Chapter 276: Academy Excursion (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 276: Academy Excursion (2)
The Evil God Nephid was destined to resurrect during the end-of-semester evaluation of the third year's second semester.
Having already dealt with Mephisto’s army and the Abyss—events originally slated for the first semester of the third year—it was safe to say this journey was entering its final stages.
“Ughhhhhh….”
During the second semester of the second year, the key events to watch for were the excursion program and the Academy Clash. An important figure would arrive during the excursion, and the 「Fairy War」 was set to break out during the Academy Clash.
“Ugh, aaack…”
Once I obtained the second 8-star familiar contract circle, I had to finalize a contract with the Stone Turtle Gormos.
When I first organized my plans, the finish line seemed a lifetime away, but now I could feel the end approaching.
“Haaaa…”
White’s mana, which had been intertwining with mine, suddenly subsided. Exhausted, White looked ready to collapse like a corpse.
I quickly withdrew my mana and supported her back.
“Are you okay?”
“I-I feel like I’m going to die…” White whimpered in a hoarse voice, clearly pushed to her limit.
For emergency treatment, I pulled out a pudding bar and tore the wrapper open with my teeth. I held the bouncy treat out to the side.
Swoosh!
Merlin blurred past at an incredible speed, the wind roaring in her wake. In an instant, a third of the pudding bar vanished.
“Open your mouth.”
“Ah…”
When White complied, I popped the pudding bar into her mouth. Her expression melted as she savored the flavor.
We went through this routine at the end of every mentoring session. It was essentially training mana circulation using a magic tool. However, since my mana constantly re-established the routes, White had to navigate a brand-new circulation path every time she completed a cycle.
As expected, White always struggled and whimpered, but by the end of each session, she could feel her skills improving and left satisfied.
Once White finished her snack, we headed back to the dorms. Dusk had already fallen, and the streetlights were beginning to illuminate the path.
“You did great, Princess White. I can support you if you’d like.”
“It’s fine, Merlin… I can’t ask for help with something like this…!”
White leaned on her staff, grumbling weakly as she walked. Seeing the seventeen-year-old struggling reminded me of my own position last year. Even while on the verge of tears, she tried to handle everything on her own. It was admirable.
But it was time to stop coddling her.
“White.”
“Yeees…?”
“Starting tomorrow, we won’t have much time for training.”
“What?”
“I’ll only be helping you with mana circulation like we did earlier.”
White stopped in her tracks. Merlin and I followed suit.
“W-why all of a sudden…?”
It was time for White to become independent. I just needed to ensure she was training properly and had the opportunity to interact with her own mana.
“You’ve got the hang of it now, right? Continually holding your hand through every step is only going to hinder your growth.”
The mentoring quota had already been exceeded, and White knew it as well. She looked like a baby bird, terrified of leaving the nest to fly on its own for the first time.
I stood directly in front of her.
“Do you think you can’t do it without me?”
“That’s not it…! It’s just… No, I’m sorry for being stubborn…”
White lowered her head, tapping the ground with her staff before walking past me. I caught a fleeting expression of deep regret on her face.
Merlin approached me and whispered in my ear, “Sir Isaac, please understand. Princess White truly enjoys the time she spends with you. Despite how she acts, she has no one else at the academy she can truly confide in.”
A deep-seated distrust of humanity.
It was different from Luce’s hatred or Dorothy’s subtle wariness that kept everyone at arm's length. White’s own biological mother had secretly tried to have her assassinated. Fear, betrayal, and hatred were rooted deep in her core.
In the midst of that trauma, I had managed to get close to her by using my knowledge of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. For White, the time we spent together held a very special significance.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to persuade her.”
“Yes… please do.”
“Well, then.”
After Merlin quickly responded to White’s request, she hurried after her. I watched White’s retreating figure for a moment before quietly following behind.
*
The excursion program had assembled a total of five participants. Among them, the key figure was undoubtedly the Priestess.
Although the official list of participants hadn't been disclosed, rumors of escorts and exchange students from Horan had already spread like wildfire through the academy.
“I heard the real Priestess has arrived.”
“I heard that too. But what happened to the fake one?”
“No one knows.”
“That was a massive incident. It could have led to an execution, right? At the very least, she must have met a gruesome end.”
The exchange students were set to follow a tight schedule for a few weeks before staying at the academy for the second semester.
Miya, the Priestess, was someone I considered a potential member of the Evil God Slayers. I would need to speak with her privately soon.
