Chapter 58: Prologue — Interlude
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 58: Prologue — Interlude
At the exact moment Isaac cleared the trial.
In the north, within the sprawling estate of the Whiteclark family.
A woman with short, pink hair, Keridna Whiteclark, was screaming. Her voice echoed through the halls of the massive mansion.
“Sister! Sister Aichel!! Help me, it’s an emergency!”
The life of an academy student named Isaac was on the line, and she was the only one who knew.
Keridna couldn’t shake the terrifying thought. Believing that Aichel might be the only one capable of saving him, Keridna had spent over twenty minutes scouring the mansion with the help of the maids.
It was absurd that no one knew where Aichel was.
Where the hell is she hiding?
Keridna finally reached Aichel’s office. She had already checked it once, but she hoped something had changed. She hammered on the door.
“Sister Aichel!! Help! Someone is going to die!!”
“Who?”
“Aaaah!!”
A calm voice drifted from behind her. Startled, Keridna spun around to find the owner.
The woman she had been desperately searching for stood there, wearing a friendly, composed smile. It was Aichel Whiteclark—a mature beauty with neatly braided pink hair, dressed in her formal uniform.
“Uh, Sis... I didn’t even feel you? What kind of movement technique was that?”
“I just walked here normally. You were simply too distracted to notice.”
“Ugh...!”
Aichel pushed open the door, revealing a minimalist office furnished with only the bare essentials. However, the White Dragon emblem mounted behind the desk—the symbol of the Whiteclark family—was lavishly decorated.
“Wait, that’s not important right now! Someone is dying...! Huh? He’s awake?”
Keridna closed her eyes to check Isaac’s status.
As she activated [Sight Synchronization], a bizarre scene unfolded. While she was relieved to see Isaac conscious, the situation was anything but normal.
“Uh...?”
Keridna stood speechless as her vision focused on the figure of a White Dragon. It was the unmistakable symbol of her own family—the mythical White Dragon.
Even more shocking, Isaac had his arm extended toward it, manifesting an 8-star Familiar Contract Circle.
Keridna doubted her own eyes. It was an impossible sight.
「Plunder (Neutral Element, ★4)」
“Wha—!”
Suddenly, Aichel placed a hand over Keridna’s eyes and cast a spell. Caught off guard, Keridna let out a sharp cry.
[Plunder] was a neutral spell that allowed the caster to steal magic currently being used by another person. It was generally considered impractical because it required the caster to have a profound understanding of the specific magic they were stealing.
But Aichel was intimately familiar with the Whiteclark family’s signature magic, [Sight Synchronization]. Stealing it was as effortless for her as breathing.
Aichel closed her eyes, observing the vision of Isaac she had just snatched from her sister.
“Sister!!”
“...”
Aichel extended an arm to halt the approaching Keridna. Seeing the uncharacteristic gravity on her sister’s face, Keridna swallowed her words and froze.
“This is...”
Her sister was someone who usually teased others with a playful, carefree smile. This was the first time Keridna had ever seen her look so deadly serious.
Reflected in Aichel’s stolen vision was a colossal white dragon, a terrifying scythe dripping with immense mana, and a menacing demon.
Then, [Ice Sovereign’s Majesty] triggered, and Isaac’s body erupted in a brilliant glow.
──────Pop!!
“Argh!!”
With a sickening sound, blood began to stream from Aichel’s closed eyes.
Clutching her face, Aichel collapsed with a piercing scream. It was the backlash—[Ice Sovereign’s Majesty] had violently rejected the intrusion of [Sight Synchronization].
“Sister!!”
Keridna rushed to catch her, but...
Aichel thrust her hand out again, blocking her sister’s path.
“Haa... I’m fine... It’s alright...”
She covered her eyes with her free hand. Thanks to her high-level [Basic Protection Magic], which she kept active at all times, her eyeballs hadn't literally exploded. However, the aftereffects would be severe for a long time.
