I Became The Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 17

Chapter 17 – Spirits Reflect Human Emotions – 2

 

Nex and I ended up sitting together. He seemed to be in a good mood and even paid for my drink.

 

Chocolate drinks were the best. I couldn’t stand bitter things.

 

“Ah, thank you.”

 

“That makes me feel better. Finicky, huh? Hahaha!”

 

The purple-haired man put his arm around me.

 

Honestly, I was worried it might fail. I still felt a little uneasy, but it was better than the Crown Prince route.

 

“Nex… even so, insulting the Ten Swords is… bad.”

 

“Shar, you awakened your spirit through true love, but you’re trying to force an arranged marriage on your son.  He deserves to hear a few bad things.”

 

“That’s true, but…”

 

The black-haired nun spoke with concern for Nex, and he crunched on the remaining ice in his glass.

 

A crunching sound echoed.

 

“I’m not fond of that either, young master Aureus.”

 

“Just call me Nex, Junior! I’m a second-year!”

 

“Thank you.”

 

As I agreed, a fox-like smile spread across Nex’s face.

 

“Your name is Licht, and you’re a first-year?”

 

“Yes, Senior Nex.”

 

“I don’t know how someone like you got into the academy. It’s surprising.”

 

“I do hear that I’m a bit peculiar.”

 

I chuckled, slightly annoyed.  I had heard that a lot in the game community.

 

‘How can someone like this like the Saint?’

 

Was there a need for a reason to like someone?  I didn’t know anymore.  If they were so bothered, they could just get stronger.

 

Then, Nex asked me a question, looking puzzled as I drank my beverage.

 

“But why did you suddenly insult the head of family, Junior?”

 

“…Because I wanted to become close with you, Senior?”

 

“You’re good at flattery, Junior.”

 

Actually, Nex was a deterrent in <Knight Heart>.

 

A rival who would pick a fight with the player if they tried to build a harem, derailing them from that route.

 

A seemingly womanizing character who prevented the player’s selfish desires.

 

Love is a contradictory emotion, so the character was designed that way, according to an interview with the creator of the first game.

 

Unlike the sequel, the original game only supported 1:1 relationships.

 

‘In the game, the Saint said that Nex didn’t seem like a bad person during their first meeting.’

 

If it weren’t for her, wouldn’t I have fallen for the other heroines and been severely punished by Nex?

 

…No, I wouldn’t have even started playing the game in the first place.  Suddenly, a thought crossed my mind.

 

“Seniors, do you happen to know the Nameless Saint?”

 

Since I was talking to a cleric, I asked Chartinese about the Saint’s whereabouts.

 

“…? The Saint?  There’s no one besides me?”

 

“Um… where would you find a fool who asks the Second Saint about that, Junior?”

 

“Excuse me?”

 

My brain couldn’t process the information.  I thought the First Saint was someone else, and the next one was the wolf-eared Saint.

 

It felt like cold ice had been poured over my head.

 

“W-What do you mean?  Could it be that the Second Saint…”

 

“That’s right.  Chartinese Saintmeri, right in front of you, Junior.”

 

“Nex, I told you not to call me by that name.”

 

“Sorry, my mistake. I was surprised too.”

 

Saintmeri. I had heard that name somewhere, but I was too flustered to think.

 

The Second Saint wasn’t her?

 

Cold sweat trickled down my back.  I couldn’t breathe.  Was there any possibility in this situation?

 

‘Something is twisted. Think.’

 

That noble position chosen by the God of Light.

 

“Are you… really the Second Saint?”

 

“Yes, you didn’t know because Shar is so pretty?  It’s understandable.”

 

“Nex, stop talking nonsense!”

 

“Ow!  Don’t hit me with divine power, Shar!”

 

The Saint wouldn’t be replaced by someone else.  I tapped my finger on the table.

 

The only plausible explanation was that I had mistaken her for the Second Saint.  I felt suffocated.

 

‘Think. She can’t be dead.  The in-game screenshot showed her.  The reward on the status window is still there.’

 

I kept swallowing dryly.  A bitter taste filled my mouth.

 

‘Even if she’s a supporting character, she’s not an extra. Something will definitely happen if I stay at the academy.  I even got isekai’d into the game, it can’t be pointless.’

