NOVEL NEXT Chapter 357
#357
I know this ceiling.
A familiar headache hits my head.
Ouch.
By now, I should be hearing the Black Prince’s voice.
[Partner! Partner!]
The Black Prince’s voice echoes in my mind.
I can feel the soft texture of the mattress all over my body.
And the feeling of new clothes against my skin.
So, I’m in a hospital.
I don’t want to open my eyes, but since I’m awake, I have to.
I can’t help but feel a bit scared about who might be visiting me this time.
With those thoughts, I slightly opened my eyes as if just peeking.
The first thing I see in my blurry vision is the hospital’s pure white ceiling.
It’s a ceiling I rarely know.
‘It’s the ceiling of Seoul National University Hospital.’
After confirming the ceiling, I closed my eyes again.
Seoul National University Hospital.
The hospital where my mother had been admitted before I reincarnated and the place I visited countless times.
The medical bills were outrageous.
Even now that I don’t have to worry about hospital fees, the thought of money pops into my head.
I wonder if my mother is doing well?
I need to go back quickly.
Those thoughts swirl in my mind.
I really need to create a two-way gate quickly.
While I was thinking about that, the words of the Messiah popped into my head.
‘That crazy guy, he openly announced I came from another world in front of the Heroines.’
It definitely happened.
[Partner. Is that true?]
The Black Prince asked in my head.
Now, there’s no need to deny it.
The truth I really don’t want to admit is that I’m the reincarnated one; I didn’t mind the fact that I came from another world.
I didn’t particularly want to reveal it, but since the Messiah spilled the beans, I guess there’s no helping it.
‘Yeah. To be precise, it should be called a parallel world.’
I was already convinced after my encounter with the Messiah.
The ideal world the Messiah saw, described in the original work.
The world where the Messiah attempted to merge with our world in the original’s final chapter is my hometown.
The reality is, it has to be true.
The Messiah’s dialogue just turned that certainty into reality.
[A parallel world… No wonder I thought it was weird since you confused the end date of World War I that time. If you’re a being from a parallel world, it makes sense. I still feel a bit uncertain, but well, a partner is a partner! No matter what you are, this Black Prince doesn’t care!]
“Speak!”
So, you’re talking about Pepero Day.
I figured the Black Prince would say something like that.
It’s not just the Black Prince, either.
Those foolishly naive heroines will probably just let it slide like that.
I can’t help but wonder where that infinite trust and goodwill come from.
It’s like a damn overly nice world.
‘Right.’
While brushing off the Black Prince’s response, I closed my eyes and recalled what happened just before I nearly passed out.
‘The Messiah was stronger than I thought.’
In the original story, Messiah was practically the strongest being in the world.
But now that I’ve reached EX rank and awakened my potential, and with the asymmetrical power of Undertaker and Seira, I thought I could hold my own against Messiah.
At least, I thought I could give him a run for his money.
What a delusion that was.
The power standing there was anything but trivial.
With Undertaker enhanced beyond EX rank, Seira regaining her prime strength, Evangelin and Aris boosted to near EX rank levels, and Beatrice ramped up to S rank, plus me at EX rank.
The three EX ranks Diego Morales deployed—Dokta Shinahel, Undertaker—were capable of annihilation, bordering on instant kill.
In simpler terms, they had the capacity to topple an entire nation overnight if they wanted.
Yet, they were all effortlessly crushed.
By mere clones, no less.
‘As expected…’
Even if it was crazy, the title of the strongest in the world appears to be accurate.
The original story mentioned them as formidable beings difficult to contend with unless one possessed a particular colorless magical power.
Right now, I simply didn’t have enough strength.
Should I wait for Kurosawa Yuji, who has the colorless magical power that offsets Messiah’s abilities, to awaken their potential, as per the story?
It would be nice if that was an option, but relying solely on luck isn’t a great strategy.
I needed to find a way to defeat him with the power I currently possessed.
The only possibility seemed to be…
‘The Celestial Sword Technique.’
The legendary technique obtained by merging the Black Light Sword Technique and the White Flame Sword Technique.
A legendary skill that polishes the user’s beliefs into the form of a sword, realizing the union of light and darkness in this realm, was my only hope.
I needed to get that technique, which allowed Olivia to become equal in strength to the protagonist by the end of Volume 20.
Until now, I hadn’t felt the need for the Celestial Sword Technique.
Having awakened my potential and with that ability to empower my allies, I thought I could take Messiah down through sheer numbers.
But that was no longer the case now.
I had to awaken the Celestial Sword Technique within the timeframe he set.
That was my only chance to defeat him.
‘Black Prince. Could you teach me the Celestial Sword Technique?’
[That is…]
The Black Prince hesitated at my question.
[…Honestly, it’s not easy. But if a partner wants to defeat that master, it’s the only way.]
He spoke with a serious expression.
[Alright. I’ll help you. I’ll pass on everything I know, my precious techniques. Consider it an honor, partner. After all, that master, Messiah, is also an enemy of mine and my comrades.]
The Black Prince stated earnestly.
Then this matter is now settled.
After returning to Japan, all I need to do is train diligently.
Just keep training hard.
[By the way, partner. If you’ve got your head screwed on straight, you should start getting up. The ladies are waiting.]
The Black Prince speaks to me.
