Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: 53-2. Relay Race Where You'll Die If Caught
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Locke Granasia was watching the events unfold from the VIP stands.
A massive 3D Magic Circle hovered there, exclusively for this spot.
The spherical magic circle displayed the relay race in holographic, three-dimensional detail.
"...Brother, even so, a 6-star beast is far too dangerous."
He had also ordered Dennis to prepare a powerful monster for the relay race.
"If they can't even handle that much, they're not worthy of being Pine's mate."
Locke wanted to confirm it with his own eyes.
After all, the words he'd overheard while suppressing his royal guard were nagging at him.
The unbelievable story that Licht had passed Tarden's test.
It had to be a lie, but he couldn't make sense of it.
How could that man in the Black Knight helmet inspire open rebellion from the very people he'd handpicked himself?
"There shouldn't be any trace of anyone connected to Licht at all, right? Laplace."
He turned to the green-haired man and spoke.
"Yes, not even a shadow in the Library of Truth, Your Majesty."
Laplace replied with an awkward smile. His frayed robe and disheveled hair were the emperor's handiwork.
"Stop calling me 'Your Majesty' already. It's embarrassing between us."
"A stubborn father who can't read his precious daughter's heart isn't my brother."
Laplace paid no mind, clasping his hands behind his back and teasing away.
A stubborn father oblivious to his daughter's feelings.
"..."
No matter that he'd defeated the Apostle of Lust or been recognized by the wolfkin.
The human heart sways like a reed in the wind.
She might fancy some other woman instead—what wasn't possible?
That's why he'd tried to stop it. Had he been wrong?
The moment he'd arrived at the academy, he'd actually received a transmission from Pine.
[Locke, rightful ruler of the Granasia Empire. This lowly Pine Granasia has one request.]
[Please do not touch what is mine.]
The sudden shift in tone, calling it "mine"—those words had shocked him into silence.
They were enough to snap the raging emperor racing to the academy back to cold composure.
Where had the Pine who casually called him "Dad" in familiar banter gone?
And on top of that, no replies to his repeated transmissions—it felt downright heartless.
"...Honestly, I still don't trust that man."
Pine, who'd always stayed in the palace, had moved to the academy's girls' dorm.
She'd shown up unannounced at a social soiree after nearly a decade away, flaunting her choker.
And now she was threatening him not to touch him.
Because of this, he'd decided to watch from the VIP stands for now.
"He hasn't been harassing any other young ladies, has he? Or pulling some playboy stunts...?"
"My pupil wouldn't do that."
As if. The boy's bare face, glimpsed just moments ago, was hardly ugly enough to call plain.
The crowd had erupted in cheers the instant Licht revealed his face.
"My little girl... wouldn't fall for a guy's looks, surely."
Locke furrowed his brow. It might have been easier if he were ugly.
"Your Majesty knows better than anyone that wolfkin aren't the type to fall that easily."
A race that lives and dies for love.
"...I know."
They were the ones from whom came the earnest claim—not a joke—that they'd offer their very souls for the one they loved.
"But that man's human, isn't he? Dennis."
What Locke Granasia feared was exactly that.
He knew the man had saved Empress Bellin. He knew he'd saved Pine from the Demon King multiple times.
Normally, he'd owe him endless gratitude.
But his positions as emperor of the empire and as a father were worlds apart.
"Uhahaha!! Brother, they've already kissed, from what I saw—just let it go!!"
And then came the remark that shattered Locke's patience.
"...What did you just say, Drake?"
Licht's swordmaster, Drake—his bombshell comment drained the life from Locke's eyes.
"You saw the escape room earlier, right...? And you just sat there, so clearly..."
Drake looked flustered instead. He must not have realized that scene wasn't broadcast to the other students.
Behind Locke, several people clapped hands over their mouths in shock.
"...Laplace cut it midway."
The headmaster had flexed his authority to censor the scene from the emperor—and now he'd spilled it.
"...Ah, haha... Joking! Just joking! No way they'd kiss!"
Back then, without the 3D Magic Circle, it had been a top-down camera view.
Pine nibbling his ear had looked enough like a kiss for Drake to misunderstand.
"We'll know for sure if we ask him directly. Drake."
Having assessed the situation, Locke grabbed the weapon he'd wielded in wartime.
