EP.36 10-3. Even Running Away Embarrassed Won’t Solve Anything
***
Ariel, sharper than most, was quick to notice the Black Knight’s unusual behavior.
‘Something’s off about Helmet Guy.’
He’d been swinging his sword nonstop, cutting down every monster in sight. His movements were precise, but they carried a distinct air of unease.
It was as if his mind was entirely elsewhere.
“Kainel.”
“Licht. Do you want me to use Shine Strike over there?”
“Yes. I’ll handle the other side.”
This sudden group assignment was supposed to be about taking down strong monsters, or so Licht had said. But his actions didn’t match his words.
Slashing through swarms of monsters with reckless Vacuum Slashes, his bold strategy felt uncharacteristically rash.
Normally, he’d suggest something like, “Let’s be smart about this. Herd the monsters together to hunt them efficiently.”
“…”
Something was broken. A chill crept up her spine as she watched him.
“Watch where you’re going! You’ll hurt yourself, Licht!”
“Oh, sorry.”
Even now, he was so distracted that his steps were out of sync—his hands and feet moving awkwardly together. He didn’t seem to realize it until Kainel pointed it out.
“So, how long are you going to keep this up?”
“…Until a strong one shows up?”
“I’ll trust you on that. Seriously.”
Ariel had expected this to be like before, where their group dynamic involved teasing moments—like when Kainel had to backhug her, leaving her flushed with embarrassment.
‘But now he keeps sighing while glancing at Mardol….’
Now he seemed hollow, like his soul had left his body. This abrupt change wasn’t due to eating something bad, was it?
“Hey, Kainel.”
“Hm? What’s up, Ariel?”
“Did Helmet Guy and Mardol… fight?”
Her sharp intuition was close to the mark, but…
“I don’t think so? Why?”
“He seems off. And he’s even slipping out of his usual formal tone sometimes.”
“…Maybe it’s about something that happened a few days ago?”
Her childhood friend, the Chosen Hero, was always like this—brave, capable, yet clueless about the subtleties of human behavior.
“Something must’ve happened then…”
“It’s probably nothing. If it were something serious, he would’ve talked to us about it.”
Kainel shrugged nonchalantly, brushing it off as if it were nothing. Ariel felt her chest tighten. How had she ended up liking such an indecisive guy?
“Ugh… Kainel, this is exactly what’s wrong with you.”
“Hey, if he doesn’t bring it up himself, we shouldn’t pry, Ariel.”
“Then why is he acting so weird about Mardol?!”
That was what bothered her the most. Even though the Glass Knight was famously stoic, he didn’t seem like a bad person.
She’d seen him cradle a Fox Slime gently, and Licht’s elemental spirit clearly trusted him. He couldn’t be all that terrible.
But her frustration was mounting. While she loved Kainel for everything he was, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this situation was more serious than he realized.
“This isn’t right…”
Muttering under her breath, she decided to confront Licht directly.
The only person who had ever been proactive about helping her relationship with Kainel move forward was Helmet Guy.
“Helmet Guy.”
“What is it, Ariel?”
Back when he’d created opportunities for her to sit beside Kainel in the carriage, she’d been overjoyed. The only one who hadn’t noticed was Kainel himself.
“Aren’t you going to tease us today?”
“…I’m not really in the mood. Apologies.”
Her lack of emotional expressiveness didn’t help matters either.
‘I was finally getting closer to Kainel again, and now this….’
From the moment they’d met, her feelings for him had been instantaneous. But how could she possibly express that directly?
Not when she was naturally shy and prone to embarrassment.
She’d always believed that the confession should come from Kainel’s side.
‘We started drifting apart as we got older….’
Growing up in the countryside, she’d never thought of anyone but Kainel. But he was the type to swoon over every pretty girl he saw, and it drove her mad.
‘No way I’m confessing first!’
She still remembered how he’d once said he liked the girl next door. Ariel had never forgotten that moment and kept it locked in her heart.
“Why… why are you so out of it?”
The red-haired mage hesitated, fidgeting as she asked the Black Knight what was wrong.
“…Feels like it’s going to rain.”
