Chapter 45
Chapter 45
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: 13-1. Reveling in Drunken Dreams of Love
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the forest where Licht had vanished, Dennis and the Imperial Guard arrived.
“Men, are you all right? What in the world happened here...”
A blue-haired man scanned the chaotic scene with glowing white eyes. Dennis was listening to the full story from the hero's party.
“Steel Wolf, Lady Mardol. No presence detected in the vicinity.”
“Copper Wolf. The scent cuts off right here.”
“Silver Wolf. It seems he’s gone missing.”
On the opposite side, Pine—using her alias—issued commands to the wolf-eared, tailed Imperial Guard.
“We’ll find him for sure. No, we have to.”
She had given endless orders to search for the helmeted Black Knight she’d seen before.
The three swordsmen, distinguished by colors like imperial currency, were breaking into a cold sweat, feeling mortified. Even for Princess Pine Granasia’s command,
“But we can’t find a single trace...”
How were they supposed to track someone who’d evaporated without a hint?
“Your Majesty, Gold Wolf presents himself to Lady Mardol.”
At that moment, their captain in golden armor rushed forward. He knelt before Pine, swearing his loyalty, and spoke.
“...I believe I know where the one you seek is.”
“Gold, is that true?!”
The hopeful news about the vanished Black Knight made Pine shout excitedly, uncharacteristically loud.
“Ah.”
Everyone present froze in shock and turned to the Glass Knight.
“Mardol! You found Helmet?”
“Even Mardol’s that worked up... He must’ve gone off to fight the Demon King looking that pitiful...”
No matter how they thought about it, seeing the usually icy Mardol like this was surreal. Kainel and Ariel, now certain she was someone important, stared at her in astonishment.
“It seems he’s in another dimension.”
“...What do you mean, Gold...?”
But the response came in a grave tone, ill tidings indeed.
“He’s in a space we can’t access. Even detection magic distorts the spatial coordinates completely.”
“No... That can’t be.”
The Glass Knight’s eyes wavered. The despair of being too weak to protect someone again crushed her. Her hands trembled with clenched fists.
I’m still so weak. Licht knew that...
As her thoughts reached that point, her tail and ears—which had perked up with hope—drooped limply inside her armor.
“Isn’t that right? Pinnacle of water magic among the Ten Heroes, Professor Dennis.”
“...I tried finding Licht myself, but magic can’t even approach. Your assumption seems correct.”
“Exactly. He’s in the same forest, yet a different place entirely. Like something reflected in a mirror.”
The Imperial Guard and Ten Heroes knew each other well. The Wolf King Locke, strongest of the Ten Heroes and former emperor, had handpicked them to protect his children.
“...”
“My apologies, Lady Mardol.”
“...Is there really no way?”
A gloomy emotion seeped from her relentlessly. It had been ten years since she last felt this powerless. She hated her weak self. She loathed the memories of obsessing over strength compared to that man.
“...It’s time to head back, Lady Mardol. We’ll remain here.”
“No. Gold.”
She plopped down stubbornly. As the Imperial Guard tried to persuade Pine, they glanced at Professor Dennis,
“...If he escapes that space, we might find him. Let’s wait a bit longer, Gold.”
He shook his head, suggesting they hold out. Leaving now would go against his convictions.
‘Thanks for the good times, appreciate it?’ Is that how it ends, Licht...?
Dire assumptions flooded Pine’s mind. Magic Hat was the strongest she knew. Even her father couldn’t defeat that Demon King.
“I don’t want to watch anyone else disappear...”
The helmet’s muffled tone kept the hero and mage from realizing Pine was a woman.
“Mardol...”
“Licht... will he be okay? I got taken without a chance to fight...”
They could feel how much the Glass Knight cared for Licht. Kainel and Ariel sighed, worrying about the Black Knight too.
At that moment, in the pitch-black isolated space, I barely managed to stand.
Think. My body’s already at its limit.
How many moves do I have left?
I plunged my sword into the ground as a crutch. Panting heavily, I steadied myself. How did we beat this in the game?
Trusting equipment durability to protect the fallen saintess as much as possible...
“...”
The wolf-eared saintess dying from the forced event came to mind. No one’s here anyway. If I fade away like this, would anyone even notice?
“...Hah, haha.”
I laughed in absurdity. Pure Love Black Knight? What a frivolous title. A human who couldn’t protect his love and became a Demon King, calling himself a Black Knight?
“My lord, enough pointless resistance... I don’t know how you’re still alive, but...”
Magic Hat flashed a bright smile at me. Chills ran down my spine at the horrific desire hidden in that innocent grin. I swung the holy sword, cleaving an approaching clone.
“I... won’t die.”
Our saintess was so heartbroken when I died in the game.
I never want to put her through that again. I aimed my sword at the Demon King in threat.
That person looks prettiest when smiling.
“Meeting you again like this is what matters! My lord!”
Seeing my sword hand tremble, she assumed my stamina was gone and stepped closer, one foot at a time. The Truth Demon King. Is this really the end?
Then, a memory flashed through my mind.
‘Demon Kings can ‘use’ abilities from their hero days.’
Thus, the Omniscient Demon King Head calculated via omniscience, and Truth Demon King Magic Hat exploited truth for insane feats.
I still had one sharp card to play.
I raised my sword high toward the sky. Stomped the ground firmly, coiling into a pre-jump stance. The current Kainel couldn’t fully draw the holy sword’s power.
But I knew future Kainel’s skills. I’d watched his efforts and growth from Knight Heart to Black Heart.
You went through this too, huh, Kainel.
I gripped the hilt tight. The shaking stopped. The hero’s burden isn’t light. It demands matching power and skill.
“...Heh, impressive as ever. Still fighting while bleeding like that.”
“I’m the Black Knight.”
I spat the pooled blood toward Magic Hat with a ptui. She licked her lips watching—madwoman. Well, woman, so not madman.
Kainel, you ran back then, so not sure if this works.
There’s one fraudulent light-based technique. Another key reason I told the mutt to focus on speed. An advanced Shine Strike.
The skill the hero self-developed, inspired by the Blazing Flame Mage Ariel to grow stronger.
“Wow, now using the Light Hero’s power too? You’re turning so Demon King-like...! My lord!”
A technique granting light-speed movement, if only briefly.
「Shine Advance.」
Fwaaah. Light flooded the pitch-black space.
Shine Strike condenses light aura into a sword beam.
This pours the holy sword’s full power into your body for insane speed. Too burdensome for an unchosen like me—can’t do it twice.
In the fallen route, Kainel denied his Light Hero past after Ariel’s death, refusing to use it. But I’m different.
Status window popped up, so hope remains. Not a failure.
I’ll use every method available. Killing her here could rewrite the future, letting our saintess live.
Like with Nex and Sharutineth. I’ve evacuated Kainel and Ariel. Still reversible.
Shove negativity aside. First, take her head.
“...Just die.”
Muscles felt like bursting as I charged Magic Hat. I slashed through clones, leaped off heads.
“Eh, my lor─.”
A split-second opening. Less than a second. Sword to her neck.
Schwick.
A circular sword arc severed the magician’s head from body. I slashed the ownerless corpse hard. The Demon King collapsed, powerless.
Thud, roll.
“Heehee... hahaha!!”
As expected, this won’t kill her. Mad cackling leaked from the severed head. No blood from the body,
“My lord!! So fun!! Amazing!! My one true love...!!”
“Piss off.”
I crushed the arms reaching to embrace my close body. Meaning her real body isn’t here.
“...Aw, pity. Could’ve hugged my lord!”
I backed away swiftly. The body scooped the rolling head, reassembled it like blocks. Creepy click as neck reconnected seamlessly.
“No thanks. My hug counter’s already claimed.”
Underestimated the Demon King. No wonder her difficulty was insane. Lungs burning fit to burst, I clutched my chest in agony.
“Heehee, then... shall I use truth too, my lord?”
Magic Hat drew trump cards again. Humming happily as she shuffled.
She twists the opponent’s spoken truth—merging them or turning into suit-matching cards. Mad magician.
I swallowed hard. No card against that...
“Spade Ace enough? No, Spade Jack’s better! My lord!”
Shit, that hits bad. Worse than a pinned butterfly. Thought safe from Kainel/Ariel cases, but no.
“...”
Black Knight’s suit and meaning.
Heart Jack might’ve been safe for Glass Knight. Lucky I intervened.
“Let’s relax. You’ll love it too...!”
“People like you are what I hate most. Magic Hat.”
Blindly charging in claiming love.
Unqualified trash using face or cheats to possess emotions—that’s what I despise most for sweet love.
Not pure love. Bitter blood taste filled my mouth.
“I’ll become any woman you like! What’s your type? White hair, right?”
“...You spout the craziest shit so easily.”
Blood kept leaking, numb prickles on skin. Life’s flame flickering out. Penalty for unauthorized holy sword use, probably.
Max one-shot this bitch.
Then our Nameless Saintess safe. Beheading once faded the holy sword’s darkness.
Loved one’s loss condition lifting. Loss doesn’t mean death.
Dennis’s Demon King route existed because his lover was cursed, not dead.
...Good. She might really still be alive.
Needed a breakthrough. Can’t struggle this hard in phase 2. Remembered more phases and patterns ahead.
“No choice.”
Drake’s ultimate: Dragon Slayer.
Improvised, won’t match original power. But only ace left. I reset stance, steadied breath.
“That gaze... I want it only on me...! So captivating!”
Pour everything into the enemy before me, prove my best 5-year training not wasted.
“Not yours.”
“So mean...! My lord! Whose is it then...! No interferers left!”
I drew my sword to protect our Nameless Saintess.
Even if using ultimate kills me, that’s what a Black Knight is. Bearing loved one’s misfortune instead.
“...”
Truth is, maybe resolved since 15 years ago.
Once possessed this game, I realized. No my sacrifice, no her happiness.
“It exists.”
So this time, save her for sure. Make her happy.
Even sacrificing life. Repay the one saved before. Debt settled here.
...Didn’t want it this far. You’ll cry buckets, our saintess.
I steeled my will. Gazed at the fading sword. Fallen route derailing. Protect loved one to the end.
“My life’s irrelevant now.”
Exhaled hot breath. Raised sword high. Pumped raging blood through body. End it all with this strike.
“I’m the Pure Love Black Knight.”
Imperfect Dragon Slayer motion, but ready for Demon King Slayer.