༺ End of the Second Sester (4) ༻
“Starting now, we will proceed with the Magic Departnt Winter Vacation Ceremony of Märchen Academy!”
The white snow had adorned Märchen Academy with its color.
Morning. Magic Departnt school district. The square in front of Orphin Hall.
Students from the Magic Departnt, dressed in uniforms and cape shawls, stood in an orderly manner in the square according to their year.
The female professor in charge of Class C for the Magic Departnt freshn stood on the platform, conducting the vacation ceremony with an energetic voice.
For , it was the last academy event as a Magic Departnt freshman.
I roughly heard the speech delivered by Headmistress Elena Woodline, as she reflected on the appearance of demons, the Floating Island, and the eventful year we had experienced.
Ah, it was quite heart-wrenching to see her eyes moisten as she recalled how much she had suffered this year.
‘The road of hardship is still far from over though.’
Please don’t cry already. After all, there will be many difficult days ahead…
Soon after, following the host’s call, the top seats of the Magic Departnt’s first and second year stepped forward as representatives of their respective years.
The first year top seat was a female student with rose-gold hair cascading down to her waist, Luce Eltania.
And the second year top seat was a female student with long light purple hair, Dorothy Heartnova.
My fists clenched.
My favorite characters!
Their beauty was insanely dazzling…!
Although they were bundled up in the sa uniforms and cape shawls, even the sight of their backs in front of the podium seed like a halo was shining around them.
Heuhhh, I couldn’t help but let out a smile reminiscent of a proud father.
For reference, the vacation ceremony was only for students who would return the next year.
The third year students were prospective graduates, so they did not stand on the platform. Instead, they would have a grand ceremony at their graduation.
Headmistress Elena, wearing a white coat on her shoulders, stood in front of the two top seats.
She removed the red gem attached to Luce’s brooch and replaced it with a blue gem that symbolized a second year student.
In the sa way, she attached a purple gem, symbolizing a third year student, to Dorothy’s brooch as well.
When Headmistress Elena shook hands with the two female students, the students erupted in cheers and applause.
During the applause…
I turned my gaze towards a female student with green twin tails, Kaya Astrea.
With her lips tightly sealed, Kaya was looking down with disappointed eyes.
‘She seems frustrated.’
During the end-of-sester evaluation, Kaya had a duel with Luce and lost.
Even if Kaya had beco much stronger than the original scenario, Luce still held her position like an insurmountable wall.
It was probably difficult for Kaya to endure the overwhelming sense of inferiority.
“…”
Since yesterday, the story Dorothy told had been lingering in my mind.
After defeating the Floating Island, I had no idea that Kaya would co to the hideout and heal .
Co to think of it, Kaya had abruptly appeared and saved from a crisis. There were many things that would have been troubleso without her.
Suddenly, these thoughts occurred to .
If I hadn’t built a connection with Kaya…
…How would have things turned out for ?
‘I would’ve fought against the Thunderbird and died.’
That’s right… I would’ve been fucked.
‘Thank you… for everything.’
You’re the savior of my life.
It seed that only then did Kaya notice my gaze, as she turned her head and t my eyes with her jade-colored pupils.
“Heuahh…”
Kaya’s face reddened noticeably. It seed that she was embarrassed at the thought of looking at her.
She quickly turned back before drooping her head.
Her shoulder stiffened as it rose up and steam seed to rise above her head.
It was the sa old Kaya.
***
As the vacation ceremony concluded, students scattered in all directions.
Märchen Academy had finally opened its doors to the outside world and many students left for their hotown via carriage. In a few days, the academy would beco very quiet.
Regardless, what I had to do remained the sa as it had always been.
‘Training.’
During the vacation, the training grounds beca practically deserted. I couldn’t miss this golden opportunity.
As I looked around on the way to the training grounds, I captured the beautiful and snowy landscape of Märchen Academy in my eyes.
