*
Once upon a time, I read a book that had a line like this:
‘If you don’t spread your hands, you can’t hold anything.’
If you want to gain everything, you must be prepared to lose everything. It’s an obvious, cliché piece of wisdom.
The end at the end.
“Licht.”
Just as I was ready to give up my life, the light that saved my life appeared at my feet once again.
“Saintess, how did you…”
Honestly, I had no complaints. I met many good people at Grand Hertz Academy,
“Your smell, your voice, your warmth. Everything’s the same.”
I piled up unforgettable memories and protected other students from the schemes of the Demon Kings.
I tried to help couples like Dennis and the Celestial Demon, Kainel and Ariel.
Although I mistook Mardol for the Crown Prince and ended up causing various comedic situations, the past few months weren’t too bad.
“Well, it seems this kid is really you.”
During the five years I was possessed by the game, I could confidently say it was the happiest time. Of course, it was a bit disappointing not to meet our Saintess one last time.
“Licht… I was worried.”
I never dreamed of this kind of reunion. No, does it even make sense since I’m already in a nightmare?
“Hehe, I can tell by your face and body.”
That slightly high tone, hehe, the cheerful tail wagging, and her cute wolf ears flopped back.
The figure that looked like the Nameless Saintess hugged me and sweetly opened her mouth. Our bloodlines felt connected as if they had become one due to our closeness.
“I understand. It’s you.”
My heart began to race madly as I looked at her pure white form before me. The quiet thumping in my heart, which had been so still just a moment ago, now felt like a ‘…I’ll take any light before death.’
Just like turning the engine on, like lighting wood on fire.
‘Even if it’s just a hallucination, it’s fine.’
My emotions grew heavier, shaking inside. You idiot, calm down! My fingertips trembled, and tears gathered at the corners of my eyes.
“…Are you hurt?”
The burns visible on her body caught my attention. Was it the Apostle’s attack? Why does this trauma feel so real? Don’t let this person get hurt.
“No, I’m not hurt.”
I only felt pity that she got injured while trying to save me, even at this moment while fighting against the flames.
“Don’t lie.”
I looked directly at her slightly burned face and met her gaze for a moment.
“Caught me. I thought you wouldn’t notice with how oblivious I am.”
“I’m not that dumb.”
Her golden wolf eyes shone through the darkness. They looked cold yet beautiful.
“You really are dumb.”
“Why am I dumb?”
With her soft, shiny white hair, a faint hint of rose fragrance wafted around.
“You only like the chest, pervert Licht.”
“No, I’m not that kind of person…”
In fact, it would be normal for her not to know me since this was her first time seeing me. When I think back to the time with Servi, it seems quite contradictory.
“Stop lying.”
“…”
‘I like you because it’s you. I have no interest in other women.’ The words stuck in my throat, but it was too perverted to say, so I kept quiet.
“Anyway, Licht.”
Seeing her act this way clearly shows that this must be my last wish in this dreamy situation.
“You were going to go die alone again, weren’t you? Am I wrong?”
“…You’re right.”
“Don’t do that. It’s bad.”
People have a unique aura. I felt a long-lost sensation. Someone who always scolded me whenever I tried to make the wrong choice.
[Hey, did you sneak away from the party again to keep everyone safe? Let’s move together..!]
The person I always missed in my memories was indeed her.
The entrance time to the [Grand Hertz Academy] was a prequel with a five-year gap in the original and a ten-year gap in the sequel.
‘Did I want to attend the Academy with the Saintess so much? It’s not in a white nun’s robe, but in an academy uniform.’
I didn’t find it hard to understand that she appeared younger like this either. I wasn’t far off from that traumatized childhood myself.
“Let’s go out together now.”
“..Okay.”
I grabbed her hand. The size difference was notable. Her soft, snowy white hand. As soon as our fingertips touched, my body jolted as if an electric current had flowed through me.
“Hehe, Licht, your face is red.”
I felt my face burning. I wanted to hide away in a mouse hole. Wasn’t I supposed to be the wolf character?
The Saintess lifting me now wore a captivating smile, like a fox.
“It’s because it’s hot.”
