*
A status window popped up in front of me. Unlike usual, it was filled with chocolate emojis.
What day is it? It’s not Valentine’s Day or anything.
[Kainel♡Ariel 37% ‘NEW!’]
I’m glad the hero couple got closer after the play ended yesterday. Maybe the pressure of being heroes has lessened.
Even though I didn’t say anything when we left the theater, they were holding hands till the very end.
Their affectionate display continued all the way back to the dorm.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pina Grancia 7% ‘NEW!!’]
Wait, why is this going up? I remember Pina having fun watching the play yesterday.
‘If it hits 50%, will our Pina be able to date…?’
I’m worried about other guys hitting on her because of that unexpected masterpiece from yesterday.
Drake’s practice match time.
“Hey, did you go to the theater yesterday?”
“Why would I go to a place only commoners go?”
“Come on! There was this super pretty girl there! I’m trying to figure out who it is right now.”
There was a buzz of male students behind me. Must be about Pina. It’s no surprise since there’s been talk about her being a one-hit-wonder in looks among the users.
“So the art club boys were drawing while bleeding from their noses? I thought they got cursed as a group or something.”
“If there’s a goddess, it’s that girl… I want to see her again… Goddess, come back…”
Looking at the family crest on their chests, both of them are the eldest sons of nobility. The same went for the social club invitation we received last time.
I wonder how it would have turned out if I’d taken the harem route. Probably, I’d have an uncomfortable relationship with these guys, just like that person who keeps hovering around me.
“Licht. Your swordsmanship is good, but mixing in magic looks fun too~! Want me to teach you one by one? Come to my house?”
“I… don’t want to have a private conversation.”
“Aren’t you being too cold? I said I was sorry last time~!”
Blanc is flirting in front of me even though it’s almost time for the match. The status window doesn’t respond.
I know too well the downsides of swordsmanship. Originally, I’m a magic swordsman character. I struggle with fluid responses; chaotic battles and prolonged fights are unfavorable.
I felt this while discussing with Giseok, who handled a magic spear. I wonder if he can’t use magic now?
“Well then, I’m going for a practice match! Wait for me!”
swish
A wave of nausea rises in me. She’s waving her thin arms in the air as she greets me, occasionally blowing hearts with her lips.
“This round is for student Mardol! Licht!”
“Professor Drake.”
I sighed next to Drake.
Even though the fact that Pina is a princess hasn’t spread in the academy yet, judging by Blanc’s and the other students’ reactions, it shouldn’t be long.
I need to protect Pina. Even if I can’t be the prince on a white horse, there’s something I can do.
“Do you happen to know anything about the Shrine of Tardun?”
“The Shrine of the God of Will, Tardun!”
ha ha with a refreshing laugh. Showing his usual jovial demeanor, Drake opened his mouth.
“It’s in the sacred land of the Land of Earth!! Don’t you know that?!”
“No, there should be something special about it, right?”
Before the empire was established, the land was split into four. The Land of Fire where spirit magic thrived, the water where magic was mainstream, and the land of earth famous for swordsmanship, etc.
The renowned Emperor Rock also hails from the Land of Earth. The setting included a tribe of beastkin with animal ears and tails making up most of the population.
“If it’s Tardun, it must be testing your will. Are you trying to score points with your brother!!”
“That’s not it.”
I recalled Nex’s mention of wanting to get married in the Land of Water later. From Drake’s perspective, does it look like he’s visiting his girlfriend’s hometown?
“There’s a saying that it’s best to go with at least four people!!”
Ordinarily, you’d need to form a party to go there. It’s like a dungeon that changes structure depending on the routes the players have taken.
I could just go with the hero couple and Pina. To truly complete the Demon King kill, I needed time and a place.
‘Demon King of Might. Finn.’
Military power. Its opposing divinity likely means a lack of strength. If Pina becomes the Nameless Saintess, it makes sense that she’d lose her inherited strong physical power.
I also think it’s closely related to the hero couple. The one who killed Kainel’s brother and burnt down the forest Ariel lived in.
They are the ones who inflicted great wounds, making it impossible for love to be honest.
I probably couldn’t date until I deal with this guy and hit that 50%. The two becoming a couple in [Night Heart] is after Finn dies.
“Ah, everyone’s all set!”
While we were talking, Blanc and Pina lined up in the arena. Representing light and dark.
The knight and the villainess glared at each other as if they were going to devour one another. Between their green and golden eyes, sparks seemed to fly.
“Then let’s begin the practice match!!”
Drake’s call resonated through the arena, marking the start of the match.
*
Pina Grancia has been feeling her heart racing lately. The love-struck thump knocking at her dead heart.
Unlike before, sharing Licht’s heartbeat makes her feel lively, like she’s receiving a blood transfusion.
Pina, who doesn’t know the emotion called love, felt awkward but there was one solid fact.
She definitely didn’t want to lose Licht to anyone.
“Mardol, why are you sticking so close to Licht? You’re not dating, are you?”
“I… don’t see why you need to know.”
Watching the thief in light clothing tempting her knight, Pina bit her lower lip.
What right does she have to flirt with her very own Black Knight?