His reply was ridiculous, given the cloudless blue sky above them. Ariel stared at him, dumbfounded.
“The sky’s completely clear…”
“Is it? Huh.”
This was serious. Goosebumps ran down her arms. The brown eyes behind the helmet seemed unfocused, distant.
“What the hell happened with Mardol?”
“…I don’t know.”
When she approached the gleaming Glass Knight, he didn’t offer any answers either.
If there had been a change, it had happened sometime after they’d spoken or after learning the joint technique.
‘All we talked about was visiting Gransia Bakery later….’
The memory of what Licht had been mulling over seemed insignificant.
“Mardol, you didn’t fight with Helmet Guy, right?”
“Why would I…?”
The Glass Knight’s subtle shake of his head indicated no disagreement.
All they’d done was talk about their shared love for desserts and mention a limited-edition parfait.
‘No, this is bad… really bad…’
She stomped her foot in frustration.
Her love life was on the line here. Licht had been her greatest ally in nudging Kainel closer to her.
From creating opportunities for them to walk together like a couple when they first arrived at the Empire, to subtly stepping aside so she could enjoy a sweet street snack with Kainel, Licht had always been there.
“Ariel, you should rest for now,” Licht said, his tone oddly distant.
“You’re getting my name wrong, Helmet Guy….”
The taste of that street snack still lingered in her memory.
‘Why are you acting like this?! Come back to us already!!’
She wanted to scream.
This was supposed to be her chance. At the Academy, she’d planned to win over Kainel completely, marry him after graduation, and settle into a peaceful life together in their hometown.
That plan had been coming together so perfectly… until now.
‘If you mess up now, Helmet Guy, my future’s doomed!’
Even during the last magic session, she’d unconsciously used gold and blue firework colors to match Kainel’s hair and eyes—an idea she got from a romance novel.
‘What the hell is the problem here?!’
Ariel thought Licht was truly one of a kind. Even now, when she confronted him about his odd behavior, he was handling things in his usual, peculiar way.
She grabbed his shoulder and gave it a firm shake, hoping to snap him out of whatever was clouding his mind.
“You’re making me dizzy. Please stop,” Licht mumbled, his tone dull.
She felt embarrassed to be this insistent, but at least his meddling had kept other girls from trying to steal her childhood friend. That was something.
“Helmet Guy, are you sick?”
“No? I’m perfectly fine….”
And there was that time during the piggyback incident—he had subtly given her a thumbs-up. Even someone as clueless as Kainel couldn’t miss that Licht was wholeheartedly rooting for their relationship.
“…Lies.”
Mardol spoke softly, his quiet voice cutting through the air like a blade. The Glass Knight’s assessment was on point: Licht wasn’t fine. He was falling apart.
And Ariel hadn’t even gotten a proper confession from Kainel yet.
“Kai, can’t you fix him somehow?”
“This? This is beyond me.”
Watching Licht sip water through his black helmet, Ariel wanted to cry.
***
The suffocating weight in Licht’s chest refused to ease.
The memories played on repeat in his mind:
Her smiling face as she beamed at a Fox Slime. The delicate candies she made from sugar and honey. The soft, melodic hum of her laughter.
Imagining those moments shared with someone else—someone better—made his head spin.
“Kainel, 11 o’clock. Next one.”
“Oh? Got it.”
What a fool he was. She didn’t even know he existed. His sword cut through another monster with violent precision.
Unlike Kainel and Ariel, they had no shared past. She wasn’t a childhood friend, nor had they met as comrades like Dennis.
He was unworthy.
In this world, there were no natural connections between them, no logical way for their paths to cross. Even the beta tester emails had only mentioned that she could be saved, not that he would be the one to stand beside her.
‘Of course. It’s another trick. Damn it.’
His whole body felt as heavy as stone, tension coiling in his muscles. His mind raced, reminding him of what lay ahead.
She’d fall in love with Lupus. They’d share a future, get married, and live happily ever after.
He had to stop thinking about this. He had to let go.
“Licht! One’s coming right at you!”
He needed to stop.
“Licht, you’re overexerting! Watch your strikes—your form’s sloppy!”
He had to quit this madness.
“…I should just keep my mouth shut.”
