Chapter 205
Chapter 205
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 205
Chapter Title: The Lying Wolf's Identity is Exposed (59-1)
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Where did it all go wrong?
Human problems are complex. Unless you trace back from the beginning, there are many times when you can't pinpoint the cause.
'...In the end, I got greedy for my own comfort.'
I had let my greed get the better of me.
I'd been lying to Pine this whole time, feeding her my own twisted version of the truth.
"Saintess? What are you talking about, Licht?"
Her eyes widen. Her pure white wolf ears perk up as she tilts her head at me in confusion.
From her expression, she hasn't suspected a thing.
If I'd known it would come to this, I should've told her from the start that she was the saintess with wolf ears.
At first, I was scared of the Demon King's information network catching on.
But now, it was my own greed keeping the truth from her.
A situation where I couldn't go forward or back.
The blocked escape route was strangling me.
I'd asked Gründel to step away for a bit, saying there was something Pine and I needed to discuss alone.
This was a matter between just the two of us.
"Exactly what I said, Pine."
"....?"
It was barely even an excuse.
I knelt before her. I couldn't bring myself to hold her hands, so I just supported one gently.
"You... you were the 'Nameless Saintess,' Pine."
"But I'm a princess...?"
Pine blinks, slowly scanning my face as if peering right through me.
Every time I saw that look of disbelief, my breath caught in my throat.
"In the future I know, you become the saintess."
I didn't want that for her now at all. Not after learning how miserable that future was.
Chosen as the hero of prophecy for some absurd reason, she loses everything without leaving a mark on the world.
A person left weak without a name, friends, memories, or power.
'...But her resolve was stronger than anyone's.'
I'm here right now to save Pine.
Instead of hiding things, I need to lay it all out and help her.
"I don't know if you'll believe me, but I came from an unhappy future to save you."
Was it karma? Or just a self-serving excuse? The truth coming out now left a bitter aftertaste.
It disgusted me. How much better would it have been if I'd been honest from the start?
"The one who said your white hair was beautiful...?"
"Yes, Pine Granasia. That was the future you."
Pine's mouth falls open. Even covering it with her hands, I hear her sigh.
I'd worn an awkward expression, pretending to be some hero when I wasn't.
Save people without reward? Bullshit. I'd been rotting inside from having nothing.
I'd just been flailing because I didn't want to lose anything else.
Call it self-satisfaction if you want. But she was just pressing her lips tight right now.
"So, in the future I know, you're chosen as a saintess and made to fight the Demon King."
"As the hero of affection...?"
Pine clasps her hands, fiddling with her fingers.
She swallows hard, hanging on my every word.
Why had I lied to someone like this?
"Maybe. But it wasn't an easy life."
I let out a long sigh. Staring at the floor, the mirror reflected my face back at me.
Was I about to cry? Or scream? My expression was a confused mess.
A mirror that showed everything transparently.
In this temple of mirrors on every side, the lying wolf was staring back.
"If you think I'm lying, check with Kainel or someone."
I'd thought it best if Pine didn't know all this time.
Like a kid endlessly rewinding a tape that's already unraveled.
Should I tell her about the grim future?
Or that this world is all a game story, and I got pulled in while playing it?
After all the endless lies up to now.
Did I have to do it here?
"Pine."
Let's be completely honest. So she won't get hurt anymore.
It was time for the lying wolf to graduate.
"I came from a world far outside this one."
"....I know."
She knew. She'd glimpsed my past through visions in the temple,
and vaguely recognized me from her dreams. The words came out so lightly from her.
Pine approached to comfort me. I held out a hand, signaling her to stay back.
"In that world you don't know... I've been watching you all along."
"So...?"
Her lips twist, her voice trembles. Saying it out loud, it sounded ridiculous.
"Even if this whole world is fake, Pine... it won't shock you?"
I confessed the bitter truth.
Like a sinner in confession, spilling the secrets I'd hidden.
"Even this body isn't really mine right now."
Possession.
The fact that I'd possessed the game character I'd raised for Pine.
It had nagged at me from the start.
No matter how much I liked Pine, this body wasn't mine.
That's why, even seeing the Love Meter, I'd hoped we wouldn't end up together.
"......Are you disillusioned, Saintess?"
I gritted my teeth. Squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for her reaction. I almost wished she'd slap me.
At least that would vent some frustration.
Not relief, but a raw ache surged inside. The reopened wound had already scarred.
How much had my personal greed hurt Pine?
After saying it, only emptiness lingered.
Like someone squeezing my heart, I felt tiny, wanting to crawl into a hole.
'Was saying it like this the right way?'
Wasn't there a chance to say it cooler?
If I'd told her after beating all the Hero Cult's Demon Kings, with a happy future ahead.
