To cut to the chase, the Awakening was a success.
All that self-harm in the practice room finally paid off.
The rusty longsword transformed into the magic sword Durandal, and now it’s mine.
A minor issue, though: I’ve missed half a day and all my remaining schedule got canceled.
Events like breakfast with the President at the Blue House, a farewell concert for candidate Kim Deok-Sung, a signing event, and a farewell ceremony at the airport were all wiped out.
“Thank goodness for that.”
I let out a sigh of relief.
Breakfast at the Blue House; fine, I can live with that.
Farewell concert? Signing event? Airport farewell?
What if I had actually done those? I shudder at the thought.
Once I regained my senses, I barely made it onto a flight to Japan and arrived just in time for the entrance ceremony.
“Our Shuo Hero Academy is the best hero training institution in the nation, even the world, producing outstanding heroes to protect humanity…”
I look up.
I see the cadets.
As expected in a world straight out of a Japanese light novel, everyone has bright, full-color hair.
In this academy, the only black-haired cadets are me and our protagonist Yuji.
‘Must be because their magic power color reflects in their hair color or something?’
Instinctively, I recall the original setting.
Of course, our amazing protagonist is the exception to this rule.
‘What a ridiculous thought.’
A convenience-driven setting trying to justify the colorful hair of Japanese characters.
It’s absurd to think this is the reality I’ll have to live in going forward.
Ugh, seriously. Damn.
“New student representative, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, please come to the podium.”
The principal calls out the name of the top incoming student.
Click, clack.
With the sound of heels, she steps onto the podium.
Platinum-blonde hair cascading down to her waist, blue eyes, and flawless white skin.
A fairy-tale beautiful girl stands on the podium.
My eyes narrow.
Is that how it would look if you turned an anime into live-action?
Either way, she’s undeniably gorgeous as per the setting.
“I swear. We will adhere to the rules of Shuo Hero Academy…”
Olivia’s enchanting voice fills the auditorium.
All the cadets’ gazes are glued to her.
Mine too.
I can’t believe the day has come where I get to experience a scene from the first episode of the first season of the anime firsthand.
The day has finally come to experience it all firsthand.
What a nostalgic feeling.
“…I solemnly swear.”
The oath is completed.
The principal and Olivia exchange greetings.
Olivia turns around, her blue eyes sweeping over the cadets in the auditorium.
Our eyes meet.
A misunderstanding? No.
“…”
Because Olivia’s gaze is fixated exactly on the Durandal at my waist.
The brief moment of intense eye contact with the main heroine was short-lived.
Olivia bows toward the cadets.
“…That’s all.”
Hearing her voice, I bit my lips.
Why does this damn world start off with hellish difficulty?
I won.
Shuo Hero Academy.
The world’s top hero academy built on an artificial island in Tokyo Bay.
A prestigious institution that only allows geniuses recognized in the hero powerhouse, Japan.
Being the top admit of Shuo Hero Academy is a guaranteed proof of being a genius among geniuses.
A glorious position that any cadet would envy.
But not for Olivia.
“Brother…”
Olivia clenches her fist tightly.
Black Prince Raul Napoleon Bonaparte.
The hero who saved the world and his motherland, France, during the great disaster 30 years ago, and the man who met his end saving her from the Omega rank interdimensional threat, Paphnir, ten years ago.
Though they were cousins, he treated her like a real sister.
To fill the void left by her deceased brother, she cannot be satisfied with merely being the top admit.
She must rise to the highest position.
Absolutely.
She slightly bites her lip.
“…I solemnly swear.”
Maybe that’s why.
What is an exciting entrance ceremony for someone else feels like a mundane rite of passage to her.
She bows to the principal and turns her back.
Cadets with all sorts of hair colors come into view.
The atmosphere is brimming with excitement.
“Disappointing.”
Her blue eyes darken coldly.
Heroes.
Users of extraordinary weaponry.
A bulwark protecting humanity and the world at the forefront of the interdimensional invasion.
But here, no one acknowledges the heavy responsibilities that come in the shadow of being a hero.
They’re all just intoxicated by the promised future wealth and honor that the title of hero brings.
It’s not just the cadets.
Since the world attained peace, thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of the Five Crowns and the first-generation heroes after the great disaster, heroes and hunters have forgotten their responsibilities, and humanity has forgotten the crises.
Gates and interdimensional worlds have become controllable risks, and interdimensional beings have turned into cash cows.
“I don’t like it. All of it.”
Olivia couldn’t accept that reality.
It was akin to insulting the death of Black Prince Raul.
That’s how she felt.
Just as Olivia was about to pull her disappointed gaze away.
A black-haired cadet came into her view.
“Black hair?”
Olivia’s eyes slightly waver.
Black hair.
That’s the same hair color as her long-admired brother, Black Prince Raul.
“A magical aura like my brother…”
Considering how rare black magic powers are, this black-haired cadet might be the only one in Shuo Academy.
It might just be me.
Olivia’s gaze turns to the black-haired cadet.
Her punkish face and the sword hilt hanging at her waist capture her attention.
Olivia’s pupils widen. Her hands tremble slightly.
‘Durandal?’
No doubt about it.
The cursed sword Durandal.
