Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 25

Chapter 25 – The Purple Phoenix and the Vampire Saint.

—–CROW—–

The morning Denis’s class began.

The man in the black knight helmet, who would normally be present, was nowhere to be seen.

“Licht didn’t come?”

The Glass Knight asked the red-haired mage.

“Huh..? That’s right, Kai. Haven’t you seen Mr. Helmet?”

“He ran off somewhere early this morning, so I thought he left something in the classroom…”

Kainel frowned, expressing a sense of foreboding. Licht wasn’t someone who would disappear without a word.

“..Maybe he’ll come to Master Drake’s class?”

“Where did he go? Mr. Helmet..”

Ariel looked around for Licht, but Mardol was now the only one in the classroom wearing a knight’s helmet.

“..Strange.”

Licht’s sudden absence without notice.

The white-haired girl intuitively sensed something. Her wolf ears twitched slightly inside her helmet.

—–CROW—–

The Hero Church.

To put it simply, it’s a cult that still believes in the four heroes summoned in the past.

Why a cult? Because those bastards are all corrupted and have become Demon Lords.

As expected, the namer has chuunibyou. They should at least change the name to the Demon Lord Church.

Because of them, there was a great war, and it’s frequently mentioned in both <Knight Heart> and <Black Heart>.

‘The current Ten Swords are the ones who ended the war.’

Nex and I left the academy and stopped at a certain location.

A giant rock, slightly touching the school’s barrier, looking out of place just like in the game.

It’s a suspicious place no matter how you look at it. Did they cast a perception-inhibiting spell? I thought, looking at the magic circle drawn on the rock.

“This is it.”

My constitution, which makes magic difficult to use, is helpful in times like this.

“There’s nothing here? There’s only a big rock… Huh?”

“We have to break this rock.”

I knocked on a rock the size of a house. Originally, this part was supposed to disappear and reveal stairs.

“It’s real. Strange things appear when Junior touches it.”

The Sunset Rendezvous.

Like the saying “it’s darkest under the lamp,” it was an instance dungeon hidden right beneath the academy.

There were traces of the Hero Church, a long explanation that their mark was here, their symbol of four holy swords, and even pieces of white believer’s robes were found.

In addition, the name is also “Rendezvous.”

If someone disappears from the academy overnight, this is the most likely place.

“Should we break this? Or melt it with fire?”

“I’ll do it.”

The spirit is still too weak to use physical force. Even that powerful phoenix isn’t in its adult form.

“Chirp..”

Moreover, perhaps because of his worry for Chartinese, he seems to have lost a lot of energy. It’s highly unlikely to work now, unlike usual.

“I end up using everything I learned.”

I drew my sword.

There were cracks here and there, and it made a scraping sound as it came out of the scabbard. This should be fine. I can probably use Empty Slash once or twice more.

‘Let’s use Inverse Scale Thrust now.’

Finding the surest method, I immediately adjusted my stance towards the target. The ground scraped under my feet.

Drake Style, Second Form.

The one remaining gap among the three basic swordsmanship movements: thrust, slash, and parry.

A consecutive thrusting technique that targets the dragon’s weak point. The second strategy created to easily pierce even the hardest parts.

Every object has a weakness.

I had to focus on speed. The sensation in my fingertips became sensitive. I briefly held my breath.

The basic principle of this sword style is to thrust the sword into the gap before the dragon, enraged by having its inverse scale touched, tries to bite and kill the attacker.

I should be able to break a rock like this easily. Originally, it even pierces through the hard scales of a dragon, exploiting its gaps.

“Step back.”

“..Alright, Junior.”

I spoke calmly to Nex. Mana can’t flow through my body. I have to push through with physical strength, so I need to concentrate as much as possible.

*Clang!*

I tried my best to protect the Nameless Saintess. I can’t fail here.

The sound of metal clashing against stone echoed. The rock crumbled with a *thud*. Time is of the essence. I have to cut faster.

*Clang!*

A little faster.

Mixing in Shadow Strike, I deflected the flying rock fragments outwards with Wing Parry as much as possible. I poured in consecutive attacks. I can’t worry about the sword’s durability now.

“Junior, what kind of swordsmanship is this?! It’s not even explosion magic!”

Just a little more.

I’m sick and tired of seeing someone get a bad ending.

*Crack, crack, crack!!*

Like an excavator digging into the earth, the rock began to break apart and crumble. The tearing sound of metal and stone vibrated the ground like the noise of a construction site.

“..Done.”

I caught my breath, feeling the tingling sensation in my hand. It’s tough, but manageable. In training with Master, I did this with even bigger rocks, staying up for nights on end.

“Wow.. all of this..? Junior, you really are Master Drake’s disciple.”

