She stopped her fidgeting fingers.
“Alright. I’ll tell you. My concern is…”
Aris’s face flushed a deep red up to her earlobes.
“Here I am… I went through so much to come all the way to Korea to help you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, yet… everything is already over… and unlike the President, I feel like I couldn’t be of any help…”
She hung her head low.
Aris’s shoulders trembled.
“So… I felt powerless because I couldn’t fulfill my duties as Student Council President…”
She lifted her head.
Aris forced a smile awkwardly.
“Thank you for your concern, but it’s not that big of a deal. It’s just self-reproach for not being able to do my job properly…”
“Well, it seems it’s not that serious after all. Just unnecessary worries. I was worried for nothing.”
I could finally breathe easy.
Still, it was a relief that her true identity was not revealed yet.
But then again.
Aris’s face darkened at my words.
“Is that so? I’m sorry, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. Showing weakness as the Student Council President…”
“Thanks to you.”
I felt the need to say something.
Aris widened her eyes at my words.
“What do you mean…?”
“Thanks to the hellish training you’ve guided me through every day, I was able to easily subdue the villain and save Haru. So, you weren’t of no help.”
Saying that felt a bit cringe-worthy.
Yet I didn’t want to see Aris’s gloomy face.
After all, the original Aris was at her most charming when she was smiling.
Plus, what I said was a fact.
Didn’t the Black Prince say so too?
Thanks to the training with Aris, I was able to take down Muramasa with ease.
If I hadn’t trained, I might have ended it right there and then.
Thinking about it is pretty chilling.
So being thankful is just natural.
Damn it, I’m becoming a light novel protagonist myself.
Anyway, I just can’t seem to like this world.
“So please, just throw away those pointless worries, Senpai.”
Ew, cringe.
Even I could feel my hands and feet shaking after saying that.
[Oh, partner. Look at you, you’ve learned to comfort a lady. You’ve really grown up. You can finally come down from the mountain.]
The Black Prince in my head gave me a compliment that was not at all pleasing to hear.
Come down from the mountain?
Let’s see if I ever say something like that again.
Just today. Just today.
“…”
Aris’s silver eyes quivered.
Her face turned beet red.
“Kim Deok-Suh, you, you are…! Uwae…!”
A Kansai dialect burst forth from Aris, who was as red as a tomato.
Here it comes.
Acting cool.
She stands up, pointing her finger at me.
“Hey, how can you speak so… embarrassing like that! Do you act like this with other girls too? Ugh… you look fine on the outside, but inside, you’re just a parasite! I can’t handle this shamelessness… So, it’s fine, I’m leaving!”
Whoosh.
She turns her flushed face away and briskly walks out of the room.
Bang.
The door slams shut.
What’s her deal?
Even when I try to comfort her while suppressing my cringe, it’s chaos.
Damn it.
Honestly, I can never wrap my head around their way of thinking.
[Partner, that’s youth. Youth. Hahaha!]
The annoying, frivolous laughter of the Black Prince echoes in my head.
*
After Aris storms out.
Around the time when everyone is supposed to be asleep.
I head out to the riverside park set up in the backyard of the mansion.
The splendid night view of Seoul reflected in the Han River.
But unlike before, I can see broken buildings and heavy machinery hard at work even at night, recovering from damage.
I sit on a bench holding a cola I grabbed from a vending machine.
The Han River view really is nice.
Is that why they say life is either the water of the Han or a view of the Han?
While I’m lost in such useless thoughts.
“You were here, Kim Deok-Sung.”
I hear Han Seo-Jin’s voice from behind me.
Turning my head, there she is.
Neatly styled gray bob, unwavering expression, and deeply sunken gray eyes.
It’s Han Seo-Jin.
“What brings you here?”
“I came to inform you of tomorrow’s schedule.”
As soon as I finish my sentence, Han Seo-Jin bows her head and speaks politely.
Tomorrow’s schedule?
Did we have something like that?
