LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 16
A week has already passed.
In terms of class schedule, it’s the second week. My body was gradually adapting to life at the academy, but…
“[You’ve joined the magic club!]”
…No matter how I look at it, this is not something I can get used to.
“[I thought you’d be reading romance novels in the book club! ♡(´ ˘ `)]”
That’s a no-go. I don’t want spoilers after meeting a sage. I’ve spent too much time playing the game. I won’t be swayed.
“[Then as a reward, let me give you some good information.]”
Oh, could it be something about the saintess?
“[There might be someone here who doesn’t exist in Night Heart! Isn’t that interesting? How about it? Did that help? ☆ｰ(๑•᎑<๑]” “That’s something I already know.” This morning, I sighed as I opened my eyes to the status window floating above my bed. This doesn’t seem to be visible to others. Even with a noisy heart shape dancing on the screen, the hero next to me didn’t spare a glance. It’s almost painful to look at if you see it often. “What’s up, Licht? Why are you talking to yourself all of a sudden?” Oops, almost forgot to use honorifics. I shouldn’t be doing this. It seems I’ve been too shaken by recent events. “I was just bored. Aren't you meeting Ariel?” “I should go now, she said she wants to grab something to eat, so I’ll be off first.” “Sure. See you in the classroom later.” Under these circumstances, I might as well step out. I don't want to interfere with their date. Sorry, but I’m not one to meddle in other people's love lines. I waved goodbye to the golden retriever as I opened the door. The sound of metal clanking echoed. Immediately after, I pulled out my notebook. “…No matter how much I search, I can't see anything else.” I felt uneasy ignoring the phrase that popped up in the status window. Just looking at Professor Beatrice, there were too many unpredictable elements about me. An intellectual attacking a Fox Slime? It would be a relief if that doesn’t appear in the news. ‘Should I look among the clergy? Definitely not the first saintess... but I don’t know this person’s appearance.’ I flipped through the pages multiple times, and then my hand stopped. ‘The Platin Wolf.’ Once again, the name in the blank stared back at me. I bit my lower lip. I'm lacking to find out her whereabouts right now. “...Could she be somewhere else?” My vision swayed. Dizziness overwhelmed me, and I sighed before closing the book. Even rumors of the Northern Grand Duchess being among the new students haven’t circulated. She’s probably busy fending off the monster attacks right now. I recalled someone who preached about the setting until blood flowed from their ears. “...” I glanced at the transparent window in front of me. The status window wouldn’t provide any hints. What game would kindly guide you to the hidden ending? I shouldn’t trust this too much nor ignore it. There were NPCs in the game that didn’t show up even with data mining. “First, I should walk and think.” Getting some fresh air and organizing my concerns is the best way to do it. I prepared to take my sword with me. “This is going to break soon. I should get it repaired when I have time.” The cracked sword caught my eye. Even with two bodies, I felt insufficient. Who’s going to watch over the love lines in my stead? *
I started walking. There was still plenty of time until the morning lecture.
I aimlessly circled the academy, thinking that something might happen if I keep wandering.
That’s when I saw a familiar face. Looks like I hit the jackpot.
“Shar, you really like my spirit that much?”
“Of course! It’s the Phoenix of the Aureus family!”
“Well, that’s a relief… But it’s so tiny.”
“What’s the importance of the spirit’s size? It’s the heart that matters.”
Two individuals sat close together on the terrace.
A purple sparrow perched on the woman’s hand, rubbing its cheeks while being cute.
‘Who is that…?’
I felt a sense of déjà vu from the man with the purple hair.
Nex Aureus from [Night Heart]… the player’s rival.
Among the users, he was more commonly referred to as the Purple Fox rather than Phoenix.
His spirit was quite strong, and his appearance was shrouded in mystery. He had a knack for deceiving people and was skilled at lying.
He was a standout character among others.
He would normally be a womanizer. However, the two individuals I was looking at clearly seemed like a couple, happily sweet-talking each other.
Am I seeing things?
“Don’t you have classes today, Nex?”
“I took a private holiday to see our Shar. It’s the adjustment period, so skipping is fine.”
“…If that’s the case, I’m going to scold you. Ugh.”
“Ugh, what’s going on with this cleric, he’s exceptionally touchy!”
The guy I know always had a truck full of girls every time he appeared. So when I thought of his love line, I put him in the sideline.
Watching him drink joyfully while getting poked in the back by the woman felt exceedingly strange.
But wait, what did he just say…?
‘He’s a cleric.’
No matter how you slice it, he’s a vampire. The red eyes, pointy ears, and long black hair clearly showcased three characteristics of his race.
Well, I guess there are wolf-ear healers too. Is it not a problem?
“Shar, actually, today is a day off. The professor has gone on a trip.”
“Wow, you’re really good at lying. That’s a bad habit.”
“Sorry. So please don’t use Divine Power Punch on me.”
“I’ll think about it.”
It seems he’s even using a pet name for her. His voice becomes sweet every time he says “Shar.” He’s not someone who usually remembers female names.
‘Hmph, girl. What business do you have?’
His tone lingered in my mind. Is this really the same person? He seems completely different. The voice actor used to perform with a very cold tone too.
