Chapter 246: King of the Dead Subjugation — Interlude (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 246: King of the Dead Subjugation — Interlude (3)
—Luce Eltania has overexerted herself.
As soon as I returned to Märchen Academy, an Imperial Knight informed me of what had happened.
I left the brief report of the situation to Alice Carroll, intending to relay the full details myself later. My priority was the people I cared about. I immediately ran to the Academy Hospital.
Luce, alongside Dorothy, had fought against the demon army and emerged victorious from a fierce battle against the Evil Dragon. However, the cost had been high. For someone with such an immense pool of mana to reach a state of total depletion, the strain must have been severe.
Thankfully, the treatment was successful. All she needed now was rest.
The Academy had provided Luce with a private room as a reward for defeating the Evil Dragon. When I opened the door, I saw her sitting on the bed, gazing out the window.
“Luce.”
Sunlight streamed through the glass, casting a golden glow over her rose-gold hair. She turned her head toward me. Her face wore its usual expressionless mask—the classic poker face.
But then, she reached out an arm toward me and formed a V-sign with her fingers—a sign of victory.
That gesture was a habit of Dorothy’s that I had often mimicked. Eventually, it had rubbed off on Luce as well. Seeing her do it now brought a wave of relief, and I couldn’t help but smile.
I approached her.
“How are you feeling…?”
As I moved to sit in the chair beside her bed, Luce suddenly grabbed my arm like a fisherman reeling in a prize catch.
“Whoa!”
She pulled me onto the bed. Caught completely off guard, I tumbled down beside her.
“Come here, Isaac.”
Her voice was soft, carrying the refined elegance of a highborn lady. That intimate tone tickled my ears.
“…What are you doing?”
“We haven’t seen each other for a while. I did as you asked, so I think it’s only right that I receive a reward.”
“And the reward is me?”
“Of course.”
Considering she usually wanted to be by my side every hour of every day, it made sense that she was feeling needy after our separation. Feeling awkward in my current position, I shifted to lie down properly next to her and looked into her eyes.
A faint breeze drifted through the open window. The subtle scent of her perfume and the warmth of her skin stirred my senses. It seemed Luce had done a bit of preparation before I arrived.
“How is your body?”
“I’m fine now,” Luce whispered, her gaze locked onto mine. “Isaac, I exhausted my mana fulfilling your request, so you have to take responsibility. You need to take good care of me now.”
“You just said you were fine.”
“I’m still feeling weak.”
“…Alright. How should I take care of you?”
“Feed me, tuck me into bed, hug me, cherish me…”
“Ask your maid for those things.”
“Why don’t you just become my butler, Isaac? That would solve everything.”
“Does that even make sense?”
“Or how about we wear handcuffs together? That way, we can never be apart.”
Luce whispered the suggestion teasingly, her voice dripping with a seductive edge. A shiver ran down my spine reflexively, but I quickly composed myself.
“I’m just kidding.”
Luce gave a faint smile, gently stroking the back of my neck and lightly rubbing her thumb against my ear. She played it off as a joke, but I knew better—Luce actually viewed being handcuffed together as a romantic dream. She was merely restraining herself for my sake.
“Isaac, I’ve been thinking while I was staying here.”
Still holding the back of my neck as if to prevent me from pulling away, Luce leaned her head close to my ear. Her intimate whisper enveloped me, making my body tremble, but I forced myself to suppress the reaction. Luce knew her voice was my weak spot and was exploiting it on purpose.
“What?”
“How about you try kidnapping me?”
What kind of nonsense is this?
I turned my head to look at her. She was looking down at me with a smile, clearly harboring dangerous thoughts. It was like the whisper of a devil; Luce’s voice possessed an inherent power to mesmerize.
It seemed she harbored some rather unwholesome desires. She clearly hadn't forgotten how it felt when I restrained her last year.
“Or we could do it the other way around.”
That’s even worse…
I gave her a stern look.
“Let’s stop with the unfunny jokes. That’s not something friends do.”
“We’re not friends.”
Her response was firm.
Her rose-gold hair fell forward, brushing her cheeks and casting a shadow over her eyes. Her fingers continued to softly caress the nape of my neck. Her aquamarine eyes, now strangely lifeless, gazed deep into mine.
“Do you still see me as just a ‘friend’?”
It was a whisper mixed with a deep sigh, as if to say, “You should know better by now.”
Luce’s feelings had been laid bare ever since it became clear that I was the Nameless Hero. There was no more confusion, no more hidden emotions. Her cold gaze was filled with profound affection and a twisted sort of longing. I didn't know how to respond.
A sweet yet menacing silence filled the room. Suddenly, a heavy pressure of mana brushed against my skin.
Chararang!
“…!”
A cluster of stars filled my vision. The flow of gravity acting on my body shifted in an instant. I was lifted by an invisible force, moved off the bed, and deposited naturally into the chair.
Realizing what was happening, Luce sat up and narrowed her eyes, glaring toward the window. I followed her gaze.
“Hey now, ‘friend,’ you shouldn’t be doing that!”
Perched by the window was Dorothy. She was squatting with her knees together like a strict elder scolding a child. She had apparently climbed in from the outside.
“Senior?”
Dorothy saw me and offered a playful smile.
“Heave-ho.”
Adjusting her witch’s hat, Dorothy hopped into the room and approached Luce. She wagged a finger as she began her lecture.
“Did you forget you’re a patient? You could get into serious trouble if you don’t maintain a proper distance from others! Patients need to focus on resting their minds and bodies.”
“…”
“Got it~?”
Luce glared at Dorothy in silence, her expression radiating dissatisfaction. As usual, Dorothy was far from being on Luce’s good side.
Ignoring Luce’s reaction, Dorothy turned to me with a bright smile.
