NoveLight ™
After securing my new identity, my daily life with Seomun Ye-jin continued as usual.
The event I was preparing for was still nine years away, leaving me with plenty of time.
‘There’s a lot to prepare within those nine years, but most things would just be tedious if I started them now.’
For example, as evident from the original novel's title, The SSS-Class Heir of National Power, Baek Seo-jin quickly caught the eye of Choi Kang-in, the leader of Kangin Guild—the world's most powerful guild dominating South Korea—shortly after enrolling in the academy.
Choi Kang-in eventually chose Baek Seo-jin as his successor and heir, transferring all the guild’s resources to him. With that support, combined with his innate talent, Baek Seo-jin grew rapidly.
That was the original story.
I’d need to approach both the original heroines and the Kangin Guild before those events unfolded.
However, aside from Seomun Ye-jin, all the other heroines were the same age as Baek Seo-jin, meaning they were currently just eleven years old.
‘Iha-yeon, Han Se-hee, Kang Yoo-ra, and Moriya Yuka.’
Among them, Seomun Ye-jin, the only older heroine in the original story, was currently...
"Seo-jun, do you have any plans today?" she asked, plopping down on the couch next to me and sitting on the edge.
"Not really. Are you planning to go somewhere?"
"Yes! I have a shoot today. Would you mind being my bodyguard?" she asked confidently, as if it were a given.
I chuckled at her request. "Your bodyguard? Sure, why not. But what’s the payment?"
"Hmm, how about this? I’ll give you a ten-minute massage. Wouldn’t you be tempted by the massage of an ultra-beautiful girl?"
"Not interested."
My firm response froze the smile on her face for a moment.
But I truly wasn’t interested.
Even the slightest touch from her would only be unnecessarily stimulating.
The sweet scent wafting from her, just from being this close, was already testing my limits. Any more than this might be dangerous.
"Ah~ So it’s because my massage would be too stimulating, right?" she teased, recovering her composure with a playful grin.
I didn’t bother denying it.
"Perhaps. Especially since two days ago, you didn’t clean your room, and I happened to see a pair of panties you’d left lying around—"
"Kyahhh! Forget it! Forget it right now!" she screamed, slapping a hand over my mouth in a panic.
Not that it mattered—there was no one else to hear us except for Ramisa, who was leisurely lounging nearby.
Once the final boss of the original story and a god-like invader from another world who had sown mana across this one, The Black Serpent That Devours the World was now a TV addict.
Recently, Ramisa had even set a personal goal of watching at least six movies a day.
For a household consisting of a former final boss, an original heroine, and the older brother of the story's protagonist bent on revenge against his family, the atmosphere was surprisingly peaceful.
‘How long is this going to last, though?’
The position I was in didn’t help. As I lay on the couch, her long hair brushed against my face, and the feel of her palm covering my lips was...
Meanwhile, Seomun Ye-jin, blushing but seemingly unfazed, was closely examining my face at an uncomfortably close distance.
‘I wish she’d move her hand already.’
Though I could forcefully remove it, I didn’t want to use my strength against her unnecessarily. So I decided to communicate my intention through a message.
"Oh! Sorry!" she exclaimed, snapping out of her thoughts and quickly withdrawing her hand.
I glanced at her palm and said, "Don’t worry, there’s probably not much saliva on it. But if it bothers you, go wash your hands."
Now free to speak, I sat up on the couch and continued.
"I’m fine. Ah, more importantly, if you’re free today, would you like to come with me?" she asked.
"Come with you? Where to?"
"To my shoot. I have a photo shoot today as a model for a Hunter magazine."
She spoke proudly, her expression hinting that she expected praise. Her eager gaze reminded me of a puppy wagging its tail.
"I see. So today’s your shoot. Of course, I’ll accompany you."
My lack of immediate admiration left her looking slightly dissatisfied.
She was probably hoping I’d gush over her accomplishment, but for some reason, I found myself reluctant to indulge her. Perhaps it was a bit of mischief on my part.
