WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 006

──────

Episode 6. The Yellow Dog Next Door and the Red Cat.

Episode 6. The Yellow Dog Next Door and the Red Cat.

After the battle, I began to clean my sword.

Swordsmanship, it's good, but for me, without mana, durability consumption is no joke. Its edge was already slightly chipped.

“Academy... pure love? Black Knight...? What is that?”

“It's like a guardian angel who protects love.”

“Like you did with Ariel and me? Are you secretly manipulating things from behind?”

“That's incorrect.”

It's a bit different from that. After all, you can't change people's hearts themselves. That's what emotions are.

I checked the gleaming blade and went into the water to wash my helmet.

“You really only pick out peculiar things to do.”

“I tend to make trouble for myself.”

Is it that surprising? I don't need to tell him this won't come off.

At the splashing sound, someone rubbed their eyes and woke up.

“Kai...? What are you doing, not sleeping?”

“..Ariel?”

“Good luck. Kainel.”

“Hey!! Licht!!”

“The night is deep, so think carefully about what I said.”

I gave the Hero a nudge in the direction of the Mage.

I expected a slight change.

There might be a slight smell of blood, but that might actually help more. Hang in there.

“..? Is this blood? Are you hurt?!”

“No, it's just wolf blood. I caught it with Licht.”

“Oh. It really is.”

Ariel's eyes widened as she looked at the black fur hide.

That's a good flag.

“..You did that to protect me...?”

“That's right.”

“I did wake up to the sound of a wolf howling, but...”

“You don't like being disturbed when you sleep.”

“Thank you, Kai.”

The Hero's changed appearance. Now, even if he made excuses about being just childhood friends, he would probably deny it himself. I quietly submerged myself in the water.

“Are you two close now, with that knight?”

“Yeah, just as you said, he wasn't such a bad person after all.”

“Right?”

“Oh, right. Licht! How did you know I was the Hero...”

I'll never tell him. Why would I create a contradiction in the story? Let's keep it our little secret. Perhaps thanks to a perk, I can hear sounds well even underwater.

“..He's gone.”

“Let's really go to sleep now. I'm scared of bugs...”

“Alright. But there's something I want to say.”

“What is it?”

“I'm sorry for all the harsh things I've said until now.”

“What?!”

“And, Ariel, you look really pretty today.”

Oh, that's a bold one. You've grown a lot, Hero. You're ready to graduate now!

“It's fine if you know! I knew you weren't serious anyway!”

“Thank you.”

“Hehe... Kai, it's cute how you're not honest~”

“Calling a man cute isn't a compliment... Huh? Ariel?”

The two of them, led by her, disappeared into the tent. Had she, who wasn't honest with her emotions, learned something today too?

“It should be okay to come out by now.”

I rose my body, which had only been showing my eyes.

My body, heavy with moisture, started dripping water.

“I guess I'll stand watch while I dry off.”

The night was deep. I had plenty of time.

I had a feeling the love story of the two childhood friends would probably start from here.

I put a few logs into the dying fire.

After hundreds of sword swings,

morning broke.

After making sure the bonfire was extinguished with my foot, I entered the tent where Kainel and Ariel were sleeping together.

Meanwhile, Kainel, with his eyes half-open, met my gaze. Wait, this guy's already awake?

“It's time to wake up, everyone.”

I nudged Kainel, pretending not to know anything, to wake him up. Why was this Hero guy actually awake? Just then, the blanket next to him stirred noisily.

Like a bird hatching from an egg, her face slowly began to peek out.

“Ugh... just a little more... Kai...”

I confirmed that Ariel was sleeping, hugging him. So her habit of hugging something while sleeping was real.

His childhood friend was being whiny while half-asleep. This must be why. It didn't seem like they did anything during the night. If they had, I would have heard.

‘Save me... Licht...’

Kainel sent me a distress signal with his mouth.

Endure it, Kainel. It's the route you chose. I didn't even expect that line. You still have to do more before the confession event.

His childhood friend's onslaught continued. She wrapped her arms around his waist, constricting him like a snake.

As she burrowed into his embrace, Kainel mustered his courage.

He gently pushed Ariel's bangs to one side.

“Ariel, it's morning. You need to wake up. Aren't you going to the Academy?”

