*
Unexpectedly, the cleanup of the undead monsters was finished quickly.
If it were just Asha Aureus, the Spirit Magician, and the northern grand princess who specializes in spear techniques, it might have been tough.
“But now there’s the Grand Sword Master Drake, and I can use the Mind Sword too.”
Even if they constantly regenerate and don’t die, they would still die if I pierce their thoughts and crush them from the inside.
“Bad monster. I hate it.”
Finally, Pina Grancia launched dozens of glass swords and completely slaughtered them.
Spirit magic is dependent on corpses or life force. It’s not infinite.
It might have been a perfectly crafted scheme by an omniscient being.
As I briefly thought while watching the sparkling glass shards reflecting sunlight,
“If it were the original scenario, without Pina or me, the north would have been in danger.”
From what I heard from the pillar guy, the northern region was once conquered by the Apostle of Rage.
“I overlooked that it wasn’t just the Demon King but an Apostle level threat…”
This incident had been prepared before Head Ake died.
Due to omniscience or ignorance, there might have been gaps in the defense line.
Sofia Coldheart’s personality became cold because of such past experiences, but the northern grand princess I saw this time didn’t seem that cold.
Was there a change of heart? Or was it because I had stopped the air raid beforehand?
“Why are you like this?! Are you crying at your master’s magnificent appearance?! Hahaha!!”
As I habitually contemplated the contradictions, a short man with yellow hair shrugged his shoulders confidently while looking at me.
Unlike how he was portrayed in the game, that guy is surprisingly brainy. He just pointed out that one of the undead monsters had an oversized arm.
“Thanks for the advice earlier.”
Thanks to that, when I swung my right arm, I focused solely on defense without being hasty.
“You should have realized it faster than I did!”
Was there something suspicious about that? He frowned in dissatisfaction.
“Disciple, you’re not going to become a hollow fool who only relies on sword abilities, right?!”
Drake spoke while looking at my blue-glowing Mind Sword.
“No, Master.”
I gazed at the reflection of the Black Knight’s helmet on my sword. It’s not exactly relying on the sword.
“I’m relying on Pina Grancia.”
More than the powers or abilities of the Mind Swords, Pina Grancia is what matters. If I can protect her, nothing else will matter.
All the Mind Swords I create are made from memories with Pina.
If I thought I could just take control of people’s hearts with power, I wouldn’t have made it this far.
Strange words like the Hero of Conviction weren’t needed.
I didn’t want to become the kind of guy who sets up a harem and lives luxuriously.
“Surrounded by heroines, changing up date courses every time? No way!”
But even if it rains, this thing works.
I felt it while searching for Pina, but my ability to transform raindrops into balls of water was still intact even in sleet.
It’s amazing that I can deal damage to the Demon King with the Holy Sword substitute.
Thinking about it, all these anomalies occurred because I had preemptively killed Head Ake.
The status window must have been filled with variables to the point of showing warning messages and penalties. But I didn’t want to act according to the game company’s intentions.
There’s no such thing as perfection in this world.
After all, it was that guy who led me to love our Pina as the Nameless Saintess.
“Pina, are you mad?”
“No, Licht.”
At that moment, I heard a tap, tap sound and turned to my side. A girl with white hair and wolf ears was venting her frustration on the ground.
“Why do you keep kicking stones…?”
“…”
It seemed like she was trying to say something before the monsters appeared. For some reason, she looked upset because things weren’t going her way.
Did she get upset because I forced a finger kiss?
“Um, Licht.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
After a while, Pina seemed to gather her thoughts and calmly opened her mouth.
“Could you do that again from earlier?”
‘That again?’ What exactly was she referring to?
“Finger… kiss?”
She really remembers that. My heart began racing because of her as she rubbed against my arm asking.
“Ah, it’s pounding. Licht’s heart.”
“Please don’t say things like that out loud! Pina!”
I could hardly look her in the face, and as my gaze wavered, she bit her slightly glossy small lips and continued speaking.
“Hehe, Licht is a puppy. A super cute puppy.”
My breath caught for a moment seeing her call me cute without knowing me well.
“..Just one more time.”
Why is she acting like such a fox? Maybe being a princess has made her adept at reading people.
I felt like I was looking at a fox spirit instead of a wolf. Maybe it’s because of her white color.
“I can’t do it. That was a shock therapy to break the anger state.”
“Oh…?”
I waved my hands dismissively to push her away.
However, now that she had figured out how I was moving, she pulled me closer to her chest.
“Don’t think about escaping.”
Pina Grancia sentencing my reason to death.
“You stole my lips without permission, you know? Licht…?”
Please stop this physical assault. I’m just a virile guy too. To keep my sanity, I gently bit my tongue.
“What would happen if my father found out that I touched the lips of the Grancia princess… Licht?”
At that moment, I felt a chilling presence like a cold blade pressed against my throat.
Of course, he would try to kill me. Even entering the palace, there was a misunderstanding that I was her boyfriend, and I almost got hit with a sonic boom.
