Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter Title: 027. Leo's Lie - (1)
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Let's sort out the situation.
In Act 2 of Throne of the Academy, there are three playable characters.
Sword Saint Sophia Aquilova.
Saintess Elise Aurora de Lua.
Great Witch Isolde.
First, Sophia.
Her right arm is broken from the aftermath of the inter-department exchange match last time.
She claims she can wield a sword with her left hand just fine, but she's definitely not at full strength.
Next, Elise.
Unlike Sophia, she doesn't seem to have any major injuries. However, according to Priest Lowen, throwing herself into that exchange match with full effort earned her the archbishop's wrath.
So now she's under house arrest for a month. She can't set foot outside the dormitory.
Finally, Isolde.
Needless to say with Isolde.
She fell into a coma from a single roundhouse kick from Sophia.
It's been two days since the exchange match ended, and she still hasn't regained consciousness. They say that when a mage suffers a head injury, they can't use magic for at least a month, so like Elise, she can't return right away.
"…."
In summary.
"Yeah. We're fucked."
The protagonist's party is completely wiped out.
And by infighting, no less.
"…What the hell do I do about Act 2?"
Act 2's main event, the civil war in the Magic Department, is exactly one week from now.
The leader figure who mediates the conflict between the two towers and proposes they band together against the mastermind—Isolde—is in a "light coma."
Sophia, who fought alongside her and cut down countless chimeras, is down an arm.
And Elise, who was supposed to protect the academy students by mobilizing cathedral forces, is under house arrest.
"…Maybe I should just reset the loop?"
Should I send a letter to Princess Ciris or something?
Like, this loop seems doomed, so please kindly kill yourself.
"No."
That would backfire.
There's no guarantee my memories will carry over to the next loop, and Ciris, who already sees me as a negative variable, might try to kill me the moment the next loop starts.
No, she definitely would. Ciris is the type of cold-blooded killer who draws her sword without hesitation if she deems someone useless.
I can't run away either. She's already got her eye on me. There's no place for me to hide in this kingdom.
So then….
"I'll make it work somehow."
I had to prevent Act 2's disaster with my own power, as much as possible.
Of course, I have zero combat ability. I can't fight, I have no talent for holy power, and I know jack about magic.
So I needed to find the right person.
Someone to take Isolde's place as the new protagonist of Act 2.
Someone who doesn't appear prominently in the original story, but is deeply connected to the Magic Department, and trusts me.
You might ask where such a person could be….
"I've planted a single strand of your hair into my doll. What should I use as material next?"
Turns out there was one.
*
During her week-long suspension, Otilie diligently worked on her doll.
It was the first doll she'd put this much effort into.
Leo was gradually taking shape as a sturdy, golden-haired automaton.
"As expected…."
Otilie realized that creation stems from inspiration.
Meeting her muse named Leo had allowed her to grow even further.
The doll she'd made this time was so well-crafted it surprised even her.
While Edelweiss could only use simple one-circuit magic formulas from Basic Magic Theory, Leo could handle advanced magic approaching four- or even five-circuit levels.
And since it wasn't a human body, there was no need to worry about backlash, allowing it to cast spells with greater output than most cadets.
"At this level…."
At minimum, it was superior to humans in terms of combat power.
Otilie felt considerable pride in that fact, but she also harbored worries.
"What if the priest doesn't like it…."
It had been nearly half a year since enrolling at Erebos.
Countless cadets from the Ivory Tower had approached her, drawn by the prestige of House Ihen Dorp.
But the moment she explained her affection and obsession with dolls, their expressions shifted from bewilderment to outright contempt.
If Priest Leo reacted with disgust toward Leo, just like the others….
"Eek."
She didn't even want to think about it.
That was why Otilie hadn't visited the chapel even after nearly finishing the doll.
She finally went because next week was the end-of-month evaluation.
"Ihen Dorp, I hope this suspension has led you to repentance. Never mock me again with such worthless toys. This evaluation is your last chance to prove your worth to the faculty."
Those were her supervising professor Gregor's words.
If she presented a doll at this evaluation too, Gregor really would push for her expulsion.
Expulsion.
Otilie wanted no part of that.
Before, she might have welcomed liberation from Erebos….
"Not yet."
She still hadn't finished Leo. She hadn't made the face yet.
To complete the doll, she needed to stay at Erebos.
So, steeling herself against her worries, Otilie headed to the chapel.
And cautiously spoke up.
"Priest, I've made a doll."
Not just any doll, but one modeled after you, Priest Leo.
Her face burned at the thought of saying it outright, so she softened it a bit.
"I've planted a single strand of your hair into my doll. What should I use as material next?"
"…."
Soon, a warm voice returned from the other side of the confessional partition.
"Is that so? Did you make the doll well?"
"…Ah."
As expected, this man didn't reject Otilie's feelings. She felt ashamed of herself for even doubting him a little.
Her face brightening, Otilie nodded vigorously.
"Yes! It's the best doll I've ever made!"
