White Empress and Black Beast.
The explosive power unleashed by the two monstrous top-tier fighters mercilessly engulfed Ivan.
Koo-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
A thunderous roar resounded, and magical waves swept across the surroundings.
The frozen sea shattered, and a colossal tsunami surged into the previously calm waters.
“Gyaaaaaaaah!!”
A horrific scream of despair erupted from Ivan.
“…I did not grant you a glorious end like this.”
Ichiro coldly murmured as he brandished Ookanihira.
“Thus, here and now, you shall meet your end pathetically, crawling on the ground like a bug. Like the defeated dog you are.”
With a flash.
Green and white lights intertwined, separating the sea and sky.
*
The season on the deserted island shifted from winter back to summer.
But the scenery did not return.
The deserted island had turned into ruins, its landscape changed by the battle between EX-rank powerhouses.
Instead of a beautiful isle, it had transformed into a desolate shore filled with sand and rocks.
Seira returned to that beach.
She spotted him in her field of vision.
Kim Deok-Sung, resting comfortably with his head on Rin’s lap, wore a peaceful expression as he slept.
Beside Rin, the gray-haired beauty, Han Seo-Jin, was nursing him.
“Hey, little one.”
Softly.
Seira approached him.
Her beautiful hand caressed Kim Deok-Sung’s cheek.
Unlike that cold time, warmth had returned to his skin.
“…I’m glad.”
Seira’s head hung low.
Tears fell from her eyes.
“…I… I’m so relieved that it’s not too late, that I could save you… Really, I’m so glad…”
This time, she had protected him.
The man she loved.
In that moment.
Seira’s consciousness began to fade.
It was the backlash from forcibly using her prime mode.
“Shinozaki-san, Han Seo-Jin-san, please take care of him…”
Thud.
Seira collapsed right there.
The beautiful woman who had been mesmerizing transformed in an instant into a younger-looking beautiful girl.
A faint smile lingered on the lips of the fallen Seira.
I really could go crazy.
I dreamt.
Kyoto Exchange Tournament.
A scene flashed before my eyes of Hoshino Kasumi taking a hit for me in the Underground Secret Laboratory of Meijin Hero Academy, bleeding.
[Junior, run away. I’ll try to hold them off somehow; you can’t die. You’re a bad guy and a Black Beast, but I… care about you… ]
I must save Junior…
Junior… You have to survive…
Her desperate cry echoes in my ears.
Scene change.
Deserted island.
Evangeline, having exhausted all her strength to block Ivan’s area attack, collapses, covered in blood.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung…”
“You must live…”
I feel her cold body temperature in my hand.
Just before the Frozen Blast hits.
“Deok-Sung!!”
Rin’s tearful face calling out to me flits by.
I really don’t like these kinds of scenes.
Scenes where someone is bleeding because of me.
To stop that…
My head is pounding.
My whole body aches.
“Partner. Partner.”
A familiar voice rings in my head.
“Partner, are you feeling a bit better? Open your eyes.”
Following the command of the familiar voice, I slowly open my eyes.
An unfamiliar ceiling.
Vague memories flicker in my mind.
The memory of struggling against the sudden intruder, Ivan Antonov.
Even sacrificing myself to block his Frozen Blast in Rin’s stead.
“Ugh…”
Remembering that makes me feel embarrassed.
My hands and feet curl up.
I must have been out of my mind back then. I wouldn’t do it again even if you paid me.
Sacrifice, seriously?
What am I, some Light Novel Protagonist?
Exclusive monopolies and soda are the way to go.
“This is Coral Beach General Hospital.”
“The girls you were worried about are all alive. Beatrice, Evangeline, and even Shinozaki Rin. Ivan has been dealt with and sent to prison by Seira and Ichiro, so don’t worry. Partner.”
The Black Prince briefly explains what happened while I was out.
‘Yeah, I figured as much.’
The fact that I woke up in the hospital proves Ivan was defeated.
If he had won, I wouldn’t be here in a hospital bed—I’d probably be dead.
Who knows if there’s an afterlife in this damn Light Novel world.
“Isn’t that a relief, Partner?”
The Black Prince asks.
‘Why are you unnecessarily asking that? I’m super embarrassed right now!’
What? The protagonist sacrifices himself instead of the heroine?
I hate the thought of people bleeding because of me?
I can’t believe I once had such a crazy thought.
I’d hide in a mouse hole if one existed.
“Aww, tsk tsk, Partner. You’re not being honest.”
The Black Prince clicks his tongue.
Yeah, to be honest, I’m relieved.
That, like in a Light Novel, everyone could come out unscathed and have a happy ending.
Isn’t that the one good point in this awful world where everything leads to a happy ending?
Anyway, this damn nice world has an excessive overflow of emotions and blind trust, which is the problem.
How come there isn’t a single person who can make rational judgments?
Aren’t they afraid for their lives?
While I’m thinking about all this…
“Ah, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. You’re coming around, huh?”
A familiar voice floats in my ears.
I turn my head.
There, a pink twin-tailed beautiful girl in the same patient gown is clapping her hands and sparkling her eyes.
It’s Evangeline Stewart.
“Uh? Uh…”
I trail off at her question.
The last memory I have of Evangeline is of her collapsing after using a shield for us, blood pouring out, and falling into a death-like state.
Flying and losing consciousness, I fell into a near-death state.
Honestly, I was a bit worried about what might really go wrong.
Not too much, just a little.
But I was still alive, so that’s a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief internally.
It’s starting to sink in a little.
The fact that I’ve reached the epilogue of a light novel.
“I’m really glad!”
Suddenly, Evangeline Stewart came over and hugged me.
Her ample chest squished against me through the thin hospital gown.
No, don’t do this.
