Chapter 106: Subjugation of the Floating Island (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 106: Subjugation of the Floating Island (2)
「Clairvoyance (Neutral Element, ★7)」
Thanks to the time I spent grinding ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I could roughly track Ian’s whereabouts. I used [Clairvoyance] to scan the area where I expected him to be.
It was a place lined with ancient temple columns…
In the center of it all, a black-haired boy, Ian Fairytale, stood upon a yellow brick road.
A vivid rainbow stretched across the sky above the Floating Island. In the heart of the island, an emerald palace stood in dazzling, proud display. Above it, a statue of a sun radiated brilliant light, hovering weightlessly as it spun in place.
Ian summoned his Tyrannosaurus-like familiar, Rex, and drew the sword sheathed at his waist.
He held his breath, gripping the hilt with both hands as he assumed a combat stance. A single drop of cold sweat trickled down his face. As someone with excellent senses, he would have already realized that enemies were closing in from all sides.
Soon enough, various white wolves and raven-like monsters erupted from the ground. Their eyes glowed with a predatory red light as they bared their fangs and shrieked.
At the center of the pack, a white, witch-like monster wearing a pointed hat sprang from the earth. Her head was torn open vertically to form a massive maw; because the split wasn't clean, the flesh connecting her upper and lower lips stretched like melted cheese.
‘Minions of the Floating Island…’
They were all magical beasts manifested from the Floating Island’s earth mana.
The witch pointed her staff at Ian and shrieked a command. The horde of wolves and ravens charged. At that exact moment, the Cherubim’s Necklace hanging around Ian’s neck began to radiate a holy light.
One swing.
Ian swung his sword, now imbued with divine power, in a wide horizontal arc. A blade of pure light swept out, cleaving through the minions of the Floating Island in a single stroke.
‘That’s what I’m talking about!’
Keuh. How beautiful.
Is this really the same "Ian Faintingtale" from before? The Master Fainter?
Obtaining the Cherubim’s Necklace had clearly made a world of difference. The item had dramatically enhanced Ian’s combat potential.
Ian’s familiar, Rex, shifted into a much larger Tyrannosaurus form. As he transformed, streams of flame erupted from the sides of his mouth like wings of fire. Ian leaped onto Rex’s back and began charging toward the center of the Floating Island.
He had likely realized that the island was preparing a spell capable of leveling an entire nation. To prevent it, he was heading straight for the source of the most potent magic: the Emerald Palace.
The mana emanating from the Floating Island was demonic in nature. Ian, possessing the light element, could surely feel that eerie energy and must have judged that he was the only one capable of dealing a decisive blow to the demon.
“Heuh…”
“…?”
Hearing a strange sound, I deactivated [Clairvoyance] and turned my head.
A girl with light-green pigtails was still blushing in deep embarrassment, just as she had been moments ago. She was biting her lip, looking like she didn't know what to do with herself. It seemed that holding hands with me was more overstimulating for her than the formidable enemies ahead.
…Well, it was understandable. The emotions that come with holding hands with your crush for the first time are indescribable.
‘Still, isn’t she a bit too embarrassed…?’
I thought about saying something but decided against it. Honestly, this was better than her being overwhelmed by the terrifying majesty of the Floating Island.
Kaya and I continued our approach, riding a current of light-green wind across the sea. Looking back, the vast island housing Märchen Academy looked like a tiny speck beyond the thick fog.
For the record, Kaya and I wouldn't be detected by the academy because of the dense advection fog and the massive mana interference from the Floating Island. Even in the original ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the academy staff couldn't stop Mateo from flying straight to the island for this exact reason.
(By the way, they only found out he left because Amy reported it.)
The transparent barrier protecting the academy grounds was designed to detect external intrusions. However, because it was currently being saturated by the Floating Island’s mana, it was effectively useless. The staff were likely preoccupied with student crowd control and emergency countermeasures.
Step.
Kaya and I reached the edge of the Floating Island’s cliffs and landed. As I let go of her hand, Kaya let out a small, disappointed sigh, “Eut, ahh…”, looking like a child who had just lost her favorite toy.
“Kaya, we’re here.”
My voice snapped her back to reality. She turned her head toward the interior of the island.
“Sir Isaac, this is…”
Only then did Kaya take in the magnificent view. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.
The vivid rainbow, the Emerald Palace, and the sun statue spinning weightlessly in the air—the mysterious fog reflected a spectrum of beautiful colors. A yellow brick road cut through a vast field of poppies.
At first glance, it looked like a fairy tale landscape designed to stir a sense of adventure. In stark contrast, right behind us was a perilous cliff leading down to a raging sea. It felt as if we were standing on the boundary between a dream and reality.
“I thought it would be a mundane scene, but it’s strangely beautif—”
“Let’s go.”
“Ah! Y-yes!”
Just as a poisonous mushroom often looks the most beautiful, this fantastical land was as lethal as it was pretty. We were carried by the wind once more, moving quickly along the yellow brick road.
