Chapter 159: Ring (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 159: Ring (5)
“I think Isaac is quite handsome.”
[Hmm.]
Luce Eltania was not the type of person to care about the appearance of others. Her general aversion to people meant she rarely looked at anyone long enough to judge their looks.
Conversely, while she felt a deep sense of closeness with Isaac, that didn't necessarily mean she had paid much attention to his physical features before.
Therefore, when Luce made such a comment, it felt completely alien to the Thunderbird, Galia.
“Yeah, he’s definitely handsome.”
[Hmm…]
On a night when the sky was draped in ink, Luce sat in the top-ranked dormitory, Charles Hall, muttering to herself while reading a book. As she stroked her ring, thoughts of Isaac filled her mind, bringing a small, private giggle to her lips.
“I think Isaac is the most handsome person here.”
[Hmm…]
During the day, under a sky scattered with clear light, Luce walked along the outdoor corridor of the academy building. She scanned the passing students before making the remark, to which Galia simply nodded in weary agreement.
“I didn't realize I was friends with such a handsome guy…”
[Hmm…]
Even during training, she would blurt it out as if she had only just discovered the concept of Isaac’s attractiveness.
“Isaac was handsome today, too…!”
[Hmm…]
Not a single day passed without the words “Isaac is handsome” springing from Luce’s lips.
But the most memorable day was when…
Luce sat on a bench, looking down at her ring instead of her book. The sunset dyed her rose-gold hair in brilliant hues and added a soft glow to her flushed cheeks. The corners of her mouth danced with a mind of their own.
Then, Luce whispered in a soft monologue:
“Fine, Isaac…”
[…]
*
Galia was a witness to every facet of Luce’s devotion.
Because of this, he understood the heart of his master better than anyone else. She was more intoxicated by these sweet emotions than ever before. Her heart swelled, and the words that finally burst forth were proof of her joy.
Luce was happy.
The memories Isaac gave her were perfect. The more she savored them, the sweeter they became.
On the ring finger of her left hand sat a magic weapon in the form of a ring. It was said that the weapon’s effects only manifested when worn on that specific finger. To Luce, however, the ring already held a meaning far more precious than any magical property.
It had become her greatest treasure.
To Luce, Isaac was an existence as precious as life itself. She felt a primal need to protect him, to cherish him. The memory of weeping while cradling the dying body of the Candy House Witch was an obsession etched into the very depths of her soul.
She never wanted to feel regret again. Therefore, she tried to memorize everything about Isaac, to understand every part of him, placing him above all else.
She knew the exact pattern of Isaac’s fingerprints.
She knew the intricate details of his irises, memorizing even the tiniest flecks of color.
She tracked the length of his hair, the trim of his nails, his stride, his footsteps, and his most frequent hand gestures… she cataloged it all, almost daily.
Yet, she knew that if she pried too deeply into his private life or tried to cage him, he would leave.
After the incident at last semester’s social gathering, where she had overstepped and later apologized, Luce had reflected. She understood that as a friend, she shouldn't try to manipulate his free will.
“But…”
At the very least, she wanted to imagine his daily life. It was her own small compromise.
What came to mind first was his scent—the smell of his skin. It allowed her to deduce what Isaac had done throughout the day. Luce had even practiced body-buffing magic to enhance her sense of smell just to memorize every note of his scent.
Last semester, she would occasionally hug him or rest her chin on his shoulder, closing the distance through "natural" physical contact. She remembered the scents emanating from various parts of his body, categorized by the situation.
—“Isaac, open your mouth.”
—“Don’t people usually say ‘Say ah’ in this situation?”
A while ago, Luce had fed Isaac with a spoon. At first, she just wanted to feed him because she thought he might be hungry. Being with him was enough to make her happy, so she hadn't thought much of it.
However, that day, after smelling the utensil that had been in Isaac’s mouth, she decided to memorize the scent of his saliva. On the way back, she focused intensely on the lingering scent on the fork, etching it into her memory.
She had memorized every scent on his exterior… but she still didn't know the scents from inside his body.
*
In a quiet corner of the Butterfly Garden.
Upon seeing Isaac, Luce immediately approached him and discreetly checked his scent. Something was off. There was a faint, unfamiliar scent lingering around his ear.
Luce’s mind raced through a thousand scenarios, searching for the source. She turned her attention to Dorothy and caught a whiff of her.
The scent of Isaac’s saliva was on Dorothy’s right ear. It had faded with time, but the trace was unmistakable to Luce’s enhanced senses.
“What did you two… do?”
There was a sharp edge of murderous intent in Luce’s voice.
She disliked Dorothy Heartnova because the woman took away the precious time she could have spent alone with Isaac. However, Dorothy was important to Isaac—someone he genuinely liked.
Because of that, Luce had decided to simply ignore her. Even if seeing them together made her uncomfortable, she had chosen to respect Isaac's wishes.
But given the situation, it seemed clear that Isaac and Dorothy had been… intimate. The thought made her stomach churn. She needed to resolve this discomfort immediately.
Hoping she was wrong, Luce demanded the truth.
“Luce, why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”
Isaac, using [Psychological Insight], sensed Luce’s volatile state of mind. He tried to step in, but Dorothy casually laughed and knocked Luce’s hand away from her head.
Isaac froze.
“Junior.”
Dorothy’s expression darkened. A faint smile remained on her lips, but it was a hollow mask—a practiced restraint to keep her temper from exploding. Luce’s aggressive attitude had soured her mood.
“Who do you think you're threatening? You're being quite presumptuous.”
