WeTried Translations
Translator: Botanica
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight
Chapter 56
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Episode 56. The Thrill of the Final Exam Comes with Youth.
I headed straight for the library.
A splendid repository of knowledge within the Grand Hearts Academy. Amidst its piles of books sat a figure.
“The Nameless Saintess, you say? Good heavens. Many others have also asked me that….”
“Sage, what do you mean by that…?”
“I cannot see the future of such a person, so I don’t know either.”
The woman with demon horns let out a long sigh. The Sage of the Magic Tower. A figure among the Ten Greats with the ability of future foresight. Even this person doesn't know the Saintess?
‘..Something’s strange.’
In the game, she was a character who would tell you all possible routes that weren't confirmed yet.
“..Are you that famous Licht?”
“Ah, yes. That’s right.”
She was a hero more famous by her nickname Sage than by the name Asmodeus.
“..From the start, the uncertainty of ‘having no name’ is simply too great.”
“Even so, Headmaster Laplace also said he didn’t know.”
The librarian of the Library of Truth, where all past information is recorded. I had already met Headmaster Laplace. He also shook his head.
‘This shouldn’t be happening. The only inconsistency the status window indicated was Black Heart. There was no mention of the Saintess in Knight Heart, where she first appeared.’
“Then she must be someone who didn’t exist before. Or someone lied.”
“No. Absolutely not.”
I retorted immediately. My helmet rattled, and my body betrayed my bewilderment. This was something I had avoided, fearing it would be a spoiler. This person might be wrong.
‘It could be that Ache is involved, making her unable to see. Or Magic Hat….’
My hands started trembling. Damn it, my body’s acting up again. I bit my tongue at my own weakness. The assumption arose that The Heroic Cult’s goal was the Saintess.
‘If that were the case from the start, they’d target Chartiness.’
It’s a contradiction. From the start, she wouldn’t be the Saintess. She would be the 3rd Saintess, not the 2nd.
“..Aren’t you mistaken? Is it not connected to Ache’s Erasure of knowledge or something similar?”
“A fledgling who knows nothing about the future chirps quite well.”
“Did you see my future?”
“Yes. Of course, I did? But it’s troublesome, so I won’t tell you.”
Ugh, I dislike this person for this reason. She’s someone who spouts unconfirmed information just by a player approaching her. In the game, her predictions were as unreliable as a real-life weather forecast.
She was yawning, tired from repeating the same answer dozens of times already. I crossed my arms and began to think.
‘Even so, I succeeded in the corruption route.’
Even if I told her about the condition of ‘loss of a loved one,’ she wouldn’t believe it. Only players know the Demon Kings’ hidden circumstances.
“...”
Or I might expose myself as someone transmigrated into this game. The risk is too great. What solution should I offer?
Ah, there was that.
“Don’t you want to make a good impression on Drake?”
“..What? How do you know that, wait, your name is clearly….”
“Yes, I am Licht, his disciple.”
This person was set up to have a crush on Drake, wasn’t she? Her attitude changing instantly the moment I mentioned my master’s name was fascinating. Her eyes wavered, looking flustered.
“..If you happen to see our Saintess’s future, please tell me right away. Then, I’ll be off.”
“Hey!! Wait!”
I’ll retreat after this much. I turned right around and exited the library. I’m still not good enough to connect my master and the Sage’s love line.
“I’ll find it for you, so just try saying something foolish to Drake!!”
If I upset her and then leave, wouldn’t it be a chance for her to muster courage? I also felt like I couldn’t bear to hear any more grim stories about the Saintess.
It was then. Familiar figures passed before my eyes. In my anxious state, I was walking quickly and almost missed them.
“Oh, Licht.”
“Helmet guy, are you coming from the library?”
I ran into the Hero party, who were heading to lunch. The Crown Prince was now completely integrated into the group.
“Licht, we’re going to Gransia Bakery, wanna come?”
