Chapter 63: Second Element
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 63: Second Element
"Future Duchess of the North, Aichel Whiteclark. I formally request that you convey the following to your sister, Keridna Whiteclark."
It was terrifying.
Aichel’s solemn warning was lodged in Keridna’s mind like a wedge, the memory gripping her with a persistent sense of unease.
‘Who in the world is that man?’
Sitting in Provisional Class 3 was a female student with short pink hair—Keridna Whiteclark.
She was currently lost in thought, resting her chin on her hand as she quietly tapped the desk with her fingers. While the professor conducted the orientation for the second semester’s curriculum at the podium, Keridna couldn’t bring herself to focus on a single word.
Isaac had been the weakest student in the Magic Department, possessing a mere Grade E mana.
The symbol of the Whiteclark Ducal family was the White Dragon, a mythological magic beast. The image of Isaac forming a contract with that legendary creature refused to leave her mind.
Where should she even begin to be astonished? From the fact that the mythical White Dragon was still alive? Or the fact that Isaac had formed a voluntary master-familiar contract with it? Regardless, it was an utterly ridiculous tale.
‘Of course, I don’t think he’s the weakest in the department anymore.’
Going into the second semester, Isaac had grown at an explosive rate, increasing his mana capacity to C+. While he was still much weaker than her… it was still disorienting.
What the hell is Isaac’s true identity?
As Keridna continued to ponder, she vividly recalled the sight of blood flowing down Aichel’s face. It still gave her chills.
If Aichel hadn’t plundered her [Sight Synchronization], Keridna would have been the one blinded. Her sister had paid the price for her daring to spy on a monster like Isaac.
Thankfully, Aichel always kept an absurd amount of [Basic Protection Magic] active. Otherwise, she really would have lost her sight. Keridna had incurred a debt that would be impossible to repay in her lifetime.
“Ugh…”
Keridna had no idea just how terrifying the secret she had tried to uncover truly was. However, she knew one thing for certain.
Isaac was… like the embodiment of fear. A monster dwelling in the dark depths of the ocean.
There were some truths in this world that were better off unknown, and Isaac’s secret was undoubtedly among them. Keridna had almost gone blind as a consequence of her curiosity.
Now, Isaac was the object of her absolute dread.
*
[Congratulations! You have unlocked the second elemental slot!]
[Your second element is [Rock].]
While leveling up from 63 to 68, I invested my stat points into [Magic Training Efficiency]. Thanks to that, a total of 81 stat points were now allocated to [Magic Training Efficiency], bringing it to rank A+.
I had also run into Kaya Astrea, who constantly blushed and attempted to avoid my gaze. By reading her psychology, I discovered she was avoiding me because she was embarrassed about kissing me on the cheek during summer vacation.
I approached Kaya to say hello, but it was clear she wasn't ready to talk. She merely pleaded with me to "forget her mistake during the vacation ceremony." Seeing her so desperate, I could only agree. Soon after, Kaya beat a hasty retreat.
It seemed the distance between us would remain for the time being.
Recently, our new class placements were determined. Since there were no demons present during the evaluations, I just had to do my best. As a result, I was placed in the upper level of Class C. It was a result hard for anyone to believe.
The vast majority of students remained in the same classes as last semester, including those in Class D. Every time we passed in the hallways, they glared at me. Through psychology reading, I could see the raw sense of inferiority they felt.
‘Ha.’
Look at how they’re treating me now compared to last semester.
Considering I was someone they once looked down on, the change was significant, to say the least.
Thus, 「Act 4, Chapter 1: Beginning of Second Semester」 of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ passed without any major incidents.
It was now evening. After finishing my classes, I headed toward a corner of the Butterfly Garden. It was where I spent most of my time during the first semester, so whenever something new happened, I found myself coming here to think.
Unlike the first semester, where I focused on delving deep into a single element, the second semester’s curriculum forced me to train a second element simultaneously. For my personal growth, a structured magical education was important, so it was beneficial to follow the curriculum.
Right on cue, I had successfully unlocked my second element, accompanied by a system notification.
「Rock Generation (Rock Element, ★1)」
“Hmm.”
As I channeled mana through my right hand, small fragments of stone manifested and began floating gently, as if weightless.
I had hoped for a gas or liquid element like fire, water, lightning, or wind, but like my ice element, I had received another solid one. Consequently, there were clear drawbacks in terms of mobility and utility.
‘Still, there are clear advantages as well.’
I could name at least three immediate benefits that came with my new element.
The first was compatibility. Rock magic could counter the greatest weakness of ice magic: fire. (Though water would’ve been better.)
The second was the coolness factor. If I crossed my arms while summoning boulders from the sky and dropped a line like, “When heaven moves, everything follows,” my style points would be immeasurable.
The third was my familiar, Eden.
I summoned Eden. Light brown mana gathered in the air and took the form of a small golem. Eden landed softly on the ground.
[Kyuu! Kyuu?]
My familiar, Eden, was of the rock element. In other words, I could now begin to supply him with my own rock mana. As I channeled the mana toward him, Eden began to jump up and down in surprise.