When I exhaled, a hazy steam of breath flowed out before quietly disappearing into the air.
It was clearly a sign of winter.
“…”
As I was admiring the scenery, I then stopped in my tracks.
At dawn…
A tree stump I had sat crouched on ca into view.
It was the day of the entrance ceremony.
On that dawn when the gloomy sky poured spring rain, I had sat crouched on that tree, blankly watching the sight of raindrops freeze as they touched [Ice Curtain.]
The sense of helplessness I felt at that ti vividly ca back to even now.
1 year. The first year possessing Isaac, an extra that appeared in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
I had survived the Thunderbird, destroyed the Floating Island, and saved Dorothy. Moreover, I had prevented many Bad Endings.
And I didn’t die. I survived and didn’t break away from the journey to defeat the Evil God.
“…I’m proud.”
A small laughter suddenly burst out. It wasn’t easy but I was proud that I was still alive.
I began to walk once again.
As the second sester ended…
My first year t its conclusion here.
[Status] Na: Isaac
Lv: 103
Gender: Male
Year: (2nd)
Title: Prospective Second Year
Mana: 24000/24000
– Mana Recovery Speed (B )
***
Training grounds.
As I held Zhonya’s Staff and faced illusions of demonic creatures, I was lost in thought.
After all, it was necessary to organize the current situation and continuously solidify plans for the future.
As of the end of the second sester of the first, I was ranked 45th in my year.
It was a rank calculated by summing up all the evaluation results I had received during the second sester.
I was confird to receive the Self-Developnt Excellence scholarship, which was given to the student who showed the most significant improvent in grades compared to the previous sester.
I wasn’t particularly happy. After all, I knew it would turn out this way. I rely felt a sense of relief.
Anyway, I wouldn’t have to worry about tuition fees during this winter vacation.
Moreover, I was also confird to relocate dorms.
I was currently accommodated in the dorm for middle-low ranked students, Briggs Hall.
Before the start of the first sester, I would move to the dorm for middle-high-ranked students, Elma Hall.
From Elma Hall onwards, the facilities would dramatically improve and the involvent of the school-affiliated maids in my daily life would expand.
In other words, life was going to beco much more convenient and comfortable.
Of course, personal maids could be hired, but that was sothing that wasn’t relevant to a commoner like .
‘But the coolest thing is…’
I could obtain both End Ga-Grade magic weapons before I even beca a second year.
This ti, I had made up my mind to obtain Gormos’ Greatsword, but…
Unfortunately, the situation was different from the ti with Frost Dragon-Hilde.
‘Because I can’t form a contract with Gormos to be my familiar.’
The one guarding Gormos’ Greatsword was Stone Turtle-Gormos. He was an 8-star magic beast.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, to form a contract with an 8-star magic beast who was guarding an ultimate weapon, three conditions had to be t.
Firstly, possessing an 8-star familiar contract circle.
Secondly, obtaining the ultimate weapon through a trial.
Thirdly, proving superiority by defeating the 8-star magic beast in a battle.
Yep, that’s right. That was the standard.
It was just that the situation with Frost Dragon-Hilde was special.
‘That’s why one could only form a familiar contract after reaching the very late stages of the ga.’
In other words, if I wished to make the Stone Turtle my familiar, I had to follow standard procedure.
I had to beco strong enough to fight and win against the Stone Turtle.
‘I also have to prepare for the first sester of the second year.’
When considering the first sester, four keywords ca to mind.
Golden Generation.
The Deep Sea Monster, a demon that dropped an End Ga-Grade magic weapon for Luce.
Miko.
Alice Subjugation Battle.
‘What should I do about Luce’s ring?”
I considered Luce as one of the mbers of the Evil God Subjugation Force.
As such, upgrading her specs directly correlated with strengthening my full power.
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, if certain conditions were t, ‘Ring of the Abyssal Queen’ could be dropped.
And that was Luce’s End Ga-Grade magic weapon.
