Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Remember Me Under the Magnolia Tree
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The night deepened, and the drunken haze began to settle in.
"Hehe, Licht. Your face is red."
"Please don't lift my visor outside, Pine."
"Why...? I'm fine though...?"
Her face flushed, she kept playfully lifting my helmet's visor or overlapping her hand on the back of mine.
"It's unsightly. Kills the appetite."
"You look handsome up close. Probably."
Whenever I startled and looked at her, she just grinned bashfully. Lumen's sleep-talking vibes were spot on. My head was spinning too, making it hard to stay clear-headed.
"Probably? You saying I'm ugly?"
"Ah, caught me. But you're cute..."
Cute, huh. I'd heard that a lot as a kid, but hearing it from a woman now felt weird. I chugged some water to fight off the buzz.
"Licht."
"What is it, Pine."
"Is love... happy?"
She emptied her glass again and glanced sideways. Next to us, Dennis and White Magnolia were beaming, catching up on old times.
They shared emotions they'd never voiced, the emptiness of being apart, eyes misty with tears yet smiling. Maybe that's what sparked her curiosity.
Like at the summer festival, our Pine seemed clueless about love.
Then again, when she became the Saintess, she probably fell victim to Head's tricks and forgot her painful past. Her innocence must have stood out even more.
"...It can't always be happy."
"Then it's unhappy? Professor Dennis too."
"..."
The woman who'd called pure love invincible was completely gone, but maybe someday she'd reclaim her bright self and fall in love.
"Think about it slowly. Love has no right answers."
That advice would have to suffice. I couldn't scold her just because I was arbitrarily overlaying the Nameless Saintess onto her.
"Will you teach me, Licht?"
"Pfft."
The white-haired woman dropped her gaze as she said it, peeking up at me with those golden eyes widening slightly.
"Ah, you got flustered."
Almost choked there. Our Love Meter was a measly 1%. No plans to artificially boost it anytime soon.
"Just your imagination."
Love isn't something you quantify. Even with a status window and Love Meter in front of me, that couldn't be real love.
'If I only cared about percentages, I wouldn't have naturally helped Kainel and Ariel.'
Same reason I stepped aside and advised them to confront their feelings. Even for the Grand Route.
I didn't force them together by denying their wills or locking them in a room. Didn't even reveal they liked each other.
'Plus, I don't fully trust the status window.'
Nex and Sharutineth, Dennis and White Magnolia—they only showed up later.
Percentages drop in crises, sure... but that's it. When I sought Pine, it only gave light advice, no real help.
Even phrased it like testing if I'd love her as a named princess. What's the reasoning there?
"Even now...? Imagination? Licht...?"
Lost in thought, hand habitually propping my chin, Pine sidled up, reeking of booze.
We were facing each other just a second ago. Why the sudden closeness? Her snowy ears perked up, white tail wagging like a puppy's.
"Broad shoulders..."
I flinched at her hot breath on my ear, nerves firing all over. Warm, tiny puffs.
"Enough drinking. You're too drunk."
"Nooo... Licht..."
I snatched her glass. My stomach churned, sleep tugging, but this crossed the line.
"I'm a Black Knight, you know."
"Ah..."
I downed the clear liquor. Strong stuff. But why was she staring at my lips? Wait, indirect kiss?
"...I drank it."
Pine's health came first. What if someone snatched her away? Pushing past embarrassment, I spoke.
"You trying to get me drunk, Pine?"
"Ah, no...?"
Her reaction said otherwise. Shaking her head didn't fool her tail or ears. Tail shot up like an exclamation mark. Ears twitching nonstop.
"One chocolate drink here, please."
What was she scheming? Normally she'd fall for the ploy, but her tongue was slurring bad.
"If you want me drunk, be bolder than this."
Thud. The table shook as the drink arrived. I clasped her hand, interlocking pinkies.
Icicle.
Other hand gripped the chocolate drink, activating ice magic. Swirled it into a slushy.
"...I'd drink it all for you. Have this first."
"Eh...? That was mine?"
Pine tilted her head at the frosty slush. Yeah, back in reality, I cured hangovers with ice cream nonstop.
"Hehe, cool... and sweet..."
Working already. Good. She lapped at the slush with her pink tongue, savoring bits. Adorable like a little pup.
"So... why try getting me drunk?"
"Wanted to ask something... Hit..."
Licht minus the L. I poured the last of Lumen's echo into a glass and swallowed. Couldn't let her drink more.
"The Nameless Saintess... who is she to you...?"
Wolf ears and tail drooped limp. Too crowded here to talk. What now?
"...Finish that and we'll go outside, Pine."
"Okay, Licht."
I draped my academy coat over her, settled the bill discreetly, and headed out.
Summer heat lingered even at night, so we sat by the empire's fountain. I spoke first.
"What about the Saintess intrigues you?"
Thud. Her head landed on my shoulder. White hair spilled over my legs, light weight settling in.
"The Nameless Saintess... who is she to you...?"
