Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 3

WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 3

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Episode 3. The Yellow Dog Next Door and the Red Cat.

Childhood friends.

What should one do if a friend you've known for a long time suddenly starts to look like more than a friend a few years ago?

The golden-haired hero was pondering this very question in front of his childhood friend's door.

The Hero Kainel had faced many hardships since being chosen by the Holy Sword of Light. So, he decided to keep his distance from the person he liked.

‘..Why is this damn heart pounding so much?’

He was afraid that their current relationship would be ruined by a confession, making them unable to remain friends. Even if that weren't the case, he hated the thought of her being left alone if he died in his calling as a hero.

“Ariel, I’m coming in?”

"Just a moment, Kai!"

"What is it now? We'll be late for the Academy if we don't hurry."

He opened the door. In the center, bathed in the morning sunlight, sat his beautifully adorned childhood friend.

An elf who had just shed her girlish charm, becoming an adult and exuding the aura of a lady.

The Mage Ariel.

"Hehe.. How is it? Pretty, right!"

Her red hair was etched into his mind, and he felt as though he might drown in her eyes. A unique sparkle graced her face, which was fairer than usual.

His heart pounded.

However, fearing that he was the only one with such feelings, and afraid of growing distant, he built up lies again today.

"..It's just okay."

He couldn't be honest. He barely managed to close his wide-open mouth. He inhaled again.

"What?! Is that what you should be saying right now?! How much effort I put into this!"

As soon as Kainel left the house, he fought with Ariel.

***

Labranse Village. A place famous for perfumes and bath products made from lavender.

A quiet place with few people.

There, the hero and the mage grew up.

The Hero of Light Kainel and The Mage of Flames Ariel.

These childhood friends,

were called the "Yellow Dog and Cat Couple" among users.

"We're late after all, aren't we? I told you so."

The yellow dog next door eats anything and everything. A harem route was even possible in <Black Heart>. I didn't understand that, so I didn't watch it.

"What's wrong with just telling me I'm pretty once?!"

The red cat tends to be dishonest with her feelings. She often thinks of the hero's face whenever she uses magic, but only expresses her affection directly in the latter half of <Knight Heart>.

To summarize, this is what happens when a clueless idiot and a tsundere get together.

"Exactly! It's your fault, Kai!"

"Ariel, you woke up late too."

‘They’re fighting the moment I arrive.’

I finished my thoughts at home and came to try and connect them, but what’s going on?

"Girls need a lot of time to get ready, you know? I woke up early!"

"Who are you trying to look good for?"

The two were bickering in front of the stables. Where did those lovebirds go?

"Excuse me, you two lovebirds? Could you stop your lovers' quarrel?"

To gauge the situation, I threw out a dialogue option from Part 1 that would show their affection level.

Their reaction here would reveal their current state.

"Huh? Don't be ridiculous! Me, with this yellow dog!"

"What, yellow dog? You red elf brat!"

I shook my head. They were beyond rehabilitation.

They were so protective of each other in the previous game, but is there nothing here?

"I'm really disappointed! You don't even know how I feel!"

"Now what are you sulking about?"

‘What's the problem?’

Watching them shout, I fidgeted with the notebook in my pocket.

In Part 1, they realized their feelings after a confession event. In Part 2, they got married, then fled at the very end of the Demon King subjugation, a mysterious ending.

If this is the lost link between them...

‘Is it because of the Demon King for these two as well?’

Indeed, only the peculiar ones survive the chuunibyou here. Demon King of Truth, or Omniscience?

Seriously cringey. Ugh, damn it. I felt my limbs shriveling. They should just replace the person who names things. Aside from that, it was well-made.

"Why did you put on perfume again? Who do you think will like you at the Academy?"

"You idiot! Moron! Sea anemone!"

He's seriously dense.

Can't you see Ariel put on makeup? Her neck and face are practically different colors. Even I, who only plays games, know that.

..No, on second thought, this is deliberate.

Blood rushed to my head. Looking at the situation, it's not that the mage has no interest in him. The same goes for the other side.

‘A retro-style tsundere elf and a clueless male protagonist, a common cliché. How did they get married in Part 2?’

Ah, the Crown Prince isn't here yet.

A new character suddenly added to <Black Heart>. A libertine who enjoyed a dissolute life and was fond of women. That scoundrel, exceptional only in looks and wealth, wasn't present.

