Chapter 318
Follow Me to the Rooftop
November has come around already.
The leaves are starting to fall one by one, and we’re at that point where autumn ends and winter shows up.
While I was going through my usual routine in the classroom, a notification popped up on my phone.
[(British Girl) A Love Pepero-Making Video for Mr. Kim Deok-Sung ♥]
What?
A love Pepero-making video?
Suddenly, my blood runs cold.
I really shouldn’t be watching this…
[Partner, what’s that video about? I’m curious, can’t I just click it?]
The Black Prince says in my head.
‘You really shouldn’t.’
[Partner, are we really going to be like this? Just click it once. I’m curious, okay? As brothers, can’t you fulfill this little request?]
The Black Prince says in my head.
Brothers, my foot.
This is ridiculous.
‘But still…’
[Aren’t you going to disregard Princess Evangelin’s sincerity? That’s not very gentlemanly, Partner.]
Just as I was about to say something, the Black Prince cuts me off.
Him saying that makes me feel a little guilty.
I already got a ton of Pepero gifts, and it’s a bit overwhelming as it is.
Maybe it’d be better to watch the video for the sake of checking domestic opinions.
I close my eyes and click on the YouTube notification.
[Did you receive my greetings? Subscribers, this is the British girl Evangelin Stewart who loves Korea!]
Evanlin’s unnecessarily fluent Korean pronunciation hits me right from the start.
Where on earth did she pick up such phrases?
Inside an interior that looks like Buckingham Palace, the lavishly decorated room has an impressive table covered with Pepero ingredients.
From sticks to chocolate, and even spicy chicken sauce.
Huh? Why is spicy chicken sauce there?
[Hawhawhaw, Pepero Day is coming soon! Today, I’ll be making handmade Pepero for my respected and beloved Mr. Kim Deok-Sung!]
Wearing a cute pink apron, Evangelin clenches her fist with her gloved hands.
Her face turns pink.
[Is the princess this cute for real?]
[Starting today, I’m Evangelin’s fan, hahaha!]
[Hey,,,, you guys~~~ all my peers are supporting Olivia~~~]
[- Here we go with the next 6 weeks, lol.]
[- Who do you think you are to say that, lol?]
[- England vs. France, it’s definitely England, hahaha!]
[Now, the discussion is no longer negative; it’s all about Evangelin’s territory!]
[British Empire! British Empire! British Empire!]
[This is Rule, Britannia!]
A total mess of a comment section.
[Six weeks, these brats……]
The Black Prince is infuriated in his mind.
Wait, did they give up in just six weeks here too?
The original setting was that superhumans existed even before the great disaster.
Superhumans mobilized for World War II—imagine that, it’s dizzying.
[Hehe, first, I’ll melt the chocolate in a double boiler… Then sprinkle some decoration cookie powder…]
Evangelin mutters to herself as she melts the chocolate.
Being a British character from a light novel, she’s the one who was the top cook alongside Rin in the original story.
Making it perfectly is making me uneasy.
[Next is the spicy chicken sauce that Kim Deok-Sung loves…]
Evangelin dumps bright red spicy chicken sauce into the melting chocolate.
I knew this would happen.
A sigh rises in my throat.
It’s fine to make Pepero, but why on earth add spicy chicken sauce?
[Hehe! Now it’s done! But before sending it to Kim Deok-Sung, I need to check it, so I’ll invite a friend as a guest and personally serve the Pepero I made!]
Evangelin’s eyes sparkle.
[Pepero with spicy chicken sauce, LOL]
[Is this… England?]
[Such a disgraceful country, LOL. Isn’t it the land of sardine pie and eel jelly? LOL]
[France is definitely the land of gastronomy compared to that disgraceful country, LOL]
[Long live Olivia!]
[If Evangelin makes it, I’ll even eat spicy chicken Pepero…]
The comments are already a complete mess.
But who’s the guest she’s inviting?
