Aris’s face turns as red as a beet.
“If you don’t want to be misunderstood, let’s sit apart.”
Aris shakes her head in denial at my words.
Panic is evident in her silver eyes.
“That’s not it. I’m not saying I dislike it…”
“Deok-Sung-chan──☆”
Just then, a familiar voice echoes from afar.
What’s that?
Both Aris and I turn our gazes toward the direction of the voice.
There, we see…
“I came all the way from Tokyo to meet Deok-Sung-chan! Hehe, give me a compliment!”
A red-haired girl with glasses—a super genius little scientist, Saori, who is Ishihara Daiki’s little sister.
“Damn that tyrannical boss and his demonic assistant. They send me to Kyoto fully equipped just to clean up after these brats…”
A mint-haired beauty in a kimono, holding a pipe and wearing a blindfold, Kamiya Ritsuko.
“Oh, Ritsuko-chan. You should use nicer words. Or else, it might hurt, you know?”
“…”
Ritsuko shuts her mouth at Saori’s words.
Saori, who quiets her down, approaches us while alternating her gaze between Aris and me.
“By the way, Deok-Sung-chan.”
“What?”
“If you’re sitting that close together, are you, um, dating A-chan?”
Saori throws out an innocent question.
“That’s…”
Aris looks startled by Saori’s question.
She seems flustered by the sudden inquiry, pouting her lips.
It’s a complete mess.
“No, we’re not dating.”
“…”
Hearing my response, Aris’s shoulders droop slightly.
Her expression tightens.
Why is she suddenly reacting like that?
“I see. So you’re not dating. Deok-Sung-chan, you need to be careful about harem situations. As a fan of yours, I really don’t want to see you splitting into multiple bad endings.”
What nonsense is that?
Just thinking about returning to the real world and those New World League goofs makes my head hurt, let alone harem nonsense.
Forget it.
A fourth-dimensional mad scientist throws out words without a second thought.
Thinking too deeply will just give me a headache.
“Stop with the nonsense. If you’re here, let’s head to the hotel now.”
All available forces are gathered.
It’s time to start the strategy meeting for real.
Although I’m not sure if we’ll actually have a proper meeting with these regrettable light novel characters all in one place.
Always rooting for you.
In the hotel conference room.
A spacious area equipped with a beam projector for business meetings, a screen, meeting tables, and chairs—all the core members of the training squad, including myself, were gathered.
Student Council Vice President Morishita Miho and Secretary Nagamine Reiji.
Second-year top student Hoshino Kasumi, the groom Yuji, and Ishihara Daiki.
Kamiya Ritsuko and Ishihara Saori, dispatched as reinforcements.
And of course, Olivia, Makoto, Rin, and Nishizawa too.
Naturally, with everyone gathered, the noise level shot up.
“Eri-ring will sit next to the Master this week. I can’t give up my spot to either the cow or the princess!”
“Shut up, washboard. Obviously, the spot next to Kim Deok-Sung is mine. Kim Deok-Sung, if I sit next to you, I’ll let you touch my thighs as much as you want.”
“Both of you, shut it! The seat next to him naturally belongs to me, the loyal maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte!”
“Shut your mouth! The seat next to him is obviously reserved for me, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, his personal maid!”
“That’s some nonsense.”
Sure enough, the three competing girls began arguing over my one and only seat.
“Auntie, what on earth are you doing in Kyoto?”
“I told you not to call me auntie, Makoto. This is why keeping that black beast around is pointless; look what I’ve done for you… all for you… just stop talking.”
“Your abuse didn’t help at all. Don’t spout nonsense. It’s annoying.”
Makoto and Ritsuko are already growling at each other.
“Brother! Long time no see! I’m glad you’ve become a model student since meeting Deok-Sung! Mom and Dad will be happy too!”
“Hey, Saori… we haven’t seen each other in ages, and all you talk about is your sister?”
“Hmph. You always see him. Deok-Sung is someone you can’t always see. You, a mere household name, can’t understand my fangirling for him.”
“No way! The black beast’s influence has even reached Saori…!!”
Even the Ishihara siblings are having a dizzying conversation.
We’re not even started yet, and I already feel drained.
“So, who’s sitting next to you this time? Obviously me, right?”
“Answer me, Kim Deok-Sung.”
“Eri-Ring, if you don’t choose me this time, you’ll sulk again. Hmph.”
Thud.
The three girls glare at me, slamming their hands on the table.
I gasped.
I already have a headache.
Pressing my temples, I answer lethargically.
“Kurosawa Yuji.”
“Huh, me?”
Yuji, surprised by my call, points at himself.
“Yes, you. Sit next to me. I’m dying from a headache.”
