Chapter 20: Camping (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 20: Camping (2)
I could understand her reaction.
Raised like a soldier under the protection of the Sword Saint, Gerald, Kaya had spent her life behind a wall, isolated from men. For her, being forced to sleep in the same space as a man must have been a significant psychological blow.
It didn’t help that I wasn’t exactly an eyesore. Looking at Isaac’s face in the mirror, he was actually quite attractive. She had even expressed admiration for my appearance before. The conditions were perfect for things to get awkward.
I cast another glance at Kaya. She was still a bundle of nerves. She was likely terrified that I might touch her—whether out of malice, affection, or both.
That didn’t mean I could sleep outside; I only had one tent. Even if I fashioned an igloo with ice magic, it would be useless. I wouldn’t be able to maintain control over my mana while asleep, and the spell would simply dissipate.
“…”
“…”
In the silence of the night, the only sounds were the crackling of the campfire and the gentle murmur of the stream. If I kept my mouth shut while listening to this natural ASMR, the tension would only thicken.
Just then, a wave of drowsiness hit me. Perhaps the best way to reassure her was to simply retreat to a corner of the tent and pass out first.
“I’m sleepy. Let’s get some rest.”
“Ah, yes! Yes, sir!”
Private Kaya Astrea.
She reminded me of my own days as a fresh recruit, newly assigned to my unit. I stood up from the folding chair, a blanket draped over my shoulders, and entered the tent. I ignored Kaya’s wide-eyed stare as I went inside.
There was plenty of room for two. I claimed the farthest corner and lay down, leaving the rest of the space for Kaya to settle in comfortably.
Ah.
This cozy feeling… it’s nice.
It doesn’t feel like I’m just hiding out… it feels like real camping.
“Excuse me…”
After a while, Kaya cautiously crept inside. Every movement she made was fraught with tension. She had her blanket slung over her shoulders, wrapped tightly around her body like a cocoon.
I didn't respond. I merely squinted my eyes for a moment before closing them, pretending to be fast asleep. Kaya settled into the opposite corner. I heard the soft rustle of fabric as she adjusted her duvet and blanket.
Then, silence.
Will she actually be able to sleep?
I slowly cracked one eye open and glanced toward her.
Oh boy.
Tremble, tremble.
Kaya was shaking like a leaf. She was staring fixedly at the tent ceiling, her blanket pulled up to her lips. She was pressed so tightly against the far corner that the center of the tent looked like a vast, empty no-man's-land.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Nervous at the thought of sleeping beside you; feels as if her heart might burst.]
I’m not going to touch you, so just relax…
Well, she’ll fall asleep eventually.
With that thought, I closed my eyes again. My body felt heavy and languid. Fatigue had finally caught up with me. Between a full day of classes, a carriage ride to the Tantak Underground Cave, and killing Garzia the Hermit… I was spent.
“Sir Isaac.”
Kaya suddenly whispered my name.
“You said you detected the demon’s mana from the academy. Did you know, by any chance, that I was following you… or that I was even there…?”
Of course I didn't.
Reflecting on her words, it seemed this wasn't the first time she had shadowed me. Regardless of her reasons, Kaya following me around was a complication I didn't want to deal with. There was a high risk she might discover my secret training routine.
If that happened, the fallout was unpredictable. Unforeseen variables were the last thing I needed when I was trying to be as cautious as possible.
“…Don’t do it again. It’s annoying,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.
“Ah, I understand…!”
Kaya’s voice trembled like an earthquake.
That should be enough to deter her. Letting go of the last of my tension, I drifted off into a dream.
*
About three hours later, I woke up from a dream where I had fallen asleep during cold-weather military training. I was still groggy.
I sat up, shivering. It was far too cold in the early morning to sleep with just one blanket. While I was resistant to the cold of my own magic, I was no different from a normal person when it came to the natural elements.
“Ugh, freezing,” I grumbled, turning toward Kaya.
She was lying with her back to me, buried under her blanket. After making sure she was properly covered, I reached into my magic pouch and pulled out a change of clothes. I’d just have to wear these to stay warm.
It couldn't be helped. I’d rather suffer the chill myself than let her freeze, especially since she’d followed me out here on a whim.
“Ah.”
My hand brushed against the Sheath of Disaster tucked inside my spare clothes. I pulled the item out. Every time I looked at it, I felt a surge of pride. It reminded me of when I was a kid, pulling a rare card like Obelisk the Tormentor from a Yu-Gi-Oh! pack and staring at it for hours.
As I gently ran my fingers over the Sheath of Disaster, a smile tugged at my lips.
“Pretty.”
Hehe. I look forward to using you.
I tucked the sheath back into the pouch and lay back down, layering the extra clothes over myself. It was still cold, but I curled up and hugged my arms to trap as much body heat as possible. Fortunately, exhaustion pulled me back under quickly.
*
The first company wake-up call.
Beep! Beep! Beep! Beep!
In my dream, an alarm I never wanted to hear again blared in my ears. It was brief, but it felt like hell.