Reading the question mark that pops up on my face, Han Seo-Jin immediately continues.
“Tomorrow’s schedule involves a group retreat that’s essential for the extracurricular activities. The retreat location is your personal resort in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do, Kim Deok-Sung.”
“A resort? What?”
What? Isn’t the group retreat supposed to go to a vacation home as per the light novel rules?
Since when did it become a resort on such a grand scale?
Why is there a resort in my asset list that I didn’t even know about?
“Yes, it’s a comprehensive resort donated to you by the Rotate Group to celebrate your return, originally named Rotate World Resort.”
What? They donated what?
Holy hell. Are we still in this situation?
I’m going to be your favorite character, brother.
Aris, who stormed out of Kim Deok-Sung’s room, bites her lip.
“Ugh…”
Her face turns red like the evening sunset.
So embarrassing.
I wish there was a mouse hole to hide in, it’s that embarrassing.
‘This girl is seriously out of her mind… She’s not in her right mind…’
Thump, thump.
Her heart races.
The words Kim Deok-Sung said echo in Aris’s mind.
[Thanks to you, senior.]
Boom.
Aris’s face turns bright red.
‘Because of me…’
Thanks to the training she did with her senior, she was able to win.
The moment she hears that, Aris’s heart rate, which shot up vertically, has no intention of calming down.
Thud-thud.
Thud-thud-thud.
Thud-thud-thud-thud.
Aris touches her lips with her finger.
That day.
The sensation of the kiss in the summer school shower room by the beach is still vivid.
With her heart racing, Aris places her right hand above her large chest.
“Ugh…”
It feels like her heart will burst.
Aris knows.
The image she currently portrays, being the strongest in the academy, the most popular idol in the academy, a poised young lady, is all just an act.
Everything about you being the academy’s top idol or a refined lady is just an act.
If you peel away the Student Council President facade from the current Saionji Aris, nothing remains.
Her essence hasn’t changed at all from before her awakening to now.
A clumsy-looking country girl who was bullied and had no friends since childhood due to her poor family background.
Since those lonely days spent eating lunch alone on the rooftop, never receiving a single word from anyone and being teased, Aris hasn’t changed at all.
What if her true self was discovered?
If that were to happen…
Clap, clap.
Aris slaps her cheeks with both hands to make a sound.
“I need to calm down. If I don’t calm down…”
That won’t happen.
She has done well until now, so she can continue to do well.
Aris thought this while trying to settle her racing heart.
Still, today was embarrassing.
Not only had her status as a country girl been revealed, but she felt as if her identity as a shy loner had also been exposed.
She thought she would be despised.
But he did not despise her.
He simply embraced her.
[Nothing happened yesterday.]
That day.
The morning after her unintended revelation as a country girl and sharing a bed at the Kyoto hotel.
His voice echoed in Aris’s ears.
“What should I do…”
There was no one to answer Aris’s question.
She could not find an answer.
Thump.
Only her heart, feeling like it was broken, thudded loudly.
*
Finally, morning broke the next day.
[Partner, wake up.]
She lifted her heavy eyelids upon hearing the Black Prince’s morning call.
Today’s schedule was resort training camp.
Not a cottage, but a resort training camp.
What on earth were they planning to do there? She had no guess.
She had only been to a resort when skiing in winter throughout her life.
Skiing reminded her of the original winter vacation episode where the protagonist went skiing with the heroines.
That was from Volume 16.5 of the original. Anyway, a resort.
Surely nothing major was planned.
After all, a resort is basically a place for relaxation.
She could just go, relax, and come back.
It probably wasn’t much different from the youth hostel she had gone to during university MT. The training camp itself is somewhat similar to an MT event in Korea.
“Then, how about I have some fun?”
[Partner. That’s a great mindset. Yes, a true hero’s mindset is to work hard when it’s time to work and play hard when it’s time to play! Haha!]
The Black Prince laughed frivolously in her head.
