Chapter 194: The Grand Festival — Interlude (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 194: The Grand Festival — Interlude (1)
Horan, the Land of Fire Blossoms, was a nation where faith and state were one.
The Priestess, a divine proxy bestowed by the gods, wielded immense power. Under the rule of a tyrant, her authority was absolute and unbreakable.
Miya had become the Priestess simply because she was born with the sacred flame. The realization that the lives of so many depended on her weighed heavily on her soul.
However, Mei was different.
─ “If it’s too hard, just let me know. I can take over as the Priestess for you. We look exactly the same anyway, so no one will ever notice.”
Mei had offered to shoulder Miya’s burden. She stepped into the role with convincing grace, projecting the dignity of a true Priestess to the masses.
Miya idolized her twin sister, believing Mei to be the most intelligent person in the world. She admired her decisiveness, her sound judgment, and her swift execution. To Miya, it was Mei, not herself, who deserved the throne. She viewed herself as nothing more than a fool who happened to be born with a mystical power.
That mindset was a cage carefully crafted by Mei.
Day by day, Mei subtly compared Miya’s naivety to her own competence, eroding her sister’s confidence. She would offer sweet reassurances—telling Miya it was okay, that she was there for her—until Miya became entirely dependent.
It wasn’t long before Mei, acting as the Priestess, lured Miya into a trap.
She wanted the sacred flame.
That power was the only thing separating Miya from Mei—the sole reason Miya had been chosen as the Priestess. Mei believed that with that power, she could finally become the true ruler.
In truth, Miya had already seen through her sister’s intentions. It wasn’t hard to guess what Mei was after.
But she fell into the trap willingly.
She believed that for the sake of the nation, it would be better if her wise sister held the power. She was perfectly fine with sharing her sacred flame. She had planned to resolve everything through a simple conversation.
She never imagined it would lead to her being plunged into a magical slumber, exploited like a factory part as her power was constantly drained.
Miya’s last memory before the darkness took her was Mei’s face twisting into a grotesque, predatory smile—a side of her sister she had never seen.
In that moment, it became clear: she was nothing but a tool for her sister’s ambition.
─ “Sister, why…?”
─ “Do you want to know?”
Before she was consumed by a magic tool far larger than herself, Miya heard Mei’s final, chilling words.
─ “Back when we were starving, all I could think about was selling you off for some quick cash.”
─ “You were never my sister. You were just an insurance policy.”
Miya fell into a deep sleep. For the years her sister reigned as a tyrant, Miya was tormented by nightmares.
Mei took everything Miya had built and made it her own. The shrewd bureaucrats who suspected the current Priestess was an impostor were politically buried or assassinated. Mei focused entirely on securing her position.
Then, she realized she needed more.
Authority and wealth were concepts that existed only within human society. To truly protect herself, she needed a force outside the social structure. She needed pure, raw power.
She remembered the stories of Miya befriending the Nine-tailed Fox in the Forest of Death.
It was a perfect opportunity. A flame beast that even elite hunting parties couldn’t defeat would be the ultimate ally. Mei approached the Nine-tailed Fox, pretending to be Miya, and forced the beast into an unfair familiar contract.
The fox, wanting only to be with Miya, readily accepted. It became Mei’s familiar, further elevating her status as a divine Priestess.
Mei looked down upon the world from the heights of the palace. The ugly world she once looked up to as a child now felt too small, too confined.
Her gaze stretched beyond the horizon. Her ambitions were only just beginning to grow.
*
“You really have the worst luck, don't you, Isaac?”
“Why the sudden observation?”
“Well, you were right in the middle of both major incidents during the Grand Festival. Pierre Flanche went on a rampage because you got him disqualified, and then Miya called you out to settle a grudge from your duel… You just seem to attract misfortune.”
“I don’t think any of that was actually my fault, though…?”
“I’m not blaming you. I just feel sorry for you.”
The Grand Festival had ended on a bitter note.
I had given my statement to the faculty as a witness and participant. I wasn't entirely honest, of course—I mixed just enough truth with my lies.
I told them the truth about Mei challenging me to a fight. However, I claimed to have no memory of what happened after I fainted. I omitted the part where I activated [Hunter] and slaughtered Elmetona, pretending to be a helpless victim.
The narrative gap was filled by the appearance of the Nameless Hero—the archwizard who had appeared on the clock tower alongside the White Dragon.
The faculty and the Imperial Knights had seen him with their own eyes, which indirectly cleared me of suspicion. The Nameless Hero had fled the scene immediately. Naturally, that wasn't me.
It was Kaya, dressed in the magic cloak I’d lent her. The summoned Hilde had swelled in size thanks to the massive amount of mana I’d infused into her.