I crossed my arms and rested my hand on my chin. I had a faint memory of something from my earlier notes.
‘Ah, could this be…?’
The message I saw this morning resurfaced. Someone who didn’t exist in Night Heart.
‘If my memory serves right…’
That nun might be the cause of Nex Aureus becoming a rogue.
However, my information must be heavily hampered. For now, I decided to stick with Kainel and Ariel in the classroom and observe these two.
I believed they’d do just fine without me. It’s sad knowing there’s truly no one who can help me in times like this. I sat down beside them, ensuring I wasn’t too close to be noticed.
‘In front of my eyes, the status window says, to unite the couple, so the saintess can find happiness!’
Who would believe such a thing? I’d be considered a lunatic if I’m not careful. A bitter laugh escaped me.
“Oh, Nex. Let me tell you something.”
“What is it, Shar?”
“I have a little brother who’s been close to me since childhood. He just enrolled in the academy this time!”
“Then he’s a new student. It’s been a while since I’ve been in the liberal arts, so I probably won’t meet him.”
Nex crossed his legs, looking at me with a suspicious expression, as if he had a guess about something.
“He’s super cute! He’s someone famous you’d recognize…”
“What’s his name?”
“He probably goes by the pseudonym Mardol. With his unique attire, it should be easy to recognize him.”
“Hm, then wouldn’t it be harder to find him?”
The woman named Shar smiled brightly from beside him.
‘With a pseudonym…’
Ugh, it’s the Crown Prince story, isn’t it? This guy just keeps popping up. The creator really has a soft spot for him.
“Could that be him? The guy with the black helmet? I’ve been watching him here for a while.”
“No, that kid is different. He wouldn’t wear something so unfashionable.”
What’s wrong with a Black Knight? I narrowed my eyes from inside my helmet.
Nex must be different; he was caught staring.
“It’s a student wearing glass armor.”
“Ah, then that’s probably him. I think I’ve seen him before through the head of the family.”
“He was a bright child ten years ago, though…”
“Right? It’s been about ten years.”
The two of them wore a nostalgic expression.
Seeing that scene, I felt a sense of urgency.
‘I need to think of a way to escape the route somehow.’
If I get any more involved, a flag will stick to me. Am I going to eavesdrop on the protagonist’s backstory?
That’s definitely heading towards the Crown Prince route. The creator has definitely caught on.
‘You’re the only one who understands me! My Lady!’
I recalled Lupus launching a confession attack on the heroine.
How terrifying. It’s too early to give up on the Saintess route. I have no one else in my heart.
Unless the Platin Wolf has someone they like, I plan to prioritize her happiness as much as possible.
Just because I follow the game’s story doesn’t mean I’ll succeed in love. Feelings can’t be tampered with.
Love is like that.
Following the story as it is doesn’t mean everyone falls for each other.
Knowing someone likes you and succeeding in a confession doesn’t guarantee anything; I know that, even without real-life dating experience.
I learned a bit from the book the Nameless Saintess likes.
“…Please don’t spread rumors about me reading romance novels anywhere, okay, Mister.”
That’s why I despise male protagonists in harem stories with loose logic. There’s a plot, but no realism.
If you want to claim love, at least put in some effort.
I leaned back in my chair, feeling fatigued.
“Excuse me… do you want to order?”
“Ah, yes.”
A waiter approached me as I squeezed my eyes shut. I guess the helmet hides my face.
Alright, I’ve decided.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
A route for a route.
“Is there such a thing as ‘a drink that changes from ash gray to golden’ here?”
“Excuse me? We don’t serve that.”
“What a pity. It’s a fussy ingredient, after all.”
The worker looked at me with a blank expression, as if he thought he heard something strange.
“I thought the egg of a phoenix that doesn’t awaken would be rather common.”
It didn’t matter. My goal lies elsewhere, so it was just something I said.
“…What did you just say?”
Success! He looked at me in disbelief, his playful expression vanished from his face. Knowing the affection options has its perks.
“Nex? What’s wrong?”
“Wait a moment, Schartines. I need to check something over there.”
Nex Aureus stood up and walked towards me, his footsteps growing faster.
He probably never expected to hear that outside the family.
I’m throwing shade at the current head of the Asha Aureus.
‘The side story DLC where Asha Aureus’s hair changes color as she realizes love.’
It’s a secret most people don’t know. Being one of the Ten Heroes, one of them had a constitution where the spirit didn’t awaken.
The story goes back to a time when the girl with ash-gray hair faced a crisis of her family collapsing due to her dormant phoenix, and the player rescues her.
As you progress through the bonus content to raise her affinity, her hair gradually changes to golden as she eventually gains the spirit like Asha Aureus in the main story.
Honestly, to someone who’s a fan of the saintess, it looked like a package deal. Reading those reviews has helped me a lot.
Creak the chair in front of me shifted.
“Hmph, commoner. Have you lost your mind? I might forgive you if you say it’s my fault, but…”
“I’ll say that I’ve only lost half my mind, Your Highness.”
“…Do you know what happens when you speak ill of the Ten Heroes, commoner? How dare you say such things in front of the heir of the Aureus family…”
Unlike earlier, his tone had reverted to the way I knew.
