Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 26

Chapter 26 -The Purple Phoenix and the Vampire Saint – 2

 

—–CROW—–

 

I tried to open the iron door stained red.

 

“Why won’t this open..?”

 

“It’s a bit tough.”

 

The stone floor scraped as the door slowly opened. Nex and I managed to push it open with all our might.

 

A creepy creaking sound echoed.

 

Did they block the escape route because this place was used as an arena?  A wider space was revealed as we entered.  If I remember correctly, we need to go further.

 

As we moved forward, voices started to reach us.

 

“Downfall to the false heroes!!”

 

“Teach the ignorant Ten Swords a lesson!”

 

It was like a church chapel. In the pitch-dark space where not a single ray of sunlight entered, numerous believers were praying, illuminated only by candlelight.

 

“Believers of the Hero Church, do you believe in our heroes!”

 

“We believe!”

 

The crowd in identical attire was packed tightly in one place, looking like a swarm of white ants.  Some seemed to be talking almost in tears,

 

“Of course we believe!!”

 

“The true heroes who defeated the Demon God!!”

 

Voices filled with ecstasy.  A boiling fervor.  The atmosphere was completely different from before, as if they were at a festival, and it seemed no one noticed we had mixed in.

 

“..Today, the one who will become the cornerstone of the prophecy is finally coming.  Mr. Nex Aureus, descendant of the Ten Swords.”

 

A woman with devil wings stood in front of the podium.

 

“The Omniscient Hero will lead us to the noble path, the path where everyone can be happy.  Just as he always has!”

 

It was a pink-haired woman who looked like a succubus. She was wearing the white robes of the Hero Church, but there was no sense of holiness about her.

 

‘Of all the Apostles.. Lust.’

 

The worst matchup for a male character.

 

A succubus, described as having sheep horns and a heart-shaped tail that looked lascivious.

 

She had taken on such an alluring form that it was momentarily distracting, but that must be a characteristic of the succubus race.  I shook my head vigorously to stay focused.

 

She’s nothing compared to our Saintess, no matter how I look at it. What’s the use of a pretty face?  A kind heart is what matters.  Her revealing outfit only disgusted me.

 

“Keep your mind straight, Senior.”

 

“…”

 

I grimaced inside my helmet, showing hostility.  She was the one who gave me my first game over in the sequel.

 

Perhaps Senior Chartinese was also captured like this.  Trapped in a dream, unable to wake up.

 

“..Ah. Chart?”

 

“Senior?”

 

Unlike me, Nex’s eyes were unfocused.  He hasn’t fully mastered the power of the phoenix yet.  He wouldn’t have fallen for this in *Knight Heart*.

 

“Nex?”

 

“…”

 

No answer came.

 

“Come to your senses, Nex.  It’s all a dream!”

 

I quickly shook his shoulder, trying to bring him back to normal.

 

“Chirp..?”

 

His mouth was open, and drool was dripping. This is more serious than I thought.  Even the spirit was entranced by the succubus and staggered.

 

“..Nex, Nex! Wake up!  What you’re seeing now is….”

 

An attack he wouldn’t have fallen for in his adult form.  Should I have been more careful and aimed for a surprise attack? I called out to him several times restlessly.  He would have woken up like this in the game. Why?

 

“Heheh.. As expected, all men are the same.  To think the descendant of the Ten Swords would be so foolish.”

 

Then, I made eye contact with the succubus who was giving the speech from the farthest point. She lightly flapped her wings.  An ominous wind blew.

 

“The Purple Phoenix.  Nex Aureus, the traitor-to-be, welcome.”

 

The woman approached us.  The increasingly strong scent clouded my mind.  No. This is a flag.  It’s dangerous to let her get any closer.

 

Watching her walk proudly as if on a red carpet, the surrounding believers were speechless, only gulping.

 

Why aren’t they attacking us? I wondered. I assessed the situation.  Like Nex, they had unfocused eyes and were drooling.

 

These are all male believers.

 

She’s controlling them with charm.  That’s why they’re staying still even though they see us. They’re waiting for the Apostle succubus’s orders.  This is also how they maintain the faith of the Hero Church.

 

An event I struggled to clear in <Black Heart>.

 

“..Hmm? Two people..? And why isn’t the charm working on you?”

