WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

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◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 59

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Episode 59. Rivals are Rivals because they resemble each other.

How many days had passed like that?

[Finally, the annual event of Grand Hearts Academy!]

The interior of the Academy began to bustle with external visitors.

[The 'Year Exam' is back! Everyone!]

Just like at the entrance ceremony, the Headmaster began his speech, opening the Year Exam's inauguration. As if his voice was amplified, it echoed loudly throughout the entire school.

[I, Laplace, the Headmaster, will be in charge of the commentary.]

There is no one better suited for commentary than him. He is the librarian of the library who can access past records. A person who honed his abilities for his loved one.

[Quite a crowd has gathered this time too. Excellent.]

Experts who came to see the students' achievements, or parents and family who came to cheer them on. And high-ranking officials from Magic Towers or the Northern Region, looking to recruit talent in advance, were visible.

[The rules, as you know, are always simple. Magic, Swordsmanship, Spirit Arts, Divine Power. Anything is possible!]

I asked the elderly couple who took me in not to come, lest they be surprised and collapse. Flashy battles are bad for the heart, after all.

[All students, please check the bracket. The exam will begin tomorrow morning!]

They think of me as their grandson, and they might truly be sad if they saw me being attacked by others.

"..."

Actually, I'll be protected by mana, so there won't be any injuries.

"..There are a lot of people."

"Licht, you don't know anything. The Year Exam is so popular that people even come from the countryside to watch it."

"It's super famous. Helmet guy!"

As always, I was watching the inauguration ceremony after having lunch with the Hero couple.

"..Licht. Do you like meat?"

More precisely, it was now the quartet, with the Crown Prince having joined us. After the bakery incident, the four of us truly started to hang out together without any hesitation.

Having forged a bond during the battle with Magic Hat, it was now impossible to distance ourselves even if we tried.

"Yes? Ah, yes. That's right? I don't dislike it."

"I see, I'll remember that."

Remember what? The Glass Knight next to me said something absurd. Perhaps because beef stew was served for school lunch today.

It made me think of our Saintess, so I ate a lot. It was delicious.

Then, Mardol nodded slightly as if relieved and clenched his fist.

'..This person is probably more skilled than Kainel.'

I briefly thought as I looked at the glass armor that reflected my black helm. If it's the Year Exam, I'll probably have to face him in the end.

Sword Mage class.

Since I played Black Knight Licht in the game, I know its cheating nature well.

He endured much longer than the Hero during the fight with Magic Hat, and his magic that creates clones has high applicability. Unpredictable movements will be possible.

"What are you doing..? Licht?"

"Ah, just lost in thought for a moment…."

Did I stare too much? Mardol looked back at me and asked.

When I tried to figure him out, he'd cut off my thoughts as if he could see right through me. It's almost scary, as if he has a knack for knowing what's on people's minds.

It might be that his senses are too keen because he's the Emperor's only son. He'd be the son of a man who could create sonic booms with sheer strength.

"..He's peculiar."

I crossed my arms and lowered my head, trying not to reveal anything more. After the decisive battle with Magic Hat, the Crown Prince started approaching me more often.

[Always find what is precious, what must be protected, and what must be done! Everyone!]

It's natural that family is more precious than anything, but I don't know why it makes a person feel so burdened.

[May the blessing of the God of Wisdom Akasa be upon this exam!]

With those words, the opening ceremony concluded briefly. I moved with my companions to check the bracket.

"..We're all separated, Kai?"

"Yeah, I actually wanted to go against Licht, you know."

The names drawn large on the paper were in different groups. This ultimately means one thing.

"Haha, we'll just meet in the semifinals, won't we?"

We have to overcome each opponent with skill and meet in the semifinals. With the Crown Prince's skill and Kainel's current growth rate, it should be possible.

"I won't lose this time, will I, Licht?"

Kainel, grinning playfully at me. It feels like he's changing for the worse because of me. Did I push him too hard in sword training?

"..I'll look forward to it."

I guess it was because he ran away and left me and our Saintess in <Black Heart>. He wouldn't do that now that he doesn't have trauma, but.

"No."

That's when it happened. A resonant voice, like someone speaking in a cave, suddenly came from beside me.

"I'm first, Kainel."

You were a character obsessed with strength, weren't you? Mardol was tracing the bracket with his finger, checking how many people he'd have to fight to face me.

"..."

In times like this, it's best to remain silent. If I'm not careful, I might truly be confined to the imperial dungeons and never see the light of day.

