Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: 21-2. Emotions Like a Fireworks Display Shot into the Sky
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The next day, in the magic club's annex room.
"Oh, Licht's here too?"
"Helmet Guy, hello!"
All the club members I hadn't seen yesterday were gathered. Kainel and Ariel.
"Licht. Hello."
"...Hello."
And Mardol too. The glass armor she wore sparkled in the sunlight, like a massive crystal.
"So, our festival booth is really going to be..."
They continued chatting while rummaging through the snacks. I hadn't caught the beginning because I was late, but it was about the festival.
"...a maid cafe?"
"Kai, I'm against it. For whose sake?!"
"Why? I'd love to see you in a maid outfit... Ariel, put that Fire Ball away."
So they were talking about the classic maid cafe. Well, it was a standard cliche in romance fantasy academy stories.
The guys in butler outfits, the girls in maid outfits.
It was like the limited-event costumes for game characters. If this were still a game, an ad banner would pop up right now, threatening me to spend real money.
"..."
For a split second, I imagined Mardol in a maid outfit.
I shouldn't. I stayed unfazed even facing the Apostle of Lust. Why was this image lingering in my head?
"What's up, Licht?"
"...It's nothing."
She really had a killer figure. How could it be better than a succubus's? Maybe that's why the masterpiece became heavy plate armor.
But compared to our Saintess, it was still lacking. Get a grip. I shook my head vigorously to clear the stray thoughts.
"Mardol, got any other good ideas?"
Ariel, who had shoved a fireball right up to Kainel's face before snuffing it out, asked the princess. A low hum spread through the air, followed by a single word.
"...Hell."
"What'd you say...? Mardol?"
Her curt way of speaking was the problem. Mardol, you can't just say it like that. I had to step in before misunderstandings arose.
"Since it's summer, she's suggesting a haunted house booth. Like 'Mini Hell Experience!' or something."
"Right."
Once I clarified properly, Mardol crossed her arms with a smug look. I was the one who said it—why are you acting like that?
"Oh, not bad."
"Licht, how exactly? We need to decide how to make it scary."
"We'll combine all three of your magics."
The hero couple's eyes sparkled with interest in me. Good, it was working. Mardol in a maid outfit... no, a maid cafe was absolutely out.
"First, Mardol's glass magic."
"Yeah, Licht. I know."
The knight in pure white heavy plate nodded at my mention. No way—was she only verbose with me? It gave me chills. I turned to the mutt sitting right next to me.
"...And use Kainel's holy sword or light magic to make a maze."
"I can handle that to some extent. For illusions?"
"Yes, exactly."
Light Hero, after all. Not combat-level like a magic swordsman, but this was basic.
"What about me then, Helmet Guy? My magic won't work, right?"
"Miss Ariel, make unharmful hellfire and lay it on the floor."
"Ah, like fireworks—twisting the concept."
"Exactly."
They were pros at magic, after all. They got it from just a hint. Convenient, since everyone in this world could use magic. Except me.
"So what're you doing, Helmet Guy?"
"Me...?"
"Licht is the problem."
"Problem?"
No need for you to answer. Mardol. Seeing Ariel's confused look, I continued.
"...I'll give simple riddles."
Like the dad jokes our Saintess loved. I could picture the pure white lady smiling.
"At forks in the path, right answers lead the correct way..."
"Wrong ones drop them into traps."
"Yes, that's it. Mardol."
Was she always like this? Her changing demeanor scared me. I swallowed hard, pondering the imperial invitation.
"Any objections?"
"None. Licht. Let's do it."
When I polled the room, Mardol jumped right in. You should at least hear everyone out.
Those golden eyes kept locking onto me. Look somewhere else, please.
"I'm for it! No maid cafe!"
"Then I'm for it too. Can't be helped. I wanted to see Ariel in a maid outfit."
"Wh-what?! Kai, you wanna get burned for real?!"
Kainel nodding reluctantly, the redhead mage blushing and charging fireballs in both hands.
What a clueless mutt. They could just date like this.
Come to think of it, their Love Meter was at 34%. At 50%, they'd probably start going out.
"Now, let's talk costumes."
I approached the blackboard and wrote down names. To list costumes next to them. Kainel was a mutt, so canine or beast worked.
"How about Cerberus for Kainel?"
"Oh, the three-headed one? Just buy two extra heads and attach 'em."
"Sounds good. Hound Dog leather would make it realistic."
"The fur's so lush—it'll look real. A two-legged Cerberus. Cool, right?"
