Chapter 117: End of the Second Semester (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 117: End of the Second Semester (4)
“We will now begin the Winter Vacation Ceremony for the Magic Department of Märchen Academy!”
A blanket of fresh white snow had transformed the academy grounds.
It was morning in the Magic Department’s school district. Students stood in orderly ranks by year in the square before Orphin Hall, dressed in their sharp uniforms and heavy cape shawls.
The female professor in charge of Class C for the freshmen stood upon the platform, her voice energetic as she conducted the ceremony.
For me, this was the final event of my first year in the Magic Department.
I half-listened to the speech delivered by Headmistress Elena Woodline. She reflected on the chaos of the past year—the emergence of demons, the crisis of the Floating Island, and the many trials we had endured.
It was honestly a bit heart-wrenching to see her eyes well up as she recalled just how much she had suffered this year.
The road of hardship is still far from over, though.
Please, don't cry yet. There are plenty more difficult days ahead…
Soon after, the top students of the first and second years were called forward to represent their respective classes.
Representing the first years was a girl with rose-gold hair cascading down to her waist: Luce Eltania.
Representing the second years was a girl with long, light purple hair: Dorothy Heartnova.
My fists clenched instinctively.
My favorite characters!
Their beauty was absolutely dazzling. Even bundled up in standard uniforms and capes, the sight of them standing before the podium felt like they were radiating a literal halo.
I couldn't help but let out a soft sigh, wearing a smile like a proud father.
For context, the vacation ceremony was only for returning students. The third years were prospective graduates and didn't stand on this platform; they would have their own grand ceremony at graduation.
Headmistress Elena, a white coat draped over her shoulders, stood before the two top seats. She removed the red gem from Luce’s brooch and replaced it with a blue one, symbolizing her promotion to a second-year student. She did the same for Dorothy, pinning a purple gem to her brooch to mark her transition to the third year.
As the Headmistress shook hands with both girls, the square erupted in cheers and applause.
Amidst the celebration, I turned my gaze toward a girl with green twin-tails: Kaya Astrea.
Her lips were pressed thin, and her eyes were downcast with disappointment.
She’s frustrated.
During the end-of-semester evaluations, Kaya had dueled Luce and lost. Even though Kaya had grown significantly stronger than she was in the original game scenario, Luce remained an insurmountable wall. It had to be difficult for Kaya to stomach that overwhelming sense of inferiority.
“…”
Since yesterday, the story Dorothy told me had been stuck in my head. I’d had no idea that after the battle on the Floating Island, Kaya had come to the hideout specifically to heal me.
Come to think of it, Kaya had appeared out of nowhere to save me from several crises. There were so many things that would have gone sideways without her.
A sudden thought occurred to me. If I hadn't built a connection with Kaya…
…How would things have ended for me?
I would’ve fought the Thunderbird and died.
That was the reality. I would’ve been completely screwed.
Thank you… for everything.
You’re literally the savior of my life.
As if sensing my gaze, Kaya turned her head. Her jade-colored eyes met mine.
“Heuahh…!”
Kaya’s face turned bright red. Embarrassed that I’d been watching her, she quickly looked away and hung her head. Her shoulders stiffened and rose, and I could almost see steam venting from her scalp.
She was the same old Kaya.
*
Once the ceremony concluded, the students began to scatter.
Märchen Academy had finally opened its gates to the outside world. Many students were already boarding carriages to head to their hometowns. In a few days, the campus would be silent.
Regardless, my routine remained unchanged.
Training.
During vacation, the training grounds would be practically deserted. I couldn't pass up such a golden opportunity.
As I walked toward the training area, I took a moment to appreciate the snowy landscape of the academy. When I exhaled, a hazy mist of breath drifted into the air before vanishing. It was unmistakably winter.
“…”
I stopped in my tracks.
Near the path, I saw a specific tree stump.
It was the spot where I had sat, huddled and lost, on the day of the entrance ceremony. On that dawn, under a gloomy sky pouring spring rain, I had sat there blankly watching raindrops freeze the moment they touched my [Ice Curtain].
The memory of the helplessness I felt back then was still vivid.
One year. It had been one year since I possessed Isaac, a mere extra in the world of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
I had survived the Thunderbird, brought down the Floating Island, and saved Dorothy. I had successfully averted numerous Bad Endings.
And I wasn't dead. I had survived and remained on the path to defeating the Evil God.
“…I’m proud of myself.”
A small laugh escaped me. It hadn't been easy, but I was proud to be alive.
I started walking again. With the end of the second semester, my first year had officially come to a close.
---
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 103
Gender: Male
Year: (2nd)
Title: Prospective Second Year
Mana: 24,000 / 24,000
Mana Recovery Speed: (B+)
---
*
At the training grounds, I gripped Zhonya’s Staff and faced down illusions of demonic creatures while lost in thought. It was time to organize the current situation and solidify my plans for the future.
By the end of my first year, I was ranked 45th in my class. This rank was the aggregate of all my evaluation results from the second semester.
I was also confirmed to receive the "Self-Development Excellence" scholarship, awarded to the student who showed the most significant improvement in grades compared to the previous semester. I wasn't jumping for joy—I knew I’d get it—but it was a relief. At the very least, I wouldn't have to worry about tuition during the winter break.
