Chapter 144
Chapter 144
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 144
Chapter Title: 42-2. What Can Break the Will.
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A status window popped up in front of me. Unlike usual, the message was mixed with a chocolate emoticon.
What day is it? It's not Valentine's Day or anything.
No, why did this one go up? I remember Pine enjoying the play yesterday.
"If it hits 50%, does that mean our Pine can start dating too...?"
I'm really worried that taking off her masterpiece yesterday might attract other guys.
Drake's practical sparring session.
"Hey, did you go to the theater district yesterday?"
"Why would I go to a place for commoners?"
"You're doing it again! A super pretty girl showed up there yesterday? Everyone's going crazy trying to find out who she is."
The male students behind me were chattering away. It had to be about Pine. With rumors circulating among users that her looks were her only asset, it was inevitable.
"So the art club guys were drawing like crazy, noses bleeding and all? I thought they'd been hit with a group curse or something."
"If there's a goddess, it has to be that girl... I just want to see her one more time... Goddess, come back..."
Judging by the family crests on their chests, both were eldest sons of nobles. The same crests were on the invitations to the social event I received last time.
What if I'd gone down the harem route? I probably wouldn't have ended up in awkward relationships with guys like them. Like this one who's always hanging around in front of me.
"Licht. You're good with the sword, but mixing in magic looks fun too~! Want this big sis to teach you one-on-one? Come to my place?"
"...I'd rather not have private conversations."
"Aren't you a bit too cold? I said I was sorry about last time~!"
Blanc was still fawning over me even as sparring time approached. The status window showed no reaction.
I know swordsmanship's weaknesses better than anyone. Originally, this was a magic swordsman character. It's inflexible in handling variables and weak in chaotic melees or prolonged battles.
I realized that debating with the pillar husband. That foundation guy wielded a magic spear. I wonder if he can't use magic now either?
"Alright, I'll go do a spar! Wait for me!"
"..."
A wave of disgust rose inside me. She waved her slender arms in the air, blowing kisses and making hearts with her fingers now and then.
"Next up is Mardol! Licht!"
"Professor Drake."
I sighed beside Drake.
The rumor that Pine was a princess hadn't spread through the academy yet, but judging by Blanc and the other students' reactions, it wouldn't be long.
I have to protect Pine. Even if I can't be the prince on a white horse, there's something I can do.
"Do you know anything about the Temple of Tar Dune, by any chance?"
"The temple of Tar Dune, god of will!"
A hearty, booming laugh. Drake spoke with his usual boisterous energy.
"It's in the holy land of the land nation!! You don't even know that?!"
"No, I mean, is there anything special about it?"
Before the empire was founded, the land was divided into four nations. The nation of fire, famed for spirit arts. The nation of water, where magic reigned supreme, and the nation of earth, renowned for swordsmanship.
Even the famous Emperor Locke hailed from the nation of earth. A setting where beastkin with animal ears and tails made up most of the population.
"Tar Dune will surely test your will. Trying to score points with my big bro or something?!"
"That's not it."
I recalled Nex mentioning he wanted to hold his wedding in the nation of water later. From Drake's perspective, it must look like visiting his girlfriend's hometown.
"There's a saying you should go with at least four people!!"
Originally, it was a place you formed a party for. A dungeon-like location whose structure changed based on the route the player had taken.
I could go with the hero couple and Pine. To complete True Demon Slayer, I needed time and a place.
"The Demon King of Martial Force. Finn."
Martial force, the military aspect of power. The opposing authority probably meant powerlessness, stripping away strength. It made sense that if Pine became the Nameless Saintess, she'd lose the immense physical strength she'd inherited.
It was also deeply tied to the hero couple. The culprit who killed Kainel's brother and burned down the forest Ariel lived in.
The one responsible for leaving them with deep scars, unable to be honest about their love.
Until I dealt with him, they'd probably never hit 50% and start dating. In [Knight Heart], they became lovers right after Finn died.
"Ah, looks like everyone's ready!"
While we talked, Blanc and Pine took their positions side by side in the arena. Black and white standing in opposition.
The knight and the thief glared at each other like they wanted to devour one another. Sparks seemed to fly between the green and golden eyes.
"Sparring begins!!"
Drake's call echoed through the arena, signaling the start of the match.
Recently, Pine Granasia had been feeling her heart pounding. The knock of love on her long-dead emotions.
Unlike before, sharing Licht's heartbeat made blood surge through her like a transfusion patient.
Pine, who knew nothing of love, was naive about it, but one thing was certain.
She didn't want to let anyone take Licht from her. Pure possessiveness.
"Mardol, why are you always sticking to Licht? Don't tell me you're lovers? Nah."
"...You don't need to know."
