EP.114 32-4. The Unmelting Heart of the North.
I sat across from Asha and began to have a little conversation while eating refreshments and black tea.
"Nice to meet you, Licht."
It seemed that she had been staying in the North for a long time and had lost contact with the other Ten Greats.
"You dealt with Head with the same power of Akasha."
"..That's right."
The reason I lied that I was the Hero of Wisdom was obvious.
From Asha Aureus's point of view, I was just a third party.
This was better if I wanted to talk about the secrets between Nex and Asha.
"I didn't know Drake would take on a disciple. Have I been in the North for too long?"
Knowing the backstory was thanks to my knowledge in reality, and this would be right rather than emotions or reason.
"My ability is to find or hide information. Even if it's Omniscience or Ignorance, I was able to cope."
"I'm a little envious. It would have been nice if there was someone like you during the war."
In reality, Nex and Dennis also called me the Hero of Wisdom, and I heard that in the setting, the gods don't only pick one hero.
"Can I see the Holy Sword, Licht?"
"Ah, here it is."
I had Kiyu taken out in advance to make it look like the Holy Sword. Since the Holy Swords often have different abilities, I wouldn't be caught lying about using this.
"It's not fake."
"Of course it's genuine."
Asha Aureus fluttered a small feather made of flames to check whether the Holy Sword was melting or not, and my artificial Holy Sword didn't react at all.
"Hmm, I wish there was a hero who could handle spirits with the blessing of Pantos…."
My heart for Phine Gransia itself.
Now the future where she becomes a Saintess has disappeared and she may not like me, but my love will not disappear because of something like this.
'She's been glaring at me since earlier, and it's a bit chilly.'
It was a white-haired woman who was stuck to the wall and crossed her arms, as if she was dissatisfied with the fact that I was lying.
But Phine, unlike the Academy, there is a difference in status.
No matter what, this person is a superior. And an older elder.
The majority of players praised Asha for her beautiful appearance, but I didn't understand.
"..Which apostle is sending monsters to the North? Duke Aureus."
Ignoring Phine's sharp eyes, I asked what I was curious about.
"Shouldn't you know that much? Hero of Wisdom."
The tone of speech became cold rapidly.
Right. This person was originally like this. It's because the princess or the Northern Princess are next to her that she can't come out high-handedly.
She still hasn't let go of her suspicion. Then I need to lay the groundwork for this lie to work. The terrain of the North is mostly mountainous.
There is only one apostle who can bring the monsters living in such rugged and high terrain down to Caprostia.
"I already know about the Apostle of Wrath. Something more comes up."
The Apostle of Wrath, who puts the crowd in a state of anger. There was only one option.
"That's right. I'm sorry for testing you. I'm just a very thorough person."
"Would there be any objection. Living Sun."
Movements where each other measures each other.
Asha's thorough personality resembled her son, Nex. She is good at deceiving and understanding others. Why didn't she tell him the truth when they looked so alike?
"It seems the Demon Lord of Force did something."
That's when the word I heard for the first time came out of the Duke's mouth.
'Demon Lord of Force..? Was Finn or Dark Cloud such a demon lord?'
I only saw the name in the setting book. The power or ability must have been on that side.
There are originally four demon lords in the Hero Cult.
One of them is the Demon Lord of Force. Then maybe he uses military power and the force that disappears.
'If this is the case, it makes sense that Phine's strong strength disappeared.'
The puzzle pieces are gradually being put together. Now the remaining question is why she became a Saintess who uses divine power poorly.
But for what reason did they make the princess of the Gransia Empire such an Nameless Saintess?
It was even more strange if it was to check Emperor Roque. Even when I was challenging <Black Heart>, Bellin Gransia was being held hostage.
If he made the wrong move, he would burn the entire Empire to the ground to find the Hero Cult, but the risk was too great.
'I missed something. Think. Thinking is my strength.'
I habitually rested my hand on my chin and thought hard.
The Nameless Saintess was originally a weak person who was difficult to put in a party even for demon lord raids.
'..Was Phine threatening to the demon lords?'
This is the most likely.
As a magic swordsman who uses glass magic, she is very fraudulent, and she actually endured against Magic Hat to some extent.
If it wasn't for Phine, Kainel and Ariel would have retreated with great trauma. Or they might have been dragged to the demon lord's castle and suffered terrible things.
The Hero Cult guys are all crazy.
They pretend to revive dead people by making them up, or they only tell them terrible futures and break their hopes of living.
'But then why force…. Ah, Roque will try to kill her.'
If you make the princess of a country disappear, the ripple effect is great.
He attacked me even if I said a little misunderstanding, and Dennis has some resistance to ignorance.
It made sense to see it as reducing the number of cases that could occur. It would have been impossible without the help of other demon lords.
"But you don't have to worry now."
"Hmm. Your helmet is unique. Is that also an artifact?"
But would I leave it like that? Watch the person I loved fall into misfortune?
'I won't care about the penalties anymore.'
