Chapter 65
Chapter 65
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 65
Chapter Title: EP.65 18-3. What I've Been Hiding is My Trump Card.
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The red-haired mage sat on the bench, her face etched with sadness.
"Sob... I wanted to face off against Kai in the finals too..."
"Sorry, Ariel."
Mardol patted her back from the side to comfort her, while Kainel and I stood nearby.
"Still, the World Tree leaves are the third-place prize, so it should be fine."
"Yeah, who cries just because they lost?"
I'd already seen Kainel start to place a hand on Ariel's shoulder before pulling back. He was deliberately roughening his words so his true feelings wouldn't slip out.
You mutt. Even if you're like that, there are things you can say and things you can't. Do you know how much I regretted snapping at the harem pure love guy?
You have to watch what you say. Sure, I don't have that issue since our Saintess isn't here right now. But someday, a flag might point her way.
"...I hate Kainel! Idiot! Sea cucumber! Anemone!"
"Not a sea cucumber, Ariel."
The elf mage vented her anger at Kainel like that. Another missing honorific. What should I do about this? I lowered my head and sighed.
Ah, there's that idea.
"If I beat Kainel and you go to the third-place match..."
"...Licht, no tact."
I thought it was a good idea. Guess not. The crystal knight rattled as she stopped me. If anything, it's your fault.
'In that case, maybe I should just throw the match to Kainel.'
It'd be better to raise the Love Meter quickly. Since all four of us had advanced to the semifinals anyway, even if I lost, we could still secure the Manarose.
If I begged and cried pathetically enough, he'd give it out of pity.
I could even deliberately let my guard down to let him shine, or play the helpful ally to deepen their bond. Since I couldn't tamper with emotions directly, it wouldn't feel forced.
"...I'm feeling a bit tired, so I'll head back first. Kainel, take good care of Ariel."
"Huh...? Yeah. Get back safe. See you at the dorm!"
"Licht..."
Just act natural. A proper hero like Kainel would honor a friend's request, and it'd be easier for their Love Meter to rise without me around.
I started walking away. I could even pretend to be sick back at the dorm ahead of time. Something like, 'I lost to Kainel because I wasn't feeling well!' should work.
Given his oblivious personality, he'd never suspect I threw it. As I walked slowly down the path like that, I suddenly wondered about Mardol, who kept staring at me as I left.
'But if the crystal knight is a girl... could that be possible?'
I organized all the thoughts I'd had so far. This was a romance fantasy game world, so maybe a potion or spell had swapped her appearance. It was a common fairy tale trope.
Princesses waking from kisses, princes turning from frogs—those were standard.
'But even so... the armor's too masculine.'
It looked carved from massive crystal, giving off the vibe of a moving white jewel.
The low, thick voice made it easy to mistake her gender. The swirling, echoing tone from within the crystal helmet obscured her true identity.
'If she wanted to completely hide it, she could use traits or skills. So why wear such heavy plate armor?'
Her ability seemed to nullify magic. That must be why she outlasted Kainel against Magic Hat.
For safety, probably. Makes sense—the faculty hush it up, so yeah.
'...So if she prioritized maximum safety and crafted a masterpiece-level item, that tracks.'
Even so, the helmet felt familiar, like mine.
Magic Hat freaked out just seeing my helmet. Probably because it was a global first kill, and the devs paid special attention.
It's common in games to highlight top players' achievements in-world—like statues of rankers' characters or displaying their gear.
From this angle, I needed solid info. I'd inferred the crown prince had masterpiece gear because the imperial family hoards them, but seeing him fight the Demon King confirmed it.
I rested my chin on my hand and sifted through what I knew for sure. Her being a girl? Table that for now. No way that's happening. That'd be cheating.
'A harem could form. The Saintess might not speak to me for years. The whole 'Saintess Route' could derail.'
No matter how I explained, it might block the path to getting close to her. I'd seen players like that in [Black Heart].
We'd already indirect-kissed with cider. Saying it was a plate I hadn't touched was a mistake. The dwarf deboning it led to his misunderstanding too.
"..."
What was her appearance again? I hadn't seen her face much, so I had to recall.
'Black hair, golden eyes. And beastkin.'
Lupus's features, as I knew them. Hair and eye color are genetic.
If I imagined Kainel and Ariel's kid right now, it might be a red-haired, blue-eyed elf toddler.
But that's too distinctive. Like Nex, it could take after one side.
'Yet Locke and Bellin both have black hair and golden wolf eyes.'
No other variables. White hair like the Saintess isn't common. The academy's been scoured—no one like that.
Magic Hat mentioned it, but it was silvery-white, not true white. Silver isn't white.
