Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: 23-2. Who Is the Uninvited Guest?
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The summer festival had begun. The academy grounds were overflowing with people, buzzing with excitement.
"This is the Magic Club's haunted house booth! Come on in!"
"Ariel, it's about to start. Let's get ready to go in."
"Okay! Got it! Kai...!"
Couples held hands or wandered from one fun booth to the next.
"Licht, what are you doing...?"
"Just enjoying the view. Oh, is there nothing Mardol wants to do at the festival?"
"Not really. Nothing."
Memories and happiness mingled in the air, making the whole world feel alive with joy. Everyone except the two of us. Mardol, disguised as Quell, stared at me intently.
"...Licht."
"Yes?"
This person didn't seem to have any romantic ties with anyone, no matter how I thought about it. Was there maybe someone like Dennis, where the love line only kicked in after defeating the Demon King?
"...Is the festival fun?"
"Well... of course it is? It's a sight we don't get to see every day."
"I see."
The wooden monster lowered its head. Why was it looking so down again? Scared that the imperial guard might show up? I casually brought it up to her.
"By any chance, are you not enjoying the festival?"
"...I'm not sure. It's just a bunch of people, right?"
"That's what makes it great."
"Huh...?"
What a perfect timing to watch some pure love moments. It was sad that she couldn't appreciate this kind of fun.
"Look over there."
"A harpy and... an oni?"
Yeah. I pointed at a woman with bird wings and a horned man pressed right up against each other, walking side by side.
"They look hot."
"It's early summer still, so of course."
A natural smile tugged at my lips inside the helmet. The hesitant oni man and the harpy woman smirking slyly as she stuck even closer.
"...Why is that?"
"Those two probably like each other. They're friends, just one step away from becoming lovers."
"How do you know...?"
"Just a feeling."
I said it a bit louder on purpose so Kainel and Ariel could hear. My voice echoed from the flaming helmet Mardol was holding.
"Eep!"
"..."
The yellow Cerberus and red Cheshire Cat, who were finishing up booth preparations nearby, jumped and looked my way in surprise. You two better raise that Love Meter and get married already.
"Can't you feel that fresh vibe?"
"...No idea. They just look embarrassed around each other."
Golden wolf eyes gleamed from inside the helmet covered in branches. Was she still cold to everyone but me?
I habitually rested my chin on my hand, deep in thought. It was a real problem if the main heroine acted like this. She was supposed to be at the center of every bloodbath.
I couldn't stick around Mardol forever helping her out. Eventually, I'd have to pair up the other couples too.
'What will her love line be like?'
I gave a wry smile. Would there ever be a character who could truly love this glass knight?
Her mother had even turned into a card because of Magic Hat. Few people could understand her and stand by her side...
'No point dwelling on it. Yeah.'
A dizzying sensation hit me, and I sighed at myself, stopping my thoughts.
Love was fair. Even a rat hole gets sunlight sometimes, right? I'd been a sewer rat myself, but meeting the Nameless Saintess had changed me a lot.
'Habitually negative again. Gotta fix that...'
Like unlocking the northern grand duchess's affection. Once Magic Hat was dealt with, she'd probably meet someone nice and fall in love naturally.
Her emotions seemed to be coming back a bit, which was reassuring, but maybe it was too much since the Magic Hat incident wasn't resolved yet.
'Guys like live-in lovers are rare, though.'
The key was the heart. As long as it didn't break, even if it shook. Like me, the glass knight still had hope for recovery.
"You'll figure it out someday, Mardol."
"You'll tell me, Licht?"
"...As a 'friend,' I'll help."
"Yay. Promise made."
As I encouraged her, Mardol latched onto it like she'd planned it. Help only as a 'friend.'
People often say there's no such thing as just friends between men and women.
But no matter where you looked in the world, there wouldn't be another relationship like mine and Mardol's. Rivals and friends. That's why I said it twice—it mattered.
"Only advice as a friend. Nothing like a promise..."
"Not a promise?"
"I'm not doing it because I want to."
Main heroine or not, I was convinced lately that if I hadn't mistaken her for the crown prince, I never would've gotten involved with her.
At least I thought her gender had changed like Magic Hat's.
'Didn't know she was a whole new character, a princess.'
Where I needed info, I lacked it; where I didn't, it overflowed. My carelessness had brought us this close.
"But your eyes, Licht. They look happy."
"Me? No way."
"...Liar."
