Swishhhh─
Rain began to fall. Just like that day.
“…”
I had been searching for a reason. A reason to approach her.
Wasn’t it just a matter of simply ‘liking her’? My past weighed too heavily for such light thoughts.
But if I didn’t approach the Nameless Saintess, surely she would become unhappy again.
She was a very kind and warm person. Even without skills, she was a passionate worker who always did her best, and even when weak, she was a benefactor who tried to support.
This cold world wouldn’t leave her alone. It was a habit and experience I’d honed throughout my life.
The icy touch of the spring rain reminded me of that fact.
‘How foolish have I been in my worries.’
And from the beginning, the love she showed me was never about this kind of feeling.
Why had I kept trying to escape from my feelings? Why had I turned my back and retreated?
I suppose I was scared that the wounds would reopen.
“..Saintess.”
If my pushing her away was because I was scared of getting hurt, she had said it was okay to push away. She was just an in-game character, but she knew love.
Passionate love that was solely mine tends to become a nuisance. Because of this, I had acted similarly.
I didn’t ask the Sage or Laplace for information about her and didn’t mention the wolf ears or tail.
That was her biggest characteristic, after all. She even had the nickname ‘Platinum Wolf.’
Reflecting now, it might have been because I feared approaching her while she was happily living in the Academy.
Moreover, how could the Nameless Saintess understand the absurdity of someone suddenly claiming to like her, or that they had unreciprocated feelings or first love…?
‘If it were a normal game, maybe that would be the case… but this is the [Night Heart Trilogy].’
A world with many Demon Kings and Heroes. The threat of the Hero Church still existed, and the Empire was quite newly formed and chaotic.
Because of that, I almost lost her.
Even if I used glitches in the battle against the Magic Hat, there was no way I could satisfy the condition of ‘losing a loved one.’
There were times the player wouldn’t fall to becoming a Demon King. Just borrowing the ownership of the Holy Sword, nothing more, nothing less.
‘The Magic Hat is related to the Nameless Saintess.’
In the end, it was because of the Demon King of Truth that she almost died. Or like the White Lily, something might have gone wrong somewhere.
I was too greedy. Lee Soo-hyun.
This world is far too harsh for the kind and gentle her. There isn’t even enough time for such useless worries. I need to become stronger than now.
‘No matter how weirdly they may look at me.’
I want to protect her from the side. I want to help her live a happy life away from the grasp of the Demon King.
Once I complete the Grand Route and everything is finished, I want her to not be despised as a Saintess who can’t heal well, by anyone.
Rather than grieving over someone dying in battle, I hope she talks about little things like flowers blooming in the fields or nature.
One day, I want to feel drowsy in the warm and peaceful midday sun, and hear her small laughter when watering blue roses.
..That’s my small wish.
Thanks to her, I learned to believe in love.
*
Understanding.
With the sound of rain, I heard the sound of steel embedding into the ground.
“..Did I succeed?”
I opened my eyes. A blue sword lay before my feet. It looked similar in color to cobalt but felt darker.
“Cough cough! Indeed, young boy!”
“This is my Mind Sword..”
I stood up and picked up the sword. Raindrops tapped on the blade, sending small vibrations to my hand.
“Is my ability to summon rain?”
If the Nameless Saintess saw this, she would surely praise me as a kind rain goddess.
“No, it will be somewhat more useful than that. Young boy. Of course, I haven’t seen someone change the weather with mere thoughts in a long time!”
The dragon fangs sparkled a little as she chuckled. It rained because of my feelings. How wondrous, I looked around with the sword.
“It’s time to give the sword a name, young boy.”
“..A name? Why?”
“Humans have names, and there is meaning in them, is there not? Shouldn’t even a mere weapon have a name that reflects its purpose or direction? If it’s a Mind Sword seeking ‘direction’!”
A name, a name. When you think about it, this sword is like a connection between the Saintess and me. What name would suit it?
“..How about ‘Holy Sword of Love’?”
“That won’t do, young boy.”
“Why not, Celestial Demon?”
“The God of Emotions will be furious like a wildfire. Think of another good name.”
Well, that’s a no-go. It’s a Mind Sword that emerged from my belief and protection of love.
I thought that there couldn’t be a better name than this. I rested my chin on my hand, pondering various candidates.
A moment passed.
“..What about ‘Faith’?”
“Oho. Why did you name it that?”
I gazed at the blade washed by the rain as the Celestial Demon asked.
“Faith means both believing and protecting. I now believe in love. And I must protect that love as well.”
It’s not just my personal belief or special reflection. The Nameless Saintess had told me.
[This time, I will help you believe in love.]
I had fallen into the game just from one sentence. This was a reasoning that anyone could accept.
“The accurate name is Faith. Anticipated Rain.”
As I swung the sword, I checked its weight. It was comfortably similar to the iron sword I originally used. This feels like my resolve; carrying a strange feeling.
“With this sword, I will shed the tears of someone else.”
“Oho, reading as the Rain Expectation. Does that also carry the meaning of Worry?”
“Yes, it does, Celestial Demon.”
“..It turns unnecessary worries into incoming rain. It’s hopeful. Cold, yet kinder than anyone else.”
