Chapter 78: Social Gathering (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 78: Social Gathering (4)
“Senior Dorothy, please be my partner.”
Inside the grand palace hall where the social gathering was in full swing.
In the third building’s party venue, a lone female student sat against the wall, nursing a glass of wine.
She had flowing purple hair and wore an elegant purple dress. Having sought help from her maid, her makeup was far more intricate than usual. In place of her signature witch hat, a delicate flower-shaped hairpin adorned her hair.
This was Dorothy Heartnova, the sophomore top seat of the Magic Department.
She was currently killing time in boredom.
Throughout the evening, she had been greeting classmates, juniors, and seniors alike, politely turning down every invitation from male students with a practiced smile.
As Dorothy sat there, sipping on sour wine for no particular reason, the other students cast curious side-glances her way.
The dress she was wearing was something she had prepared specifically for this gathering back during the vacation. She had been looking forward to attending the event with Isaac.
Even though he had initially rejected her invitation, she told herself there was no need to feel bothered by it. She thought it was fine. As long as she was with him, she would be happy. It wasn't that she couldn't understand his reasons, but her chest still felt a little numb.
However, the evening before, Isaac had suddenly asked Dorothy to be his partner, leaving her overjoyed.
— Ah?! Did you change your mind?
— Yes. I’m sorry for changing my mind, Senior.
— Don’t be, don’t be! Nihihi. President~ Was it really that hard to refuse this big sis’s offer after all?
— Of course. I’m your biggest fan.
— But what should I do? The shock of being rejected once hasn’t completely subsided yet~ If the President doesn’t escort me sincerely, I don’t think the shock will go away~
— I’ll escort you, even if it costs me my life.
— I like your sense of duty! I love it!
— But Senior, there’s something I’d like to ask you.
— …?
However, it seemed Isaac couldn't fully enjoy the gathering.
— Can you wait for me until 9 PM?
— Huh? Why? 9 PM is late, isn't it? You won't be able to enjoy the party much by then…
— I have a situation, and to be honest, I’m embarrassed to even ask you to be my partner.
— President?
— But, if I’m going to the gathering anyway, I want to enjoy it with you, Senior.
Isaac was an interesting man. He always showed his affection—pure, unconditional affection. Just seeing his feelings made her feel warm inside.
Yet, occasionally, he would show a strange sense of concern toward her. The emotion he displayed yesterday was a prime example.
“The President is so shameless. He just does whatever he wants,” Dorothy grumbled with a pout, resting her chin on her hands.
Slowly, the wine began to take effect, dusting her cheeks with a rosy hue.
“If you say it like that, how can I not wait…?”
Even if Dorothy was hailed as the strongest powerhouse in Märchen Academy, to Isaac, she was still a woman he worried about.
That thought pricked Dorothy’s pride slightly, but she didn't hate it.
[A demon has been detected nearby.]
It had taken me a week to change my mind.
The thought that I could predict the flow of the story and prevent bad endings from the shadows was nothing but arrogance. Unless I crossed that line myself, I had to be prepared for significant risks.
‘Because the scenario is already a mess.’
Heinkel the Hoarder and Leafa the Illusive, who were supposed to appear in the second semester, had died early. The ripple effect of their deaths had brought forth an unexpected entity.
That was the ‘demon’ at this gathering. It was one of the beings I had hoped not to encounter so soon.
‘Ugh, I’m getting nervous.’
As my body trembled, I regulated my breathing to calm myself. The passive effect of [Ice Sovereign] helped immensely in that regard.
Now, calm down and get a grip. You can do this. Let’s do this.
Soon enough, the students diverted their attention away from Tristan and me, returning to the festivities. It seemed they weren't interested in the trivial squabbles of students they didn't know.
[Lisetta Lionheart]
Psychology: [Afraid of you.]
I thought about thanking her, but Lisetta quickly looked away. Given her psychological state, it was best not to approach her now.
As we had discussed, Kaya acted as if she didn’t know me. Consequently, the other boys who had been glaring at me began to lose interest.
‘Ugh, boys.’
As I recalled from ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, girls like Kaya received an overwhelming amount of attention. While I understood why they kept glaring at me, it wasn't pleasant to be the target of such wariness.
‘If Luce were here, it would have been even more chaotic.’
Luce and Kaya. The presence of these two heroines would have driven the male students wild. It wasn't hard to see why they were fan favorites.
However, Luce hadn't attended the gathering.
— Isaac, are you going to the social gathering?
— I’m thinking about it. What about you?
— It might be difficult for me. I want to be with Isaac regardless… but I have an important appointment to attend.
A few days ago, I’d had a conversation with Luce under a tree in a corner of the garden. My goal was to check the status of the scenario.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, if the player didn't choose the cheesy dialogue option—“Be my partner. I want to attend the party with you”—she wouldn't go to the social gathering.
Today, she had an appointment with the Eldork Magic Tower through Märchen Academy. It was a privilege reserved only for the absolute top-ranked students. Since every magic tower coveted a talent like Luce, such appointments would happen frequently in the future.
Even with her aversion to people, she should be able to handle official business with the Magic Tower. Someday, Luce would become an exalted Tower Master and carve her name into history. I admired her for pursuing her goals.
Even Eva Hielov, the information broker, caught my attention. Since it was recruitment season for the Four Constellations, there was no need for brokers to hide their identities. No one in Atla Hall would dislike a broker who could help them secure a position in one of the factions.
Eventually, the orchestra stopped playing.
As telekinetic magic was cast on the glowing lamps, the venue dimmed. Shortly after, a single spotlight illuminated the stage behind the curtain.
It was starting. The students fell silent, turning their gaze toward the stage. Jazz-like music began to play as the curtains rose.
