Chapter 142: Mentor Isaac (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 142: Mentor Isaac (7)
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been here. I still remember being grandly rejected by you right on this spot, Sir Isaac.”
“It wasn’t a rejection…”
“Hehe, just kidding~.”
As the twilight slowly settled in, Kaya and I visited Norhan Lake, located in Josena Forest near the gates of Märchen Academy, for the first time in a while.
The lake, shimmering with gorgeous natural mana, emitted its clear and vivid colors as it always did. We could have held our discussion at the hideout nearby, but we decided it would be better to come to a place filled with memories.
Kaya and I sat on a tree stump and admired the beautiful lake. The only sounds were the gentle flow of water and the buzzing of insects. The atmosphere was as enchanting as ever.
“So, what was it that you found so difficult to say?”
“Ah, yes. That is…”
Kaya smiled awkwardly, twirling a lock of hair around her finger.
“…The more I think about it, the more I feel it’s not the right time. May I speak after you have achieved your goal?”
Looking at my face, Kaya’s resolve seemed to waver, and she quickly changed the subject.
It made sense. Technically, what Kaya wanted to suggest was a formal meeting between our families. However, since we hadn't even properly cleared the stages leading up to that, it was definitely premature.
I decided to play along and pretend I didn't know her true intentions.
“Why?”
“I feel it’s too soon to speak of it now. I’m sorry, but… if you could one day set down your heavy burden, and if you eventually come to see me as a woman, Sir Isaac… would it be okay to tell you then?”
That’s a lot of hints.
I took it as Kaya simply laying the groundwork for something more. I’d just have to act surprised when she finally got to the main point later.
I let out a light sigh, feigning disappointment, and gave her a kind smile as I patted her head.
“It’s okay if it’s hard to say. Speak when you feel ready.”
“…As expected, Sir Isaac, you are so understanding. It would have been too frustrating for me to bear otherwise.”
Because I already know exactly what you want to say.
I wasn't a particularly forgiving or generous person by nature. If I hadn’t already known her secret, I probably would have pressed the issue out of sheer frustration.
As I tried to pull my hand away, Kaya quickly caught it and pressed it against her cheek. She closed her eyes, seemingly savoring the touch.
“One thing I can say with confidence is…”
Kaya flashed a suggestive smile.
“I am always ready to be Sir Isaac’s woman. This body, my heart—all of me belongs to Sir Isaac…”
She was leaning into the mood, clearly intent on seducing me again. She never missed an opportunity.
Did she spend her entire holiday coming up with these cheesy lines?
Based on my past readings of her psychology, she was determined to relentlessly seduce me until my journey at Märchen Academy came to an end. I could almost hear Kaya’s original, shy personality screaming in agony right now. She was simply choosing to ignore that desperate internal scream.
“…Sorry, but as I’ve said before, I’m not in a position to be in a relationship yet.”
“Of course, I know~. But once your goals are realized, then it will finally be time for our rendezvous, right? I bet you can’t even begin to imagine how much I’m looking forward to that moment.”
With a beaming smile, Kaya took the hand she had been rubbing against her cheek and placed it over her heart, letting me feel her rapid heartbeat.
“I like you, Sir Isaac. It will always be so… please never forget that.”
“…”
Being human, hearing such words made my face flush. I tried to maintain a stoic expression, but I was acutely reminded of my own manhood.
“…How could I forget that?”
My lips quivered as I responded to her provocation. It felt as though my affection for her was reaching its limit.
“By the way, what was it that you wanted to say, Sir Isaac?”
“It’s about a strategy meeting.”
“…Is it about the demons?”
Kaya guessed the context, and her expression immediately turned serious. I nodded.
Squish.
Suddenly, Kaya hugged my arm and rested her cheek on my shoulder. I could feel her softness pressing against me. Her expression remained grave, which created a strange contrast with her bold, lover-like behavior.
“Please, explain.”
“…What are you doing?”
“It’s a bit chilly, don’t you think? If we’re going to have a strategy meeting, isn’t it better to stay like this? Humans are social animals, and this is merely social behavior.”
