Chapter 230: Change (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 230: Change (4)
Confined to her dorm and burning with fever, Dorothy’s thoughts were consumed by Isaac.
It had finally dawned on her just how precious he had become—more important to her than anything else in the world. The mere thought of losing him to the gluttonous Abyss for days on end had plunged her into a hellish spiral of anxiety.
Dorothy had once been ready to embrace death, but it was Isaac who had ripped her from its grasp and granted her a new future. He had become her driving force, the very meaning behind her continued existence.
This realization had led her to impulsively attempt to seduce him… but in the end, he had pushed her away.
When Dorothy regained her senses, she felt a wave of relief, yet a lingering disappointment was inevitable. However, she soon found comfort in the realization that Isaac, too, had been forcibly suppressing his own desire to pounce on her.
It seemed everything would have to wait until after the Evil God was defeated. Reassured by that thought, Dorothy had basked in Isaac’s tender care before falling into a peaceful sleep.
But then…
“Good morning, Dorothy.”
From the shadows, her familiar, Ella, sent a mental alarm, alerting Dorothy to Alice’s presence. Because of that, Dorothy woke up just in time to catch Alice attempting to seduce Isaac.
— I’m curious, what would you do if Baby became mine?
— So, I’m wondering. If you, who openly dislikes me, were to find that my baby truly likes me… I wonder how you’d react.
Remembering Alice’s taunts made Dorothy feel physically nauseous.
“It’s hardly morning, is it?” Dorothy retorted gruffly.
It was the middle of the night. Offering a "Good morning" was absurdly inappropriate given the pitch-black darkness outside.
“Are you okay, Senior Dorothy?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
Dorothy answered Isaac’s concern with a kind tone, but her voice immediately shifted to a scornful edge when she turned back to the other girl.
“Why is Alice here?”
With a relaxed expression, Alice gently stroked Isaac’s shoulder while locking eyes with Dorothy. To Dorothy, her casual demeanor and delicate hand motions were clearly the tricks of a cunning vixen.
“I just got back.”
“Isn’t it a bit early? Don’t you have a kingdom to care about?”
“Well, my master told me to come back early. Isn’t that right, Baby?”
“Master…?”
Dorothy was stunned.
Baby, and now Master… she was clearly referring to Isaac. This blatant display of vixen-like behavior was more than Dorothy could stomach. She felt the blood rush to her head.
She couldn't read Alice’s mind due to the unique trait [Red Queen’s Paradox], but she could see through those sinister intentions as clearly as the back of her hand. Dorothy clenched her fists beneath the safety of the blanket.
The problem was, Dorothy wasn't exactly in a position to criticize Alice’s forwardness. Hadn't she herself just mustered the courage to try and seduce Isaac today?
Still, seeing her rival do it was infuriating. Dorothy had no intention of quietly watching Alice sink her claws into him.
“Sorry if I arrived too early and interrupted you. Were you two having a good time?”
“Not really. ‘Good time’? It wasn’t like that. Isaac was just putting me to bed because he was so worried about me. Though, my headache has certainly gotten worse since you arrived. I guess I’m just a bit frazzled. Isaac is struggling so much because of me, and I feel terrible about it.”
Dorothy pointedly emphasized the word “headache.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Alice replied smoothly. “I’m Baby’s minion, so I’m supposed to stay by his side. But you know, humans are creatures of adaptation. Even if you’re feeling miserable right now, you’ll get used to it soon enough, so don’t worry. Or, Dorothy, why don’t you go back to your own room to rest? As a resident of Charles Hall, you have academy maids at your beck and call; there’s no need for you to be here, right? Staying would be quite rude to my master.”
Alice hit the word “rude” with sharp emphasis.
Dorothy opened her mouth to argue but found herself momentarily speechless. She murmured a soft “Ah,” placing a finger to her chin as she pondered the situation seriously.
That actually makes sense. I can’t logically argue with that…
Dorothy knew Isaac’s situation well. Being from Charles Hall, she could easily request care from the academy maids, who would be on night duty by now. Initially, she had ended up under Isaac’s care unintentionally. Staying here and making him worry felt shameless. If she truly cared about Isaac’s well-being, leaving immediately was the better option for him.
