Chapter 283: To Aldreque (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 283: To Aldreque (1)
It was late at night. I lay in bed at Charles Hall, drifting toward sleep.
I opened the status window and checked the [Unique Trait] tab.
[Nightfalls’ Edge]…
The unique trait [Nightfalls’ Edge]. In gaming terms, it was a "hidden piece."
Its primary effect was dealing effective damage to fairies. The exposure to Snow White’s mana had finally paid off, manifesting as a tangible power.
For someone like me, who wielded elemental magic in a standard manner, fighting fairies was an uphill battle without a trait like this.
I obtained it sooner than expected.
Well, getting it early didn’t necessarily make it more powerful. It just provided a sense of security—a safety net for the future.
If Ian had obtained this trait, it would have functioned as a pure attack power buff.
As the protagonist, Ian already possessed Divine Power and the fairy’s blessing passed down through the Fairytale family. He could land effective hits on fairies even without [Nightfalls’ Edge]. For him, this trait would have simply been a multiplier.
Tap, tap.
Suddenly, a sharp sound echoed from the window.
I turned my head. A bird-type magic beast wearing a small satchel was peck-peck-pecking at the glass with its long beak.
V?
V. It was the specialized courier used for urgent correspondence.
I waved my hand to dismiss the status window, climbed out of bed, and headed toward the window. When I slid it open, V reached into its bag with its beak and pulled out a letter.
After taking the letter, I signed the receipt form V held out. The bird nodded in satisfaction, flapped its wings, and took off from the windowsill.
What is this?
The seal of the Tower Master of Hegel was stamped firmly on the envelope.
Did Aria send this?
She wasn't the type to send letters just to check in on me. Either something had gone wrong with her secret research, or there was something urgent she needed to report.
I tore open the envelope and pulled out the parchment. The message was blunt and brief.
[I am sending this letter to share some information I have discovered. There is both good news and bad news.]
No greetings, no pleasantries. She went straight to the point. I was used to it; Aria never bothered with formalities.
[The good news is that I have found a way to widen the Nether rift. It is now large enough for you to enter.
The bad news is that you cannot widen the rift at a time of your choosing.
I will come to you soon once I have gathered more precise information. We can discuss the details then.]
The letter ended there.
I examined the paper thoroughly and even tried to sense any lingering mana, but there was nothing hidden.
I can widen the rift, but the timing is out of my control?
In other words, the window to enter the Nether would be forced upon me.
Aria knew I couldn't recklessly visit the Hegel Magic Tower while Vuel was around. If Vuel discovered a rift leading to the Nether, there was no telling what he might do. That was likely why Aria mentioned she would come to me when the situation allowed.
For now, I had no choice but to wait.
When the time is right, she’ll find me.
*
The lush green leaves gradually bled into shades of crimson. As the rains passed and the summer heat subsided, the crisp air of autumn began to emerge.
A few weeks later, morning arrived.
At the gates of Märchen Academy, a long line of academy carriages stood waiting. Today was the day we departed for Aldreque, the city hosting the Academy Clash.
Students in crisp uniforms boarded their assigned carriages. Those chosen to compete took the lead row, while the students attending as spectators filled the remaining line.
“I’m… in that one.”
The slip I had received from the faculty had the number '4' written on it.
I located carriage number four in the front row. Having passed the selection test, I had earned my right to participate in the Academy Clash. Given my current level, it was only natural; it would have been more surprising if I hadn't been picked.
“Senior Isaac?”
A soft, melodic voice called out from behind me.
I stopped and turned. A girl with hair the color of black pearls came into view. It was Priestess Miya.
“Miya?”
Seemingly pleased that I remembered her name, Miya clasped her hands behind her back and offered a bright smile.
“What carriage number are you in?”
“Number four. But you don’t really need to know that, do you? We aren’t riding together.”
The fact that Miya was standing among the spectator carriages meant she wasn't competing.
“If I know your carriage number, I can keep track of where you are on the way to Aldreque, right?” Miya responded, absentmindedly swirling her fingers in the air.
I couldn't tell if the gesture meant anything. It seemed like a meaningless, idle habit.
“And what exactly are you going to do with that information?”
“Just because.”
There doesn’t seem to be any sinister intent… Just simple curiosity or a gesture of friendliness, I guess?
