WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 002

──────

Episode 2. Tutorial - The Pure-Love Black Knight Who Must Go to the Academy.

‘Grand Route.’

A new system added in <Black Heart>, Part 2.

A special method where data from the previous game is inherited and used to advance the story in the sequel.

There were many events and choices not typically seen.

For example, in a sequel where you, like me, maxed out affection and saw the Saintess Route, then inherited it, you would meet her immediately upon starting the game.

[Hello there, Mr. Lost Puppy?]

Normally, you’d have to go all the way to the monastery where the Saintess resided and employ various methods to dispel her suspicion.

[Um, have we met before? You look familiar…]

[You were the one who donated to the orphanage! No wonder…!]

[Do you happen to be free this evening? I was thinking of buying a cute doll… What? No, I’m not buying it! Absolutely not!]

Here, there’s no need for that.

Because the Nameless Saintess is a blunt character from the start.

She only treats those she acknowledges with gentleness.

[To think a Hero and a Mage are getting married, time certainly flies. Does anything come to mind when you look at me?]

Seeing happy endings consecutively in the sequel like this is the ‘Grand Route.’

The advertisement promising new endings was still etched in my memory.

But there was a problem.

First, no matter how strong a character you’d built in the previous game, you had to start from scratch.

The only thing inherited was the ‘relationships’ with the characters from the previous game.

On top of that, if you made even one mistake, your save file was gone.

The developer of <Black Heart> was the worst of the worst.

The absolute worst part was that I had somehow entered the game.

“I’m never playing <Black Heart> again. <Knight Heart>… you were right… come back…”

I hung my head. Why did I forget he was the creator of that infamous sequel?

As soon as I received the email, I should’ve sent it straight to the trash. Or reported him for fraud.

When I woke up today, a transparent status window floated before my eyes.

[Ta-da! It’s finally time for you to go to the Academy, Lee Suhyun!]

“What is this?”

I rubbed my eyes. I wasn’t seeing things.

I felt a little better seeing the developer’s tone again after so long. I expected them to guide me step by step, like a tutorial fairy.

Forgetting that if they were that kind of person, they wouldn’t have thrown me into a game that was still in beta testing.

[There’s also a new system in this <Grand Hearts Academy>!]

What is it now? Weren't we done with inheritance, now it's possession?

[It’s the heart-fluttering… thump-thump-thumping… ‘Romance Level’ system!]

[What kind of event will happen when a character’s love reaches 100%?! How about it, isn’t it interesting?]

“So, this romance fantasy academy story is then….”

[Yes! Catching the Demon King and getting a normal happy ending has been overused too much~ By the third time, people will start cursing, you know…]

Not like affection, trust, or reputation.

Romance Level?

[I know you hate spoilers..! So, the explanation ends here!]

As I stared blankly, dumbfounded, a large new window popped up in front of my face.

Giant letters spelling “Grand Route.” And several small sentences extending below it.

[Goal: Achieve Grand Route 0/1]

[You can now create love lines! Please proceed with the romance story at the Academy!]

[You just need to maintain all the couplings from the previous game! Fighting!]

[Reward: Return to the real world, the Nameless Saintess’s ‘Grand Route’ ending.]

[Upon Failure: ???]

“…”

I stared at it for a long time.

An alien color scheme, as if to prove it was a game.

Fuck. Why is this pink? Why are there hearts decorating it again? <Black Heart> developer, you made this yourself, didn’t you? And why is failure ‘???’ huh.

Of course, my save file will be gone.

“Was this what ‘beta tester’ meant?! You crazy bastard!!!”

I yelled. My vision in front of me was narrow.

Because an item I received as a special bonus was blocking it. By the way, this doesn’t come off. I have to wear it even when I eat.

“If you were going to send me to the Academy to raise my Romance Level, you should’ve sent me straight away! I didn’t know that and kept trying, thinking I had to catch the Demon King again!”

Since there hadn’t been any words until now, I thought I had to prevent an attack at the Academy.

Because most love lines in parts 1 and 2 tended to lead to such crises. I thought if I achieved happy endings that way, I could reach the Grand Route.

But it wasn't? That was why I was spewing curses first thing in the morning.

“At least let me take off my helmet!!”

Tears blurred my vision.

“Status Window!! Open Status…!! Nothing works!”

I spouted various cliché lines for about ten minutes, but all failed.

To my empty shouts, only silence returned. In the end, it meant it was all up to the developer, so I could only silently accept the situation.

“..Ha, if it weren’t for our Saintess, I wouldn’t have fallen for this bait.”

I let out a deep sigh. It had already been five years since I entered this game. After first being dropped into an unknown forest, I almost died for real.

Fortunately, a kind old couple took me in. I’m grateful for becoming younger, but.

“Black Knight Licht.”

I was possessed by the same character I used in the previous games. So I inherited myself, huh.

“At least let me use magic like Licht, or is it because this is a prequel?”

I looked in the mirror. The figure of a warrior with a black helm pulled low. It felt awkward without armor, but it was enough to be called a Black Knight.

“The fit is surprisingly good though.”

Can’t be helped, I guess. Since it’s come to this, I’ll show them. Do they think I don’t know romance stories? I’d memorized even short phrases from the lore book.

“..This time, I’ll really see the ending. You bastards.”

Why did the Saintess have to die in Part 2 in the first place?

Because I hated that, I memorized all attack patterns, squeezed in even the tiniest bit of damage, and cleared it without rest for 16 hours.

I struggled and barely managed to clear it, only to find the ending hadn’t been implemented.

Come to think of it, I also got an IV drip and saw an ‘unfamiliar ceiling’ in the middle of all that. I never thought I’d be possessed like this, was that a foreshadowing?

