Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 28

Chapter 28 – The Purple Phoenix and the Vampire Saint – 4

 

—–CROW—–

 

“..His spirit still hasn’t appeared?”

 

“Yes.. Mother..”

 

Nex Aureus.

 

His childhood was unfortunate.

 

From a young age, he was considered someone with a bright future as the eldest son of the Ten Swords, but as he grew older, the continued absence of his spirit fueled gossip behind his back.

 

‘Could the Young Master truly be a child picked up from somewhere?’

 

‘Shh, quiet. He’ll hear you!’

 

‘It doesn’t matter.  A spiritless spirit user is nothing special. He has no talent for swordsmanship, nor does he have a large mana pool like a mage.’

 

‘And his hair color is different from the Master’s.’

 

Aside from being a descendant of a prestigious family famous for their spirits, he was just one of many ordinary, talentless individuals.

 

“Young Master, we are rooting for you.”

 

The words of the maid who had just been badmouthing him. Nex grew up witnessing this and came to despise people’s lies.

 

“Even so, I won’t punish the maid, Nex.”

 

“Mother, she called me a bastard! This is an insult to the family….”

 

The maid who insulted the Duke’s descendant.  Normally, it would be a serious matter, enough to warrant death, but

 

“..So what?”

 

Asha Aureus simply spoke to Nex with a cold gaze. For some reason, she seemed excessively calm.

 

“Huh..? But Mother..”

 

“If you are truly a descendant of the Aureus family, you should be able to prove your own worth.”

 

“…”

 

“Why, are you perhaps afraid that you really are a bastard?”

 

“No.”

 

His mother with golden hair, and himself with purple hair. It was enough to sense something strange.

 

“..So I just need to prove my abilities?”

 

“Indeed. At least the eldest son should have that much skill.”

 

“Understood.. Mother..”

 

That day, Nex learned how to read people’s expressions.  He guessed that it was deception, that she was neglecting her son because she was hiding something from him.

 

“What do you mean? Master?”

 

“Exactly as I said.  A spirit is a creature born from emotions.”

 

He tried hard to become stronger, but her cold attitude didn’t change even after several years.

 

“If you really want, I’ll find you a bride. Then your spirit might awaken.”

 

“Absolutely not. Do you think I’m you?”

 

“Anger is a good emotion. Then I’ll take that as your acceptance, Nex.”

 

From the day of his coming-of-age ceremony, marriage proposals started pouring in. Was it because he had expressed anger towards Asha for the first time?

 

“I’ve come at the Master’s recommendation.”

 

“Send her back.”

 

“..At the request of Asha, the Living Sun among the Ten Swords, I’ve come to see Young Master Nex….”

 

“He said he doesn’t need it!”

 

He hated harems. He was afraid and scared that even if he got married, they would secretly insult him like the maid from his childhood.

 

‘What should I do? I can’t disobey the Master.’

 

He needed something that would keep women away from him.  So he started wearing a mask of wickedness.  Speaking harshly and distorting his expressions became a habit.

 

“Ha, wench. No matter how hard an orca tries, it’s still beneath a phoenix. Shouldn’t I be marrying the spirit instead? Such a lowly family.”

 

“..How dare this spiritless trash insult our family..!!”

 

‘Reading her expression, she’s after the family’s fortune.’

 

Living like that, Nex came to believe that this world was full of deceivers and the deceived. Even the nobles who treated him well were full of insults behind his back.

 

Then, while he was learning spirit perception and intentionally acting like a spoiled brat….

 

“Ahh! Meow!! Stop right there!!”

 

‘I’ve seen all kinds of strange people. A vampire.. To think someone like that is the Second Saint, is the world ending?’

 

At a social gathering he was forced to attend, he met the one and only Saint who could understand him.

 

A woman who would see Nex Aureus, the young man, not his spirit.

 

—–CROW—–

 

Nex was immediately checking on Chartinese’s well-being.  I suddenly became invisible.

 

I thought he would accuse me of being a Hero Church member or being in league with the Demon Lords.  He didn’t show even a sliver of doubt about me solving the puzzle.

 

He’s not this emotional, as far as I know.

 

“Are you okay? Chart..?”

 

“Ah, Nex.  I’m fine.  I fell asleep for a bit.. where is this….”

 

Nex’s eyes kept shaking, and his hands trembled anxiously. A moment passed.

 

*Hug*

 

Confirming that she wasn’t hurt, he embraced her in a reunion hug. His eyes were moist, as if he had been crying.  To think the cold rival character would change like this.

 

Perhaps he experienced something difficult in Servi’s nightmare. Dreams can also turn into nightmares.

 

“I’m glad.  Truly.  Glad….”

 

“I can’t breathe.. Nex..”

 

“..Just stay like this for a little longer.”

