Chapter 323
Christmas Love♥ Date Operation
In Japan, Christmas is not a public holiday.
But that doesn’t mean the Japanese don’t celebrate Christmas.
Christmas is also an important occasion in Japan, similar to Korea, where couples confirm their love for each other.
However, unlike Korea, since Christmas isn’t a public holiday in Japan, couples often celebrate on Christmas Eve evening or the weekend right before Christmas instead of the actual day.
Other than that, they buy cakes and chicken to have a Christmas party at home or dress up as Santa and give gifts to children, nothing too extravagant.
Anyway, Han Seo-Jin only accepted my not-so-subtle date request the night before.
“I will definitely carry out Mr. Kim Deok-Sung’s orders.”
Saying that with the same serious tone and fiery enthusiasm in her eyes.
I really don’t get why she’s making such a big deal out of it.
“Did I pick Christmas Day for our date for no reason?”
“Well, it’s common sense to spend Christmas with family, after all.”
The Black Prince interjects with a completely unrelated response.
But hey, the Black Prince is French, and I’m Korean, so there’s no need to follow Japan’s way of celebrating Christmas.
After all, my date is Han Seo-Jin, who isn’t Japanese but Korean.
Anyway, this Christmas is fortunate to fall on a Saturday.
Imagine having to go to school on Christmas.
What a nightmare to have it not be a red day.
Would it really hurt if they made Buddha’s Birthday and Christmas equally red days like in Korea?
Thinking these thoughts, I waited for Han Seo-Jin in the parking lot in front of Shuo Hero Academy.
Our agreed time was 10 a.m.
The current time is 9:50 a.m.
Thanks to the Black Prince urging me not to keep a lady waiting, I arrived a whole 30 minutes early.
It was a snowy, white Christmas.
In the distance, I could see Han Seo-Jin’s figure.
“…Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Maybe it was the biting cold of December, but her nose was slightly rosy.
Her outfit came into view.
It was completely different from her usual business attire.
She was dressed in a light-toned knit cardigan and a flouncy mini skirt, casual wear.
Han Seo-Jin’s face turned red, complemented by the thick thigh-high socks she was wearing.
A mini skirt in winter, huh?
“Are you not cold even after all this?”
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
She bows her head.
It’s still ten minutes until our agreed time of 10 o’clock.
“You don’t need to apologize.”
I came out early, so it’s not like Han Seo-Jin is late.
She shakes her head at my words.
“…I should have come out an hour earlier… They said that we shouldn’t go out in suits like usual…”
Unlike her usual confident self, Han Seo-Jin fidgets with her skirt as she speaks.
Her outfit is completely different from her usual suit, resembling something like a girlfriend look.
This is the first time she’s worn something other than formal attire since the summer school swimsuit.
“…I guess this kind of outfit doesn’t suit me, right? I’m sorry, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin bows her waist and apologizes with a worried look before I can say anything.
“What do you mean? You look fine.”
Although Han Seo-Jin didn’t appear in the original work, she possesses beauty that can rival the heroines.
If you have a pretty face, you can pull off any outfit.
As long as you’re not a fashion terrorist level.
“…”
Upon hearing my words, Han Seo-Jin seems frozen in place.
Her face turns bright red all of a sudden.
What’s up with her?
I feel like I’ve been seeing a lot of different sides to her lately.
She bites her lip with her head lowered.
Fidgeting with her skirt, she says,
“Thank you for the… excessive praise…”
Han Seo-Jin speaks with a trembling voice.
Her cheeks, flushed from the cold, are quite noticeable.
“Then, I’ll take you to today’s mission location.”
With that, she opens the back seat door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom parked in the lot, adorned with a Taegeukgi (Korean flag).
But can we at least do something about this heavy burden of a full-size sedan and the Taegeukgi?
I let out a sigh internally and got into the back seat.
The door closes softly, and Han Seo-Jin sits in the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
As expected from a luxury sedan, it glides comfortably with a soft hum and low noise level.
“Here’s your cola.”
I take the cola from Han Seo-Jin and crack open the can.
Sizzle.
I gulp down the cola from the can.
“So, where are we going today?”
“Well…”
Han Seo-Jin trails off at my question.
She flinches slightly as if she’s stuck on something, then says,
“It’s Tokyo Death Land.”
Tokyo Death Land.
I know where that is.
It’s a theme park with a name twisted from Tokyo Disneyland in the real world.
It’s not mentioned in the main story but appears in a special drama CD featuring Alice and their date at the amusement park.
Even though it has Tokyo in its name, it’s actually in Chiba Prefecture, just like the original—set to be filled with thrilling rides as the name suggests.
It has a completely different concept from the original Tokyo Disneyland.
A theme park in a light novel world.
My head is already throbbing as I can almost picture the unfolding events.
But if I’m with Han Seo-Jin, maybe we won’t run into those cliché scenarios?
“Alright, I got it.”
I wonder if it’ll be crowded since it’s a Christmas theme park?
No, it might not be crowded.
Unlike in Korea, Christmas isn’t celebrated on the actual day in Japan.
In Japan, Christmas Day isn’t really celebrated.
Well, that’s because it falls on a weekday, but this Christmas is on a Saturday, so it should be crowded, right?
At that moment, as all sorts of possibilities raced through my mind…
“We’ve arrived.”
The Rolls-Royce Phantom comes to a halt in the vast parking lot of Tokyo Death Land.
Han Seo-Jin, who got out from the driver’s seat, opens the passenger door.
