Chapter 189: Priestess of The Red Lotus (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 189: Priestess of The Red Lotus (2)
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 118!]
A flood of petitions from female students hit the academy.
In an attempt to mitigate Pierre Flanche’s clear wrongdoing, they cited various examples of his past "good deeds" and pleaded for leniency. They claimed Pierre wasn’t that kind of person, that he was a man of excellent character and kindness, and that there simply had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
So this is the life of a damn alpha male.
I’d seen it on the news before—cases abroad where heinous criminals gained a following of people protesting for their release simply because they were good-looking. It seemed Pierre was one of those cases.
A few foolish juniors tried to direct their resentment toward me, but they quickly stopped bothering me after being subjected to Luce’s murderous glare. At times like these, there was no one as reliable as her.
Following the Pierre incident, the Grand Festival proceeded without further hitches.
Our team took first place in the Arcball race.
On the final day of the Grand Festival, the Arcball race award ceremony was held. Tristan Humphrey, the vain blond noble, stepped forward as our team representative. He hoisted the first-place trophy high with both hands as our team erupted in cheers.
The first-place prize, a formless mass of vivid, radiating mana, hovered in the air. It was scheduled to be officially awarded after the conclusion of the Grand Festival.
When I mocked Lisetta by telling her, "Defeat is nothing to be ashamed of," she furrowed her brow and gritted her teeth.
"This bastard..." she muttered.
Whether it was the thrill of taking first place or just the atmosphere, I found myself in an elevated mood as well. Contrary to my initial concerns, the Arcball race had been a valuable experience. As soon as we were declared the winners, my level rose from 117—which I had reached during the prep period—to 118. It was a satisfying result.
If there was one thing to lament...
I didn't really get to enjoy anything else.
As I walked across the campus, there were attractions everywhere. Though the students had ambitiously prepared various games and snacks, I hadn't participated in anything other than the race. Even when Dorothy whined about wanting to play together, I had to stoically decline.
I had to train.
My condition was peak, and the training grounds were empty because of the festival. It was an opportunity too good to pass up. I wanted to master 7-star magic as soon as possible.
That was why I chose to be satisfied with just soaking in the festival atmosphere. I had no intention of slacking off. Even if I felt a lingering sense of regret now, I told myself I could enjoy festivals comfortably once Nephid the Evil God was defeated.
Before I knew it, a deep blue darkness had crept across the sky.
I left the training ground staggering, as was my usual routine, and slowly made my way toward the closing ceremony. I deliberately avoided using any magic tools; my body needed time to stabilize. After calming my breathing for a few minutes, I was able to walk normally again.
Now, let’s go.
The campus was deserted. The entire student body was gathered at the stadium, which was currently flaunting its splendid lights. I headed straight there.
Perhaps because my training had focused on complex calculations and mana manipulation rather than raw output, my mana depletion was minimal. My physical strength could be recovered with just a bit of rest. Even amidst the grueling training, I had made sure to conserve enough energy for the imminent event.
Act 8...
❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ 「Act 8, Chapter 2: The Priestess of the Red Lotus」.
During the closing ceremony of the Grand Festival, the final act features Priestess Miya stepping onto the stage. She captivates the students with the traditional "Dance of Fire" from the Land of the Fire Blossoms.
However, the moment the dance ends, she suddenly goes berserk, lashing out with flames. In the original game, she targeted Ian to settle a grudge from their duel, and attacked others out of resentment for the rumors they spread behind her back.
Watching her spectacularly lose control in front of the entire student body was a major shock for the players during the cutscene. Fortunately, the academy’s combat mages were positioned around the auditorium and quickly erected a barrier to protect the students, but Miya managed to flee.
Some witnesses testified that just before she escaped, they saw a demon lurking in her shadow. Consequently, the academy went into emergency mode, concluding that Miya had been possessed.
The academy then launched a manhunt. Miya, hiding within the academy grounds, began ambushing people and attempting to kill those she held grudges against. Ian Fairytale, driven by his duty as a light-element user and his sense of justice, summoned his friends to stop her.
The player then had to form a party of four, including Ian, to hunt down the demon-controlled Miya before the damage spread.
That was the original content of Act 8, Chapter 2.
I don’t know if it will go according to the scenario, though.
As a variable, I had already exerted a tremendous influence on the timeline. The game's memory was now merely a reference point. I didn't know if Miya would go berserk during the ceremony or not, but I had to remain cautious and on standby.
As I walked, a white bird flew toward me, squawking, "Kwek, Kwek!"
It was "V," a magic beast courier often used for urgent messages. It was a gentle creature that posed no threat to humans. I paused and extended my arm. V landed on my sleeve and used its long beak to pull a letter from its bag, handing it to me.
"Thank you."
As V flew away, I inspected the envelope. It was a black letter with only my name on it. There was no seal. It looked suspicious from every angle, yet I sensed no malicious mana from it.
"Eden."
Rock mana coalesced in the air, forming the shape of Eden, my small golem familiar.
[Kyuuu!]
"Open this for me."
