NOVEL WEB Chapter 52
The state window is acting weird.
[I asked you to just keep the love lines in check! No need to touch the Demon King!]
The state window, which had been sending me warnings during my fight with the Magic Hat, has started to pop up again during my training with the White Lily.
[Lee Soo-hyun! I warned you, and yet contradictions arose in [Black Heart]! What are you going to do now?!]
Right, it must be about Kainel and Ariel’s trauma. It doesn’t really concern me. I’ll just keep the painful memories to myself.
[Of all things, why are you trying to kill the Demon King who shows up as the final boss in my work?! That will totally mess things up when [Black Heart] comes out!]
Was that the case? Someone almost died, and the creator was sitting there thinking this nonsense.
“…”
I thought [Black Heart] was a bad work, so I figured I’d fix its flaws, but that wasn’t the case. I stopped swinging my sword and gazed at the translucent letters.
Notifications I didn’t catch during the battle.
[What on earth are you doing? I thought you’d at least pick up on this much!]
[You should’ve made a more complicated ‘choice.’]
[You have two chances left. After that, I won’t cover for you anymore!]
‘Two times?’
I looked at the strange wording, feeling confused, and stared at the state window glowing in deep red.
[Objective: Achieve the Grand Route 0/1]
[Kainel♡Ariel 31% ‘NEW!’]
These two have risen significantly. They probably learned a lot from the battle with the Magic Hat. After all, they almost died without being able to express their love.
[Schartines♡Nex 62%]
This couple can’t reach 100% without resolving their conflicts with Asha Aureus. I definitely need to visit the North later.
[Reward: Return to the real world, ending of the Nameless Saintess’ ‘Grand Route.’]
As I carefully scanned the state window, I noticed an unusually strange letter.
[Upon failure: ??-Fury]
“..Fury? What does that mean?”
Asking the empty air yielded no answer. This state window is always one-way. I rested my chin on my hand, sorting through my thoughts.
‘Life or penalty, save files, but… what kind of fury…?’
Ultimately, it must be a three-letter word. What could it be? If I touch the Demon King two more times and create contradictions,
‘Our Saintess’ Grand Route ending will also get messed up, and I’ll face the consequences.’
I narrowed my eyes. I thought it would simply lead to my death, and yet I was putting my life on the line against the Magic Hat. That was a badly calculated aim.
“..Hmm.”
I really don’t know what to do. There are so many poor couples I don’t want to prioritize my own greed. This Celestial Demon in front of me, Nex, and Schartines are the same.
“..Well, maybe there’s no need to worry.”
The Nameless Saintess wouldn’t be pleased with me getting hurt by the Demon King just to protect the love lines. She’s a cute person who says pure love is invincible.
‘If I were going to follow this state window, my nickname wouldn’t have been Pure Love Black Knight.’
If the Demon King targets those who are pure love, then it’s the Pure Love Black Knight’s duty to protect them.
A chuckle escaped me. My original nickname was just my plain name, but thanks to her dialogue, I even bought a change ticket to alter it.
‘Pure love… Pure love. Lee Soo-hyun. I need nothing more.’
I’ve accepted that I genuinely like our Saintess, and I no longer wish to run away. The state window trying to force me back is pointless.
“Hmm? What are you staring at so intently?”
“..It’s nothing.”
The Celestial Demon, who found my intense staring at the tree strange, initiated a conversation.
*
Some time passed, and the assessment of my sword drew to a close as the White Lily observed. I had bound it quite strongly, but I hadn’t expected to win against it so quickly with willpower.
“Now the basics are set. Your will has indeed solidified, boy.”
“Is that so? Will you now teach me swordsmanship?”
“Indeed.”
Since it’s been a long-held feeling, it must seem that way. It feels almost like salvation. I nodded slightly inside my helmet.
“The foundational movements of the ‘Lily Sword Technique’ consist of four.”
Perhaps excited by this rare visitor, her tail was wagging like a puppy. Our Saintess used to do that too. Thinking back, I miss it.
“An unyielding white snow; this is White Mountain (白山).”
The Celestial Demon drew her sword with invisible speed, cloaking it in white energy. Is this what inner strength is? Fascinating. I had heard it was about blocking the opponent’s techniques as firmly as a mountain.
“Red blood will flow, thus Red Wood (赤木).”
As I fixed my gaze on the sword, she grinned with pride and continued with the next move. This stance aimed at the opponent’s vital points.
Although it was a fierce crimson posture using a threatening red aura, it felt soft overall, unlike Drake-style moves.
