NOVEL NEXT Chapter 14
“That’s impossible…”
Olivia mutters in a small voice.
This time, I agree.
A mere extra NIS agent is faster than the notorious thief Bella?
“It’s an honor to meet you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. I am Han Seo-Jin, in charge of assisting you,” the NIS agent, Han Seo-Jin, says politely, kneeling on one knee and greeting me in Korean.
“Uh, right. You got here faster than I thought? How did you manage that?”
“My gift is Speedster. When it comes to simple speed, I’m confident I can outpace anyone.”
Han Seo-Jin lifts her head.
A Speedster.
She possesses ultra-fast abilities.
“So, you’re a Hunter.”
Since Ground Zero is off-limits to civilians, that’s an obvious conclusion.
Han Seo-Jin bows her head and says, “I’m embarrassed, but I hold an SSS-grade Hunter license.”
“SSS-grade Hunter, huh? Looks like the high-ups are quite invested in me.”
In a country like Korea that lacks any hero, an SSS-grade Hunter is a valuable asset.
Well, even so, a Hunter who can’t wield a superpower is basically just the sidekick of a hero in the field.
Anyway, deploying a top-tier talent as my dedicated agent raises the stakes of expectations from Korea.
“I will do my best to assist you, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin finishes her greeting and stands up.
Her gray eyes turn toward Olivia.
“Princess Bonaparte, it’s an honor. I am Han Seo-Jin.”
Han Seo-Jin bows politely.
But wait, what did she just say?
Is that French?
“You speak our language quite fluently? Not bad, considering your demeanor… Well, it’s not worse than I thought. I’m glad to meet you too.”
Olivia responds in an unknown language.
Looks like it’s French.
“I look forward to our collaboration.”
“Let’s do that.”
The conversation between the two ends.
Given the pleasant atmosphere, it doesn’t seem like they were exchanging insults.
“Looks like I’ve won again. I didn’t expect the agent to be a Speedster.”
“Ugh! Seriously… How annoying!”
Olivia puffs her cheeks in frustration.
She starts fidgeting with her fingers and lifts her head, seeming resolute.
“Alright, fine. A bet is a bet, I’ll have to admit your win!”
“Yeah, well. It’s been a while since I got to eat on someone else’s dime.”
I think the last time I got treated by a classmate was a year ago at a job-welcoming dinner with pork belly.
“I’ll choose the menu.”
“You handle it.”
“What?! Is that your unenthusiastic reaction?!”
Just as I waved my hand, pretending to be uninterested, Olivia flared up.
“Mr. Kim Deok-Sung.”
Han Seo-Jin’s quiet voice echoes deeply.
“Is that the artifact you mentioned?”
She scans the artifact with the Hunter watch on her wrist, asking in Korean.
I nod.
“Yeah. It’s called the Relic of Baptism, an artifact that grants gifts to ability users retroactively.”
“Are you talking about the gifts?”
“Is something the matter?”
Han Seo-Jin jumped in surprise but quickly nodded.
“Indeed… So that’s why you instructed cooperation with France. Your insight, Mr. Kim Deok-Sung, is truly extraordinary.”
Her gray eyes sparkled.
She had a face like a zealot welcoming a cult leader.
Why is she being so burdening again?
A sigh escaped me.
“I will carry out the first mission you entrusted to me until it’s done, no matter what.”
“Alright. I trust you.”
“Thank you!”
Just then, as Han Seo-Jin, with a soldier-like salute, shone with determination—
“Your Highness. It’s Bella.”
“Bella!”
The second guest appeared at the entrance.
A mysterious beauty with a striking brown bob haircut, dressed in immaculate maid attire that didn’t match the dreary cave at all.
It was Bella, Olivia’s personal maid.
“Why are you so late?”
“Late? What do you mean…?”
Bella’s poker face cracked slightly.
As Olivia explained the situation, Bella nodded in understanding.
“…So that’s how it is. Understood, Your Highness. Please be more cautious in your endeavors from now on.”
“Ugh… Fine…”
Bella spoke calmly, and Olivia nodded in agreement.
This was a historical moment where Bella’s reputation as ‘Olivia’s devoted delinquent’ in the domestic fandom became a reality.
In an instant, Bella calmed down Olivia and came over to me.
“So, you must be Mr. Kim Deok-Sung. It’s an honor to meet you. I’ve heard a lot from the princess.”
Bella lifted the ends of her maid uniform slightly as a greeting.
Her gaze scanned my whole body quickly.
“Oh, well, it’s me.”
I waved my hand in return.
Right now, Bella was a character with a common yet ambiguous presence, the ‘personal maid of the lady’ concept.
