EP.106 30-4. Please Remember Me Under the Magnolia Tree.
As the night deepened, the intoxication began to mature.
"Hehe, Licht. Your face is red."
"Please don't lift my mask outside, Phine."
"Why..? I'm okay with it..?"
She continued to play pranks, such as lifting the mask of my helmet with a flushed face, or placing her hand on the back of my hand.
"It's unsightly. I lose my appetite."
"If you look closely, you're handsome. Maybe."
When I looked at her in surprise, she just smiled bashfully. So this was Lumen's Dream. It was definitely hard for me to keep my sanity because my head was spinning.
"Maybe? Are you saying I'm ugly?"
"Ah, I got caught. But you're cute.."
Cute. I heard that a lot when I was young, but it feels strange to hear it from a woman now that I'm all grown up. I drank water with it to overcome the intoxication.
"Licht."
"Why is that, Phine?"
"Is love, happiness?"
She emptied her glass one more time and glanced to the side. Next to her, Dennis and White Magnolia were smiling brightly and catching up.
They were talking about the feelings they couldn't convey to each other, the empty spaces where they were struggling without each other, and they were smiling with tears slightly welling up. Was she curious after seeing this?
Like during the summer festival, our Phine doesn't seem to know much about love.
After all, when she became the Saintess, she probably forgot her bad past due to Head's tricks. Her pure side might have become more prominent.
"..It can't always be happy."
"Then, is it unhappy. Like Professor Dennis."
"..."
The person who said that pure love was invincible was completely gone, but wouldn't she regain her bright appearance and fall in love someday?
"Think about it slowly. There's no right answer in love."
Let's be satisfied with this much advice. I must not say something to Phine because I arbitrarily overlapped the image of the Nameless Saintess.
"Is Licht, going to tell me?"
"Pfft."
The white-haired woman lowered her gaze while saying that. She was making her golden eyes bigger towards me, slightly looking up.
"Ah, I was flustered."
I almost choked. Her and my affection level was only 1 percent. I don't have any intention of doing anything right now to raise this.
"It's just your imagination."
The emotion of love cannot be calculated numerically. Even if I can see the status window in front of me and the affection level is displayed, it can't be love.
'If I was only thinking about raising the percentage, I wouldn't have naturally tried to help Kainel and Ariel.'
The reason I purposely avoided the situation and advised them to face each other's feelings was the same. Even though it was for the Grand Route.
I didn't forcibly deny their intentions and lock them in a room alone. I didn't even reveal the fact that they liked each other.
'Besides, I don't trust the status window.'
In the first place, Nex and Charitines, Dennis and White Magnolia were also things that were displayed later.
The percentage goes down when you're in danger... That's all. I only gave Phine light advice on finding her and didn't help her.
It was as if I was testing whether I could love her even if she became a Named Princess. What's the reason?
"Even like this..? It's just your imagination? Licht..?"
As I was habitually resting my hand on my chin and thinking deeply, Phine approached me with the smell of alcohol.
We were just facing each other. Why all of a sudden? Her pure white ears perked up, and her white tail wagged like a dog.
"Shoulders wide..."
Hmph, I felt like all the nerves in my body were reawakened by the breath that reached my ear. Hot and small breathing.
"Let's stop drinking. You're too drunk."
"I don't want to.. Licht.."
I snatched her glass. My stomach was already churning and drowsiness was coming, but this had crossed the line.
"I'm a Dark Knight, you know."
"Ah..."
I poured the transparent alcohol into my throat. This is really strong. But why are you staring at my lips? Ah, is this indirect kiss?
"..I drank it."
Our Phine's health is more important. What if someone snatches her away? I overcame my embarrassment and said something.
"Could it be that you're trying to get me drunk? Phine."
"Ah, no..?"
Judging from her reaction, it was true. Even if she shook her head violently and denied it, she couldn't fool her tail and ears. A white tail that had become like an exclamation point in surprise. Constantly perking wolf ears.
"Excuse me, can I have a chocolate drink here?"
What was Phine planning to do? Normally, it would be right to fall for her tricks, but her tongue was all twisted.
