Chapter 83
Chapter 83
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 83
Chapter Title: 23-4. Who Is the Uninvited Guest?
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Head stepped into the magic club's booth. In front of a dimly lit mirror maze where only a faint light filtered in.
"Hehe! Bet that startled you! ..Uh, huh? Not even a flinch?"
"Ariel, you must've botched the scare."
"Not bad, young ones."
A massive hero couple had leaped out in front of him to spook him, but the Demon King just stood there calmly, lost in deep thought, without so much as a twitch of surprise.
'As expected, not Kainel.'
The Demon King let out a low groan. The yellow Cerberus right in front of him hadn't grown enough to shatter his ignorance yet.
"Not bad at all. Nearly gave this old heart a tumble."
"See, Kai? Told you I nailed it!"
The red-haired mage grinning slyly at the hero from the side was no different. No artifact-grade gear in sight.
As expected, the prime suspect was the one who'd pulled off that upset in the grade exams. The man in the Black Knight helmet.
'That he nearly beat Princess Pine Granasia... that's what's nagging at me.'
He'd pegged the one who'd wounded Magic Hat as Licht too. Hundreds of calculations, zero variables. Even if it was buried under lies he couldn't decipher.
'In an info war, you gain the edge by keeping your cards hidden.'
Licht was already like a jagged rock sticking out. Too conspicuous by half—no matter how he crunched it, just one possibility stood out.
"One minute left."
He glanced at his wristwatch and said curtly. No more surprises, and a showdown with Licht was locked in.
"..What the hell?"
But as he pushed past the hero couple deeper into the maze, he found the spot where students dressed as sphinxes and cuers ought to be... completely empty.
His calculations had missed again. The Sharutineth kidnapping? He could chalk that up to ignorance on his part.
'As a hero, the unknowns in his kit were the big factor.'
It blew his mind that the two who should be here right now were nowhere. This wasn't just piercing his blind spots—it was nullifying his omniscience.
'Some ability to wipe recognition clean.'
Head slapped his forehead in hollow defeat, two steps behind already. Well, this was a hero who'd repelled the Truth Demon King.
Scouted the spot meticulously, got the jump... and still no contact. The Demon King stared down at the deep-dug tunnel floor.
"..Dropped right here, huh."
He muttered, eyeing the training slimes wriggling below.
The incident struck out of nowhere.
"..Licht. You alright?"
"Fine.. I'm.. More importantly, could you get off me from on top?"
A student, spooked by my dullahan getup, had whipped out a fire spirit. I stumbled back, foot slipping into the trap nearby.
"Ah, sorry."
Mardol had seen me tumble into the training slime pit and hurled herself after, landing underground with me.
"Sorry.. Guess I'm still scared of fire."
"It's fine. Licht."
Last time Ariel shoved that fireball in my face too. Looked like my body hadn't shaken off those wounds yet.
"..Thought I was past it."
I let out a heavy sigh. Mardol, who'd landed on top, was spotless. Me? Caked in sticky slime goo, feeling gross.
"Licht.. why're you scared of fire?"
She propped herself up, asking with open curiosity. Kid stuff.
The reason for my burn scars and shunning people. Heard screams begging for help, charged back into the blaze. No miracles there.
Without Knight Heart, how'd I have survived? The thought hit like lightning.
"Had an incident."
"..Bad one, huh."
She picked up on my vibe—the golden wolf eyes gleaming from her tree costume. Sharp as ever. Unlike some.
Grateful she dropped it. This scar's mine to bear. Can't beg understanding or dump it on others.
"Licht. I'm here."
"..So you jumped down too?"
"Yeah. Can't leave a perv alone..."
Mardol flexed her fists showily, then abruptly lost her balance and wobbled. What the—?
"..Miss Mardol?"
"..."
"Twisted your ankle?"
"Ah, yeah.. think so."
Mardol limping. Holy power'd fix it easy. But training slimes closing in.
Too damn dark—swing a sword blind, might trash the booth. Whole setup screaming for me to look after her.
'No choice.'
Flags piled up till they snapped. Rescuer ends up hurt worse? Absurd. I turned my back to Mardol, crouched low.