Aichel spoke through ragged, pained breaths, her body trembling.
“Little sister... Just what kind of... what kind of absurd monster did you provoke...?”
“S-Sister...?”
Keridna began to shake uncontrollably with fear.
“I-I’m sorry! I don’t know what’s happening, I just—!”
“I’m not scolding you.”
Suddenly, the corners of Aichel’s lips curled upward.
Keridna flinched at the reaction.
“I’m praising you...”
Even with tears of blood staining her cheeks, Aichel’s eyes snapped open, wide with manic joy. An ear-to-ear smile stretched across her face, her pupils gleaming with a predatory red hue.
For the first time in her life, Keridna felt that her sister was truly terrifying.
*
[Congratulations! You have defeated [Heinkel the Hoarder (Lv. 155)] and gained EXP!]
[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 63!]
[You have gained 6 stat points!]
[You have obtained the loot: [Heavenly Bundle]!]
[The aura of the [Heavenly Bundle] permeates your soul...]
[Congratulations! You have acquired the unique skill: [Clairvoyance]!]
It felt like I was being bombarded by notifications.
As I adjusted to the bone-deep chill flowing into my body from the Frostscythe, my head spun. My mind wasn't functioning properly.
At the same time, looking at Hilde, I remembered the Great Witch of Heaven’s Wrath who had provided the 8-star Familiar Contract Circle.
I had casually blurted out for her to become my familiar... I never actually expected her to agree.
I had even managed to deal with Heinkel the Hoarder.
‘Why did he even show up here...?’
Only after the chill of the Frostscythe settled and my clarity returned did I realize how chaotic the situation had become.
Heinkel the Hoarder played a pivotal, catalyst-like role in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ during the second-semester arc of the first year. He was a demon known for his rebellious, self-righteous streak, often acting independently and ignoring the orders of the Evil God Nephid. His unpredictability made him a dangerous wild card in the original story.
The second semester hadn't even started, yet he had already appeared and been defeated by me.
I had also obtained the [Clairvoyance] skill.
The Frostscythe, an 8-star familiar, and [Clairvoyance]...
‘What a ridiculous jackpot.’
It felt like a "buy one, get three free" deal.
Moreover... Hilde had called me the ‘Ice Sovereign.’ After thinking it over, I could guess why.
It was the 9-star passive skill I’d obtained from [Fictional Hell]: [Ice Sovereign]. Hilde must have sensed it and mistaken me for her master from a thousand years ago.
Does she think I’m the reincarnation of the Ice Sovereign?
It seemed the Frost Dragon had a sentimental side and believed in reincarnation.
‘So she misunderstood the situation and became my familiar?’
You have truly seen my fate, oh Great Witch of Heaven’s Wrath.
To be honest, I had looked forward to forming a contract with an 8-star familiar in some grand, dramatic fashion. An endgame familiar, no less. I just didn't think it would happen like this.
‘I’m sorry, Hilde.’
I am not the Ice Sovereign... and I am certainly not their reincarnation.
As I prepared to tell her the truth, a heavy weight settled in my chest. I couldn't imagine the sheer magnitude of betrayal and shock she would feel. She had spent a thousand years yearning for the Ice Sovereign’s return.
Since the contract was already sealed, I hoped Hilde would at least assist me until we dealt with the Evil God. After that, I wouldn't mind releasing her.
‘Until the Evil God is defeated... should I just pretend to be the reincarnation?’
Or was it better to be honest?
After racking my brain, I decided to drop it and think about it tomorrow. I was simply too exhausted.
I chose to abandon my winter clothes entirely. They were deep within the trial’s cavern, and I had no desire to go back into that darkness to find them.
Placing my hand on the magic circle, I infused a small amount of mana and successfully returned to Ayla Forest. Now that Hilde was my familiar, I had the authority to access the trial’s cave whenever I wished. The thought filled me with a quiet sense of accomplishment.
“Ah.”