Ignoring his words, she changed her clothes and stepped out the door.
“Kim Deok-Sung. I’ve been waiting for you. All the luggage, including that of your companions, has already been sent to the resort.”
The first thing she saw when she opened the door was Han Seo-Jin standing in the yard.
She spoke in her usual calm tone.
To have sent all the luggage already was impressive.
“It’s nice to see you awake, Master! Eri was dreaming of you too!”
Eri, wearing a cap and waving her hand, stood next to Han Seo-Jin.
Since it’s summer, her casual outfit looked like she was fully enjoying her vacation.
And to think she wanted to see me even in her dreams.
What a nightmare.
“Deok-Sung, did you sleep well last night? Since we had a lot happening yesterday, I was a bit worried you might not have.”
The next one to talk to her was Rin.
Her motherly tone made Aris unable to respond at all.
I was at a loss for words.
Just then, as Rin was smiling radiantly with maternal love…
“Hmph, you still have the habit of oversleeping. Seriously… A fool like you can’t do anything without your devoted maid’s help!”
I could hear Olivia’s sharp voice.
Her platinum hair sparkled brilliantly in the morning sunlight.
Hearing her tsundere voice in the hanok courtyard in the morning finally made me realize…
That I was still stuck in this damn light novel world.
“Junior! You’re awake! I missed you!”
“My lord… I’m here too!”
The purple-haired beautiful girl, Hoshino Kasumi, greeted me with a smile, while Makoto beside her chimed in with a timid expression.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, you’re awake. It’s fine to sleep in during vacation, but if you do that during the semester, you’re going to be in trouble.”
An unfamiliar voice caught my attention, and it was none other than Aris, who had joined us yesterday.
Her silver hair danced in the wind, and she stood out in her fluttering white dress, wearing a straw hat, unlike her usual school uniform.
When our eyes met, Aris quickly looked away.
“I would appreciate it if you could refrain from scanning me with such a scoundrel’s gaze, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Her earlobes turned red.
How unfair.
When did I ever look at her with a scoundrel’s gaze?
Normally, I would wrap up the morning greetings here, but…
“Kim. Did you sleep well last night? Sorry for worrying you. I got discharged yesterday.”
Suddenly, Yuji’s unexpected appearance forced me to continue the morning greeting.
A discharge after just one day.
I guess being the protagonist comes with insane recovery abilities.
Yuji scratched his head and spoke slowly while looking at me.
“Thank you for saving Haru… really, Kim.”
Yuji smiled like a shōnen manga protagonist.
That parasite-looking face was starting to get on my nerves.
He extended his hand towards me.
Is he trying to shake hands?
Seriously, even a light novel protagonist is worried about such useless gestures.
“Enough. No need for any handshake.”
After my shocking encounter with Kusunagi, I decided to practice social distancing from Yuji for a while to minimize any terrible misunderstandings.
I am definitely not gay.
“Aha…hahaha…”
Yuji awkwardly laughed while scratching his head with the right hand he had extended for a handshake.
[Master. Look at that. Just like Kusunagi said, that guy’s personality is lacking.]
As soon as Yuji’s words finished, Kusunagi’s voice flowed out from his sword at his waist.
What? Lacking in personality?
Is he saying that on purpose for me to hear?
I can’t even complain about that damn sword; it’s a pain in the neck.
“Kusunagi, I would appreciate it if you didn’t speak badly about Kim.”
[But rejecting Master’s handshake, Kusunagi……]
“That’s just because I’m still inadequate.”
Yuji clenched his fist.
What? Why did we suddenly jump to that conclusion?
“Kim. From now on, I’ll work hard to become a hero qualified to shake hands with you!”
Yuji looked at me with sparkling eyes.
Such a determined expression, typical of a light novel protagonist.
Qualified for a handshake? No, I just don’t want to shake hands with a guy!
My stomach churned.
I have no idea where to start correcting this damn misunderstanding.
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