"...This much is normal, at least."
I muttered to myself without realizing as I walked, reminiscing. I memorized it because I liked her. Height, voice, hair color—even her main element.
Our Saintess shares nothing with Mardol except excluding beastkin and golden eyes. Her vibe and personality are opposites—warm and loving.
'The Imperial Guard are all beastkin with golden eyes too.'
Why I couldn't defy the crown prince. Always risking imprisonment in the palace basement or a knife to the throat.
"...Power is everything."
If she hid being a girl to approach me, I'd be furious. I have an overwhelming first wife in my heart—someone I've loved for 15 years.
As those thoughts wrapped up, a contradiction hit me. The devs said nothing, so probably not. How to revert her to male like in [Black Heart]?
That's when it happened. A familiar face appeared, greeting me.
"Long time no see, Licht."
"...Coachman?"
I had no choice but to stop heading to the dorm and chat.
On the terrace of Grand Hearts Academy, two men sat.
I couldn't help but question the neat old man in butler attire sipping black tea so familiarly. Last I saw, he was ragged.
"Glad to see you're doing well too, Licht."
"So, sir, what exactly happened...?"
I'd hoped well for him since we shared pure love tastes, but it seemed he'd sold the Shadow Wolf pelt I gave him and made bank.
"Did you sell the pelt and get a job?"
"Haha, hardly."
He chuckled and spoke as his teacup shifted slightly.
"Ah, right—you wouldn't know, Licht. My real job is butler. Name's Dijur."
"...Pardon? Not coachman? But back then..."
"That was an act, Licht."
Dijur smiled softly at me, but it didn't add up. An act? Like an interviewer testing academy-bound students?
'If Shadow Wolf attacked without me, he might've saved them.'
In a romance fantasy academy story, even player mistakes have safety nets. I crossed my arms, pondering.
"So the Shadow Wolf incident—I wasn't seeing things."
"..."
But that aside, first time seeing his face on campus. Like with Mardol, contradictions piled up.
A staffer calling himself butler? Too odd.
"As one serving the Empire, I salute your achievements."
"Lupus?"
"Close enough. Sharp as ever, Licht."
The crown prince's butler, huh. Damn, Lupus really is this arc's protagonist.
"And we always appreciate you getting along with our young miss."
The 'miss' confirmed it—she really was a girl. I sighed deeply. Recalling incidents with her made my head spin.
That's when it happened. As I hung my head, a strange voice came from beside me.
"Dijur!"
A pretty boy's voice.
"You vanished suddenly—scared me!"
"...You...?"
"Whoa, black knight helmet! So you're Licht-hyung? Nice to meet ya...!"
A young boy with wolf ears, black hair, and striking golden eyes wagged his tail, greeting me.
'What the hell is going on?'
I touched the helmet's visor, doubting my eyes. Anyone could see it was young Lupus Granasia.
"Ah, Your Highness. This is Licht."
"Coach Dijur, no way he's..."
And not crown prince, but prince? Publicly, he's crown prince. Famous imperial figure—I knew that much.
"Yes, Prince Lupus Granasia. Mind your manners."
"Nah! Licht-hyung! No need—you saved my mom...!"
The boy ran up with a bright smile. He knew about saving Empress Bellin? Otherwise, no such words.
'Then maybe.'
The card I'd only given Mardol. Knowing that meant one thing. The status window advice after club join flashed in my mind.
[Then as a reward, I'll share some good info.]
Not Sharutineth,
[Someone absent from Knight Heart might be here! Amazing, right? Helpful? ☆ｰ(๑•᎑<๑)]
It meant Mardol?
"Huh...? Licht-hyung! What's wrong...?"
"Just a dizzy spell. Greetings, Prince Lupus Granasia."
All the facts hit me at once—I was rattled, words speeding up. I staggered, balance lost.
Then who the hell is Mardol?
"...Y-Your Highness."
"Yeah? What's up, Licht-hyung?"
To check the last possibility, I asked the luxuriously dressed boy before me.
"Do you... have any older siblings?"
Lupus looked too young for academy. So the crystal armor wearer's identity was...
"Mardol-nee is... Ah, she said not to tell!"
"..."
"Eh, it'll be fine! My sis always talks about you, Licht-hyung!"
The boyish Lupus grinned boyishly to cover his slip, but hearing that stopped my heart. Breath caught.
'...It was like that from the start.'
Meaning someone entirely separate from who I'd suspected.
"Huh...? Licht-hyung?"
"Licht! What's wrong...!"
A harem forming means no Saintess Route. Can't get close to her then.
I blacked out and collapsed.