*
To return to the empire, we moved toward the port.
“Take care, you daughter of Iron Blood!!”
“May you also be at peace, Drake.”
Drake and Sophia exchanged greetings. Unlike when we arrived, Asha had decided to return with us.
With the Apostle of Anger issue resolved, the monsters wouldn’t come down from the north anymore. It seems Sophia Coldheart’s heart disease would be cured soon as well.
‘If it’s Giseok, he’s reliable.’
Though cold, he takes good care of those close to him. If he fell into the game with me, maybe I could see him again later.
“Pina, how was the hot spring yesterday?”
Pina hadn’t spoken to me for a while. Perhaps the shock from the hot spring was too great, and her habit of clinging to me had vanished.
“I… I can’t talk…”
When Sophia mentioned the hot spring incident, Pina’s face turned as red as a boom from an exploding bomb. The glass knight, covering her face with both hands, didn’t know what to do.
“Pina. Are you alright?”
“..Hic. Hic.”
To make matters worse, she hiccupped and ran away every time I got close. Her snow-white hair swayed as she stepped back.
‘The status window is actually okay.’
A light pink status window appeared before me. Was it trying to tease someone? Heart emojis bounced and dropped at my feet.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pina Grancia 4% ‘NEW!!’]
Thankfully, it hadn’t gone down. Before coming to the north, Pina’s attitude toward me was one of complete attachment, but it had flipped completely.
“Ah… Uh…”
Between her fingers, I could see her golden wolf-like eyes trembling. No one could deny she was incredibly pretty.
It looked like the stars in the night sky filled with starlight one would see while gazing up from a pure white snowfield.
“Licht, what the heck did you do?”
“Just a light greeting.”
Sophia looked at my face with a strange expression. Why, what? I only gave her a cheek kiss. I didn’t actually touch lips, just made the sound.
Physical contact should be reserved for when you are really in love with someone after dating. If you just ask for it without reason and get it, that’s not pure love.
I do love Pina, but the way she is now is obvious to everyone…
“Pina, don’t stay away, come here.”
“No… No way… Pervert!”
She seemed like an innocent girl embarrassed about the strange knowledge she picked up from just reading books.
‘I don’t think she even knows how to kiss in the first place.’
If she actually knew how, she would have clung to my neck and pressed her lips right away.
Strangely enough, just touching her lips with my fingers would make her shake off the anger state, and even without touching her cheeks—just making noise—she would make cute excuses and run away.
Believing that kissing would make you fall in love is just absurd. I gave that innocent wolf a small tease, and her reaction was like this.
“Perverted puppy…!”
Every time I took a step closer, she took a step back. The previously emotionless Pina now yelled loudly when I approached.
“Junior, if your brother hears about this…”
“I haven’t had any unhealthy physical contact. Master.”
Drake lamented as he grabbed my shoulder. If Emperor Rock found out, the north would be split in half. I know that. But it couldn’t be helped.
“It was necessary.”
I couldn’t bear to see Pina tangled up with a bad man, pushed into kissing. She might get caught without her helmet at the academy.
I need to stick by her side and help her realize true love, right?
Just like how she taught me about love when she was the Nameless Saintess, I just want to return the favor.
Even though my affection level for her is rising, seeing Kainel or Nex with harem routes, there might be sufficient problems arising.
‘From the game company’s perspective, they might enjoy giving hope then dropping me.’
The penalty hanging over my head reflects that. If catching the Demon King was meant to change Pina’s past, that wouldn’t make any sense.
If I had stopped acting out of fear of the penalty, by now I would have been by Pina’s side while she had fallen into the Demon King’s schemes, forgetting friends, family, and even her own name.
But Pina was also someone who had her original life taken from her, so she deserved to be happy.
I’ve worked hard for her sake and plan to directly resolve her future as a saintess. But is this really for Pina?
‘..Honestly, I’m not sure.’
This question continued to swirl in my chest. It’s quite a contradiction. I feel that to ensure Pina’s happiness, someone like me should step away.
“Pina, if you don’t come quickly, I’ll leave you behind.”
“…”
The conflicting desire to date Pina keeps clashing inside me. Honestly, I didn’t think highly of the status window.
Why does it make me want to trust the numbers so much?
Perhaps it’s because our Pina is just too cute to crush all negative emotions.
“Don’t leave me behind… please…”
As I threaten to leave, she comes to me with timid, pitter-patter footsteps.
If I had a hopeful wish, it would be to flirt with Pina at Grand Hertz Academy or date her, getting close enough to share stories we didn’t know about each other. In the end…
“It’s a lie.”
“It was real though…”
How great would it be to see her in the wedding dress she wanted to wear? If she comes late, the ship will leave and I’d have no choice but to leave her behind. Pina.