“But it’s winter? There’s no fire magic here, so it’s really cold…”
Contrary to what I knew of the Saintess’s tone, she was speaking informally. I felt like I had heard that tone somewhere before, but it was too embarrassing, and my brain froze.
I was already enjoying a midsummer night’s Christmas, and even if this were a trap, I didn’t care.
“I’m hot. Saintess.”
What I hated the most was the thought of the person in front of me disappearing.
*
Pina Grancia could recognize the younger Licht at a glance.
In fact, it was the first time seeing his bare face, and with no burn marks to differentiate him from others, a third party might have overlooked him.
But she instinctively recognized him through his polite speech, unique scent, and slightly cold hands.
Furthermore, Pina found Licht’s brown eyes to be more handsome than those of the humans in this world. The eyes looked from within his helmet during the battle against the Magic Hat.
Those were the eyes of the Black Knight, who didn’t hesitate to burn everything for the sake of saving people like her.
There shouldn’t have been that much difference, so why did he feel so special?
However, she also had slight complaints. While escaping from the burning hospital looking for Licht,
“Saintess, it’s over there.”
“Yeah, got it. Licht.”
Just like last time, it was she who came to rescue the Licht before her, so why was this man again looking for only the Saintess?
‘…Does Licht see me as the Nameless Saintess or something?’
This was his trauma. In other words, it was a direct reproduction of a person’s feelings and memories.
So if he could recognize her as the most precious person, she could understand. Just moments ago, the boy had referred to her without mentioning his wolf ears but only his white hair.
‘How annoying…’
Pina gnawed her lower lip in jealousy. Her Inrang Tribe white fangs exposed.
“Let’s go up those stairs. The main building should be open.”
Her brow furrowed. While clearly running toward the exit through the black smoke, a part of her mind and all her nerves were elsewhere.
“..Saintess?”
The Licht from his childhood widened his eyes in surprise. Wasn’t this what his face hidden under the helmet had looked like?
“I’ll let you see me just this once, Licht.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“There won’t be a next time.”
Seeing the puzzled boy, a line appeared on her mouth unknowingly. This Licht probably didn’t know this version of him, the Saintess.
‘I won this round.’
With the feeling of victory, satisfaction bloomed in her heart.
As Pina hugged Licht while running and evading the fiery heat and flames, just before the two reached outside the hospital,
“…Huh?”
“It’s blocked. Licht.”
Unlike the man’s voice, the large glass door that had seemed to be the last resort was now blocked by debris, making it impossible to exit.
*
I felt a sense of incongruity at the concrete and steel blocking the front door of the hospital.
‘This can’t be happening.’
I had definitely escaped from here in the past and had seen firefighters come put out the fire through that entrance of the main building.
“…Cough. Licht, I’m okay. I’ll…!”
“Don’t! You’ve… inhaled too much smoke.”
The platinum wolf was struggling to clear away the debris, but from the looks of his breathing and condition, he could barely manage.
Why? Wasn’t it enough for me to die instead? At least leave my precious person safe.
“…Damn it.”
I felt self-loathing. Was I, as I have always been, unable to do anything?
‘No, I’m different from before.’
The Nameless Saintess is with me. Although she’s wearing the academy uniform and looks a bit different from my memory, she is really her.
“Just a bit longer… please hold on.”
“Licht?!”
I opened my eyes wide and faced the fire emergency. Cold sweat trickled down.
It was already hard to breathe, and my breath was getting more and more difficult. I forced my trembling legs to move forward.
“I believe in love.”
As I activated the fake Holy Sword, a single droplet fell from the ceiling and turned into a cobalt-colored sword right in front of me.
‘Since it’s indoors, I guess it doesn’t rain. Then…!’
Unfortunately, it wouldn’t rain. I couldn’t activate my teleportation ability either.
I reached out toward the blazing flames. This place was like the world in my mind. Therefore, there was one thing I could do better than anyone.
‘I must pull out the Mind Sword from within myself.’
The Nameless Saintess I had sought for so long was right by my side. I could not lose this person to the fire.
‘The past cannot be changed. But the present can.’
This situation is not the trauma I remember. I don’t know what fate or coincidence has led me here, but I have someone I can trust by my side.
“Saintess, it’s not about overcoming bad memories alone… it’s about overcoming them together.”