 

Her expression hardened as she looked at me.  It seems like this is the first time a man hasn’t fallen for her charms. This is my chance.

 

“I already have someone in my heart. Apostle of Lust, Servi.”

 

I stopped the succubus who was trying to approach and touch Nex.  As if intrigued by having her name revealed, she put on a seductive smile.

 

“Oh my, you..? How do you know my name..?”

 

“Well, why don’t you ask that brilliant head of yours?”

 

“Are you perhaps the new hero chosen by Akasha?  That would make sense..”

 

I tapped the temple of my helmet with my index finger.

 

“..Is that all your brain can come up with?”

 

I bluffed with a twisted laugh.  Taken aback by my sudden provocation, the succubus paused her actions, seemingly lost in thought.  Success?

 

“Hmmm..  This doesn’t make any sense..”

 

This is my chance.

 

‘Please wake up soon.  If you’re the you I know, this level of charm..’

 

I had to buy time.  There are too many of them.  Without Nex Aureus, even if I draw my sword, it would be difficult to handle this situation.

 

And if I use Chartinese as a shield, I won’t be able to use my full strength.  Just as Nex’s eyes were about to regain focus,

 

“Kyahaha..! I’ve changed my mind. If I make this mine.. the Omniscient Hero will be very pleased, wouldn’t he?”

 

The succubus let out a small chuckle.

 

“I don’t know how you know my name.. Khehehe.. but we can find out slowly from now on, can’t we?”

 

The irises of her demonic eyes glowed pink and narrowed.  A nightmare.  No matter what happens, I have to react immediately.  I placed my hand on the hilt of my sword.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a man worth conquering.”

 

“Get lost….”

 

The moment I drew my sword and was about to unleash Empty Slash,

 

“..Sweet dreams, you two.”

 

I collapsed onto the cold floor.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“Strange.”

 

“Why..? Mardol?”

 

Her movement suddenly stopped.

 

Phine stopped walking while she was with Kainel and Ariel after Drake’s lecture. It was unnatural, as if someone had pulled her back.

 

“..I don’t know.”

 

“Is it because Licht was absent today? Master Drake said he’d be fine when I asked. Don’t worry, Mardol.”

 

“Right.  Mr. Helmet will be fine wherever he is!”

 

Ariel spoke brightly to the Glass Knight, recalling her previous memory. He was the strongest-looking among the first-year freshmen, and he was a pure person who had helped her with her love life.

 

“That’s, not it.”

 

But an uneasy feeling, as if she couldn’t breathe, made her hand instinctively go to her chest armor. Her golden eyes narrowed.

 

“I, just a moment.”

 

The Glass Knight kicked off the ground powerfully and started running towards the cathedral.

 

“Huh, huh?  Mardol? Kai.. Shouldn’t we stop her?”

 

“Leave her be, Ariel.  She probably has a hunch.  She’ll call us if she needs us.”

 

Kainel and Ariel could only watch as Phine sprinted away. Even so, this is the academy. A place where the hero with the holy sword and the Ten Swords reside.

 

“And.. she ran off like that last week too.”

 

“That’s true.. after the mountain climbing.”

 

Unless a Demon Lord appears directly, it’s extremely rare for a student to be in danger.

 

The hero couple felt uneasy because of their past experiences, but

 

“..It can’t be.”

 

“Could it be a Demon Lord? Kai..”

 

That’s precisely why they couldn’t readily move like Phine.

 

—–CROW—–

 

“..Where is this?”

 

A pure white space with nothing in it.

 

I had fallen into it. I touched my face.  I could feel the smooth texture of skin.  A strange sensation no matter how I thought about it.

 

Something’s wrong. Think. What was there just now?  What was I doing before I ended up here…?

 

Then, a high-pitched voice echoed.

 

“..Hello, Knight.”

 

She was like a blank sheet music.

 

“It’s been about five years, hasn’t it?”

 

A saint with wolf ears, dressed in a white nun’s habit, stood at a distance.

 

“It’s nice to meet you like this. This must be fate.”

 

“..Ha.”

 

The white-haired woman approached me step by step.  The scent she exuded was the familiar fragrance of roses.

 

“..How did you end up here? Knight?”

 

“To make someone unhappy happy.”

 

“Oh my, is that perhaps me?  I’m touched.”

