Chapter 123
Chapter 123
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 123
Chapter Title: 35-1. How the Queen Captures the Knight.
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I stepped into the room and tidied up a few clothes.
I let out a sigh of relief as I stared at the status window floating before my eyes. Good. It worked just like I planned.
In truth, what I'd told Asha was pretty serious stuff.
The fact that she didn't find it too strange probably meant Laplace or the Sage had something to do with it.
This damn status window was truly mysterious. Considering everything that had happened so far, it didn't seem like simple numbers.
"...Still a long way to go."
I sighed at the distant Love Meter, pondering the meaning behind these figures.
'Stick to the original couplings from the previous games.'
But did that include [Black Heart]? This was the third game in the series, after all.
Did that mean the harems players built counted as couplings too? Most users in the game community did just that.
Why not, when the heroines got duplicated and all?
I'd heard it made your party stronger and gave more content to enjoy.
But I never did it. Simple reason: Pine, the Saintess, ended up on the back burner automatically.
The Saintess route completely broke the moment you started a harem. It was like an invisible glass wall went up—she, a side character, couldn't squeeze in among the leads.
Dates? Flirty affection? None of that.
"..."
Something felt overlooked again. Staring at those letters that stood out oddly from the rest, I sank into thought.
She wasn't labeled as the Nameless Saintess, so yeah, the future got twisted. But why the unease?
"Pine, I know you're there. Come on out."
"How? I erased my presence with magic..."
Suddenly sensing eyes on me, I fixed my gaze on the wall. That section's pattern was slightly warped.
"We're sharing mana circuits, remember? I know where you are."
"Ah, ugh... My mistake..."
Pine had snuck into my room to watch me secretly. She was hiding behind the mirror that distorted objects.
I closed the distance to keep her from fleeing. The finger-kiss side effect made her back away like a scared little wolf whenever she saw me.
"Don't run away from me, Pine."
Was it Pine Granasia's 3% that bugged me? What did she really feel for me?
Even if the narrative I'd built crumbled now that she wasn't the Saintess anymore, and she might hate me for it...
"There's something I need to check."
I couldn't ignore this Love Meter.
To save her from dying to Magic Hat, the Grand Route was the only way. The creators had promised as much.
I personally hated quantifying love, but this was the most reliable thing I had.
"Eek, Licht! Don't scratch my chin... It feels weird..."
"Don't puppies like this?"
So I decided to test if real affection raised the numbers. One experiment.
I gently stroked the underside of the wolf-eared beauty's chin with my finger. She jolted hard at first, then accepted it.
"I'm a wolf, though..."
If someone this cute was a wolf, every hunter in the world would fall for her. Maybe she was a kitsune. Where'd that shy girl from earlier go?
"Definitely a puppy."
"Says the pervert mutt... Never mind."
Pine curved her golden eyes into a soft smile. Moments like this made me think beta tester possession wasn't so bad.
But even this didn't budge the Love Meter. Were Pine and I just not meant to connect?
"You're too good at this... You player..."
"Me? Do I look like the type?"
The man who'd saved her discarded life once already.
My body and soul were basically hers to command.
Player? Unfair. I teased her with ticklish strokes.
"You like the Nameless Saintess."
"..."
Snap. She grabbed my wrist. Her strength halted me cold.
"...You're really not a player?"
"Sorry."
I apologized to the seemingly angry Pine.
This was my fault. I couldn't even properly tell her she was my future self.
"You should be. Yeah, Licht's got a lot to be sorry for."
The princess scolded me like a child. Her perked wolf ears and tail made her look adorably sulky.
Maybe pet her head a ton later. The thought crossed my mind just then.
"Licht, can we talk for a sec...?"
The door flew open. The black-haired Northern Grand Duchess gaped at Pine and me.
"What are you two doing...?"
"Nothing."
Just innocently scratching her chin. I yanked my hand free and hid it behind my back. Tried to play it cool, but...
"...Hic."
Pine's hiccups started up again, making me sweat bullets.
What'd she eat today? Gotta give her some warm water later.
In Sophitia's office, I got an unexpected question.
"Licht. Where'd you hear that earlier?"
"You mean my talk with Lady Asha?"
Piles of documents everywhere, signs of her ruling the North alone.
"No, about seeing people's true nature."
Her steel-black eyes pierced me like arrows. Suspecting something, she pointed her quill at me.
"Heard it from a friend."
The pillar hubby type always said that. Why was current Sophitia asking?
"A weird guy visited the North a few days ago and said the same thing."
"Weird guy? What do you mean?"
Her demeanor was oddly soft. She'd always been icy since her affinity wasn't unlocked.
Was there another player in this world besides me?
"A freak who knew there was poison in his food but ate it anyway for a reward."
Ah, not Gi-seok. No way with his personality. Too calculating for self-harm.
He'd advised matching with loved ones but called me crazy for it...
"That guy tipped you off too, said you're even crazier than him."
"...What's his name?"
Is it Kwon Gi-seok? I asked. But the name from her lips was unfamiliar.
"Flintz."
Flintz? Did he snag a love line first?
"...He was fun. Made some excuse about my heart acting up and left the North."
Sophitia smiled faintly, reminiscing fondly.
Probably another player or possessor who'd read the Northern Grand Duchess hubby攻略guide and beaten me to it.