It’s somewhat similar to the Reverse Scale Stab, but this is completely intended to kill the opponent. More akin to Dragon Kill.
“It seems like flowers are falling, hence Falling Flower (落花).”
With a sound cutting through the wind, she executed a downward slash. This technique seemed to belong to the realm of flowers, as if petals were fluttering down.
“It flows like clear water, hence Clear Flow (淸流).”
Finally, she unleashed a barrage against the tree in front of me. The movements resembled a dance, confusing whether I was watching swordsmanship or a dance.
“This is why they called me the Celestial Demon — created to counter a king who betrayed his people and a sky that disregarded human ethics.”
It was indeed swordsmanship worthy of being called celestial Demon level.
“So, what do you think? Can you learn it? Hehehe!”
Except for one thing. The White Lily was currently lying to me.
“..I’ll just learn Clear Flow.”
“What’s the reason for that? Throughout history, many have coveted my sword techniques.”
“Clear Flow wasn’t even part of the Lily Sword Technique to begin with.”
Every technique of the Lily Sword Technique, except for the final skill, was related to mountains, trees, or flowers. Suddenly, the introduction of water feels out of place.
“I see you’ve heard from Dennis. Boy.”
“..Do you still not believe me?”
Anyone could tell this sword technique was crafted upon seeing Dennis. With his blue hair and blue eyes, it represented him, being the pinnacle of water magic among human males.
“Hmph, it’s easy to feel that way after being trapped here for years. It’d only be right to be cautious, in case the Demon King has come to fully end me.”
“I’m no Demon King, Celestial Demon.”
I lowered my head and sighed. I must quickly complete the Grand Route to create a happy ending.
“…”
This time when I go back to the Academy, I must ask the sage or Laplace about our Saintess.
“..Unlike them, I was continuously running away from my feelings.”
Let’s get closer to the Wolf Eared Saintess. It looks like I need to make an effort. As I concluded my thoughts, a familiar chuckle reached my ears.
“Then, boy, I shall teach you all four!”
“..Really?!”
“Of course! It will greatly increase the chances of Dennis remembering you. Boy.”
With dragon-like teeth glistening, she drew a line across her lips. This should be intense, but I didn’t have any objections about becoming stronger than now.
“..Thank you, Celestial Demon.”
I folded my hands in a gesture of greeting, just like Dennis did at the ending of [Night Heart].
*
While the Black Knight was focused on his training, somewhere in the Demon King’s Castle, a woman was laughing madly while observing a wound.
“Hehe, my dear is still alive…”
Placing the magic hat beside her, the Demon King of Truth examined her injured part in the mirror.
“Tsk, this part is definitely different from the clone. I should cover it up.”
As she meticulously checked the wounds caused by Licht, she clicked her tongue in jealousy and recreated her appearance to be just like his.
“I thought it would be fun to show up, but what a surprising harvest!”
With her cheeks flushed, the white-haired woman clasped her face in both hands. Her golden eyes sparkled, but they didn’t resemble that of a wolf.
“That helmet is definitely my dear’s… I couldn’t find it no matter how hard I looked!”
Seemingly pleased, the Magic Hat hummed a little tune as she continued to craft her wounds as if they were still the same. If someone saw her, they’d likely declare her insane.
“This wound, I must preserve it forever~.”
In her ecstatic state, the Demon King probably wouldn’t hear her. A woman trembling subtly before the mirror, soaked in lust.
“Hehe, I won’t be able to move for a while. My dear was so rough with me…”
Even while looking at the wound caused by the sword, she wasn’t shy about making lewd remarks; she was twisted in her own way. At that moment, her expression turned sour as if something unpleasant struck her.
“Ah, the scar looks ugly. I should cover it up to make it look pretty!”
With her eyes slanted like a crescent moon, the Magic Hat falsely assumed that someone who adores her scarred body would dislike it and made up a lie.
“..I attacked avoiding my dear’s face, so he wouldn’t have left a blemish, right?”
As dirt dusted off her body like she was shaking it off, she mumbled. It seems she had received quite an injury during her battle with herself.
“I hate it..! Deteriorating my appearance…!”
Yet, the Magic Hat obsessively fretted over her appearance rather than her dear’s well-being.
“Well, if that’s the case, my dear might be greatly disappointed! Dear!”
Puffing her cheeks out in a huff, she picked up a card and tossed it. With a smack, the Spade Jack was pinned against the mirror, and
“I absolutely despise things that are boring..!”
Crimson blood flowed from that part as well.