Chapter 180: The Grand Festival (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 180: The Grand Festival (1)
“Now, I declare the commencement of Märchen Academy’s Jeblem!!”
Headmistress Elena Woodline’s spirited proclamation rang out across the vibrantly decorated grounds of Märchen Academy. Her voice, amplified by magic-infused loudspeakers stationed throughout the campus, carried a joyous weight.
Simultaneously, bundles of magical fireworks erupted into the midday sky.
With a thunderous boom, the Academy exploded in cheers as students packed the outdoor stadium. The atmosphere was electric, the roar of the crowd deafening.
It was a perfect day.
The sun was bright, the breeze was cool, and the temperature was just right.
On stage, a choir and cheer squad dressed in dazzling outfits sang and danced, fueling the excitement. After a string of incidents that had dampened the school’s spirit, the Academy was finally alive with celebration for the first time in a long while.
“Ooh.”
From the seat behind me, Luce Eltania rested her chin atop my head, watching the performance with an impressed hum.
I felt the same. Witnessing a performance steeped in the unique culture of this world in person was a far cry from seeing it through a game screen. It was deeply moving, striking a chord in my heart I hadn't expected.
Märchen Academy had planned a festive opening ceremony, to be followed by a more poignant closing ceremony a few days later.
Priestess Miya was scheduled to perform a dance, a prayer for the gods to descend and enjoy the Grand Festival while bestowing abundance upon the land. The dance was meant to symbolize a peaceful world filled with love—though, considering the dancer’s own prejudices, the sentiment felt a bit hollow.
That reminded me…
Isn’t it time for Luce to go?
“Luce, when are you going to get ready?”
“Soon. I’ll be right back, so stay here.”
“What are you talking about? You can’t come back yet. You’re the second-year representative.”
“What does that have to do with anything? I’m staying by your side.”
Luce responded with her usual calm, confident tone, her voice as beautiful as ever.
I suppose some things never change. She was a stubborn character who ignored any rule that didn't suit her. In that regard, she was quite similar to Dorothy.
Normally, one would want to spend such an event with their only friend. That had always been the case for us, but this time, it was unavoidable.
“Don’t be so stubborn… or I’ll start avoiding you.”
“…I suddenly hate the Grand Festival.”
Luce grumbled, twirling my tousled hair between her fingers.
As the opening ceremony continued, a girl approached us. She was one of the staff members in charge of the second-year representatives' makeup.
“Luce, it’s time. Let’s go get you ready.”
“Ugh…”
The look of pure disgust on Luce's face was hilarious.
“Bye,” I said with a chuckle.
Luce grabbed my shoulders, her expression sullen and clearly annoyed by my amusement. She leaned in, bringing her lips right to my ear.
“I hate you,” she whispered, blowing a soft breath against my skin.
A shiver raced down my spine, followed by a sudden, thrilling jolt of pleasure.
Wow. I reflexively jerked my head back and covered my ear.
That… was way too stimulating.
Luce knew my ears were a weak spot, and she exploited that fact whenever I annoyed her. She was incredibly proficient at it, always striking without warning.
She gave me one last displeased glare before rising from her seat. It was her way of protesting how quickly I was shooing her away. Of course, it was mostly a joke; Luce wasn't irresponsible enough to actually abandon her duties.
“Sorry, Isaac. I’ll need to borrow Luce for a bit~!”
The girl apologized with an awkward smile and led Luce away from the stands. I waved goodbye, telling her I’d see her later.
I was alone again. Holding a magic tool, I made a show of watching the students while secretly circulating my mana, quietly scanning the surroundings.
The four Paladins were seated separately among the first-years of the Magic Department. Alice Carroll, as the Student Council President, was seated on the upper deck, away from the general stands.
I kept a discreet, watchful eye on all of them.
*
The Grand Festival proceeded exactly as I remembered from ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
Before the events began, the students roared with excitement as the representatives for each year made their entrance. They largely ignored the representatives from other departments, focusing entirely on the Magic Department.
White for the first years, Luce for the second years, and Dorothy for the third years took the stage. They were dressed in elegantly modified uniforms, their makeup highlighting their striking beauty.
White looked nervous, Luce looked indifferent, and Dorothy looked ecstatic. Each of them boasted exceptional visuals, perfectly fitting their roles as the "faces" of their respective years.
It was a massive relief to see White properly dressed, her hair styled normally instead of its usual stiletto-like spikes.
Once they were seated in their designated areas, the various games began. The students cheered for their respective sides, performing elaborate routines centered around their representatives.
Being immersed in such a festive atmosphere naturally brought a sense of joy, but I resisted it. Whenever the urge to enjoy myself surfaced, I suppressed it, keeping my emotions in check.
Don’t let your guard down.
There was no telling what the Clover Paladin might try to do to White.
Soon, it was lunchtime. The heat of the competition died down as students grew eager for a meal. Luce, looking thoroughly dissatisfied, was dragged away by other students to prepare for the next performance.
My heart sank a little at the thought of her eating alone or being separated from the crowd, but I couldn't join her today. Not with the Clover Paladin lurking.
“Nyahaha! Karina, I almost died laughing earlier! That slapstick was gold! Nihihi!”
“Ugh. Dorothy, stop it…”
The ever-popular Dorothy was swarmed by students as they headed for lunch, their laughter echoing through the air.