Pine bit her lower lip hard, eyeing the lightly dressed thief trying to seduce men's hearts.
She couldn't understand what gave her the right to flirt with her Black Knight.
"So cold~! I was just wondering if there's a girl in there~!"
Blanc smirked. She clashed daggers with a clang, ching, scanning the gaps in Pine's armor with her eyes.
"Shut up and start."
"Whoa, feisty."
Pine kept feeling an uncomfortable sensation. Breaking her masterpiece could be forgiven.
The wary stares whenever she wore heavy plate armor were to be expected.
But there was only one reason the princess was angry now. The hero who knew all her dark past, comforted her, and helped her overcome it.
She hated this thieving cat trying to steal Licht away.
"Sparring begins!!"
At Drake's signal, Pine thrust her arm forward. Small, shining glass shards formed in her grasp. Swords of glass flew straight at Blanc.
"Nice to see you, Mardol~!"
Blanc swung her Dream Knife in response. She didn't hesitate to let it graze her cheek, scratching her mana shield, and dove into the opening.
Their distance closed in an instant. Blanc dodged Pine's swung sword by arching her back, then targeted her legs. Planning to make her kneel first.
In that moment, Pine chanted her glass magic. Illusions rippled to her sides, splitting the white knight into two. Blanc's dagger sliced empty air due to the sudden doppelgangers.
"You picked the wrong opponent, Blanc."
The two Pines moved independently. Each invading Blanc's line of sight with distinct motions. The left clone swung hard at her foe. Kaang! A sharp clash rang out.
"Urk...!"
Blanc gripped her dagger with both hands, barely blocking Pine's glass sword like it was a heavy load. The immense strength inherited from Emperor Locke's bloodline. Her arms and legs trembled, screaming in protest.
Not missing the gap, the right Pine slashed at Blanc's back. A cicada shedding its shell—the gap in the newly formed mana shield.
"If I find the real one...! Probably the front one's real!"
The female thief's body lurched. She was overwhelming in speed, yet losing in raw power. Normally, hitting the real body in a clone spell dispels the clones.
She hurled a dagger at Pine's feet. Pak, it embedded in the ground, activating its power and turning the floor into a sand pit.
"...Says who?"
"What...? The back one's movements were weaker? No way that's the real body?"
Pine didn't falter even against the antlion pit. Ignoring her sinking clone, she smoothly moved to diagonally slash Blanc's right arm.
Panicked, Blanc stepped on Pine's sword and leaped high. As Pine prepared to strike down, she assumed position.
"You're no match for Licht."
"That stance...?!"
Pine raised her sword high. All her focus on Blanc's shadow on the ground. Srrip, she slashed the floor.
The sequence was the Shadow Slash Licht had taught her before. Blanc sensed the anomaly and curled up to dodge, but her thigh guard was sliced.
"Hyah!!"
Thud thud thud! Pine activated Wolf Fang and charged at the rolling foe. Blanc countered with her gambler's skill, boosting speed and strength. Targeting the lower body again.
"Heavy plate armor! If I just trip her...!!"
Blanc invoked Thousand Knife Nightmare. But it was a complete misjudgment. Another half-buried Pine in the sand pit reached out toward the thousands of daggers.
"I told you already. Wrong opponent."
Her golden wolf eyes gleamed, slicing apart every incoming dagger around her.
The real body facing Blanc deflected the dagger at her throat, just like Licht in the grade exam.
"Stay away from Licht."
She swung upward with intent to bisect Blanc. Pakang, the mana shield split like a log.
Scars from the wind pressure scarred the arena floor.
"Winner!! Mardol!!"
The blast even affected the stands, whipping up a massive gust. She had replicated Licht's Void Slash with sheer strength.
Pine was unknowingly starting to resemble the man she admired.
In the end, the practical spar ended with the student's victory again. Then why do we even need TAs?
Partly because Pine's a cheat character. Players trying to snag a few handsome guys for a reverse harem wouldn't get it.
Her clones can act independently now, huh. That'll fool Magic Hat once or twice in a fight.
"Licht... I won. Against the thieving cat."
"...Good job."
Pine scampered right over to me after her win. Her tail wagging wildly like a puppy greeting its owner—it was adorable.
"Pet me."
"I-I'll do it later..."
Pine said something that could be misunderstood if overheard. When I refused, she balled her fists and pounded my chest.
Thump, thump. The dull sounds echoed before the stands. Kainel and Ariel stared at my reddening face in shock.
"No... Do it now... Licht..."
It hurts, Pine. You know how strong you are, right? Even with my solid, chiseled muscles, that packs a punch.
"Just... this once... Pine..."
"Hee hee... It's Licht after all..."
Finally appeased, she leaned against me comfortably. With no choice, I ruffled the helmet part of her head vigorously.