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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Neighborhood Puppy and Red Cat
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Childhood friends.
If you've been friends with someone for a long time and a few years back they suddenly start looking like the opposite sex, what do you do?
The blond hero was lost in that very dilemma right in front of his childhood friend's door.
Hero Kainel had faced all sorts of hardships ever since being chosen by the Light Holy Sword. Because of that, he'd decided to keep his distance from the girl he loved.
'..Why the hell is this damn heart pounding like crazy.'
He was terrified that confessing might ruin even their friendship. And even if that didn't happen, he hated the idea of her being left all alone if his hero duties got him killed.
"Ariel, I'm coming in?"
"Wait a sec, Kai!"
"What now? We'll be late for the academy if we drag this out."
He opened the door. There, bathed in the morning sunlight at the center of the room, sat his childhood friend, all dolled up and pretty.
An elf who'd just shed the last traces of girlhood to become a full-fledged adult, radiating a sophisticated ladylike charm.
Mage Ariel.
"Hehe.. How do I look? Pretty, right!"
Her red hair seared itself into his mind, and he felt like he could drown in those eyes of hers. Her usually fair skin seemed to glow even brighter than normal.
His heart was racing.
But he got the feeling he was the only one harboring these emotions, and the fear of drifting apart made him pile on more lies today, just like always.
"..Just okay."
He couldn't be honest. He forced his grinning lips shut and took a deep breath.
"What?! Is that seriously what you say?! Do you have any idea how much effort I put into this!"
The moment they stepped out of the house, Kainel ended up fighting with Ariel.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Lavrans Village. A quiet little place famous for its lavender perfumes and bath salts.
Not many people around.
That's where the hero and the mage grew up.
Light Hero Kainel and Blazing Flame Mage Ariel.
The childhood friends were known among players as the Neighborhood Puppy and Cat couple.
"We're late anyway. Told you so, right?"
The neighborhood puppy scarfed down food without a care in the world. He even had a harem route in Black Heart. I never bothered with that stuff—couldn't wrap my head around it.
"Just say I'm pretty once—what's the big deal!?"
The red cat wasn't great at being honest with her feelings. She'd think of the hero every time she cast a spell, but it wasn't until the latter half of Knight Heart that she straight-up expressed her affection.
Put simply, stick an oblivious dope with a tsundere, and this is what you get.
"That's why! It's your fault! Kai!"
"Ariel, you slept in late too."
'Fighting the second I show up.'
I'd finished sorting my thoughts at home and came to eavesdrop on them, but what the hell is this?
"Girls need a ton of time to get ready! I woke up early!"
"Who're you trying to impress, anyway."
The two were bickering in front of the stables. Whatever happened to all that lovey-dovey stuff?
"Excuse me, you two lovebirds? Mind wrapping up the lovers' spat?"
To get a read on things, I tossed out a favorability check option from the first game.
Their reactions here would tell me exactly where they stood.
"What? Don't be absurd! Me and this mutt?!"
"What, mutt? You redheaded punk!"
I shook my head. Already a lost cause.
They didn't scrap like this in the prequel—what was missing here?
"I'm seriously disappointed! You have no clue how I feel!"
"What's got you pissed off this time."
'What's the issue.'
As I watched them yelling, I fiddled with the notebook tucked in my pocket.
In the first game, they finally realized their feelings after the confession event. In the sequel, they got married, only for a weird runaway ending right after defeating the demon king.
The missing link in between...
'Demon king got them too?'
Makes sense. In this world, only the weirdest chuunibyou types survive. Truth Demon King or Omniscient Demon King?
Straight-up cringe. Ugh, fuck. Felt like my hands and feet were shriveling up. Gotta fire whoever named that crap. Everything else was solid.
"Why'd you spray on perfume? Think someone's gonna fall for you at the academy?"
"You idiot! Moron! Sea anemone!"
So damn dense.
Can't you see Ariel's dolled up? Her neck and face are different shades. Even a game-grinding hermit like me could spot it.
..Wait. Nah, he's doing it on purpose.
Blood rushed to my head. From the vibes, the mage wasn't indifferent to him. Same went for the other side.
'Classic tsundere elf and the standard oblivious protag cliché. How the hell did they end up married in the sequel?'
Ah, right. No crown prince yet.
