Chapter 234: Challenge
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 234: Challenge
The Imperial Tower possessed architectural expertise rooted in magic, characterized by rapid construction speeds, structural durability, and a technical mastery that balanced utility with aesthetics.
The new Märchen Academy was currently being erected using this very technology, made possible through the direct support of the Imperial Family.
The buildings damaged during the Alice Carroll incident were also being restored with these methods, resulting in exteriors that looked even more pristine than before.
Soon, the staff members who had been using Marzio Hall as a temporary administrative office returned to Bartos Hall.
That afternoon, the door to the Student Council room in Bartos Hall swung open.
A female student, who had been temporarily managing the President’s duties, turned toward the door. Her eyes widened in shock.
“President…?”
Alice Carroll had returned.
*
The swift repairs to Bartos Hall and the return of the Student Council President quickly resolved the lingering administrative disruptions.
Alice handled the backlog of work with fluid efficiency. Under her lead, the Student Council operated like a well-oiled machine, reinforcing the academy's administrative recovery.
Immediately after her disciplinary period ended, Dorothy came to see me. She subtly inquired if anything had happened between Alice and me. When I told her nothing had, Dorothy—who could detect lies—looked visibly relieved and dropped the subject.
Before long, the end-of-semester evaluations were finalized, and the holiday ceremony drew near.
After tallying all the scores from the evaluations conducted throughout the semester, I was ranked third in the academy within the Magic Department. It was a satisfying result.
My residence in the top-tier dormitory, Charles Hall, was confirmed for the next semester. If I performed well in the upcoming class assignment evaluations, I would likely be placed in Class A.
“I’m sorry for holding you back.”
“No! I—I should be the one apologizing for avoiding you all this time…!”
Near the campus, at a hideout within Josena Forest.
Sitting at an outdoor table, I brewed tea for Kaya. She sat rigidly, her body as stiff as if she were undergoing a high-stakes job interview.
I sat across from her, taking a calm sip of my tea.
Usually, Kaya fled whenever I approached, only to watch me secretly from a distance like a lovestruck schoolgirl. Lately, I’d even heard rumors that she was singing my praises to anyone who would listen.
Tired of the cat-and-mouse game, I had eventually taken her by the wrist and led her here myself.
“I’ll ask you straightforwardly.”
I set aside Kaya’s obvious embarrassment.
“Your other personality hasn’t surfaced lately, has it?”
“How did you…?”
Kaya looked startled.
How could I not know? Given Dark Kaya’s personality, there was no way she would have let Kaya continue to avoid me.
Normally, Dark Kaya would manifest without warning and launch into aggressive displays of affection. Especially now that my true identity had been revealed, it would be impossible for her not to interfere in my daily life.
“…Actually, she hasn’t come out since the Alice Carroll incident. It’s similar to the symptoms I had during last year’s joint practical evaluation. It might get better if I consume a demon…”
“Are you going home for the break?”
“Yes.”
“Try eating a magic beast with high mana density. It might help.”
“…?”
Creatures saturated with mana were notoriously unpalatable, especially those with high-quality mana. They lacked the nutrients of ordinary animals and provided no positive effects to the mana circuits of those who consumed them.
Because of this, magic beast meat was unpopular and practically unavailable on the market.
However, the vast lands of the Astrea dukedom were home to ferocious magic beasts that posed a threat to humans. Since those monsters needed to be hunted anyway, I suggested she might as well try cooking one.
That should be enough to properly jumpstart Dark Kaya’s personality.
Kaya’s mouth hung open, and she exclaimed in her usual sweet, melodic voice.
“You really know everything, Isaac…! Even the specifics of my condition…”
“I noticed it back during the joint practical evaluation.”
Thankfully, Kaya seemed relaxed enough to keep the conversation going.
I apologized for the trouble I caused when I was swallowed by the Abyss. I also explained that enemies would continue to emerge outside the academy walls. Finally, I offered a roundabout compliment on her beauty, causing Kaya to blush furiously and fidget with her skirt.
