Chapter 164: Bet (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 164: Bet (4)
“Honorary Student Council Member?”
It was a position I remembered from the third-year arc of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. I hadn’t expected to hear about it this early. Had it already been introduced?
“In an emergency, you’ll be granted the authority of the student council. You won’t have to worry about any of the tedious administrative duties; you only act when necessary. In exchange, Baby, you’ll be obligated to protect the students and the academy.”
“I’ve never heard of such a position before.”
“It’s something the Headmistress approved just this year. Since it hasn’t been officially announced yet, it’s only natural you wouldn’t know.”
That made sense. It was about time for it to be implemented.
‘An Honorary Student Council Member… sounds pretty good, doesn’t it?’
Given the various scenarios that would unfold in Year 2, having the authority of the student council combined with the official responsibility to protect the students would be a massive boon. If I got caught up in an incident, I wouldn’t have to worry about being treated as a suspect.
In other words...
‘It actually makes things more convenient.’
Not just the authority, but the duties themselves could be useful. In the main scenarios and sub-events of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it would be significantly easier to move according to my plans.
“Since an Honorary Student Council Member only carries half the duties, you’ll enjoy about half the benefits. You’ll even receive a scholarship.”
Even a scholarship.
‘That’s quite the privilege…’
The fact that the authority was only granted in “emergency situations” was a bit limiting, but those situations included the times I had to act as the Nameless Hero.
Of course, once Year 2 officially began, the frequency of demon appearances would drop drastically, so it might be manageable. The Evil God’s strategy shifted from flooding the world with weak demons to sporadically sending out much stronger ones.
The real issue was whether my actions would be restricted by Alice’s commands.
“Does that mean I have to follow your orders during an emergency, Senior?”
“No, that’s entirely up to you.”
That was unexpected.
“You don’t need to follow my orders as an Honorary Student Council Member. Again, your only duty is to protect the academy and its students. If you ever want to stop, you can quit whenever you like.”
It didn’t sound bad at all. In fact, it was an incredibly sweet offer. It might have been a trap set by Alice, but no matter how I analyzed her words, the deal was overwhelmingly in my favor.
Just as I reached that conclusion, Alice raised her index finger. “However.”
“There is a condition.”
As expected. There it was. Honestly, it was a relief. If the offer only benefited me, I would have felt uneasy, as if I were being scammed.
“What is the condition?”
“Go on a date with me every now and then.”
Correction. It definitely felt like a scam.
“We’re in the middle of a bet, after all. I think it’s only fair that you give me a chance too,” Alice murmured after taking a spoonful of her parfait.
‘I haven’t even accepted the bet yet.’
She was just driving the conversation forward on her own.
Isn’t she getting ahead of herself?
Seeing me remain silent, Alice tilted her head. “Isn’t that right?”
“Yeah… I suppose so.”
Well, I wasn’t planning on refusing the bet anyway. There likely wasn’t any trick Alice could use to harm me through the bet itself. On the contrary, it might be an opportunity to uncover her secrets.
Regardless, it seemed Alice had decided to use her charm as her primary strategy. Knowing her true nature, I found it difficult to adjust to this side of her.
“So, how about it? Do you want to try being an Honorary Student Council Member?”
“That is… thank you for the offer, but I’ll need some time to think about it.”
I replied with a polite smile. If I jumped into the role too hastily, I might regret it later. Now was the time to take a step back and weigh my options.
*
“We can’t stay together for much longer. I have a meeting soon.”
Alice glanced at the tall clock tower as we walked across the bridge spanning the lake. The path was lined with a dense array of flowers. Potted plants hung from the railings, their leafy vines trailing down toward the water.
Standing among them, Alice looked like a stunning rose—the kind where reaching for its beauty meant risking the sting of its thorns.
“You have a meeting?” I asked, looking at her back.
“Yes.”
“I thought we’d be together until evening, at the very least.”
“You must be disappointed that you can’t spend more time with me.”