No matter what, it felt wrong to push away someone who looked so pitiful just because she was a girl. She was kind, too.
At the bakery, she'd cried in my arms. She'd noticed my trauma and worried about me, and she was the first person I'd seen after the fight with Magic Hat.
'She was probably looking for me the whole time back then.'
Inside that strong-looking armor hid a heart more fragile than anyone's. People were contradictory like that. Even someone oblivious knew that much.
"Don't regret it later. If you start building a reverse harem, I'll punish you right away."
This much consideration should be enough. It was too late to start hating her now that I knew so much. I chuckled inwardly and spoke to her.
"...I'll be looking forward to it."
She'd probably said it to get that reaction from the start. Seemed like teasing me was fun—she leaned forward, showing blatant interest.
'Is she really a wolf?'
Her golden eyes curved like crescent moons, making her look sly like a fox. Felt like dealing with Nex Aureus.
A black wolf tail seemed to twitch inside her.
I let out a small sigh. Truth be told, even if flags were piling up, it didn't matter.
Mardol would never take priority over our Saintess in my heart.
"Mardol, let's get ready. The festival's really starting now."
"Three promises, Licht."
"I know..."
I tried changing the subject to avoid the trap, but it only reminded me of her sharp memory.
'Please take care of the Nameless Saintess—one. Second, Dragon Heart... Last, help with romance as a friend.'
Nothing flag-worthy there. And no matter how much her affection rose, it wouldn't turn into mutual Love Meter feelings, so it was fine.
"I'll hold the helmet, Licht. Tell me if it's heavy."
"...Thanks."
That day, my steps felt heavier than usual as I walked into the club booth.
At that moment, at the main gate of Grand Hearts Academy.
"Identity check, sir."
"Oh dear... I've died a lot too, you know."
Head was blocked by two men guarding the entrance and showed his displeasure. The gentleman wore an expression like he had no choice.
"You're one minute past the allowed time."
"We can use binding magic if you resist."
"No need to rush. I surely have permission from the Mage Tower..."
As he reached into his pocket, the guards immediately thrust their spears at him threateningly.
"Hands up!"
"...Alright, alright. Can't beat the youthful vigor, I suppose."
As if he'd expected it. Head calmly raised both arms. A permission slip fell to the ground with a thud—a small parchment marked as from the Mage Tower's sage.
"Oh, by the way, a warning."
The Demon King leisurely warned the two approaching men.
"Don't touch my body."
Ignoring Head entirely, the two armored guards patted down his suit, checking for dangerous items.
"What's this...?"
How much time passed? One guard pulled something from Head's pocket.
"A magic tool...?"
"Looks suspicious to anyone. Confiscate it immediately... Confiscate?"
In his hand was an eight-shot revolver with striking red coloring. An anachronism that didn't fit the medieval fantasy world.
"Uwaaa...?"
"Gueh...?"
In that instant, the two men's eyes glazed over, and they collapsed to the ground. Drooling, they slumped down and crawled on all fours like humans turned beasts.
"...Did they touch the holy sword?"
They looked like newborns. Familiar with the sight, Head showed no reaction.
"Wah! Waaah!!"
The guards soon wailed like babies calling for their mothers, taken out before they could use spears or magic.
"That's why I told you to be careful. Hmm, what were their names...?"
Something seemed to come to mind, but he stopped and strolled forward casually. Even with guards acting like infants right in front of the academy,
"...No time to recalculate. Sorry about that. At least you're still alive."
He ignored the surrounding people. The crowd chattered on, enjoying the festival as if nothing happened.
"If they'd touched it more, they'd have forgotten how to breathe... So consider this lucky."
The Demon King sighed, picked up his fallen revolver, and pocketed the sage permission slip again.
"Now then, what kind of hero is the protagonist of that anomaly in the grade exams?"
Head smiled as if amused. His calculations being off was unexpected, but he'd accounted for this level of variable.
"Emotion, intellect, reason, will... Swordsmanship, so it must be Tardun's hero."
The baby-like cries faded behind him, and Grand Hearts Academy's Summer Festival entrance loomed ahead, boldly marked.
"I'll try coaxing first... If he doesn't match my 'prophecy'."
He fiddled with the revolver in his pocket and continued. One chamber empty in the cylinder.
"...I'll have to eliminate him. In the most probable way."
As Head blended into the crowd, the air vibrated, sending a sudden chill through the surroundings.