*
The first semester of the academy has ended, and summer break has begun.
There was also the excuse of needing repairs due to the attack from the Hero Church, so it was a timely choice.
‘Dragon Heart… I’ve completely adapted now.’
My body’s recovery is complete. I’m even in better condition than usual.
I feel as light as a feather. It must be thanks to our Pina for successfully performing the Dragon Heart transplant.
Or maybe it was the result of the Saintess I saw in my dream helping me. Either way, she remains my lifesaver.
“Hahaha! My disciple!”
“Greetings, Master Drake.”
In the end, I couldn’t defy Emperor Rock’s orders, so I arrived at the harbor’s dock to head north, and there stood my first master, whom I greeted.
“So, you’re heading north?!”
“Yes, it seems the problem will only be resolved by capturing the Apostle. Are you feeling well?”
After all, I’ll have to persuade Asha to clear things up with Nex. Forcing the two of them to meet could make things worse.
“Uhhahaha!! My disciple is worrying about me now!”
“Honestly, I’ve received a lot of help in swordsmanship.”
This person, in a way, is also my lifesaver. A man with yellow hair and many scars on his face, just like me.
“Those pathetic Hero Church guys couldn’t possibly leave a mark on me!!”
With Demon King Kill, Shadow Slash, and Void Slash… Without his techniques, I wouldn’t have been able to protect Pina.
“Disciple, I heard you killed the Head. How about learning the perfect Dragon Kill?!”
“I refuse.”
Drake took me on as a disciple without prejudice. Even though I can’t use basic magic, divine power, or spirit magic.
“How sad! This master is truly sad!”
“If Pina is beside me, I wouldn’t notice it, but looking at it now, it doesn’t seem like she would let me be.”
I worked hard under his guidance, feeling my bones and flesh grind away. Occasionally, I felt I was growing quickly, wondering if I might have talent.
“…The Princess?”
Every time, Drake would whip me back into shape. To catch the Demon Kings, I had to seek the extreme, just like Dennis said.
An ultimate move that overrides concepts.
Had I become complacent and given up midway, the current result wouldn’t have happened.
The salty scent of the sea tickled my nose, and seagulls flew overhead. The waves reflecting sunlight made me squint.
“Yes, what went wrong? You suddenly went quiet…”
“…”
In the background, two swordsmen stood still. What on earth happened to Pina for them to freeze like that?
“I heard from my brother that you, you… What’s your relationship with the Princess? You’re her disciple…?”
Drake grabbed my shoulder and asked. Did Rock say something to my master? The Grand Sword Master’s hands were shaking.
“We’re just friends.”
It felt inappropriate to call her a comrade, more like classmates who are close. Although I do have one-sided feelings for Pina.
“Right! You wouldn’t dare hit on the Empire’s princess!! Uhhahaha!!”
“Of course not. It wouldn’t match my level.”
It’s a one-sided feeling. A fifteen-year-long unrequited love. Honestly, from her perspective, it might be scary.
‘If I said I liked you from the future, I’d be treated like a madman.’
Even if there’s a chance she would believe me, as I grew more concerned about my future self, my true self could get buried.
At least I don’t want to do such a thing. I don’t want to be a clingy guy.
“My brother was worried for nothing! Then, I trust you, disciple!”
I can love any version of Pina, so I hope she lives her own life. It’s inevitable if she meets someone else and gets married or dates.
I would willingly give my life for her too.
“Oh, there’s Licht.”
At that moment, a familiar buzzing voice echoed.
“I found you…”
“Pina? How did you get here…?”
In the distance, I saw the armored glass knight. She was wearing a masterpiece just like when I first met her.
“I followed your scent.”
Almost immediately, she approached me, as if trying to smell me.
She seemed to get along with me, making what I just told Drake feel superficial.
“Dragon Slayer meets the Empire’s princess!!”
“Ah, Drake.”
A man who was about to kneel while mumbling a greeting. Even though we’re close as the Ten Heroes, can’t we drop the formalities?
“Normally, you don’t have to be so formal.”
“Uhhahaha!! Polite speech is indeed uncomfortable!!”
Regardless of what Drake said, Pina checked my condition, and,
“Fortunately, I’m not late…”
After confirming I was okay, she took off her glass helmet and armor. The curves of a woman were laid bare before me.
“Are you planning to go north with me? Pina.”
“Yeah, I was worried about Licht.”
“You know I’ve fully recovered.”
Seeing her in matching outfits after leaving the academy was more headache-inducing than it should be. Why am I feeling like this over just two percent?
“Still, I want to be Licht’s strength.”
“What’s the reason, Pina?”
If this goes down to zero percent, my heart will collapse. Please stop.
“You’re a lonely wolf.”
“…Huh? What’s that supposed to mean, Pina?”
“A lonely person…”
I grabbed Pina’s hand as she raised mine over my mask.
“Whew, Licht. You really are kind.”
Right away, her fingers interlocked with mine. I was worried she’d be hurt grabbing my wrist.
“What are you talking about? I’m just doing what I want.”
“Then if I leave you alone, you might crumble. Get hurt.”
Pina smiled softly. Her gentle and warm fingers brushed against my hand, and my heart started to tingle.
“You almost died fighting the Demon King last time…”
“…”
“Am I wrong? Licht.”
Her golden eyes pierced through me sharply. Is this how a husband feels when being scolded?