*
In the Class A classroom, Professor Philip Meltron, who was leading the second-morning lecture, made an announcement before starting the lesson.
“You all know that the Academy Clash will be held in a month, correct?”
❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ 「Act 11, Academy Clash」.
It was a grand stage for duels, gathering the best from various academies. Even those who weren't participating could attend as spectators under the academy’s guidance.
As the name “Act 11” suggested, it was a major official scenario. It was during this event that the 「Fairy War」 would break out.
“It’s one of the Empire's largest events, held once every three years. We’ll begin accepting applications shortly. Participants will be selected through a competition, so keep that in mind if you’re planning to enter.”
“Kugh, finally…”
From the back seat, I heard Lisetta’s low, excited cheer. As a battle maniac, she had clearly been waiting for this.
While Märchen Academy was considered the finest in the Empire, it didn't mean every single powerhouse was gathered here. Other academies had their own hidden monsters tucked away in various corners. It was just like the top universities back home—geniuses were spread out across the board, not just concentrated in one place.
“Also, as you know, the excursion program is underway. Today’s lecture will include two exchange students.”
“Exchange students?”
Lisetta reacted again. It seemed she was the only one who hadn't heard the news.
Of the five exchange students at Märchen Academy, two were aspiring mages. They were here to experience a second-year Class A lecture under the faculty's guidance. They had already sat in on a first-year lecture this morning; now it was our turn.
“Let them in.”
Two girls entered the classroom.
The first, a girl with neatly styled ash-colored hair named Taryn Bartin, glanced at me and immediately blushed, lowering her gaze.
Is it because of what happened two days ago?
She seemed like a typical adolescent girl.
Beside her stood a gentle-looking girl with long, sleek black hair that exuded a mysterious aura.
Miya
Lv: 167
Race: Human
Elements: Fire
Danger: X
The true Priestess. Her talent for magic wasn't just exceptional—it was overwhelming.
With every step, her black-pearl hair swayed, catching the light on her golden earrings. Her every movement projected an air of intense intelligence.
Miya glanced at me and offered a bright smile. It felt as if a fresh floral breeze had suddenly filled the room. The Class A students were visibly stunned to see her among the exchange students.
“This is Taryn Bartin, and the other is Miya. I’m sure you all remember the incident during the Grand Festival last semester. This girl had nothing to do with that. They look identical because they are twin sisters.”
“They look exactly the same…”
Surprisingly, Ciel wasn't sleeping. She muttered to herself, eyes wide. Is her 'rehabilitation' still ongoing?
As Miya walked into the room, I noticed a slight awkwardness in her otherwise graceful stride. It seemed she hadn't fully recovered enough to move with perfect fluidity yet.
“Now, you two may sit wherever you feel comfortable.”
With only five regular students in the classroom, there were plenty of empty seats. After bowing to Professor Philip, Miya and Taryn climbed the steps to find their places.
Taryn glanced at me and sat nearby, seemingly too shy to sit directly next to me.
But Miya was different.
“Hello, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Hmm?”
“May I sit here?”
Without a moment's hesitation, Miya approached me and offered a gentle greeting.
“Sure, I don’t mind.”
“Hehe.”
She sat down beside me with a graceful flourish.
A heavy silence fell over the classroom. Kaya looked stunned, Ciel was curious, Lisetta frowned, and Taryn stared at Miya in utter bewilderment.
Of all the empty seats, she had chosen the one right next to me.
I had known for a while that the seat next to mine had become an unspoken "no-go zone" due to the invisible power struggle between the top-ranked Luce and the second-ranked Kaya. Miya had completely ignored that dynamic.
Luce’s gaze slowly drifted toward us. Her lifeless blue eyes fixed on Miya with an ominous intensity. The classroom was suddenly thick with a tense, suffocating pressure—a silent command for Miya to move.
However, Miya just kept smiling brightly. The sheer radiance she emitted seemed to dispel Luce’s oppressive aura entirely.
That radiance was born of her innocence—or rather, her complete lack of common sense. Although she had been betrayed by her own sister, Mei, Miya had spent years wandering in a dream world, unable to experience the reality of the world. The purity of her childhood had yet to fade.
The current Priestess was immune to Luce’s hostility, simply because she was entirely unaware of it.
“Uhm… let’s begin the class.”
Sensing the sudden, volatile shift in the atmosphere, Professor Philip broke out in a cold sweat and hurried to start the lesson.