WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

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◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 046

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Episode 46. Drunken Life, Dream Love (醉生夢愛).

Dragon Slaying. It is, in fact, a misnaming.

Because its meaning is closer to a technique that targets one opponent and definitively kills them.

I concentrated all my senses and recalled a memory from the past.

“Actually, this master’s ultimate skill, Dragon Slaying, isn’t Dragon Slaying! My disciple!”

“What do you mean by that, Master Drake?”

“Precisely! It’s a technique that literally kills an opponent’s ‘concept,’ much like twisting a magic circuit!”

Something Master had told me once. He said it while I was cutting down a rock as massive as a mountain, so I almost brushed it off.

“In my case, it’s ‘killing a dragon’ as a concept, which is why it’s Dragon Slaying!”

“Then… are you saying it can be applied to other targets as well?”

“Exactly! You truly are my only disciple! It’s great that you grasp things so quickly!”

It was fascinating. In the game, I’d just known it as a good ultimate skill that could only be used against dragon-type species or specific dragons. I stopped swinging my sword and began to listen attentively.

“Specifically, you pour all the stances of Drake-style swordsmanship into it, overlaying the concept of ‘kill (殺)’ just like with Demon Kings! I suspect it’ll work on them too!”

“Without the Holy Sword, anyway…. Ah, it’s an ultimate skill. It might be possible. So, how do I learn it?”

“It’s simple!”

Then, a mischievous smile appeared on his scarred face. The short, yellow-haired Grand Sword master made an absurd suggestion.

“You can learn it by swinging your sword for 66 days without food, 66 days without sleep, 66 days without a single drop of water, all with the will to kill your opponent!”

“..Are you insane?”

“Eheheheheh!! Normally, one would endure by using magic, spirits, or divine power, but Licht, you’ll have to do it bare-bodied!”

Then how did Drake do it? Did he just train while drinking potions? I felt dizzy from the surging vertigo. I wondered if I might have to give up being human.

“..So, someday, you too, Licht, will understand.”

At that moment, his hand rested on my shoulder as if to encourage me. Drake continued speaking with a suddenly serious expression.

Amidst his weighty words and actions, one sentence remained vividly in my memory.

“Because a time will surely come when you must use all Drake-style swordsmanship. To realize the will to absolutely kill your opponent.”

Watching him, whose demeanor had changed to truly reveal the qualities of one of the Ten Greats, I thought. He must have overcome many hellish battles with this himself.

“..In the end, it’s a technique where I have to kill my opponent before I die, Master.”

“That’s right, disciple.”

As far as I knew, that was the case. If you actually used this skill in the game, a timer would appear on the character, and,

“The moment when you can do it. No, the moment when you must do it, will surely come. It’s an inevitable fate for a swordsman. I was like that too.”

If you couldn't defeat the opponent within the time limit, it was game over. It felt like a self-destruct skill.

“...”

If so, then in reality, it might be a state that can only be reached by crossing the line between life and death, and surpassing the limits of the body. Otherwise, such insane conditions wouldn't be attached.

“In the moment when you must fight, risking even your life lightly, pour everything into your swordsmanship without regret! My disciple.”

Hearing those words, my past self became convinced.

“Yes, Master Drake. I understand.”

That this was the only way for my current weak self to defeat the Demon King.

A brief recollection flashed by. Could my current self truly do it?

“I, too, need to quickly carry my darling away now. I can’t bear it, seeing those burning eyes…!”

Magic Hat, trembling as she wrapped her arms around her own shoulders. She truly is a strange Demon King. Why is she like that?

“..Disgusting.”

“Oh, come on.. you like it, don’t you?!”

She made a motion to take off her black hat. She was about to use a large and powerful technique. A pattern in the game with a long wind-up and recovery.

“Ta-da~ What will come out of an empty magic hat?”

A technique known among players as "Rabbit Punch."

“Well, a white rabbit, perhaps.”

“That’s right! Darling! You really do know me!”

From inside the magician’s hat, a white rabbit as massive as a snow-capped mountain sprang out. It suddenly moved its colossal body and threw a punch at me.