I am an upstanding person. I haven’t been cheating or enjoying leisure outside; something feels off.
“…Pina’s words are all correct.”
“Hehe, so listen to me.”
She let out her signature laugh. If the person I like is worrying about me, I have to follow whatever she says.
“And if you listen to the princess, good things might happen…”
Suddenly, a slightly cold and moist sensation touched my face. What’s this?
‘..An ointment for my scars?’
While I briefly lowered my head, she was applying something that looked like ointment on my face. Surprised, I locked eyes with her.
“What is this? Pina.”
“It’s a burn scar treatment. I could heal it all at once with healing magic, but…”
Even after seeing the burn marks, her expression didn’t change. She actually seemed to be worried about me.
“I thought it’d be nice to slowly heal this together.”
“Really, there’s no need to care so much, Pina.”
She even tried to smile faintly to hide it. Her acting was stiff. At least she’s not hating or scared of me, so that’s a relief.
“No, you should also heal my scars.”
Pina meticulously applied the ointment, carefully and thoroughly covering my scars.
“You’ve experienced some things from my trauma, haven’t you?”
Her hands, small and delicate like ferns, conveyed warmth from her gentle heart.
“To be honest, I can’t fully understand you. Licht.”
Her white ears perked and the wolf tail wrapped around my legs, trapping me in my emotions.
“…I don’t know you well.”
The sound of my heartbeat drowned out the surrounding noise, and the smell of roses continued to swirl in my brain.
“But, as you said before….”
My body felt frozen, unable to move. Watching her gently trying to heal my wounds, I shut my eyes tight.
“Even if you’re weak, I can still be your strength.”
A jolt of electricity swept through my whole body. It was a clear feeling of love. A moment felt like eternity, melting away the guilt that tormented me throughout my life.
“Okay, it’s all done, Licht.”
“..Thank you always, Pina.”
After applying the ointment all over my face, Pina Grancia straightened up, seemingly proud, and carefully closed my mask.
“You held up well… Licht…”
I slightly bent my knees to match her height for when she tried to touch my helmet. She was even trying to tiptoe.
“..At times like this, you really do seem like an adorable puppy.”
A light weight nudged the top of my head. Treating a person like a dog isn’t good, though.
‘This is maddening. For real.’
Watching her turn me into a love prisoner both in reality and here, I found it ridiculous.
“Disciple! Is this really just a friendship?!”
My master shouted loudly beside me, but his voice didn’t register.
I simply hoped this moment would last forever.
*
After the Head’s death, all that filled the place where the Demon Kings of the Hero Church were gathered was a serene silence.
─Crash.
The silence was broken by the sound of someone throwing a glass.
“..Damn it, that idiot Head!!”
“Finn, calm down…”
The man with red hair, called Finn, smashed the glass in anger, while the blue-haired woman, Intinium, tried to calm him.
“He overestimated his abilities, acting utterly arrogant.”
“Black Cloud, you’re always such a pain in the ass, aren’t you? Huh?!”
The celestial demon Black Cloud, with antlers like a deer, sneered at Finn. At that moment, Finn tried to activate his power, but,
“Stop it.”
A woman wearing a magic hat intervened and flew like a flying knife, stopping just at the neck of the three Demon Kings.
Even though it almost came to losing their heads, the Demon Kings ceased their movements. It was undeniable that the magic hat was the strongest among them.
“Life and Death is still lingering. While the abilities of Zephira and Ignorance have vanished…”
She smiled softly, placing a red revolver and a book on the table.
“So, is that prophecy he calculated correct?!”
“Yes, the prophecy is still feasible. Demon King of Might.”
After seeing that, Finn crossed his legs and sat back down. Soon, the other Demon Kings followed suit.
“The true hero will confirm the truth. You can use my abilities.”
They discussed Head’s death once more.
“Hmph, if it weren’t for our Intinium, I wouldn’t have joined along with Head’s plan.”
“Finn…”
A blue-eyed woman gazed at him sadly, and Black Cloud crossed his arms, questioning her.
“Are you really going to proceed with the plan? Clown.”
“Oh dear, calling me a clown… You’re so harsh, Black Cloud.”
In a situation where one Demon King had already died, trusting her to proceed with the plan seemed risky, but he voiced his concerns.
“According to the prophecy Head left behind, I will send Finn and Intinium from here on out.”
The magic hat merely wore a relaxed smile, appearing as if she had a rough grasp of Licht’s skills.
“In the end, all that’s left is to take care of the lord, I mean Lee Soo-hyun.”
Snap. With a finger snap, someone’s hair color changed from white to black.
“And that person probably doesn’t know that this current Demon King is a pair of twins.”
She snapped her fingers again, and now, a monocle-wearing magic hat mimicked Head, reading the life and death.
“I’ve already sent an Apostle to the north to let the monsters descend… Magic Hat…”
“Well done, Intinium.”
She stroked Intinium’s head, trembling with her hands together, petting her like a puppy while trying to make the most of the prophecies Head left behind.
“Hmmm, so this prophecy is exactly like this?”
After time passed and the mage had sorted out her thoughts, she closed the book with a bright expression, but,
“…Someday, I’ll have to visit the academy with our lord!”
Contrary to the magic hat, her face, showing no sorrow over her comrade’s death, sent chills down the spines of the other Demon Kings.
