Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 23

Chapter 23 – Misunderstanding and Understanding Are One Letter Apart – 4

 

—–CROW—–

 

According to Chartinese, she first met Nex a few years ago in the courtyard of a social gathering.

 

“I’m bored. Even if it’s for the Church of Light..”

 

Recommended by Cardinal Beatrice, she had attended a banquet where nobles gathered, but left early, unable to fit in with the atmosphere.

 

“No one will talk to me because I’m a vampire.  Only Meow is here.”

 

“Meow.”

 

Stroking a stray cat that had come to her side, she sank into a gloomy mood.

 

‘I’m the new Saint chosen by the Church of Light!’

 

Even after greeting everyone around her, all she received were looks of contempt and strangeness, and she wanted to cry.

 

A vampire as the Saint after the First Saint?  Some nobles whispered that it was blasphemy.

 

“It’s unfair. I didn’t do anything wrong..”

 

As she talked to the cat as her companion,

 

Along with a woman’s shout,

 

“You good-for-nothing spiritless trash!”

 

*Clink*

 

The sound of shattering glass rang out as if by fate.

 

Startled, the cream-colored cat in Chartinese’s arms jumped up.

 

“Meeooow!!”

 

“Ahh! Meow, don’t run away!”

 

Chasing after the startled cat that ran away at the sound of someone throwing a glass, her long nun’s habit made it difficult to move.

 

“Ouch!”

 

Running in a hurry, she tripped over a stone. A hot sensation spread across her face.

 

“Ugh.. It hurts..”

 

“What’s going on here? Wench.”

 

She looked up at the sky without thinking.

 

There stood a man with purple hair and a phoenix insignia.

 

“..Count Nex Aureus?”

 

One of the Ten Swords.  Nex, son of Asha Aureus.

 

A descendant of the legendary figure in the spirit world, called the Living Sun.  I heard he was attending this social gathering, so it was true.

 

*Thud*. The sound echoed in the grass.

 

“Hmph, wipe your nosebleed.”

 

“Oh, thank you.”

 

He noticed that her nose was bleeding from falling face-first on the ground and handed her a handkerchief.

 

At that moment, Chartinese thought that the man was different from the rumors.

 

“Meow.”

 

“There’s even something bothersome clinging to you.”

 

Seeing him gently stroke the cat that had approached his feet and heal it, she felt a strange sensation.

 

“A vampire as the Second Saint, the Cardinal must be crazy.”

 

“…”

 

The smell of alcohol emanated strongly from the man who used harsh words.

 

‘He looks more sad than unpleasant.’

 

As Nex, with his gloomy expression, hurled insults, she saw through his true feelings. She briefly thought that a bad person wouldn’t heal an animal.

 

“Why aren’t you angry? Vampire.”

 

“..Because it’s true.  That I’m not welcomed by others.”

 

“Is that why you’re out here in the garden?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Even after hearing that, Nex just put his hand on his forehead and laughed.  Did he feel that she was different from the young ladies in the social hall?

 

“..Do I also look like trash to you?”

 

“Huh? Why?”

 

“I’m asking because it feels like we’re in the same boat, being a vampire. Wench.”

 

An attitude as if deliberately pushing people away.

 

The purple-haired man distorted his face again, wearing a mask of intimidation.

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“Huh, then why aren’t you leaving?”

 

“Because you seem like someone who speaks ill of others falsely.”

 

“..That’s absurd.”

 

It felt different from the countless barbs she had just heard from the noble ladies.  The intuition that this was also a lie.

 

“I’m called the family’s bastard? Do you also think I’m pathetic?”

 

“Huh..? No, I don’t.”

 

“…”

 

Nex’s purple eyes stared into her red eyes for a few seconds before he spoke.

 

“Reading your expression, it’s true.  You really are a Saint.”

 

“..Did something happen?”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Hearing Chartinese’s answer, he suddenly became calm.  He seemed to have been quite shocked, as if the alcohol had worn off all at once.  Intelligence flickered in Nex’s previously unfocused eyes.

 

“..Saint, do you also hear confessions?”

 

“Huh? Um.  Since you healed a cat too.  Maybe?”

 

‘This person, I heard he’s the troublemaker the Cardinal told me not to get involved with.’

 

Nex asked her for advice in a calm voice.  Honestly, she wanted to refuse, but he looked like someone broken somewhere, so she couldn’t bring herself to.

