Chapter 126
Chapter 126
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 126
Chapter Title: 35-4. How the Queen Captures the Knight
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My face burned so hot it felt like it might explode.
A woman with snow-white hair approached me from the side. And she was practically naked, wearing nothing but a single towel.
"Licht, you've got so many muscles... It's amazing."
"..."
Pine Granasia scanned my body up and down, her golden eyes gleaming.
It's because I trained so hard that my muscles formed like this. When I first possessed this body, there was nothing there.
Even Drake had said I wasn't cut out for the sword at first. So I swung it through sleepless nights.
"Hehe, they're so firm..."
Splash. Her damp, soft hand touched my arm. Pine's small, gentle hand.
She poked at my muscles lightly, like playing a piano.
"Other men don't have much muscle because of their mana."
"It's from training with Sir Drake."
Her wolf ears were even flattened back. Pine. I'd noticed her sneaking glances before. So she likes muscular guys, huh.
"I'm more amazed by you, Miss Pine."
"Why...?"
"How do you have so much strength with a body like that...?"
I'm the one amazed by you. Just because you're the daughter of Emperor Locke?
Unlike my body, Pine's looked soft and squishy, without a trace of lean muscle.
"...Pervert."
"Sorry."
She pinched my arm lightly when my eyes lingered on the most prominent part of her body. I couldn't help it. It was unavoidable.
"It's genetics."
"I know. Daughter of His Majesty the Emperor."
Pine was kneading my arm now as she spoke. Her soft "hehe" laugh came right next to my ear.
"Licht, no matter how I look at you, you don't seem built for swordsmanship."
"How did you know?"
That's what my masters always told me. No matter where I came from, I had zero talent as a swordsman.
I couldn't even use mana to compensate for my physical shortcomings.
They said I'd be better off farming in some remote village.
My talent might have awakened gradually through training, showing some potential, but the reason I never gave up on the sword until now was all thanks to Pine.
"I have better eyesight than most people, Licht."
After falling into this world, I've lived just to see that expression. This time, I want to give her a happy ending.
It's sad if only one of us is unhappy.
"You must have suffered so much..."
Pine stroked my helmet. Her hair got caught on the hard steel, and she puffed out her cheeks like she was dissatisfied.
"I just did what I had to."
"But you defeated a Demon King... and took down an Apostle too..."
Pine listed all the things I'd done so far. She stopped stroking and spread her fingers to count them.
"To me, you're a hero, Licht."
In truth, compared to what she's given me, it's barely a drop in the bucket.
"It's nothing compared to the grace you've shown me."
"I only gave you a Dragon Heart and swordsmanship..."
Even setting aside that she saved my life, I was gradually moved by Pine's warm heart.
"You bought me delicious food and even gave me chocolate cake."
Even back when I was Mardol, I always had affection for her, so I couldn't put up an iron wall like I did with other women.
I drew lines with Heavenly Demon or Ariel, after all.
"...No, it's still far from enough compared to what you gave me."
Then Pine slowly closed the distance, pressing her shoulder against my arm.
"Licht, is it okay if I stay like this...?"
"Do as you like..."
Melted by the hot spring water—body and soul alike—Pine drew even closer. Her breathing was audible right beside me.
"Licht... what do you think of me?"
"Do I have to say it out loud?"
Plop. Her wet hair brushed my shoulder.
The slight weight felt odd for a moment, then she rested her head on my shoulder and spoke.
"Yeah... otherwise, I get anxious."
"You don't need to feel anxious."
I wonder if this reassures her. She rubbed her head against me like that even when she drank at the festival.
"But... you worked so hard for that Saintess person, right?"
"It's hardly worth calling effort."
"Liaaaar..."
She still harbors doubts about the Nameless Saintess.
"I'm a princess, Licht."
"..."
"I always thought I could have anything I wanted in life."
Ouch. Her words dug right into my chest. Pine Granasia, now a princess instead of a saintess.
