Crunch.
I bite into the handmade cookie she made.
“Anyway, let’s get to the point. When and where do you want to go out?”
I don’t plan on spending more time with Nishizawa, who is getting more exhausting by the minute.
With all this wish-granting nonsense going on, I’m stuck having to go on an outing with her.
It’s best to hear her out quickly today and part ways.
Nishizawa smiles at my words.
“Eri wants to go to Inokashira Park with you, Master, this Sunday!”
Her words make my eyebrows twitch.
Inokashira Park?
Isn’t that the place where we solved the gate incident during the cherry blossom viewing earlier this year?
“Why there of all places? Inokashira Park doesn’t exactly hold great memories for you.”
Just as I said, Inokashira Park is a place where Nishizawa has more bad memories than good.
During the cherry blossom viewing, she not only followed me around but also defied me during the gate incident, which led to her being summoned to a disciplinary committee, putting her on the verge of expulsion.
So why does she insist on going to Inokashira Park?
I’m genuinely curious.
“Master, you were considerate of Eri’s feelings? Eri is a bit touched by your kindness.”
Nishizawa places her hand on her chest, her eyes sparkling.
“Don’t get any silly ideas and tell me why you want to go.”
“Well, Inokashira Park is the fateful place where our bond began to intertwine, Master. Eri really wants to visit Inokashira Park with you again, along with a handmade lunch filled with love. Can we do that, Master?”
Nishizawa Eri looks at me with a puppy-dog expression.
Crunch.
After swallowing the last cookie, I fold the paper bag into a paper airplane and say,
“This Sunday. Inokashira Park. It’s a wish, so just this once, Nishizawa Eri.”
“Master!! You’re the best! Truly, there’s no one else for Eri but you!”
“I’m leaving.”
I get up, ignoring Nishizawa’s nonsense.
I toss the folded paper airplane with the bag in hand.
The flying paper airplane lands perfectly in the trash can.
[Whoa. It’s a goal! Partner.]
I move on, hearing the Black Prince’s voice.
Thinking about Sunday with Nishizawa is already giving me a headache.
Awa awa awa
Saturday.
The night before my promise with Nishizawa.
My room feels empty after Han Seo-Jin has gone home.
Just as I’m about to fall asleep, my phone lights up.
[Master! You haven’t forgotten your promise with Eri, have you? ˖◛⁺⑅♡]
It’s Nishizawa.
She’s texting me right before I sleep, how exhausting.
[Partner. One must respond earnestly to a girl’s message.]
The Black Prince is all excited the moment he sees the message.
He claims he won’t sleep because he’s a spirit?
I think I’ll hold my tongue.
[Yep.]
As soon as I send my short reply, the read receipt pops up.
With an ellipsis, a flurry of replies comes rushing in.
[Is there a menu you want to eat, Master? Eri-ling can make your favorite gimbap! ♡＾▽＾♡]
[Eri-ling can also wrap katsu gimbap and tuna mayo gimbap! (⺣◡⺣)♡*]
[I’ll also make inari sushi! (*˘︶˘*).。.:*♡]
Gimbap and inari sushi, huh?
Nishizawa isn’t too pleased with herself, but since her cooking skills are top-notch, I’m kind of interested in the bento she makes.
She’ll manage it just fine.
[Do whatever you want. I’m going to sleep.]
[Got it! Sleep well, Master. Dream of Eri-ling! ✿♥‿♥✿]
Dreaming of Nishizawa?
‘That’s almost a curse to have a nightmare.’
[Partner. Aren’t you being a bit petty? As a man, you should be cool about a woman’s past!]
‘Stop talking nonsense.’
[Seriously, you’re so dishonest.]
Just then, I hear the Black Prince’s nonsense.
Beep.
My phone buzzes again.
What now? I just want to get some sleep!
Frowning, I check the message.
[Deok-Sung-chan!]
[The development of the silent scabbard prototype we talked about is complete!]
[Can you come to the lab tomorrow morning? I really want to see you after a long time! Saori has a special gift prepared for you★]
It’s Saori.
Looks like she finished the silent scabbard I commissioned earlier.
What a relief.
[What? The silent scabbard? Partner, are you planning to shut me up?]
If you didn’t want that, you should’ve been quieter.
Anyway, once the scabbard is developed, it’s the end of misery and the beginning of happiness.
I won’t have to be nagged by that noisy ego sword from morning till night in this already insane light novel world.
