Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 11

WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 11

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Episode 11. Knight Meets Knight.

Splash. The sound of water.

In the midst of the violently falling spring rain, two knights walked side by side.

Licht, wearing only a black helmet.

Mardol, unlike him, wearing armor that covered his entire body, including his head.

Anyone seeing them might think the knights were having a secret meeting.

‘What should I call this?’

Pure white color and transparent glass were combined. A white knight and glass, the exact opposite of me.

Something like a transparent mirror was arching over, shielding from the rain. It covered my head like an umbrella. It was so sparkly, one might even call it crystal.

Is it the Glass Knight’s magic?

Indeed, Dennis's nickname is Drunkard, and Kainel's is Yellow Dog.

Things that appear in the game are quite intuitive terms.

But why did he approach me? He could've just let me get wet. We were just next to each other in class. Feeling something strange, I asked him.

"What is it you need?"

"You can't use magic?"

"No."

Ah, so he was trying to tease me. I put a hand to my forehead, looking at the heavily armored knight from head to toe. Though I was grateful not to be getting wet.

His height was similar to mine. His build, however, couldn't be estimated due to the sheer thickness of his armor.

As I scanned him up and down with my eyes, the knight looked my way.

"..?"

"There are people like that, Mardol."

I was the strange one. In this world, there was no one who couldn't use magic. Feeling somewhat wronged, I sighed and quickened my pace.

"..Can you get stronger?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean."

Then, the gleaming helmet tilted its head. A deep, humming voice echoed from within once more.

A voice speaking as if from inside a cave. My helmet doesn't do that.

Mardol propped his chin with his hand. Was he thinking of a reason? Seeing this, he really does seem like the protagonist of Part 3. His presence is too unique.

An character profile that seemed to be the exact opposite of the Black Knight.

An unknown Glass Knight, who, to be called a White Knight, wore armor seemingly made of crystal and, like me, even wore a helmet.

‘At this point, he's probably someone from the Gransia Empire.’

Knight Commander? No. That old man is too old. Even the Imperial Guard would struggle with such armament.

I drew upon all the intelligence in my mind and fell into thought.

Mardol looked at me. Golden eyes visible through the gap. I feel like I've seen those somewhere before.

"I'll teach you magic."

"From now on, I'll call you Hyung-nim!"

At the shocking proposal, I immediately bowed my head. What a windfall! My mind swelled with thrilling anticipation.

‘It feels a bit unsettling, but it'll be fine, right?’

I had really run myself ragged trying to use magic in this game. The influence of previous titles, where mana-based combat played a large role, was significant.

Subduing the world with brute force? That's the Heavenly Demon's way. Not an Academy student.

If the protagonist teaches me magic, I should be able to learn it. Ariel uses it while being conscious of the Yellow Dog, so it's not really for me to learn, and the same goes for Kainel.

A joint attack flag could be broken.

As I was thinking this and that, Mardol intently observed the sword at my waist, then continued speaking.

"Instead, swordsmanship."

"What swordsmanship are you referring to?"

For now, I played dumb. It seemed I'd triggered the wrong flag. Master Drake had said he'd kill me if I taught my techniques to others, so I closed my mouth to survive.

"Drake."

"..."

"Swordsmanship, in exchange."

He saw right through me. Why did I have to teach coin-slicing during class? I pondered if I could somehow gather up the spilled water.

I don't know his choices. It's Master's fault in the first place, this.

"..You don't want to?"

"Please, give me a moment to think."

I glared at the magic spread above my head. Judging by how he continuously maintained such a large size, he seemed to be someone with a talent for magic rather than swordsmanship, like Ariel.

"This, you twisted the magic formula, right?"

"Yeah."

My thoughts momentarily stopped at the question I asked, feeling a sense of déjà vu. This was amazing. His manipulation ability was comparable to Dennis's. Perhaps he transformed steel?

"That's incredible."

"Not really. Still weak."

I genuinely admired him. He was at least stronger than Ariel or Kainel.

‘Couldn't I just teach it to him in secret?’

Since it took me almost five years to learn it.

No matter how much of a protagonist this guy in front of me was, he probably wouldn't have that level of talent. I was on par with the Hero Kainel, after all.

‘Unless he's one of the Ten Greats.’

Thinking that, it became clear. For that side, there were three love lines.

One was impossible before catching the Demon King. Another was unrequited love, and Laplace had nothing to do with it.

There wouldn't be any problem.

"Alright. Let's make a deal."

"When do you want me to teach you?"

"Shouldn't it be from tomorrow? We've already arrived at the boys' dormitory."

"Ah."

Then, their steps halted. The two knights had already arrived at the dormitory.

They must have talked for a long time; I hadn't even noticed the time passing.

"I'll keep this up."

"Will it disappear once I go indoors? This glass...? umbrella."

"Yeah."

Mardol waved a small hand at me. Seeing him do this, he didn't seem like a bad person. Where have I seen him before?

It was a gesture that made a corner of my heart warm, too much to be a mere coincidence. With so much rain falling, I was grateful to be only this wet. I bowed my head slightly.

"Wait, Mardol, aren't you going into the dormitory?"

"I'm going home."

"Ah. So you commute."

It was an understandable answer. As expected of someone from the Empire, he must live nearby. But who is he really? Should I ask Kainel later?

"Thanks to you, I really didn't get wet today. Thank you very much."

