*
Inside the men’s dormitory of the Academy. Kainel told me I looked unwell and urged me to take a day off.
“..I’m going crazy.”
Left alone, I started flipping through my notes, checking if I missed anything. I searched for every member of the Grancia royal family.
‘Why isn’t Mardol’s name coming up?’
With black hair and wolf ears like Rufus, she must have golden eyes. Moreover, she is female. Based on the reactions, I could tell for sure. Anyone with pure white hair is the real oddball.
“..Is she really a new heroine?”
Honestly, it made sense even if she was rushed. She’s positioned exactly opposite to the northern duchess that that pillar of a guy likes.
When you flip a popular character’s setting, it often leads to popularity too. Or they might just change the outfit and claim it’s a different attribute.
In fact, there were times when they released characters in swimsuits in the middle of winter.
But why doesn’t our Saintess have a swimsuit version? Now that I think about it, it pisses me off. Slamming my notebook shut, I felt annoyed.
Her real name is probably Mardol Grancia. The hypothesis that she was a substitute turned out to be wrong. It’s true that she’s a completely separate character.
Just like how Rufus suddenly popped up without any premonition in the sequel, [Grand Hertz Academy] could do the same, especially since that damn sequel’s creator has been glued to my side.
I narrowed my eyes. Are they telling me to give up on our Saintess? To see her wearing a wedding dress and marrying another man?
The character I got possessed by happens to be the ‘Black Knight’. A name that must sacrifice for their loved one. They might be trying to use this to mess with me.
If I can’t get close to our Saintess, I might just want to bite my tongue. After all, how unfortunate has my life been from the start?
‘She had no name and no abilities, unnoticed and implicitly abandoned by players… ’
For those enjoying [Night Heart Trilogy], it was a norm to keep her as a healer at the beginning and swap her out later.
Even I, who relied on tech and equipment to crush challenges, found it hard to fight while placing her at the rear. She was just that weak.
“..But her heart was stronger than anyone else’s.”
Even lacking abilities, she always worried for the weak and saved me with her warm heart. The phrase “A rat can have its sunny day” perfectly describes this.
Lying on my bed, I reached toward the magic lamp on the ceiling. Like trying to catch light, if things continue like this, I might never get close to her.
I could vividly picture the white-clad woman on guard, warning me not to try forming a harem. Since she believes in pure love, I guess it’d be tough for me to be close to Mardol. How can you cover the sun with your palm? A hollow laugh escaped me.
Already involved with the Demon King, it’d be dangerous for her to face any peril. I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to shake off the negative thoughts.
‘..Feels like I’m missing something important.’
The persistent questions sharpened my senses. The inquiries followed one after another: Why is Mardol so intertwined with me?
“Was it from the Shadow Wolf? It probably was. Dijur-sensei mentioned something.”
It seems the moment I manipulated the hero couple and put them in a carriage was like a starting point for the butterfly effect. From there, I met the butler, and Mardol must have taken an interest in my existence.
Someone obsessed with strength. The Drake Style of swordsmanship would have been quite alluring to her. There’s also the issue of my master solely taking me as a disciple.
“..And I mistook her for Rufus.”
I had so much information that I fell into confirmation bias. If I didn’t know much about the game from the start, I wouldn’t have had these kinds of misconceptions.
If she is really a woman, it’d be better to pursue at least a comrade route. I had to verify whether she was genuinely female this time. Since misinformation always poisoned me here.
“Magic Hat was also a girl…. And I almost let Nex leave Schartines-senpai to die for not knowing.”
I guess it’s a prequel thing, variables are frequent. I’m already struggling hard to save our Saintess, and there isn’t anyone to talk it out with comfortably.
Ah, thinking back, I did mention to Mardol to take care of the Nameless Saintess.
It’s all turned into a tangled mess, becoming far too complicated to untangle. Just like the situation a moment ago.
“..Licht lies too.”
It was a crooked start from the get-go. We had been keeping secrets from each other. Maybe it’s just my keen sense? They probably know I’m a possessed character.
“Can you tell I’m lying that badly…?”
A sigh escaped me. That oblivious mutt pointed it out too, and Ariel scolded me as well. Lies are like rolling snowballs, growing bigger and bigger.
In the end, my fearful self created this situation. Actually claiming I’ve possessed a game character and asking for help….
No way. That’s out of the question. Who on earth would understand when I say, “You’re an in-game character”? Even I, possessed as Licht, feel like this world is so real.
“..What should I do moving forward?”