“That’s not it…”
I never intended to spend that much time with her anyway. I was planning to leave soon, as I couldn't afford to neglect my training.
A brief silence followed, filled only by the chirping of crickets and the occasional splash of a fish in the lake. Then, I spoke up. There was something I wanted to ask her.
“Senior Alice.”
“Yes, Baby?”
“What happens if I win the bet?”
“If you win?”
“If you fall for me first. We haven’t discussed what happens if I’m the winner.”
“I never considered the possibility of losing.”
What kind of bet is this?
“Hmm.”
Alice looked down, pondering for a moment, before suddenly turning to me with a mischievous smile.
“Even if that happens, how would you even notice? I’m quite confident in my ability to hide it.”
“Then I’ll just have to make sure you can’t help but show it.”
When I threw her own logic back at her, she chuckled softly.
“That’s funny. Well… if I lose, you can do whatever you want with me, Baby.”
Alice gave me one last smile and turned away.
‘She said I can do as I please…’
Did she truly not even entertain the thought of losing?
Seriously…
Her answer left far too much to the imagination.
Verga Rayphelt, a muscular student with dark green hair, stomped through the corridor of the Magic Department. His imposing presence alone drew the eyes of every student in the hall.
Even among the Knight Department, he was known for his massive stature. Among the Magic Department students, who prioritized mana over physical conditioning, he stood out like a mountain.
“You.”
“Y-yes…!”
In the second-year corridor, Verga slammed a hand onto the shoulder of a male student. The boy jumped, nearly jumping out of his skin.
“Tell me where Isaac is.”
Verga’s voice was a command. He had just checked the Class B classroom, but it had been completely empty.
“I-I don’t know… I’m not close with Isaac…”
“…Useless trash.”
Verga shoved the student aside and kept walking. The boy’s frail body rolled across the floor twice. He was terrified, but felt an intense wave of relief that the encounter had ended there.
The aggressor was Verga Rayphelt, an elite member of the Black Tigers and a "hunter" of the Magic Department. Ordinary magic didn't work on him; his natural defense was monstrous. There were few in this hall who could manifest magic powerful enough to pierce his skin.
Moreover, Verga was infamous for his ferocious temperament. Having just watched him toss a student aside like a ragdoll, the onlookers felt the weight of that reputation.
“What about you? Do you know where Isaac is?”
“I-I don’t know… Aaah!”
“Tch.”
Verga didn't care if it was a girl; he roughly shoved her out of his way as well. Her small frame collided hard with a window. She grimaced, clutching her shoulder in pain.
“Isaac!! If you’re here, come out now!!”
Verga’s deep voice thundered through the corridor.
“I am Verga Rayphelt!! I’ve come for a rematch!! Show yourself right now, Isaac!!”
His suppressed rage poured out with every word.
“Um, excuse me…”
“…What?”
A female student gathered her courage to speak. Verga glared at her with the eyes of a wild beast, causing her to break out in a cold sweat.
“Ah, Isaac… he was called away by the Student Council President earlier…”
“The Student Council President…?”
Alice Carroll. One of the true powers of Märchen Academy.
Why is she looking for Isaac?
The first thought that came to mind was recruitment. If the President was calling for him, there could be no other reason.
“Isaac, that guy…”
In the student council?
“How laughable.”
The idea of Isaac—someone who would be utterly crushed in a proper duel against him—joining the student council was a joke. Sure, his skills weren't bottom-tier, and he had a pretty face that almost looked like a girl's, but that was it. Verga figured Alice just wanted a new slave to run errands.
“Is he in the student council room right now?”
“I’m not sure about that…”
Verga clicked his tongue in annoyance and moved on. Students scrambled to clear a path for him. He walked through the crowd as if he owned the floor, heading toward Bartos Hall, the center of the academy’s administration.
He couldn't barge into the student council room, but if he loitered around Bartos Hall, he was bound to run into Isaac eventually.
It was then.
“…?”
