Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight - Chapter 8

WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 8

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Episode 8. Coincidence and destiny are, in fact, not so different.

Lunchtime was spent with Kainel and Ariel. This was a quick way to raise their romance meter. But why was I eating with them too?

“So, it’s true that magic reflects one’s inner world, but…”

“How many distracting thoughts do you have for that to happen, Ariel?”

“No, I, when did I ever!”

“It seems to be because you see a certain person often.”

“..Helmet Guy is mean.”

I tied off the conversation before it veered in a strange direction.

Kainel, be careful not to overdo the tsundere extreme treatment, or it might backfire. Do you want to get hit by a Fire Ball again?

‘Since she’s still using the nickname.’

Little by little, they’re moving forward. She is expressing her emotions, so let’s be satisfied with this much.

“Ugh… that can happen when you use magic sometimes!”

Ariel, seemingly annoyed, hastily drank her soup. The setting book said she wasn’t good at eating hot things like this.

“It was really just a face that came to mind, that’s all. Ow, hot!”

“Drink some water and eat slowly. Here.”

“Be careful.”

It was true, after all. Her appearance, constantly blowing on the hot food, was like a red cat.

Kainel stared intently at her, then handed her the water he had poured into a cup beforehand. See, this is what’s good about childhood friends.

I almost didn’t get to see this in <Black Heart>. Another bad sequel came to mind. Now that I think about it, I also need to join a club.

“Thank you.”

“You always can’t eat hot things.”

“Hehe… Kai is the best, as expected!”

She immediately gulped down the water. A refreshing feeling spread.

“By the way, Licht. Aren’t you eating?”

“Oh, you’re right?”

“I am unable to remove my helmet.”

I revealed the truth. If I made any excuses here, I felt like I’d reveal I was a transmigator. I sighed. I could lift the visor, but…

Hiding something like this usually leads to a flag where your face is revealed later. I need to be careful. I want to conceal my identity as much as possible. It attracts all sorts of shady characters.

“So, is it like a cursed item?”

“No, it’s more of an bound item. Probably.”

Having played this game for so long, I already knew it wasn’t a cursed item.

A helmet that, from the start, had the condition of connecting love. I had worn it for nearly five years now, and there had been no problems. It was surprisingly comfortable, too.

“That’s really amazing. Isn’t it almost an artifact?”

“Probably.”

“..So that’s how you recognized my identity.”

At that, Kainel was nodding as if he had accepted something.

It’s not what you think. Stop. I’m not the Hero.

First, let’s change the topic.

“By the way, have you two thought about which clubs you’d like to join?”

“I’m probably joining the baking club!”

“I think I’ll join the sword club.”

I sighed as soon as I heard that. I need to keep you two together. There are so many love lines to handle at this Academy. I searched for an intersection in my mind.

‘A good club to put these two in and raise their romance meter…’

Ah, there is one. It’s a club I wanted to join, having heard “you have no mana” hundreds of times, and it’s where Dennis, the protagonist of <Knight Heart>, serves as an advisor.

“..How about the magic club?”

That was the optimal choice. If it’s a protagonist-level character, they might even solve my problem. After all, a player who isn’t the protagonist is usually the one receiving help.

“That professor’s class was good, wasn’t it. How about you, Kai?”

“Sounds good?”

Unlike these guys in front of me, that is.

I lifted my helmet just enough to not reveal my face and ate my meal.

Oh, this soup is delicious. The pork aroma is strong.

***

“Greetings, everyone-!”

No, why are you here?

“I am Drake, the Academy’s Sword Instructor and Professor of Swordsmanship!!”

A boisterous man appeared, wielding a long Western-style sword, a saber.

‘He was a swordsmanship professor?!’

In the class that followed, I met someone I definitely didn’t want to encounter.

“Welcome to the lecture on <The Doctrine of the Sword, Swordsmanship Theory>!”

In parts 1 and 2, his name was just [Sword Instructor Drake], so I made a mistake.

Numerous scars on his face. And a mischievous smile.

It was the man who was my swordsmanship master. The fact that the last remaining class was this one was the worst.

‘I need to apply for the magic club…’

If I take it easy, I’ll be screwed. I might not even be able to get into the dormitory today. Memories of years of training flooded back.

“A sound mind in a sound body!”

That’s the sound I hate the most.

I really went through hell. Like Licht, the character I played, to earn a profession.

“It’s a catchphrase I’ve been pushing for years!”

That’s why it’s not popular.

“They say kids these days don’t do physical training!”

Drake was an extremist. He loved it more the less mana someone had.

“So today, we’ll forbid the use of mana and try wielding swords!”

That’s why, when I went with the village chief’s letter back then, he immediately marked me as his top disciple. I had no idea I wouldn’t even need a hidden event item.

Just then, Drake pointed to one of the individuals in the auditorium.

“You there! Golden hair!”

“Y-Yes, sir!”

“What’s your name!”

“It’s Kainel!”

He was a clueless Yellow Dog.

You’re going to suffer a bit too. That old man is truly peculiar. Have you ever run from a bear in the mountains or swung a sword with an arm you didn’t even use? He also used to shout that a true swordsman must be ambidextrous.

“Step forward! Student Kainel!”

At that, the Hero reluctantly moved forward to Drake.

A spacious area where swinging a sword posed no problem. So this is why they told us to gather in the auditorium.

