*
Can we really put a name on a span of five years?
During that time with the Nameless Saintess, a lot happened.
After defeating the squishy guy, we set off on a journey targeting the Demon Lords of the Hero Church.
She aimed to eradicate the evil threatening the world, while I aimed to prevent the Saintess from dying.
Compared to her, my reasons were a bit selfish, but the outcome was successful.
“Sir Knight, do you remember this photo?”
She pulled out a faded photograph.
Against the backdrop of the Grancia Empire’s fountain stood the heroes.
Time has passed so much that I could almost call it a memory.
“Of course I remember. That’s the photo from when our party was first formed, isn’t it?”
“…At that time, I really had no idea if we could defeat the Demon Lords.”
It was not just about taking down the squishy Slime Demon King.
There was the time the enemy executed a pincer movement, and I exhausted myself defending the village alone.
Even when the Nameless Saintess showed concern for my burn scars.
“When Sir Dennis arrived and we caught the Demon King of All Knowledge, I was surprised. Plus…”
I lined up methods to catch the Demon Lords using the knowledge I had from the game.
Drunken Dennis.
The protagonist of the original [Night Heart] and the pinnacle of Water Magic.
After successfully recruiting him as a comrade, we were easily able to capture Head Ake, the Demon King of All Knowledge.
“Also, the Celestial Demon, the White Lily, joined our party.”
Dennis’s forgotten lover, White Lily, joined the party too.
Both came from a different world like me.
Whenever they missed their original world, they became good companions.
“To be honest, I was jealous. Having another girl around besides me…”
“……”
The Saintess always glared at such scenes.
I knew she had a jealous nature.
“I only have you, Sir Knight, who I’ve allowed into my heart…”
“Please don’t say things that could be misunderstood, Saintess.”
When she sniffled in the middle of the night, feeling like she was holding me back, I listened to her worries without saying a word.
“Why? The only person who knows the Saintess’s true feelings is you!”
“That can’t be.”
Since that day, it seems she found enjoyment in teasing me like that.
“Is it really okay for the Saintess to say such things?”
“It’s true, Sir Knight.”
As I protested, she continued speaking with her tail wagging softly.
“Even after receiving the oracle from the Starter, I’m just a half-baked Saintess who can’t even use Divine Power well.”
Despite being chosen by the God of Light, she couldn’t even use a tenth of the Divine Power of a regular person.
It was the opposite of the first Saintess, who resurrected the dead.
“If I hadn’t gone on adventures with you, I’d still be blaming myself for being inadequate.”
Inferiority complex. Or should I call it impatience?
It would have continued to gnaw at her heart like a bug.
She was a mirror reflecting my past self.
Just like she saved me from the gloom I couldn’t escape after being burned.
‘I only wanted to repay this kindness.’
It seemed I left a significant mark on the Saintess’s heart.
“It’s because of you that I can confidently be called the Saintess now!”
Having never even existed without a name or memory, she was often treated poorly.
While taking down the Demon Lords, she came to be recognized as the Saintess among people.
“Plus, you always protected me.”
When someone doubted the Nameless Saintess’s accomplishments, I boldly criticized them.
While protecting the village and healing the injured, I made sure she didn’t collapse.
Once was enough for mistakes.
This time, I just didn’t want to betray her kind heart.
“Without friends or family… I always wished someone would be by my side and prayed and prayed to the God of Light…”
Having no basic stamina, carrying her during our long travels became a habit.
Could it be she’s become too spoiled?
“It was you who showed up back then. You have to take responsibility, Sir Knight!”
Or maybe I’ve fallen for the Saintess all over again.
Seeing her alluring smile brought my heart to a mad thump-thump.
Whether she knew my feelings or not…
“Oh, look, there’s Kainel and Ariel too.”
The Nameless Saintess pointed at the blonde hero and the red-haired mage.
“I suppose they’re off enjoying their happy honeymoon in their hometown now…?”
Kainel and Ariel.
After meeting Dennis, I started searching for these two.
To take down the Demon King of Truth, the Magic Hat, I absolutely needed their help.
They, who couldn’t be honest with their hearts, often fought and bickered.
“At first, I thought they were just childhood friends.”
“Who would’ve known they’d get married?”
Right, childhood friends.
Starting out as childhood friends is always how it begins.
After experiencing countless adventures together, they eventually became lovers, receiving cheers from their comrades.
“You look so awkward, Sir Knight. snicker, like a statue.”
She squinted at the photo’s center where I stood.
“I don’t mind having burn scars… but why did you cover your face with a helmet in the picture?”
“…Because my face is ugly.”
It seemed the Saintess didn’t like that I wore a helmet for the picture.
I just wanted to hide my burn scars.
“You always say bad things. Ugh.”
The Saintess lightly pinched my cheek.