"Any plans to meet potential suitors, Your Grace?"
I asked quickly—pillar hubby would bawl if he knew. He even knew about the Coldheart family heart disease.
'He made the special cure first and unlocked the salvation route.'
His legendary line: "No event? Make one." Ran nationwide for affinity unlock.
Poor guy, getting his fated connections stolen.
"Pass. No one measures up except a guy like Flintz."
"..."
My hopes dashed by cold rejection. Back to the bear lady I knew.
Maybe she warmed up because she likes Pine. With the white-haired princess gone, her ruler aura dominated.
Was forcing this love line right?
'Yeah, if Sophitia fancies someone first, pillar hubby yields.'
I backed off. Can't toy with emotions. Why I hadn't told Pine about the Nameless Saintess either.
'Ultimately, their own feelings matter most in love. Lee Soo-hyun.'
Obsessing over past ties and manipulating love? Not pure love. Sorry, Gi-seok.
"...Sorry for the sudden slip. Your Grace."
This was right.
I'm the pure love Black Knight. Won't force lines disrespecting others' hearts.
Isn't that basically NTR?
I didn't buy fate or future lovers. Why I kept distance from Pine.
'Even "I loved future you" lacks punch for the listener.'
It's like seeing someone else over the present her.
"Fine, got it. My turn to ask, Licht."
"What is it, Your Grace?"
Sophitia paused her quill, hand to her forehead like her head ached.
"You dating Pine or what?"
"No way."
Counterattacked. Me, the forced-fate pusher? Checked if Pine was listening.
"Then why's she all over you?"
Didn't sense her nearby, but I scanned anyway.
"Princess Granasia—no, my friend Pine—was the brightest kid growing up."
Sophitia sighed at my reaction, starting on Pine Granasia.
"But about ten years ago, everything changed. Licht."
Chill filled the room. Magic? Or the dark tale?
"Her black hair turned white overnight, letters stopped coming."
Her words hung in freezing air that chilled my lungs.
So that's why Pine's hair was white despite imperial blood.
I'd read books: extreme stress could do that in a day.
"You know it's all because of Magic Hat's raid, right?"
"Yes, Your Grace."
Truth Demon King Magic Hat's doing.
To amp his attacks, he targeted Bellin Granasia. Psycho carrying people in cards.
"Pine lost her mom then. All her close maids and butlers died except Dijur."
Sophitia didn't know about the carding. She stood, spear in hand, radiating killing intent.
"...The Pine I met after so long was like an empty glass."
She pitied her friend, now a mid-heavy armored glass knight always wearing Masterpiece.
Suggested tea and novels like old times? "Gotta get stronger." Sword and magic training nonstop.
"Then my friend Pine sends a letter after years. Read it."
I read the Northern Grand Duchess's letter as she pressed her spear to my throat.
"About the new hero who beat Head..."
Ice-cold blade on skin. Gulped. Pine definitely wasn't around.
"Hey Soph... Do you know dragon heart transplant methods...?"
She wrote Sophitia for my sake? Already grateful for the precious dragon heart.
"For you, Licht. First letter in years."
She iced magic around my dumbstruck face, annoyed. Frost crept from my toes.
"Be honest. What do you think of our Pine?"
Checking if I was a scumbag friend-user. Fair from her view.
Monopolizing her interest, leeching off her like a player.
"What I think of Pine Granasia? Obvious."
Frozen to the neck, I stated calmly. My pure love for Pine wouldn't waver; this chill was nothing.
"...I adore her."
Pure flame of emotion.
That's why I feared scaring her, hurting her—kept my distance.
Satisfied, she smirked.
"Good. You're on Pine's side, then."
Grand Duchess dispelled the ice, chuckled, withdrew her spear.
"Sorry. Thought you were using our innocent Pine, you player."
"I get it."
Warmth returned.
Magic meant no water from melt; no trace left.
"So, when confess to Pine? When start dating? Wait, who fell first..."
Sudden question barrage from Sophitia choked me.
"Koff, cough."
Wrong swallow, tears welling. Hurts! Why this after trying to kill me?
"Lady Sophitia... Commoner and princess? Impossible."
"You really think that? This won't do."
Pitying me, she grabbed a book from the shelf: Northern landmarks.
"...Gotta use my Grand Duchess pull."
Grinning devilishly, like a great idea hit. Bad vibes if I keep talking.
Coughing stopped. Sunlight filtering through caught my eye sideways.
Something sparkly in view.
"What's that chess set?"
"Oh, Flintz left it."
Black-and-white chess pieces carved from crystal gave me déjà vu. From the Harmless Demon King fight.
"What kind of guy is Flintz, Your Grace?"
Assuming it might be who I knew, I asked the bear-eared woman.
"Eccentric, but brilliant strategist."
"Like a shut-in who pulls strings from behind?"
I listed guild traits. I did bosses with physicals and攻略 knowledge.
He solved puzzles and mazes with logic. Even Fantasia Games praised his easter egg love.
"Exactly. Thought he was just a rice-guzzling bear in my palace at first."
"Good at chess too? Stalemate against you?"
"Yep. Shocked me."
Sophitia nodded vigorously. Rabbit-eyed surprise on her. Final check.
"What color hair? Eyes?"
"White hair... Red eyes. Know him?"
Yup. That bastard I know.