Chapter 201: Teacher (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 201: Teacher (5)
I read Aria’s psychology.
She was convinced that I was the Nameless Hero who had been going around defeating demons.
I didn’t think I could keep everything under wraps forever… but how on earth did she find out?
“What are you talking about?”
“The demon incident that occurred last year on Elt Island.”
Is she talking about the hunting evaluation?
“Back then, they dug deep into the ground in the center of Elt Island and discovered a mana trail. Mana trails usually dissipate quickly when they come into contact with the air, but those buried deep in the earth can persist for a long time.”
She wasn’t lying.
“They collected and preserved those mana trails, then compared them with the ones collected from you during the academy exam. The result was exactly what you’d imagine.”
It really wasn’t a lie.
I wanted to deny it, but [Psychological Insight] told me that everything Aria was saying was the absolute truth.
So, indisputable proof has been out there since last year?
I was convinced.
The underground of Elt Island—that was where I had defeated Kaya the Ravenous and killed Elphelt the Evanescent. Immediately after the battle, the giant’s body had vanished, and the area where it stood had been restored to its original state.
Consequently, the mana trail left behind from the fight with Kaya the Ravenous must have been buried instantly beneath the soil.
Since I had been busy fleeing with Lisetta Lionheart at the time, I hadn't been able to clean up the aftermath.
In the end, it turned out Aria Lilias had known I was the Nameless Hero for quite some time.
So, she saw this as the perfect opportunity and called me in.
Teaching me 7-star magic gave her the perfect excuse to approach me in a friendly manner.
Aria stopped talking to gauge my reaction, staring at me intently for a moment.
What should I say?
I organized my cluttered thoughts.
Despite the existence of evidence proving I was the Nameless Hero, the truth hadn’t surfaced yet. That meant someone had deliberately suppressed it.
It wasn’t hard to guess that the person was Aria Lilias.
Naturally, this raised a question.
Why…? Why did she protect me?
Perhaps taking my silence as a silent admission, Aria blinked slowly. She placed her hand on the flat box on the desk and stared deep into my eyes.
She looked remarkably calm and composed.
“I didn’t expect you to own up to it immediately, but don’t worry,” Aria said in a soothing tone.
“I’m on your side.”
My side?
“The crucial evidence was concealed. The only things left for the public are clues that lead nowhere, no matter how much they ponder who the Nameless Hero might be.”
“That’s illegal…”
“If you’re going to say something that pointless, it’s best if you just keep your mouth shut.”
I had only said it out of concern.
She’s brave, to say the least, especially when dealing with the Imperial Knights.
I let out a small sigh. It seemed a long conversation with Aria was unavoidable.
“…Come forth, Hilde.”
I extended my left arm. The 8-star familiar contract circle engraved on my wrist emitted a faint blue glow.
Above it, ice mana coalesced into the shape of a small white dragon.
It was the Frost Dragon, Hilde.
[Master?]
Hilde landed on my shoulder, looking back and forth between me and Aria with a troubled expression. She knew I had just willingly revealed my identity.
The Frost Dragon Hilde—a mythical magic beast said to be commanded only by the primordial ice sovereign. She was one of my greatest strengths and the ultimate proof that I was the Nameless Hero.
“I assume this serves as your answer.”
Aria’s eyes widened for a split second before returning to their usual calm. So, even she could be surprised.
“Who else knows who I am, besides you?”
“The Headmistress… no, your Headmistress.”
Aria shifted the topic smoothly.
“There might be others who suspect you, but as far as I know, it’s just the two of us. And your Headmistress is on your side as well.”
To compare the mana trail from Elt Island with mine, the academy’s cooperation would have been essential—especially to collect my specific mana signature.
Therefore, if Elena Woodline, the Headmistress of Märchen Academy, was involved, no further explanation was needed.
“Why are both of you on my side?”
“An archwizard who hunts demons and protects humanity. A mighty being with enough power to topple empires. And the expectation that he possesses knowledge unknown even to me. I see more than enough reasons to choose a side, and Elena feels the same.”
The Nameless Hero had defeated The Floating Island and gained worldwide fame.
Naturally, many people would weigh the pros and cons of the Nameless Hero’s existence and act accordingly.
Aria was one of them.
“Isaac, you…”
Aria tilted her head slightly.
“…If you’re truly that powerful, why the act? The way you practiced [Icebolt] looked completely genuine to me.”
I hesitated.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Aria had almost no screen time, so I had no real way of knowing her true character.
I gathered my thoughts and reached a conclusion.
I won't reveal everything.
Her claim of being on my side was sincere, but I needed to be certain she could be fully trusted before going any further.
People could change at any time, and revealing all my secrets was the same as handing over my weaknesses on a silver platter.
“I can’t tell you that yet. Hilde, return.”
[Understood, Master.]
Hilde transformed back into mana and dissipated like smoke. The glowing contract circle on my wrist vanished.
“…If it’s difficult to answer, I won’t press you for now.”
I felt a wave of relief at her understanding demeanor.
Aria opened the flat box on the desk, revealing an old book inside.
With a light flick of her finger, she used telekinesis to lift the book from the box. It floated toward me, its worn pages fluttering open in mid-air. The parchment was adorned with grotesque illustrations of creatures and inscriptions in an unintelligible language.
“What is this?”
“An ancient text regarding the history of demons.”
An ancient book about demons? I never saw anything like this in the game.
The pages flipped under her control. One illustration depicted a demon I recognized instantly. It was a clear resemblance to The Floating Island.
“Do you know what kind of creatures are officially classified as demons?”
I only understood them as "demons" because that was the term used by the game system and the NPCs.
Of course, there was an academic definition.
“Demonic creatures capable of wielding the dark element. A higher class of Monsters.”
