Chapter 153: Joint Practical Evaluation — Interlude (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 153: Joint Practical Evaluation — Interlude (1)
“…Heeya!”
Shera Hectorica, the red-haired student with the heart-shaped hair accessory, jolted awake with a strange cry.
An unfamiliar ceiling. She was lying in a bed.
She scanned her surroundings. Other students were lying in beds similar to hers. This appeared to be a temporary medical facility set up within Octovus Hall.
Shera grabbed the blanket and pulled herself up. Her last memory was of a devastating blow to her solar plexus that had knocked her unconscious. She gingerly rubbed the area between her chest and abdomen.
There was some lingering soreness, but the pain was manageable. It seemed the academy’s medical staff had treated her while she was out.
“Luce Eltania…”
She remembered the girl with rose-gold hair and the morpho-butterfly hair accessory.
Luce Eltania, the second-year top seat of the Magic Department. The woman whom the legendary magic beast, the Thunderbird Galia, acknowledged as its master. Shera had been utterly defeated by her.
Even accounting for the elemental disadvantage, Luce’s power was far beyond what was expected of a student. While she might not yet be on the level of Dorothy Heartnova—one of the strongest individuals in the world—it was clear she possessed an unfathomable, innate talent.
“What happened to the demon?”
“They said the Nameless Hero appeared and dealt with it. That pressure we felt back there must have been his mana.”
“Damn, we missed it…”
Shera’s eyes widened as she overheard the other students' conversation.
A demon had appeared while she was unconscious, and the Black Monster had defeated it?
A wave of humiliation washed over her.
“Ugh…”
Shera buried her face in her blanket, her shoulders trembling.
Not only had she failed her mission, but she had also lost to a mere student and been knocked out cold. Even if she was the weakest of the four Paladins, it was a pathetic showing.
She remained huddled under the blankets for a long time, consumed by shame and guilt.
*
Meanwhile, on the rooftop of Märchen Academy’s evacuation facility.
[Meow.]
Cheshire the Phantom Cat, a purple feline magical beast sporting a small fedora, sat on the rooftop railing, enjoying the breeze. The Phantom Cat grinned as it watched the cold, silver winds whipping across the Eltra Sea.
The Black Monster. His strength was unparalleled.
Cheshire hadn't dared to get close enough for a proper look. It would have been a miracle to escape with its life rather than being vaporized by his magic. Besides, the raging snowstorm made visibility nearly zero.
The man was an archwizard; he would surely sense any unused mana in the vicinity. Cheshire would have been caught instantly if it had approached. That was why Alice had ordered it not to get too close.
It was a bad idea to let an enemy they had zero information on know they were watching. There was no telling what kind of retaliation that might provoke. Facing such a superior foe, their only choice was to move carefully within the shadows.
But that didn't mean Cheshire harbored any ill will. In fact, the Phantom Cat liked the Black Monster.
As Alice’s familiar, the cat knew the Black Monster was a disruption to her plans and needed to be eliminated. That dynamic provided the Phantom Cat with endless entertainment.
[What are you going to do, Alice? How will you achieve your goals with that thing in your way?]
The Phantom Cat’s mouth curled into a wide grin that nearly reached its ears, revealing sharp, white teeth.
Its voice reached its owner, Alice Carroll, who sat in her office chair in the central area of the evacuation facility, staring out at the Eltra Sea.
Alice did not respond. She simply gazed out the window at the frozen sea and the swirling snow, lost in thought.
*
Once the Abyssal Sea Monster, Igpus the Enlightened, was defeated, his army of fish demons immediately dissipated.
To those unaware of the mechanics, it would have been shocking to see minions—who were independent beings rather than mana constructs—follow their master into death.
Demons were still a hot topic of research, and scholars would likely be fascinated by this new behavioral pattern. To me, however, it wasn't a mystery. The fish demons had only been sustained by the dark mana Igpus shared with them. It was a detail I’d read in a guidebook once.
Regardless, the Eltra Sea demon incursion ended thanks to the intervention of the Nameless Hero.
After Igpus was defeated, the barriers blocking the dozens of entrances to Octovus Hall opened automatically once the system judged the emergency was over.
In Magic Knight of Märchen, Ian returned to Octovus Hall with the proctors who had come to assist him after he defeated the sea monster. Remembering that, I expected the barriers to drop.
I slipped through a vacant entrance and pretended I’d been wandering around Octovus Hall the whole time. Eventually, at a reasonable hour, I "encountered" a proctor and was led to the gathering area.
