The sun dipped below the horizon, and night returned once more.
“Haha!! My disciple is truly impressive!!”
“Drake, our Lily is also a disciple.”
A pub in the Grancia Empire was noisy.
“At first, I was the disciple!”
“Who ended up with the head? Drake. Not you, right?”
“..Beatrice, you shouldn’t just say it like that!”
The academy’s faculty gathered to celebrate the return of the Celestial Demon. Naturally, Nana and Pina were invited.
“Let’s not be so cynical. It’s been a while since Lady Lily returned~.”
“Her highness doesn’t know you.”
“Still, she wears flowers in her hair… I admired her when I was young!”
People we hadn’t seen in ages. Beatrice giving the dragon slayer a hard time, and Maria trying to act friendly with the White Lily.
“First, everyone drink! I’ll treat!”
“Waaaaaaah!!”
Splash—. The sound of a dwarf pouring beer from an oak barrel resonated, and Dennis slid a cool glass filled to the brim across the table.
“..That guy is definitely stirring trouble.”
The White Lily watched him with an unfriendly expression, arms crossed. Beside her, I was barely standing with Pina’s support.
“Disciple. Is it too late to greet your master?”
“Your unworthy disciple greets you.”
The Celestial Demon greeted me as she looked at me. I thought I would save her one day, but to think it would be so soon. I bowed my head.
“Shouldn’t you offer some humility?”
“Ah, yes.”
“Licht, that’s a lie. Don’t do it.”
I thought I would need to bow nine times. As I bent my knees to bow, the white-haired girl stopped me, holding me back.
“Heh heh! When did you become a man who gets tightly held by a woman!”
“…”
It was because of our Pina Grancia that I was held back. I couldn’t say it out loud. It was too embarrassing.
“Didn’t you sing about wanting to see that Nameless Saintess before?”
“Indeed, that’s the problem.”
Honestly, I had no face to talk about anything with the Celestial Demon here. The reason I grasped the head was ultimately for Pina.
“I’m glad to see you’re healthy.”
Up until now, I had pulled out my Mind Swords while thinking of our Pina, enduring the Celestial Demon’s training with the thought that I needed to become stronger.
Revealing that Pina was the Nameless Saintess here would only wound her. I had never shown her kindness to win the love of the past.
“She didn’t think our disciple would defeat the Demon King!”
“The Demon King is just someone who ends up defeated, right?”
“Exactly. True words.”
If I said this, Pina would endlessly doubt me. This was another world altogether.
Who would believe that I had possessed the character I raised in a game?
This was also why I introduced myself to Pina as “I’m the Black Knight who came to make you happy.”
“Defeating the Demon King with Mind Swords drawn while thinking of the Saintess, doing it twice at that.”
“I thought one would be the limit.”
“It’s rare. It shows that the boy’s mind takes on various forms and nuances.”
The conviction that would replace her tears, the thoughts created when she rescued me from her trauma.
My love for Pina Grancia was indeed old, yet I hadn’t even started properly.
“Continue to strive harder. My beloved disciple.”
“Thank you, Celestial Demon.”
Before, it was just the relationship between a game character and a player.
A one-sided affection akin to unrequited love.
Trying to overlap Pina with the Saintess or changing her to suit my desires wasn’t love.
True love might be about being able to love her true self.
I loved everything about her. Even though I couldn’t use magic alone in this world, I believed that the magic of learning to love what I dislike was love.
If it doesn’t work, we can fix it together. If it’s slow, I can match her pace.
“..Excuse me, ma’am.”
No matter what trials or hardships lay before me, I felt confident that I could overcome them with love.
“Stop getting too friendly with my Licht.”
“Hmm, you’re a boy who isn’t scared even looking at her!”
When Pina looked at the people around me like this, it felt like her favorability was strangely skewed. As I interacted with the Celestial Demon,
“Pina, that’s still my master.”
“…I don’t like you talking to pretty girls.”
“Then what about Lady Ariel?”
Pina instantly pulled me back, creating distance between us. Why was our adorable platinum wolf acting like this towards me?
‘Could she possibly like me…?’
The thought suddenly filled my mind. But that couldn’t be. I had always thought that way in reality too.
“Ariel has Kainel.”
“Then isn’t Professor Dennis the same as my master, Pina?”
Before I got burned, there were girls who said they liked me, but back then, I didn’t want a girlfriend out of fear of being a bother to someone.
In the end, it was only the Saintess, so I lived without knowing much about romance. I had a wife inside the monitor.
“I don’t know, I just don’t like it.”
“Heh! In the end, your highness is indeed stronger, so you instinctively want to keep him in check.”
“… That’s why I don’t like it.”
It didn’t seem like she felt that way about me. Who these days falls in love after someone saves their life? That was so out of fashion.
“Is it Pina you mentioned?”
“Yeah, White Lily.”
As I sighed in relief, the Celestial Demon seated me and took Pina somewhere.
