Chapter 114: End of the Second Semester
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 114: End of the Second Semester
Since returning to Märchen Academy, a series of unbelievable events had unfolded before Eve Ropenheim.
Most recently, a catastrophic incident had nearly wiped out a significant portion of the Empire, including the academy itself. After a brief hiatus to allow the situation to stabilize, classes had finally resumed.
Magic Department, Orphin Hall. Second-year classroom.
Eve, a girl with silver-blue hair tied to the side, sat lost in thought, her fingers rhythmically tapping against her desk. When she turned her gaze toward the window, the image of the massive island that had recently floated in the sky flashed through her mind.
The despair she had felt upon realizing it was the Floating Island was utterly indescribable.
“…”
Eve vividly remembered the horrifying clash that had occurred upon that island.
The Black Monster. It had emerged victorious in its battle against the Floating Island. Because of that entity, Märchen Academy, its people, and her younger brother, Isaac, were all safe.
Eve’s tapping fingers suddenly stilled.
She had witnessed Isaac’s proficient magic skills during the joint practical evaluation. His physical abilities were outstanding. He wielded the Ice Element.
And then, there were those words...
─“I can’t accept that you attacked me out of nowhere and tried to take Sir Isaac away from me.”
Those aggressive words had been spoken by Kaya Astrea, the second seat of the Magic Department freshmen.
“Sir Isaac…” Eve muttered to herself.
When she had first met Kaya, Eve had been too consumed by fear to think straight. But now that she had regained her composure, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was deeply out of place. Why would a student who held the second seat in the Magic Department address her brother so respectfully as ‘Sir Isaac’?
“…No way.”
As the absurd thought crossed her mind, Eve quickly shook her head.
There was no way Isaac could be the Black Monster. The Black Monster was an Archwizard—a monster among monsters. Even if someone like Isaac, who possessed no innate magical talent, worked himself to death, he could never reach such heights.
Besides, she had spent too much of her life with him for it to be true. As his older sister, having grown up alongside him since childhood, she could personally vouch for the fact that he wasn't the Black Monster.
The professor entered the classroom, and Eve cleared her mind. She tore her gaze away from the window, casting her doubts aside as she returned to reality.
Lately, the time I spent exercising had increased significantly.
This was because magic training had been temporarily struck from my daily routine; I was currently suffering from mana depletion. On the bright side, I felt physically better than ever, and my sleep had become remarkably deep and comfortable. It made me realize just how much fatigue my usual magic training had been imposing on my body.
While this period of readjustment seemed perfect on the surface…
‘I really can’t get used to this.’
Creating simple ice or rock constructs used to be as second nature as riding a bike whenever I was bored. Fatigue had been like a passive skill that was always active.
So, how did it feel to have a refreshed body while being unable to use magic? It didn't even feel like my own body.
After classes ended, I walked through the afternoon sunlight. Glancing around, it seemed as if nothing had happened; time at Märchen Academy was flowing peacefully once again.
‘The break following the Floating Island incident only lasted three days, after all.’
Classes had resumed immediately after that short hiatus. Today marked the beginning of the third week since I had defeated the Floating Island. The academy staff was still desperately trying to manage the aftermath.
Well, "desperately" was an understatement. It was absolute chaos.
‘The Floating Island was utterly annihilated, after all.’
The Fortress of the Heavens. The Harbinger of Destruction. Paradise and Hell.
The Floating Island had been at the very top of the Zelver Empire’s subjugation list. A mysterious, gargantuan island of unimaginable power that would suddenly appear in the heavens and turn the surrounding land into a wasteland. Throughout history, the loss of life and property caused by the Floating Island had exceeded any measurable scale.
Yet, in a single night, that enormous entity had vanished without a trace. Even though the Empire had scrambled to organize a subjugation force, they hadn't even reached the island before it was defeated.
For centuries, humanity had suffered at the hands of the Floating Island… but the unknown creature residing within Märchen Academy, the Black Monster, had eradicated it single-handedly.
‘That was the conclusion the academy reached based on the circumstances and Dorothy’s testimony.’
The news had spread across the globe. The Black Monster, who had defended the Empire by destroying the Floating Island, was now being revered as an "unnamed hero," both for this latest feat and his previous exploits. Realistically, he hadn't just saved the academy; he had saved humanity itself.
‘The results were better than expected.’
I couldn't hide the fact that I was the Black Monster forever. Therefore, I had intended to establish the narrative that the Black Monster was firmly on the side of Märchen Academy in advance. The groundwork for that had been laid perfectly.
However, I could see how much the staff, including the Headmistress, were struggling. Dealing with the emergence of demons was already a headache, but now the entire world’s attention was focused on them because of the Black Monster. Unfortunately for them, "spring" wouldn't truly arrive until the Evil God was defeated.
It wouldn't have been strange for the academy to shut down given the string of disasters. However, true to form, the school pushed forward, adhering to its ideology of guaranteeing education for its students no matter the circumstances.
