Chapter 99

Kasumi-senpai's eyes widened.

Her purple eyes trembled.

"Kim, you... I'm touched. I didn't expect to hear a thank you from you, Kim. I thought you'd definitely pretend not to know me, being a shy but bad guy. But to hear a thank you from you, Kim... Kim, Kim..."

Tears streamed down Kasumi-senpai's face.

Why is she talking like that?

She didn't think I would say thank you?

Anyone who sees this might think I'm trash.

I might be a bit selfish, but I'm not a complete scumbag.

"Kasumi, here's a handkerchief."

Rena handed Kasumi-senpai a handkerchief.

Kasumi wiped her tears with the handkerchief Rena gave her and hugged me.

"I'm really touched, Kim. As I thought, I can't do without you, Kim. I've given you my body and my heart, haven't I? Remember, I'm your most loyal spy, Kim. Kim, Kim..."

"Ugh, no! Stop it! No physical contact! Senpai! This is a forbidden rule as your exclusive maid! Get away!! Hmph!"

Olivia pushed Kasumi and me apart.

How did she know my head was hurting?

Among this group, Olivia is definitely the most angelic.

"Bonaparte, then shouldn't you leave too?"

"Right. Princess. Cheating is not allowed!"

"I also think so. I want to stay by the lord's side."

Rena, Nishizawa, and Makoto all objected in unison.

Olivia placed her hand on her chest.

"Because I... am his exclusive maid! I have the duty to nurse him by his side, don't I? Do you understand?"

Olivia let out a proud laugh.

I sighed.

Why is the exclusive maid thing coming up again?

It's ridiculous.

"Then I also have the duty to take care of you as your senpai. So I'll stay too."

"Fallacy, Bonaparte. Then I'll stay by Kim Deok-sung's side as his future wife!"

"I am the lord's sword, so I'll protect him by his side."

"Of course, Eri-ling should be by the master's side. Because the master is Eri-ling's master!"

The four of them strongly objected to Olivia's words.

My heart boiled.

I'd rather die than suffer like this.

"Hang in there, Mr. Kim."

Rena, seemingly oblivious to my thoughts, held my hand and whispered in my ear.

She clenched her fist.

Where did she learn to do that?

It's a total mess.

Anyway, despite some hitches, it seems everything has been resolved well, which is a relief.

There's nothing left for me to do in Kyoto.

All that's left is to return to Shuei Academy in Tokyo.

'When I get back to the academy... I need to train and come up with a way to gather everyone in one place in case of an emergency.'

I was prepared for the plot twists in the original, but the appearance of three of the 13 Apostles is a bit too much.

If this is the level at Volume 4, there's no guarantee that stronger enemies won't appear in the future.

In a web novel world, I could hog all the good luck and easily handle everything, but unfortunately, this is a lousy light novel world where I can't do everything alone.

I can't do it alone.

I need to use others.

For that, I need a way to tie down all the original characters I can use at the academy.

That way, when I issue a mobilization order, they'll gather urgently and take the hits for me.

This time, I really need to take advantage of the situation.

'Like a club activity.'

A club activity would be best.

I need to contact the principal and get the temporary Reading Club upgraded to an official club, and then force Yui and Ishihara to join.

I can't die alone.

We'll all die together.

It's problematic if more competitors keep appearing.

Shuei Hero Academy.

The principal's office.

Inside the spacious office, a smiling girl with white hair and red eyes was sipping matcha seriously.

Swish.

A young-looking girl with black lace fans, Yoshizaki Seira, stood in front of the student council president, Saionji Arisu.

"It's fortunate that the Kyoto training mission was completed successfully. Hoshino and Satou have both returned to their places, haven't they?"

Seira looked at Arisu with her red eyes.

"Yes, but the existence of Dr. Moromoro, who died in the association prison, keeps bothering me. We didn't find out anything about the League's intentions. Everything is shrouded in mist..."

Arisu trailed off.

A few days ago, Dr. Moromoro, who was imprisoned in the association prison, died of a heart attack.

It was clearly an unnatural death, but the association couldn't determine the exact cause.

This fact continued to bother Arisu.

Seira bit her lip upon hearing Arisu's words.

"It's definitely the work of the League's leader, Master... that bastard."

The lace fan in Seira's hand trembled.

Master.

The leader of the League, whose real name and alias are unknown, is a mysterious figure.

Ten years ago, he killed the Five Crowns and incited his disciple to betray him, becoming his mortal enemy.

Since then, Seira has been tracking him, but the only information she has managed to gather is the name 'Master.'

It's unclear whether Master is male or female, what his or her real name is, what alias he or she goes by, or what their true intentions are.

But one thing is clear.

'They are after the Broken World.'

Broken World.

The colossal ruins sleeping beneath the artificial island where Shuei Hero Academy is built.

The League and Master are undoubtedly after the source of the ley lines deep within the Broken World.

The magical ley lines that appeared after the Great Catastrophe.

A vast and powerful flow of magic that penetrates the earth like a spider web, the source of the ley lines holds a force of immeasurable scale.

A place with the potential to destroy the world.

If that immense power falls into the hands of a villain and is misused...

It's too terrifying to even imagine.

'I can't let that happen.'

So I need to stop the League.

For revenge, and for the world.

Arisu's silver eyes turned cold as she looked at Seira.

"...A fox who turns on her benefactor. I don't know what the League will do next."

"First, we need to strengthen the academy's security and request Ichiro's cooperation."

"Understood."