I was on alert, wondering what could happen.
“Our Highness… has nothing else to do.”
“Really?”
“…”
The two whispered. It was too far away to hear. What kind of fun conversation could two girls be having? How much time passed?
“I understand. I’ll trust you.”
“Heh heh! My disciple, you’re indeed a naughty boy!”
Pina spoke with the same honorifics she used for Dennis. Just from exchanging a few words, our glass knight changed like that?
She approached me and even gave a small smile. Her white hair swaying was beautiful, though.
“What did you say to our Pina?!”
“Wouldn’t it be better for you to think about it with that dull head? My disciple.”
The White Lily tapped her temple with her finger and Pina moved her chair closer to me, narrowing the distance.
“Let’s drink today, Licht.”
“..Huh? But you said I shouldn’t drink since I’m recovering.”
“I want to win against that ‘Nameless Saintess.’”
Ah, did she really bring up the topic of the Saintess with Pina? I made a face as if I had bitten down on something bad, while the doe-woman simply grinned, revealing her dragon teeth.
“Licht. You said you don’t know her well.”
It was then. A blue-haired man approached from the side. His blue sea-colored eyes were striking.
“Lily, what are you doing here?”
“Gyaah! K-Kuhm. Dennis! You can’t just pick me up like that!”
“You’re light, what’s the big deal? Stop bothering the kids and come on.”
Unbeknownst to anyone, Dennis had quietly approached the Celestial Demon, lifting her up in a princess carry. Covering her face with both hands, the White Lily seemed embarrassed.
So our master had such a cute scream. How wonderful.
“Drink comfortably. Today is a celebration thanks to Licht-kun.”
“No, if it weren’t for Pina, I wouldn’t be in this place.”
“True, that too. I’ll be taking my wife along.”
The blue-haired man smiled softly. Now that I wasn’t constantly casting defense magic, my eyes didn’t shine. Not drunk, my footsteps remained steady.
“Do as you please. Congratulations to both of you.”
“Have a good night too, Licht-kun.”
Wobbling and living like a drunkard, the protagonist began to walk the right path.
“Dennis..! Remember to be proper around my disciple….”
“Lily, those aren’t things for an elder to meddle in.”
“Ugh.. I can’t win against you.”
The two of them turned their backs and walked over to where the other faculty members were gathered, visibly happy as they exchanged quiet words.
“Everyone, raise your glasses!”
“Cheers!!”
“Cheers!!”
Everyone smiled brightly. I felt like I was born to witness this scene. Joyful faces and intoxication.
“Sister-in-law, please take good care of our Dennis!”
“Laplace. Be quiet!! Hahaha!!”
Clink. The sound of glasses ringing. In the heart of the tavern, where everyone blended together like a furnace,
[Achieved 100% affection level between Dennis and White Lily!]
I couldn’t help but smile slightly as I looked at the status window that appeared before me. This didn’t seem bad at all.
[EVENT CG: “Love Under the Lily Tree.” has been collected!]
Was that the kiss scene under the Lily tree I saw earlier through the 3D Magic Circles? In the original, they just cried and reunited before it ended.
‘Did I help Dennis achieve that thanks to showing him the 3D Magic Circles?’
The event scenes became even richer. That meant other couples included in the status window must have similar things too.
I couldn’t wait to see what would happen with Nex and Kainel. I expected many heartwarming scenes to unfold, just like this.
[As expected, I believe in the pure-hearted Black Knight Lee Soo-hyun! ✧(-ᴗ•̀｡]
The one who offered no help when it mattered was now causing an uproar. If he believed, he should at least erase the penalties in case of failure.
“..Licht, let’s drink this.”
“Huh..? What is this?”
As I rested my chin in my hand, pondering over the status window that appeared, Pina held out a drink in front of me.
“Lumen’s Sleep Talking.”
The drink that the head recommended last time. Was it okay to drink this?
“Isn’t this a bit strong? Dwarves drink it, right?”
“I want something a bit stronger.”
Originally, dwarves were said to create masterpieces and drink it to recover from lack of sleep. After exerting high concentration, they couldn’t shake off tension or something like that.
“..Why’s that?”
“If you get drunk, your guard will be down, Licht.”
Her golden eyes, resembling a predator, shone as they met mine. Now that I think about it, with Kainel and Ariel gone, I had no excuses.
“Just take it slow, Pina.”
“I counted before. I can drink more than you, Licht.”
Pina giggled softly, a mischievous smile. When had she become someone who could blend into the atmosphere like this? She was totally different from the emotionless doll I first saw.
If she wanted to drink this, I ought to pour it for her. I could be the Black Knight if something happened before she did.
Pina brought over a small glass. At the moment our glasses were filled for each other.
“Well then, let’s toast.”
“Cheers.”
Glancing outside the window, I could see the crescent moon, and just like the moon that was beginning to wax again, we started to drink.
