I Became The Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 7

Chapter 7 – Coincidence and Fate Aren’t So Different After All.

On my way to school, the familiar status window popped up again.  Maybe it would give me a quest this time.

[Calculating Grand Route Ending Achievement Rate…]

It wasn’t real-time, huh?

[Kainel♡Ariel 12%]

[First step! Congratulations!]

[As a reward, we’ll give you some advice!]

[- Joining a club might lead to something good!]

“…I still can’t get used to the pink.”

So I had to fill their Romance Meter to 100%.  The hearts increased again.  Ugh.

“At least they’re not making me fight the Demon King…”

That’s still impossible for me in my current state. Unless I do something crazy.  Frowning, I started walking.

On the way, I saw some familiar faces.

“Oh, it’s Helmet Man!”

“Licht, are you wearing your helmet to the entrance ceremony too?”

The blond Kainel and the red-haired Ariel.  They were close now. I should test my affinity with her.

“Wait a minute, Ariel. Do you know what mineral a horned duck likes the most?”

“What?”

“Oriharukon.” (Korean pun:  ori/duck + haru/day + kon/corn)

“Are you insane…?”

“…?  What do you mean?”

Good.  No affinity.

Judging by Kainel’s expression, filled with contempt and disgust, and Ariel’s confused reaction.

At least I could get closer to the Saint’s route.  A worry in the corner of my heart subsided.

I could just ignore the yellow dog, who looked like he had bitten into a rock while eating.  If she had laughed, it would have meant she had some affinity for me.

“…Never tell a joke again.”

“Understood.”

“So what does it mean?!”

As the three of us walked side by side, we arrived at the academy.

—–CROW—–

‘It’s really big.  This is the Imperial Academy?’

It was only mentioned in passing in the previous games.

Honestly, I didn’t have high expectations.

A statue of the ten heroes occupied the center of the school, and behind it, two steel wolves guarded the gates.

A place that showcased the history of the Grancia Empire.

The intersection of the characters from the original and the sequel, and the starting point of the heroes.

The Grand Hearts Academia entrance ceremony was being held.

‘Those are the Ten Swords. Teacher looks really young.’

Among the rough stone statues, I saw a young man holding a Western-style sword as tall as himself.

Drake, the Dragonslayer.

He looked like a cool character.

‘Except when he’s making us train…’

“Wow, is that His Majesty the Emperor at the top?”

“I see the first Saint here too.”

A large crowd filled the plaza.  I was looking for anyone with white hair.  The wolf-eared Saint could be here, right? There had to be a reason they told me to come to the academy.

“Ah, Licht. There doesn’t seem to be anyone with white hair.”

“…Please keep that a secret.”

“What are you talking about all of a sudden, Kai?”

As I suddenly turned my head, he smirked as if to get revenge for the other day. I’ll never tell another corny joke again.  Spare me.

“It’s a secret between men.”

“Another story about a girl?”

“…”

You just crossed the line.  Just as I thought he had gotten me good, a person walked to the front of the podium.

“I am Laplace, the headmaster of Grand Hearts Academia.”

He finally appeared.

One of the Ten Swords who stopped the continental war. A hero ranked seventh in combat power among them.

‘Laplace the Sage.’

I felt a sense of familiarity seeing his face after so long.

“My ability is quite insignificant.”

“It’s the ability to turn lights on and off without touching them.”

It seemed trivial, but…

“But, thanks to a very special person—”

*Snap.*

The sound of snapping fingers.

“I’ve reached this level.”

Suddenly, the entire area was plunged into darkness.

A solar eclipse.

“What… It suddenly got dark!”

“The headmaster’s ability was real!”

“This is kind of scary…”

“As expected of one of the Ten Swords!”

“Look! The sun is black!”

‘That’s what his crazy ability was.’

The sudden change caused a commotion.

When he snapped his fingers again, the light returned.