Eden quickly took the letter with his short arms. Being made of rock, he was immune to poison. Even if a trap triggered, I could simply unsummon him. Eden opened the letter with his adorable rocky hands and pulled out the contents.
[Kyuuu!]
He handed me the paper. It was an ordinary sheet with plain writing. Though the sender wasn't listed, I knew immediately who it was.
"As I thought, it’s deviating from the scenario..."
[Kyuuu.]
I hadn't expected things to go perfectly as planned. As I feared, Act 8, Chapter 2 was heading in a completely different direction.
*
A scene of brilliant light stood in stark contrast to the night sky over Märchen Academy. The stadium was glowing.
Students in uniform packed the stands, their excitement palpable.
"Now, let us begin the closing ceremony of Märchen Academy’s Jeblem Festival!" the announcer, Amy Holloway, shouted.
Fireworks thundered into the air, marking the start of the finale. Amidst the splendid performances and the cheering crowd, the main cast was scattered. Luce was waiting solely for Isaac; Dorothy was excitedly cheering for the performers; and Kaya was nervously swallowing her saliva.
Eventually, the ceremony reached its final sequence.
A beautiful girl with black hair made her way gracefully onto the stage. Her red dress was adorned with dangling gold ornaments. Mana flowed around her like the tide, saturating the stage.
The Priestess stood alone at the center, preparing herself. Her delicate frame held a posture of immense grace. As the orchestra began to weave a beautiful melody, Miya snapped open her black fan with a flourish.
Under the brilliant mana lights, she began a dance of profound dignity. It was an offering to the gods, a true work of art. The students were mesmerized, utterly absorbed in the music and Miya’s movements.
As the performance reached its climax, Miya’s flames burst forth in perfect synchronization. The undulating red flames spread like silk, elegantly slicing through the air in harmony with her fan.
This was the tradition of Horan, the Land of the Fire Blossoms: the Dance of Fire.
The spectators were spellbound, watching with mouths agape or wearing smiles of pure admiration. However, watching this, Dorothy’s expression suddenly soured.
"Huh? Dorothy?"
"That’s... a fake."
"What is?"
"...I’ll be right back."
"Wait! Where are you going, Dorothy?!"
Without answering her friend, Dorothy bolted from the stands and sprinted up the stairs.
*
Dozens of minutes earlier.
Leaving the noise of the closing ceremony behind, the rest of Märchen Academy was submerged in silence. Hardly anyone was left on campus; the entire student body was at the stadium.
A student with silver-blue hair left the main grounds and arrived at a nearby outdoor dueling arena. It was the quietest place on campus, despite the ongoing festivities. Without a single lamp lit, the arena was drenched in darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of the moon and stars.
The dueling ground was a sunken structure. Isaac passed through the entrance and stopped at the top of the stairs. He looked down, taking in the sight of a woman in an ornate red dress standing in the center of the arena.
Sensing his presence, she turned her head. As befitted the star of the closing ceremony, her face was beautifully made up, but her sharp eyes and pupils were lifeless as they locked onto Isaac.
"You’ve come, Senior."
The silence of the arena was broken. She spoke with a prickly tone while gathering her black hair.
It was the Priestess, Miya.
Isaac descended the stairs without a word. He tossed his jacket aside into the stands and loosened his tie. His calm demeanor showed he had already guessed why she had summoned him. Miya let out a cold laugh.
Isaac stopped a short distance away from her.
"You came alone. I like that you’re obedient."
"You’ve been watching me this whole time."
Isaac took off his glasses, his gaze turning cold. He had strategized with Kaya and Dorothy for the original Act 8 scenario, but the moment he received Miya’s letter, he knew those plans were useless.
The letter had been a blatant setup. It demanded Isaac come alone to the outdoor training grounds at night, claiming they had captured White. It warned that things would "not end well" if he tried anything foolish.
Immediately after reading it, Isaac had scanned the area with [Clairvoyance]. He had spotted a watcher minion made of flames tracking him from a distance. He didn't know what she would have done if he hadn't followed instructions; if he had tried to bring help, Miya would have noticed, potentially triggering an unpredictable and dangerous reaction.
However, within the realm of what could be predicted, Isaac wasn't particularly worried. In fact, he was almost thankful she had called him out privately instead of causing a massacre at the ceremony.
"Your insight is sharp. Quite impressive for an insect."
"You don't actually have White, do you?"
Using [Clairvoyance], Isaac had already confirmed that White was safely watching the closing ceremony. Miya, unaware of the full extent of Isaac’s abilities, had underestimated him.
"Sorry for lying. But you knew it was a lie and came anyway, didn't you?"
Isaac nodded. After a light stretch, he glared at her.
"...Do you really resent me that much?"
"Does one not wish to crush an insect that bites them, Senior?"
"I see. So that's how you're treating me."
There was nothing left to say.
Isaac surged his mana, the intensity of his circuits amplifying. Clenching his fists, he assumed a battle stance, a chill gathering in his hands as his expression turned indifferent.
Miya smirked. Flames erupted around her, and three tails of fire rose behind her like a kitsune.
In her shadow, a demon’s eyes flashed.
The moment of confrontation had arrived.