༺ End of the Second Semester (4) ༻

“Starting now, we will proceed with the Magic Department Winter Vacation Ceremony of Märchen Academy!”

The white snow had adorned Märchen Academy with its color.

Morning. Magic Department school district. The square in front of Orphin Hall.

Students from the Magic Department, 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 Department freshmen stood on the platform, conducting the vacation ceremony with an energetic voice.

For me, it was the last academy event as a Magic Department 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 Department’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 same uniforms and cape shawls, even the sight of their backs in front of the podium seemed 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 same 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-semester evaluation, Kaya had a duel with Luce and lost.

Even if Kaya had become 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 me had been lingering in my mind.

After defeating the Floating Island, I had no idea that Kaya would come to the hideout and heal me.

Come to think of it, Kaya had abruptly appeared and saved me from a crisis. There were many things that would have been troublesome without her.

Suddenly, these thoughts occurred to me.

If I hadn’t built a connection with Kaya…

…How would have things turned out for me?

‘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 seemed that only then did Kaya notice my gaze, as she turned her head and met my eyes with her jade-colored pupils.

“Heuahh…”

Kaya’s face reddened noticeably. It seemed that she was embarrassed at the thought of me looking at her.

She quickly turned back before drooping her head.

Her shoulder stiffened as it rose up and steam seemed to rise above her head.

It was the same 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 hometown via carriage. In a few days, the academy would become very quiet.

Regardless, what I had to do remained the same as it had always been.

‘Training.’

During the vacation, the training grounds became 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 came 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 time vividly came back to me 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 semester ended…

My first year met its conclusion here.

[Status] Name: 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 semester 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 semester.

I was confirmed to receive the Self-Development Excellence scholarship, which was given to the student who showed the most significant improvement in grades compared to the previous semester.

I wasn’t particularly happy. After all, I knew it would turn out this way. I merely felt a sense of relief.

Anyway, I wouldn’t have to worry about tuition fees during this winter vacation.

Moreover, I was also confirmed to relocate dorms.

I was currently accommodated in the dorm for middle-low ranked students, Briggs Hall.

Before the start of the first semester, I would move to the dorm for middle-high-ranked students, Elma Hall.

From Elma Hall onwards, the facilities would dramatically improve and the involvement of the school-affiliated maids in my daily life would expand.

In other words, life was going to become much more convenient and comfortable.

Of course, personal maids could be hired, but that was something that wasn’t relevant to a commoner like me.

‘But the coolest thing is…’

I could obtain both End Game-Grade magic weapons before I even became a second year.

This time, I had made up my mind to obtain Gormos’ Greatsword, but…

Unfortunately, the situation was different from the time 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 met.

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 game.’

In other words, if I wished to make the Stone Turtle my familiar, I had to follow standard procedure.

I had to become strong enough to fight and win against the Stone Turtle.

‘I also have to prepare for the first semester of the second year.’

When considering the first semester, four keywords came to mind.

Golden Generation.

The Deep Sea Monster, a demon that dropped an End Game-Grade magic weapon for Luce.

Miko.

Alice Subjugation Battle.

‘What should I do about Luce’s ring?”

I considered Luce as one of the members 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 met, ‘Ring of the Abyssal Queen’ could be dropped.

And that was Luce’s End Game-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 time I played ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, it sometimes felt that the game developers had some shady intentions.

How exactly I would naturally give her that ring… was something I had to ponder.

‘Also…’

Although unrelated to the progress of the scenario, there was something 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 moment when I defeated the last demonic illusion, thus concluding the first wave.

I looked in the direction of the sound.

Unexpectedly, someone was passing through the entrance and approaching me.

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 seemed like he was going back to his hometown and it didn’t look like he came all the way here to train.

In other words…

‘Did he come to see me?’

…Nah, it’s more likely that he just came to pick a fight with me. It’s Tristan after all.

Tristan maintained his distance from me 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 me. I will continue to make you bitterly feel that truth, even after we become 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 something.

[Tristan Humphrey] Lv: 92

Race: Human

Elements: Wind, Water

Danger: X

Psychology: [Wants to become stronger than you.]

It seemed that Tristan had felt my mana during the end-of-semester evaluation and judged me 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 improvement, 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 seemed like he had made a declaration of war against me to strengthen his determination.

‘Well, I’m somewhat similar to you as well.’

The final stop I aimed 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 me.

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 me.

As the second wave of demonic illusions began…

Ice mana bloomed from my hands.

It was only a matter of time before I faced the Trial of Sandstone to obtain Gormos’ Greatsword.