 

I took a deep breath. I almost lost control of my emotions.  The fact that I didn’t know which generation the unidentified Saint belonged to.

 

I didn’t know the character Chartinese. And the wolf-eared Saint had so many hints surrounding her.

 

“I-I must have mistaken you for someone else. I apologize.”

 

I bit my tongue. I became too weak whenever it came to her.  Enough to interfere with the Grand Route strategy.

 

“Are you okay, Junior? Your hands are trembling.”

 

“Yeah, really.  Junior, do you need healing?”

 

“I’m fine. I know a skilled healer.”

 

Negative thoughts were endless. I should be swinging my sword instead.  I couldn’t receive healing anyway, in this body.

 

“…I’ll be going now.  My morning lecture is about to start.”

 

“Ah, Junior Licht, take care!”

 

I felt slightly dizzy.  If the so-called Second Saint didn’t know her, it meant she was safe. There was no need to worry.

 

“Junior, wait a moment.”

 

I barely managed to move my unsteady body.

 

Then, the purple-haired man called out to me.

 

“Yes? What is it?”

 

“Here, the Phoenix’s blessing.  Take care. You look really tired.”

 

Nex patted my shoulder.

 

“Chirp.”

 

A purple sparrow circled above my head.  In the game, it had the ability to relieve fatigue.  Spirits were indeed useful.

 

“See you next time, Black Knight Junior.”

 

He waved at me.  I could see concern in Nex’s fox-like smile.

 

“…See you later.”

 

I just ran towards the classroom.  My steps felt a little lighter.

 

—–CROW—–

 

As I sprinted, I ran into the Hero and his companion.

 

“Oh, Licht.”

 

“What’s wrong? It’s not time for class yet.”

 

“Helmet Man! Hi!”

 

“I thought I was late, but I wasn’t.”

 

There were some circumstances. My neck was drenched in sweat.  I felt better now.

 

“Did you enjoy your meal with Ariel?”

 

“…Can’t you tell?”

 

“I ate with Mardol!”

 

“Yes.”

 

So he ran into the Crown Prince.  Kainel, you and I are in similar situations today. I felt sympathy for my comrade who shared the same experience.

 

The red-haired mage spoke.

 

“Have you all thought about your specialties? Kai?”

 

“I’m thinking about something related to light.”

 

“Already taken.”

 

“Professor Dennis knows my situation, so it should be fine.”

 

The Yellow Dog, seemingly scheming, and me, feeling slightly irritated, answered.  When did Mardol become close to Ariel again?

 

It should be fine. Fortunately, I had already talked to them in the club room, so there wouldn’t be an F on my report card.

 

Someone stared at me as I was feeling relieved.

 

“Licht, swordsmanship.”

 

“If I push that as my specialty, others will believe it. Thanks for the advice.”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“How did you understand that, Helmet Man…?”

 

The Glass Knight nodded slightly, seemingly satisfied.  They were somewhat easy to read.

 

“It’s my specialty.”

 

I had figured out Rufus’s way of speaking.  Game strategy starts with understanding patterns.  Even if it was different from the second game, I was used to this much.

 

“So, what’s with the cake in your hand, Kainel?”

 

“Ah, t-this? I bought it to eat.”

 

“Really?  You don’t like sweets.”

 

“Licht, how did you know that?!”

 

Of course I knew. Kainel tried to eat sweets after marrying Ariel.

 

I could vividly picture him grimacing as he ate a chocolate-covered crepe.  Come to think of it, <Black Heart> had its good points too.

 

“Is that from the bakery we just went to? Kai, did you buy it for me?”

 

“Ariel?! Uh, uh… Yes, actually.”

 

“Thanks! Let’s eat it together after lunch!”

 

“…Okay, let’s do that.”

 

As expected of the perceptive red cat.  She noticed the Hero hiding his hands behind his back before he could even make an excuse.  Humming, she picked up the box containing the strawberry cake.

 

“It’s a bit cold.  Did you use freezing magic too?!”

 

“They didn’t do this in our village.  The Imperial City is a bit different…”

 

“A well-established shop.”

