Chapter 221: Alice Subjugation (17)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 221: Alice Subjugation (17)
The Alice Carroll incident had taken place within the heart of the Empire.
The situation was far too grave for Märchen Academy to handle on its own. Naturally, the Empire had stepped in to take charge of the aftermath.
I could feel the palpable wariness radiating from the Imperial Knights. It was the same for the Royal Guards and the Imperial Wizards who comprised the Subjugation Force.
They were the sentinels of the Empire—resolute individuals who would draw their swords or staves against any foe without hesitation for the sake of their nation.
However...
"I am the one who brought this incident to a close," I said, my tone laced with cynicism. "If it weren't for me, the Empire would be facing catastrophic casualties and astronomical property damage right now."
In truth, I was the one who had summoned Mephisto, plunging the academy into this near-collapse. But Mephisto’s army was destined to invade sooner or later. Without the power granted to me by the system, a true catastrophe would have been unavoidable.
Furthermore, I had made the strategic choice to bring Alice Carroll into the fold during the battle against the Evil God, effectively bolstering our forces.
Playing ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ on Hell difficulty required absolute, frame-perfect control over the protagonist, Ian Fairytale. To protect Ian while confronting the Evil God and minimizing collateral damage, I needed every bit of high-tier support I could get—including the strength of the Heart Kingdom.
In other words, my actions were ultimately for the benefit of the Empire. Even if I acted high-handed now, I had nothing to lose.
"So, hand over the suspects. I will be the one to decide their fate."
My assertiveness caused Vice-Commander Magrio to scowl. "Are you serious? It will be incredibly troublesome if—"
"Magrio."
The Captain of the Subjugation Force and member of the Royal Guard, Jacule Calix, stepped forward.
The Imperial Knights and Vice-Commander Magrio immediately made way for him. Jacule stood before me, his presence commanding. Given my current standing, it was only fitting that the highest-ranking knight present intervened personally.
He was a middle-aged man with a massive, sturdy build, standing nearly 190 cm tall. Deep wrinkles were etched into his face like weathered grooves in stone. The sword at his waist marked him as a member of the Royal Guards, the elite of the Empire’s elite.
Jacule narrowed his eyes, gauging me.
*
[Jacule Calix]
Level: 178
Race: Human
Elements: Wind, Fire
Danger: Low
Psychology: [Prepared to engage you in combat.]
*
A danger level of "Low." Being rated as low despite being Level 178 meant that Jacule had no immediate intention of starting a fight. However, if pushed, he wouldn't hesitate to aim for my throat with the Imperial treasure hanging at his hip.
Whether that danger level would vanish or skyrocket depended entirely on how I handled the next few moments.
"I greet the mighty Ice Sovereign. I am Jacule Calix of the Royal Guard," he began, his voice deep and respectful, though his gaze remained sharp. "I offer my sincere gratitude for your role in resolving this incident. Should you desire a reward, the Empire will do its utmost to fulfill it. However..."
Jacule emphasized the word, his glare intensifying.
"We cannot hand over Alice Carroll. She is the key to understanding several demon-related incidents within the Empire, including this one. She possesses critical intelligence regarding the appearance of demons, their collusion, their objectives, and the truth behind these events. Her actions have violated numerous Imperial laws."
From the Empire’s perspective, letting Alice go was a tall order. I understood that much.
"If you intend to obstruct the enforcement of Imperial law... forgive me, but even if you are the Ice Sovereign, we will risk our lives to use force. Do you understand?"
Jacule’s hand hovered near the hilt of his sword.
"..."
I expanded my field of vision, looking past Jacule.
A white eagle adorned with golden ornaments was perched on a nearby rooftop, watching us. It was the familiar of Emperor Carlos.
The Emperor was likely receiving real-time reports of the situation in the Academy Square through its eyes. I had expected this. After all, a new "Elemental King" like myself had suddenly appeared on the stage.
Emperor Carlos of the Zelver Empire sought to maintain amicable relations with all Elemental Kings because of their overwhelming power. However, his deference was rooted in his desire for order and peace. If an Elemental King blatantly disregarded Imperial law and acted like a loose cannon, he would go to any lengths to suppress them.