“Is that so…”
How shameless…
I was dumbfounded, but since it wasn't an unpleasant feeling, I let it slide.
I shared the information regarding the appearance of The Abyssal Sea Monster during the upcoming joint practical evaluation and discussed how to deal with it safely.
When we finally finished and were about to part ways, Kaya looked genuinely saddened. She kissed my cheek several times and begged to stay a bit longer, hugging me tightly for a good while.
Only after I barely managed to pull away was I able to send her back to the dorms.
…That was a healing experience.
*
The chirping of sparrows announced the arrival of morning.
Sunlight pierced through the silk curtains, brightening Charles Hall, the dormitory for top-ranked students. On her bed, Kaya Astrea slowly opened her eyes. Her jade-colored irises focused on the familiar ceiling.
She lay there impassively for a moment… until the memories of the previous day struck her like an arrow.
“Cough!”
Kaya felt like she was spitting blood from the sheer shock of the memory. She began to tremble violently.
“Kill… me…”
The more she dwelled on the things she had said to Isaac—her blatant attempts to seduce him—the more she writhed in agony.
—‘I am always ready to be Sir Isaac’s woman. This body, my heart, all of me belongs to Sir Isaac…’
“Ughhh…!”
—‘I like you, Sir Isaac. It will always be so… please never forget that.’
“Stop… Stop it…!”
—‘It’s a bit chilly, don’t you think? If we’re going to have a strategy meeting, isn’t it better to stay like this?’
“Gaaah…!”
Bang!
The door swung open, and Mary, the Astrea family’s purple-haired personal maid, hurried in.
“Miss Kaya! What’s the matter?! Huh?!”
“Mary… please… end my life… please…!”
“Lady Kaya?!”
Kaya felt like she was going to die of pure shame.
*
In a shabby, abandoned warehouse adorned with triangular gables, Abel Carnedas listened intently.
The warehouse was tucked away somewhere in Josena Forest, near the main gate of Märchen Academy. In front of him, kneeling on one knee, was a small ant made of turquoise-colored natural mana.
Its voice was tiny, fitting its size. Moreover, as a magic beast that had not yet reached maturity, its linguistic ability was barely comprehensible. But Abel understood the magic ant perfectly. He could perceive its every emotion and thought.
“Being able to use 1-star magic already is amazing! According to my logical analysis, you have the potential to become a fully-fledged rock-element magic beast capable of using 3-star magic within ten years!”
The ant raised its forelegs, its eyes sparkling. It was a tiny gesture, smaller than a fingernail. Abel, a boy with mischievous gray-blue hair, smiled brightly.
“Of course, I know. I have a deep understanding of magic beast ecology. What’s that, you ask? It’s the study of creatures like you. So, you can completely trust what I say… Ah, what time is it?”
He had lost track of time while talking with the ant. Abel pulled a pocket watch from his clothes. The mysterious face of the watch shimmered with a golden hue, its strangely shaped hour hand ticking away.
“…My goodness.”
Could his eyes be deceiving him? Abel rubbed his eyes and looked at the watch again, breaking into a cold sweat.
“Is it that time already?!”
The ant nodded.
“It’s a shame we can’t talk more! I have somewhere I need to be!”
Abel hurriedly slung his bag over his shoulder.
“Then, let’s meet again next time!”
With that, Abel dashed out of the warehouse.
Abel Carnedas had stopped by Josena Forest early in the morning to converse with the small magic beasts formed from natural mana. He had heard the ant’s cries coming from the abandoned warehouse and went inside. After casting a healing spell to accelerate its recovery, he had enjoyed a pleasant conversation.
He couldn't help it; to him, young magic beasts were the most endearing things in the world.
Abel glanced at his watch again as he sprinted down the verdant path.
“Ah, I’m going to be late…!”
In Märchen Academy, where only the most elite gathered, he could not bear the disgrace of being the first freshman to be late—especially not as a member of the Carnedas family. Abel ran as if his life depended on it.
*
“Merlin! This is the highest quality parchment for practicing magic circles! The pen marks show up so clearly that it’s much more effective for learning! It cost about 500 gels, but it’s worth it, right?”
