Chapter 24: Dorothy (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 24: Dorothy (1)
The morning sun peeked through the curtains.
Mary, the personal maid of the Astrea family, woke up with a resolute mindset. She climbed out of bed and folded her duvet with practiced precision.
After a light meal of a sandwich and hot coffee, she freshened up and changed into her maid uniform, neatly combing her long purple hair. The entire process was mechanical. Her living quarters were immaculate, every item perfectly in its place.
She inspected herself in the full-length mirror, tying her hair into a sharp ponytail while checking the fit of her clothes. Everything was in order.
The twenty-year-old maid finished her preparations and left the servants' quarters.
Her charge resided in a room on the fourth floor of Charles Hall—the most prestigious dormitory at Märchen Academy.
The young lady was always awake on time, though she usually sat on the edge of her bed dozing, her long green hair a tangled mess. Even in her half-asleep state, she kept her duvet neatly folded—a habit inherited from her father, Gerald Astrea, the head of the household.
Mary served the young lady breakfast, which she ate with gusto; despite her refined upbringing, she was a voracious eater.
Once the young lady had bathed and dressed in her uniform, Mary trimmed her hair and sat her down at the dressing table to apply the finishing touches. Finally, using a black ribbon, she tied the light green hair into two perfect twintails.
Even today, Lady Kaya Astrea was the picture of perfection. Mary felt a swell of professional pride.
“Mary.”
“Yes, my lady.”
Huh?
Kaya glanced up and down at her reflection in the mirror, a slight frown marring her features.
What is it? You look perfect today, as always.
“Well, I’m feeling a little…”
“I’ll fix it immediately.”
Kaya didn’t usually care much for her appearance. It was only because she represented House Astrea that she allowed a maid to dress her up to maintain the family's dignity. Consequently, Kaya had never once expressed dissatisfaction with Mary’s work.
Furthermore, the looks Mary created for Kaya were consistently praised by others. Mary’s skill in styling was the primary reason she had been selected as Kaya’s exclusive maid and brought along to Märchen Academy.
In short, her ability to make Kaya look as beautiful as possible was her greatest pride. It was a pride no one could take away from her.
Naturally, Mary began to doubt herself.
Did I make a mistake without realizing it?
No. She scrutinized the young lady’s reflection once more. There was nothing wrong. The twintails were perfectly symmetrical. The makeup was subtle, suited to the innocent yet elegant look of a student. As usual, a beautiful young lady stared back.
So, what’s the issue? What did I miss?
“I’m thinking of changing my style for once… What do you think?”
“…Pardon?”
“Maybe something a bit more… feminine?” Lady Kaya asked, her eyes downcast as if she had spent a long time agonizing over the words.
Mary wondered what had caused this sudden change of heart, and her instincts immediately provided a guess.
“Lady Kaya, may I ask why you wish to change your style?”
“Just… I want to put in a bit more effort.”
“…!”
Mary felt a pang of shame that Lady Kaya felt the need to embellish herself further. She sighed inwardly.
She wanted to believe it was a simple desire to be prettier, but Lady Kaya’s behavior had been far too suspicious lately. She would often space out like an empty shell, or thrash around in bed at night, kicking her duvet while muttering, “Why did I do that?”
Ah…
A recent, suspicious memory flashed through Mary’s mind.
She had gone to Kaya's room to serve tea, only to find the young lady staring silently out the window. There had been no response when Mary knocked.
Mary had crept closer to investigate. Lady Kaya was blushing furiously, a dazed expression on her face as she watched a man with silver-blue hair pass by outside. When Mary finally announced her presence, Lady Kaya had nearly jumped out of her skin in embarrassment.
“Mary?”
The realization hit her. It was obvious that Lady Kaya had a crush on that silver-blue-haired man.
Since when?
Perhaps it started the night she stayed out?
That was the day Mary’s life expectancy had been cut short by pure stress. She had been so worried she thought she might die. Fortunately, Lady Kaya had returned safely, claiming she had been “protecting the peace of the Academy.” While Mary didn't quite understand what that meant, she had assumed everything was fine because Kaya said it with such a serious face.
But Lady Kaya’s behavior had only grown stranger since then.
If she had stayed out all night with a man… could it have been that silver-blue-haired student?
No, that’s impossible.
Kaya wouldn't have done anything indecent. If she had, it would be written all over her face. But the mere fact that she had spent a night with a man must have been a massive shock to her system, given how vulnerable she was to the opposite sex.
—Until she graduates from the academy, treat her as though she is a man.
Those were the orders of the family head, Gerald Astrea. Mary could clearly imagine his enraged face if he found out. Her head began to throb.
“…My Lady, this style suits you best.”
“Is that so? It can’t be helped then…”
Kaya twirled a finger through one of her twintails, her face flushed. The atmosphere in the room remained heavy, at least for Mary, who felt a mix of frustration and disappointment in herself.
*
—House Astrea Code of Conduct! What is the third principle?!
—Second daughter, Kaya Astrea! Respect your instructors! Respect your elders! Behave with respect to those who deserve it! Maintain your appearance!
