Chapter 22
Chapter 22
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 22
Chapter Title: 6-3. Misunderstanding and Understanding Differ by One Letter.
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Before we knew it, night had fallen, and as we walked the dimly lit streets, I chatted with Mardol.
“Is this really okay?”
“Yeah. Thanks.”
In the end, we had to settle for mimicking each other's basic techniques instead of a full exchange of magic and swordsmanship. At least I'd dodged the Granasia Empire Guard death flag.
“Sorry... Licht.”
“It's fine. I wanted to learn the empire's sword forms anyway.”
The Granasia style meshed well with mine. It wasn't for nothing that the Crystal Knight was obsessed with Drake's swordsmanship.
Normally, you'd need to join the swordsmanship club, build favor with the Knight Commander, or have connections to the imperial family.
'This way, I can shore up one of my weaknesses too.'
It was a gain, no doubt. If anything, Mardol had come out on the losing end. Shadow Slash was incredibly tough to learn on your own.
And without mana circulation—just pure body mastery. Anyone but me would struggle to grasp it.
He'd probably pick it up naturally after swinging a sword like this for a few months, but its power would be much weaker. No issues there.
Originally, it was meant to draw the eye of a flying dragon or bait an opening. It wouldn't hold him back.
In comparison, Wolf Fang had tons of applications once you learned it.
“But is it really okay to just teach it like this?”
“I... need to get stronger.”
My black helmet reflected in Mardol's visor. His voice had grown quieter. A pang hit a corner of my conscience.
“Is it that reason again?”
“Yeah.”
That cryptic line from before. His obsession with strength was oddly specific.
'...Or maybe he's a body double.'
But his raw power made that impossible. Even if magic disguised it, I'd have sensed something off clashing swords. You'd notice in a spar.
My head was getting complicated. His skills might give a hint, but we'd only practiced basic forms to the max.
“I've been wondering for a while now—who couldn't you protect?”
“...”
“You won't tell me this one, huh.”
“Yeah.”
Favor at zero, then. Good.
Watching him cross his arms like he was annoyed brought all sorts of thoughts. At least he'd kept our previous promise, and now he wouldn't obsess over my swordsmanship.
'If things stay like this, the Grand Route conquest should be smooth.'
The moment one worry lifted and my mind eased—
“Mardol! Oh, Junior Licht...?”
An unwelcome guest appeared from the opposite direction as we walked. Why were my bad feelings always spot on?
***
We sat on a nearby terrace with all the lights out and talked for a bit.
Dorm curfew wasn't for a while yet, so it should be fine.
“So, Mardol. I was just out for a stroll and run into you like this!”
“I'm glad too.”
Lustrous black hair. Red eyes like they held blood within. Pointed ears and fangs marked her as a vampire, sure enough.
'Close with the crown prince, huh.'
So the eavesdropped rumor was true. I'd never heard of a character like this in the Granasia Empire. She rested her chin on her hand. Anyone could see they were intimate.
“What were you two doing walking together? Mardol?”
“Sword exchange.”
“Really...? No funny business?”
“Licht, thanks.”
“Don't mention it.”
Her black hair whipped as she eyed me up and down suspiciously.
No info on the Second Saintess. Another oddity like Nex with his personality shift.
“How was the academy today? Mardol?”
“Interesting.”
“...Really?”
“Thanks to Licht.”
The nun gaped at the Crystal Knight's words, then lightly covered her mouth with her palm.
“I just kept my previous promise.”
“Yeah, that's right.”
A nod reflected in his crystal-clear visor. Up close, it looked like masterwork gear I'd never seen. New item? What were the stats?
“Like Nex said... you're really... kind...?”
“Not really. Senior Sharutineth.”
“You really can't lie, can you, Junior Licht!”
“Yeah. Can't.”
Only then did she flash a smiling, grateful look. I didn't see myself as particularly kind.
And what are you, crown prince?
“Mardol, sorry for what I said before...”
“Kkaman, you're kind.”
“Guess that's true after all!”
What had she misunderstood on her own? Her attitude toward me wasn't bad, so I let it slide. She'd seen my spirit too, probably. Made sense since Mardol had been carrying it around.
“Thanks for looking after our Mardol, Junior.”
“You're making me uncomfortable saying it over and over.”
“Licht, you're strong.”
Her black nun's habit kept catching my eye. Not white, so definitely not the one I was looking for.
