*
My head is pounding. That strange message from the status window keeps swirling in my brain.
“What’s troubling you? Licht?”
“Oh, it’s nothing. Kainel.”
“Nothing, huh? It’s written all over your forehead: ‘I’m troubled.'”
As I leaned back in my chair and sighed, Kainel made a comment from the side. If I’m not careful, I might accidentally step into the harem route.
“If you have a problem, just say it. This Kainel will listen.”
The blonde-haired hero knows I’ve been acting strange since the practice match. Maybe he has a good gut instinct.
A cold autumn breeze swept through the academy’s male dormitory and pierced my lungs.
“… Should I say it?”
I’ve relied on Kainel a lot even in reality.
A decade from [Night Heart] to [Black Heart]. Even if we exclude Pina, the nameless saintess, these people are painful reminders for me.
They feel like real friends, these game characters.
“Kainel, what do you think it would feel like if you could see the future?”
“Huh? Licht. So you are that kind of hero? Is it similar to the Head?”
I’ve let out just a little truth. A big variable has appeared that makes it hard to keep living my academy life without telling anyone.
Like my romance with Blanc.
That means I could charm other heroines depending on the player’s actions.
“Let’s just say it’s similar for now.”
I think what I can do is to think that the opponent can do the same. It’s the basic principle of PVP. But still, something doesn’t sit right.
“Kainel, what if, just what if, I came from the future where Ariel became a hero?”
After the practice match, I looked up at the floating status window.
[Shar ♡ Nex 64%]
[Kainel ♡ Ariel 35%]
[Lee Soo-hyun ♡ Pina Grancia 5%]
[Dennis ♡ White Lily 100% ‘Complete.’]
[Penalty on failure:? Myth. ]
The affection level with Blanc has vanished. The Grand Route with Pina should be unaffected, since I’ve cursed and twisted the flag itself.
But the feeling of unease is too strong to just let it go, so I decided to ask for help.
“Ariel as a hero, huh?”
Kainel closed the textbook he was reading and focused on my question. He frowned deeply and began to ponder.
“Being chosen by the Holy Sword and having to catch the Demon King isn’t an easy task, you know, Kainel.”
“… That’s true. Because of the Hero Church, the reputation is bad.”
I know about Kainel’s past. His parents were almost killed by the Demon King, and his brother, who was a knight, died.
This was one of the actions of the Demon Kings from the Hero Church. I suspect the monster responsible for burning the forest where Ariel lived was also one of them.
“I was asked to let someone else become the hero instead of suffering Ariel…”
That was why he was furious back when he pretended to be a playboy in the carriage.
His experience also made him hate people who act self-important despite being no big deal, like the Demon Kings from the Hero Church.
“… What if I’ve twisted the future?”
“So, you’re saying that’s how I became the Light Hero?”
Kainel unknowingly had many similarities.
Until he met me, he couldn’t express his feelings properly out of fear of ruining his relationship with his childhood friend and kept pushing her away.
“Ariel being a hero means she’s unhappy, right? If you said that after beating the Head…”
“She’s quite unhappy.”
Even though it’s a story I made up, he listened earnestly.
“If that’s really the case…”
His piercing blue eyes watched for my reaction. Is he really that bright?
“I’ll thank you. Licht.”
Kainel bowed his head to me. I expected him to say not to make corny lies, but surprisingly he seemed to believe me.
“What? Really? If everything you’ve been through is my fault?”
“Think about it, Ariel has been in life-threatening situations twice already. Actually, three times, I guess.”
Am I referring to the Shadow Wolf and Magic Hat’s attacks? During the Head’s raid on the academy, the hero couple could have been targeted, so three times is indeed correct.
“If I could just protect Ariel, then I’m fine.”
It felt like looking into a mirror.
It was similar to when I tried to protect Pina as the Black Knight. The expression of someone willing to endure any hardship for their loved one.
This is definitely the hero Kainel I know. He placed his hand on my shoulder and continued.
“In the end, you’ve tried to protect us with your life, right?”
Have I? I didn’t hesitate because I thought I had already thrown away my life once. It was enough for me if I could save Pina.
“Being a hero is certainly exhausting. But looking at what you do, I don’t really want to despise you.”
With a wry smile, Kainel spoke in a reassuring tone.
“Really, Licht.”
Suddenly, he stopped laughing and activated the Holy Sword, creating a barrier around us.
“Let there be light.”
The white light pouring from the Holy Sword enveloped the room. A thin hemispherical shield formed around us.
I had seen it when the Head attacked before. Has his skill grown? Of course, he can block tracking and eavesdropping magic, but why a barrier that can block even the Demon Kings’ powers…
“Most of what’s happened until now wouldn’t make sense if you hadn’t come from the future.”
“…”
The follow-up statement after making perfect preparations sent chills down my spine. I mean, I’ve given this guy too many hints.
“Well, saying I became the hero instead of Ariel is a lie. How could she be a hero?”
“Ah, that’s not it. It was all made up from the start.”
“You’re really transparent when you lie. What are you trying to dodge?”
Kainel sighed. Am I that obvious? Pina has caught on to my lies a lot.
“Are you looking at various possibilities like a sage?”
