WeTried Translations
Translator: Botanica
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight
Chapter 71
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Episode 71. To Know Love.
[The match! We begin-!!]
The horn rang, signaling the start of the battle. I lunged at Mardol immediately with Wolf Fang.
Void Slash is a powerful technique. It would be disadvantageous if reflected. I parted the wind, kicked off the ground, and leaped.
I immediately attempted to push my sword into the gaps of her armor. Because that would be the weakness when facing full plate armor.
Clang.
“Good judgment.”
“..As expected, you blocked it.”
But the flash of steel couldn't continue and was blocked by a glass wall. Right after, clones made of white crystal popped out. Wearing transparent knight helmets, they resembled Mardol more than me.
“Kugh..!”
One clone copied the trajectory of my sword that I had just swung, and the other cornered me with its mirror image.
The metallic sounds of clang-! Clang! rang out, and the illusions made of glass protected Mardol like guards defending her. It was difficult even to defend against the attacks that suddenly appeared.
‘This is cheating.’
The feeling of facing myself. At the chilling sensation that felt dangerous, I distanced myself backward. I needed to think of a strategy first. How to break that magic called Mirror Mirage….
“..What are you doing?”
That was when. The characteristic tone of her voice came from within the glass helmet, and the heavy-armored knight in front of me charged at me.
The same Wolf Fang. This is what happens when you get hit. The distance that was once far closed in an instant. We got close enough for our helmets to touch.
“Miss Mardol. It seems you have no intention of leaving me alone.”
“That’s right. Because you’re interesting.”
The princess swung her sword. I blocked the glass sword with my steel one. A contest of strength. No matter how strong Mardol’s physical strength was, this time was different.
“..Huh? Why aren’t you being pushed back..?”
“This much.. I can now endure it..!”
The sword blade, trembling as it barely held on. Perhaps she intended to make me let go of my sword, but.
Now that I have my own will, I won't lose in strength. I stomped hard on the ground, and she was actually letting the weight flow. A sound like kug rang out, and cracks appeared on the arena floor.
「Howling Wind.」
At that moment, her golden wolf eyes gleamed. Giving up the precarious balance, she immediately went on the attack. She certainly seemed to have more battle experience than Kainel.
Auuuuuu─!
A wolf’s howl rang out loudly from directly in front of me. A howl striking my eardrums. Caught off guard by the sudden event, my body's balance crumbled. Since it was the original technique, it was stronger than Leon’s.
“You let your guard down, Licht.”
Without missing the opening created by my large stagger, Mardol swung her sword at me.
A shimmering sword path created by the sword, which seemed to be made of the same material as her armor. It reflected light in all directions, targeting every single opening. How on earth did she identify the flaws in such a short moment?
“Haha..”
A hollow laugh escaped. Perhaps because she is Emperor Rook’s daughter. She was strong. If I hadn’t been reincarnated into this world, wouldn’t she have taken the seat of the strongest?
“...”
But I had to surpass her now. I have to catch the Demon Kings too, so I can’t afford to be pushed back by just the protagonist.
“Drake Style, 2nd Form. Reverse Scale Pierce.”
Come back after 15 years if you want to beat me. There’s a saying that the best defense is a good offense. Taking advantage of the opponent’s attack opening, I thrust my sword in reverse.
A technique that targets weaknesses from the start, even piercing a dragon's scales. Our swords canceled each other out, sparks flew, and our experiences and efforts clashed.
“..Ugh.”
This time, it was Mardol who retreated. Reverse Scale Pierce is specialized for linking swords into successive attacks from the start. It must be overwhelming to face for the first time.
“..Too bad. Even mixing in Shadow Slash.”
“You need to use that aiming for something definite in the first place.”
Mardol spoke regretfully. She deliberately damaged the ground where there was a shadow, trying to make it impossible for me to block, but as they say, the best defense is a good offense.
‘I know the weakness of Shadow Slash better than she does.’
If you counter it with an attack this strong, it becomes ineffective. If I had only been focused on defense, I would have been hit instead.
It’s a technique with weak power from the start. That’s why I mostly only use it mixed with Void Slash.
It’s not for nothing that players say it’s trash if you can’t learn the 4th form.
In Mardol’s case, she probably tries to compensate with her unique immense physical strength, but that alone isn’t enough.
“Like this.”
My thoughts organized. I stomped hard on the ground, making the blood flow throughout my body tense and surge. Wind pressure gathering in my right hand.
“..As expected, you’re doing it.”
Mardol, wearing the glass helmet, was murmuring softly, having mimicked my tone of voice at some point.
***
Meanwhile. In the stands, four figures were sitting together.
“Hey, Kai.”
“Why, Ariel?”
“Well.. who do you think will win?”
The red-haired mage asked the hero beside her while watching the progress of the fight, and Kainel gave an awkward smile and opened his mouth.
“Probably Licht.”
“Why..? Not Mardol? Mardol is incredibly strong too..”
“You’d know if you fought him. This guy’s scary point always comes from an unexpected place.”
The hero couple, each defeated by the two who advanced to the finals. Having directly fought against their strength, they had different evaluations.
“Right! You know something, Kainel?”