The blonde-haired Hero offered with a smile. Good. I had to go with them no matter what, as I needed to raise Kainel and Ariel’s affection levels. I barely regained my composure and looked ahead.
“..Sounds good. Please lead the way.”
It was incredibly fortunate that my expression wasn’t visible thanks to the helmet.
***
The savory smell of freshly baked bread filled my nostrils. So this was that famous bakery in the Empire. With its splendid decorations and furniture, it exuded a luxurious feel.
“Licht. Eat a lot.”
You’re the one eating the most, though. There were already several empty plates just at the Glass Knight’s table. I couldn’t even tell how it all went into his mouth.
“..Understood, Mardol.”
After all, he was the man who ate with his face thoroughly concealed by glass magic. He probably didn’t want his identity as the Crown Prince to be revealed.
“And don’t get hurt, Licht.”
Seeing him express concern in such a roundabout way made me feel somewhat awkward. Was he telling me to eat well and recover quickly? Indeed, I had bled when I went down the corruption route.
But now that I think about it, your speech has gotten a bit longer? I gave a small nod and looked at the menu.
‘Special apple pie, eclairs…. What’s that?’
A familiar name. Come to think of it, since this is Gransia Empire Bakery, they would have this.
“I’ll have one chocolate cake.”
The birthday gift the Nameless Saintess gave me. I received it as an item, but it was too precious to even unwrap. Now I actually get to eat it.
At that moment, I heard a mumbling sound beside me.
“..I’ll have strawberry cake.”
Mardol quickly finished his crunchy croissant, then chimed in as I was choosing my menu. Strawberry cake? Can he eat even more after that?
“..I found the crab meat sandwich was delicious, Licht.”
“Mardol’s recommended teddy bear sandwich is cute too, I like it! Helmet guy!”
As I stared at the Glass Knight with a strange look, the Hero couple also joined the conversation. I wished they’d hurry up and get lovey-dovey.
“How about a chocolate crepe, Kainel? Didn’t you like those?”
“Huh? Helmet guy? Is that true? No, it can’t be…?”
“Ariel..! No! You know I don’t like sweets!”
Kainel shook his head wildly, strongly denying it. Seeing that, Ariel gave a meaningful smile. She truly is a perceptive red cat.
“..Hehe, our Kai is still a picky eater, like a child?”
“What? Ariel? What are you saying right now…”
“No, it’s fine, it could be~. How long have I known you, Kai!”
“...”
She can think like this too. Scary. The elf mage. She was conveying her dishonest feelings in a roundabout way.
‘Tsundere doesn’t necessarily mean using violence or shouting.’
I gave a small nod as a sign that she was doing well. It seemed Kainel almost dying had caused a significant change in her heart. Her methods had become a bit more refined.
“I can eat some.. Ariel.”
When the blonde-haired Hero said it in a meek voice, the corners of her lips began to curl up. It was a cute reaction.
“Then Kai, wanna eat.. that, that with me? It’s not like I particularly want to eat with you!”
Small letters carved next to the chocolate crepe were visible. Kainel hung his head low, staring only at the table.
‘A couple set, huh. Classic.’
Although she had aimed for that from the start, they truly were a fresh young couple. A smile involuntarily formed inside my helmet. I shouldn’t laugh. I must hold it in.
“Is the crab meat sandwich tasty too, Kai?”
“Yeah.. want a bite..? Ariel?”
“W-what..! Ah, ugh. I’d like some…”
The Yellow Dog, whose perceptiveness had completely vanished due to his fear of sweets, offered Ariel the sandwich he was eating,
“..This is tasty too. Kai..!”
She took a small bite like a squirrel and munched on it.
The red-haired mage’s face turned slightly red, and she was giving a bashful smile. Kainel watched her, seemingly relieved that it suited her taste.
‘I should probably leave them alone now.’
Only Ariel should have exclusive rights to Kainel, who grimaces while eating the whole chocolate crepe. I believe love is about coming to like what you dislike.
There’s no room for me to interrupt.
“Mardol. Could you follow me for a moment?”