Being in my current body, which was still going through puberty, likely influenced me to some extent.
Her outfit was a neat two-tone mini dress, complemented by a delicate hat perched atop her head. She looked every bit the elegant young lady as she beamed.
"I’ll have to change once I get to the shoot location, but how’s this for now? Not bad, right?"
"It’s fine. Very fitting for you."
Picking up on the subtle double meaning in my words, she responded with confidence.
"Right? Don’t I look like a refined lady right now?"
"I wouldn’t say refined, but you do look pure and pretty."
"Ugh~ You could’ve added ‘refined’ in there too."
Though slightly dissatisfied, she seemed mostly pleased by my comment as she smiled and then turned her attention to my attire.
"But Seo-jun, are you planning to go out dressed like that?"
I glanced down at my casual ensemble of a T-shirt and shorts—definitely not suitable for going out.
"Does this work better?" I asked, changing my outfit with a flick of mana.
Now dressed in a black shirt and trousers, I waited for her response.
"This is perfect. Let’s go!" she declared, grabbing my arm with enthusiasm.
Before we stepped out, I asked, "Why walk to the shoot location? I can just create a portal and get us there instantly."
"Ah!"
It seemed she’d momentarily forgotten about my abilities.
***
"Welcome!"
"Hello!"
At the photo shoot location, Seomun Ye-jin was the center of attention, warmly greeted by everyone present.
At just fifteen years old, Seomun Ye-jin would typically have been attending school like any other teenager. However, with her exceptional physical development for her age and her overwhelming beauty, she had become a popular model, guaranteed to draw attention wherever she went.
While there were concerns about villains targeting her, the people at the shoot were too focused on marveling at the person accompanying her.
"That guy’s name is Kim Ho-jun, right?"
"Really? Is he the same Kim Ho-jun who was registered as an SSS-class mana awakener at fifteen?"
"Yeah! That’s him!"
The alias "Kim Ho-jun" that Baek Seo-jun was using had already gained significant fame in South Korea.
Not just in Korea, but anyone interested in mana awakeners worldwide was paying attention to this fifteen-year-old genius from South Korea.
Many were curious about what kind of career he would pursue when he officially became a hunter. Would he specialize in dealing with villains? Or perhaps he’d focus on exterminating monsters?
However, as a minor, he wasn’t yet obligated to shoulder the duties of a hunter. Such responsibilities typically began in a person’s mid-20s, after graduating from the academy.
"His looks are better than I expected."
"Don’t you think he could model alongside Ye-jin?"
"Wouldn’t that cause issues if they got linked as a couple?"
"Besides, he doesn’t seem particularly interested."
Some considered the idea of offering Baek Seo-jun a modeling opportunity, but his demeanor suggested he wouldn’t be interested in such work.
With his sharp presence and focused attention on ensuring nothing happened around Seomun Ye-jin, he seemed more like a protective figure than someone who would enjoy being in front of the camera.
"He really looks like a black knight," someone commented.
To Seomun Ye-jin, Baek Seo-jun truly appeared like her black knight, standing guard and keeping her safe.
While his true appearance, with blue hair, was visible only to her, others saw him with black hair, further cementing the image of a dark protector in their minds.
‘Still, I like Seo-jun’s true appearance more. Hehe~’
***
‘He’s really here!’
The youngest SSS-class mana awakener, Kim Ho-jun!
Charles, who had been lingering near the shoot location, had been observing ever since he learned that the person vouching for Kim Ho-jun was none other than Seomun Ye-jin.
When he saw a boy, presumably Kim Ho-jun, and Seomun Ye-jin enter the building for the photo shoot, his suspicions were confirmed.
Overhearing the conversations among the staff inside the shoot location further verified that the black-haired boy was indeed Kim Ho-jun.
"Guildmaster, I’ve found him."
Charles, a member of the Baekho Guild, promptly sent a message to his guildmaster, Baek Hyung-won, reporting his findings.