“You’re here, President?”
She addressed me with the same title as before, even in front of Luce. I had missed her just as much as I’d missed Luce, and I couldn’t help but smile back.
After that, we talked about the recent events at the academy. We shared a short but pleasant conversation. Although Luce seemed annoyed by the intrusion, her expression softened whenever I smiled at her.
*
I reported the situation to Elena Woodline, the Headmistress of Märchen Academy. I needed to explain why the demons had marched on the school and what had triggered the assault.
I detailed the appearance of the Necromancer leading the horde, how I had defeated him, and the fact that the demon army’s march wasn't limited to the academy grounds. There was no reason to hide the truth, so I laid it all out.
I also reported to Magrio Halpent, the Vice-Commander of the 4th Order of Knights. My intention was to ensure the Imperial Knights felt a sense of debt for my efforts.
The evidence was overwhelming. With Baron Ropenheim being escorted to the capital, Viyans, a trial was imminent. Magrio bowed his head, expressing his gratitude on behalf of the Empire.
The children who had been held captive were sent to an orphanage, and Eve Ropenheim was scheduled to return to the academy once the investigation concluded. With the Ropenheim Barony in ruins, the academy was the only place left for Eve to go. She was the only family I had left, and there were many things we needed to discuss.
Then, an unexpected variable arose.
“A surprise attack?”
I met with Saintess Bianca Anturaze at the Academy Church. She explained the situation. Someone had intercepted the Church’s escort carriage and slaughtered all the human traffickers.
“Yes. Do you recall someone among those rescued who wore a red cloak?”
A red cloak. I remembered her. Her name was Michelle. She was the girl who had suddenly called me a prince from a fairy tale and claimed to have fallen in love at first sight, rambling on with startling bluntness.
“Yes, I remember her.”
“It seems she was the one who did it.”
She did?
“With a hand ax, no less.”
“A hand ax…?”
Could she really have had the strength to kill a group of grown men with a hand ax, given her small physique? Even if they were restrained, it was hard to believe. According to her status window, she was definitely just an ordinary girl.
Wielding a hand ax without sufficient strength usually results in injuring one's own hand. It was a common mistake for amateurs. Moreover, there were many targets; it was questionable if she even had the stamina to finish the job.
“My follower was both a victim and a witness, so it is no lie. He said he saw the killings with his own eyes.”
“What about the injured? How are the Church members and the other children?”
“They are safe. I heard they were all knocked out with great skill. She does not seem to be an ordinary person.”
“Then where is she now?”
“Regrettably, we do not know her whereabouts…”
Of course they wouldn't.
Suddenly, I recalled Michelle’s parting words.
—May the blessing of the incarnation be with you.
❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ was an RPG considered years ahead of its time. One of the reasons I had played it for so long without getting bored was the sheer abundance of hidden elements. Even up until the moment I possessed Isaac, players online speculated that not all the game's secrets had been uncovered.
Could Michelle be one of those hidden elements? I couldn't be sure. At the very least, if she were tied to the main story, the game wouldn't have left her identity so ambiguous. Realistically, it didn't seem wise to waste energy chasing her shadow.
However, I had to remain cautious.
*
“A demon was scheming something? And the Ice Sovereign stepped in to stop it?”
“That’s right, Sir Gerald.”
At the Astrea Duchy.
A shirtless Gerald Astrea stood in the training grounds, receiving a report from a family knight regarding the Ice Sovereign’s latest exploits.
A powerful demon leading an army of the dead, the treasonous Baron Ropenheim, and a demonic force that had crossed the kingdom’s borders—had it not been for the Ice Sovereign’s foresight, the realm would have faced a catastrophe. As expected, his abilities were those of a true archwizard. Gerald was deeply impressed.
Whenever news of the Ice Sovereign reached him, Gerald pondered how to repay the debt he owed for the resolution of the demon incident in the Astrea Duchy the previous year.
That evening, during dinner, Gerald spoke up.
“Kaya.”
“Yes, Father!”
Gerald, Historia, and Kaya Astrea were dining together. At Gerald’s call, Kaya put down her utensils and straightened her posture, responding with disciplined precision.
On Kaya’s plate was a piece of well-cooked monster meat. Gerald didn't understand why she wanted such low-quality, nutrient-poor food, but she had insisted on trying it, so he had granted the request.
Putting that aside, Gerald asked in a serious tone.
“By any chance, are you acquainted with the Ice Sovereign?”
“…!!”
Since Kaya attended Märchen Academy, he figured she might have crossed paths with him. He was looking for ideas on how to settle his debt, and naturally, he hoped his daughter had built a favorable connection with such a powerful figure. What parent wouldn't want their child to have such influential ties?
But for some reason… Kaya’s face began to turn bright red.
“Well, we do have… some connection…”
Kaya’s eyes darted to the side, her cheeks flushing a deep crimson. Her voice trembled; she had always been terrible at hiding her emotions. As usual, she was nervous around her father, but hearing the name of the person she liked come from his mouth made her die of embarrassment. It was the clumsy reaction of a first love.
“Oh, my?”
Historia, quickly grasping the situation, covered her mouth in amusement. Gerald didn't miss the reaction either. It was entirely unexpected, and his eyes widened in surprise.
“Oho…”
Gerald’s eyes sparkled with newfound interest. If Kaya reacted like that, the situation had changed completely. Understanding his daughter’s romantic interests was a significant matter, quite separate from repaying a benefactor.
An awkward silence settled over the table. Kaya, glancing around nervously, stabbed a piece of monster meat with her fork and stuffed it into her mouth.
“I suppose I should pay a visit to Märchen Academy.”
“Cough! Hack!”
Kaya choked on her food, coughing violently at Gerald’s sudden declaration.