The family Code of Conduct had been etched into Kaya Astrea’s mind by her father. But the true meaning behind that third principle was deeper:
Train yourself to be a person who can one day stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those you admire.
However, Kaya realized she hadn't been living up to those teachings.
I want to look good for Sir Isaac.
The only person Kaya currently admired was Isaac. But had she presented herself to him with a neat demeanor and a decent appearance? Absolutely not.
Regarding her demeanor, she had shown nothing but immaturity when they fought the ant demons. Every time she remembered her foolishness, she kicked her duvet in frustration.
And what about her appearance? She was always wearing the same thing. Even in front of the person she admired, she looked no different than she did as a child.
“Ugh…”
Kaya arrived at the Class A lecture hall for her morning class. Her mind was consumed by thoughts of Isaac, and the fact that she hadn't seen him much lately made her heart sink.
Whenever she looked at Isaac, he seemed to radiate an ethereal light, but she lacked the courage to approach it. He had even told her never to stal— observe him again.
If he had truly reached the realm of an Archwizard, he would easily notice her presence. She couldn't afford to keep watching him from the shadows. She needed to speak to him normally.
But ever since the ant demon incident, she became a nervous wreck whenever she stood before him. It was a psychological wall she couldn't seem to climb.
The House Astrea Code of Conduct… was it always this difficult to follow, Father?
She had hoped that changing her appearance might at least catch his eye. But when Mary told her the twintails were best, she couldn't argue. Kaya didn't trust her own fashion sense.
I want to see Isaac…
She just had to go talk to him. Why was it so hard? She knew the answer, but she couldn't bring herself to do it. Kaya buried her face in her hands and groaned.
*
I’ve decided.
I’m giving Kaya a gift.
She was incredibly helpful when we went to kill Garzia the Hermit. If I didn’t give her something in return, my conscience would nag at me. However, since she was wealthy and had no financial constraints, a monetary reward wouldn't mean much to her.
In that case, I should give her a heroine-exclusive item.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, you could give heroines gifts they liked to increase their favorability. The chocolate I gave Amy during the kidnapping incident was one of those items.
Kaya was an official heroine, so I knew exactly what she liked. The best option, by far, was the “Armana Wand.” Among the endgame weapons for heroines, this was the only one that could be bought from the secret shop.
It was a wand carved from the 8-star giant tree “Armana,” which guarded the Great Forest. It was the only weapon in the game that resonated with plant mana. It even featured a gemstone created from condensed Armana mana.
In other words, it would drastically increase her affinity for plant mana. Her [Elemental Firepower] and [Elemental Efficiency] would see a massive boost. If Kaya wanted to get stronger, she’d be ecstatic to receive this.
Man, this is expensive…
I walked out of the secret shop after purchasing the wand. It cost a whopping 120,000 Gel. In the early stages of the game, buying this was nothing more than a pipe dream.
It’s surprising I still have money left over.
Even after dropping 120,000 Gel, I still had a decent amount of funds. The academy provided textbooks and high-end supplies, so as long as I wasn't reckless, I didn't have to worry about living expenses.
I inspected the Armana Wand as I walked. To a layman, it looked like a piece of grayish-brown wood with a rough gemstone shoved into it. But to someone with high mana perception, it would feel entirely different.
I’ll find the right time to give this to Kaya later.
I returned to the dorm, boxed the wand, and headed to my usual spot in the corner of the Butterfly Garden. Now that classes were over, it was time to train.
I took my seat and began my routine.
I feel like I’m going to level up today.
The anticipation was high. After some light stretching, I conjured [Frostfire] in both hands.
*
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 51!]
[You have gained 2 bonus stat points!]
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 51
Gender: Male
Year: 1st
Title: First-year
Mana: 680/1000
– Mana Recovery Speed (C-)
– Stamina (C+)
– Strength (C+)
– Intelligence (C-)
– Willpower (B+)
Potential ❰❰Details❱❱
[Combat Skills]
Elemental Series 1: Ice
– Elemental Firepower (C+)
– Elemental Efficiency (B-)
– Elemental Synergy (C+)
Elemental Series 2 (Locked)
[Owned Skills]
Active
– (★1) Ice Generation (B-) / (★5) Black Ice (B-)
– (★2) Ice Curtain (C+)
– (★1) Cold Divergence (B-)
– (★1) Basic Protection Magic (D)
– (★4) Frostfire (D+)
– (★4) Ice Wall (D+)
– (★5) Frost Explosion (D)
Passive
– (★7) Psychological Insight
Skill Tree ❰❰Details❱❱
[Unique Attributes]
– Hunter
Evening fell, and the night sky slowly began to swallow the sunset's glow.
The grass around me was frozen solid—the result of repeatedly casting [Frost Explosion], [Frostfire], and [Ice Wall] to raise their proficiency. I only used [Frost Explosion] once per cycle, as it drained a third of my total mana. However, proficiency gain was proportional to mana consumption, so it leveled up quickly despite the fewer casts.
I was in the middle of casting when the level-up window appeared.
Yes!
I was overjoyed. I had finally reached Level 51, the first major "power spike" zone. My mana pool had jumped to 1,000 in one go! My mana, which had only been increasing incrementally before, had now increased by half of my previous total.
