Chapter 227: Change (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227: Change (1)
They say reality is often stranger than fiction.
Since returning to Märchen Academy, Eve Ropenheim had been confronted with a reality that defied belief.
Eve, a student with silver-blue hair tied in a side ponytail, was currently lurking around the second-year floor of Orphin Hall. Specifically, she was outside Class B.
She poked her head around the corner of the entrance, barely visible to those inside. Students passing through the hallway glanced at her with curious expressions, but she ignored them.
Eve was secretly watching her younger brother, Isaac. Aside from one blonde male student who sat apart, the rest of Class B was gathered around Isaac, chatting excitedly.
Isaac is so popular…
She caught glimpses of his profile as he turned to speak with his classmates. He wore an easy, amiable smile.
Eve felt an overwhelming urge to run into the room and hug him right then and there. Suddenly, she made eye contact with a female student standing near him. Startled, she jerked her head back and leaned flat against the wall, heart racing.
Through the hallway window, she saw lush green trees, a clear sky, and birds soaring through the air.
"Phew..."
Eve rounded the corner and slumped against the wall. Letting out a hollow sigh, she squatted down and hugged her knees, staring blankly at the pristine floor.
Isaac.
He was her beloved family—the brother she thought she needed to protect because he was weak and lacked talent.
But love didn't put bread on the table. What they had needed back then was money to escape the crushing weight of poverty.
It was during those desperate times that Baron Adrian Ropenheim recognized Eve’s magical talent and decided to adopt her. Even though he had abandoned her once, she was his biological daughter, and he had been keeping tabs on her.
Eve believed that if she succeeded, she could provide for her family. She accepted the Baron’s proposition: adoption in exchange for financial support for her mother and brother.
However, the Baron had one condition. He ordered her to sever all ties with her original family, deeming them "useless baggage."
Her mother, understanding the stakes, had let her go.
Eve had been forced to say cruel, heartless words to Isaac as she left—even as he cried and begged her not to go.
At the time, the Baron’s servants had been watching from the shadows to ensure she followed his instructions to the letter. Even now, a small spider was hidden within Eve’s clothes. Though it was tiny and incapable of speech, it was a magic beast bound by a contract to Baron Ropenheim.
Its sole purpose was to monitor Eve’s every move and report any breach of their agreement when she returned to the mansion during holidays.
He must resent me so much…
Naturally, Isaac hated her. The thought left her depressed, but she had endured it by clinging to the image of a happy future.
She told herself that once she graduated from Märchen Academy—a feat that would guarantee her a successful life—she would sever ties with the Baron and return to Isaac. She would take responsibility for him and care for him. When that day came, she would beg for his forgiveness and shower him with all the love she had suppressed.
However, during the years they were apart, Isaac had enrolled in Märchen Academy on his own and displayed magical prowess she could never have imagined.
And then, there was their last encounter.
He was so cold back then.
It happened during last year’s joint practical evaluation.
Eve had managed to gain a few hours of freedom from the spider’s surveillance, as the exam rules prohibited familiars. She had tried to protect Isaac in her own awkward way, but the distance between them was palpable.
—Isaac! Since Mom passed away… what happened over the last two years?
—Nothing.
Since that day, all Eve could do was watch him from afar. Eventually, she even gave that up. She was certain Isaac hated her, and she felt it was shameless of her to even try to approach him.
But then, the truth came out.
Why is my brother an Elemental King?
As it turned out, the "talentless and powerless" Isaac she remembered from their childhood…
Was actually the Nameless Hero who had single-handedly defeated the catastrophic Floating Island demon that had plagued humanity for a millennium.
He was the youngest archwizard in human history.
Now, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the strongest beings in existence as the Elemental King of Ice.
The sheer scale of the gap between their worlds gave her chills.
Is that person really my Isaac?
She had wondered if he was an impostor, but she couldn't deny the truth. The handsome underclassman with silver-blue hair was undeniably her younger brother.
The only logical explanation was that Isaac had been hiding his true identity from his family all along.
Isaac was no longer someone who needed her protection. In fact, he was surrounded by successful, talented women, making any worries about his future or marriage prospects utterly pointless.
To Isaac, Eve was likely nothing more than a traitor he resented.
If she tried to explain herself now—saying she joined the Ropenheim family just to provide for him—it would sound like a pathetic, insincere excuse. It was her fault for choosing the Baron over her brother. She would just look like a desperate woman trying to cling to his newfound fame.
Just like during the practical evaluation, she lacked the courage to face his cold gaze. It would be an unbearable pain.
Maybe it’s best if I just disappear…
She couldn't fathom why Isaac had kept his identity a secret for so long. But given that he possessed the terrifying power of an archwizard, he must have had his reasons.
Eve felt like a curse on his life. Her disappearance now seemed like the kindest thing she could do for him.
