Chapter 220: Alice Subjugation (16)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 220: Alice Subjugation (16)
I realized then that people were afraid of me. Even I had to admit I’d gone too far.
However, I had succeeded in saving Alice. The disappearance of the stigma of restraint from her neck was proof enough. Furthermore, I had mastered 7-star magic in anticipation of facing the Abyss, and I had successfully struck it down.
All that remained was to resolve the situation with the Empire.
That was one of the reasons I hadn't hesitated to summon Düpfendorf’s army. I wanted to prevent a single casualty and solidify my status as the "Ice Sovereign." I believed my very existence would serve as a powerful bargaining chip.
As expected, I had become a figure of absolute terror.
I composed myself. Even though the current situation made me angry beyond rational thought, there had to be a valid reason for how things had turned out. I tried to suppress my rage as much as possible before speaking.
However, it seemed my voice still sounded quite threatening to those listening.
“Isaac…”
Suddenly, someone embraced me tightly from behind.
Düpfendorf’s army knew whose side I was on. In other words, they let her through because she wasn't someone they needed to stop.
“Isaac… Isaac…”
I turned my head to look at her. Rose-gold hair. It was Luce.
“Luce, what are you doing…?”
“I really hate you…”
Luce buried her face in my shoulder, her grip tightening as she repeated how much she hated me.
It was then that a new voice joined the fray.
“Everyone, please calm down.”
It was a gentle, soothing voice. A girl led a group of escorts into the Academy Square.
She wore a veil over her head and a pure white saint’s robe that wrapped tightly around her body. It was the Helize Church’s Saintess and a first-year student at Märchen Academy, Bianca Anturaze.
The Imperial Knights, Slayers, and faculty members all bowed their heads in respect to the Saintess.
Bianca stood a short distance from me, her hands clasped in prayer, and offered a sweet smile. Being blind, her eyes remained closed.
*
[Bianca Anturaze]
Lv: 70
Race: Human
Elements: Light
Danger: X
Psychology: [Harbors favor towards you.]
*
“The divine guidance that led you here must be the will of the Lord, Manhalla.”
The Saintess, Bianca, unexpectedly invoked the name of the Lord while defending me.
“Greetings, Nameless Hero and the new Ice Sovereign. I am Bianca Anturaze. As the Saintess of the Helize Church and a proxy of the Lord, I welcome you.”
With the authority of the Holy Kingdom of Bardio and the Lord, Manhalla, backing her, Saintess Bianca had preemptively accepted my presence.
How should I react?
It was an unexpected turn of events, so I simply observed her in silence.
Gradually, the tension in the square eased considerably. Perhaps it was because of Luce and Bianca’s intervention.
The Lightning Sovereign, Jaul Dragoniac, closed his eyes and withdrew his magic circle.
“I have no intention of fighting you.”
I turned toward Jaul. It seemed he had decided there was no further need for hostility now that the reason for the four Elemental Kings' intrusion had been resolved.
The Imperial Knights sheathed their weapons, though the Slayers continued to watch the situation with cautious eyes.
“I agree.”
The elderly Fire Sovereign, Andersen, also dispelled his magic circle, stroking his beard as he spoke.
“There’s no need for unnecessary bloodshed here. Dorothy Heartnova’s rampage and the demon in the night sky have both been handled by you.”
*
[Andersen Versando]
Lv: 200
Race: Human
Elements: Fire, Wind
Danger: ???
Psychology: [???]
*
Dorothy went on a rampage?
Looking around, it was clear that something beyond Dorothy’s control had occurred; she looked utterly spent.
…Let’s prioritize the immediate situation. Now that Dorothy has calmed down, I’ll find out why she rampaged later.
“The excitement has died down. It was quite intense for a while, wasn’t it?”
The Water Sovereign, an elegantly dressed woman, also deactivated her magic circle.
*
[Siren Silivian]
Lv: 199
Race: Human
Elements: Water, Ice
Danger: ???
Psychology: [???]
*
“…”
The Wind Sovereign, who looked like a young girl, silently retracted her magic circle and her wind bow.
*
[Erin Campbell]
Lv: 198
Race: Human
Element: Wind
Danger: ???
Psychology: [???]
*
Except for the Fire Sovereign, the Elemental Kings had each embraced the power of [Eternal Youth]. It was said that upon reaching the level of an Archwizard, one typically gained the opportunity to acquire this power.
The elderly Fire Sovereign had chosen to forgo [Eternal Youth] of his own volition.
The true ages of the other Kings couldn't be determined by their appearances alone. Even in the ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ guidebook, the ages of the Elemental Kings were never disclosed.
Incidentally, a very small number of people who weren't Archwizards sometimes fortuitously obtained the power of [Eternal Youth]. Headmistress Elena was one such person.
“It’s also not quite right to cause a scene in someone else’s land. I guess I’ll have to settle for the fact that the new Ice Sovereign is cute, and I got a pretty good look at him.”
The Water Sovereign, Siren, giggled. She turned her back to me and waved. A sly grin crossed her face.
“I’ll see you again, Ice Sovereign.”
Puuuuuu!
Siren transformed into swirling water, vanishing in a beautiful spray of mana.
This was the realm of an Archwizard—the ability to transform one's very body into an elemental form while remaining human.
