Chapter 37
Chapter 37
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: 10-4. There Are Things That Won't Help Even If You Flee in Embarrassment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
How much time had passed since I swung my sword? Dusk began to fall, and night started to settle in.
"In my opinion, the biggest flaw in Drake-style swordsmanship is the strain it puts on the body."
"Is that so? Not the speed?"
"Just a hunch, but doesn't the wind-whipping motion take the most toll? Right, Licht?"
A time when we didn't need to hunt monsters. Kainel and I were currently checking each other's swordsmanship flaws.
"You're right. Since it's not powered by mana but pure physical strength..."
"You sure it's okay to use that consecutively?"
"Because it's me, not you, Kainel."
"...You're pissing me off big time, Licht."
The truth was, it wasn't okay at all. I was just bluffing, but it wouldn't be enough against a Demon King. Those guys always had at least a second phase or more.
"The biggest flaw, in my opinion, is the slow speed. It requires preparation beforehand."
Even if I broke through speed limits with Wolf Fang, it would still be disadvantageous in short battles.
The only ways I had to protect our Saintess from the Hero Cult right now were to risk my life or do something insane.
Or both.
'The imperial family would be reassuring. I can't let my personal desires jeopardize her safety.'
I habitually touched the chin of my helmet.
Should I tell them about the Demon Kings' information? No... They'd probably suspect the source and drag me to the torture chamber nine times out of ten.
Just then, a red-haired mage passed by my side.
"Kai. I got tents from the professors. Here, even one for Helmet Guy!"
"Ah, thank you, Ariel."
"Looks like you're feeling better now? Thank goodness...!"
Seeing them like this reminded me of our first encounter with the hero couple. Back then, I pretended to be the crown prince.
"Licht, why...?"
I looked at the glass knight sparkling under the moonlight even at night. I never expected the flag to be recovered like this. Looks like my own scheme backfired on me.
'Huh? Hold on.'
In Black Heart, Ariel was depicted as never having met the crown prince. Could my intervention have changed that too?
"Mardol. Have you met Ariel here at the academy for the first time?"
"Yeah. That's right."
Then being a beta tester means fixing the flaws sprinkled in the sequel. Like locking the barn after losing the cow.
What a scumbag developer. I knew it from when he made our Saintess unhappy. Another wave of vertigo hit me.
"Licht, you okay? What's up again?"
"...There's something."
I let out a sigh. As I stared weakly at the ground, Kainel asked in a concerned tone.
"...Anyway, Kainel, you should make more use of your holy sword. Things like flying around or causing explosions?"
"There are things like that...?"
When I gave advice, the blond hero's eyes widened in surprise. Well, he trained alone without a proper master.
"Want to spar with me? I'll show you directly."
He lacked real combat experience too, and for a hero, he was still a greenhorn.
"No, not today. You need rest too, Licht."
But contrary to my expectation, Kainel shook his head.
"...Pardon?"
"You look really tired today. Your hands have been shaking since earlier."
Same thing Nex mentioned. Whenever our Saintess was involved, my body reacted immediately.
"I'm fine. Probably."
Even though the stabbing guilt from lying hit me dozens of times, I couldn't show weakness. Not when a Demon King could strike anytime.
I couldn't let my emotions lead...
"Ha... Seriously. Come with me for now, Licht."
The moment he heard my answer, the Light Hero furrowed his brow and led me down a forest path.
The rustling of grass underfoot and the chorus of insects filled the deep night.
What was this? Was he mad at me? I hadn't done anything to upset him.
"...What's this about suddenly?"
"Hm. This spot looks good. I can see our campfire over there, so no getting lost."
The hero walked to a tree stump, sat on it like a chair,
and said,
"Let's talk, Licht."
A line I'd heard somewhere before, demanding a conversation. Was my Love Meter with Ariel about to rise?
"...Need some love coaching?"
"No, the opposite, Licht."
Kainel placed one foot on his knee and continued.
"This morning, when you were feeling off. It was because of that white-haired girl, right?"
A bullseye. Time to play dumb. No way the clueless neighbor kid would know.
"What are you talking about? I just had a stomachache."
Cold sweat poured inside my helmet. I fabricated excuses from my stuffy mind.
