The Land of the Son-in-Law
Shinozaki Ichiro?
Why is this old man here?
I look around.
It’s a neat and well-organized pristine white hospital room.
It seems to be a VIP room for two.
[Oh, did you wake up well? Partner.]
The voice of the Black Prince echoes in my mind.
“You seem curious about why you are here.”
A dry smile creeps onto Ichiro’s face.
My brain races.
It’s not like I’m shocked to see some old man lying next to me instead of a heroine who peels apples like in typical light novels. Given the situation, it’s not entirely incomprehensible.
When I requested support from the association, there was also a voice saying enemies had broken in.
If he got injured during that time, it makes sense he’s in the hospital with me now.
The problem is the fact that Ichiro is injured.
Ichiro is an EX Rank hero and a powerhouse representing Japan.
There are only a handful of beings in this world who could inflict injury on him.
Furthermore, it’s practically guaranteed that not only the Association President but also the Vice President tagged along with him.
If someone can take on two EX Rank heroes, then…
“Who is it? The one who injured the Association President?”
Messiah, Undertaker, Diego Morales.
One of the three must have shown up that day.
Since Messiah can’t move from his base yet, the remaining suspects are Undertaker and the Grand Elder of the Cult.
Or there’s a slim chance that Professor and Dokta Shinahel teamed up, but…
Just as my thoughts keep running circles in my head.
“Undertaker.”
Ichiro speaks up.
“That guy showed up.”
He says seriously in his patient gown.
“…We fought with all our might alongside the Vice President, but the result was a draw. We barely managed to drive him away with the help of the King of Hell, but using excessive skill left me with a bit of internal damage and…”
Ichiro trails off.
“And that’s why I’m hospitalized here, with you.”
Waiting support troops faced Undertaker.
And against the cadets, there was Berserk.
A chill runs down my spine.
If it hadn’t been for the fusion with the Black Prince and the variable help he provided, I’d have been utterly helpless.
Messiah had planned from the start to capture me alive and kill everyone else.
I was played like a puppet from beginning to end.
If it weren’t for the miracle that suddenly awakened in this crisis, a miracle straight out of a light novel world, I would already be a cold corpse lying on the floor of Beppu. It’s dizzying.
[Partner. Are you okay?]
The voice of the Black Prince echoes in my head.
I almost died, along with the other heroines.
Should I say I’m lucky to be here?
“What’s with that expression?”
Ichiro asks.
“Nothing. I’m just a little worried because I heard the Association President got hurt.”
I quickly change my expression.
“Hahahaha! Already worried about me, your future father-in-law? I guess I really chose a good son-in-law.”
Thump-thump.
Ichiro pats me on the shoulder as he speaks.
Why is he suddenly overreacting to a casual comment?
Honestly, the cold and emotionless Association President before all this was better.
If this is how it’s going to be, I should have just stuck to eating bunny apples like usual.
Damn it.
“I am perfectly fine! I did get a little hurt, but… I’m almost fully healed now. The opponent took quite a bit of damage, and I also wrecked their puppet, so I’d say it was a pretty good fight. In fact, I could be discharged soon, but the doctor is insisting I need to rest…”
With Ichiro now opening up, he spills even more details that I wasn’t that curious about.
Thanks to him, I gathered that the school trip has been temporarily suspended.
Both the Association President and I were emergency transported to Tokyo’s hospital affiliated with the Japan Hero Association after first aid was administered on site.
And it’s been three days since I collapsed.
Three days.
I can’t even imagine what kind of nationalistic rumors have spread while I’ve been out.
Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine.
Should I check?
Swallow.
I need more courage than when facing Berserk.
Taking a deep breath, I manipulate my phone and open the YouTube app.
[(Exclusive) The great exploits of Hero Kim Deok-Sung, who single-handedly repelled the EX Rank villain in Beppu, Japan, are now unveiled! The secret weapon that swiftly subdued Japan, the mental scenario of Hero Kim Deok-Sung finally appears!]
[Why the Soviet Union cried due to Korea when they tried to dominate the world! “Korea is the land of Hero Kim Deok-Sung, never touch it!” Thanks to K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung, both the U.S. and Japan ensured their security! An in-depth analysis of humanity’s strongest hero, Kim Deok-Sung!]
[A global catastrophe in the hero community that looked down on Korea! Everyone is trembling at Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s mental scenario! Emergency meetings convened by the Japan Hero Association! K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung has now become a true world-class EX rank loved by the entire globe!]
[Anonymous interview with a French royal insider: “Kim Deok-Sung is indeed the true successor to the Black Prince; even Princess Olivia admires him. France fully supports Kim Deok-Sung.” K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung, loved by France! A peculiar pink atmosphere between Kim Deok-Sung and Olivia?]
[Once again, Kim Deok-Sung saves Japan! Citizens of the world! Japan should be thankful to Kim Deok-Sung and Korea. Had it not been for Kim Deok-Sung, Japan would have sunk!]
[(Warning: Anger) The reason Japan is criticized worldwide. Japanese netizens: “Kim Deok-Sung? He’s nothing special. The heroes of Japan are much greater.” The ungrateful reality of Japan! Kim Deok-Sung is furious!]
Reality! Kim Deok-Sung is mad!
My head is spinning.
World-class, huh? When did I ever say I was angry?
I’m not angry.
What’s with this pink atmosphere?