Suddenly, the Wind Sovereign, Erin, approached me. She wore an eyepatch over her right eye and maintained a completely expressionless face.
I lowered my head to look into Erin’s left eye. Her eye, swirling with wind mana, looked mystical.
“New Ice Sovereign.”
“…”
“Arrogant.”
“…?”
Whoooosh!
Erin pouted her lips, leaving those parting words before turning into a green whirlwind and departing the Academy Square.
What was that all about?
“It seems we are out of place… Ice Sovereign, I shall formally greet you another time. Let us meet again soon.”
Crackling!
The Fire Sovereign, Andersen, became enveloped in blazing flames, transforming into a fireball that shot into the sky.
Finally, the Lightning Sovereign, Jaul, approached me. We stood close, facing each other.
“It’s been a while.”
“Yeah… remember you didn't pay me?”
“Pay? Hmm.”
Last summer break, I had been involved with Jaul over a part-time job. He had dashed off without paying.
Jaul pondered for a moment before finally responding.
“…I’m afraid I forgot.”
This guy’s brazenness was truly something else.
As I narrowed my eyes, Jaul gently placed a finger on my forehead. There was no sign of an attack or illusion magic.
“I have a message for you.”
At that moment, Jaul’s message flowed directly into my mind. It was brief. Jaul quickly lowered his hand.
Luce, who was still hugging me from behind, sensed Jaul’s mana and glared at him coldly, warning him not to mess with me. However, the message Jaul conveyed wasn't something that would anger her.
Council of Kings?
[I invite you to the Council of Kings. Seek out Aichel Whiteclark of the Whiteclark Duchy. She is the moderator of the Council of Kings.]
That was the message.
“That is all you need to know.”
Jaul turned away. His body transformed into purple mana and, like a bolt of lightning, he crossed the sea and left the island.
A trail of lightning remained like an afterimage where he had passed. Luce and I watched as he disappeared into the horizon.
…Were they conspiring among themselves? If this fact became known, it would undoubtedly turn the world upside down.
Informing me and inviting me to such an event meant they accepted me without question as the Ice Sovereign. It seemed I would merely make an appearance here, while the real discussion would take place during the Council of Kings.
“…Ah.”
A sudden thought flashed through my mind. I hadn't considered it before, but could I recruit the Elemental Kings as members of the Evil God Slayers?
Their psyches were unreadable, and they were all eccentric characters who couldn't be trusted easily. However, if they could become a part of the Evil God Slayers, it would certainly be a massive advantage.
…I’ll have to consider this carefully.
Ignoring Luce, who was clinging to me like a tortoise shell, I turned around.
I looked at the commanding forces of Düpfendorf bowing to me, as well as Dorothy, Kaya, Alice, and the Thunderbird, Galia. I smiled awkwardly, trying to reassure them.
The reason things had escalated this far was largely because I had been devoured by the Abyss. There had been no guarantee I could defeat it, so it was an all-or-nothing gamble. Fortunately, my firepower exceeded expectations.
Even so… the fact that I hadn't properly communicated with Dorothy or Kaya and let the situation spiral was entirely my fault. There surely could have been a better way.
I should apologize properly. To Dorothy and Kaya. And to Luce, who worried about me just as much.
“Sir Isaaaaac…!”
Seeing my smile, Kaya, wrapped in wind magic, flew over and clung to me tightly. Floating in the air, she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and rubbed her cheek against mine. Her skin was smooth and soft. She continued to sob “Sir Isaac,” looking adorably relieved.
Dorothy staggered over and leaned into my embrace.
“Presideeent… I’m exhausted…” she said in a languid voice. She looked every bit as drained as she sounded.
Like someone with a high fever, Dorothy felt very hot. When I asked her what happened, she said she didn't know. I was surprised to find her condition was actually an improvement compared to moments ago.
“I’m sorry, President. I caused trouble…”
“I’m sorry, too. I was late.”
My emotions subsided, and my voice turned subdued. A sense of guilt pricked at my heart.
Although I was depleted of mana, I could still conjure a light chill in my hand. I placed my cold palm on Dorothy’s forehead to cool her down. Dorothy closed her eyes and rested against my hand.
With Luce, Kaya, and Dorothy all clinging to me, Alice watched us silently with a smile full of emotion.
However, that smile didn't last long.
“Alice Carroll.”
Led by Vice-Commander Magrio, the Imperial Knights approached Alice, but Düpfendorf’s forces blocked their path. Magrio frowned.
“Hold on,” I said, carefully separating myself from Luce, Kaya, and Dorothy to intervene.
Standing in front of my forces, I faced Vice-Commander Magrio. The atmosphere turned tense once again.
The Imperial Knights placed one hand over their hearts and the other behind their backs, saluting me with formal knightly decorum.
“I formally greet you, new Ice Sovereign. I am Vice-Commander Magrio Halpent of Fenrir, the Fourth Order of Knights.”
Although I should have used formal language as a student of Märchen Academy, I knew their intentions. I decided to interact with them using my newly acquired status.
As the Nameless Hero and the Ice Sovereign.
“The incident involving Alice Carroll occurred within the borders of the Zelver Empire. Given the gravity of the situation, the Empire cannot simply overlook this matter.”
“I see.”
“Thus, we request that you hand her over.”
I frowned, glaring at Magrio.
Alice Carroll’s case against the Empire. This was the next challenge I had to face.