Chapter 145
Chapter 145
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 145
Chapter Title: 42-3. Something That Can Break the Will.
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Blanc persistently sticking to Pine even after the spar ended was peculiar.
If he was a player gunning for the reverse harem route, he'd be focused on the other male characters. I couldn't figure out why he was acting like that. No way he was targeting me, right?
His constant tailing was getting on my nerves, so I blended into the crowd and bolted. Grabbing Pine's hand, I ran.
After sprinting for quite a while, we finally arrived at the Granasia Empire Patisserie.
Even though my hand was sweaty and slick, Pine gripped it tightly, as if it were something precious.
"Yeah, he's gone from around here now. Licht."
"That's a relief..."
Unlike me, huffing and puffing, Pine looked perfectly fine. I'd thought she'd be startled by the sudden dash.
"Licht, check that out."
She tapped my shoulder and pointed. There was a chocolate as tall as a person. Its massive size, like a grand door, was overwhelming.
It resembled the Valentine event from Hangaul. A sign labeled it a special chocolate, available only today on limited sale.
"Special chocolate."
"...That's for eating, right?"
It looked sturdy enough to use as cover. I knew Pine loved sweets, but wouldn't her teeth rot if she ate something like that?
"Yeah, probably?"
"..."
The description nearby read: 'Share with friends, lovers, or family!' Even seeing the word 'lovers', Pine didn't react much.
In her current position, I was probably just a friend. Though our bond held very special feelings—boyfriend-level closeness.
'Come to think of it, back when she was the Nameless Saintess, I never even gave her a single chocolate...'
Valentine event. A two-week affair starting February 14th where players collected dropped chocolates during gameplay and gifted them to NPCs for affinity boosts and rewards.
The Nameless Saintess always eyed the characters receiving chocolates with envy. All she got were stamina-recovery candies.
Non-tradeable chocolates and recovery candies couldn't be combined—no exploits possible. That was the chocolate she craved.
What was ordinary for others wasn't ordinary for our Pine.
"Should we buy it? You wanna eat it, right? I can hear you gulping."
"Ah, nooo..."
I pulled out gold coins without a second thought. After claiming the head, I'd received funds from the palace—my finances were solid now. Plus, there was the merit of rescuing Empress Bellin.
"You won today's practical spar. My treat."
"Licht... for me...?"
Fortunately, Pine had beaten Blanc in the spar. No more students would oppose her wearing the masterpiece.
"...You always think of me."
Even if Blanc stirred things up again to isolate Pine, no fools would trust the words of someone he'd crushed so thoroughly. It was a safety net, whether for players or Hero Cult members.
"Oh, Mardol?"
As we pondered flavors, a presence stirred behind us. A familiar voice.
"Hey, junior Licht!"
"Nex senior...?"
The purple-haired man flashed a foxy smile and slung an arm around my shoulders. Beside him stood a red-eyed vampire nun.
"What's Mardol doing at the patisserie? On a date?"
"Ah, well... it's complicated."
I explained fleeing from Blanc. Nex burst into laughter, while Sharutineth clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise.
"In short, a lovers' escape."
"Absolutely not."
"No..."
Ugh, dealing with Nex was always tricky. A character skilled at deception and reading hearts. Had his rift with Asha eased a bit?
"Junior Licht, you feeling better? Our Pi... Mardol was so worried."
"Much improved."
Other customers were around, so I avoided Pine's real name. I wrapped up the order for slightly bitter dark chocolate and took a seat.
Anything too sweet, and she might polish it off in a day. Moderation was key—excess sugar harmed the body.
"Nex senior, how are things with the house head these days?"
"Hm? Our esteemed house head? She's changed a little since the northern trip. Thanks to you, junior?"
As we chatted face-to-face with Nex and Sharutineth, Pine had quietly settled beside me at some point.
"She apologized for past events... but I'm not sure she'll approve marriage with our Shar."
"Any other talks?"
"Nah. Invited me back to the mansion, but I prefer wandering. Right, Shar?"
I hadn't told Nex about his father yet. No mention of the study secret room, either.
"I don't think a dutiful house head like Nex would be bad..."
The Love Meter hovered at 64%.