I’m losing it.
Just then, while I was clutching my head…
“Hmmm. Strange. I haven’t called for an emergency meeting of the association.”
I hear Ichiro’s voice in my ear.
“Excuse me?”
“Emergency meeting of the Association. I didn’t call for it. But interesting. It seems it’s not all completely ridiculous… Are people in Korea viewing you this way?”
Click.
Ichiro points at one of the thumbnails.
It was a thumbnail saying an emergency meeting of the Japan Hero Association was called.
Hearing this directly from the President of the Japan Hero Association is like being hit by a truck.
My mind goes blank.
I’m baffled.
Why is this happening next to me?
“Can you read Korean?”
“To some extent. Learning my son-in-law’s language is basic etiquette, after all. Ahem.”
Ichiro clears his throat.
Why is that basic etiquette?
I’m already starting to get a headache thinking about what kind of nationalism-fueled YouTube videos will pop up when this becomes common knowledge.
Please, no more nationalism.
I turn off YouTube.
“Hmmm. Don’t take this too badly… I hope you don’t think too negatively about this…”
I need to start with an apology.
Some of the content in the nationalism videos might be uncomfortable for Ichiro to watch.
If my relationship with Ichiro, who has such great power as the President of the Association, goes south, it’ll only hurt me.
Regardless of anything, he’s one of my most powerful allies along with the chairman.
I have so much to do moving forward.
My face feels hot.
Why am I the one feeling embarrassed for something nationalism YouTube did?
“I don’t think so.”
Pat.
Ichiro pats my shoulder.
“I just thought you must be having a hard time as the only hero of your motherland.”
Ichiro says with a serious expression.
I nod at his words.
“Ah, yes. Well… Thank you.”
“Hahaha. You don’t need to be so uncomfortable. You can feel at ease.”
Bang bang.
Ichiro laughs heartily, patting my back.
It feels like he’s saying there’s no need to feel uncomfortable during a visit to the living quarters.
It’s hard to say that having someone in a high position is uncomfortable.
Just as I awkwardly laugh at his words…
Creeeak.
The hospital room door opens.
“Deok-Sung! You’re safe!”
A beautiful girl with a navy ponytail, Rin, shouts while looking at me.
Tears well up in her navy eyes.
“Deok-Sung…!!”
Rin runs towards me, embracing me tightly.
Oof, I’m not fully recovered yet.
My joints are crying out.
It hurts…
Now I understand why protagonists in Japanese animations look pained when heroines hug them in hospitals.
“I can’t tell you how worried I was… Deok-Sung…”
Rin says in a choked voice while in my arms.
Her ponytail shakes.
Seeing her like this makes my heart soften for some reason.
Damn it.
Just as I let out a sigh internally…
“Hey! Shinozaki! Jumping in like that is cheating!”
“Hey, that’s cheating! You can’t just charge in like that!”
From afar, I hear the familiar voice of Olivia.
As the door opens, Olivia appears, her platinum hair fluttering and her blue eyes sparkling.
Looks like it’s almost time for the heroine players to enter.
*
Tokyo, Japan.
The hideout of the New World League.
In the dark underground, the figure of the Black Robe, Undertaker, collapses onto the floor.
“Ugh… Huh…”
Drip.
Blood falls from beneath the black hood.
Association President Black Beast Ichiro and Vice President Meiou Sojiro.
Even the mighty Undertaker couldn’t escape unscathed from the combined might of these two EX-rank heroes representing Japan.
The final attack.
Shinozaki-ryu’s ultimate move was genuinely dangerous.
If I hadn’t dodged, it could have been really bad.
Even now, I’m pretty banged up.
Blood flows from my mouth.
Thud.
The hood of the collapsed Undertaker is removed.
Even in the darkness, her brilliant yet murky ivory hair spills onto the floor like a galaxy.
A pale complexion reveals a beautiful face.
“It hurts…”
Her beautiful voice escapes from her lips.
With her hood now drooping, she looks like a beautiful girl of about 15, similar in age to Seira.
Normally, she hid her true self by pretending to be a boy, using voice modulation and robes, but now, with her injuries and nobody around, there was no need for that.
“Ugh…”
In her doll-like Gothic Lolita dress, her delicate hands are stained with blood.
“Teddy-chan…”
Teddy bear.
Her masterpiece marionette, crafted from the corpse of an Omega-rank being, was destroyed by the attack from Meiou Nakayama Sojiro.
It wasn’t completely obliterated, so with time, it could be restored, but the severe loss of power was undeniable.
Most importantly, the core of the teddy bear was…
“I’m so sorry, little brother…”
The precious teddy bear her younger sibling had gifted her on her childhood birthday, now bearing the burden of injury, was something she couldn’t come to terms with.
Undertaker bit her lip.
“My poor little brother…”
Unlike her dim-witted self, her brother was kind, handsome, and sociable.
Because of that, she felt that the world was proud of her brother.
In the world, her brother was referred to as:
An EX-rank hero, the top of the Five Crowns from America.
Desperado, Damian Heisenberg.
But after his death ten years ago, the world forgot him.
Those who sought to bring him back were deemed insane.
Only she remembered him. Only she wanted to bring him back.
“I’ll definitely save you…”
No matter what.
By any means necessary.
Even if she had to sell her soul to the devil.
Undertaker vowed this as she hung her head low.
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