Chapter 223: Alice Subjugation — Interlude (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 223: Alice Subjugation — Interlude (2)
The majestic Imperial carriage rolled through the gates of Märchen Academy.
Faculty members and Imperial Knights stood in formation, ready to welcome its arrival. As the escort soldiers fanned out around the vehicle, an elderly man dressed in opulent robes stepped out. It was none other than Emperor Carlos.
The crowd gathered before the carriage bowed their heads in unison, paying homage to their sovereign.
Guided by Headmistress Elena Woodline and the Imperial Knights, Emperor Carlos proceeded toward the multi-purpose building, Marzio Hall. He was flanked by his personal guard, Jacule Calix, three elite Imperial Knights, and an Imperial Wizard who had accompanied the carriage.
They entered the conference room of Marzio Hall—a space that was as vast and luxurious as it was pristine. A long, heavy table dominated the center of the room.
At the far end, opposite the entrance, a bespectacled boy in a school uniform and a formidable knight of ice stood waiting to greet the Emperor.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Highness. I am Isaac.”
“Greetings, new Ice Sovereign.”
A heavy, suffocating tension filled the air.
As a student of Märchen Academy and a citizen of the Zelver Empire, Isaac was technically expected to bow deeply. However, given his status as the Ice Sovereign, he merely offered a slight, respectful nod.
Isaac was accompanied by a single Ice Knight, a titan clad in platinum armor standing over three meters tall. Wisps of pale blue frost seeped through the joints of his plate. This was Morcan, the Captain of Düpfendorf’s Knights.
Everyone in the room immediately felt the crushing weight of the Ice Knight’s presence.
“P-please, have a seat, Your Highness…!”
Headmistress Elena’s voice trembled with visible nerves.
Emperor Carlos took his seat opposite Isaac. Jacule Calix took his post directly behind the Emperor, his hand never far from his blade. The Imperial Knights, the Imperial Wizard, and Headmistress Elena remained near the entrance.
This discussion would determine the future of the academy. Consequently, Elena had been permitted to stay only after extensive prior consultation.
“First, allow me to congratulate you on becoming the new Elemental King of Ice.”
“Thank you.”
“I am told you are a second-year student here. Is it true that you are only eighteen years old?”
“That is correct.”
Isaac offered a polite, gentle smile.
Emperor Carlos was struck by the boy’s appearance. It was hard to reconcile this youth with the reputation of the Nameless Hero and a new Elemental King. He exuded an air of innocence that suited his age. Considering that the world’s most powerful individuals were often eccentric or weathered, Isaac’s first impression didn't quite match his legendary strength.
Furthermore, the investigation into Isaac’s past had yielded nothing extraordinary.
He hailed from the Barony of Ropenheim and had lived a life of poverty. Both his parents were deceased, and his only sibling had been adopted by the Baron of Ropenheim years ago. To top it off, the boy had gained admission to Märchen Academy based on his academic scores, not his magical aptitude.
His sheer ordinariness only made him more mysterious.
Nevertheless, it was undeniable: this boy was the strongest human alive, possessing power capable of reshaping the world. Emperor Carlos felt a strange mix of cognitive dissonance and genuine awe.
“Ice Sovereign, let me state the Empire’s position clearly. Our Empire welcomes you. We wish to maintain friendly, diplomatic relations with the Ice Kingdom, Düpfendorf.”
The fact that the Emperor had come in person was a clear olive branch—a sign of his willingness to negotiate.
Isaac adjusted his glasses, maintaining his genial expression. He stood in stark contrast to the silent, intimidating Ice Knight looming behind him.
“We feel the same way.”
“I am glad to hear it. Then, let us begin the heart of our discussion.”
Emperor Carlos’s expression turned solemn.
“You are known as the Nameless Hero, the one who has resolved various demonic incidents here at Märchen Academy. It is difficult to believe someone of your caliber attends this institution solely for academics. Therefore, I must ask.”
“Please, go ahead.”
“Is there… some secret hidden within this academy? I have heard that the spell Alice Carroll attempted to cast was of a mysterious nature. I wonder if there is a connection between that and your presence here.”
Isaac had been systematically neutralizing demon threats since last year. His ability to intervene despite the increasing frequency of these attacks suggested a level of foresight that bordered on prophecy. Emperor Carlos needed to clear his doubts.
“Well, I could roughly predict when the demons would appear. It’s difficult to explain, but you can think of it as a form of foresight regarding dangerous futures.”
“…”
It was an incredible claim, but Emperor Carlos did not challenge it. Despite his youthful appearance, Isaac was the youngest Archwizard in history. Debating the mechanics of his incomprehensible abilities was a pointless endeavor.
“So, I enrolled in Märchen Academy after realizing demons would manifest here. I wanted to uncover the source. Naturally, I also discovered there was an informant within the school.”
“I see… that makes sense.”
Emperor Carlos surmised that Isaac had many reasons for keeping his identity hidden until now. However, there were still many questions. The true goal of Alice Carroll and the demons, why Isaac had claimed Alice as his minion, and how she would be treated.
But first, the Emperor wanted to understand Isaac’s motivation.
“…You have protected the citizens of the Zelver Empire at this academy. For that, we are grateful. However, I cannot help but wonder about a fundamental issue. Why did you come to the academy to deal with the demon problem personally?”
Was it a sense of sacrifice? Justice?
Or was it related to that extraordinary Light Element user, Ian Fairytale?
The fact that Ian Fairytale appeared just as the demons began to swarm… is that a coincidence?