She went on to explain just how excellent Leo was. How intricately the drive mechanisms moved, how versatile the embedded magic circuits were, how devastating the destructive power of its spells.
It was right in the middle of her excited explanation.
"Sister."
Leo spoke cautiously.
Otilie realized her mistake. She'd been rambling on excitedly by herself. Just as she opened her mouth to apologize.
"Can that doll move right away?"
Leo's voice sounded strangely excited.
Otilie intuitively understood that Leo was genuinely interested in her doll.
In truth, Leo was still unfinished. It could move, but its highly complex internal mana circuits couldn't yet fully handle the traditional Ihen Dorp control magic.
"Of course!"
But if he was interested.
She had to make the impossible possible.
*
The doll girl's words were astonishing.
"So, you're saying it can fight better than most Magic Department cadets?"
"Yes! It's sturdy, and it listens well."
According to her, you just needed to infuse it with a bit of mana, and it moved on its own.
It could cast magic directly or have necessary spells pre-loaded. Its combat power surpassed that of average Magic Department cadets, and its durability could withstand offensive spells from professor-level mages.
Normally, it followed pre-programmed behavior patterns like an automaton, but it could also be remotely controlled when needed.
My impression upon hearing all this was simple.
…This thing is fucking insane?
An automaton with that level of performance.
Isn't this on par with Isolde's spirit summoning skill?
Mana efficiency-wise, it might even be superior to spirit summoning.
This was revolutionary.
"…That's impressive."
"Ah, no. It's not that great… hehe."
How had such a groundbreaking invention gone unnoticed in the original game?
I didn't need to guess the reason.
That rainy day, after getting thoroughly chewed out by her professor, the doll girl had given up on her own invention.
But thanks to me, this foreign element meddling in the world, that great research had continued.
Whatever the case.
Listening to her explanation of the doll, I saw the potential.
Isolde's out, but… if there's an automaton this capable….
It was worth a shot.
Of course, it'd only buy time at best, but if I could stall, the faculty could handle the rest.
No matter how shit-for-brains Erebos's staff might be, they weren't third-rate with no skills.
"Could you make more of those dolls, by any chance?"
"Pardon?"
"…Ah, too much to ask?"
Yeah, dolls don't just pop out like that.
I was thinking just that when.
"No! I-it's fine! I can make them quick!"
The girl opposite me shouted desperately.
"Quick, you say?"
"Yes! Two per week… if I pull all-nighters. They won't compare to the one I just made, but Edel-level performance…."
"Edel?"
"Ah! Edel is Edelweiss."
"…Edelweiss?"
"Th-that's… Edel's my friend…. She's a doll, but also a friend, and a friend who's a doll…."
Hmm.
As expected of a Magic Department student, her social skills were rock bottom.
She'd match well with Sophia, who leads with her fists.
"Anyway… I can make them."
"Good to hear. I have a proposal…."
"…B-but I have a request."
"A request?"
"Could I… see your face, Priest?"
"My face?"
"Y-yes…. Creation needs inspiration… th-that…."
The doll girl's voice trailed off shyly.
She's embarrassed, huh.
"…Hmm."
Showing my face. What a random request.
But whatever, my regular Sophia already knows my name and face anyway.
"Sure. No problem."
I wasn't sure if this violated confessional rules, but what we were doing was more counseling and chit-chat than actual confession anyway.
I stepped out of the booth, and soon a black-haired girl peeked out from the other side.
Is she really twenty?
She's tiny.
Sophia has a petite build too, but this girl's even smaller.
Her skin was ghostly pale, like she'd never seen sunlight, and her robe-style cadet uniform—the smallest size—still hung loose, dragging on the ground.
Her long black hair was tied into twin tails below her shoulders with black ribbons, giving her an appearance closer to a doll than a person.
"…Ah."
The doll girl blinked her dark eyes, scanning me up and down. Then she reached out a small hand and poked the back of my hand peeking from my priest robes.
"It's a person…."
Of course it's a person.
Not a doll.
"…So dark."
That's from doing outdoor chores under the blazing sun back at the orphanage as a kid.
And recently, grabbing that Shade's ankle under stage lighting had tanned me even more.
"…Cool."
This, I'll admit.
At least way more handsome than back on Earth.
"…Is this enough?"
At my question, the doll girl nodded her head furiously.
"Yes, yes! Th-thanks to you, I got inspiration! Thank you, Muse!"
…Muse?
First "master," now some weird new title.
No, that's not important right now.
I placed my hand lightly on the doll girl's small shoulder.
The name on her cadet uniform tag: Otilie von Ihen Dorp. No idea who that is. Definitely not a character from the original.
Which made it easier to bring up what I needed without worry.
"Sister—or rather, Miss Otilie."
Surprised at her name being called, Otilie's black eyes widened.
"…Listen carefully to what I'm about to say. It might be hard to believe, but the Magic Department…."
"I believe you."
I hadn't even started the story yet.