-Whoosh!!

The sound of wind being cut filled the air, and my vision was completely covered in white. It really is huge.

However,

“..Thanks for attacking.”

On the contrary, now was the chance. Since the ultimate skill required combining three forms, it had to start with a counterattack after all.

「Demon King Slaying (魔王殺).」

I performed its first stance.

Third Form, Winged Deflection.

The punch flew, and the air burst with a sound. I redirected its approaching speed and power, deflecting it to the side. I focused all my body's strength on supporting myself.

Kugugugugugeuk!!

Even just deflecting it, the ground where I stood had deeply caved in. The colossal rabbit, still in the hat, was staggering backward.

‘It’s hard to approach because of the rabbit. Let’s find a path to get as close as possible.’

I took the next stance. Now, with the opponent’s power embedded in their movement, I couldn't miss even a momentary opening. My ribs pierced my lungs, making it hard to breathe.

The constricting pain in my chest enveloped my entire body, but,

I used the Second Form, Reverse Scale Pierce.

I connected the movements as smoothly as flowing water. I found the opponent's weak point. An angle was open again, so I blended in Wolf Fang. I took a combo action, raising my sword high with the recoil and charging forward.

The bleeding wounds were opening up. Red blood stained the ground.

“Oh, huh? Darling? Where did you go….”

I’m right in front of your nose. You bastard. I approached Magic Hat even faster than Shine Advance. Now, I just had to slash straight down. The opponent couldn't react to me.

“Kuk.. H-huhk…”

It was then. All the muscles in my body tore, and the strength in my sword-wielding hand slightly loosened.

The hilt slipped. The Holy Sword of Light tried to slide out of my grasp with a squeak. This couldn't happen.

I just needed a little more.

To protect our Saintess, I absolutely had to defeat that bastard before I died.

You have to kill the Demon King. Lee Suhyun.

I can't end it like this. Move your body. Please!

“Ughhhhh-!!”

I clenched my teeth. The pain prevented me from even letting out a proper scream.

I barely managed to keep my grip on the sword. A pain like my body was shattering into pieces. If I fell now, I wouldn't be able to get up.

My two legs filled with strength like stone. Cold sweat poured out like a flood. Endure. Strengthen your will.

Fourth Form, Void Slash.

In a stance with my sword raised high to the sky, I concentrated wind pressure in both hands. Not even a fleeting moment had passed, as Magic Hat's pupils were still slowly tracking my movements.

Wind gathered. Air condensed. Weight settled onto the sword blade, making it heavy. The blade trembled. I gripped the hilt even harder. Be careful, a mistake could reduce its lethality.

-Swish.

I slashed the sword down vertically with great force. And just before the tip touched the ground,

‘I must kill the Demon King.’

The final link. I performed the First Form, Shadow Slash.

“Huh?”

Magic Hat uttered a single word. But the technique had already landed properly.

Winged Deflection, which could deflect and reverse an opponent's power and speed.

Reverse Scale Pierce, which identifies weaknesses and unleashes a barrage of consecutive attacks.

Void Slash, focused on cutting power.

Combined with Shadow Slash, which strikes the physical body.

Dragon Slaying, which was the ultimate skill of Drake-style swordsmanship,

was transformed by my will into Demon King Slaying (魔王殺) and reproduced.

***

Tu-ga-ga-ga-ga-gak!! With an explosive sound, a storm enveloped Magic Hat's body. The sharp, black sword tip bisected her vertically.

‘Oh, darling.. what are you doing now..’

She reached out her hand to make her situation false, but failed. The Demon King of Truth was being torn apart by Demon King Slaying without even a chance to scream.

‘No, this can’t be. I’m really going to die. This will even damage the main body….’

The white-haired woman felt pain for the first time in decades. She had to escape from here. To be caught by such a mere technique?

It wasn't even true Dragon Slaying. Just a crude technique, forcing together Drake-style swordsmanship. She had some knowledge of it. But how could it have such power…?

‘Then, could it be that my darling… really intends to kill me..?’

This current situation implied that the will of the man named Licht was truly tremendous.