Kaya tended to view our relationship as a hierarchy. She looked up to those she admired as if they were on a completely different plane of existence, much like a fan treating a favorite celebrity.
This perspective made it difficult for me to interact with her as casually as I did with Dorothy or Luce.
Still, she’s cute.
She’s like an adorable mascot character, but that’s fine.
After our talk, Kaya timidly sipped her tea, cradling the cup with both hands, clearly buoyed by the compliment.
*
Most students were busy preparing to head home for the holidays. The empty training grounds were a testament to the exodus.
As evening approached, the sky darkened and a light drizzle began to fall, adding a damp chill to the already somber atmosphere.
I began my training by firing my 7-star ice spell, [Icebolt], at a distant target.
I could hit the mark easily at 50 meters, but I struggled with accuracy beyond the 100-meter point. The sensation of mana diffusing over that distance was still unfamiliar; I realized I still lacked the fine mana mastery required to perfectly handle 7-star spells.
I also ran through several waves of demonic illusions, using minimal magic and focusing on hand-to-hand combat to prepare for the Heavenly Beings. Dodging, blocking, and counter-attacking.
During one wave, as the final demonic illusion lunged at me—
Whoosh!
Kwagak!
A blade of wind sliced through the illusion, disintegrating it into dust.
It was the 3-star wind spell, [Wind Sword]. I caught my breath and turned toward the source of the magic.
There stood the arrogant blond noble, Tristan Humphrey, glaring at me.
“Got something to say?”
Is he here to pick a fight again?
Tristan approached. His slow, deliberate steps echoed through the quiet training ground.
Finally standing before me, he spoke with uncharacteristic gravity.
“Fight me, Isaac.”
I wasn’t surprised. I had already read his intentions through [Psychological Insight].
I examined Tristan. His uniform was neat, but it couldn't hide the cuts and bruises on his neck and hands—telltale signs of rigorous training that no amount of healing magic could fully erase.
Tristan had always viewed me as his ultimate goal. Perhaps the revelation of my identity had shocked him more than anyone else, as his demeanor had been particularly troubled lately.
I felt no particular affection for him outside of my knowledge of the game. We weren't comrades, and he certainly wasn't someone I would confide in.
However, I felt compelled to honor his resolve before the vacation began.
As if by unspoken agreement, we left the training ground.
The night sky, heavy with dark clouds, continued to pour rain. We protected ourselves with elemental shields as we crossed the campus.
Following Tristan, we arrived at an outdoor dueling arena.
We took our positions on the stage.
I quietly observed Tristan from across the rain-slicked stone.
*
“How did it make you feel?”
“What are you blabbing about?”
Tristan’s voice cut through the rhythm of the rain.
“All this time, I’ve clashed with you with everything I had, and you’ve been humoring me from your position as an archwizard. How did that make you feel?”
“…What are you trying to say? Why do my feelings matter to you?”
Tristan turned away, creating distance between them.
The two stood facing each other.
Tristan’s mouth curled into a sneer.
“It doesn’t matter.”
Whooooosh!!
Tristan gathered his mana, conjuring a fierce whirlwind around him. In the blink of an eye, he vanished.
A brilliant emerald wind swept the rain aside, performing a violent dance in the air. Tristan’s speed had increased exponentially, his movements swirling wildly to deceive Isaac’s eyes.
Tristan kicked off the stands and the arena floor, accelerating to show Isaac the fruits of his desperate efforts.
Isaac calmly watched the blur of motion.
Whoooosh!!
Whaaack!!
Tristan blurred behind Isaac at incredible speed and launched a powerful kick. The strike was bolstered by a blast of wind mana, yet Isaac easily dodged it with a simple step to the side.
“Do you have eyes in the back of your head?!”
Tristan was flustered, but his wind mana did not falter. He continued to accelerate.
