Chapter 12: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case (1)
It was midday, and the sun was shining brightly. A cool breeze gently caressed my skin.
I was chatting with Mateo under the shade of a tree after hanging out for a bit. As I expected, Mateo invited me to join his crew.
He’d been looking after me for the past three days, and I accepted his offer with a look of feigned admiration, playing the part of a loyal follower who was touched by a few free meals.
In truth, I was genuinely grateful. Thanks to him, I’d been able to fill my stomach and focus on training without falling into debt.
“A noble title? Throw it to the dogs. My goal is to get revenge on the nobles who look down on us commoners. I’m going to get stronger here and raise the status of every commoner in the academy.”
Mateo made a grand promise that I couldn’t care less about. I pretended to be moved, nodding along with "Mmm, yes," and "You're right!" It was a necessary performance to earn his trust.
I felt like a fresh corporate recruit sucking up to his manager.
“Someday, I’ll create a world where commoners aren't looked down upon. You understand better than anyone, Isaac, since you were treated like trash just for being a Grade E commoner. Stand by my side.”
“…I get it. I’m in.”
It was a false promise that would be shattered soon enough.
I have to stop the bad ending, so I’ll have to play along with you for a while.
*
Just like that, I became a member of Mateo’s gang.
Aside from me, there were three others in the crew—one from Class B and two from Class C, all of commoner origin.
“Ugh, do I really have to do this…?”
As a member of Mateo’s gang, I had to slick my bangs back. Showing my forehead didn't exactly do me any favors.
Regardless, Mateo slung his uniform cloak over one shoulder and led the way, while I and the three other subordinates followed in his wake. Mateo was working hard to rewrite history.
Is it because we all have our foreheads exposed?
As we walked through the corridors of Orphin Hall, I could feel the eyes of the students boring into us.
“Hey, look, it’s that Grade E commoner.”
“That Grade E guy joined Mateo’s gang just to survive.”
“He was dead last in the class assignment evaluation, pfft.”
…No, they were solely staring and laughing at me.
As expected of Märchen Academy. The students’ terrible personalities were truly something else.
“What did you just say to my friend?” Mateo barked.
“Ah…! Oh, no, it’s nothing…”
Oh? Mateo’s picking fights on my behalf.
Mateo, who sat at the top of Class B, was a recognized talent. Most students didn’t even dare to approach him.
At Märchen Academy, social status didn't strictly dictate one's standing. While status still mattered, skill and ability held far more weight here.
This bastard…
I snorted.
Even though I was just playing the role of a subordinate, I couldn’t help but feel a spark of gratitude for Mateo’s loyalty. Of course, I was only grateful that he took my side. The current Mateo was naive and hopeless, so he wasn’t particularly impressive as a person.
“Ian Fairytale?”
At that moment, one of the guys beside me called out the protagonist’s name.
Ian had intervened just as Mateo was picking a fight with another student. Mateo and Ian’s gazes clashed.
Silence fell. The air grew heavy.
“That bastard… what’s he going to say to Brother Mateo this time…?”
“Cheeky prick.”
Calling him 'Brother' when we’re in the same year is a bit much, don't you think?
“Are you picking fights again, Mateo?”
Wow. It was the first time I’d heard Ian’s voice in this world. He had the crisp, clear voice you'd expect from a protagonist—a very familiar voice I’d heard countless times while playing the game.
I almost said hello out of pure habit.
Mateo stepped closer to Ian, looming over him intimidatingly.
“Ian Fairytale… the second son of a Viscount… As expected, you’re just as annoying as the rest.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“I’m going to use you as a stepping stone for my goals—an example of my hostility toward the aristocracy.”
“You foolish bastard.”
Okay, they’re fighting. The story is going exactly as planned.
According to the plot of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Ian and Mateo had already met and were on the verge of a full-blown brawl.
The root of the problem was that Mateo had challenged a Class C student from the Magic Department to a duel at the training grounds. The opponent was a discriminatory aristocrat who despised commoners, and Mateo had obliterated him with zeal.
Ian, the protagonist with a relentless sense of justice, happened to be at the training grounds and stepped in to stop him. That led to this battle of nerves.
After a few words, Mateo would pretend to be the bigger man and walk away. That was the story I knew.
“Am I annoying? Then let’s settle this.”