The heirloom of my older brother that I’ve searched for so long is right there.
Her eyes freeze cold.
‘Let’s remember this.’
Gazing straight at the black-haired cadet, Olivia bows her head in greeting.
The entrance ceremony is over.
*
Life is a pain in the ass, making it hard to cut corners.
The same goes for fate.
Durandal is no ordinary item.
It’s the item that the main heroine has searched for all her life, a legendary weapon used by the greatest hero representing France.
So, would I really get away with taking such a thing without consequences?
‘That’s nonsense.’
Therefore, a situation like this was fully anticipated.
Of course, I have a plan.
“That sword. Where did you get it?”
It’s just that the timing has come way too fast.
In the auditorium after the entrance ceremony.
With everyone gone, I’m now having a hot afterparty with the main heroine.
Olivia’s icy gaze pierces me.
The expression of someone who despises the unworthy gaining power.
Ah, when I saw this in the anime, it was an industry award moment.
“I got it from the country.”
Fluent Japanese spills out of my mouth.
Among the memories and experiences I absorbed from Kim Deok-Sung, the most useful part is my near-native proficiency in Japanese and English.
“From the country? That’s utterly nonsensical…!”
“If you don’t believe me, I have a guarantee certificate right here for you to check.”
I present her with the guarantee certificate I prepared in advance.
Korea in this world may be a minor hero country, but it is still a proper nation.
The extent of what the country can do for its only hero candidate is beyond imagination.
Even if it means using the nation’s credit for an individual person.
‘Issuing a guarantee certificate is a piece of cake.’
Olivia’s eyes tremble as she reads the guarantee in Japanese and English.
“Are you feeling a bit better about things now?”
“…Durandal is my brother’s heirloom…”
She chews on her lips.
A sigh escapes me.
I knew it.
There’s no way Olivia would back down easily.
If she did, it would be a character breakdown. A character breakdown.
“So?”
“It can’t be entrusted to someone unworthy…”
“Are you going to play the power card?”
I cross my arms and mock her.
“It’s not about power.”
Olivia speaks in a serious voice.
“…I will test your worthiness in a duel.”
“What if I refuse?”
“Then, as you said, it’ll be a matter of power.”
Olivia declares, closing her mouth ominously.
My impression gets crushed mercilessly.
Back in Korea, I’m definitely the boss, but that’s only in Korea.
Things change on a global level.
What if Olivia pressures me while backed by the heroic power of France?
That guarantee certificate will turn into a mere scrap of paper, and I’ll have to cough up Durandal.
I need to吐出来.
The logic of power she’s talking about is exactly that.
The gamer in her room is still feeling sour today.
“Ha, shit, this sucks.”
She curses in Korean.
The situation unfolds just as expected.
The problem is, I feel dirty.
This is plain daylight robbery.
“What did you just say?”
A question mark pops up on Olivia’s face.
I take a deep breath.
I cool down my heated head.
I mustn’t get excited. That’ll mess things up.
I didn’t just randomly snatch up Durandal.
I did it because it’s worth a shot.
I’m almost there.
I speak again in Japanese.
“No, nothing. The exam? Sure. All good. But, is it fair that a C-rank like me is fighting you, an A-rank?”
Her face hardens.
“What do you want to say?”
“Let’s put a handicap on your magic power. To my level.”
A magic power handicap.
She’ll definitely bite on the poisoned bait I prepared.
Without a shred of doubt.
Because…
“…If it’s that much.”
This is the ‘kind’ light novel world where human goodwill is never questioned.
Absurd, but that’s how it rolls.
“I don’t mind.”
Her answer drops.
“Great.”
I can’t help but laugh.
“Oh, just to clarify, you’re not saying I have to win, right?”
“A draw.”
Olivia states firmly.
“I don’t expect more than that.”
“But what if I win?”
“That won’t happen.”
“And if it does?”
At my persistent questioning, Olivia gives me a contemptuous look.
In a cold voice, she responds.
“If such nonsense becomes reality… I’ll even be your dedicated maid then.”
“Are you serious?”
“I won’t lie under the name of royalty.”
When I ask again, a definite reply comes back.
Well, her confidence isn’t misplaced.
Even in a handicap duel based on magic power, she’s the best talent from France.
There’s a fundamental difference between her and a lucky candidate from a small country who just got Durandal.
She won’t be able to unleash the full power of Durandal.
She probably thinks so.
But that’s not the case.
Not my problem.
It’s also not my business that she threw in that dedicated maid cliché.
Anyway, I guess it wouldn’t be a light novel world otherwise.
“Alright.”
I draw Durandal hanging at my waist.
Swish.
With a cool sound, the gleaming blade reveals itself.
Flinch.
Olivia’s pupils shake at the sight of Durandal.
“Let’s wrap this up quickly because I’m tired.”
Vroom.
I channel my magic.
The magic core in my chest heats up.
The magic flowing through the circuit is devoured by Durandal like a beast.
Whoosh.
Steam rises from the blade that has absorbed the magic.
Clank, clank.
Starting from my right hand gripping the sword, my entire body is quickly covered in shining black armor.
Wooooo.
A layer of magic armor is added over the fully revealed black full-body gauntlet.
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