Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Purple Phoenix and Vampire Saintess
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I tried to open the iron door stained red.
"Why won't this thing budge..."
"It's a bit stubborn, huh."
The stone floor scraped as the door slowly creaked open. Nex and I had to put our all into shoving it aside.
A chilling grrrk echoed through the air.
Maybe they barred the escape route since this was an arena. Stepping inside revealed an even vaster space. From what I knew, we still had farther to go.
As we pressed forward, voices began to drift toward us.
"Downfall to the false heroes!!"
"Grant wisdom to the ignorant Ten Heroes!!"
It was like a church chapel. In this pitch-dark place without a single ray of sunlight, only candlelight illuminated the surroundings as devotees prayed within.
"Hero Cult followers, do you believe in our heroes?!"
"We believe!"
A crowd in matching attire packed the space, looking like a swarm of white ants. Some were practically sobbing as they spoke,
"Of course we believe!!"
"The true heroes who vanquished the Demon God!!"
Voices filled with ecstasy. Boiling fervor. The atmosphere had flipped from moments ago, like a festival was underway—no one seemed to notice us blending in.
"...Today, the one who will lay the foundation of the prophecy has finally arrived. Nex Aureus, descendant of the Ten Heroes."
A woman with demonic wings stood at the podium.
"The all-knowing hero will lead us down the noble path where everyone can find happiness. Just as always!"
She looked every bit the succubus—pink hair and all. Though clad in the white Hero Cult robes, she exuded no holiness whatsoever.
'Of all the apostles, it had to be Lust.'
The worst matchup for a male character.
The dream demon described with lascivious sheep horns and a heart-shaped tail.
Her form was captivating enough to steal one's gaze in an instant—a succubus trait, no doubt. I shook my head vigorously to stay clear-headed.
No matter how I looked at her, she couldn't hold a candle to our Saintess. What's the point of a pretty face if the heart's rotten? Her revealing outfit only creeped me out.
"Keep your wits about you, Senior."
"..."
I grimaced inside my helmet, radiating hostility. This was the first game over I'd ever suffered in the sequel.
Sharutineth Senior was probably trapped the same way—lost in a dream, unable to wake.
"...Ah. Shar?"
"Senior?"
Unlike me, Nex's eyes had glazed over. He hadn't fully tapped into the phoenix's power yet. In Knight Heart, this wouldn't have fazed him.
"Nex?"
"..."
No response.
"Snap out of it, Nex! It's all a dream!"
I shook his shoulders frantically, trying to bring him back.
"Chirp...?"
His mouth hung open, drool spilling out. This was worse than I'd thought. Even the spirit was succumbing to the succubus.
"...Nex, Nex! Wake up! What you're seeing right now is..."
An attack that wouldn't faze a divine being. Should I have been more cautious with the ambush? I paced anxiously, calling his name over and over. In the game, this would wake him. Why not now?
"Hehe... Men are all the same, huh. Even a descendant of the Ten Heroes is this dim-witted."
My eyes locked with the succubus's, who had been preaching from afar. She flapped her wings lightly. An ominous wind stirred.
"Purple Phoenix. Welcome, Nex Aureus—you who will betray us."
The woman approached us slowly. The intensifying fragrance clouded my mind. No good. This was a death flag. Letting her get closer was dangerous.
She strode as if treading a red carpet with regal poise. The surrounding devotees swallowed hard, dumbstruck like bees with honeyed mouths.
Why weren't they attacking or charging us? A question nagged at me. I scanned the scene. Like Nex, the men were drooling, eyes unfocused.
All male devotees.
She was controlling them with charm. That's why they ignored us. The apostle succubus's orders were all they awaited. This was how the Hero Cult sustained its faith.
The event in Black Heart where you'd struggle to break free.
"...Hm? Two of you...? And why isn't the charm working on you?"
Her expression hardened as she looked at me. First man immune to her whims, huh. This was my chance.
"I've already got someone in my heart, Apostle of Lust. Servi."
I halted her advance toward Nex. Intrigued that I'd uncovered her name, she flashed a seductive smile.
"Oh my, you...? How do you know my name...?"
"Why don't you ask that brilliant head of yours."
"Are you perhaps the new hero chosen by Akasha? That would explain it..."
I tapped the temple of my helmet with my index finger.
"...Is your brain really that limited?"
I let out a twisted chuckle, bluffing hard. My sudden provocation made her pause, deep in thought. Success.
"Hmm... Even so, this doesn't make sense..."
Now was the moment.
'Please snap out of it soon. If you're the Nex I know, this level of charm is nothing...'