A well-dressed male student stepped onto the stage. He brushed his bangs back, unable to hide his cheerful expression as he held a small microphone. It was the host of the party.
“Greetings, juniors! You who are here by the invitation of the Four Constellations! I am Luigi Camare, the host of the Atla Hall party!”
Luigi Camare bowed with a smile, and the students erupted in applause.
“I won’t keep you long. As you all know, the Four Constellations, who organized this event, are a powerful organization with immense influence over the administration of Märchen Academy! Membership is a prerequisite for the student council election, and simply being part of the Four Constellations is considered a great honor.”
Luigi continued his pitch.
“Especially for you, the most promising talents among the first-year students, the Four Constellations will be the wings that help you soar higher than ever before! Now, let’s welcome the heads of the Four Constellations. Please, a round of applause!”
The orchestra shifted to a majestic tune. Glowing lamps illuminated the third-floor balcony. From the passage, the students who held power exceeding even the student council began to walk out.
‘As expected.’
The faces I anticipated appeared before me.
“Head of the Black Tiger Constellation, ‘Erica Hellraud’! Head of the Blue Wolf Constellation, ‘Ray Rasmorgan’! Head of the Golden Eagle Constellation, ‘Brown Falkborough’! And the Head of the Red Elephant Constellation…!”
‘Malrog the Envious.’
[Malrog the Envious]
Lv: 155
Race: (Human)
Elements: Dark, Rock
Danger: Highest
Psychology: [Wants to steal the Cherubim's Necklace and kill everyone present.]
He was a fierce-looking man with red, sporty hair and a stocky build. It was said he had become the new leader after a recent vote.
His preparation was so sloppy that it wouldn't take long for his identity to be revealed. Luigi introduced him as ‘Malrog Bryer,’ but the last name was merely a pseudonym.
Malrog the Envious.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, he was a villain who appeared in the second semester of the first year. He was the sworn brother of Leafa the Illusive and, like her, possessed the ability to disguise himself as a human. Leafa had warned Malrog not to reveal his true form because it would interfere with their plans.
However, because Leafa had been defeated during the first semester, Malrog had appeared early.
‘The demon who wishes to become human…’
The two demons, Leafa and Malrog, had similar abilities, but there was a stark difference: Malrog’s obsession with becoming human.
Because of that, in the original game, Malrog tried to steal the Cherubim’s Necklace from Ian. With it, a demon’s power would be amplified, and his transformation into a human would become permanent.
When the Cherubim’s Necklace appeared, Malrog’s eyes would light up.
Furthermore, he loathed humans with promising futures. It was a twisted mentality born from a demon’s inherent bloodlust and simple jealousy. The fact that they were born into the human life he craved, and were even thriving in it, enraged him.
In the original scenario, Malrog revealed his true form in front of a gathering of top students. Perhaps he wanted to use me to lure Luce in, or perhaps he simply wanted to kill her.
In other words, Malrog was going to go on a rampage right here, where the Cherubim’s Necklace and the top students were gathered.
My goal was to stop him.
‘The problem is that he isn’t currently classified as a demon…’
The reason he was a demon I didn't want to meet early was that as long as he remained in human form, the system classified him as a human. This meant that until he revealed his true form, the conditions to activate [Hunter] wouldn't be met.
‘If only Dorothy could use her powers.’
But Dorothy’s body was still bound by the curse. Malrog was a natural-born demon. Dorothy’s presence here, or her use of magic against him, would only accelerate the curse's progression. I couldn't let her fight natural-born demons until she safely passed ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ 「Act 6, Floating Island」—the act where she was destined to lose her life.
Luigi gave a brief introduction of the Four Constellations' heads. Since I already knew them, I tuned it out. The four heads took their designated seats.
After that, Luigi moved on to the next topic.
“And! I’m sure many of you have been waiting for this moment! Today, right here! I would like to share with you the treasures owned by the Four Constellations, held within the Märchen Academy treasure vault!”
The Märchen Academy Treasure Vault. It was hidden in a confidential area known only to Headmistress Elena and a select few staff members. The wagon containing those treasures had been secretly moved here.
“The treasure will choose its master based on whose mana it resonates with. I will present these treasures to those deemed worthy!”
On stage, a man appeared pushing a luxurious wagon filled with neatly organized treasures. Next to them were transparent round cases with gold rims, arranged like egg trays.
However, the students' eyes weren't on the wagon—they were fixed on the man pulling it.
In contrast to the luxurious stage, he looked completely out of place.
He was tall, with a body elongated like stretched dough, giving him an eerie appearance. His limbs were as limp as a jellyfish, and his skin was as pitch black as the night. His spiky white hair stood in stark contrast to his skin.
His dark purple gaze turned toward the host, Luigi, clearly revealing his non-human nature.
“Wh-what is… that…?”
A student pointed at the creature pulling the wagon, his voice and fingers trembling. The crowd was filled with confusion and fear.
Yet, Luigi continued speaking as if he were oblivious, noticing nothing wrong.
“We will hold the treasure event throughout the party, so please enjoy…”
「Hydro Cannon (Water Element, ★5)」
Bang—!!
In an instant, a blue magic circle deployed, firing a high-pressure sphere of water.
The spot where Luigi was standing was instantly obliterated. He was swept away by the spell, slammed into a wall, and collapsed to the floor, coughing up blood.
The orchestra, stunned, stopped playing.
Silence filled the air. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. The situation was so sudden that the students struggled to process it.
The creature that had sent Luigi flying now turned its head toward the audience. It wore a creepy smile that stretched from ear to ear.
Its next words were…
[Hello?]
It was a very familiar voice.