WeTried Translations

Translator: Botanica

Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried

◈ Academy’s Pure Love Dark Knight

Chapter 9

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Episode 9. Coincidence and destiny are, in fact, not so different.

Kainel had always considered himself different from others.

After being chosen by the Holy Sword of Light, he might have been filled with vanity.

This was the result.

'So it's possible even without using mana.'

He thought this, looking at the numerous coin fragments scattered on the floor today. Now that he thought about it, it was the same with the Shadow Wolf before.

Because of his past, he almost held back the Holy Sword. If he had, it would have been a disaster. Honestly, he had grown complacent, thinking he was strong.

His pretty childhood friend was by his side, and having gone through some very difficult times, he had overconfident in his strength.

A body that didn't use mana was too weak.

The Black Knight didn't seem to use magic, so how could he wield a sword so well?

"Licht, why are you so strong?"

"Me?"

After all the classes ended, he walked beside him on the way home, then stopped. Brown eyes gleamed inside the helmet.

"There was something I wanted to achieve, so I worked hard."

"What is it?"

"I wanted to make an unhappy person happy."

"That person from before, right?"

"Huh?"

Was it a beautiful white-haired woman? He opened his mouth, recalling his previous memory.

Then, Licht's steps became unnatural. His left foot and left arm moved together. It was like a creaking wind-up doll.

"It's true, then."

"N-no... it's not..."

A reaction that anyone could tell was the correct answer.

He's such an easy-to-read friend, so who could have captured the heart of such a Black Knight? Is it someone like Ariel is to me? Then becoming so strong makes sense.

Feeling like he understood the same sentiment, a slight smile touched his lips.

"I saw you looking around for someone in the classroom earlier, buddy."

"..Me? That can't be."

"Then I guess I don't need to tell you about seeing someone similar?"

"Where did you see them?!"

He felt like teasing him for no reason.

The one who knew the Shadow Wolf's habits well. The Black Knight who tried to advance the relationship between him and Ariel. And Licht, who was taking the same lecture. They all seemed like different people.

"Sorry, it was a joke."

"Please do that to Ariel, not me."

"No. If I did, she'd immediately throw a Fireball."

"That's fair."

If they were exchanging silly jokes, weren't they close friends? He paused in thought for a moment.

"Licht."

"Yes?"

Just as he had done. Kainel also felt the desire to become stronger to protect Ariel. Currently, he was too weak to be her sole hero.

"Can I train swordsmanship with you?"

Kainel decided to take another step forward.

***

The Grand Hearts Academy's swordsmanship training ground.

A training venue where various types of weapons adorned the walls, and dozens of protective magic circles were etched into the polished floor.

There stood the Hero and the Black Knight.

'What is this nonsense again?'

No, I barely avoided a fiery reunion training with my master. Now swordsmanship training with the golden-haired Hero?

My route is getting dangerous... but it shouldn't be for affection.

Is it a sudden event? I folded my arms in thought.

"Instead, you and Ariel should join the magic club."

"What...? I'll talk to her first."

I answered him, thinking of the companion route in my mind. This way, I have no choice but to help from the side.

I wouldn't lose anything. A strange feeling was evident on Kainel's face.

It was a 'just that?' expression, but I needed them to connect their love line quickly. Nothing more was needed.

I took out a sword from the storage.

Oh, this one's in good condition. I wonder if I can take one.

"I will tell you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Do your best."

"I'm already doing that."

The golden-haired Hero steeled his resolve. No, besides that, his mindset was wrong. I shook my head.

"You don't need strength. To protect people."

"Then what do you need?"

"It means to do it without regret, to be certain."

"..I see."

He finally wore an expression of understanding. Someone who is absolutely obsessed with something is scarier than someone immensely strong.

I was the latter, and so I worked hard.

'That's why I caught the Demon King before.'

No matter how strong a swordsmanship I taught Kainel, his flaw wasn't his combat power.

The problem was his indecisive personality and his excessive overconfidence in the Holy Sword of Light.

'Detecting beings with ill will, isn't that too overpowered?'

He probably doesn't know now that it has weaknesses. That was one reason his nickname in the community was 'Yellow Dog.'

How many posts titled [Poor Kainel Betrayed Again Today] had I seen? The smile vanished from my face.

A person who judged by first seeing if the Holy Sword trembled, like Pavlov's dog.

(TL Note:

"Pavlov's dog" refers to Ivan Pavlov's famous experiments demonstrating classical conditioning, where dogs learned to associate a neutral sound (like a bell) with food, eventually salivating at the sound alone, a conditioned response)

He trusted anyone and got backstabbed.

The detection ability seems flawless, but it doesn't work on Demon Kings.

That's why even the great Dennis lives steeped in alcohol. To catch them, you'd need to gather the Ten Greats again.

And there's another weakness.

"I'll swing my sword, so activate the Holy Sword."

"Are you sure? You seem to know something too."

"They can't come here. There are so many magic circles."

If you're talking about cultists, invading this Academy itself is an act of suicide. How many heroes who sent those guys to their coffins are here?

"Let there be light."

A halo of light erupted from Kainel's Holy Sword.

"Now, I'll give you a problem."

"What now?"

"Is this, right now, an act of 'ill will'?"

I quickly flung a few coins, like Drake had done.

Clink. Jingle.

Then, with mana flowing through his body, he cut down the coins, unlike in the previous class.

"Well."

He fell into deep thought, looking at the coin fragments that had made a metallic sound as they hit the floor.

"The Holy Sword of Light has a weakness."

"What's your real identity? Are you a traitor? Or a double agent?"

"Let's just say 'mortal enemy' for now."

