Chapter 34: Luce (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 34: Luce (2)
“Bello, return.”
As I watched Luce unsummon her killer whale familiar, Bello, I tried to make sense of the situation.
While experimenting with the Elemental Bracelet, I had blacked out. I knew my body was exhausted, but losing consciousness so suddenly was unexpected. It seemed I had fainted and was saved by Luce, who just happened to be passing by.
‘Luce?’
On the surface, there was nothing unusual about this. The problem, however, was that it involved Luce Eltania.
Unless you were on the Luce route, she was the ultimate loner. Throughout the entire first semester, she lived strictly by her own rules, completely indifferent to everyone else. She wasn't the type to get worked up just because she saw someone like me collapsed on the ground.
It would have been much more in-character for her to glance at me and think, ‘He must be sleeping,’ before walking away. She was a character who left people alone, whether they were dead or alive.
A sense of unease washed over me. I opened Luce’s status window.
[Luce Eltania]
Lv: 115
Race: Human
Elements: Water, Lightning
Danger: X
Psychology: [Relieved that you seem to be okay.]
Her level was five higher than when I first saw her, but that wasn't the priority right now. Her psychological state was bizarre.
‘Why are you worried about me?’
Even if she had saved me on a whim, why would she feel relieved?
It didn't make sense. As Isaac, my only interaction with Luce was during the class placement evaluation, where I had put on a performance worthy of a Best Actor award.
That led to only one conclusion...
‘Could I have been caught?’
My expression darkened.
— ‘What’s your name?’
— ‘Greung. (Greung)’
I recalled the events of the placement evaluation. Had Luce realized that I was Greung, the one who saved her? If so, the pieces of the puzzle finally fit together.
I pressed my hand to my forehead. Oh, god.
“Does your head hurt?”
“...What happened?”
“I was just passing by and ‘accidentally’ saw you pass out, so I used magic to bring you here.”
Luce emphasized the word ‘accidentally,’ her tone as gentle as moonlight.
I was stumped. How did she realize...?
The reason I had worn a magic cloak of disguise during the evaluation was specifically because of Luce’s sharp intuition. If she had discovered my identity, she would have reported it to the academy administration.
But there was another reason I hid my identity: to prevent the fact that ‘Isaac saved Luce’ from becoming reality.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, one of the conditions to win Luce’s favor was to protect or save her during the class placement evaluation. If that happened, the player gained a massive new headache.
‘Because even Luce’s affection is a Bad End factor.’
Luce was the type of person who, once she opened her heart, opened it completely. Her affection levels would accelerate like a runaway train. Even without doing anything special, the meter would just keep rising.
If the player didn't manage her affection by acting appropriately, the meter would eventually redline. Then, the player would trigger ‘Extra Bad End N.13.’
An ‘Extra Bad End’ referred to a game over that had nothing to do with the main storyline—like getting hit by a car while crossing the street.
Among them, N.13 was 「Bird Cage」.
The protagonist, Ian Fairytale, would be kidnapped and imprisoned by Luce, who had transformed into a psychotic lover. It was an ending where he helplessly met his end under her "loving" care.
Therefore, Luce’s affection was something I had to be extremely wary of.
“...Is this your room?”
“Yes.”
Regardless, there was no other explanation for her behavior unless my identity had been compromised.
I noticed the bruises on my body were gone. When I pointed at the healed wounds, Luce explained.
“I healed most of them myself. I know how to use healing magic, too. I think you’ve been pushing yourself too hard... Lie down a bit longer. I’ll wet a towel for you.”
Don’t be so nice. You’re not that kind of character.
「Water Generation (Water Element, ★1)」
I brooded while Luce used magic to soak a towel. I hadn't expected this variable. How and when did she find out?
“It’s ready. Lie down.”
The Bad End variable with rose-gold hair wrung the towel into a bowl, folded it neatly, and approached me. Startled, I reached out to stop her.
“.........?”
“Wait, hold on.”
“.........?”
Luce looked at me, puzzled.
“I’m grateful you saved me, but why did you bring me to your room?”
