Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: EP.59 17-1. Rivals Resemble Each Other Because They Are Rivals.
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A few days passed like that.
The academy's grounds began buzzing with outsiders.
Just like at the entrance ceremony, the principal began his speech to kick off the grade exam. Whether he was amplifying his voice with magic or not, it boomed across the entire school.
No one was better suited for commentary than him. As the librarian with access to past records, he was a man who'd honed his abilities for the one he loved.
Powerhouses eager to see the students' achievements, parents and families there to cheer them on, and even mages from the Magic Tower or northern nobles scouting talent early.
I'd advised the elderly folks who'd put me under their wing not to come, just in case the flashy battles startled them into fainting. Spectacles like that weren't great for the heart.
They treated me like a grandson; seeing me get attacked might really upset them.
"..."
In truth, the mana barriers meant no one would get hurt anyway.
"...There sure are a lot of people."
"Licht, you really don't know? The grade exams are so popular, folks come from the countryside to watch."
"This thing's super famous, Helmet Guy!"
As always, I'd had lunch with the hero couple and was watching the opening ceremony.
"...Licht. You like meat?"
To be precise, it was now a quartet with the crown prince tagging along. Ever since the bakery incident, we'd been hanging out without a second thought.
After bonding in that fight with Magic Hat, there was no going back now.
"Pardon? Oh, yeah. I do. Not like I hate it."
"Got it. Noted."
Noted for what? The glass knight beside me chimed in out of nowhere. Maybe because beef stew was on the menu today.
It reminded me of our saintess, so I ate plenty. It was delicious.
Then Mardol nodded slightly, clenching his fist like he'd been relieved of some worry.
'...This guy's stronger than Kainel.'
I glanced at his glass armor, which reflected my black helm, lost in thought. In the grade exams, I'd probably end up facing him eventually.
Magic swordsman class.
Having played as the Black Knight Licht in the game, I knew how broken it was.
I'd outlasted the hero against Magic Hat, and the clone magic had insane versatility. It'd allow for some tricky moves.
"What're you doing...? Licht?"
"Oh, just spacing out a bit..."
Had I stared too obviously? Mardol looked back at me and asked.
Whenever I tried sizing him up, he'd cut through my thoughts like he could read minds. It was uncanny.
Maybe it was his senses, honed as the emperor's only son. The child of a man who could unleash sonic booms with raw strength.
"...You're peculiar."
I crossed my arms and looked down to avoid giving anything else away. Ever since the Magic Hat showdown, the crown prince had been approaching me more.
Family being the most precious thing was obvious, but why did it make me feel so burdened?
With that, the opening ceremony wrapped up shortly. I headed off with the group to check the brackets.
"...We're all in different brackets? Kai?"
"Yeah, I was hoping to face off against Licht."
The names on the large sheet were scattered across groups. That left only one implication.
"Haha, we can meet in the semifinals."
We'd have to crush our way through to clash there. With the crown prince's skill or Kainel's growth rate, it was feasible.
"I won't lose this time, right? Licht?"
Kainel grinned slyly at me. Was I turning him into a bad influence? Maybe I'd pushed too hard in sword training.
"...Looking forward to it."
In [Black Heart], he'd ditched me and our saintess to run, so that explained it. No trauma left now, though.
"No."
That was when it happened. A low, rumbling voice cut in from beside me, like we were whispering in a cave.
"I'll get to you first. Kainel."
You're the type obsessed with strength, huh. Mardol was tracing the bracket with his finger, counting who he'd need to beat to face me.
"..."
Best to stay quiet in moments like this. One wrong move, and I might end up locked in the imperial basement, never seeing daylight again.
That was the route where you romanced the Imperial Guard. Fail the elopement, and it was imprisonment. Pretty terrifying.
"I want to fight you, Licht."
"...Do as you like."
I'll hand over the Dragon Heart, just please leave the Mana Rose alone. Staring into those golden wolf eyes fixed solely on me, I felt an odd sense of déjà vu.
The sun was setting, and the academy day was drawing to a close.
"Well then, Mardol. Take care going back."
"We're heading to the dorms. Mardol!"
"Yeah, Licht. Kainel. See you."
Pine waved goodbye to the Black Knight and hero heading into the boys' dorm. She'd finally relaxed, her words stretching out a bit longer.
'Licht... said he likes meat, right?'
As the helmeted Black Knight walked away, she found herself wanting to invite him to a favorite restaurant someday and treat him.
'Maybe a dwarf-run place... would that work?'
He was the man who'd saved her brother Nex and sister-in-law Sharutineth too.
He was practically her lifesaver already. Licht seemed oblivious, but she couldn't ignore that he'd saved her mother as well.
'School's been feeling easier lately.'
At first, she'd been terrified of the Demon King pulling some stunt and built walls around herself. Getting close to anyone might mean the mad magician targeting them too—she'd been scared.
She'd thought she'd never open up to anyone. But this man named Licht kept drawing her in.
'That shadow puff... was so cute.'
The Black Knight summoning a fluffy ball of emotion-made-fur. Soft and pretty-coated like a stuffed toy. Walking it someday was Pine's little dream.
"Grade exams start tomorrow..."
She trudged along. To avoid mistaken identity as a princess, she'd use her teleport crystal in a secluded spot.
As always, she scanned around to ensure no one was nearby.
That's when familiar voices rang out.
"Lady Pine. Long time no see."
"Sis! It's been ages!"
A boy with black wolf ears and an older-looking butler appeared from the opposite direction.
"Dijur... Lupus...? How did you... Oh."
"This butler, Dijur, is the sword that always guards Lord Mardol by his side."
"Hehe. Here for the grade exams! Right, sis Pine?"
They'd come all the way to the academy to cheer her on. Seeing the welcome faces after so long, her surprised tail and wolf ears perked back up.
"...Lupus. My name here's Mardol."
"Got it. Mardol sis!"
The glass-armored knight warned his younger brother with a glance. Fearing Magic Hat might target friends, he even made a shushing gesture.
"...You seem well, Lord Mardol."
Dijur smiled faintly at Pine, whose words had grown longer. He'd known she'd brightened up since attending the academy, but...
"Is it thanks to that knight, Licht?"
"Yeah, Dijur."
This side of her was unexpected. Perhaps because he'd rescued Empress Bellin—her demeanor was shifting back to its old bright, positive self.
"We knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to defeat the Truth Demon King."
A man who'd fought the Truth Demon King and rescued hostages. His skill against the Shadow Wolf must've come from pure power.
If things had gotten truly dangerous then, she'd planned to rush in and save the hero and mage herself.
"He might make the hero list someday."
"No, Dijur... He's strong, but... weak, and kind."
"Understood. Still a pure soul who hasn't shed his boyish innocence."
Pine shook her head, correcting Dijur's assessment. No matter how she thought about it, calling him just strong felt wrong.
'A kind liar.'
In her eyes, he was a unique man. A strong yet clumsy Black Knight. A walking contradiction, but a kind liar all the same.
"Big bro Licht... He found our mom, right?"
"That's right, Lupus."
"...I wanna thank him myself."
Even the crown prince, who'd misunderstood Licht at first, wagged his tail and ears at the mention of his name.
Going from freeloading brother to "big bro" in a flash helped. For that proud sister to acknowledge him, and save their mother? It made sense.
"..."
But with his powers still sealed, who knew when he'd return from the card.
She couldn't tell Father. He might faint from shock—or worse, rally the army after Magic Hat.
"...The chance will come, Lupus."
They just had to wait a bit more. He hadn't sought repayment or reward; he'd purely comforted her.
He'd surely hate starting a war. Her good instincts told her so.