Chapter 53: Prologue (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 53: Prologue (3)
“Hehehe... It’s about time, commoner.”
It was a wicked laugh, in its own way.
Keridna loved the theater. She was so deeply enamored with the role of the ‘Villainess’ that she often clumsily pretended to be one, designating herself as the villainous daughter of a noble house.
Her current laughter was a direct result of that obsession.
At the manor of the Northern Duchy of Whiteclark, the white sky—where snow fell in a gentle dusting—was gradually being consumed by darkness.
Keridna Whiteclark, a young woman with short pink hair, sat alone at the desk in her room.
She had previously witnessed Isaac’s vision through the surveillance spell [Sight Synchronization], but the intense psychological strain of what she saw had left her struggling with her emotions for several days.
Now, she had steeled her heart. The time had come to spy on Isaac once again, just as she had originally intended.
“Hehe… The time has come to reveal your true colors, you petty commoner.”
For a while now, Keridna had been giggling to herself and breaking out into a cold sweat, spouting one awkward line after another as if she were performing in a play. She was just as nervous as she had been a few days ago, which made her hesitate.
But for the sake of the future, she decided it had to be done.
Finally, Keridna squeezed her eyes shut and activated [Sight Synchronization]. A spark of crackling electricity flashed through her mind, and Isaac’s field of vision at the Märchen Academy grounds began to unfold before her.
“Huh…?”
Something was… strange.
All she could see was pitch-black darkness and a raging blizzard surrounding him. The vision went completely dark for three seconds, then the scenery flickered briefly before plunging back into shadow. Isaac seemed to be enduring a cold so bitter that it was difficult for him to even keep his eyes open.
The Duchy of Whiteclark might as well have been in a state of perpetual winter, but everywhere else—including Märchen Academy—was supposed to be in the height of summer.
Has he come to the northern region? No, that’s impossible…
The environment itself was unnatural. It wasn't the right time for it to be pitch-black, and the blizzard was far too intense. Yet, Isaac seemed to be confidently pushing forward through that mysterious, dangerous place.
“Argh…!”
Suddenly, Isaac crashed into the ground. Keridna jumped to her feet in alarm.
Isaac’s eyes were closed, and he seemed to have lost consciousness, causing his vision to black out entirely.
Keridna ruffled her hair, her own eyes still tightly shut.
“Ugh, is something wrong…?” Keridna’s voice trembled. “Wake up… What are you doing? Wake up already…!”
A sense of urgent panic washed over her. Since [Sight Synchronization] only allowed her to observe physical sight, she had no way of knowing that Isaac had entered a trial. To her, it simply looked like a person was dying right before her eyes.
She couldn't just stand by and do nothing. Keridna’s eyes snapped open. She sprinted out of her room the moment [Sight Synchronization] automatically deactivated.
Her parents were away visiting another noble family, so her only option was to seek help from her older sister, Aichel Whiteclark, the acting head of the household.
“Aichel! Sister!”
Aichel was wise. If anyone could find a way to rescue Isaac from a life-threatening situation in an unknown location, it would be her.
With that thought driving her, Keridna screamed Aichel’s name as she bolted through the mansion’s corridors.
*
The trial to obtain an ultimate weapon in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
By overcoming these trials, one could obtain the ultimate weapon corresponding to a specific element.
Even discovering the exact meaning of “overcoming the trial” was part of the challenge. However, thanks to my game knowledge, I already knew the answer.
Simply put, one had to fearlessly face and overcome danger while surviving.
For the protagonist, Ian Fairytale, the trial involved facing a despicable nobleman who had tormented him in the past. In his history, Ian had been beaten to a pulp by that man and his lackeys.
Ian faced death several times during the trial because the nobleman’s actions crossed every line. Was that just the "setting" for a trial? It was a frustrating development, but the game provided a refreshing resolution in the end. It also explored Ian’s backstory, his trauma, and the reasons why he aspired to become a Magic Knight.
As far as stories went, it was a good one. In the end, Ian overcame his past trauma, defeated the nobleman, and cleared the trial.
‘For me, what I have to overcome is the Evil God.’
Although the scale of my trial didn’t quite match Ian's, lamenting about it was useless. The die was cast, but the context remained the same. In my case, ‘Prevent the World from Ending’ was likely the condition for clearing the trial.
Smack!
I slapped my cheeks hard with both palms to sharpen my resolve.
The host of the vacation ceremony and the surrounding students all stared at me.
What are you looking at, you brats?
The vacation ceremony would last a total of 20 minutes. Then, 30 minutes later, Nephid would be resurrected. This meant each "round" lasted a maximum of 50 minutes.
Time flowed much faster here than in the real world. I had already experienced this phenomenon in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. I didn’t know the exact time ratio, but it was easy to tell when I was about to die because my character’s body would show the signs.
‘How do I stop the world from ending in the first place?’
