Chapter 21
Chapter 21
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 21
Chapter Title: 6-2. Misunderstanding and Understanding Differ by One Character.
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The Black Knight and the Glass Knight headed to the swordsmanship training grounds.
Watching their retreating figures, Kainel and Ariel began their conversation.
"Kain... what was that all about earlier?"
"It was a hunch. A hunch. There was that thing yesterday, and no matter how I think about it, Licht and Mardol look too similar."
The blond-haired hero grinned. He could somewhat understand what Licht had been thinking in the carriage. So that's how it looks from an outsider's perspective.
"They do look almost identical... except one of them is wearing a helmet."
"At least Mardol doesn't seem like a bad guy. It'd be nice if the new students hit it off."
"But exchanging swordsmanship means they acknowledge each other..."
Ariel recalled the Glass Knight sharing candy at the confectionery. His intentions were hidden by his armor, but since he got along well with Ariel, he seemed like a good person.
"Well, if Licht clasps his hands together and calls him 'brother,' I'm confident I could exchange techniques too. Ariel."
"All the sword users seem weird..."
The red-haired mage let out a sigh.
Come to think of it, white hair would stand out in the academy, but even after discreetly asking around when Licht wasn't there, no one matching that description turned up.
'First things first, expanding your connections might be key, Licht.'
The armor looked unmistakably high-class to anyone. Even someone as oblivious as him could tell it belonged to someone of high status. Using that person's information network would make finding his unrequited love a breeze.
Just think of it as repayment for the sword training.
Kainel was grateful to Licht for helping him grow stronger. In fact, he'd placed third in practical training.
It was a result he'd earned proudly, without lagging behind the noble-born students who'd received prior training. He felt a certain gratitude toward his helmeted friend.
"...Is someone talking about me?"
A sudden sneeze hit him. It wasn't chilly outside with spring in the air. But every time he came here, a chill crept in. Why? He was surely in the thick of pursuing the Saintess route.
The academy's indoor swordsmanship training grounds.
I had to catch up on overdue promises first. I looked at the knight in heavy armor. This was my second time here this week alone.
"You remember we're exchanging magic, right?"
"Yeah."
He nodded repeatedly. Did he like it that much? Unlike yesterday, he seemed a bit excited.
"I'll teach you just one form."
"That's more than enough."
I drew my sword from its sheath. All the teeth were chipped. Had I overused it with Void Slash?
"...Don't you repair it?"
"No time. I'm so busy these days it's like I need two bodies."
The moment I pulled it out, a voice echoed from the glass helmet. Sharp eyes—he spotted it right away. It was pretty beat-up for a demonstration.
"Then let's use a different sword. Thanks for your concern."
I picked a spare weapon from the wall rack. As expected of the academy—the equipment was top-notch. Maybe I should pay to borrow one later.
"Now, I'll teach you the basics of Dragon Shadow Slash."
"Okay, Licht."
I approached the wooden training dummy.
Concentrating my mind throughout my body, I adjusted my stance and regulated my breathing.
Preparation complete.
"Light and shadow are key. It won't work on enemies without shadows."
"Got it."
I manipulated one of the magical lanterns on the ceiling to make the object's shadow shift continuously.
"Shadows are erratic and thin. You exploit the 'concept' that connects it to the real body..."
I raised my sword high toward the sky. Focusing on the wooden dummy's shadow before me. Its shape shifting with the flickering light's angle.
"Like this."
Pa-chang—.
A dull metallic sound rang through the training hall. It left a vertical slash on the ground. The magic circle would auto-repair it anyway, so this much was fine.
"You can strike the real body directly."
Thud, thud. Crack.
Immediately after, wooden shards flew, and the dummy split neatly in half. The destructive power was low, but it could handle something like this.
"...Wow."
The crown prince let out a pure exclamation. Twisting concepts like this with magic would be child's play for him. No idea why he'd react like that. It was just power and technique.
'Did Master Drake feel like this too?'
I started to understand why he'd taken me as a disciple. That must be why the game data mining never revealed the job change.
He helped because he saw me as someone in a similar position.
'Kuhaha!! So now you finally appreciate this vast master's magnanimity?!'
A boisterous hallucination echoed. Years rolling at the bottom had ingrained it in my body. My hands trembled slightly.
"No, that's definitely not it."
"...?"
I shook my head. Mountain climbing was crossing the line, old man. I recalled him dragging students over mountain paths in this week's lecture.
Then bolting off somewhere the moment it ended. I glanced at Mardol, who tilted his head at my sigh.
"...How was it? Need more demonstrations?"