[Partner. But didn’t you have a date with Lady Eri tomorrow?]
‘My appointment with Nishizawa is during lunch, so swinging by in the morning should be fine.’
Surely nothing serious will happen?
[That’s a relief then. Partner. It’s not polite for a gentleman to be late for a date with Lady Eri, so make sure to keep the time!]
‘Fine, just let me sleep.’
Closing my eyes while listening to the Black Prince’s nagging.
Just as I fall asleep, a wave hits me like a tsunami.
*
At the same time.
Home Economics Practice Room.
Late at night, the practice room is empty.
With an orange twin-tailed hairstyle, Nishizawa Eri hums a little tune while wearing a white apron over her school uniform.
“Hmph, hum. A date with Master. Just the two of us, Eri-ling and Master. Hehe.”
A joyful smile spreads across Eri’s face.
She’s completely unaware that Kim Deok-Sung thinks little of her.
It’s not that she lacks awareness; it’s just that—
‘It’s all my fault.’
Eri bites her lip.
Yes. It’s all her fault.
Being cold to the Master from the start, defying orders and being brought to the disciplinary committee.
There’s no room for excuses for her mistakes.
‘So it’s only natural for the Master to not think too highly of me.’
But still.
Sometimes, she wishes to see the kind Master.
That’s what Nishizawa Eri thought.
That day.
In the conference room of a hotel in Kyoto, sharing wishes was just a whim.
A tantrum that she thought wouldn’t be fulfilled, but still wanted to indulge in.
However, Kim Deok-Sung granted her childish wishes.
“So sweet. Master.”
Nishizawa Eri’s face turns pink.
A smile blooms at her lips.
Nishizawa Eri lifts a knife and slices the gimbap she has just finished making.
Swish.
The tuna mayo gimbap is cut into bite-sized pieces.
She carefully packs the gimbap into the bento box.
She neatly packs gimbap into the lunch box.
Tonkatsu gimbap and inari sushi are visible.
“I used a Korean lunch box as a reference, so Master will definitely love it, right?”
Nishizawa Eri happily smiles as she looks at the nearly complete lunch box.
In her mind, she envisions herself and Kim Deok-Sung on a date in Inokashira Park.
Paddling on a duck boat in the lake and spreading a mat on the grass to eat lunch together unfolds like a panorama before her eyes.
“Master will surely praise me, right? He said Eri’s soybean paste soup was delicious too…”
Memories from Imgan School flash in Nishizawa Eri’s mind.
During the cooking competition with the dairy cow and the princess, Master raised his hand for her, saying her cooking skills were good.
She wants to hear more compliments.
If possible, she wishes for some head pats too.
With such thoughts, Nishizawa Eri placed her hand on her heart.
“I’ll melt Master’s cold heart with Eri’s warm cooking! I can’t wait for tomorrow to come.”
Thump-thump.
Her heart keeps pounding.
Tonight is bound to be sleepless, filled with excitement over her expectations.
Nishizawa Eri thought so.
*
Sunday morning.
[Partner. Wake up. Partner. Today is your date with Lady Eri. It would be rude to be late.]
Woken up by the Black Prince’s morning call as usual, I tidied my messy hair, threw on some casual clothes, and headed out to the academy.
My destination is the Otherworld Research Institute.
I boarded the bustling Tokyo train.
[Partner. Are you really going to make that sound-canceling sheath? Are you serious?]
‘Of course I’m serious. You think I’m joking?’
[Hmph.]
The Black Prince clicks his tongue.
I wonder if he realizes how disgusting it is for a guy to act sulky like that.
‘By the way, why is Han Seo-Jin so quiet today?’
Normally, she would be bustling around offering to drive me to our meeting place in her limousine decked out with the Korean flag for the honor of Korea.
But today, aside from bringing me breakfast toast, she’s strangely quiet.
Just a simple farewell wishing me well.
‘I feel like I’m missing something.’
What could it be?
It’s kind of nagging at me.
[Exactly. Partner. This is the first time I’ve encountered a lady like Han Seo-Jin, so I don’t really get it.]
The Black Prince states his opinion as if he’s been waiting.
The first type he’s encountering.
‘Well, if Olivia knew about your former Casanova ways, she’d be shocked.’
A playboy who practiced heroic womanizing.
A superficial guy who doesn’t fit the reputation of a great hero.
That’s what the setting book said.