 

“…”

 

Pure white approached me with the sound of footsteps. Two golden eyes were looking at me.

 

“..Knight, were you chosen as a hero?”

 

“No, I’m just a Black Knight. Didn’t you say that before? Nun.”

 

Her wolf ears twitched slightly above her nun’s habit.  I’ve seen it in the game, but this is how it is in reality.  It’s quite fascinating.

 

“Heheh, that’s right. You really have a lot of memories of me.. You cherished me so much that there wasn’t a day you didn’t think of me.”

 

“How do you know that?”

 

“I’m the Nameless Saint.”

 

Her tail wagged. It looked glossy and fluffy.

 

“..Your precious person.”

 

I rested my chin on my hand as I looked at her with a gentle smile.  We were now less than a handspan apart.

 

“Now, let’s continue our unfinished love story, Knight.”

 

I simply observed the white-haired woman, who brought her face close enough for me to feel her breath, without resisting.  There was a strange違和感 in her expression.

 

“Kiss…. will you kiss me?”

 

I knew it from the beginning, but this crossed the line.

 

I had been staying still to make her show an opening, but I couldn’t endure it any longer.

 

“Fuck off, bitch.”

 

I grabbed the wrist of the fake saintess who was trying to caress my cheek and twisted it forcefully.

 

“H-huh? Knight?! It hurts! What are you doing….”

 

“..You shouldn’t know me. ‘Self-proclaimed’ Nameless Saint.”

 

This is something you can figure out with a little thought.  I know her because I played the game, but

 

“You crave a kiss from someone you’ve never met before?  At least our Saintess wouldn’t do that.”

 

This is the past.  The Nameless Saintess wouldn’t know me.

 

‘That’s why I kept thinking, and in the end, I decided to connect her with the person she likes.’

 

My heart started to feel heavy.  Ultimately, my happiness is the Saintess’s happiness. I shouldn’t be pathetic.

 

I glared at the fake who was struggling to get away from me.

 

“No. You love me.  So much.. because I’m your lifesaver….”

 

“Don’t talk such nonsense with that face.”

 

“Huh..?”

 

A succubus can mainly access fragmented information.  She uses that to make you confess the rest.

 

Irritation welled up inside me.  A bitter taste filled my dry mouth.

 

“You fell in love because I saved your life?  That’s ridiculous.. Who does that these days?”

 

“Then why..”

 

“A kind heart is important.  Something you don’t have.”

 

If I had possessed Licht, who cleared *Knight Heart* and <Black Heart>, she might have liked me, but

 

Even then, it would just be a fake wearing the mask of a good relationship, nothing more, nothing less.

 

That’s not love.  It’s disgusting hypocrisy.

 

“Why? I’m just saying I love you?  And you would like it too, Knight!”

 

“Your height is different.  By about 5cm?”

 

“Are you crazy? I could still grow taller!”

 

If that were the case, I would have found a way to return the body to its original owner.  It’s fortunate for me that I possessed the past version.  At least I won’t be stealing anyone’s love line.

 

“Impossible.”

 

I rebuked her angrily, as if venting my pent-up frustration. This isn’t the future, it’s the past. How can she grow taller?

 

“Should I tell you more?  Your laughter is awkward, and your voice is a bit higher.”

 

“Hahaha..”

 

As I finished speaking, she lowered her head as if giving up on arguing, and then,

 

“Kyahahahahahaha!!!”

 

Her hair color changed from white to pink, taking on the form of a succubus.

 

“Kyaha.. I’ve been caught?  But what are you going to do?  You can’t escape unless you become my prisoner.”

 

“..If you’re going to imitate someone, do it properly.”

 

“It was an act that even fooled the Saint Chartinese.  It’s a shame.”

 

This is ridiculous.  The first NTR event I saw in <Black Heart> was because of the Apostle of Lust, Servi, but there’s no way she would be fooled by this level of acting.

 

“I thought all men were beasts who went crazy for the women they liked.  You’re a bit unusual.”

 

“I’m quite crazy.”

 

Thinking about it again made me angry.  At least there wasn’t anything like this in the original.  I remembered an interview where they said they implemented various forms of love to keep up with the times.

 

“Nex Aureus, and these intruders.. one is the Vampire Saint, and the other is the Wolf-Eared Saint..”

 

“Honestly, they’re prettier than a succubus.”

