Chapter 228: Change (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 228: Change (2)
“Ian’s out cold again.”
From the stands, Amy Holloway casually munched on chocolate as if Ian Fairytale fainting was a scheduled daily event.
Morcan and I looked down at Ian, who was sprawled across the dueling ground, his eyes rolled back into his head.
This isn’t right…
I’d jokingly dubbed him an SSS-Class Master Fainter, but I hadn’t expected it to be this pathetic. This was reaching a whole new level.
Initially, Morcan had simply dodged or parried Ian’s strikes, but after five minutes, he’d finally moved to counterattack. It wasn’t as if he was swinging with full force; he was treating Ian like a child. Yet, the moment Morcan moved with any real speed, Ian took a single blow to the head and folded immediately.
“…”
A nagging suspicion took root in my mind.
Ian was the protagonist of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, but in the game, he only moved according to the player’s inputs. I realized then that the Ian I had envisioned was merely the version I had controlled.
But this world isn’t just a game.
I had always assumed the 'real' Ian would possess outstanding reflexes and a natural talent for combat. It was a complete misunderstanding on my part.
Is this the real Ian?
If so, what did that mean for the game’s scenario? If Ian’s skills weren’t guaranteed, the entire plot was fundamentally flawed. I had sensed it before, but now the contradiction was glaring.
Even though I had effectively usurped Ian’s role, I was the one accumulating EXP, clearing achievements, and allocating stat points to reach my potential.
It feels like I’m the one forced to follow the script.
As if I were on a predetermined track. As long as I cleared the obstacles in my path and moved forward, the world granted me rewards.
Is it some kind of cliché… like the gods are playing a game?
No… that’s ridiculous.
I shook my head, dismissing the thought.
Why would a divine being bother to transmigrate me just for their own amusement?
Unless it was the entertainment of some ultra-wealthy celestial, the idea that a god would be entertained by me following a pre-written script was a stretch. There had to be another purpose, and it undoubtedly revolved around “defeating the Evil God.”
Or perhaps…
The hypothesis that ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ was merely a “message” occurred to me. This aligned with the possibility that everything I knew about Ian’s legend could be false.
Regardless, I didn’t have the answers yet. All I knew was that the Evil God had to be defeated, and for that to happen, Ian needed to get strong—and fast.
“Wake up, Ian.”
I crouched down and lightly tapped his cheek. It took several minutes before he finally stirred.
“Gasp! W-where am I?!”
Ian’s eyes snapped open. He looked back and forth between Morcan and me, shouting in confusion.
“The dueling ground.”
“Ah… sorry. Did I pass out again…?”
“How are you feeling? Want to call it a day?”
“No, I’m fine! Let’s go again!”
At least his motivation was intact.
“Go easy on him, Morcan.”
[As you wish.]
Five minutes later, Ian was unconscious again.
*
“I knew I’d find you here!”
“Senior Dorothy?”
A lonely moon hung high in the night sky.
I had sent Morcan back once Ian finally hit his limit. I’d then retreated to a secluded corner of the Butterfly Garden for some intense bodyweight training. Currently, I was cooling down with sets of one-handed push-ups.
My glasses and shirt were neatly folded by the base of a nearby tree. I was bare-chested, enjoying the cool night breeze against my skin as I worked out.
Just as I surpassed my 200th rep, a female student wearing a signature witch’s hat approached me with a bright smile. It was Dorothy. I’d assumed no one would be out at this hour, but I was mistaken.
“What brings you here so late?”
“I was bored. I had a feeling you’d be here. Can I sit on your back?”
“I’m drenched in sweat, you know…”
My body was slick with perspiration. I probably didn’t smell great, either. It wasn’t exactly the best time for physical contact.
However, Dorothy just gave me a natural, easy smile.
“I don’t mind. I’m going to shower later anyway, and I was planning on washing these clothes today.”
“Then by all means. I could use the extra weight.”
“Nihihi, perfect timing! Heave-ho!”
Without a second thought, Dorothy hopped onto my back.
“Presideeent, aren’t I as light as a feather?”
“Please release your magic.”
“Can’t fool you, can I…?”
Dorothy had been using starlight magic to manipulate gravity, making herself weightless.
“Hey, President. I had two helpings of chicken for dinner. Can you handle it?”
“The heavier, the better.”
“Uh, that’s actually kind of embarrassing…”
Dorothy deactivated her magic, entrusting her full weight to me.
“Huh?”
Wait, what?
I staggered for a split second. She was significantly heavier than I had anticipated.
“What’s with that reaction? Are you making fun of me?” Dorothy asked, her voice tinged with mock annoyance.
Since Dorothy’s weight was supposed to be "light as a feather," I quickly fixed my expression. “I was just surprised by the sudden shift in weight. You’re still light as a feather.”
“Nihihi, look at this smooth talker. I’m in a good mood, so I’ll let it slide.”
I felt something soft and elastic press against my lower back through her skirt. It was a firm, squeezing sensation. Dorothy’s curves were more pronounced than her slender frame suggested.
I didn't let my posture falter. I continued the push-ups. It seemed she still had some lingering heat in her body from her recent condition.
“It’s damp and bouncy… what a strange sensation.” Dorothy chuckled mischievously.
Aren’t you the one who should be uncomfortable?
“You can get off now.”
“No, this is fun.”
“Well, if you say so…”
If she was enjoying herself, I wasn't going to complain.