“…”
Dorothy’s voice was bone-chillingly cynical, a sharp contrast to her smile. Luce didn't answer. She simply met Dorothy’s gaze with emotionless eyes.
The hostility between the two women was like boiling oil meeting water. An aura of danger radiated from them, like a bomb seconds away from detonating.
Dorothy, who was slightly taller, leaned in closer to Luce and whispered.
“What does it matter to you what Isaac and I do?”
“…”
“Since Isaac thinks highly of you, I’ve been trying my best to think well of you, too. But… what’s the point of my effort if you’re going to be this rude, Junior?”
Dorothy’s voice carried the weight of her past.
When she had returned from the Land of Oz, she had nothing. The desolate landscape of her ruined homeland still haunted her. She carried the stigma of a curse that promised death within years if she ever lost her will.
Despite that, she had gritted her teeth and survived, working as a lowly adventurer and enduring a miserable existence. Back then, Dorothy was young and alone—an easy target for contempt and disdain. Her prodigious talent only invited jealousy and persecution.
To survive, she had learned to wear a smiling mask, swallowing injustice and frustration. Her playful, smiling responses to Luce’s previous slights weren't because she was naturally saintly; they were a survival mechanism.
Dorothy wasn't inherently "good." She was just enduring.
“Know your place, Luce Eltania. Big Sis… doesn’t have much patience left.”
Luce’s brow furrowed. Just as she was about to snap back, Isaac suddenly grabbed her wrist.
The words died in her throat. Both Luce and Dorothy turned their gaze toward him.
“Luce, that’s enough.”
Isaac looked at Luce. His eyes, usually so gentle, were now sharp and serious.
Isaac liked both of them. If he were still in Korea, he would have naturally devoted himself to one woman. But he was in a world where such norms didn't apply, and he had met people he truly cared for.
Whether he eventually left this world or stayed, he wanted to give his affection freely to those he loved. He acknowledged that this made him "trash" in a sense, but he couldn't change how he felt.
If his actions caused conflict, he would take full responsibility. Even if they ended up hating him for it, he wouldn't stop caring for them.
“Senior Dorothy, you too. Don’t fight.”
Isaac’s voice was firm, cutting through the heavy air.
Luce looked between Isaac and Dorothy. She already knew they shared special feelings. When she had first seen Isaac examining the magic ring, she had assumed it was for Dorothy.
Isaac likely loved Dorothy romantically. Luce didn't want to admit it, but seeing how he treasured the Senior made it impossible to ignore.
But for Luce… there was only Isaac. She couldn't give up on him.
She looked down at her ring. It was a rare magic weapon that even the Eltania family would struggle to obtain.
“Bought it from an antique shop”? What a laughable excuse.
However…
“Grrr…”
The Nameless Hero.
If Isaac was indeed a mysterious archwizard who transcended common sense, then it wouldn't be strange for him to possess such an extraordinary artifact. That was why Luce hadn't questioned him when she received it. She had simply spent her time imagining a future with him.
“But President, you saw it. She just suddenly—”
“Haa.”
Luce’s long sigh cut Dorothy off.
After her apology during the social gathering, Luce had sworn not to repeat her mistakes. When Isaac gave her the ring and spoke of a future together, that resolve had only strengthened.
It was for that reason she had tried to suppress her possessiveness. She was trying to accept that Isaac had other people he cared for. She wanted to respect him, not manipulate him, so she could stay by his side.
Of course, her heart didn't always listen to her head.
Luce was a second-year now. She had grown. She had experienced the weight of her actions and the fear of losing him.
Slowly, Luce bowed her head to Dorothy.
“I’m sorry.”
Isaac blinked in surprise, and Dorothy’s expression turned to one of utter bewilderment. Luce didn't want to be the naive, dogmatic girl who had attacked Kaya. Forcing Isaac’s hand would only lead to disaster and ruin the future she envisioned.
“I’m sorry for losing my temper.”
Luce remained bowed. When Dorothy didn't immediately respond, Luce continued to apologize.
“Oh, uh… wait, what?!”
Luce clearly had no intention of raising her head until the apology was accepted. Cold sweat began to bead on Dorothy’s forehead. She was completely flustered; she had never expected the prideful Luce Eltania to apologize so readily.
“Ah, I—I mean! I’m sorry too for being so irritable…”
Dorothy’s hand hovered awkwardly in the air. Her own apology was clumsy and forced. She looked at Isaac with a strained smile, and he gave her a small nod of encouragement.
“Oh…”
Dorothy took a breath and composed herself. A gentle, knowing smile finally touched her lips.
“President, Big Sis just remembered something urgent. I just realized there's something I really need to study!”
As the elder, Dorothy recognized Luce’s sincerity and decided to bow out. She wanted to give Isaac and Luce time alone. Of course, the excuse about "studying" was laughably transparent.
“Ah, right…”
“I’m heading out for today! Good luck~”
“Take care, Senior. Thank you.”
Isaac, catching her drift, smiled warmly. Dorothy waved, turned on her heel, and disappeared into the twilight.
The sun had fully set now, leaving a deep blue darkness over the garden. Once Dorothy was out of sight, Luce finally raised her head.
She stood demurely, gazing in the direction Dorothy had gone. Her eyes were ice-cold. Her face twitched intermittently as she struggled to keep her roiling emotions under control.
“…?”
Suddenly, Isaac realized the truth. The reason Luce hadn't raised her head until Dorothy left wasn't just out of respect—it was because she was desperately suppressing a look of pure rage.
“Isaac.”
“Huh?”
Luce’s expressionless eyes turned toward him.
“You like that Senior, don't you? And I mean… romantically.”