"Goodbye."

‘His manner of speech is seriously blunt.’

I've got one characteristic down. If he's such a unique character, he might just appear in my notes if I rummage through them.

***

Thinking that, I entered the building. Inside the two-person room,

Kainel was already there.

‘Here too, a wolf crest is engraved.’

It was definitely a Gransia Empire building. Closing the door, I fell into a brief reverie.

The Yellow Dog greeted me cheerfully. His expression looked better than ever.

"Licht, you're late?"

"I had some things to do."

"Something came for you. Here."

The golden-haired Hero handed me a letter.

"Thanks for today. How come I keep owing you?"

"Did Ariel get back safely?"

"Thanks to you. We were just in touch."

"That's good. Well done."

The Hero explained the situation brightly, smiling. That's a relief. He didn't seem soaked from the rain, so it must have been a successful escort.

‘But what is this? There's no one who would send me something.’

I, who had been smiling subtly while listening to the fresh love story, carefully examined what Kainel had handed me.

In the top right corner,

-Your one and only Master

was written on a coarse piece of paper.

Ugh, it's the old man again. Did he know his techniques would be leaked and sent this? A chill ran down my spine. Is he using mind-reading? I turned my head and looked around a few times.

After checking for any strange surveillance, I read the letter.

[To my beloved disciple Licht]

Disgusting.

[I saw the results of your training today.]

I don't know why he's not saying it verbally and is using a letter instead. It's not like his personality to do this.

[I'm leaving this letter because Dennis might complain if I only show favoritism to one student.]

Indeed, if that were the case, it made sense.

[You've grown a lot. I, Drake, am impressed.]

[Your Dragon Shadow Slash is quite complete now, and next, Master's ultimate skill...]

I immediately flipped to the next page. I can't learn that. Do you want me to give up being human?

[Anyway, there is one thing you must be careful about.]

It's already dangerous enough that I met you as a professor at the Academy.

[Licht, avoid getting involved with the Glass Knight as much as possible. This is a fact only known among our faculty.]

Master? What are you suddenly saying...?

[Because he's the child of an 'older brother' I know.]

Cold sweat ran down my spine.

If it's the 'older brother' Drake knows. There's only one person,

‘Emperor Rook Gransia.’

If he's that man's child, then he would be the only son.

No way.

"..."

Fuck. He was the Crown Prince?

I've been marked.

"Aaaahhh!!"

"What kind of letter is that?!"

"This is a dream! It can't be real!!"

As I screamed inside the dormitory, Kainel looked at me with strange eyes. He even tried to use magic, as if thinking a bug had popped out.

There's a good reason for it.

If I get involved with this bastard, the entire route will go awry.

Saintess, I'm screwed.

***

Meanwhile,

The moment the Black Knight screamed like that.

At the Imperial training grounds in the Empire, someone was swinging a sword. In the silent place where only the sound of cutting wind existed, there were two figures.

"Lady Phine. Did you enjoy your time at the Academy?"

"..Perhaps."

"That's good progress. Seeing you wield your sword right away like this."

The Glass Knight in heavy armor reflecting the moonlight. And the elderly butler watching her. It was Phine and Dizur.

After shielding Licht from the rain, she was imitating the movements he showed in class. She drew on the ground, then swung her sword forward.

"Dizur."

"Understood. I will throw."

The butler quickly threw a bronze coin. The Glass Knight tried to reproduce Dragon Shadow Slash, but the coin stuck in the wall, and she failed.

"It's difficult."

"Why are you suddenly doing this?"

"There's a reason."

She repeatedly clenched and unclenched her palms, seemingly still struggling if she didn't use mana manipulation.

Silence followed for a moment.

The butler felt a sense of wonder at his master's suddenly changed attitude. A curiosity about what might have happened at the Academy.

‘There has been a change, Lady Phine.’

Perhaps that young man did something. The butler mused inwardly.

Clunk.

Just then, the training ground door clunked open with a sound. Someone entered the space where only the butler and she were. The sound of running footsteps echoed.

"Noona! Did you have a good time at the Academy? They said you just got back!"

"Yes. Lupus."

"I only get to go after three years, right?"

"Perhaps."

A black-haired, golden-eyed boy with wolf ears ran over and spoke to his sister. As if meeting after a long time, his ears and tail moved vigorously.

"I want to go quickly too... Grand Hearts Academy..."

"Wait."

"But I don't want to be separated from Noona...!"

Phine pushed away the boy. She was engrossed in swinging her sword, seemingly annoyed, not even sparing him a glance.

"Huh, but you're wearing that armor again? Isn't it uncomfortable?"

"It's bearable, Lupus."

Watching that scene, her younger brother Lupus grew curious. His sister, trying to slice a coin. She looked very uncomfortable in her armor and helmet.

"You should take it off, Lady Phine."

"Still, the Black Knight..."

"Exactly! She looks really tired! Noona!"

At the urging of the two, she finally removed her helmet.

Long white hair cascaded to her waist, and golden eyes shone. Her previously flattened wolf ears immediately became visible.

"If I do this, I'll get weaker."

"Did you meet that man after all, Lady Phine?"

"Yes."

"Wh- what?! Noona, you have a boyfriend?"

"No."

She shook her head.

However, Lupus's face was stained with shock. At his bewildered expression, the butler looked at the ground as if it were an everyday occurrence.