Chapter 11: Class D
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 11: Class D
[Class Assignment Evaluation Results]
1st. Luce Eltania – 8,350 pts.
2nd. Kaya Astrea – 8,200 pts.
3rd. Ciel Carnedas – 8,020 pts.
4th. Tristan Humphrey – 7,720 pts.
5th. Doji Tu Mals – 7,600 pts.
.
.
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300th. Isaac – 20 pts.
“Ian is a total shocker. I can’t believe he hit Rank 240 with Grade E mana…”
“It had to be a fluke.”
“Psh, even a fluke deserves some credit. I mean, look at Isaac. He’s also Grade E, but he only got 20 points. 20 points!”
“20 points? Is he even human…?”
We were in Orphin Hall, the main building of the Magic Department.
The first-year students were gathered in the first-floor hall, crowded around a large sheet of parchment pinned to the central wall. It displayed the results of the class assignment evaluation for everyone to see.
Last place…?
I was ranked 300th out of 300 students in the Magic Department’s freshman class.
I expected it… but seeing it in black and white is a different story. I really am the bottom of the barrel.
On the other hand, Ian Fairytale—who also possessed Grade E mana—had managed to snag 240th place. My own insignificance felt even more pronounced by comparison.
The surrounding students snickered as they glanced my way.
Haa… nothing in this world is going my way.
The class assignment evaluation was essentially a placement test. As the name suggested, these initial rankings determined our provisional classes.
Naturally, I was headed for the worst of the worst: Class D.
The final placement wasn't just based on the evaluation performance; it also factored in the initial mana evaluation. This meant that Ian, despite his higher rank in the test, would still be assigned to Class D alongside me due to his Grade E mana.
Even when I played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the protagonist was always funneled into Class D. In the end, it was an inevitable fate for Ian.
Being in Class D wasn't the real problem, though.
It doesn't matter which class I'm in. I'll do whatever it takes to get stronger.
The real problem was money.
20 points equals 20 gels…
I was being given 20 gels—the exact price of two 10-gel loaves of bread.
How was I supposed to survive on nothing but two loaves of bread?
“…The only answer is a loan.”
I guess I can’t avoid becoming a debtor.
Student information was shared between the academy and the local banks, as the banks on the island were under the academy’s direct jurisdiction.
If a loan went into default, the student’s credit rating would plummet, and their performance evaluation would suffer a massive penalty.
The message was clear: if you don't have the ability to pay back what you owe, leave the academy—or die trying.
It was a ruthless system, perfectly in line with the elitist, predatory education policies of Märchen Academy.
Why me…?
I let out a heavy sigh.
Shortly after the evaluation ended, Luce Eltania had reported the appearance of a demon to the faculty.
The staff had immediately called an emergency meeting. Based on my knowledge of the game, I already knew the gist of their discussion.
First, they would keep the demon’s appearance a secret to prevent a mass panic among the students.
Since there were no signs of an external breach, they would conclude that the demon had been hiding within Delphine Forest from the start.
Consequently, the faculty would conduct a thorough sweep of the academy grounds and attempt to devise new methods for identifying and eliminating risks.
Of course, their "alternatives" would have zero impact.
Even if they inspected every inch of the exam site and erected barriers, they couldn't stop demons that were gestating underground in the form of dormant mana. When the time came, they would emerge regardless.
They were powerless to stop it.
In the end, the principal would have to take the heat, but the academy would continue to operate. I didn't need to worry about the school closing down.
However, this time, there was a variable that didn't exist in the original game.
I intervened.
My existence as Isaac changed things.
Luce had also reported the "monster" that had slain the demon—which was just me in a magical disguise.
I could see the fallout on the notice board in the Academy Square.
A poster depicted a humanoid monster with grotesque, bulging muscles. The text read: “Students who have sighted a figure matching this appearance, please report to the faculty immediately.”
So that’s what I looked like…
In the game, when the player equipped a Cloak of Disguise, the character model changed like a skin. I knew the Berserker form was intimidating, but seeing the sketch was something else.
Over two meters tall, rippling with muscle. The creature had the face of a feral beast, black skin, and a massive, gaping maw.
Its sharp, jagged teeth were on full display.