‘Of course, that’s just the official line.’
Screw ideology. In truth, Märchen Academy was in a position where they couldn't close even if they wanted to.
‘Influential figures from all over the world are watching this place.’
Emperor Carlos of the Zelver Empire was openly supporting the academy. The Helize Church was also keeping a close eye on things. The Pope of the Helize Church was recognized as a secular authority, governing an independent Holy Land. His position was the only one that could truly rival Emperor Carlos; after all, even an Emperor could not stand above the realm of God.
Furthermore, the eastern nation of ‘Horan, Land of the Fire Blossoms,’ a power comparable to the Zelver Empire, was also paying attention. Next year, the Imperial Princess, the Saintess of the Church, and the Priestess from the east were all scheduled to enroll at Märchen Academy.
The academy’s leadership had no choice but to keep the gates open. In the end, under the Emperor's protection, they would do whatever it took to ensure student safety while continuing operations. Since the students themselves desired the elite education and the prestige of a Märchen diploma, everyone’s interests were aligned.
I silently offered my condolences to the administrators over at Bartos Hall.
‘Well then, now…’
Time to grind.
Classes were over, and the written exams were fast approaching. I headed straight for the library.
Märchen Academy’s library was massive. Even during exam periods, there were usually seats available, so I didn't have to worry about finding a spot. I sat down and piled five books on the table. Since I had already read them three times each, I could review them quickly.
Taking a deep breath, I channeled the focus from my days studying for the state exams and immersed myself in the text.
‘That person… He’s here again.’
Though the library was vast, the boy with the silver-blue hair always seemed to catch the eye of the student librarian. He had been visiting every single day as exams approached. Lately, he would study with terrifying focus until late at night, only leaving when the closing announcement was made.
Sitting at her desk, the female student rested her chin on her hand, staring intently at him. It was hard not to notice him.
Isaac, a freshman in the Magic Department. Among the first-years, he was known as a commoner with Grade E mana—the very definition of the weakest of the weak. Yet, he had steadfastly honed his skills, showing tremendous growth despite the condescending glares of those around him. Now, it was said he was on par with, if not better than, the students in Class B. The way other students looked at him was gradually shifting from disdain to admiration and respect.
Because he was someone who had risen from the bottom, the change in perception felt even more dramatic to the librarian.
‘So cool…’
A subtle blush colored her cheeks. Love often bloomed unexpectedly among students, and Isaac had certainly piqued her interest.
“…!”
However, just as her feelings began to surface, the librarian’s breath hitched. It felt as if a giant shark was staring at her from the depths of a dark ocean. An eerie, inexplicable sensation washed over her; her survival instinct was screaming at her not to harbor feelings for that man.
Suddenly, a beautiful girl with flowing rose-gold hair appeared behind Isaac.
“Ta-daa! Luce is here.”
She leaned down, sliding into the seat beside Isaac without a moment's hesitation. Despite her playful entrance, her tone carried a seductive weight that seemed to make the very air tremble.
Even the surrounding students, who were supposed to be studying, couldn't help but steal glances at her. Luce Eltania was so breathtakingly beautiful that it was easy to lose one's train of thought just by looking at her. She was the unrivaled top seat of the Magic Department freshmen.
“Ah, Luce.”
Isaac turned his head to look at Luce, who was already leaning her weight against his shoulder. They were inches apart. Luce smiled brightly, locking eyes with him. To any observer, they looked exactly like a couple.
Nearby, the hands of male students holding their books began to tremble. While there were other couples studying together, Isaac, in particular, seemed to provoke intense jealousy and envy.
“Isaac, let’s study together.”
“I don’t mind. By the way, Luce, do you understand this part? I’ve read this book four times, but I still don’t get it.”
“Oh, that? I know it. It made sense once I memorized everything up to Intermediate Theory.”
“…Your brain is a cheat code.”
Isaac looked at Luce with envious eyes. After a brief exchange, the two sat side-by-side and began to study.
While Isaac studied passionately, his lips silently moving as he memorized the text, Luce flipped through her pages with the casual elegance of a swan. She could memorize and recall anything after seeing it once, anyway. She was only reading slowly to match Isaac’s pace.
‘It’s too much…’
The student librarian bit her lip and looked away. It felt as if the wall protecting Isaac was far too high for anyone else to scale.
“…”
At that moment, Luce glanced toward the librarian. Then, she returned to her book, her expression unreadable.
“Isaac.”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s stay together all day today. Suddenly, I feel like studying a lot.”
“We only have four days left until the written exam, and you’re only now saying you want to study a lot…?”
To Isaac, who felt like he was dying under the pressure of his studies, Luce’s genius was something to be envied.
Luce playfully tickled the back of Isaac’s hand with her pen. After teasing him for a moment, she went back to her book.
The final exam of the second semester—the end-of-term evaluation—was just around the corner.