Chapter 33: Luce (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 33: Luce (1)
The academy issued a formal statement to the students after the dueling evaluations concluded. They claimed to be investigating the cause of the frequent demon appearances and promised to implement the best safety measures to ensure no students were harmed.
The curriculum proceeded as normal, as if nothing had happened. A few students protested, claiming the academy was hiding something and demanding the truth, but they were in the minority.
‘Of course, this situation isn't logical.’
An existence threatening people's lives had appeared multiple times, yet the academy was returning to business as usual despite a student and a professor nearly dying. Even if demons were regarded as natural disasters, it didn't make sense.
In reality, however, the board of directors, the principal, and the faculty were working day and night to bring the situation under control. Unless they had been living under a rock, every student knew that much.
But by the end of the first semester of the first year—during the Thunderbird Subjugation—the matter would escalate beyond their control, eventually forcing the Imperial Knights to intervene.
That event would serve as the catalyst to bring together the so-called ‘Golden Generation.’ This group included a relatively insignificant princess, a saintess who wielded divine power (Physical), and a sociopathic priestess from the East. The princess had planned to enter the school from the start; the saintess came out of a sense of justice to face the darkness of the world... no, actually, it was because of her love for winning. And then there was the priestess, who had a plan of her own.
I wasn't certain, but it seemed those with special status or high birth tended to have a peculiar way of thinking. If I survived, the Golden Generation would eventually become my juniors.
‘But that’s for later…’
What mattered now was that the original story had been drastically twisted.
During the dueling evaluation, the final boss of Act 6, Scene 3—Leafa the Illusive—had appeared. Because of his loose lips, he had leaked crucial information to Professor Fernando.
The existence of a ‘mole.’
How did I, a commoner, know about this? Naturally, I found out by observing the academy's key staff through [Psychological Insight]. Their status windows detailed thoughts like: ‘Worried about the future because the demons have a mole at the academy.’
In that case, I had to prepare for an IF scenario—one where the truth about Alice being the ‘mastermind’ is revealed much sooner than in the original timeline.
For the record, even Dorothy’s [All in the World] couldn't discover that Alice was the one pulling the strings from the shadows. This was due to Alice’s unique trait, [Red Queen’s Paradox].
In short, no one could read Alice’s psychology or true essence.
‘Anyway, I have to prepare for the possibility of Alice’s identity being exposed early…’
「Rock Collapse (Rock Element, ★4)」
Koooong───!!
“Ugghh!!”
Aaaahh!!
It hurts!!
“I-I thought I told you to keep it moderate! Nothing higher than 3-stars...!”
Yellow, glowing boulders slammed into my body, crashing into one another and triggering an explosion of mana. The impact sent me tumbling across the grass before I slammed hard into a tree.
Whew, that was a surprise…
I groaned, managing to push my upper body up. The being that had knocked me off my feet was a small golem, currently tilting its head in confusion. Its body was made of solid stone that looked incredibly durable.
It was my 3-star rock element familiar, Eden.
[Kyuu─?]
Don’t try to act cute by tilting your head. It doesn't suit you.
[Eden]
Lv: 48
Race: Magic Beast
Elements: Rock
Danger: X
Psychology: [Wants to look cute to you. Kyuu.]
Two days ago, I had the opportunity to summon a familiar during ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ 「Act 3, Chapter 2: Familiar」. The students had taken turns using the summoning circle.
I had been worried about unexpected variables like those during the dueling evaluation, but fortunately, the event ended safely without incident.
One could summon up to a 4-star familiar using the academy's summoning circle. For 5-stars and above, you had to meet the creature in person and sign a contract.
A 3-star like Eden exceeded my expectations, so I had excitedly signed a contract with him.
The protagonist, Ian Fairytale, had summoned a fire element familiar named ‘Rex,’ just as the original story dictated. A whopping 4-star. Rex resembled a newborn Tyrannosaurus. According to the original plot, Ian and Rex would soon have a confrontation to establish their master-servant relationship.
