Chapter 231: Change (5)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 231: Change (5)
I fell asleep enveloped in human warmth. The sheer quality of my rest was proof enough of how comfortable I’d been.
As the morning sunlight streamed in, I woke naturally, as if an internal alarm had gone off. Beside me, Dorothy lay fast asleep, her bathrobe slightly disheveled.
I sat up and scanned the room. The other side of the bed was empty, but a single strand of pale gold hair caught my eye. Alice had been here as well.
That smells delicious.
The savory scent of food wafted in from the kitchen. It was obvious Alice was busy preparing breakfast.
I checked the clock. There was still some time before classes began. I reached over, straightened Dorothy’s bathrobe, and placed a hand on her forehead.
Oh.
Good, her fever had broken. Whether it was due to my care or simply the natural course of her recovery, it was a massive relief.
I gently shook Dorothy’s shoulder.
“Dorothy, wake up. It’s morning.”
“Mmm… Presideeeent…”
Half-asleep, Dorothy mumbled incoherently and wrapped her arms around my waist. It was a precious sight, and for a fleeting moment, a surge of happiness washed over me. But I quickly snapped back to reality; I had to get her moving.
I shook her a little harder.
“You have to face the Disciplinary Committee this morning. If you don’t leave now, you won’t be able to slip away before the other students start heading to the academy.”
“…Ah!”
Dorothy’s eyes snapped open, and she bolted upright.
“The committee…! And something smells amazing…!”
Dorothy mumbled her stream of consciousness, then turned her gaze toward me. Her light purple hair was a tangled mess. She let out a little giggle.
“Nihihi! Isaac, your hair is a disaster. It looks like a bird’s nest!”
“So does yours.”
“Ah, this isn’t the time for that…!”
Just as I was about to ask if she’d slept well, Dorothy scrambled off the bed and hurried to the closet to change into her uniform. The Disciplinary Committee meeting was scheduled for early morning. She needed to get back to her own room and prepare before the campus became crowded.
“Isaac, I’m sorry! I’ll leave the bathrobe here! I slept so well thanks to you!”
“Ah, sure. Be careful, Dorothy.”
Dorothy pulled her witch’s hat low, shrouded herself in starlight mana, and flew out the window. I wasn’t sure how many days of probation she’d receive, but I’d check on her once the punishment was finalized.
And then there’s Alice…
Even though she must have heard us waking up, she hadn’t said a word. I got out of bed and made my way to the kitchen.
I caught sight of the back of a girl with pale gold hair wearing nothing but one of my shirts. It hung loosely off Alice Carroll’s frame. She was busy stirring a pot of stew. The red apron she wore wasn’t mine; she must have brought it herself.
As I approached, Alice sensed me and turned around.
“Pfft, look at your hair.”
A radiant smile spread across her face, illuminated by the morning sun filtering through the window. Alice stepped closer and gently patted down my messy, wavy hair.
“Did you sleep well, my baby?”
[Meow, Isaac! Good morning!]
The fat purple familiar, Phantom Cat Cheshire, floated in the air wearing his tiny bowler hat and greeted me. I gave him a calm nod. “Good morning.”
“I think I slept better than usual for once.”
“Sorry I didn’t greet you right away. Dorothy doesn’t exactly like me, so I stayed out of the way.”
“I see.”
I was well aware of Dorothy’s deep-seated disdain for Alice. I didn’t know exactly how Alice felt about it, but I doubted she harbored any warm feelings for someone who hated her so openly.
“So, what are you making?”
“Stew. I wanted to make breakfast for you, Baby.”
“It smells great.”
I usually opted for a light breakfast or skipped it entirely, but the idea of a warm stew sounded perfect.
I took a seat at the table. Soon, Alice placed a bowl of stew filled with large chunks of meat, mushrooms, and vegetables in front of me. Despite the early hour, the aroma was incredibly appetizing.
Alice sat across from me with her own bowl. She scooped up a spoonful, blew on it gently, and held it out to my mouth.