 

“..Interesting.  Truly.”

 

If I had fallen for the charm here, I would have become a member of the Hero Church along with Nex and fought against Kainel.

 

I remembered Nex’s traitor route.  So this is where he was caught.

 

“I thought you’d be drooling with charm, but this is disappointing.  But I know what kind of person you are now!”

 

“..Do you really think you know?”

 

Her speech became faster.  I didn’t want to talk to her anymore.

 

“Yes! Your weakness is that Nameless Saint or whatever!”

 

“Shut up.”

 

This is annoying.  That’s not a name you should take so lightly.

 

The succubi multiplied and surrounded me.  So she’s finally going to attack.

 

“If I tell the Omniscient Hero about this, he’ll be very pleased!”

 

“You’re trying to touch the book of life and death?  Are you kidding?  It can’t be manipulated because it has no names..”

 

I couldn’t hide my anxiety as the Saintess’s safety was threatened.  This is a bad habit.  I shouldn’t give her any openings.

 

Then, the identical pink-haired demons started speaking one after another.

 

“The ‘Omniscient’ can figure that out.  How about it, shouldn’t you join our side now?  The life of your precious person is at stake….”

 

“Ha.. Damn it.”

 

I was trying to hold out until Nex woke up, but I couldn’t stand them threatening our Platinum Wolf.  I let out a long sigh.

 

I saw several shadows at my feet. This should work.

 

*Crunch.*

 

I bit my tongue hard.  Blood flowed from my mouth.  The sensation of reality returned, albeit briefly.

 

Seeing the crimson blood dripping onto the floor, Servi showed surprise.

 

“..Are you trying to wake up from the dream?  That won’t work without my permission.”

 

I know.

 

The feeling of hot liquid, the sharp, piercing pain. Even in a dream, it hurt like reality.

 

The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.

 

This should definitely work as a countermeasure.  Focusing on the intense pain that resonated in my mind, I drew the sword from my waist.

 

‘I just have to think of the dream as reality.’

 

It felt as if my tongue had actually been cut off. I focused solely on that sensation.  I started to believe that the enemies in front of me weren’t illusions, but real.

 

“What are you doing with a sword? Magic doesn’t work in this space.”

 

I took the stance of the Drake Style swordsmanship.

 

I kicked off the ground powerfully. I focused my senses on my right hand. I have to combine two techniques. Swordsmanship is possible as long as you have the will to cut.

 

Whether in a dream or reality.

 

Gather your will.

 

I’m doing my best for a happy ending.

 

Strength surged into my hand gripping the hilt. A powerful wind pressure swirled.  The sword started to tremble.

 

First Form and Fourth Form.

 

A technique that inflicts damage on the connected reality, and a technique focused on cutting power. I simultaneously cast Empty Slash and Shadow Strike.

 

*Slash!!!*

 

A powerful wind, like a sword wave, swept away the succubi.  One of them must be connected to the main body.

 

“Kyahaha.. This won’t work either?  It was funny when you imitated the Cardinal, but this is even more so.”

 

The storm crashed forward.  Several doppelgangers were torn apart by the wind. Blood continued to flow from my mouth.

 

“It’s useless. This isn’t reality, it’s a dream.”

 

The succubi mocked me even as they disappeared.  They had calm expressions, as if it was nothing.

 

The number of figures gradually decreased.  Do they still not realize?  My face is exposed because my helmet came off, so they’ll find out if they laugh.

 

That was when it happened.

 

*Slash*

 

“H-huh? Kyaaaaa!!!”

 

As the farthest succubus was cut, Servi started screaming. Did the buffer effect work because I had to deal with so many? I couldn’t finish it in one go.

 

“..Gasp.. Huff.. Cough..”

 

She seemed to have barely survived thanks to divine power. The pink-haired woman stared at me as if I was a monster while stopping the bleeding.

 

Gasping for breath, she continued to pour divine power into her body.

 

She can use that even though she’s a demon. Divine power really is the realization of a wish achieved through reason.

 

“How.. how could you..”

 

I’m quite the pure-hearted man.

 

I gave Servi the middle finger, mocking her.  She was mistaken if she thought she could beat me by imitating our Saintess.

 

The reason was simple.

 

She left shadows in the dream to make it feel real, and that was her downfall.

 

—–CROW—–