'Identity unknown, age unknown, name unknown... And no one knew the Platinum Wolf.'
Did the Nameless Saintess really not know?
Of course not— it was a divine position. No way outsiders knew. I'd been foolish to ask impulsively in my haste.
“...People who actually approach like this are rare, Junior Licht.”
Sharutineth's lips curved up happily as she continued, hugging the Crystal Knight with both arms.
“I was honestly worried about whether he'd adjust to the academy. Hey!”
“...Hot.”
Classic harem route easy-mode character. Can't let her get too close to the wolf-eared saintess.
“I thought our Mardol was spending his days without friends... Sorry for doubting you.”
“...Hold on. We're not friends.”
“Friends...?”
“Come on, you know sword exchanges only happen between people who acknowledge each other.”
“I didn't know that.”
Was that it? I still hadn't broken that flag.
Felt like getting scammed on a secondhand site—thinking I'd snagged a bargain only to learn it went for half price elsewhere.
Shocking that there was game info I didn't know.
'This was our first proper mutual exchange anyway.'
I'd only ever received one-way teachings before, so I'd been clueless about this backstory.
“Our little wolf adapting so well—Sharutineth has no regrets left!”
“Joking, too much.”
“So who told him to go to school in such a scary suit of armor?”
“Stop, don't.”
“Our Mardol's so cute—it's a crime only I know!”
The vampire slipped her hand into the joint between helmet and armor. The crown prince tried to stop her. Calling him wolf confirmed Lupus.
Anyone would think they were same-sex friends playfully touching. But he was the obsessive type. Careful.
Crystal Knight and vampire saintess. Total unknowns to me. A sudden sense of wrongness made me rest one leg over my knee.
'Something's missing.'
I paused to sort my thoughts, piecing info together in my head. No matter how I looked, I'd overlooked something.
I'd been ignorant of sword exchange lore too.
'The missing Second Saintess, Nex before his delinquent phase.'
The gap between them.
No harem at this point in the love meter, and her purple hair story suggested the spirit had awakened recently.
'Normally, she'd wield a spear using her phoenix.'
No sign of her usual weapon from the game. Blood rushed to my head. What was wrong?
“Shar, you like my spirit that much?”
Then, a memory flashed. One line hit like a knee-slap revelation.
'Spirits are born from emotions.'
The nagging point resurfaced. The Nex Aureus I knew had no affection for his spirit. He used it strictly as a shield or weapon.
Not something that rubbed cheeks on hands or saluted from fingertips.
I'd forgotten it wasn't fully grown. Normally, it was a grand, antique phoenix.
'Hmph, a noble's strong even without a spirit.'
Even in Knight Heart, he resented his phoenix.
A line from victory over his rival in their first duel—he hadn't summoned it then either.
“Stop.”
“Ngh... Dwarf craftsmanship, huh.”
“Won't budge even with force.”
I watched intently as Sharutineth strained to pry off Mardol's helmet.
Her deep black hair like the night sky. Reminded me of the orca beastkin who'd been the legal wife.
'That man never even looked at me like that.'
A line from Black Heart's dialogue. The duchess sitting by the fireside, hurling venom at her husband.
'Our engagement got rejected multiple times before suddenly being approved. That philanderer.'
'The family head said our hair colors matched. That was the only reason!'
'He never laid a finger on me. No love in years of marriage...'
Her recounting, fin flicking in disgust. I'd skimmed it focusing on the saintess route, but
it all stemmed from here.
'She really did have a love line with Nex.'
Everything clicked. Even the yo-ro ending speech matched. The family head had pulled strings.
But biologically, it'd repulse her.
...Since she longed for someone else in the end.
“I'm the Second Saintess! Mardol, take off the helmet nicely!”
“No...”
“Holy punch! Holy grab!”
“No effect.”
While I mulled every possibility, they looked like they were having fun. Not going too far—just matching each other's energy.
'She's not normally this emotional. Only one answer fits.'
The chain of logic solidified the coupling theory. Unknown info made sense now.
I looked up. Time to confirm.
“Senior Sharutineth.”
“Huh? What, Junior Licht?”
“What's your relationship... no, with Senior Nex Aureus exactly?”
I had to pursue this fully now. No regrets later.
“Me... and Nex?”
My Black Knight helmet reflected in her red eyes.