Chapter 93

Cheering is a load of crap.

“Now that you know, take your hand away.”

“Yeah. Kim. Fighting.”

Yooji clenches his fist and shakes it.

Leaving the chaotic conference room with the protagonist, who keeps spouting nonsense until the end, the strategy meeting is finally over.

I’m not sure if this is a proper end, but now all that’s left is the decisive battle with the Meijin Hero Academy students.

Eating is the best.

After some time had passed since the strategy meeting, the day of the field trip finally arrived.

The Kyoto student council president, Maruyama Ryosuke, greeted the Shuou Academy training group at the entrance of the main building.

“Welcome to our Meijin Hero Academy!”

Ryosuke, with his still creepy tone and gestures, welcomed the group.

The content of the tour itself was nothing special.

It was just a matter of viewing the facilities of Meijin Hero Academy and experiencing the curriculum.

“Suitability rank and hero rank are different concepts. If the suitability rank is a measure of the compatibility with a portrait weapon, the hero rank is a comprehensive measure of a hero’s abilities, including suitability, magic control, combat power, performance, magic quantity, and combat sense. That’s why it’s possible to have a suitability rank of C but a hero rank of B.”

“But among hero ranks, S-rank and EX-rank are special. To qualify for S-rank, one must achieve True Name Liberation, and for EX-rank, one must awaken to Mental Image Expansion.”

Thud.

Hoshino Kasumi, who entered and grabbed my hand with a trembling voice, bowed her head.

Drip, drip.

Tears streamed down Kasumi’s cheeks.

“I keep my promises, so don’t worry needlessly.”

To fully utilize Kasumi, I must rescue Rena.

Moreover, Rena is one of the few healers in this story.

Rescuing her is essential for future use.

‘Not like I have anything to do anyway.’

Arisa Ritsuko.

With two S-rank forces, I can just coast through this.

Eating is the best.

“Hey, stop crying already.”

Why are you crying again?

I’m the one who should be crying, having been thrown into this crazy world just because I sent a 5700-character note.

“Sniff, hic! Ah, Arisa… Junior…”

Kasumi wipes her tears with her sleeve.

She lifts her head, her eyes swollen and red, and her unfocused gaze trembles.

“Alright, Junior. I… won’t cry anymore. I only trust you. Even though you’re a bad guy with black horns, you always keep your promises. I trust you. I’m your diligent spy…”

Kasumi doesn’t let go of my hand.

I sigh and look out the window.

The sky is tinged with a red sunset.

Soon, the sun will set, and the operation will begin.

*

Night fell in Kyoto.

A dark, cloudy night where the moon and stars were invisible.

A half-lidded-eyed man in a gakuran stood on the rooftop of the main building of Meijin Hero Academy.

Behind him, not only men in gakuran but also variously dressed villains and league members gathered one after another.

When the wide rooftop was filled,

Ryosuke’s half-lidded eyes suddenly opened wide.

“On this dark, starless night! It’s the perfect time to crush the bugs that dared to invade Meijin! Hehehehehe, hahaha!”

Ryosuke, with his sinister laugh, focused his gaze on the annex where the Shuou Academy training group was staying.

“Headmaster, or rather, Dr. Moromoro, has given the order.”

Snap.

Ryosuke pointed at the annex, where the lights hadn’t completely gone out.

“The trash from Shuou who dared to step on Kyoto, the land of the league… Eliminate them all! And especially, Kurose Yooji, the son of the Sword Saint, Silver Queen Saionji Arisa, and Kim Deok-sung with the black horns, must be eliminated!”

Bam.

Ryosuke, with an exaggerated gesture, raised his arms to the sky.

Swish.

He drew his portrait weapon, a katana named Kogitsunemaru, from his waist.

The blade of the katana glinted in the darkness.

Ryosuke licked the blade of the katana.

Hum.

The mobile phone in his gakuran pocket vibrated.

[Preparations are complete.]

The message was from Hoshino Kasumi, the league’s spy who had infiltrated Shuou Academy.

‘What a foolish woman.’

Ryosuke’s lips twisted.

The purpose of this mission was to wipe out all the Shuou Academy students, including Hoshino Kasumi.

The league had planned to discard Kasumi from the beginning.

Of course, Kasumi’s message was a false one to make Ryosuke let his guard down, but Ryosuke had no way of knowing that.

Ryosuke infused his katana with magic.

Flash.

A flash of light enveloped his body, and a full-body armor covered him.

“Everyone, get ready.”

Pssht.

A booster emerged from his back with a hiss.

Ryosuke raised a syringe filled with a blue, glowing liquid.

“This drug is the culmination of new technology! Dr. Moromoro’s masterpiece! The prototype of the Amplification Drug mk2!! Hehehehehe, hahaha!”