A blond male student blocked Verga’s path. Verga stopped, glaring threateningly. It was clear the boy was intentionally standing in his way.
“…Who the hell are you?”
As Verga growled in an annoyed tone, the blond student silently deployed a light green magic circle.
Whooosh──!
Wham──!
A violent surge of mana erupted like a fierce gale. Verga’s eyes widened as he reflexively dropped into a combat stance.
“It’s you…”
The blond student was Tristan Humphrey, a second-year from the Magic Department. He glared at Verga, his face twisted with rage, though his voice remained dangerously low.
“What’s your excuse for putting your hands on my subordinate?”
The student Verga had first shoved aside was one of the self-proclaimed followers who had been flattering Tristan since their first year. He was someone Tristan had already taken under his wing. Seeing his lackey treated that way made the veins on Tristan’s forehead throb.
“Hmph! An insolent little wizard dares to manifest a circle in front of me…!”
“I know who you are. Verga Rayphelt, an elite of the Black Tigers.”
Tristan walked leisurely to the side and flung open the nearby windows. The surrounding students quickly backed away, sensing the coming storm. Tristan turned his head, narrowing his eyes at Verga.
“You want to duel Isaac again? Ha! Do you really want to repeat that pathetic defeat? You were a disgrace last time.”
“You… you brat… How dare you spout such nonsense!!”
Last semester’s loss to Isaac was Verga’s sorest spot. Even though he was causing a scene in Orphin Hall, he had intended to take the actual fight to the dueling arena. But, blinded by the chance to avenge his humiliation, Verga fell for Tristan’s provocation.
Swoosh─!
Verga clenched his fist and lunged, his speed belying his massive frame. But in that instant, a localized hurricane whipped through the corridor.
Whooooooosh────!!
“…!!”
At the roar of the wind, Tristan vanished from Verga’s sight.
Bang───!!
“Ugh!!”
Verga felt a blow to the side of his head that felt like being struck by a steel mace. He took the full brunt of a wind-mana explosion. It was a direct hit. Verga’s massive body was sent flying through the very window Tristan had just opened.
In the center of the corridor, Tristan stood enveloped in swirling wind mana, slowly retracting his leg. He had opened the window specifically for this. No matter how angry he was, he couldn't allow property damage that went against his principles.
“Phew!”
Whoom─!
Verga managed to right himself mid-air and slammed into the ground outside on both feet, the impact echoing like thunder. His sturdy body was unscathed by the fall itself, but his head was spinning. Blood leaked from his nose and mouth despite his [Basic Protection Magic].
Though he had been reckless, Verga was horrified. His vaunted defense had been bypassed instantly. He had no way of knowing that Tristan’s attacks were powerful enough to damage even a monster like the Diamond Paladin.
Whoooosh───!
“…!!”
As the gale rushed toward him again, Verga desperately reached for the double-handed axe on his back to counterattack. But he was too slow. Tristan’s knee slammed into his face before he could even grip the handle.
In terms of pure speed, Tristan was in a different league.
Bang───!!
The sound of splitting air and a violent shockwave followed. The explosion of condensed wind mana engulfed Verga entirely. Several teeth flew out as his face momentarily buckled under the pressure.
Tristan, riding the currents, landed lightly on the grass. Verga’s axe fell from his limp hand as he clutched his shattered nose and bloodied face, collapsing into the dirt. He groaned in agony, rolling on the ground.
The students in Orphin Hall watched the scene from the windows, swallowing nervously.
“Pathetic. Groaning over a little hit like that.”
Tristan dissipated the wind mana surrounding him and looked down at Verga with pure disdain.
“Isaac is stronger than me. If you’re going to whine like this, you don’t stand a ghost of a chance against him.”
Verga’s eyes widened in shock. More than the physical agony, Tristan’s words struck him like a killing blow.
“Fool… Know your place.”
Tristan clicked his tongue, turned his back on the broken man, and walked away. All that remained was a heavy, stifling silence.