Mateo provoked him, but Ian countered, “I won’t fight you. You’re not even worth the effort.”
“You’re weak. I already know you’re all talk.”
The war of nerves was short-lived.
After a brief staring contest, Mateo ignored Ian and started walking again, hands shoved deep into his pockets. His subordinates—me and the three other students—followed. Like third-rate villains, they stuck out their tongues or mocked Ian as they passed.
Naturally, I followed suit.
Just try not to faint when the demons show up, Ian.
*
“There’s a girl who’s always stuck to Ian’s side. ‘Amy Holloway.’ She’s the daughter of Count Holloway.”
Somewhere in Josena Forest.
The Mateo gang, myself included, were gathered in a spacious abandoned warehouse, holding a strategy meeting straight out of a bargain-bin villain's playbook.
“Let’s kidnap her.”
“Wait, are we actually going to kidnap her?!”
The subordinates were startled. I made sure to look surprised, too.
As expected, Mateo’s strategy was following the original story to the letter.
「Act 2, Chapter 2: The Childhood Friend Kidnapping Case」. This was the incident where Ian’s childhood friend, Amy Holloway, was abducted by Mateo’s gang. It was the moment Ian and Mateo’s rivalry truly ignited.
“I’m not saying we’re going to hurt her. We’ll just snatch her and lock her up somewhere. She’s just bait to lure Ian in.”
“Brother, what do you mean by that…?!”
“It’s a message to the nobles. If they look down on us commoners, they will suffer the consequences.”
In the game, after defeating all of Mateo’s men, Ian confronted Mateo one-on-one. During the fight, a demon appeared, awakened by Mateo’s surging mana.
The demon’s target was Ian, who possessed the light element. However, it attacked Mateo first since he was in the way. With all his subordinates unconscious, Ian was the only one who could save him. Once Ian rescued Mateo, the two formed a temporary alliance to defeat the demon. Afterward, Mateo apologized, and they became friends.
Regardless, seeing Mateo’s gang plan their strategy in person was actually quite fun—it was a scene that never appeared in the original game.
“First is Ian Fairytale, that cretin. We can’t force him to fight, so we need to give him a reason. I intend to drive him to utter despair.”
“As expected of Brother!”
When I was playing the game, I just thought he was a generic villain and didn't give him much thought… but looking at him now, Mateo was a genuine idiot and a total bastard.
His subordinates were on the same level. They all chimed in, swearing to follow Mateo’s will and show the world the strength of commoners.
I had two reasons for joining this crew. The first was to deal with the demon.
The second was…
“Then, the kidnapping…”
“I’ll do it,” I interrupted.
All eyes fell on me.
The second reason I joined Mateo’s gang… was to ensure the safe kidnapping of Ian’s childhood friend and one of my favorite characters, Amy Holloway.
“Leave it to me. I want to be useful too, Mateo.”
In the original story, Mateo’s gang was caught off guard by Ian’s combat skills. Contrary to Mateo’s intentions, they ended up treating Amy quite harshly in their panic. It was likely a plot device to escalate the conflict, but I hated it.
*
“Keukkukkeukkeukuk.”
“Hahahaha…”
I couldn’t understand why Mateo’s gang laughed like a bunch of low-budget villains, but the mood was infectious, so I joined in and laughed like a villain too.
I actually felt a strange sense of belonging while eating with them. When Mateo got into a fight, we would glare from the sidelines, and we’d gather in the abandoned warehouse to vent about the hardships of being neglected by the nobility.
Well, the group is going to disband soon anyway, so I might as well enjoy it while it lasts.
“Keukkeukkeuk.”
“Hahahaha…”
Hahahaha…
It was fun.
Tomorrow is the end.
The operation was set for tomorrow. Somehow, the gang had grown by two more members, but it didn't matter. They were all extras who would be knocked out by Ian anyway.
Even on “Hell” difficulty, only the non-human enemies saw a massive spike in power. Human NPCs had fixed levels regardless of the difficulty setting.
Furthermore, Ian’s level, which I’d checked earlier, was 45. Mateo’s subordinates averaged in the mid-40s. However, Ian had the massive advantage of being physically superior and an expert in hand-to-hand combat.
In short, he was a powerhouse who could flatten these extras with ease, no matter how many times he got beaten down by demons later.