No. If I hadn't fallen for the Nameless Saintess...
"....Pine?"
Then, something warm touched me.
A familiar rose scent spread, and I felt someone's body heat.
"You've been through a lot, Licht."
Pine Granasia carefully embraced me on my knees, refusing to let go.
In the quiet temple echoing softly with just us two.
Her first words weren't blame or hate. Just comfort. That one phrase.
Her body trembled slightly now. She must be doubting me.
The betrayal would sting as much as her trust had run deep.
Too pathetic to call upright.
"You don't hate me? Why? I said this world might all be fake."
"Doesn't matter. You're real."
I tried pushing her away with insincere barbs.
"Even if I had ulterior motives when I met you...?"
"....So what? I had motives too, after seeing your swordsmanship."
Instead, she held me tighter, as if begging me not to push.
The warmth choked me. Now mixed with sobs, I barely knew what I was saying.
The lying wolf's curse. I wanted to melt into her arms and spill everything.
"Saving Empress Bellin was just luck. I'm no hero or savior."
"Lying is bad, Licht."
Pine wiped the tears pooling at my eyes. Her delicate hands soothed my heart.
"Maybe you're not a hero or savior, like you say... But."
Pine Granasia gazed at my face, her lips moving carefully.
Her eyes were faintly red too. Who was comforting whom?
"You're my Black Knight."
Pine smiled brighter than ever.
Her expression relieved, as if a weight had lifted.
Cursed eyes.
That's what people around her called them when Pine Granasia was seven.
Her eyesight was too good. She could tell lies from truth just from expressions.
"You're great otherwise, but too extreme. Think about the people around you."
It had been her childhood complex, tormenting her.
But now, she could read the Black Knight's sincerity better than anyone as he cried before her.
Pine felt her eyes were blessed right now.
"What about all the lies I told?"
"....They were so obvious, it was fine."
The truth was, his lies had always been transparent—no real shock. His awkward side shone here.
She patted his back, calming Lee Soo-hyun.
She might think crying men were unseemly, unreliable.
'He relies on me like this. So cute.'
Instead, Pine wanted to stroke his hair.
A ticklish flutter in her chest. She loved him leaning into her, entrusting himself.
He'd liked her tragic future as the Nameless Saintess—that was true. From a distant world—true too.
The world being fake surprised her.
But so what? Lee Soo-hyun was here with her now.
Wasn't that enough?
She was a bit mad he'd hidden being the Nameless Saintess.
But him confessing the truth meant he'd chosen her over the saintess.
Victory.
She felt satisfied, like she'd won.
"And yet you protected me. Not for money or fame."
"...What if I had?"
She'd already experienced his world through Tarudun's trial.
He'd said he liked the saintess, yet protected her.
"I just said lying is bad, Licht."
The truth was, he hadn't approached her for ulterior motives.
Pine playfully booped Lee Soo-hyun's nose and laughed.
If he'd targeted her as princess from the start, things wouldn't be like this.
In the grade exam, he'd known she was a girl and been considerate. Protected her knowing during Magic Hat's attack.
Fight Demon Kings for mere fame or money? Insane.
Even the Ten Heroes couldn't catch Hero Cult Demon Kings. He'd buy time throwing away his life.
'Besides, Soo-hyun doesn't know everything.'
Among his words, Pine caught something off.
About the body not being his.
Impossible. It hadn't seemed without aptitude for swordsmanship from the start.
Mana circuits tangled? No way it was someone else's body.
Mana's source is the heart.
With hearts linked, she knew better than anyone.
If body and soul truly differed...
'If it really wasn't Soo-hyun's body... Father would've noticed.'
Locke Granasia would've said something.
After the sports festival, her father hadn't mentioned anything special.
Among summoned heroes from other worlds, some had mismatched body and soul—Locke the Emperor had judged them.
Even Pin, the Martial Demon King, was a possessor.
'Maybe he's mistaken...?'
Locke had wished her a safe train trip.
If it were truly another person, he wouldn't have said that.
Not fully sure yet, she shelved the topic.
"Soo-hyun. There are things in this world even you don't know."
She was a little annoyed at the lies, planning payback if he praised the saintess next time.
The liquid sloshed in the potion vial.
After spilling my full confession, I picked up the elixir.
"Then I'll drink it, Pine."
"It'll make you lose your memories... You sure?"
I was fine. Better me than her losing hers.
I'd wanted to stop her becoming the Nameless Saintess—now sacrificing memories for her awakening?
Absurd. I had to drink it.
"Even if I lose all my memories..."
I forced a smile at her, hiding the sadness.
Saying goodbye felt too final.
Instead...
"I hope you can make me fall for you all over again, Pine."
I shyly confessed to her.
After all the dancing around, I poured my true feelings in fully.