A character who suddenly appeared during the Demon King subjugation and unequivocally confessed to all the heroines.

A Gary Stu character who received all sorts of contempt.

‘Should I try this method?’

It's still spring, so winter, as in Part 1, is far off. I can't see the event where they confess their feelings to each other.

In that case, I'll go with the love rival route. Since it's a path that leads at least to marriage, this should be certain.

Because he couldn't be honest about his feelings for fear of growing distant from his childhood friend.

"All the carriages are gone! How are we going to get to the Academy now, you idiot Kai!"

"Something will work out."

Indecisive fool. Let him taste a confession attack.

My eyes narrowed into crescent moons as I recalled the Crown Prince's greasy smile from within. No matter how much I thought about it, that dialogue was hard to get used to.

How did they dub something like that? It really gave me goosebumps.

"Would you accompany me to the Academy, my beautiful lady?"

Unable to suppress my laughter, my teeth showed. It was a good thing my helmet hid them at times like this.

Thanks, special bonus.

"Y-Yes??"

"What did you say?"

At that moment, Kainel's expression hardened. Ariel... seemed a little surprised, but she was observing his change, and her lips curling upward suggested she was pleased.

The reaction is immediate. It's working well.

"Hair like rubies. I fell in love at first sight with your innocent appearance, my lady!"

"I'm... a commoner...? But who are you...?"

"Who are you? Why are you acting so familiar with our Ariel?"

I spread my arms out exaggeratedly. I didn't want to do this either, but seeing Kainel's reaction, it's working. I want him to see this and develop a sense of rivalry.

To put an end to it, I cleared my throat and prompted the route-confirming dialogue. Your path of suffering starts now. They say marriage is the tomb of life. Congratulations.

"Ahem. I see you're already taken. My apologies. You said you weren't earlier..."

"Huh? Me and Kai? T-That can't be!"

"You two truly make a wonderful couple."

"..."

Ariel's face, with just that one remark, was so red it was hard to distinguish her hair from her face. Kainel, hearing those words, shut his mouth. A bit disappointing.

He should have said, 'Then get lost!' here. Is it still not enough?

I thought it would end quickly, how sad.

"My name is Licht. I am a fellow Academy entrant. As it happens, I have a carriage I rode in, would you not care to accompany me?"

I placed a hand on my chest. I bowed politely. Since the hero hates arrogant people like this, the effect should be immediate.

You wouldn't want the person you like to be stolen by the type of man you dislike the most, would you?

This was emphasized three times in the lore book.

"Oh? Is that really okay?"

"I don't want to."

"Kai, teleportation is expensive."

"No means no. How can I go with that oily guy?"

"But..."

Then the two went far away from me to talk.

Kainel's gaze made the back of my head tingle. He's probably cursing me. It feels a bit bad to be treated like this by a game character I used to like.

‘Should I stop?’

A few minutes later, he approached me. His footsteps, heavy with force, were distinct.

"You, don't try anything with Ariel. If you do, I'll get off this carriage immediately."

"Understood."

The hero glared at me, growling. You really like Ariel, don't you? But why aren't you dating? I couldn't help but sigh. I wondered how to best resolve this stifling situation.

As soon as he finished speaking, the hero and mage couple began moving their luggage into my carriage.

"Ariel, this is heavy, I'll carry it."

"Oh, oh? Thanks!"

Watching the two of them in their friendly atmosphere, I racked my brain. I looked at the belongings crammed into the carriage. But I felt like someone had been watching me for a while.

What? I only have eyes for our Saintess.

Perhaps due to anxiety, the hero started placing the luggage haphazardly. Tsk, he shouldn't be doing that. I approached them and spoke.

"Excuse me, if I may."

I adopted the most amiable demeanor possible. Would this be enough to ease their guard?

"Ah... Licht, was it? Thank you for letting us ride in your carriage! My apologies for the late greeting!"

"Thanks, but don't get any closer to Ariel than this. Once we reach the Academy, you go your own way, okay?"

"Kai, why are you being like that... to someone who's helping us..."

Ariel, who was cheerfully greeting me, and Kainel, who was in an offensive stance. This is a good sign.

They'll surely fall for it eventually.

"May I organize it myself? I have some knack for it."

"Huh? But it'll be difficult for you..."

"..I'll be watching from behind, just in case anything falls out."