“Nex, no matter what, I think our Mardol will win.”
The 2nd-year seniors who knew the identity inside the glass armor, Phine Gransia, had similar opinions.
Nex, having accompanied the peculiar junior wearing the Black Knight helmet directly, knew his skill.
“You really think so? Char?”
“..Yes, because she’s stronger than anyone.”
The Saintess, who wraps divine power around her fist.
Chartiness was simply cheering for the younger sister she knew inside the glass armor. Because she couldn’t let the efforts of Phine, whom she had seen since childhood, go to waste.
“That’s Void Slash. Does he really need to use such a big technique..?”
That was when. Kainel spoke with a slightly displeased look as he watched the match. A technique that would be reflected by Mirror Mirage anyway.
The hero wondered, ‘Why is Licht using something with such a large preparatory motion?’ He had previously directly told him that the weakness of the Drake Style was that it needed preparatory movements. It didn’t suit his meticulous personality. It was contradictory.
“Seems like he’s aiming for something! Our Licht!”
“Huh? Nex, what do you mean by that….”
The purple-haired male tilted his head at the words from beside him. It was clearly going to be reflected and blocked.
He had experience watching Ariel’s matches, and even at the beginning it was the same.
Trrrrrt!!
Licht’s Void Slash was fired, and sure enough, Mardol erected a glass wall and countered with several times the power. The winds clashing against each other.
“Look at that.”
From within the chaos, the man wearing the Black Knight helmet appeared. Seeing Licht emerge, cutting through the dust, Nex smiled a fox-like smile.
“I was right, wasn’t I? Honestly, among us 2nd years, I don’t know anyone stronger than Licht.”
It seemed Void Slash was a technique used from the start assuming it would be blocked.
“Ah, no way..”
He turned the weakness of the large motion into a strength and used it. Seeing that, Kainel drew a smile at the corner of his mouth, thinking, ‘As expected, he’s worthy of having beaten me.’
***
The weakness of the Drake Style is that it requires preparatory movements. It doesn't use mana, so there are many openings, and as Kainel pointed out, it puts a lot of strain on the body.
‘Every technique has its pros and cons. Well, I suppose everything is like that.’
After using Void Slash, I charged straight ahead. The technique called Mirror Mirage also has weaknesses in this regard.
As a result of persistently charging in and analyzing, it’s slightly slower than the original. I swung my sword to destroy all the clones that were using Void Slash against me.
Void Slash is a slow technique from the start, so if they copy it, the gap becomes even larger. I parted, cut through, and leaped over the wind blowing from the opposite side.
The dust scattered by the canceled storm obscured Mardol’s vision. An opportunity I couldn’t miss.
“..Huh? How?”
“I combined Reverse Scale Pierce and Void Slash. It’s a technique you don’t have.”
I, who had somehow gotten right in front of her, swung my sword again. A successive attack carrying the continuing wind. Using Reverse Scale Pierce, the 2nd form whose strength is speed, I compensated for the weakness.
The sword techniques of the Drake Style are incomplete techniques that complement each other like this. They are the human effort created by my master alone from the start.
But paradoxically, that’s why they can be stronger than anyone. When I caught Magic Hat, I used the Demon King Slayer, which combined all techniques.
If I cut her down like this, it would probably be my victory. The gradually depleting mana barrier was intuitively felt. Unable to keep up with the momentarily amplified speed, Mardol was pushed back.
“..As expected, you’re strong.”
Cornered, she opened her mouth. In her flashing golden eyes, a burning fighting spirit was imbued, and she seemed unwilling to accept defeat.
「Glass Knight.」
That was when. Suddenly, a shadow fell over my field of vision, and a giant sword came down from the sky, trying to crush me.
“What..?”
Based on my accumulated combat experience, I used Wing Deflection to deflect the great sword that had suddenly appeared. Looking again, something had materialized behind Mardol.
[A giant glass knight has emerged from behind student Mardol! A figure like a giant! How will student Licht overcome this situation!]
A giant knight with only its upper body. It was mimicking her movements like a puppet show. How did she do that? Is it magic?
It sparkled as if made of glass, and looked majestic enough to resemble a large spirit. Did the knight class have a skill like that?
“Licht, if it’s you.. I can fight seriously.”
I retreated again. If I clashed head-on, I’d be crushed by the force. I lowered my steel sword for a moment and caught my breath.
A skill like that, like my Void Slash, would have caught nearby allies if there were any.
‘I guess she couldn’t use that when fighting Magic Hat.’
I was filled with awe. A master who twists the concept of steel to mold glass of that size. This was definite proof that she was the protagonist.
“Same here. Mardol.”
Honestly, I was happy. As a player who loved games, could there be anything more enjoyable? A fighting spirit that boiled my blood enveloped my entire body.
“I believe in love.”
Rain fell. A downpour poured, and a cobalt-colored sword fell from the sky, embedding itself in front of my feet. I judged that I couldn’t defeat her with the steel sword I had been using.
“..I’ll give it my all too.”
The difference between a watchdog and a wolf is knowing love.
I must prove that I am a wolf, not a lapdog.
More precisely, I need to use the sword I forged with my Conviction to break that Glass Knight’s armor.
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