"A few more times."
He picked up a sword from the wall too. Up close, his hands looked a bit small compared to the armor. Something felt off.
'Is he really the crown prince?'
His height was similar to mine, so definitely not the Saintess. My mind grew a bit cluttered. I pushed the stray thoughts aside and spoke to him.
"Then toss two coins my way."
"Okay. Got it."
Mardol pulled coins from his pocket. The moment the Glass Knight flicked the copper coins toward me,
"Oh, sorry."
It flew at tremendous speed. Similar vibe to Master Drake. My body reacted before my eyes.
'Still a bit slower, though.'
I stomped the ground hard, slashing diagonally once, then used the shadow to strike down the other coin.
Clang, rang out four times across the floor.
"Strong. As expected."
"Be more careful next time."
"Sorry."
Probably genetic from one of the Ten Heroes. Fitting for the son of a man who creates sonic booms with raw strength.
...Does he even need my swordsmanship?
"Now I get it."
The Glass Knight continued, looking at me. He examined the sword closely, then walked to the wooden dummy and took his stance.
He wasn't using the weapon on his back. That hilt looked familiar...
Pretending to know more here would raise flags. I kept my mouth shut.
"This should be enough."
"You seem to have a talent for magic... Do you use swords too?"
"Both."
Mardol raised his sword overhead. It reeked of someone who'd handled blades plenty. Probably compensating for imperial sword style weaknesses with magic.
I nodded slightly at the unexpected sight.
"Impressive."
Magic swordsman tree. The Black Knight Licht I'd raised before was that type.
He was definitely good at irregular plays, advantageous in this unpredictable game.
I didn't know Lupus's class. Why would I know the setting of a lunatic obsessed with our Saintess?
Come to think of it, I was in a similar state right now.
If I met her and said, "I'll make you happy," would she believe me?
Imagining her white-haired self looking at me in disdain made my stomach churn. Male leads confessing right away are the worst; she'd hate it.
"Alright, here goes."
My stray thoughts snapped. The Glass Knight raised his sword toward the flickering shadow.
Thud-boom—!
A straight sword path slicing the floor. Definitely strong power.
"..."
Wooden splinters flew in pieces, but the dummy ahead didn't budge.
Mardol froze at the sight. Had he not imagined this outcome? Moments later, after repeatedly slashing the floor, he spoke.
"Huh? Why isn't it working...?"
"Pfft, hahaha! That's not it."
The training dummy was unscathed.
Definitely Lupus. If you were good at this too, I'd force the companion route. In Black Heart, the imperial family was just a money source, nothing more.
"Too much force."
"...Don't laugh."
He had a bit of an airhead charm. He was only trying to slash the shadow itself.
Of course—if it were that easy, others would've mastered it long ago and ended wars.
"A few more times."
"Let's stop. You need to use your whole body more."
He aimed his sword at the gouged floor again. I stepped beside him and gestured with my head to sheath it.
"I have my reasons for the hard work too."
"Don't get it. Why?"
I couldn't hold back the laughter. A Mary Sue character struggling like this. This scene felt new—maybe they fixed it after backlash from the sequel.
"You need the conviction that it can be done."
"Honestly, can't believe it."
The heavy-armored knight tilted his head repeatedly. Felt utterly empty inside. Like a glass cup.
I raised my sword again and delivered a line to derail the crown prince route.
"The reason I took up the sword was to make someone unhappy happy."
"Who?"
"It's a secret since it's repayment for what I received."
"Repayment...?"
No way I'd tell you. I'd stack these meta lines to build flags steadily. If it brought out Kainel's true personality toward me, it'd apply here too.
"For that person, this shadow."
I stomped the ground hard again. Blood flow surged through my body, sensations concentrating in my fingertips.
Schwing—.
The overlaid sword scar. Deeper and sharper than Mardol's. Like the motion of a swordsman brimming with belief he could cut shadows.
"I can slash it over and over. See? Not so hard, right?"
"...Trickster."
I smirked at the bisected dummy. I ignored the glare from Mardol right beside me. Honestly, partly revenge for the past.
So in this operation, stay away from our Saintess. I'd find you a good marriage prospect and tie up your romance line.
"Well, now that we've done this, no magic for me. Sorry it turned out this way."
As I sheathed my sword.
"No, Licht."
Suddenly Mardol approached closely. Helmet-to-helmet distance. I'd thrown derail lines multiple times, so why?
"This is enough."
"No, this is a failure. Anyway!"
A chilling sensation hit me. As the third game's protagonist, was entanglement with him fated? Thoughts raced.
Squeeze.
