*
In a blindingly white room, I swung my sword.
From my shoulders to my arms, then flowing down to the tips of my fingers, the blade followed.
With a strong force at my wrist, whoosh—! I kicked the ground, slicing through the air with a silvery gleam.
Dragon Kill.
A technique of Drake’s that requires 66 days of fasting, sleeplessness, and not even a drop of water—extremely rigorous training conditions.
I must completely master it. Now that the Magic Hat is active, who knows what it might do?
Looking at the battles I’ve fought so far, I still feel inadequate.
If I don’t kill completely and in one blow, it could be dangerous.
‘Well, it was famous in the game.’
A crazy guy who splits people while they’re still alive or asks if you prefer your mom or dad before killing one.
I wouldn’t mind an easy fight. The multitude of patterns would make even veteran players shudder.
That’s one reason I rate [Black Heart] harshly. It’s just too damn strong.
Even I took 16 hours to finally beat it on my first try.
I’m getting increasingly anxious. My knowledge and the world of the game just don’t match up.
“….”
I’m scared I might fail again this time.
When I first got sucked into the game, I felt so confident.
I thought I could use magic, swordsmanship, and divine power just like my old character.
But it was nothing like that. I was weak. Maybe being diligent in my training was pure luck.
I believed this time Pina would find happiness.
“..Licht?”
This damned world is infinitely cold to her innocence. Why is that?
The Demon Kings of the Hero Church are all targeting Pina, and I’ve already lost her mother, Queen Bellin.
What the hell did Pina Grancia do to deserve this?
If she becomes the Nameless Saintess, she will lose her memories and name.
Not only that, but she’ll also lose her friendship with Sophia, her status as a princess, and any wealth.
Her younger brother Rufus wouldn’t remember her either. Pina Grancia, whose existence is forgotten, rotten, and erased from the world.
“..It’s nothing.”
The small flutter she gifted me made me breathe again.
“Is it because of the potion..?”
It was so precious it could be said to have saved my dying self.
“No, I feel rather lively.”
In reality, my fingertips were trembling. I’m scared that I might not be able to protect anything at this rate.
In the past, I used to push myself to the limit whenever I felt this way. But now, I have to protect Pina.
Those with something to protect grow infinitely stronger, but in comparison, they also become weaker.
‘..The reason I was wandering.’
I worried that I could become an obstacle to achieving a happy ending or that I would return after satisfying the Grand Route, leaving Pina alone.
I took a deep breath, feeling the sweat pouring down me like rain, proving my effort.
I hadn’t felt it while being normal, but swinging the sword only intensified the pressure.
‘Maybe I can do it here.’
The true merit of the shrine might just be this room. It’s a training ground that strengthens my will.
The environment itself is so harsh that I don’t even have to complete the full 66 days for the Dragon Kill conditions.
I hadn’t noticed it when I was normal, but during sword practice, the burden on my body was immense.
Each god had a meaning behind their teachings. Fortunately, everything aligned well.
My dizzy vision and increasingly heavy breaths made me feel as if I were at the summit of a mountain.
What about my body? It felt like moving my arms in water, making it several times harder than usual.
The “concept” of killing the opponent’s existence.
The time will come when I must realize my will, even at the cost of my life. It already came once.
‘What if I couldn’t protect Pina back then?’
Those dizzying thoughts chip away at my resolve. I want to drop my sword and rest right away.
The fatigue from combat that hasn’t fully recovered.
My muscles scream. My joints ache. Yet, I can’t afford to stop swinging the sword.
Even if I’m weak, I must do my best.
I twisted my arms, stretched my front foot, and created strikes. Sometimes I cut diagonally, sometimes I struck straight down.
I swung the steel, recalling the crazy mage’s face.
“Licht, you look exhausted.”
I can’t help it. Pina. I can only think of killing my opponent while continuously swinging my sword.
Normally, I’d use healing magic or mana manipulation, but…
Since I drank the Moon Potion, shouldn’t there be some effect…?
Wait, suddenly my body feels light.
It was similar to the feeling after receiving the Dragon Heart.
Thud, something cold like flame swells up in my heart. I feel like I want to vomit out this uncontrollable bloodthirst right now.
Slice─! The lightly swung sword vibrates the air. The sound is surprisingly loud as if splitting a wooden log in half.
“..Feeling better now?”
Pina’s voice rings softly. I subconsciously nodded.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Pina Grancia 12% ‘NEW!!’]
Pina must have done something.
Seeing the status window that appeared before my eyes made me chuckle.
The status window sent an ASCII art of two wolves forming a heart with their tails.
Except for one being a black wolf and the other a white wolf, they look just like the statue I saw earlier.
By the way, what do the two wolves representing day and night imply?
At first, I thought it was the potions, but the phrase “two wolves” feels a bit off.
