Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Purple Phoenix and Vampire Saintess
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"...Still no spirit showing up, huh."
"Yes... Mother."
Nex Aureus.
His childhood was filled with misfortune.
He was seen as the promising eldest son of one of the Ten Heroes, but as the years passed without a spirit appearing, whispers started behind his back.
'Is the young master really not some kid they picked up from somewhere?'
'Shh, quiet! He might hear you!'
'Who cares? A spiritless spirit user is worthless. No talent as a swordsman, no massive mana pool like a mage.'
'And his hair color doesn't match the family head's.'
Strip away the prestige of being from a renowned spirit-using noble house, and he was just another talentless nobody.
"Young master, we're rooting for you."
Words from a maid who'd been badmouthing him moments before. Nex grew up watching that, and he came to hate people's lies.
"Even so, I won't punish the maid. Nex."
"Mother, she called me a bastard! That's an insult to the family..."
A maid insulting the heir of a ducal house. Normally, that would've been a grave offense worthy of execution.
"...And what about it?"
Asha Aureus merely regarded Nex with cold eyes, speaking calmly. For some reason, she seemed excessively composed.
"Pardon...? But Mother..."
"If you're truly an Aureus heir, you should prove your own worth."
"..."
"What, are you scared you might actually be a bastard?"
"No."
His mother with her golden hair, and himself with purple locks. It was enough to make anyone suspicious.
"...So I just need to prove my abilities from now on?"
"That's right. At least as the eldest son, you should have that much skill."
"Understood... Mother."
That day, Nex learned to read people's expressions. He guessed it was all deception, that they were hiding something and treating him coldly because of it.
"What do you mean by that, family head?"
"Exactly what I said. Spirits are born from emotions."
He tried desperately to grow stronger, but her cold attitude never changed over the years.
"If nothing else, I could find you a fiancée. That might awaken a spirit."
"Absolutely not. Who do you think I am, you?"
"Anger is a fine emotion. Consider it accepted, then. Nex."
Instead, right after his coming-of-age ceremony, marriage proposals flooded in. Maybe because it was the first time he'd shown anger toward Asha.
"I was sent by the family head."
"Send her back."
"...At the request of Asha, the Living Sun among the Ten Heroes, to meet with Lord Nex..."
"I said I don't need her!"
He hated the idea of a harem. Even if he married, he feared they'd badmouth him in secret like that childhood maid.
'What should I do? I can't defy the family head.'
He needed something to keep women away. So he donned the mask of a brute. Making his speech rough and twisting his expressions became habit.
"Hah, wench. Even a whale can't outshine a phoenix no matter how hard it tries. Should I marry the spirit instead? What a lowly house."
"...This spiritless trash dares insult our family...!!"
'Yep, her expression shows she's after the family fortune.'
Living like that, Nex came to see the world as full of deceivers and the deceived. Even the nobles who praised him to his face trashed him behind his back.
Then, while practicing spirit affinity and acting like a wastrel...
"Eek! Yaong! Stay right there!!"
'What a weirdo. A vampire... as the Second Saintess? The world's doomed.'
At a social event he was dragged to, he met the one saintess who could understand him.
A woman who saw only the young man Nex Aureus, not his spirit.
Nex was immediately checking on Sharutineth's condition. I suddenly found myself playing invisible man.
I figured he'd accuse me of being a Hero Cultist or in league with the demon kings. But he didn't doubt me at all for solving the puzzle.
This wasn't the emotional guy I knew.
"You okay? Shar...?"
"Ah, Nex. I'm fine. I just dozed off... Where are we...?"
Nex's eyes kept shaking, and his anxious hands trembled. A brief moment passed.
Whoosh.
Confirming she wasn't hurt, he enveloped her in a reunion embrace. His eyes were moist—he must've cried. The cold rival character transformed like this.
Probably suffered in Servi's dream. Dreams can turn nightmarish, after all.
"Thank goodness. Really. Thank goodness..."
"Can't... breathe... Nex..."
"...Just a little longer like this."
The vampire nun squirmed uncomfortably, but whatever.
As long as she's alive. If this were the betrayal route, she might've died. The original story went that way.
"...Thank heavens you're unharmed."
I let out a sigh of relief. I'd been terrified my game knowledge wouldn't apply. Even solving the puzzle had me sweating bullets. I plopped down where I stood.
"Oh my, Junior Licht?!"
"Junior helped us all the way here. I barely did anything. Haha..."
"Then that succubus was you too, Junior...!"
"Yeah, Shar."
The Second Saintess yelled loudly at me, embarrassed while hugged by Nex, but I didn't mind.
This happy ending? Big welcome. A smile finally crept onto my face.
Chirp...!
Suddenly, Nex's sparrow flew from behind me. Huh? Helios Midnight was still active—the sun remained on my back. Not something a spirit could do...
Ah. So that's it.
"Chirp...?"
"Sorry, Shar."
The spirit had burned the ropes, freeing her to move.
"Why... Nex."
"It's complicated. I'm just glad you're alive..."
"When did I die? I'm the Second Saintess, you know!"
"Demon kings are like that, Shar..."
Nex loosened his grip, turning the embrace gentle. The lovers locked eyes, encircled by the phoenix.
"You found me, didn't you...?"
"...I hate myself for not being able to do anything."
"Don't blame yourself, Nex..."
"I should've seen you call him 'Junior.'"
Sharutineth's face flushed. But Nex pressed on. He'd struggled to get here too.