 

The blond-haired guy’s face was red. It would be good if they were just honest with each other. Why were they doing this tsundere act that didn’t even work these days?

 

“Licht, I’ll see you during the practical training session.”

 

He looked at me, vowing revenge, but

 

[Kainel♡Ariel 24% ‘NEW!!’]

 

I smiled, looking at the message on the status window.

 

It was nice that it worked so fast in times like these.

 

—–CROW—–

 

When we arrived at the classroom, Dennis took out a sphere containing multiple magic circles and teleported us all using it.

 

“Huh? Wow… it’s teleportation magic.”

 

“This must be expensive.  Ah, right, this is the academy.”

 

“Amazing… I’ve never seen this before.”

 

“Is it because of that magic circle? The circuits should be tangled… It must be because he’s a professor.”

 

A sudden transition, like a change of scenery on a stage.

 

The other students, including myself, were dumbfounded.

 

‘Protagonists are different.’

 

To think he mastered the three-dimensional magic circle so quickly.  Honestly, I was skeptical.

 

There wouldn’t be any contradictions since he said in <Knight Heart> that he mastered it through his own research.

 

“Today, as I announced before, you just have to defeat the training slimes behind me using your specialties.”

 

He gestured towards the slimes placed at intervals in the wide field.

 

“Unique swordsmanship, conceptually twisted magic, your own spirit, a weapon made with divine power.  Anything is fine.”

 

“It will be a relative evaluation, and each of you will be assigned one slime.”

 

“There are bonus points for defeating it quickly.”

 

“Then, let’s begin the practical training. Gentlemen… I mean, students.”

 

As soon as he finished speaking, the other students headed towards the slimes for the mock battle.

 

“Then, I’ll be going this way. Good luck, everyone.”

 

“See you later, Helmet Man!”

 

“I won’t lose to you today. Just you wait, Licht.”

 

After briefly bidding farewell to my companions, I also approached a slime for the evaluation.

 

A cube-shaped barrier unfolded.  A type of protective magic circle.

 

Oh, this felt like a 1-on-1 training ground.

 

“It’s been a while.”

 

The walls I often saw in the game’s training grounds. It was magic passed down from the academy.

 

I looked at the bouncing green monster.

 

“A training… slime, huh…”

 

I was feeling down today, so a distracting thought came to mind.  I wasn’t in good shape.

 

“…I should have forgotten about this by now.”

 

A slime with a red core in its wriggling center.  A training monster that grew stronger as it divided.

 

I had a memory related to this.

 

A sudden event.

 

After the Hero and Mage’s wedding in <Black Heart>, the Nameless Saint suddenly disappeared.

 

If the player immediately headed to the nearby training ground, they could find her.

 

Honestly, I save-loaded countless times. Because she wasn’t the type to disappear without a reason.

 

A woman sitting on the ground, sobbing, while keeping her distance from the training slime.

 

[Sir Knight…? How did you…?]

 

Because of the barrier, no one but the person inside was supposed to be able to enter.  She wiped away her tears and tried to act normal.

 

I wished I was good at acting like Nex.

 

[…It seems the story of a nameless person… has to be forgotten.]

 

I pictured the Saint trying to smile it off, playing with her long white hair.  The Platinum Wolf, telling a lie with teary eyes.

 

[Seeing Kainel and Ariel’s wedding… made me envious.]

 

She desperately tried to hide the fact that she watched the happiness of others with sad eyes.

 

From <Knight Heart> to <Black Heart>, she never had a happy ending.

 

Did she really exist in this world?

 

“Ha.”

 

I sighed.  My chest felt tight.  An unpleasant feeling weighing down on me.  Was she unhappy somewhere in the third game too?  Would she be crying alone again? I was worried.

 

[I’ve always been like this, but… I’m not fit to be a Saint.]

 

“…”

 

I had to shake off the negative thoughts.

 

I drew my sword from its sheath.  A metallic *clink* resonated, like a scream. The silver steel looked like it was about to crumble.

 

[If others are happy, a coward like me should be satisfied with that.]

 

Perhaps the Saint felt similar back then.

 

“Fourth Form.”

 

The hand holding my sword felt heavier than ever.  My helmet reflected in the blade.  I probably had an angry expression underneath.