I needed to buy time. Numbers were against us. Without Nex Aureus, drawing my sword wouldn't turn the tide easily.
Plus, using Sharutineth as a shield would cripple me too. Just as focus returned to Nex's pupils...
"Kyahaha...! I've changed my mind. If I make you mine... the all-knowing hero would be thrilled."
The succubus now giggled with derision.
"I don't know how you learned my name... but hehehe... we'll have plenty of time to find out."
Her demonic eyes narrowed, irises glowing pink. Dream hypnosis. Had to counter this immediately. My hand went to my sword hilt.
"It's been ages since I've had a man worth the hunt."
"Back off..."
As I drew my blade for a Void Slash,
"...Sweet dreams, both of you."
I collapsed onto the cold floor.
"Something's off."
"Why...? Mardol?"
Her movement halted abruptly.
Pine stopped mid-stride after Drake's lecture, walking with Kainel's group. It felt unnaturally yanked, like someone had pulled her.
"...I don't know."
"Is it because Licht skipped today? Drake said he'd be fine. Don't worry, Mardol."
"Yeah! Helmet Guy can handle himself anywhere!"
Ariel beamed at the glass knight, reminiscing about past memories. He'd seemed the strongest among the first-year freshmen and had pure-heartedly helped her love business.
"That's not it."
But a suffocating unease gripped her; her hand had already risen to her armored chest. Her golden eyes narrowed.
"W-wait a sec."
The glass knight kicked off toward the cathedral.
"H-huh? Mardol? Kai... shouldn't we stop her?"
"Let her go, Ariel. She probably has a hunch. She'll call if she needs us."
Kainel and Ariel could only watch Pine sprint full-tilt. This was the academy, after all. Heroes with holy swords and Ten Heroes were here.
"And... she bolted like that last week too."
"True... right after the mountain hike."
Unless the Demon King himself intervened, student peril was rare.
The hero couple felt uneasy from past memories, but
"...Nah, probably not."
"No way it's the Demon King, right Kai...?"
That very history made them hesitate, unlike Pine.
"...Where am I?"
A vast, empty white void.
I'd fallen into it. I touched my face. Smooth skin met my fingers. The sensation felt utterly alien no matter how I pondered it.
Something was wrong. Think. What happened just before? What was I doing to end up here...?
Then, a high-pitched voice echoed.
"...Hello, Knight."
She stood there like a blank musical staff—nothing else around.
"It's been about five years for us."
A wolf-eared Saintess in a white nun's habit stood far off.
"To meet like this. Fate, perhaps."
"...Ha."
The white-haired woman approached step by step. A nostalgic rose scent wafted from her.
"...How did you get here, Knight?"
"To make some unfortunate soul happy."
"Oh? Is that me? How touching."
"..."
Her footsteps clicked closer. Golden eyes fixed on me.
"...Knight, were you chosen as a hero?"
"Nah, just a Black Knight. You mentioned it before, didn't you? Sister."
Her wolf ears twitched atop the habit. I'd seen it in-game, but in reality, they moved like this. Kinda fascinating.
"Hehe, right. You have so many memories of me... cherishing me every single day without fail."
"How do you know that?"
"I'm the Nameless Saintess."
Her tail swished. Glossy and fluffy-looking.
"...Your precious person."
I rested my chin on my hand, gazing at her gentle smile. She was now less than an arm's length away.
"Now, let's finish our love story, Knight."
Her breath brushed my face as she leaned in. I observed without resisting. A subtle wrongness in her expression.
"Will you... kiss me?"
I'd suspected from the start, but this crossed the line.
I'd stayed still to lure her in, but I couldn't anymore.
"Fuck off, you bitch."
The fake Saintess reached for my cheek. I twisted and grabbed her wrist hard.
"Wh-what? Knight?! It hurts! Why...?"
"...You shouldn't know me, 'self-proclaimed' Nameless Saintess."
Anyone thinking a bit would notice. I knew her from the game, but
"Begging a kiss from a total stranger? Our Saintess wouldn't do that."
This was the past. The real Nameless Saintess wouldn't know me.
'That's why I agonized over it and settled on pairing her with the one she loves.'
My heart grew heavy. Her happiness was mine. No clinging.
I glared at the squirming fake trying to escape.
"No, you love me. Tremendously... since I saved your life..."
"Don't spout that crap wearing her face."
"Pardon...?"
Succubi gleaned fragments of info. They wove them into confessions like this.
Irritation surged. Bitter bile rose in my throat.
"Fall in love just 'cause I saved your life? Laughable. Who falls for that these days?"
"Then why...?"
"It's the heart that matters. Something you lack."
