Chapter 209: Alice Subjugation (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 209: Alice Subjugation (5)
I defeated the Spade Paladin Zenon and gained a level.
I invested all four of my newly acquired stat points into [Vs. Human Combat Power].
As a result, the total points allocated to [Vs. Human Combat Power] reached 80. While the rank remained Grade A, my level would now temporarily increase by 40 whenever I recognized a human as an enemy and engaged them in combat.
At this point, I could no longer use the buff from Zhonya’s Staff as an excuse for my strength.
As I ascended the stairs, I used [Clairvoyance] to glance outside the building. It was a scene of absolute chaos.
Fortunately, the academy’s combat forces and the Imperial Knights operated under a well-established battle system that prioritized survival. This allowed them to respond to the Paladins and Trump soldiers without suffering any casualties.
Moreover, because the Trump soldiers were reverse-summoned upon receiving fatal wounds, defeating them was relatively easier than it had been in the game. It was essentially a battle of numerical advantage.
In front of Bartos Hall, it seemed Kaya was taking more time to defeat the Tiger Dragon, Bandersnatch. However, the Trump soldiers and the Jubjub Bird had vanished, indicating she had likely finished them off.
Dorothy was still locked in combat against the Nightmare Dragon Jabberwock and the Phantom Cat Cheshire.
As expected, Luce had also intervened. Wearing the Ring of the Abyssal Queen, she was fighting against Shera Hectorica, Heart Jack, and the remaining Trump soldiers. Shera’s forces stood no chance of winning.
Before I knew it, I had reached the entrance to the rooftop of Bartos Hall. It was a simple arched doorway.
The surroundings were dark and eerily quiet.
A barrier that halted time for anything it touched had been deployed across the rooftop. This was likely why even sound was being blocked. I felt an immense pressure of mana against my skin, as if I were being flattened by a hydraulic press.
A forbidden spell that defied the laws of truth was about to be cast right before my eyes.
As I reached for the door, Alice’s voice resonated in my head.
— Isaac, would it be okay if you stayed the night with me?
As I’ve mentioned before, in ❰Magic Knights of Märchen❱, Alice was a character shrouded in mystery.
In 「Act 8, Priestess of the Red Lotus」, the only real question regarding Priestess Mei was why she had suddenly acted out. However, since she was clearly portrayed as a sociopath, the community had reached a unanimous conclusion on her motivations.
That wasn't the case for Alice.
How she knew the exact timing of the demons’ appearances, why she helped revive the Evil God, why she ultimately chose to commit suicide… none of it was known for certain. It was all a mystery.
The community forums often speculated that Alice might be a Regressor, a common trope where characters go insane after repeatedly facing despair across multiple lifetimes. This theory even provided a plausible explanation for how she knew when the demons would appear.
However, there was no point in worrying about that now.
The answer lay just beyond this door.
I pushed it open.
Creak—
A blinding radiance engulfed my vision, forcing me to squint.
Soon, the rooftop came into view, painted in hues of golden mana. A uniquely shaped golden magic circle filled the space, emanating an eerie, overwhelming power. Numerous clock-like shapes floated within a powerful barrier deployed nearby.
In the center of the rooftop stood a mysterious monolith I never wanted to see again—the [Obelisk of Eternity]. It was about two-thirds complete.
Floating in front of it was an alien pocket watch, hovering silently in the air.
An astronomical amount of mana seemed to tear through space, flowing from the pocket watch to stitch the monolith together. The mana possessed such physical force that it felt like a gentle wind, softly fluttering my hair.
“…Alice.”
The girl with light gold hair, who had been staring at the [Obelisk of Eternity], turned her head toward me.
Her expression was cold, her eyes hollow and dark as if she hadn’t slept in days.
“Hello, Baby.”
She greeted me calmly.
Despite her shadowed, weary face, her voice was the same as always—the same voice I had come to know as Alice Carroll’s.
“Did you come because you missed me?”
“I came to stop you.”
“Heh. I see you’re not planning to use honorifics anymore?”
“You’re not my senior anymore.”
Now, Alice wasn't just facing expulsion; she was facing the possibility of execution. Why would I use honorifics with someone I was actively in conflict with?
“That’s right. Indeed…”
Alice looked down with a regretful expression before meeting my eyes again.
“So… are you the Black Monster, Baby?”
I pulled a magic cloak of disguise from my pouch, briefly donned it, and then removed it. For a fleeting moment, I appeared to Alice as the Black Monster, The Nameless Hero.
Alice blinked heavily, seemingly lost in thought.
“So it was true… Aren't you going to ask why I did all this?”
“More importantly, I have something to ask. Did you manipulate the priestess?”
Alice nodded.
“Do you hate me?”
“…Alice.”
Whether or not I should resent her depended entirely on her answer. I pointed to my own neck.
“Take off the choker.”
Alice’s expression didn't change, nor did she question my intent.
If my deductions from last night were correct, that choker wasn’t just a fashion choice. It was worn to hide something. Just like the mother of Snow White, who always wore dresses that covered her neck whenever she attempted an assassination.
How could White’s mother have passed on a pocket watch containing the worst kind of demon, The Abyss? And who was the one truly unleashing The Abyss?
Click.
Alice swept up her hair and unfastened the choker.
“…You knew.”
A strange mark, glowing with dark red mana, was wrapped around her neck like a surging wave.
*
There existed a demon that embedded fragments of its power and personality into others through contracts.
This demon marked the neck of the contractor as a token of their agreement, just as it had with the mother of Princess Snow White. The demon exploited mental weaknesses to draw out the latent evil within a person. Alice had used the power implanted by this demon to amplify Priestess Mei’s malevolence.