"If you want to get me drunk, don't do it this way, be more confident."
Thump. The ordered drink came out as the table rang, and I grabbed her hand and laced my fingers together.
"Icicle."
With the other hand, I held the chocolate drink and activated ice magic. I slightly turned the glass to make the drink slushy.
"..If it's you, I'll drink it for you as much as you want. So, have this for now."
"Uh..? Was this mine?"
Phine tilted her head while looking at the slush that was slightly frosted. Right, in reality, I was a person who always ate ice cream to relieve hangovers.
"Hehe, it's cool and.. sweet.."
I'm glad it seems to be working. She was sticking out her pink tongue little by little and eating the slush little by little. She was like a small dog, so cute.
"So.. Why did you try to get me drunk?"
"I wanted to ask.. something. Hicht.."
The "L" in her name was missing. I poured all of the remaining Lumen's Echoes into the glass and swallowed it. I can't let her drink more here.
"The Nameless Saintess.. I was curious about what kind of person she is.."
Her wolf ears and tail were drooping. There were too many people to talk about it here. What should I do?
"..Finish drinking that and let's go outside. Phine."
"Okay, Licht."
I put my academy coat on her, secretly finished paying the bill, and left the pub.
***
The heat of summer hadn't cooled down even at night, so I sat down in front of the empire's fountain and opened my mouth.
"What are you curious about regarding the Saintess?"
Thump, Phine's head went up on my shoulder. Her white hair fell on my legs, and I felt a light weight.
"The Nameless Saintess is... What kind of person is she to you..?"
So it finally came. It was understandable that she would be curious. Even in the incident with Magic Hat, I tried to die while mentioning the Saintess, or I mistook her and called her in my trauma.
Was it right for me to resolve this misunderstanding?
Would she believe me if I said that she was Phine Gransia from a future timeline that didn't exist now, and that I loved you when your life was at the bottom of the pit because of the Demon Lords?
"I know she's a precious person to you.. Licht."
The attribute probably changed with Magic Hat's power, and her memories and name were forgotten due to Ignorance.
Could it really be called a happy life? She was a lonely wolf with no family or friends.
"She was an unforgettable first love."
"..First love?"
Let's only tell the truth here. Just like she liked all of me, I must not only love a part of Phine Gransia now.
Whether she's a princess or a saintess, it's right for her to enjoy a happier life.
"It's an unrequited love that I can't meet now. Are you satisfied? Phine."
Even if fate changes and I can't be with her, I'll be satisfied if she's happy.
"Men are all the same."
Then Phine gave off a slightly unpleasant voice again, as if she had thorns growing out of her. Why was she suddenly so angry?
"I kept my promise with Licht too."
"..."
"I didn't even say you were weak, and I gave the Dragon Heart to Licht."
She looked up at me quietly. Her eyes were red as if she was about to cry. I thought it was the right answer to say this, but it seems like it was the wrong answer.
"Do men.. all can't forget their first love? Why do you give them your liver and gall?"
"Phine..."
The heartbeat in my chest resonated several times. She must have had a hard time healing me. The people around her would have been hit by the Demon Lords twice.
"I know."
"The next Saintess didn't even show up even though you were about to die...!"
After all, the Saintess is a person chosen by the God of Light, and even before becoming the Saintess, they are superhumans who are proficient in divine power. I understood why she was so angry.
"I... I feel stuffy.."
"It's okay. I'm alive."
The logic would be that there was someone whose life was in danger, and that a human who was only looking at her and was even shot by Head, should have at least come and cast healing magic, right?
'According to what I heard from Kainel later, she stayed by my side for more than half a day to save me...'
But you were a special case. Phine Gransia. How can I bring your future self?
"Next time.. tell that Saintess to come and heal you.. I won't heal you.."
Phine's hand that was holding my arm gained strength. Now it even sounded like a resentful tone.
"That's not possible. She's a very busy person, Phine."
Before she got sulky, I quickly stroked her head. I felt a tremor at the gently stroking hair.
"Hoo.. Licht.."