 

Running a hand through his purple hair, the man began to speak.

 

“This is the 23rd marriage proposal I’ve received.  They even threw a glass because things didn’t go their way.”

 

“Ah.. So that’s why..”

 

“I’m the eldest son of a Duke, but everyone just stays still, as if they know nothing will happen even if they touch me.”

 

The man sighed and smiled wryly, as if he still felt the lingering effects of the alcohol.

 

“The young lady’s family is also quite powerful.. but don’t you think this is wrong? Saint.”

 

“I agree.  It seems like only bad people gathered at this social gathering.”

 

“That might be true. Since I’m here too.”

 

She saw a small cut on Nex’s cheek.  It looked like it had been grazed by a glass shard.

 

‘..Huh?’

 

Was the commotion earlier because of this?  Even if that’s the case, to think nothing would happen even after throwing a glass at the son of the Ten Swords,

 

“Aren’t you going to heal it?”

 

“It doesn’t matter if I do or not.  This is better.”

 

She felt pity for him, as if she was looking at herself, the Vampire Saint.

 

“Reading their faces, some of them were saying ‘Serves you right! You bastard!'”

 

“That seems like an overestimation of yourself..”

 

“You’re too naive, Saint Mary.”

 

His purple eyes curved like crescents.

 

His face looked like a fox. She noticed that his eyes were slightly red, as if he had been crying.

 

“This world is full of deceivers and the deceived.  Foolish people.  They must be relieved that I’m not in the hall right now.”

 

The man spread his arms as if relieved and shouted loudly.

 

“Ah, they say that his family won’t even take care of that guy! Because he’s a spiritless guy!”

 

“I don’t think so..”

 

The innocent Chartinese thought that this man, Nex, seemed to be piling up lies because he didn’t want to appear weak.

 

More like an animal that bites as soon as it’s touched because it doesn’t want to get hurt.

 

“Then what do you think? Second Saint.”

 

“..I think you look like a cute fox.”

 

“What..?”

 

Chartinese at the time looked up at his face carefully.

 

“..Don’t I look like a monster?”

 

“No. You’re just a bit handsome.”

 

“Uh, um.. Really?  Not a lie?”

 

Purple and red eyes that didn’t look at each other strangely.  Nex’s expression was filled with bewilderment.

 

“Then am I a monster too? Because I’m a vampire.”

 

“..Probably not.”

 

“I’m glad you know, Count.”

 

She brought her hand to his cheek and healed him, and the cut from the glass shard closed.

 

“People aren’t always what they seem.”

 

“Uh, huh? Saint.. Why?”

 

Nex’s face at that time looked a little red, perhaps due to the alcohol.

 

“It would be a shame for such a handsome face to be scarred.”

 

“…”

 

Later, according to him, she was the first person to talk about him purely, not about his spirit.

 

And from that day on, Nex’s affectionate advances began, as if he had become a completely different person.

 

A fresh charge like someone experiencing their first love.  She actually liked that part of him.

 

“Count Aureus..?”

 

“I came for morning prayers. Saint. It’s been a while.”

 

“It’s still three hours before the church opens.”

 

“..No way.”

 

He seemed like someone with no experience with women, which made him look cute.

 

“Um, Saint Chartinese. This is a donation from the Aureus family to the Church of Light.”

 

“Thank you, Count Aureus.”

 

“Are you free this evening? Second Saint.”

 

“I’m not.”

 

“Oh.. Ah, I’m sorry. Then I’ll be going.”

 

She frequently saw the purple-haired man coming to pray and making small donations every day, and

 

“Why are you suddenly volunteering?”

 

“Ah.. Um! I’m being punished by my family, so I’m cleaning the church.  Don’t mind me, Saint.”

 

“Even so, it doesn’t seem like something a noble should do..”

 

“Th.. That’s not true.  The Saint might not know.”

 

A few days later, she found Nex cleaning up the graffiti and signs insulting him that were drawn near the church where she worked.

 

Seeing the traces of magic on the hand hidden behind his back, it didn’t look like he was being punished.

 

“Should I move it here, Saint?”

 

“Eek!! You can’t eat the divine power-powered organ like that!!”

 

“Ah, I’m sorry, Saint.”

