*
Continuing the lecture is Professor Maria’s [Advanced Spirit Magic].
The first semester was nice because it was a theory class. But why is it advanced and not basic? With a light curiosity, I headed to the outdoor class location.
“Helmet!”
“What can I do for you, Ariel?”
In a place vibrant with maple and ginkgo leaves, the red-haired mage called my name while climbing the back mountain.
“Were you and Mardol that close? Why are you always holding hands?”
“…”
As expected, Ariel lives up to her nickname of being sharp-eyed.
It’s just that we’re holding hands to make sure we don’t trip over roots or stones. Even with heavy armor on, injuries are possible after all.
“It’s a rough path.”
“Right, right…”
I responded confidently, while Pina seemed shy and looked down. She seemed to enjoy holding hands, so I went along with it.
“But you two are also holding hands, aren’t you?”
I retorted with a smirk. Right now, Ariel also sticks close to Kainel.
Childhood friends do that, so is there some rule that we can’t?
“Th-this is… because I was worried Kain would trip!!”
“I’m doing this because I’m worried about you, Ariel.”
Tsundere Ariel couldn’t express her feelings properly and turned bright red, while Kainel said his line with a mischievous grin.
Watching that, a question that had lingered in my mind started to arise.
‘They remind me of myself.’
Lately, Pina’s reactions have been strangely abnormal. Is her emotion starting to return? The cold and blunt side of her seems to be melting away bit by bit.
“Pina.”
“Uh, um…? Why… Licht..?”
She acts as if she has found her heart again, like the Tin Woodman. The obsessive behavior from the north has completely disappeared, and every time I call her name, she gets flustered.
Obsession and love should be distinguished. Even if they’re feelings that can’t be separated, sometimes it’s necessary to think about them separately.
‘If it were other guys, she would have probably said yes when asked for a kiss…’
I’m the Black Knight. I have no intention of taking advantage of someone who doesn’t understand love.
In truth, the kiss sounds we made in the hot spring got her a huge reaction, which means she’s a naive wolf who doesn’t know how to kiss. If I’m not there to protect her, she’s in trouble.
Plus, she’s a naive wolf who often only saw strange things in books.
After returning from the north, I’ve been getting my mind straight. I ran away because I directly eliminated the bleak future of the Nameless Saintess.
But Pina’s overly forward approach made it necessary for me to come up with a countermeasure.
‘If she truly understands the feeling of love…’
Since it’s a game, the chance of our relationship drifting apart is very high, but there’s still a slim chance she might choose me.
Running away doesn’t solve anything anymore.
Just as Pina saved me when she was the Saintess, I too am beginning to change little by little.
“Walk carefully. I’ll keep your pace even if we go slow.”
I squeezed Pina’s hand with mine. Even though I could only feel a firm and smooth sensation through the glass glove, that alone made me happy.
She was someone I liked only through the monitor. Who would refuse to walk holding the hand of the person they had a crush on?
“Licht… don’t tease me…”
I stopped Pina, whose pace was quickening. I gently brushed a red maple leaf that had settled on her shoulder, like a bookmark.
“I just wanted to remove this for you.”
“…”
Pina flinched as if her body sprang up. She seemed scared of a man’s touch, much like when I had her dress up as Kuer.
Other than me, I don’t see her interacting with other guys.
The people who seemed like close friends were all women, like Sophia or Schartines. With Nex and Kainel, they felt like older brothers or friends.
When I introduced myself as her boyfriend, Roc got angry, so it’s probably true.
‘…At least I’m glad I’m not hated.’
If Pina were to attend the academy without her glass armor, the male students would definitely swarm around her. Even the elf Ariel barely manages to fend off advances from Kainel.
There were guys who claimed to be the eldest son of a noble family or a handsome guy who asked her to date just once.
Each time, I inwardly chanted “Doggy, bite!” while watching the blonde warrior deal with them.
In my mind, the prettiest Pina only made that situation tougher. There’s no way it would be any easier.
“We’re almost there.”
As I walked slowly, pondering these thoughts, I could see the clearing where we had held class during the first semester between the trees.
“Welcome, students.”
As we made our way through the woods to the class location, a pink-haired dryad at the podium greeted us.
“Hello, Professor Maria.”
“Oh my, it seems everyone has become a bit more honest with their feelings?”
Professor Maria giggled while covering her mouth when she spotted me. The nearby hamster spirits scuttled over to Pina and my feet.
“What does that mean…?”
“Look, you’re all holding hands. Just like two pairs of lovers.”
Professor Maria smiled at the Hero couple and Pina. Did she make that comment just because we were holding hands? Pina jumped back in surprise and waved her hands.
“Licht and I aren’t… lovers!”
“Yikes! Professor, you’re joking way too much!!”
Before Kainel and I could explain ourselves, their words interrupted us. As I turned to look at the blonde warrior,
‘Let’s just stay quiet. Kainel.’
‘Yeah, let’s do that.’
