Since Angelica didn't want to risk being seen in her dragon form, she transford while we were still extrely high in the air.
As soon as her body shrank we started to fall towards the ground with increasing speed.
Thankfully she saved us from eting the ground face first with so help from the valkyries just in the nick of ti.
All things considered, it was a fun ride. Although the other participants might disagree I'm sure their opinions would change If they could see their own faces.
As soon as we were safely on the ground Albert and Lenard left to prepare for the entrance ceremony, leaving
and Isabella behind.
Thanks to our landing, all eyes were focused on us, but once her brothers were gone she beca more aware of the stares and murmurs.
To dissipate her anxiousness a little I brought Anna and Mia back. With more people around she shouldn't feel so ashad, but...
Isabella: "Why are you always so extra?"
As expected, she still had so complaints.
Miwen: "I thought a good entrance was the norm for a villain. Presentation is important to leave a good impression-"
Isabella: "...Who are you calling a villain?"
She always stares daggers at
when I poke her reputation.
A mistake most of the girls have learned to avoid, as it only leads to
doing it more often.
Miwen: "Who else if not the villainous daughter of Evretis? But more importantly, this should make everyone curious. They'll flock your way and you'll have an easier ti making friends."
It was fair for her to get a little upset. Even more, considering she told
specifically to not do anything that could interfere with her making friends.
But precisely because I know she's taking this so seriously and places a lot of importance in it I decided to spin the facts a little in our favor.
As long as she's able to hold a conversation all this attention could be advantageous.
Isabella: "...Do you really think so?"
Easy.
Since she normally doesn't have much to rely on she tends to cling to any hope she's given with all her might.
While abusing that might be bad, I'd say it also works as a learning experience for her.
The entrance ceremony was going to take place in a hall inside the main building of the school but we had ti before it started, so I let Isabella go around trying to make friends with her attempts at small talk.
Since she told
not to interfere, I kept so distance while still watching over her.
Miwen: "...I can't reach all of it. Not even a fraction. What about you?"
Mia: "No luck either. It goes way too far and way too deep."
Miwen: "Then let's hope what we have is enough... When we get to the private rooms I'll see if Liz is able to reach deeper."
Beneath the academy, there's a maze-like structure.
It's not like Isabella ends up there every ti, but... A bunch of our attempts at the ga ended up with her there one way or another.
The place seems to have a bunch of misdirection spells applied to it, as well as a few barriers.
However, the golems that attack anyone inside are the most concerning factor. The battles against them are unreasonably tough, and even when the girls manage to get an entire party down there they always end up with a wipe.
We've yet to determine why there's such a thing beneath the academy, but we've co to at least one plausible theory.
This academy has multiple purposes. The advancent and preservation of knowledge, the interaction, and socialization of noble society, as well as the study and developnt of their skills and magic.
It's the latter that might explain this place's existence.
Since a bunch of teachers here are top-rate mages, it's possible that they would prepare sothing to protect their secrets and discoveries.
Thus, we are currently under the assumption that the labyrinth is either soone's magic project or an attempt at hiding or protecting one.
Normally, it would be none of our business, but since it interferes with Isabella's academic life we've been trying to map it out.
The problem is that it's really hard to do so with the descriptions and visuals of the ga.
I expected that in real life it would be easier, but even Mia struggles to get a good reading at the place with her [Earth Magic].
And that's not the only wonder structure that this place has to offer.
Miwen: "So you don't have planes in these magic-filled worlds, but a flying city is fine?"
Mia: "So now you know how we feel, huh? I wish Licia and Claire were here to see your face."
Miwen: "Haah... so, what's the deal with that thing?"
Surprisingly enough, the ga doesn't talk too much about the floating city.
It's said that once a year the place lands close to the academy to resupply and acquire new promising talent.
It stays on the ground for two weeks, and during this ti the character you selected for the ga can have special lessons with so pretty good mages if you earn their favor.
Mia: "Well... I've never been there for obvious reasons, but it's famous throughout the continent. Legend has it that a bunch of powerful mages were so devoted to their craft that they decided to seclude themselves."
Miwen: "And then they'd decided on a floating city? Is sailing to an island too hard or sothing?"
Mia: "The north is all frozen wasteland, rember? Even Maides Island was filled with snow and ice... Those are hard conditions to live in if you want to devote yourself to studying."
She seed rather nostalgic about her holand...
Perhaps one day the Kingdom will be able to offer that type of climate as well.
But as for the floating city, she didn't manage to convince
at all.
The place is pretty big. It can probably house thousands of people. I can't fathom the amount of magic necessary to keep that place in the air for such a long ti.
There had to be better and easier solutions.
I would propose underground tunnels but... at this point, it could be seen as plagiarism.
Still, since they are studying magic up there, they must have so sort of system that doesn't use people's mana or at least reduces the necessary amount taken from each individual.
it would be too harmful for their activities otherwise.
Not to ntion there's also the matter of... piloting the thing.
There must be a system for that as well...
But on all of our runs through the ga, we've yet to see sothing like that.
On that note, we also haven't gone through any major or life-threatening incidents inside the flying city.
It almost looks like a tutorial zone for the player.
Although... since Isabella's start is a little earlier than the heroine, getting there in the first place is already hard enough.
Still, calling it a safe zone might also not work completely either.
Sure, the first ti the place lands the worst thing that can happen is so reduction in favorability with the residents and capture targets depending on the player's actions, but...
The floating city should land a second ti during Isabella's stay and we've yet to reach that point in the ga.