"Hop on."
"Licht..? I can wait it out..."
"Slimes incoming. And you're hurt—can't cast."
"..Got it. Licht."
Linger here, it'd turn into some sketchy scene. Masterpiece gown, sprained ankle? Zero options left.
'Gotta be the right call.'
Force of nature now. Games pull weird side events from stacked flags like this. And she's the main girl.
Galges got heroines chomping toast, yelling "late!" before slamming into protag.
Flash of slime bad end. Coincidences on coincidences = fate.
"Alright, heading out."
"..Yeah."
Not crazy. Ditch her or flail sword? Wrong move. Imperial Guard'd have my head.
'Not heavy at all.'
Straight event dive—princess looped arms round my neck. Back felt the stiff wood texture.
Felt it before. Damn light. Or training bulked me up.
"Miss Mardol."
"..Licht, rude."
"Wasn't gonna say lose weight..."
"Perv, perv.. Licht."
Piggybacked, she thumped my back lightly with fists. Good, not bad hurt. Inner sigh of relief.
"Oh, right."
"What..? Licht?"
"Why keep the helmet on, Miss Mardol?"
Figured the system stuck us solo for a reason—time to ask what'd bugged me forever.
"..."
"Don't wanna say? No sweat. Won't poke old wounds."
Sudden bury-face-in-back. Huh? She'd just been smacking it, affinity dip? Then Mardol spoke.
"..Magic Hat. Met him as a kid."
Choked truth. Knew it'd push from Saintess route, but.
'Nagged at me forever. Demon King, huh.'
Dove after falling me, sprained ankle. Mardol's feelings for me already past a point.
"What'd the Truth Demon King do to you?"
"Said I was the problem—for being a girl. Killed maids while..."
"So you hid your gender.."
"Yeah.. Scared others'd get hurt by the Demon King 'cause of me.."
Life miles from normal. Princess gig looks almighty, but nah.
"..Must've been rough."
"My fault.. I..."
"Cut that. You were a kid."
Everyone's weak sometimes. Mad magician trashed her life root and stem.
"..Sorry for the harsh words before."
Steps halted. Sword yard curse history resurfaced—apologized fresh.
Cold glass vibe, but cared deepest for others. Kid trauma? No quick fix.
"No.. Licht."
"Then, for atonement—why I hide my face?"
"Eh..? Uh..! Spill.."
Knew her best, total empathy. Not adult, just kid. Smash into cold wall, shatter—what fix?
"Big burns as a kid too."
Can't blame out, rod turns in. Gnaw self-flesh.
Skip the green self-hate everyone risks.
"Barely out... heard 'save me' screams, ran back. That's when."
"..Gotcha. Hated sharing, why me..?"
"You shared a pain memory first."
Joy shared doubles, grief halves.
Post-grade exams, Mardol always had my back—had to care.
"..So quit the self-hate. Demon King's the villain."
"Licht.."
"No need self-harm. Been there—total drag."
Feelings ain't linear. Wanted to buck up this knight-mirror of me.
'Saintess'd rage.. but right.'
Back warmth sparked it maybe.
Or pity-pat. Don't know her deep, easy lip-service.
'Just no one to lean on. Kid-me vibes.'
Hurt souls crave tiniest pep. Couldn't shove Mardol who'd bared trauma for my ask.
"..Hang in. Or drinks tonight?"
"Eh..? Night market?"
"Yeah, bad vibes gotta vent."
Drink pitch to tree beast. Hero duo join, summer fest night bliss.
Academy freshie post-rite. Booze fine. Guards patrol, no drama.
"Deal. Licht.. Heads up, I won't tap out."
"Haha. Game on. Fun tales, not gloom—wrap the day right."
My IRL stress zap: corner beer, snacks, game.
"..Licht."
Bad mems vaporized. This'd work. Less helmet-face fixation.
"..Thanks. Licht."
"Anytime. Friends, right? Miss Mardol."
"Friends.."
"Worries hit, vent to me. Fee's a meal later."
Meal joke. More to unload, but face-buried deeper. Better now.
"..Yeah, friends. Us."
Heart-burdens swapped, we trudged to the booth exit where light beckoned.