A hand axe, its handle discolored from years of use. The steel that had slain Hero Cult Demon Kings gleamed in his grip.
"...Your Majesty?"
The emperor, unable to hold back any longer, charged toward the relay course hand axe in tow.
To catch just one man: the Black Knight named Licht.
I lost myself in idle thoughts as I sprinted along.
Come to think of it, what exactly makes the Love Meter in my status window go up?
I'd professed my feelings to Pine earlier in my own way, but it hadn't budged from 19%.
Maybe there's some specific benchmark.
Or perhaps it was because of Emperor Locke.
The status window, usually snarky, had never flashed a danger warning so urgently before.
And in bold letters, no less.
Survive.
The bit about wishing me luck didn't seem to refer to the Pandora's Box I was holding.
'If you don't want to die, run for real...'
Emperor Locke must have been watching me already. Otherwise, he wouldn't send such a signal.
The gritted teeth, the forced grin.
Where had he started watching? The escape room? Or from the rune scramble?
Right now, my mind was blank as I ran.
It felt like plunging into ice water. My legs, heavy as lead weights, dragged forward by sheer will.
A chill killing intent prickled my back, like someone approaching slowly on foot.
"...Hey, Licht?!"
I barreled ahead, eyes fixed forward. I overtook Kainel on the adjacent track.
I hadn't expected to outpace him, mana circulation and all.
My breath rasped to my chin. My heart pounded like it might burst.
Blood surged through me like an engine revving full throttle.
I couldn't lose the sports festival relay. Not like this.
I had to win. Win and secure permission to date Pine.
No emperor could touch the star of a sports festival victory.
The scenery whipped by. Even with the status warning, my mind held one thought.
Perked white wolf ears. A fluffy snow-white tail anyone would want to pet.
Her blindingly pure white was too much—I hated the idea of her with another man.
I'd once thought just watching from her side was enough.
Greedy as I've become, who knows when.
Have we started resembling each other?
[Student Licht enters the obstacle course first!]
The running track ended, and the translucent guideline flashed red.
A danger signal.
[Ability use permitted from here on!]
Laplace's booming broadcast echoed.
Cylindrical trees curved into view ahead.
Like a maze entrance.
Obstacle course, huh. My eyes were drawn to the shifting jungle scenery.
Grass rising to my waist. Vines climbing trees.
"Kirrurruk!!"
Monsters leaped from the sides—I had to break through them.
The baton-like item to pass to the next runner.
I dodged the monsters eyeing the Pandora's Box in my arms.
"Think you can snag this?"
One particularly odd beast blocked my path.
Feminine flower parts, borderline indecent.
Alraune. Precisely, a 6-star monster called Succupendes.
The kind that lures male monsters to their doom.
Mosaiced in the game. The censorship made it look even lewder.
Why's this here? Too tough for regular students, sure—but at a public sports festival?
They censored a kiss in the escape room. What's the angle here?
"Fu-huhut..."
The plant mimicked a woman's voice, striking a seductive pose and extending vines toward me.
One slip into those pods below, and I might not escape till the festival's end.
Professors protecting students might handle it, but...
It pissed me off.
"Belief... Aspire Rain."
Try tempting me?
I summoned my spiritual sword. Now I could grasp it perfectly on timing.
"Kieeeek—!!"
I gripped the hilt and slashed fluidly, like water flowing.
Sorry, but other women look the same to me besides my Pine.
Like rolling potatoes. No spark.
Plus, this thing harms people. It's 6-star for a reason.
The game had NPCs hitting bad ends from its thrall.
"...Urk, my stomach..."
"Cover your nose with your clothes. It'll be easier."
Kainel bypassed an Alraune nearby, clinging to a tree and dry-heaving.
Tough for him.
Those pods held pheromones that enthrall men with sweet allure.
Shaking it off and holding reason—impressive.
For me, anything involving Pine gets me mad enough to ignore smells.
Dating Ariel must've steeled his heart.
He'd pull through soon. Rain washes scents away.
"I'll head out first, Kainel..."
The moment I stepped forward, box in arms.
I froze.
A frostbite chill ran down my back. A familiar figure blocked me.
"It's been a while. Licht."
A long scar over his left eye. An wolfkin man wielding an axe in one hand.
"...Hello, Father-in-Law."
I greeted him cheerfully.