“Then where should I have taken you?”
“There’s the academy hospital. The infirmary was close, too...”
“...I didn't think of that. I’ve never been to those places before.”
It seemed the concept of a hospital didn't exist for Luce, given her monstrously strong body and high mana capacity.
“How did you get me here without being noticed?”
“I didn't run into anyone. Why? Is there a problem?”
Perhaps it was just sheer luck.
“No, nothing...”
I couldn't think of anything else to say, so I just took the towel. It was cold. I touched my forehead and felt a definite fever. I placed the cold towel over my brow.
“Lie down. I’ll bring you some warm soup.”
As Luce slid off the bed, I weighed my options and decided to ask. “Do you know me? Why are you taking such good care of me?”
Luce’s shoulders stiffened, and she stopped in her tracks.
[Luce Eltania]
Psychology: [At a loss for words and doesn’t know what to say to you.]
Never mind that. I was just curious about what she actually felt toward me...
“...I do not know either.”
Luce’s cheeks flushed as she left that meaningful remark.
‘Crazy.’
That was an inexperienced response—the kind of reaction you’d only see in a teen romance novel.
“Isaac.”
Luce turned to look at me. She even used my first name... I had never even told her what it was. She hesitated, her face red, trying to find the right words.
“To be honest, I’ve known about you for a long time...”
‘This is not good.’
Not that intro! Stop...!
The air was heavy with unease. The atmosphere was far too romantic. It was the kind of mood where a sudden, contextless confession wouldn't be out of place.
The moment Luce confessed her feelings, she would spiral into obsession. For her, the act of confessing would only make her feelings grow stronger.
But... it was too soon.
Was my face more to Luce’s liking than Ian’s? Was that why her affection was rising faster than in the original game?
“I saw you the other day by chance, and I’ve been watching you ever since. I’ve been wondering... why do you train so hard?”
Luce spoke in a calm voice, barely above a whisper.
I’m sure she was curious. When I was Greung, I displayed immense power. It must have seemed incongruous to see a guy like that practicing basic magic until he collapsed.
“The other students train hard, too.”
“They don’t push themselves to the point of nosebleeds every day like you do.”
She had been watching me every day.
“So, I’ve been watching you and thinking a lot. What I’m trying to say is...”
“Ohhh, what is that?!”
I forced a very unnatural change of topic. I couldn't help it. I wasn't ready to hear her say those words. My head was already spinning from the early appearance of the Act 6 boss. I didn't need another Bad End variable to worry about.
“Ah, that.”
Luce was kind enough to explain the objects I pointed at. Each time, I would point to something mundane and exclaim, “Wow, that’s amazing! What’s that?”
“What’s this? It looks expensive.”
“A chessboard. I received it as a gift once.”
“What’s this? The design is unique.”
“My family’s ceremonial knife. It was in my luggage when I came to the academy, so I just left it there.”
“What’s this? It’s beautiful.”
“It’s a grimoire I received from someone special. It’s made of human skin.”
“What’s this? It’s cute.”
“A cursed doll used in black magic. I heard if you put someone's hair inside and poke it with a needle, they’ll feel pain. It’s probably just a superstition, but do you want to try?”
Before I knew it, Luce was leading me around the room, explaining all her belongings.
“Oh, you have a lot of books.”
“You can’t touch those.”
As I reached for the bookshelf, Luce’s voice, previously soft as moonlight, turned ice-cold. For a moment, I felt a genuine murderous aura. I quickly looked away. Yes, I was definitely scared.
The bookshelf was lined with things she was clearly too embarrassed to show. It wasn't anything scandalous—just titles like How to Make Friends, What is Friendship, and How to Open Your Heart to Others.
...You really were determined to open up.
“But are you okay to be walking around?”
“I’m fine, thanks to you.”
I had been wandering the room with the towel still on my forehead. I felt light-headed, but it wasn't serious enough to show.
“This...?”
Again, I almost reflexively asked the question. My eyes landed on a small cylindrical box on her desk. It sat bathed in the light of a luminescent lamp, shimmering with the color of black pearls.
