Chapter 161: Bet (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 161: Bet (1)
Black and red.
A mysterious space decorated in a checkered pattern. Red furniture was scattered throughout the room, and tilted clocks covered the walls.
This was Alice’s Labyrinth.
Within the dreary atmosphere, three students in uniform sat on various pieces of furniture, quietly waiting for the Spade Paladin.
“…How does it feel to be suspended?”
Shera Hectorica, a red-haired student wearing a heart-shaped accessory, broke the silence.
The question was directed at Alexa, a brown-haired girl leaning against the wall. Alexa narrowed her eyes and glared at Shera.
“Pfft! What’s with that look? I was just trying to lighten the mood.”
“Shut up,” Alexa shot back coldly.
Shera merely continued to smile cheerfully.
The four Paladins had failed to stop the Nameless Hero during the first-year students’ joint practical evaluation. Moreover, they hadn't found even a single hint regarding the Hero's identity, making the mission a complete defeat.
The only information they had gained was the Nameless Hero’s strength, which the Spade Paladin had witnessed with his own eyes.
The Hero was far stronger than any of them had imagined. It was to the point where they questioned whether they could actually defeat them. Alice hadn't criticized the Paladins, but that only made them feel more guilty.
They would not fail next time.
They had to find clues to uncover the identity of the Black Monster. After the Abyssal Sea Monster incident, each of the Paladins had made that vow.
Just then, footsteps echoed through the room. A male student emerged from the darkness that occupied one side of the wall. He had black hair with a faint blue hue.
It was the Spade Paladin.
“Captain!”
“You’re here.”
“…”
Shera greeted him cheerfully, the Clover Paladin gave a polite nod, and Alexa remained silent.
The Spade Paladin sat in an ornate chair and crossed his legs. His posture was elegant, his back perfectly straight—the image of a man who prided himself on his intellect.
“Why did you call us together, Captain?” Shera asked, dashing over to his chair and plopping down on the armrest.
He adjusted his glasses before speaking.
“The duel evaluation will begin soon. They say we’ll be able to select second-year students as opponents as well. In other words, we’ll be able to watch the duels of both first and second years.”
The Spade Paladin’s expression turned serious.
“Diamond’s suspension should end by the time the evaluation begins. Four different locations will be used for the duel arenas. Students will be divided into four groups and assigned to an arena. The Queen said she will assign each of us to a different group, so…”
“Keep an eye on every ice-element user?” Shera finished the sentence with a grin.
The Spade Paladin responded with silence.
“With your skills, you should be able to recognize any suspicious behavior. Keep a careful watch on anyone with the ice element. The target uses high-quality camouflage, so it’s unclear if they are male or female. It seems the demon who cooperated with the Queen last year was secretly watching the duel evaluation and foolishly planned a massacre that failed.”
Because of Leafa the Illusive—the demon who had worked with Alice the previous year—the academy had discovered that the demons had an informant within the school. This caused the faculty to be extra cautious when sharing information with administrative students.
Consequently, the information provided to Alice had become limited.
“However, since we are students, there shouldn't be any problems. Of course… as long as we refrain from doing anything foolish to attract attention.”
The Spade Paladin glared at Alexa. She was, after all, the biggest liability among the Paladins.
Alexa shook her head. “…I’ll keep quiet.”
Feeling the pressure, she gave a reluctant answer.
“And I will remind you: suspect and watch everyone. Not just the students, but the staff and visitors as well.”
Their main goal was discovering the identity of the Black Monster.
Shera responded with an enthusiastic “Yeah!” while the Clover Paladin nodded. Alexa gave no reaction.
“Ah, right. Captain, can I ask you one thing?”
“What is it, Shera?”
“The person the Queen is suspicious of—Isaac, was it? Can I challenge him to a duel?”
Isaac, a second-year student in the Magic Department.
Alice suspected him of disrupting her plans and had stated she would personally investigate him. However, because it was a mere suspicion, they couldn't concentrate all their resources on him alone. The four Paladins were to keep him on their list of suspects while acting on other leads.
“It doesn't matter if you have a valid reason, but I wouldn't recommend it.”
“Why?”
“The Priestess has already challenged him. Why she did that is a question for later. Do not forget that we are also frequently discussed among the students because of our mana grades. The more Isaac becomes known, the bigger the nuisance it becomes for the Queen.”
“Hmm…” Shera looked disappointed.
She loved attracting attention, but she didn't want to do anything that would actually anger Alice.
“Shera, remember that our task for the duel evaluation is to ‘observe.’ Don’t go around getting foolish ideas about getting revenge on Luce Eltania, either. Our plans will go awry if you do.”
“Ugh! Fine, I won’t! I hate you, Captain!”
“What…? Why so suddenly?”
Shera complained, expressing her discontent as she walked away from the Spade Paladin. He had wounded her pride by bringing up her defeat against Luce Eltania.
“Captain, you shouldn't talk about losing in front of Shera,” the Clover Paladin said with a small smile.
“Yeah, that’s really mean!” Shera added, hiding behind the Clover Paladin’s back and sticking out her tongue.
“…”
The Spade Paladin let out a deep sigh, looking utterly fed up.
“S-s-s-senior Isaac…? You’re dueling who…?”
“Miya.”
Inside an empty research room in Orphin Hall, the Magic Department’s classroom building.
I had various books and parchments spread out as I calculated magic formulas. I was working on using the 6-star ice magic [Frost Glitter] with greater efficiency.
Thanks to my [Learning Efficiency] being maxed out, thinking was easy. It felt like I could calculate any algorithm or formula in my head, no matter how complex.
I already had the magic circles for every spell memorized. However, it still took time because deploying those circles with swift accuracy was a different matter entirely.
Still, I judged it wouldn't be long before I could use 6-star magic in battle even with [Hunter] deactivated. At the latest, I should master it before my duel with Miya.
I felt as though I had reached a new level of magical talent.
The sun had begun to set. Snow White had come to visit while I was taking a short break, so we were chatting. Today was one of the days I’d told White to take a break from mentoring, but it wasn't a mystery why she’d come to see me anyway. We always shared our schedules.
White stood by the window while I sat in a chair, leaning against the backrest. Her pure white hair was dyed with the colors of the sunset. True to her nickname, the Snow White Princess, her appearance often seemed to absorb the colors of her surroundings.
Even in a simple academy uniform, her beauty was striking. Her shocked expression also showed just how expressive she could be.
“I know you’re strong, Senior Isaac, but the Priestess is too strong…!”
“I couldn't really help it. She used both of her duel requests on me.”
“Why is she going so far to fight you? I’ve never even seen you two together… Did something happen between you that I don’t know about? Like, did you run into her in the hallways or…?”
“I’m not sure either.”
It was probably because of Luce, but telling White that wouldn't change anything, so I kept the reason to myself.
“Well, it’s not like it’s anything new for the Priestess to challenge someone for a weird reason. She is quite the oddball, after all.”
“She does seem a little strange.”
“…”
“What is it, White?”
“Oh, no. It’s nothing…”
With a listless smile, White turned her head and avoided my gaze. Tears seemed to be forming in her eyes. It looked like she was thinking about how she had to become friends with the Priestess and was suddenly reminded of the girl's personality.
“A-anyway!” White wiped away her tears and turned back to me with clenched fists. “Was that why you were practicing this magic? So you can fight the Priestess?”
“It isn't necessarily because of the duel, but the timing happens to overlap. It’s just a lucky coincidence.”
I extended my finger and channeled a frigid chill. Cold air and ice crystals floated above my fingertip. I then spread my other fingers and repeated the process. It was a habitual magic mastery exercise.
“S-senior Isaac… Aren't you scared? If it were me, I’d be terrified…”
“Not really, no.”
I curled my fingers back in, withdrawing the ice.
“My goal is Luce, after all.”
“What…?”
“Well, the Priestess is weaker than Luce. I don’t have much to be scared of, right?”
“W-wait. Senior Luce…?!” White’s jaw dropped in shock once more. “Your goal is to surpass Senior Luce?!”
“Why are you so surprised…?”
“Of course I am…! Senior Luce is one of the most talented students in this academy! She’s so strong and elegant…”
“I’ll definitely beat her during the duel evaluation next semester.”
Grades. They were an impartial indicator of how much stronger I’ve gotten.
I wanted to be the top student in my year before facing the Evil God during my third year.
“But why Senior Luce…?”
“I want to win. It’s as simple as that.”
Of course, there was some personal ambition involved. You could call it a primal instinct—the desire to be rewarded for my efforts.
For some reason, White was gazing at me with an awestruck expression. Her eyes were practically sparkling. Reading her psychology, she seemed inspired; she hadn't even considered fighting the Priestess, let alone beating her.
It was the same for me, too.
I had set the goal of taking the top seat from the beginning, but I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed when I first saw Luce in person. It had been impossible to imagine a future where I could win. After countless duels and defeats against her, I’d felt like there was an insurmountable wall between us.
But now, I had entered the realm of geniuses. Even now, I was improving at a frightening speed.
So, saying I would defeat Luce wasn't completely unrealistic.
Besides, small goals like these help keep me motivated.
Yeah.
By the second semester of my second year, I should be strong enough to fight Luce even while she’s wearing the Ring of the Abyssal Queen. That was my goal.
…Of course, surviving until then comes first.
“Anyway, that’s the plan. My break is over, so I’ll see you next time, White.”
“Ah. A-alright…!” White scanned her surroundings awkwardly. “Anyway, 6-star magic really seems to be on a different level. The magic I’ve been practicing feels like child’s play… Saying you’ll beat Senior Luce and all that—you’re amazing, Senior Isaac. Eheheh.”
“Really?”
That’s sweet of her.
White and I looked at each other and grinned.
“See you tomorrow, Senior!”
“Be safe. And don’t forget to train.”
“Yessir!”
White left the research room. After using [Clairvoyance] to confirm she had met up with Merlin, who was waiting in front of Orphin Hall, I resumed my training.
*
The next day, afternoon.
After class, I was about to leave the second-year Class B classroom in Orphin Hall. Since the next class had been canceled, I planned to use the time to practice my 6-star magic.
Just then, a commotion arose in the second-year hallway. A female student began walking toward me, the gazes of everyone present concentrated on her.
She had a perfectly orderly appearance. She was a member of the Student Council—the Head Hall Monitor, Erin.
“You’re Isaac, right?”
Why is she here?
I stood straight, facing her.
“The Student Council President is calling for you. Follow me.”
“…?”
…Huh?