Arisu nodded at Seira's words.

"Then let's end the official conversation here... Arisu."

"Yes, Principal."

"Ah, A-chan."

Arisu flinched at Seira's words.

Snap.

Seira snapped her fingers, and the lace fan in her hand folded and floated up, lightly tapping Arisu's head with telekinesis.

"When we talk privately, you should call me 'onee-san' (big sister)."

"......Seira... onee-san..."

Arisu stammered, her face turning red.

Seira smiled.

"Right, A-chan. Now, how are things with our little one since you returned from Kyoto? Is everything going well?"

Arisu was taken aback by Seira's question.

His face appeared in her mind.

The night she got drunk and acted silly, the night she fell asleep in his arms.

His warm embrace...

Arisu shook her head.

'This is... disgraceful...'

Nothing happened.

Yes, as he said, nothing happened that day.

Arisu waved her hand.

"Th, that's... We're not... like that... Onee-san, you're mistaken!"

"Hmm. Is that so?"

"Yes! We decided that nothing happened, so nothing did!"

Arisu, flustered, spoke in Kansai dialect.

She closed her eyes.

Seira's face stiffened slightly.

Seira waved her hand, and the lace fan floating beside Arisu flew into her hand.

"A-chan, are you sure it's okay to pretend nothing happened?"

Arisu opened her eyes.

"Th, that's..."

She remembered how he treated her normally, as if it didn't matter, even when she appeared as a country girl.

If nothing happened, would all the conversations from that night disappear too?

Arisu's cheeks turned pink.

"It has to be... that way..."

Arisu's voice lost its strength.

"I am... the student council president of Shuei Academy, Silver Queen, Saionji Arisu."

Arisu's dialect switched back to standard Japanese.

I can't reveal my country girl side.

"It has to be... that way."

I must remain the perfect supergirl.

So, even though it's a shame, I have to pretend that nothing happened that day.

But why does a part of my heart keep pricking me?

Arisu bit her lip and placed her hand on her chest.

"......I see."

Seira answered, covering her face with the fan.

A smile appeared on Seira's lips.

She felt nothing but warmth seeing Arisu, who was like a daughter and a younger sister to her.

On the other hand, she was also relieved that Arisu hadn't yet realized her feelings.

It's problematic if more competitors keep appearing...

Seira bit her lip, thinking up to that point.

'To think I'm having such childish thoughts about a girl much younger than me...'

Seira's eyes wavered.

'Could I really be developing genuine feelings for a girl much younger than me...'

No.

That can't be.

It's a shameful thing.

She's just a little girl.

It has to be that way.

Seira suppressed her relief and said,

"Right. If you have any difficulties in the future... don't hesitate to consult this big sister."

"Yes, I understand. Onee-san."

Arisu smiled faintly in response.

This happened right after the training group returned from Kyoto.

*

The day after returning from the Kyoto training.

Kasumi-senpai called all the club members to the club room.

Under the pretext of a farewell party.

I was also on my way to the club room in response to her call.

Of course, I had already figured out Kasumi-senpai's intention.

'The reason is obvious.'

She's going to announce the dissolution of the Reading Club.

In the original, Volume 4 ends with the rescued Kasumi-senpai telling the protagonist Yui, "Now that I have you, Kim, I don't need the Reading Club anymore. It's dissolved," as the final scene.

It's a scene that was well-animated in the anime and is often cited as one of the most touching moments by fans.

Even on the Tree of Savior Wiki, it's described with flowery language as "a touching conclusion to Volume 4, where the rescued Kasumi, no longer alone, dissolves the Reading Club and becomes genuinely devoted to the protagonist."

'I can't let that happen.'

The Reading Club can't be dissolved.

The club activity must continue.

For no one else, but only for me.

'Now I'll live for myself.'

To clear the way for soda-filled sidestories, the club activity is absolutely necessary.

[Partner, aren't you being too selfish? People should be a bit more generous.]

The Black Prince's voice echoed in my head.

'Shut up. Everyone is selfish.'

If there were unselfish people, they would be saints.

That's why saints are rare.

[Well, you talk about monopolizing everything and living only for yourself, but you subtly take care of others. Isn't that what they call tsundere these days?]

Tsundere?

Is this guy crazy?

Who's a tsundere?

'Tsundere, your sister is a tsundere.'

When did tsundere become a trend?

[You can't deny that. My adorable sister Olivia definitely has that tendency... Wait a minute. Partner, are you trying to change the subject in such a despicable way?]

'Almost there, so don't start arguing and shut up. If you miss her, just say so.'

[Che...]

The Black Prince clicked his tongue and shut up.

I felt queasy seeing him act cute.

Fortunately, he didn't speak again after that.

I entered the annex and opened the club room door.

Creak.

When I opened the club room door, I was greeted by:

"Kim, you're here. You're the last one to arrive."

Kasumi-senpai, sitting in her usual spot by the window.

"Lord, you're here?"

Makoto, sitting next to her, waved her hand.

"Master! Master! Eri-ling missed you so much today! Don't forget to grant Eri-ling's wish, Master?"

Nishizawa, still using the 'Eri-ling' nickname and acting playful.

"Come here quickly, Kim Deok-sung. I've been waiting for you and no one else!"

Shinozaki Rin, waving her hand, and.

"Hmph. Being late. You really are a man with no manners from head to toe!"

Olivia, crossing her arms and glancing at me.

Kasumi-senpai sat at the corner by the window, with a rectangular table in front of her.