"...I'm not great with hints, but my instincts are sharp?"
But it didn't work this time. The hero's blue eyes narrowed as he spoke suspiciously.
"Licht, that time you vanished a few days ago. You think I wouldn't find it weird?"
"...I figured you might."
"Not just hours, but two whole days before showing up again. A day, I might've brushed off as business..."
He wasn't like this originally. Was he getting sharper from hanging around me? He was poking at every inconsistency just like...
"Just had some business."
"And someone like you skips class to crash? How'd you even sneak into the dorm past curfew?"
Teleported via Purple Phoenix. Yeah. To an outsider, it really was suspicious. The neighbor kid scolded me incredulously.
"Something happen with that beautiful white-haired girl again?"
The two days I suddenly disappeared.
"Answer me. What the hell happened?"
"..."
My comrade, back like nothing happened, lips sealed tight.
"...You guessed everything right."
"Knew it. You suck at lying, Licht."
With a friend doing this, he had every right to be pissed.
"In this situation, that person is in danger."
"...What? So that's why you skipped class without telling us before?"
"Yes, Kainel. Spot on."
No choice but to tell the truth. I started spilling as if fully caught.
"Who the heck is it?"
"...'Nameless Saintess.' She's about to be chosen as the third Saintess."
"Really? Well, you've never been wrong before."
No one around to hear. Ariel was at a distance, and this far, even the crown prince wouldn't interfere.
Recalling when he learned the holy sword's secret, the hero nodded and listened intently.
"...I owe her my life."
"Sounds like way back, Licht."
"Fifteen years ago, by the calendar."
In reality, ten years I survived thanks to her, plus five years after possession swinging my sword without losing purpose.
"What...? You've known her since childhood? That's a long time."
"No way. She doesn't know me."
A stale one-sided crush exactly fifteen years old. He looked pretty shocked, mouth agape.
"Then... why...?"
"Just repaying a debt she doesn't even know about."
I admitted cleanly. Maybe it was time to let go. If we'd met earlier, we would've by now.
"She's got rotten luck. I had to protect her..."
"That thing this morning too...? What danger is she in?"
Kainel's face turned serious. What a good guy.
"You have an idea, don't you, Kainel?"
"...No way."
"Yes, that no way. The Hero Cult."
I gave a bitter smile inside my helmet. Kainel must've suffered from Demon Kings too. Was it okay to share this easily?
"...With your skills, you could protect that white-haired Saintess, right?"
"Not enough. Far from it."
Kainel hadn't faced a Demon King, so he said that. Their authority to conceptualize the world. It wasn't like simple magic or swordsmanship.
'I thought I'd learn Dragon Slayer before meeting them. Demon King bastards.'
If I mastered the ultimate, I could cope somewhat... But my current skill fell short. Weak and soft as I was, bile rose.
"You're Sword Master level in swordsmanship, Licht."
"...Who the hell calls me a Sword Master? Ridiculous."
I scowled at the out-of-nowhere word. Helmet hid my face, but anger laced my voice.
"Can't even protect who I want with a sword in hand—what kind of Sword Master is that? Even a passing dog would laugh, Kainel."
"Haha. That for me?"
A bit of real feeling slipped out. Come to think of it, I reached this level fixating on our Saintess. No sign of her now.
"...Maybe. Felt a bit wronged, honestly."
"But with your effort, it's sincere as hell. Just ask her out for dinner."
"Payback from last time? Now you're reverse-coaching love?"
Telling the blond hero this wouldn't derail the Grand Route. I already tried breaking his crown prince flag to no avail.
"Just saying. After graduation, people will swarm you."
"Same for you, Kainel? Sword skills, maybe."
"I got... Ariel."
The hero grinned casually. Clueless, but honest in these moments—refreshing.
"Good for you."
A proper smile tugged at my lips for the first time in ages. How long since I smiled like this these past days? But why hasn't he confessed? Why not date?
"You seem like her lifesaver... So make a connection quick."
"...Me?"
"Even if she doesn't know you, hearing prayers from afar as a Saintess and getting saved?"
"...Close enough."
What a Light Hero. That's why I hated Lupus's negative traits. Protagonists should be like this—nailing the sore spots precisely.
