The Romance Fantasy Novel MC is Only Into Me

Living diligently is truly hard.
Lancel knew himself that no matter how much he tried from now on, he wouldn’t be able to live as hard as he did in the third round.
They say effort has a limit, and maybe he had used it all up back when he was called the Knight of Dawn.

No matter how hard he tried now, it would be difficult to become strong like in those days—unless something extraordinary happened.
What increased were his cunning and savvy.
How to achieve maximum skill with minimum effort? How to get maximum effect with minimum mana?

Lancel was now the most efficient user of mana on this continent.
“The holy, the, the Saint’s… blessing…”
“Why so lacking in confidence?”

Lancel had already pestered the stumbling Merigold several times today alone.
“...I don’t really know what blessing makes a person strong…”
She looked dejected.

“Believe in yourself. And believe in me. You really have talent.”
In truth, Lancel didn’t expect Merigold to suddenly awaken white magic and manifest divine power. He just wanted it to look that way.
In that sense, it was somewhat fortunate that she was blind.

Because Merigold had to deceive herself first.
“In the name of the Saint.”
As Merigold seriously recited the prayer, awed reactions spread around.

“Wh-what’s really happening?”
“There’s light! There’s light!”
Baron Ibil Shen and Hestia’s reactions were genuine. No one had told them to make a fuss beforehand.
Lancel Dante’s sword was truly emitting a soft glow.

That light was the secret behind his title as Knight of Dawn. Though barely a hundredth as bright as back then, it was still light. The blade shone with just the right divine aura, illuminating the darkness.
“Huh? Huh?”
Merigold looked around, not knowing what she had caused.

“You can do it, Mary. Your power is rising thanks to you. Look at this. Oh, you can’t see it.”
It wasn’t a lie. People really do gain strength when encouraged by others.
Like smelling ammonia in the gym to lift heavier weights—that kind of principle. That’s how it was.

“D-did I, really, do it? Did I really gain that divine power…?”
Merigold seemed deeply moved.
She felt relieved and happy that ‘Finally, I did something!’

“You have talent, I told you.”
Since that day, Merigold became obsessed, and whenever she had time, she prayed for Lancel and the household.
“I’ll share my strength! Just trust me!”

Of course, no visible effect was seen on Lancel, but for some reason, the mansion servants and Baron Ibil Shen…
“It’s amazing. I really feel strength coming to my body. I should visit the Saintess Church when I have time. I used to think making money was better than believing in gods, but this is something else.”
“My shoulder hurts less, too. Maybe Mary is even more amazing than we thought, my lord.”

They really started talking as if divine power was working on them.
Lancel took it lightly, thinking it might be a placebo effect.
“Mary, ready?”

“Yes, saint!”
Thus came the day of the beast hunt.
...

In the dark forest, when the beast’s eyes flashed, it was truly difficult not to freeze.
—Grrrrr...
A wolf figure, several times larger and soaked in thick mana.

The black mane rising along its spine rippled like part of the forest’s shadow, and sharp fangs dripped venomous foam.
Its massive size could swallow even an adult whole.
It was no wonder the pilgrims’ knights, who had confidently advanced, began sweating coldly.

“Monster...!”
“F-form ranks!”
“Bring the people here, quickly!”

The pilgrimage formation became chaotic.
While everyone was panicking,
“Lancel Dante, you have grown stronger. Go and cut down the enemy’s throat.”

Bang!
One knight broke through the formation, rushing straight to the beast.
“In the name of the Saint.”

The sword in his hand shone brilliantly.
A light that illuminated the dark forest.
—Grrrrr!

The beast, sensing danger, bared its teeth and leapt. The dazzling slash cut across its body almost simultaneously.
Only the chilling sound of flesh being cut remained as something flew skyward. It arced and fell before the pilgrims.
Thud!

“...!”
The pilgrims realized late that it was the beast’s head.
The once ferocious wolf form now rolled stiffly through the mud.

The headless body staggered alone before collapsing.
The man carefully recovered his sword, not a drop of blood on it.
“Saint, today I have purified another evil.”

A quiet silence.
Behind him, a blue cloak fluttered.
Knights, clergy of the pilgrimage, guides, and nearby villagers—all engraved Lancel Dante’s name in their memories.

 
“In recognition of the beast hunt achievement, the Saintess Church will receive a modest reward.”
The royal family sent a flag to the Saintess Church. A banner certifying it as an ‘official order.’
The pilgrims who lost the glory were bitter, but not enough to hurt deeply.

After all, even the Salvation Church had such banners. The Martyrs’ Church had no reason to envy that much.
But the Empire’s Knights Tournament was different. Money was at stake.
“All knights, to the front!”