If I'd possessed the Licht who cleared Knight Heart and Black Heart, maybe she'd love me—but a fake hijacking that bond? No better, no worse.
That wasn't love. Repulsive hypocrisy.
"What's the reason? She just loves you! You'd love that too, Knight!"
"Height's off. By about 5cm?"
"You're insane? People grow!"
If so, I'd have found a way to return her body. Possessing the past self was luckier—no stealing anyone's love line.
"Impossible."
I snapped, venting frustration. Not the future; how could she grow here?
"Want more? Your laugh's awkward, voice too high."
"Hahaha..."
She bowed her head as if conceding,
"Kyahahahaha!!!"
Her hair shifted from white to pink as she reverted to succubus form.
"Kyaha... Busted, huh? But what now? You can't escape without becoming my prisoner."
"...If you're imitating, do it right."
"I even fooled Saintess Sharutineth with that act. Shame."
Ridiculous. The first NTR event in Black Heart was from Lust Apostle Servi—yet no way it'd fool me like this.
"I thought men turned beastly for their dream girl. You're unusual."
"I'm a bit more whipped than most."
Replaying it fueled my rage. No such thing in the original; some interview about diverse loves matching modern tastes.
"Nex Aureus too—these intruders... one vampire Saintess, one wolf-eared Saintess."
"Honestly, prettier than a succubus."
"...Entertaining. Truly."
Falling to charm here would've made us Hero Cult members fighting Kainel alongside Nex.
I recalled Nex's betrayer route. So this was his weakness.
"Disappointing no layered seduction. But I know what you are now!"
"...Think you really do?"
Her words sped up. Done talking.
"Yes! Your weakness is that Nameless Saintess or whatever!"
"Shut up."
Irritating. Don't toss that name around lightly.
Succubi multiplied, surrounding me. Time to attack.
"Telling the all-knowing hero this? He'd be delighted!"
"Mess with the Book of Life and Death? Joke's on you. Can't manipulate the nameless..."
Saintess's safety at risk—I couldn't hide my anxiety. Bad habit. No giving openings.
Identical pink demons spoke in unison.
"'All-knowing' will reveal it. Join us now? Your precious one's life is collateral..."
"Ha... damn it."
I'd planned to hold till Nex woke, but threatening our Platinum Wolf? Unbearable. Long sigh.
Multiple shadows at my feet. Perfect.
Crunch.
I bit my tongue hard with my teeth. Blood welled up, trickling warmly. Reality snapped back briefly.
Servi panicked at the crimson dripping to the floor.
"...Trying to wake from the dream? Not without my say-so."
I knew.
Hot liquid, sharp pain slicing flesh. Dream or not, it hurt real.
Metallic blood flooded my mouth.
Viable counter. Focused on throbbing pain, drew my waist sword.
'Ultimately, treat it as reality, not dream.'
Tongue felt severed. Trusted the sensation. Enemies before me were real, not illusion—conviction grew.
"Drawing a sword here? Magic doesn't work in this space."
I assumed Drake-style sword stance.
Kicked ground hard. Focused sensation in right hand. Merge two techniques. Swordsmanship doable with will to cut.
Dream or reality.
Steady resolve.
For the happy end, give it everything.
Grip tightened on hilt. Fierce wind pressure. Sword trembled.
First Form and Fourth Form.
Technique striking connected entities, one honing cutting power. Void Slash and Dragon Shadow Slash simultaneously.
Void Slash + Dragon Shadow Slash
Simultaneous activation: Slashes through illusions and connected entities
—Shwoooomslash!!!
A massive sword-aura windstorm swept the succubi horde. One must link to the real body.
"Kyaha... Told you, won't work? Mimicking the archbishop was funny; this is hilarious."
Storm crashed forward. Some doppelgangers shredded. Drip. Blood still trickled from my mouth.
"Useless. It's a dream, not reality."
Vanishing succubi sneered. Unfazed expressions.
Numbers dwindling. Still clueless? Helmet off for once—barefaced sneer might give it away.
Then.
—Slash.
"Wh-what? Kyaaaaaah!!!"
The farthest succubus cleaved—Servi screamed. Buffering from numbers? Couldn't end it in one go.
"...Huff... haa... keck..."
Seemed she'd barely clung to life via holy power. Stemming blood, she eyed me like a monster—the pink-haired woman.
Panting wildly, she poured holy power into herself nonstop.
Demons could use it too? Holy power truly embodied rational desires, huh.
"How... the hell...?"
I'm a huge pure-love guy.
I flipped Servi off, smirking. Mimicking our Saintess to beat me? Big mistake.
Reason was simple.
Shadows for realism even in dreams—why I didn't fall.