Chapter 183
Chapter 183
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 183
Chapter Title: 53-3. Relay Race Where Getting Caught Means Death
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Seeing Locke sent a shiver of déjà vu down my spine.
I recalled the sight of that wolf's maw drooling saliva.
My mind had gone blank, my ears ringing, only the erratic thud of my heart pounding in my skull.
It was right after I'd been pulled into the game.
The Nameless Saintess—Pine Granasia. I'd boldly jumped into the game to save her, but that was all well and good.
My pathetic, feeble body proved utterly useless.
Every clumsy swing of my sword filled me with self-loathing.
Even Drake, who could match him blow for blow, had said I had no talent for the blade.
And that was despite possessing Licht, a knight class with all its bonuses.
But rather than blame my lack of talent, I had to grow stronger than anyone—to protect her, the weakest of all.
Not for my sake, but for Pine's.
One dawn, after honing my sword day after day, I heard a scream and rushed over. The scene I witnessed...
'...It's exactly like that time.'
The first brush with life and death.
It was just like the moment I'd seen a father and son captured by a wolf pack.
That was when I'd truly realized the deaths and pain in the game were all too real.
The metallic tang of blood filled my mouth.
Even as I told myself I wouldn't die, a chill crept up my throat, filling me with doubt.
Boom—!
His footsteps hit heavier than ever, a thunderous roar that drowned out the pouring rain.
Locke was approaching me steadily.
My taunt must have worked.
The bone-chilling killing intent froze me in place, leaving me unable to twitch a muscle.
'If it's the Locke Granasia I know, groveling like this is poison.'
That's why I'd called him "father-in-law" on purpose.
A flag-planting line, but maybe someday it'd pay off.
The noble Wolf King. The emperor who knew no defeat.
He wouldn't like seeing the man who needed his permission to court his daughter bowing and scraping.
I slowly opened my mouth to the black wolf losing his composure.
"It's been a while... I hope you've been well..."
"Don't utter that title."
His curt reply came instantly. With every word I spoke, it felt like he was barely suppressing his instincts.
Maybe he'd heard about what happened up north.
Or perhaps the incident at the tea party.
Most of it was Pine's doing, so he probably wouldn't actually kill me...
"You seem to be entertaining soft thoughts, Licht."
His golden eyes gleamed.
His narrowed pupils, like a predator's threat, seemed to read my mind.
Reading thoughts? No. I'd expected this much.
From the start of the relay, he'd signaled his men to watch me.
"Your head's stayed attached this long only thanks to Pine. Don't think for a second I couldn't take you down."
His words made my sword hand tremble.
Damn it, move. Please, just move.
"I'll give you one last chance, Licht. What are your intentions toward my daughter?"
The final opportunity. If I rejected it, it'd probably raise a death flag.
Looking around, I saw a translucent barrier enclosing us.
This situation wasn't being broadcast anyway. An emperor threatening a mere student.
I took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"Even if no one else acknowledges it..."
The her from those empty days would be fine. Even if she wasn't a princess.
Wealth and fame? I didn't need them. I'd never loved her for that anyway.
Pine's smiling face was what had captivated me.
I just wanted her by my side, free from misfortune.
"I love her."
I decided to go all in. Running away held no meaning anymore.
Fleeing and dashing had led to this mess.
I hadn't even properly confessed that she was the Nameless Saintess.
And I'd dumped all my painful past on her.
Pine deserved to see only the beautiful things and live happily.
"So it is true, then."
Locke ruffled his hair with one hand and let out a booming laugh.
A desolate, heavy laugh like the vast desert.
In that instant, the cold touch on my shoulder vanished.
Time itself seemed frozen, raindrops suspended in midair.
"..."
Unbelievable. He could even stop the falling rain with sheer will?
A cheat character was still a cheat.
The air vibrated and shifted. Raindrops began rising upward.
The reversed scene made my vision blur.
Bloodshot red wolf eyes stared me down.
Black mana surged from his body.
"Black Knight. State your name."
"You know it's Licht."
No trace of light on his face; the emperor now cloaked in pitch-black armor.
A boss monster's hidden phase.
