EP.108 31-2. Wolves are surprisingly heavy with love.
***
The next day came, and I faced Phine with an embarrassed feeling.
“Ah, Licht.”
“Phine… did you get home alright last night?”
“Yeah, thanks to you.”
Now, she often took off her Masterpiece or glass helmet when there was no one watching at the academy.
“Let’s go together.”
It’s good that she’s so cheerful, but she’s too aggressive.
I was startled when I saw Phine grab my hand and firmly interlock her fingers with mine, and I shook my hand.
“Oh, did you buy a new hair accessory?”
“…Something similar, how does it look?”
It was hard to speak because she was so beautiful with a blue rose in her hair.
“You’re incredibly beautiful. Hehe…”
Phine moved even closer as I complimented her. I could feel the soft touch of our skin touching.
I knew she was doing this to support me because I couldn’t adapt to the Dragon Heart yet.
‘What if people misunderstand this?’
I should say that the level of intimacy is too high. She even tried to kiss me when it was only 1 percent. Just as I was about to have some doubts.
[Lee Soo-hyun♥Phine Gransia: 2% ‘NEW!’]
A heart fluttered before my eyes, and a transparent status window popped up.
Well, at this rate, it could be because she’s drunk. It must be because of the event where the romance level increases.
“Licht, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
The corners of my mouth turned up like crazy. At this rate, I might actually be able to date Phine….
No. The emotion of love cannot be quantified. This could also be the creator’s trick.
I could confess because it’s 49 percent and get rejected, and then it could drop to -100%.
‘In the case of Nex or Charitines, the romance level suddenly dropped.’
Love and romance should not be replaced with common and light words.
There’s a saying that you can know the depth of a thousand-foot water, but you can’t know a person’s heart.
If I misunderstood and made a sudden confession, we might become strangers from the next day.
But I can’t leave her side either. The unfortunate future that will come will not change unless I achieve the Grand Route.
From the beginning, it said that it would show a new ending only if the conditions were met.
Besides, it’s the worst to justify the means by putting one’s own feelings first.
‘Her happiness is more important than my romance level.’
At least until everything is resolved, I had to turn off my interest in my romance level.
If I go down the right path to happiness, it will definitely go up slowly like this time.
‘When Head almost inflicted ignorance on me, it would have been dangerous if I hadn’t used Mana Rose.’
I used to think about it simply, but seeing how the creator has hidden it so well, there must be many trials left to overcome.
In the first place, she’s not the Saintess from <Knight Heart> or <Black Heart> that I played, she’s a princess now.
A princess with a name. Phine Gransia.
I shouldn’t overlap her with my past memories.
It’s definitely not that I’m bad at dating. If I consulted a female friend, I could find out why Phine is being like this to me.
‘Would it help if I talked to Ariel?’
But those kids aren’t dating yet, are they?
‘Hiyahhh! Helmet! What are you talking about!’ She might be afraid of getting caught by Kainel.
If I told Charitines or the Heavenly Demon, it would definitely be passed on to Phine and she would be made fun of.
“Phine, why do you always hold hands with your fingers interlaced?”
“Does it bother you…?”
I’ve never been in a relationship in my life, but I calculated the other reasons why she’s doing this with the cold reason in my head.
I can understand if it’s because she likes to joke around.
Or, it could be that she hugs or gets close to people when she’s drunk.
I should stay by Phine’s side whenever she drinks from now on. A shady guy might be aiming for her, no matter how many Imperial Guards there are.
‘It’s hard to deal with emergencies.’
The Imperial Guard couldn’t come during Magic Hat’s or Head’s academy attack either. In the end, I have to protect her.
I put a lot of strength into my wobbly legs. There are many things to do in the future. I have to catch at least three more Demon Lords.
“Yes, it bothers me a lot.”
“Holding hands with fingers interlaced makes me feel safe, Licht.”
At that time, my reason was melting away as I saw Phine smiling brightly. No, it’s against the rules to have wolf ears lying there.
In soccer, this is offside. Don’t come out as an attacker when there are no defenders.
“What makes you feel safe?”
“Yours is big, thick…. and hard.”
Ugh, please don’t say things that people will misunderstand if they hear it. You sound like a character from a lewd game.
“Phine, please be careful with your choice of words.”