Surprisingly, I woke up feeling refreshed. I must have slept more deeply than I thought. Between classes, training, and studying, I’d been sacrificing sleep for so long that fatigue had practically become a passive skill. This feeling of being well-rested was almost alien.
I yawned and sat up, the blanket sliding off my chest.
“…?”
The spot beside me was empty. Kaya was gone. It looked like she had covered me with her blanket before heading out.
I unzipped the tent. A crisp morning breeze chased away the last of my grogginess, followed by the familiar crackle of a fire. I peered out. The morning sun was just beginning to illuminate the gorge. I saw Kaya’s back as she sat on a folding chair by the campfire.
She was wearing the coat I’d given her yesterday, with a blanket draped over her shoulders. The charred wood in the fire looked like it had been freshly cut this morning.
I pulled on my shoes and stepped out.
“Huh!”
Kaya jumped, spinning around to face me.
Why is she so startled?
“Ah, Sir Isaac. You’re awake…?”
Kaya gave me an awkward smile. The dark circles under her eyes were particularly prominent against her fair skin. It didn't look like she had slept a wink.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Relieved that you didn't touch her, but now questioning her own charm as a woman.]
What am I even supposed to do with that?
*
After a thirty-minute hike, we reached the carriage stop.
Kaya and I boarded and set off. The coachman gave us a suspicious look—likely wondering why two students were emerging from the wilderness at dawn—but he didn't say anything.
Soon, the rhythmic swaying of the carriage took its toll. Kaya’s head began to nod as she leaned against the window, eventually falling fast asleep. Her coat slipped, exposing her shoulder. I reached over, pulling the coat back up to tuck her in.
As the carriage jolted, her head slid off the window and landed on my shoulder. She didn't wake up; she was completely out.
Thinking back, I wasn't sure what I would have done without her. In the original game, Magic Knight of Märchen, the player couldn't even enter the Tantak Underground Cave until the end of Act 2, Chapter 4, let alone defeat Garzia before she reached full power.
I had completely broken the sequence, exploring a segment of the game that shouldn't have been accessible yet. Because of that, perfect preparation had been impossible.
But thanks to Kaya, I had successfully pierced Garzia’s [Indestructible Iron Body]. She had also helped collect the Zephrim and gathered firewood, saving me from a lot of grueling labor.
Thank you.
You were a huge help. I’ll pay you back someday.
I leaned my head against the opposite window and watched the scenery go by. The morning sun filtered through the lush green canopy, and the fog clinging to the forest floor was finally burning away, leaving behind a sky of the purest blue.
*
Four hours later, we arrived at the academy.
The sight of the familiar buildings made me feel like I had finally returned home. Kaya was still dead to the world.
“Kaya, we’re here.”
I shook her shoulder gently. The moment I spoke, her eyes snapped open and she bolted upright.
“KNIGHTS…!!! Ah.”
It was pure instinct. She spent her days acting like a refined lady, but her body was hardwired with military discipline.
“H-have we arrived?”
“Yeah, we’re here.”
Kaya climbed out of the carriage first, turning her head away to hide a yawn behind her hand. I followed and paid the coachman. He gave a short bow and drove off.
She looked exhausted. I wanted to send her back to her dorm to rest, but there was one thing I had to make clear.
“Kaya.”
“Yes, Sir Isaac!”
She stiffened, turning toward me with a look of intense focus.
“Keep yesterday’s incident a secret. It’ll be a hassle if word gets out, so don’t tell anyone.”
“Ah, yes…”
Kaya’s voice was barely a whisper.
Is she… being cute?
Her face was flushed red again.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Embarrassed and flattered to share a secret with you.]
What is she misunderstanding now…
“I mean the demon.”
“Ah, the demon! Yes, of course, I was thinking about the demon…! I’ll keep it a secret. I’m sure you have a very deep reason for this. And also…” Kaya looked up at me, her expression turning solemn. “The fact that demons are appearing in the academy, and the reason you’re hunting them… is there something happening here that I don’t know about?”
“…”
“…You don’t have to answer. You’re an amazing person, Sir Isaac. I’m sure there’s a good reason you can’t tell me.”
The atmosphere grew heavy. For a moment, I considered winning her over. The Evil God Nephid, the final boss, was the root of all this. Having a companion to share that burden with—especially someone as capable as Kaya—would be a massive psychological relief.
But I didn't want to shackled her with that. Knowing that a world-ending entity was about to descend was essentially a death sentence. It would be a crushing weight for her to carry.
Regardless, I would keep hunting demons until I reached Nephid. I already had a plan, and if things went well, Kaya would likely end up following my lead anyway. There was no need to burden her now.
I remained silent.
“…Thank you, Sir Isaac. I’ll be going now.”
Kaya took my silence as an answer and gave a polite bow. She handed back my uniform cardigan, turned, and walked away. I watched her go, lost in thought.
*
Märchen Academy occupied an entire island. Under the academy’s administration, a small, self-contained economy had developed. It had everything you’d expect to find in a major city.