However…
I can’t leave…!
Leaving would mean leaving Isaac alone with Alice.
As much as she hated to admit it, Alice was strikingly beautiful. Alice hadn't participated in the Grand Festival Beauty Pageant because she was the Student Council President, but if she had, Dorothy wasn't sure she would have kept her rank. Moreover, unlike the reckless Dorothy, Alice possessed a certain polished charm.
Just moments ago, she had been blatantly flirting with Isaac, clearly nurturing lewd thoughts.
There were times in life when one absolutely must not back down. Dorothy decided that this was one of those times. Using her brain—which felt like it was grinding rusty gears from lack of use—she frantically tried to think of a rebuttal.
“…”
Just then, sensing the atmosphere was souring, Isaac pulled himself away from Alice’s chest. He turned his head to look at her.
“Alice, I’m the one who agreed to take care of Senior Dorothy.”
“Huh?” Dorothy blinked, looking at him.
“I wanted to take care of her myself. It’s not a bother, so don’t worry about it.”
Isaac…
Dorothy felt a surge of emotion. Confident that Isaac was indeed on her side, she shot a triumphant look at Alice.
However, Alice simply offered a light smile and shrugged. “I see. Sorry, Dorothy. I misunderstood.”
“It’s good that you realize it.”
“Then, Baby.” Alice leaned in close to Isaac’s side, peering into his face.
Dorothy’s heart nearly stopped, thinking Alice was about to kiss his cheek.
“Where shall we sleep?”
What the hell is she up to now? Dorothy’s brow furrowed.
However, Isaac only responded with an exhausted sigh as he stood up from the chair. “That’s enough. I’m exhausted.”
“Huh?”
The brief focus on the women’s rivalry vanished. Isaac was so drained that he didn't have the mental energy to navigate their tension. He simply lifted the blanket and climbed into bed next to Dorothy.
Dorothy’s body flushed hot at the sensation of being in the same bed as him. The memory of Isaac pinning her down earlier only fanned the flames within her.
Isaac looked at Alice with heavy, blinking eyes, his interest fading into sleepiness. “Alice, where are you sleeping? If you’re going somewhere else, I’ll get you a blanket.”
“I’ll sleep next to you.”
“Okay, sleep beside me then. The bed is the best option anyway.”
Isaac muttered quietly and snuggled closer to Dorothy to make room. The bed was large enough to accommodate three people. As soon as he laid his head down, his consciousness began to slip away. He closed his eyes.
Dorothy, now pressed firmly against Isaac’s side, involuntarily tensed up. Because she was only wearing a bathrobe, every point of contact felt electric.
“…”
In the silence, Dorothy and Alice stared at the sleeping Isaac. His breathing was calm and rhythmic. He had fallen asleep almost instantly, and the room settled into a quiet stillness.
The two girls locked eyes again. Then, Alice flashed her characteristic, gentle smile.
“Dorothy, now that it’s come to this, why don’t the three of us just sleep together nicely?”
“Uh, no…”
Dorothy didn't want Alice in the bed, but she couldn't bring herself to go against Isaac’s wishes. She reluctantly laid back down.
Once Isaac was out, Dorothy’s courage and desire resurfaced. She subtly shifted closer to his side, hugged him, and finally closed her eyes in comfort.
[ Meow? Meoow! ]
At some point, the Phantom Cat Cheshire had returned from the bathroom after washing up. Wearing nothing but a small white towel, he stepped out and his eyes immediately sparkled upon seeing the white cat familiar, Ella.
[ Ella, my love! It’s been too long! ]
[ Kyaa! ]
The Phantom Cat let out a passionate cry and rushed toward her. Panicked by Cheshire’s unsightly appearance, Ella quickly reversed her summoning and vanished into thin air.
Cheshire stopped mid-air and let out a dejected sigh.
[ Ellaaa! ]
“Cheshire, go see Ella another time. I’m going to wash up too.”
Alice headed into the bathroom. With no spare robes left, she eventually emerged wrapped in a towel. Seizing a rare opportunity, she decided to put on the shirt from Isaac’s uniform. It was considerably large and baggy on her frame, making pants unnecessary.
