Chapter 299
Big Brother
At Shuo Hero Academy, the two-legged relay race was in full swing.
Kim Deok-Sung and Seira were at the starting line, taking on the last leg of the race.
“Hehehe…”
A smile stretched across Seira’s face next to Kim Deok-Sung.
His gaze shifted behind him.
There, he could see Yuji and Ishihara running hard with a red baton in hand.
Their awkward yet earnest two-legged run was quite the sight.
“Yay! Ishihara is so cool!”
“Isn’t Kurosawa handsome too?”
“They’re both the best!”
“They’re the hottest guys in the academy!”
Yuji and Ishihara were basking in the cheers and shouts directed at them.
Ishihara had always been popular, and Yuji’s recent good looks had skyrocketed his popularity.
“Kim!”
Thwack.
Yuji arrived right in front, passing the red baton to Kim Deok-Sung.
“Hang in there!”
“Hyung-nim! Do your best!”
Hearing the encouragement from the two, Seira smiled and addressed Kim Deok-Sung.
“Let’s go, little guy! Just like we practiced, this event will be a victory for our red team!”
Without a word, Kim Deok-Sung took the red baton, symbolizing the red team, and began to run in sync with Seira.
Just as they were making good time on the track, Seira’s eyes narrowed.
‘It’s time to put my secret plan into action… heh.’
If it weren’t for Teacher Mayu’s betrayal, he wouldn’t have been pushed to this level.
Rationalizing herself, Seira deliberately tripped.
“Whoa?!”
A high-pitched scream escaped her lips.
It was the moment the operation began.
*
“Whoa?!”
A scream sounded from beside him.
Turning his head, Kim Deok-Sung saw Seira clutching her ankle, her face flushed.
“What’s wrong?”
Please tell me that’s not what I think it is.
Is this really the cliché where the protagonist has to carry the heroine because she hurt her ankle during the sports festival?
“…Deok-Sung Oppa.”
Seira clutched his arm.
With tears welling in her eyes, she spoke.
“My ankle hurts, Deok-Sung Oppa… I wish you’d carry me…”
She sounded genuinely in pain.
No way, did that ridiculous scenario actually just happen?
No matter how much this is a light novel world, is this believable?
[Ugh… Please, Sera, what the hell are you doing…?]
The Black Prince’s sigh echoed in his mind.
[What’s happening here? It seems Seira has injured herself! The white team’s runner is closing in! How will the Black Beast overcome this obstacle?! An unexpected situation in the final race that determines the outcome of the two-legged relay! Things are getting more and more exciting!]
The announcer’s voice buzzed in his ears.
It was ridiculous, but hey, this was a light novel world after all.
There’s nothing absurd about this, but anyway, welcome to the world of light novels.
An E-Grade hero spraining his ankle during a three-legged race seems ridiculous no matter how you think about it, but it can’t be helped.
Wait a second.
‘Wouldn’t I run faster if I just carried my partner under my arm instead of trying to do this three-legged thing?’
The reason three-legged races are challenging is that two people have to run as one.
To be fast, two completely different people must synchronize their steps perfectly.
But what if I just carry my partner under my arm?
I’d only have to worry about myself, so it’s definitely a win.
That’s why, in light novels, protagonists often carry the heroine under their arms.
Maybe light novel protagonists look calm on the outside while secretly wanting to win the game?
That’s a reasonable suspicion.
[That’s convincing… Partner.]
The Black Prince agrees in my head.
Right now, I need to win the MVP title to nullify my date request.
I obviously have to win this three-legged race too.
To do that, it’s better to simply carry her under my arm.
“Then hold on tight, Mr. President.”
Reaching a quick conclusion, I picked Seira up under my arm.
Since Seira is already small, this is much easier than the three-legged race.
Blush.
Seira’s face turns red.
She says, “W-what? Little guy, why aren’t you carrying me?”
“Because carrying is against the rules of three-legged races. I’m going to start running now.”
Carrying is immediately disqualified.
So there’s really no need to carry her.
Every second counts right now.
I need to hurry and dash with her.
“U-ugh…?!”
Seira lets out an odd, shy scream from my side.
I sprint down the track, carrying her under my arm.
Tap tap tap tap tap!