Luce stood next to me and narrowed her eyes, as if telling me not to ask. There was a heavy silence. I was about to pretend I hadn't seen it.
“Isaac.”
Luce spoke in a soft, almost seductive voice, as if drawing me in.
“Do you think the ‘Witches of Calamity’ are all evil?”
...Why are you setting the mood with a question like that?
“Why do you ask?”
“Just... I suddenly felt like asking.”
Luce stared at the small black box and lowered her head.
The Witches of Calamity. That was how history referred to the vilest witches—those who possessed innate magical talent and committed horrific crimes against humanity. They had performed such unspeakable acts that it was only natural for anyone to consider them evil.
But it didn't take me long to realize why Luce was asking.
Inside that black box were Luce’s original eyeballs. A Witch of Calamity had plucked them out, preserved them, and handed them to her. Luce kept the box on her desk because she wanted to remember that witch every single day.
Luce’s current eyes were implanted by that same Witch of Calamity. That seemingly cruel act had actually been done to save Luce’s life. Incidentally, it also explained why her eyesight far exceeded human limits.
“...No.”
I shook my head and replied indifferently. I knew the whole story from ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
I knew exactly what kind of person the ‘Great Witch of Heaven’s Wrath’ was—the Witch of Calamity that Luce missed so dearly. Contrary to her notoriety as a monster who lured children into a candy store to murder them, she was someone who had sacrificed everything for the sake of children.
I knew I shouldn't use my meta-knowledge to increase Luce’s affection, but I couldn't bring myself to insult the person she missed most.
“I don’t think they’re necessarily all bad.”
Luce looked at me in disbelief.
“It could just be stories made up by people. I’ve never actually seen a Witch of Calamity myself. How can I be sure?”
Luce stared at me, her eyes wide with shock. I deliberately looked away, pretending to examine other objects.
“Yeah... you’re right.”
Luce’s voice sounded thick with emotion, carrying a deep sense of loss.
The Great Witch of Heaven’s Wrath was as dear to Luce as her own brother. However, the witch had been falsely accused of sacrificing children to a Mythological Magic Beast and was executed right in front of Luce. The people and the country had used the witch as a scapegoat for their own sins.
Luce had broken that day. She closed her heart to the world. The world she had tried to see as beautiful, even after being abandoned by her parents, had been cruelly exposed to the ten-year-old girl.
“.........”
The air grew awkward. Had I made things weird? And what was I supposed to do about her sniffing? How do I react to her holding back tears?
“Ah, I suddenly have a headache...”
I have no choice. I’ll just pretend to be in pain. It actually hurts, but I have to sell it.
I swayed "gracefully" and moved toward the bed. It was a brilliant performance, in my opinion. As I sat down, I tilted my head back and pressed the towel to my forehead.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m just dizzy... I must have overexerted myself.”
“Lie down. I’ll go get that soup.”
I wasn't hungry, but I nodded to buy myself some thinking time. Luce looked at me with concern for a moment before heading to the kitchen. Suddenly, she poked her head back around the corner and looked at me.
“Isaac.”
“Yeah?”
“I want to be friends with you.”
“...Huh?”
What?
Hearing those words, which carried a hint of genuine shyness, I looked at her. Luce was staring at me with a pure smile. Soon, looking embarrassed, she blushed and scratched her cheek while avoiding my eyes.
‘Friends...?’
It was bewildering. In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, there was no "friend" option for Luce. Her affection meant romantic obsession from start to finish.
“E-ever since I saw you training so hard, I’ve wanted to be friends.”
“Wait, really?”
Come to think of it, she said she’d been watching me train every day. That didn't necessarily mean she knew I was Greung, did it? She hadn't mentioned Greung once.
Yes, those were separate issues. Luce had simply stumbled upon me, been impressed by my suicidal training regimen, and started feeling friendly...
I wasn't sure what psychological shift led to this, but I decided to take her words at face value. I should have suspected something when I saw those ‘How to Make Friends’ books on her shelf.
So...
‘She doesn't know I’m Greung. She just... actually wants to be friends?’