“And so, our academy’s motto is this:”

“Find what is precious, what must be protected, and what must be done.”

He’s such a romantic.  Those three phrases all refer to one woman. I don’t even need to help him.

“May the blessings of Akasha, the God of Wisdom, be with all the new students!”

“Wooo!”

“Waaaa!”

The short entrance ceremony ended.  Among the cheering crowd, we talked briefly.

“…That was a flashy entrance ceremony.”

“Do you think I can become a mage like that?”

“I’m sure you can.”

Thinking of her performance in <Black Heart>, I nodded.  You two are overpowered characters. It’ll probably be possible. I know because I’ve played without you.

“What elective are you taking, Licht?”

“Magic.”

“Me too! I’m taking the Combat Magic class!  That’s great! Helmet Man! Kai!”

I should learn some magic this time.

All three of us were in the same class. Fortunately, I wouldn’t have to eat lunch in the bathroom like in real life. I was lucky.

‘Huh?’

I was impressed as I looked at the names of the faculty listed on the notice board.  They weren’t disclosing their last names. They were hiding their family names to promote equality.

Certainly groundbreaking.

Putting those thoughts aside, I headed to the classroom with the Hero couple.

—–CROW—–

A tall man with blue hair and striking white eyes entered the classroom with a swagger, as if drunk.

“Greetings, everyone. I’m in charge of the <Fundamentals of Combat Magic> lecture.”

“As you may have heard, my name is Dennis.”

The protagonist of <Knight Heart> part 1.

He was a professor here. He was old enough to have graduated already.

‘Dennis the Drunkard.’

…I couldn’t touch this person yet.

I felt a little complicated.

He was the first character I met when I played the game, but I couldn’t help him unless I defeated the Demon King.  Was there really no other way?

“I believe that people only change when they’re pushed to their limits.”

I tried to come up with any possible means, but it was still impossible.

“So today, let’s start by lightly figuring out what your specialties are…”

Then,

Suddenly, the back door opened with a *creak*.  A strong presence was felt.

A person resembling a walking crystal entered the classroom.

Polished helmet and armor, a thin sword on their back. From head to toe, they shone with an otherworldly glow, like a knight from a fairy tale.

Their snow-white attire shimmered.

The difference in equipment between me and them, with just my helmet, was huge.

‘What is that…?’

It was someone I had never seen before.  If the game gave a character such an out-of-place setting…

‘Is that person the protagonist of part 3?’

It was the same in parts 1 and 2. It meant they were someone important.  As a gamer, I had a definite hunch.  This was why they told me to come to the academy.

“…I apologize for being late.”

The giant figure bowed in half. Don’t bow. It’s scary.

“…Your name?”

“Mardol.”

“Ha… Okay, just sit down.”

Dennis spoke, rubbing his forehead as if he had a headache.

The mysterious knight, seeing the empty seat next to me, sat down with a loud *thud*.

‘I definitely need to make sure this person progresses their love story.’

Seeing the hopeless naming sense, I was certain. I had to do it.

The main theme of the <Knight Heart Trilogy> was love.

The status window I saw today also pointed to that.  The name ‘Mardol’ had never appeared in any of the games I played.

Two people wearing knight helmets in the same classroom. A strange coincidence.

“What, are you two a set?”

“Quiet, class is in session.”

“One is a Black Knight, the other is… a White Knight…?  It looks more like glass, though.”

“Then let’s call him the Glass Knight.”

“Don’t you know each other? How can there be two people like that in the same class?”

I can hear you.  I don’t know him either.

Do you know that awkward feeling when you greet someone on the street thinking they’re your friend, but they’re not? That’s how I felt.

As if oblivious to the whispers and stares, the person next to me spoke.

“You, Licht?”

Their voice resonated like they were speaking from inside a cave.

Because of that, their voice sounded masculine.

“Yes. What is it?”

‘Wrong person.  Eek.’

Looking at the golden eyes gleaming slightly within the helmet, I barely managed to hide my inner thoughts and answered.