“Eden, does my mana taste good?”
[Yeah!]
Eden responded with a happy pose. What a cute fellow. I petted his head with a smile.
Providing a large amount of mana to a familiar would accelerate its growth, allowing the summon to keep up with its master. The next time I activated [Hunter] and summoned Eden, the surge in mana would act like a massive buff, strengthening him greatly. If he could stabilize that buffed state, Eden would likely grow at an astonishing speed.
Hehe.
The next demon I would face was an elephant demon from 「Act 4, Chapter 3: Underground Giant」, known as “Elphelt the Evanescent.” To reach him, I had to clear a considerably difficult mission in 「Act 4, Chapter 2: Food Chain」, so I expected a hell of a challenge ahead.
But more than that, I was worried about someone specific.
‘Kaya.’
The hidden boss of 「Act 4, Chapter 3: Underground Giant」 was Kaya Astrea.
Yes, our very own Kaya. Although it would only be temporary, Kaya would become a demon, and a fight between us was unavoidable.
In the game forums, the corrupted Kaya was referred to as “Dark Kaya.” Because of her difficulty, I’d seen many posts insulting the developers' families, with players raging, “Did the dev’s mother die for this level of difficulty?” Her patterns were so irregular that it was nearly impossible to find a consistent strategy.
Not only was Kaya much stronger now than in the original scenario, but her tactical awareness had also increased. Ignoring the co-op EXP she had received in the Tantak Underground Cave, the fact that I had given her the Armana Wand as a gift was the true game-changer.
While giving that gift to Kaya had saved me during the first semester, it would become a blade aimed at my neck during the second. In other words, Dark Kaya’s patterns would be entirely different from the ones I knew, making this fight uncharted territory.
‘Well, I’ll still win, though.’
The reason I had given her the Armana Wand was simple. No matter how much her attack patterns changed, I would be much stronger than her when [Hunter] was active. By levels alone, I would be substantially higher than Dark Kaya.
It was a known fact that the lower one’s level was compared to their opponent, the less damage they could inflict. But even then… I had the Frostscythe and Hilde with me now. There was no way I could lose.
While I was lost in thought, I heard a familiar voice.
“Presideeeeent~!”
“Ah!”
The voice rang right in my ear, startling me so much that I covered my ears and jumped back.
Wow, I thought my eardrums were about to burst.
Turning my head, I saw a female student with lavender hair wearing a distinctive witch’s hat.
“Nyahaha! You’re so cute!”
It was Dorothy, laughing mischievously.
“Ah… Senior, you’re here.”
The lingering sensation of Dorothy’s whisper and her breath remained, leaving me unable to take my hands off my ears.
“So, you’ve awakened a second element, right?”
“Yes. It was the rock element.”
“Our President has been hitting the gym and putting on some muscle, so rock does kind of suit you.”
“What kind of logic is that…?”
Tilting her head, Dorothy giggled.
“It’s been a while since you’ve been here. Lately, you’ve only been going to the gym and back.”
“I wanted to organize my thoughts. I’ve just unlocked a new element, and I need to think about how to best train it.”
“Hm, since you’ve just unlocked it, you probably can’t use many spells, right?”
“That’s right. I can only cast basic spells, so I was thinking about mastering those first.”
My [Magic Training Efficiency] and [Learning Efficiency] had drastically improved since last semester, meaning I should be able to practice much more effectively.
“Can this big sis help you?” Dorothy began to smile slyly.
“Senior? Help me with what?”
“Just tell me yes or no.”
“If you’ll help me, then of course I’ll be grateful.”
“Then extend both of your hands.”
I did as Dorothy instructed.
“…!”
Suddenly, Dorothy placed my hands on top of her wrists and gently grasped mine. With our hands and wrists pressed firmly against each other, I could distinctly feel her soft skin. I was embarrassed, to say the least.
“Grab my wrists.”
What’s going on…?
I hesitantly grabbed onto Dorothy’s wrists. They were quite slender. At that moment, I finally realized that Dorothy—who had always felt like a playful younger sister or daughter figure—was a woman after all.
The moment that realization hit, light brown rock mana began to flow where our wrists met.
Sssssssss─
Starting from my wrists, I could sense the rock mana circuits that had been dormant throughout my body coming to life. It was the same sensation I felt every time I increased my proficiency with ice magic.
Amazed, I stared at Dorothy in disbelief. She offered me a bright smile, tilting her head to the side. Beneath her witch’s hat, her golden earrings gleamed, reflecting the last vestiges of the sunset. As usual, her eyes seemed to contain the entire universe within them.
My eyes were feasting on her.
“I have the rock element too—wind and rock, to be exact. That’s why I can use my own rock mana to help you master yours. Well, it’s only possible because it’s me, though~”
“You’re the best, Senior. Really.”
“Nihihi.”
I couldn’t help but smile. I hadn’t expected to receive any assistance, and I was lucky to have met Dorothy today. At this rate, I felt as though I could master various rock spells far faster than I had anticipated.