“Ah, Pina. Could you apply some ointment for burns today?”
“..Here.”
When I first arrived in the north, she looked like she was desperately wishing she couldn’t have me. Now, she lifted her mask to show her bare face, and her reaction was like this.
“Weren’t you going to apply it for me?”
“Do it yourself…”
She turned her head to avoid looking at me and merely handed over the ointment. Maintaining a certain distance now.
“Then I’ll gratefully accept.”
“Ugh… Licht…”
Just a light touch of our fingers had such a sensitive reaction. What would have happened if we actually kissed? I’m grateful my mind held together at the hot spring.
“I have to apply it every day…”
“I know, Pina.”
Though I couldn’t sleep at night, I figured it was the right choice to force myself to hold back. If I had crossed that line then, I might not have been able to see this cute Pina.
I even had this thought that everyone was preparing to surround me in a beauty trap.
I might have woken up chained in the basement of the imperial palace, completely bound.
“Princess Sophia, I will take my leave now.”
“Just call me Sophie. If you’re Pina’s boyfriend, then you’re also my close friend.”
Just before I boarded the ship, I greeted the northern duchess. A woman adorned in black from head to toe with bear ears.
“Your choice of words… seems incorrect.”
“What does it matter? He’s my male friend, right?”
This person keeps probing my intentions like that guy in charge of the pillar. Still, I was grateful that there were no poisons in the dinner served at the hot spring.
“Please take care of our princess, Black Knight.”
“Is there a need for words? I will take good care of her without needing to be told.”
“Beware of jealousy. The Inrang tribe can be quite fearsome if provoked.”
Cold sweat trickled down my neck. Did she have more characteristics I didn’t know about? When she was the saintess, I never heard her mention anything about being part of the Inrang tribe.
I got a feeling that something was extremely wrong, but ultimately I decided not to fret, as I wouldn’t look at any other women besides Pina.
Even if she had intense jealousy, her defense isn’t strong enough to withstand a single blow.
“Ah, when a man named Plints returns, could you pass this message?”
Deciding to leave a message for the pillar guy who might be stuck in this game, I spoke with determination.
If the Grand Route or status window was only visible to me, it would be like they entered because of me.
“There is a pure love Black Knight at the academy.”
“..Got it. I don’t know when he will return, but I will surely pass it along.”
This should convey the message just fine. I’m not sure if a heart disease cure will be completed soon, but we will meet again someday.
“Thank you. Sophie.”
I stepped onto the boat with lighter steps than usual. Perhaps it was thanks to looking back on my time in the north.
As I took in the sea breeze, I thought that maybe it was okay to be a bit more honest with Pina.
*
Beneath the blue sea lies the deep sea.
“Why aren’t you selling rabbit feet?!”
“Hmph, I won’t sell it to dirty land dwellers.”
In a shop down there, a heated argument erupted between a man and a middle-aged man with octopus legs.
The striking white-haired man with red eyes was desperately trying to buy a non-sale item.
“Are you suggesting an enticing offer?”
“What is it…?”
He took a step back and presented the merchant with a silver charm.
An item that made the merchant drop his soap bubble cigarette. It looked similar to the token shown by Licht when he entered the hot spring.
Although it seemed of lesser grade than gold, it still elicited a valuable reaction.
“A ticket to an exclusive hot spring…?! Where on earth did you get this?!”
As he reached for the glimmering silver in front of him, the white-haired man quickly gestured to stop him.
“Ah, don’t touch it.”
“I want rabbit feet!! So hurry!!”
The white-haired man confirmed the octopus merchant’s reddening response.
“Fine. Let’s trade.”
Ultimately, having succeeded in exchanging for the desired item, he casually left the shop. The man began talking to himself while watching the jellyfish illuminating the dark sea.
“I’ve already bought the Snow Marine crystals in advance… but the unicorn horn… No, that should be in the Land of Fire.”
Seemingly satisfied with the flow of his own thoughts, he smiled and pulled out a long parchment from his pocket, reading through the items.
“Su-hyun… why did you write down what you tried with the Magic Hat…”
A man with the alias Plints frowned at the excessively long list and ruffled his white hair in dissatisfaction.
“I was so fed up with it that I wished anyone would come and break it, and then I spiraled into complaining on the community…”
As Plints reached out, small bats gathered in a line, revealing his preferred weapon: a red spear.
“Nothing is given by the game company. In that case, I’ll just have to protect our princess.”
Seeing the spear summoned from the water, Plints wore a slight smile on his face.
“As soon as this is resolved, the monster assault won’t be a problem at all.”
Words began disappearing from the parchment, and the player who used the nickname Husband of the Northern Duchess moved on to another location.