 

The vampire nun struggled and expressed her discomfort, but it fell on deaf ears.

 

It’s fine as long as she’s alive.  If Nex had been on a route other than the traitor route, she might have died.  That’s how the original storyline went.

 

“..I’m so glad you’re not hurt.”

 

I let out a sigh of relief. I was scared that my game knowledge wouldn’t work. I was sweating even while solving the puzzle. I slumped down.

 

“Oh my, Junior Licht?!”

 

“Junior helped me get here. I didn’t do much. Haha..”

 

“Then Junior also dealt with that succubus..!”

 

“Right, Chart.”

 

The Second Saint seemed embarrassed to be hugging Nex and raised her voice at me, but I didn’t care.

 

Rather, I welcome this kind of happy ending.  A smile finally spread across my face.

 

“Chirp!”

 

Then, Nex’s sparrow flew over from behind me. Huh? Helios Midnight is still active? The sun hadn’t disappeared from behind him.  That’s not possible for a juvenile spirit….

 

Ah. So that’s how it is.

 

“Chirp Chirp..?”

 

“Sorry, Chart.”

 

As the spirit burned the ropes and freed her,

 

“Why..? Nex.”

 

“There’s something like that. I’m so glad you’re alive..”

 

“When was I dead? I’m the Second Saint!”

 

“That’s what Demon Lords are like, Chart..”

 

Nex loosened his embrace. The two lovers gazed into each other’s eyes.  The phoenix circled around them.

 

“Isn’t it fine as long as you found me..?”

 

“..I just hate myself for not being able to do anything.”

 

“Don’t blame yourself, Nex..”

 

“You should have seen what Junior did, Chart.”

 

Chartinese blushed.  But Nex didn’t stop talking. He must have had a hard time getting here too.

 

“I guess I haven’t been honest with my feelings.”

 

“Nex, I’m fine, I tell you..! I almost fell victim to the succubus, but I’m okay!”

 

He must have been very worried that something might have happened to his lover.  Considering how he checked for injuries as soon as he saw her.

 

“It’s not an excuse, but I’ve been wearing a mask since I was young because I hate people’s lies.”

 

“..I know that.”

 

His face was already covered in tears, unusual for his personality.  It really is the comrade route. I’ve never seen him like this before.

 

“Even though we’re dating, I was actually.. scared.”

 

“Nex, Junior is behind you! It’s embarrassing, so later….”

 

“..I don’t care. Let him hear. Junior. Is it okay?”

 

The damage is done now that he’s said this much.  The flag-confirming line seems to have come out too. I nodded vigorously. There was also the grand route achievement, but

 

“Of course.  Say whatever you want, Senior.”

 

If the trigger for the spirit’s growth into its adult form in the original game was the lover’s death, shouldn’t I make it different here?

 

I possessed this body for the Nameless Saintess’s happy ending.

 

“..Thank you, Junior Licht.”

 

She would also agree that this is the right thing to do.  Even though I was wearing a helmet, I stretched my lips into a straight line to suppress my smile.  No matter how happy I am, the mood will be ruined if I laugh.

 

“I think I’ve learned a lot from what happened today.”

 

“Really? I didn’t really.. I just woke up here..”

 

“Ha.. Really.  Seeing this, I think I should be the one protecting you.”

 

“..What? Nex.  If you say anything cheesy again, I’ll use divine power… Mmm.”

 

He gave a relieved yet worried, hollow laugh as he looked at Chart, and then covered her mouth with his finger.

 

“Will you marry me? Saint Chartinese?”

 

A clean love confession.

 

“..Yes?! Suddenly..?”

 

A sweet sensation bloomed even in my mouth as I listened.  To propose in this situation, with Kainel and now this, this really is a romance academy story.

 

“I mean, let’s go to the Master and get her official permission.  Whether I get slapped or drenched with water, I want to be confident.”

 

“Didn’t you hate your mother? Why..?”

 

Nex smiled sheepishly and stroked her black hair.  The black strands twisted around his fingers.

 

“I hate it when the person I like is looked down upon by others, Chart.”

 

“..Is the reason really me? Not because of you?”

 

Hearing his words, the Vampire Saint’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Yes. Think about it, if you’re the legal wife of the Aureus family….  Who would dare touch you like today?”

 

He’s right. If they directly touched someone related to the Ten Swords, it would cause a huge problem, so this must have been a ploy to use Nex as a pawn by manipulating him.

 

“Ah, u-um.. That’s.. Nex..”

 

Ultimately, the problem with this kidnapping was that Chartinese’s standing was too low compared to the First Saint.

 

It was the same for our Nameless Saintess in the game, even though it’s a noble position chosen by the God of Light.

 

If the Saint, like the First Saint, isn’t human but a demi-human, she would be discriminated against.

 

“A Saint.. can get married..”