I felt like I’d been hit in the back of the head. It was almost like a betrayal. I had been spiraling through all those dark thoughts alone... I felt embarrassed.
I couldn't let my guard down completely, but being friends wasn't a bad outcome.
‘It’ll be fine.’
Initially, I was reluctant to befriend someone like Kaya Astrea. But after becoming friends with Amy Holloway and Mateo’s group, I realized that a limited social circle was manageable. I stood out too much when I was with Kaya, so we met in secret, though I rarely saw her lately anyway.
I was open to this. I set the towel aside, got up, and approached Luce.
My second favorite character in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Luce Eltania. I flashed her a bright smile and held out my hand.
“Of course.”
Luce’s eyes began to sparkle, and her rose-gold hair seemed to lift slightly, as if charged with static. She tried to maintain her composure, fighting to keep the corners of her mouth from curling up. She took my hand.
To be friends. To me, it was just a simple agreement. But for someone like Luce, it must have been monumental.
She had spent years building walls. She likely had a vague fear of what "friendship" even meant. She had tried to learn the concept through books, and her recent words were likely the result of immense internal struggle.
In the game, whenever you clicked on the NPCs wandering around, Luce’s dialogue was always just “.......”. She walked alone, ate alone, and studied alone. She spent her entire first semester in total isolation.
However, there were moments when she, too, wanted to laugh with others. No matter how skeptical she was of humanity, her true feelings were different from her outward coldness.
The crackling of the fireplace filled the silence for a long time. Eventually, I broke the quiet.
“But you stand out a lot, and that’s a bit overwhelming for me. So just because we’re friends doesn't mean we can hang out all the time, okay?”
“Uh, well...”
Luce’s voice trembled. She couldn't even make eye contact. Was that the right answer? Did she even hear me? Well, she must have.
“Anyway, I should probably go now.”
Now that I knew Luce didn't realize I was Greung, I had no reason to stay. Even if it hurt, I’d just have to tough it out. I couldn't stay in the girls’ dormitory forever.
“Oh, but the soup...”
“It’s okay. I appreciate the thought. Do you happen to have a cloak I could borrow?”
“A cloak? Yeah, I have one. Why?”
Luce gave me a black cloak. I draped it over my head and body like a hijab.
“Eden.”
Kyuuuuuu—.
[Kkuung!]
Light brown mana gathered beside me, taking the form of the small golem familiar, Eden. It landed on the floor with a cute cry.
“Luce, I’m leaving.”
“Ah, yes...”
Eden and I approached the window. Looking down from the fourth floor was terrifying, but I had to escape this way.
“Eden, create some rocks to land on. Make them like a staircase.”
[Okay!]
「Ice Generation (Ice Element, ★1)」
「Rock Generation (Rock Element, ★1)」
Sharararak—
Ddddddd—
I created a crude ice ladder leading from the window, while Eden’s boulders surged up to form a makeshift staircase.
“Luce, see you tomorrow!”
I waved at her before climbing over the ledge. Luce’s eyes widened. Was my greeting weird? Well, I probably looked insane wearing the cloak like a hijab.
Eden jumped out first, and I began my descent.
“Kyaaa! It’s a man!”
“Pervert! There’s a pervert!”
Damn it. My worst fears were realized. I unsummoned Eden and sprinted away from Charles Hall as fast as my legs could carry me.
✦✧✦✧
Luce stood still for a long time after Isaac left. The window remained open, the cool night breeze gently rustling the curtains.
“Tomorrow...”
Isaac’s parting words drifted through her mind. It was a greeting exchanged between people who shared a bond—people who looked forward to seeing each other again.
“Kyaa—! Catch the pervert!”
“Stop right there, stalker!!”
Roar—!
Kwaguagwang—!
Luce’s lips quirked into a smile. She didn't even hear the chaos erupting outside her window. She felt a thrill so intense it felt as if she were floating.
“Yeah. See you tomorrow.”
Her whisper drifted away on the night breeze. Beyond the window, the moonlight seemed exceptionally bright tonight.