*
Looking at Rock, a sense of déjà vu struck me.
It reminded me of the time I saw the dripping maw of a wolf.
My mind started to fade white as the dull thrum of my irregular heartbeat echoed in my ears back then.
It was right after I got sucked into the game.
The Nameless Saintess—what a gallant idea it was to dive into the game to save Pina Grancia.
But my weak body was completely useless.
Every time I awkwardly swung my sword, I felt crushed by my own failure.
Drake even said I had no talent as a swordsman.
Despite being possessed by Licht, who clearly had a knight class boost.
But rather than blame my lack of talent, I had to get stronger to protect her, the frailest of them all.
Not for my sake, but for Pina.
During those early mornings of relentless sword training, I heard a scream and rushed to the source.
‘…It’s just like that time.’
My first encounter with the crossroads of life and death.
It was the moment I saw a father and son, looking just like… caught in a pack of wolves.
That was when I truly realized death and suffering in the game were real.
The metallic taste of blood lingered in my mouth.
Even though I thought death was impossible, a chill crept down my back, raising questions.
BANG─!
His footsteps thundered heavier than ever. A booming sound that drowned out the falling rain.
Bit by bit, Rock walked toward me.
The provocation must have taken effect.
I was frozen, paralyzed by a killing intent that could freeze to the bone.
‘If this is Rock Grancia as I know him, any cowardly attitude would be poison.’
I intentionally referred to him as my father-in-law.
A flag statement, too, I thought maybe someday I’d collect.
The noble wolf king. An emperor who knew no defeat.
He wouldn’t appreciate an opponent groveling before him, who must seek permission to court his daughter.
I slowly opened my mouth, trying to maintain my composure while staring at the black wolf losing his cool.
“It’s been a while… Have you been well…”
“Don’t bother with the title after that.”
Straight to the point reply. It felt like he was barely suppressing his true nature, with every word I uttered.
Maybe he caught wind of what happened up north.
Or perhaps he learned of the events at the social club.
It was mostly Pina’s antics, so he probably wouldn’t seek to kill me…
“You seem to be thinking softly. Licht.”
His golden gaze glimmered.
Narrowed pupils, almost as if he was reading my mind.
Is he really reading my thoughts? No, maybe he just anticipated this much.
He had already given me signals that he would keep an eye on me when this relay started.
“The only reason your head is still attached is thanks to Pina. That doesn’t mean I can’t kill you.”
His words made my hand clutching the sword tremble.
Damn, move. Please, just move.
“I’ll give you one more chance to live. What do you think of my daughter?”
The last chance. What would happen if I rejected that? Probably a death flag.
Surveying my surroundings, I noticed translucent walls had been erected.
Anyway, this situation wasn’t being broadcasted. An emperor threatening an ordinary student.
Taking a breath, I slowly opened my mouth.
“Even if no one acknowledges it…”
Even if she was in her barest form, that was fine. She didn’t have to be a princess.
Wealth and honor were irrelevant. I never liked those in the first place.
It was Pina, whose smiling face was pretty.
I simply wished for her to be by my side, and for her to be unhappy.
“I love her.”
I decided to gamble. There was no reason to run anymore.
Fleeing and arriving here ended up like this.
I couldn’t even reveal to Pina that I was the Nameless Saintess.
She uncovered all of my painful past.
Pina should only see beautiful things and live happily.
“Ah, so that’s how it is…”
Rock tousled his hair with one hand and let out a loud laugh.
A desolate but heavy laughter, like in a desert.
The moment I felt the cold touch on my shoulder vanish.
Time seemed to freeze, and raindrops appeared suspended in the air.
“…”
Unbelievable. Is this will powerful enough to stop the falling rain?
After all, those OP characters are really OP.
The air trembled as it shifted. The raindrops began rising.
My sight blurred with the bizarre scene of droplets moving upwards.
I could see the red eyes of the wolf, glowing like they were bloodshot.
[A sudden event is occurring.]
The status window blared an immediate warning. The creator of [Black Heart] was alerting me of the danger.
[Rock Grancia has entered a frenzied state.]
Black mana was surging from his body.
“Black Knight. Say your name.”
“You know it’s Licht.”
His face showed no trace of brightness, transformed like he was clad in darkness.
Hidden phase of the boss monster.
[A wolf that bites the sun and swallows the moon. Survive Rock Grancia.]
This was something you could see when conditions were met in the game.
“…Not that. I mean your real name that will be etched on your gravestone.”
How does he know? That my real name isn’t Licht?
Thinking back, he had asked me who I was from the very beginning.
“I’m Lee Soo-hyun. Father-in-law.”