“…!”
Suddenly, white dwarf monsters with pointed hats popped out from the road and the poppy fields. I came to a screeching halt, like a car slamming on its brakes.
The dwarves were all dressed in blue robes.
*
[Phantasmal Munchkin]
Lv: 95
Race: Demon
Elements: Dark, Earth
Danger: Medium
Psychology: [Wants to eat away at your sanity.]
[Kekek… Welcome to the Land of Munchkins…!]
*
Before the leader of the Phantasmal Munchkins could even finish his greeting…
I channeled ice mana into my right hand, releasing frost crystals and pale blue mist that drifted like cigarette smoke.
Chrrrrak──.
As I prepared for combat, my unique characteristic [Hunter] triggered.
[A demon has been recognized as an enemy.]
[The unique trait [Hunter] is activated!]
[Your level and stats are temporarily and greatly enhanced!]
[Your skill tree temporarily increases by +10!]
「Frostfire (Ice Element, ★4)」
Hwarereuk──────!!!
I deployed a magic circle and flicked my hand, unleashing a wave of cold, light-blue flames. The frigid fire spread wide, incinerating everything in its path—the Munchkin horde and the surrounding landscape alike.
The vast poppy field, which had been swaying gently in the breeze, froze instantly. The horde of Phantasmal Munchkins, who were no longer a match for me, were reduced to frozen dust in a truly demonic display of power.
As I waved my arm to dissipate the lingering cold, [Hunter] deactivated. My body immediately felt heavier as the surging mana subsided. The landscape before me had transformed from a fairy tale dream into a frozen wasteland.
“Y-you’re incredible, Sir Isaac…!”
As I casually brushed off the ice crystals that had formed on my sleeves, Kaya gazed at me, her eyes practically sparkling with starlight.
As expected, that reaction is a bit much…
To be fair, the amount of [Frostfire] I just released was nothing compared to what I could do in the [Hunter] state. In that state, my mana recovery speed was exceptionally high. Since demons would be popping out continuously here, any mana I spent would be replenished almost instantly.
“But what were those things just now?”
“Demons. They’re the minions of this island. Don’t ever speak to them.”
“Huh…?”
If you spoke to the minions of the Floating Island, the place would transform into a "True Fantasy World" that deluded your mind. These mental attacks had no effect on Ian because of his light element, and I had enough mental resistance to break free.
However, for Kaya, it could be a fatal mistake. Even if she eventually regained her senses, the curse of the island would have already taken root.
When someone falls into the "Fantasy World," the appearance and speech of the minions change specifically for that person. To "return home," they are forced to go on a heart-pounding journey to find the Great Wizard Oz, who supposedly grants any wish. It was exactly what Dorothy had experienced in her childhood.
When they finally reach the center of the island and find Oz, they get their "happy ending," but…
‘Their real self dies.’
By the time they reach Oz, the curse has already drained their life force. They die in reality just as they reach their goal in the dream.
That’s right. This piece of shit land is a sentient life form with its own intelligence—a demon that plays with humans like they’re dolls.
“Let’s move.”
“Y-yes…!”
「Wind Generation (Wind Element, ★1)」
Whoooosh───!
Riding the wind, Kaya and I took flight toward Ian. It was significantly faster than running. Of course, flying like this put a burden on the caster’s mana, but if Kaya ran low, she could always switch to Dark Kaya and use blood mana to top up.
Anyway…
‘By now, they’ve probably figured out I’m here.’
In my [Hunter] state, I was stronger than even the rare genius Dorothy herself. Even if the academy staff were struggling to sense mana through the island’s interference… there was no way they wouldn't notice a mana signature that rivaled the Floating Island itself.
‘They’re probably panicking, saying the "Black Monster" has appeared.’
It didn’t matter much, though. I was already here. Besides, during [Hunter], my mana only spiked briefly, making it difficult to pin down my exact location.
The only thing I was worried about was them discovering I had flown here with Kaya. In an emergency like this, if two students were spotted leaving the academy, the staff would undoubtedly try to drag us back.
Ugh, just thinking about the paperwork gave me a headache.
Anyway…
‘Ian, hang in there, buddy.’
I checked on him again with [Clairvoyance]. He was riding Rex, dashing down the yellow brick road and carving through enemies with his sword of light and fire.
I’m proud of you, Ian Fairytale. Go forth! Wipe out the demons with your own hands.
‘I’ll support you from the shadows.’
And in the end…
…I’m going to fuck up this overgrown mound of dirt.
Since I had already dealt with Heinkel the Hoarder, who would have originally blocked Ian’s path, there should be no obstacles left for him. I just had to keep the minions off his back.
Once Ian reached the Emerald Palace and fired [Apostle of Light] into the island’s core, ‘Oz’…
‘Objective 1 will be complete.’
[Kekek… Welcome to the Land of Munchk—]
Hwarereuk───!
After casually incinerating another Munchkin with [Frostfire], Kaya and I continued our pursuit of Ian.