“Have you been living a lie?”

“Yes, honestly, there are many impersonators.”

It hadn’t even been a few minutes. I broke the giant rock that had been standing like a cornerstone and flung it to one side. I’ll probably have to fight Demon Lords later, so this is nothing.

What appeared was a single staircase exuding an eerie atmosphere.

As if declaring itself a place one shouldn’t enter, a chill emanated from it, sending shivers down my spine.

“..But how did you know this, Junior, if you’re not the Sage’s disciple?”

“It’s suspicious. Who would put a rock like this in the middle of a flat academy?”

“I guess so..”

Did I manage to fool him? No, I think he saw through me. Nex’s perceptive eyes glanced between the staircase and me several times, expressing his suspicion.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. This is the right place, isn’t it?”

“Yes. It is.”

But he seemed to have put aside his doubts. A serious expression filled with determination was directed at me.

‘Does he trust me even though he knows it’s a lie?’

I can’t call for anyone because I don’t know what might come out from inside, and it would be too late to wait for the guards.

‘Status window.. It’s not appearing now, so there’s a chance.’

The percentage that was dropping since morning was at 47%, and now it’s not visible. This probably means this is a crossroads. There was no more time to waste.

“I think the Ten Swords will come looking for us even if something happens.”

“There’s no time to think. Let’s go down quickly.”

“Alright, Senior.”

The two men rushed down into the dark underground where not a single ray of sunlight reached.

The party of a knight and a spirit user entered the instance dungeon.

“It’s creepy, Junior.”

“It’s better because we have the phoenix.”

“Chirp.”

Purple flames flickered in the darkness, shining like a lamp. Thanks to it, I could barely see ahead.

In the game, illumination magic like Merak was essential for dungeon raids…. I couldn’t use it, could I?

I remembered what happened the day before yesterday. I learned that I could use magic if a medium or another person acted as a circuit, but why did I have to learn it through the Crown Prince’s route?

I had a splitting headache. How nice would it be if the Nameless Saintess’s name appeared on the status window, confirming her route? I’m still clueless about everything.

This dungeon, for example, is different from what I remember.

“The path is too rough.”

“It certainly is.”

A winding passage like an ant’s nest, as expected, we’ll have to navigate a maze ahead.

Originally, there was a boss room at the end of the open space that appeared after going around in circles and coming out in a straight line.

‘The starting structure is more vicious than in the original.’

I was lost in thought. Unlike in my previous life, this is a matter of life and death. I have to find a way.

Ah, there’s that method.

“Senior Nex.”

“Yes, Junior Licht?”

Even if it’s a game, this world is reality. I had forgotten that fact for a moment.

Structures aren’t invincible.

Originally, destroying the dungeon structure itself would be impossible, but it will be different here.

“Let’s break through the walls as we go.”

“..What?”

“There’s no time. There’s a maze ahead. Just like the path we’ve taken so far.”

I drew my sword again. I touched the cave wall with my palm. Fortunately, this part is relatively soft. Instead, did they create a barrier with magic like a rock?

“I’ll make a path.”

“What..? Is that even possible? The spells are different at each passage? High-level defense magic….”

“It’s possible.”

It’s a shame for the Hero Church bastards, but it won’t work on me.

If it were the same magic, I might not be able to do it. I can’t even coat my blade with mana. That’s why my sword is so chipped.

“Hold your breath.”

I unleashed Empty Slash towards the front. With a *boom!*, several layers of rock crumbled.

“..What? This is His Majesty the Emperor’s.. no, Empty Slash..?”

As if someone had detonated a bomb, the maze blocking the path turned to dust, creating a long passage forward.

“..Chirp.”

Nex’s face turned pale. The sparrow was also trembling as it looked at me. Why is he like this? There’s no point in learning the Drake Style if I can’t use this.

It won’t even reach the Demon Lord at this level.

“You should have used this earlier if you had it, Junior..”

“It lacks durability. I thought about carrying spare swords to use this, but they get worn out together by the wind pressure.”

I wish I had the sword I used in the game, but it probably doesn’t exist here.

“..How does Master Drake use it?”

“It’s a sword made from a dragon’s tooth, do you think it’s comparable to mass-produced goods?”

Honestly, at times like this, I envy Master a little. Give me exclusive hidden pieces or cheat items too. Or even a holy sword… Oh right, I’m not a hero.

“You can go ahead.”

“Okay.”

A wide space appeared as the wall crumbled with a *thud*. Wind blew in, ventilating the narrow passage.

“This seems to be the right path, Junior.”

“Let’s hurry.”

Unlike the darkness before, there was an exit with light, as if it was illuminated.