Ladies?
Now I’m already scared of who’s come this time.
But I can’t just lie here any longer.
‘Alright. I’ll get up.’
As I respond to the Black Prince, I slowly open my eyes wider than before.
The ceiling of Seoul National University Hospital comes into view again.
And next to me is…
“You, you’re awake!”
With a snap, a platinum-haired beautiful girl grabs my hand.
It was Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Duksung, you finally came to. How’s your body feeling?”
I hear another voice from the side.
A girl with a striking large chest and a navy ponytail.
It was Shinozaki Rin.
“Master! Master is awake!”
Next to Rin was Eri.
She jumps around, speaking excitedly.
Olivia, Rin, Eri.
No one else was there.
The hospital room was a single room larger than a six-person room. The view from the window showed the scenery of Seoul.
Did such a large room exist in Seoul National University Hospital?
“Why are there only the three of you?”
“Well, Master! It’s currently dawn! Eri, the princess, and Cow are on night watch! Everyone else is off in Dreamland.”
Eri shows me her phone, displaying the clock.
The time on the screen reads 3:25 AM.
It’s definitely a time when everyone should be sleeping.
I thought the outside scenery looked like midnight, but it turned out to be dawn.
Seoul shines brightly even at dawn, making it hard to realize it was early morning.
Damn this city that never sleeps!
What’s more concerning is…
“I’ve been out cold for two days.”
I’ve been unconscious for two whole days.
“And Duksung, everyone who fought with you is also hospitalized in other rooms of this Seoul National University Hospital due to the aftereffects of magic freeze.”
If she means everyone who fought with me, that includes Undertaker, Seira, Evangelin, Aris, and Beatrice.
Excluding them, there are a total of eight remaining people: Olivia, Eri, Rin, Haru, Kasumi, Makoto, Han Seo-Jin, and Yuji.
If we exclude secretary Han Seo-Jin and the guy Yuji, that leaves exactly six people.
So what that means is…
“We divided the six aspiring nurses into two teams of three to take care of you. Hmph, I didn’t really like that arrangement…! Ahem, to begin with, caring for you is solely the duty of your personal maid, this Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! Other people taking care of you? That’s nonsensical! I can’t accept it! Hmph!”
Olivia puffs up her cheeks with her hand placed on her chest.
Her face has turned slightly red.
As expected, it seems that Olivia, Rin, and Eri formed one group, while Kasumi, Makoto, and Haru formed another group to take shifts in caring.
I can’t help but wonder if it was really necessary to go that far.
It wasn’t needed.
‘I feel unnecessarily sorry now.’
Seeing them lively chatter at 3 AM, it makes me feel that way even more.
They must be tired now.
[Oh, partner. Are you completely honest with the ladies now?]
The Black Prince makes a silly comment in my head.
Honest, huh?
What nonsense!
“Ah, anyway! It’s a relief! You seem okay… Hmph. If you struggle against such pathetic enemies, you’re unworthy to claim the title of my master, the Noble French Princess, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte! So, you! You better win next time, understand?!”
Olivia glances at me with a flushed face, mumbling.
“Sure.”
I nod at her words.
I definitely need to win next time.
If I lose, there won’t be a tomorrow.
Forget going back to my original world; the whole universe might literally collapse.
The Messiah is the craziest guy in this insane light novel world.
“… N-next time, I’ll help you as your dedicated maid! If I, Olivia Napoleon Bonaparte, were there, the outcome might have changed! Hmph! Uh, this is purely my duty as a maid, so… I don’t mean anything special by it! Got it?!”
Olivia shouts, looking my way.
Honestly, her inability to be straightforward hasn’t changed since the old days.
“Uh, thanks.”
At my words, Olivia’s face turns even redder.
She starts to pucker her lips.
“W-what are you thanking me for?! You idiot, moron, sea cucumber, sea squirt, anemone!! You’re such a pain in the ass, the universe’s absolute fool!! You should be apologizing instead!!”
Olivia hits her chest lightly, yelling.
I notice her eyes sparkling with tears.
Tears?
Seeing that makes my heart feel heavy.
Why are they all so sensitive?
“…The princess is right. Eri-ring was really worried about the Master. The Master is everything to Eri-ring… Now I can’t live without the Master… So, you must never die, Master.”
Eri says darkly while patting Olivia’s back.
“I feel the same. Deok-Sung. I’m already fated to be your future wife and die on the same day, even if we’re born on different days. If you die, I’ll… become a widow without even having married you…”
Finally, Rin bites her lip and speaks.
What the heck is a widow without having been married?
What kind of fairy tale is this? Dying on the same day?
Good grief.
This damn light novel world is troublesome for making people overly emotional.
I sigh inwardly and reluctantly reach out to hug Olivia, Rin, and Eri tightly.
“Y-you?!”
“Deok-Sung?”
“M-master?!”
Olivia, Rin, and Eri jump in surprise.
As I gently stroke their heads, I speak softly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll live until I’m smearing crap on the wall.”
It’s better to roll around in a pile of dog poop than to face death.
I’m definitely not going to die.
I can feel the trembling of Olivia, Rin, and Eri tucked in my arms gradually calm down.
Looks like they’re settling down.
Then it’s time to check the damn nationalistic reactions.
I pick up my phone with my right hand and connect to the internet.