Head said that the future cannot be changed, but it was I, the Dark Knight, who denied it completely.
"That's right. Duke Asha Aureus."
"I will trust you. Please deal with the monsters with Drake from tomorrow. Hero."
I knelt down to Duke Aureus to show my respect, and I heard that I could help her prevent the attacks from the next day.
"From tomorrow? Shouldn't we start eradicating the monsters right away from today?"
"I, the owner of the Aureus family, am activating the Phoenix Cradle."
Asha, who was sipping black tea again, smiled at me as if she was there.
The golden phoenix wings that surround the entire Northern Territory.
Her son, Nex, only covered one building in the Academy. As expected, are the Ten Greats different?
"You look like Nex senior."
"..Do you know Nex. Hero."
I teased her a little. I needed to find out if she knew about the relationship between Nex and Charitines.
"Yes, I'm Count Nex's junior."
"..You're a student at the Academy."
Instantly, Asha Aureus's expression hardened. She was surprised to hear about her son, which she didn't expect. Being agitated meant that it could be used.
"Sunbaenim used the Cradle in this Head's attack as well."
"..."
An expression with the corners of her lips slightly pulled sideways. She must not have received a call from Nex.
"All the second-year students at the Academy were not injured, all thanks to him."
Clatter. She put down her teacup and got up from her seat and headed to the prepared room. Asha also needed time to reflect on herself.
***
I took out the bedding from the closet and organized it, then unpacked the luggage I had brought.
Except for simple clothes, there wasn't much to bring using Heart Sword. Somehow, I felt like I was alone again, and I remembered my room in reality.
It was filled with white goods, so I felt stable. I lacked our platinum wolf component.
'Don't they sell that here?'
At that time, I heard the doorknob turning and someone carefully entered my room.
"..Licht. Why did you lie?"
Surprise. I don't know when she followed me, but Phine chased after me with a slight time difference. A woman who was expressing curiosity to me with her wolf ears perked up.
"Because it's easier to be a liar."
"Licht, you know it's obvious, right..?"
"I know."
Phine sighed softly as she looked at me. It didn't matter if I was caught anyway. The name of Hero was something that followed what I did.
"Licht."
"Why is that, Phine."
Phine approaching me more and more. The werewolf was wrapping her tail around my legs again. It's soft though. I don't think my reason will hold out.
"Why do you always.. buy suffering?"
"That's my calling."
Because I have to make you happy, Phine. Even if I lose everything I can hold, it's enough if I protect you.
I almost spewed out a bunch of truths from my throat, but I held back.
The current her is not a Saintess. She is the princess of the Gransia Empire.
The current 2% affection can drop all at once like when Charitines was kidnapped, and
There is a high possibility that she will meet a good person other than me. Even if I caught Head, I am not the Hero of Faith. And I'm definitely not a prince on a white horse.
'Because I'm just a Pure Love Dark Knight.'
Like a Dark Knight who silently takes on infamy for the person he loves, I just have to help the love line that continues by her side.
Even if I don't completely trust the status window, it sent me here with just one beta tester invitation.
I also saw the CG under the magnolia tree by fulfilling one condition.
If the Grand Route is a lie, the game will be completely messed up, but seeing the warnings I've sent so far, there was no reason to do so.
It would have been safer not to possess me. They are the guys who know that I only dug the Saintess route.
"I'm worried about Licht."
When I was lost in thought, Phine made a sad expression. Her tail and ears were down and drooping,
"I hope you don't get hurt anymore."
The closer breath made it difficult for me.
Phine always shakes me up like this. Even in reality, I had severe burn scars and couldn't adapt well to people.
After my father passed away, she was the only pillar in my life.
"If you're trying to connect Nex-oppa and Charitines-unni, don't do it."
"..."
"What is love, what is engagement that's so important."
But unlike when she was the Saintess, perhaps because she had experienced being kidnapped by her mother, Bellin Gransia, she was taking extreme thoughts.
"It doesn't necessarily mean you'll be happy if you do that. Licht.."
With this level of concern, I felt something strange. What is the reason why Phine is giving me such special treatment?
In fact, I had been feeling that way for a while now. Last time, she suddenly tried to kiss me with the knowledge she read in the book, and
"Princess Phine Gransia."
Even now, she is expressing her possessiveness by continuing to wrap her tail around me. Actions that seem closer to obsession than love.
"Why? Licht."
Like the gigolo said, people can't be divided into black or white. What looks like a girl in love to someone.
"What do you think of me?"
In reality, it could be obsession. I swallowed the bitter saliva and barely asked her what I was curious about, and
"..Actually, I don't know."
The answer that came back was Phine Gransia, who lowered her head and avoided my gaze.
"But, one thing is certain."
She, who had been looking down at the floor, raised her head and looked at me, her golden eyes sparkling. The eyes of a wolf shining at night.
"Licht, you're.. precious to me. I don't want to be taken away by anyone."
That predator's eyes spoke the truth.