“By the way, how are you feeling, Dorothy?”
“Better than before, but still a little dizzy.”
“Do you still have a fever?”
“It’s still high, but my base temperature has dropped a lot.”
“Then why aren’t you resting?”
“I wanted to talk to you. It’s not like it’s a cold or anything. Don’t worry! I’m much better now.”
“That’s good to hear.”
It was clear Dorothy just wanted to spend time with me. There was no point in forcing her back to the dorms. She’d been cooped up for a while, so some fresh air was probably good for her. Since her condition was stabilizing, I let it be.
After a moment, Dorothy spoke in a quiet, calm tone.
“…President.”
“Yes?”
“I heard I’m being disciplined tomorrow. Because of the incident.”
Dorothy had been accused of causing a disturbance involving the four paladins of the Heart Kingdom. While her starlight mana rampage was officially ruled an accident, her deliberate actions afterward couldn't be ignored. Even though the four paladins had essentially become my subordinates, Dorothy still had to face the disciplinary committee.
“Yeah, I heard.”
“I see.”
“Don’t worry too much. There are plenty of extenuating circumstances. I’ve heard they’re leaning toward a light punishment. It’ll likely just be a few days of confinement.”
Normally, interfering with Imperial Knights and disrupting public affairs would lead to severe punishment or being handed over to the Empire. However, Headmistress Elena had informed me that the discipline would be minimized. Dorothy’s role in the Alice incident, her cooperation with the Imperial Knights against the Abyss, and her unstable mental state at the time were all being taken into account.
The Empire was turning a blind eye. It was obvious my influence had played a significant role in that decision.
“You’ve practically become the power behind the throne, haven’t you?”
“It’s not like that… I just discussed the details of the incident with them.”
“I’m just kidding… I’m sorry for causing so much trouble.”
“It’s fine as long as you’re safe. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”
“I’m fine as long as you’re safe too, nihihi.”
The crickets chirped loudly in the silence that followed. It was time to bring up the real issue.
“Dorothy, what do you think about what happened back then?”
“I’m not sure.”
Dorothy understood exactly what I was asking and answered concisely. Before her mana had gone out of control, she’d experienced a hallucination—as if someone were grabbing her hand and dragging her away. There was clearly a secret hidden within the power granted to her by Stella, the Star Fairy.
“I’ve been thinking about the past, back to the day I first met Stella. She grabbed my hand and pulled me out of the Land of Oz. It felt just like that. But everything settled down the moment you came back…”
Dorothy paused.
“The thing inside your body. When that presence was there, the hallucinations and the rampage both stopped.”
I froze mid-push-up.
Dorothy had mentioned before that an unknown entity resided within me. She couldn't see its exact form, but she described it as having countless eyes and an immense amount of mana.
Suddenly, I recalled the words of Aria Lilias, the Tower Master of Hegel. She had said that all beings close to a transcendental state possessed many eyes. I didn't trust her blindly, but the coincidence was hard to ignore.
Is it the system?
Dorothy said she had seen the entity from the very first time we met. That was what had sparked her interest in me.
Could the entity giving me power be the game system itself?
I don’t know.
Nothing was certain yet. I could only hope the answers lay at the end of this journey.
“Thanks for telling me. I’ll keep it in mind.”
I resumed my push-ups.
“You’re really focused on strength training today.”
“My mana is depleted, so it’s all I can do.”
“Mind if I interrupt?”
“Please don't.”
“Nihihi, I’ll let you off just this once.”
Dorothy chuckled softly and fell silent. I stole a glance at her. She was perched on my back, gazing intently at the moon.
Is she lost in thought?
I turned my gaze back to the ground. Soon, Dorothy spoke again.
“There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“What is it?”
“I’ve known for a long time that you weren’t actually the President of my fan club.”
“…”
I wondered when she’d figure it out. Honestly, it made no sense that she hadn't realized it sooner. She must have been playing along this whole time.
But why bring it up now?
“You shouldn't lie like that, even if you are a big fan. Fraud is a serious crime, you know?”
Dorothy leaned forward over my shoulder, her voice playful and dangerously close to my ear.
“…I’m sorry for deceiving you.”
“If you’re really sorry, can I ask for a favor~?”
Here it comes.
“As long as it doesn’t interfere with my training, I’ll do it.”
I was willing to agree to almost anything. Not just for Dorothy, but for Luce and Kaya as well… I had put them through so much emotional turmoil that I felt I owed them. If I could fulfill a favor and clear the air between us, maybe things could finally go back to normal.
I waited for her request.
“Let me stay in your room tonight.”
“Heok…!”
Thud.
My arms gave out, and I crashed to the ground. All my strength had vanished in an instant.
This was way beyond my expectations.
[Are you planning to leave already, Alice?]
Inside the Heart Kingdom, in Alice’s private chambers.
The Phantom Cat Cheshire, whose head floated in the air while its body remained transparent, questioned her.
Alice Carroll smoothed her hair and nodded.
“Yes. I promised to return as soon as possible. I have important duties now, and Mephisto has yet to be subdued.”
The Heart Kingdom was currently in emergency mode, preparing for Alice’s absence. She had only returned to explain the situation and reassure her people.
It was time to go.
“Get ready, Cheshire.”
[Meow! I am ready whenever you are.]
Alice and Cheshire set off, heading back toward Märchen Academy.