Ryosuke, with a sinister laugh, bent his waist and injected the syringe into his arm.

“Haa, haa. Haaaaa…”

Ryosuke’s pupils dilated.

A moan escaped his lips.

Ryosuke’s body trembled.

Thump, thump.

His magic circuit began to surge.

The mixed drug amplified his magic, enveloping his entire body.

“Good, good! Good, good! This overwhelming pleasure that surpasses even orgasm! I’m satisfied! Now, everyone!!”

Snap.

Ryosuke, with bloodshot eyes and veins bulging, pointed his katana at Yooji.

“Minions of evil, Maruyama Ryosuke. I will now execute you.”

“A…?? Aaaaaaaa…!!! You, youuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!”

Ryosuke’s half-lidded eyes burst with veins as he lost his composure.

His katana swung wildly.

Dozens of slashes in an instant.

A skill that only the drug could bring out, and an attack so fast that an ordinary hero couldn’t block it all.

But when it hit Yooji,

“Too slow.”

Yooji’s katana shot through the air like a beam of light.

Black lines crisscrossed the air like a web.

Just one swing.

Ryosuke’s eyes widened as Yooji blocked all the dozens of slashes in one move.

Yooji’s black eyes turned toward the auditorium.

‘Kim, you’re doing well, right?’

*

Everything is going according to plan.

Ryosuke’s attack on the annex, and the ground team, led by Yooji, tying up the enemy.

Thanks to the ground team drawing Ryosuke’s attention and keeping him occupied, the underground team, including me, could reach the auditorium without any interference.

Of course, the enemy wasn’t completely stupid and had placed guards in the auditorium, but this level of security couldn’t stop two S-rank forces.

Thud.

The league members guarding the auditorium fell helplessly.

“Complaining about this level of security?”

[Oh, Ritsuko-chan, I told you not to show off, didn’t I?]

“Shut up!”

Saori’s voice, who was operating from a temporary control room in the annex, echoed in everyone’s ears.

“Then I’ll break the floor.”

A cold tone from Arisa, and a silver spark shot from the spear in her hand.

Flash!

The moment the silver flash filled the auditorium, the entire floor collapsed, and we fell into the hidden underground space.

[Everyone, activate flight mode and follow the map. I’ll guide you to the underground lab.]

A holographic mini-map appeared in front of us as Saori’s voice echoed.

[Hehehehe, with the capable operator Saori-chan, this is a game we’re guaranteed to win!]

Saori let out a sinister laugh.

Thud.

We landed on the floor in flight mode.

Clack, clack. Flash.

The lights turned on, sensing our presence.

[Warning! Warning! Intruders detected! Intruders detected!]

A red siren wailed, and the warning broadcast played over the speakers.

Not surprising.

This was a situation we had anticipated.

Rumble!

The blade of my Durandal trembled in response.

It’s finally time to achieve the true purpose of coming to Kyoto.

No need to be nervous.

‘I should just watch and eat some rice cakes.’

Because I plan to coast through this again.

If your head is bad, your body suffers.

I have no intention of making my body suffer.

Let the two S-ranks handle the fighting.

Can it be done with just one? (Illustration 有)

The interior of the secret laboratory was similar to what I had seen in the anime.

Walls so white they hurt the eyes, metal floors, and lighting so white it was almost cold.

[Maximum alert.]

[Releasing the interdimensional beings for experimentation.]

The same warning broadcast I had heard in the anime.

[Roar!]

[Screech!]

The roar that followed.

In the original story, the protagonist party had to waste a considerable amount of time and magic dealing with the interdimensional beings before they could even face the S-rank villain, Dr. Moromoro.

Given their already exhausted state, it was only natural that even a draw would have been difficult, let alone a victory.

A plot development that should never happen in a web novel but is all too common in light novels.

But while the protagonist might be a fool, I, the selfish side character, have no intention of accepting this plot development.

[Four interdimensional beings ahead! Ritsuko-chan! Time to earn your keep!]

Saori’s excited voice echoed in my ears.

Ritsuko, receiving Saori’s instructions, narrowed her brows.

“Sigh. How did I end up following the orders of a wet-behind-the-ears girl…”

[Stop complaining and charge☆]

Ritsuko sighed, gripped her dagger, and activated her Gift.

Instantly, she multiplied into four and ran along the walls.

Clack, clack, clack, clack!

“Kamiya Ryu killing technique──!!”

Boom.

A mint-colored flash covered the front as she shouted the skill name.

[Squeal!]

[Squeal!]

Thud.

The four interdimensional beings fell to the ground with a loud thud.

“Phew. This was a piece of cake.”

Pfft.