A person from a light novel (with illustrations)
The cultural festival is over.
There were various events, but all in all, it wrapped up nicely.
The old school building that was damaged due to the battle with Shinji is currently under reconstruction.
Now, the remaining major events in the second semester are the school trip to the hot spring and the sports festival.
Naturally, both events are linked to the League.
The school trip is an event that appears in Volume 9, and the sports festival in Volume 12 of the original work.
Thanks to the tangled flow of events in the original, the remaining events have either disappeared or occurred earlier.
Aside from the school trip and sports festival, there are no events that take us outside the academy or have the academy opened to the outside.
No matter how tangled the original is, perhaps due to that backlash, the academy’s security is much stronger than in the original.
Attacking the academy during normal times won’t be easy even for the infamous New World League.
So for now, let’s go about our academy life as usual and prepare for the school trip and sports festival.
That’s the strategy I must have chosen.
The Monday morning after the cultural festival.
HR period.
As usual, I arrived at school with the heroines and heard some news from Mayuzumi.
“Today, a foreign exchange student is coming!”
Mayuzumi wrote “exchange student” in large letters on the blackboard.
If it’s an exchange student and not just a transfer student, there can only be one.
Evangeline Stewart.
The title heroine of Volume 9 of the original work, and the adorable British princess I met during summer school last time.
It’s a bit early, but since it was already expected, I wasn’t particularly surprised, especially since she’s a short-term exchange student.
She’ll probably return to her home country of England after the school trip, just like in the original.
Thinking this, I was half-listening to Mayuzumi’s words when suddenly—
“Actually, it’s two of them!”
A voice like thunder in my ear.
Two of them?
Not just one, but two?
I quickly adjusted my posture.
“They are guests from St. George Academy in England, which is a sister school to our Shuo Academy, so treat them well! Got it, students?”
Mayuzumi says, waving her pointer. Her chest jiggles too.
“Alright, please come in!”
Swoosh.
As soon as Mayuzumi’s words were spoken, the sliding door automatically opened.
Two exchange students appeared from beyond the door.
“Hello! We are the 1st Year A-Class students of Shuo Academy! I am Evangeline Stewart, an exchange student from England!”
The first to enter the classroom is Evangeline, just as I expected.
Her luscious pink twin-tails and large chest bounce as she enters.
Evangeline bows gracefully, lifting the ends of her school skirt.
“Princess Stuart?!”
“The Student Council President of St. George Academy came to Shuo?!”
“She’s a princess from England!”
As Evangeline introduces herself, the students murmur excitedly.
Other than that damn adorable speech pattern, her introduction is surprisingly normal.
“Aside from the ridiculous baby talk, this is surprisingly a normal self-introduction.”
“Geeeee······. Another competitor has popped up······. At this rate, my character is in danger; I already have no presence as it is······.”
Makoto mutters to himself, puffing out his cheeks at the sight of Evangelin.
A character in danger?
Typical of a light novel heroine, making meta comments that sound like something out of a story.
I’m going crazy.
At that moment, as I pressed my throbbing temples,
“Hehe. Transferring to the class of Kim Deok-Sung and his comrades! This is a boundless honor! To attend classes with the esteemed Kim Deok-Sung! My heart is already racing and beating so fast!”
Clap.
Evangelin places her hand on her chest, her sparkling eyes shining as she exclaims.
Eyes twinkling like something out of a cartoon.
Well, of course.
It was my mistake to expect a normal self-introduction in a light novel world.
“What’s this? Have you already completed your conquest?”
“Black Beast, now even the British princess······.”
“After France, is now the UK also in the grasp of the Black Beast······? Is there no hope for Europe······?”
“Is the Hundred Years’ War reigniting at Shuo Hero Academy?”
As if they had been waiting, the extras begin to murmur amongst themselves.
It’s giving me a headache.
And this is why I hate exchange students.
“Ugh, for a princess from a little island who can’t even cook properly······.”
I hear Olivia’s voice too.
As expected, playing the typical role of a France character to monitor the British character.
It’s a cliché that appeared in the original as well.
It’s honestly a bit surprising how they can act so stereotypically.
“Hehe. Kim Deok-Sung, comrades, and fellow students, I look forward to working with you all!”
With her introduction finished, Evangelin wraps up.