“Hehe, you’re embarrassed. Licht.”
Like a predator who has marked her prey, she is wrapping one leg around mine with her white tail in case I fall.
The memory of almost being kissed yesterday began to come to life in my head like rewinding a cassette tape.
“…Do you hate it when I do this, Licht?”
No. I like it a lot.
I instinctively had a slight tingling sensation down my spine, but anything was good if it was for our Phine.
“I don’t hate it.”
“That’s a relief…”
Even if her feelings are heavy. I just have to match them and accept them.
Originally, love is about walking together, matching each other.
If there’s even a one in a million chance that she likes me,
‘This might be okay.’
At least now, being trapped in the basement of the Imperial Palace might not be so bad. Wouldn’t I be able to endure even a confinement yandere?
“Sorry for being a little mischievous. Your reaction is funny….”
Her small smiling face is a great happiness to me, and a smile that I want to protect even if I have to burn my whole body.
“You can keep doing it.”
“Really..? You’re a pervert after all, Licht.”
I have to put up with being called a pervert. It was better than being an unhappy glass knight with no emotions.
“So, you like this….”
“I’m being lenient because it’s you, Phine.”
“Pervert, pervert Licht. Hehe…”
Because it’s the Dark Knight’s job to sacrifice for the person he loves.
“..Huh?”
This time, I decided to let her poke my cheek with her finger. I don’t like sitting still and being the only one suffering.
“If you keep doing that, I’ll have no choice but to do this too.”
“…”
Phine’s cheek, which was elastic and pushed my finger away. It’s so soft, is this what a woman’s cheek is like.
I grabbed hands with Phine, who suddenly became less talkative, and slowly headed to the Imperial Palace. I guess uninvited physical contact wasn’t a good idea.
“Phine? Are you okay?”
“Ah, uh-huh. Licht.. why..?”
As I watched her look at the distant mountains and react late, a sense of making a mistake surged up like a tidal wave.
***
The Imperial Palace we arrived at was a huge palace with a magnificent wolf statue guarding the entrance, and a luxurious feel with a mixture of white and gold.
“Let’s go in. Father will be waiting.”
Is this where Phine lives? The difference between each other that I confirmed with my own eyes was clear.
It might be similar when she was the Nameless Saintess, but now she is the princess of a nation.
“Licht..? Hurry up.”
“Just a moment. Just a moment….”
There was no way she could be the same level as me. I’m just a commoner. I was wondering if a human without a noble title could be friends with her.
She pulled me and walked into the Imperial Palace.
Ah, she’s really strong. I wish I had prepared myself a little more.
Creak─. Bang.
Was it because she had cast some kind of magic? The huge door opened as soon as I tried to enter, and closed as soon as I walked inside.
“..Phine? Are you next to me?”
Suddenly, darkness spread before my eyes.
I couldn’t even feel Phine, who had been holding my arm and hand tightly until just now. Complete emptiness greeted me.
“Who are you?”
At that moment, a heavy voice that vibrated throughout the dark space was heard.
The feeling of a sharp steel on the end of my neck.
‘This voice…. I’ve heard it before.’
It’s the Emperor’s voice. It’s also the voice of the Wolf King, Roque Gransia.
Is he trying to test me? This is the first time I’m actually meeting him. In the game I played before, there was no way I could get involved because of my low reputation.
I only saw his appearance in the new trailers when seasons or events started.
“It’s Dark Knight Licht.”
I gave my name. At least saying that I am the hero of faith like Head said here is the wrong answer.
“Wrong.”
He hated heroes very much. Of course, his empress, Bellin Gransia, had become a card for Magic Hat.
“Who are you? You have two chances left.”
I heard something hit the floor with a bang. Is it his weapon, the hand ax? An overwhelming sense of pressure was crushing me.
If this isn’t the right answer, then what is the right answer?
“It’s Licht. Your Majesty.”
Dark Knight is my job title, so it’s not ‘me’. It’s just the shell that surrounds me.
I thought this was the right answer, but what came back was the cold smell of steel like an awl.
Again, the sound of the ax blade hitting the floor.
“..Last chance. Who are you?”
Let’s think. That’s my strength. In the end, it’s a Zen dialogue with a set answer.
