Chapter 233: Change (7)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 233: Change (7)
A new announcement regarding Alice Carroll was prominently displayed on the Märchen Academy bulletin board.
The notice, infused with mana, bore the unmistakable Imperial seal. It was a clear sign that the Imperial Court was showing its teeth—a warning that opposing this decision would be viewed as a direct challenge to the Emperor’s authority.
Students gathered in droves to read the decree. The official investigation concluded that while Alice Carroll had indeed acted as an informant, she had been coerced by demons. Since there were no casualties, she would not be held accountable. It was exactly as I had predicted.
Debates naturally broke out among the crowd, though the students were careful to keep their voices down in the presence of the Imperial Knights.
Alice Carroll. She was, without a doubt, the most renowned student at Märchen Academy. Her stellar performance as Student Council President, combined with her untarnished, kind personality, had earned her immense respect. To many, she was an idol. Consequently, public opinion leaned heavily in her favor.
“…”
“Haa, this just doesn’t feel right…”
What?
The murmurs of the students were suddenly cut short.
“Professor?”
“Perfect timing. Mateo Jordana, come forward.”
Professor Daisy gestured sharply toward Mateo.
Mateo Jordana, a boy with short brown hair, stepped up to the podium. Professor Daisy placed her hands on his broad shoulders with the speed of a lightning bolt, causing him to flinch.
“Explain this!” she demanded.
“Pardon?”
“Why on earth am I teaching an Elemental King…!?”
Professor Daisy pointed a trembling finger at me, her voice rising in a state of pure panic. Mateo, the rest of the class, and even I were caught off guard.
“In my twelve years of teaching, I’ve never felt so conflicted! I should be the one learning from you! Why is an Elemental King attending my class? What am I supposed to do with this kind of pressure?!”
Professor Daisy shook, her eyes squeezed shut as her frustration boiled over.
“Explain it, Mateo! Please!”
“H-how am I supposed to explain that?!”
Professor Daisy was a true professional—proficient in magic theory and gifted at making her lectures engaging. Her personality, however, was… unique. She was known for her dramatic entrances, often announcing herself with lines like, “Professor Daisy descends!” or “Appear like the wind, Professor Daisy!”
She frequently shared invaluable magical tips during her lectures, making her classes highly sought after. Her unorthodox approach and disregard for rigid formalities earned her a mixed reputation, but in my eyes, she was a top-tier instructor. If she were a tutor in the real world, she’d be a star. In short, she was one of my favorites.
I adjusted my glasses and offered a gentle smile.
“I really enjoy your classes, Professor. I’m learning a lot from you.”
“Kyaaaaa!”
Professor Daisy looked like she was having a mild seizure.
*
Lately, I’d noticed that the professors were being particularly mindful of me during lectures.
I understood why. From their perspective, I was a legendary archwizard. To them, teaching me was like trying to teach high school math to John von Neumann or basic science to Albert Einstein. However, they couldn't exactly kick out a student who was eager to learn.
I can’t exactly tell them the truth, either.
It was doubtful anyone would believe me, and revealing my secrets was a risky move. I would only share the truth with those I fully trusted. For now, I maintained that I attended classes because “there is still much to learn.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.
The students cheered, “Ooh,” interpreting my humility in their own way. It seemed they perceived me as a martial arts grandmaster returning to the basics to perfect his foundation in pursuit of ultimate mastery. The reality was different, but since the conclusion was the same, I didn't mind.
People’s perceptions really have changed.
Their attitudes, the way they looked at me—everything was different. The very atmosphere of the academy had shifted.
A few days ago, during a joint class between Classes B and C, I remembered Rose Red Rivera breaking into a cold sweat and avoiding eye contact the moment she saw me.
—I’m sorry. I-I was wrong… I’ll do anything you want, please, please… Forgive me…
Since we were in the same group, I had greeted her during a break. Rose immediately began apologizing in a trembling voice, using formal honorifics. She couldn't even look me in the eye, her head bowed low in sheer terror.
In a way, it was a natural reaction. She had been one of the primary instigators of my bullying last year. Underestimating the Ice Sovereign, mocking the Ice Sovereign, even having her older brother slap the Ice Sovereign… looking at it objectively, she must have been terrified of the retribution for her past misdeeds.
