༺ The Grand Festival (1) ༻

“Now, I declare the commencement of Märchen Academy’s Jeblem!!”

Headmistress Elena Woodline’s cheerful proclamation echoed loudly throughout the vibrantly decorated Märchen Academy. Her voice was amplified by the loudspeakers placed throughout.

Simultaneously, bundles of magical fireworks burst into the daylight sky.

With a loud boom, the Academy erupted in cheers as students filled the outdoor stadium. The atmosphere was particularly loud.

It was a fine day.

The weather was sunny, and the temperature was just right.

On stage, a choir and cheer squad, dressed in beautiful outfits, sang and danced to the excitement.

After many incidents dampened the mood, the academy was in full swing for the first time in a long time.

“Ohhh.”

From the back seat, Luce Eltania rested her chin on the crown of my head and watched the performance with me, impressed.

I felt the same. Watching a performance filled with the unique sentiments of this world in real life was so different from what I’d seen in the game. It was deeply moving and struck a chord in my heart.

Märchen Academy planned to create a joyful atmosphere at the opening ceremony and a touching one at the closing ceremony a few days later.

Priestess Miya would dance in hopes that the gods would come together and enjoy the Grand Festival, and at the same time bestow abundance.

The dance was meant to symbolize a peaceful world filled with love. However, considering the prejudiced value of the dancer, it was regrettable that the meaning of the dance was diminished.

That reminded me…

…Isn’t it time for Luce to go?

“Luce, when are you going to get ready?”

“Soon. I’ll be right back, so stay here.”

“What are you talking about? You can’t come back, you’re the second year’s representative.”

“What does that have to do anything? I’ll stay by your side.”

Luce responded calmly and confidently with her beautiful voice.

I guess she would never change. A stubborn character who would ignore the rules if they didn’t suit her. She was like Dorothy in a way.

Normally, one would want to be with their one and only friend in such an event. Well, that had always been the case, but it was inevitable this time.

“Don’t be so stubborn… or I’ll avoid you.”

“…I suddenly hate the Grand Festival.”

Luce grumbled as she twirled my tousled hair with her fingers.

During the opening ceremony, a girl approached Luce and spoke to her. She was in charge of the second-years makeup.

“Luce, let’s go and get you ready.”

“Ugh…”

She looked incredibly disgusted…. and her expression was hilarious.

“Bye.”

As I chuckled, Luce grabbed my shoulders with a sullen face, seemingly annoyed with me, and brought her mouth to my ear.

“I hate you.”

She whispered and blew a breath into my ear. It sent shivers down my spine and I felt a rush of thrilling pleasure.

Wow. I reflexively pulled my head back and covered my ear.

‘That… was very stimulating.’

Luce exploited the fact that her voice was a weak spot for my ears whenever she found me annoying. She did so without warning and was incredibly proficient at it.

Luce glared at me with a displeased expression and got up from her seat. It was her way of showing displeasure for how quickly I could send her off.

Of course, it was mostly a joke. Luce was not irresponsible enough to abandon her role.

“Sorry, Isaac. I’ll need to borrow Luce for a bit~.”

The girl apologized with an awkward smile and left the stands with Luce. I waved goodbye to Luce, saying we’d see each other later.

I was alone again. Holding a magic tool, I pretended to watch the students while repeatedly circulating mana and quietly scanning my surroundings.

The four Paladins sat separately amidst the first-years of the Magic Department.

Alice Carroll was seated on the upper deck, away from the stands, as the Student Council President.

I discreetly paid attention to them.

***

The Grand Festival proceeded just as I had seen in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

Before the games began, the students cheered as the faces of each representative made their entrance.

They ignored the representatives from other departments.

From the Magic Department, White for the first year, Luce for the second year, and Dorothy for the third year took the stage. They were dressed in beautifully modified clothes and wore make-up that highlighted their prominent beauty.

White was nervous, Luce was indifferent, and Dorothy was excited. They all boasted their exceptional appearances, fitting their role as the face of their respective year.

It was a huge relief that White was properly dressed and didn’t have her stiletto-shaped hair.

After they were placed in their respective seats, various games took place. The students cheered for their side with various performances centered around their representatives.

Being in a festive atmosphere inevitably brought joy. I resisted. Whenever the urge to enjoy myself rose, I suppressed it and kept my emotions in check.

‘Don’t break the tension.’

There was no telling what the Clover Paladin would do to White.

It was now lunchtime. The heat of the game had died down and the students were eager to get something to eat.

With a face full of dissatisfaction, Luce was dragged away by the students to prepare for the next performance.

My heart sank at the thought of her being separated from the students and eating alone, but regretfully, I wouldn’t be able to join her today. All because of the Clover Paladin.

“Nyahaha! Karina, I almost died laughing earlier! Your slapstick~. Nihihi!”

“Ugh. Dorothy, you…”

The popular Dorothy was swarmed by students and they all went for lunch. Their laughter never stopped.

I suddenly remembered watching the opening ceremony for the Grand Festival in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

Before the ceremony began, a cleric from the Helize Church offered a prayer of thanks. Whenever this happened, I hoped that the festival’s warmth would reach Dorothy as well, asking her to watch over this scene from heaven, which she had given her life to protect.

‘Because in such a scenario, Dorothy had to die.’

I couldn’t help but smile.

Seeing Dorothy enjoying life at the academy like it was the most natural thing filled me with a sense of pride.

‘Well, now…’

Let’s get to work.