Ten knights appeared riding horses in a wide clearing.
Most bore the Martyrs’ Church wing emblem, but one was different.
A symbol of two hands folded neatly inside a circular halo—an emblem of the Saintess Church—embroidered on his cloak.

“Only one knight who remains unseated till the end advances to the finals. Ready!”
A sharp exchange of glances passed among the pilgrims’ knights. This was competition. Only one would remain.
But one thing was clear among them:

“First, knock out Lancel Dante!”
Amid the knights’ gaze stood the man carrying a wooden spear on his shoulder. Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church. The primary target. The competition began after he fell from his horse.
“Begin!”

Bang! Ten horses kicked the grass simultaneously.
Cheering erupted from the crowd beyond the fence.
“If I lose money here, no knight or anything will be spared!”

“Odley! All my wealth’s riding on you!”
Normally, they wouldn’t meet a knight’s gaze, but here it was different. Everyone held wooden tags marked with bets, shouting loudly.
“Please, if you fall here, we’re bankrupt, Lancel.”

Baron Ibil Shen was among them. He nervously licked his lips while staring at his wooden tag with a large sum written on it.
Though Lancel Dante was well known as the knight who defeated the beast, here he was the underdog.
It was inevitable.

He was too young, and among knights dominated by the Martyrs’ Church, few expected him to win.
Baron Ibil Shen might have been the only one betting big here.
“No!”

Baron Ibil’s face turned pale when he saw nine cavalrymen closing in on Lancel.
“Catch him!”
As Lancel dashed across the clearing, cavalry closed in tightly on both sides.

He showed no interest in those glaring at him.
Spurring his horse, he instead chased after one of the pilgrimage knights.
“Throw him off! Quickly!”

“Too late.”
Lancel’s wooden spear struck the fleeing knight’s shoulder.
His tremendous strength literally grabbed and threw him away.

“Ughhh!”
The knight rolled on the ground after flying far away. Cavalry passed by, desperately chasing Lancel.
Lancel neither defended nor counterattacked. He only ran, endlessly chasing another prey.

“Eek!”
Bang! Another fell. When four fell in a row this way, a sense of crisis spread among the knights.
Perhaps it was a feeling sensed in their skin. Maybe the hunted weren’t them, but Lancel himself.

“Slow.”
Lancel’s quiet voice.
“No... agh!”

The fifth knight was thrown off his horse.
“Go practice some more.”
Seeing the smile on Lancel’s lips, the pilgrimage knights felt a chill down ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) their backs.

The moment fear overwhelmed them, the outcome was already decided.
In less than ten minutes, only one knight remained on horseback.
“The winner, Lancel Dante!”

Baron Ibil Shen raised his arms and shouted as he ran into the arena.
“I’m rich! Lancel, you’re a god!”
Lancel lightly passed the running Baron Ibil and approached Merigold under the shade of a tree.

Amid the roaring cheers, the horse carrying Lancel and Merigold galloped across the clearing.
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Fame Event: ‘Lancel Dante, knight of Merigold’s Church, has advanced to the finals. Everyone in the imperial capital is paying attention to Merigold’s Church.’

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“Are the pilgrimage knights only this good? Is there no one who can beat this Lancel Dante of the Saintess Church?”
His provoking voice echoed in the minds of the fallen pilgrimage knights for a long time.

.
.
.

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—Fame Event: The eleventh church was built!
※ Merigold’s Karma decreases by 1 point.
—Fame Event: The twelfth church was built!
※ Merigold’s Karma decreases by 1 point.

—Fame Event: The thirteenth church was built!
※ Merigold’s Karma decreases by 1 point.
==========
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.
.
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—Fame Event: The thirtieth church was built!
※ Merigold’s Karma decreases by 1 point.
==========
Months after Lancel stirred up chaos here and there,

And only a few months after rumors began quietly spreading that Merigold was a cleric who bestowed blessings,
The number of Saintess statues built within Rodness exceeded thirty.
“What pathetic fools.”

Duke Mayril Dun’s face flushed bright red upon hearing the news.
Every time the pilgrimage knights performed poorly in the tournament, his reputation began to crack.
—This is a festival for the Martyrs’ Church, so no fools should be allowed to steal the spotlight.

The royal archbishop’s words, who summoned him, still echoed. Spoken gently, but plainly meaning: ‘If you’re responsible for this, then it’s on you. If you’re unhappy, you should have won.’
It was difficult to deny completely. The person who gathered all the knights to form the pilgrimage was none other than Duke Mayril Dun himself.
The pilgrimage.
The beast hunt.
The knights tournament.

All things he had agreed to.
All the glory taken from beneath him.
Having become the person in charge, he had to deliver the best results. If the stage was set, he had to win.

That was the Martyrs’ Church’s law.
“Make sure to take him down in the next match. By any means necessary.”