Thanks to [Clairvoyance], it was easy to track the proctors' routes and engineer a natural-looking run-in.
I used [Defrost] to clear the ice covering the Eltra Sea, and the [Frostwind] eventually died down on its own.
Since Octovus Hall served as an emergency evacuation facility, it had a temporary medical wing. I was walking down the hallway past the infirmary with the proctors when a familiar laugh echoed behind me.
“Ha!”
I turned to see the source.
“Tristan?”
His uniform was stained with blood, and bandages swathed his entire body. His leg was clearly still healing, as he leaned heavily on a wooden cane. It was my golden-haired classmate, Tristan Humphrey.
My eyes met his. He had his nose in the air and an arrogant smirk on his face, just like always.
“Have you just been wandering aimlessly around Octovus Hall while the demon was being defeated?”
“Well… yeah.”
“Seeing as you’re unhurt, you must have only picked the easy fights! What a shame! You’ve lost a chance for growth, unlike me!”
“Keheheh!”
He cackled brazenly.
“Today, this body has reached a new plane! The moment is rapidly approaching…!”
Märchen Academy was full of people driven entirely by the desire to improve. This guy was the prime example.
“…The moment I surpass you draws near, Isaac!”
With that final, confident declaration, Tristan laughed like a third-rate villain and turned away. His laughter dissolved into a fit of coughing.
He limped down the hallway, using his cane for support.
At first, I was "Grade E Commoner." Then, just "Commoner." Now, I was simply "Isaac."
Ever since I became the top student in Class B, Tristan had started calling me by my name. It was his way of acknowledging that I was currently ahead of him.
“…I wish you the best.”
I turned back and resumed walking with the proctors.
As the distance between us grew, I checked on him one last time with [Clairvoyance].
Tristan’s grin slowly crumbled. He bit his bottom lip, and the hand gripping his cane trembled. He fought back the tears threatening to spill over his bandaged cheeks, bowing his head as he tried to steady his ragged breathing.
Thanks to [Psychological Insight], his state of mind was clear.
Seeing me—his goal—only made the reality of his loss to Alexa sting more. Tristan was currently drowning in frustration.
“…”
I deactivated [Clairvoyance].
I was Tristan’s goal. Out of respect, I shouldn't watch him like this.
Accepting the arrogant face he showed me was the best way to honor him as his target for growth.
*
The academy faculty conducted a thorough investigation into student injuries and property damage.
Thanks to the adult combat units protecting the grounds, the students were safe, aside from those injured during the evaluation itself. There were zero casualties and no significant damage to the academy’s infrastructure.
However, I offered my deepest condolences to the faculty for the sheer amount of paperwork and aftermath they’d have to deal with.
The Paladins had failed to stop me. Luce had handled the Heart Paladin, and Tristan had stalled the Diamond Paladin. Fortunately, I hadn't crossed paths with the Spade or Clover Paladins.
It was a reminder that my plans were always subject to change. I hadn't accounted for the Diamond Paladin, Alexa, smashing through walls, and I owed Tristan a debt of gratitude for intercepting her. I needed to make my future plans even more detailed.
Unsurprisingly, Alexa was referred to the disciplinary committee. She would be questioned about destroying exam site walls and assaulting a proctor, but I doubted it would lead back to Alice Carroll being the informant.
Knowing Alexa’s personality, she would likely remain silent and accept a harsher punishment for her lack of cooperation. Then again, it was her first offense, and Alice might pull some strings. Time would tell.
Dorothy and Kaya received certificates of commendation for their roles in protecting the academy.
Dorothy bragged to me that her demerit points had been reduced… though she still had a mountain of them left. Kaya, thrilled with her certificate, wore a broad smile for days. It was genuinely adorable.
In the end, several students decided to drop out following the demon attack. However, most stayed after seeing the academy’s swift response and the protection provided by the Nameless Hero. They couldn't bear to give up a graduation certificate from a prestigious school like Märchen.
There was also a sense of security knowing the Nameless Hero was watching over them.
For the record, the administration was discussing relocating the academy due to the frequent demon appearances. But since building a facility of this scale is no small feat, I doubted they would move before the Evil God made her appearance.
---
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 113
Gender: Male
Year: 2nd
Title: Skilled Second Year
Mana: 30,000 / 30,000
Mana Recovery Speed: (A-)
---
Evening. In a secluded corner of the Butterfly Garden.
I didn't quite understand how such a narrow, deserted path could lead to such a vast, breathtaking view, but I appreciated the design. I sat down on the grass to sort through my thoughts.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, fireflies began to drift upward. A cool breeze caressed my skin before passing by.