I sighed. I almost said words that would give Kainel a seizure. I shouldn't poke at his past anymore.

"The targets for judging 'ill will' are limited to 'oneself',

and it doesn't work on crazy people - those are the two things."

"What?"

If I mentioned the Demon King in front of the Hero, I'd probably be dragged away by inquisitors tomorrow morning. And disappear as dew on the execution ground for the empire's safety.

Let's soften it to this much for now.

"How do you... know that?"

"If you think about it, it's strange. The very existence of such a weapon."

"It's the Holy Sword of Light, though? Wasn't something similar to a Masterpiece an artifact?"

"No, that's not the problem. Human emotions aren't simple, are they?"

I sighed. I felt like I had shown him enough credible evidence, but...

"Kainel, are you someone who trusts a sword you've never seen before trembling?"

"But it's the Holy Sword that chose me. Even with the Shadow Wolf..."

"A weapon shouldn't be the standard for judgment. Unless it had no weaknesses, but it does, doesn't it? What will you do if Ariel is in danger but it doesn't tremble like this?"

I picked up a coin split in half and handed it to him. He said the Holy Sword didn't react because the attack had no ill will, but it was still a situation where others could be in danger.

"..That's true, Licht."

Kainel broke out in a slight cold sweat. What's the point of being wrapped in good items if they prevent you from getting stronger?

The wielder of the Holy Sword should be the Hero. It makes no sense for the sword to wield the Hero.

But the Kainel I observed had the roles reversed.

'Perhaps this is why he ran away when fighting Magic Hat.'

I heard that Kainel in the corrupted route had a straightforward side, but due to the Saintess's conditions, I lack information.

"At least I hope you'd trust people a little more. There are so many good people in the world."

Like that nameless wolf healer who was somewhere.

I ended the conversation and adjusted my stance.

After signaling him with a nod,

the two swordsmen clashed.

"Alright, I can handle it now!"

"Do you really think so?"

I clashed swords with Kainel. The gap in strength no longer widened. Even with little practical experience, a Hero is still a Hero, I suppose. It was almost frustrating.

A slight regret stirred that I might have given advice just to look cool.

'Still, I enjoyed it in the game because of this.'

I drew a curve on my lips.

Talking with him. Clashing swords like this. Training him.

It was a continuous series of situations I had only ever seen as in-game text.

As a player of <Knight Heart>, what could be more joyful than this?

***

About two more hours passed, and we left the training ground in an exhausted state.

"Ugh~~ seriouslyyy!! If only I had a little more, I would've won!"

"You shouldn't be fixated on winning or losing. It's training."

"No, I even used Shine Strike, Licht. How did you block it?!"

"It's a secret."

Annoyed at losing in the end, he was pressing me to know what I had done. You'll find out if you go hiking with Old Man Drake a few times. I let out a small sigh.

"So, how was it?"

"Not being afraid is good in a fight."

"Is there any easy way?"

"Well. Being chased by a bear, or if a Grand Sword master spars with you as if to kill, you'd probably get better."

That was referring to my own experience, by the way. Because they were all real experiences from training with my master. Kainel, if you tumbled like this, it would be strange if you didn't get stronger.

"What? Then are you really acquainted with Mr. Drake?"

"We're from the same village."

"Where is it? I'm from Labranse Village."

"I'm from Sprout Village."

We walked the night streets together, talking about this and that. Was this what being friends felt like? It was an awkward sensation, having felt it after so long.

I wonder how that guy in the real world is doing.

"Hyaaaaah!!"

Just then, a strange sound was heard.

In the direction of the scream, there was a human figure.

One woman and two somewhat burly men.

More precisely, thugs were seen grabbing the red-haired mage's wrist and pulling her.

'Were they here to pick up Kainel?'

It was Ariel.

"No! I have someone I like!"

"We just want to have a little fun, okay?"

"Looks like an Academy student. Quite pretty~"

She screamed, calling for help around her, but the Academy's operating hours were long over.

There was no one around, unless it was someone who had been doing swordsmanship training for several hours.

"Hey, Licht. That..."

"Why aren't you going quickly?"

"Right."

With his golden hair flowing, Kainel began to run towards her.

Look at him run, even using mana. He's really fast.

If it were the route from <Black Heart>, he would have hesitated here, seeing the Holy Sword not tremble.

Because he's truly a gentle person.

He probably would have just lectured the villains or watched them. The villains would have made excuses that Kainel misunderstood. The story after that would have been terrible.

But those flags were removed long ago. There's a reason I suffered during the carriage incident.

"Are you crazy? What are you doing to our Ariel?"

"Ka... Kai?"

Kainel snatched the thugs' wrists, snarling.

Like a Hero protecting her, he stood between the men and Ariel.

Now, with Ariel behind his back, they wouldn't be able to harm her further. Even if it doesn't look like it, thanks to the nameless Saintess, I'm the one who's only done Kainel's companion route.

"What's with this blonde guy?"

"Judging by his clothes, is he an Academy student too?"

Even with Kainel's sudden appearance, the thugs didn't back down an inch. If they had run away then, their limbs would have been fine.

"Uncles are a little scary, kiddo~?"

"Are you two making a movie? You're messing with our Ariel~!"

"Ehehehe! He's going to cry. Stop it!"

Unaware of their situation, they were slandering the Hero who had just fought similarly to me.

Oh dear, they crossed the line. It's the kind of bragging Kainel dislikes most. And they touched Ariel.

Sending a moment of silence to the extras who were now confirmed to experience the 'unknown ceiling' ending tomorrow,

'Yellow Dog, go bite!'

I recited the line that was often used as an emoticon in the community.

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