"...Then you showed up."
She spoke slowly, like interrogating me, closing off any escape. A man who inherited Drake's sword style, which no one else had.
"At first, I was definitely jealous of your strength. But now..."
She must have coveted it. Ironically, these small connections tied us together.
"I'm jealous of the Nameless Saintess. A Black Knight who falls for her and devotes everything."
Pine's voice grew cold. It felt strange, like I was a criminal under interrogation.
Even if I told her the truth now, she'd probably just see me mimicking polite speech in a saintess outfit.
I have to stop that. It wouldn't be pure love or anything.
"I am your Black Knight now, Pine."
"That's just words, Licht."
Even repeating what I said to reassure her during the Apostle of Wrath's power backfired on me.
"You said that because of the Apostle. It was a lie."
"No, Pine."
Pine vented her pent-up feelings like a sulk. Scolding me for not approaching easily and running from my burn scars.
"Liar... That Saintess. Is she really pretty? Or does she look like me?"
Emotions crept into her tone. When I first searched for you, I thought you'd be the Nameless Saintess I knew.
I never imagined you'd think so differently. Pine.
"The white hair is identical. As for beauty... Yes, she's very beautiful."
She's the same person. Lying about resemblance would be obvious. The one who appeared in my dreams, earnestly telling me not to cheat.
"So even you fall for a pretty face and act foolish, huh...?"
"Her face is refined, but I fell for her heart."
Even as the actual Saintess, your first impression was the worst. Even after transforming into a glass knight, it was your heart that captivated me.
Love characters for looks sometimes, but stories and backstories hook you too.
"...Your face says it's true. I hate it even more."
Her words sharpened like a blade. Her teeth grinding sent chills down my spine.
"So you see her when you look at me? No, if that were true... you wouldn't push me away."
"..."
"I'm jealous of the Nameless Saintess, Licht... She has your love..."
Here I was, like a boyfriend soothing an angry girlfriend. The problem was her narrow-minded thinking after the severe burns.
"I only have you... I want Licht for myself..."
But Pine Granasia doesn't know love yet. Confusing gratitude, affection, obsession, and love is common.
She knew too much to become a pure-love praising saintess, and her wounds ran deep.
"Pine, what do you think love is?"
If I made her anxious, it's my fault. Since we're here, I'll ask what I've wondered too.
"I don't know..."
The pure white woman shook her head in denial.
"Is there a special reason you obsess over kisses?"
Always asking for kisses when she sees me, even trying the same with the Apostle of Wrath.
"In the novels I read... when they do it, they treasure each other..."
Pine was a wolf who fled in fear when I tried to give her one. She even hiccuped from surprise.
"Love isn't a light feeling achieved by just kissing."
"But men are all wolves... Father said so..."
I turned to meet Pine's eyes. Don't compare me to others. I knew the game lore but came only for you.
"Do I seem like other men to you, Pine?"
"Your actions scream playboy...?"
Of course, as a man with desires, reason fails me sometimes.
Even now, barely covered by towels, I'm trying my best not to cross the line.
Pine's figure is so dangerously alluring, it's hard not to stare.
My inner cheek stings from biting it to stay sane.
"Even without kisses, I treasure you."
"I know it's true... but I'm anxious."
Others might pin down a love-ignorant wolf and make her a slave to desire, but I'm holding back with all my might.
That wouldn't be love.
"I'm scared that if the Saintess really appears, she'll take you away..."
Her wet hair clung to her shoulders as she fidgeted her fingers, showing her anxiety.
"What do I need to do to prove it, Miss Pine?"
"Kisses... are really no good?"
Noticing the lack of lover-like contact with her saintess self before coming north, the princess pushed for skinship.
"Then, how about just a feel?"
It's time to decide. Dating without kissing won't make her fall in love, she thinks so purely.
Not some fairy-tale prince or princess. Purity is good, but she's too naive.
"Eh...? Another finger kiss?"
"No, not that."