As a result, Rex would become the partner of the protagonist, and this time, he would win because he wasn't facing a demon.
‘Well, that’s that.’
I needed to focus on my own familiar.
I stood up, rubbing my battered stomach. I could probably endure this kind of pain three or four more times… well, maybe not.
It seemed the penalty for disobeying orders—pain—hadn't triggered for Eden. Disobedience was judged by the familiar’s own perception; they had to be aware they were defying their master. Eden seemed to genuinely believe he was following my orders perfectly.
In other words, it was proof that his intelligence was so low he didn't even realize the spell he just cast was a 4-star spell.
Well, that was something I could eventually teach him.
“Well, it certainly hurt less than I expected.”
I was currently testing the ‘Elemental Bracelet,’ an unexpected item I’d obtained by defeating Leafa the Illusive.
The Elemental Bracelet increased my resistance to a specific element by ‘40’. With it, elemental magic below a certain level could no longer harm me. This effect lasted for 24 hours; once that time passed, the resistance would reset, and I could activate it again.
Currently, I had it set to the rock element. To change the setting, I simply had to adjust the ring on the bracelet to the corresponding elemental pattern engraved on the band.
As it turned out, the effect was more incredible than I’d hoped. It didn't really hurt unless I was hit by high-star spells, and I was much less likely to be knocked back. Even when hit by 4-star magic, it was just painful rather than debilitating. Though, who am I kidding? It hurt like hell, but I would have passed out instantly without the bracelet.
What if I’d had this during the dueling evaluation? When Tristan Humphrey unleashed his [Whirlwind], I could have landed a solid blow without being blown away.
“Eden! 3-stars! Remember, 3-stars! What you just used was a 4-star, so don’t do that again!”
[Okay!]
Eden replied, thrusting his right arm into the air. His voice was somewhat neutral.
Pretending to be cute really didn't suit him, but was it because he was my familiar? I felt a strange sense of affection welling up…
「Rock Burial (Rock Element, ★4)」
Kudududududududududududu───!!
“Ugh!!!”
[Kyuu?]
This blockhead!
If you had to pick the tallest building on the Märchen Academy grounds, it was undoubtedly the ‘Hegel Magic Tower.’ However, since it only held occupancy rights on the site, it was essentially a private entity with no direct ties to the academy.
The Hegel Magic Tower was home to many wizards from the academy. In exchange for occupying the land, the tower gave extra points to Märchen Academy graduates who took their entry exam. The tower was so prestigious that it was a dream career path for many students.
The entire top floor was used exclusively as a research laboratory for a single wizard.
It was a place only those she trusted were allowed to enter. Professor Fernando Frost stepped inside.
The room was a vast circle; countless books floated in the air, and the walls were lined with even more. Traces of alchemy were everywhere, and the high glass ceiling offered a clear view of the sky.
In the center of the lab, a female wizard with auburn hair sprawled comfortably on the floor. Small in stature and physique, she read a book calmly, kicking her legs back and forth.
Aria Lilias—Fernando’s mentor and the Tower Master of the Hegel Magic Tower.
She raised her head, glancing at Fernando with an impassive expression before returning to her book.
“I came to pay my respects, Master.”
“What happened?”
“I wanted to ask you something.”
“You didn't even ask how I was doing first? As expected of my disciple—no manners.”
Aria Lilias had a habit of speaking in short, blunt sentences.
“Your question?”
“Have you heard the news from the academy? About the demons and the black monster?”
“Repeat that nonsense.”
“On the first day of the dueling evaluation, I nearly lost my life to a demon.”
The news of her disciple’s brush with death caught Aria’s attention. She knew, of course. Since the tower was so close to the academy, she heard everything.
“But the black monster protected me. It was even able to use 9-star magic without difficulty. It’s presumed that the monster has already reached the realm of an Archwizard.”
“So?”
“How do you see this? The identity of someone who suddenly appears and then vanishes just as quickly.”
“…”
A black monster.
