How to Become an Idol! - Anime: Start by Being a Desperado! (Danmachi+Rakudai Kishi)

Chapter 138: How to Become an Idol!

After listening to Shiro's explanation, Ikki Kurogane's heart was a tangled mess of emotions.

Happiness? Relief? Even he couldn't quite name the swirling feelings inside his chest at that moment.

For the first time, he had learned his father's true opinion of him. His father didn't despise him. On the contrary, judging by the words Shiro had conveyed, Kurogane Itsuki clearly still cared about his son.

At the same time, Ikki realized for the first time how much trouble his own desperate attempts to earn his father's approval had caused the man.

Two conflicting dreams pulled at him, and for the first time he felt truly lost. Had his past actions been right after all?

He was only a student. He didn't understand the weight that rested on those in power.

But one thing he did understand.

Shiro had been able to persuade his father. That meant his father still held a sliver of hope for him.

Therefore, he had to live up to that expectation—no matter what.

"What should I do?"

Once Ikki understood the path ahead, a fierce fire ignited in his eyes. He looked ready to charge straight into the Seven Star Sword Art Festival and turn everything upside down. He clenched his fists and turned to Shiro.

"Huh? You don't have to do anything special."

The flame was instantly doused by a bucket of cold water.

Shiro pointed at Ikki's face with a completely serious expression.

"With that pretty-boy face of yours alone, you can attract countless 'mom fans.'"

Shizuku, standing beside them, nodded in agreement without the slightest hesitation.

"Indeed. With Brother's appearance, even just standing there looking a little lost is enough to make countless girls worry about his well-being."

Ikki's features were on the softer side for a boy. Combined with his tragic background, he was a natural weakness for girls who possessed strong protective instincts.

"So just keep doing what you've been doing—step by step," Shiro concluded.

Of course, all of this rested on the premise that Ikki wouldn't lose. If he failed to qualify for the Seven Star Sword Art Festival, he would never gain the Kurogane family's support, and everything would collapse.

Fortunately, the tournament format emphasized entertainment and used one-on-one arena matches. Ikki, who specialized in prolonged fights and reading opponents, was perfectly suited to this style. If the selection had been about defeating the most people in a limited time, his ranking would have been dismal.

"However," Shiro added, "there is one thing you should do before the family gets involved in promoting you."

Before the Kurogane family stepped in, Ikki needed to build his own reputation first.

And the Hagun Academy news section was the perfect place to start.

Shiro took out the brand-new student handbook he had received that day and made a call.

"Hello, Torajirou Shiro-kun?"

A lively voice answered almost immediately.

"Kusakabe-san, I've got a huge scoop for you. Handle it well and you might become famous across the country. Interested?"

"Eh?! Really?!"

"Yes. The Kurogane family is involved. Pretty explosive, right?"

"Where are you right now?! I'll come over immediately!"

"I'll be waiting in the school cafeteria."

Kusakabe Kagami's efficiency was terrifying once big news was mentioned. Less than ten minutes after the call ended, she burst into the cafeteria, camera in hand.

"Shiro-kun! What's this huge scoop you mentioned?!"

She ran straight over, eyes darting around as she searched for the "big news."

"Do you know this person?" Shiro asked, pointing at the slightly embarrassed Ikki beside him.

"The Worst One? Oh, I was planning to interview him tomorrow anyway. Is he the scoop?"

"Yes. After some discussion, our group has decided that he should debut as an idol."

"An idol?!"

"Not the kind that sings, dances, raps, and plays basketball on stage," Shiro clarified. "An idol who symbolizes 'overcoming the odds.' The kind of person whose name comes to mind the moment someone says 'comeback story.'"

Mage-Knights were already eye-catching by nature, yet no one had ever tried linking them with idol culture. Privacy concerns and the risk of exposing Noble Arts were the main reasons. Famous knights had no need for such fame, and lesser-known ones kept their abilities hidden as trump cards.

Ikki Kurogane, however, had no fear of his abilities being known. Combined with his constant record of overcoming impossible odds, he was practically the protagonist of a shounen manga come to life.

There was definitely potential here.

Under Kagami's increasingly interested gaze, Shiro vividly recounted the story of a low-ranked Blazer who had been looked down upon by everyone, yet kept overcoming challenge after challenge until he secured his place in the Seven Star Sword Art Festival.

Ikki, listening from the side, couldn't help but question his entire existence.

'Is this exhilarating protagonist story… really supposed to be about me?'

Of course, the part about the persecution he had suffered within the Kurogane family had been deliberately omitted—at Ikki's own request.

He simply couldn't bring himself to tarnish the family his father led. Besides, with only Shizuku left in the main branch, there was no point in leaving behind a mess for her future inheritance.

This overly considerate attitude made Shizuku puff out her cheeks in clear displeasure.

"Ohhh, so the Worst One has that kind of past…"

Kagami scribbled furiously in her notebook while listening, already adding her own "artistic" embellishments.

Naturally, she leaned into the face-slapping elements people loved—giving powerful abilities and then brutally slapping down those who had looked down on him. Ikki's first opponent, Kirihara Shizuya, made for a perfect opening villain.

The next day, an article bearing a bright "HOT" tag appeared on Hagun Academy's news section.

'Shocking! The Untold Story of the Worst One!'

It linked to the article Kagami had stayed up all night polishing. The sensational title had been Shiro's suggestion—terrible, yet undeniably effective.

Ikki Kurogane, an F-rank knight who had been winning match after match and even started teaching swordsmanship to other students, had already drawn considerable attention. Once this article dropped, everyone—whether they liked him or not—rushed to click on it.

Thanks to Kagami's deliberate handling, the name of the Worst One spread like wildfire throughout Hagun Academy.

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Chapter 138 - How to Become an Idol!