“Merlin! This is a magical herb said to help increase mana! If you brew and drink this, the amount of mana you can wield will grow rapidly! It cost the equivalent of three weeks' worth of meals, but it’s worth it, right?”
“Merlin! This is…”
“Merlin!”
Lately, Merlin had a problem.
White’s spending habits… have become completely excessive!
The joint practical evaluation was approaching, and White had been fervently training in preparation. However, whenever she had the chance, she was swayed by the sweet talk of merchants and ended up buying anything and everything claimed to help with her training.
“With all this, I’m all set~. I’ll easily pass the next exam. Senior Isaac will be so surprised when he sees how much stronger I’ve suddenly become! Heehee.”
It was only a few days ago that White had said those words, looking forward to a future brimming with hope. But today, White’s expression was tinged with worry.
It was noon. They were sitting on a bench in front of Orphin Hall, the Magic Department’s lecture hall.
White had been repeatedly commenting on the weather since the start of their conversation. “The weather is nice,” “The weather is good,” and so on. Merlin knew that White tended to talk about the weather whenever she had a secret to hide.
Merlin wasn't sure if it was appropriate to ask, especially since White had resolved to become more independent. But Merlin felt she had to know.
“Princess White, how many gels do you have left…?”
“What?! Gels? Oh, I have plenty left!” White responded dramatically.
Her eyes betrayed her turmoil.
“Ah, I still have… enough! Enough to last until the next exam!”
The tremor in her eyes soon spread to her entire body. Merlin instantly realized it was a lie born out of embarrassment.
Befitting her status as a Princess, the concept of ‘rational spending’ had not yet taken root in White’s mind. It seemed her financial situation was… dire.
Merlin kept quiet, not wanting to tarnish White’s declaration of self-reliance or her dignity. After all, learning to live within one’s means was an important step toward independence. Merlin decided to just watch and see if White could navigate this crisis on her own.
*
As I mentioned before, there was a hidden condition to obtain a specific item from The Abyssal Sea Monster, the demon from Magic Knight of Märchen Act 7.
If that condition was met, one could obtain a magic weapon called the ‘Ring of the Abyssal Queen.’ I planned to give that ring to Luce.
The only problem is that the ring has to be worn on the ring finger of the left hand to take effect…
“How on earth am I supposed to give it to her…?”
The night sky was darkly stained. I was jogging down a street lit by glowing mana-stones, lost in thought.
For now, one task was complete. A few days ago, I had placed a cube filled with corrupted dust—which grants [Domain Expansion]—on Ian’s usual path. As he passed by, I lightly burst it with a pre-prepared spell.
The corrupted dust had seeped into Ian, leaving him flustered and confused. Through this, he became capable of deploying a light-element domain. It was a crude method, but effective.
However, I was still troubled by the ring. Luce was sharp. A clumsy lie would be worse than saying nothing at all. The joint practical evaluation and the appearance of the Sea Monster were coming soon. I needed to resolve this quickly…
“…Hm?”
Suddenly, I noticed a girl in a school uniform standing dazed and drooling in front of a small, unmanned magic tool shop. She was a student to whom the term ‘pure white’ seemed naturally fitted.
Her gaze was fixed intently on the display case. I stopped and tilted my head, examining her face.
“…”
Indeed, it was Snow White.
What is she doing here? and where is Merlin?
“White?”
“Ah, Senior Isaac?!”
As I approached, White jumped in surprise. She hurriedly wiped the drool from her mouth, making a flustered sound.
“What were you doing?”
“Oh, nothing…?”
White smiled awkwardly and waved her arms vehemently. I looked at the shop’s display case. There were simple food items like bread inside. It was a device similar to the ones used in last semester’s hunting evaluation—essentially a vending machine that dispensed food in exchange for gels.
Soon after…
Gurgle.
“Ah…”
A loud hunger alarm sounded from White’s stomach. Tears welled up in her eyes even as she continued to smile awkwardly. Overwhelmed with unbearable sadness, she finally let out her true feelings in a tearful voice.
“Senior Isaac… I’m hungry… Sob…”
“…”
…It seems she’s been through a lot.