WeTried Translations
Translator: Botanica
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight
Chapter 10
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Episode 10. Coincidence and destiny are, in fact, not so different.
Kainel had always been like a hero to her.
"I heard from Mom, elves have terrible personalities!"
“Is that why you go around bewitching boys like that? You fire fox!”
"N-no! That’s up to them..!”
When she first came to Labranse Village as a child,
Ariel, who had become the object of boys' admiration due to her beautiful appearance, was being ostracized because of jealousy and envy from others.
"There are no elves among the Ten Greats~! It makes sense!"
"Indeed, aren't they a race of cowards?"
"..That's not true! It's not!"
The World Tree forest burned by the Demon King. The place she fled to because of it was a village not favorable to her.
Her circumstances could be considered somewhat natural in this world.
Her red hair was pulled, and her face was covered in dirt. The girls surrounding her were sneering.
"Is living just by relying on your face enough?"
"Look at this, your ears are really gross! Kyahahat!"
"..Hmph.. Hmph.."
Tears streamed down her face from the stinging sensation. She resented why she had to endure such treatment. Her hand, pressed against the ground, clenched and scraped.
A situation where it seemed no one would help.
"What are you doing, all of you, ganging up on one girl!"
Just then, the golden-haired Hero appeared.
"The Yellow Dog is here!"
"Are you running from Kainel because you're scared? No, you're running because he's dirty!"
"Let's go, consider yourselves lucky! Ariel!"
The boy from Labranse Village. It was Kainel.
A person already known for his kindness in the village. There was no way he would just ignore such a situation.
The boy, who ran over with a wooden stick, was like a hero saving a princess.
'That boy... who is he?'
Seeing the group of girls run away as if nothing had happened the moment they saw him, Ariel felt a strange emotion.
They were people who had tormented her so much.
"They ran away. Come on, can you get up?"
He extended his hand to help her up.
She made a tearful face, thinking of her appearance.
"Get away from me..."
"Huh...? Why?"
"Because I'm an elf. A monster with a terrible personality..."
She bit her lower lip. A tearful voice had already begun to escape. Seeing that, Kainel simply looked at her with concern.
"..."
After several minutes passed without either of them moving, Ariel opened her mouth.
"You... don't dislike me...? Even my ears are long, unlike others'..."
"No, to me, you're just pretty."
"Uh, uh...? What did you say...?"
"You're just a very pretty girl. Don't worry about it being jealousy."
His face, grinning widely, turning the corners of his eyes into crescent moons.
No hidden motives were visible in his smile. The boys who approached her had lecherous looks when they saw her as an elf, but there was a different feeling in his blue eyes.
"Those guys are cowards, so they always act in groups."
"..."
"So, if they try to harm you, tell me."
"Why... are you helping me...?"
"Because I dislike people who act arrogant for no good reason the most."
Awkwardly, he scratched his head. Then, he used magic to heal the small scratches on her. The warmth on her skin somehow made her tears not stop.
"There, it's all done! Good thing there won't be any scars!"
The moment she saw Kainel's relieved expression, she no longer cared why she had cried.
Perhaps it was simply because it had been so long since she heard words of pure concern for her. She couldn't even remember what expression she was making.
Perhaps her cheeks were flushed.
It must have been because she cried.
It couldn't have been love at first sight.
"Thank you, Kai..."
That day, Ariel met her hero.
The boy named Kainel.
***
"Aaaahhh-! My arm, my arm is broken!"
"My leg! My leg!"
"Don't be so dramatic. I just subdued you."
"Ka- Kai? When did you get here?"
He, who had subdued the ruffians tormenting her in an instant.
Kainel's face was so filled with rage it was frightening. She understood why he was so angry, though.
"Ariel, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Huh? Yeah! Except my wrist hurts a little..."
"Give it here, I'll heal it."
Ignoring the two men writhing in pain on the ground, the golden-haired Hero only checked on her well-being.
Anxious eyes. His hair swayed in front of Ariel.
'It's like that time long ago.'
Her cheeks flushed slightly. The corners of her lips curled up uncontrollably. The warm sensation of healing. It's been a long time.
"...It really would have been a disaster if Licht hadn't been there."
Kainel, sounding relieved now, spoke softly.
At his words, curiosity arose in her.
"Why Helmet Guy?"
"Just a little while ago, I was training swordsmanship with him and learned something good."
"What is it? Tell me too!"
"It's a secret. Licht! Thanks for today's help!"
Then, in the distance, a black helmet waved. The Black Knight gave a thumbs-up as if saying 'well done.' Kainel smiled, watching him.
'Did that person do something again?'
Now that she thought about it, even during their first meeting, he said he'd connect her and Kainel in the carriage. It had been a long time since Kainel got this close to her. The distance between them had always bothered her.
The suddenly closer distance might be unwelcome, but,
"Hehe... You really are a hero, Kai."
"When were you ever a fake?"
