stand it.

Every time I hear that damn "Eri-ling," my stomach churns.

No matter how pretty her face is, the immense dislike I have for Nishizawa can't be diluted by just that.

I don't understand why she won't take off that damn dog collar.

"I don't want to, Eri-ling. Honestly, I'm a bit upset because Master has been neglecting me. You didn't choose Eri-ling during the train ride. You only favor the princess. Hmph. Eri-ling can cook delicious miso soup for Master every morning!"

"Hey, Nishizawa... If you keep this up, Master might start to dislike you."

"Puff puff puff..."

Nishizawa puffs out her cheeks.

Are you a kid?

I sigh.