[Ooooooh! The Black Beast athlete begins sprinting with Seira-chan clinging to his side! It’s the considerate nature of the Black Beast athlete, taking care of his partner who sprained her ankle! Could this be the true sportsmanship that Shuo Hero Academy advocates?!]
The commentator rambles on.
Sportsmanship—what a joke.
We charge through the finish line together.
[Kim Deok-Sung has crossed the finish line first, securing victory for the red team in the three-legged race! The Black Beast athlete contributes to the red team’s consecutive win and is now one of the top MVP candidates!]
I won again.
That brings me one step closer to nullifying the date request.
“Black Beast is the best!”
“Black Beast won again!”
“Red team’s savior, Black Beast!”
“Kyaaaaa! You’re the best!”
“Shouldn’t you be able to satisfy all the harem members every night with skills like that?”
“Maybe the rumors about his stamina are true?”
Cheers and nonsense erupted from the red team’s side.
“Phew.”
Breathing heavily, I gently set Seira down.
“Master! Great job! EriLing! I was waiting at the finish line until you come. I did well, right?”
Suddenly, Eri appears next to me, handing me a towel and an electrolyte drink.
I’m not too fond of electrolyte drinks.
I wipe the sweat off with the towel she handed me and sip the drink.
The cool electrolyte drink sliding down my throat makes me feel somewhat alive.
Just then, as Eri smiles at me, Rin appears next to her and speaks in a calm, cold voice, looking at Seira.
“By the way, Mr. President. Since you sprained your ankle earlier, isn’t it difficult to participate in the sports festival anymore? I’ll personally escort you to the health room.”
“Exactly. Mr. President, it’s time to stop participating in the sports festival and rest on the health room bed. EriLing will take you there with Cow. To the health room.”
Nishizawa Rin’s comment gets support from Eri and Haru.
“Geeeee…”
“Ziiiii······.”
And there’s Makoto peeking over Eri’s shoulder making zii sounds with her mouth.
It’s a complete mess.
“That’s right, President! Let’s wrap this up and leave! It’s a command from your dedicated maid!”
Hmph.
Olivia crosses her arms and gazes at Seira.
Seeing that, a smile blooms on Seira’s lips.
Her limping stops.
Swish.
Seira opens her black lace fan and says,
“Se-ra-chan is all better now, thanks to my big brother Deok-Sung! Thank you, big brother Deok-Sung!”
Seira jumps a few times in place to prove her ankle is fine and sticks to my arm.
[Big sister, were you just pretending?]
The Black Prince sighs inside his head.
Pretending doesn’t matter.
In the end, we won.
“······President, this feels suspicious.”
“That’s right, Eri-chan. Was it all an act from the start?”
Eri squints her eyes at the antics, while Makoto whispers as she grabs Eri’s hands.
“Guh······.”
“Nishishishi. Se-ra-chan, your grandma is being ridiculous. It’s totally weird.”
Rin bites her lip, and Haru points and laughs.
“······Just this once! Next time, I won’t let it slide! Hmph!”
Olivia declares with her arms crossed.
Why on earth is she giving in so easily?
This isn’t how heroines are supposed to behave.
Just when I’m thinking that.
[It’s lunchtime now. I hope all students enjoy their meal.]
A voice announces the lunch hour.
“Hey, you!”
Snap.
Olivia places her hand on her chest.
Is it because of lunchtime?
She slowly reveals a gigantic lunchbox in her hand.
“Of course, you’ll eat my lunch again, right?!”
What on earth is that, how many layers is it?
“Eri-ring too! Eri-ring has prepared a lunchbox!”
Wink.
Eri winks, holding her lunchbox in hand.
“I specially prepared it with Makopi.”
“Hehehe······.”
Makoto blushes and scratches her cheek.
“Big brother Deok-Sung, the super cute JK gyaru Haru also made a lunchbox. Nishishishi. Haru doesn’t lose to the older girls!”
Haru pulls out her lunchbox too.
According to the settings, Haru’s cooking skills are just average.
In fact, her real brother Yuji, having lived alone longer, is supposed to be the better cook.
A guy’s cooking doesn’t really make me want to eat, though.
“Deok-Sung, this time I······ prepared something······.”
Finally, Rin glances over shyly and adds her two cents.
How many lunchboxes are there?
I don’t think I can finish all this in one day.
“I’ll set up the seating.”
Whoosh.
Han Seo-Jin appears out of nowhere with a gray flash and promptly sets the table.