‘Let’s break this down.’
Between the joint evaluation and the Abyssal Sea Monster incident, I had gained a massive amount of EXP and the Ring of the Abyssal Queen.
My level had increased by 3. Thanks to [Rapid Growth], I received 12 stat points. Additionally, by completing the [Abyssal King] achievement, I gained 30 points in [Water Resistance].
I dumped all 12 stat points into Vs. Human Combat Power.
◈ vs. Race Combat Power
* vs. Human Combat Power (C+): 32/100 [UP]
◈ Elemental Resistance
* Water Resistance (B+): 51/100 [UP]
My [Water Resistance] was already higher than average due to my constant exposure to Luce’s magic. With the Elemental Bracelet equipped, it would become a formidable stat. Since the Clover Paladin specialized in water, I wouldn't be taken out of the fight by just a few hits anymore.
‘And then…’
I looked up at the starry night sky.
My mind drifted to White’s astral-themed pocket watch. The hands had stopped.
‘It’s broken.’
White’s pocket watch was a memento from her mother.
In Magic Knight of Märchen, there were only minor hints about its true nature. For instance, Amy Holloway once used [Heart Color Discernment] and was terrified by what she mistook for White’s heart color.
In reality, White’s heart color was a soothing, comforting hue. That was why I could be kind to her without hesitation.
Regardless, the watch was supposed to break in Year 2, Semester 2, with its true identity being revealed in Year 3, Semester 1. Once that happened, a shocking story about her mother’s "love" for her daughter would unfold. When I first played the game, I was both disgusted and impressed by the sheer insanity of it.
‘I’m glad I know what’s coming.’
I didn't know why the watch had stopped early. But one thing was certain: the disaster associated with it might arrive sooner than in the game. Once the watch breaks and a specific criterion is met, a terrible calamity befalls the academy.
In the game, you needed power enough to alter the will of a god to stop it—like the ‘Luminous Sword,’ the ultimate light-element weapon. But that weapon wasn't obtainable until later in the second semester.
All I could do now was monitor whether that ‘specific criterion’ was met and prepare accordingly.
Note to self: Destroying the watch or throwing it into the ocean would lead to the worst possible ending. It was best for White to keep it on her person as usual.
‘Next…’
I held up the Ring of the Abyssal Queen, letting it catch the moonlight. It was a beautiful ring with a deep navy-blue magic stone.
‘This is a top-tier item.’
Not only would it amplify Luce’s water and lightning mana, but it would also deepen the color of her spells. Plus, it granted skills like [Mana Leech]. With this, she would rule the battlefield like an invincible empress.
It suited the nickname she would eventually earn: the Empress of the Midnight Sea.
Now, I just needed to give it to her and somehow convince her to wear it on her left ring finger.
I’d already prepared a cover story for where I found it. During winter break, I’d pretend to leave the academy for a few days to spar with Gormos’s golems. I could tell her I found it while I was out. If she asked how I knew its effects, I’d credit the appraiser, Grandpa Harrison.
“Hmm.”
‘Should I just give it to her playfully?’
No, that wouldn't work. It didn't explain why I was giving her a ring specifically meant for her ring finger. If I said, "I don't know, that's just what I was told," it would be too suspicious.
‘How did I give her this ring in my previous life?’
I didn't even know if I’d obtained it back then, but I probably had. It was a mystery how I’d managed to give it to her while avoiding the "Bird Cage" Extra Bad Ending all the way until the final battle.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.
“…!”
I quickly palmed the ring, hiding it in my fist. I didn't want to be caught with it unexpectedly.
The footsteps drew closer, and a familiar voice called out.
“Isaac, what are you doing?”
I turned around.
A morpho-butterfly hair accessory, an academy uniform, and rose-gold hair braided to the side. Her beauty made me catch my breath for a second.
She tilted her head slightly, looking at me with a questioning expression. It was the top seat of the second year, Luce Eltania.
“Luce…”
I didn't know why she was here, but it wasn't unusual. She often sought me out just because she wanted to see me. I’d planned on meeting her anyway, so this worked out.
‘This is fine. It saves time.’
I must have successfully given her the ring in the past. Maybe I could find the right opening in our conversation.
“What’s up, Luce? Did you come to find me?”
I smoothed my expression and stood up. I adjusted Ribella’s Glasses and gave her a casual smile.
…But her expression was uncharacteristically intense.
“Isaac,” Luce said, her voice serious. “That ring just now. What was it?”
“…”
‘Right…’
‘This girl’s eyes are terrifyingly sharp.’