Emperor Carlos watched Isaac closely, searching for a tell.
“Do I need a reason to protect my home?” Isaac replied calmly, his expression unreadable.
Is he evading the question?
Emperor Carlos stared at him for a moment before deciding to pivot. He judged it unwise to probe the Ice Sovereign any further for now.
“Understood. Next, I would like to discuss Alice Carroll. What exactly was she planning to do at this academy?”
“She intended to resurrect the Evil God.”
“…?”
Several people in the room gasped audibly.
“The Evil God…? Are you referring to the one spoken of in legends?” Emperor Carlos asked, his voice laced with caution.
There was only one being that carried that title: the Evil God of Destruction, the progenitor of all demons. It had been sealed away in the primordial past, and the details of who did it or where the seal lay had been lost to time. The only scraps of information came from ancient, crumbling records and traces of ancient mana.
“…”
Isaac found their shock natural. In the original story of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, players didn't even learn about the resurrection of the Evil God or the legend of the Primordial Elemental Kings until the second semester of the second year.
“Alice Carroll attempted to resurrect the Evil God prematurely. She inscribed a massive magic circle on the rooftop of Bartos Hall and possessed the catalyst necessary to trigger it.”
“‘Prematurely,’ you say…?”
“The Evil God will eventually return. I don’t know the exact date, but I will be able to sense it before it happens. The catalyst Alice held has already been destroyed, so you no longer need to worry about an early resurrection.”
“What grave treason…” Emperor Carlos murmured.
He recalled the reports from the Imperial Knights. They had mentioned that the unknown spell Alice Carroll tried to cast involved an astronomical, almost impossible amount of mana. Combined with her collusion with demons and the frequent attacks, it was easy to believe her goal was the ultimate catastrophe.
While a detailed investigation was required, the Emperor saw no reason for Isaac to lie about this. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.
“Are you saying the Evil God could resurrect here, at this academy?”
“It’s hard to say for certain. Alice was merely following orders from the demons. They might have simply wanted to turn this place into their sanctuary.”
“You’re being evasive again.”
“Personally, I hope the academy remains exactly as it is, so please do not misunderstand me. Since Alice’s capture, the demons’ movements have slowed significantly. There are no signs of activity like we saw last year. If something crucial were still hidden here, Alice’s capture wouldn’t have changed the situation so drastically.”
“Is that also something you learned through your foresight?”
Isaac nodded.
The Emperor couldn't tell if the boy was being entirely truthful. However, Isaac had spent the last year fighting demons and saving lives. Given his track record, his words carried weight.
“Then… why did you take such a treacherous individual as your minion?”
“Alice Carroll is also a victim,” Isaac answered flatly. “She was threatened and forcibly used by the demons. The terrorist acts she committed were not of her own volition.”
“…Even so, that does not change the fact that Alice Carroll attempted to inflict catastrophic harm upon the Empire. It may sound cold, but if she were truly threatened, she could have chosen to sacrifice herself rather than endanger thousands. You must remember, Isaac, that she sought to take the lives of my citizens.”
The Emperor’s tone hardened. He was implying that while there were extenuating circumstances, they did not absolve her of her crimes.
“You must be aware of this. How do you propose Alice Carroll atones for her actions?”
“I will use her as reinforcement.”
“Reinforcement?”
Isaac continued, “As I mentioned, the Evil God will resurrect one day. When that time comes, I intend to have Alice risk her life in the subjugation effort. That is the price I have set for her.”
“…That is difficult to accept. While I appreciate your sense of justice, claiming you will use her for a future battle that may or may not happen sounds like you intend to give her no punishment at all.”
Isaac’s eyebrows twitched slightly.
“Then, are you suggesting I imprison Alice Carroll in Düpfendorf until the Evil God appears?”
“She will continue to attend the academy and graduate safely.”
“New Ice Sovereign, we need to discuss this further. Specifically, the matter of Alice Carroll’s custody.” Emperor Carlos propped his chin on his hand, his voice heavy with a sigh. “Alice Carroll is a key witness with vital information regarding demon activity within our borders. The Empire cannot simply waive its right to extract that information by handing her over to you immediately.”
“…So, what are you proposing?”
“We must interrogate her regarding the incidents in our territory. We also have the right to penalize her. We will impose the minimum penalty required by Imperial law and extract the necessary intelligence before transferring her to your custody later. I will ensure Düpfendorf suffers no loss in this arrangement. If there is any, we will compensate you.”
“I have already stated that Alice Carroll is a member of Düpfendorf and my personal minion. I will not hand her over. I am asking for your cooperation in allowing her to attend this academy without interference.”
Emperor Carlos furrowed his brow and let out a sharp, incredulous snort.
“Hmm. Letting a woman guilty of such high treason attend classes as if nothing happened… Ice Sovereign, you seem to be mistaken. That is—”
Before he could finish his sentence, Isaac stood up abruptly and swung his arm in a blur.
Thud!
“…?”
A deafening silence followed the sudden impact.
Emperor Carlos looked down at the table. Embedded deep into the wood, inches from his hand, was a dagger.
Isaac had thrown it.
Jacule Calix had his sword halfway out of its scabbard, having moved to intercept the blade, but it had already found its mark. The Emperor stared at the weapon in shock, while Jacule’s face twisted with fury.
“It seems you are having difficulty grasping the situation,” Isaac said.
He had abandoned his friendly smile. He slowly removed his glasses, his gaze turning cold and lethal.
“Seeing as I have to repeat myself.”