Chapter 268: Council of Kings (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 268: Council of Kings (4)
[Enough.]
The Fire Sovereign, Andersen Versando, scolded the Water Sovereign, Siren Silivian, and the Wind Sovereign, Erin Campbell, his voice causing the very air in the room to vibrate.
He let out a soft sigh and turned his attention back to me.
[The second matter I wish to discuss is your objective.]
“My objective?”
[Why are you staying at the Zelver Empire’s academy? What are your true intentions?]
When the Water Sovereign spoke, it felt like a lively newcomer had joined a gathering of elders. But when the Fire Sovereign spoke, the atmosphere shifted instantly into that of a solemn hearing.
“I simply wish to attend the academy in peace, without causing any trouble.”
[It seems you are reluctant to reveal the truth.]
“I’m not lying. I have no hidden malice toward any of you.”
I reached up and adjusted my glasses.
[That does not necessarily mean your intentions are good. Are you saying this is not a matter for us to discuss at this time?]
Even though he was manifested as a flickering flame, I could feel his piercing, judgmental gaze.
“Knowing this much should be sufficient.”
It was better not to delve too deep. I hadn’t built enough trust with the Elemental Kings yet, and I could sense that they didn’t even fully trust one another.
Ideally, I would recruit them into the Evil God Slayers, but simply being part of this meeting meant the odds were already shifting in my favor. Revealing all my cards now would be a premature, losing move.
[Let me rephrase the question.]
The Fire Sovereign backed down. They hadn’t invited me to the Council of Kings just to antagonize me; creating unnecessary friction would only work against them. Andersen didn't seem like the type to take such a pointless risk.
[Since last year, there has been a string of demon incidents, the Alice Carroll incident, and most recently, the Dorothy Heartnova rampage... You were the one who resolved every single one of them. Can we assume that preventing such catastrophes is the reason you remain at the academy?]
What a roundabout way to ask.
I nodded.
Beyond what the Fire Sovereign mentioned, I had already given the Elemental Kings the impression that I was someone who would protect those dear to me during the 「Alice Subjugation」. Maintaining that image of "normalcy" supported my stated reason for staying at the academy.
[So, were you able to foresee every incident that has occurred thus far?]
“Yes.”
[Understood.]
I couldn't tell what they were thinking, but seeing them drop the subject, it was clear they had no intention of pursuing a hostile interrogation.
[Then lastly, the third issue—]
[I’ll handle that.]
The Wind Sovereign Erin Campbell’s wind avatar interrupted.
[There is something I wish to discuss with you.]
“Then why don’t you come out and speak to me directly?”
[…What?]
I had noticed it a while ago.
“You’re right there, aren’t you?”
I pointed toward the space behind a nearby pillar. She was there.
[Psychological Insight] didn't work on Elemental Kings. If someone like the Wind Sovereign was hiding, I had no way of knowing her motives, which naturally made me uneasy. I judged it safer to force her to reveal herself while the other Kings were present.
[Haa, I had a feeling this would happen…]
The Water Sovereign let out a dry, amused laugh.
[I see.]
[Hmm.]
The Lightning Sovereign Jaul and the Fire Sovereign Andersen looked at me. They seemed more surprised that I had detected her presence than by the fact that she was hiding in the first place.
Since they were only present via avatars, their usual mana perception was dampened. They had likely only guessed she might be physically present.
Did they have some private conversation about this?
[Not bad.]
Whooooo—
The pale green wind dissipated, and a figure emerged from behind the dark pillar.
It was a young girl with dark green hair that was almost black. She wore an eyepatch over one eye and was dressed like a professional hunter. Her visible eye, swirling with wind mana, locked onto me.
“I suppressed my mana to the absolute limit. I thought I was perfectly hidden… Impressive,” the Wind Sovereign complimented bluntly.
Aichel was momentarily startled, not having realized the Wind Sovereign was physically in the room, but she quickly regained her composure.
The reason the Sovereign's level appeared as '1' was because she was suppressing her maximum mana.
Did she account for Archwizard-level perception?
I only knew she was there because her status window had popped up. I met her gaze calmly.
But when did she start hiding there?
It was clear she had been in the mansion long before I arrived at the Whiteclark Estate. Otherwise, I would have noticed her much sooner.
She knew I was coming today and lay in wait.
In other words, she had been monitoring my movements from a range beyond my detection. It was an unsettling thought.
[You’re quite the sneaky one, Campbell. I wanted to meet the Ice Sovereign in person too…! You’re so selfish!]
“You only want to do inappropriate things with the Ice Sovereign, you pervert.”
[D-don’t slander me! That’s not true at all!]
Erin Campbell glared at the Water Sovereign with eyes like daggers before taking the seat where her avatar had been.
I looked at her and asked, “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to see you again in person. I still have doubts about your abilities.”
Erin Campbell fidgeted with her hunter’s hat.
“I’ve never seen you fight. I’ve only seen the aftermath. All I perceive from you is a mana pool far smaller than expected—even in situations where you have no reason to hide your capacity.”
