Chapter 111
Chapter 111
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: 32-1. The Unmelting Heart of the North.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The North was said to freeze all the way to the sea in the game's lore, famous for its harsh, frigid climate.
"Hahaha! What a refreshingly fierce wind!"
That's why Master Drake, Pine, and I were riding an icebreaker ship powered by magic.
We sliced through the waves, heading north where monster attacks were rampant.
'I didn't expect to be traveling with Pine.'
I'd told her to stay back at the imperial palace, but she'd snuck away like a runaway. She said she'd get in even more trouble if she went back, so for now, I let her board the ship.
"Licht, do you know much about the North?"
"Honestly, not really."
"I thought you knew everything."
If the Emperor found out about this, I'd be as good as dead.
The burn ointment was one thing, but why was she being so thoughtful? Women's hearts were hard for me to understand.
"...So there are things even you don't know. Okay, that's fine."
What was fine about it? My face burned as I watched her flash a seductive smile. Thank goodness for the helmet.
'Maybe I should have dated someone in real life.'
Pine was glued right to my side even now. Was she doing this out of gratitude for saving her life from the Demon King or getting her mother back?
"Licht, aren't you cold?"
"A bit. Am I that weak to the cold?"
Even comparing it to my near-death experiences, no one falls in love just because you saved their life.
"Hehe, now you'll be warm."
Smoothly, her snowy white wolf tail wrapped around one of my legs again. It was definitely warm. Soft and fluffy like cotton.
'Even if I die tomorrow, it'll be with a smile. Lee Soo-hyun.'
A crass remark nearly slipped out, so I covered the front of my helmet. Please stop doing this so innocently.
"Pine, why do you keep wrapping your tail around my leg?"
"Huh? Wolfkin do this with family all the time."
I had no idea about that setting. Even when you became the Nameless Saintess, you didn't do this. I knew wolfkin resembled wolves a lot, but wrapping tails around each other? No such thing.
Definite lie. The princess avoided my eyes, staring off at distant mountains.
"Please stop. People might misunderstand."
"...Okay, Licht."
That was when it happened. Pine hugged me. I couldn't help but panic at the sudden action. Squish. A soft pressure pressed against me.
"How about this, then?"
"...Just the tail, please."
Her overwhelming purity was pressuring me silently, and her breath so close made my head spin.
Who hugs someone just because they didn't get their way?
She'd always seemed a bit clumsy. Like she'd learned about love and romance from books.
'She even said once that doing this would make me treasure her more.'
Damn, how could I reassure Pine? She was the person I valued and cherished most. How to express that...
"Mission accomplished."
The white-haired girl smiled with her eyes, finally releasing her arms from around me. Seeing her wrap her tail around me again sparked an idea.
"...Ah!"
"I told you not to keep doing that, Pine."
The tip of her tail kept swishing, distracting me, and I didn't want her taking the lead anymore.
"Licht... the tail... the tail is sensitive..."
Hugging me out of nowhere was inconsiderate, no matter what. I had to persuade Asha Aureus later, and she could be a hindrance.
"Pine, don't hug me when there are people around."
"Th-then... when there's no one... it's okay...?"
I stroked her tail gently from the base. It felt like a big cotton ball—amazing. Were all wolf tails this soft?
"Only when we're alone. Feel free."
"Got it. N-now stop, Licht... It feels weird..."
It was addictive, so I kept petting, and Pine's cheeks flushed red. Oh, too much? I thought she'd like it since she enjoyed ear pets.
"Sorry. I'll stop."
She hung her head and lightly thumped my chest with her hand. Wrong choice, apparently.
The white tail around my leg tightened even more, cutting off circulation.
"I'm mad, Licht..."
"Pine, that hurts. Stop."
"You're bad, so bad. You playboy..."
Why was I a playboy to begin with?
Don't talk like a heroine scolding the harem protagonist. I've never even glanced at another woman besides you.
"I went too far, so stop. Please... And I'm not a playboy."
"Then you're a pervert. Licht is a pervert."
Her punches grew stronger. My ribs were ringing.
"Pine, please stop..."
Stop, or I'll really die. Her eyes glistened like she might cry.
"Where did you even learn... this stuff...!"
I really messed up. Guess tails are a sensitive spot for wolfkin. I vowed never to touch one again.
"My goodness, what a spectacle you two are making!"
"..."
Drake scolded us for bickering. Pine's barrage stopped immediately.
"...Hmph, Licht. Don't touch other girls' tails."
She whipped her head away, pouting cutely with puffed cheeks. So I can touch yours later?
"Disciple, are you really impotent? Or do you have zero dating experience?"
"...No dating experience."
I had no choice but to confess truthfully to my exasperated master, who was thumping his chest while glaring at me.
"For wolfkin, tails are... Never mind. I shouldn't say it!"
At that moment, Pine's tail swished.
