Chapter 31
Chapter 31
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 31
Chapter Title: Crown? Prince Route, Right?
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A man with purple hair bearing the seal of the phoenix and a nun clad head to toe in black were sitting close together.
"...The north? Asha Aureus..."
"I asked the head butler, and the family head is there right now. In times like this, I regret not keeping in touch. Sorry, junior."
"She doesn't even care about her own son... That's too much."
It had been a while since I'd bought a new sword, and I'd come up to the terrace. I ran into Nex and asked him about the engagement.
"I'm used to it by now."
"Did she go to fend off the monster attacks?"
"Probably something like that? The north is cold, after all."
"The sun... It must be effective spirit arts, then."
Then when the hell am I going home for real?
A slight dizziness hit me. Even thinking about Kainel, Ariel, and Dennis, there was so much to do. When was I supposed to fill it to 100 percent?
I just couldn't figure out if I needed to take down at least two demon kings minimum, or if filling the love meter beforehand would do it.
Looking at Nex's case, the Hero Cult was definitely involved... So wouldn't the status window have just said to take down the demon king?
"Just get married quick... No, never mind."
"I'd like that too, junior. But with my rank as count, going rogue would cause a huge fuss."
"...Especially since it's with the saintess."
Sharutineth gazed at Nex with a foxy smile. Were they starting to look alike now that they were practically an engaged couple? My side ached.
Her purple eyes curved, and the red eyes watching her mimicked the motion.
"I'll always cheer you on, seniors."
"Thanks, junior!"
"...It's a bit embarrassing, though. Ugh."
Today's classes were canceled on our own. The academy had advised us to resume tomorrow.
Something feels off, like I'm missing a piece. What the hell is it?
Had the Ten Heroes gathered for a meeting? Did they already know everything about my disappearance?
"So... the one I met that day was the fake archbishop after all."
"A succubus? Yeah, you'd fall for that. Idiot Shar."
"Weren't you almost done in too, Nex? You were crying over me just yesterday."
"..."
The world's rival character was cowed into silence. It was shockingly novel. Normally, he'd read the other's intentions from their face and poke at their weak spots.
"An apostle disguised as Professor Beatrice..."
And Professor Beatrice wasn't even a villain. Was this a twist on the cliché? I needed to stop assuming all squinting characters were bad.
Senior Sharutineth explained that she should have noticed when the eyes smiled too.
"...Enough. I'm embarrassed."
"Huh? That's surprising."
She'd mellowed a lot. Nex. The purple sparrow had grown up, so carrying it around openly would be awkward now.
"People can feel shame too, you know? Right, junior? Shar's such a saintess, she doesn't get it."
"Exactly."
"You're both teasing me right now! I know everything there is to know!"
But even without his spirit by his side, he seemed more confident than before.
"Just kidding, actually."
As I let out a small chuckle, the black-haired nun finally looked at me with concern.
"Oh, so junior... are you feeling okay?"
"Probably fine. I slept a ton, but everything aches here and there..."
"...Hang in there."
"Shar, don't discourage the junior. If he pushes any harder, the academy might collapse."
My constitution was so unique that everyone I met spoke to me with pity.
Still, eating would refill my mana, borrowing Nex's power brought out spirits, my swordsmanship was solid.
Interlocking fingers with Mardol could handle magic too... Ah, maybe that'd come in handy later.
A dizzying thought flashed by. Using magic in the sword training grounds—no less while gripped by a glass knight in heavy armor.
The aftereffects were bigger than expected. I needed to get used to it by now.
Then, the piece I'd overlooked hit me suddenly.
"Ah, Senior Nex."
"Yeah, junior?"
"Want to try... using a weapon?"
"Out of nowhere? I'm a spirit arts user? No talent for swordsmanship..."
"You need to prepare for when spirits weaken too."
In [Knight Heart], he was an NPC who used a spear. This had to be it. He needed the strength to protect his own love line without me.
Kainel would get strong on his own as the hero. But even as a Ten Heroes descendant, spirit arts users relied too much on emotions—risky.
