I Became The Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 19

Chapter 19 – Spirits Reflect Human Emotions – 4

 

—–CROW—–

 

Outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery,

 

“One of the reasons spirits grow is because of changes in emotions.”

 

Maria tapped the wooden blackboard.

 

“Then, can any student tell me when a spirit remains in its juvenile form?”

 

“When there’s no opportunity to acknowledge their emotions.”

 

“Correct, Licht!”

 

Something felt off.  My game knowledge still seemed to work in situations like this, but…

 

I bit my lower lip as I answered the professor’s question.

 

They were too different from the Rufus I knew.  What happened in the past to make them become a completely different person?

 

They had said, ‘I couldn’t protect them before.’

 

As far as I knew, there wasn’t any dark backstory. Could I even consider them the same person?

 

In Nex’s case, there were some familiar aspects, but with the Crown Prince, only the obsession with strong people remained the same.

 

Ah, wait. Why didn’t I think of that before?

 

Did the Demon King do something?

 

Yes, these guys were always involved with the protagonists.  It was the same with Dennis and Ariel.

 

There could be others I didn’t know about.  It was a Chekhov’s gun, after all.

 

That would explain it.

 

The lecture continued, with a few hamster spirits popping out.

 

“Since one’s emotions are heavily influenced by others, strong Spirit Art users are often sociable.”

 

So that’s how Nex’s harem was formed. I jotted down the lecture content in my notebook.

 

‘Love? I’m done with that crap, you commoners.’

 

I remembered the context behind his expression in <Knight Heart>.

 

Up until the sequel, posts titled [231st Nex’s Best Girl Contest] were consistently uploaded to the community, but

 

he never actually had any affection for any of them.  That made him a bit more likable.  It meant he only had eyes for Chartinese.

 

‘I heard there were many beautiful characters, but even I, who wasn’t interested, knew how famous he was.’

 

As the story progressed, Asha Aureus would forcibly arrange his marriage.

 

[Parents who create a harem to find someone to strengthen their son’s spirit vs. A popular guy who ignores everyone and isn’t interested]

 

Posts with titles like that were common.

 

The reason for the harem wasn’t his intention.

 

All the players knew he wasn’t actually a womanizer. But I didn’t expect to see the reason here.

 

Officially, an orca beastkin was his wife, but there was no love between them.

 

There was even a scene where she condemned him for being dirty when he approached her, and in <Black Heart>, she badmouthed him.

 

“The reasons why spirits don’t appear vary from person to person. So…”

 

To think he was now acting lovey-dovey with the black-haired nun.

 

That vampire was definitely his wife.  I had something to post when I returned to the real world.

 

The pleasant thought distracted me from the professor’s lecture.

 

“I’ve brought a special guest today!”

 

While I was distracted, Maria smiled brightly.

 

“Someone famous for their spirit among the Ten Swords has come from the Aureus family to give a demonstration!”

 

Someone appeared from between the trees.

 

“Greetings, Juniors!”

 

“It’s Senior Nex Aureus!  He’s a year above you!”

 

“Thank you for accepting my sudden request, Professor Maria.”

 

“Not at all, Nex. I should be thanking you.”

 

The sly Purple Fox.

 

“Hello, Black Knight Junior.”

 

“Hello, Senior Nex.”

 

It was Nex Aureus.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“Actually, I also had a constitution that prevented spirit awakening until a few years ago.”

 

That was true.  In <Knight Heart>, he was a spearman who rarely used his spirit.

 

I was surprised when he later revealed it as his trump card.

 

“There’s a famous saying from my family… from my mother, that spirits are born from emotions.”

 

He only used the Phoenix in critical moments.

 

The setting materials stated that his spirit awakened right before he entered the academy.

 

“That’s why you shouldn’t let others control your emotions.”

 

His hand clenched.

 

Even in the original game, he seemed to be longing for something while looking at the purple bird.  He must still have some unresolved feelings.

 

‘Could it be that he failed to connect with the woman named Shar?’

 

I thought about the status window. No matter how I thought about it, there were too many couples who wouldn’t progress if I didn’t intervene.

 

It wasn’t updated in real time.

 

It might appear later, like with Kainel.  Did it only appear after the route was confirmed?

 

“Then… is there anyone who wants to see their spirit, even just for a moment?”

 

“Me.”

 

“Oh, Junior Licht!”

 

I raised my hand. I had to get close to him as much as possible to ensure the Grand Route strategy went smoothly.

 

—–CROW—–

 

Nex, with the sparrow perched on his index finger, spoke to the students.

 

“Spirits are simply dormant within everyone’s hearts.”

 

I stared intently at the purple Phoenix.

 

“So, I’m going to try to awaken it for a moment using this little guy.”

 

“Chirp!”

 

The sparrow raised a wing to its forehead.  Was he going to use it to hatch something?

 

So it was spirit resonance.

 

A technique Nex developed on his own that saved him from being expelled from his family.  Could even I, unable to use magic, control a spirit with this?