"I guess I've never been honest with my feelings."
"Nex, I'm fine, really...! Almost got to the dream demon, but okay!"
He must've worried sick about something happening to his love. Checking for injuries right away.
"Not an excuse, but I've worn a mask since childhood because I hate lies."
"...I knew that."
His face, tear-streaked, didn't match his usual demeanor. True comrade route, huh. First time seeing this.
"Even dating... scared me."
"Nex, Junior's behind you! Embarrassing, later..."
"...Don't care. Let him hear. Okay with you, Junior?"
Water under the bridge now. Flag set with that line. I nodded vigorously. Grand Route achieved, after all.
"Of course. Say what you want, Senior."
If the spirit matured via lover's death in the original, we change that here.
I possessed for the Nameless Saintess's happy ending.
"...Thanks, Junior Licht."
She'd approve too. Helmet on, I pulled my lips straight to avoid smiling. No laughing, or mood breaks.
"Today's events taught me a lot."
"Really? I just woke up..."
"Hah... Seriously. Makes me think I have to protect you."
"...What. Nex. Say something sappy again and I'll use holy power... Mmph."
He gave a relieved-yet-worried hollow smile, then sealed her lips with a finger.
"Will you marry me, Saintess Sharutineth?"
Clean love confession.
"...Huh?! Suddenly...?"
Sweetness bloomed in my mouth too. Proposing here? Like with Kainel. Real romance academy.
"I'll ask the family head properly. Slap or water bucket, I wanna stand tall."
"Didn't you hate your mom? Why...?"
Nex smiled awkwardly, stroking her black hair. Dark strands twisting in his hand.
"Hate seeing the girl I like mocked. Shar."
"...R-Really just for me? Not you?"
The vampire saintess's eyes widened in shock.
"Yeah. Think about it—as the main wife of House Aureus... who'd touch you like today?"
True. Mess with Ten Heroes blood, big trouble. Probably planned to win Nex over, use her as pawn.
"Ah, uh... Nex..."
This kidnapping stemmed from her low status versus the First Saintess.
Game's Nameless Saintess too—divine seat or not, non-human meant discrimination.
"Saintesses... can marry, right...?"
Stunned, Senior Sharutineth trailed off, shrinking back.
"No lies here, Shar. Dead serious."
Nex mentioned main wife without his usual foxy grin. Rock-solid resolve.
Then—
Pfft.
His sparrow scattered purple feathers, body swelling.
Shedding like a snake, into the majestic phoenix I knew.
Spirit matures from admitting emotions. Real deal, then.
"It's true. Congrats on the spirit's growth, Nex."
"So, your answer, Shar?"
"Hmm..."
The matured phoenix wrapped its master and Sharutineth in wings. Purple petal-like feathers fluttering skyward, like a wedding scene.
"...Can't let you face your mom alone, at least."
"Eh, eh?! So that means..."
Nex's eyes bulged, tearful smile blooming. Seeing him cry-laugh, Sharutineth grinned too, exasperated.
"...Dunno. Stupid fox."
Both flushed to necks.
"Proposing in this situation?!!"
"Haha, sorry. Seeing you safe made me rush."
"No second chances. Got it?"
"...Got it, Shar!"
Matching smiles, warm gazes. Happiest couple now.
Right then, a pink status window appeared before me.
Paper confetti matching the scene scattered around.
Event CG done right.
Phoenix blessing their engagement.
Spirit grown, love reaffirmed.
Good for them.
"Congratulations."
I subtly thumbs-upped them. My way of showing emotion.
Love Meter recovered past fifty percent. Nodded in satisfaction.
"...Thanks for today, Junior."
"Wasn't for thanks."
"Haha, that's what I like about you, Licht."
Dropped the "Junior" honorific briefly.
Sincere gratitude, no pretense. Red-rimmed eyes, joyful smile.
Am I the engagement witness? Rivals over. Comrade route real.
"Without you, Junior, we'd be in deep trouble, Shar."
"Really...? I just woke up here..."
"Two days passed, sleepyhead."
"What? No way...?!"
Shocked, she alternated glances between us, checking for lies. Post-engagement-ish, unlikely.
"True. Two days asleep due to the apostle."
"Nooo..."
Told the confused senior the truth. Worried about academy credits? She'd shut up knowing our ordeal.
"Shar, Licht's seriously strong. Reason the prince... er, Crown Prince notices him."
"Yeah? They already seem buddies."
"...Seniors? Mardol and I aren't friends!"
Why the Crown Prince flag again? Good Lupus's name hasn't popped in status. Don't abandon me, elders.
"He'd like it? Royal connections aren't common."
"No need."
I just want our Saintess route.
Seeing me shake my head no,
"...Junior's too nice. Innocent, even."
"Knew that ages ago, Nex! You just figured it?"
"Shar, lying's bad. You suspected him first."
"Uh, yeah... Got reverse-played this time."
The engaged pair laughed brightly.
The sunless dungeon now blazed like day under spirit-made light.
In that glow, the two rose.
"Why pair me with Mardol...?"
"'Cause you're the first he's shown interest in."
"...True, Junior Licht."
Nex and Sharutineth approached, spouting nonsense.
While we're at it, set a Saintess flag for me?
"Kyahaha..."
Someone interrupted our chat.
"Yes... Eliminate the heretic alone... prophecy stays on track..."
I glared at Servi, lips curling down. Ruining the mood again. I'd even stayed quiet through Crown Prince talk.