Chapter 364: Side Story — Reunion (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 364: Side Story — Reunion (3)
A chill settled in the air.
The cat familiars, Ella and Cheshire, had vanished, and an overwhelming surge of mana began to radiate from the direction of Düpfendorf.
“So… I’m Isaac’s first love…”
“Amy, stop.”
I slammed my hands onto the table and stood up. “Stop talking about that.”
“Huh?”
I pressed my index finger to my lips and leaned toward Amy, my voice urgent. My sudden reaction left my classmates at the table looking utterly puzzled.
I ignored them and turned my head toward the horizon.
This is crazy. Is she already here…?
Before I knew it, a dazzling meteor shower had appeared, painting a breathtaking spectacle across the night sky. In the distance, the legendary Thunderbird, wreathed in violet lightning, tore through the clouds at breakneck speed.
Why are they moving so fast?
A frigid mana spread far and wide, prickling my skin. Surely, everyone nearby was witnessing this overwhelming phenomenon unfolding in the heavens.
“What is that?”
“A meteor shower…?”
I could hear my classmates whispering in awe. Cold sweat trickled down my cheek.
My wives are coming.
Whoosh!
The meteors streaking across the sky suddenly changed trajectory, plummeting toward the ground before significantly slowing their descent. The vibrant, starlit mana surrounding them scattered in all directions. At the center of the light, a beautiful woman with lavender hair landed gracefully, adjusting the witch’s hat atop her head.
Dorothy Heartnova.
Her starlit eyes glowed with a mysterious light from beneath the brim of her hat.
Boom!!
Almost simultaneously, a black thunderbird streaked across the sky, leaving trails of lightning in its wake. A purple bolt struck the ground right beside Dorothy.
As the lightning dissipated, a woman with fluttering rose-gold hair emerged, emanating an electrifying aura. She glared at me with cold, aquamarine eyes.
Luce Eltania.
A chilling flicker of murderous intent crossed her otherwise composed face.
…They actually came.
It was too late to hide. My classmates began whispering in amazement at the sudden appearance of Dorothy and Luce, the living legends of Märchen Academy. But I couldn't spare a thought for their reactions.
“President…” Dorothy murmured, her gaze heavy with meaning.
“…”
Luce had a look in her eyes that suggested she wouldn’t be satisfied until she tore someone apart on the spot. It would have been better if that gaze were directed at me. Unfortunately, her target was Amy.
“Wow, it’s Isaac’s wives…”
Amy, the idiot, was clearly so drunk that she had completely lost her sense of self-preservation.
“I overlooked something,” Luce said, her voice icy. “I forgot that pests tend to swarm around Isaac.”
Isn’t calling her a pest a bit much…?
“Luce, I think there’s a misunderstanding…”
I knew exactly what kind of misunderstanding they had. I approached Dorothy and Luce, forcing my usual gentle smile.
“Isaac.”
I stopped in my tracks as Luce closed the distance before I could reach her. She stood directly in front of me, looking up at me intently. Her face was as graceful and striking as ever.
Luce spoke firmly. “Kiss me.”
“What?”
Suddenly?
“Here…?” I stammered. She wants me to kiss her in front of all these people?
“Kiss me and prove your loyalty.”
Why is she being so serious about this?
It seemed Luce had decided on her own way to proudly declare, “Isaac is my man.”
Does she think kissing her in front of my ‘first love’ would be difficult for me?
I read her intentions clearly. How did she even reach that conclusion? What kind of logic is this?
Even if Amy really were my first love, Luce didn’t seem to care. She was determined to flaunt our relationship so that Amy wouldn’t dare get any closer.
[Raiding the scene of Master’s infidelity!]
Suddenly, a small killer whale familiar, Bello, popped out from behind Luce. Bello raised a fin boldly and shouted.
[At this very moment! The valiant killer whale detective, Bello, appears! I have secured evidence of Isaac’s affair compl—!]
Smack!
[Kyahh!]
“Shut up.”
[Bello is in shock! Police brutality! No violence!]
After getting flicked on the forehead by Luce, Bello spun through the air, protesting fiercely.
I’m going crazy.
My classmates were shooting me intrigued glances. Ciel Carnedas, in particular, had eyes shining so brightly it was almost blinding.
What is wrong with her?
Ciel’s sparkling gaze left me baffled. Why is she so unnecessarily invested in my love life?
“They said it’s an affair! Isaac, are we having an affair?” Amy giggled in a dazed, babyish tone, completely failing to grasp the gravity of the situation.
Meanwhile, Ian had fainted.
Wake up, Ian! Go deal with your girlfriend!
This won’t do. I need to get out of here, and fast…
“President.”
A voice that was usually filled with cheer, now refined and controlled, followed. I turned toward Dorothy. She glanced at Amy with drowsy eyes before stepping closer to me, just as Luce had.
“Senior?”