 

No matter how much I raised my affinity with the Saint when I played the game, no spirit appeared.

 

The in-game tips also stated that spirits were born from emotions. It should work here.

 

Honestly, I hoped it would be a white wolf like her.  So it would be easier to find the Nameless Saint.

 

“Chirp, chirp…!”

 

Lost in thought, I noticed the purple Phoenix chirping incessantly, as if confused.

 

“…Uh? Why… isn’t it working?”

 

“Is there a problem…?”

 

Come to think of it, would it even work for me?

 

“…Something’s strange.”

 

“…I don’t have much mana, and my circuits are tangled.”

 

“Ah…!”

 

Nex examined my body and groaned.  Even Dennis couldn’t fix my constitution. Should I give up?

 

“Hmm… this is real.  It might be difficult, Junior.”

 

“Licht, are you alright?!”

 

“It’s my constitution.”

 

Professor Maria looked at me with concern.  Their reaction was a bit excessive.

 

Then, as if something came to mind, their purple eyes widened.

 

“Ah, then we can do this.”

 

Was there a way?  Could I go down the Spirit Swordsman path?  My eyes lit up at the brief glimmer of hope.

 

“It might hurt a little, but I might be able to use you as a magic circle, Junior.”

 

What kind of crazy talk was that?

 

Necromancy? Weren’t only dark mages supposed to use human bodies like that?

 

…I liked it. Let’s do it.

 

“Now, it might hurt and be tiring.  You don’t have any classes after this, right, Junior Licht?”

 

“I have one, but it should be fine, Senior Nex.”

 

“Then raise your hand if it hurts.”

 

I had no choice but to trust them.  Affinity was important, but I needed every advantage I could get to deal with the Demon King.

 

‘It’ll be hard to protect the Saint at this rate. I’m weak, so I have to use my head.’

 

A purple magic circle unfolded behind me.

 

There were four types of debuffs you could get from Nex’s spirit resonance in the game:

 

Sleep, paralysis, fatigue, and dizziness.  Would I really get them here? It would probably be fine.

 

“Be reborn from the flames.”

 

Purple flames pierced through my heart.  Something like black smoke emerged, as if representing a surge of emotions.

 

“Ugh.”

 

This damn luck-based game.

 

The smoke meant failure.

 

I got all four debuffs.  There was a chance of not getting any.  The pain made my mind go numb.

 

I collapsed on the ground. It hurt too much to even scream.

 

I couldn’t feel my body.  It wasn’t described as this painful in the game.

 

“Woof!”

 

A ball of black fur popped out from the center of my chest.

 

“…Oh my, it’s a black wolf?”

 

“It’s not a Shadow Wolf… it’s a type I’ve never seen before.”

 

A jet-black wolf, as if covered in soot.

 

I held back my tears.  It really hurt.  It felt like a sword had been pulled from my heart.

 

A fluffy spirit, round like a ball.  This reminded me of something.

 

‘…Isn’t this a Pomeranian?’

 

Was it because of my real-world experience?  A spirit that was a mix of a Pomeranian and a wolf, how strange.

 

“Pant, pant.”

 

It seemed to like people, as it kept trying to lick my cheek.

 

“Yap?”

 

My visor lifted slightly.  Its tongue was small. Cute.  It finally managed to reach my cheek.

 

“Junior Licht, are you okay?”

 

“Cough, cough.  Gasp.”

 

Actually, no.  It hurt so much I couldn’t breathe.

 

There were things game knowledge didn’t cover.  I felt like I learned that you shouldn’t completely trust it.

 

I put my hand on the ground and tried to take deep breaths. My face felt numb.  The blood wasn’t circulating.

 

“You’ll be fine if you sleep for a bit. I forced it out, after all.”

 

“I’m… fine…”

 

Nex looked at me with concern.  Save me, Senior. I haven’t escaped the Crown Prince route yet.

 

‘Please, I’m begging you, Mr. Harem Breaker, let me have the Saint’s route.’

 

I swallowed those words and tried not to lose consciousness.

 

“I hope you all will be able to awaken your spirits like this. Huh?”

 

“…Junior, where is it going?”

 

The panting and running sounds of a small animal.

 

Everyone’s gaze followed the black Pomeranian as it ran across the grass.

 

“Why… that way…”

 

My spirit dashed towards someone.

 

“Woof!”

 

“…Hello.”

 

You crazy dog. Stop. Why are you going to the Crown Prince?!

 

And how did it jump so high? It was so small.

 

My spirit jumped into Mardol’s arms and kept rubbing its head against their helmet.

 

‘Why are they there?’

 

I barely managed to lift my head and look. The wolf pup, with its tongue sticking out, seemed excited.

 

I was its owner, but I felt like it had been stolen.

 

“Fluffy.”

 

“Woof!”

 

Its tail wagged like a motor, as if it had met its former owner.  Why was it acting like that? Should I have used spirits in the game?

 

“…Cute.”

 

“Woof!”

 

They stared at my spirit.  I could see their golden eyes slightly.