Fortunately, the academy and the knights seemed to buy it. Given Hilde’s majestic appearance, I probably would have believed it too.
‘And yet…’
Hilde mentioned that the Phantom Cat Cheshire hadn’t followed them. I was certain of it because I’d been hyper-focused on mana detection.
Why hadn't it followed? Did it lose the trail? Or was there something more important it had to watch?
Thinking about this naturally led me back to Alice Carroll.
‘Alice went straight to the dueling grounds.’
It was as if she decided observing me was more important than chasing the Nameless Hero on the clock tower. It wasn't a good sign. I had to assume the worst-case scenario: that Alice was now convinced that Isaac and the Nameless Hero were one and the same.
Before the interrogation, I was treated at the academy hospital. My injuries weren't severe, and thanks to Dorothy’s healing spells, I only needed a few sessions of rehabilitation. I was discharged fairly quickly.
The real problem was Mei.
She had been brutally beaten by the demon Elmetona and was in critical condition. Even with the Church’s advanced healing magic, she wouldn't be able to move for at least a week.
Now, I figured it was time for her to exit the stage.
Early morning. Dim light filtered through the canopy.
“Sir Isaac, I’ve arrived.”
“Have a seat.”
I was sitting on a stump by Norhan Lake, deep within Josena Forest.
Kaya Astrea sat on the chair I’d prepared. I took the cloak back from her and tucked it into my magic pouch.
“That must have been a lot of pressure for you.”
“Not at all! I’m happy to do anything you command.”
It wasn't exactly a command, but Kaya’s unwavering loyalty was something to behold. I offered her a small smile.
“What would you like as a reward?”
“A reward? That’s absurd! I am your loyal follower, Sir Isaac…! A single smile from you is more than enough. I’m prepared to do anything just to see it…!”
“…”
Kaya’s response was… passionate.
I was momentarily stunned by her intensity before realizing she was likely projecting the plot of some web novel she’d recently read. I decided to let it slide.
“Is that so?”
“But Sir Isaac, will people really believe the person on the clock tower was the real Nameless Hero?”
“I don’t expect to fool everyone.”
There would always be skeptics and conspiracy theorists. The question of why the Nameless Hero was lurking on the clock tower remained unanswered.
“…But it’ll be enough.”
It didn't need to be perfect. It just needed to be enough to keep the arrows of suspicion from pointing directly at me.
*
After parting ways with Kaya, I headed toward the classrooms. The festivities were over; it was time for the students to return to their daily routines.
As I walked toward the second-year Class B wing of the Magic Department, I organized my thoughts.
I had defeated Elmetona the Ethereal, cleared the Priestess of the Red Lotus, and gained a massive amount of EXP. I’d leveled up four times, bringing me to Level 122.
By completing the achievement [Dwindling Flame], my [Fire Resistance] had increased by 30, reaching a total of 50—Grade B. I invested all my new stat points into [vs. Human Combat Power], which now sat at 68, or Grade -A.
‘Now, the only thing left this semester is…’
❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ Act 9: Alice Subjugation.
I needed to prepare for my confrontation with Alice Carroll.
The Student Council President who was always smiling, always joking, always asking me on dates, and calling me “Baby” every time we met.
…I had no hesitations. My mind had been made up from the start. I had to face Alice with lethal intent.
Alice was bloodthirsty; she lost all control at the sight of blood. I had seen it myself during the Trial of Frost. She was a threat that had to be dealt with.
I just didn't want to leave any loose ends. I wanted to know three things: Who Alice really was, what she was hiding, and why she committed suicide immediately after her defeat in the original game.
Thinking of her brought my mind back to the Priestess.
Faint memories and lingering emotions stirred within me. In the first timeline, I had been consumed by regret for failing to protect the Priestess.
My coldness toward the current Priestess, my indifference when Luce targeted her, my ruthless revenge that left her crippled during our last duel… I hadn't felt a shred of affection for her.
It was all because she wasn't the true Priestess who had been my ally.
The world would soon be in an uproar once the truth about Miya and Mei came out.
I was crossing the wide hallway of Orphin Hall when I noticed something. The students passing by were staring at me.
“That’s Senior Isaac.”
“He’s so handsome…”
“Is he really worth all the hype?”
“He’s hot, smart, cool, hardworking, has a killer body… basically, he's a total babe.”
My ears perked up. I wasn't sure why I was suddenly the topic of conversation. I’d heard my fan club was growing among the freshmen, but this was intense. Feeling a bit self-conscious, I quickened my pace to the second-year floor.
“The star has arrived.”
“He should’ve been beaten up yesterday. Kugh.”
“He’s definitely good-looking…”
“Top grades, and apparently a secret genius.”