That's because the route of dating a member of the Imperial Guard was like that. If you fail to escape from love, you will be imprisoned.  It's quite terrifying.

"I want to fight you, Licht."

"..Do as you please."

I'll give you the Dragon Heart, so please don't touch the Manarose. I felt a strange sense of deja vu as I looked at the golden wolf eyes that kept staring only at me.

***

The sun was setting, and the Academy day was about to end.

"Well then, Mardol. Be careful on your way in."

"We're going to the dorms, Mardol!"

"Okay, Licht. Kainel. Goodbye."

Phine bid farewell to the Black Knight and the Hero heading into the male dormitory. She had finally found some peace of mind, and her words were a little longer.

'Licht.. he said he likes meat, didn't he?'

As she watched the man in the Black Knight helmet leave, the thought of inviting him to a restaurant she knew and treating him someday lingered in her mind.

'If it's a place run by dwarves.. would that be okay?'

He was also the person who saved her acquaintances, Nex and Chartiness.

He was already like a lifesaver. Licht didn't seem to care much, but she couldn't pretend to ignore the grace of someone who had even saved her mother.

'Lately, school life is comfortable.'

At first, she was scared that the Demon King would harm her, so she preemptively built walls. She was afraid of what the mad magician might do again if she got close to someone.

So she thought she wouldn't get close to anyone. But the man named Licht kept drawing her in.

'Kkamangi.. it was cute.'

The Black Knight who summoned a cute ball of fur through his emotions. It was soft and its fur was pretty, like a doll. It was Phine's dream to take it for a walk someday.

"Tomorrow.. is the Year Exam."

She shuffled her feet and moved. After all, she would have to use a teleportation crystal in a secluded area to avoid being mistaken for a princess.

As always, she looked around to make sure no one was nearby.

At that moment, familiar voices were heard.

"Lady Phine. It's been a while."

"Sister! It's been a while!"

A boy with black wolf ears and an older-looking butler appeared from the opposite side.

"Dizur.. Lupus..? How are you here..? Ah."

"I, your butler Dizur, am always the sword protecting Lord Mardol by his side."

"Hehe. I came to watch the Year Exam! Sister Phine!"

They had come all the way to the Academy to cheer her on for the Year Exam. At the welcome sight of familiar faces after a long time, her surprised tail and wolf ears returned to normal.

"..Lupus. My name here is Mardol."

"Got it, Sister Mardol!"

The heavily armored Glass Knight warned her younger brother to be careful. Fearing that Magic Hat might target her friends, she made a 'shh' gesture with her finger.

"..You seem to be doing well, Lord Mardol."

Dizur's lips curved into a smile as he looked at Phine, whose words had become longer. He knew she had brightened up a lot while attending the Academy.

"Is it thanks to the knight named Licht, after all?"

"Yes, Dizur."

This appearance was unexpected. Indeed, perhaps because Empress Bellin Gransia had been recovered, her actions and demeanor were gradually changing back to her old bright and positive self.

"I knew he was strong, but I didn't expect him to defeat the Demon King of Truth."

The man who fought the Demon King of Truth and even rescued hostages. The skillful way he captured the Shadow Wolf must have stemmed from his strength.

If things had truly become dangerous then, he would have rushed out to save the Hero and the Mage.

"He might even be recognized as a hero someday."

"No, Dizur.. He's strong, but…. he's weak, and kind."

"I understand. He was a pure person who hadn't shed his boyish innocence yet."

Phine shook her head, correcting Dizur's assessment. No matter how she thought about it, the idea that he was only strong felt wrong.

'A kind liar.'

In her opinion, he was a peculiar person. A strong but naive Black Knight. Contradictory, but a kind liar.

"Brother Licht.. he's the one who found our mom, right?"

"That's right, Lupus."

"..I want to tell him thank you."

Even the Crown Prince, who had initially misunderstood the man named Licht, immediately moved his tail and ears to express gratitude as soon as Licht's name came up.

The fact that his title instantly changed from 'gigolo' to 'brother' also played a part. It was understandable, given that his proud sister recognized him and he had even saved their mother.

"..."

However, as the authority cannot be released yet, it is unknown when she will return from the card.

She couldn't tell her father this fact. He might collapse from shock, and for another reason, he would immediately gather an army to capture Magic Hat.

"..There will be a chance, Lupus."

She had to wait a little longer. Licht neither asked for any reward or compensation for this part, he purely comforted her.

Her discerning eyes judged that he would surely dislike a war breaking out.

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