Chapter 154
Chapter 154
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 154
Chapter Title: 44-4. Black Room
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Familiar sights passed by.
A rundown snack bar with its shabby exterior, a stationery store out front where kids gathered in little groups.
I used to hang out at places like that back in the day. Before the burns, it was a spot I frequented with my friends.
"...Where'd you arrange to meet your girlfriend?"
"Oh, just keep going down this way."
Thanks to Dad's thoughtfulness, I got a ride in his car. He was heading home from work anyway, so he offered to drop me off.
"It's on the way to our place. No need to feel bad about it."
He's nosy about other people's business, just like I remember. It matches the dad in my memories so perfectly, I can't even deny it.
Inside the car with no navigation. A sun-faded map poked out from the glove compartment.
"...Is this your son you mentioned earlier?"
It was a photo of me from my doljanchi celebration.
Me grabbing the red yarn ball, tangled up all over like I'd been playing with it wildly.
"Cute, right? He's in elementary school now."
"He is. He really takes after you, sir."
Black hair, brown eyes. Father and son like two peas in a pod, no matter what anyone says.
"Haha, if he ends up like me, that'll be trouble. Even at work, they say I'm clueless all the time."
"Clueless... you say?"
It hit a little too close to home. Kainel and Pine always teased me about that.
Hearing it from Dad of all people felt like a punch to the gut.
"Yeah, it'd be better if he took after his mom."
My hands trembled. It felt like a massive spike had been driven into my chest.
She's still alive right now.
When I was around six, Mom died in a fire. Our family got wrecked by flames, the whole lot of us.
Even with the rain pouring, the fire wouldn't die down. It was brutal.
"It'd be fine if he did take after her. Your son probably... looks up to you, sir."
Thinking about my heart sword's power now, it's kinda funny. The guy who hates rain more than anyone in the world.
All because of one woman.
"I'd love that. The kid's such a troublemaker."
Dad forced a smile as he drove. He was immature, sure. After the burns, he went through that stormy rebellious phase.
"...Firefighters are heroes no matter what anyone says. He'll come around."
His hands gripping the wheel were stained black from soot that never fully washed off. Like my own twisted, rough hands from sword training.
Like father, like son. He throws himself into saving people without a second thought, just like me.
"Ah, you can drop me here."
The blurry building from my memories came into view.
This should be far enough not to get caught. If this really is the actual past, it could cause problems.
"Take care going in, kid."
"Thanks for the ride."
Pine will sense where I am and come find me.
"Thank you... always... Dad."
I watched the white car drive away and murmured the rest.
At this distance, he won't hear.
Pine was about to head out wearing just a thin layer of clothes when the others stopped her.
"Pine, it's night out there. Bundle up warmer."
"Thank you..."
Lee Soo-hyun's mom draped a cozy coat over Pine to keep her warm. Seeing her like that reminded Pine of Empress Bellin.
It felt just like a real mother worrying over her daughter, making her eyes sting a little.
"You heading out, Miss Pine?"
"Ah, sir... Yes."
The middle-aged man reading the newspaper tilted his head at her.
"Try heading to that building at the intersection over there."
"...Pardon?"
"That young guy from the scene earlier seemed to be looking for you, Miss Pine."
Lee Dae-hyun couldn't see Pine's wolf ears or tail,
but "He had bad burns on his face... Looked so composed saving people. Name was Licht, I think...?"
It sounded like something someone she'd met before had said, so she spoke up.
'...Licht?'
Thump, thump. Her heart pounded double-time. Just imagining the Black Knight in his helmet coming to save her made her body feel strange.
Cozy like being wrapped in clouds, a comforting bliss. She'd read about feelings like this somewhere.
"I don't want my big sis to leave..."
Little Lee Soo-hyun from back then clung to her arm with both hands, shaking his head. His big eyes brimmed with tears.
"Soo-hyun, Pine has family too."
Dad pried the sulking boy off. His hands and face bore faint burn scars.
"Sorry about our kid..."
Such a warm family. Nothing like the stories she'd heard about her own from the North.
"Soo-hyun, I think I have to go now..."
Pine gently stroked little Soo-hyun's head and said goodbye, just like he used to do for her—lightly touching her ears.
"Are you going to see the prince...?"
The boy finally stopped crying.
Licht was a crybaby as a kid. One new fact learned.
"Yeah, that's right... the prince..."