“Alright, do you see this Imperial coin here?”

“I see it.”

A reddish-brown coin with a wolf emblem. Drake took out five of them.

“I’ll throw these in front of you; try to cut them!”

“Huh…?”

A preposterous instruction. Kainel’s expression stiffened at the seemingly dismissive attitude.

“You can use any weapon! Even the one you have at your hip!”

“You’ll regret this.”

“I like the confidence!”

That’d be hard even with the Holy Sword. He can use it at the Academy, but without activating it, it’s nothing more than a well-sharpened sword.

“Then I’ll throw them!”

“I’m ready.”

Paaang-!

The sound of air bursting. Just as I thought. He’s trying the same training method he put me through. In embarrassment, I covered the front of my helmet with my hand.

“..What… did you just do?”

“Can’t you tell by looking? It’s ‘coin tossing’!”

The coins, flying at high speed towards Kainel, slammed into the wall, emitting smoke.

The coins even made a phew-sish-shick sound.

Thanks to his skill in aiming for empty spots, no one was hurt.

A bullet-like speed. How many people could deflect something like that?

“..I ask for one more try.”

Kainel’s pupils wavered at the sudden anomaly. His hands were trembling slightly.

This is no good. He’s scared.

“You have a challenging spirit! But your gaze is all wrong!”

“This time, I’ll try it with my sword drawn.”

“It won’t make much difference though!”

Drake gave his characteristic smile.

“Then I’ll throw them again!”

“Y-Yep!”

The result was another failure.

Still, he’s the Hero of Light, after all. He doesn’t give up.

“Again! Please!”

“Good!”

Failure.

“One more time!”

Barely managing to knock down one coin.

“Again! Pleaseeeeee!”

***

“..Is this even possible?”

Kainel, gasping for breath, slumped to the floor.

It was already the 12th attempt, all failures.

Looking up at Drake, he frowned. I knew that feeling well. It felt like I had gained a junior disciple.

“Then! There must be at least one person in this spacious lecture hall!”

Ah, surely not. A bad premonition came over me.

“You there, Black Knight’s helmet! Step forward!”

Drake, seeing me, showed a deep smile on his lips. This old man, was he aiming for this from the start?

No wonder he boasted that he’d teach me how to make friends at the Academy.

“Yes.”

“What’s your name!”

You know.

“It’s Licht.”

I reluctantly answered. If I lied here or pretended not to know him? It would immediately be a 12-hour full course of passionate sword training with my master upon our reunion.

“A good gaze! The eyes of a warrior who won’t tire no matter how much they wield a sword!”

You’ve seen me for five years next to you. Why are you calling it a good gaze now?

When we first met, you criticized me, saying, ‘What are you going to do with those dead fish eyes!!!’

I sighed. For now, I had to play along. If he found out I was applying for the magic club, I might be dragged back into the mountains.

“Do I just cut them?”

“You’ll do 10!”

A mischievous smile.

It was written all over his face: ‘Show me the results of your training, disciple.’ Was I really supposed to do this?

I drew my sword from its scabbard. Its edge was slightly chipped, but it would be fine.

“Then I’ll throw them!”

At Drake’s signal, I adjusted my stance.

Drake, the Dragon Slayer.

There was a swordsmanship he devised to catch flying dragons.

The first step taken by a warrior who believed ordinary methods wouldn’t suffice against them.

Drake Style, First Form.

「Dragon Shadow Slash.」

I sent the blood flowing in my head throughout my body. I concentrated all my nerves. Ten reddish-brown coins flew before my eyes.

Each had a different direction and speed. But it didn’t matter.

The true essence of this technique was the ability to strike the physical through the shadow.

I silently gazed forward.

I found the optimal path as if connecting lines. I kicked off the ground. I moved my hand and cut the floor. The coins were cut with it. The wind pressure swirled, altering my sword path.

Seven remained; I cut two more in half as I moved forward. My grip tightened, and sweat formed in my palm.

‘Whether it’s a coin or a Shadow Wolf, if it has light and shadow, I can cut it down.’

Five targets ahead. Their flying angles changed as they collided. I extended my arm to not miss. Two more broke in half. The ones that flew in diagonally were split, leaving one.

The last one, I struck down with my sword.

Clink-.

I had cut down all the shadows. Twenty pieces of coins were rolling on the floor.

“Your skill is excellent! It makes me want to meet your master!”

“Thank you.”

It’s you.

“Now, as you can see, physical training is the most important thing in swordsmanship! If you rely only on mana, you won’t be able to move your body in unexpected situations!”

In the now utterly silent auditorium, he clapped his hands.

“Student Licht, who demonstrated for us! What truly amazing swordsmanship!”

“I’ll be taking my leave now.”

Drake, with an expression that screamed ‘I did well, didn’t I, disciple?’ until the very moment he turned his back.

No, you screwed up. Kids these days don’t go ‘Wow! Amazing! Who’s that guy!’ for something like this.

Can’t you see the entire classroom went utterly silent?

“Th-This… it really… works…”

Half of Kainel’s soul had left his face. He stared at me with empty eyes.

I felt a subtle emotion. Hey, snap out of it. I only got this way by toiling under that old man for five years.

***

“..So that’s the kind of swordsmanship it is.”

The knight recalled the previous scene.