I’m so sick of this damn fight.
Honestly, it would be better if the protagonist sat next to me instead.
“Alright. If it’s a request from Kim, I will happily oblige. We’re friends.”
Yuji sits next to me with a serious look.
The three girls explode in frustration.
“Grrr… I thought the seat next to you was obviously mine! Well, I guess it’s not bad for Kurosawa to sit there. Hmph. But next time, I’m sitting next to you. Be prepared!”
She dramatically places her hand on her chest and points at me while shouting, Olivia.
“Sheesh… At least it’s good it’s Kurosawa sitting next to you. Kurosawa, take care of Kim Deok-Sung. Block other girls from getting close.”
“Uh? Sure. Don’t worry, Shinozaki. We’re friends after all.”
“Yeah. I’m relieved.”
Shinozaki Rin conspiring with Yuji.
And then…
“Hmph. Eri-Ring is sulking. I hate Master. Dislike. To cheer Eri-Ring up later, Master has to grant Eri-Ring a wish.”
Nishizawa pouts.
The other two girls have stepped back, but she’s particularly bothersome.
Ugh. Save the words.
“Hmph.”
Nishizawa, crossing her arms with a snort, pouts as if she’s sulking.
If I leave it like this, she’ll just keep doing that.
“Alright, just leave. Nishizawa.”
Her wish will probably just be to go on a little outing together anyway.
If that can ease this headache, it’s a cheap price to pay.
“Master, is that a promise? Great! Eri-Ring feels better now. Hehe.”
Nishizawa finally steps aside with a goofy smile.
Phew, I’m saved.
“Was that crappy laugh really necessary?”
“Seriously, Nishizawa. A wish without the permission of your personal maid? What do you think… some trick?”
“Hmph. It’s a secret promise between Master and Eri-Ring. The princess and the cow don’t need to know.”
“Yikes!!”
“Hmph… if you don’t shut that mouth of yours…”
Just as Shinozaki Rin and Olivia were about to pounce on Nishizawa…
“The president is entering.”
Nagamine Reiji speaks loudly into the microphone.
At that moment, the door to the conference room opens, and she walks in.
A beautiful girl with silver hair resembling moonlight and mysterious silver eyes.
It’s Student Council President Saionji Aris.
“Everyone, quiet down! Please!”
Vice President Morishita Miho says with a playful laugh.
The conference room quiets down as if someone poured cold water on it.
Thud.
The door closes, and Saionji Aris steps up to the podium.
“Looks like everyone is here.”
Her cold gaze sweeps across the crowd.
Completely different from her usual relaxed self when drinking and acting silly alone, she’s back to her perfect superhuman student council president mode.
“Then, let’s begin the operation briefing. As previously explained, Meijin Hero Academy has already fallen into the hands of the dark forces. It’s safe to say that not just Meijin Hero Academy, but the entire city of Kyoto is under their control.”
At Aris’s words, Yuji bites his lip.
“The League… Those guys…”
Yuji speaks in a soft voice, his eyes trembling.
The New World League and the final boss, Messiah, are the enemies who killed the protagonist Yuji’s family.
Right now, he must be holding back his desire for revenge.
Like a typical “chuunibyou” moment.
‘You’re doing well.’
Yuji. Hang in there and crush that final boss.
Cheering for the protagonist in his heart, he listens to Aris’s briefing with his ears.
“Our student council obtained this information with the collaboration of Mr. Kim Deok-Sung and Miss Hoshino, and thanks to Miss Hoshino’s further cooperation, we were also able to understand the enemy’s plans in detail. The enemy’s plan is as follows.”
Beep.
Aris presses the presentation remote.
A projector turns on, and a map of Meijin Hero Academy appears on the screen.
“The enemies plan to raid the training team’s accommodation set up in the annex on the first night of the tour. The commander is Ryouke Maruyama, the student council president of Meijin Academy. However, the enemy’s real base is elsewhere.”
As Aris presses another button on the remote, a layout of the underground laboratory appears.
A complete map based on Aris’s detection and Saori’s hacking.
“Right here. The underground secret laboratory of Meijin Academy. The entrance to the lab is hidden in the middle of the auditorium. Down here, the S-rank villain who has taken control of Meijin Academy and Kyoto, Doctor Moromoro, is hiding with Miss Satou, a friend of Hoshino, as his hostage.”
Thud.
Aris points to a corner of the map reflected on the screen with a pointer.
“Our mission is to defeat Doctor Moromoro, rescue Miss Satou, and liberate Kyoto and Meijin Academy from the grip of the dark forces. This is the true objective of this operation.”
A suffocating silence falls over the conference room.