Furthermore, my dorm assignment was changing. I was moving from Briggs Hall, the dorm for middle-low ranked students, to Elma Hall, the dorm for middle-high ranked students.
From Elma Hall onward, the facilities improved dramatically, and the school-affiliated maids would take a much larger role in managing my daily life. In short, life was about to get a lot more comfortable. While personal maids could be hired, that was a luxury far beyond a commoner like me.
But the best part is…
I had the chance to obtain two End Game-grade magic weapons before I even started my second year. I had already decided to go after Gormos’ Greatsword, but…
Unfortunately, the situation was different from when I dealt with the Frost Dragon, Hilde.
I can’t just form a contract with Gormos to make him my familiar.
The guardian of Gormos’ Greatsword was the Stone Turtle, Gormos—an 8-star magic beast. In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, forming a contract with an 8-star guardian of an ultimate weapon required three conditions:
Yep, that was the standard procedure.
Hilde had been a special case. Normally, you could only form a contract with such high-level familiars in the very late stages of the game. If I wanted the Stone Turtle, I had to do it the hard way. I had to be strong enough to actually beat it.
I also need to prepare for the first semester of the second year.
Four keywords defined the upcoming semester:
1. The Golden Generation.
2. The Deep Sea Monster (the demon that drops Luce’s End Game weapon).
3. The Miko.
4. The Alice Subjugation Battle.
What should I do about Luce’s ring?
I considered Luce a vital member of the eventual Evil God Subjugation Force. Upgrading her gear was directly tied to my own survival. In the game, if certain conditions were met, the ‘Ring of the Abyssal Queen’ would drop. That was Luce’s ultimate weapon.
I have to get it, no matter what.
However, there was a catch.
It has to be worn on the left ring finger to activate its effects…
According to the lore of the Ring of the Abyssal Queen, wearing a ring on the left ring finger carried the same weight as a marriage proposal in this world. Back when I played the game, I always suspected the developers had some questionable intentions with that mechanic.
I needed to figure out a way to give her that ring naturally.
Also…
There was one more thing I desperately wanted to know, even if it wasn't strictly necessary for the main plot.
How does Alice know everything?
In the game, after the player wins the Alice Subjugation Battle, Alice takes her own life with a smile, carrying all her secrets to the grave. Any fan of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ would want to solve that mystery.
Why should I be any different?
If possible, I wanted to uncover the truth behind her omniscience.
As I was deep in thought—
“Ha!”
A familiar, sharp burst of laughter rang out. It happened just as I struck down the last demonic illusion of the first wave.
I looked toward the source. Someone was walking through the entrance toward me—a man dressed in impeccably neat, fashionable aristocratic attire.
It was the vain blond noble, Tristan Humphrey.
“Tristan?”
“Training immediately after the vacation ceremony? How absurd, commoner!”
With his nose in the air, Tristan let out a haughty laugh. Judging by his civilian clothes, he was likely on his way home. He certainly hadn't come here to train.
Did he come to see me?
…Nah, he probably just came to pick a fight. It’s Tristan, after all.
Tristan stopped a short distance away, his usual arrogant smirk plastered on his face.
“Don’t think things will change next year! You’ll still be beneath my boots!”
“…?”
What is he talking about?
“That’s right, commoner! No matter how much you try to spread your wings, you’ll never even come close to me! I’ll make sure you feel that bitter truth every single day of our second year!”
Tristan delivered his declaration of war with maximum pomposity.
Mmm, okay…
I basically translated that in my head as: “Let’s get along next year, too.”
“Keuheheh! Struggle all you want! I’ll crush you with my superior pursuit of knowledge!”
After dropping a line straight out of a third-rate villain’s script, Tristan turned on his heel and began to strut away. He let out a mocking “Keuhahahah!” before immediately coughing as if he’d choked on his own spit.
---
[Tristan Humphrey]
Lv: 92
Race: Human
Elements: Wind, Water
Danger: X
Psychology: [Wants to become stronger than you.]
---
It seemed Tristan had sensed my mana during the final evaluations and realized I had surpassed him. For someone like Tristan, that fact was a massive ego blow. He was the type of person who couldn't stand the taste of inferiority; it drove him to polish his skills endlessly.
And now, he had been overtaken by Isaac—the "commoner" he had always looked down upon.
There was only one way Tristan would react to that.
He’s going to work even harder.
He would acknowledge the objective gap, accept the reality, and then grind until he closed it. He understood the value of effort and didn't belittle the results of others' hard work. More than anything, he wanted to prove his worth through his own results. It was his way of life.
He’d likely made that declaration of war just to steel his own resolve.
Well, I’m not that different from you.
My final goal in this academy was the Evil God Nephid. My benchmark for success was always that demon. If I fought Nephid right now, I’d be slaughtered.
So, all I could do was work myself to death to ensure that didn't happen.
Tristan’s figure vanished beyond the entrance. Unintentionally, his words had fueled my own determination.
As the second wave of demonic illusions began to manifest, ice mana bloomed from my fingertips.
It was only a matter of time before I faced the Trial of Sandstone to claim Gormos’ Greatsword.