I had no intention of seeking revenge on Rose. I simply wanted us to ignore each other. I had lightly patted her shoulder to signal that it was fine, but Rose seemed to interpret the gesture as a threat, her face contorting in even greater horror.
During class, Rose worked harder than anyone in the group, doing her absolute best to ensure I wasn't inconvenienced. The next day, she even volunteered to be my errand girl.
—May I clean your shoes for you…?
—Just say the word, and I’ll get you a snack…!
Feeling uncomfortable, I told her to stop talking to me. Despair washed over her face the moment I said it. Rose was perhaps the clearest example of how much my reputation had changed. It was almost dramatic.
During a break between classes, I walked down the hallway of Orphin Hall. I gripped a small magic tool in one hand, training my mana mastery while heading to the store for a drink.
My mana reserves had finally recovered, allowing me to use magic freely again. Having cleared the 「Alice Subjugation」 and survived the Abyss, I felt considerably stronger. With my mana restored, I checked the requirements to summon the Heart Queen, Alice. I expected the cost to be high, but the actual number still floored me.
The summoning cost is insane.
The mana required to summon the Heart Queen, Alice, was a staggering 175,000. Even at my full strength, it was far beyond my current capacity. Minions only needed to be summoned once, but the initial cost was far less efficient than that of a familiar. Given that the Heart Queen commanded powerful familiars and a literal horde of minions of her own, the price made sense.
This was the primary reason I wanted to keep Alice close. There was no need to summon her if she was already here. Since Alice was a rare case of a human minion, there were no issues with her simply accompanying me.
“Hello, Senior Isaac.”
“Hello.”
After buying a drink, I was greeted by several juniors. I responded warmly. Just past them, walking along the outdoor hallway, I spotted a girl with green hair. It was Kaya Astrea.
Her hair was in twin tails, but they were tied low—a much calmer style than usual. I didn't know what had prompted the change, but it was a fresh look I hadn't seen in the game. Happy to see her, I stepped past the juniors and called out.
“Kaya!”
“…!”
Kaya gasped, “S-Sir Isaac…!” and immediately began backing away. I knew this was coming. As I approached, Kaya started trembling like a leaf.
“Waaaaa…”
“Your hair suits you. Trying out a new style?”
“I-I’m sorry!”
Kaya turned and bolted at an incredible speed, leaving a gust of wind in her wake that ruffled my hair and uniform.
“…?”
The juniors who had greeted me earlier exchanged confused glances, whispering about what could have possibly happened between Kaya and me.
She’s doing it again…
When will we be able to talk normally?
I sighed quietly, sipping my drink. I wasn't entirely surprised; this had happened last year too. Kaya tended to avoid me whenever something embarrassing happened. She was the type to dwell on those feelings for a long time.
It had started the day I returned from the Abyss. Realizing she had greeted me with an unwashed, bare face after four days of worrying seemed to be the trigger. She felt ashamed of showing me her "unarmed" self. On top of that, she had been teary-eyed and clinging to me…
Sometimes, I’d catch her in a deserted corridor, lightly bumping her head against the wall in frustration. I felt bad for her, but I couldn't help watching her from afar.
She’s still beautiful, though.
Her beauty wasn't going anywhere. Still, it would be a problem if this lasted until vacation. I’d have to catch her eventually and talk it out.
“…”
I found myself lost in thought. The contents of the old book Saintess Bianca had given me began to cloud my mind.
[ 8 ]
You may share the contents of this book with your allies.
However, please keep this information to yourself:
Kaya Astrea is capable of becoming the vessel for the Evil God.
I am unsure of the specifics, but I know this is the worst-case scenario.
You must do everything in your power to prevent the birth of the Evil God of Life and Destruction.
Vessel of the Evil God…
In the world of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, and from my memories of fighting the Evil God in the first timeline, the idea of Kaya being a vessel was absurd. In the first round, Kaya had simply lost her life.
I hadn't mentioned this to Dorothy to avoid unnecessary conflict. The author of the book seemed to have shared that concern.
If I hadn't stopped the blood wizard, Kaya the Ravenous, it would have led to the bad ending: 「Gluttony」. In that route, Kaya became a demon and eventually the Demon Lord. The player community called it the "Demon Lord Ending." It was undeniable that the power of Kaya the Ravenous, which drew from her plant-based mana, had demonic roots.
The current Kaya was unmistakably human, and in the happy ending of the game, she remained human until the end. However, there was still a risk she could turn into a demon due to factors I didn't yet understand.