Aris flips to the next presentation slide.
“The operation plan is as follows. First, the ground team, responsible for holding off Ryouke’s attack at the accommodation, and the underground team, which will enter the underground secret laboratory to face Doctor Moromoro. We will split into two teams. The personnel are as follows.”
As soon as Aris finishes speaking, the team assignments appear on the screen.
[Ground Team]
[Leader: Morishita Miho]
[Kurosawa Yuji][Ishihara Daiki][Nagamine Reiji]
[All other training team members except the underground team]
[All Kamiya forces]
[Underground Team]
[Leader: Saionji Aris]
[Kim Deok-Sung][Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte][Shinozaki Rin][Nishizawa Eri][Kamiya Makoto][Kamiya Ritsuko][Hoshino Kasumi]
[Operator: Ishihara Saori]
Saori, smiling while looking at the screen, waves her hand hidden under the sleeve of her white gown.
“I’ll be the operator for this operation, so everyone, follow the orders well★”
In the original work, she played the operator role by interfering with the network of her unique weapon ‘Argos’ through its ability ‘Watcher’, sharing the vision with other heroes, analyzing the situation, and conveying messages.
It’s just that she appeared in volume 4, a little earlier than expected as the title heroine in volume 5.
Nothing new at this point.
“That’s the end of the operation briefing. If any cadets have questions, please raise your hand.”
Aris scans the room with a blank expression.
A silence fills the conference room.
Just as Aris was about to conclude the presentation, someone breaks the silence.
“Do you have any questions, President?”
All eyes in the conference room turn toward the protagonist who disrupted the stillness.
The hand-raiser is a cute girl with orange twin-tails, Nishizawa Eri.
‘What kind of question could she possibly have?’
The briefing was flawless, nothing to critique.
But a question?
For some reason, a foreboding feeling strikes my spine.
Aris’s silver eyes shimmer with interest.
She speaks in a cold voice.
“Please ask your question, Nishizawa.”
A smile appears on Nishizawa’s lips as she meets Aris’s gaze.
Rattle.
She pushes her chair back and stands up.
“President, is it true that our master… Mr. Kim Deok-Sung slept with you?”
I’m losing it.
Why does my bad feeling never miss?
Why is she bringing that up now?
It’s all that Nagamine Reiji’s fault.
Why ask something so unrelated to the briefing?
Nishizawa’s sharp gaze turns toward Aris.
The looks exchanged between the two women clash in the air.
If this were an anime, you’d see sparks flying right now.
“I will not answer questions unrelated to the operation plan.”
Aris cuts off Nishizawa’s inquiry in a cold tone.
Nice. Well done, Aris.
“No, I really need an answer. I’m sure the cow, I mean Shinozaki and the princess feel the same way, right?”
“Washboard, I mean I’m in agreement with Nishizawa on this one. President, is it true what’s circulating among the cadets?”
Rattle.
Shinozaki Rin stands up, glaring at Aris.
“That’s right! No matter how much of a president you are, I can’t forgive that scoundrel act done without my permission as his devoted maid!!”
Olivia, sitting next to Rin, stands up with a flushed face.
“I-I also think President should answer this question no matter what.”
Makoto quietly adds her opinion.
“President, was that rumor true? About sleeping with the junior?”
Kasumi, fidgeting beside them, pipes up.
“I told you to be careful, Deok-Sung-chan.”
Even Saori, from a distance, chimes in with her nonsense.
“That’s…”
Aris’s cheeks twitch.
Her silver eyes waver slightly.
“I will not answer such a lowly question.”
Aris waves her hand in a slightly agitated voice.
“Not denying it means it’s probably true. You did it, didn’t you? President, a quiet cat jumps onto the stove first, so you slept with the master…? I can’t forgive you, Eri! I’ll hide in the master’s bed in my maid outfit!”
“I haven’t even done it yet, how could I…? This is shocking. I need to be more diligent in my femininity training. One day I too must warm his bed and blankets…”
“Eeeeeeeek… Pervert! Scoundrel! Vulgar! H-how could you, you you you slept with him…? I can’t believe it!! I refuse to accept it!!”
“Master…”
“The junior is a bad man… The junior who trampled on a girl’s innocence is the Black Beast…”
Wails echo from all around.
This is total chaos.
“The briefing is now over. Dismissed, dismissed!”
Aris waves her instruction rod and commands the dismissal.
Sigh.
I let out an internal sigh as I rise from my seat.
The briefing is over, so staying here will only give me a headache.
Just then,
“Hang in there, Kim. I’m always cheering for you.”
Thud.
Yuji puts a hand on my shoulder and gives me a thumbs-up.
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