 

I kicked off the ground powerfully.  The wind started to gather.  Air pressure swirling in my right hand.  It was the principle of creating a sword beam with pure physical force, regardless of distance, and

 

a new technique focused on cutting power.

 

The essence of Drake Style swordsmanship.

 

The fourth form, reinterpreting the Wolf King Locke.

 

Strength converted into technique, and lack of power compensated by skill.

 

[Not everyone can be happy, Sir Knight.]

 

The unforgettable scent of roses wafted through the air, weighing down on me.

 

But,

 

she deserved to be happy, even just once, right?

 

I put a little too much emotion into it.

 

“Void Slash.”

 

The gathered air shot out like an explosion.  A natural phenomenon, a will, created to cut down a dragon in front of you, regardless of distance.

 

Even magic would have a hard time blocking it.

 

*SLASH!!*

 

Dust billowed as the protective barrier shattered along with the slime.

 

—–CROW—–

 

*Clang!!*

 

The sound of the protective barrier shattering from the Black Knight’s swordsmanship echoed through the training grounds.

 

A sharp noise like dozens of glass windows breaking.

 

A long, fan-shaped area was devastated, as if a bomb had exploded. Anyone watching would think he had used wind magic or Aura to fire a sword beam.

 

“Kyaaa!”

 

“What, what’s going on?!”

 

“Did a typhoon just pass through?”

 

“Is it magic? But why did the protective barrier break? That’s impossible…”

 

A gust of wind swept past, engulfing the slimes. The students were unharmed.  It was a strange wind that seemed to intentionally avoid people.

 

“That’s Licht’s direction.”

 

Kainel sighed, looking at the broken and fallen trees and the scattered slime fragments.

 

He knew that Licht was stronger than him, but this was different.

 

‘He must have lost control of his strength.’

 

He thought quietly, looking at the trail of destruction.  He knew how to swing a sword, having honed his skills as a Hero.

 

A rough and crude form, as if he had surrendered himself to his emotions.

 

He had been acting strange since morning.

 

It wasn’t his usual controlled swordsmanship.  He had been running around, drenched in cold sweat as if he had seen a ghost.

 

“Kai, what happened?”

 

“Oh, Ariel? You came out of training too?”

 

“Yeah.  Did Helmet Man do this…?”

 

As he pieced together the clues like a puzzle, the red-haired girl approached him.  She was also shocked, looking at the devastated surroundings.

 

“It seems so.  There’s no one else with this level of ability besides Licht.”

 

“Almost Sword Master level, isn’t he…?”

 

“…Probably.”

 

“Impossible… he can’t even use magic…”

 

She understood, considering he had blocked her Shine Strike, but it wasn’t magic.

 

The blond Hero had an expression of disbelief.  When they looked for the Black Knight, he was already apologizing to Professor Dennis.

 

“Professor, I… I’m sorry. I didn’t know how quickly I had to defeat the slime.”

 

“It’s a decent result.  Not Dragonslayer, but this is also ‘extreme’.”

 

“…I made a mistake.”

 

“Cheer up, since no one was hurt. My future teaching assistant.”

 

The Black Knight trembled, repeatedly bowing to the man with shining white eyes.

 

“I’m… not going to graduate school…”

 

“You can graduate faster if you take the combined bachelor’s and master’s program, Licht.”

 

“I still don’t want to, Professor Dennis.”

 

His clothes were ordinary, making him look like a stage actor.

 

‘Anyone can make mistakes. But it looks like he intentionally avoided hitting anyone.’

 

Kainel liked this aspect of Licht. He wasn’t someone who rampaged, relying only on his strength.

 

He must have channeled some negative emotions into his swordsmanship.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“Did… I lose…?”

 

While the Yellow Dog Next Door was lost in thought,

 

the Glass Knight, standing far away, muttered while looking at the scoreboard.

 

She had been relieved, thinking she had defeated the slime the fastest, and left the training ground late.

 

The surroundings were already a mess.  And she saw the words floating in the air.

 

[1st Place: ….]

 

[2nd Place: Mardol.]

 

A man’s name in the rank above hers.

 

‘Licht.’

 

Phine experienced defeat for the second time in her life.

 

—–CROW—–