"My face is ugly; probably not that popular."
"...Something up?"
"Bad burn scars. Pretty old ones."
Only then did Kainel let out a short sigh and pat my shoulder encouragingly.
"...Don't sweat it. So what?"
"Want to see?"
"Yeah. Gotta see how scary it is to explain the formal speech, Licht."
Shoulder pats were for our Saintess too—why tangle with these guys?
Click—.
"That's why I always cover up to eat."
"..."
I opened my visor, revealing my face to the hero.
Excluding the in-game Saintess, probably his first time. Felt weird. He's basically good, so it'd be fine.
Palm sweat poured, fearing he'd hate me.
"Hey, Licht. Hate to say this, really."
Kainel examined my face closely, then spoke unexpectedly.
"...You're decently handsome, though?"
First time hearing that ever. No way. Just cheering me up positively. Embarrassed by the overpraise.
"Joking? People around me got trashed because of me since forever..."
"You're delusional. Ha... How do you live with that injustice."
Despite my explanation, he sighed at the night sky disbelievingly. I closed the visor, hiding my face again.
"Anyway... I say it's no issue. Burn scars? People staring weird are the problem."
"...Hearts aren't that simple."
"You really like that Saintess. From how flustered you were."
"That obvious?"
The blond hero nodded repeatedly, smiling. If even Nex noticed, yeah, it showed.
"Give it a shot. Hero Cult or whatever—you can smash them all."
Tired from the long talk, he stretched big and spoke optimistically.
"...Honestly, I'd rather she be happy without someone like me."
Already unhappy in Night Heart and Black Heart without the Nameless Saintess. If she could be happy without me, best case.
'But with the game possession, unlikely. Probably more bad events lined up.'
"Her happiness or yours—which matters more?"
"...Obviously?"
Unaware of my darkening mood, Kainel kept going.
"The Saintess."
No hesitation.
"...What a pure romantic. Training to Sword Master level to protect who you love."
"This world's too harsh for good, innocent people."
Because the sequel was such a trash game.
You'll need to be at my level for Ariel later. At Night Heart point, you were at least a full hero. Envied the blond oblivious to his future.
"So, really doing nothing? Ask Mardol. To find the 'Nameless Saintess.' He's high up, right?"
"Did that. Asked him to protect her while I'm gone."
Already done earlier. Flags piled on crown prince route; no room for me.
"...That really enough?"
"If you truly love someone, abandoning those feelings for their sake—that's real love, Kainel..."
Rustle.
A noise cut me off.
"Mardol?"
"...What're you doing, Licht?"
The sparkling armored glass knight approached, spotting us. No way he'd come to block this too.
"Just guys' truth or dare... no, chatting about this and that."
"Yeah. Right, Mardol."
"...I see."
The glass knight finally nodded. Hopefully he didn't hear?
"Mardol. Did you... hear what I said?"
"Yeah, a bit."
Too late. Asked in case he'd tease me later in front of Saintess about spilling my heart.
Pine had gone looking for the two suddenly missing men. Something fateful kept tugging at her heart.
"...Mardol, Helmet Guy, and Kai—where'd they go?"
"No idea, Ariel."
The red-haired mage beside her was worried too.
So, when she arrived at the tree stump,
"...What a pure romantic. Training to Sword Master level to protect who you love."
She started eavesdropping from the blond hero's line.
And now the situation unfolded.
"...Licht. You're strong after all."
Her judgment after listening to everything. Not some odd claim like protecting despite weakness,
"That again...?"
"Heart is strong."
The reason for his endearingly clumsy side despite immense strength.
"...Me? No way."
"Strong person."
She realized he took up the sword for the one he loved.
'Different from me.'
Pine thought quietly inside. Her wolf ears twitched perkily inside the helmet.
"...Saintess strong?"
Someone who elevated him this far must be top-tier. Licht, who took first in practicals with mana-less swordsmanship.
"...Yes, the one who makes me raise both hands and feet in surrender."
"I see."
What kind of person? Her cherished old master? His flustered traits multiplied. Seemed like lies, but felt sincere.
"...Want to spar, Licht."
"Absolutely not. Never."
Watching the black knight in helmet sigh deeply, she grew interested in this Nameless Saintess.