The fangs were as long as a saber-tooth tiger’s. With the tattered hood pulled low, the shadows cast over its face only served to highlight its ferocious, glowing red eyes.
Everything about it screamed "menace."
I’m going to be mistaken for a demon at this rate.
Demons would continue to appear until Ian graduated, and I intended to keep hunting them.
If the faculty—already on edge because of the demons—started hunting me as well, things would get complicated fast.
It was only a matter of time before word reached the Student Council President, Alice Carroll.
The student gossip mill was already churning. Just thinking about it gave me a headache.
My goal was to reach the final boss, the Evil God Nephid, while minimizing as many variables as possible.
That was why I’d bought the Magic Cloak of Disguise in the first place, but of course, it had to be a Berserker skin…
If I hunt a demon only to get attacked by the faculty because of my looks, it’ll be a total disaster.
Still, there was nothing I could do about it now.
I hadn't known what the "concept" of the outfit was when I bought it. It was the only one in stock, and the shopkeeper hadn't explained a thing.
And I can't afford a replacement…
One of the "charms" of the Secret Shop was its strict no-refund, no-exchange policy. To make matters worse, the prices were far too high for me to buy another cloak anytime soon.
Right now, I was one loaf of bread away from total bankruptcy.
Besides, it was doubtful the shop would even have new stock yet.
“I’m so hungry…”
The growl from my stomach was enough to bring tears to my eyes.
So hungry…
But all I had was a single 10-gel loaf of bread in my hand.
I sat on a bench in the middle of the day and began to eat.
Once this was gone, my net worth would be exactly 10 gels. I’d have to hit the bank later for that loan…
A first-year student, fresh off his first evaluation, and already drowning in debt.
I had played this game countless times, and nothing like this had ever happened to me.
This is painful. Truly painful.
“Are you alone?”
Suddenly, a deep, resonant male voice called out from behind me.
It was a voice I recognized instantly from my time playing ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
I turned around to confirm.
[Mateo Jordana]
Lv: 75
Race: Human
Element: Rock
Danger: X
His brown hair was slicked back, exposing a broad forehead and sharp, defined features. He had a powerful, sturdy build that perfectly matched his affinity for the rock element.
Mateo Jordana.
He was a named character who would eventually become a rival to Ian Fairytale and serve as a major supporting character later in the story.
As I stared blankly, Mateo introduced himself. “I’m Mateo Jordana. You’re Isaac, right?” he asked, leaning slightly against the bench.
His voice had a deep, cavernous echo to it.
I found myself wishing my own voice sounded that masculine.
“Yeah. Why do you ask?”
“Just one loaf of bread…? Are you not eating a proper meal?”
“That’s because I don’t have any gel.”
“You’ve already run out? No, that can't be… Were you robbed?”
Mateo’s brow furrowed.
His reaction confirmed he was the same guy from the game—a man of the people. As a commoner himself, he likely felt a sense of kinship with me.
Mateo’s future "gang" was composed entirely of commoners. He was destined to rebel against the noble students, which is what would eventually put him at odds with Ian.
To avoid a Bad Ending, Isaac—meaning me—needs to be this guy’s lackey for a while.
“Yeah… that’s right.”
I lied through my teeth to garner sympathy. I needed him to buy me lunch.
Mateo had a fierce sense of camaraderie; he couldn't ignore a "fellow commoner" in distress.
Besides, he was used to living frugally, and his magic skills were top-tier. He was bound to have a few extra gels lying around.
“Damn it, the nobles are at it again…! Come with me. I’ll make sure you get some actual nutrition.”
I hadn't specified who "robbed" me, but Mateo had immediately filled in the blanks himself.
As long as I got fed, I didn't care. Given his personality, I wouldn't have to worry about starving for the time being.
Sweet. I didn't think it would be that easy.
Of course, I planned to pay him back in full once I was back on my feet.
I followed Mateo to the student cafeteria and enjoyed a 50-gel meal. When he asked for details about the robber, I played it off, saying it was too dark to see their face.
*
“Classes have been finalized based on the results of your mana evaluations and the class assignment tests. This is the lowest-ranked group: Class D.”
I was sitting in the middle of a classroom of twenty people.
Only five students had made it into the elite Class A. Twenty were dumped into the "trash" Class D. The rest were split between Class B and Class C.
