In Nex’s case, it seems like he’ll need to resolve his conflict with Asha Aureus.
After all, isn’t the end goal of romance a happy marriage? I wondered if, when my romance gauge with the saintess rises, we’ll get married too.
“…”
The last illustration I saw before entering this world depicted just that, so it might be possible. Tears began to well up in my eyes. Looks like I’ll just be clapping from the sidelines.
“…Someone like me probably wouldn’t interest her anyway.”
When I thought back to being trapped in Serby’s dream, I realized how quickly I had recognized it as a dream the moment she touched my face. No matter how many times I mulled it over, I couldn’t imagine anyone being fond of this appearance.
Suddenly, an old memory flickered in my mind—words of encouragement from a white-haired woman in the past.
[It’s just that those people are bad. Don’t be discouraged, Knight..!]
But that was from the game, and this is the past. The truth is, the Saintess and I currently have no real connection.
“Reality is much harsher, Saintess.”
There were other characters in the game who spoke kindly to the player, not just her. I can’t cling to that. Even if I pursue the Saintess route, I have to discard any thoughts of actual romance.
I’ll be content just watching over her from the side.
After all, “love” is an artificial word created by people. It might not exist anywhere at all.
I let out a deep sigh. This time, I have to make sure I reach a happy ending.
I never want to see her sad again.
“…Headache.”
I opened the page labeled Demon Lord of Omniscience.
The description was about a demon lord who claimed to be summoned by a reaper from another world, obsessed with the number of lives listed in the Book of Life and Death.
The reason why I still had a somewhat positive view of him, compared to the Demon Lord of Truth, when I cleared the dungeon yesterday was because…
‘He’s the one who saved our Saintess.’
In the late stages of Knight Heart, the demon lord directly tells the player that there’s no need to kill the Nameless Saintess, that she isn’t necessary for his plans, and spares her.
After that, she’s forcefully removed from the final battle and survives until the end of the story, reappearing in the sequel.
In this way, he’s a demon lord who minimizes unnecessary killing when it fits his plans. However, if things deviate from his calculations…
‘He’s merciless and will kill or destroy with his powers.’
Dennis was an example of that. While he wasn’t killed outright, his lover was cursed due to the demon lord’s principles.
‘…I’m still too weak.’
I clenched my fist. Yesterday’s events went smoothly because I was lucky and my abilities aligned perfectly with what was needed. It felt like pure fortune.
But if the enemy had countered me with long-range attacks or any powers I couldn’t handle, I wouldn’t have been able to save Senior Charitines, let alone protect Nex.
Is it even realistic to think I can defeat a demon lord now?
Fatigue washed over me. I had no way to block a demon lord’s powers. I only knew the dungeon’s location, which was fortunate; otherwise, I wouldn’t have found anything.
I have to get stronger while protecting the romance lines at the academy. The Grand Route can’t fail either.
I felt like I was missing something, but I couldn’t quite grasp what it was.
The road ahead seemed unclear. I didn’t have any connections to secure a proper weapon. At the very least, if I had the holy sword, things might be different.
“There’s no good solution.”
Right now, I can’t touch the demon lord. As always in both the original and sequel, those who wield “powers” always cheat the game with those very powers.
…I have no choice.
“The Crown Prince route.”
No matter how much I think about it, I have to take that path.
The Saintess isn’t a combatant. If she faces the demon lord, will I, as I am now, be able to protect her?
She has holy power but was designed to be so weak that she couldn’t even kill a passing insect.
‘Charitines and Beatrice are the ones who are actually functional.’
In the game’s community, the Saintess was criticized as “useless” or dismissed as “a healer you use briefly in the early game and then drop.”
In the game, healers usually had combat skills. There were berserker-like clerics who swung maces and monks who shattered the earth with their fists. Even the wolf-beast people weren’t that rare. If they were from the empire, animal ears and tails like those of a dog or cat were common.
‘Look at the Imperial Guard—they all have wolf ears and tails.’
I simply liked her character, so I kept her with me until the end of the game. I beat everything with control and stats, so I didn’t care how weak her combat abilities were.
And when the battles were over, the little things she said during rest periods were what I enjoyed the most.
Her slightly high-pitched voice, transparent and pure personality, and the text that described her as smelling like roses.
