Chapter 63
Chapter 63
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 63
Chapter Title: EP.63 18-1. The Hidden Trump Card.
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Ariel had a lingering question.
In Licht's case, he'd mentioned that he literally couldn't take off his helmet.
But who the hell was Mardol, and why wouldn't she take off that glass armor?
There were plenty of clues pointing to her true identity.
'Nex knows her too, so is she one of the Ten Heroes' descendants?'
The Ten Heroes did tend to be close-knit. They'd gone through life-and-death battles together during the war, after all.
Last time at the swordsmanship training grounds, she'd assumed Licht and the glass knight didn't know each other since they were off on their own. She hadn't seen them talking.
Kainel was oblivious enough that he might not notice, but calling in his direct guard unit just to find Licht? That screamed high nobility.
In the Granasia Empire, where the wolf was the symbol, anyone with that kind of power had to be from the imperial bloodline. Leon, the knight captain's son she hadn't known about before, was someone she'd gotten a good look at during the previous match.
'..There's only one possibility. But.'
The only one publicly known was the crown prince, Lupus Granasia. But that couldn't be Mardol's identity. It was just too weird.
A guy who loved cute things and sweets just like her, with that pure girlish sensibility? And they got along so well, too.
Talking about favorite breads and candies, or her recommending delicious pastries from Granasia Empire bakeries.
He seemed so innocent, clueless about the world.
Sharing expensive candies made with sugar and honey, trying to buy her sandwiches. And in the fight against Magic Hat, he'd fought tooth and nail to protect her and Kainel.
The reason she hadn't gotten hurt much was partly Kainel shielding her, but the glass knight's help played a big role too.
That smug Licht even seemed to keep Mardol at arm's length a bit... until she saw them hugging and chatting outside the bakery a few days ago.
Something was seriously fishy. Ariel's red eyes fixed on the distant glass knight.
Men didn't hug like that and soothe each other. Her sharp intuition picked up on a heart-fluttering vibe.
'No way... is she actually a girl?'
She was tall, sure. But her hands were as small as Ariel's—too small for personal variation. The proportions didn't add up.
It was contradictory.
Those eyes peeking from the helmet were beautifully shaped. Boys could have pretty eyes, but combined with the hands? Super suspicious. Hugging and cooing over that black wolf spirit felt oddly feminine too.
"..Miss Ariel? Why'd you call me?"
"Helmet Guy, have you ever thought Mardol was suspicious?"
"Many times, but..."
Just in case, she'd separated oblivious Kainel and Mardol herself, then called over Licht—the one she figured she could talk to.
"Think about it. She wears that armor every day, and no one says a word. Isn't that sketchy?!"
"There's probably a reason for it."
"No way... Helmet Guy!"
She started theorizing, linking it to why Mardol never took off the armor. She'd heard it made her weaker if removed.
Back then, she'd skipped over it thinking it was taboo, but the recent match proved it was busted gear.
'Armor that nullifies all magic.'
She flopped into a chair with a sigh. Aiming for gaps in the armor might work, but Mardol would block it easily.
From the swordplay mixed with magic in the Magic Hat fight, Ariel gauged the glass knight's skill. Probably on par with Licht.
Licht had taken first by blowing half the forest away in combat training. Kainel, the strongest she knew among the heroes, placed third.
'Mardol was second. Knocked out all those bees in the group assignment...'
Time flew, and with the semifinals bracket set, her worries mounted.
"Now I have to face Mardol today! I got no shot!"
"..I'm up against Kainel."
"That's separate! My Kya will win anyway..!"
The red-haired elf yelled in frustration.
"That glass armor is cheating against a mage! Total BS!"
No matter how she racked her brain, nothing worked. Seeing it block all her wind magic had crushed her hopes.
"..Gear is just gear in the end. The user matters more."
Licht propped his chin on his hand, his black knight helmet tilting as he pondered. After a moment, he offered a new idea.
"So why not turn it against her? Attack inside the armor."
"Oh. That's genius!"