“Baby, say ‘ah.’”
Her voice was dripping with sweetness.
I stared at her for a moment, a bit dazed. Compared to Luce’s blunt “open your mouth,” this was an incredibly tender gesture. It felt like we were a newlywed couple.
When I opened my mouth, Alice carefully fed me the stew.
“Wow, this is really good.”
I was genuinely surprised. It was seasoned exactly to my liking.
“Right?”
I looked at her in surprise and began eating in earnest. Only then did Alice start on her own meal.
Ah, right.
“You said you were going to stay here, right?”
“Yeah. I don’t really have anywhere else to go right now.”
It would take at least a week for the Imperial Knights to help reintegrate Alice into academy life. In the meantime, she intended to stay hidden in my room.
“You’ll have to stay quiet and avoid going outside. Wouldn’t it be better to stay at the hideout? You’d have more freedom there.”
“I want to be with you.”
Alice’s smiling face was resolute. She was clearly determined to stay here, regardless of the hideout’s existence.
“You care about managing your time efficiently, don’t you? And since you don’t have a personal maid, I thought I could at least handle your meals for a while.”
It wasn’t a bad offer. Most of my subordinates were combat-oriented, and I hadn’t hired a personal maid yet. Moreover, this room was the safest place for her. Having Alice close by where I could keep an eye on her was also a benefit.
“…Alright, let’s try it for now.”
However, having Alice in my personal space would require some adjustments. I’d have to stop humming in the shower; that would be far too embarrassing with an audience. I also worried I might not be able to fully concentrate on my studies before bed.
I decided to give it a day or two. If it became too much of a distraction, I could always send her to the hideout then.
“By the way, don’t you have any clothes? That’s my shirt.”
“Hehe, I thought it was a rare opportunity, so I tried it on. When else would I get to wear your clothes? Ah… it probably smells like me now. Sorry about that.”
“No… I don’t really mind.”
The academy maids could handle the laundry. Alice propped her chin on her hand and gave me her usual, gentle smile.
“Baby.”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t we look like newlyweds?”
I nearly choked on my stew, coughing repeatedly. It felt as if she had read my mind.
*
“What were you thinking, revealing your true identity like that?”
During a break in front of Orphin Hall, I ran into Lisetta Lionheart on my way to buy a drink.
Lisetta Lionheart. A second-year in Class A, ranked fourth in the Magic Department. Her orange hair was tied in its usual ponytail, and her uniform was provocatively unbuttoned.
Unexpectedly, Lisetta was the one to strike up a conversation. Perhaps she had developed some sort of attachment to me. Feeling generous, I bought her a drink.
We sat on a nearby bench, though I made sure to sit at the opposite end to respect her personal space. She sat cross-legged, clutching the drink I’d bought her.
I took a sip of my own and answered her question.
“There are many reasons. I simply felt it was the right time to reveal who I am.”
“Well… someone like me wouldn’t understand the intentions of the Ice Sovereign. Haha, to think my classmate is an Elemental King… If I told anyone, they’d think I was insane. It’s so absurd I can’t help but laugh, pfft, shi—”
“If you’re not going to drink that, give it here. It’s good.”
“You gave it to me and now you’re taking it back? You bastard.”
Lisetta scowled and grumbled, but she handed the drink back to me anyway. I took a sip of hers too.
“…What’s going to happen to the Student Council President?”
“She’s going to continue attending the academy.”
“What?” Lisetta scoffed. “Are you serious? She was the insider, the main perpetrator behind the terror attack. She almost brought the entire academy down, didn’t she?”
“It wasn’t of her own volition. She was coerced. I’ve also found a way for her to atone. It’s for everyone’s benefit.”
After taking another sip of Lisetta’s drink, I continued calmly.
“The academy will make an official announcement soon. The Imperial Court has also agreed to cooperate.”
“Oh, so even the Imperial Court is dancing to your tune now.”
“I’m just accepting their help… it’s not what you think.”
“What about the people who are unhappy about this?”