This is embarrassing.
Normally, I’d have to say something snappy, but my heart’s melting.
This British princess, who seems like a K-drama character, risked her life for me, a total stranger.
Just because I’m a fan.
Because of her character’s “love at first sight” setting.
Honestly, I don’t like the vibe of this world.
“Hee hee hee hee hee hee.”
Evangeline giggled, her cheeks flushed pink as she rubbed them against me.
What is she, a puppy or something?
This is ridiculous.
“…It’s really a relief that I’m alive and conscious… I’m so glad I can be of help to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Evangeline spoke in a trembling voice.
There was a hint of moisture in her words.
I couldn’t muster any response.
Damn this setup! Unlike the original story, this British princess has fallen for me.
There’s no way I can let this slide.
My head is spinning.
Well, I should at least get her off me first.
“…Chairman Stewart.”
“Oh my! You don’t have to be so formal with me. You can call me by my name. Just relax. If you don’t, we’ll stay this close! Eek! Eek!”
Evangeline puffed her cheeks out.
[Partner. Just go with what she says.]
The Black Prince’s voice echoed in my head.
I was planning on that anyway.
“Alright then, Evangeline. Since we’re both patients, let’s keep a bit of distance. You must not be feeling fully recovered either.”
“I understand! Hee hee.”
Just then, as Evangeline laughed and started to pull away—
Suddenly, the hospital room door swung open, and someone entered.
“Contractor, Kim Deok-Sung! I’m here!”
“Duk-Sung! I came…”
It was Beatrice and Rin.
Rin, holding a fruit basket, beamed brightly until she saw me and Evangeline together, causing her face to harden.
Rin lowered her head.
Setting the fruit basket on the dresser, she said, “…I-I didn’t interrupt anything, did I…?”
“No, there’s a misunderstanding—Evangeline just clung to me on her own.”
I’m genuinely feeling wronged here.
“That’s right, Shinozaki Ichiro. It’s a misunderstanding. I just clung to Mr. Kim Deok-Sung out of my own will!”
Hee hee hee.
Evangeline chuckled.
Seeing this, Rin clenched her fist.
“Ah, I get it. I’ll try harder! Oh, today… I specially brought apples from the Miryang Ice River to give to you.”
Miryang Ice River apples?
Where on earth did she get those?
And another apple?
I don’t dislike apples, but it’s getting a bit repetitive to eat them every time I’m in the hospital.
Couldn’t she bring something trendy like Shine Muscat grapes instead?
Rustle.
Rin pulled out some apples and a knife from the fruit basket.
Her navy blue eyes gleamed with determination.
The color of her eyes gleamed with determination.
“I’ll peel it for you…! Watch me showcase the Shinozaki-style rabbit apple peeling!”
Damn, how far is this Shinozaki style going to go?
Crunch, crunch.
Rin, sweating bullets, focuses on peeling the apple.
Next to her, Beatrice is watching the spectacle with one eye twinkling.
“Here you go. It’s an apple I peeled myself, Deok-sung.”
Rin, with a confident look, places the plate of apples on the bedside table in the hospital room.
I’m not sure what the Shinozaki vision is, but there’s a heap of rabbit-shaped apples that look right out of an anime.
“Wow! Hm, hm. Well, it’s not bad. You’ve got the skill to please the eyes.”
Beatrice’s eyes sparkle casually before she coughs, assuming a serious demeanor.
It’s ridiculous how she’s still flexing like that.
I can’t help but chuckle.
“I-I didn’t really think I wanted to eat it, so don’t look at me like that, human.”
As our eyes meet, Beatrice quickly turns her head away.
But her gaze is still glued to the apple.
Like a sparrow that can’t pass a grain mill, Beatrice, who loves sweets, can’t just leave the apple alone.
“There’s some for you too, Smith. Stewart.”
Crunch, crunch.
Rin hands apples to Beatrice and Evangelin.
Though not rabbit-shaped, they are neatly peeled apples.
“Don’t fight, eat nicely together.”
Rin gives a truly motherly comment with a smile that resembles a mom’s.
After coming back from a deserted island, it feels like she suddenly changed as a person.
It’s not bad, but a corner of my heart keeps poking at me, making me feel uneasy.
“Mmm?! Delicious. Hehe. To offer food to a lady like you, and to treat you to the delicacy of kimchi stew from the deserted island, you truly are a good human.”
“It’s delicious! Shinozaki-sama! Shinozaki-sama truly has a talent for cooking. You are wonderful!”
Beatrice and Evangelin fawn over the apple they just tasted.
Rin’s face turns red.
“Th-thank you…”
Honestly, peeling an apple isn’t all that impressive in the cooking department.
But seeing Rin happy, I don’t want to ruin the moment by throwing in a jab.
A smile graces Rin’s lips.
A beautiful smile.
After only seeing her cry all the time, it’s nice to see her smile like that.
People have to smile sometimes.
‘I’m perceptive enough to notice that much.’
[Oh, partner. You’ve grown quite a bit, huh?]
The Black Prince is now spouting nonsense that I’d miss him if he were gone.
Growth, my foot.
Just as I was about to shake my head.
“…Deok-sung.”
Rin speaks to me.
With her flushed face, she lifts a fork with a perfectly peeled cute rabbit apple and holds it up to my lips.
“Ah, ah, open up…!”
Rin closes her eyes tightly.
I still have all my limbs intact.
I don’t know why they all want to feed me like this, just like with Olivia.
[Partner, why not just accept it and eat nicely?]
I’m used to this kind of urging by now.
I accept the rabbit apple from Rin.
Crunch.
The sweet and tart juice of the apple bursts in my mouth.
“So, how is it? Deok-sung. Is it, is it good?”
I nod.
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