EP.102 29-3. 1% (Part 1 End).
***
The infirmary where the morning sunlight was seeping in through the curtains.
“It’s finally over, Phine.”
“Eung… Shar unnie… Thank you…”
Fortunately, Licht's surgery was successfully completed. As if someone had helped, the 1 percent success rate was meaningless.
“How many hours has it been…?”
“16 hours. I’ll go out and tell Nex and the others, so get some sleep.”
“Please…”
Even Phine Gransia couldn’t help but feel sleepy after a major surgery that consumed a tremendous amount of time.
“Aigoo..! Our Phine also worked hard!”
Squeak, with those words, the door opened and Charitines went outside.
She also had to inform Nex Aureus, who had been activating the Phoenix Cradle until now, of this fact,
“I barely succeeded..”
It was because she had to tell the people around her that the Dark Knight had survived even after being hit by the Demon Lord of Omniscience’s bullet.
“Hehe, Licht.”
Phine’s pure white wolf ears perked up. The movements that changed every moment as if they were antennas,
Found a regular heartbeat that went thump, thump.
“…It’s beating.”
In the first place, she, who could feel each other’s hearts beating because the circuits were now one, took that action because she was worried about the man’s safety.
“It’s a relief..”
She was happy that she had been helpful to him rather than that ‘Nameless Saintess’ or whatever who wasn’t here now.
The glass helmet that had been covering her was already on the table far away.
Even the Masterpiece armor was taken off.
“…Licht. Why did you keep covering your face?”
Feeling something unreasonable, Phine carefully lifted Licht’s visor.
Darkly laid out burn scars.
“I’m okay with it.”
Now that she knew the whole story of how Licht had been burned, she only smiled faintly while looking at his hideous appearance.
“He’s handsome if you look closely. Mhm.”
She was also young and must have been in pain, but she went back in again when she heard screams from a building that looked like an infirmary.
In a way, Licht in his childhood was also Licht-like.
She must have gone in and changed the original history in the attack of the Apostle of Gluttony. Or Licht was trying to sacrifice himself instead of that child.
“Licht.”
He’s a man who, if left alone, will jump out somewhere and try to protect people even while cutting down his own life.
“You worked hard. It’s okay now.”
She took his rough and rugged hand in both of hers and pulled it to her cheek.
Phine herself felt embarrassed by her actions, which felt like she was being drawn to a magnet, and her cheeks turned slightly red.
“…The hero who worked hard must be rewarded. You can’t die.”
Because her gratitude that he was alive was greater than those feelings. She didn't hate the slightly cold hand and continued to speak.
“Licht, actually, I.”
She slowly closed and opened her eyes. She liked that it was connected to the hand of the man wearing the Dark Knight helmet.
“…I thought my eyes were cursed until yesterday.”
The hands that gripped and swung the sword, with calluses everywhere and bumps.
Looking at that, she didn't think that her special body was strange either, and she felt reassured every time she held it.
“I could tell whether people were lying or not because my eyes are too good compared to others.”
Phine started talking to herself to overcome her sleepiness. The 2nd Saintess Charitines also left, so it was just the two of them in the room now.
“To be exact, it was incomplete. People’s hearts are really…. Contradictory.”
Licht was quietly breathing and sleeping soundly now, and the long battle with Head was also over.
“There were times when I thought it was a lie, but it was real, and vice versa.”
She sighed softly. The reason why she had a cynical personality like glass since she was a child was because of her mother, Bellin Gransia.
“…So I couldn’t trust people.”
There were also those who tried to approach her knowing that she was a princess, or nobles who tried to use her power or pain.
In simple terms, a distrust of humanity.
“I thought a lot while looking at you. Licht.”
To her, the man who should be called Lee Soo-hyun now, not Licht, was special.
“You’re so bad at lying that it’s comfortable because I don’t have to focus and look closely.”
Phine made a small laughing sound, and released the hand she was holding. She poked Licht's cheek with her finger to check his reaction.
“You show everything on your body. Because you’re a silly puppy.”
She felt something interesting as she watched him slightly twitch his eyebrows.
