Chapter 18
Chapter 18
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Spirits Represent People's Emotions
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Drake's class ended, and Mardol dashed off somewhere.
She had a place she needed to head to, leaving behind Kainel and the others exhausted from the mountain hike.
─Creak.
A pitch-black spot that seemed utterly deserted.
The cathedral tucked away in one corner of Grand Hearts Academy.
As she pushed the door open and stepped inside, a pair of glowing red eyes appeared.
"Pine! You came!"
"Shar sis."
"Oh dear! Why didn't you come sooner?!"
"Sorry."
The vampire saintess pulled Pine into a tight hug.
The glass knight flinched in surprise. Wolf ears twitched inside her helmet.
"Presence. No good."
"Why? It's fine. No one's here in the cathedral except me!"
"One person. Here."
Confused, she adorably flailed her arms before pointing a finger toward a shadowed corner.
"Busted. Ah, I could've fooled you~"
A tiny purple flame flickered in the dimness, barely visible unless you squinted.
It was Nex Aureus.
Yo! Mar... no, Princess. Long time no see!"
"Nex bro...?"
"Yeah, feels like yesterday we Ten Heroes were hanging out, and now you're enrolling in the academy."
"Different person. Same."
Pine let out a relieved breath at the sight of him raising his hand. The purple-haired man just kept smiling,
"I've changed a lot, huh. Right, Shar... Ow! Don't hit me again!"
"Nex, you scared our Pine!"
"...You're right."
He'd given Sharutineth another excuse to punch him. Making no move to fight back, he endured the holy power fist while carefully managing his expression.
"Ugh, still stings. How does a vampire even use holy power?"
"Then why are you a phoenix instead of a fox, Nex?"
"Probably the family. Makes me wanna run away from this damn house."
"Want to become a priest at our church?"
"...Maybe."
Nex gave a hollow laugh, while the Second Saintess smiled at him.
"So cute."
"Tweet!"
Pine, wanting a closer look at the spirit perched on Shar's hand, removed her helmet.
"Oh, the princess I remember."
"Your hair's gotten so long, Pine."
"Yeah. Shar sis."
Her pure white long hair cascaded down.
Her golden eyes widened slightly at the sparrow. Though her expressions were subtle, seeing familiar faces after so long eased her.
"...Long time no see."
Pine's face softened just a bit.
"The princess is still like this because of those guys, huh."
"Honestly, I'm mad. They're the ones who messed up..."
"My fault."
Seeing the glass knight's armor, the two across from her sighed.
'How did our white wolf end up like this...'
At least in Shar's memory, she was a girl who adored cute things and suited dainty sensibilities, not heavy plate armor.
"Telling you twice would just tire my mouth... Anyway, Locke’s daughter. How's school lately?"
"Managing okay...?"
"..."
They shifted the topic. Noticing her white ears drooping, they caught on.
Her tail might sag too, and she could really start crying.
"...Lost. First time."
The topic they'd dredged up to lighten the mood drew an unexpected reply.
"Pine? What did you just say?!"
"...Even I'm surprised."
"Someone strong. Exists."
The brief gloom vanished; her ears and tail perked up with renewed vigor.
A fighting spirit, you could call it.
"Who is it, Princess? Beating Locke's daughter..."
"Unique person."
"Hmm... Worried she might be hanging with the wrong crowd."
"Rain-soaked puppy."
The purple-haired man puzzled over the cryptic words.
Minutes later, his conclusion.
"...That Black Knight guy?"
"Huh? That boy who wears a helmet like Pine's?"
"Licht. Know?"
Her wolf ears perked straight up at the name.
Seeing Pine's reaction,
'Interesting. She's not the type to respond like this.'
The Purple Fox recalled that morning, as if piecing it together.
'He had guts, trash-talking the house head.'
Unlikely he'd approach Pine for her royal blood or power. Otherwise, he wouldn't have insulted Asha Aureus.
'Didn't even mention Mardol to us.'
No fool would mistake a heavily armored knight using an alias for the princess. He looked more like the North's grand duke's son or a knight captain's.
"...Princess, how do you know Licht?"
"Same class."
"That's it? Too simple, Pine?"
"Yeah. And strong."
Thankfully, no red flags. They knew the princess obsessed over strength.
"I see. He didn't seem like a bad guy."
"Hmm... Still, I'm a bit worried. What if he's approaching Pine on purpose? He asked if I was the saintess..."
"Licht. Unique."
"Want me to check him out? I could TA the class."
"How, Nex?"
He had a reliable method—the magic he'd researched alone to stay in the family good graces.
"Talk to the spirits."
He grinned like a fox.
"Ugh."
"What's up, Licht?"
I was practicing swordplay with Kainel, correcting his form. Mardol had left right after class for somewhere.
"Felt a threat to my chastity."
"What crazy talk..."
Sudden chill. Maybe because two routes overlapped. Nex Aureus only had romance lines with the cast in the original.
'They'll check each other.'
From my experience, Rival Route and Crown Prince Route.
These two couldn't coexist. Even if kidnapped by the royals, Nex might not rescue?
[Always grateful. Elder Nex... He's the harem escape god!]
Steady posts like that showed his impact. In [Knight Heart], borrowing his help made derailing easy.
"Try again. Faster this time."
"Like this? Different from slime hunting."
"Shine Strike focuses on speed. That's its strength."
Boom.
The light sword beam shot out, embedding in the wall.
Speed demanding full focus to track.
"Good."
"Hmm... Isn't the range good too? It's light."
"Ariel does that better."
"True, but."