Pine didn't know much about Licht. Just that he was a hero from another world.
Or that he had burn scars and put himself down for it, or that he often missed someone called the Nameless Saintess.
What had she even been doing all this time? All she'd thought about was seducing him to make him hers.
"Oh, and make it work with that burned guy, Miss Pine."
"...Pardon?"
Soo-hyun's dad continued while soothing his son.
"He seemed like a good kid. Not many people these days dive into a fire to save a child."
A soft, approving smile. Hearing this from the Black Knight's father was a fresh shock.
"Honey, you're a firefighter—saying that sounds awkward."
"What's wrong with it? Saving lives is noble."
The couple laughed together. But Pine couldn't even hear them.
'He approved of me and Licht...'
It was the opposite of the romance novels she devoured.
Parents from different classes blocking marriages. Protagonists abandoned by their folks over status and upbringing, running off together.
She'd read those out of curiosity. Love overcoming class and race—what could drive that?
Love was still a distant word to Pine, close yet far,
but "Thank you, sir..."
she could sort of understand why those novel heroes craved their parents' blessing.
She'd thought they shared similar lives. But Licht grew up under parents like these.
Her own father, Emperor Locke, would've grabbed an axe and gone berserk.
"Someday... definitely..."
These days, anything about the Black Knight made her body act up. Her reason melted away gooey, and her usual cool demeanor vanished.
She wanted to run to his side and lean on him right now.
Spend just a little more time with him.
She didn't want anyone taking him, wanted to be the most precious to Licht.
What to call this strange, sweet-bitter magic?
Pine's pounding heart pointed like a compass straight to Licht.
"...I'll come back to see you. With Soo-hyun."
As she clutched her hands tight, vowing while watching Lee Soo-hyun's faded memories.
Here again. The spot where I first saw the Knight Heart flyer.
The rooftop of the building where I gave up on jumping.
"...Full circle, huh."
Cars streamed by below. Horns blared, headlights flowed like water.
If I went home with Dad... Pine would be there, and Mom too.
Then I'd never escape this illusion.
"...Damn it."
But I knew I couldn't stay chained to the past.
The pure white Saintess who taught love to a guy who knew none. Now I wanted to repay her.
Show the Nameless Saintess—who knew no happiness—what it was.
Even if it meant giving up my own.
She was everything to me, hope itself. Maybe I'd overthought it.
"Licht..."
The doorknob clicked, and a white-haired girl stood behind me.
"...Pine, you came."
The princess who knew no love. Her wolf ears and tail wagged cutely at the sight of me.
"This is Tar Dune's trial. This place is... my past."
"...I know."
She drew closer. The rose scent wafting from her stirred something in me.
Guilt? Shame? I'd hidden so much from her.
"...Sorry. For dragging you into this."
"Why are you apologizing...?"
"This might be... the happiness I wanted."
I scratched my head and apologized. If only I'd been a bit more honest with her.
"I'm nothing special, Pine."
"...Licht."
My heart felt like a lump of lead. Lips dry, breaths short.
"You know Licht is an alias."
"...Yeah. Your real name's Soo-hyun."
Her golden eyes widened with each syllable of my name.
So different from how she looks at others.
"Both my parents died in a fire when I was little. I wasn't there for them."
She halted. Her ears and tail drooped.
"...I'm not Licht or some Hero of Conviction. Just reckless Lee Soo-hyun."
I couldn't reveal possessing a game character, but I tried my best.
"..."
Pine bit her lower lip, glaring. She's pissed, obviously. Emotional appeals like this won't break through.
"Feel disillusioned all you want. No one falls for a burned orphan..."
Then, jewel-like tears welled in her eyes and fell. Why? Why are you crying?
"...No."
Her choked voice grew louder. Her hair brushed my fingertips with a rustle.
"I don't care if you're burned or not a hero..."
Her wolf eyes gleamed beautifully in the moonlight, right before me.
"You're my Black Knight no matter what."
Pine hugged me. Her soft, warm body heat seeped through.
"Why keep saying negative stuff? Stop..."
She scolded me through tears. I'd sworn never to make her cry. Broke it again.
"You're precious to me. It's okay."
Our hearts pounded together, her warmth chasing away the cold night.
"So from now on, if something hard happens..."
It felt like our bodies had merged.
"...Let's face it together. Soo-hyun."
As Pine's gentle words finished,
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pine Granasia 10% ‘NEW!!’]