I turned to the back and pretended to be confident. If the Saintess is here, this flame is nothing. For her sake, I would jump into the fires of hell.
“Human beings are weak, but we can support each other.”
Holding the sword, I smiled at her. At that moment,
“Licht… your body… is back to normal?”
“Ah, it’s true.”
My vision that had always been low rose high. When I touched my face in surprise, the rough burn marks had come back.
‘I didn’t want to show this ugly side to the Saintess. But I guess there’s no helping it.’
My breath returned a little to normal. The fire was still scary, but I wasn’t cowardly enough not to create an escape route for her.
My love for the Saintess was greater than this flame.
“…I believe in love.”
A faint laugh escaped my lips. Indeed, pure love is invincible. I recited the incantation to call the Holy Sword once more.
With a kuung!, a lever-like black structure fell from the ceiling, appearing to be a beautifully crafted machine.
No, was this even a sword? It looked like something you should insert somewhere, with only the pulled end sharp like a sword.
“The first sword was a delusion, so… the second sword’s name is.”
The past is the past. It’s like an irremovable scar. Ultimately, what can be changed is the future, and the one who acts on it is the present me.
It’s time to bid farewell to the old memories. I was meant to feel guilt about what happened but not hurt other innocent people because of it.
“Old Memories, Reminiscence.”
I hugged the Saintess, who was curiously gazing at the Mind Sword, her ears perked up.
“Hold on tight. It might shake a bit.”
“Ah… okay.”
Her snowy tail turned into an exclamation mark. That’s interesting. Is this the trait of the beast and animal?
Clunk.
I pulled on the Old Memories. Then, with a kugung- sound, it felt like a complex mechanism began to move.
‘It was written below, “Stage Select”…’
From the start, I had guessed that pulling this would let us escape this hospital.
“…Licht? What are you doing?”
It must be a random terrain-changing ability. In an instant, the surroundings began to shift like a spinning wheel.
“Just a typical technique.”
It’s obvious to select a map before starting a game, isn’t it? I had no reason to explain further to our Saintess.
*
Thus, the two of us moved outside the hospital. So this works.
“…Are you okay, Saintess?”
“…”
“Saintess? Are you alright?!”
“..Oh? Ugh, I’m fine. Licht.”
That’s a relief. I thought she had lost consciousness since she didn’t respond when I called her. I confirmed that she was safe and released my embrace.
“…It’s snowing.”
“It’s a White Christmas. A day late, though.”
“What does that mean?”
Small, cute snowflakes fell from the sky.
“There’s something like that. It resembles you.”
It looked just like the pure white person in front of me. Like a fish-shaped bun, just like the Nameless Saintess with snow falling on Christmas.
A blessed weather, on a blessed date,
“…Nice to meet you, Saintess.”
A blessed person who should always be happy stood before me.
Feeling a little more at ease, I recited a line I had wanted to say. Even if it were a midsummer night’s dream, or a fleeting illusion that would vanish upon waking, I was fine with it.
“It’s not our first time, Licht.”
“Haha, that’s true?”
I poured my heart into it, leaving no regrets. But her way of speaking was just too similar to someone I know… who could it be…?
“…Soo-hyun? Is it you?”
“Kim Young-min..?”
At that moment, a child in a wheelchair approached us, leaving tracks in the lightly fallen snow.
“Thank goodness! Santa sister saved us..!”
The child in the red beanie smiled brightly at me. How pure and kind was this child.
“Do you recognize me, Young-min..?”
“Of course! But you suddenly grew up..?
My face was burned and scarred, and my height had changed dramatically, yet he still recognized me.
“Ah, got it! Soo-hyun is a superhero from TV, huh?”
“…That can’t be true.”
I shook my head. My lower lip was pulled horizontally, and the emotions I had been hiding bubbled up.
“I’m not that kind of person, Young-min. What kind of hero can’t even protect a single child?”
“Hyung, are you crying..?”
“I’m sorry, Young-min. Really.. I’m sorry..”
My knees dropped automatically to the ground. I apologized for the things I hadn’t been able to say to the child in front of me. It might not be transmitted anymore, but I apologized as many times as I could.
