*
Sounds of people murmuring surround me.
Rustle, rustle the grass crunches with every step.
The scent of fresh grass wafts slowly on the breeze.
All of this is at the back mountain of the academy.
Right now, that place is packed with people here to watch the final match.
The sports day has turned into a one-on-one situation.
Pina and I have been eliminated, and the Helio team has escaped the room with a majority.
Now the only thing left to decide is the relay race.
“…Mardol.”
The running track marked translucent by magic. Next to it, a glass-crafted knight stood.
No matter how much I called, she wouldn’t respond.
Since I bit the wolf ears earlier, she’s been like this. It’s a bit upsetting that she’s acting like a stranger.
Hic sigh..
Moreover, every time our eyes met, Pina Grancia continued to flinch and get startled.
Is there something on my helmet? I’ll have to be more careful with any physical contact next time.
This isn’t an excuse, but I didn’t want to let Pina be taken by anyone else.
Last time at the social club, I managed to keep countless nobles from clinging to her.
Those filthy mouths critiquing her looks with sticky gazes.
I hated the light words that spoke ill of Pina, seeing only wealth and fame.
How warm-hearted she is.
I’ve done my best as her Black Knight until now.
“Mardol, I was too harsh. I’m sorry.”
In the escape room, emotions took precedence over reason.
Rather than a lonely wolf, she’s clearly acting like a puppy.
A puppy desperately waiting for its owner’s touch.
The leash might be on me, not her.
“L-Licht.. why was that just now?”
As I apologized to Pina, she took a step back, keeping her distance.
Has she finally calmed down? Pina asks the question she had been curious about.
The clink of the glass helmet drew attention around us.
The sight of the armored knight hunching with her hands gathered together might look scary to others, but.
“I’ve been greedy from before.”
There was a singularly enchanting wolf in that mix.
“Uh..?”
Those finely trembling golden wolf eyes. I could see Pina’s embarrassment with every little thing I did.
“White wolves are always cute, aren’t they?”
I lied. I mentioned the pure white color like her hair.
I hoped that this little wolf would think about the words I said and have a hard time sleeping.
“D-Don’t say that.. It’s embarrassing..”
I wanted to tease Pina even more. She waves her hands in denial, embarrassed.
Her small hand contrasting with the masterpiece she wears.
“I was talking about Hayan.”
I playfully interlocked my fingers with hers.
The moment I grabbed her hand, it twitched and trembled.
If I hadn’t been immersed in the game, I wouldn’t have gotten to do this. She was someone I could only see through a monitor.
I want to know her more, to be with her.
“Huh, huh!”
Just lightly squeezing her fingers.
Once again, a strange scream escaped her lips.
With everyone busy preparing for the relay race, this sound shouldn’t spread.
“L-Licht.. stop joking..”
Pina clenched and unclenched her hands as if she couldn’t afford to lose.
It’s clear she has a strong sense of competition.
“Ah, right. Licht.. let’s keep your identity hidden. It’s dangerous like this.”
After playing with my hand a few times, she finally brought up the main topic.
Her breath steadied.
Looks like she’s finally okay. Hic is a great cure for surprises.
“I feel like you’re incredibly angry.”
Ah, right. Rock Grancia.
I completely forgot that he was looking for me at the academy.
Rock must be in the audience.
“Right now.. my dad is looking for you, Licht.”
If he sees me like this, I feel like he’d tear me apart with an axe in a fit of rage.
In the sequel with Rufus as the Crown Prince, the depiction of him caring terribly for his offspring was there too.
Looks like he truly came to find me at the academy.
I really shouldn’t have run away from Pina’s chamber.
The Emperor is an undeniable overpowered character. He created the Ten Heroes and unified the divided kingdom.
Since Pina has inherited his power, saying anything more would just be tiring.
The moment he catches me, I might just turn to powder.
“Licht, if I use my glass magic..”
She spoke quietly.
Magic that refracts light like jewels, glimmering glass fragments scatter in the air.
“… I might be able to deceive Dad.”
She’s trying to summon a decoy as if using a combination move to distract Rock.
“No, you don’t need to do that, Mardol.”
I shook my head. Ultimately, it’s something I need to permit.
“Why? My dad is scary.. even though I told him not to touch Licht.. he still came here..”
Pina. That’s precisely why you shouldn’t.
It’ll make me look like a thief stealing the rare daughter that’s the only one in the world.
“Licht, what are you thinking..?”
She looked at me with uncertain and anxious eyes. Those golden eyes swaying within the glass helmet.
“I plan to be confident.”