After spending so much time around Luce, I had developed a bad habit of assuming every cryptic word hid a dark motive. It didn’t help that Mei’s annoying face and voice were still burned into my memory.
Miya, however, was what people called a "natural" type; her way of thinking wasn't particularly complex or layered.
“And also…” Miya stepped closer, cupping her hand near her mouth to whisper softly. “Senior Isaac, aren’t you a bit too busy? When are we ever going to have a proper chat?”
“Sorry. Next time, when I have a moment.”
“I’m having a hard time waiting, though.”
So she’s the whining type, too…
“I’ve heard so much about you from Mae. I’ve really been looking forward to talking with you, Isaac.”
Mae was her familiar, the Nine-tailed Fox. It had been a while since I’d heard that name.
“As soon as you can, please. Is that a promise?”
“…Yeah.”
I nodded reluctantly.
She’s going to be one of my comrades eventually, so I should probably try to make our future conversations a bit more lively.
“I hope the wait is worth it. Well then, take care!”
Miya stepped back, gave me a final smile, and cheerfully walked away.
With Mei’s image constantly surfacing in my mind, I still couldn't fully get used to Miya. Lingering doubts filled my head—could anyone really be this gentle?
I ignored Luce, who was lurking behind a nearby carriage and shooting daggers at Miya and me with her eyes, and headed toward carriage number four. No matter how cute she was, experience told me it was best to avoid Luce when she was in that state.
“Ouch!”
I accidentally stepped on a girl’s foot as she popped out from behind the carriage. We bumped into each other, and she let out a sharp yelp. I quickly pulled my foot back.
“Sorry, are you okay?”
“Ugh… Oh? Senior Isaac?”
The girl, Taryn Bartin, had been hunched over groaning in pain, but she gasped in surprise the moment she saw me. She was an exchange student in the Magic Department, just like Miya. Her eyes sparkled with unmistakable admiration.
“Huh?”
I didn't quite understand the reaction.
“Taryn Bartin, over here! Quickly!”
“Oh, yes! Senior Isaac, see you later!”
At the supervisor’s call, Taryn quickly excused herself and hurried past.
Taryn Bartin. She wasn’t a particularly significant character in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
Is Noah participating in the tournament because of her?
I suddenly remembered that Noah Bartin, the user of iron mana, was motivated by his younger sister. I hadn’t thought much of it before because it seemed trivial.
My main reason for entering the Academy Clash was, of course, the EXP. However, I had a secondary goal.
I need to face Noah properly.
A clash with Noah Bartin. If I fought Noah after he unlocked his true power, it would be the perfect practice for handling iron magic before I had to face the Iron Fairy, Rachnil.
I ignored Luce, who was still watching Taryn and me from the shadows, and finally reached carriage number four.
My traveling companions…
Among the students, one had been chosen as a supervisor—the "goddess" herself, Dorothy. It would have been a dream to have her as a companion for the ride. I could have enjoyed the view all the way to Aldreque.
Ah, that would have been bliss…
…But such a miracle was unlikely. I’d be satisfied if my companions weren't awkward to be around.
I nodded politely to the coachman and pulled open the carriage door.
“Oh, isn’t it Senior Isaac?!”
“Abel?”
There were three people inside. One was Abel Carnedas, Ciel’s younger brother. He greeted me with an excited grin.
“Hello.”
The second was a girl with light green hair and a frosty demeanor—Roanna Shelton. She gave a stiff bow, and I nodded back. She was one of the students I had swept aside during the joint practical evaluation. If White were here, the set would be complete.
The problem was the third person.
“Good to see you, Isaac.”
Instructor Ronzainus, his brown hair perfectly styled, greeted me with a knowing smirk.
Just my luck. It had to be him.
“Is it possible to switch carriages…?”
“That would be difficult, according to the rules,” Ron replied, clearly enjoying himself.
Since he was a substitute professor, it seemed he had been drafted as a supervisor. While I didn't think he’d try anything shady with witnesses present, just being trapped in a confined space with "Instructor Ron" was enough to make my skin crawl.
“Oh, come on, Senior Isaac! Don’t be like that!” Abel urged with a cheerful, oblivious smile.