“Hyung! Don’t cry! Stop it!”
“You know, if I had been more careful… if I had known you weren’t there when escaping, I could have saved you…”
“Soo-hyun hyung, did you eat something bad? A hero doesn’t cry!”
The child patted my shoulder, chastising the adult for crying. I didn’t know what the Saintess beside me was thinking of me, but I was indeed a filthy and dirty human.
“…I’m sorry for not being good enough.”
I felt joyous at the relief of having finally saved someone, and I felt disgusted at the fact that I could change the past.
“I’m fine, Soo-hyun hyung… I don’t know what happened, but…”
“…”
“It’s not your fault. In the end, thanks to you, I made it out of the hospital!”
The boy in the wheelchair held my hand as he spoke. Luckily, he looked perfectly fine without a scratch.
“Actually, I was curious about what was inside the gift under the Christmas tree, so I thought about sneaking into the auditorium at night… I was way more curious about Rudolph!”
He sheepishly scratched his back while explaining the situation to me. So that’s how it happened. I was trying to sacrifice myself this time, which caused the change.
“So don’t feel too guilty, Soo-hyun hyung.”
Even though the past cannot be changed, maybe he just wanted to hear such words once or twice.
Words that it’s not one’s fault.
That wouldn’t wipe the slate clean, and I would probably feel guilt for a long time.
“The firefighters said… the place is completely destroyed now.”
“…That’s a relief. Actually, there was no Rudolph.”
Finally, I let out a sigh of relief. At that moment, the boy named Young-min gasped and covered his mouth in surprise.
“Why isn’t Santa around if she’s right next to us? It’s right here!”
Wait, what…? There’s only our Saintess next to me! Feeling a sense of unease, I looked up.
“Hello, little one.”
“Hello, Santa sister! You saw us just now, right..!”
The Nameless Saintess waved to the boy in the wheelchair.
“..Yeah, and is this person’s name Soo-hyun hyung?”
Wait a second, I feel like I just remembered something. That tone and the cold yet warm manner of action.
“No! Precisely, it’s Lee Soo-hyun!”
“I got it. I’ll remember it.”
Unlike our Saintess, who calls me ‘Sir’ and doesn’t use my name, this person does.
Could it be? No, it can’t be.
“…Licht, your name is Lee Soo-hyun then.”
“Saintess, you’re really our Saintess, right…? You’re not what I’m thinking, are you?”
I took a step back. I only knew one person like this.
The noble glass knight. Mardol Grancia.
The one who loved cute and sweet things.
Thinking about it, I had an ongoing feeling of having seen her somewhere before. What if that black-haired Inrang wasn’t really her? That thought swirled in my mind.
“No, I’m not the Saintess.”
“Could it be Mardol…?”
“…That’s not even my real name. Licht.”
The pure white figure shook her head, denying it.
Her white ears and tail drooped slightly, and her golden sparkling wolf eyes pierced into me.
“This… is still a dream of the Apostle of Gluttony, right..? Please say that it is..!!”
“Licht.. I’m not your dream. I’m the real me outside…”
It felt far too real. Dreams are originally based on our subconscious.
There’s no way I would have figured that out. That was really Mardol. I could instinctively tell.
“Then how did you enter my trauma?!”
“By holding hands?”
“…”
I was left speechless. Then our Saintess was the Glass Knight, and I had already done this and that with her…
“Ah, if you don’t believe me, I can link to the Masterpiece too. Want to see?”
“How can that be in my memory?!”
“Now it’s not just your memory anymore, Licht.”
No wonder the eyes I had seen peeking from under the helmet were pretty. She placed a hand over her chest and whispered to me earnestly.
“I don’t know who you saw in your trauma. But Licht.”
Her white wolf ears perked up little by little. No matter how I looked at it, I was sure she was my Saintess…
“Since you told me your real name, I’ll tell you mine as well.”
The Masterpiece was instantly layered over Pina, and she took on the form of a large white crystal.
“…Pina.”
With a small, cute voice, the white-haired girl smiled sweetly as she opened her mouth. It was as if she was asking me to remember these words for sure.
“My real name is Pina Grancia.”
So the Nameless Saintess told me her name as she put on her glass armor and helmet once more.
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