He could mobilize his connections and power like the Ten Heroes, or the Imperial Guard, or the Order of Knights.
“Half the world would turn against me.”
And he might even step in personally. No matter how busy royal duties are, he’s the type who would pick guards for his children.
It’s only natural for a father to get angry if some random guy snatched his cherished daughter’s lips.
“If I was in the same situation, my dad would probably act the same way.”
Parents who love their children deeply understand each other.
Even when I had burn scars and struggled to fit in, he was always there cheering for me.
If my father saw Pina, would he have liked her?
He would have probably joked, saying, “Isn’t this why our Su-hyun has a girlfriend?” laughing at me with that cheeky smile.
The reason I don’t easily consider myself the Hero of Conviction is all thanks to my father.
“Being a hero means I have to act worthy of the title.”
The back profile of my father, a firefighter, that I cut out and saved from a newspaper during my childhood fits that title better than any hero in games.
Now, I found myself alone in this world without knowing anyone, lucky to be taken in by an old couple as their adopted son.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t know the warmth of my parents.
After a long time contemplating, I lifted the visor of my helmet and said,
“…This is the last time, Pina.”
I was ready to grant the request of the person who saved my life.
Even if I keep wavering about my feelings towards Pina.
“Okay, if I can’t do it… then instead… huh?”
If my father saw this situation, what would he say?
With the pillar guy’s advice in mind, I’ll try to let her show her true self.
“Wait, wait… Really?”
Pina’s golden eyes began to widen. She didn’t expect me to take action.
She was flustered, her tail wagging vigorously in clear signs of anxiety.
“Licht. I’m not ready in my heart…”
Like fragile glass, her relationship skills required extra caution.
Pina Grancia’s true self is a wolf desperately in need of support.
A predator at the top of the food pyramid but still confused between obsession and love, asking me for a kiss.
But when it comes to pure love, I’m closer to being a wolf than she is.
I don’t know if someone will come to fill her emptiness, but at least I can do this much.
“Come closer. Pina.”
“Licht, wait. Stop..”
Though I’m not an expert in true love either, I’ve had feelings brewing for 15 years.
Even though I failed to gather my mind and desires often.
‘Who would love me if I said I loved you from beyond the monitor?’
A supportive pillar I have always kept deep in my heart.
If I bang this huge feeling right into her face and reveal the truth, she might end up hating me. The image of the Nameless Saintess could overshadow her true self.
It’s merely a tantrum fueled by personal greed. That’s not love.
If it were her as a saint, she might have honestly discussed it, but now she’s a princess.
But all the mistakes in our journey until now are mine. I must extinguish the unease she has because of me.
The person most precious to me is indeed her. I need to deal with my cowardice and admit it.
“You don’t have to be scared.”
If I’ve done it once, then twice should be easier.
Since the first is always the hardest. I pressed my finger to my lips again to keep her from getting anxious.
“Licht, the finger…wait…”
I gently touched Pina’s white lips again, and this time, I daringly brushed against her upper lip.
I thought this would stop her from asking me to do it again. I couldn’t let her ask Kainel or Ariel to kiss me later.
“My affection level is important, but so is everyone else’s, Pina.”
You must achieve the Grand Route ending to find happiness. You’re the only one in this game without a happy ending.
The game company that’s cruel enough to give the sequel a serious drift won’t leave you alone, Pina.
A lovely girl destined for unhappiness because of the Demon Kings.
I could only leave my footprints on someone so pure and untouchable.
“Ah.”
But I made a mistake. I felt a slightly moist sensation on my thumb. I should have known better.
“Ump..?”
There was one thing I overlooked — that unlike last time, I forced her mouth shut while she asked me to wait.
“My tongue… touched….”
I came into contact with the tip of her slightly blushing tongue. The small, soft sensation was different from her lips.
“..I’m sorry.”
Clang. I promptly closed the visor to hide my embarrassment. Should I wipe this off? No, maybe I should leave it… I shouldn’t wash my hands.
All sorts of fantasies began swirling in my head, becoming pretty dizzy to the point I could hardly stand.
“I, I’m fine! There’s no need to apologize.”
I hurriedly pulled away from Pina. Now she covered her mouth with both hands. When she charged at me, where did that energy go?
“Yeah, this is a mistake. An accident…”
Now she’s turned away from me, mumbling to herself. She used to approach me with her tail wagging earlier.
Now all I see is her white hair and wolf ears leaning back.
“Pina, um…”
“Eep.”
As I took a step closer, a scared wolf scurried away, darting off with shaky steps.
Like a game of tag, we rapidly distanced ourselves from each other while coming down the mountain.
“..What are we, children?”
“Still, it’ll be a big deal if Rock finds out. Sophia Coldheart.”
The northern grand princess looked strangely at the distance between Pina and me as she provided a hint.
“Brother, I didn’t do anything wrong..”
Asha of the Ten Heroes and Drake were worried about whether news of this would reach the Emperor.