It was her way of training me, and a playful act every time I fell into negative thoughts.
“I said I’d prefer you not to do that kind of physical contact…”
“I know. You said it’s because you’re a vessel, right?”
Black Knight Licht.
According to Pantoze’s explanation that this game was based on,
if I hadn’t existed, Licht wouldn’t exist either.
I twisted my fate of dying in battle when I created my character.
If thought lightly, it could be said that even someone like me can love someone else.
But this is not reincarnation, it’s possession.
‘No matter how similar it is to being reborn in this body, it doesn’t change the fact that it’s not.’
Before the final battle with the Magic Hat, I revealed the truth to her.
I was a vessel who came from another world to prevent her death.
So even knowing the Saintess had feelings for me, I couldn’t accept it.
“It’s a pity. If only you weren’t a vessel, we could’ve done so much more together.”
“…That’s irreverent, Saintess.”
“Oh dear, I never said that.. why do you interpret it that way?”
The Saintess smiled innocently, acting like she didn’t understand anything.
“…Perverted wolf.”
Even if she’s a fox, I’d believe it.
I placed my palm over my face and sighed heavily.
Countless deaths and rebirths nearly shattered my mind,
but I ultimately succeeded in killing that damned Magic Hat, saving the Saintess’s life.
Kainel and Ariel had gone back to their hometown for their honeymoon,
and I received news that Dennis and White Lily had welcomed a child.
Drake and the Sage had started dating late, their youthful appearance was enough to brighten my day.
It seemed everything was flowing normally,
but…
‘What the Saintess lost has not returned.’
Was someone playing a trick of fate?
I thought her name, memories, powers, and skills were only taken by Demon Lords.
But from what the Magic Hat proudly told her, it seemed like it was a dead piece of a Demon God that had already turned to mummification.
Using that trash as a medium to cast curses.
I pondered multiple times to get back everything she lost.
“Sir Knight, so what wish are you planning to make with the Starter?”
A wish.
In the end, it seemed borrowing the power of the gods was the only way.
If I succeeded in subduing the Magic Hat, I could make a wish as a hero who completed a mission.
I was more than willing to pay any price.
For her sake, I would gladly give up my life.
The Nameless Saintess, who had no name, memory, family, or friends.
“I’ll wish for the Saintess’s happiness.”
“…Huh? Really? That’s enough?”
I wanted her happiness.
Because I could no longer be by her side.
“I have to return to my original world.”
“That’s a lie, right?”
I painfully spat out the bitter truth.
Dennis was summoned as a substitute for the original hero, Kainel was a resident of this world,
but I wasn’t.
Noticing something amiss, her face immediately turned pale.
“Just wish to live with me alone, Sir Knight…”
It would’ve been fine to wish to simply live in this world with the Saintess,
but saying that felt as suffocating as if a weight had been placed on my heart.
“Sadly, I’m a vessel.”
I had no choice but to solidify my resolve.
It would have been nice if I could meet her as the real me, not Licht’s body.
“I fell for you, Sir Knight. It doesn’t matter that you’re a vessel..!”
Her wolf tail sagged down.
The Saintess held onto my arm, nearly in tears.
“I could love you in any form… even if I were reborn, I’d still like you.”
“It wouldn’t be fair for just me to be happy.”
To calm her down, I stroked her hair.
Her wolf ears promptly flopped back.
“I hope the Saintess finds her lost family and name.”
“……”
As I revealed my genuine feelings to the Nameless Saintess, she fell into silence for a moment.
Did she dislike that I was leaving in such a fleeing manner?
“…Alright. Flirtatious man. I also have something in mind.”
With a hmph, the Saintess dashed off somewhere.
Soon after, she returned with a pitch-black helmet and placed it on my head.
“Saintess, this is… the Ideology Helmet, isn’t it?”
Despite its grand name, aside from being a bit sturdy, it was just an ordinary piece of equipment.
It was a helmet she once gifted me.
Regardless of its performance, it was so precious to me that I wore it until defeating the Magic Hat.
“Even if you say you’re returning to your original world, you’d better not meet any other girls there.”
“……Saintess.”
“The first person to like you was me, after all.”
The wolf’s possessiveness was strong.
Realizing she couldn’t hold onto me, she was using her own tricks.
“If I can’t have you, I’ll make sure you live your whole life as a bachelor.”
Click.
The sound of the helmet’s faceplate coming down, some kind of locking mechanism clicking shut.
“…It can only be undone with a kiss from me. If we meet again, I’ll take it off for you.”
Don’t even let anyone else see my face.
I felt uncertain if this helmet would ever come off.
“When that happens, I’ll show you love, which you don’t believe in.”
She left a gentle kiss on the forehead of the helmet with a line I felt I had heard somewhere before.
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