Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: 53-1. Relay Race Where You Die If You Get Caught.
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Around us, the murmur of the crowd filled the air.
The grass rustled underfoot with each step.
The scent of fresh grass wafted gently on the breeze.
This was the back mountain of the academy, alive with all these sensations.
And right now, it was packed with spectators who'd come to watch the final event.
The sports festival had boiled down to a one-on-one showdown.
Pine and I had been eliminated, and the Helio team had escaped from their room with a majority over our squad.
The only thing left to decide the winner was the relay race.
"...Mardol."
A running track marked in translucent magic stretched out beside us. Next to it stood a single glass knight.
No matter how many times I called, she wouldn't even respond.
She'd been like this ever since I bit her wolf ear earlier. It was starting to feel downright hurtful, the way she was acting like a stranger.
"Hic, sniff... huhp."
And then there was Pine Granasia, flinching and startling every time our eyes met.
Was there something on my helmet? I'd have to be more careful with physical contact from now on.
Not that it was really an excuse, but I didn't want to lose Pine to anyone else.
Just like at that last social gathering, when I'd fended off all those nobles swarming her.
I hated those sleazy gazes appraising her looks, those filthy mouths.
And the shallow tongues badmouthing her just because of her wealth and status.
She had such a warm heart.
I thought I'd done my best as her Black Knight all this time.
"Mardol, I went too far. I'm sorry."
Back during the escape room, emotions had overridden reason.
She might call herself a lone wolf, but her actions were pure puppy.
A puppy desperately craving its owner's touch.
Maybe the one on the leash wasn't her—it was me.
"L-Licht... what was that just now...?"
When I apologized to Pine, she kept her distance and fidgeted shyly.
Was she finally calming down? She parted her lips at last, asking the question that had been burning in her mind.
The clinking glass helmet drew eyes from all around.
A knight in heavy plate armor, head bowed low, hands clasped as she huddled in on herself.
To outsiders, it might look intimidating.
"I've been wanting to do that for a while."
But inside was the most alluring wolf of all.
"Huh...?"
Her golden wolf eyes trembled faintly. I could see how every little action of mine left her flustered.
"White wolves are always so cute, aren't they?"
It was a lie. I meant the pure white of her hair.
Part of me hoped this little wolf would lose sleep replaying my words.
"D-Don't say that... it's embarrassing..."
I wanted to tease her even more. She waved her hands, cheeks burning.
Tiny hands, so at odds with the masterpiece armor she wore.
"It was just what the puppy said."
I laced my fingers softly through hers and teased some more.
The moment I grabbed her, she jolted, her hand trembling like a spark.
If I hadn't possessed this game character, I'd never have gotten to do this. She'd only ever been on the other side of the screen.
I wanted to learn more about her, to be by her side.
"H-Hyat."
I barely squeezed her fingers.
And another weird squeak burst from her lips.
The area was bustling with relay prep, so the sound probably wouldn't carry.
"L-Licht... stop teasing me..."
Pine gripped and released her hand like she was determined not to lose.
Her competitive spirit was something to admire.
"Oh, right. Licht... we should hide your identity. This is dangerous."
After fiddling with my hand a few times, she got to the point.
Her breathing had steadied.
Looked like she was okay now. Scaring her out of the hiccups was the perfect remedy.
"He seems really mad."
Oh, right. Locke Granasia.
I'd completely forgotten he was looking for me at the academy.
Locke must be in the stands somewhere.
"He's looking for you right now... my dad."
If he saw me like this, he'd probably weep blood and cleave me in two with an axe.
In the sequel, as a crown prince, Lupus was depicted as fiercely protective of his kids.
He'd really come to the academy hunting for me.
I definitely shouldn't have fled from Pine's chambers.
The emperor was the real deal—a total con artist. Leader who forged the Ten Heroes and unified the fractured kingdoms.
Pine had inherited his brute strength, so arguing more would just wear out my jaw.
If he got his hands on me, he might pulverize me to dust without leaving a single bone.
"Licht, if you use my glass magic."