Emperor Carlos possessed the cold, decisive judgment befitting a ruler.
Everything I had done so far was fundamentally aimed at stopping the Evil God. The site of the Evil God’s resurrection was here, at Märchen Academy, on Imperial soil. The key players for that subjugation were also gathered here.
If I, bearing the mantle of Düpfendorf, were to antagonize the Imperial Knights and sour relations with the Empire by shedding blood here... it would become nearly impossible for me to remain at the academy. I would lose the Empire’s cooperation for the final battle.
That would be a massive blow to my ultimate goal.
In that case...
I needed to navigate this peacefully while bringing the Emperor—or at least a high-ranking proxy—to the negotiating table. Neither of us stood to gain anything from a bloodbath.
"Isaac."
As I was weighing my options, Alice’s voice drifted from behind me. Jacule’s gaze immediately shifted toward her.
I turned around.
"Make way."
The ranks of Düpfendorf’s elite soldiers split instantly.
I walked forward until I was face-to-face with Alice. She was clutching the collar of the disguise cloak I had given her, her knuckles white. I looked into her pale pink eyes, trying to read her thoughts.
In a small, calm voice meant only for me, she spoke.
I had expected those words. I had expected that unnecessarily self-sacrificing smile, too. She had clearly been weighing the pros and cons in her head.
If the Empire captured Alice, she would face torture, inhumane treatment, and inevitable execution. The same went for her Paladins. Given their situation, they should have been fighting tooth and nail for survival, not accepting their fate so meekly.
"And, there is something I must—"
"Hey, Alice."
I had no intention of letting her throw her life away.
"Do you remember what I told you? You are to live by my side in atonement."
Alice’s expression stiffened. She gave a slow nod.
"Then stay put. I’m not giving up on you."
I spoke coldly, making sure the weight of my words sank in. Alice lowered her head, appearing lost in thought. I sighed, reached out to pat her shoulder, and prepared to face Jacule Calix once more.
But then, Alice reached up, grabbed my hand from her shoulder, and pressed it against her neck.
"...?"
I felt the chill of her skin. She gently rubbed my hand against her neck, as if wanting me to feel the pulse there. When she looked up, her gentle smile had returned, but her eyes were filled with a new, firm resolve.
"Master."
In that instant, the same sensation I felt when contracting the Düpfendorf army surged through me with vivid intensity. My eyes widened in surprise, but I quickly regained my composure as I realized what she was doing.
"I surrender myself to you. Take me."
Her soft voice resonated in my ears.
I recalled our conversation in the Abyss. I had told her my goal was to defeat the Evil God and that if she wanted redemption, she should devote her life to that cause.
I surrender myself to you.
She was offering herself as the weapon I needed to defeat the Evil God.
I stared into her eyes, seeing my own calm reflection. "...Are you sure about this?"
"If you won't give up on me, then this is the best way for me to atone. Besides... it looks like I lost our bet."
I took a moment to organize my thoughts. It was a bold move.
Then, Alice spoke again. "Will you promise me? That you'll stay by my side from now on?"
I nodded. "...I promise."
Alice smiled softly, her fingers lingering on my hand against her neck. Our intentions were perfectly aligned.
Whoooooosh—!
A pale blue light erupted from my palm, swirling around Alice’s neck before settling into a glowing stigma. The mark pulsed with the distinct hue of my mana. It was the brand of ownership—the proof that Alice Carroll now belonged to me.
This was the moment our contract was sealed.
"...!!"
Shock rippled through the square. Dorothy, Luce, Kaya, and the Paladins all looked on in disbelief.
Under normal circumstances, a human could not become another's familiar or minion. It wasn't just a matter of ethics; human mana circuits weren't configured to support such contracts. It was fundamentally impossible.
But Alice was an anomaly.
Mephisto the Contractor had already modified Alice’s mana source to allow her to serve as his minion. That was why she bore Mephisto’s stigma until the events of 「Act 9: Alice Subjugation」. Because her mana source was still in that altered state, the servant contract with me was actually viable.