As long as Ian protected Mateo once, the situation would resolve itself. Then, all I had to do was step in and handle the demon.
At least, assuming there were no outside interference…
*
Life in the Duke Astrea household was unlike that of any other noble lady.
Gerald Astrea had been granted his dukedom for his distinguished service in the War of Nies. Considered one of the greatest Sword Saints, he married the genius wizard Historia, continuing the prestigious Astrea lineage.
Kaya, a girl with light green hair, was the second-born daughter of this legendary pair. To her, her father was a being to be followed blindly.
“Astrea House, rise!”
““KNIGHTS!!!””
When her father’s voice boomed over the loudspeaker, no matter how deep her dreams were, she had to snap awake and make her bed instantly.
“Merlin Astrea!”
“The eldest daughter! Merlin Astrea!”
“Kaya Astrea!”
“The second daughter! Kaya Astrea!”
When reporting, she had to include her birth order and maintain a strict military tone. As soon as they woke up, they had to assemble in front of the mansion.
“Give me a five-second war cry!”
““AHHHHHHHHHH—!!!””
“Morning routine. Astrea House, run!”
““Yap!!!””
“GO!”
Every day before sunrise, they ran through the morning mist.
“Did you play with Arwen instead of studying? Yes or no?”
“I played! I’m sorry!”
“Roll left!”
“Rolling left!!”
“Roll right!”
“Rolling right!!”
“Five push-ups. How many?”
“Five times!!”
“Begin!”
“One, two…! Kuheuk!”
She used to think it was a bit much for a six-year-old.
“Go to bed. It is mandatory.”
“What the heck!”
…No, she tried to recall other memories, but those were the only ones she had.
On top of that, she had no contact with the opposite sex, restrictions on snacks, and limits on playtime. Gerald’s educational philosophy was that children only grew up righteously when raised like soldiers—a philosophy that had tormented Kaya her entire life.
At the very least, Kaya was able to find some breathing room and maintain her aristocratic poise thanks to the gentle influence of her mother, Historia. Still, in front of her father, she had no choice but to snap back into military discipline.
Perhaps because of this high-stress upbringing, Kaya had developed a habit of reading people, a survival skill born from constantly walking on eggshells around her father.
But now, she only cared about reading one person.
The second-ranked student of the Magic Department, Kaya Astrea.
She had been assigned to Class A, the highest tier, but her joy was fleeting. The only thing on her mind lately was Isaac. After much thought, she had decided to keep an eye on him.
One day, as soon as classes ended, she went looking for him and spotted him in the distance. For some reason, he was hanging around with Mateo’s crew—the commoner group that had been the subject of so much gossip lately.
It was clear Isaac was part of the gang, given that he was wearing his bangs slicked back just like the rest of them.
Didn't they say they were a group rebelling against the aristocracy? I heard they’ve been picking fights with nobles.
No matter how talented Mateo Jordana was, it wasn't wise to be hated by the nobility. They looked like a bunch of edgy, immature teenagers.
However…
Why is Sir Isaac with Mateo’s gang…?
A powerhouse who had reached the level of an Archwizard. Isaac must have a profound reason for this that Kaya couldn't even fathom.
Why would he join a gang of bullies?
Kaya couldn't stop wondering. So, she decided to tail him.
He seemed completely influenced by them, even letting out a cheesy, villainous laugh. “Kekehaha.”
Is Sir Isaac… laughing like a villain?
Kaya, peeking out from behind a pillar, watched him in disbelief. She was certain that the combined strength of Mateo’s gang couldn't even reach Sir Isaac’s toes. At his level, a group like that should be a joke.
But why…? Is there something special about that gang?
There was only one conclusion. Isaac had a deeper motive that she simply couldn't understand yet. Otherwise, there was no way a man like him would join such a pathetic group.
Isaac was a mystery.
Now that she’d entered Märchen Academy, she was supposed to focus on her studies and training… but her head was filled with thoughts of Isaac.
Why is such a strong man hiding his skills?
What kind of spectacular past must he have had?
What is his relationship with Sylphia, the Emerald Fairy?
Isaac hadn't answered any of her questions, so she had no way of knowing. At the very least, she had to find out why he had joined a group of third-rate thugs.
I have no choice but to monitor him closely…!
The word 'stalking' flickered through her mind, but she quickly shook her head, telling herself it wasn't like that at all.