What was he even doing? It was pathetic and embarrassing. He’d misjudged his strength multiple times already, leaving broken trees and churned earth in his wake.
“…”
The chaos he’d caused mirrored his inner turmoil.
And yet, it wasn’t fair. If he ever met the Saintess in this world, he’d be willing to crawl on all fours just to stay by her side.
Confessing was something to regret afterward—it had to be done.
Pride? That wasn’t a luxury he could afford. Love, pure and intense, had already crushed every wall he’d built to protect himself.
“…Licht, are you okay?”
“Maybe.”
Mardol’s voice snapped him out of his spiraling thoughts. The Glass Knight’s towering frame approached him cautiously. Licht’s attempt to wave him off resulted in a clumsy, noisy shuffle of his armor.
‘Her happiness won’t be found with me.’
The scars on his face had marked him as an outcast before. If she stayed by his side, she’d only be ridiculed. The thought of her enduring such pain made his stomach churn.
“…”
It was too horrifying to imagine.
Thank God for the black helmet. He raised a hand to its faceplate, grateful for the anonymity it provided. If his true face were known, things could’ve been worse.
Lupus was the right choice—no question about it.
He was wealthy, capable, and dignified. His reserved demeanor only added to his charm. Even his appearance was the kind that drew admiring glances everywhere.
Who wouldn’t want someone like him?
‘This is what’s right, Soo-hyun.’
Licht closed his eyes, exhaling shakily as he firmed his resolve.
“Mardol! Can I borrow you for a moment?”
“…Why?”
Licht called out to the Glass Knight, deliberately choosing him from the group. Mardol approached, his massive frame moving with practiced grace.
“I have something to ask you. Do you know about the ‘Nameless Saintess’?”
“…Who’s that?”
The response caught Licht off guard. He doesn’t know? So even the protagonist hasn’t met her yet. That was reassuring, at least.
‘At least he didn’t say, “Oh, her? We’re already dating.”’
The petty thought made him cringe. The Saintess had endured so much misery over the course of two games, and here he was, letting jealousy taint his thoughts. He scuffed the ground with his boot, berating himself.
Pull yourself together.
“May I ask a favor of you? It’s important.”
“…A favor?”
“Anything you want in return—anything I can offer. Name it.”
Sliding his sword back into its sheath, Licht focused on the one method he knew would work. The crown prince’s authority was unquestionable, and if the imperial family got involved, even the Demon Lords would hesitate.
“Could you find the ‘Nameless Saintess’ and… look after her?”
“…Someone you know, Licht?”
The Glass Knight tilted his helm in confusion.
“Yes. She’s precious to me… though she doesn’t know who I am.”
“Not the second Saintess… right?”
Protecting the next Saintess would require dealing with the Hero Cult first. He needed the sharpest possible strategy for what lay ahead.
“She’ll probably be the next Saintess. She’s adorable and kind.”
Demon Kings—all four of them—were male. Licht had assumed their target wouldn’t be the Saintess, at least not at first.
But the kidnapping of Sharitines, the current second Saintess, shattered that assumption.
“Truly, anything?”
“…If that’s what it takes. I can teach you the entirety of Drake-style swordsmanship, but only if you keep her safe.”
“…Understood, Licht.”
Mardol’s interest seemed genuine. Success.
“Thank you, Mardol. I won’t forget this.”
This plan was the best he could muster. The imperial family had artifacts and masterwork weapons—tools that could hold off even a Demon Lord.
“Woohoo!”
“…Why are you so happy about this?”
“Because, Licht.”
For someone so stoic, Mardol raised both arms in an uncharacteristic display of glee.
“Strong person. Technique.”
“I’m not even that strong.”
“Lies. Licht. You’re terrible.”
Mardol’s unexpectedly playful tone reminded him of Nex, though the differences were clear. He was almost endearing in his sincerity.
“Haha, it’s not a lie! I’m really not that strong.”
Relief washed over him, leaving a faint smile on his lips.
“…Deceiver.”
He wished this moment could last a little longer.
But he knew better.
If he ever saw the Saintess standing beside Lupus, he wouldn’t survive the sight.