Forcing a three-way confrontation at the social hall might be necessary. As a vampire saintess, Sharutineth's reputation was poor—accepting her as a daughter-in-law carried risks.
'Like me and Pine.'
It was the reverse of when Pine Granasia was the Nameless Saintess. This time, my reputation was in the gutter.
The Hero Cult had tanked all the heroes' standings.
My heroic tale was playing as a theater production, but marrying a national treasure like the princess right now would stir up noise for sure.
Extremists or commoners might rage: 'That guy's bound to fall to Demon King later.' Plenty in this world bore deep scars from Demon Kings.
"Mardol, how've things been with junior Licht lately?"
"Wh-why ask that...?"
That was when it happened. Sharutineth, wearing a knowing smile and forming a flower bud with her hands, turned to Pine.
"You two seem closer. Mardol, are you dating?"
"Just your imagination..."
"Oh, last time you cried for dozens of hours to save junior Licht... Mmph... Mm!"
Pine clamped her hand over Sharutineth's mouth. Hiccuping from embarrassment, I ordered her a strawberry drink.
"Talk about something else... please."
Was it that they were alike in this way? It reminded me of someone who'd challenged the final boss for 16 hours straight to save a single game character.
"Does anyone know about Tardun Temple?"
"Temple...? Tardun, yeah..."
Pine reacted first. Right—she was connected to the land of earth. Most wolfkin hailed from there.
"The place where wolfkin used to hold their coming-of-age rites."
"Coming-of-age...?"
"Where you're recognized as a true wolf."
I hadn't known that. Hidden lore? Even scouring the Library of Truth yielded nothing on the temple.
'That's why Drake went to score points with Locke.'
Being acknowledged as kin by the father-in-law could help. My master had withheld the info, just like in the north.
As the Nameless Saintess, Pine had forgotten it all in ignorance. Now, as an imperial figure, she knew?
"Licht, why Tardun Temple...?"
Pine fixed me with a suspicious stare. No one held rites there anymore after the empire's unification.
"To complete the True Demon King Slayer quickly... I think we need the temple's help."
"Oh, that's what it was..."
A faintly disappointed tone. Even if I got honorary wolfkin status, what good would it do her? Why act like that?
"I'll go too."
Pine tugged my sleeve, her voice hesitant.
"Mardol, you've already done your rite, right? No need."
"...You said you wouldn't leave me before. Licht."
I'd planned to bring her anyway. She got lonely easily, acting like a puppy waiting for its owner.
"Got it. I was gonna ask you to... Mardol?!"
"Hehe, yay..."
As I answered, she buried her face in my chest and nuzzled. Wolves really were canines. The helmet chafed—it hurt.
"Junior Licht, you two look great together."
"Our Mardol's showing her old self again..."
Watching our display, Nex and Sharutineth smiled like folks enjoying a fine view.
Was this how Nex felt witnessing my proposal? Good thing the helmet hid my flushed face.
"Mardol, pull back a bit... I stink of sweat..."
"Hwah... okay..."
She'd always had a nose like a ghost. Pine could sniff out other women from a few words with the sage.
Maybe that future of confined pure love stemmed from a misunderstanding about me cheating—not some real affair.
I tried pushing her away, but it was futile.
A clear gap in strength. The golden eyes in the glass helmet gazed up at me, gleaming.
"Let's stay like this... Licht..."
It felt yandere-scary. No way her switch was flipped, right? Even the dream from days ago was like this.
"Customer! Your chocolate packaging is complete!"
A small voice rang through the patisserie. Pine's arms loosened slightly. This was my chance. Escape before it went further.
"Cyclops-size dark chocolate! Here you go!"
"Ah, thank you..."
I finally broke free and received the massive chocolate. The red rose wrapping paper, emblazoned with '[Valentine's Day is Always Today!]', was striking.
Packaged up, it looked even bigger. If Pine ate it all, she'd be rolling on the floor. Even chubby, she'd be cute—I smiled unwittingly.
"Enjoy! Customer in the Black Knight helmet!"
After settling the bill, the bunny-eared server slipped me a note on the sly.
Inside the white paper: 'Feel free to melt it with your body alongside your beloved lover!'
"It was our boss's passion project. Thanks for appreciating its value!"
Seeing that note, I couldn't help imagining Pine covered head to toe in chocolate.