“Really? I don't have to go?”

“Of course not.”

“I just want to stay like this with Kai.”

The two young people calmly exchanged jokes.

It was a stable morning greeting exchanged between lovers. It would be perfect if they added some freshly baked toast and a fried egg to this.

“Hehe... Good morning, Kai.”

“Good morning, Ariel. Did you sleep well?”

“Thanks to you.”

He and she smiled sweetly at each other, facing each other.

The morning sunlight streamed through the tent flaps. They seemed happy just looking at each other, and faint giggles even escaped from both of them.

A hint of lavender scent lingered.

‘I'm actually seeing all this.’

What's commonly called an event CG.

My mouth slightly dropped at the elaborate direction that anyone could see. It's even more moving to see it in real life. Better than the game.

“Licht. Thank you for yesterday.”

“I'm glad.”

Kainel greeted me warmly.

His demeanor from the previous day was gone, and I even felt a sense of familiarity.

It seems he's sorted out his feelings a bit. If so, there won't be a harem drift.

Is there any chance of becoming a mere hanger-on before <Knight Heart>?

I boarded the carriage. Since they wouldn't be needed anymore, I rearranged the luggage.

Go ahead and be comfortable, Hero couple.

“Be careful, Ariel. It's a bit high here.”

“You didn't do that yesterday.”

“Looking at it again, I thought it might be a bit high for you.”

“Hmph, so you only see it now. Silly Kai.”

The golden-haired Hero meticulously escorting her. It was like watching a prince and princess. Indeed, the anxiety of potentially losing her to someone else is strong.

‘What a relief. I thought it would fail since I've never been in a relationship.’

My advice seemed quite successful.

“When we go to the Academy, there'll be many people prettier than me, right?”

“Well, I don't think so.”

“Why?”

“Do I really have to say it myself?”

“Yes. Why do you think so?”

“..I won't say it twice.”

Did she realize now that even if she expresses her feelings, they'll be returned? Her aggressive side has grown. It would be good if she maintained this until the Academy.

Tsunderes are quite an unpredictable bunch, after all.

“When we go to the Empire, I want to visit a famous dessert shop!”

“You're paying, right?”

“Let's go halves~ You can eat some too!”

“I already have one outstanding debt.”

Is he talking about the candy? I bought it on a whim, thinking of the Saintess, so I don't have any particular attachment to it.

Your love life is more important. If things go wrong in the Saintess route, it'll be a headache. As I was organizing these thoughts, the carriage stopped.

“We have arrived, Black Knight-nim.”

The coachman spoke to me.

“I am just Licht, a commoner. You can speak comfortably, Sir.”

Was it because of the black helmet? I tried to correct the Teacher's words.

We even acted as decoys together. Why are you doing this?

“Someone who protected all of us in the dead of night is worthy of being called a knight.”

“There was someone else too, but.”

“I woke up in the middle of the night and had no idea such a thing was happening. Your skills were outstanding.”

I was caught.

The coachman smiled amiably and spoke quietly. Had he woken up when I went to wash myself?

“The other companion seemed to be the Hero. And a swordsman who stands shoulder to shoulder with him couldn't possibly be an ordinary person.”

“Please keep that a secret. It would be troublesome.”

Watching him speak in a whisper, I slipped a few more silver coins into the coachman's pocket.

It shouldn't be revealed that he's the Hero yet. Cults would swarm him, making things uncomfortable.

..Was it already discovered?

If it hadn't been, the Shadow Wolf wouldn't have appeared either.

“I understand. But I will not accept the money.”

“Huh?”

“Instead, may I ask for your esteemed name?”

A contradictory tone coming from his shabby appearance.

Something was strange. If it were a trap, my head would have been cut off. He must be someone of some renown.

“This old man seems to have met a noble person.”

Two eyes that seemed to see right through me.

Is this a Reputation event?

“It's Licht.”

“..A good name. I'll remember it, Black Knight-nim.”

There's no loss. The events you can see tend to change based on that. Actually, I tried to pay for the Hero's share too, but failed.

If not, I'll just leave the wolf pelt. That should be enough for hush money.

Sorry, Kainel. It's for your safety.

“Oh, we've arrived? Licht?”

“Probably. You can see the statue over there.”