A large parasol to block out the autumn sunlight, and a wide blanket for everyone to sit on, complete with an icebox full of cold water and cola.
When did she prepare all this?
I can’t help but admire Han Seo-Jin’s preparedness.
“Please take your seats.”
Unlike during the cherry blossom festival, it seems she didn’t bring her own lunch this time.
Everyone sits as per her instructions.
Kasumi-senpai and Aris are having their lunch separately since they are on the white team, not the red team.
“President, you didn’t bring a lunchbox, right? Well, it’d be sad for you to starve, so Eri-ring will let you have a bite…”
Eri says smugly as she opens her lunchbox.
Clatter.
Inside were tuna mayo gimbap, pork cutlet gimbap, bulgogi gimbap, and inari sushi.
A typical Korean lunchbox menu.
“Nishishishi. Older sisters, is your lunchbox only at that level? So funny. Just wait until you see Han’s lunchbox.”
“Is that all you’ve got? So funny. Don’t be surprised when you see Haru’s lunch.”
Clatter.
Haru opens her lunch box.
Her lunch is a character bento made of fried rice that became a sensation online.
Cute bear-shaped fried rice, menchikatsu, and shrimp tempura are neatly arranged.
“What do you think, Deok-Sung oppa? How does it feel to admire the homemade bento of an ultra-cute JK? It must taste as cute as it looks, right? Right? Nishishishishi. As expected, Haru is the perfect superhuman JK.”
Haru grins while making a V-sign with her hand.
I don’t know what ‘cute flavor’ means, but it’s clear that quite a bit of effort went into making this bento.
“Deok-Sung… this time it’s my turn… Look closely. The Shinozaki-style bento…”
Rin squints her eyes and opens her bento.
What she brought is a typical Western-style bento with rice, spaghetti, hamburger steak, tonkatsu, and Vienna sausages.
“Hehe. This time, I tried a Western-style concept. I packed in a lot of meat that you love. So, how is it…? You don’t dislike it, do you?”
Rin seems anxious, twitching her fingers as she speaks.
“It looks delicious.”
Rin’s cooking skills have definitely improved. After all, the last time on the deserted island, at least she produced something edible.
Just then, as Rin’s face lights up at my compliment,
“Is that all? Ohohohoho! How ridiculous! Hey! Get ready to be amazed! I’m about to unveil this Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte’s bento!”
Smack.
Olivia opens her bento.
Inside the huge four-tiered lunch box, the bottom layer has fruits like cherry tomatoes, pineapple, and apples for dessert. Above that is a layer of white rice, then Korean dishes like galbijjim, bulgogi, and skewered meat, topped with side dishes like japchae, kimchi, and rolled omelet.
A luxurious food arrangement that you’d expect from a Korean restaurant.
How much has she studied Korean cuisine?
A French princess preparing a four-tiered lunch box for a sports festival at a Japanese academy. This is overwhelming.
“Wow… Your Highness, that’s amazing…”
“Geeeee…”
“Kuh…”
“Olive sis, Nishishishi. She might be a tough opponent…?”
Eri marvels at Olivia’s bento, while Makoto and Rin stare in awe, and Haru looks on warily.
“Hmph. Is this your best shot to keep me in check? All these greasy dishes with no consideration for health or nutritional balance.”
Seira snorts.
Everyone’s gaze turns to Seira.
She takes out her bento.
“Now, I shall reveal my bento.”
With a proud voice, Seira opens her lunch box.
The menu she prepared includes simmered lotus root, burdock and carrot simmered together, tsukemono, grilled fish, simmered salmon with radish, and rice with pickled plums on top.
What in the world…?
“But that’s not all. I have also prepared a dessert for the little one!”
Hmph.
In the silence, Seira pulls out a thermos and dessert bento box.
Inside the thermos is matcha, and in the dessert box are yokan and red ginseng jelly…
Wait, red ginseng jelly?
Why did she prepare something like that?
“What do you think of my bento? Hehehe. The selection of the menu is so perfect that you might be at a loss for words?”
At that moment, in stark contrast to Seira’s proud expression, a cold silence enveloped the space.
“Hahaha! Seira-tan, you’re so funny. Your menu selection totally screams grandma. So ancient. Nishishishishi.”
Laughter breaks the silence.
It was Haru’s laughter.
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