She whispered softly.
Magic that refracted sunlight like jewels, scattering sparkling glass shards in the air.
"...we might be able to fool Dad."
Like when we synced for a combo, summoning a decoy to deceive Locke's eyes.
"No need, Mardol."
I shook my head. It was my call to make in the end.
"Why? Dad's scary... I told him not to touch you, but he still came here..."
Pine. That's exactly why.
Because I'd look like a thief stealing his one and only precious daughter.
"Licht, what are you even thinking...?"
Perplexed by my reaction, she shot me an anxious glance. Golden pupils wavered inside the glass visor.
"I'm going to stand tall."
I met those eyes and lifted my helmet's visor.
Exposing my face reflected my burn scar in her glass helmet.
No big deal if others saw it.
I was sick of hiding or running from who I was.
Even the crisp air felt refreshing now.
"L-Licht... your helmet."
Pine stomped her feet, displeased that I'd bared my face inside the academy.
"It's fine. The reason I lifted it now is..."
She'd insisted I keep it up at the social hall, but now she was scared other girls might snatch me away?
She still couldn't remove her masterpiece armor here.
"To become a Black Knight worthy of standing by your side."
I needed to grow stronger than this. To be bold.
Not in raw power, but strength of heart.
To stay by the princess of the Granasia Empire—not some nameless saintess.
The rules were simple.
A baton-pass relay where the first runner carries a box to the next.
Right now, I clutched a pitch-black box painted solid ebony.
Pandora's Box.
Among players, it was occasionally used for laughs.
An item with a 1% chance for a sweet buff.
A gacha with probabilistic guts.
The community even had a superstition about opening Pandora's Box before checking raid rewards to ward off bad luck.
Sometimes it'd grant a good buff, leading to posts like "My stack's gone!!"
Though since it was independent probability, that stuff didn't actually correlate.
"..."
Now it was just a fond memory.
How much time had passed? I should've at least told my job I was coming here.
"Huh? You're showing your face around school now?"
Lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice.
"...Kainel."
"What, got some new reason? You always hid it before."
A man in a red vest—the polar opposite of mine. A blond hero had sidled up beside me before I knew it.
"Something came up."
"...The world's so unfair."
Kainel shook his head as he eyed my face.
Yeah, I know the burn scar's gross. What can you do?
Our Pine doesn't mind.
"Hey, Licht. Girls are gonna swarm you like crazy now. You cool with that?"
Maybe he was warning me because Pine might get jealous.
"Probably?"
Anyway, every other girl looked the same to me—no spark without her.
"Well, you've agonized over it plenty, so you should be fine. You look way better like this."
"Thanks, Kainel."
The blond hero flashed a bright grin, like things had worked out great for me.
What'd you expect from the Light Hero? Minus his overreactions about childhood friends, he was a solid guy.
"Kai!! Win this!!"
Ariel, up next by the looks of it, cheered him on from behind.
She'd outgrown tsundere at this point.
Since they started dating, they seemed even closer.
"...Want me to go easy?"
"That's the one that hurts my pride most, Licht."
I offered, but he turned it down. Figured—he wouldn't want to sandbag on purpose.
Should I use a feint then?
Damn, they blocked that loophole ages ago.
"Let's do our best, Licht."
"Likewise."
Kainel and I got set to run.
Strength surged into my legs. Blood pounded through my body, primed to explode forward.
A strange competitive fire ignited, and I glanced sideways.
A red window popped up before my eyes—not the usual pink-tinted one overflowing with love meter vibes.
I'd expected that. What was this?
Why was it notifying like a boss monster?
Locke getting mad at me made sense, but...
Sensing something off, I turned as Kainel looked back too.
The emperor of the empire. Locke Granasia.
A beastman with a long scar over his left eye.
From his VIP seat marked "贵宾席," Locke made a peculiar gesture.
He pointed two fingers at his own eyes, then jabbed them toward me.
A mark that he was watching.
In that instant, I knew exactly how a rabbit felt when pinned by a wolf's gaze.
Locke Granasia had found me.