"By the way, where did you learn that men are womanizers and can't forget their first love?"
Now her wolf ears were completely turned back so that I could stroke them easily. I shouldn't be doing this, but our Phine is gradually adapting to my touch.
"I saw it in a book.."
The princess, who was closing her eyes as if she was comfortable, slightly tickled her chin, and then she widened her eyes as if she had woken up a little from the alcohol.
"Look.. Men are all wolves and perverts.."
The princess was slightly hesitant and swallowed her words. Wouldn't even this slander be a reward if Phine gave it to me?
"What kind of book are you reading?"
"Romance novel.."
Romance novel, now that I think about it, that was her favorite setting. But does it come out so obscenely?
"Why are you reading that..."
"The protagonist looked like me."
She leaned a little closer to me and started talking. My reason was confused by the scent of roses and the woman's skin that I felt through my clothes.
"A heroine who has lost her emotions is loved by four male protagonists."
It was a reverse harem. As soon as I noticed that our platinum wolf had read a forbidden book, my mind became clear.
"The male leads crave love, but the heroine falls into tragedy or can't be happy."
"..Reality and stories are different, Phine."
"I used to think they were the same..."
That was when it happened. She lifted my mask and smiled. Brown eyes and golden eyes looking at each other.
"Hehe, until I met Licht..."
"I'm a Dark Knight, so I'm different from those perverts."
Blood rushed to my face. I knew Phine was beautiful from the start, but the distance was too close. Men and women leaning sideways with the fountain in the background.
"Actually, I know. Licht is kind."
She mentioned the time when I was shaking the glass and making slush. She was always happy that I was considerate of her like this, which was different from others.
"You always took care of me and protected me."
"I didn't do it for a reward... We're friends..."
"Friends... Friends..."
Suddenly her eyes became thin like crescent moons. I had a sudden thought that I had touched something dangerous.
"Then, wouldn't it not be friends...?"
Thump, she grabbed my nape with both hands. The face was getting closer and closer. Her soft-looking lips were shining moistly in the moonlight.
"Phine. Wait a minute, you're too drunk."
"..Then, if I do this, will you treat me as a precious person, like I feel about you? Licht."
It seems like Phine is acting drunk because she's drunk. I've never seen this situation before.
I tried to get out of it, but her wolf eyes were already trying to devour me like a predator in front of its prey.
"You're already a precious person to me, Phine."
"I know it's real, but I can't believe it, Licht."
Phine gently closed her eyes and slightly opened her mouth. The small wolf fangs that could be seen from the inside. She was acting like she was about to kiss me.
"I want to be more special to you, like that Saintess person..."
I tried to push her face away with my hand, but,
"Ugh.. Licht.. I saw in a book that men fall for this.."
Every time, she was shaking her head and resisting cutely. The wall in my heart was gradually collapsing.
'I shouldn't be doing this, I shouldn't be doing this...'
My head was full of alcohol and I couldn't think. Was it right to accept this as it is? I closed my eyes tightly and made a vow to do it just once and move on.
"Princess Gransia!! Emperor Roque is calling for you!!"
A wolf man wearing golden armor jumped out in front of us, who were just about to have our lips meet. Behind him, knights wearing different colored armor could also be seen.
I've seen this somewhere, could it be.
'The Imperial Guard.'
They were attached to Phine too. I was startled and distanced myself from her. I still don't want my head to fall off.
"Father...?"
She looked at the kneeling knights while trying to hide her red cheeks, but their faces were pale as if the blood had drained from their faces.
"Yes, it is also ordered that Licht come to the Imperial Palace with you tomorrow."
What? Even me?
When I looked back on the situation, I felt a cold murderous aura. I felt like a sharp ax blade was being held to my neck.
"Gold, is it true..? Why even Licht.."
"We didn't hear the reason either, Gransia."
The strongest in combat power among the Ten Greats.
The wolf king of the Gransia Empire.
A lumberjack who creates a sonic boom with brute force.
A wolf that bites the sun and swallows the moon.
Emperor Roque Gransia summoned me and Phine.