No, what I saw was just one single despairing future. I feel a bitter taste in my mouth. I can’t tell him that. Let’s change the subject.
“No, I can’t see the future after it’s changed, Kainel.”
“… So that’s why you’re worried.”
Now understanding, Kainel nodded. Honestly, I’m scared about whether the affection level with Pina will continue properly.
If history goes as it should, she should become the nameless saintess, but I’ve changed it as I pleased.
Pina doesn’t have an accepted ending in the game department, apart from the Grand Route. Just a moment ago she was about to have her affection level with Blanc rise.
I hesitated to approach because I understood this system.
“I’ll ask one thing. In the future, is it true that you and the princess are dating?”
Kainel enjoyed his revenge on the carriage, smirking. I know enough that Pina Grancia currently has feelings for me beyond just friendship.
“I honestly don’t know. I couldn’t see that part.”
There was also what Sophia said in the North, and they even had mixed bathing. They paired a friend he had known since childhood with a guy.
‘If she really hated me, she would’ve already been branded a criminal in the Empire.’
The room we stayed in at the inn was quite spacious. There were two pillows like a twin room. Maybe they intended for us to share a bed, but Pina might have run away.
“… Even if it ends badly in the future, it’s right to try falling in love again, Kainel.”
With a shaky breath, I told Kainel the truth. The realization I had when I went North: even if the affection level drops, I have to try.
“Yeah, if the nameless saintess and the princess are the same person, then I think it’s fine.”
Kainel smiled while mentioning the nameless saintess. He continued to provide a solution to the worries he had kept to himself.
“How… did you know that..?”
“Why? You wouldn’t say that I like Ariel, would you? I’ll keep it a secret.”
In response to my shocked demeanor, the hero replied. It’s a promise to keep the secret.
He knows about the fact I’ve never been in love before, and initially, I only said I liked one person. Did he catch on?
*
Pina Grancia was lying in her chamber.
‘Richt… protected me again…’
She reached her hand toward the ceiling and recalled the image of the man from today’s practice match. The one wearing the black knight helmet, always watching over her.
Seeing him win in any situation made him feel like a hero from a fairy tale. Even when Blanc threw a dagger as a threat, he jumped in to block it.
‘So sweet.’
Pina knew. The man named Licht cares more for her than for his own safety. That’s why when creating the Mind Sword, she had let her lips brush against his just slightly.
She didn’t want to lose to a saint, and she was also curious about what Licht’s cheek would feel like, a small desire.
‘If I’ve opened my eyes… I would have cried on the spot out of embarrassment…’
Her heart thumped, thump thump. Love was budding inside her. She felt relieved that it was Licht and not another man who was so clueless.
‘I was told to really love someone next time, but… I don’t want to lose Licht…’
Pina clasped her hands over her chest, feeling suffocated. Not yet knowing love, she wondered about the bittersweet cold sensation creeping in.
When she was with Licht, she had felt a cloud-like sensation floating in one corner of her heart. But looking at her teacher, Blanc, anger boiled up inside her.
‘Licht is mine…’
As soon as the practice match ended, seeing them getting chummy or inviting him to eat made her suspicious. But even with her best efforts to investigate through the elite guard, not a speck of dust could be found.
‘Something feels off. I need to put a watcher on him.’
Despite having a peculiar personality causing her reputation to fluctuate, she had truly been the student council president and attended the academy for four years without incident.
Even with her keen eyes, she couldn’t discern any lies, so at least he’s real. Just thinking about it made her frown automatically.
“… Let’s practice magic.”
To drive away these bad thoughts, Pina stood up from her bed.
“Was… Licht’s height… like this?”
She glanced slightly upward as if looking at someone a head taller than her. On the wall facing her, someone’s height was marked with lines.
‘Mirror Mirage.’
Pina recited the spell towards that spot, and there appeared Licht’s clone.
Specifically, it looked like the way he did after their fight with Blanc. Magic reflects the mind.
“Is it another failure…?”
Pina unconsciously expressed her affection for the man named Licht. He was slightly more polished than the real Licht she had seen.
“This isn’t it. He was stronger…”
In front of the glass-carved likeness of Licht, Pina embraced him. This wasn’t the sensation she was looking for, so she repeatedly used the magic again.
“Real one is definitely warmer…”
After confirming dozens of times, Pina shyly let go of the hug. Her face felt unbearably hot, and she hid her cheeks behind her hair.
“Should I tell Licht I want to see his body a bit…?”
She began rationalizing her thoughts, claiming it was for preparation to maximally elevate her clone magic.
Since he was a man who had even taken down the Demon King for her, a sculpture of such a person should be spread more widely across the Empire.
“No, that’s embarrassing… Is there a way to sneak a look…?”
To do that, it was essential to make the accuracy between Licht and the clone as similar as possible. No matter how she thought about it, there was only one person Pina wanted to clone.
The texture was still as hard as glass. At this rate, she wouldn’t be able to create a soft clone as the Celestial Demon mentioned.
At that moment, a brilliant idea struck her.
If a fake can’t imitate the real one, then she should do the opposite.
“Oh, that could work.”
Pina sighed, as if realizing something.