“Besides, I liked that when you lied, you weren’t trying to put others in trouble, but to help them.”
That was actually the case. It would have been very difficult to deal with Head without the three-dimensional magic circle. If it wasn’t for Licht, many of the students there would have been hurt.
“I don’t know how you knew, but I trust you.”
He hid the fact that she was a woman while not changing her title, and he knew from the beginning that she was from the imperial family, but he didn't show it.
“…You’re a precious person to me.”
Besides, he didn't run away even after seeing Magic Hat, but rather boldly walked out and succeeded in getting Queen of Hearts back.
An unmotivated good deed. Unmotivated goodness.
Phine Gransia liked those things. It was because he was different from people who calculated and weighed everything.
“That’s why I’m worried. I’m afraid that you’ll fall again someday.”
But the opposite was a dark past. She couldn't understand how a person could have lived like that.
“Is it because of the Nameless Saintess…?”
Her instincts as a woman were activating. Anyone could see that the path Licht had walked was closely related to sacrifice.
If the next Saintess had instilled strange thoughts in him, it made sense. Or what he had been through after being summoned as a hero.
“…”
Then it made sense that he confused himself in the trauma.
A man who reached the level of a Sword Master for the person he loved. No matter how much Drake helped.
It was largely thanks to his efforts that he grew into a hero who could catch Head Eike with a body that couldn't even use mana well.
“The person Licht likes. It’s probably right.”
It would be a lie to say that it wasn't painful. Even though she had fixed all the parts except her face now.
The two legs that had jumped high to block the Demon Lord’s ultimate skill had been broken until just now,
And the hands that used skills while being stabbed by the thorns of the Mana Rose to save her were a mess.
A Dark Knight who didn’t cherish his body.
“Your eyelashes are long.. Ah, that’s not it.”
She suddenly stared at Licht’s face and flinched in surprise.
The princess wondered if a man's eyelashes were this long.
“…In the end, my good eyes were needed to save you.”
She pulled the man's hand back towards her and placed it between her two wolf ears this time.
“My eyes weren’t cursed.”
The hand that was gently raised on her pure white hair. The throbbing flowed through each other's pulse.
“I worked harder than that Saintess. So.. so..”
Her lips trembled. She couldn't understand why she was trembling so much with just a few words.
“You did well. Compliment me. Licht.”
A barely uttered jealousy-mixed truth.
“…Euum.”
As she said that, she forced Licht's hand to stroke her, and the man wearing the Dark Knight helmet regained consciousness.
***
When I opened my eyes, there was a spectacular sight unfolding before me.
“Good morning.. Lichteu..”
“Ah… Phine….”
My hand was placed on Phine’s head, and she was holding it and making me stroke her head.
“Is your body, okay?”
Like a child caught doing something bad, she stopped what she was doing and asked me how I was doing, twisting her body as if she was embarrassed.
“…It’s so refreshing that it’s strange. Phine.”
The sunlight outside the window was reflecting her beautiful white hair with words and tones that were somewhat nostalgic.
“You worked hard. Lee Soo-hyun..”
Phine Gransia, who was smiling brightly after confirming that I was okay. There was no longer a glass helmet or armor covering her.
“There’s no Masterpiece..? No helmet either…?”
“I took it off because it was getting in the way when our Soo-hyun was having surgery.”
She did that to save me? Ah, damn it. She’s so cute. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I put my hand on her head again.
“Don’t call my real name like that so carelessly….”
Pat, pat. I stroked Phine’s head gently but affectionately so she wouldn't be surprised.
The feeling of the wolf ears that were caught on the tips of my fingers felt soft, similar to what it was like in the dream, and I liked it. A faint rose scent spread in the room.
So that’s how soft and flowy a woman's hair is. Amazing.
“I’ll do this for you. Phine.”
“Aht… Hueu.. You can’t touch my ears….”
She was looking up at me with her face turning red. That’s right, who told you to call my real name carelessly. Other people will really think I’m a hero if they hear.
“Should I stop?”
“Licht. Touch it more there….”