"This is...?"
"Magic, Licht."
Our second hand-clasp. My hand and his gauntlet, differing in size.
'This can't happen—the Saintess route will derail!'
What did it mean? Teaching swordsmanship failed, meta lines thrown. I'd even befriended Nex, the harem destroyer.
"...Stay still."
I tried wrenching back, but magic pinned my wrist the moment I twisted. Couldn't escape him.
"W-wait, why the hand..."
"Watch closely."
The two facing knights.
Helmets reflecting each other, height difference minimal.
Like decals if done right. Except I wore academy clothes, no armor. Cold sweat poured.
"Wait, just a moment. At least let go of the hand and talk."
"Circuit, like this."
My mind blanked in confusion. Did you take my second time too?
"Wh-what's with this strength..."
Twitching fingers were my limit. Wolf King's bloodline was too OP. Should've been born a Ten Heroes' son.
Then, the Glass Knight before me spoke.
As Mardol finished the incantation, a sphere of light appeared between us. Transparent like a soap bubble, it slowly rose, illuminating the surroundings like the sun.
Twisting the concept of transparent glass reflecting light, huh.
'Hence the soap bubble.'
Easy to understand. No choice but to play along. Felt like he'd summon imperial guards otherwise.
"...This is a lighting spell."
"Yeah. Now you try."
His helmet clinked. Similar structure to mine, apparently.
"Me? Suddenly? You know I have no mana."
"It'll work."
No gauntlet here, feels cold. Gripping transparent glass felt weird. Even the second time, the smoothness was unsettling.
Nothing to lose. I squeezed my eyes shut and chanted.
'Can't watch her die again this time.'
Sorry, wolf-eared Saintess. The demon lords were vicious bastards, so I had to get strong. I mentally prepared excuses that even two mouths couldn't cover.
"Huh?"
"See, it worked."
Above Mardol's head, my light sphere bobbed up lightly. A much smaller bubble, but...
...Success.
"Why did this work? How...?"
"Circuit, mine."
The Glass Knight mumbled in response.
"Ah, so my veins are twisted, and you're implementing the magic for me instead?"
"Temporary fix."
I was shocked. Using a medium makes it possible like this? Makes sense—yesterday Nex forcibly opened my body to use magic too.
Dennis said mana can be replenished, so maybe this counts?
'Maybe I can use magic after all.'
The sudden realization made me shout.
"What if I draw a magic circle to use it...!"
"Won't work."
Firm denial. Why? Body-mediated magic works, but not that? Forgot our hands were clasped as questions swirled.
No way, is it...
"In the end, the body."
"Meaning it's impossible until this constitution is fixed... Got it."
"Right. Smart."
Years of gaming, and the first game's lore held true. Why hadn't this changed, while only side characters shifted?
I hung my head in despair.
"Sorry..."
"No need. You taught me magic, right?"
"Wrong, no."
"So ultimately, I can't use it."
"Yeah..."
Second time seeing him dejected.
"Not yet, Licht."
Golden eyes gleamed from his helmet. Starting to resemble the Saintess. Same wolf lineage making them gold-eyed?
"Huh?"
"...Instead, exchange swordsmanship."
The hand-clasp loosened.
"I couldn't teach you Shadow Slash."
"No, you did."
Huh, not a romance story then. Companion route? He bowed apologetically. Wasn't this pink-airflow territory?
'He's genuinely nice...'
Not a bad guy. Could've shut up and played dumb. He did reveal I could use Merak.
"You can get even stronger, Licht."
Ah, obsessed with my strength to the end. Nearly made me rethink him for a second.
"...I see."
Only chatty now. No hand-holding this time, so might as well learn. No loss for me.
"Fine."
"Wolf Fang, I'll teach you."
Granasia style. Above all, a reinterpretation of that Ten Hero's techniques.
The Glass Knight charged straight ahead. Air burst with a pop. Incredibly fast, as expected.
"Like a wolf biting."
"Entrusting your body to instinct, huh. Opposite of my swordsmanship?"
"Smart."
Same as swordsmanship's first form: wolf's fangs. That day, I learned one technique.
And Mardol immediately suggested practice sparring.
"Ah, so that's why you wanted to give me something."
"Right, Licht."
My shadow had been slightly slashed just now. Definitely Mary Sue. No direct attack, yet my weapon rang with a ting.
"...You're the trickster."
"You too."
His reply as I countered with Wolf Fang.
Eventually, both knights realized they could master the techniques on their own as they clashed swords,
In a world without phone number exchanges.
The two knights shared their swordsmanship—traces of each other.