And what about the contradiction of Alice reverse-summoning her own minions to prevent their deaths—something Isaac had never seen in the Trials of Frost or the game?
The sole difference was that Alice hadn’t committed murder since arriving at the academy.
If Alice had killed innocent people and felt extreme guilt, the demon would have exploited that vulnerability to consume her with malice. However, because she hadn't killed anyone yet, she was able to maintain her sanity.
The correct answer was often the simplest. Her knowledge of the demon’s appearance and her involvement with Leafa the Illusive were only possible because "that demon"—one capable of communicating with the Evil God—had told her.
Even Phantom Cat Cheshire’s perception of Alice’s heart had been obscured by the fragments of that demon’s power, like the moon hidden behind dark clouds.
Normally, the mana source within a human body was structured in a way that prevented them from becoming a familiar or a minion; it was as if the laws of contracts were governed by a god. Therefore, human familiars or minions could not exist.
However, there were demons born with the power to manipulate even the laws of contracts, capable of forging absolute agreements.
The final boss of the first semester of the third year in ❰Magic Knights of Märchen❱, and an agent of the Evil God.
Mephisto the Contractor.
In addition to trying to eliminate the nuisance known as Ian Fairytale, the demon had been searching for ways to summon his master, the Evil God Nephid, more quickly. Eventually, he discovered an item called the Phantasmal Clock, located in Wonderland.
He took the citizens of the Heart Kingdom hostage and forced Alice into a contract.
Alice had to complete one of two tasks: either help the demon deal with Ian Fairytale, or, if she failed, the citizens of the Heart Kingdom and her dear friends would be annihilated, leading to the total destruction of her home. It was an unfair contract—nothing short of a threat.
Alice was the hero of Wonderland and a human. To Mephisto, there was no better candidate.
However, Mephisto could not control Alice’s will directly. This was why he tried to delve into her mind to draw out her malice. To ensure she fulfilled the contract, Mephisto whispered to her in a sweet, deceptive voice:
“After all, the world where the Evil God will be resurrected is entirely separate from Wonderland. Only this world will be destroyed. If you faithfully fulfill the contract, you can return to your ordinary life.”
That was the day Alice became Mephisto’s henchman.
— On the contrary, I want to return home.
Isaac recalled Alice’s words.
Alice attempting to resurrect the Evil God to protect what she loved was no different from murdering every innocent person in this world to ensure the survival of her own. No matter how much Alice and her subordinates were forced into these heinous acts, the facts remained the same.
“You’ve taken on a lot, haven’t you?”
“I can’t tell you the details. It would be a grave problem if I did.”
If the terms of the contract with Mephisto were disclosed, there would be a terrible penalty. Knowing this, Isaac did not probe further.
Isaac swallowed hard.
If the Evil God was resurrected, it wouldn’t just be this world that was destroyed. Alice was unaware of that fact.
Could Wonderland really be an exception?
Calming his emotions, Isaac asked in a steady voice, “What will you do if, even if you succeed, the result is the same as if you had failed?”
He couldn’t be certain. Perhaps Wonderland was a blind spot that could escape the apocalypse. But Isaac couldn't shake the feeling that Wonderland would be destroyed as well.
“Baby.” Alice looked down. “If you really are the greatest Archwizard of this era, can you break this cursed contract and help me?”
“…”
The power of the demon had already taken hold. Once a contract with Mephisto was signed, Isaac could not break the bond. The only way to forcibly terminate the contract was through death.
He remained silent.
Alice looked back at him, as if she had expected nothing less.
“If that’s too difficult, then don't say such things.”
Alice had no intention of losing her resolve over a few words. She was well aware that she and Isaac stood on opposite sides. The only thing she could trust was the absolute binding power of the contract—even if it made her look like a fool or a villain.
Alice intended to resurrect the Evil God to protect what she held dear.
“…Yes.”
Boom.
Isaac gripped a dagger in one hand and slammed Zhonya’s Staff onto the ground. Ice began to spread from the tip of the staff.
Whoosh!
Cold air billowed from his body as he unfolded five magic circles. The swirling emotions inside him began to settle into cold determination.
“I have no choice but to stop you first.”
Isaac had reached his conclusion. He would stop Alice with his own hands. Because that was what he could—no, must—do now.
There was a practical side to it as well. No matter how much stronger Alice was, she was exhausted from constructing the [Obelisk of Eternity] and summoning her minions.
In ❰Magic Knights of Märchen❱, the Nightmare Dragon had assisted Alice, making the fight much harder. But now, with Dorothy handling the dragon, it was no longer a factor. Furthermore, since Alice had to fight while protecting the Phantasmal Clock, Isaac believed this was a battle he could win.
“Thank you for understanding.”
Alice smiled kindly, as if it were her last, and then her expression hardened.
Faint red mana blossomed in the air, taking the shape of a divine sword. As Alice gripped the hilt, mana surged from the blade, enveloping her body in a suit of armor.
The hero’s blade, the Vorpal Sword, which had once subdued the Nightmare Dragon Jabberwock.
Alice swung the sword, scattering beautiful, pale red mana.
“It’s been fun.”
“Likewise.”
No matter how hard one tried, there was no guarantee that life would bloom beautifully. However, that was no excuse for Alice to resurrect the Evil God and become a mass murderer.
Suddenly, a memory surfaced in Isaac’s mind: the scene of Alice’s suicide. After being defeated by Ian Fairytale and his party, she had slit her own throat with a hollow smile.
Why did Alice choose suicide after losing the battle?
Was it to atone for the innocent lives lost?
Was it out of pure despair?
Or was there a reason she felt she had no other choice?
Isaac intended to win this duel and uncover the whole truth. No one knew what end this path would bring.
Boom!
Isaac lunged toward Alice.
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 165