But something was strange. With each step forward, an intense sensation stung my nose.

“Ugh, what’s this smell..”

“The smell of rotting corpses… Ha, these damn bastards.”

As we walked inside, a stench wafted over. The smell of decaying flesh. The lingering scent of blood. All of this meant one thing.

A place like an arena surrounded by iron bars appeared.

“….”

Nex and I were speechless at the sight before us.

Two piles of people in white clothes, separated and piled up on both sides, forming mountains of corpses.

Hands and feet protruded from the piles, intertwined and forming a single mass.

“Crazy..”

“I expected it, but this is absurd.”

Blood was still flowing from beneath, gradually soaking the ground. Just by moving my feet, I smeared the bloodstains on the ground.

We walked forward, looking at the arena-like place. Nex, seemingly bewildered, spoke to me.

“..Corpses? But why are the Hero Church members dead? It’s not like a human sacrifice..?”

“They stabbed each other to death.”

I knew this happened in the sequel, but here, they aren’t skeletons.

My face contorted. My breath hitched. I felt dizzy.

“It’s a common punishment method.”

“Then this.. wasn’t voluntary?”

“This is what happens when you’re branded a heretic.”

I’ve seen it a lot in the game. No long explanations were needed to describe the villains.

“Mistakes like calling heroes Demon Lords.”

Hero Church? But why are Demon Lords involved? The moment you think that, they show this scene as a flashback.

<Black Heart>.. I saw it properly there. Something about foreshadowing.

Anyway, he’s someone who really likes gruesome things. They just glossed over it in the original.

There were many sad stories when you got involved with those guys and cleared quests. I sighed with mixed feelings.

“They’re driven into the arena.. a dogfight where they kill each other.”

“..And they enjoy that? Why?”

They’re completely insane. In exchange for resurrecting the dead, granting wealth and honor, telling the future, or bestowing immense power….

“They won’t let you join unless you do that.”

A cult that demands absolute faith in return.

Nex, seemingly curious about my extensive knowledge of the Hero Church, started asking questions.

“..I heard rumors about them resurrecting the dead. Is that true?”

“It’s a different person who only looks the same on the outside.”

“What about the future?”

“I’d recommend it if you want to go crazy.”

“..I’ll pass, Junior.”

In reality, all of this is just an illusion. Because it’s the power of the Demon Lord, not heroes. There’s no way it would be properly applied to the world.

“They’re just trash..”

“Now you understand why the Ten Swords don’t move.”

“So they really are vicious bastards. That means if the heroes are distracted by this even for a moment….”

“They’re strong enough to attack the academy while the heroes are away.”

The purple-haired man nodded slightly.

He said he now understood why the Ten Swords refused even when he ran around asking them to save Chart.

“It was right for just the two of us to come.”

“I feel like I’m going to throw up.. How are you okay, Junior?”

“I’ve lived a rough life too.”

Even Nex, a descendant of the Ten Swords, was losing his composure and retching.

My decision not to bring Kainel and Ariel was correct. They would have had a hard time staying sane.

Looking at it this way, calling the Crown Prince as a companion was also a misjudgment.

‘Demon Lord, come to think of it, everyone is alive here.’

A happy ending in this kind of world, my wish was a bit too much.

“You suffered at the hands of the Hero Church too.”

“..Something like that.”

It wasn’t a lie. After possessing this body, I’ve been on the brink of death, surrounded by a wolf pack, and

I’ve seen countless bad endings where the Nameless Saintess dies even after I defeat the Demon Lord of Truth. My heart felt heavy as lead.

“Let’s go, Senior Chartinese will be ahead.”

“She’s alive, right..?”

“Probably. That’s the kind of person she is.”

I bit my lower lip. She’s someone who values lives. She wouldn’t kill people without calculating.

Rather, she’s thorough in the opposite way. The status window still hasn’t reacted. If she had failed, a notification would have popped up immediately.

“Chirp.. Chirp..!”

Nex’s phoenix was flapping its wings anxiously. At this point, does it have information from its master? The spirit was showing an excessive reaction.

“..Is the Demon Lord ahead?”

“No, if that were the case, we wouldn’t have even found this place.”

“..What?”

“It’s probably just an Apostle at most.”

That’s an undeniable fact. He’s probably observing from afar while deploying his subordinates.

I raised my head and looked ahead. I saw a single door painted red.

That must be the boss room.

If I remember correctly, the traces of the boss remaining in the dungeon were of an Apostle, not a Demon Lord.

He’s cautious, so he doesn’t usually appear directly.

“…”

Why do I think that, even though there could be other Demon Lords?

Laplace, the librarian who manages the library commonly referred to as the Akashic Records among the Ten Swords.