 

Senior Chartinese’s voice trailed off as she shrunk back, surprised by his unexpected words.

 

“I’m not lying, Chart.  I’m serious.”

 

Nex wasn’t giving his usual fox-like smile as he mentioned marriage. His expression was serious.

 

That was when it happened.

 

“Chirp.”

 

His sparrow scattered purple feathers, and its body began to grow.

 

Like a snake shedding its skin, it was transforming into the majestic phoenix I knew.

 

The trigger for a spirit’s growth from juvenile to adult form is the acknowledgment of its own emotions.  It seems he’s truly serious.

 

“It’s true. Nex.  Congratulations on your spirit’s growth.”

 

“So, what’s your answer, Chart?”

 

“Well..”

 

The matured phoenix wrapped its wings around its master and Chartinese.  Purple feathers, like flower petals, fluttered from the sky, as if in a celebratory scene.

 

“..At least I can’t let you go to your mother alone.”

 

“W-what?! Does that mean….”

 

Nex’s eyes widened, and he showed a tearful smile. Seeing him laugh through his tears, Chartinese also smiled, as if she couldn’t believe it.

 

“..I don’t know.  Silly fox.”

 

Their faces and necks flushed red.

 

“How can you propose in this situation!!”

 

“Haha, sorry.  I guess I got too excited seeing you safe.”

 

“There won’t be a second time.  Got it?”

 

“..Understood, Chart!”

 

They smiled with the same expression and looked at each other warmly.  A couple who looked happier than anyone else in this moment.

 

Right after, a pink status window appeared before my eyes.

 

[Chartinese♡Nex 62% “NEW!!”]

 

Paper confetti even scattered around, matching the atmosphere.

 

This is what an event CG should be like.

 

The engagement ceremony of the two, as if blessed by the phoenix.

 

The spirit grew into its adult form, and their love for each other was reaffirmed.

 

Is it appropriate to say “I’m so glad” here?

 

“Congratulations.”

 

I secretly gave them a thumbs up.  It’s my way of expressing my feelings.

 

Fortunately, the dropped love meter not only recovered but also surpassed half.  I nodded with satisfaction.

 

“..Thank you so much for today, Junior.”

 

“I didn’t do it for your thanks.”

 

“Haha, that’s what I like about you, Licht.”

 

He even dropped the “Junior” honorific for a moment.

 

Nex expressed his gratitude sincerely, without any pretense.  He seemed happy, smiling with teary eyes.

 

Did I become a witness to their engagement? Then there’s no rivalry or anything anymore.  The speculation about the comrade route actually existing was true.

 

“If it weren’t for Junior, something terrible might have happened, Chart.”

 

“Really? I just woke up here..”

 

“Two days have passed, sleepyhead.”

 

“Huh? You’re lying..?!”

 

She was shocked.  She looked back and forth between Nex and me, checking if we were lying.  Since they’ve practically gotten engaged, that can’t be true.

 

“It’s true.  You were asleep for two days because of the Apostle.”

 

“No way..”

 

I told the truth to Senior Chartinese, who looked confused.  Is she worried about her academy credits?  Even so, if she knew how much Nex and I struggled to get here, she wouldn’t be able to say anything.

 

“Chart, Licht is really strong, there’s a reason His.. no, His Highness the Crown Prince is keeping an eye on him.”

 

“Really? They already seem like friends.”

 

“..Seniors? Mardol and I are not friends!”

 

Why is the Crown Prince flag being raised again? I was incredibly relieved that Lupus’s name still hasn’t appeared on the status window.  And Senior, you can’t abandon me.

 

“Junior will like it too, right?  It’s not common to have connections with the Imperial family.”

 

“I don’t need it.”

 

I only want our Saintess’s route.

 

Seeing me shake my head vigorously in denial,

 

“..Junior is really kind.  Innocently so.”

 

“You just realized that now?  Nex. I knew it a long time ago!”

 

“Chart, lying is bad.  You were suspicious of Junior at first.”

 

“Uh, um.. I got tricked this time.”

 

The engaged couple laughed brightly.

 

The dungeon, which had been devoid of sunlight, was now brightly lit like daytime by the artificial light created by the spirit,

 

and the two of them stood up under the light.

 

“Why are you trying to pair me with Mardol..?”

 

“Because you’re the first person she’s shown interest in.”

 

“..That’s right, Junior Licht.”

 

Nex and Chartinese approached me and said strange things.

 

Since things have turned out like this, should I try raising a flag with the Saintess?

 

“Kyahaha..”

 

Just then, someone interrupted our conversation.

 

“If I just get rid of this heretic.. the prophecy won’t be affected..”

 

I lowered the corners of my mouth as I looked at Servi. She’s ruining the good mood again.  I stayed quiet even when they talked about the Crown Prince.

 

—–CROW—–