In the early story, her role was to quietly intervene and counter Olivia’s rampaging antics as a comedic side character.
Bella’s true value would only emerge during the engagement episode in Volume 6.
Revealing herself as a ‘thief,’ Bella swiftly ascended as a supporting heroine in Volume 6 while collaborating with the protagonist to restrain the rampaging reckless prince.
‘Looks like I’m stuck doing this now.’
Thinking about the Volume 6 story made my head spin.
It felt like I had eaten a hundred sweet potatoes.
I needed some soda.
This was all because the protagonist saw some other heroine’s naked body by mistake.
Damn lucky perv.
At least Bella was a character I could communicate with.
“I’m worried that our lady will cause trouble since she’s inexperienced in her maid duties. Your Highness’s master.”
How naïve I was to think that.
This crazy world never fails to surprise.
If I had known about this dreadful future of possession in advance!
I’d have sent a 5,700-character note to a paid suspended web novel author instead of a light novel writer.
If I had done that, I would be studying my fate through the Status Window, enjoying melodramatic light novel lines instead of hearing them, and blissfully living life in a Hunter Academy back in Korea.
‘What a sucky life.’
Possessed by a light novel, huh?
If I posted this on a serialization site, I’d lose half the readership before Chapter 20, resulting in a crying announcement followed by an ending locked away behind a vault.
Thank goodness I’m not the author.
“Th-th-th-that doesn’t make any sense! Bella!”
“You haven’t forgotten our promise already, have you, Your Highness?”
“Well, that’s true but…”
“You do seem a bit like a burden.”
“Y-y-y-you be quiet!”
As I chimed in, Olivia’s reaction turned intense.
Oh no, I’m feeling the urge to die again.
“Is that so? Still, the lady just isn’t honest, but she’s not a bad person. Please be understanding towards your master’s master.”
“Yeah, fine. I got it.”
I changed my mind.
Bella could be a decent partner if she just toned down her speech a bit.
“Thank you.”
Bella smiled faintly.
Bella chuckles faintly.
Olivia pouts and puffs her lips but can’t say a word.
Tsundere suppressor at its best.
“Then, as the lady mentioned, I, Bella, will take the responsibility to handle this ruin in cooperation with the NIS agent from Korea. Please enjoy your leisure time outside the ruin.”
Bella places a hand on her chest, bows, and speaks respectfully.
Looks like it’s finally time to wrap up this tedious exploration of ruins.
With the NIS and Bella, I can trust them to handle the aftermath.
“Is that so?”
“Oh, I was just about to leave! I have to keep my promise of treating you to a meal… Since I led the way in, you should lead the way out!”
Olivia says, closing her eyes tightly.
A meal promise, huh?
Well, since I need to talk to her about the White Flame Sword, it’s not a bad choice to set a separate spot anyway.
“I look forward to taking care of you, Miss. Master’s Master.”
“Ugh…”
Hearing Olivia’s groan, I stepped out of the ruin with light footsteps.
I have a request.
After sunset in Tokyo.
I’m walking with Olivia through the vibrant streets of Japan, where neon signs and streetlights twinkle.
“Now it feels like I’m actually living.”
Olivia takes a deep breath and comments.
Is the smog-laden air of the city really that great?
Her gaze shifts towards me.
“Who in the world takes a lady out and lures her into ruins like this?!”
Well, I’m right here.
High-performance slaves are meant to be used.
“I can’t believe it! Ugh!!”
After her little tantrum, she seems embarrassed and mutters in a small voice.
“I was just… worried unnecessarily…”
“Worried about what?”
Did she say she was worried?
“Can’t you tell? You’re not just lacking manners, but you also lack common sense!”
I look over Olivia.
Not in her school uniform, but in casual clothes.
Wearing a tightly-fitted white shirt under a light beige cardigan and a mini skirt, Olivia pouts at me.
“Looks like you put some thought into your outfit.”
“Hmph. It’s good to know you noticed, even if it’s now.”
She turns her gaze away.
Seems like the one who’s not even thinking about giving me any treats is chugging down Kimchi Soup all by herself.
“So, what are you going to buy for dinner?”
“Cheese Dakgalbi.”
Out of nowhere?
“Why Dakgalbi?”
“I heard that cheese Dakgalbi is a popular Korean dish in Shin-Okubo.”
Her words spark a memory from a corner of my mind.
That K-something emphasis from a YouTube thumbnail mentioning the trend of cheese Dakgalbi in Japan?! The sushi experience that even Japanese people have praised for its excellence!
Not exactly a lie; perhaps there is some truth to that rumor after all.
“Don’t get the wrong idea! It’s not like I picked the menu just for you. It’s simply because I was curious about it!”
