As I scanned the surroundings, the gravity of the situation hit me hard.
“Am I already too late?”
The marks of Kainel’s Shine Strike used dozens of times, and the ashes of trees reduced to cinders by Ariel’s fireworks magic, painted a grim picture.
‘They must’ve lost. They hadn’t learned their ultimate skills yet.’
Despite the clear evidence of a fierce battle, the Hero’s party was nowhere to be seen. Their absence only pointed to one conclusion: they had been defeated. Frustration welled up within me, and I pressed a hand against the forehead of my helmet.
“…Huh.”
On the ground, a trail of shattered glass fragments stretched forward like a path. Mardol had left behind a signpost for me.
Following it would undoubtedly lead me to the Demon Lord. Without hesitation, I readied myself to sprint.
「Wolf Fang.」
The blood surged through my body, amplifying my instincts. My entire being was honed to run, relying purely on raw speed and the techniques of the Gransia style.
‘Think. I know Magic Hat’s patterns.’
This was the moment to prove why I had exclusively mastered this style. No matter what, I couldn’t allow Kainel, Ariel, or Mardol to die.
‘Even if I face the Demon Lord myself, there’s a way to protect them all.’
It would require reckless acts, staking my life—or both.
I ran like a wolf chasing its prey, lungs burning and heart pounding as though it would burst. My legs felt like lead, yet I pushed forward relentlessly.
Eventually, I emerged into a clearing in the forest.
“…”
The glass trail ended here.
“Now, for the grand finale, dear intruders.”
There she stood: the magician clad in black from head to toe, a figure I could never forget.
Magic Hat, the Demon Lord of Truth, was pressing her cursed Trump Card against Mardol’s neck, threatening his life.
“Kai… I’m sorry… I’m so weak…”
Beside Kainel, who lay unconscious with blood dripping from his head, Ariel desperately clung to him, her battered body attempting futile healing spells.
“…Ha, seriously.”
I couldn’t stand it anymore. Fury erupted from within as I drew my sword. She had crossed every possible line. Just seeing Magic Hat’s smug smile made me feel sick.
“Nice to see you again, you bastard!!!”
I roared, unleashing a Vacuum Slash in a blind rage. The blast was enough to knock her slightly away from Mardol, though it didn’t land a direct hit.
“Oh, oh my! And who might you be…?”
Magic Hat’s momentary confusion gave me an opening. I used Wolf Fang to close the gap instantly and unleashed a barrage of Reverse Scale Thrusts, targeting her weak points.
‘Of course. Without a Holy Sword, I can’t deal a decisive blow.’
Though my strikes passed through her, their impact was negligible. Realizing this, I shifted tactics to create distance.
─BOOM!
Using another Vacuum Slash, I sent Magic Hat flying into a tree with enough force to buy a few seconds. The impact caused the trunk to split, and I couldn’t help but smirk.
Serves you right, you edgy lunatic.
“Licht…?”
“Helmet! What’s going on?!”
I heard their voices as I stepped back, ensuring some distance. Fortunately, Kainel was the only one still unconscious—the others were coherent enough to speak.
“Mardol, lend me your hand for a moment.”
“…Oh, okay.”
His status wasn’t critical, so there was still hope. Grasping the Glass Knight’s hand, I activated a skill I had prepared specifically for moments like this.
「Savior’s Sword.」
A Paladin’s skill.
It was something I had chosen to complement the healing limitations of the Nameless Saintess. With this, I could restore everyone within range, even with my meager mana reserves.
Plunging my sword into the ground, I knelt and raised my head skyward in a solemn gesture.
─Tink.
A gentle sound, like a droplet of water, accompanied the radiant waves of white light that spread outward.
“Licht, that’s amazing.”
“The wounds… they’re healing? I couldn’t manage that no matter what I tried…”
As a superior healing skill, Savior’s Sword outclassed conventional magic. Even divine energy seemed to yield to its radiance.
Finally, I let out a breath of relief. It had worked. Kainel and Ariel’s injuries were completely healed.
“Kai? Are you awake?!”
“Ariel…? Are you okay? I remember… the Demon Lord…”
Thankfully, the skill was effective. If I hadn’t known that clasping hands with Mardol would amplify the spell, it might not have worked.
“How’s your nap, Kainel?”
I teased the blond Hero with a grin as he groggily sat up. Someone had to lighten the mood after this disaster.
“…Licht? How did you… get here?”
“I’m a Dark Knight, of course. This is my job.”
I flashed him a confident smile, though my gaze held a silent reassurance. I was here to handle the situation—and the Demon Lord.
“Licht…”
“Oh, right. Let me let go of this.”
I quickly released Mardol’s hand, realizing we were still holding onto each other. He was staring at me intently, and I wondered if I’d somehow triggered another flag.
“It’s not… that.”
Huh. Now that I looked, his leg injuries had also been healed. The blood pooling at the joints of her armor had vanished.
“Is your leg alright, Mardol?”
“…Yes, thank you, Licht.”
If he had died here, it would have been the end for our Saintess too. I hated losing people more than anything else.
“Don’t mention it.”
Seeing everyone restored to normal, I let out a sigh of relief.
“Kai!! Waaah! I thought you were dead!”
“Honestly, dying might’ve been better than getting covered in your tears and snot.”
“…Hmph. I’ll let it go this time, Kai!”
The four of us exchanged glances, confirming that we were all alright. Ariel even nodded at me in gratitude for saving Kainel.
“Thank goodness. Everyone’s okay.”
“Thank you, Helmet… So you’re a Paladin, huh?”
“Seriously, Licht, you’re broken…”
This could’ve been like the unhealable wounds from . I was incredibly lucky to arrive in time, even against the Demon Lord of Truth.
“…Licht. Be careful up ahead.”
It was then that the mad magician began to approach, her twisted laughter growing louder.
“That black helmet… Could it be… My beloved? You’re alive!!”
The woman in the black tuxedo greeted me with open arms, a delighted smile on her face.
Something about her felt terribly wrong.
“…One question, Magic Hat.”
But why did she feel so off? Her figure, her voice—everything about her seemed more feminine than it should’ve been.
“Why are you a woman?”
Her long white hair and golden eyes made my stomach churn. She scraped at my nerves in the worst possible way.
“My beloved… You don’t remember? I’ve always been a woman!”
If someone else saw her, they might mistake her for the Nameless Saintess. Blushing, she shrank back as if shy, but I wasn’t buying it.
Shaking my head, I made my disgust clear.
First of all, the Magic Hat I knew was male. All four of the Demon Lords of the Hero Church were.
“Come with me to the Hero Church, my beloved!”
“…”
Second, she had human ears, not wolf-like ones, and her golden eyes weren’t lupine. Her voice, too, was completely different.
“Hell no.”
I raised my middle finger without hesitation. The black-tuxedoed woman looked genuinely shocked.
“W-What? My beloved, you don’t remember me at all? Surely not, if you’ve come this far…”
Finally, the Nameless Saintess shouldn’t know me.
Like during the Servi incident, this faker pretending to know me wasn’t fooling anyone.
“Yeah, no. I don’t know any crazy witches like you.”
And the aura she exuded—it was nothing like the warmth and kindness of the Nameless Saintess.
No matter how much appearances might change over time…
“You’re so cruel! But that’s what makes you my beloved!”
The Nameless Saintess, with her gentle and loving nature, was someone I could never fail to recognize.
This imposter wasn’t her. Not by a long shot.
“…I already have someone, you know?”
My heart belonged solely to her.
Because that’s what it means to be the Pure Love Dark Knight.
Who the hell does this “beloved” nonsense think it’s fooling? Unbelievable.