༺ The Priestess of The Red Lotus (3) ༻

‘Hilde, try to sneak out and get Kaya.’

[What are you planning? You can not win against that woman with your current power, can you?]

‘I’m going to win. And listen carefully to what I’m about to say.’

***

[…Understood. You must survive, Master. When I return, I will give you a full taste of my affection.]

‘I don’t need it.’

[…!]

I gave orders to Hilde, who was hiding as a small form of mana in my collar.

Miya’s watcher minion disappeared as soon as I reached the outdoor dueling ground, so there shouldn’t be any problem with Hilde moving around.

The one I should be the most wary of, the Phantom Cat Cheshire, was probably engrossed in the heat of the closing ceremony by now.

The key was to send out Hilde without being detected by the Priestess Miya.

I steadied my breathing and prepared for battle.

Unlike the last duel, Miya didn’t let her guard down and unleashed the power of the Nine-tailed Fox from the start.

With her having unleashed the fox’s power, I couldn’t win on my own. The differences in combat experience, physical abilities, and even clever tactics were all meaningless in the face of the overwhelming gap in power.

‘Three tails…’

That wasn’t her full power, not by a long shot.

Her tails stored a considerable amount of mana and enhanced the output of magic.

Meaning, the more tails she revealed, the stronger Miya became.

When the ninth tail appeared, that was when her full power was truly shown.

‘Planning to pressure me gradually, huh?’

It was a rather vicious strategy. She wasn’t satisfied with simply unleashing all nine tails at once.

Currently, a shadow demon was lurking within Miya’s shadow. Unbeknownst to her, it snuck in.

While it was fused in the shadows and unable to do anything for now, if Miya unleashed the full power of the Nine-tailed Fox, it would devour her power.

Then, I would become a Demon-Limited Hunter, able to annihilate both Miya and the demon at once.

Therefore, I should give Miya a motive to bring out all nine tails.

I would have to withstand her attacks, counterattack, and escalate this fight.

‘Not bad at all.’

Foolishly, I felt a sense of excitement.

This was a great opportunity to gain real combat experience.

A life-and-death battle was far more nourishing than a hundred duels.

Every experience like this was incredibly valuable on my journey to defeat the Evil God.

Crackle!

Miya swirled flames with her black fan.

It was time to settle things with this tiresome kid.

***

Bang!

Crackle!!

“Are you just going to keep running away, Senior? Try to make me look like a fool like you did back then!”

In the outdoor dueling ground, where only the two of them stood, Miya’s red flames drove away the black darkness.

Miya, having partially unleashed the power of the Nine-tailed Fox, spread powerful flames in all directions, maintaining the spell [Firestorm] around herself at all times.

Though this should rapidly deplete her mana, Miya had more than enough mana to not worry about its consumption.

Isaac sprinted around the ground, countering using ice and rock magic.

He leaped out of the dueling ground and into the stands, avoiding Miya’s flames. He was as nimble as a squirrel.

Before long, his right hand was clutching Zhonya’s Staff, which he’d pulled out from his magic pouch.

The mana stone, infused with the natural mana of dawn, was imbued with ice magic. He executed high-level mana mastery in an instant.

A powerful ice spell countered Miya’s flames. Red and pale blue colors painted the night scenery.

Boom!

The flames were neutralized.

Isaac and Miya glared at each other through the rising white steam.

“You’ve gotten stronger? Your mana has become more refined.”

Miya gathered her flames.

To her senses, Isaac’s mana was denser than it was during their last duel.

Even with three of her fox tails unleashed, at this rate, she would not be able to defeat her silver-blue-haired senior.

While she had the advantage in sheer mana quantity, Isaac possessed additional abilities that could bridge that gap.

After pushing back some of her anger, Miya regained her rationality. Which told her…

Isaac, that man, was a genius.

He was simply a late bloomer with his talents.

‘Or perhaps.’

That man could be the Nameless Hero.

In other words, he could be slowly revealing his true strength while pretending to grow. If there was a reason to conceal his power, what better excuse than ‘growth’ to ease the restrictions of his actions?

Although it was an unwelcome hypothesis, it was also an undeniable possibility.

The idea that the man she wanted to devote her body and soul to could be such a fraud was so absurd that she involuntarily let out a scoff.

Miya glared at Isaac, convinced that such a possibility was false.

“I’ve been thinking…”

In Miya’s hand, the tip of her luxurious black fan flickered with flames like a bonfire.

Behind her, three tails of flame waved gently, casting a soft glow.

“I hated you. I thought I’d make you pay for humiliating me during our duel. But after calming down and thinking it over… it turns out you seem quite useful, like a decent piece of trash.”

“What are you trying to say?”

Isaac asked, clearing his throat, and Miya covered her mouth with the flaming black fan.

Her eyes twinkled with mischief.

“Become my subordinate.”

“What are you saying…?”

“If you join me, I can promise you wealth and honor. I swear as the Priestess of the Land of the Fire Blossoms, Horan. That’s quite a tempting offer for a lowlife like you, isn’t it?”

“Haa.”

He sighed deeply.

Isaac sat down in the stands right behind him and slung Zhonya’s Staff over his shoulder.

Even without the hints from [Psychological Insight], deciphering Miya’s intentions was fairly simple.

“Hey, I’m late in asking, but what about the closing ceremony? What are you doing here?”

“You really are late in asking.”

Miya turned her head toward the stadium.