Before I even realized it, the flow of Dorothy’s rock mana ceased.
“Since this method only works when you first awaken a new element, there’s nothing else I can do!”
This much is already plenty.
I repeatedly expressed my gratitude to Dorothy. Each time I did, she responded enthusiastically, placing a hand on her hip and brimming with confidence.
*
[Status]
Name: Isaac
Lv: 68
Gender: Male
Year: 1st
Title: Freshman Who Has Adapted to Student Life
Mana: 5200/5200
– Mana Recovery Speed (C+)
– Stamina (B)
– Strength (B)
– Intelligence (C+)
– Willpower (A+)
[Combat Skills]
Elemental Series 1: Ice
– Elemental Firepower (B)
– Elemental Efficiency (B)
– Elemental Synergy (B)
Elemental Series 2: Rock
– Elemental Firepower (C)
– Elemental Efficiency (C)
– Elemental Synergy (D+)
[Owned Skills]
Owned Skills ❰❰Details❱❱
Skill Tree ❰❰Details❱❱
[Unique Attributes]
– Hunter
*
The warmth of summer gradually faded, signaling the beginning of autumn.
The increase in my rock element’s [Elemental Firepower] and [Elemental Efficiency] far surpassed my expectations. It was the result of my A+ [Magic Training Efficiency] combined with Dorothy’s assistance. It had only been a short time since I had unlocked it, yet I had already reached C-rank. For the rock element, [Elemental Synergy] was currently useless, so I didn’t bother increasing that stat.
Additionally, I learned some new spells.
To begin with, the 4-star spell [Ice Spear] was incredibly useful, boasting a mana density that far exceeded anything I could form with [Ice Generation]. I could launch it toward an enemy by will, and the magic circle would handle the firing.
Among my former offensive ice spells, I only had [Frostfire], which had a large area of effect but lacked concentrated power, and [Frost Explosion], which was far too powerful for normal use. Therefore, I chose to learn [Ice Spear] for its concentrated attack power.
I also learned the 3-star rock spell [Stone Toss], which threw rocks with a higher mana density than those formed by [Rock Generation]. The higher the mana density, the greater the power and strength of a spell—especially for those that formed solid matter.
“Isaac, all clear. You may proceed.”
Currently, I was heading toward an exam site. Inside a cabin, the exam proctor began scanning my body to ensure I didn't have any prohibited items. Since I hadn't brought anything abnormal, I passed easily.
In this exam, I was only allowed to bring magic weapons or absolute necessities. The Sheath of Disaster was considered a magic tool rather than a magic weapon, so I had been forced to leave it at my dorm.
The difference was that magic weapons enhanced the power of the user in exchange for making mana manipulation more difficult—like Kaya’s Armana Wand or Lisetta’s Rock Bat. Magic tools, on the other hand, were simply items with magic applied to them. The Sheath of Disaster was treated as a magic tool since it used a spell stored within it, much like a magic scroll.
After passing inspection, I left the cabin and heard the cry of seagulls in the distance. It made sense; I was on a ship owned by the academy.
The sky was a vivid blue. I enjoyed the cool sea breeze brushing against my skin and the humid air filling my lungs. Looking around, I could see the vast blue sea surrounding me. If I turned around, I could catch a glimpse of the frenzy at the dock.
But staring straight ahead, I could see a single island anchored firmly in my sights: ‘Elt Island.’
It was the location of our next exam, and it would serve as the main stage for 「Act 4, Chapter 2: Food Chain」 and 「Act 4, Chapter 3: Underground Giant」.
Several ships were traveling to Elt Island, each carrying a group of Magic Department freshmen. They would dock at various prepared locations and let the students off. Many students were wandering the deck and chatting, completely unaware of the upcoming exam.
This next test was going to be ridiculously challenging.
Leaning against the ship’s railing, I stared out into the sea, noting the last vestiges of clouds disappearing over the distant horizon.
‘Ugh, I’m so nervous.’
I felt as though I was walking on a very narrow tightrope. Even though I had a plan, the nerves remained. I was sure there were variables I hadn't accounted for.
“…?”
As I was deep in thought, I felt someone’s gaze lock onto me. I turned my head toward the source.
“Ah.”
On a ship parallel to mine, I saw a cute, green-haired girl holding onto the railing. Her twin tails fluttered in the sea breeze.
It was Kaya Astrea.
Blushing like a beetroot, Kaya bowed her head.
[Kaya Astrea]
Psychology: [Her heart is fluttering at the thought that she made eye contact with you.]
She had a shy expression on her face, accompanied by a faint smile. It felt like a scene from a teenage romance movie. As always, she was an incredibly lovely girl.
I had known for a while that Kaya had feelings for me. Unfortunately, the luxury of a romantic relationship was out of the question until the Evil God was defeated.
“…”
I would have to fight Kaya in the future. Of course, I would save her.
Now wasn't the time for such distractions. Steeling my resolve, I determined to overcome the 4th scenario, no matter how insane the difficulty might be.
Just like I had done up until now.