Monsters, lacking a magic circuit, could not use magic; they were little more than beasts that preyed on humans.
This was different from magic beasts. Magic beasts were non-human entities capable of using magic, and with the exception of a few malicious species, they generally weren't hostile to humans.
Occasionally, a unique monster that could utilize dark magic would appear. Such creatures were classified as demons. Their danger level was on a completely different scale, and without exception, they were hostile to humanity.
“Then, are you aware that these demons can reach a realm beyond that of an archwizard?”
“Pardon?”
“No, it’s not just the demons. Whether it be demons, heavenly beings, fairies, or perhaps even humans… the closer one gets to the realm of the gods, the more they begin to share certain traits.”
“…And what are those traits?”
The last page of the ancient text flipped open.
Looking at the illustration on that page, my eyes narrowed and I instinctively frowned.
It was a demon that looked as though it were wearing a long dress at the bottom—except that "dress" was actually part of its body.
That lower half was embedded with countless eyes, looking grotesque and abhorrent.
It was an illustration of the Evil God Nephid, just as I had seen in the Trial of Frost.
“The ability to manifest transcendent power, and the presence of many eyes possessing mysterious strength.”
Aria pointed to her own eyes.
Following the mention of the Evil God, my mind flashed back to the truth I had seen in the Trial of Sandstone.
When the Evil God brought about the end, the unknown creature that emerged in South Korea also possessed many eyes.
The question was… how did Aria know this? Where did this information come from, and why was she telling me?
Magic towers were notoriously secretive with their knowledge, as information was their competitive edge. It wouldn't be strange for Aria to possess unique lore.
However, I hadn't expected it to be so closely related to the core mysteries of the demons.
“The eyes seem to be a physical trait, but what do you mean by transcendent power?”
“Literal transcendent abilities. Creating sophisticated life forms, altering the soul of a living creature, manifesting a second sun or moon, or even intervening in other worlds.”
I had already guessed as much.
I kept my expression neutral, deliberately avoiding any specific details.
After all, there was someone I held dear who fit that description.
Dorothy…
Dorothy had avoided her predetermined death and embraced a future she was never meant to have.
She had already demonstrated abilities far beyond human limits—observing and intervening in other worldlines.
It was as if she were acquiring transcendent abilities, much like my minion, the Primordial Beast of Ice, Daikan, who had shattered the boundaries between life and death.
A genius predicted to reach the realm of an archwizard within ten years—that was just a human prediction.
But Dorothy was something more.
What made her so special was likely…
The Star Fairy.
The Star Fairy, Stella.
In the events of the second semester of the second year, the 「Fairy War」, Stella never actually showed herself. No player of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ knew what she looked like.
She was merely a plot device.
She had granted Dorothy the power of starlight. That power was likely what was elevating Dorothy to higher realms.
“The information I just mentioned was gathered by sending wizards from the Hegel Magic Tower to collect data, recover ancient texts, and study legends. This has been an ongoing project since long before I became the Tower Master.”
So this is knowledge accumulated over generations?
It was strange. Why did a person with this much information have no significant role in the original game?
“So, I’m asking you.”
She crossed her arms on the desk and stared intently at me.
It was time for the real question.
“Have you, by any chance, been granted power by a being with many eyes?”
This is…
*
…What is she talking about?
“I’m asking if a transcendent being has chosen you.”
How was I supposed to know how many eyes the being that transmigrated me and gave me this "status window" had?
However, it was clear that my transmigration was linked to Higgs, the game company back in Korea.
The system window UI I saw was identical to the one in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
It was highly likely they were the ones who sent me here. Yet, their true identity remained a mystery.
“…If, as you say, I had received power from such a being, what would you do?”
“I would like to make a trade.”
Aria pointed back and forth between the two of us.
“I will provide you with the information you need and support your endeavors. In exchange, you will provide me with knowledge I cannot discover on my own. I am a wizard—a scholar in pursuit of truth, a navigator on the sea of knowledge. To someone like me, you are a blessing of wisdom bestowed by a god, a treasure more precious than any mountain of gold.”
Even if she read every book in this world, she would never find the knowledge I possessed.
For instance, how could a resident of this world ever discover that Pizza Hut’s Ribsteak Pizza was delicious?
How could they learn of the existence of the game company Higgs, or the masterpiece ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, a game considered decades ahead of its time?
Not to mention the fact that the game was literally the blueprint for this world.
We stared at each other in silence. Eventually, she closed her eyes, let out a deep sigh, and leaned back in her chair.
“My disciple has arrived.”
Professor Fernando was here.
“I need to meet with Luce Eltania as well, so we’ll have to end our conversation here. I hope you’ll consider my offer carefully. And, if you ever come to trust me, I hope you’ll share your true purpose with me.”
I nodded.
“Then… take care on your way out.”
Aria’s gaze seemed to drift toward something beyond me.
I thought to myself.
Aria Lilias. She hadn't minced words when she said, “I’m on your side,” and her intentions were transparent. [Psychological Insight] confirmed her sincerity.
It would be wise to keep an eye on her for now. She seemed worthy of being an ally.
“Yes. Thank you for everything. I look forward to seeing you again, Teacher.”
I addressed her as “Teacher” in the end.
After all, she had provided me with invaluable guidance.
I bowed and said my farewells before leaving the room.
“Humph.”
Aria smirked.
“To think I’d live to hear an Archwizard call me ‘Teacher.’”
It was an absurd enough thought to be amusing.
Following Isaac’s departure, Luce Eltania entered for her individual meeting.
Luce looked around. A neutral spell, [Sound Obstruction], was active in the office—a spell commonly used for soundproofing.
“I have an important question, so listen well.”
Aria, wearing a dead-serious expression, posed her first question.
“Did you two… do it last night?”
Aria’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Luce’s face immediately twisted into a look of pure disgust.