“Cold~. I was just wondering if there’s a girl in there~!”
Blanc giggled. The clashing of daggers produced a clang cha-ching. She was eyeing the gaps in Pina’s armor with her gaze.
“Shut up and start.”
“Oh my, getting spicy.”
Pina was still feeling uncomfortable. It was forgivable to try and break her masterpiece.
It’s natural to get disdainful stares when wearing heavy armor.
The reason why the princess was angry now was simple. The hero who knew all her dark past, consoled her, and helped her overcome them.
She despised the thieving cat trying to take Licht from her.
“Then let’s begin the practice match!!”
As soon as Drake’s signal rang out, Pina stretched her arm forward. Tiny, sparkling glass shards formed in her grasp. Several glass swords flew towards Blanc.
“Mardol! Nice to see you~!”
Blanc swung her dream knife, countering the attack. She didn’t hesitate to let it graze her cheek, causing a scratch on her mana protective gear, and darted in for an opening.
The distance between the two closed in an instant. Blanc evaded Pina’s swinging sword by leaning back, then aimed for her legs. She planned to take her down first.
「Mirror Mirage.」
In that moment, Pina chanted her glass magic. Immediately, illusions flickered on both sides, splitting the White Knight into two. The instant duplication meant Blanc’s dagger sliced through thin air.
“You chose the wrong opponent, Blanc.”
The double Pina moved separately. Each took separate movements, diving into Blanc’s attack range. The left clone swung her sword down hard at the opponent. clank-!
“Ugh..!”
Blanc, clutching her daggers with both hands, braced against Pina’s glass sword with a force as if to withstand a heavy object. The immense power inherited from Emperor Rock made her arms and legs shake, while she screamed.
Seizing the chance, the right Pina aimed for Blanc’s back and slashed. Like a cicada shedding its skin, the gap in the mana protective gear appeared.
“If I can just find the real one..! It must be the one in front!”
The villainess staggered significantly. Despite the speed advantage, she was losing due to the difference in strength. Typically, when a clone magic takes a hit on the real one, the clone disappears.
Pina aimed at the ground with a dagger. The ability activated from the dagger lodged in the earth, transforming the ground into a quicksand pit.
“..Who said that?”
“What…? The movement from behind was supposed to be weaker? Could it be the one over there is the real one?”
Even faced with such antlion-like assaults, Pina remained unfazed. With smooth motions that suggested her clone was suffering, she aimed to the right to slash at her opponent’s right arm.
Blanc, panicking, jumped high onto Pina’s sword. As she prepared to slam down again, Pina was readying her stance.
“You’re no match for Licht!”
“What’s that stance?!”
Pina raised her sword high. Focusing all her nerves on Blanc’s shadow on the ground. scratch, as she slashed the floor.
The series of moves were the Shadow Slashes Licht had taught her before. Blanc sensed the anomaly and crouched down to dodge but the protective gear around her thighs was sliced.
“Ha-hah!!”
Boom boom bang! Pina rushed towards the fallen opponent using Wolf Fang. Blanc also retaliated, using a gambler’s skill to boost her speed and strength. Again aimed below.
“Because you’re in heavy armor! If you fall…!!”
Casting Thousand Knives’ Maelstrom, Blanc made a huge tactical mistake. Another Pina was half-buried in the quicksand pit, reaching out towards the thousands of daggers.
“I said earlier… you picked the wrong opponent.”
Golden wolf-like eyes shone as she deflected all the daggers flying toward her.
The body of the Pina facing Blanc, just like the Black Knight did in the graduation exam, slipped past the stabbing daggers aimed at her neck.
“Don’t approach Licht.”
With a determination to cleave Blanc in two, she pulled her sword down. splat, the sound of mana gear splitting like a log.
A scar created by the wind pressure was engraved on the arena floor.
“And the winner is!! Student Mardol!!”
A shockwave swept over the audience, a fierce wind erupted. She had implemented Licht’s Void Slash with sheer strength.
Unconsciously, Pina was beginning to resemble the man she admired.
*
In the end, this practice match also concluded with a student victory. Don’t we need an instructor for this?
Pina might be a bit of a cheat character. I guess the player trying to charm a few handsome men to create a reverse harem wouldn’t know.
By the way, now Pina’s clones can act independently. I might fool a few times when fighting the Magic Hat.
“Licht.. I won. Against that thieving cat.”
“..Good job.”
As soon as Pina declared victory, she came trotting over to me. Her behavior was as cute as a puppy happily wagging its tail to greet its owner.
“Pet me.”
“T-That… I’ll do it later…”
Pina was saying something that would cause misunderstandings if others heard. When I refused, she made her fists and punched my chest.
thud, thud. The dull sounds echoed in front of the audience, while Kainel and Ariel looked on in horror.
“I don’t want to.. do it now.. Licht..”
It hurts, Pina. Do you know how strong you are? Though my physique is tough and well-defined, it still stings.
“Just this once.. Pina..”
“Hehe.. that’s my Licht…”
Finally, perhaps feeling relieved from her anger, Pina leaned comfortably against me. Reluctantly, I began to pet her helm area.
*