He unleashed a relentless barrage. Isaac effortlessly evaded the sharp blades of [Wind Sword], the crushing pressure of [Gale Fang], and Tristan’s physical strikes.
A wide-range [Zephyr] was blocked by a casually raised [Ice Wall].
“You’ve gotten stronger.”
Isaac’s indifferent comment only fueled Tristan’s rage.
“I don’t want to hear that from you!!”
Grinding his teeth, Tristan charged, concentrating wind mana into his right hand for a final strike.
At that moment, Isaac extended his hand toward the charging noble. He intended to show Tristan the overwhelming disparity between them—to give him the chance to finally come to terms with reality.
Isaac condensed ice mana before him, his thumb securing his middle finger as he constructed the magic circle for the 5-star ice spell, [Frost Explosion].
His reaction speed, computation, and mana mastery were at an unbelievable level. Tristan was momentarily awestruck, but he didn't stop his assault.
Simultaneously, Isaac flicked his finger.
Kwaaaa!!!
A frigid explosion and a fierce barrage of ice slammed into Tristan. The high-density wind mana he had gathered was instantly snuffed out.
Although the power of [Frost Explosion] was moderated, Tristan’s body was helplessly swept away by the blast, slamming into the wall at the edge of the arena.
An ice block had formed where Isaac struck. Isaac immediately dissolved it, and the rising blue powder was quickly washed away by the rain.
Below the stands, Tristan lay slumped against the wall.
A deep, biting chill penetrated his bones, causing him to shiver violently.
“I’m… not done yet…!”
Drenched and shivering, Tristan struggled to rise from the muddy ground. But his body was at its limit; it took every ounce of his remaining strength just to keep his consciousness from drifting away.
His vision was blurry. He looked up to see Isaac standing majestically, looking every bit the Ice Elemental King.
An insurmountable gap lay between them, as vast as the distance between heaven and earth.
“It’s my win, Tristan.”
Isaac’s calm declaration was familiar. It was the same tone he had used before—as if urging him to give up.
The scene was a mirror of their last duel.
Back then, Tristan could boldly declare that he would soon surpass Isaac. But now, facing this vast disparity, he couldn't bring himself to say it.
Tristan’s eyes were bloodshot. He glared at Isaac, ignoring the immense pain racking his body.
Believing the matter settled, Isaac turned to leave the arena.
Tristan watched Isaac’s back. Rain trickled down his hair and cheeks. He gritted his teeth, but no convenient miracle occurred.
However, his mind slowly began to clear.
A faint smile crossed Tristan’s face. As he realized what that smile meant… he knew it was self-mockery.
It was okay to laugh at his ridiculous self. Had he not already disgraced himself by aiming for an unachievable goal?
So, for now, it was time to laugh off the foolishness of challenging an Elemental King.
Just standing up was enough.
“Ha!”
With a deliberate, confident chuckle, Tristan shouted.
Isaac paused and looked back. Tristan was struggling to stand, leaning heavily against the wall for support.
Tristan’s face, marked by minor scars from the [Frost Explosion], bore his usual arrogant smirk. He laughed like a third-rate villain.
“The great archwizard… the Ice Elemental King… the Ice Sovereign…! What’s the big deal?!”
Tristan’s resolve was set.
He would achieve a true victory over this bastard. He would risk his life, challenge Isaac again, and win.
“Isaac!!”
Tristan’s voice was thick with rage, but he took a moment to steady his trembling tone.
“Someday, I will become a great wizard and challenge you again! Remember that…!”
He made his firm declaration.
“I will surpass you.”
He aimed to become a wizard who transcended even the rank of archwizard.
This was his first and last declaration to the Ice Sovereign—not to the Isaac who was once the weakest, but to the man who stood at the peak.
Isaac gave Tristan a cold, piercing look.
“…Give it your all.”
Isaac spoke indifferently, then turned and walked away into the rain.