 

Such an awkward relationship continued for several months.  She tried to push him away and ignore him, but he seemed like a good person, so her heart gradually opened, and

 

“Look at this! Saint!  A spirit!”

 

“Oh my, Count Aureus. Congratulations!”

 

“..Can you stop using honorifics with me, Saint?”

 

“If you do the same.”

 

Perhaps thanks to his passionate courtship, his spirit awakened soon after.

 

“Chirp!”

 

A purple phoenix, like a small sparrow.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“So…. you’re saying you’re currently in a relationship?”

 

“Nex likes me very much, so that’s how it happened, Junior.”

 

Chartinese had a gentle smile on her face as she said those words.

 

They look like they’re happy just thinking about each other.

 

‘Nex was definitely a different person here.  It must be because of this Saint named Chart.’

 

He’s a bad guy to others, but infinitely gentle only to her. Who wouldn’t be smitten by this difference, especially with a lover who can understand similar wounds?

 

‘It’s a similar case to mine.’

 

Knowing how it feels, I nodded slightly.

 

I remembered the expression of the cold-looking white-haired wolf softening only for me.  Her smiling face was cute.

 

Her figure steadfastly enduring even in the position of Saint.  Did she also hear bad things because of her animal ears?

 

My heart suddenly felt heavy.

 

“Junior Licht.  So why did you ask about this?”

 

“Just, because you look happy.”

 

I smiled faintly at the nostalgic feeling.

 

It’s been five years since I last saw her, how can I find and protect her? There must be a few vicious routes here as well.  I want to help her if possible.

 

“..What?”

 

At that moment, Mardol looked at me.

 

“This kind of thing makes your heart flutter.  Love stories, that is.”

 

I quickly came up with an excuse and blurted it out.  I couldn’t give the Crown Prince any more flags.

 

“I, don’t know.”

 

Why, what.  I wasn’t thinking about you. Look somewhere else.

 

He’s only sharp at times like this.

 

Is he perceptive, or are his senses sharp? How can he see through my inner thoughts even with a helmet on? I turned my head to express indifference.

 

“Heheh. You two look close.”

 

“That’s not.. true..”

 

“Lie, Licht.”

 

Even though I said it through gritted teeth, the black-haired nun didn’t stop smiling at me.

 

Like Nex, she’s also difficult to deal with.  To think I’d experience the saying “love makes you similar” after possessing a game.  It’s quite fascinating.

 

The nun, who was grinning as she looked between Mardol and me, suddenly looked at the clock tower and spoke.

 

“Oh my, it’s already this late. Sorry for keeping you, Junior.”

 

“Thank you for telling me such a nice story today.”

 

“Be careful going back.”

 

Because it had gotten too dark, Chartinese stood up.

 

Mardol and I said goodbye and saw her off, and

 

“Junior Licht!!  Please continue to be good friends with our Mardol!”

 

The Second Saint burdened me with an unreasonable request until the very last moment before disappearing.

 

The reason was this thing that popped up, overflowing with pink waves, right before my eyes.

 

A status window with a ‘Good Job’ sticker attached.

 

[You found a hidden love line!! Congratulations! ヾ(> ᵕ < ｡]

 

So it’s not real-time synchronization after all.  It didn’t appear before I found it, and I realized it with Kainel and Ariel.

 

[As expected of the solo player with the nickname ‘Pure Love Black Knight’! Mr. Lee Soohyun!]

 

[You’re preoccupied with the Nameless Saint route!]

 

[If you had missed this, you wouldn’t have seen the grand route.. I’m glad. (ᴗ_ᴗ]

 

Black Heart developer. Are you even human?  Where did you hide our precious blue rose?

 

[Chartinese♡Nex 55%]

 

This useless status window, I can’t even sell it.

 

I had a headache.  As expected of a game company obsessed with Easter eggs, they even set up traps like this.

 

This is why I want to find the Saintess and make her happy. This game world is too harsh and ruthless.

 

“The Purple Fox and.. the Vampire Saint.”

 

I have to protect these people too.

 

I muttered to myself briefly. I know a few of Nex’s routes.  The variable is Chartinese.

 

Since she’s a new character, I don’t know the strategy.  Something big will probably happen soon.

 

“Yes. Right.”

 

Let’s ignore the Glass Knight answering my words from beside me for now.

 

I can’t be with you if I want to get on our Saintess’s route. Go away.

 

—–CROW—–