“It’s Lee Soo-hyun.”
I had to go without deceiving. At least if I deceived him, he might behead me.
“Correct.”
Then, I heard a small snicker. It seems I didn’t offend the Emperor.
“I hope you don’t feel bad that I tested you.”
“How could I feel offended, Your Majesty.”
“You’re quite a strong-willed guy, more than I heard. I like you.”
Looking at it this way, he looks exactly like Phine who is snickering. In a way, he may have resembled his father as well.
“I welcome you, Lee Soo-hyun.”
Suddenly, my nerves fluttered and my whole body didn’t move as if electricity was flowing through it. The lights came on with a tap, tap.
The sight in front of me suddenly brightened. Emperor Roque Gransia was in front of me.
“What can’t I do for the hero who saved my daughter and wife.”
A Therianthrope man with black hair and black wolf ears and tail.
Roque was sitting on a throne decorated with gold, looking down at me. I immediately knelt down to show respect.
“I see the wolf who bites the sun and swallows the moon.”
“Get up. At least you have no reason to kneel before me.”
Then, Roque, who smiled softly as if he were seeing something interesting, stopped my actions.
“…I have received much more from you. Lee Soo-hyun.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Glory to the Gransia Empire.”
I stood up only after receiving permission from the Emperor. The sense of weight is no joke.
Above all, when I was in front of that person, I didn’t think I could win if I fought.
‘That person is number 1 among the Ten Greats.’
The atmosphere itself is an insurmountable wall. I can see why the Demon Lords of the Hero Cult are afraid of the Emperor and have hidden themselves.
“Do you know why I tried to test you? Lee Soo-hyun.”
“It’s because I am not something else. Your Majesty.”
“That’s right. You are Lee Soo-hyun.”
It wasn’t easy to feel this sense of awe even when I saw the Heavenly Demon. I hid my trembling hands behind me to calm them down.
“The Imperial Guard who escorts my daughter told me your information, and the other Ten Greats also praised you.”
The Wolf King got up from his seat and slowly came down the stairs. A long cloak that was dragging on the ground. Luxurious attire that made him look like the Emperor of the Empire to anyone who saw him.
“In the end, I had a question: Who is the hero wearing the Dark Knight helmet to me?”
A wolf who was black from head to toe approached me. The Emperor with a long scar on one eye.
His fierce impression was staring at me, and as he got closer, the feeling of death gradually surged again like a wave.
“Lee Soo-hyun, I wanted to hear directly from your mouth the reason why you saved our daughter and my wife.”
“…”
Tap, his steps stopped in front of me.
“What’s the reason? Is it because of power or desire for fame?”
His main weapon, the hand ax, was hanging on the wall behind the throne. I felt like my carotid artery was about to be cut right away, so I grabbed my neck slightly and said.
“It was because it was the right thing to do. Your Majesty.”
“Hmm, the right thing to do. Why is it the right thing to do?”
Breath filled to the chin. My knees automatically began to bend to the fierce questions that were suffocating.
“Family… should return to the family’s embrace…”
Thud. Unable to overcome the Emperor’s pressure, I automatically put my hands on the floor.
“Not even one person should get hurt by the Demon Lord… because that’s the right thing to do.”
I barely managed to speak, panting. I was terrified that he was testing me again with a time difference, even though he said I didn’t have to kneel.
“It’s not something I did hoping for rewards or fame. Your Majesty.”
But I raised my body again with my will. These are not things I did hoping for something. I did it to save people with all my heart.
Things I did without knowing that Phine was the Nameless Saintess.
I didn’t want to become a brazen-faced human who would beg for a marriage or love just because I saved her life. Even if I went back to that time, I would protect people while sacrificing myself.
My faith will not waver. This is the right thing to do.
“…This is unexpected.”
The Emperor nodded, as if surprised, as he looked at my unwavering eyes.
“I will trust those words, Lee Soo-hyun.”
The pressure that had been binding my body disappeared with a whoosh. Roque, who even had a satisfied expression on his face, sat back on the throne.
“Let’s start the story now. Sorry for scaring you.”
“It’s okay, Gransia Your Majesty.”
Just when I thought I had caught my breath.
“So, what exactly is your relationship with our daughter?”
The worst possible question that I could imagine came crashing down on me.