“You chose the wrong opponent.”

I picked up a notebook from the bookshelf. All the information I'd jotted down so I wouldn't forget it as soon as I arrived here. In this situation, it was my strongest weapon.

I brushed the dust off the cover.

“Cursed Dragon of Spring and Drunkard Dennis. Can’t touch them yet anyway.”

<Knight Heart>, the protagonists of Part 1. A blossoming love under the magnolia tree.

To save these people, I need to catch the Demon King. Postpone for now.

“The [Ability to turn lights on and off without touching them]… I won’t need to worry about that.”

He’s a man who even became the Academy President for the person he loves. I’ve already got a handle on the news, so no need to worry, right.

“The Grand Sword Master and the Sage of the Magic Tower.”

Will these two be at the Academy? One is the sword instructor whom I served as master until a few days ago, and the other apparently lived holed up in a library.

‘A sound mind in a sound body!!’

Just by looking at the words I wrote, I could almost hear a booming voice.

I’m sorry, Master Drake… I still can’t use disciple aura. It seems some things just don’t work no matter how hard you try.

I turned the page.

“The Northern Grand Duchess was an easter egg character, wasn’t she?”

Like someone else, I haven’t really read romance novels, but I should’ve looked them up more online. How far will game knowledge get me?

My complicated feelings made my gaze stop at one place.

“..The Hero of Light and the Mage of Flames.”

<Black Heart>, the protagonists of Part 2. The clueless yellow dog next door and the shy red cat.

They were a good match.

These good-for-nothing bastards were actually quite decent in the original story, aside from running away in the sequel.

Since it’s still the past, I should be able to change it.

They are the core heroes of the fighting force, and also the idiots with the highest chance of failing in romance.

“I’ll start with these childhood friends.”

Enduring a relationship that develops from friends to lovers, at least their love story is truly sweet.

“It seems like it’s going to be quite difficult from now on.”

As I organized my thoughts, a sigh escaped me, and my hand stopped turning the page.

“…”

I put my hand to my forehead. Unlike the other characters I’d organized, the space where a name should have been written was left blank in my memo.

I almost forgot.

“The Nameless Saintess, who should she be paired with?”

The first healer to appear in <Knight Heart>.

An NPC like a blank white sheet of paper, with nothing on it.

[It’s nice to meet you.]

A figure with flowing white hair and wolf ears twitching beneath her nun’s habit, in some ways an tribute to Japanese miko.

Honestly, I started the game because of her.

Now, all the characters have become a sore spot for me, but,

The reason I grew attached was clear. I liked watching the coldest NPC gradually open her heart.

…And she was pretty too.

[Good morning. Are you feeling alright?]

A rare random event.

Perhaps it was when I first caught the Demon King and my character was in critical condition.

[Knights in fairy tales always protect only the princess, don't they? But I prefer heroes who protect others as well.]

[..You’ve worked hard today as well, ‘Black Knight’.]

The first smile I ever saw.

The sunlight shining from behind her, reflecting off her hair, was beautiful. Whether by coincidence or fate, the special dialogue that appeared for each profession was like this.

Honestly, I just chose it because it looked cool.

From then until <Black Heart>, her influence was significant in my choice to play as a Black Knight.

[If that is the case… Ah, how about trying to use polite speech this time? There will surely be people who aren’t afraid of Sir Knight, like me.]

She would say that if I ever used polite speech instead of informal, people wouldn’t be afraid of my scars and would approach me, or that if they bothered me, she could heal them herself.

It was just character customization.

Yet, the emotional depth was so rich, as if a real person was worrying for me.

This is why I loved the original.

[I like sweets too, would you give me one, Sir Knight?]

[It seems your divine power is a little low…]

When I was eating candy as a buff item, she would occasionally ask me to share, and if I didn’t, she’d sulk all day.

And she’d grumble adorably.

[Sir Knight. If I don’t eat something sweet, I can’t heal!]

It became a habit to buy extra candy whenever I visited a shop.

Looking back, wasn’t she a gold swindler?

[Hehe, thank you. May God’s blessing be upon you, Sir Knight.]

It was one of the few moments her icy expression would soften, so it was well worth it.

[If you cannot trust people, then I will be the first person to trust you.]

When I was betrayed on the way to the Demon King’s Castle, she encouraged me.

[Do you know the meaning of the Blue Rose? They say it was impossible at first. If you don’t give up, an opportunity will come someday.]

If the number of tries exceeded a certain amount, her wolf ears and tail would droop more than usual.

[..Just once would be enough, I’d like to try on a wedding dress. That’s probably too much to ask, isn’t it?]

‘So I tried damn hard.’

What appeared at the end of <Knight Heart>’s ending was merely the Saintess, imagining herself a pure white bride while talking in her sleep.

She was a supporting character.

There was no official happy ending with marriage, only the ‘Saintess Route,’ which was the closest thing to it.

Slang coined among users.

Quite a light word.

“I was just a guy who only focused on that… Thinking about it, I miss it.”

I closed my eyes. I had only believed in the ending of the ‘Grand Route.’ That was also why I played <Black Heart>.

This time, perhaps something will work out. Honestly, I don’t think the person who even possessed me would lie.

“Alright, let’s go meet the Hero and the Mage first.”

Two days left until the Academy entrance ceremony.

Even if I don’t know anything else, I have to unite the childhood friend couple.

“All I want is our Saintess’s happiness.”

The two who were most helpful in conquering the sequel.

These guys will be the key.

The beginning of a happy ending that stretches from the past to the future.

I closed the book.

The preparations are complete. Now, I must write a new story.

A ‘Grand Route’ where she is happy.

Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried