Chapter 163: Bet (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 163: Bet (3)
“It’s the Student Council President…!”
“She’s so pretty…”
“Who’s that next to her? He doesn’t look like a member of the Student Council.”
“That’s Isaac.”
“Why are those two together?”
“I heard the President called for him earlier.”
“Did he get scouted, then?”
It was a classic trope of the academy genre: students turned into absolute chatterboxes the moment the Student Council President made an appearance.
Since I was strolling through the campus with Alice Carroll, the students’ attention naturally swarmed toward us. I purposefully gripped a magic tool in my hand, pretending to be focused on training my mana mastery in an attempt to ignore their stares.
Still, I understood why they were reacting like this.
Alice is practically a celebrity here.
Back in my military days, I’d cheered until my throat went hoarse when female celebrities came to perform. This was no different. Even with someone like Dorothy, I was always in awe of her goddess-like beauty. This was the same kind of aura.
But more importantly…
How did I end up here?
Walking just ahead of me was a girl with pale blonde hair, her hands clasped behind her back. I maintained a careful distance as I watched her from behind. She was the Student Council President and my senior in the Magic Department, Alice Carroll.
What exactly is she scheming, suddenly calling me out for a ‘date’?
Back in the Student Council room, Alice hadn’t left any room for a rebuttal. She had simply said, “Let’s go on a date, Baby,” and walked out.
I had no choice but to follow. She hadn’t given me a chance to respond, and it would have felt wrong to just stay there. I had ignored Erin as I left; her flustered face was still burned into my memory.
“Baby.”
Alice turned her head to look back at me without breaking her stride.
She really does have a pleasant voice.
It was different from Luce’s. Luce’s voice was calm and whispery, possessing a strange knack for draining the energy out of a person. In comparison, Alice’s voice was much kinder, like sinking into fluffy cotton candy. Just listening to her made my heart feel warm and light.
“Yes, Senior?”
“While we’re at it, why don’t you walk beside me? It feels a little lonely without someone at my side.”
“That’s a bit… uncomfortable for me.”
I pointedly glanced around at our surroundings. I wanted to make it clear that I was uneasy with every single passing student staring at us, using it as my excuse.
In reality, Alice wanted to kill me—or more accurately, the person disrupting her plans. I could only relax if I stayed behind her. I was genuinely afraid she’d try something if I stood right next to her or in front of her. It was the same kind of irrational vulnerability one feels while showering.
“You’re more conscious of other people’s opinions than I expected.”
“It’s not that I dislike standing out, but you’re a bit much, Senior. Not only are you the Student Council President, but you’re also incredibly beautiful.”
“That is true.”
Alice readily agreed. To her, the fact that she was beautiful was simply an objective truth.
“And Senior, you still haven’t told me anything.”
“Ah, about why I wanted to go on a date with you? Right?”
“Yes.”
Alice tapped a slightly curved index finger against her lip, appearing lost in thought. Was she choosing her words carefully?
Soon, she gave her answer.
“Just because.”
“Pardon?”
“Because I wanted to. I had some free time today, and you just happened to cross my mind. That’s all.”
I knew she wouldn’t reveal her true intentions, but ‘just because’? She wasn’t even trying to put effort into the lie.
“Does it really matter? Doesn’t it make your heart flutter to be on a date with me?”
Alice asked as if that were the only logical reaction.
My heart wasn’t fluttering. I was just dumbstruck.
“Uh, Senior Alice. I couldn’t say anything because it was so sudden, but I really need to train now… Senior?”
Alice suddenly stopped. Her gaze was locked onto a shop’s display window as if she were hypnotized. I stopped beside her and followed her line of sight.
It was a dessert café called ‘The Siren’s Face.’
Inside the display, preserved by an ice magic scroll, were parfaits sparkling with a faint trace of mana. In the center sat the shop’s signature dish: a parfait decorated to look like a cat. It was undeniably cute, and clearly what had caught Alice’s eye.
“…”
For a moment, time seemed to stand still. As my mind raced, a realization surfaced.
Many people in the Magic Knight of Märchen community discussed Alice’s identity and motives. However, one specific trait of hers was rarely mentioned.
The fact that she had a weakness for cute things.
When I played the game, I’d dismissed it as a minor character quirk, but witnessing it in person made a question swell in my mind.
Why would someone like her do it?
Why would she try to kill Ian Fairytale, only to give up on everything and end her own life when she failed?
What did that hollow smile she gave Ian and his companions right before her death mean?
And why had Alice secretly become an informant?
It was possible I was missing something vital. I needed to find out. Now that Magic Knight of Märchen had become my reality, I had to account for even the smallest details.
After all, I’ve already lost to the Evil God once.
This current chance was bought with the sacrifices of countless people. In my past life, before the reset, I had to survive at any cost. If I died, everything might end. I couldn't just settle for the 'best' choice; I had to find the ideal choice to reach a happy ending. Just as I had conquered the Floating Island to gain EXP and save Dorothy.
And I’m curious about her secrets, too.
Alice was someone who knew the Evil God was going to be revived. If I could figure out how she learned that and why she chose to side with the darkness, it might change everything.
That meant that while avoiding Alice was important… avoiding her at all costs might not be the right answer.
“Baby.”
“Yes. Let’s go eat.”
I decided to stay with her for a little while longer. It didn’t seem like Alice planned to harm me today. And even if she did, I could always run. Since I could train my mana mastery with the tool I had on hand, I decided to adjust my schedule.
“…I like quick-witted boys like you.”
Alice grinned happily.
*
We sat at an outdoor table on the third-floor balcony, shaded by a petite, elegantly designed parasol. I sat directly across from Alice.
For a while, she simply gazed down with loving eyes at the slice of cake and the cat parfait in the center of the table. Finally, she took a spoonful, leaned her cheek against her hand, and sank into a state of pure bliss.
The Siren’s Face. With its vast menu and adorable aesthetics, it was a famous hotspot for female students. Dorothy had mentioned this place countless times.
“Is it good?”
“Far beyond my expectations. I didn’t know a place like this existed.”
“You must not come here often. I heard it’s very popular.”
“I’m busy. But I think I’ll be coming here often once I step down as President.”
“…”
Alice was supposed to resign after this semester, but in the original timeline, she ended her life before that could happen. In Magic Knight of Märchen, she never got the chance to return to this café.
“Have you been here with Dorothy before?”
“No, it’s my first time.”
I answered while taking a bite of the cat parfait.
It really is good.
I kept the magic tool in my other hand, constantly circulating my mana. It was a challenge, but I was getting used to the multitasking.
With a quiet “Hmm,” Alice smiled meaningfully.
“That’s unexpected. I thought you and Dorothy would have done all sorts of things together.”
“I’m close with Senior Dorothy, but we haven’t really had time for fun. I’m training most of the time.”
“You seem to enjoy training.”
Alice peered at the magic tool in my hand. If someone asked if I liked training, I wouldn’t know how to answer. In a way, I was just addicted to the grind.
Well, the sense of achievement is nice.
…Enough small talk. It was time to test her intentions.
“Actually, Senior Alice.”
“Yes?”
“I heard something on the way here.”
Alice stared at me, her chin resting on her hand as she continued to chew her dessert.
“You called for me because you want me to join the Student Council, right?”
“…”
“If that’s why you suddenly asked me on a date, I understand—”
Suddenly, Alice scooped up a spoonful of parfait and popped it into my mouth mid-sentence. My mouth was instantly filled with a tingly sweetness and a soft, creamy texture.
“…?”
I froze, stunned.
“You’re too hasty, Baby.”
“Hmm?”
“It’s a little cold to jump straight to business, don’t you think?”
Alice pulled the spoon from my mouth, her expression perfectly calm. I swallowed the parfait she’d fed me.
“What you said… it’s half right and half wrong.”
Crossing her arms and legs, Alice leaned back in her chair. The posture accentuated her already impressive figure.
“It’s true that I want to recruit you. But you, Baby, have no intention of joining.”
“How would you know that?”
“I heard you turned down the offer to join the Four Constellations. Beyond that, you’re famous for doing nothing but studying and training all day. I assume the rumors about you dating the second-year top seat are false, but regardless, I know you aren’t the type to tie yourself down with student council paperwork.”
“Well, you’re not wrong.”
“But I’ve taken a liking to you.”
“…?”
“I have a good eye for people, you see.”
Alice grinned, pointing to her eye. She had said her desire to recruit me was only half the story.
Then what was the other half?
“So, Baby.”
Alice pointed her spoon at me.
“Why don’t you make a bet with me?”
A bet? Out of nowhere?
“What kind of bet?”
“Whether or not you’ll fall in love with me.”
“…?”
…What kind of bet is that? How are you even supposed to measure that?
There wasn't a shred of objectivity in a bet like that.
“If you come to like me, you become my subordinate. How about it?”
I was so dumbfounded that I actually laughed.
“…And what if I just don’t admit it?”
“Then I’ll make sure you can’t help but express it.”
Alice responded as if the outcome were inevitable, then bit the spoon that had just been in my mouth.
Well, she probably received confessions daily. She knew she was beautiful and was clearly confident in her charms. Whether they liked it or not, the top-tier beauties and handsome guys of this academy were constantly bombarded with interest. I knew it was the same for Luce, Kaya, and Dorothy.
Come to think of it, I haven’t received a single confession yet.
I thought Isaac was supposed to be handsome, so what’s the problem…?
…Whatever. It didn’t matter.
“Do you really want me as a subordinate that badly?”
“Yeah.”
Alice nodded casually. She spoke without a hint of hesitation. I almost wondered if she even thought before she spoke.
But if any other male student heard such a thing from a girl as beautiful as Alice, their heart would have skipped a beat regardless of their will. That probably would have been the case for me, too—if I didn’t know her true nature.
Of course, this is likely a trap.
It would be much easier for her to keep an eye on me if I were her subordinate. Furthermore, if I fell for her, she could probably coax my secrets out of me with just a few choice words. On the surface, there was no way the ‘Nameless Hero’ should know Alice was the enemy. It would be the ultimate backstab.
Even if my identity wasn't revealed, I was a talented student the Student Council would love to have. This was a win-win bet for Alice.
But the real question was…
Why choose a bet that sounds like it’s straight out of a cheesy romance drama?
I cringed internally. However, her sheer confidence made the absurdity easier to swallow. The more I thought about it, the more I realized how ridiculous the situation was.
Back during the Trial of Frost, the Phantom Cat Cheshire had mentioned that I was Alice’s ‘type.’ A familiar knew its master’s heart best, which meant my appearance likely hit all of Alice’s preferences. For a split second, I wondered if the bet contained some genuine personal feelings.
But then I remembered the true colors she showed in Magic Knight of Märchen, and I immediately shook the thought away.
She wasn't a love interest; she was a Nepenthes, a carnivorous pitcher plant luring its prey to their doom with a sweet scent.
“So, for now, I want to suggest something that fits your current situation.”
With her signature kind smile, Alice tilted her head slightly.
Something that fits my situation?
“What is it?”
“How about you become an Honorary Student Council Member?”
“…?”
I had no idea what she was getting at.