Ariel didn't dislike it.
On the contrary, she liked her childhood friend so much that she even wanted to thank Licht. Her body flinched at the warmth conveyed from his hand.
"I always told you to tell me if something like this happened."
"You were late! Even when I called with magic, you were just in the training ground..."
"Sorry, so, can you walk?"
At some point, her legs had given out. Her body, unable to exert force, told how terrifying the situation just moments ago had been.
"Hop on my back."
"Wh- what?! No, I'm fine! I'm perfectly..."
"Don't be like that."
Her body swayed greatly. Ariel, having lost her balance, stumbled.
"Heeyak."
"That was almost dangerous."
Kainel caught her as she almost fell. At times like these, he truly looked like a gentleman. Ariel's heart fluttered.
"..What about Helmet Guy? Are you just leaving him?"
"It's fine, he told me to go. And anyway, Licht and I are roommates."
"Really? It's like fate!"
"Indeed, with today's incident too. Oof."
After a few exchanges, he carried her on his back.
Their eye levels became similar. A closeness like being embraced from behind.
"Then, where shall I take you, Princess?"
The curving corners of his eyes. His uniquely pleasant voice. Her ears tingled.
"Take me to the girls' dormitory. Kai."
She tried her best not to make eye contact, feeling like her face would 'pop' and explode if she did. She usually looked at him just fine.
'He's grown taller.'
The firm feeling of his back. Kainel, who she had thought of as just a childhood friend, was starting to feel more like a man.
Her heart pounded.
Thump-.
She hoped this small pulsation wouldn't reach Kainel. The body heat, flowing from his back to her chest, was warm with blood.
"You're a bit heavy."
"Whaat!! A lie! I'm on a diet!"
"Sorry, it's a joke. Licht told me to try it on you."
"..I almost got angry."
Had there been a change of heart? The Hero was joking around, just like in their carefree childhood days.
Right, they had been like this from before.
Comfortable, and heart-fluttering.
A relationship beyond friendship.
Could she ever convey these feelings? Her worries deepened.
The moon waned, and emotions ripened.
"Thank you. For protecting me."
"You're very welcome."
Ariel buried her face in Kainel's back.
***
Kainel called out from a distance.
"Licht! See you at the dorm!"
"Go in with Ariel!"
"We'll go first! Helmet Guy!"
I waved my hand, greeting Ariel and him.
Don't mention it. You're going to have a hard time ahead.
I only helped a little. Now that all the flags are broken, his original personality is coming out.
Good job, my Yellow Dog. I'll report these guys to the guards.
I feel a certain camaraderie with Kainel.
Even if he ran away before the ending. We worked hard together to push through the sequels until then, so I can certainly do this much. Just protect Ariel well.
My heart felt much lighter. No matter how messed up the love line in <Black Heart> was.
They have to become lovers in <Knight Heart> first, so this must be right.
'The status window is also working well.'
[Calculating Grand Route Ending achievement rate...]
After seeing the two childhood friends off, a small pink window appeared, showing the results.
[Kainel♡Ariel 21% "NEW!"]
[P.S. You're really serious about the Saintess route... Σ(ㅇㅁㅇ;]
Was I ever not serious, then?
'Seriously funny. After possessing me and all...'
Seeing that phrase, I let out a hollow laugh. Even if there's an easier path, I'll go that way. I'll do as my heart desires.
'My guild, to begin with, only gathered guys like that.'
Where are the users nowadays who aren't serious about game characters? They know too little about reality. The creator wouldn't have avoided playing the game entirely.
Come to think of it, I miss them. I wonder if those guys cleared <Black Heart> too?
"...It's gone up a lot."
Seeing the romance level rise, I stretched contentedly, and my joints cracked. It seemed the strain from swordsmanship training was catching up to me now. Should I go to the boys' dormitory alone?
Tens of minutes after I started walking, thinking about the flags that lay ahead.
Just then, a cold sensation touched my shoulder. The sound of raindrops echoed on the ground.
Plop, plop-drop-.
Whoooosh-.
"Ah, it's raining."
Kainel and Ariel must have gotten in safely. Magic is overpowered, after all. They probably have something to avoid the rain. The problem was me. I didn't have an umbrella right now.
"It's really coming down as if the sky has a hole in it."
Is it spring rain? This world has it too. Even if I ran, I'd get soaked since I have no mana. The nearby shops had long since closed, and rainwater filled my feet.
Water was already seeping little by little into the inside of my helmet. The raw scent of the shower brushed my nose.
Innumerable ripples forming in puddles.
The entire surrounding area had become a flood, as if there had been a deluge.
"Ugh, my shoes are all wet."
I stepped wrongly. I should have avoided it.
My helmet was getting damp. It doesn't even dry well.
Ah, whatever. I'll just run...
Huh?
"..What are you doing?"
"Mardol?"
That's what I should be asking.
The Glass Knight had cast magic, shielding my head like an umbrella.
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