Time to give her a little lesson. She'll be in trouble with bad guys approaching with impure intentions.
"In other countries I know of, they greet by kissing cheeks."
"W-Wait. No way, you..."
The moment I spoke, Pine splashed in surprise.
A cute wolf who begs for kisses but shakes her head at cheek pecks.
"N-Nooo... Licht..."
I gently grabbed her wrist as she backed away. She flinched, her cheeks flushing. Her gaze dropped.
"You're really... going to kiss my cheek?"
She slowly released her tension, lowering her arm. Her wolf ears flattened back in approval.
"..."
I responded with silence.
Love is when words fall short and actions insufficient. Understanding, Pine closed her eyes, waiting.
To meet her expectation, I brought my lips near her cheek.
"Mwah."
No contact—just the sound. A true bise greeting doesn't touch; it's just the noise.
I'm not some blonde vampire; I won't steal her first kiss.
Pine's slender shoulders trembled. Scared even by the sound?
"...Eek."
If a fake kiss does this, how could I teach her the difference between love and obsession?
I held her shoulders gently to ease her anxiety.
"Smooch."
I dragged it out playfully.
"Haaah..."
Her body jolted. Too pure. Does she even know how to kiss?
"I think you get the feeling now."
I kneaded her shoulders to relax her, completing two contactless cheek kisses.
"...Ah."
Pine exhaled softly, mouth agape. Her neck flushed red, hands covering her face—like a perfect rabbit.
"Lips didn't touch your cheek—just the sound. That's how greetings work."
"Ahh..."
Even as I explained, Pine kept her eyes squeezed shut, sighing repeatedly in shock.
"...Pine? Can you hear me?"
Worried the hot spring made her dizzy, I asked urgently. She jumped in fright.
"I-Is it... over...?"
Finally peeking through her fingers. Done ages ago, yet the fragile cannon breathed raggedly.
"Yes. All done."
"Hic. Hic."
Hiccups started again. She fanned herself frantically, turning away. A complete attitude shift.
"So from now on, save it for someone you truly love, Pine."
My feelings should have reached her. No need for kisses; my care for her won't change.
"Kisses are for lovers. Cherish them."
"Got it, Licht..."
Kisses are for mutual love. Seeing her defeated by cheek sounds, I thought her obsession gone.
Then—
"Licht! I-I'm heading out first... Something urgent came up...!"
She bolted from the hot spring. Nearly tripped in her rush. Hope she's okay.
"...Was that too much?"
Just sounds, no touch. After slaying a Demon King, I figured this was fair reward.
I wanted to try it once with our Pine.
Pine Granasia couldn't control her pounding heart.
Clutching her racing heartbeat—hers or Licht's?—she ran toward the hot spring exit.
"Cheek kiss..."
"He did it... with Licht..."
Pine sat on a bench in a corner, replaying it. A cheek kiss with no actual touch—just sound.
Each "mwah" from the helmeted Black Knight made her dizzy, her reason snapping.
'From now on... only with someone you truly love...'
Unlike the kisses in her novels.
Even lengthy romance descriptions fell short of her shock.
"What... is love?"
Thinking loving people do even more embarrassing things, she shook her head to dispel vulgar fantasies.
"..."
She regretted not being satisfied with that. Other men eyed her lewdly often.
"He's... different from other men..."
A real kiss could've imprisoned him for life for touching a princess, making him hers.
Like a queen struggling to capture a knight alone in chess, Licht slipped away skillfully.
"...Licht really treasures me."
With a no-contact cheek kiss. Just as she wondered if he'd dated the Saintess—
"Pine?"
A familiar male voice. Lifting her head, a tall man with a long scar on his arm stood before her.
"Ah... L-Licht?"
"Something urgent, you said...?"
Licht had lingered in the spring before exiting, but her embarrassment lingered. She sat at the changing room entrance.
"I-I'm going to my room now!"
Not knowing what she said, Pine fled toward the women's changing room.