What I saw as I stepped out was…
“…What? Why is no one here?”
The amusement park was completely deserted, not a single guest or even a rat in sight.
It was slightly terrifying to see so many rides surrounding a giant castle that looked like something out of a fairy tale without a single person.
Isn’t this where I get trapped and forced into a death game or something?
Just then, as I walked into the amusement park…
“I rented the whole place.”
Han Seo-Jin replies to me.
The whole place?
This vast amusement park?
My mind suddenly goes blank. Why would they do such a thing in Japan, not Korea…
“It’s all for the mission with Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin said.
“Well, that’s fine and all…”
“It was Shinozaki’s idea, and she’s the one who collaborated.”
Just as I was about to say something…
Han Seo-Jin cut me off.
So, this isn’t Han Seo-Jin’s idea, but Rin’s?
Looking at the deserted amusement park, a strange sense of unease washed over me.
All I wanted was a normal date.
Why is it starting off like this…
[Welcome to the visit of Black Beast Kim Deok-Sung.]
[Merry Christmas!]
As I arrived at the amusement park entrance, I saw a banner.
Next to it, in the square beyond the entrance, there was a giant Christmas tree, with a character face shaped like me instead of a star on top.
Twinkle, twinkle.
The LED lights of all colors adorned the Christmas tree, making it even more bizarre.
That wasn’t all.
The surrounding trees were also wrapped in LED lights, sparkling away.
This is ridiculous.
“What’s up with that tree?”
I mean, why would they make a huge tree in the shape of my face?
Is Death Land really trying to kill me today?
“That’s… a tree prepared by Nishizawa.”
Han Seo-Jin hesitantly responds to my question.
Not only Rin but now Eri too?
What on earth is happening in this cursed amusement park?
Just as I was dumbfounded…
Han Seo-Jin timidly approached me.
“Um, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung…”
She stammered as she came closer.
“Is it okay if we take a selfie in front of the tree with our arms crossed?”
Click.
She raised a selfie stick.
Me taking a selfie with Han Seo-Jin in front of my face tree?
Do I really have to do this?
As I was pondering…
“If you don’t want to, it’s fine to decline. Just being here with Mr. Kim Deok-Sung under the pretense of a mission is already too much for someone like me…”
Han Seo-Jin trailed off, her confidence slipping away.
The usual calm and capable secretary, now appearing so insecure.
It was strange.
But maybe this is the real Han Seo-Jin.
This might just be the real Han Seo-Jin.
Well then.
It might be a bit embarrassing, but considering how much Han Seo-Jin has helped me, a selfie should be no big deal.
“Give it here. I’m taking it.”
I snatch the selfie stick from her hands.
As our hands touch, Han Seo-Jin’s face turns red.
But whatever, I attach my smartphone to the selfie stick, and with my arm around her shoulder, I take a picture with the tree in the background, making sure my character at the top isn’t in the frame.
The face of Han Seo-Jin in the smartphone screen is bright red.
Click.
The selfie is taken.
“Here. The photo’s right here.”
After snapping the selfie, I hand the selfie stick back and send her the picture via messenger.
Han Seo-Jin’s face turns even redder as she receives the photo.
“T-thank you.”
She wiggles her fingers shyly.
Oh right, she mentioned wanting to link arms earlier, didn’t she?
Well, for today, linking arms with her doesn’t seem so bad.
Since no one else is around, anyway.
With that thought in my head, I approach Han Seo-Jin and link arms with her.
“······!!”
Han Seo-Jin’s eyes widen.
Her face flushes bright red.
The atmosphere suddenly feels awkward.
I let out a sigh and said, “Aren’t we supposed to have a date course planned? Hurry up and guide me.”
“Ah, understood! I’ll lead the way!”
Han Seo-Jin responds quickly to my command, guiding me into the depths of the amusement park.
There’s nothing weird beyond the tree, right?
Nah, surely not.
I think to myself as I’m led into Death Land by her gentle touch.
*
At the same time.
Inside the Black Castle at the center of Death Land.
Christmas Emergency Response Committee Control Room.
In the center, various surveillance camera feeds from Death Land are being transmitted through holographic monitors.
Gathered in that control room were Olivia, Rin, Eri, Makoto, Kasumi, Aris, and Haru.
Like a villain meeting, the heroines are watching the holographic video inside the dark conference room.
On the holographic screen, Han Seo-Jin and Kim Deok-Sung can be seen entering through the main gate.
“Great! Han Seo-Jin’s Christmas love-love ♥ date operation stage 1 is finally complete!”
Olivia exclaims, slamming her hand on the table.
“But don’t let your guard down yet. Han Seo-Jin needs to do well… And the Master has been acting suspiciously lately. He’s too proactive for his usual self. He never did this for Eri, and I’m a little jealous.”
Eri beside her pouts, puffing her cheeks.
Kasumi tilts her head at Eri’s words.
“What was the next course again?”
“The Heart-Pounding ☆ Wonder Rotating Coffee Cups.”
It’s Rin who answers Kasumi.
Rin looks at Han Seo-Jin on the screen and speaks into the microphone.
[Han Seo-Jin, for stage 1, proceed to the Heart-Pounding ☆ Wonder Rotating Coffee Cups as planned.]
Rin’s command echoes through the wireless earphones in Han Seo-Jin’s ears.
Receiving the instruction, Han Seo-Jin nods subtly with a determined look.
The target is the Heart-Pounding ☆ Wonder Rotating Coffee Cups.
The date, or rather the operation, is just getting started.
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