"...You're right. Junior."
"Good. Follow me."
He must have felt anxious nearly falling to the apostle, nodding slowly in agreement.
This was the way to avoid contradicting the original story.
So why wasn't this guy in class and hanging around here again?
"Mardol...? What are you doing here?"
"Training."
Scattered coins on the ground, deep scars from repeated sword swings toward them.
And that last move... Shadow Slash?
It lacked finesse still, but he was clearly trying to cut the shadows. The gleam of his armor pierced my eyes.
"Hello. Licht."
The glass knight turned to me, waving happily.
Affinity seems solid at least. Good.
I greeted him back in the friendliest tone possible. All flags and routes were pointed at the crown prince anyway. Just coasting would get me midway at least.
"Hello. Mardol."
"Yeah. You sword training too, Licht?"
A thick, echoing voice came from the helmet. Anyone hearing it would think it was from a cave.
No backing down. Lupus was strong here in the past. Time to spark more interest and stack flags.
"...A bit different today."
"Strong, as expected."
As soon as he replied, the glass knight resumed swinging, practicing shadow cuts.
A sign of approval? Fine. As long as I could save the saintess, I was confident pulling a pure love drift.
That sounded cooler, right? Cringey as hell, though.
A clinking sound—coins flying in via magic from afar.
Probably Hero Cult stuff, so he was training to get stronger. He was diligent.
I'd seen the academy's barrier getting extra layers today. The Ten Heroes were tight-knit. They'd heard about the all-knowing demon king digging a dungeon underground.
This matches the original Nex's weapon closest. Perfect.
Time for me to prep too. I pulled a spear with a sharp blade from the rack.
"Here, take this spear."
"Why...? Not a sword? Can't I just use Void Slash and stuff?"
"Impossible. Let's make this your main weapon."
Nex eyed me suspiciously. Ridiculous. Void Slash overloaded the whole body—no way a newbie could handle it.
"...Let's do something other than swordsmanship."
"Got it. I trust you."
We moved to a secluded corner far from Mardol. Couldn't risk hurting him and derailing the route. Caution from now on.
"Alright, let me teach you some spear basics."
"But Licht, you seem better with swords. This right?"
True. I'd never used anything but swords in-game. But I had reason to think I could teach Nex spear arts.
"A friend of mine's a real spear nut."
"...Spear arts? Surprising. Hard to even encounter outside the north."
I knew well the player famous as 'North Duke's Son-in-Law'. Same guild, shoulder-peeked plenty.
The guy who found the easter egg, rode trains nationwide, unlocked the North Duchess route first.
ARG. Alternate Reality Game.
Where the game shifts from virtual to real world,
With real people playing as the core content.
Once, the devs posted a video. From that, he tracked real-world clues proving the North Duchess was a heroine.
...Why pick on our saintess alone? Damn devs.
That's why I'd foolishly believed the Nameless Saintess had a happy ending. Now officially recognized, with the North Duchess route in the original.
"Spear arts, like swordsmanship, are body arts—so will matters."
Even without personal experience, the basics matched years of ingrained swordplay.
Thrust, block, slash, swing.
And I'd been tight with that guy.
Tons of guild PVP with prizes—I debated saintess vs. North Duchess wife bait till dawn as pillar hubby.
[Pure Love Black Knight: Saintess is the true wife. Anyway. She's my heart's canon.]
[NorthDukeSonInLaw: Next up, your saintess fetish~]
[Pure Love Black Knight: (Saintess emoticon saying 'Pillar hubby, get out.')]
Keyboard wars, but he'd worried via guild chat till my possession day.
Hope he's good.
"Think I can learn spear arts, Licht? I'd have if I knew."
"You can."
We'd debated sword vs. spear strengths endlessly—knew pros and cons cold. This body could teach basics fine.
"I've tried getting stronger, junior. But North spear arts are already..."
"...Yes. Among the Ten Heroes, the Cold-Blooded North Duke passed away. Impossible to learn from the Duchess."