Even with Abel—who possessed the Heavenly Clock—and Ron in the same carriage, there shouldn't be any immediate issues. Once the "second phase of time" had begun, no one could stop the scheduled release of power from the Heavenly Clock.
Besides, Ron’s twisted beliefs meant he likely wouldn’t harm anyone but me. At least for now.
“Why aren’t you getting in? Hurry up.”
“Yeah, yeah…”
As Ron urged me, I adjusted my glasses and flashed a polite, hollow smile.
According to Cheshire’s reports, Ron hadn’t shown any suspicious behavior since arriving at the academy. He was well-liked by the student body and gave excellent lectures, earning him a reputation as the perfect instructor.
I sighed inwardly and climbed into the carriage.
Thud.
The seat sank noticeably as I sat down. The coachman glanced back, looking puzzled.
“Hm?”
““…?””
Abel and Roanna also looked around, noticing the sudden tilt of the carriage.
It was because of my clothes. My outfit was a magic tool that increased its weight in proportion to the mana infused into it. I had dialed back the mana earlier to adjust the weight, but it was still far heavier than a normal person.
The coachman scratched his head before turning back to the horses.
“Senior Isaac, did you… maybe overeat this morning?”
Roanna smacked Abel on the back of the head before he could finish the stupid question.
*
At the gates of Bethel Academy, carriages were lined up in perfect order.
Noah Bartin, a student with ash-gray hair tied back and eyes like a dead fish, boarded one of the carriages. The girls who had been chatting nearby went silent the moment he appeared, beginning to whisper among themselves.
“Why does it have to be him…?”
“He’s so creepy, I can't stand it…”
Noah heard them, but he simply fixed his gaze out the window. Being rejected was nothing new; it was his daily reality. To him, their insults were no different from the chirping of birds or the sound of a stream.
“Alright, is everyone here? No one forgot anything?”
“Yes!”
The instructor acting as the supervisor boarded the carriage and sat next to Noah. Noah gave him a brief glance before looking back at the scenery.
“Heh, this kid is as gloomy as ever.”
“Instructor… my hair…”
The instructor laughed heartily and reached over to roughly ruffle Noah’s hair. Noah grumbled irritably as he tried to straighten it.
The instructor was genuinely curious about the boy's motives. When Noah’s name had appeared on the list of participants for the Academy Clash, the entire student body of Bethel Academy had been stunned.
In terms of public perception, he was the weakest. He had barely scraped through the qualification process. If more talented students had applied, there would have been no room for him. At a prestigious event where the top academies competed, no one wanted their school to be humiliated.
Noah had to have known he wasn't welcome. Yet, contrary to his usual passive self, he had shown a sudden, fierce determination to participate.
“…I think my younger sister might be there.”
“Your sister?”
“Taryn Bartin. She’s currently at Märchen Academy.”
Noah figured there was a high chance she would attend as a spectator.
“At the very least, as her older brother… it felt wrong to miss an event like this.”
Though his sister picked a fight with him every chance she got, Noah wanted to show her that he was trying. He felt it was his duty as an older brother.
The instructor chuckled softly. “I won’t knock a guy who’s giving it his all. Since you’re a participant, make sure you leave everything out there.”
“…Yes.”
Noah responded flatly and turned back to the window.
The man with iron mana. Because he suppressed his power, even he wasn't fully aware of its depth. There was a truth no one at Bethel Academy knew yet:
Noah Bartin was, in fact, the strongest student they had.
*
Meanwhile, at Raizel Academy.
Inside the lead carriage heading toward Aldreque, a student hesitated before finally speaking up.
“Hans, I’ve been wondering if I should say this…”
“What is it?”
“Do you really think the 'Ice Sovereign' from Märchen Academy is going to compete? If the rumors are true, no one will be able to touch him… not even you, Hans.”
“He has to participate,” Hans replied. He was one of a pair of twins sitting side-by-side. He leaned his chin on his hand, staring out the window. “That’s the only reason this tournament is even worth our time.”
“Huh?”
“When my brother and I team up, we’re unbeatable. No matter who the opponent is, we don’t lose.”
Exceptional talent wasn't exclusive to Märchen Academy. Other prestigious institutions had their own monsters.
The McGregor twins, the pride of Raizel Academy, were eagerly awaiting their showdown with the Ice Sovereign.