Maybe Pina’s lovely eyes are inherited. Or perhaps she instinctively figured it out.
BAM─! The moment I answered, a sonic boom born from sheer strength hurtled toward my throat.
‘It’s different from before; I can see it.’
Thanks to the potion I took in the shrine, or maybe it’s the growth I received after being recognized as an Inrang.
I had already premeditated my countermeasures.
“Concept, Resentment.”
From near my heart, a white flame sparked, and a sword emerged.
A sword made solely for the thought of Pina. A Mind Sword capable of mirroring my opponent’s stats.
If the emperor entered a frenzied mode, couldn’t I do it too?
I thought the technique of the White Lily would allow me to block it, so I mixed Void Slash and One Sword Falling Flower to unleash it.
But just as I brought down my blade, sensing something abnormal, I realized.
Even after mimicking the status ailment, it was this much?
How strong must his raw power be? My legs and hands began trembling.
My body began to be pushed back.
I couldn’t allow myself to fail to block this. Gripping the sword hilt tightly, I strained against the imbalance of power.
Finally defending against the pressure, but the ground caved in profoundly beneath me.
Is this the might of the wolf king that has taken down Demon Lords? Goosebumps started racing across my body.
“Your reactions are sluggish, Black Knight.”
The black wolf traced a trajectory of his axe towards my shoulder. Space rippled momentarily.
SQUAAAK─!!
Using my wits, I twisted away and avoided the attack, but with the sound of the air bursting, my left arm was completely pulverized.
“..Ghuh.”
My left arm dangled like a ragdoll. I bit down hard on my teeth but a scream escaped my lips.
In this war of attrition, I had the disadvantage. After all, I could only use Divine Power and Magic if I had Pina.
“Is this all you can do?”
Rock Grancia spoke in a deep, cold voice.
“Of course… it is..”
I secured my left arm with my clothing. Ultimately, I wouldn’t be able to swing the sword if my body lost balance.
Thank goodness my right arm wasn’t hurt. I could still fight.
Even if it costs my life, I’ll earn permission to court Pina.
Just like Tardun’s test, not a hallucination, but truly.
I attempted a Reverse Scale Stab. I hoped there would be some form of vulnerability.
“..Is that the best you can come up with to face me?”
Nothing. Not a single scratch on the emperor’s body. My attack didn’t even penetrate his defensive magic.
There’s a Reverse Scale, they say. But for one who has already touched it, that might mean it’s unattainable to me.
“I’m not…”
BANG! BAM! Air compressed into sonic booms flew toward me. Each swing of the axe choked me tighter.
I activated Clear Flow and Wing Spill simultaneously—the waves flowing through a forest filled with greenery.
“That’s just bravado. After all, you are from another world, are you not?”
But Rock effortlessly repelled it.
“If you leave this world and return to your original world, will you leave Pina behind?”
Just striking the ground with the axe caused the earth to shatter like cracked glass.
Was everything about the imperial swordsmanship a reflection of the emperor’s true form?
“What if you glanced at another woman? What will happen to our lonely daughter?”
And then, he unleashed a technique reminiscent of Howling Wind.
The moment he opened his mouth, I felt immense pressure weigh down upon me.
I couldn’t escape it. I couldn’t block it. An axe blade shot towards my exposed vital point.
“For the Inrang Tribe, love is both a poison that cannot be exchanged even for one’s life and a hope.”
With a THWACK! sound, I was impaled into the wooden pillar behind me.
I could hardly breathe as I suspected my ribs were cracked, and my arms were now broken and unable to hold my sword.
“Black Knight. Do you understand that weight?”
The pain rendered me voiceless. I had to reply.
“….”
He already knew everything.
That I came from another world, and that I was only human, easily swayed when loving Pina.
As my consciousness threatened to fade, I felt a desire to surrender my body.
“More than anyone….”
A single raindrop fell again.
“The weight of the emotion called love… if you understand that more than anyone… will you grant me permission?”
A Mind Sword created to stand in for the tears shed by Pina Grancia.
My determination and worry glowed with a blue hue, shocking the emperor.
“…Father-in-law.”
I caught the cobalt sword returning to me and rose back to my feet.
“Wait a moment, what are you doing…?”
Glass-like rain fell around me.
More accurately, the time I shared with Pina was pouring down.
Sparkling like Pina’s armor, the shards spread out widely.
Within them was only one figure.
The loveliest woman blushingly smiled, crying, and feeling shy.
Those were the moments Pina and I had walked together so far.
‘Now, I won’t just replace the tears of Pina Grancia…’
It needed to become the rain that recorded our love.