[Again, I’ve only received your help, Knight… But please, don’t go anywhere else for healing. You have me, right?]
That memory still lingers when I close my eyes, and my heart beats faster out of habit when I remember.
[Huh? Why all of a sudden?]
Her soft giggle, the smile she flashed at me as she teased,
[…I might get jealous, you know.]
Those words are etched into my memory, making my heart pound.
“…”
I started worrying about her safety again. Where could she be, and what is she doing right now?
My throat felt dry. I began quickly flipping through my notes to find the most dangerous threat,
“…Magic Hat Masquerade.”
I recalled that the mad magician was the most dangerous.
He was the one who wore masks to deceive others and, in Black Heart’s final stages, even killed our Saintess.
This whole mess, my being in this world—it’s all because of him.
Now that the Hero Cult has begun its activities, he’s definitely going to make his move.
From what I’ve gathered, Lupus Gransia is probably the protagonist of *Grand Hearts Academia*. No matter how much I try, in the end, I’ll have to join forces with him.
For the sake of the Nameless Saintess, I can’t afford to be picky about my methods.
If I work with the Crown Prince and take down the Demon Lord of Truth early, I might be able to avoid the bad ending.
No matter what I do, the Saintess won’t remember me. If I just sit back, she could fall victim to the demon lord.
As long as I don’t break the conditions of the Saintess route, it should be fine to team up with Lupus.
My thoughts cleared up, and I realized what I needed to do.
“…I should go meet Nex first.”
With his spirit fully grown, he’s going to be a huge help. Even if the demon lord attacks the academy, the Phoenix Cradle should hold up.
“And I should pick up another Pure Love Injector.”
I also need to get a new sword. Being in the academy, they must have some for sale. I made my way out.
***
In a chandelier-lit roundtable room, five people were seated.
A variety of appetizing dishes were spread across the table, indicating this was a dinner gathering.
“…So, it’s all set now, right, Head?”
“Yes. By now, Nex should have mastered the Phoenix Cradle. My calculations have no errors.”
“You’re really cruel, Head. Reducing casualties like this? Why not just take care of it all at once…!!”
“No. We must follow the path with the highest probability of success.”
The woman in a magician’s outfit, holding a fork, glanced at the man in a suit with a monocle, who was alternating between reading a book and the food. Beside them,
“…I think this plan is great. Right, Finn?”
“Yeah, Intinium.”
Two people who appeared to be twins were smiling and eating, cutting into their steak, with blood dripping from it.
“The so-called Hero of Omniscience—his big plan was just a kidnapping. What a joke. Like some kids playing house.”
A long-haired man with deer-like horns sneered at the monocled man. The latter, clearly irritated, replied.
“Dark Cloud, watch your mouth. This is the best plan. And stop calling me that.”
“Well, if our Hero of Omniscience thought of it, it must be flawless, right? Haha!”
The white-haired woman tilted her magician’s hat as she laughed, leaning over and giving the man called Head a strong pat on the back, as if to cheer him up.
“…You should really learn to keep quiet.”
“Why? Weren’t we heroes once upon a time? Oh, I’m starting to feel hurt…”
“I gave up the name ‘hero’ long ago. Magic Hat.”
“Yes, sir, understood~ Lord Demon!”
Puffing her cheeks like she was pouting, the magician teased with a grin, while the twin siblings chuckled. Dark Cloud’s face twisted in discomfort at the scene.
“But seriously, was there any reason to use Serby? We have Gluttony and other apostles we could’ve used.”
“Because this way, we can exploit the opening. Hmm?”
Head’s hand paused as he flipped through the pages of his book.
Something big seemed to have happened. He was flipping back and forth between pages, breaking out in a cold sweat as he checked again and again.
“What’s wrong, Head…?”
“This can’t be. Nex was supposed to turn traitor this time…”
Head’s hand trembled, and all the other demon lords’ eyes focused on him.
“Hah, I knew it. Of course…”
“Eike, are you okay?”
Magic Hat’s crescent-shaped eyes gleamed as her long white hair fluttered, her golden eyes glowing.
“…This is going to be interesting!”
The Demon Lord of Truth laughed as he gazed at a name written in the Book of Life and Death.