In the game, it triggered under specific conditions.
"...Not that one. Your real name, for your tombstone."
How did he know? That Licht wasn't my true name.
Thinking back, he'd questioned who I was from our first meeting.
"Lee Soo-hyun. Father-in-law."
Pine's good eyes must be genetic. Or maybe instinct told him.
Boom—! The moment I answered, a sonic boom from raw power hurtled toward me. No more questions.
A straight shot at my neck.
'It's different from before. I can see it.'
Thanks to the elixir from the temple? Or growth after being recognized as wolfkin?
I'd prepared countermeasures.
"Mind, Longing."
A white flame sparked near my heart, drawing forth a sword.
A heart sword born solely from thoughts of Pine. It could copy the opponent's stat changes.
If the emperor was in frenzy, maybe I could too.
I figured White Magnolia swordsmanship could block it, blending Void Slash and One Sword Falling Blossom.
But as I brought down the blade of wind with my heart sword, something felt off.
Even copying his status change, and it was still this strong?
How immense was his strength? My feet and hands trembled, body shoved backward.
I couldn't fail to block even this. Gripping the hilt tight, I endured the imbalance.
Just one gust of wind pressure. The ground cratered deeply.
This was the Wolf King's power, slayer of demon kings. Goosebumps prickled across my skin.
"Your reactions are slow, Black Knight."
The black wolf axe-slashed toward my shoulder, space rippling.
Screeech—!!
I twisted away with all my skill, but the air burst, shredding my left arm in one go.
"...Ngh."
My arm dangled like rags. I clenched my teeth, but a cry escaped.
A war of attrition favored him. I needed Pine to use holy power or magic.
"Shall we continue?"
Locke Granasia spoke in a heavy, cold voice.
"Of... course..."
I tied my left arm with my shirt. Balance lost, swinging a sword would be tough.
Good thing my right arm held the sword. I could still fight.
Even if my head rolled, I'd get permission to date Pine.
To the real her, not an illusion like Tardeun's trial.
I tried a reverse scale thrust, hoping for a weak point.
"...Is that the extent of your resolve, challenging me?"
None. Not a scratch on the emperor. My strike hadn't pierced even his defensive magic on his clothes.
Even dragons had reverse scales. For me, who'd already touched his? It might be untouchable.
"No..."
Boom! Boom! Sonic booms compressed the air around me. Each axe swing tightened the noose on my breath.
I unleashed Azure Flow and Wing Shed together. Waves flowing amid the dense foliage.
"Just bravado. In the end, you're from another world."
But Locke blocked it effortlessly.
"If you leave this world for your own, will you abandon our Pine?"
Just one downward axe strike split the earth like cracked glass.
The empire's swordsmanship was truly modeled after the emperor.
"If you stray to another woman, what becomes of our daughter left alone?"
This time, the origin of Howling Wind.
His mere breath crushed me with pressure.
I couldn't dodge. Couldn't block. One axe blade flew straight for my open vitals.
"For wolfkin, love is both an irreplaceable poison and hope, worth staking one's life on."
Crack-boom—!! An enormous sound rang out as I slammed into a tree trunk behind me.
Ribs cracked? I couldn't breathe. Both arms broken, unable to hold my sword.
"Black Knight. Do you grasp that weight?"
Pain choked my words. I had to answer.
"..."
He already knew everything.
That I came from another world. That as a human, my heart might waver in love for Pine.
As my consciousness frayed, tempted to let go...
"More than anyone..."
Plip. Rain began falling again.
"If I know the weight of love's emotion better than anyone... will you grant permission?"
The heart sword made to replace Pine Granasia's tears.
Conviction and Prayer glowed blue, bewildering the emperor.
"...Father-in-law."
I seized the returning cobalt blade and rose.
"Wait. What have you done...?"
Now, rain of glass shards fell around us.
More precisely, the time Pine and I had shared rained down.
Glass sparkling like Pine's armor, scattering everywhere.
Within it, only one person's figure.
The woman I loved more than any, smiling brightly, crying, blushing shyly.
All our moments together thus far.
'No longer just to replace Pine Granasia's tears...'
It had to become rain recording our love.'