However, per academy regulations, students were forbidden from selling items brought in from the outside. They could only trade goods obtained legally on academy grounds.
Upon enrollment, every student was bound by the “Marx Pact.” It was an absolute oath governed by a providence created by the Archwizard Marx, effective only within the academy’s borders. Violating the pact resulted in “forced expulsion.” One of the primary conditions was the prohibition of selling outside goods.
This extended to consignment sales and subcontracting. It was the academy’s way of saying, “This is our land, and we hold the monopoly.”
Since Zephrim was a mana stone found on academy grounds, it was fair game. I was relieved I wasn't breaking any rules. As a side note, the Marx Pact also prohibited bringing in magical consumables like scrolls or potions from outside sources.
After parting with Kaya, I headed to the appraisal center. Behind a glass case filled with various trinkets, a short, elderly man greeted me.
“Whoa, what brings a young man like you here…?”
In the game, there were several appraisal centers, but the one run by Harrison was the most generous. The only catch was that it usually wasn't accessible in the early game. However, since I knew about the Secret Shop—content meant for much later—I figured I could enter this place too. I wasn't bound by the game’s scripted progression.
I was anxious to see what the Zephrim would fetch. There was an unwritten rule at appraisal centers: they didn't pry into your business as long as the goods weren't illegal. Harrison was a seasoned veteran; he wouldn't care where I got the stones. He’d probably just assume I was a lucky kid.
I bowed politely and set two magic pouches on the counter. Even though the pouches reduced the weight of their contents, they weren't weightless. Fifty-six Zephrim stones were quite heavy. Fortunately, my body was now conditioned by a hellish training regimen. It wasn't easy to carry, but it wouldn't kill me.
I opened the pouches and began lining the pale yellow stones on the glass case. Harrison’s eyes widened.
“I’m here for an appraisal.”
“Oh, this is…”
Harrison picked up a stone and examined it through a magnifying glass.
“Let’s see, this is…”
He began to turn the stone over, agonizingly slowly. I remembered the protagonist of the game, Ian Fairytale, getting frustrated by this old man’s pace. Given his age, I decided to be patient.
“Hmm, ho-oh-oh…”
He was slow, but the wait would be worth it.
“Mmmm… That’s right… No, mmmm…”
He was moving like a sloth. It was testing my limits.
“Geee… heheheh…”
Ten minutes passed. Just as my patience was about to snap—
“When are you going to tell me—”
“3,000 Gels.”
“What?”
“3,000 Gels per stone should be fair. Off you go.”
My frustration vanished like mist in the sun. I had fifty-six stones. I did the math in my head.
That meant…
168,000 Gels…!!
My brain short-circuited. Only one thought remained, bright and clear.
Tonight, I was having steak for dinner.
*
“My lady, where on earth have you been all night…?”
Inside Charles Hall, the academy’s most prestigious dormitory, Mary the maid was frantic. She had been waiting up all night for her mistress.
Kaya looked at her with a dead serious expression. “I have been protecting the peace of the academy.”
“…?”
Mary blinked, completely lost.
After reassuring Mary and telling her she needed to rest, Kaya retreated to her room. It was a luxurious, spacious suite, incomparable to the cramped tent from the night before. But her mind was still back in that tent.
“Demons…”
She replayed the events in her head. Isaac had clearly enrolled in the academy knowing that demons would appear. He was working in the shadows to keep the peace, and she had to keep his identity a secret so as not to interfere.
She didn't fully understand his motives, but she was certain that following his lead was the best way to protect everyone.
“…Sir Isaac.”
The memories of the previous day were vivid. His overwhelming power when he froze the cave, his kindness when he offered his coat, and his cold efficiency when he struck down the demon.
If her mind was an ocean, these memories were the water filling it.
“He was so cool…”
She truly admired him. But beyond that, something felt different. She thought back to the dawn, when he had secretly covered her with a blanket. She had been faking sleep, her mind a daze of embarrassment and warmth.
But most of all…
—Pretty.
Just thinking of that word made steam practically rise from her head. She never imagined Isaac would call her pretty. Her heart had been racing ever since. It started as nerves, but after he wrapped her in that blanket and said that word, she felt a strange sense of ecstasy.
Kaya looked at her reflection in the vanity mirror. Her flushed cheeks weren't the only problem. Her hair was a mess from sleeping in a tent and a carriage, and the makeup Mary had applied yesterday was long gone.
She usually didn't care much about fashion, but her disheveled appearance bothered her today. She tried to smooth her hair, but it felt futile.
“What am I doing…?”
Kaya sighed, a sense of disbelief washing over her. She couldn't make sense of her own feelings. Was she being too shallow, focusing on looks?
Was he just being nice?
Maybe he said it because he was proud of her for wanting to protect the academy. Like an older person telling a child they did a “pretty” job. That had to be it.
“…”
I think so…
And yet, for some reason, Kaya couldn't stop fussing with her hair. She couldn't take her eyes off the mirror.