In-game, affinity unlock was needed for transmission.
"Huh? Junior...? That's too detailed even for a Ten Heroes disciple. I spread playboy rumors on purpose... but not North."
His eyes sharpened instantly. Nex approached slowly.
Busted?
Too much game knowledge was trouble. Should've been careful.
Possession exposed...? Wait.
"You're the Hero of Intellect, right?"
He patted my back lightly, throwing an arm around me.
"Tested you, and you knew that too. Wild..."
"Not at all..."
"C'mon, another lie. Even if the helmet hides your face, don't."
"..."
Whew. Misunderstanding saved me.
Nex whispered low, inaudible to the glass knight immersed in training.
"Assuming that, you knew Mardol's imperial too."
"...When'd you catch on?"
"You didn't flinch when I mentioned the imperial family."
Damn, nailed. Overlooked in dungeon rush. Caught here. The purple-haired man smiled foxily.
"Take good care of our Mardol. Quiet and clumsy, but kinder than anyone."
"...Not sure."
If it made our saintess happy, maybe build imperial ties,
Grab masterworks or artifacts first, take out demon kings?
"Spirits don't lie, though. Enough for Aureus heir to vouch."
"Then I'll think on it."
The purple-haired man's advice solidified my resolve.
If I could brake for the crown prince, block him from bothering the saintess too.
Getting friendly was smart. No loss, like with Nex.
So that's why the black cat clung to Mardol.
Yeah, allying with the protagonist—I'd learned bone-deep from Magic Hat's bad end in [Black Heart].
Kainel and Ariel's forced escape event. Unforgettable.
I'd been suppressing my feelings.
Teaming with the protagonist got her happy ending closer.
"Mardol, thinking now... you don't seem so bad."
Said it loud on purpose. He heard, right?
"..."
He paused his sword, glancing over.
Just from this, the glass knight was powering up against the Hero Cult. Saved me effort.
"Right! Junior!"
Better than sequel Lupus doing nothing. Originally just leeching off heroines.
Bent by demon king later?
Magic Hat toughest I'd faced—use every card.
"Anyway... spear's reach is its strength, but in a world with magic and spirits, use it differently."
Grabbed a long staff-like rod. For Nex's level, no need for sharp edges.
"If you can, focus spirits on thrusting, slashing, blocking."
"Got it. Easier than sword, sure."
Purple flames sparked from his spear mimicking my swings.
Oh, quick learner. Spear master in [Knight Heart], makes sense.
"...North spear arts. I'll teach basics—follow slowly."
"Can I go faster?"
"Of course, senior."
Grinning under my helmet, I passed on my friend's spear arts to Nex. Whatever pillar hubby said later, didn't matter now.
He'd exploited sequel glitches for North Duchess—would understand.
"Too many blind spots."
"More like using body power? Junior!"
"...Maybe? I only know basics."
Cold-Blooded North Duke's creation. Ten Heroes tech—he'd self-study limits.
"If you held a sword, I still couldn't beat you?"
"Unless you summon the phoenix."
"...Gotta try harder then. Thanks."
Stronger than last dungeon for sure. Nex looked refreshed, like he'd found his way.
"Senior Nex, too much tension in shoulders. Again."
Licht battered Nex one-sidedly with the rod.
"Feint's good, but your base stamina's lacking now."
"Caught me... Junior!"
"Javelin throw... great for range cover. But."
Crisp moves saw through the Ten Heroes heir's clumsy attacks.
"Think offense-defense unity. Flow the motions."
Relentlessly drilled his mistakes.
"Exploit this. Longer than sword, restricts foe movement."
"...You're a cheat, Licht."
"Less talk, focus."
If the black knight's spear was bladed real deal, someone'd be badly hurt.
...That good with spears too?
Golden eyes watched intently.
He knew Licht's sword skills were top-notch.
But handling North spear arts so adeptly? Astonishing.
Could I win in a fight?
Competitive urge twitched wolf ears inside the glass helmet.