[Frost Explosion] cost 200 mana per use. Previously, I could only use it three times before running dry; now, I could manage four or five. Furthermore, mana growth would now increase exponentially with every level.
The Isaac stock is about to skyrocket!
“Huh?”
As I was admiring my status, a new window overlapped it.
[You have obtained the passive skill [Demon Detection] through the effect of the unique trait [Hunter]!]
Right. The [Hunter] trait granted passive skills based on level. When I played the game, I had acquired the trait at a high level, so I hadn't realized there was a level requirement for this specific skill.
I opened the [Skill Tree] and checked the [Neutral] slot to activate [Demon Detection].
[Demon Detection (★5)]
Detects nearby demons and determines their identity. As you level up, the detection range increases.
Type: Passive Skill
Element: Neutral
Acquisition Conditions:
– Lv 51 (O)
– Possess Unique Trait [Hunter] (O)
I already knew where and when demons would appear based on the game's plot. However, I couldn't be certain they would always follow the script. [Demon Detection] would be an invaluable safety net.
I invested my two new stat points into [Physical Training Efficiency].
Balancing training and studying required immense stamina. Since I started investing in [Physical Training Efficiency], I had noticed a significant improvement in my endurance, which in turn boosted my overall training results. Since my [Magic Training Efficiency] was already Grade A, I could afford to focus on my physical stats for a while.
My goal was to become "Iron Man Isaac."
[Potential [Physical Training Efficiency] has been upgraded from B- to B!]
Good.
There were only three major events left in the first semester: the PvP tournament, familiar summoning, and the end-of-semester evaluations.
The PvP chapter in 「Act 3, Chapter 1」 was significant because it was when Ian Fairytale challenged Luce Eltania, revealing his light element to the school. There was no need for me to interfere there, as there were no "Bad End" flags attached to it.
Familiar summoning was also straightforward—a good power boost, but no crisis.
The reason these chapters were relatively peaceful was because the finale of the first semester—the Thunderbird Subjugation—was brutally difficult.
So far, the [Hunter] trait had allowed me to crush demons with ease, but I would truly have to put my life on the line for the final evaluation. Thunderbird Galia was just that powerful.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the level cap was 200, and Galia was Level 175. Even with the [Hunter] trait active, I would only be around Level 151 by then. In this world, the power gap between levels grew wider the higher you went. Defeating the Thunderbird in a straight fight was impossible.
The best I could do was avoid it. The real villain of that arc was “Vera the Summoner.” If I could take her out before the Thunderbird overwhelmed us, the crisis would end.
I have to train harder.
I slapped my cheeks with both hands to clear my head and focused. I brought my hands together, leaving a small gap between my palms.
Ice mana began to condense, flowing through the gap. The pale blue energy thickened into a dense mass. It gathered quietly, like the calm before a storm, glowing softly like moonlight in my hands.
To use [Frost Explosion] with my current stats, I needed time to charge it. It took about five seconds to condense enough mana for a standard blast. If I wanted more power, I had to hold it longer. Fifteen seconds was my current limit; any longer, and the mana would leak out and dissipate.
I visualized the magic circle for [Frost Explosion] in my mind. When the circle manifested in the air, the spell was ready.
The condensed blue mana began to rotate slowly, drawing in the surrounding cold air. I gripped the energy in my right hand and aimed at the empty air. The magic circle followed my movement. Just as I was about to fire—
“Nyaaahaha!!”
What was that? A scream?
No, it sounded like laughter.
My concentration shattered, and the condensed mana vanished. I looked up.
In the sunset sky, a female student was falling at a terrifying speed.
A witch’s hat was pressed firmly onto her head, a shawl draped over her shoulders, and the hem of her skirt fluttered wildly. Her long, light purple hair was tied at the very ends. From beneath the brim of her hat, I caught a glimpse of a face filled with pure joy.
Chararara—
A cluster of vibrant, beautiful starlight erupted from her feet, slowing her descent dramatically. She landed lightly on the grass in front of me.
As she touched down, the starlight faded away.
“Nyahahaha! Ah, that was so much fun~”
She had a cute, striking appearance and a bright, cheerful voice.
Oh my god…
For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. Since I was in the world of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I knew I’d run into her eventually, but I hadn't expected her to literally fall from the sky. It felt like bumping into a world-famous celebrity in a back alley.
“Hmm?”
She turned toward me, finally noticing my presence. Her eyes seemed to contain the entire universe, and her star-shaped pupils locked onto me.
[Dorothy Heartnova]
Lv: 180
Race: Human
Elements: Wind, Rock, Starlight
Danger: X
Psychology: [★☆★☆★☆★]
Officially, mages could only use two elements. The only exception was those who received the blessing of a fairy—like the girl standing before me.
She had formed a covenant with Stella, the Star Fairy, allowing her to use the unique element “Starlight.” It didn't belong to the standard elemental tree; it was in a league of its own.
That was why she was known as the “Star Witch,” one of the most powerful individuals in the entire academy.
“Huh, you’re a first-year.”
*
“What are you doing here?” she asked with a grin, straightening her witch hat.
It was Dorothy Heartnova—my favorite character.