My goal for the Grand Festival was to protect White. Every time I remembered how badly beaten she was by Priestess Miya, anger surged within me.

The Clover Paladin also harbored a childish plan to harm White to provoke me.

Since [Psychological Insight] was not all-powerful, I couldn’t precisely know how he might have changed his mind by now. He might have found a way to torment White in a way I couldn’t anticipate.

In that case.

“Excuse me, I need to get through.”

I made my way through the first-years of the Magic Department.

I approached the Pure White Princess who stood at the top of the class, bent over, looking down at the students like a goddess.

“Hey?”

“Huh? Senior Isaac?”

“Ack!”

Ignoring the various reactions of the freshmen as they stepped aside, I noticed the four Paladins had already left and were nowhere to be seen.

The students flocked around White like she was a celebrity. She had yet to notice that I was approaching.

She was smiling awkwardly, looking quite troubled.

She seemed to be unable to escape the crowd of students. I could tell she was anxious to get down from her seat and get away.

“Please grant us the honor of serving Princess White…!”

“There’s no beauty in the world that can compare to White’s beauty!”

“Your Highness! I, the eldest child of the Hameln Family, will serve you with utmost dedication!”

What a commotion. If I were that popular, my self-esteem would be through the roof.

Well, if it were any other Princess, who had heard all sorts of flattery, they might’ve been annoyed by this utterly chaotic atmosphere and ordered everyone to shut up.

It would have been quiet, as if a mouse had died. But the good-natured White was incapable of doing anything even remotely similar.

Despite holding the power and status of an Imperial Princess.

The students took White lightly, confident that she wouldn’t retaliate. It was the fate of a kind-hearted pushover.

Of course, I couldn’t say that I didn’t get them. They were the children of noble families, after all, eager to make a good impression on White.

Especially here, in an academy where traditional social hierarchies were somewhat lax.

Being of the same age as the Princess, the chance to interact with her so closely would likely never come again.

However, regrettably, I must take that opportunity away.

“Huh?”

White spotted me. Surprise spread across her face, turning into relief.

The first-years were also surprised at my sudden arrival.

Yes, be surprised. I am your senior, Isaac, the one you all admire.

“White.”

The previously noisy atmosphere quieted down significantly because of me.

I stood in front of White and looked up at her.

And she looked down from her high seat, meeting my gaze.

“Let’s go.”

When I held out my right hand, White’s head faintly trembled. Her eyes widened even more, and her lips parted slightly, looking stunned.

Perhaps because she had been wanting to escape from the crowd of students, my hand must have felt like a lifeline.

Although our relationship began as mentor and mentee, White now regarded me as a teacher and master. That made me more approachable to her than anyone else at the Academy.

Well, the feeling was mutual. Initially, I wasn’t too excited about meeting White, but as we spent time together, a deep affection developed.

It felt similar to the sentiment in old movies where a master would cherish their student. Was it something like that…? I wasn’t too sure.

Anyway, had that cleared up the traffic?

“…Okay.”

A pure smile flooded over White’s face.

Without hesitation, she grabbed my hand and jumped off her seat.

Whoosh

A cushion of wind magic fluttered beneath her feet.

White landed smoothly on the ground, and we exchanged bright smiles.

The freshmen were astounded, especially those nearby who had been showering White with their flatteries.

They were armed with high status, all sorts of flattery, adulation, and sweet nothings to invite White for a meal.

It must have been quite perplexing for them to see White go because I, a commoner, simply said ‘Let’s go.’

“Ack.

I took White with me.

We had to cut through a sea of first-years, so I held onto White’s wrist and walked away. It would be troublesome if I lost her in the crowd.

Fortunately, most of them made way for us. They were most likely aware of our mentor-mentee relationship.

Having her wrist grabbed, White let out a tiny yelp that soon turned to silence. The explanation could wait until later.

As long as Alice didn’t reveal her true intentions, I had to be cautious about the Clover Paladin, the alpha male who was targeting White to provoke me.

My solution was simple. I just had to keep White by my side.

Right now, the Hilde was hiding in the collar of my shirt, keeping watch.

Unless it was an all-out brawl, I would be able to go toe-to-toe with the Clover Paladin.

I was determined to protect White. I couldn’t allow a repeat of what happened during the duel evaluation.

I turned my head back to look at White as we continued walking.

She pursed her lips, trying hard to keep her delight from showing on her face.

She looked hilarious and I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

“Keep up with me. I won’t let go of your hand.”

“…Yes…!”

White nodded and gazed at me intently. Her delight had a hint of nervousness.

What was it? The scene unfolding before White seemed to be making a deep impression on her.

Well, there was no point in reading her psychology.

I turned my head back to the front and we quickened our pace.

As we passed the still-stunned first-years, we made our way out of the stadium.

“Ah, Merlin.”

I spotted Merlin Astrea at the entrance and greeted her with a bright smile, pleased to see her.

Being an outsider, she wasn’t allowed inside, so she had been watching over White from that spot. Interestingly, as the daughter of the Sword Saint, she was more than capable of protecting White from this distance.

As we approached the exit, I invited Merlin to a meal. Having her around would certainly feel reassuring.

“How about joining us for a meal…”

Swoosh.

With a graceful move, Merlin quickly positioned herself between White and me, placing her hand on White’s grasped wrist.

White and I stopped dead in our tracks.

“Sir Isaac.”

“Yes…?”

“Please let go of Princess White’s hand.”

Merlin shot me with a wary glance.