A completely melted expression. In fact, canidae animals hate having their heads touched, but they said they like it if they get used to it.
“Hehe..”
It’s now knowledge from the real world that I can’t even remember well. Let's put it down a bit since it’s in the game.
“Well, it’s over now.”
“…Too bad.”
I stopped stroking Phine’s head. I also used the method to appease the Saintess I saw in my dream just a moment ago, but if I did more here, I feel like I would become addicted.
The more I stroked her head, the more her lovely white ears tilted back and took a more comfortable position.
“Still, you felt refreshed, right? I heard that therianthropes like it.”
“Did that Nameless Saintess tell you..?”
“…”
Why is she so quick to notice? Is it because she’s talking about herself?
I’m the culprit. I’m a bad guy who made even our Saintess cry and came out of the dream. I had nothing to say even if I had two mouths, so I changed the subject.
“So, how am I alive right now? It feels like there are two hearts beating in one person’s body.”
“It’s similar, but different. The heartbeat that you’re feeling right now, Licht….”
Phine left my hand, which was on her heart, as it was, and pulled her other hand to the center of her chest.
“S-Saintess?!”
“..Saintess?”
“Ah, no. Phine. Please don’t do that so suddenly….”
I was clearly putting my hand in the middle of Phine Gransia's heart, but I was sweating as I felt the soft touch on my palm.
“Are you really a pervert? Licht?”
“…”
Truly overwhelming main wife power. All my nerves became sharp with the ferocious sensation that I could feel even through the clothes.
“…Anyway, it’s my heartbeat. You can feel it.”
“Yes… I can feel it…”
Thump, thump.
As I put my hand on it, our heartbeats were beating as if they had become one. But what principle does this work on?
I remember that there was no skill like this even if I had played the game for a long time.
If it's something similar to this, is it black magic or necromancy?
“Phine, did you use a life sharing skill?!”
“No, it’s completely different, Licht.”
Phine shook her head and calmed me down, who was startled because I thought she had used forbidden magic to save a dead person.
“It’s just… closer to being able to feel each other’s heartbeats.”
“Ah.. then maybe the magic circuits are….”
“I’ve completely connected them to mine.”
“…Huh?”
I thought it was just to confirm that the heart was beating, but that wasn't it. I don't know about the setting of connecting magic circuits with another person.
“..So, stand-alone magic like that will be impossible. But.”
As I was spacing out because my brain couldn't process the amount of knowledge that was rushing in, a voice was plugged into my head.
[Like this, it’s also possible for each other to use telepathic magic.]
The beautiful voice of a wolf.
What I had been hearing in my dream until just now was being heard in reality as well.
The slightly high voice that I can't forget even if I try to.
A cute laughter that goes hehe.
[I can heal your body if I’m by your side.]
[Ah, can you hear me? Phine?]
[Hehe, I can hear you well, Licht.]
So Phine had shared even her magic circuits for me. I felt a sense of helplessness at the sudden huge debt.
“Besides, I’ll be able to call Blackie.. later, right.”
My heart must have been hit directly by Head's bullet and had a hole in it. If it wasn't magic, how could it have solved the fundamental problem?
“Surely, the heart is…. The Dragon Heart?”
I swallowed hard, feeling an increasing sense of guilt, and continued my question. It can't be, right. There’s no way she put that expensive medium in my body.
“Yeah, I kept the promise that I wouldn’t say I’m weak, so.”
“Just to save someone like me…. Eup.”
The energy flowing through my body had been unusual since just now. Strength was surging from all over my body as if all the blood vessels had been replaced with new ones.
“..Just like that. Stop saying bad things, Licht.”
She stopped me by covering my lips with one finger. When did my visor go up again. I was so out of it that I didn't notice.
“You’re a precious person to me, so this much is natural.”
“…Phine.”
I looked around at the bold action. The room that had become morning. Looking at her tired appearance, I felt that I had to admit what I had to admit anymore.
“I’m the Dark Knight who came to make you happy.”
“I know. Lee Soo-hyun.”
The Imperial Princess who didn't back down even an inch while calling my real name.