It was a fundamental question. No matter what I did, it was impossible to catch up to the final boss’s level, and the trick I used in [Fictional Hell] to grow stronger wouldn’t work here.
‘I don’t have enough information… First, I need to figure out what’s going on.’
With that in mind, I stood up and started running. My destination was Bartos Hall, the massive, palace-like administrative building at the center of Märchen Academy. That was where Nephid would resurrect. I needed to get to the bottom of what was causing the Evil God’s sudden, premature resurrection.
As soon as I looked up, I found the answer. A translucent barrier, shaped like a dome or a soap bubble, covered a large portion of the rooftop. I gasped in disbelief.
“Is that how it’s set up…?”
Unbelievable.
A translucent golden barrier enveloped the rooftop. Numerous analog clock faces were carved into the barrier, swirling through the air. The rotating hour, minute, and second hands moved at a dizzying speed.
In the center of the rooftop stood a multi-colored obelisk. The barrier originated from it.
It was the nine-star time magic: [Obelisk of Eternity].
Time accelerated within the area where it was activated. That was undoubtedly what had caused the sudden resurrection of the Evil God, an event that wasn't supposed to happen until the third year.
It was a common trope, but even in this world, there were forbidden domains of magic—magic that transcended the realm of Truth and God. Time manipulation was the prime example.
And that was exactly what was happening on the roof of Bartos Hall.
“To reach the rooftop, I have to enter the building no matter what.”
It was impossible to penetrate the barrier created by the [Obelisk of Eternity] from the outside. Time froze for anything that touched its surface. No shock or impact could even graze it. As a bonus, it was impervious to mana perception, as even the mana emanating from it was frozen in time.
What about destroying Bartos Hall itself?
Not an option. Upon closer inspection, the building was covered by a light yellow translucent barrier, matching the color of the outer walls. It was likely a defensive spell cast by one of the minions inside.
‘If anyone is capable of all this, it’s…’
In the story of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, only one person fit that description… ‘that woman.’
‘This is driving me crazy.’
My mind was spinning. First the Evil God, and now her…
A trial was designed to be overcome, provided one could figure out how. To put it another way, this imaginary world would create loopholes as small as the eye of a needle for me to exploit. Conversely, it would also do everything in its power to stop me.
I swallowed hard, pushed open the ornate doors of Bartos Hall, and began climbing the stairs toward the roof.
As I entered the building, I couldn't help but scowl at the sight I had expected.
The central hall was eerie. The walls, adorned with beautiful structures, statues, and intricate patterns, were now splattered with crimson blood.
And then there were the soldiers.
Large men in white military uniforms, emblazoned with playing card designs, stood in orderly rows along the walls, clutching spears. They were Trump Soldiers, wearing masks with grotesque, half-smiling faces. This was the private army of the Student Council President, Alice Carroll.
---
[Trump Soldier ♠]
Lv: 130
Race: Demihuman
Element: Water
Danger: High
Psychology:You!)!so(]
[Trump Soldier ♥]
Element: Fire
[Trump Soldier ♣]
Element: Wind
[Trump Soldier ◆]
Element: Rock
---
The Trump Soldiers had seized complete control of Bartos Hall.
[Hello?]
An eerie voice, neither male nor female, echoed through the air. It came from near my feet.
How could I not recognize that voice? In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, during the 「Alice Subjugation」 arc, this was one of the powerful bosses that blocked the player’s path.
Even though I had anticipated it, goosebumps erupted across my skin.
I looked down and saw a purple cat wearing a black bowler hat. Its plump body made it look sluggish, but its expression was brimming with nonchalance. It grinned at me from ear to ear.
---
[Phantom Cat Cheshire]
Lv: 175
Race: Magic Beast
Element: ^%%!^&
Danger: Extreme
Psychology: [You&)(&(^%$&^ Kill)(&(^#$#%^]
---
Alice Carroll’s 8-star familiar, ‘Phantom Cat Cheshire.’ The strength of this small cat rivaled that of Galia.
This world was truly out to stop me from clearing my trial. It seemed I was facing the one enemy under Alice’s command that I feared the most.
[You look cute. Just Alice’s type. She’ll go crazy for you.]
Cheshire had a temperament like a bouncing ping-pong ball—unpredictable and erratic. One minute it would be having an engaging conversation, and the next, it would be killing you. Or, in the middle of a murder attempt, it might abruptly say, ‘I’m in a good mood because my breathing just improved,’ and spare your life for some absurd reason.
It was an utterly uncontrollable personality. However, precisely because it was so whimsical and unpredictable, certain tactics became even more effective.
‘Okay, deep breath.’
As a ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ veteran, I knew exactly how to lower Cheshire’s guard.
After wiping the sweat from my brow, I placed my hands on my knees and leaned down toward Cheshire. Then, I opened my mouth.
“Oh, how adorable…! I’ve never seen such a cute cat before!”
[…Meow?]
“Whose cat is this? Wow, look at that fine fur. It’s magnificent.”