She adds unnecessary details.
It’s not the first or second time, and reacting to her wordiness will only tire me out, so I decide to let it slide.
Familiar Korean words drift through the air, and I see Korean signs.
Tokyo’s Koreatown, Shin-Okubo, unfolds before me.
“Over here, this way.”
She leads me while checking her phone’s navigation.
The place we arrive at has ‘Dakgalbi’ (タッカルビ) written in Katakana on the sign.
As we enter the restaurant, a staff member greets us and guides us to our seats.
Not long after ordering, cheese Dakgalbi and rice come out.
The combination of steaming hot Dakgalbi served on a round iron plate with cheese is tempting on my taste buds.
Grrrroooowl.
My stomach rumbles like thunder.
“So, it looks like you must have been pretty hungry?”
Olivia asks, smiling from across the table.
I haven’t eaten anything since lunch while exploring the ruins.
We explored the ruins without eating anything.
Since I burned calories, it’s only natural to feel hungry.
“I’ll eat well.”
Since I’m getting a free meal, I exchanged some formal greetings and picked up my chopsticks to put a piece of chicken galbi in my mouth.
“How is it, how is it?”
“Not bad at all.”
I nod my head.
Definitely tastier than the fake chicken galbi sold in front of the now-vanished Chuncheon 102nd Replacement Battalion on enlistment day.
Back then, I wasn’t even eating chicken galbi there.
“That’s a relief.”
Olivia smiles faintly.
She picks up her fork, dips it into the chicken galbi, and puts it in her mouth.
“Well, it’s not bad.”
No need for translation.
Looks like she likes it.
Without saying anything, I pile up the chicken galbi on a bowl of white rice and eat.
It’s been a while since I had Korean food, so it goes down better than I expected.
The academy cafeteria is great for everything else, but the lack of Korean menu items is a problem.
[Breaking news! A new ruin has been discovered at Ground Zero today. The exploration was done by hero candidates from South Korea and France…]
The TV plays news.
Wait a minute.
“Isn’t that about us?”
I turn my head at Olivia’s question.
The TV is showing.
A Japanese anchor is earnestly reading the news.
[The ownership of the relic, the Baptismal Font, has been agreed to be jointly held by South Korea and France, and it is expected that the relic will be transferred to Korea as early as tomorrow. The academic community predicts that this relic, which bestows gifts acquirably, will stir up a storm worldwide.]
Images of the ruins with the Baptismal Font and our faces, mine and Olivia’s, flash by.
I quickly access the internet on my phone.
[K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung! Causing another incident! The reason why the Japanese Hero Association can only twiddle their thumbs over this legendary relic found in Japan?! A silence from Japan over K-Hero’s exploits!]
[The world was shocked! The true nature of the relic ‘Baptismal Font’ excavated by K-Hero Kim Deok-Sung that stunned the world?! In-depth analysis!]
[LOL all the nationalists saying Kim Deok-Sung is overrated, come out! LOL Is this still overrated?]
[Kim Deok-Sung is honestly overrated LOL Unbelie‘bubble’ LOL]
[Kim Deok-Sung! Kim Deok-Sung! Kim Deok-Sung!]
[Ugh, the nationalist vibes are sickening LOL In Japan, relics like this are too common to be newsworthy LOL It’s a level of a rudimentary weak nation LOL]
[0 upvotes] [-1903 downvotes]
– Get lost back to your country LOL
– Don’t cry, just say it LOL
– The Japanese fanboys are crying LOL
– But, aren’t the Japanese associations making it pretty obvious they’re jealous?? LOL
[Dramatic conclusion on artifact negotiations with France… The ownership stake is 50:50, with the relic remaining in South Korea for use…]
[President Kang: “We are living in a time like this. I find it glorious.” Statement released.]
[South Korea’s pride, Kim Deok-Sung, played a leading role in excavating the relic ‘Baptismal Font’. French official: “Kim Deok-Sung and Korea’s role were decisive in this archaeological exploration.” Statement.]
As expected, the internet has already turned into a frenzy.
Everyone is high on national pride, and the overworked waitress has long since passed out.
Just looking at it makes my chest feel tight.
I touch my forehead.
I didn’t expect it, but I didn’t think it would be this serious with the national pride.
Ugh.
My phone rings.
[Candidate, this is Han Seo-Jin. I’m reporting on the task you assigned.]
[The ownership of the relic has been agreed to be shared 5:5 between France and Korea, and the relic will be kept at the Hunter Association headquarters in Seoul.]
[Additionally, it has been agreed that 10% of the monthly usage fee for the relic will be allocated to you as a share.]