As soon as her words end, a girl next to her steps forward.
With hair a deep gold, as if melted from gold itself, unlike Olivia’s platinum locks.
An eyepatch covering one eye.
Dressed not in a school uniform but in a veil reminiscent of a nun, the girl grins ominously.
“Cough cough. Is this the Shuo Hero Academy that we must frequent······? Just as expected for a school attended by lowly humans, it’s truly a shabby place······.”
It’s Beatrice, the saint of the Cult of Truth.
Is she still not back with the Cult?
“What’s with that person?”
“Is she a middle-schooler in denial?”
“She looks gloomy.”
“She’s a beautiful girl but······.”
The moment she opens her mouth, catastrophic middle-schooler remarks spill out, drawing negative evaluations from the extras.
Twitch.
Beatrice’s eyebrows twitch.
“That is inappropriate, Miss Smith. It is polite to introduce oneself properly.”
Evangelin scolds from the side.
“Hmph. The etiquette of the human world is······ such a hassle. However, I cannot disregard the contractor’s advice. After all, I am not a tyrant.”
Beatrice mumbles to herself.
“This concept is just the worst.”
“I feel no connection.”
“Why is she like this······.”
Even in this light novel world, being called out for middle-schooler syndrome is honestly surprising.
My stomach is churning.
“Very well. I shall teach you especially. My revered name······. My true name is 【Saintess of Scarlet Flame】 Trixie Smith. Lowly humans, consider it an honor to have heard my name.”
Hmph.
Just as Beatrice smirks with an arrogant expression.
“Kyahahahahahaha!”
A voice resonates throughout the classroom.
“What was that line? Totally hilarious. Haru, I’ve never seen middle-schooler syndrome before. Kyahahahahaha. Sister Smith is so funny. She sounds like she came straight out of a light novel.”
Haru points and laughs.
“L-light novel?!”
Beatrice is startled by Haru’s comment.
Beatrice startled by the words.
Can you believe a light novel character is teasing a light novel heroine by saying she sounds like one?
What kind of ridiculous situation is this?
“W-what?!”
Beatrice was flustered.
“Oh, Smith-nee is flustered? That’s so funny.”
“I-I am absolutely not flustered! You rude human!”
Just as a battle of nerves was about to break out between the two.
“Okay, okay, Kurosawa and Smith, stop that and take your seats. If you keep it up, the teacher will get angry.”
At Mayuzumi’s words, Haru and Beatrice sealed their lips.
Then, Beatrice and Evangelin sat in the empty seats, and the class began.
*
After school.
Home Economics Practice Room.
It’s been a long time since everyone gathered for club activities since the cultural festival.
As expected, Ishihara and Yuji were absent, leaving me as the only male in the mix.
So far, everything was predictable.
“Hmph, why does a noble【Saint of the Red Lotus】 like me have to observe such trivial human games?”
“Smith-san, you shouldn’t say that!”
The problem is that Evangelin and Beatrice are sitting in the back, supposedly observing our club activities.
My back feels hot.
“Today’s cooking practice is kimchi stew, which our junior likes!”
Whether they are watching or not, Kasumi, wearing an apron, holds a ladle and grins as she speaks.
Kimchi stew for a Japanese school’s cooking club?
What am I even witnessing right now?
This is ridiculous.
“If it’s kimchi stew, it’s the number one dish loved by Koreans! Truly an excellent choice of cuisine! I, Evangelin, have learned a good lesson!”
Evangelin puts her hands together and sparkles her eyes.
Where on earth did she hear such useless statistics?
This is absurd.
“Thinking back to the kimchi stew that Shinozaki made for us on the deserted island during summer school, that kimchi stew was really delicious, girl!”
Evangelin’s eyes shine brightly.
Rin, complimented on her cooking, slightly blushes.
Rin confidently speaks up.
“Hehe. Thank you for the compliment. Stuart. But I have grown more since then. With the Shinozaki-style seasoning method, I’ll serve an even tastier kimchi stew this time.”
“Really? Hehe. I’m looking forward to it!”
Are we finally on the right track?
That’s a relief.
While Rin and Evangelin were exchanging lines,
Tap.
Kasumi pressed the presentation remote button.