“Thank goodness…”
What did she do for Pina’s face to flush a little? Her lips appear slightly shiny.
“Licht, is this the skill for growing wings?”
That was when I noticed something strange in my vision. Snow-white wings spreading behind the blonde-haired hero.
“..How did you do that?”
The original form of the Decision of Icarus.
When I used it, I was corrupted into a Demon King with devilish wings, but Kainel definitely has angelic wings.
“What, they said it works when you drink the Sun Potion.”
As a hero, his abilities have improved a step. The shine emitting from the Holy Sword is brighter and displays an unusual color compared to before.
“Look, my Shine Strike has changed too.”
With a whoosh, the Light Hero swung the Holy Sword, scattering rays of light like a prism.
Not bad. Just a little more effort and he would match Kainel’s stats that I knew.
“I think I’m still stronger! Kain!”
Ariel fires a fireball with a dragon head.
Upon hitting the wall, it splits like a Hydra’s head, and the fireworks it creates are downright chilling.
Looks like they shared.
The Light Hero and the Flame Magician from the sequel [Black Heart].
Indeed, it was the right decision to feed them the Sun Potion. Their ultimate moves include their names and the sun, after all.
“Hehe, who could block the path of a genius magician!”
“What are you saying, I’m much stronger. I’m the hero, after all.”
Kainel jests again as he watches Ariel.
“There should sometimes be a moment to let a cute girlfriend win, Kai~!”
Puffed up, Ariel hugs him back. Their bond has grown so close that it’s barely recognizable.
It pains me in my side. I envy how they can be so honest without hiding anything.
“Licht. Is that what having a girlfriend means..?”
“Maybe..?”
“..I see. I didn’t know.”
Pina perks up her wolf ears while looking at me. Her ears look so white and fluffy.
Seeing her tightly holding the empty potion with both hands gave me an inkling.
‘..Did Pina drink it too?’
The requirement to drink in pairs.
Listening to the conversation of the hero couple, it seems like two people must share one potion.
“I-I didn’t do anything strange.. Why..?”
I hadn’t even pressed her about it, but now I’m even more concerned. Pina.
Right. It can’t be that Kainel or Ariel drank the potion I had kept holding.
‘Her indirect kiss.’
Neither of us could look each other in the face. I looked down while Pina turned away.
Our faces turned red, almost about to explode, and I lowered my head in an effort to hide it.
I should focus on honing my Demon King Kill. I shouldn’t misinterpret a good deed meant to help.
*
Pina Grancia watched Licht.
Her extraordinary vision since birth allowed her to see the Black Knight’s form slowly.
First move. Wing Drift.
A counter technique that utilizes the opponent’s strength.
“Licht. I’m not losing this time!”
The technique I thought was a defensive move reflects all of Kainel’s techniques.
“Let’s see what you got. Kainel.”
Kainel tests his newly acquired technique against Licht’s sword.
But why is Licht sparring in the first place?
Pina Grancia’s keen eyes could perceive that his gaze was not directed at the hero in front of him.
It looked like anger, but it also felt like a noble gaze reproaching his weaker self—his brown irises filled with burning will.
A poke, it felt like something sharp pierced Pina’s heart.
‘..Why am I feeling this way?’
At first, I only thought about getting stronger. I mistakenly assumed it was all my fault.
So I thought I could just grow stronger by being by Licht’s side.
What is this feeling I’m sensing now?
I keep wishing that his gaze would look at me alone. A strange thought took root in me.
‘This is… Licht’s fault.’
It’s definitely his fault.
If only he were a noble scion seeking power who approached her based on his looks, it would be much easier.
She could have held his leash and treated him like a puppy.
“Hey, if you dodge the Reverse Scale Stab, you can just jump over it..!”
Licht executed the second move, Reverse Scale Stab.
In response, Kainel soared into the air to evade the flurry of attacks. Not even grazing him as the blade sliced through empty air.
“Can you dodge this too?”
And then the Void Slash followed.
It was like Pina’s father, Rock, swung an axe, creating blades of wind with whoosh!! sounds.
Licht aimed precisely at Kainel’s wing joints. It was more effective to attack the connection than the wing itself.
“Looks possible…. Huh?”
In that moment, Kainel’s body staggered. He swayed as if hit by something.
“You won’t be able to dodge it.”
Licht executed Shadow Slash from the shadows below.
He adjusted the power just enough to ensure Kainel wouldn’t be hurt, letting the Void Slash dissipate before him.
“..Licht. That last technique has too many restrictions, right? Doing it as a counter move seems weird too.”
The blonde hero landed on the ground after sparring concluded.
“If I did it seriously, I might have to bet my life.”
Licht let out a sigh while briefly showing the process of Demon King Kill, looking far from what he was aiming for.
“Licht. What if you combined that with the Lily Sword Technique…?”
At that moment, Pina realized the missing part by observing his incomplete move.