A giant knight talking to me.  This was a truly terrifying situation. Cold sweat trickled down my back.

“I see.”

As soon as they heard my answer, Mardol focused on the lecture. They didn’t speak to me after that.

What’s with that?  Don’t talk about things only you know.

How did they know my name?

“Huh, he’s similar to Helmet Man.”

“Is that the trend in the Imperial City? Should I try it too, Ariel?”

“Don’t, Kai. You’ll look ugly.”

The Hero couple behind me were amused by the appearance of someone who looked like me and just kept laughing. I’ll remember this, Puppy.

—–CROW—–

“So, it’s time to figure out what your specialties are.”

Dennis drew a small circle on the blackboard. It was the protection spell he often used in the game. He then pointed to a student.

A mage with striking red hair.  Ariel.

“Ariel, what’s your specialty?”

“Fire magic!”

She spoke loudly, closing her eyes tightly. She seemed confident.

“Then what do you think that magic is?”

“I think it’s magic that controls flames!”

Dennis put his hand on his chin.  He seemed dissatisfied with her answer.

“Anything other than controlling fire?”

“…Um, well…”

His white eyes gleamed.

“W-Well…”

“Time’s up.  Fire magic thoroughly defies ‘laws’.”

He shook his head.

He was someone who liked practical theories.

“It doesn’t need flammable materials, and it can create flames even on cold ice.  Furthermore,”

He created a small flame and ice in the air and continued.

“…A skilled fire mage can even use it freely underwater.”

Magic was indeed overpowered.

I could see the embers burning within the ice.

“Then, what exactly ignites the fire to make this possible? Ariel?”

“Burning… mana?”

She flinched like a startled cat.

“Correct.  You have some common sense.”

“As such, mana basically grants reality-defying properties to magic, swordsmanship, spirit arts, and divine power.”

I felt gloomy listening to Dennis’s explanation.  I don’t have mana.

“Water Ball.”

A water ball formed in his palm.

“In my case, I twist water magic a little, like this.  I use alcohol. Since you students have all undergone your coming-of-age ceremony, you can drink it, but…”

The transparent water turned blood red.

The aroma of wine spread.  The red water sphere rotated. The smell of alcohol started to waft through the air.

“One of the basic ‘concepts’ of water is that it turns into water vapor at room temperature. This is also true for alcohol, but…”

The amount was on a different level.

As Dennis made a fist, the sphere vanished like a bursting balloon, and the classroom was filled with the rich aroma of grapes.

“Like this, just with water magic, I can achieve control comparable to other mages.”

Dennis opened his palm again, retrieving the magic, and the water droplets in the air gathered in his hand and disappeared like a whirlpool.

“Ariel?”

“Y-Yes!”

“Would you like to try using fire magic now?”

After confirming that there were no problems, he spoke.

“F-Fire Ball.”

As she finished chanting, a large fireball, the size of a human head, formed in her hand.  She wasn’t very good at controlling its power.

Dennis remained calm as he watched.

“You have a lot of mana.”

‘She’s definitely overpowered.’

In reality, Ariel possessed talent comparable to a mage from the Magic Tower.  Watching her, I remembered how powerful of a mage she was in the Hero’s party.

Honestly, her area-of-effect spells were incredible.

“What do you think is the basic concept of fire, Ariel?”

“It shines?”

Her eyes regained their spark.

“Yes. Then what’s a good example of that?”

She paused for a moment, lost in thought.

“The sun, fireworks, candles…?”

“Then, think of fireworks, focus on the fact that it shines, and try twisting the magic formula.  Don’t think about the heat.”

“I’ll try.”

As she closed her eyes and concentrated, flames of various colors began to emerge from her hand.

Red, gold, and blue.

Oh, so this is where she learned it.  I was mesmerized, watching a trial version of her ultimate skill.