Since her story only gets harder, my instincts keep telling
that the second ti won't be all fun and gas...
It actually gives
the reverse impression. The type of zone that is harmless at the beginning of a ga only to co back filled with extrely difficult challenges later.
I don't feel very optimistic about it, so I'd like to explore it as best as we can in the ti we have. Placing soone there would also be nice...
The underground labyrinth is dangerous, but we have more ti to explore it.
The floating city isn't as threatening, but we can't afford to be lax about it.
No matter how I look at it, the ga must be essential to getting Isabella to a happy ending.
Without multiple runs and chances to explore places, characters, and interactions, we'd be in the dark with too many things.
Miwen: "And then there's Isabella herself..."
Mia: "It's better to not take anything for granted when she's around..."
Pretty much... She's basically a giant wrench in any plan.
Her future is already filled with a bunch of disastrous scenarios as it is, but taking her bad luck into account-
??????: "W-wah! ...S-sorry? Are you okay?"
I was distracted talking to Mia, so I wasn't paying too much attention to my surroundings. ??#ι#?????@оν$??г-*
Given the amount of people and the fact we were all under daylight, I also wasn't expecting to be attacked.
This ended up leaving my back open. Thankfully, the one who tripped over
was the only one to fall given my level.
It did surprise
a bit though.
So, thinking nothing of it, I offered a hand to help the clumsy girl who tripped behind .
Miwen: "I should be the one asking..."
As soon as I saw her face I was taken aback.
She had a radiant aura. She seed so innocent, almost as if incapable of any sin whatsoever.
Her body wasn't too developed, but it made
think of it as fragile and precious.
Her small hand and minuscule movents seed pure.
Even though I wasn't at fault, just thinking that I might've hurt her made
feel guilty. My heart was heavy...
??????: "Hmm! Thanks! You're a real gentleman! Are you also a first-year?"
Her smile was quite refreshing.
I wanted to see more of it but paired with her attitude, I beca a little embarrassed.
Miwen: "No, I am-"
??????: "Oh, silly , you're that girl's butler, are you not?"
That girl...?
Oh yeah, Isabella.
I almost... forgot about her...
...What is-
??????: "I've heard such bad things about her... If you need soone to confide in, please, co to ! I'd be happy to listen anyti!"
She's not that bad...
Miwen: "Yeah, she's a pain sotis. I'll-"
...?
This wasn't right.
While it is true, it never troubled ...
I didn't think bad of her. I was sympathetic to her situation...
So why was I badmouthing her to a girl I just t?
Mia: "Ahem! Miwen."
I was starting to get lost in my own thoughts before Mia called .
Isabella: "...I suppose this is not the best mont to ask for help, then?"
...She had heard .
This was the worst possible turn of events.
The girl who wanted soone to be her ally more than anyone... the promises I made to her...
I knew what this looked like. I understood what she must've felt.
I could see through her bravado.
But I couldn't explain myself.
I couldn't even get my own thoughts in order.
My priorities were all ssed up and my mind kept going back to the blonde girl.
It was then that I rembered... this feeling...
I had gone through it before.
A succubus had accidentally taken control of my will and body... or at least she claid it wasn't on purpose.
But at that ti... Erika was stronger than ...
And even then, I was able to resist for the most part even though it took
a lot of effort.
How could a girl who was clearly a human with a tenth of my level be able to do the sa? Or rather... how could this feel so much stronger?
It was so confusing to . Unlike Erika, she didn't have to say a single word. My heart was in a trance the mont I laid my eyes on her.
I had this genuine desire to care for and protect her... she didn't even have to ask...
Miwen: "Sorry Isa, I'm..."
The mont I tried to explain things my mind realized that it would be placing so of the bla on the girl.
And even though I knew this was true. By all ans, this was all caused by her, the fact that it was detrintal to her prevented
from speaking.
My thoughts got twisted, and the more I tried to go against the flow of my mind, the more pain I felt.
I got affected by an incredibly powerful headache. It felt like my head was going to implode.
Miwen: "..."
??????: "Ah! Sorry! It was all my fault, so please, don't punish your servant, Isabella!"
She knew her na?
But I guess Isabella is pretty famous for better or worse...
...Was there any need to shout like this, though? It was only going to...
Ah, I see...
I knew this face was similar. Even through all the confusion in my mind... even if she was quite different in the flesh... I could still tell...
Isabella: "W-what!? I won't-"
Miwen: "...The ceremony is about to begin. Let's go, Isabella."
It took
all I had to break free. And even then, all I could do was put so distance between the blonde girl with a face that looked like she was pitying .
As for Isabella, she listened to , but she had a pained look on her face.
I could tell what was going through her mind.
She must've thought I was betraying her like everyone else before .
But as long as we were away from her I could redy this.
I knew the girl's intention, but my mind kept trying to reason it. Telling
it wasn't purposeful...
However, purposeful or not, the end result would be the sa. if we decided to stay there a commotion was sure to follow, and Isabella had no way of getting out of it with her reputation unscathed.
No matter what I was feeling, I steeled myself to protect Isabella.
It was far from ideal, but it was all that I could do.
Mia: "Miwen? You're strange..."
Miwen: "Keep an eye on Isabella. I'll look for an empty place."
Mia: "...What are you going to do?"
Miwen: "I'll ask the Devil for help."
That blonde girl... better known as Sabrina.
She's the heroine of this story.
And as Isabella's butler, I am one of her capture targets.
If I'm right about what this entails... this Event is going to be way harder than I first expected.
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