It had first appeared during the first-year class placement evaluation for the Magic Department, defeating a demon that had appeared out of nowhere. During the dueling evaluation, it had protected Professor Fernando by overpowering a powerful demon that had manifested a sub-space.
“…What does the academy think?”
“They believe the monster is a demon that rebelled against its own kind.”
“And what do you think?”
“…”
“I assume you’ve already guessed, but that monster is likely one of your students.”
It was a thought Fernando had already entertained, so he didn't look surprised.
“One thing is clear: that monster was trying to protect you.”
Fernando’s reflection flickered in Aria’s deep, profound gaze.
“My advice? Do not interfere. Do not pry into the secrets of someone who is trying to protect you for no reason. Just focus on analyzing and solving the cause of the demon appearances.”
“May I ask why?”
“Hey.”
“…!”
In the blink of an eye, Aria’s face was inches from Fernando’s. She had levitated herself using telekinesis. From that distance, her expressionless face looked almost haunting as she spoke with a hint of sarcasm.
“You still don’t get it? That monster appeared after noticing an anomaly in this academy that even I missed. It came to protect the people here. You can’t help it, so don’t do anything stupid.”
“…”
He knew the black monster was on the academy’s side.
Fernando had testified before the Investigation Committee that the monster was not an enemy. However, after much debate, the committee concluded: ‘The black monster is likely a demon that rebelled against the others.’ How else could it have known exactly when and where the demons would strike?
Most of the faculty feared the monster. But Fernando was different; he wanted to be on the monster’s side, just as that student had been on his.
“Of course, Master,” Fernando answered calmly.
Darkness began to tint the sky.
Luce Eltania, the top student of the first-year Magic Department, was heading back to her dormitory after a rare practice session with lightning magic.
With so much attention focused on her, she had felt overwhelmed and left after only thirty minutes. Even as she walked away, she heard students exclaiming, “As expected of the top student! She only needs that much practice...!?” which only made her feel more burdened.
“Oh, really? That’s hilarious!”
“Hehehe.”
Luce’s eyes drifted to a group of girls passing by. They were walking side by side, chatting happily.
“See you tomorrow!”
“Yeah, see you tomorrow!”
As the path split, the students waved and went their separate ways.
“…”
It was an ordinary sight. Eating together, talking, and looking forward to seeing each other again. It was just daily life for the other students—something she saw every day but never participated in.
But for some reason, today, the sight stirred something in Luce’s heart.
Suddenly, the image of a certain man came to mind. Luce’s footsteps shifted course. Instead of heading straight to the dormitory, she took a long, roundabout path that led her near the corner of the Butterfly Garden.
‘Hmm, I’m just passing through. Just passing through…’
Technically, this path did lead to the dormitory, so it wasn't a lie. It just happened to take five times longer than her usual route.
The road at the edge of the Butterfly Garden was usually deserted, save for the loud chirping of insects.
‘There he is.’
Luce’s gaze darted around until she spotted Isaac in a corner of the garden. It was a "coincidence," of course.
On the first day of the dueling evaluation, Isaac had been defeated by Tristan Humphrey’s magic. Everyone there must have felt the staggering difference in power between them. Luce wondered how disappointed Isaac must have been to face such an insurmountable wall. Yet, he had pretended to be unaffected, a memory that made him seem even more pitiful to her.
However, frustration hadn't stopped him. In his subsequent duels, he had shown a burning tenacity.
‘I was happy.’
Seeing that had given Luce a sense of satisfaction.
As she replayed the evaluation in her head, she remembered the demon attack.
‘Greung…’
Greung had appeared again. They said he protected Professor Fernando and then vanished. If she had focused her mana perception, she might have caught him. It was a shame she hadn't.
Every time she thought of that monster, she felt a subtle emotion she’d never experienced before. It wasn't uncomfortable; it was favorable. Recently, Luce had realized the true nature of that feeling. It was the desire to ‘get to know someone.’
Because of this, she had spent a lot of time reading books about the concept of ‘friendship.’ But the more she read, the harder it was to understand. How did people accept such an ambiguous concept so naturally? It was strange.
