Chapter 52: Prologue (2)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 52: Prologue (2)
When I opened my eyes, I was lying on a shimmering surface. Beneath me, a magic circle pulsed with a calm, pale blue light.
Before me lay a panoramic view of a frozen cavern. This was the trial chamber—a place one could enter at will, but never leave.
To exit, one needed the permission of the Frost Dragon, the sole entity authorized to traverse this space.
‘As expected, it’s magnificent…’
Seeing it in reality was worlds apart from seeing it in the game. The vast cavern held a breathtaking landscape, an ethereal palace carved from ice.
My eyes darted around, and I gulped as I spotted a massive passageway. Beyond it, a beautifully shaped iceberg stood in wait. Trapped within that frozen tomb was a white dragon, suspended in time.
I stood up and staggered toward it. Walking was a chore, bundled as I was in heavy winter gear. As I passed through the tunnel, the sheer scale of the iceberg overwhelmed me.
The ice lining the cave walls glowed with pale blue mana, making the white dragon’s jade scales shimmer with a brilliant luster. That same mana circulated faintly within the iceberg itself, maintaining the structure regardless of the dragon's will.
This was the symbol and legend of Northern Zelver.
An eight-star magic beast, the Frost Dragon Hilde—once the familiar of the Ice Sovereign.
*
[Frost Dragon Hilde]
Lv: 180
Race: Magic Beast
Elements: Ice
Danger: X
Psychology: [It is happy to see you.]
*
Inside the massive block of ice, two eyes snapped open. The Frost Dragon was awakening from a thousand-year slumber. Her sparkling emerald pupils fixed on me, the vertical slits of her reptilian gaze narrowing.
[O human, have you come to face the Trial of Frost?]
The Frost Dragon’s archaic voice echoed directly in my mind, sounding like that of a mature woman.
Up close, she was awe-inspiring—comparable in size to a small mountain. With a single step, she could crush me like a bug.
I tensed. Exhaling a lungful of cold air, I nodded.
“Yes.”
[You have proven your worth merely by reaching this place. I shall open the gate to your ordeal.]
Whaaaah—!!
The giant ice gate behind the Frost Dragon ground open like a pair of jaws, releasing an intense, pale blue light. At the end of the path formed by that radiance, a distant darkness took hold.
A freezing gale began to howl from within the passage. Despite my thick layers and the elemental bracelet tuned for ice resistance, the cold pricked my skin like needles.
From here on, I had to brave that wind-swept abyss.
[Cruel visions shall test your spirit, while the harsh frost consumes your flesh. Prove you are qualified to overcome these trials and become the wielder of the Frostscythe.]
Ah, it’s been a while since I’ve heard such epic lines.
Setting aside my anxiety, the words brought back memories of obtaining the ultimate weapon during the second semester of the second year in Magic Knight of Märchen. My heart swelled with nostalgia.
Regardless, the game of life and death had begun. If I could overcome the trials before freezing to death, the Frostscythe would be mine.
The trials were vicious. They wove plausible events into an ordeal designed to erode the challenger's spirit.
In the game, the protagonist Ian encountered a vision of his past—a time when he endured torment and disdain. However, Ian possessed unwavering fortitude. For him, the trial was simple: witness the story and defeat a few enemies.
I don’t know what trials await me. Will I be lost in this body, entangled in Isaac’s past?
‘No matter the trial, it’s no different from the obstacles I’ve faced so far.’
I just had to overcome them.
I was especially confident in my mental strength. Even trapped in this feeble body, my mental fortitude remained far superior to my other stats.
In any case, today is the day the "Isaac Coin" begins its steep upward curve.
I moved past the Frost Dragon and stepped into the pale blue passageway.
Unexpectedly, the light faded quickly, revealing a dusky, desolate landscape. It was a dark night, and the only thing visible was a raging blizzard that felt like a rain of glass.
A path of unknown width stretched ahead. At its far end, a faint beam of light acted as a lighthouse beacon. The Frostscythe had to be there.
“It’s cold…!”
「Ice Shield (Ice Element, ★2)」
I broke into a full sprint, wrapping my cloak tight to block the frigid wind. The cold was unbearable. Even my eyeballs felt like they were freezing over. I ran with my eyes clamped shut for three seconds, snapped them open briefly to check my bearings, and shut them again.
