WeTried Translations
Translator: Botanica
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight
Chapter 49
──────
Episode 49. A Black Heart for a Knight.
Baek-Mokryeon's words were true.
I had only taken a step towards the outside, but the trees and forest moved wildly. Even when I marked the path I had taken before by slashing with my sword, the marks vanished.
All means related to memory or knowledge were blocked. It felt like my perception was twisted.
“It really is. I can't figure out the direction at all.”
“It's the power of ‘Erasure of knowledge.’ Boy, why do you remember me, yet lack the talent to escape this place?”
“..I have nothing to say, Heavenly Demon.”
That's because I'm not some Hero. I sighed. I have no Holy Sword, no Masterpiece. My abilities are insufficient to catch a Demon King, so I ended up using a corrupted route.
“But boy, why do you keep wearing that Black Knight helmet? Your armor from when you were a Demon King has vanished.”
“Ah, I can't take this off.”
“Hoo, I thought you were wearing it to hide your identity since you're a Demon King.”
“That's not it, Heavenly Demon.”
“I also thought it was the handiwork of those ill-tempered, bearded dwarves.”
I wish it were like a Masterpiece. Besides being comfortable to wear and allowing me to breathe a little underwater, there's nothing special about it.
But wearing this only got Magic Hat tangled up with me. What was it, really? Was it a dropped item from the start? If so, it makes sense that he'd misunderstand me.
“It's true that an ill-intentioned person gave it to me, but...”
“Khahaha! Then it must be an item imbued with demonic energy, wouldn't it?”
If it's a special perk, shouldn't it be something great? But it only makes Demon Kings obsessive.
As expected of the <Black Heart> developers. They never leave players alone if they try to do something easily.
“That's true. Your words are perfectly correct.”
I placed my hand on the forehead of the helmet. One thing for sure is that it resembles the Glass Knight's equipment.
I also wonder if something might happen if I get closer to Mardol. In the game, there were paired items.
“...”
As my thoughts reached that point, I felt as if I had vanished, looking too much like someone heading to their death. Would the Glass Knight worry about me too?
Magic Hat having Bellin Gransia, his parents, captured, must have been a trauma.
Five years had passed since I possessed this body, and I had less interest in the Crown Prince, so I only remembered after seeing his face.
“..So, what do you mean by knowing the direction? You said you could get out of here.”
I asked the Heavenly Demon for a way to escape this forest. It seemed the kids at the Academy would be worried. I couldn't risk being truly kidnapped and imprisoned by the Imperial Family later.
“It's a simple analogy. It's about negating the concept of a Demon King.”
“Huh? Is there an artifact here? Like a Holy Sword or something?”
“Ha, how ridiculous. Boy.”
Baek-Mokryeon then let out a scoff, as if dumbfounded. Her dragon-like irises and teeth were visible. Was there some hidden item?
“From the start, those vagrants who obsess over strange things like Holy Swords or Demonic Swords are foolish.”
“Does that mean...”
“A sword, boy, depends on the one who wields it. If there is a famous sword that chooses its owner, then it is unequivocally a flawed item.”
With that, Baek-Mokryeon drew the sword she wore at her waist. A normal-looking black blade. It didn't seem to have any particularly sharp edges.
“Boy, then can this sword not cut down a Demon King?”
“Probably not, I guess...?”
“If that's the case, then what does it make of you, boy, nearly killing a Demon King using Drake's ultimate technique?”
So she noticed from the beginning that I was involved with the Ten Greats? To test me even knowing that, she has a thorough personality. Blood rushed to my head. I'd heard similar words somewhere.
“Dragon Slaying is about killing the opponent's concept... Ah, no way.”
“Yes, that 'no way' is correct.”
“..A mere swordsmanship transcended the Demon King's authority.”
“Yes, swordsmanship is the discipline of will. If you have the will to cut, anything is possible. Therefore...”
Starting that sentence, Baek-Mokryeon stopped in front of a giant tree visible ahead.
“Obsessing over weapons is not the essence of a true swordsman, boy.”
It was a huge old tree, as thick as a house, that some might even call a World Tree. Though a World Tree wouldn't just be a ridiculously big tree.
“Even if one uses such an ordinary-looking iron sword.”
The sword Baek-Mokryeon showed me didn't particularly feel extraordinary. Something similar could be found commonly enough in the Academy's swordsmanship training ground.
“..Even if what lies before you is an ocean, you can cut it down.”
The Heavenly Demon lightly gripped her sword and, as if drawing a straight line from a standstill, executed a horizontal slash.
“Hundred flowers (百花爛漫).”
Then, a phenomenon occurred.
Swish. A clean cutting sound rang through the ground. All the trees before my eyes were cleanly severed as if forming a horizon. Their upper parts had flown off. The lush trees transformed into a straight line.
A clear sword path, smooth and vivid, like falling petals.
“...”
The sound arrived later than the sword. Crack, the tree trunks flew outwards with a collective crash. Was this Heavenly Demon Baek-Mokryeon? It felt entirely different from Drake's swordsmanship.
“Khaha, well, despite my words, I've already been hit by a 'bullet' from the Head. I cannot leave this place.”