Just then, as I was pondering that,
[Contractor, what is the purpose of summoning me?]
The guest in question appeared.
A beautiful girl with striking golden hair and an eye patch.
It was Beatrice.
[Perfect timing! Trixie! Here’s the chocolate snack! Please try it!]
[Ooh! It looks delicious!]
Beatrice’s lone eye sparkles.
[Experiment subject Trixie makes her entrance again, LOL]
[About to eat poison and puke soon, wwww]
[Each time knowing yet still falling for it, LOL]
[Honestly, isn’t Trixie cuter than the Princess? LOL]
As soon as Trixie appears, the comments explode.
Was it her first time as a guest?
[Please eat it, Trixie!]
[Alright. Then, for the contractor’s sincerity, I’ll at least give it a taste.]
With an arrogant expression.
But with a glint of wanting to eat, Beatrice picks up the spicy chicken Pepero and puts it in her mouth.
The reaction was immediate.
[Ugh.]
Beatrice’s face turns bright red.
She flails her arms.
[Contractor! Is this really chocolate?! Why is it so spicy?! Ugh, cough!]
Beatrice, with her red face protesting, and Evangelin tilting her head, puzzled.
[Oh dear, Trixie? Is everything alright?]
[Water! Give me water! Water! Contractor! Please, I need divine water… I’m dying!]
[You can’t die! Here’s some water…!]
Just as Evangelin brings water to the flailing Beatrice with her red face,
Beep.
The video cuts off and transitions to a beautiful, pastoral scene of the Western countryside.
[Adjusting the screen.]
Tweet tweet tweet.
The sound of birds chirping echoes in my ears through the earphones.
What am I seeing right now?
I pause the video and check the comments section.
[“The properly made Pepero has been sent to Kim Deok-Sung via international delivery! ^^”]
There’s a comment from Evangelin.
A properly made Pepero?
Is that really a properly made thing?
I suddenly feel chills.
[- I sent one too! Homemade Pepero filled with my love! I hope it arrives soon.]
A comment below.
It was Yoo Se-Ra’s official account.
[- Hero Kim Deok-Sung’s fan club is messing around here? LOL]
[- Filled with love? What, did some idol try to make a move on Hero Kim Deok-Sung?]
[- Shouldn’t you manage your fan club better? LOL]
[- Yoo Se-Ra, we’re actually very embarrassed for you!]
Comments below.
An idol, huh?
Since when did idols become “just some idol”?
My head feels dizzy.
“Master, what are you staring at?”
I hear Makoto’s voice in my ear.
I quickly close the YouTube app and reply.
I didn’t plan to watch anymore anyway, but thanks to Makoto talking to me, I feel saved.
“Nothing, really.”
As soon as Makoto tilts her head at my words…
Ding dong ding dong.
The class bell rang.
It’s time to start the next class.
*
After class ends.
I pack my textbook into my bag and stand up.
Since there are no club activities today, I plan to eat dinner at the cafeteria and return to the dormitory.
With my bag on, I leave the classroom while getting lost in thought.
With one of the Four Horsemen dead and another neutralized, only Dokta Shinahel and Undertaker remain.
Dokta Shinahel has been following Messiah since before the League was formed, and he is his loyal and top subordinate.
Naturally, his loyalty is fanatic, so I need to deal with him as soon as possible.
On the other hand, Undertaker is a character who turns into a heroine in the original, so I need to persuade her here too.
In the original, after saving Beatrice and clearing out the Cult, I persuaded Undertaker with confidential documents, but I have other means at my disposal, so it doesn’t matter.
After persuading Undertaker and destroying the Cult, I will cut off all of the League’s limbs and lure Messiah to the academy for the final battle.
Just as I was thinking that…
“Hey! You!”
I hear a sharp voice in my ear.
I turn my gaze toward the source of the voice.
There she is.
A platinum-haired, wall-eyed beautiful girl in a school uniform standing in the corridor lined with classrooms.
Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
Now that I think about it, I received Pepero from the other heroines, but I haven’t received any from Olivia yet.
Did she just not prepare it?
That could be possible. It wouldn’t be strange if Olivia, being from France, didn’t know about a celebration that is unfamiliar even in Japan.
Olivia is looking at me with flushed cheeks.
Her cheeks are fully puffed up.
“Oh my! Did the princess call the Black Beast?”
“What’s going on?”
“Could it be… a public play proposal as her maid?”
“Kyaaaaaaaaaa!”
I hear the whispers of extras surrounding us in a circle.
Olivia’s face turns bright red upon hearing the extras.
Her body flinches.
Her hand gripping the bag strap and her luscious pink lips tremble.
“What’s going on?”
“…I-I’m challenging you to a duel!!”
Thump.
Olivia places a hand on her chest while pointing at me with her other hand, shouting.
She points at me with her finger and shouts.
Her face turns as red as a tomato.
“Please, follow me to the rooftop!!”
Whoosh.
Olivia, having finished what she wanted to say, turns her body.
Like the parting of the Red Sea, she walks between the extras on either side.
“Oh, follow me to the rooftop!”
“Is she planning to do all sorts of things up there?!”
“Princess Knight… A public confession… How bold!”
“The Black Beast… The rumors about him making his harem members do this and that regardless of time and place were, indeed, true!”
“Kyaaaaaah!”
The ever-expanding universe of the Black Beast.
At this rate, even taking the time to explain seems a waste.
By the way, a duel?
Why do we have to follow her to the rooftop of all places, as if this were some academy action?
[Partner. You’re not thinking of refusing my lovely sister’s suggestion, are you?]
As expected, the voice of the foolish prince, Raul, resonates in my head.
Even if he didn’t emphasize it, I was going to go, anyway.
What can I say, that’s my fate.
I sighed inwardly and headed for the rooftop after Olivia.
*
Clack, click.
Arriving on the rooftop, I closed and locked the door.
Late autumn, just before winter, in November.
The weather was quite chilly.
The cold wind wrapped around my body along with the sun.
The safety fence at the rooftop railing, some leftover desks, and a giant ventilation shaft welcomed me.
In a sunny spot, potted plants huddled together.
A typical scene from a Japanese academy rooftop.
And there, just like a heroine from a Japanese academy story, with her gaze turned toward the rooftop fence, stood Olivia, the beautiful blonde girl, turning her back to me.
“Did you come?”
I hear Olivia’s voice.
Unlike the confident tone from earlier, it now has a trembling, nervous edge.
“Yeah. I’m here. What’s this duel about?”
She isn’t actually proposing to fight each other with some kind of cursed weapon like we did when we first met, right?
No way.
Surely not.
Just as I shook off those ominous thoughts, she swiftly turned around.
Her shiny platinum hair flowed in the wind.
With a face still flushed, Olivia rummaged through her bag and pulled out a wrapped gift box.
Probably Pepero.
Did she really bring up a duel just to give me Pepero?
Well, that’s just typical of Olivia.
As I pondered that, suddenly…
Whoosh.
After unwrapping it, Olivia pulled out a chocolate-covered Pepero stick.
“Oh, today is Pepero Day… So in accordance with traditional Korean customs, we’ll play the Pepero game… It’s a battle!”
With her face bright red, she shouted at me.
What?
A Pepero game? A battle?
Traditional Korean?
What on earth is this weird thing I’ve never heard of before?
Just as I was overwhelmed with confusion…
“Alright! Here I come! I, Princess Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte of France, will today settle things with you as your devoted maid!”
Boom.
Olivia raised her hand over her chest, proclaiming it like a declaration of war.
“With this Pepero game!”
After finishing her declaration, Olivia takes a bite of the Pepero and lifts her heel, closing her eyes like she’s about to kiss.
Her face turns even redder.
Hah.
What does she think she’s going to settle with a Pepero game?
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