The closer I got to the light, the more violent the blizzard became. The bitter cold dug through my winter coat, chilling me to the bone.
Then—
──Face the Trial of Frost.
The voice of the woman known as the Ice Sovereign echoed in my head, and I lost consciousness.
*
Frost Dragon Hilde was lost in thought as she sifted through her ancient memories.
The red-eyed man who had just entered the trial, bundled up against the cold, was a strange sight. Facing a Frost Dragon, he had shown neither surprise nor fear. It was as if he had known exactly what to expect.
Furthermore, despite his outward weakness, an intense aura emanated from him—one reminiscent of the long-lost emerald light the Frost Dragon had yearned for.
The Ice Sovereign. The aura of the ancient archwizard who had once commanded her was flowing from this frail-looking man.
To be precise, it was Isaac’s nine-star passive skill, [Ice Sovereign], but the Frost Dragon was unaware of that distinction.
[A thousand years… how futile.]
The image of the cold-hearted archwizard who had lived in solitude a millennium ago flashed before her eyes. To a high-ranking magic beast like her, a thousand years was a blink.
For all those years, she had drifted in dreams of conquering the world alongside the Ice Sovereign. And now, the soul of that longed-for master had begun its next incarnation.
It wasn't strange. It was fate.
[Have you finally been reborn, Ice Sovereign?]
He was undoubtedly the reincarnation.
For a thousand years, the Frost Dragon had suppressed the Frostscythe’s mana to prevent it from invading Märchen Academy. But now, a new wielder had appeared.
It seemed the time had come to stop living within her dreams.
● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
“We shall now proceed with the summer vacation ceremony for the first-year students of the Magic Department.”
The end-of-semester re-evaluation consisted of several elemental magic tests. It was modest compared to the usual scale of finals, but it was the most intuitive.
Thus, the first semester came to a close. The scores from all previous evaluations were combined to determine the overall rank.
I placed 230th out of 300. It was expected—anything but last place was a win. The road ahead was long, but I was still aiming for the top seat. Grades were just an indicator of my improvement.
Under the blue sky, fluffy clouds drifted lazily…
…?
“…What?”
A wave of intense disorientation washed over me. I snapped out of it, realizing I was experiencing a repeat of a time I had already lived through.
I glanced around. Rows of first-year magic students sat in orderly rows in the central plaza of Märchen Academy. The summer vacation ceremony was in full swing. If this was the ceremony, it had only happened a few days ago…
“Is this… the trial?”
I had assumed the trial would reveal Isaac’s troubled past. I thought I’d use the opportunity to learn more about his background. But this was… not what I expected.
Nothing special had happened during the actual ceremony. It had been peaceful. If there was anything notable about that day, it was Kaya’s unexpectedly bold behavior.
In fact, it was so peaceful that it felt unnerving.
As the ceremony progressed, Luce began reading the proclamation from the podium. I opened her status window.
*
[Luce Eltania]
Lv: 150
Race: Human
Elements: Water, Lightning
Danger: X
Psychology: [ekd]_$&())&^&(#$ㅁ앹#$@%%ㅐ야god()(&&&!@]
*
Her mental state was a glitched mess.
The [Psychological Insight] skill couldn't be wrong; this was proof that this world was a flawed construct.
Sure enough, Luce was still giving me a gentle smile. But I didn't have time to admire it. I began to ponder the situation.
What is happening today…?
‘For now… I should try acting like I did back then.’
I decided to repeat my exact actions from that day. In Magic Knight of Märchen, the trials pushed Ian to the brink, intent on breaking his spirit. This would be no exception. It was a desperate attempt to erode my sanity.
After the ceremony ended, I walked toward a corner of the Butterfly Garden.
“Sir Isaac!”
“Kaya?”
“I-I-I came to say thank you!”
As expected, Kaya came flying over. We exchanged the exact same words as before.
Chuu.
Kaya kissed my cheek.
“I-I-I’ve committed a grave sin────!!!”
She bolted at full speed.
I looked up at the clock tower. It had been 30 minutes since the ceremony ended.
“Then, what did I do next?”
I didn't have to struggle to remember. I went to train. I worked out alone in a corner of the Butterfly Garden. When the sky darkened and rain began to fall, I returned to my dorm. After organizing my future plans, I went out to look for the ‘Traces of the Ice Sovereign.’ Later that night, I fell asleep in my room reading a textbook on beginner elements.