What is going on? Why are they acting like this?
Is it because of the fight yesterday?
No, that didn't make sense. Why were they complimenting my looks and grades in relation to a duel with Mei? Even the students discussing the Nameless Hero stopped to whisper about me the moment I walked past.
What on earth happened…
I ignored the stares and entered the classroom. The moment I sat down, Mateo Jordana and Amy Holloway—the girl with the black rabbit-ear ribbons—approached me.
“Hey, Buddy.”
“Hi, Amy. Mateo.”
“Yesterday was absolutely insane, wasn't it?” Amy asked.
“You mean the Nameless Hero appearing?”
“Ah, there’s that too.” Amy sat on the edge of my desk, leaning in to whisper. “But I’m talking about the beauty contest.”
“The contest?”
What?
The beauty contest was a fluff event held before the closing ceremony to boost student morale. Female students from each grade competed in a pageant of sorts.
Since I was more focused on training, I’d spent that time practicing magic in an empty hall. In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the beauty contest was just a side event for character fanservice. I had no reason to attend.
“Must be nice to be so popular,” Mateo chimed in. “Man, my heart was racing yesterday.”
“…?”
“Hehehe,” Amy chuckled.
I turned to Mateo, ignoring Amy’s giggling. “Did something happen during the contest?”
Both of them looked at me in genuine shock.
“…You weren't there? You didn't see the absolute chaos at the finale?”
I shook my head.
“My god…”
Amy and Mateo both facepalmed simultaneously. Then, Amy began to recount the events of the previous day.
*
Before the closing ceremony of the Grand Festival, the final event was the beauty contest.
In front of the entire student body, the contestants took the stage. Dressed in stunning gowns and adorned with jewels, their beauty captivated the audience.
Hosted by Amy Holloway, the girls showcased their charms through talent shows and recreational activities. Finally, the vote was held to determine the ‘Märchen Academy Goddess of Beauty.’
“The winner of the Märchen Academy Goddess of Beauty is…!”
Ta-dah!
It was Snow White Von Kairos Elfieto.
She wore a pure white dress accented with a pink hairpin and golden ornaments. Already famous as one of the most beautiful women in the world, she had won the crowd the moment she stepped on stage.
She looked almost ethereal, like a masterpiece sculpted by the gods themselves.
Luce Eltania took second place, and Dorothy Heartnova took third.
Amy stood next to White and brought the megaphone close, asking for her victory speech. White, who had been stiff and nervous throughout the pageant, suddenly looked wistful as she thought of someone.
Her response sent shockwaves through the crowd.
“There is someone I trust more than anyone in this academy. Someone who cares for me deeply. He loves me, sometimes scolds me, but most importantly, he always keeps me on the right path. I… like this person most in the world. I dedicate this honor to ‘Senior Isaac.’”
Jaws hit the floor.
Beside her, Luce’s expression turned icy. Her head snapped toward White, her neck creaking like a broken machine. Her lifeless blue eyes bored into the Princess.
On the other side, Dorothy’s mouth hung open in pure astonishment.
Kaya, who had also been a contestant, looked like she’d been struck by lightning. She turned pale and began to stagger.
Amy was flustered to hear her friend’s name, but she tried to smooth things over. ‘Of course, Isaac is her mentor after all,’ she thought, trying to keep the peace.
But the students, whose hearts had been melted by White’s confession, couldn't recover from the shock.
Next, Amy asked Luce for her thoughts. Usually, the runners-up gave a standard response about being honored and congratulating the winner.
Luce ignored the prompt entirely, staring daggers at White. Everyone knew Luce adored Isaac; she seemed physically unable to speak after hearing White’s declaration.
“Ahaha…! Luce, you seem too overwhelmed with emotion to speak, but that’s okay, because you’re really, really pretty!”
Terrified by the murderous intent radiating from Luce, Amy desperately moved the microphone away.
“Okay, moving on! Lastly, Dorothy, please share your thoughts…”
“Hiyaa!”
“Ack!”
Dorothy snatched the megaphone right out of Amy’s hand and shouted to the rafters.
“I love my fans, my friends, and everyone here! But in this academy, the most precious person to me is you and you alone…!”
Dorothy struck a pose, flashing a vibrant ‘V’ sign.
“…Isaac! Am I not the prettiest girl you’ve ever seen? It’s okay if you fall for me, you know. I don’t mind. Nihihi!”
A radiant, mischievous smile spread across Dorothy’s face.
The entire student body was plunged into chaos once again.
*
“And… yeah. That’s what happened.”
Back in the Class B classroom, Amy finished her story, holding up an index finger for emphasis.
“My god…”
I buried my face in my hands.