‘I have to obtain it no matter what.’
However, the problem was that…
‘It has to be worn on the left ring finger to activate its effects…’
Apparently, due to the backstory behind the Ring of the Abyssal Queen, the context behind wearing a ring on the left ring finger was equivalent to a proposal in this world as well.
During the ti I played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it sotis felt that the ga developers had so shady intentions.
How exactly I would naturally give her that ring… was sothing I had to ponder.
‘Also…’
Although unrelated to the progress of the scenario, there was sothing I desperately wanted to find out.
‘How does Alice know everything?’
After the player achieved victory in the Alice Subjugation Battle, Alice took her own life with a smile before exiting the stage and taking all the mysteries about her to her grave.
Anyone who had played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ wouldn’t want to miss the opportunity to relieve this curiosity.
Why would I be an exception?
As such, if possible, I wished to find out how Alice knew everything.
As I was lost in such thoughts…
“Ha!”
Suddenly, a familiar burst of laughter was heard.
It happened to be the mont when I defeated the last demonic illusion, thus concluding the first wave.
I looked in the direction of the sound.
Unexpectedly, soone was passing through the entrance and approaching .
A man who was fashionably dressed in neat aristocratic attire.
It was the vain blond noble, Tristan Humphrey.
“Tristan?”
“Training right after the vacation ceremony? How ridiculous, commoner!”
With his nose raised, Tristan let out a haughty laughter.
Judging by his civilian attire, it seed like he was going back to his hotown and it didn’t look like he ca all the way here to train.
In other words…
‘Did he co to see ?’
…Nah, it’s more likely that he just ca to pick a fight with . It’s Tristan after all.
Tristan maintained his distance from before stopping.
As usual, his arrogant smile was plastered across his face.
“Even during the second year, you’ll still be under my feet!”
“…?”
…What a load of crap.
“That’s how it is, commoner! No matter how much you try to spread your wings and fly, it is impossible to even get close to . I will continue to make you bitterly feel that truth, even after we beco second years!”
Tristan pompously made a declaration of war.
Mmm, well…
I just roughly interpreted it as, ‘Let’s get along well, even after becoming second years’.
“Keuheheh! Struggle all you want! I’ll crush you with my pursuit of knowledge after all!”
After Tristan let out words reminiscent of a third-rate villain, he turned around and started walking away.
He mockingly laughed, “Keuhahahah!”, before coughing as if he choked on sothing.
[Tristan Humphrey] Lv: 92
Race: Human
Elents: Wind, Water
Danger: X
Psychology: [Wants to beco stronger than you.]
It seed that Tristan had felt my mana during the end-of-sester evaluation and judged as being superior to himself.
If it was Tristan, he would have been greatly stimulated by such a fact.
He had a personality that couldn’t live knowing the bitter taste of inferiority. He always strived for improvent, polishing himself endlessly.
And that kind of guy had been surpassed by the commoner, Isaac, who he had always looked down on…
As such, there was only one reaction that Tristan would express.
‘He’ll work even harder.’
He would acknowledge the objective hierarchy, accept such a reality, and work even harder.
He knew the value of effort through experience and didn’t lightly belittle the result of others’ accumulated efforts.
And, more than anyone else, he wanted to prove his superiority through the result of his hard work.
It was his way of life.
Hence, it seed like he had made a declaration of war against to strengthen his determination.
‘Well, I’m sowhat similar to you as well.’
The final stop I aid for at this academy was Evil God Nephid.
As always, my target for comparison was that demon.
If I were to fight right now, it was objectively clear that I’d get the shit kicked out of .
As such, all I could do was work myself to death in order to defeat that demon.
Tristan’s figure from the back disappeared beyond the entrance.
Without his intention, his words actually fueled a renewed determination within .
As the second wave of demonic illusions began…
Ice mana blood from my hands.
It was only a matter of ti before I faced the Trial of Sandstone to obtain Gormos’ Greatsword.
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