Teasing Ariel from the start? The blond hero was already glancing sideways, stifling laughs. You'll suffer after marriage.
"Miss Ariel... any preferences?"
I quickly asked the Blazing Flame Mage. Pairing feline with Kainel would boost their Love Meter easily.
"Cheshire Cat!"
The purple cat from storybooks. Here, she'd vanish with flames,
"...A red cat, then."
"Yeah! Pretend to vanish in flames, then reappear!"
Just like her community nickname. It suited her perfectly.
"Ariel, then we'd look like a couple. Can't you pick something else?"
"Hmph, I've always wanted to try this once. If you hate it, you do something else, Kai!"
"Cerberus is so cool... Can't give up my dream."
This had to be it. Their fresh, budding vibe felt right. I nailed it on the blackboard.
"Kainel as Cerberus. Ariel as red Cheshire Cat."
"..."
Where you gonna run? Just go pure love. Kainel. Even with my solo push, they didn't resist. Why fight it if you like each other?
I looked at the last one, excluding me. The knight like a shining mirror.
"Mardol...?"
If she took off that glass armor, every guy in the academy would swarm her. Despite appearances, she was this event's main heroine.
'Even a Saintess-obsessed guy like me is tempted, so her popularity must be huge.'
But I didn't want to force her into something hated. Even if I needed to lower affinity, that'd be scum behavior.
'Can't mod something over that masterpiece.'
Ah, one idea. The mid-boss tree monster from [Knight Heart], the forest keeper. Quell. Her armor could recreate that massive oak beast.
"Know the tree monster Quell? Try attaching branches over the armor?"
I stepped up to compare heights. Similar stature. Her bulky knight form had misled me at first.
"If it's your idea, Licht, I'll do it."
"...Understood."
I figured a cute-stuff lover like her would balk. But she faced me straight and nodded.
"Then it's just me left. I'll go as a Sphinx..."
I glanced at Mardol as I spoke. That instant,
"...Dullahan."
"Pardon? Dullahan...?"
Her signature hum rang out. I'd planned Yamraj-Sphinx hybrid, but Mardol was pushing her idea strongly.
"Dullahan. Licht. Use my glass magic to hide the head part, hold just the helmet."
Her longest line yet hit like lightning. The route-confirm line I'd failed to trigger from Kainel early on.
'In-game, rejecting a meaningful line like this was a no-go.'
Longest dialogue from her across all our moments. Defy it and we're doomed. Unknown route, confirmed line—who knows what happens.
"Mardol, since when can you talk that much...?"
"Uh, yeah... Dullahan fits better. Sphinx is feline, overlaps with Ariel."
Even the hero couple next to us was swayed. The mood was shifting. I needed a plan.
"Everyone knows I can't remove this helmet."
"You can't, Licht...?"
"Yes, can't remove it. Not won't."
I sighed. Did Mardol not know? Probably wanted to see my face.
'Face issue? Lifting the visor works, but it'd show my burn scar to everyone.'
As I pondered Dullahan,
"Just buy an extra helmet to hold."
"Ah. That works."
Kainel had the fix. Simple, almost anticlimactic.
I felt relief at the oversight, while Mardol shot him a slight glare, looking disappointed.
"Add Ariel's magic to make it burn—more atmosphere?"
"...Blue flames? Pretty. Yeah, good!"
The imperial guard might show up yelling 'Insulting Her Highness? Immediate execution!'
"Tossing the helmet at people wouldn't scare 'em, Ariel?"
"Eek! Kai, what're you saying right now!!"
"Haha. It's just a helmet anyway."
Oblivious or not. The blond hero bantered only with the mage beside him. The pair laughing and teasing.
Seeing them, a smile tugged at my lips. Good that expressions don't show.
"...Then let's go buy materials now. Kainel and Ariel, go together. Both beast costumes, right?"
To raise Love Meter, yield the date course. As I finished,
"What about you, Helmet Guy? Alone?"
Ariel asked curiously, red hair swaying.
"Yes, just the smithy for me."
Dullahan armor to buy, grab a helmet—simple. No hitches...
"I'll go with you. Licht."
"...Mardol?"
The glass knight already gripped my arm, not letting go. Forgot—Dullahan was a confirmed line. Can't derail now.
"...Got it. Meet back at the club after costuming. Test if it's scary."
"Licht, don't get too shocked!"
"Looking forward to it."
Better than cockblocking the hero couple. Simple task, no affinity boost likely.
"Let's head out. Tree seller first."
"...Yeah, Licht."
And so Mardol and I split from Kainel and Ariel into pairs.