“With perception skills like that, it’s no wonder you have doubts.”
In the end, her misunderstanding worked in my favor. But it was time to move on.
“So? What is it you want to talk about?”
“Recently, you dealt with a demon army in the wastelands of the Zelver Empire, correct?”
The wastelands. She was referring to the time I subjugated the King of the Dead.
“How did you know about that?”
“I heard it through the wind.”
“Excuse me?”
“You don’t seem to understand. The wind is free; it goes everywhere. I can hear what the wind sees and hears. It is easy for me to learn of the anomalies occurring in this world.”
“Is that so…”
It sounded absurd, but coming from her, it felt strangely plausible.
So that’s the level of a Wind Sovereign, huh? The standards for Elemental Kings are insane.
“Does that battle have anything to do with the demon subjugation at Märchen Academy?”
“What if it does?”
“I’m asking because the timing is far too convenient,” Erin Campbell said, her voice devoid of emotion. “I’ve noticed the movements of the fairies have been unusual lately. Do you believe it’s related to the demons?”
I hadn't anticipated the fairies being brought up.
The second semester of the second year in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱—the 「Fairy War」.
The fairies who failed to stop Rachnil, the Iron Fairy, were likely gathering their strength to oppose him. The time was indeed drawing near.
So they know about the fairies’ movements too.
In the original game, the Elemental Kings had no involvement in the 「Fairy War」. The stage was the Zelver Empire, and the Kings likely just watched to see how the Empire would handle it.
In other words, I couldn't expect their help to resolve the 「Fairy War」 scenario. If I tried to recruit them, they would realize I was using them for my own ends, which wouldn't go over well.
“I don’t know the specifics. I’m not omniscient.”
“…”
The Wind Sovereign stared at me, seemingly trying to peer into my soul, but eventually, she sighed and leaned back in her chair.
“That’s a pity.”
With that, she fell silent.
*
The rest of the meeting was uneventful.
There were a few more flirtatious remarks from the Water Sovereign and some probing questions from the Fire Sovereign to gauge my character, while the Lightning and Wind Sovereigns remained silent. It was a quiet end to my informal introduction.
Once the greetings were finished, the avatars vanished, leaving only Erin Campbell, Aichel Whiteclark, and me at the roundtable.
I considered saying something but decided against it and stood up. I wasn't close to the Wind Sovereign and had no intention of getting cozy with her. It was time to leave.
“One more question.”
The Wind Sovereign spoke up. She stood and walked toward me.
“…”
She looked up at me silently. Her expression was as wooden as a puppet’s, but her eyes, glowing with wind mana, held a subtle weight. It seemed she was finally ready to reveal the real reason she was here.
“Who are you?”
The question was sudden. Who am I? It was a question I heard often due to the nature of my transmigration, but why now?
The Wind Sovereign glanced at my chest.
“The others must have noticed it too. There is something inside you that shouldn’t be there.”
“I know.”
“You do?”
She was clearly talking about the multi-eyed creature Dorothy had mentioned. I was aware of it, but I didn't know what it was. My only lead was that it was likely related to the game’s developer, Higgs.
“If you’re asking what it is, don’t bother. I don’t know either.”
I tried to brush past her, but her next words stopped me cold.
“That thing... it was supposed to be the result of Dorothy Heartnova’s rampage.”
“…”
I struggled to maintain my composure. I couldn't fully process what I had just heard. I turned back to look at her.
“You know that Dorothy Heartnova is the second holder of starlight mana in history.”
According to the records I’d found in this world, there were only two known holders of starlight mana. This wasn't mentioned in the ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ setting book. The game couldn't possibly cover every scrap of lore or history in this world, and records of fairy contracts weren't essential to the main plot. I had simply accepted it as flavor text.
“Those who wield unique powers separate from the common elements are called fairies. They are all mysterious, but the most enigmatic is Stella, the Star Fairy, who commands the power of starlight.”
The Wind Sovereign turned her head slightly, hiding her face from me.
“The first holder of starlight mana vanished one day without a trace. Natural disasters ravaged the world around that time. Dorothy Heartnova’s rampage was likely caused by the overuse of starlight mana. Do you understand what this implies?”
“…”
“Stella… might be a damned bitch.”
The Wind Sovereign turned fully toward me, though her eye remained hidden by the patch.
“My question about the fairies' movements was in that context.”
“…”
“You… you care for Dorothy Heartnova, don't you? As a man cares for a woman.”
“I do.”
“In that case, aren’t you also chasing the Star Fairy?”
“If that’s what you’re getting at, there’s no need to talk further.”
The Star Fairy who saved Dorothy Gale in the Land of Oz. In this long game against the Evil God, Dorothy had been preordained to sacrifice herself against the Floating Island. This meant it was highly likely that Stella, who had granted Dorothy her power, was a player in this game.
If I survived and reached the end of this journey, I would find out.
“Because I believe I’ll meet her one day.”
Leaving those words behind, I walked away. The Wind Sovereign didn't try to stop me again.
Aichel bowed deeply as I passed. I left the basement with her.
It was time to return to Märchen Academy.