Chapter 129: Monologue — Interlude (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 129: Monologue — Interlude (3)
Inside the narrow booth, a fascinating video played on a strange device she had never seen before.
Amidst the swirling, multicolored lights and the thumping music echoing in her ears…
Dorothy and Isaac held a microphone together, dancing to the rhythm as they sang.
It was the "coin karaoke" from Isaac’s world.
“Huh?”
As she watched her dream-self, her head began to move on its own.
Once to the left, then once to the right. Twice more, repeating the same pattern.
Shortly after, a familiar voice faintly pierced through the veil of music.
[She’s sleeping quite deeply… She hasn’t stirred at all…]
“…”
Ah, this is a dream.
The moment she realized it, her consciousness was instantly yanked back to reality.
Though she had no way of knowing, the sudden cessation of her snoring was the clearest proof that she had awakened.
Utter darkness; she could see nothing but pitch-black. A mischievous voice penetrated her hazy mind.
It was Ella’s voice.
“Ah, okay…”
‘…!’
Then came the voice of a man—Isaac.
Dorothy suppressed a gasp. Ella noticed the reaction, but she pretended not to and continued her conversation with Isaac.
‘The President is here.’
The urge to play a prank surged within Dorothy the moment she woke.
While Isaac is off guard, I’ll suddenly shout and startle him. He was easily surprised, and teasing him was one of her greatest joys.
However…
[Oops, it’s time for me to take care of other things. From now on, Isaac, I won’t have a clue what you do to Dorothy.]
Even Dorothy, who preferred action over deep thought, wasn't foolish enough to miss the hidden meaning behind Ella’s words.
Come to think of it, except for that time on the Floating Island, Isaac had never been the one to initiate physical contact with her.
Of course, she didn't think someone as upright as Isaac would do anything scandalous while she was asleep, but…
Was it because of Ella’s teasing? Peculiar fantasies and a subtle sense of anticipation began to sprout within Dorothy. It was an irresistible force.
For some reason, Dorothy wanted to keep pretending to be asleep.
The atmosphere was…
‘Not bad at all…!’
Honestly, she wouldn't even mind if he did something just a little scandalous…!
Her heart hammered against her ribs, and heat flushed her face. A pleasant chill ran down her spine.
A rare genius. The greatest powerhouse of Märchen Academy. Dorothy, usually defined by such grand titles, was currently just an ordinary girl becoming aware of love.
Moreover, this was a secluded spot inside the Josena Forest—a hideout filled with nostalgic memories shared only by the two of them.
To be honest, she had secretly hoped they would get swept up in the strange atmosphere of this place…!
Completely stiff, Dorothy let out a shallow, trembling breath. A tingling sensation spread through her body, and she became hyper-aware of Isaac’s presence.
‘Mm?’
Creak. Did he get up from his chair?
‘Where are you going?’
Isaac moved away.
The sound of splashing water followed. It seemed he was washing his hands and face.
Eventually, Isaac returned to Dorothy’s side, sat back down, and let out a long, deep breath.
Dorothy couldn't gauge his expression with her eyes closed.
‘He must be staring holes in me.’
It was the first time she had felt such a distinct, prickling sensation from someone’s gaze.
Wait. How do I look right now?
She worried her hair was a bird's nest. Were there drool stains on her face? Was she a complete mess?
Her skin quivered. Just as she was spiraling into a panic…
‘Oh…!’
Isaac began to gently stroke Dorothy’s hair. Reflexively, Dorothy let out a silent cry of exclamation.
It was an incredibly tender touch, as if he were handling something precious. She finally understood how a puppy felt when being petted by a beloved owner.
Her body trembled as a storm of nervousness surged within her. She was deathly embarrassed, her fingers and toes curling in tension, yet the instinctive desire to be enveloped in his touch held her perfectly still.
It felt so good it was hard to endure. She felt like she might melt into the bed from the sheer pleasure of it.
“I managed to finish everything well thanks to you.”
“…!”
“Thanks, Dorothy. Truly.”
He addressed her casually, dropping the usual honorifics. His voice was low and subdued.
Whenever Isaac spoke to her informally, Dorothy’s heart skipped a beat.
How could it be so enchanting when this young man, who was usually so polite and formal, spoke to her so familiarly without permission?
Her nerves were already frayed, but the combination of him stroking her hair and whispering in such a sweet voice was enough to make her giddy with ecstasy.
Though Dorothy wished to savor the moment longer…
‘Urrrghh…! I can’t take it anymore, President…!’
Her body no longer felt like her own; the sensation was overwhelming.
Of course, even if she couldn't endure it, Dorothy had no idea what to do next. She had zero experience with boys.
“Senior, I know you’re awake.”
At that moment, Dorothy’s heart nearly stopped.
“…Ah.”
A soft, defeated lament escaped her lips. She opened her eyes slightly and met Isaac’s gaze. He was looking down at her with a serene expression.
As the strange tension evaporated, a wave of intense shame rushed in like a gale. Dorothy immediately turned her back to him, pulling the blanket up to her nose.
A heavy silence filled the room.
After a moment, Dorothy hesitantly sat up. Her expression was a mask of panic, her face dyed a brilliant crimson.
Though Dorothy was usually an expert at controlling her expressions—always wearing her signature smile like a mask—she had no idea how to hide this fiery flush.
“Y-you’re here, President!”
She forced an unnaturally bright smile, her voice pitching higher than usual.
“Senior, aren’t you hungry?”