Our eyes met, sending a silent signal. Even though we didn’t use sound magic, I could feel each other’s thoughts. Seeing both Pina and Ariel embarrassed was quite a sight.
*
A few minutes after Maria started the class, I understood why this lecture was called “Advanced.”
“Starting from this lecture, with the permission of the head of the Aureus family, we will be able to showcase Spirit Perception Magic!”
Asha must have talked to her son after returning to the family. The affection level displayed on the status window has gone up to 62 percent.
‘Maybe Nex confessed to his mother that his spirit has grown.’
Even if the engagement with the second Saintess, Schartines, was postponed, there had been developments between mother and son. He had confessed the past he lived deceiving everyone.
“Your guidance teacher is here too. Since she’s back at the academy this semester, you might run into her sometime!”
I need to run away if I see the golden-haired woman. She touched on my trauma by casually talking about family matters.
But if it’s left unchecked, the wound will just fester. Parents often make the mistake of easily identifying with their children since they are mirrors reflecting themselves.
A tiny hamster climbed onto the back of the students’ hands.
“Ta-da! When the hamsters hand out the scrolls, stick them to the center of your chest…”
Maria pulled out a small piece of parchment inscribed with a magic circle from her arms. It looked similar to what Nex had done on my back earlier, but in a different shape.
“Please chant ‘Born anew from the flames’!”
They’re going to do the perception magic in groups. They’re definitely the Ten Heroes known as the living sun, providing such fiery support.
Since Pina liked my spirit and thought it was cute, maybe I should give it a shot, even if I stumble like usual.
“Born anew from the flames.”
As I pressed the scroll to my chest and chanted, a black-furred bundle sprung up in front of me.
It was larger than I had seen before… No, it looked plump because it had so much fur.
Other students were also summoning their spirits one after another. Obviously, Kainel and Ariel were a dog and a cat.
“Woof!”
“Nice to meet you, Blacky.”
Surprisingly, I didn’t experience any side effects. Could it be because I’m sharing a magic circuit with Pina?
Seemingly happy to see me after a long time, the Pomeranian spirit was panting with its tongue out. It stood on its short little legs, vigorously protesting for attention.
“…Blacky.”
“Woof!”
Reluctantly, I gently petted its soft fur to calm it down, and then Pina in her glass armor approached me.
“So cute…”
At that moment, Blacky dashed into Pina’s arms as if I wasn’t even his owner.
Feeling like a forgotten child, I realized I had missed out on something in my past.
‘…Spirits see through the masterpiece’s setting.’
I recalled seeing somewhere the importance of being cautious during PVP. Since it didn’t apply to me when I didn’t hide my identity, I had dismissed it.
If I wore black armor or a knight’s helmet, it was bound to be me.
I had also fainted repeatedly when I summoned a spirit before, so this one must have known Pina was the one for me.
Blacky was lying on the ground, showing its belly in a sign of submission. Its ears drooped so much it looked like a seal.
“Hehe, Blacky doesn’t resemble Licht at all.”
“Is that a compliment…?”
Today, her chuckle sounded eerily chilling, so I started focusing down at Pina.
“If only Licht could listen to me like this….”
Chills. The look in Blacky’s eyes while I rubbed its belly seemed to reflect my own, suggesting it was feeling my emotions.
‘Yandere route…?’
There was that time in the north when they tried to confine me as well. I briefly contemplated what kind of scene would unfold if they tried to seize me using the princess’s power.
“Blacky, don’t lick me… it reminds me of Licht…”
“Pant pant.”
When the spirit licked Pina’s glass helmet, she seemed to sparkle with life again.
Well done. Luckily, Blacky managed to turn off Pina’s switch.
If I made a mistake, I could be branded a criminal for laying hands on a princess, forever forced to only stay by Pina’s side.
‘Or maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.’
I shook my head at the wicked thought that popped into my mind. I wouldn’t mind being unable to go to the town square, but it would tarnish Pina’s image.
At the very least, if Pina didn’t want that, I should avoid it…
“Ahh…”
Just then, I felt something tugging at my pants leg and turned around.
“A wolf…?”
A spirit that looked like a white wolf mixed with a captivating fox was tugging at my clothes. It clearly looked like someone I knew.
Unlike Blacky, it seemed a bit bigger. Was it just a difference between a puppy and a wolf?
“…Is this okay?”
As I slowly petted the wolf with white fur and golden eyes, a scent of roses, akin to someone familiar, wafted through the air. The spirit was making cute sounds like a little purr while happily enjoying my touch.
Didn’t dogs and animals typically dislike having their heads touched? Like Blacky, its ears were completely flattened.
As I cautiously scratched its chin, the platinum wolf rubbed its face against my hand.
“Hayang… don’t do that to Licht..! It’s embarrassing!”
Indeed, it was Pina’s. Watching Hayang wag its tail excitedly following me, she shouted.
Blacky and Hayang. It was such an adorable name choice that only Pina could pull off.