That's how you do the combo. Drop the fancy useless tricks and loosen up.
I crossed my arms, tapping my elbow.
'How broken is that skill.'
Mob fodder dragged by the Demon King? Wiped in one go. Super convenient in-game.
Though hard to learn.
"At that speed, even my techniques can't dodge easily."
"Really? For real, Licht?!"
"No lies."
There were more counters, but. Nice how he follows like a puppy with a little encouragement.
'Companion route with Kainel is easy like this.'
Now that's a true hero. Modern heroes all distrust humans or something.
"Wait, Licht. Isn't that Mardol over there?"
Then. The blond hero swung his sword, spotted something odd, and pointed.
"Huh? Yeah, it is."
Full plate gleaming in the light.
Obsessed with real swordsmanship. When did she tail me? Haven't broken the flag yet. I approached the glass knight.
"...What doing?"
"Sword practice with Mr. Kainel."
"My. Turn."
Up close, she eyed my sword.
Don't wanna teach. Wonder how long I can stall. Run abroad?
'Especially this one. No fondness.'
Playboys have levels. Like Nex, drawing lines with women yet popular.
Or like Lupus Granasia before me, octopus with dozens of legs.
"Trade. Promise."
"Still thinking."
"...Earlier. Lie?"
"Sorry."
Really hate that type.
Who comes to school in full plate armor?
Helmet alone could pass as fashion.
Curiosity struck. Why so obsessed with strength? Better know unknowns early.
"One question."
"Yeah, ask."
"Why do you want to get stronger?"
I finally voiced it toward the bowed head. Her helmet links clinked.
"..."
How much time passed before she spoke.
"...Can't protect. If weak."
"What does that mean."
"Weak people can't do anything. Licht."
"Ha."
A sigh escaped at her words.
My face twisted. This negative crap from part 3's protagonist?
Good thing I'm writing it. Even for the crown prince, eyes-rolling statement.
At least Kainel had a goal: protect Ariel.
Lupus in [Black Heart] was better. Prequel doomed trash game.
"...Who said that?"
"Huh, Licht?"
"What makes you, like life's over, judge 'weak can't protect'."
Same as Kainel. Wrong mindset. Why's her self-esteem rock bottom.
"You. Speech."
"Low mana here, circuits messed, can't use magic."
"Right."
"Am I strong now? By average, weak side?"
Frustrating. Golden eyes shrank at my sudden informal speech.
"No. You're strong. Licht."
"Then at least try your best and regret. Drop that thinking."
"...Not sure."
Saw my swordplay in practice today? Evaluation up. That's why she followed.
Too real for flag-breaking; words burst from true feelings.
For Nameless Saintess's happiness, someone's grinding bones.
No strength, can't protect?
Bullshit. Absolutely not stirred by this morning's saintess talk.
[No matter how weak I am, I'll stay by your side. Knight.]
"..."
"What happened. At least say."
Familiar voice rose; hand to helmet forehead. Memory sharp at useless times.
"Before. Couldn't protect."
"Can't now?"
"Probably."
Glass knight's voice sank. So many unknowns. Something off.
'At least not like this in [Black Heart].'
Right, they're first-year newbies. Calm down.
Pathetic over a girl you like. Deep breath, continued.
"Mardol."
"...Huh?"
"You can do something. Truly."
"Really...?"
When I first possessed, I was weak. Collapsed after one push-up.
"Can protect. Even weak."
"Like, you."
"Show proof?"
Rolled up sleeve; long scar emerged. Beast bite mark.
"I was weak, baited myself once. But protected."
"Why, Licht...?"
Pretty old story.
Glass knight questioned incomprehension. Lupus only saw strength. Natural.
Shocked; eyes shook.
"Everyone weak sometimes. Mardol."
Five years ago, nearly died surrounded by wolves.
But saved an uncle and son by escape. Good enough.
Deliberately provoked, reckless. Arm broke too? Wonder where courage came from.
Bled too much; memory fuzzy.
"No lie? See my hand."
"...Real."
"That negative thinking just hurts you."
Pulled sleeve back up, spread rough hand. Calluses thick on joints, practice scars bumpy.
Magic protects? Irrelevant to me.
"Get it now?"
Sword swings left body aches sometimes.
'If I quit thinking weak back then, no current achievements.'
Wanted to quit plenty.
But sequels with her suffering flashed; pushed max.
Sliced gnawing anxiety sometimes, grew stronger.
This time, for her happiness. Common reason.
"You worked hard."
Glass knight's gauntlet enveloped my hand. Smooth, no warmth.
Huh, smaller hands than thought?
Cold alien feel snapped me back. Too late to pull away.
What nonsense before empire's sole prince.
'Old habits slipped. Damn.'
Saintess speech doesn't suit me anyway.
Loosens around her. Am I doing right?
Better than informal. Many feared me in reality.
Bowed head low.
"Ah... Sorry. Got emotional. Weak as a kid... That's it."
"...My fault."
Don't look so down. Feels like imperial guard'll decapitate me. Spare me.
Game event flashed: four colors ninja-style, executing player.
"Licht. Unique."
Amid confusion, fingers touched. Sweat beaded my palm.
Wait, what? Big mindset shift?
The knight gripped firm.
"Can let go now."
Golden glow flashed in glass helm. Pretty up close.
Beauty vibe from eyes alone.
"Still... not sure."
"I see..."
Needs time. She looked up again.
Flag broken? Unintended success. Touched sore spot though.
"You two... holding hands, what?"
Until Kainel's remark.
My saved Nameless Saintess hand-hold count depleted.
Hey, give back my first interlock.