As the conversation ended, the Hero spoke to me.

The carriage had stopped a long time ago, and only then did they realize they had arrived at the Empire. Their reaction was too slow. What were they focused on... You two are holding hands right now.

She seemed utterly happy even when her childhood friend suddenly approached her. So this is what a fated pair looks like.

“It's definitely different from the village, probably because it's the Empire. Right, Country Bumpkin?”

“That’s right, Miss Tomboy.”

“…You’d better watch yourself later.”

The sight of them walking forward looked truly happy. This felt a bit bittersweet for me. I should quickly escape before they notice the carriage fare. I left the pelt without you knowing.

“If you walk straight ahead from here, you'll see a fountain. Go straight past that, and it's the Academy. I'll see you at the entrance ceremony tomorrow.”

With only one day left until the entrance ceremony, I didn't want to be the tactless guy who disrupted their date before then.

“Alright, Licht. See you later.”

“See you at the entrance ceremony, Helmet Guy!”

“Thank you all for your hard work on the journey here.”

As I pushed through the crowd, I overheard snippets of their receding voices. They really are a pair whose voices get louder when they quarrel.

The neighbors would have a hard time if they had a marital spat.

“Helmet Guy? What's that?”

“That old man's nickname!”

“Ariel. Licht is the same age as us.”

“Even so, Helmet Guy sounds cuter somehow!”

Watching them, a sudden thought struck me: even without me, they would likely easily develop a romantic relationship.

It was an intuition close to certainty.

I went into an inn alone and sought sleep.

Because I didn't want to be a freshman constantly shouting about being late with a piece of bread in my mouth.

That's too old-fashioned now.

***

As night deepened, a knock was heard in a study where moonlight softly spread.

The source of the sound was the coachman who had just transported Licht and his party to the Empire.

Gone was his previous appearance; he was an old man now dressed in a neat butler's uniform. Even a sense of dignity emanated from his face.

When he opened the door and entered, a girl as white as winter snow was reading a book.

“Are you reading today, Lady Phine?”

“...”

When no answer came, the butler presented a box from behind his back. It was a slice of cake, labeled <Gransia Empire Confectionery>.

“I've brought strawberry cake. As always, it's an adorable one.”

“..Thank you.”

“I disguised myself as a coachman and made contact with a person named Kainel.”

“How was it?”

“He seemed to be an apprentice with many immature aspects.”

The butler recalled yesterday's battle. The golden-haired man with the Holy Sword seemed not even to know the characteristics of monsters.

“He's weak.”

“When will you break the habit of judging opponents solely by strength? How many times do I have to tell you that there's no one like you among your peers in this world, young lady...”

“That's not true. Absolutely not.”

The girl cut him off and spoke two words full of certainty. The butler sighed as a sentence he had heard countless times returned, and

he began to speak about a person he had kept in mind.

“Instead, I saw quite an intriguing individual. If I mention the Grand Sword Master among the Ten Greats, do you remember him?”

“..Drake, the Dragon Slayer.”

“Yes, that's right. You must have met him when you were young. It seems that friend has taken on an apprentice. His posture for holding a sword and his way of swinging it indicated as much.”

The swordsmanship the Black Knight displayed was unique. There was only one technique that could cleave shadows without using aura.

The butler replied with a tone full of conviction.

“..Is he strong?”

“He is probably stronger than the Hero.”

“Reason.”

“In the battle with the Shadow Wolf, all practical commands were given by him.”

“Appearance.”

“He was wearing a black knight's helmet. He was quite an unusual person, so if you meet him at the Academy tomorrow, you might become good friends.”

“Name.”

“He said his name was Licht. He had no family name.”

The butler's lips curved into a faint arc. A glimmer of hope had appeared that he might be able to change the person he served.

Someone who knows the weakness of a difficult-to-defeat monster is indeed a capable individual.

“I'll remember.”

“Then, this butler, Dizur, will take his leave. Have a peaceful night.”

As the study door closed, the candle flame flickered.

Above the head of the white-haired girl, left alone in the room, were white wolf ears, completely motionless.

Her golden eyes were empty as if faded, and she silently began to read her book, her expression unchanging like a wind-up doll.

Only the silence of turning pages and a strong scent of roses enveloped the girl.

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