Unlike the sky-blue mage Windy, Ariel's magic was pure fire. Focused on burning and heating things up.
Obsessing over Mardol's identity had made her overlook the obvious. Plus, her spells now burst like fireworks in rapid succession.
"..Thanks for the tip, Helmet Guy! I'll strip that Mardol armor bare!"
Heat was key in glass processing too. Isolate whoever was inside, trap them like a rat in a cage—that was perfect for her magic.
Ariel flashed a cat-like mischievous grin.
"Hehe, look forward to it, Helmet Guy!"
"..Look forward to what? Even if you strip the armor..."
"About Mardol—you might learn something new yourself?"
"Huh?!"
What the hell? Learn something new? Mardol's a guy. The crown prince, no less. Coming from this perceptive red cat, I couldn't brush it off.
"..."
I ran through every possibility. Something new about Mardol.
'No way... did she swap genders like Magic Hat?'
No. Absolutely not. Anything but that. The mere thought hit me like lightning, sending chills down my spine.
"Ariel, what the hell do you mean?!"
"Woman's intuition...? Anyway, yeah!"
I've gotten way too close to Mardol. If she's a girl, our saintess would be insanely jealous of any girls around me.
Tomahawk indirect kiss—that's the killer. No excuse would save me; she'd try to murder me. I could already see her pounding my back with those fists.
'Knight's a playboy! Pervert! Casanova!' She'd sulk and ignore me for years.'
Cold sweat dripped inside the helmet. Flashes of past memories: interlaced fingers, hugs, sword exchanges...
"Gasp, huff."
Couldn't breathe. Head spinning. If I'd thought she was a girl from the start, I'd have kept my distance. No way I had that blind spot.
My Pure Love Black Knight nickname could get tainted. Into Harem Black Knight. Only those flag-planting protagonists did that unconsciously.
Thud. My legs gave out, and I collapsed. Headache pounding, I pinched my brow.
"Helmet Guy! You okay..?!"
"Just... dizzy. But why say that out of nowhere..?"
I caught myself on the ground, no injuries. Tongue slurring like I was drunk, slipping back to casual speech.
"Anyway, you're both hiding a ton, right?"
"Fair point, but.."
I'm hiding that I'm a possessor too. Dennis and Nex seem to suspect I'm a hero.
'Even in a game, this is too much.'
I'd overlooked how scummy [Black Heart]'s devs were. Magic Hat being female here unlike the sequel? Others could be too.
'Lupus changed gender for the prequel.'
Magic or botched potions—cliché game tropes. It fit my theory of a real crown prince existing separately.
Turning flak into fans by making heroines? Added love lines happened all the time.
"Arrrghhh!!"
"Helmet Guy, what's wrong?!"
Clues tormented me: delicate lady, pampered flower... fueling "no way" suspicions.
How long did I flail on the ground?
"..I'll head out then! Semis soon!"
Ariel gave me a worried look for ages before leaving for her match. Or maybe she bolted in fear.
"No!! It can't be!!"
From afar, startled Kainel ran over. Mardol must've headed to the arena early.
No way she's a girl. Even if the sky split. I've only had eyes for our saintess.
I wasn't some romcom protag unconsciously collecting flags.
[And now, the grade exam semifinals! First up, the striking red-haired elf mage, Ariel!]
Laplace boomed the commentary, riling the crowd. He was youngish, so it fit. Quirky character anyway.
[And her opponent, the glass knight, Mardol!]
Thud. My body jerked at the name. No way the person in there was a girl. Common romance trope, sure.
"Licht junior. You okay?"
"Licht junior, your hands are shaking again."
With Nex, Sharutineth, and Kainel right here, no flags for me. I shook my head, steadying my breath as the match neared start.
Introductions done, both stepped forward, brief greetings.
[Let the match begin!!]
The horn blared as always, signaling start.
"Let's fight without the armor first, Mardol!"
"..What?"
Ariel's bold declaration echoed via amplification magic. I just squeezed my eyes shut, hands clasped, praying to the heavens my assumption was wrong.