The new character shoehorned into Black Heart. A total playboy living it up in debauchery, crazy about women. Nothing but looks and cash going for him—that prick.
Pops up outta nowhere during the demon king raid and confesses to every heroine on the spot.
Mary Sue lightning rod for all the hate.
'Might as well try that route.'
Still spring—winter's a long way off like in the first game. No confession event anytime soon.
Love rival route it is, then. At least it gets them to marriage. Gotta be reliable.
He's just too chicken to be honest about his feelings, scared it'll wreck things with his childhood friend.
"All the carriages are gone! How're we supposed to get to the academy now! Idiot Kai!"
"It'll work out somehow."
Indecisive punk. Time you tasted a confession blitz.
I curved my eyes into crescents and pictured the crown prince's slimy grin. Still couldn't get used to those lines no matter what.
Wonder how they even voiced that shit. Gave me goosebumps.
"Would you care to ride to the academy with me, beautiful lady?"
Couldn't hold back the laugh—my teeth peeked out. Good thing the helmet hid it.
Thanks for the perk.
"Y-yes?"
"What'd you say?"
That instant, Kainel's face went stiff. Ariel looked a bit startled but was eyeing his reaction, and with her lips quirking up, she seemed pleased.
Instant reaction. Hitting the mark.
"Hair like rubies. I fell for your elegant beauty at first sight! My lady!"
"I'm... just a commoner, though...? And who might you be...?"
"Who the hell are you? Why're you acting all buddy-buddy with our Ariel?"
I flung my arms out wide in exaggeration. Hated playing it up, but Kainel's reaction said it was working. Time to spark some rivalry.
To drive it home, I cleared my throat and baited the route-locking line. Your rough road starts now, buddy. They say marriage is the grave of life. Congrats.
"Ahem. Looks like you already have a beau. My apologies. You didn't say so earlier..."
"What? Me and Kai? N-no way!"
"You two make such a perfect pair."
"..."
One line, and Ariel's face turned so red you couldn't tell skin from hair. Kainel clamped his mouth shut. Kinda disappointing.
He was supposed to snap, "If you get it, then beat it!" Guess not enough yet?
Thought it'd wrap quicker. Bummer.
"I'm Licht. Fellow academy freshman, same as you two. Lucky for you, I've got a carriage right here—care to join me?"
Hand over my heart. Bowed with refined courtesy. Hero hates smug types like this—effect should be spot-on.
You'd hate watching your crush get stolen by the exact kinda guy you despise most.
Setting docs hammered it home three times.
"Huh? You sure that's okay?"
"I'm not down."
"Kai, teleports aren't cheap."
"No means no. Not riding with that butterboy."
"But..."
Then they wandered off to whisper, ignoring me.
Kainel's glare burned into the back of my head. Probably cursing me out. Felt kinda shitty picking on my fave game character like this.
'Should I quit while I'm ahead.'
A few minutes later, he stomped over. Footsteps heavy with intent.
"You. Don't try anything with Ariel. Do, and you're off the carriage."
"Got it."
The hero glared daggers, growling. You really like Ariel that much? Then why not date? I sighed. How to untangle this stuffy mess...
With that, the hero-mage duo started hauling their luggage to my carriage.
"Ariel, that's heavy—let me get it."
"Uh, uh? Thanks!"
I racked my brain watching their chummy vibe. Loaded up their stuff into the carriage. But someone's been staring at me for a bit now.
What? I only got eyes for our saintess.
Hero dumped his bags every which way, probably nerves. Tsk, not good. I approached.
"Pardon the intrusion."
Put on my best friendly face. Hope it loosens 'em up a bit.
"Ah.. Licht, was it? Thanks a ton for the ride! Sorry for the late intro!"
"Appreciate it, but stay away from Ariel from here on. Once we hit the academy, you go your way?"
"Why you gotta be like that, Kai.. to someone helping us..."
Ariel greeting me all bright-eyed, Kainel locked and loaded. Solid sign.
This'd lead to him getting his nose pierced for sure.
"Mind if I handle the packing solo? I'm pretty good at it."
"Huh? You'll wear yourself out..."
"..I'll watch from behind. Make sure nothing's missing."
Time to bust out my go-to inventory-packing tricks.
You kids ever heard of item Tetris?