The moment I stepped out of Ayla Forest, my legs gave out.
I felt pathetic. Even though the freezing chill had subsided after I gained control of the Frostscythe, the damage remained. My body bore the traces of a cold so intense it had nearly claimed my life. I couldn't just brush it off. While I had managed to freeze the bleeding from my cuts, the sharp, throbbing pain coursing through my nerves was unavoidable.
「Ice Generation (Ice Element, ★1)」
I created a thin sheet of ice on the ground and collapsed onto it. It was painful enough without the grass irritating my wounds.
I stared silently at the night sky. The celestial garden of shimmering stars imprinted itself on my vision—tranquil, gentle, and faintly radiant.
Despite the complications, it was an undeniably high-risk, high-reward venture that had yielded tremendous gains. Every ounce of pain and every wound felt gloriously worthwhile.
“Seriously. It hurts like hell.”
I let out a pained, silent laugh.
It was an unforgettable night.
…
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 63
Gender: Male
Year: 1st
Title: Freshman
Mana: 3200/3200
• Mana Recovery Speed (C)
• Stamina (B-)
• Strength (B-)
• Intelligence (C+)
• Willpower (A+)
Potential ❰❰Details❱❱
[Combat Skills]
Elemental Series 1: Ice
• Elemental Firepower (B-)
• Elemental Efficiency (B-)
• Elemental Synergy (B-)
Elemental Series 2 (Locked)
[Owned Skills]
Owned Skills ❰❰Details❱❱
Skill Tree ❰❰Details❱❱
[Unique Traits]
• Hunter
[Familiars]
Eden (Lv. 55)
Grade: ★3
Element: Rock
Bond: 70
Synchronization: 35
Summoning Mana: 50
Skill Tree ❰❰Details❱❱
Frost Dragon Hilde (Lv. 180)
Grade: ★8
Race: Magic Beast
Element: Ice
Bond: 5
Synchronization: 0
Summoning Mana: 20,000
Skill Tree ❰❰Details❱❱
‘I need to check my progress.’
After passing the Trial of Frost, I had received treatment in the academy’s infirmary. When asked what happened, I vaguely mentioned getting injured during training.
When I finally returned to the dormitory, I fell into a death-like sleep. I was beyond spent.
Morning. Doris Hall, Low-Ranking Dormitory.
Leaning against the window with a cool morning breeze drifting in, I stared at my status screen while trying to organize my thoughts.
I invested my six newly acquired stat points into [Learning Efficiency], which improved my skill mastery and knowledge acquisition rate. I should be able to raise my [Elemental Firepower] from B- to B grade soon. Thanks to my Grade A [Magic Training Efficiency], my growth was impressive.
For context, many students at Märchen Academy already possessed high potential in [Magic Training Efficiency]. It was a prestigious institution that attracted natural-born geniuses, after all. And those geniuses were working just as hard as I was.
I had only recently reached Grade A. It was only because of the system features of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ that I could achieve rapid growth by hunting demons. Naturally, I still lagged behind the top-tier characters and Ian, who were innately gifted.
Even so, as I progressed through the grades, "Isaac Coin" would skyrocket. In the first semester alone, I had raised my level by 43, while others might have only gained a few.
Anyway.
‘I still have a long way to go before I can actually use Hilde...’
Even though I had contracted the Frost Dragon, I lacked the mana to summon her without [Hunter] being active. My maximum mana was 3,200. Summoning Hilde required a staggering 20,000. The gap was more than sixfold.
Even if I did summon her, the mana required to maintain her presence would be astronomical. It was completely unrealistic to use her in my base state.
Still, obtaining an endgame familiar like Hilde this early was a massive achievement. She was supposed to be a late-game acquisition, but I’d snagged her ahead of schedule.
If there was one thing worrying me, it was...
‘I don’t know how to deal with her...’
I couldn't just ignore her, and she was likely in a state of panic. She could probably sense that my mana pool was pathetic. But since I couldn't summon her, I couldn't even talk to her.