I crushed the empty bottle and tossed it into the bin. During the final chapter, 「Evil God Subjugation」, I wouldn't let anything happen to her. If there were any signs of danger, I would stop it.
I was done watching demons toy with humans.
*
“Good job, Ian. Drink this.”
“Ah, thanks.”
As the sun began to set after classes, Ian Fairytale collapsed onto the outdoor dueling ground. He had been sparring with Morcan.
Morcan had gauged the appropriate level to push Ian, repeating the sessions until Ian’s stamina gave out. Thanks to this training, the frequency of Ian fainting had decreased significantly. However, his reflexes hadn't shown much improvement. It was becoming clear that reaching expert-level reflexes within a single year was realistically impossible.
I handed Ian a drink, which he gulped down greedily.
“What about mine, Isaac?”
“I’ve got yours right here.”
“Awesome!”
I handed a drink to Amy Holloway, who was sitting in the stands. She beamed with delight. I looked back down at Ian.
“Can you keep going?”
“Just barely. The skill gap is just too wide.”
“Like I said before, I’ll have you spar with the others next time. Try not to rely so much on your sword. You’ll get better.”
“I know… but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
Ian sighed deeply, then looked at me with a smile.
“Isaac, I really appreciate you giving me this opportunity.”
As the protagonist of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it was hard not to grow fond of him. I gave a faint smile and turned to leave.
“I’ll be going. Good luck.”
Master-level control wasn't the goal here. Ian only needed enough combat ability to help defeat the Evil God. I would handle the rest. In the end, both Ian and I just needed to reach a peaceful conclusion.
After waving goodbye, I left the dueling ground to continue my own training.
*
I finished my magic training with a long run, reviewing my studies in my head as I moved. Occasionally, the warnings from the old book would resurface, pulling me into deep thought.
When I finally returned to the dorm, Alice greeted me with a warm, “Welcome back.”
I washed up and settled in to read. Alice spent the evening bringing me snacks or reading her own book nearby. She seemed to be doing her best to support my routine without being intrusive.
Late at night, the room grew dark, save for the faint glow of the lamp. Today was the last day of our cohabitation before Alice resumed her normal academy life. I lay in bed while Alice lay on the floor beside me, tucked under her blankets. We had slept this way since her first day here.
A quiet stillness settled over the room. Just as I was about to drift off…
“Baby.”
Hearing her voice so close, I turned my head. Alice was peeking over the edge of the bed, watching me quietly.
“Shall we sleep together? It’s the last night, and I feel a bit lonely without you nearby.”
Her words didn't match her playful, teasing smile at all.
“My baby… you haven’t forgotten your promise, have you?” Alice asked, feigning disappointment.
She was referring to the promise to stay by my side until the end. It was the only promise we had. I shifted over, making space on the mattress.
“Alright. Come up.”
Alice smiled brightly, climbed into the bed, and slid under the covers next to me. A moment of silence passed. Just as I closed my eyes again, her gentle voice tickled the air.
“Baby.”
“What?”
“Do you want to pounce on me?”
Flinch.
Sleep vanished instantly. Understanding her implication, I glared at her with wide eyes. Her usual gentle smile seemed particularly sly tonight.
“I’m completely defenseless right now, you know.”
“Are you… are you serious?”
“Hehe, your reaction is so adorable. Of course I’m joking.”
I stared up at the dark ceiling, trying to settle my heart. Soon, Alice’s voice, now thick with emotion, broke the silence.
“Tomorrow morning, I have to leave this room. It must have been nice for you, right? Having someone as pretty as me taking care of you every day.”
“How narcissistic. Well, it’s not like you could stay here forever…”
“You’re taking this quite seriously, aren't you?”
“I really liked it,” I admitted. “Thank you.”
“…Really?”
Like a ghost who knew exactly where I needed to be scratched, Alice always provided what I needed. She knew how to avoid my worries and how to lighten the mood with trivial stories or jokes that made me laugh. I truly had been satisfied. I was happy.
“Isaac.”
Alice turned toward me. She smiled softly, her eyes glowing like moonlight as she looked at me with deep longing. Her steady breaths, her slow blinks, and her slightly flushed cheeks told me everything she wasn't saying.
“I’m also grateful… for making me happy.”
Alice asked to hold my hand as a final request for the night. I took it, and like that, we fell asleep.