As her thoughts reached that point, she formed a twisted smile. Her heart pounded like a drum.

“Heheheheh.. Darling... I’m sorryyy.. It seems it’s time for us to part ways now!”

Magic Hat writhed in pain, floating all the remaining cards from her pocket. Trump cards swirled up into the air on the wind.

“You.. trying to.. run away?”

It was expanding into an immense number of card piles, like magic, and it was her last remaining escape route.

Finale Magic. A skill that disperses attention and allows one to escape the space and fly away.

“Where do you think you’re going.”

Then, the Black Knight’s sword was swung horizontally once more. He bisected her, trapped in the storm, horizontally this time. A circular sword path was drawn.

“What a shame! That was a fake!!”

A slower attack than before. This time, her actual body was not hit.

With a grin, lips stretched wide, the magician swapped her location with the cards floating in the air. Yet, the reaction of the man in the Black Knight helmet on the ground was lukewarm.

“I know that too.”

“Huh..? If you can’t get up here, my darling won’t be able to catch me.. Then..”

Floating in the air, she felt a chill. Why? Why this sense of unease? The height difference with her opponent was already immense.

At this distance, even the Demon King Slaying she’d just been hit by wouldn’t reach, so if she just escaped this dark dimension like this….

It was then. Licht stared intently at her, floating high in the sky and escaping, then,

「Decision of Icarus.」

He used a skill involving the Holy Sword. Demonic wings began to sprout from his back.

Come to think of it, he was also a Demon King. She had completely forgotten such a simple fact when her life was threatened.

“I.. I was wrong. You are.. truly always amazing!! Darling!!”

She spread her arms and praised the Black Knight helmet soaring towards her. She sent pure wonder and affectionate love to the man, but,

“...”

Licht, with blood already dripping from beneath his helmet, remained silent. As if to conclude their unreachable conversation.

“Hehe.. Darling, see you in a bit!!”

The sword was once again thrust against her neck. Swish, the sound of the blade cutting. It was the moment Magic Hat suffered a defeat.

***

I succeeded in defeating Magic Hat.

In truth, I didn’t quite kill her. But I must have inflicted a major wound. Even if it was a fake clone, I used Shadow Slash to damage the main body.

‘I protected the Nameless Saintess..’

Because of that, I am now falling. All the black color drained from the Holy Sword of Light. The artifact returned to how Kainel used it.

Proof that I had completely derailed the corruption route. The dark dimension was shattering like glass. The demonic wings disintegrated into dust.

I could no longer fly.

If I fall from this height in the sky, my life certainly can’t be guaranteed, and my body is in tatters in many ways. I’ll die even if I do nothing.

The Holy Sword will return to its original owner anyway, so perhaps it doesn’t matter. Just the sword will go to those kids without me.

“...”

They’ll surely be sad. Even if they were characters from a game, they were very kind people.

Even struggling, my fall remained unchanged. Amidst that, I pulled out a card from my pocket.

“I finally got this back..”

I had just snatched one card that was fluttering and falling from the sky.

Queen of Hearts.

With this, the Crown Prince won’t have to suffer the painful ordeal of his parents being held hostage.

Empress Bellin Gransia would also be freed from her authority if Magic Hat died.

“..Why am I like this.”

Time flows slowly until I hit the ground.

‘Everything should be fine now….’

A corner of my heart feels strange. I dealt with Magic Hat’s attack well, protected Kainel, Ariel, and Mardol, and now the Nameless Saintess should also be safe.

‘Why is there so much… lingering regret.’

I must have achieved everything I wanted. I did everything I could since transmigrating into the game.

But a bitter feeling, like a sword piercing my heart, persisted.

Ah, perhaps it’s that.

‘Our Saintess, I wanted to meet her at least once after transmigrating.’

The fact that I had fled and avoided her, believing I wasn't worthy because of the scar on my face, only became real to me right before death.

“..I, I loved our Saintess, after all.”

Soon, with my vision blurring from too much blood loss, I closed my eyes.

“And quite a lot.”

I then lost consciousness.

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