As I looked into those eyes, I lifted the visor of the helmet.
Once my face was revealed, scars reflected off her glass helmet.
It wouldn’t matter if others saw it.
I’m just tired of hiding my identity or running away.
Even the slightly chilly air felt refreshing now.
“L-Licht.. your helmet.”
Pina was restless, stamping her feet, dissatisfied that I revealed my face inside the academy.
“It’s fine. The reason I lifted this helmet is..”
She said to always keep it on in the social club, but is she worried that other girls might try to take me away?
She still can’t take off her masterpiece here.
“I want to be the Black Knight who can stand by your side.”
I need to become stronger than now. I need to be confident.
Not in terms of physical strength, but in emotional strength.
To stay by the side of the Grancia Empire’s princess, not the Nameless Saintess.
*
The rules were simple.
[Grand Hertz Academy. The fall sports day is now nearing its end!]
The first runner grabs the box and runs to pass it to the next runner in a baton-touch game.
[A chaotic relay race unfolding at the back mountain of the academy!]
In my arms, I held a box blackened in color.
[Last Hope! Let’s run with Pandora’s Box and race through the obstacle course!]
Pandora’s Box.
It was sometimes used for gags among players.
An item with a 1% chance of granting good buffs.
A gacha item with probability.
In the community, there was a superstition of opening Pandora’s Box before checking raid rewards to gain luck.
Sometimes a good buff would pop up, causing posts to go up saying “I stacked it up!!”
In fact, since individual probabilities should be independent occurrences.
“….”
Looking back, it’s just memories now.
How much time has passed? I should have told my workplace that I was coming here.
[Both teams’ first runners are ace first-years!]
“Uh? You’re showing your face at school now?”
At that moment, a familiar voice reached me, lost in thought.
“..Kainel.”
“Did something happen? You used to hide all the time.”
A man dressed in a red vest, the opposite color of mine, stood by my side, a blonde warrior.
“Something like that happened.”
“..The world is indeed unfair.”
Kainel shook his head while looking at my face.
Yeah, I know my scar is nasty. What can I do about it?
As long as Pina doesn’t care.
“Hey, Licht. If you’re showing your face, the girl students will swarm you, you know? Are you okay with that?”
Maybe he’s warning me since Pina might get jealous.
“Probably?”
Besides her, all the other girls’ faces looked the same, so it doesn’t matter much.
“Yeah, you must have thought a lot about it, so it’s cool. You look much better now.”
“Thank you, Kainel.”
The blonde warrior smiled brightly, seemingly pleased for me.
Who could blame him for being the Hero of Light? Other than being overly cautious about his childhood friend, he’s a really good guy.
“Kai!! You must win!!”
Ariel, who looked ready to be the next runner, cheered for him from behind.
It’s hard to even call it tsundere now.
It’s clear that after starting to date, their relationship looks even better.
“..Should I help you?”
“I’d rather not, Licht. That would be the most humiliating thing.”
I offered Kainel my help, but he declined. After all, intentionally holding back wouldn’t be great.
[Everyone, please return to this point following the guidelines!]
Should I use a luck charm now?
[And during the race section, you’re not allowed to use any abilities!]
Oh no, looks like this trick was blocked beforehand.
[Only use abilities in the obstacle course!]
[Also, the Pandora’s Box you hold will automatically open after a time, so be careful with variables!]
[The last piece of luck left after misfortune!]
“Let’s do our best, Licht.”
“I’m counting on you.”
Kainel and I finished preparing to run together.
[..3]
The power surged in my legs. My blood boiled, eager to kick the ground and dash forward.
[..2]
An odd sense of competitiveness kicked in, and as I glanced to the side.
[SYSTEM: A murderous intent has been detected around you.]
At that moment, a red window appeared before me.
Not the usual pink-toned window I’m used to seeing.
I thought my affection level would rise, but what’s this?
[Rock Grancia has entered a rage phase as he looks at you.]
Why is there a notification like it’s a boss monster?
Is this a situation where Rock would be angry at me?
Feeling something unusual, I turned my gaze past Kainel.
[..1!]
The Emperor of the Empire. Rock Grancia.
I saw a male from the Inrang Tribe with a long scar on his left eye.
[Last Hope!! We are starting now!]
In a seat labeled VIP, Rock made a peculiar gesture.
He pointed to his eye with two fingers, then gestured towards me as if aiming again.
It was a sign that he was watching me.
At that moment, I could vividly feel what it’s like to be a rabbit captured by a wolf.
[Survive, Lee Soo-hyun. Good luck.]
Rock Grancia came looking for me.