I suddenly recalled watching the opening ceremony of the Grand Festival in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. In the game, before the ceremony began, a cleric from the Helize Church would offer a prayer of thanks. Whenever that scene played, I always hoped the festival’s warmth would reach Dorothy in the afterlife—asking her to watch over the peace she had given her life to protect.
Because in that timeline, Dorothy had to die.
I couldn't help but smile. Seeing Dorothy enjoying academy life as if it were the most natural thing in the world filled me with a profound sense of pride.
Well, now…
Time to get to work.
My primary goal for this Grand Festival was to protect White. Every time I remembered how badly Priestess Miya had beaten her, a surge of anger rose within me. The Clover Paladin also harbored a petty, childish plan to harm White just to provoke me.
Since [Psychological Insight] wasn't omnipotent, I couldn't know for sure if he had changed his mind. He might have devised a way to torment her that I hadn't anticipated.
In that case, the solution was simple.
“Excuse me, coming through.”
I pushed my way through the crowd of first-years in the Magic Department. I approached the Pure White Princess, who stood at the top of the class seating, looking down at the other students like a goddess.
“Hey.”
“Huh? Senior Isaac?”
“Ack!”
Ignoring the startled reactions of the freshmen as they scrambled out of my way, I noticed the four Paladins had already vanished from their seats.
The students were flocking around White like she was a world-class celebrity. She hadn't even noticed me approaching yet. She was smiling awkwardly, looking visibly overwhelmed. It was clear she wanted to escape the crowd but didn't know how.
“Please, grant us the honor of serving you, Princess White…!”
“There is no beauty in this world that can compare to yours!”
“Your Highness! I, the eldest son of the Hameln Family, shall serve you with the utmost dedication!”
What a circus. If I were that popular, my ego would be through the roof.
Any other Princess, used to such flattery, might have been annoyed by the chaos and ordered everyone to shut up. The place would have gone silent as a grave. But the kind-hearted White was incapable of such a thing, despite holding the power and status of an Imperial Princess.
The students took advantage of her kindness, confident she wouldn't retaliate. It was the unfortunate fate of a pushover.
Of course, I understood why they did it. They were the children of noble families, desperate to make an impression. Especially here, where traditional social hierarchies were a bit more relaxed. This was likely their only chance to interact with the Princess so closely.
However, I was about to take that opportunity away.
“Huh?”
White finally spotted me. Surprise flashed across her face, quickly replaced by visible relief. The surrounding first-years were equally stunned by my sudden appearance.
Yes, be surprised. I am your senior, Isaac—the one you all supposedly admire.
“White.”
The noisy atmosphere died down instantly. I stood before White and looked up at her. She looked down from her high seat, meeting my gaze.
“Let’s go.”
I held out my right hand. White’s head trembled slightly. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in a small gasp. To her, trapped in that suffocating crowd, my hand must have looked like a lifeline.
Though we had started as mentor and mentee, White now viewed me as her teacher and master. That made me more approachable to her than anyone else at the Academy.
The feeling was mutual. Initially, I hadn't been particularly excited about meeting her, but after the time we’d spent together, I’d developed a genuine affection for her. It felt like the bond between an old master and a cherished disciple.
In any case, it was time to clear the way.
“…Okay.”
A radiant smile broke across White’s face. Without a second thought, she grabbed my hand and jumped down from her seat.
Whoosh—
A cushion of wind magic fluttered beneath her feet. White landed gracefully, and we exchanged smiles.
The freshmen were speechless, especially those who had been showering her with flattery. They had come armed with status, sweet nothings, and invitations to lunch. It must have been baffling to see the Princess leave so easily just because a commoner said, ‘Let’s go.’
“Ack.”
I led White away. We had to cut through a sea of first-years, so I kept a firm grip on her wrist. It would be a disaster if I lost her in this crowd.
Fortunately, most of them moved aside. They were likely aware of our mentor-mentee relationship. As I pulled her along, White let out a tiny yelp that quickly faded into silence. I’d explain everything later.
As long as Alice’s true intentions remained hidden, I had to be wary of the Clover Paladin—the "alpha male" targeting White to get to me. My solution was simple: keep White by my side at all times.
Currently, Hilde was hidden in my collar, keeping watch. Unless it turned into an all-out war, I could go toe-to-toe with the Clover Paladin. I was determined to protect her; I wouldn't allow a repeat of the duel evaluation.
I glanced back at White as we walked. She was pursing her lips, clearly trying—and failing—to hide her delight. It was a hilarious sight, and I couldn't help but chuckle.
“Keep up. I’m not letting go of your hand.”
“…Yes…!”
White nodded, gazing at me intently. Her joy was tinged with a hint of nervousness. I didn't need [Psychological Insight] to see that this moment was making a deep impression on her.
I turned back to the front and quickened our pace. We cleared the stadium, leaving the stunned first-years behind.
“Ah, Merlin.”
I spotted Merlin Astrea at the entrance and greeted her with a smile. As an outsider, she wasn't allowed inside the stadium, so she had been watching over White from the gates. As the daughter of the Sword Saint, she was more than capable of protecting White even from that distance.
As we approached the exit, I prepared to invite Merlin to lunch. Having her with us would be an extra layer of security.
“How about joining us for a me—”
Swoosh.
With a graceful, blurring movement, Merlin suddenly positioned herself between White and me. She placed a firm hand on the wrist I was holding.
White and I both froze.
“Sir Isaac.”
“Yes…?”
“Please let go of Princess White’s hand.”
Merlin shot me a look of pure, icy suspicion.