It was just an ordinary routine. An insignificant day.
‘What the hell…?’
Just as I was processing the memories of that day, suddenly—
Kwaaaaah────!!!!!!!
“……!”
A deafening roar tore through the air. Startled, I spun toward the source.
A red glow shattered the clouds, enveloped by an eerie, blood-red aurora.
The centerpiece of Märchen Academy—Bartos Hall. The administrative hub where the Evil God Nephid’s resurrection circle was engraved. From its spires, a pillar of red light surged endlessly into the heavens.
The scene from the game depicting Nephid’s resurrection flashed through my mind.
*
[A powerful demon has been detected!!]
[There is a significant level difference with the enemy!!]
[※ Escape immediately!]
[※ Escape immediately!]
[※ Escape immediately!]
*
Beyond the warning windows popping up like rapid-fire alarms, a status window targeted the red pillar.
*
[Nephid, Evil God of Destruction]
Lv: ■■■
Race: Demon
Elements: Darkness, Fire, Void
Danger: M■x■m■m
Psychology: [■■■■■■■■■■■■]
*
Five pairs of enormous black wings unfurled from the pillar, casting a shadow over the world. Floating weightlessly, the owner of those wings—a woman in a black dress—emerged with serene grace.
The hem of her dress was long enough to shroud all of Bartos Hall. The woman, her legs stretching tens of meters long, stood atop the roof with her back to the light.
My skin crawled. Even without activating the [Hunter] trait, I could feel the flood of mana around the hall.
“Don’t fuck with me…”
Even trials have their limits. There’s only so much a person can take.
From the red pillar, a giant dragon of black flames emerged, soaring across the sky. Its three heads let out a grotesque howl.
*
[Apocalypse Dragon Azhi Dahāka]
Lv: 200
Race: Demon
Elements: Darkness, Fire
Danger: Maximum
Psychology: [■]
*
Then, an army of demonic creatures composed of black flames burst forth with eerie laughter.
*
[Black Flame]
Lv: 190
Race: Demon
Elements: Darkness, Fire
Danger: Maximum
Psychology: [■]
*
Beyond the red aurora, a pair of eyes so large they spanned the entire sky gazed down upon the world.
*
[Angra Mainyu]
Lv: 200
Race: Demon
Elements: Darkness, Fire
Danger: Maximum
Psychology: [■]
*
With each flap of its wings, the Apocalypse Dragon Azhi Dahāka rained down a storm of black fire. The flames transcended heat; they began to annihilate buildings and people indiscriminately.
Suddenly, disparate black spheres formed in thin air. Everything they touched vanished into nothingness.
This was a secluded island. The only escape was the bridge to the mainland, but even if we fled now, there was no running from those who had come to end the world.
Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu──────!!!!!!
Hwaaaaaaaaaaar──────!!!!!!
The Evil God Nephid reached upward. A flaming black sphere formed above her, growing until it blotted out the sun. The sphere was etched with anomalous black streaks—rifts in space. That astronomical amount of mana had distorted the very fabric of reality.
I could do nothing. I was a mere witness to the end.
With a flick of her wrist, she lowered her arm. The flaming black sphere descended.
「■■ (Darkness Element, ★9)」
The world was mercilessly engulfed by black flames.
The agony of my body burning did not last long.
The End.
The world perished.
And I vanished.
● ● ● ● ● ● ●
“We shall now proceed with the summer vacation ceremony for the first-year students of the Magic Department.”
“…”
I closed my eyes, and when I opened them, I was back at the start of the ceremony.
Cold sweat trickled down my spine. My ears felt clogged. I couldn't hear the host or the chatter of the students.
“For real… are you serious?”
I sighed deeply, burying my face in my hands. The students nearby gave me side-glances, but I didn't care.
I took several deep breaths. Despite the instinctive terror of the Evil God washing over me, I was able to steady my emotions thanks to the [Frozen Soul] effect of [Ice Sovereign].
I thought quietly.
“…Let’s give it a try.”
I wouldn't be broken just because I’d seen the end of the world. When I thought about it calmly, it wasn't much different from the life-or-death struggles I'd already faced.
I just had to overcome it. No matter what.