We had aligned our wills and established a master-servant bond.
Alice was now my ally and my minion. She belonged to me and was bound to obey my every command. Furthermore, this meant Alice was now an affiliate of Düpfendorf, effectively turning the Heart Kingdom into a vassal state under my control.
I stepped back from Alice and turned to face the crowd.
Facing the Imperial Knights and the Subjugation Force, I gestured toward the glowing stigma on Alice’s neck.
"Listen!" I shouted, my voice echoing across the square.
It was an official declaration.
"Alice Carroll is now my minion! Therefore, her familiars and all who serve under her belong to me!"
The Queen of Hearts, Alice.
The Phantom Cat, Cheshire.
The Nightmare Dragon, Jabberwock.
The Tiger Dragon, Bandersnatch.
The Paladins.
The Jubjub bird.
The foot soldiers.
Every ounce of the Heart Kingdom’s military might was now mine.
Vice-Commander Magrio Halpent trembled, his fists clenched so hard they shook. His face was a mask of bewilderment, fury, and fear. It was a natural reaction; no one in history had ever witnessed a human form a minion contract with another human.
However, the legitimacy of the act was shielded by my identity as the "Ice Sovereign." Archwizards were known for performing feats that defied logic. Why should an Ice Archwizard be any different?
Jacule Calix narrowed his eyes, his glare burning with resentment.
I walked forward, stopping directly in front of him and the vanguard of the Imperial Knights. I met his gaze head-on and spoke with sharp authority.
"Therefore, their punishment and treatment will be decided by me. Any action taken against them will be considered a direct challenge to Düpfendorf and myself."
I would protect the people while opposing the Evil God. No matter how reckless, arrogant, or impossible it seemed, I would see it through. And that path now included Alice.
Jacule ground his teeth, his jaw tight. "...Please, reconsider," he said, his voice trembling slightly.
"By taking Alice Carroll under Düpfendorf’s protection, you are assuming full responsibility for this incident. I repeat, she is suspected of colluding with demons. Every demonic incursion in this land may be linked to her. Are you truly prepared to shoulder that weight?"
I saw through his tactic. Since the situation had moved beyond his authority to decide, he was trying to intimidate me with the weight of the liability. But the opinion of a man who couldn't make the final call didn't interest me.
"Take responsibility...? And who exactly are you to hold me accountable?"
Know your place.
The only person I had business with was Emperor Carlos. Since this had escalated into a diplomatic crisis, Jacule, as a Royal Guard, had no choice but to wait for his master's command.
Jacule scowled.
Then, it happened.
The white eagle with golden ornaments descended into the square. Emperor Carlos’s familiar had seen enough. The Emperor had decided it was time to intervene.
The Subjugation Force and the Imperial Knights, Jacule included, reflexively snapped into a salute. The eagle landed on Jacule’s shoulder and whispered a message in a low tone before taking flight once more.
Jacule bowed his head to me.
"His Highness, the Emperor, has declared that he will arrive here within three days. He wishes to meet with the Ice Sovereign personally."
Traveling from the Imperial Capital, Viyans, in just three days was a feat bordering on the impossible. Unless he was riding a high-speed magic beast, the Emperor must have already been en route in a grand carriage. He had likely been planning to visit Märchen Academy for some time.
"The individuals involved in the Alice Carroll incident will be left in your custody for now."
"Is that an Imperial Order?"
"Yes. His Highness commands that we do not lay a finger on the Ice Sovereign’s people. The specifics will be negotiated directly between His Highness and yourself."
It seemed Emperor Carlos had realized there was no profit in antagonizing me further. Alice was a criminal, but I was the hero who had saved his people. Since we were now allied, he wanted to understand my true intentions before making a move.
"Our apologies. Please forgive our earlier rudeness."
At Jacule’s word, the entire Subjugation Force and the Imperial Knights bowed their heads in unison. They had clearly received a stern reprimand from their sovereign.
I watched them coldly for a moment, then turned away.
I walked leisurely back through the path cleared by the soldiers of Düpfendorf, their armor gleaming in the fading light.