In short, I was currently sitting in the room for the academy's perceived failures.
“This means that, as of this moment, you are the most incompetent first-year students in the Magic Department.”
At the front of the room, the professor in charge of Class D scanned us with cold blue eyes. His tone was entirely apathetic.
This was Professor Fernando, a strikingly handsome man with silver hair.
I could see several girls in the class swooning. I could already hear the whispers about how "lucky" they were to be stuck in Class D if it meant looking at him.
…Who could possibly be that optimistic in this situation?
“This is Märchen Academy. In this world, only the strong survive.”
Professor Fernando paced slowly in front of the podium, hands tucked behind his back. The rhythmic click of his shoes echoed in the silent room. “Educational opportunities may be equal, but there is no mercy for those who produce poor results. If you do not become strong, you will be devoured by those in the upper classes. Survive. Failure to do so results in immediate expulsion.”
If you fail to meet the standard, you get a strike. Three strikes, and you’re out.
Come to think of it, maybe the reason Isaac never appeared after the game's prologue was because he got expelled…?
…I really need to step it up.
“Even in Class D, you are expected to be the elite of the elite, just like every other student here. Refine yourselves. Work harder than anyone else. This is your duty as mages and as students of Märchen Academy. Do that, and you will earn your diploma. Do you understand?”
Professor Fernando stopped pacing and glared at us with an icy gaze.
The female students gave a spirited, “Yes!”
Fernando looked momentarily taken aback by their enthusiasm.
I had sat through this orientation so many times in the game that I was sick of it. I had the entire speech memorized. I could probably mimic his voice perfectly if I tried.
“Hmm. Then, let me explain the curriculum for Class D.”
In the game, the cutscene would end here, transitioning to a title card: 「Act 2, Chapter 1: Class D」. It signaled the start of the story's second act.
However, in reality, Professor Fernando’s orientation continued. This was a scene the game had never shown.
For context, the chapter where I caught Trevion the Evil was 「Act 1, Chapter 1: Ian Fairytale」.
The mana evaluation was 「Act 1, Chapter 2: Passion of a Grade E」.
And the placement test was 「Act 1, Chapter 3: Class Assignment Evaluation」.
“…During the first semester, you will focus on mastering a single element. The curriculum is structured to facilitate this. If you can truly master one element, you will become a proficient mage.”
Following the academy’s logic, it would be most efficient for me to focus entirely on Ice Magic this semester.
I could pick up a second element next term.
Professor Fernando continued explaining the upcoming schedule. It was all information I already possessed.
Outside of the classroom curriculum, 「Act 2, Chapter 2: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case」 would begin soon. That was the chapter where Ian and Mateo would get involved, and more importantly, it was where I could obtain the "Abyssal Ring"—a loot item that allowed the wearer to read the thoughts of others.
Then came 「Act 2, Chapter 3: Practical Training」.
During that training, the infamous 「Act 2, Chapter 4: Ant Legion」 would trigger once "Garzia the Hermit"—better known as "The Little Ant"—emerged.
She was one of the "Wailing Walls" of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ on Hell Difficulty. A demon loathed by almost every player.
Her attack patterns were incredibly tricky, and she was Level 140. Even with my [Hunter] trait, defeating her would be a nightmare.
To make matters worse, Garzia’s subordinates, the "Disaster Ant" legion, possessed a hive mind and used complex tactics to overwhelm the player.
Why was the difficulty spike so insane on Hell mode? It all came down to Garzia’s specific mechanics.
I already had a countermeasure in mind for her. I just had to hope it worked.
As much as players hated her, Garzia dropped an incredibly useful item: the "Sheath of Disaster."
I’m taking that, no matter what.
After that, the story would move to 「Act 3, Chapter 1: Duel」.
This was a scheduled PvP performance evaluation where first-years fought one-on-one.
The highlight of that chapter was Ian fighting Luce and shocking the entire school by revealing his Light Magic.
Who will I have to fight?
By then, I should be significantly stronger. It would be a good benchmark to see how far I’d come.
I just need to avoid the 'unbeatable walls' like Kaya. Getting stomped into the dirt wouldn't tell me much.