And recently, there was one more person she wanted to be friends with.
The male student with wavy, silver-blue hair who had just come into view was that person… but.
‘What is he doing?’
Luce froze. For some reason, Isaac was… getting beaten up by his own familiar’s magic?
Isaac looked terrible. His eyes were strained, and his breathing was ragged. He looked like he was on the verge of collapse.
Suddenly, water mana began to gather beside Luce. The mana took the form of a small killer whale. Coated in a light film of water, it began to swim through the air as if it were in the ocean, shouting.
[Emergency! Emergency! A familiar is beating its master!]
It sounded like a young boy shouting in an innocent voice. This was the little killer whale magic beast, ‘Bello.’ It was a 4-star familiar that had answered Luce’s call during the summoning event.
[Bello, emergency dispatch! No violence! No violence!]
“Go back… Huh?”
Luce tried to unsummon Bello as he flew toward Isaac, but she stopped mid-sentence.
Suddenly, Isaac’s eyes rolled back, and his body slumped.
Thud—
He fell onto the grass, unconscious.
“…!”
Luce’s heart sank. She didn't bother recalling Bello; instead, she sprinted toward the fallen Isaac.
[Incident occurred! Incident occurred! You’re under arrest for beating your master, dude!]
[K-kyu…?!]
Ignoring the noisy familiars, Luce gathered the unconscious Isaac into her arms.
Sometimes I dream about my 3-pyeong studio in Sillim-dong.
The tiny room was half-filled with thick textbooks. I would spread three books open on my desk, trapping myself in a narrow world. I looked like any other ordinary civil service examinee.
I felt like I was walking through a pitch-black tunnel with no end in sight. I wondered if I would ever reach the light.
Sometimes, when I felt like my heart was about to collapse, I would mercilessly slap my own thighs. If I didn't, my narrow world would shrink until my very existence vanished.
The pain was a way to maintain my sanity.
‘But why am I reminiscing about that now?’
…I remembered. I had been taking hit after hit from Eden’s spells to test the Elemental Bracelet. The pain had reminded me of my days as an examinee.
The damage must have accumulated, and the built-up fatigue finally caused me to black out.
So, am I just lying there in the corner of the garden?
No, my body feels warm and cozy. This sensation is…
‘A bed?’
My eyes fluttered open.
What kind of bed is this?
My gaze caught a familiar yet unfamiliar ceiling. I don't mean déjà vu. It was a ceiling I recognized from ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, but it was one I had never seen as Isaac.
“What…?”
I pushed myself up. Even a glance told me this was a luxurious room. The bed I was lying on was unnecessarily large—the kind of bed you’d imagine a wealthy person owning.
I looked around. No matter how I sliced it, this place looked like the interior of Charles Hall, the elite dormitory I’d seen in the game. Furthermore, judging by the vanity and the decor, this was a woman’s room.
Wait a second.
‘A woman’s room!?’
All dormitories were strictly gender-segregated. Entering the dormitory of the opposite sex was a serious violation.
Why am I in a forbidden area?
A damp towel that had been resting on my forehead slid off. It was neatly folded.
‘Was someone taking care of me?’
My mind raced. Who brought me to Charles Hall? Kaya? Was it Kaya?
It was then.
[The victim is awake! The victim is awake!]
A small killer whale flew in front of my face, swimming through the air.
Now that I thought about it, I remembered hearing this familiar’s voice right before I passed out. And I knew exactly who the owner was, having played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ until I was sick of it.
“Are you awake?”
“…!”
The voice was soft and soothing, like moonlight. It was a voice that seemed to pull at one's ears.
I turned toward the head of the bed. There, sitting nearby, was a girl with rose-gold hair.
She was one of the official heroines, a girl of graceful beauty with morpho-butterfly hair ties on either side of her head. She was watching me with eyes that held the depth of a blue ocean.
It was Luce Eltania, the top student of the first-year Magic Department at Märchen Academy.