From my predictions, I’d have to maintain the love line without any ‘contradictions’ in the Academy to access the Grand Route of our Saintess.
‘What could her love line possibly be?’
Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. Could it be me? I’m not even remotely proficient with women, and if I start dating someone else, I won’t be able to get close to our Saintess. I have no desire for that at all.
‘What if I can’t touch the ‘Saintess Route’, and can’t get close to her, thus failing to protect our Saintess….’
I bowed my head. My mind was too complicated. Can feelings alone truly resolve things in this world?
“Let’s stop. Lee Soo-hyun. Just worrying won’t change the situation.”
I stood up. I grabbed the Pure Love Injection 2. My hand tightened around the sword’s hilt. Today, the traces of my efforts stood out.
Seeing them gave me an odd sense of pride. It felt like the footprints of the life I had walked, making me think I could confidently say, “I’ve done my best for you.” when I face our Saintess.
“..Because the Saintess is special to me.”
I felt joy. A smile lifted at my lips. Just imagining her cheered me up.
‘The one who saved me.’
Some say time heals all. How can one like someone for 15 years? It just happened. I found no interest in any other woman.
She was just that radiant to me. Like fireworks illuminating a dark night sky. When darkness comes, it makes me cherish her even more.
‘The one who made me believe in love.’
Some people say to give up. That first loves cannot be realized. I know that too. That makes it all the more precious and lovable.
I want to see those pure white wolf ears perk up in excitement. I hope to enjoy her adorable moments when she flops back in joy.
‘The person I like.’
Casual love stories are light-hearted tales for most. For me in the present, those words don’t apply. Somehow, I just want to make her happy beside me.
This world is a cold place with four Demon Kings. Such a place is no fit for our Saintess.
‘I love her.’
Currently, I cherish her deeply.
“..It’s just that.”
The depth of love is something that cannot be measured. It’s not expressible by numbers, and one shouldn’t speak carelessly of others’ love.
Finishing my mental sorting, I finally realized what I should do for the year-end exams.
I need to obtain a Mana Rose to give to our Saintess later. That’d be the best I could do at this point.
Even if I ponder the love line with the princess, it won’t cause any issues if we remain comrades.
*
Time passed by,
[The final day of the year-end exam has finally arrived!]
In the circular arena stood two knights, one black and one white.
“Hello, Licht.”
“Greetings.. Mardol.”
As I reverted to the original titles, the glass knight flinched slightly, showing surprise. My lips curled into a slight laugh at that sight.
“Oh?!”
What a clumsy person. When I first saw her, she seemed very cold, but she’s changed quite a bit.
“Didn’t you dislike this?”
“..True.”
Mardol nodded slightly. After all, she’s someone who doesn’t wish to reveal her status and wears masterpiece-level gear.
‘Guess this is what it takes for a comrade route.’
It was the conclusion I arrived at after much thought. I might not know how to treat women well, but treating them like male comrades should suffice, right?
Kainel gets along fine with me. He and Ariel have their lovey-dovey moments together. Not having any romantic experience shouldn’t hold me back here.
Thanks to our Saintess, I learned about love through the game. I’m someone who can do it.
“..Licht.”
It was then. While lost in thought, she held her sword and spoke to me.
“I don’t know you well, Licht.”
In her helmet, golden eyes gleamed, different from the earlier person, making the cold aura surrounding her sharpen my senses.
“..Same here.”
That was the truth. I hadn’t known anything properly from the start to finish. I drew my sword at my waist. My opponent is the female protagonist, a descendant of Emperor Rock.
[It’s Licht, the Black Knight, wearing the Knight’s helm, and Mardol, gleaming in white armor!]
Looking back, it was a strange encounter. Though externally we stood at odds, we were alike in many ways.
[The black and white knights, two opposing forces, are about to clash! Who will become the top newcomer of the Academy?]
One obsessed with strength, the other fixated on the Saintess, yet neither was honest about their feelings. How many sorrows have they endured alone?
Yesterday’s events or when I lashed out at her in the swordsmanship training hall; I have always been the one to hurt Mardol.
“Thus…you.”
After this battle, I wonder how much I could learn. Speaking was meaningless; this was the type where swords had to converse.
Listening to her declaration made my heart race. I might get a chance to observe a magical combat.
“..Let me know.”
The muffled voice from within the glass helm echoed throughout the arena,
[The final match of the Grand Hertz Academy’s year-end exam! Let’s begin!!]
Mardol’s golden wolf eyes shone brightly.