Inevitable. Fair question. In the Magic Hat incident, she mentioned the Saintess before trying to die. Mistook her in trauma too.
Should I clear the misunderstanding?
Tell her she was future Pine Granasia, whose life hit rock bottom with the Demon Kings, and I loved her? Would she believe it?
"I know she's precious to you... Licht."
Attributes altered by Magic Hat's power, memories and name lost to ignorance.
Happy life? Lonely wolf without family or friends.
"My unforgettable first love."
"...First love?"
Stick to truth. She loved all of me; I can't love just part of Pine Granasia now.
Princess or Saintess, she deserves greater happiness.
"Unrequited now, can't meet her. Satisfied, Pine?"
Even if fate changed us apart, her happiness satisfies me.
"All men are the same."
Pine bristled like thorns sprouting, tone prickly. Sudden anger?
"I kept our promise, Licht."
"..."
"Didn't call you weak, gave you the Dragon Heart too..."
She gazed up steadily. Eyes reddening like she'd cry. Thought that was right answer; guess wrong.
"Do all men obsess over first loves? Why give everything—liver and gall?"
"Pine..."
"I saved you, Licht."
Heart pounded overlapping. Must've suffered fixing me. Beaten twice by a Demon King nearby.
"I know."
"The next Saintess didn't show when you nearly died...!"
Saintesses divined by the Light God, superhumans skilled in holy power pre-awakening. Her anger made sense.
"My chest feels tight..."
"I'm fine. I'm alive."
Someone in mortal peril, shot for staring at her alone—shouldn't she at least heal? Her logic.
'Kainel said later she stuck by me over half a day to save me...'
But you were the exception, Pine Granasia. How to fetch future you?
"Next time, tell that Saintess to heal you... I won't..."
Her grip tightened on my arm. Sounded resentful now.
"Can't. She's too busy, Pine."
Stroked her head quick before pouting. Soft strands trembled under my touch.
"Huu... Licht..."
"By the way, where'd you learn playboy or men can't forget first loves?"
Wolf ears now fully back for easy petting. Bad—this meant she was getting used to my touch.
"From a book..."
Tickled her chin lightly; eyes shut comfy. They snapped wide, booze clearing a bit.
"See... men are all wolves, perverts..."
Princess mumbling, swallowing words. Even insults from Pine felt rewarding.
"What book exactly?"
"Romance novel..."
Romance novel—yeah, her setting. That smutty?
"Why read that...?"
"Felt like me and the heroine."
She snuggled closer, rose scent and soft skin through clothes muddling my reason.
"Emotionless heroine loved by four male leads."
Reverse harem. Platinum Wolf reading forbidden tomes—mind cleared instantly.
"Males crave love, but she falls into tragedy, unhappy."
"...Reality differs from fiction, Pine."
"Used to think same..."
Then she lifted my visor, smiling. Brown eyes met gold.
"Hehe, until I met you, Licht..."
"I'm a Black Knight. Not like those perverts."
Blood rushed to my face. Knew Pine was beautiful, but too close. Man and woman leaning side by side by fountain.
"I know. You're kind, Licht."
Recalled her shaking the slushy glass. Always considerate like that—different, joyful.
"Always mindful, protected me."
"Not for pay... We're friends..."
"Friends... Friend..."
Her eyes narrowed to crescents. Touched something dangerous.
"Doesn't this make us not friends...?"
Thud. Both hands gripped my nape. Face drawing near. Soft lips glistening moist under moonlight.
"Pine. Wait, you're too drunk."
"...Would you treasure me like I treasure you, if I did this? Licht."
Pine drunk rambling. First time seeing this.
Tried pulling away, but her wolf eyes gleamed predatorily at prey.
"You're already precious to me, Pine."
"I believe you, but can't trust it. Licht."
Eyes softly shut, lips parting slightly. Tiny wolf fangs inside. Acting like for a kiss.
"Want to be more special to you. Like that Saintess..."
Tried pushing her face away,
"Ugh... Licht... Book says men fall for this..."
But she shook head cutely, resisting each time. Inner walls crumbling.
'Shouldn't... but...'.
Head full of alcohol, no thoughts. Accept? Shut eyes, vowed once and done—
"Princess Granasia!! His Majesty Locke summons you!!"
Just before lips met, a golden-armored wolfkin man burst before us. Knights in varied armor behind.
Seen that somewhere—Imperial Guard?
Stuck to Pine too. I jolted back. Didn't want my head rolling yet.
"Father...?"
She hid flushed cheeks, eyed kneeling knights—their faces pale as ghosts.
"Yes, and Licht is summoned to the palace tomorrow as well."
What? Me too?
Recalling the moment, cold killing intent prickled. Guillotine axe at nape.
"Gold, really...? Why Licht too..."
"We weren't told why, Lady Granasia."
Ten Heroes' top fighter.
Wolf King of Granasia Empire.
Lumberjack making sonic booms with raw strength.
Wolf that bites the sun, swallows the moon.
Emperor Locke Granasia had summoned me and Pine.