Following the duels would be 「Act 3, Chapter 2: Familiar」, where I’d obtain a magical companion. The semester would then conclude with 「Act 3, Chapter 3: End-of-Semester Exam」, leading directly into 「Act 3, Chapter 4: Thunderbird Subjugation」.
Once that was finished, the first semester would be over, and we’d have a break. I needed to plan my vacation meticulously to maximize my growth. But first, I had to survive the Thunderbird.
Keep thinking. I need to recall every chapter in as much detail as possible and exploit every advantage.
And most importantly...
I have to defeat the Evil God Nephid and clear this game.
*
Luce Eltania couldn't focus on the lecture.
As expected, she had been assigned to Class A, and students were already crawling out of the woodwork to try and curry favor with her.
“Luce Eltania, it’s a pleasure. I’m from the Whiteclark family…”
Swish—
The moment Luce entered the classroom, she had shut them down with a cold, dismissive aura.
She didn't care about networking. She didn't care about a "youthful school life."
She had come to this academy for one thing: the Märchen Academy Magic Department Diploma.
Her path to becoming a Tower Master would be much smoother with that credential in hand.
“…”
However…
Like a tiny fishbone caught in her throat, something was bothering her.
She wasn't even listening to Professor Philip’s lecture. It didn't matter; she already knew everything he was teaching.
The demon… and Greung…
After Luce reported the events of the evaluation to the faculty, she was told there was no evidence of an outside invasion.
That meant both the demon and "Greung" had been inside Delphine Forest from the start.
Only first-years were supposed to be in the forest. Is it possible that Greung was actually a student using a Magic Cloak of Disguise…? No, that’s impossible for the demon, but…
Every freshman at Märchen Academy underwent a rigorous verification process to identify their elemental affinities.
If an intelligent demon had somehow infiltrated the student body, its dark mana would have been detected instantly. There was no way a demon could be an official student.
But Greung is a different story.
Greung had used Ice Magic—a perfectly normal element. It was entirely possible that the "monster" was actually a student.
He looked like he was there specifically to hunt the demon… Did he know it would appear?
The thoughts swirled in her head.
What if Greung is a first-year student who was in the forest for the exam? What if he enrolled in Märchen Academy specifically to hunt demons? What if he used a Cloak of Disguise because he didn't want his identity revealed…?
It made sense that such a powerful monster would want to hide his motives.
But Luce quickly shook her head.
…No, that’s stupid. We had the mana evaluation on the first day. If someone was that powerful, the sensors would have caught them.
The results of a mana evaluation didn't lie. It was impossible to fake one’s mana capacity.
…Unless they had reached the "Realm of an Archwizard" that Professor Fernando often mentioned.
No way… it couldn't be.
It’s impossible. No student my age could have reached the Realm of an Archwizard. It’s just not realistic.
Luce stroked her chin with a slender finger, deep in thought.
Or maybe Greung is just a vagrant who happened to be wandering through Delphine Forest.
Let’s think. Are there any other clues?
…His clothes.
Luce recalled the garments Greung had been wearing.
She remembered the brief moment when his magic had flared, illuminating his figure in the dark woods.
The memory was as vivid as a photograph. She examined every detail.
The clothes weren't perfectly neat, but they were relatively new. They weren't the tattered rags of a vagabond.
What if it really was a Magic Cloak of Disguise?
Perhaps he had anticipated a situation where he would need to hide his face.
And then there was the fact that he appeared specifically to slay a demon.
…It sounded like a fairy tale, but it was the only hypothesis that fit the facts.
One of my classmates has reached the Realm of an Archwizard and secretly entered the academy to hunt demons… There is a deep mystery hidden in this school…
Luce let out a soft, dry laugh. Even she realized how ridiculous she sounded.
What kind of nonsense am I dreaming up…
But what if it was true?
…It wouldn't hurt to investigate.
Luce had kept her heart locked away since she was ten years old, ever since she formed her contract with the Thunderbird, Galia.
But now, for the first time in years, she felt a spark of genuine curiosity about someone else.
First, I’ll keep a close eye on every student who uses the ice element.
Luce took her quill and wrote a single line on the parchment next to her textbook.
[Uncovering Greung’s Identity]
She slowly and deliberately underlined the sentence.