There was a way to decrease the mana cost by reducing the familiar's size and the amount of power they could tap into, but even then, my current level wasn't enough. I had to find a solution.
The skill list in the status window had been simplified because I’d acquired so many. Now, I had to click for details.
[Owned Skills]
Active
• (★1) Ice Generation (B-)
• (★5) Black Ice (B-)
• (★2) Ice Curtain (B-)
• (★1) Cold Divergence (B+)
• (★1) Basic Protection Magic (D+)
• (★4) Frostfire (C+)
• (★4) Ice Wall (C+)
• (★5) Frost Explosion (C-)
• (★2) Snow Pellets (C)
• (★7) Divine Authority - White Night (E) - (Locked)
• (★7) Divine Authority - Everlasting Night (E) - (Locked)
• (★7) Ice Sovereign's Majesty (E) - (Locked)
• (★7) Absolute Zero (E) - (Locked)
• (★7) Clairvoyance (E)
Passive
• (★7) Psychological Insight
• (★5) Demon Detection
• (★9) Ice Sovereign
• (★7) Flash Freeze - (Locked)
The locked skills were conditional. I’d be able to use them again once I summoned Hilde’s Frostscythe.
This level of progress by the end of the first semester was remarkable. I felt a surge of pride knowing I had completely shattered the conventional power scaling of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
“Huff... ugh.”
But my mood quickly soured. It was because of the Frostscythe.
The reality was that I couldn't use the Frostscythe with my current body. The moment [Hunter] deactivated, my mana circuits overloaded just from holding the weapon. It felt like my blood flow was accelerating to the point where my vessels would burst.
Not only was I unable to use its magic properly, but even swinging it caused my body to start freezing. Using it against anything that wasn't a demon was essentially suicide. It was a stark reminder of how weak I still was.
As expected of an ultimate weapon.
‘Should I give [Clairvoyance] a try?’
A strange mana lingered in my right eye. I let it flow.
「Clairvoyance (Neutral Element, ★7)」
A peculiar sensation washed over me, as if a second "me" had been created—one unrestricted by space. I could manipulate this phantom vision with my mind.
As if I had mastered teleportation, my vision shifted rapidly. Struggling to focus made me dizzy, so I squeezed my eyes shut. The view currently captured by my right eye was of the distant hydrangea garden. It was a surreal feeling.
‘Whoa, this is incredible. What’s the limit?’
As I pushed the vision further and faster, the world began to darken. After a short distance, a violent pain stabbed into my right eye, followed by a splitting headache.
“Ugh...!”
I deactivated [Clairvoyance] and clutched my eye. It hurt like hell... I wondered if this was what surgery without anesthesia felt like.
Since [Clairvoyance] was only Grade E, the name felt like an exaggeration. I couldn't see very far at all.
Still, it was an undeniably powerful skill. I just had to steadily increase my proficiency. However, using it to monitor Alice seemed out of the question for now. I didn't want to trigger Extra Bad Ending No. 11: [Sudden Death].
As the pain subsided, I took a breath and lowered my hand. In the mirror, my right eye had returned from silver to its original color.
‘I just need to keep training [Clairvoyance]... As for the second-semester scenario, hmm.’
I had taken out both Leafa the Illusive and Heinkel the Hoarder—both of whom were supposed to appear in the second semester—way ahead of time.
As a result, I had no idea how the second semester would play out.
In the original story, during the [Four Constellations] arc, Amy Holloway would use her bloodline ability, [Heart Color Discernment], to see through Leafa’s deception. That revelation would lead into the [Fictional Hell] arc...
‘I’m not sure what’s going to happen now.’
The Four Constellations would likely still fight among themselves to recruit Ian Fairytale, the light element prodigy, but that wasn't my concern.
The biggest issue was Heinkel’s absence. He was the joker, the one who created variables. He was supposed to manipulate situations by either cornering Ian or allowing him to escape.