The Heavenly Demon showed a wry smile, looking at me. Even with this level of martial power, she couldn't escape the forest. Once again, the trees returned to their original state.
That's insane performance. Is that even swordsmanship to begin with?
“..Can I learn this too?”
“What? You, boy? It won't work. It uses Qi, which is on a different dimension from mana.”
“I can do it. My constitution is unusual.”
“This isn't about technique. One must reach a certain realm of mastery, and a mere human couldn't possibly do it, boy.”
I need to learn it now. It might even suit my constitution, which can't utilize mana. I instinctively knew it was a sharp method that could even capture a Demon King.
“I'm a disciple of Drake, the Dragon Slayer, after all. It should be perfectly possible.”
“Hoh, a disciple of that snot-nosed brat. So, because I was erased by 'Erasure of knowledge', he got some strange title like Dragon Slayer? How preposterous.”
“That seems to be the case, Heavenly Demon.”
To return to the Academy, there was no choice but to become stronger. If there truly was a realm of mastery that could negate a Demon King's authority with sheer will.
“Please, I beg you.”
It was something I absolutely needed now. Since Magic Hat had begun his movements, the safety of the Nameless Saintess was uncertain. I didn't know when he would recover and pose a threat again.
“..Why should I teach you, boy?”
Then the Heavenly Demon snorted. She crossed her arms, showing an uncooperative attitude towards me. That won't do. Had she forgotten what I'd said just now to save myself?
“If I use your swordsmanship...”
Let's assume it's possible to negate a Demon King's authority with will.
“Then there's a higher chance that Dennis will also fully remember you.”
“Khaha... You're right. You, boy, avoid Erasure of knowledge.”
Even without capturing the Head, I could protect this love line. Professor Dennis would surely find a way to rescue her from this forest.
“Quite clever, aren't you. I usually don't take disciples. But if you're that man's disciple...”
Because he was a pure-hearted man who, at the moment his beloved was cursed, cast magic upon himself to barely remember her.
“..There's no reason not to accept.”
She now knew that I was connected to Dennis. The Heavenly Demon smiled faintly, as if pleased. There was the Cursed Dragon of Spring, placing her hopes on me.
“..Thank you.”
Excluding the Head, I, the transmigrator, was probably the only one left who remembered Baek-Mokryeon. It was fortunate that I was an avid player of <Knight Heart>.
“Alright, boy. It will be quite a grueling training. Can you keep up?”
“I had no choice from the beginning, Heavenly Demon.”
“Khahaha! We shall see how long you can keep saying that, boy.”
And so, from that day, I became the Heavenly Demon's disciple. Drake, my master, would probably be furious if he found out.
“I will do my best to train.”
It was, after all, more urgent to escape this place and let everyone know I was alive.
---
At that time, in the Grand Hearts Academy's dormitory.
“Licht, that bastard... where the hell did he go?”
The blond-haired Hero was racking his brain, worried. His friend had left to fight the Demon King, and several days had passed without his return.
“Just you wait till he comes back. I'll spread rumors about that white-haired Saintess or whatever.”
He hadn't even known that Licht also held the Paladin class. He knew almost nothing about the person named Licht.
“..Now that I think about it, was I even his friend? Did I feel that way alone?”
He had only recently learned why Licht wore the helmet, and Licht knew all about the Holy Sword's flaws. The advice to protect thoroughly if he was going to protect at all also made sense, now that he thought about it.
“If I had hesitated even a little then, Ariel would have been in danger.”
He had rushed out first and taken the hit. He made her step back. If he had been the immature Hero he was before meeting Licht, he would have judged people by whether the Holy Sword of Light trembled or not.
“Ha... Kainel, you stupid bastard...”
He lowered his head. Licht had tried to protect, even becoming a Demon King. He lamented that he didn't have such a will. No matter how much he thought about it, he was scared.
“...”
He had been scorned by the villagers simply for being chosen as the Hero. Because of this, he had taken his mission too lightly.
Before meeting Licht, he had vaguely thought that he just needed to protect the world from bad guys.
“This can't go on.”
Ariel's scarred face came to mind. Though the scars didn't remain after being healed by divine power, a large wound had already been left in a corner of Hero Kainel's heart.
“Rather than this world, I must surely protect Ariel.”
After carefully considering what methods he had left, the Hero rose from his spot. The advice Licht had once given him.
“..If I had been stronger, you wouldn't have gone to fight alone, would you? Licht.”
Gripping the Holy Sword of Light, which had returned to him, the Hero steeled his resolve. Seeing the weapon that had flown back alone, abandoning his friend, made him angry. This piece of junk is a Holy Sword? It was absurd.
“Now I'm sick of being a Hero and everything else. Just as you said, Licht, I'll focus on speed.”
Thinking of the Black Knight who had protected him and Ariel, Kainel decided to try and at least catch up to his friend's heels.
“..If he really died, I'll chase him to the ends of hell and hit him with a Shine Strike.”
Imagining Licht returning as if nothing had happened, teasing Ariel and him with a sly attitude, the blond-haired Hero headed towards the training ground.
Join our discord at https://dsc.gg/wetried