‘You know the academy doesn’t observe social status, right? You’re just anxious and made a mistake.’
Now he’s even acting! Sorry, but I can’t be fooled. I know his fighting style too well as my knowledge of the character from [Night Heart] is extensive. Nex’s eyebrows were twitching.
“This is interesting. Awakening a spirit by forcibly binding a contract, and you, yourself, hadn’t done that, right?”
I grinned from inside my helmet. I think arranged marriages are soulless. That’s definitely something I would say from the heart. There’s no way I’d get caught.
“Are you not afraid of the living sun? You’ve truly lost it.”
“Don’t you think the same?”
“What, what? How dare you…”
“Let’s be honest. You said you wouldn’t accept the riches your family gives you, right?”
I remembered that he was a spoiled brat who used to tell the members of the harem to back off because he didn’t want anything like money.
In the end, he was only sticking around because of appearances or power.
‘He seems like he’s got a deeper backstory than I thought,’ I guessed.
I’ve heard that the engagement is something his family pushed for, ruining Nex’s life. It’s detailed in the settings guide too.
“How do you know that… Wait a minute. Who the hell are you?”
“I have my ways of knowing. You know about the Ten Heroes, right?”
At this point, he should suspect something. Making him think he’s misunderstood that I’m related to the sage would work to my advantage. If caught, I can just say I’m Drake’s disciple.
Then he hid his threatening demeanor and fell deep in thought.
“…Junior. That comment you just made. You were sincere about it?”
The passionate nobleman seemed to have vanished, and he returned to the tone I didn’t know. Is he trying to match things since we’re in the academy?
‘This man is really hard to let my guard down around.’
He’s a clever character. If I hadn’t caught on, I might have been tricked. Saying the wrong thing could lead to trouble with a rival like him. I wish Kainel were only half as perceptive as Nex.
“Yes, of course, I’m serious.”
“Haha.”
Nex’s expression momentarily froze upon hearing my answer, then a smile started to emerge.
“..You too dislike our head, huh? This is the first time I’ve ever met someone like you.”
“I don’t like him personally.”
“Right, we need people like you. It’s good to have a bit of courage. Junior.”
He grinned widely, as if he had found an ally.
The waiter seemed oblivious as he leaned over towards me, and he spoke. The golden phoenix symbol reflected and sparkled.
This might help with my escape route from the Platin Phoenix.
Harem crusher, I’m counting on you!
*
At the [Grancia Empire Confectionery], there were three individuals, just like Licht.
“So, why is Mardol here…?”
“I don’t know either…”
The blonde hero and the red-haired mage stared at the glass knight.
“Regular customer.”
The girl, who had already plowed through several plates, babbled at Kainel’s group.
There was a movement from inside the helmet.
The hero purposely ignored that and spoke to his childhood friend.
“Ariel, what are you going to eat?”
“I just need something sweet… Oh? Have all the candies gone?”
“Here, there’s some left.”
Then, she handed a few candies to the mage. Just like the Black Knight, Mardol’s face was a sight to protect.
“Um, thanks, Mardol. Do you like sweets…?”
“Yeah. A lot.”
“Me too! Can you recommend something?”
“This one and the strawberry cake.”
I guess getting closer starts with food.
“I really want to try the strawberry cake…”
“For dessert, eat it.”
“Then what should I have for breakfast?”
“A sandwich. I recommend it.”
At this point, Mardol was already close, chatting about various desserts with her. Kainel simply stood by and watched as Ariel looked cheerful.
“Wow, this is super cute! It’s a bear-shaped sandwich!”
“…Cute.”
“But it’s too expensive…”
“I’ll buy you one.”
“Really…? But let’s pay half and eat together! Mardol!”
“Sure.”
Having purchased the bear-shaped sandwich, the two girls divided it in half. It would be quite a bit for one person.
“Oh, this is really delicious. Thank you!”
“Indeed.”
Ariel chewed the food happily, like a joyful squirrel, and beside them stood a glass partition.
“Why are you eating behind glass? Just like Licht.”
“If you expose yourself, you become weak.”
“I see…”
As she observed Mardol hiding his face while eating, the red cat girl couldn’t help but question.
Upon hearing that, she immediately agreed. There’s probably a secret he couldn’t disclose.
‘I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere… Ah.’
A sensation pricked at the back of Kainel’s mind. That scene felt oddly familiar.
“Is it customary for knights to give candies to people? That… Mardol?”
Ariel, having packed the strawberry cake she wanted to try, sat down next to Kainel.
He couldn’t shake off the sense of déjà vu from someone who wasn’t present at this moment.
His roommate, the Black Knight, came to mind.
“Wait…?”
“What’s wrong, Kain?”
The two girls stared at Kainel as if they were confused.
“It’s nothing. I guess it was just my imagination.”
He shook his head.
It’s a secret between the boys, and he decided to keep it.
‘Could it be that Licht had candy because of Mardol?’
Even he thought it was a stretch. No matter how oblivious he believed he was, surely that couldn’t be the case.
The golden retriever also purchased a crab sandwich to munch on.