“Ah.”
A thought crossed Alice’s mind. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, sniffing the sleeve.
“Baby’s scent…”
A faint blush rose to her cheeks—a mix of excitement and pure satisfaction.
On the bed, Isaac and Dorothy were sound asleep. By now, the Phantom Cat had also curled up on top of the blanket covering Isaac. Its round belly rose and fell with every breath, a single tear rolling down its cheek—the mark of a pitiful suitor.
Alice chuckled softly. She considered dismissing the Phantom Cat’s summons for a moment but decided against it. Somehow, the scene was quite peaceful.
She dimmed the lights, leaving the room bathed in shadows and moonlight. Alice then climbed onto the bed, lying on the opposite side of Dorothy.
She watched Isaac’s profile, gently caressing his cheek. It was miraculous how this man had so drastically altered the trajectory of her life. She had received an immeasurable favor from him, one that would be difficult to ever truly repay.
“Hmm…”
Suddenly, she recalled a conversation she’d had with him.
Isaac was a bit of a lady-killer, liked by many women. But as an Elemental King, it wasn't strange for him to have multiple wives—or even dozens. It would have been stranger if he didn't.
So, what should she do now that Isaac was firmly rooted in her heart?
Alice’s conclusion was simple: she would capture his affection and become his top priority, above any other woman. It seemed Isaac was delaying any serious relationships because of his singular focus on defeating the Evil God, which meant there were still plenty of opportunities.
Alice smiled quietly, hugged Isaac even tighter than Dorothy was, and closed her eyes.
“Thank you, Baby. Sweet dreams.”
And with that, Alice fell into a deep sleep.
*
The night sky was thick with stars, looking as if sugar had been sprinkled across a black canvas.
In one of the training buildings at Märchen Academy, the lights were still burning.
The wind howled. A blond man, his hair whipping in the gale, repelled one demonic illusion after another as they lunged at him. His body was drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged, and his clothes and skin were caked in grime.
“Ugh…!”
Tristan Humphrey doubled over, retching from exhaustion. But he gritted his teeth and summoned his wind magic once more.
“Not yet…”
He could still push further. Tristan continued his training deep into the night.
He had slashed his sleeping hours and cut out the time he usually spent boasting to his subordinates. Every spare second was poured into training.
These days were grueling, but whenever he remembered Isaac reigning supreme in the sky during the incident with the Student Council President, he couldn't allow himself to rest. At that time, Tristan could only stare in awe at Isaac’s true form.
“Damn it, cough…!”
He had truly believed Isaac had climbed up from the very bottom. That was why he had secretly admired him. He couldn't help but respect someone who had blossomed such talent in such a harsh environment.
That guy… turned out to be a rare archwizard.
Isaac had already reached heights Tristan might never achieve in a lifetime. His efforts, their sparring—all of it had been a mere facade.
The Nameless Hero had been playing a part—the "Academy’s Weakest" who overcame every hurdle through grit alone. He must have had his reasons, and Tristan understood that. After all, making Isaac his rival had been nothing but his own ego.
Thus, Tristan had to swallow his directionless anger and immerse himself in training. He wouldn't be able to contain the frustration otherwise.
“Haa, haa…”
After defeating the last of the illusions, Tristan stared at the ground, gasping for air. He was in agony; it felt as if his limbs were about to fall off. He wiped a bloody nose—a side effect of mana depletion.
Logically, it wasn't a big deal. Under the protection of an archwizard like Isaac, graduating from Märchen Academy safely was a guarantee. If he just abandoned the absurd goal of surpassing Isaac and set a more realistic target, his problems would vanish.
I can’t do that.
Yet, Tristan had no intention of yielding. Changing a goal once would only lead to a cycle of settling for less. Such a reversal would tarnish the years of training and the dreams of becoming an archwizard he had built. He couldn't allow that, not until his deathbed.
“That damn Elemental King…”
Tristan swung his wind magic irritably and exited the training area.
He resolved to train himself to the brink of death until the end of the semester, and then he would challenge Isaac to a duel. There were things he earnestly needed to ask.
Facing the true, powerful Isaac seemed like the only way to clear the fog in his mind.
It was now dawn.