Ah, while I was giving them space, I had to take the Crown Prince with me too. There was something to deliver.
“Licht, why?”
“..There’s a matter that needs attending.”
It had been over a month already, and I had forgotten about this item due to being so preoccupied. The Glass Knight followed me out of the bakery.
A quiet alleyway not far from where the Hero couple was.
“Here. This is the Queen of Hearts.”
“..Huh?”
There, I checked if anyone was around, then held out a card to Mardol. A striking playing card with a Queen of Hearts design.
The hostage held by the Demon King of Truth had to be returned to her family.
“..This, surely not?”
“Yes, I retrieved it from Magic Hat. Empress Bellin Gransia is here.”
“...”
With trembling hands, the Glass Knight carefully took the card and stared at it for a long time without moving.
“I’ve had it for over a month, so I forgot.”
There hadn’t been an opportunity to deliver it until now. Right after escaping the prince’s hug, I was being spun around like a rotisserie chicken by Kainel.
“..I’m sorry. It’s too late.”
But rather than such excuses, this is better. Truthfully, I had intended to give it to him once Magic Hat’s authority was resolved. But I also felt rather uneasy about keeping it all this time.
“..Mardol?”
After I had finally confessed my fault, the Glass Knight showed no reaction. He simply froze, holding the card preciously. Worried for his well-being, I approached to check on him.
Then, a small voice was heard.
“Th-thank you.. Licht.. Truly.. I was.. too weak…”
His fingertips kept trembling, and the golden eyes inside his helmet lost focus. He was crying. Sadness seeped into his muffled voice.
“..It’s alright, Mardol. It’s not your fault.”
“I couldn’t save her.. but you, Licht…”
Patting the Glass Knight’s back, I offered words of comfort. I hadn’t expected such an intense reaction, though.
‘I miss my parents too today.’
Mardol was already slumped on the ground, speaking sadly. I sat down next to him with a thud. It was just the ground, with no proper chair, but what did it matter?
“Don’t say you couldn’t save her, Mardol. If you hadn’t bought me time, I wouldn’t have been able to either.”
“..It’s not a lie.”
It was true. Thanks to the Glass Knight confronting Magic Hat and creating an opening, I was able to push him far away with Void Slash.
“You know it’s obvious when I lie, don’t you?”
While saving Kainel and Ariel, I was also able to succeed in the Demon King transformation. If the Hero couple had faced Magic Hat alone, they probably would have lost their lives much sooner.
‘He was also the one fighting at the end. He could have escaped, but he didn’t.’
Even with masterpiece-grade equipment, fighting a Demon King is an act that requires a truly difficult decision.
In the end, if the Crown Prince hadn’t risked his life to resist, I wouldn’t have been able to retrieve Empress Bellin Gransia either. The place I went to from the start was guided by the glass shard he had left behind.
“..Thank you for fighting to the very end.”
“Even if I was weak, I could protect her.”
“Yes, that’s right. So be a bit more confident… Mardol?!”
It was then. A large shadow enveloped my body.
“..I’m sorry. For making you fight alone.”
Thud. Mardol lurched towards me as if collapsing.
“I was afraid.. of losing someone again.. Licht..”
I thought the Glass Knight’s armor was weighing me down. But unlike the previous hug, he was just holding me and sobbing.
“It’s okay now.”
I kept patting Mardol’s back. Some people might find it creepy for two men to be like this, but the situation was serious.
‘..He must have really suffered a lot mentally.’
I let out a small sigh internally. Still, he wasn’t trying to overpower me, but leaning on me out of hardship, so I’d give him a pass for a little while.
“Everyone gets scared, Mardol.”
I too had gotten scared about the Saintess and ran away. We could say we were similar in that regard. Knowing well what that feeling is like,
“Everything’s alright. Haven’t you reunited with your mother?”
“..Thank you, Licht.”
Thus, I consoled the Glass Knight until the Hero couple finished their meal. Whether it raised a flag or not, it felt too pitiable to push such a person away.
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