 

“A real puppy.”

 

“Pant.”

 

Mardol buried their face in my spirit.  It looked a little scary with their helmet on.

 

Okay, let’s take this opportunity to get up.

 

“They must like… knight… helmets…”

 

I tried to fix the situation as the wolf pup snuggled into the Glass Knight’s arms, the flag seemingly confirmed.

 

“I always wear… one…”

 

Perhaps it was because of the umbrella incident, or because they felt indebted for the swordsmanship lessons I promised but postponed.

 

I had also spoken to them rather harshly yesterday.

 

‘Did I treat them too poorly?’

 

I should train with Mardol in swordsmanship tomorrow.

 

This was my karma.

 

My eyes closed.  My vision went dark.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“L-Licht?!”

 

“Ah, Professor Maria, he’ll be fine.  I was the same at first.”

 

“If Nex says so, then I’m relieved, but…”

 

A few minutes after Phine held the spirit in her arms, Licht fell asleep. He seemed fine, health-wise.

 

He seemed more relaxed now that he was asleep, the tension leaving his body. He looked better than when he was angry yesterday.

 

The Black Knight’s helmet was pulled down low.

 

‘You pushed yourself too hard, Licht.’

 

Her eyes were sharp enough to notice.  She could tell.

 

The wolf looked up at Phine. As if asking her to look at it.

 

“It’s smiling.”

 

“Woof!”

 

Its mouth was curved into a wide smile, showing no hostility towards her.

 

‘Does it like the scent of roses…?’

 

The Glass Knight observed the little black nose twitching.  Roses, the national flower of the Grancia Empire.

 

It was Phine’s favorite bath product too.

 

‘Cute. Still a baby, huh?’

 

Its nose was wet.  Its paws were slightly dirty. It was as small as a puppy.

 

Soft.  Cute.  She buried her face in the puppy’s fur.  It didn’t resist.

 

She remembered Licht’s words, worried about his spirit even as he fell asleep.

 

‘He’s a kind person, despite what he said yesterday.’

 

“Woof!”

 

“Stop, that tickles.”

 

The black wolf kept trying to lick her face.  Its tongue seemed small, but why was it acting like this with a stranger?

 

‘…Aha.  It likes people?’

 

Spirits were born from emotions.

 

If Licht truly disliked her, this little guy wouldn’t be so attached to her.

 

‘He must have given me that harsh advice because he was worried about me back then.’

 

“Peculiar.”

 

“Pant, pant.”

 

The small puppy snuggled comfortably in her arms. Phine thought the spirit, with its ears folded back, looked like a seal.

 

“Chirp!”

 

A moment later, the purple-haired man approached her with the sparrow.

 

“Now, Mr. Wolf, let’s have a little chat…”

 

“Grrrr…”

 

“C-Calm down.”

 

Nex’s Phoenix and Licht’s wolf were having a standoff. He was flustered, seeing the spirit exuding a fierce aura.

 

“This makes it hard to talk…”

 

“Chirp…”

 

“I know that, Chirp Chirp.”

 

The fox-like man looked like he hadn’t anticipated this.  The two held their spirits close, facing each other.

 

“Woof! Woof! Grrrr…”

 

“It’ll only be for a moment. My Phoenix is curious about you. Right?”

 

“Chirp, chirp.”

 

Nex tried to make it seem like he was trying to communicate with Licht’s spirit, which Phine was holding, but

 

‘Huh…?’

 

It didn’t seem to like everyone.  Phine saw it baring its teeth, threatening Nex.

 

It seemed to be terrified.  A look of fear as if it had experienced something similar before.

 

It looked so much like her that Phine’s tail stood on end inside her armor.

 

“Don’t.”

 

“…What, Mardol?”

 

“Stop it.”

 

The Princess glared at the young master of the Aureus family.  Even at the academy, there was a hierarchy between them.

 

“Um… I’ll stop.”

 

“Chirp… chirp!”

 

Nex had to back down.

 

“Grrrr…”

 

It really did look like a wolf. Though it was closer to a cotton ball with its long, fluffy fur.

 

“M-Mardol?  Are you hurt or something? Aren’t you too close?”

 

“Whimper.”

 

“It’s fine. This child is.”

 

“…Okay.  It seems like what Shar was worried about won’t happen.”

 

Nex and the sparrow looked at her strangely before leaving, but she didn’t care.

 

It seemed like this spirit was trying to protect her.

 

She remembered the Black Knight, seemingly strong but actually weak, running in the rain.

 

Clumsy and contradictory.

 

‘…Similar.’

 

The same color as that man.

 

Looking at the black wolf’s brown eyes, she thought so.

 

Licht’s spirit, nestled in Phine’s arms, yawned widely, as if tired from protecting the Glass Knight.

 

“So cute.”

 

The black Pomeranian then fell asleep, using her arm as a pillow, just like its owner.

 

‘Oh, now I can’t let it go…’

 

The fur felt soft. Two black wolves, already in dreamland, were in the classroom.

 

—–CROW—–