In the original story, the Black Prince wasn’t the protagonist but Olivia’s spirit, and due to his role as a protective brother, his Casanova personality didn’t really show, nor did he have much of a presence.
So, I didn’t expect the Black Prince to be this kind of person.
[Casanova? The ladies are enchanted by my charm, and they can’t escape. I’m innocent, a tragic homme fatale. So, don’t tell my lovely little sister about this.]
Homme fatale, huh.
I roll my eyes.
While bantering with the Black Prince, I’ve already arrived at the train station.
I get off and head towards the Otherworld Research Institute.
I have memories of visiting the lab multiple times with Makoto due to her nano-machine bomb, but this is my first time coming alone.
‘I’m terrified of what Saori might do.’
[Same here, Partner. That girl is quite out there. Seems like she’s in her own world.]
The Black Prince says with a bored tone.
As I chat with him and pass through layer upon layer of security, I see the familiar sight of a personal research room.
The sight of my photos and posters plastered everywhere always gives me chills.
Seeing my photo and poster stuck up there gives me chills every time.
“Ah, Deok-Sung-chan! You’re here!”
Creak.
Saori spins around on her electric swivel chair, greeting me with a friendly expression.
The mechanical arm attached to the chair whirs and clicks as it moves.
She flutters her long, white gown sleeves, saying, “The finished product of the mute sheath I mentioned before is out! It might not completely block all voices, but at least I won’t have to deal with the spirit chattering in my head all the time anymore. Yep, yep! I worked hard on it! Here!”
Click.
As Saori presses a button on the armrest, a mechanical arm moves to place a black sheath in front of me.
“I matched the color with Durandal!”
“Right.”
I take the sheath in my hands.
Just as she said, it’s a thoughtfully designed sheath that pairs well with Durandal.
Hummm.
At that moment, Durandal’s blade shivers.
“But Deok-Sung-chan, what kind of character is the spirit of Durandal? I’m super curious!” Saori’s voice buzzes in my ear.
Her red eyes sparkle behind her glasses.
[Partner. Don’t answer that question. Please. We can’t let anyone know that the Black Prince is still alive, not even our allies Seira or my beloved sister Olivia.]
With that, the voice of the Black Prince echoes in my mind.
That’s exactly the response I expected.
The Black Prince in the original story asked the same thing of Olivia.
[If my survival becomes public knowledge, the League will act. Partner, that could put your life in danger.]
The reason is the same as the original.
‘Don’t worry, it won’t happen.’
[Got it. Partner. I’m counting on you.]
While hearing the Black Prince’s response, I look at Saori and say, “He’s just a really talkative, pompous, lecherous spirit.”
“Uh-huh. Got it. I’ll make a note of that. Hehehe.”
Saori conjures a holographic keyboard and starts typing in mid-air.
[Partner. Are you serious? That’s too much!]
What? It’s a fact.
Ignoring the Black Prince’s complaint, I shove Durandal into the mute sheath.
[Hey, partner. Partner… …]
Click.
The noise in my head cuts off.
It’s been a while since I felt any relief.
“How’s the performance? Is it okay?”
“I’m satisfied.”
It’s very good.
I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve felt peace of mind.
[Hey! Partner! Are you really doing this to me?]
Humm.
The sheath at my waist vibrates as a small voice echoes in my head.
[To have to expend so much energy just to speak, isn’t that inefficient!]
Even if it’s not perfect, this is enough.
The Black Prince needs to cut down on his chatter.
“And for the adjustment between the sheath and Durandal, I’ll need to leave Durandal in the lab for about a day. Can you handle that, Deok-Sung-chan?”
[Partner, really? You’re going to leave me with that girl?]
Saori and the Black Prince’s voices ring in unison.
For just a day, that’s fine.
Nothing to worry about.
There’s no chance Saori will catch on to the Black Prince’s identity.
Right now, he can only talk to me, the master of Durandal.
It’s all because I haven’t mastered true name liberation to the point of spirit materialization yet.
If I really feel empty, I can always borrow a universal weapon from the academy.
“Alright. Here.”
[Ugh. Partner. To sell me off like this… …]
Saori takes hold of Durandal with her sparkling eyes.
With my objective accomplished, just as I’m about to leave the spot.
“Okay, okay! I knew you’d allow it, Deok-Sung-chan. Oh, and Deok-Sung-chan, would you like to try this?”
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