[Meow?]
They say compliments can even make a whale dance. Cheshire was weak to compliments. Extremely weak. The context didn’t matter; the cat simply loved being praised, whether it was in a war zone or a murder scene.
“Who is your master, really? I’m so jealous… I wish I had such a beautiful and handsome cat.”
Cheshire is gender-neutral. It loves compliments, whether they are masculine or feminine.
[Oh, you have a good eye, rookie. The fact that I’m both beautiful and handsome is as clear as day.]
Standing tall, Cheshire puffed out its chest, full of energy. Its head bounced up and down in delight as I continued to shower it with praise.
“Well done, well done, well done~!”
[Meowww!]
At one point, Cheshire performed a trick, spinning its body like a figure skater. I bent at the waist, applauding enthusiastically. Amidst the solemnly aligned Trump Soldiers, it felt like we were having a private, playful party.
[How was that for showmanship? On a scale of one to ten?]
“One… nine points?”
[Meowww! You mean a perfect nine out of nine!]
Cheshire laughed happily and squirmed again. It was a nerve-wracking experience, but I had to work hard to cater to its mood.
“But what has such a beautiful, handsome, and talented cat been doing all this time?”
[Meowww! It’s because the God of the End is about to resurrect and destroy the world. I was killing everyone to prevent any interference~]
“Hmm, is that so?”
Interference. Did that mean disrupting the [Obelisk of Eternity] within Bartos Hall was possible?
‘…It might be worth a try.’
As I pondered Cheshire’s words, a clue to resolving the situation began to take shape in my mind.
In that moment—
「Black Rabbit (Neutral Element, ★7)」
Swoosh—
“…Huh?”
An indescribable shock pierced through my entire body. My gaze wandered against my will. I realized some kind of magic had hit me, and my body had lost all function.
I couldn't feel a thing. My legs gave out, and I collapsed onto the floor.
Complete numbness. I couldn't lift a finger. I couldn't even draw a breath. It felt as though my very sanity was being paralyzed. I was helplessly dying. I realized this fact with terrifying clarity.
Click-clack, click-clack—
In my blurred field of vision, I saw the wide central staircase with its red carpet. A tall girl dressed in a long-sleeved uniform, adorned with a black-and-white checkered headband and a choker, descended the stairs. She approached me, withdrawing an ashen magic circle.
“You, the troublemaker.”
Her light pink eyes stared directly into mine. Her voice was seductive—a voice that seemed to exist solely to bewitch men.
‘Alice Carroll…’
The darkness of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱. The shadowy figure, the hidden mastermind—Student Council President, Alice Carroll.
She flashed a mysterious smile.
---
[Ali()(&^%Ce Car&]
Lv: 1&^*&%$
Race: &*@an
Elements: $&^%!#)
Danger: Extr(&4#)
Psychology: [♠♥♣◆]
---
Due to Alice’s unique trait, [Red Queen’s Paradox], her information was hidden. Her ability to cause all information, including status windows, to vanish from an observer's sight was absolute. This was also why Dorothy could not see through Alice’s true nature, even with the power of [All In The World].
Alice knelt in front of me, lowering herself and tilting her chin up to look at me.
Silence.
She simply watched as I struggled to breathe. My brain was losing its functionality. I couldn't think deeply about anything. Before long, my life quietly faded away, like an ember that had exhausted its strength.
● ● ● ● ● ●
“We will now be holding the summer vacation ceremony for the first-years of the Magic Department.”
“Argh!”
Like a man holding his breath until his lungs burned, I exhaled all at once. Perhaps because of my sudden gasp, the host of the ceremony paused to stare at me, as did the rest of the students.
“Ugh, ugh… huff.”
I pressed a hand to my chest, taking a moment to catch my breath. As soon as my breathing steadied, I immediately began to organize the situation in my head.
The host stared at me for a moment longer before resuming the ceremony. The students turned away as well—except for those I knew, like Luce and Kaya. Luce’s worried gaze was particularly intense.
Of course, I couldn't afford to worry about that right now.
‘I think I get it.’
Alice used the [Obelisk of Eternity] to hasten the resurrection of the Evil God. Thus, it was resurrected early. In other words...
‘Defeat Alice and stop the Evil God from resurrecting.’
The methodology was straightforward: the first step was to defeat Alice.
Alice and Dorothy represented the pinnacle of power at Märchen Academy. By the time the 「Alice Subjugation」 battle occurred in the original game, Dorothy had already lost her life. Eventually, Ian and his allies would defeat Alice’s minions and face her in a climactic battle in Bartos Hall.
But in this timeline, Dorothy was alive. However, there was no way to quickly gather all the necessary resources to defeat Alice on my own.
In other words, the only way to get past Alice was to recruit Dorothy. There was no other option.
But…
‘Where is Dorothy?’
Only then did I realize something. I hadn't seen Dorothy since the start of the vacation ceremony.