I couldn't help but smile at the sight of that cute her. It’s been a long time since I smiled so naturally.
“I’m not a hero like that. I’m even more incapable of being a hero worthy of praise.”
“Still, you were a hero to me….”
“Then I’ll be a hero only for you, Phine.”
I had no choice but to agree with what Phine was saying. It must be right since it’s what the person I love is saying.
“I owe you my life. Thank you.”
“No, compared to what I’ve received, this is nothing….”
Her golden wolf eyes and my eyes reflected each other’s faces.
I felt a throbbing that felt like it had become one. Was it because of the magic circuit sharing?
“There’s one thing I’m curious about.”
How good would it be if I could make up for my mistake of not recognizing her until now with these words.
It’s a homework that I’ll have to gradually pay off in the future.
“Phine Gransia.”
“Why.. Lee Soo-hyun..?”
Because I had to make a new start with her, who I truly love now, we faced each other's bare faces, called each other’s true names, and spoke slowly.
“Were you happy today?”
So that she can understand, at a speed that isn’t fast. So that it isn’t covered up by another appearance called the Nameless Saintess.
“Today..? I don’t know well. But.”
To only be able to love the person named Phine Gransia, I focused as much as possible for this moment and spoke my resolution.
“I’m happy now that Lee Soo-hyun has woken up.”
“I’m glad, Phine.”
Anyone can love. But I always thought that there was responsibility for that love.
‘Love is seeing the cold world while filling a glass with wine.’
I wanted to take responsibility for that glass and live for the rest of my life.
“I want to make you happy by your side in the future too, Phine.”
“Then don’t try to die..”
“Haha, I’ll refrain from it. This time was a bit tough.”
Holding the fragile and easily breakable glass of love, I wanted to live and die for the rest of my life.
“..Licht, my heart seems to be broken.”
“Huh..? I’m completely fine?”
Just as I was saying that with certainty and feeling relieved, she came to my bed.
“No, I can feel it too.”
“…”
“It’s throbbing so much, as if it’s broken….”
“It’s just your imagination.”
Ugh, I got caught that my heart was pounding. I felt like I had become a prey that couldn't escape in front of her anymore.
I was wondering what would happen to the love line if this continued.
“…Huh?”
Something redder than any status window I had ever seen, with something written in golden letters, was flying a heart salute and appeared before my eyes.
[You’ve finally noticed! Lee Soo-hyun-nim!]
Why is the romance status window here now….
[I’ll cheer on your romance in the future! Now, she’s not the Nameless Saintess, but the ‘Princess with a Name’, but you can love her enough, right!]
The confirmation of the <Black Heart> manufacturer. This guy, he was hiding it even though he knew.
[Lee Soo-hyun♡Phine Gransia:1%]
A semi-transparent status window written in simple and bold letters.
The contents were truly shocking.
Does that mean that dating Phine is by chance.
“Licht?”
The protagonist who was looking at Phine’s wedding dress illustration, who was wiggling her wolf ears cutely while looking at me now, was.
‘Me….?’
He clearly told me to connect the couples from the previous work. So that there are no ‘inconsistencies’ in the story.
To recreate the love that came out in episodes 1 and 2.
I played both routes for our Phine, the ‘Saintess Route’,
If I think carefully including the status window that appeared just now, one result is derived.
‘Was the Grand Route condition to be connected with Phine?!!’
I thought that she would meet and marry another man, but it was ridiculous that it wasn't.
“Licht, you’re having a nosebleed.”
“Huh, ara? Really, blood….”
When I touched my face with a hot sensation coming to my face, blood was really flowing, as she said.
“Pervert. Did you like my chest that much..?”
I’m embarrassed. I want to go into a rat hole and hide. Phine was smiling at me seductively.
“…I’m sorry.”
My heart was pounding madly as I looked at her, and my head became a blank slate.
“If you’re sorry, get well soon and get up. Licht.”
The freshman Dark Knight of Grand Hearts Academiia, Lee Soo-hyun,
“I understand. Phine.”
In the end, he found his own pure love.
The Pure Love Dark Knight of the Academy, it’s really become that way now.