The scene of her magic combined with the Hero’s holy sword when they fought the Demon King’s subordinates came to mind.

‘But these are the colors of Kainel’s hair, eyes, and her own color.’

Looking at the flames, Ariel’s face was slightly flushed.  Was this what they meant when they said magic reflected one’s heart?  It was quite fascinating.

I hadn’t noticed it in the game because it was so flashy.

‘Uh…?’

Something strange caught my eye.

A small man’s face was trying to form above the colorful flames.  Wait, isn’t that the yellow dog?!

“Stop. That’s enough. You’re doing well. Next week, we’ll have mock battles using your specialties.”

Fortunately, a catastrophe was averted.  If Dennis hadn’t stopped the magic, it would have been a disaster.

She also breathed a sigh of relief.  You almost confessed in front of the class, Ariel.

“Since it’s the first day, we’ll end here for today. Enjoy your lunch.”

Dennis, who had been watching with interest, soon ended the class.

Was it common sense to end early on the first day?

Thank you.  As expected, <Knight Heart> is the best.

‘But I can’t use magic? I’m screwed.  Master scolded me because I couldn’t even generate Aura.’

I felt a sense of despair at the sudden realization of my situation. Then, I heard voices from behind me.

“The flame colors were so pretty, Ariel.  You were amazing.”

“Y-Yeah.  It was pretty easy.  Don’t you think you’ll get it quickly too, Kai?”

The two were talking, sitting at their desks.  The Hero of Light and the Mage of the Blazing Flame.

I was dumbfounded.  He saw the magic, and yet Kainel was still indecisive.

Frustration almost made me blurt out something harsh.

‘Are you really that oblivious, Kainel?’

Correction. Our yellow dog isn’t oblivious, he’s just clueless.

Sighing, I approached them and spoke.

“Um, Ariel. Do you know about magic reflecting one’s heart?”

“What? What are you talking about?”

“Well, just now, Kainel’s face…”

At that moment, I was cut off.

“Eek! Are you crazy, Helmet Man?! That’s impossible!”

Two hands covered my helmet.

She screamed as she covered my mouth. Ariel’s face was as red as a strawberry.

“Did you just call me, Licht?”

“Yes.”

“No!  It’s not true!!”

Kainel, oblivious to the strangeness, just stared at me blankly.

‘Right… what did I expect from 12%?’

I lamented inwardly.  Had they only progressed to holding hands?  Are they elementary school students?

This was seriously problematic.

Having to connect these two… my future of going home seemed bleak.  This wasn’t high school, it was an academy.

They should be able to handle their own love lives.  I continued to tease them.

“I can talk, you know.  My mouth isn’t completely covered.  Just now, Kainel…”

“…Helmet Man, so you’re going to be like this.”

“Ariel. Wait, what are you going to do?”

“…? Why are you suddenly chanting…”

“Fire Ball!”

Suddenly, the surroundings became hot.  A shiver ran down my spine. I forgot that tsunderes resort to violence.

“Waaaah!!  Fire magic on the helmet is a no-go!”

“Shut up! Shut up! You deserve this!”

“Ariel, I’m curious too, so go ahead. As revenge for the carriage incident.”

I barely managed to stop Ariel, who was now trying to attack me with fire magic.  I didn’t know it would be this sad not being able to use magic. I immediately apologized repeatedly.

“I’m sorry! I’m sorry! Ariel! Not fire magic!”

“It really doesn’t come off.  What’s it made of?”

“…Kainel, Licht, I’ll see you both at lunch.”

She was so angry that she didn’t even use honorifics.  This was truly a disaster. What about my Pure Love Black Knight life at the academy?

I realized my mistake, lowered my head, and regretted my actions.

—–CROW—–

Someone nearby was carefully observing the commotion, a fact Licht didn’t realize at the time.

“…A peculiar person.”

She became interested in the man wearing the Black Knight’s helmet.

Her wolf ears twitched slightly backward.

—–CROW—–