“They can bring their complaints to me. If they’re weaker than me, they should learn to keep their mouths shut.”
“Pfft! I like that about you, you bastard.”
Lisetta and I shared a laugh, but her expression suddenly stiffened.
“Don’t laugh. It’s annoying.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Lisetta chuckled again. Today, she was being unusually friendly, likely because of the growing distance between me and the rest of the student body. From now on, people at the academy wouldn’t be able to treat me as just ‘Isaac’ anymore. I appreciated her effort to keep things normal.
The sky had grown dark.
Isaac arrived at the Church located on the hill within the academy grounds and pushed open the heavy doors. The view of the chapel greeted him immediately. The Church was protected by a barrier that ensured total soundproofing.
Isaac adjusted his glasses and walked forward.
A girl with light pink hair stood quietly, gazing up at the symbol of the Helize Church. It was the Saintess, Bianca Anturaze. In the shadow of a nearby pillar, her escort, Sylon, stood with his hands clasped, bowing to Isaac.
Bianca turned toward him. With her hands folded, she offered a respectful bow. Her eyes were closed, for she was blind. However, through the aid of divine power, she could see far more than most.
“It is an honor to meet you, Ice Sovereign. This is the first time we have spoken face-to-face.”
Both were students of the Märchen Academy Magic Department, and both were dressed in their school uniforms. However, Bianca addressed Isaac as a Saintess would an Elemental King. Her use of “Ice Sovereign” instead of “Senior Isaac” signaled that this was a formal, high-level interaction.
Bianca was a figure who represented the Lord in both the Empire and the Holy Kingdom, so Isaac bowed his head to return the respect.
“It is an honor to meet you as well, Saintess.”
“I apologize for asking you to come all the way here. However, this is a conversation that must be held in absolute secrecy.”
“It’s quite alright. What is this about?”
Isaac still didn’t know the exact reason for this summons. But reading her demeanor, he realized Bianca had something of immense importance to share.
“I have something to give you. Sylon.”
At Bianca’s command, Sylon stepped out of the shadows and handed Isaac a book. It was incredibly old, bearing the heavy marks of time. The cover was blank, and the volume was relatively thin.
“Do you recognize this book?”
“No… what is it?”
“Sylon, please open it.”
Sylon obeyed.
“…!”
In that instant, Isaac’s eyes widened. It felt as if he had been struck in the back of the head with a hammer. For the first time since arriving in this world, his practiced composure failed him. He truly doubted his own eyes.
“This is…?”
Bianca smiled silently, her lips curling upward. Isaac’s visceral reaction confirmed the book’s value.
Inside was an illustration of a rainy, frozen lake.
And… Korean characters.
What? Seriously, what is this…?
It felt as if the rest of the world had vanished, leaving only him and the book. Isaac flipped back to the first page. The handwriting there was more chaotic than on any other page, as if the author had written it in a desperate final moment.
The first page was a letter. Isaac read through it.
[To my dear benefactor, Isaac,]
[I hope you have found this book.]
[I ask for your understanding that circumstances prevent me from assisting you as much as I would like.]
[I have filled this book with all the truths I have come to know, written in a language that only you can read.]
Isaac understood. The author had discovered certain truths and wanted to convey them specifically to him. The writer did not seem to be affiliated with Higgs, the company that created ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
[Before I lose my very sanity, I hope you will come to know every truth in this world.]
“Even” my sanity.
The phrasing suggested the writer had already lost a great deal. Mentioning “sanity” implied the losses were primarily mental—perhaps memories.
[After reading this book, seek out the Tower Master of the Hegel Magic Tower immediately.]
[She will surely become your ally.]
Aria Lilias?
Aria had certainly been supportive of Isaac, but… if someone were to ask if she had provided enough help to warrant a specific mention in a letter like this, he would have said no. This meant there was something about Aria that Isaac didn't yet know.
And then, Isaac’s mind ground to a halt as he saw the name of the author on the final line.
[Sincerely, Dorothy Gale.]