The Celestial Demon made a brief assessment, reading the characters engraved on the blade. When did this even exist? Considering how deep my feelings for the Saintess are, it must have done so.
“Rain must eventually cease.”
As I took a stance to slice downward with the sword, the downpour stopped as if it were a lie. It really was true that the rain had come because of this sword.
At first, I thought it was merely a coincidence.
“..I hope she finds happiness.”
“Cough cough! Now I really want to see who it is! Young boy.”
“Same here, Celestial Demon.”
The White Lily didn’t get wet in the rain. Perhaps she had blocked it with her mana. She laughed, her brown hair fluffing smoothly. Truly, the Celestial Demon was unfair.
“..Thank you for everything.”
“Yes, you have worked hard too, young boy.”
Now that I had obtained my Mind Sword, it was truly time to depart. With mixed feelings of relief and regret, I had to move forward.
“Once we catch Head Ake, you will be freed from this forest, Celestial Demon.”
“Dennis has already told her that. Rather than that, let’s end this delightful meeting.”
“..I also believe the lily isn’t shabby. Flowers possess their beauty by wilting, after all.”
“Cough cough! What’s this? Are you now calling yourself my disciple?”
Upon saying that, the White Lily covered her mouth and laughed. She seemed delighted by my mimicry of her tone.
“Indeed. Young boy, keep that Faith close and protect it. I will be cheering for you.”
“Thank you for everything, Celestial Demon.”
I held the sword high to the sky and took a stance from the Lily Sword Technique. As I prepared to emerge from deep within the endless monster forest,
“..Actually, you may call me Master, young boy.”
The White Lily acknowledged me. I remember her as someone with a high sense of pride, but perhaps she found it sad that she’d be alone again when I left.
“Yes, Master! This unworthy disciple, Licht. I shall take my leave now!”
“..Cough cough! You have two masters from the East and the West, disciple. It has been quite enjoyable!”
She finished her farewell in a hearty tone. I slashed the sword. It was a soft movement, like petals falling from flowers, but
CRUNCH. THWOMP.
The power was enough to cut through every tree in sight. I tightly grasped my sword and began to walk forward.
*
At that moment, in the endless monster forest, there was a group of people. Knights standing on the slightly damp ground after the rain.
“Will we find him today, Gold?”
“..You can’t keep coming here every day, Grancia.”
“But… we must do our best.”
The imperial guard raised a hand to his forehead as he watched the Glass Knight expend precious teleportation crystals every day to find the Black Knight.
“No matter how much you worry for that man, please leave it to us.”
“Be quiet, Gold.”
Even though she was the princess he served, such a passionate reaction was unexpected. They must have been very close friends.
As Gold was organizing his thoughts,
“..Licht. Smell?”
From within her glass helm, Pina sensed something strange. A person’s sweat odor brushed against her nose.
“Wait, Princess Pina Grancia! Where are you going? That path is dangerous….”
The glass knight dashed towards the direction of the smell, maneuvering her mana to sprint with all her might, but the man in golden armor tried to call her back.
‘Licht, are you alive? Really…?’
It was already too late. The white-haired wolf’s ears perked up as she searched for traces of the Black Knight.
How long had she run like that?
She discovered an eerily clear space with fallen trees. No one could deny it was a mark made by a sword. That meant the man was likely to be here.
‘The smell is getting stronger.’
She moved so hastily she tripped over roots and grass countless times. With her keen eyes, she could tell,
‘I don’t want to lose someone because of the Magic Hat anymore… Licht…’
Pina’s eyes were already distant. Her heart surged past her senses. Her heart was pounding so loud it felt like it would burst.
And then,
“Uh… Mardol?”
“..Licht.”
As always, the man in the Black Knight helm stood still, holding a blue sword.
“Licht!”
“Mard….”
With a BAM, her velocity caused a loud commotion.
She hugged Licht tightly as she fell. The glass knight pressed down from above, pinning the Black Knight beneath her. She felt the sensation of a man without armor.
“Mardol! Get off! You are… not heavy? Is it because you are a masterpiece?”
This Black Knight was always the same. He didn’t even seem to realize how much she worried. Even in such a dramatic situation, he was cracking jokes.
“..Haha. My apologies, Licht.”
It was a laugh that broke out. It felt like I hadn’t laughed in ten years. This man knew he was of royal descent yet still made such jokes.
“..I’m sorry for causing you worry.”
The man beneath her sighed deeply and apologized. He likely felt the reason for her passionate reaction.
“Just knowing is enough, Licht.”
Though he had disappeared as if off to die and showed up almost a month later, it didn’t matter to her. As long as no one got hurt because of the Magic Hat, that was all that mattered.
“..Could you get off me now? I said I was sorry. I can’t push you off with my strength….”
She could hear the heartbeat. The pulse in her chest. He was alive. Pina, anxious that the dark past would repeat itself, wanted to cling just a little longer.
“No.”
“Alright. Do as you please…”
He declared his surrender, releasing the strength that had filled his body.
‘..Good little liar.’
Licht had thrown the blue sword he wielded away, for fear that she might get hurt, but Pina’s keen eyes didn’t miss that.
And just like that, as the rain stopped, the two knights met again.