“The first step for the kimchi stew recipe is to cut the kimchi and… prepare the other ingredients…”
The recipe for kimchi stew appeared on the Home Economics Practice Room screen.
Thank goodness, it’s not mackerel kimchi stew.
Kimchi stew should be with pork.
It’s not that I dislike mackerel kimchi stew, but meat is better than fish.
“Alright. Finally, my skills will shine now. Deok-Sung. Stuart. Smith. All of you, watch closely. I will show you my grown womanly skills today!”
Rin, wearing a blue apron and holding a sharp, shining kitchen knife, speaks confidently.
I don’t know why there’s a seasoning technique in the Shinozaki style, but just making kimchi stew like the one we had on the deserted island should be fine.
I’d hate to accidentally try something new and serve up a bizarre dish.
“Hmph. Cow. Don’t spout nonsense. The ultimate winner of this kimchi stew cooking battle will be Eri! Master! Eri is confident she can make kimchi stew every morning! Just watch!”
Hehehe.
Eri giggles softly.
The dog collar around her neck glimmers in the light as she wears an apron with a puppy design.
That’s all great, but can’t we lose the dog collar?
And when exactly did this become a battle?
“I won’t lose to anyone else this time…!”
I pass by Makoto, who is seriously chopping kimchi.
“Everyone seems to be in a delusion! Don’t make me laugh! The final winner of this kimchi stew battle will be me! The exclusive maid, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, who is well-versed in Korean culture! Don’t regret this! Ohohohohohoho!”
Olivia, wearing a dazzling princess apron adorned with lace, holds a ladle in her hand and giggles like a lady.
It’s complete chaos.
I sigh as I cut the kimchi.
Since this is a cooking club activity, I have to make my dish too.
Chop, chop, chop.
Just then, as the red kimchi juice seeped onto the cutting board.
Creak.
The door to the Home Economics Practice Room swings open.
Everyone’s attention turns towards the entrance.
There stood an unexpected figure.
A cool girl with striking silver hair and sparkling silver eyes.
It was Saionji Aris.
“Every time I see it, it’s a ridiculously shameless club activity.”
Aris says this with a deadpan face as she looks around.
Silence falls over the Home Economics Practice Room.
“President, what’s going on here? We are officially in the middle of a club activity.”
To break the silence first was surprisingly Kasumi-senpai.
She protests to Aris, her face flushed.
“I know. Your club activity is shameless, but I have no intention to interfere.”
In response to Kasumi-senpai’s words, Aris replies.
“Then why are you here?”
Creepy silence.
Olivia glares at Aris and says, “For some promises.”
“Promises?” Aris replies.
“Who are you making promises with, President?” Eri steps forward.
“Ziiiiiii…”
Makoto behind Eri glares at Aris and falls silent.
“That’s right, Senpai. Please disclose the purpose of your visit.”
With a thud.
Rin blocks Aris’s way.
She speaks seriously.
Seeing everyone’s reaction, Aris starts to smile.
Suddenly.
She approaches me and grips my wrist.
“Of course, it’s a promise with Kim Deok-Sung.”
A promise?
“What, wh-what do you mean? What kind of promise did you make without my permission as the exclusive maid?! Senpai!”
The first to protest is Olivia.
She closes her eyes tightly, her flushed face yelling.
“That’s right, President. Even if you are the student council president, you must follow our cooking club’s rules here.”
Next, Rin joins in.
“Rin has a point. Saionji-senpai, the Master belongs to Eri. We can never hand him over to you, President.”
Eri puffs up her cheeks next to Rin.
“Ziiiiiii…”
“President… This is too much…”
Makoto’s gaze and Kasumi-senpai’s voice echo in my ears.
Even under the concentrated attack of the six beautiful girls, Aris doesn’t flinch.
Aris, holding my wrist, pulls me towards the door and asks, “Didn’t we promise to go on a date, Kim Deok-Sung? At that time in the old school building. Do you remember?”
Aris asks me.
Along with that, everyone’s eyes turn towards me.
A deathly silence sweeps the room.
At that moment.
The conversation from that day when I was alone with Aris in the old school building plays back in my mind.
[I’m sorry.]
[What are you apologizing for? I should be the one apologizing. It was just me misunderstanding and having shameless thoughts…]
[Let’s have a meal together someday, just not today.]
Damn it.
I’m in trouble.
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