I glanced over to see her facing away, but her wolf ears perked up, eager to hear more.
'...But she won't unwrap the tail.'
Maybe it wasn't as serious as it looked. Even while sulking, she kept me bound.
"Deal with your own karma! Hahaha!"
I thought she'd unwrap the tail if the old man intervened.
"Don't come crying to your big bro over this!"
"Why are you yelling all of a sudden? You're scaring Pine."
I covered Pine's ears with my hands. His booming voice nearly made my heart drop.
"...Licht, you don't have to."
The Platinum Wolf turned back to me. Good, her mood seemed better. Though I still wasn't sure what upset her.
"Our...? Our Pine?! Do you even know how terrifying your big bro is?!"
"I do. The Wolf King, feared even by the Demon Kings of the Hero Cult."
He gaped like he'd been shocked.
Our Pine, not someone else's. Unless she found someone better than me or fell for another guy.
'Anyway, Emperor Locke isn't hostile unless you're a Demon King or Hero.'
That's why I named myself Pure Love Black Knight—my lifeline in this life.
No matter how scary Emperor Locke was, I'd be the Black Knight guarding her side.
"...Good lord!"
"What's wrong, Master?"
Seeing Pine and me so close, he grumbled at me dissatisfiedly, pointing at my helmet.
"Didn't you grit your teeth through training to protect some Saintess?! And now you..."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
Ugh, had to cut him off before he said something weird. If Pine learned she was the Nameless Saintess, she'd hate me.
'At least I need to catch Magic Hat first.'
Plus, until all Demon Kings were defeated, the route where she falls into tragedy remained. I'd beaten Head, the final boss of Knight Heart, but
"...Really?"
"Really, Pine."
Unless I killed the Truth Demon King Magic Hat beforehand, Pine's death in the sequel Black Heart wouldn't change.
The Grand Route progress and penalties in my status window confirmed it.
"Liar... You're lying, Licht..."
If I casually talked love and she died, I'd go insane. Just imagining it was horrific; I closed my eyes.
'Plus, it's a death flag.'
If by some slim chance Pine actually liked me, I'd have to risk death multiple times to take down the Demon Kings.
"Pine, nothing matters more to me than you."
"...This time it's real. I believe you."
I'd die for Pine without regret, but she might drown in grief losing me. Like in other games by the company, flags needed caution.
'...Should I check her favorability?'
I suddenly wondered what the princess thought of me. The Love Meter showed 2%.
Time for cross-verification. The favorability system from games 1 and 2.
A measure of dating potential or closeness with characters.
I wasn't fully trusting the status window anyway.
'Better check the favorability I know.'
If her favorability was high like in previous games, it might explain her behavior.
Let's try the dad joke with the Northern Grand Duchess's name, Sophitia Coldheart.
She used to like those kinds of jokes.
"Pine, by any chance, the Northern Grand Duchess..."
"Don't even mention that barren bitch."
"..."
Oof, favorability must be rock bottom. She even growled softly, baring her tiny fangs.
'Do they know each other?'
As the Nameless Saintess, she had no friends, family, or acquaintances. But now, as Princess Pine Granasia, it made sense she'd know Northern Grand Duchess Sophitia Coldheart. Both their fathers were among the Ten Heroes, after all.
"Do you know Sophitia, Pine?"
"...I know her very well, that's why I said don't mention her, Licht."
Scary. Is this really my Pine? Her icy tone felt like lead in my chest. Guess I said the wrong thing.
The North and the imperial family must not get along. Similar power levels, maybe. I waved my hands at her glare.
"Sorry. A friend mentioned her, so I was just trying a joke."
"...A girl friend?"
Pillar Bro was definitely a guy. No chance he was a girl like some game addict. I'd heard his voice in raids,
"A same-sex friend!"
He'd clearly stated he was male. Even spouted that gem: "Any proud son of Korea loves bear beastkin."
'The guy who called my Saintess fetish weird.'
The imperial family held more power anyway. He always grumbled that no matter how he flew in the North, he had to watch Emperor Locke's eyes.
"And I don't like bears. I prefer wolves."
"Licht, I hate that about you."
There was that chat about the Northern Grand Duchess minding imperial business, so he advised kicking Lupus out.
"You keep butting in."
"You too, Pine."
I gently stroked her head to soothe her pout. Her ears folded back accommodatingly,
"Hehe... Licht..."
Her white tail spun like a motor. I'd seen a documentary saying wolves can't be tamed. Were wolfkin different?
"You lovebirds! While you're flirting, we've arrived!"
Drake yelled at us then.
The ship's movement had stopped unnoticed.
"...Licht, be careful getting off. The ground will be icy."
"Thanks for the heads-up, Pine."
While we talked, we'd reached the snowy North.
The Empire had been muggy like midsummer. Totally different climate. She hooked her pinky with mine and walked with me.