The future was now a complete unknown. However, my core mission remained the same: kill demons and prevent bad endings. I might need to help Ian reach the minimum strength threshold to progress the story, but that was a problem for after summer vacation.
I waved my arm to dismiss the status screen and stared out the window.
During the trial, I had felt the Evil God’s mana against my skin and realized something. I needed to get stronger to defeat her, but simple training wouldn't be enough.
‘I’ll fall behind no matter how hard I train, so what’s the move?’
To defeat the servant of the Evil God, Angra Mainyu, one needed to be at least Level 200 or possess the light element. Otherwise, you couldn't withstand the crimson mana and would simply die.
But no human had reached Level 200. In the end, the only one capable of defeating Angra Mainyu was Ian, whose light mana could nullify their magic.
Unfortunately, Ian "Faintingtale" was an SSS-Class Master Fainter with terrible control. It was honestly more realistic for me to hit Level 200 myself or recruit a Level 200 ally.
Then there was the Apocalypse Dragon, Azhi Dahāka, and the Black Flame Legion.
I was always focused on gathering power, but it seemed I needed even more than I’d anticipated.
‘Looks like I have one more task.’
I needed to recruit several powerful allies—people even stronger than the current Dorothy—before the Evil God’s resurrection.
That’s going to be a long-term project...
“Hi!”
“Whoa, you scared me!”
A female student suddenly popped up from below the window.
The sight of a witch hat and purple hair startled me, reminding me of a ghost from a horror movie. I recoiled in surprise. I thought my heart was going to stop.
I’m really weak to jumpscares...
I took a deep breath to steady myself and looked at Dorothy Heartnova. She was floating in the air, starlight mana shimmering beneath her feet.
“Oops,” she chirped, adjusting her posture to sit on the windowsill, her legs dangling into my room. She was dressed in casual clothes that showed off her pale shoulders. It was a pleasant sight for a morning, if a bit heart-stopping.
“Senior, this is the men’s dormitory. You shouldn’t be here...”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already hit the maximum penalty points! I’ve got nothing left to lose!”
She answered cheerfully, puffing out her chest. It wasn't exactly something to be proud of.
“What are you doing today, President? Let’s hang out.”
“I have to practice magic. I don’t have time to play.”
Dorothy widened her eyes and pouted at me.
“Training freak.”
“Are you going to scold me?”
“If you don’t want me to, then let me bother you.”
“Now you’re just openly admitting it... Usually, you at least pretend you aren't.”
“President, this big sis is so sad. My supposed 'fan' doesn't even want to play with me when I’m asking.”
“Ugh, it’s because I can’t. Seriously...”
“Ah, you’re back to talking casually again.”
“...?”
A faint smile played on her lips, leaving me speechless.
‘What?’
Had I been talking casually? I might have, a few times... maybe? I couldn't remember every conversation I’d had with her. There were times when I spoke my mind so effortlessly that the words just flowed. I probably wasn't even conscious of it.
‘Did she actually care about that?’
[Dorothy Heartnova]
Psychology: [★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆★☆]
As usual, her thoughts were unreadable.
“I’m just kidding! I wouldn’t dream of disturbing our diligent President!”
“But did you need something? Coming all this way to greet me in the morning.”
“I just felt like it today, for some reason.”
Dorothy smiled brightly. It was a meaningful, lingering expression.
“Nihihi, I’m off! See you later~”
“Oh... sure.”
Dorothy wrapped herself in starlight mana, becoming weightless, and floated away into the distance.
I felt strangely... uncomfortable. It felt like her words carried a weight of hidden emotions. For a moment, I scratched my head and replayed the conversation.
...Suddenly, an absurd thought crossed my mind. But there was no way Dorothy could have memories of the trial.
I shook my head, changed into my gym clothes, and left the dorm.
A cluster of fluffy clouds drifted quietly across the sky. At least they didn't look like rain clouds this time.