Two students walking down the hall startled when they saw her huddled on the floor. At the sound, Eve quickly stood up and hurried toward the third-year floor.
What should I do…
She was at a total loss. As she walked, her eyes began to sting with tears.
What am I supposed to do…?
The more she loved Isaac and dreamed of a future with him, the more hopeless her reality became.
*
I had planned to meet with Saintess Bianca Anturaze the day after class. Bianca had mentioned she was attending an all-night vigil tonight.
She had insisted it didn't matter and that she wanted to see me even at dawn, but since our business required a long conversation, I suggested we meet properly after class the next day.
I didn't want it to mess up my condition.
Given my current lifestyle, I prioritized my sleep schedule above almost everything else. Bianca had reluctantly agreed.
Now, there was something else I needed to handle.
I headed to the outdoor dueling grounds, picking a spot closer to the main academy grounds than where I had fought Mei, the Priestess of the Red Lotus.
I set up a folding chair and sat down to watch the sunset. Normally, I would have conjured a chair with elemental magic, but since I was completely out of mana, I had to settle for the manual version.
Standing beside me was the Ice Knight, Morcan—the only minion I had intentionally left stationed at the academy.
"Isaac!"
"Oh, you're here."
A pair of students approached the dueling ground.
The girl waving energetically was Amy Holloway. Her companion was our protagonist, Ian Fairytale.
Unlike Amy, who had been her usual bubbly self in the classroom, Ian looked incredibly stiff and nervous. As soon as he stood before me, he snapped into a perfect 90-degree bow.
"It is an honor to meet the esteemed Ice Sovereign…!"
"Isaac doesn't like that!" Amy chirped, slapping Ian on the back.
"Huh?" Ian straightened up, looking confused.
"So, Isaac, why did you call Ian out here?" Amy asked.
"I have some business with him. I need to borrow your boyfriend for a bit."
"Uh…? Huh…?" Amy’s smile froze. Her eyes began to tremble uncontrollably.
What kind of weird misunderstanding is she having now?
I stood up from my chair. Ian looked around, seemingly grasping my intentions immediately. I adjusted my glasses and offered a small smile.
"Ian, don't you want to improve your combat skills quickly?"
Ian’s expression turned serious. Seeing this, Amy finally relaxed.
I had already revealed my identity as the Nameless Hero, and the original storyline was already a mess. At this point, it was better for me to take charge of Ian’s training personally.
Ian’s biggest weakness is his reflexes. Let’s start by fixing that.
"Are you… are you really willing to help me?" Ian asked.
"Yeah. But we’re classmates, so drop the formalities."
"Got it… But why? Why do you want to help me?"
Well, the stronger you get, the easier my life becomes.
"Ian, why do you think you’re the only one who can manifest the power of light, unlike the Saintess?"
"I… I don't really know. Why am I the only one?"
"Because you’re special."
"…?"
"There will be things that only you can do. I believe your power will be the key to protecting people in the future. That’s why."
Ian didn't fully grasp the weight of my words, but he wore a look of grim determination nonetheless.
"Something only I can do…" He muttered, staring down at his palm. He looked deep in thought—a classic protagonist pose.
Being the Ice Sovereign was incredibly convenient. People tended to assume everything I said had some profound, hidden meaning. Even a vague line like "protecting people in the future" sounded noble and weighty coming from me. That was clearly how Ian and Amy were taking it.
…Well, it’s not a lie. Since the end goal is to take down the Evil God, it is technically a noble purpose.
Anyway.
I pointed toward the Ice Knight, Morcan. Ian and Amy both turned to look at the towering suit of armor.
"Try sparring with my minion. Every single day."
"…!" Ian’s eyes widened.
"In time, I’ll let you spar with my other minions as well."
This would ensure his reflexes improved, whether he liked it or not. I just needed to let my minions handle the heavy lifting while I focused on my own physical conditioning.
The Heavenly Beings possessed absurd levels of elemental resistance due to certain gimmicks. To counter them, I needed high physical stats. That was why I had been grinding my physical training so hard. Now that my mana was depleted, focusing on my body was the most efficient use of my time.
But since today is the first day, I’ll stick around and watch.
"Are you really… okay with this?" Ian asked, his voice shaking with excitement. His blood was clearly pumping at the prospect of training against the Ice Sovereign’s personal summon.
When I gave him a leisurely nod, Ian flashed a bright smile at Amy before turning back to me with a roar of enthusiasm.
"I’m grateful! Come at me!"
Like a true hero, Ian clenched his fists with fiery resolve. Seeing that look on his face, I felt a sense of reassurance.
"Morcan, go easy on him."
[Understood, Master.]
Five minutes later, Ian was unconscious on the ground.
I rested my forehead in my hand.