Dorothy cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered into my ear, “Let’s get out of here and talk somewhere else.”
I felt like giving my ever-understanding goddess a standing ovation.
“Of course. Let’s go and talk…”
“But seriously.”
“Hmm?”
Dorothy narrowed her eyes, giving me a searching look. “Is she really your first love? Not me?”
“…”
“You are… my first.”
Dorothy looked at me wistfully, as if she would be truly hurt if it were true.
As if that could be true… Of course not.
Amy? She was just someone I felt an attachment to because she was the heroine of <Magic Knight of Märchen>. From the very beginning, my love for Dorothy and Luce had never wavered.
“It’s just a misunderstanding, so let’s talk elsewhere. Dorothy, if Ella said something weird, just ignore it. I’ll explain everything…”
At that moment, I sensed a familiar mana behind me. It had to be the person Cheshire had summoned. Unlike Dorothy or Luce, this person wasn't openly releasing their mana, which was why I had been slow to detect them.
“Isn’t that Alice?”
“The former Student Council President?”
“It’s Senior Alice…”
The murmurs of my classmates rippled through the crowd. Dorothy, Luce, and I all turned at once.
A beautiful woman approached, her silken, pale-gold hair flowing elegantly. It had been a while since I’d seen my other fiancé. She was one of the strongest figures at Märchen Academy, someone who stood on equal footing with Dorothy.
Alice Carroll.
She approached me with a relaxed, confident smile.
Smooch.
“…!”
Without warning, she cupped my cheeks with both hands, rose onto her toes, and pressed her lips to mine.
It was a deep, lingering kiss. Alice’s tongue slipped past my lips, and as our breaths entwined, the warm sensation of the kiss spread through me. Flustered, I tried to take a step back, but Alice only stepped forward, deepening the embrace.
It was a bold, intentional display, as if she wanted to put on a show for everyone watching.
“W-wait…! Alice, hey!” A bewildered Dorothy tried to pull her away.
My vision was filled with the shocked expressions of my classmates. I could hear their gasps and frantic whispers all at once. I could also feel a chilling bloodlust radiating nearby. It wouldn't have been surprising if a battle broke out right then and there.
All of this had happened in the blink of an eye. Just as I was about to push Alice away—
Mwah.
As if to enchant me, she gave one final, sticky kiss before slowly pulling back.
“Alice…”
“It’s been a while, Darling.” Alice gazed into my eyes with a sultry smile. “I’m back.”
Her stunning face filled my vision, radiating triumph.
*
“Hmm hmm hmm~”
Kaya Astrea, her light green hair catching the breeze, hummed a tune as she soared through the air. The anticipation of meeting her future husband, Isaac, filled her with excitement.
Surely, if she arrived at the Märchen Academy reunion now, she would have him all to herself. With powerhouses like Dorothy and Alice around, and a fierce rival like Luce, monopolizing Isaac was usually impossible. She couldn't let this golden opportunity slip by.
At least for tonight, Isaac will be mine alone…!
The long-awaited moment was finally here.
“Isaac, I can finally see you—huh?”
As she neared the venue, Kaya abruptly halted mid-flight. Her eyes widened in shock.
The wife who was supposed to be in the Heart Kingdom, Alice… was kissing Isaac. Beside them, Dorothy was shouting something while Luce radiated a murderous aura.
“Why…?”
Why…?
Why are THEY here…!?
A shadow fell over Kaya’s face. She had been caught completely off guard. She had foolishly believed she could shake off those cunning women and have Isaac to herself.
“Ugh…!”
As her soaring anticipation burst like a balloon, Kaya let out a stifled whimper, nearly sobbing. She retreated into the farthest corner of her mind, trying to escape the disappointment.
Swoosh.
Her body lost its strength all at once, her torso slumping forward. For a moment, Kaya nearly lost consciousness, but then her Dark persona surged to the surface.
“Haa… What are you doing?”
Dark Kaya frowned as she looked down at her own hands, her crimson-stained eyes filled with displeasure. Her original self had suddenly withdrawn deep into the recesses of her mind to cower, leaving Dark Kaya bewildered.
“We’re all Isaac’s wives anyway. We're equals. And you—haven’t you been gaining confidence through your training lately?”
[I guess… but…]
The hidden Kaya spoke from within, her voice weak and trembling. Dark Kaya scratched her head before letting out a small chuckle, soothing her inner self like a child.
“Aww, did our little Kaya lose her nerve? And here you were so excited, thinking you could have Isaac all to yourself today.”
[Help me…]
“Yeah, yeah, that’s more like it. Listen carefully. Tonight, we will have Isaac.”
Dark Kaya smirked and licked her lips, her blood-red eyes gleaming vividly under the moonlight. She gathered her mana.
Whoosh!!
With a violent surge of energy, Dark Kaya flew straight toward the chaos surrounding Isaac, Dorothy, Luce, and Alice.