“Uh, yeah! I’m absolutely famished…!”
To drown out her embarrassment, Dorothy poured her entire soul into an exaggerated reaction.
“I’ll go make some stew.”
“Ah, thanks…”
Isaac stood up and headed for the kitchen.
Dorothy immediately dove back into the bed, burying her face in the pillow.
In the face of these new emotions Isaac stirred within her, the "Greatest Powerhouse" was nothing more than a shy, flustered girl.
I already knew Dorothy was awake. I figured she was trying to find an opening to surprise me.
It didn't really matter. I just wanted to express my gratitude without any pretenses.
‘Though it doesn't seem like I made the right choice.’
I hadn't expected Dorothy to have such a visceral reaction of rejection… I should probably refrain from doing that in the future.
“Meat stew!! Is there chicken in it too?!”
Now, she was acting like her usual self, as if nothing had happened.
Look at her, being considerate by pretending she wasn't bothered. How heartwarming.
After preparing the meat stew, I served it into two bowls. We headed up to the rooftop, carried by Dorothy’s starlight magic.
The winter wind was biting.
Snow-heavy clouds, painted in the hues of the night, continued to sprinkle gentle flakes upon the world.
I deployed an [Ice Curtain] to block the wind and snow, then handed Dorothy a bowl of warm stew and a spoon.
We huddled under a thick blanket and used a fire elemental scroll to create a makeshift campfire. It felt incredibly cozy and comfortable.
We sat there, making small talk and chatting idly, until…
“We have a lot to talk about, don’t we?”
Dorothy’s question cut through the air.
‘The time has come.’
I had pondered this endlessly during my time at the academy and while hunting demons.
My original plan was to reveal the truth about the Evil God only to the most trustworthy people at the "right time," just as I had with Kaya.
‘I thought the right time would be after the Alice subjugation, though.’
Revealing my secrets prematurely felt like a double-edged sword.
No matter how much I trusted someone, it would be troublesome if things spiraled out of my control before I was ready.
However, Dorothy had already discovered that I was from another world. I was in a position where I had to disclose secrets I never intended to share.
On the way back here, I had finally decided which parts of the truth to reveal.
Since it had come to this, I decided that Dorothy would be the first person to hear my most important secret.
“Yes… I have a lot to say.”
I wouldn't mention the status window or the original plot of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱; that would only cause unnecessary confusion.
In the dead of winter, not a single insect chirped. Only the crackling of the magical flames filled the silence.
In that cozy atmosphere, I began to quietly tell my story.
I came from another world. I don’t know the exact circumstances of how I ended up here.
To be honest, I wasn't originally strong. But I possessed a power that made me effective against demons.
I also knew exactly where and when the demons would appear.
And… I knew that the Evil God would eventually descend.
I kept it as simple as possible, sticking to the essentials.
Silence followed. At some point, the steaming stew had gone cold.
Dorothy sat with her head lowered, deep in thought. Her emotions were unreadable, shielded by her starlight mana.
My story probably wouldn't fully sink in right away. I waited for her reaction, staring quietly at the cold stew.
“…So that’s why you trained so hard.”
As expected, Dorothy didn't doubt me for a second.
She could analyze emotions and detect lies. Since I was telling the truth and we had built a foundation of trust, her belief was natural.
But still… her acceptance was almost too easy. It felt as if she had known my goal from the start. Her remark sounded like an answer she had prepared in advance, giving me a strange sense of dissonance.
“Your reaction is calmer than I expected.”
“Nihihi, I already knew you were hiding something huge. I was mentally prepared, you see. As expected, the President really is something special.”
…It sounds like a lie, but I have no way to prove it.
I had no intention of interrogating her based on a hunch. It could just be my imagination, so I let it slide.
“I have a lot I want to ask, but… I’ll learn it all slowly. Honestly, my brain is already cramping from what you just told me.”
That was fair. If I were in her shoes, I’d feel the same.
“But it’s like a fairy tale. The story of a Hero defeating the Demon King.”
“The plot is similar, I suppose.”
“Then, the President is the Hero, right?”
Hero.
It was such a grandiose title that it made me chuckle.
Time passed in silence again as we both processed our thoughts.
Finally…
“President.”
Dorothy finished her reflections and extended her fist with a faint smile. It was a gesture of reassurance.
“I’ll help you. Let’s destroy the Evil God together.”
Suddenly, I remembered the Trial of Frost, when Dorothy had told me we should tear down the world.
Compared to then, her voice was much calmer, but it carried a weight that reassured me more than anything else could.
“…Thank you.”
I extended my fist and bumped hers.
Dorothy smiled brightly, declaring the official formation of the Hero’s Party.
Bartos Hall, the palace-like heart of Märchen Academy.
Inside the darkened Student Council room, only the faint glow of a small desk lamp illuminated the surroundings.
There, a female student with long golden hair rhythmically tapped the desk with her slender fingers.
She wore a black-and-white checkered choker and matching earrings. Her mere presence made the air in the room heavy with tension.
[Alice. About the Disruptor.]
In the shadows, a plump purple cat sat comfortably on the sofa, its eyes glowing with a mysterious blue light.
The Phantom Cat, Cheshire. The magical beast grinned, baring its white teeth.
[Are you certain that ‘Isaac’ is the one?]
Upon hearing the question, the blonde student, Alice Carroll, stopped tapping the desk.
Her cherry-blossom-colored eyes drifted toward the window. Outside, white snowflakes continued to pour down from the midnight sky.