Far from the academy grounds, she couldn’t hear the music of the closing ceremony. But she could feel the festive atmosphere through her skin.

A chuckle escaped Miya’s lips.

“My clone will take care of it.”

“Is that your familiar’s ability?”

“You know well. Yes, Mae is proficient in all sorts of magic.”

“Must be convenient when you’re substituting.”

“Senior… aren’t you a bit too relaxed? Why don’t you worry about yourself instead of the closing ceremony?”

The fact that the Priestess of Horan commands the Nine-tailed Fox, Mae, was widely known across the world.

One of the fox’s abilities was to create clones. Miya, its master, could also use this ability to create a clone of herself.

Though it wouldn’t be able to communicate, the clone would be able to dance at the closing ceremony.

“So let me get this straight if I become your underling, I get wealth and honor… right?”

“Looks like you get it. See, I rule over the East. Once I say something, I mean it… On one condition.”

“And what is that?”

Miya chuckled and extended three fingers of her right hand.

“Three fingers. The index, middle, and thumb should suffice. With these, I’ll forgive all your impudent actions and promise you a life of wealth.

“…”

“It’s quite generous for messing with me. Just three fingers to appease my anger and serve under the grace of the most beautiful woman in the world for the rest of your life… Where else would you find such a ludicrous offer?”

Miya had no intention of actually messing with Isaac’s fingers.

Though she coveted Isaac’s talent for her ambitions, her anger and disdain had already accumulated too much.

If she ever had the opportunity to sever his fingers, she’d do it slowly, joint by joint, and, pretending it was an accident, she’d cut off his wrist along with them.

Every time he screamed in pain, she would feel a chill of pleasure. It would surely soothe her rage to some extent.

“What do you think?”

“Hmm.”

Isaac lifted his head, feigning contemplation, then calmly raised his middle finger to Miya.

“Fufu.”

Miya let out a chilly laugh and intensified the flames from her black fan.

The flames surged powerfully.

Whaaaack!!

Miya waved her fan and the flames rushed towards Isaac with fierce intensity. Isaac sprung to the side, dodging the [Firestorm], and countered with numerous spells.

[Ice Spear], [Frostfire], [Frost Explosion], [Rock Avalanche]… All the elemental magic failed to penetrate the flames surrounding Miya and were consumed.

The flames were dense with mana.

It was as if an intangible force created a defense mechanism with the sole purpose of protecting her like a dense sand wall.

However, the Priestess Miya was also unable to pressure her opponent. The strength of three tails was not enough. As it was, it would only turn into a battle of endurance.

She doubled her firepower.

Miya pulled out three more tails. Six flickering flame tails, resembling a fox’s tail.

As the tails increased, Miya’s magic grew in power and temperature.

It was no longer just a burning flame. It shattered and swept away everything.

Crackle!

Boooom!

“Senior! If I can’t have what I want, I have the urge to destroy it! The more you resist, the worse things will be for you! Just come with me peacefully, huh?!”

“…”

Isaac remained impassive. Not a trace of bewilderment on his face.

His cold gaze, which contrasted with his usual gentle eyes, was scanning the situation. If his opponent was stronger than him, he would simply adapt his response.

Isaac skillfully handled Miya’s flames. He thoroughly understood her attack patterns, as if he had fought her countless times before.

With his exceptional physical abilities, Isaac navigated the stands, his movements gradually restricted by the threatening [Firestorm] swirling and barricading around Miya.

The flames that almost reached him were somehow neutralized by powerful ice magic.

“Really… Is that all? You dared to confront me with such mediocre skills?!”

Miya was filled with mixed emotions.

She glared so hard that veins bulged out on her forehead. She released her seventh tail, cackling.

“Kugh!”

Even without direct contact with the fire magic, Isaac could feel his skin burning and sizzling.

Isaac spread the chill that enveloped his body even more intensely to ease the burns.

“Kehe, how amusing.”

Miya tracked the scruffy man as he continued to flee through the cloud of dirt and pungent smoke.

A stark difference in mana. It was clear that she, who was imbued with the power of the Nine-tailed Fox, was much stronger than her silver-blue-haired senior.

Yet, Isaac was somehow bridging that gap with his exceptional combat sense and observational skills.

Such talent was rare to find.

Miya, a tyrant who had used her position as a Priestess ruling over Horan, and looked down upon her people and violently took advantage of them, knew this all too well.

Wizards were very expensive.

This place was Märchen Academy, where talented individuals gathered, so it was not uncommon to find people skilled in magic.

Outside, simply wielding 6-star magic could earn a commoner noble-like status.

Moreover, wizards who could wield 7-star magic or higher would demand higher prices.

Then what about this man?

He had already mastered 6-star magic and possessed physical abilities that were uncharacteristic of an aspiring wizard.

Plus, he showed exceptional combat sense that pressured Miya during their last duel.

With such capabilities, it wouldn’t be long before he’d be capable of wielding 7-star magic. His potential was unimaginable.

‘I want him.’

He was a remarkable talent.

Especially if having this man also meant gaining the overwhelmingly talented Luce Eltania.

Therefore, she had to have Isaac by any means necessary.

Fine, let’s see who is superior.

I’ll prove to you that I’m far mightier than you’ll ever be. I’ll let you feel the full extent of my power.

I am the woman who will dominate this world. A Divine Priestess who will rule as the sole monarch.

This lowly academy is merely a stepping stone on that journey.

So beg for my forgiveness and come under my wing.

Even if you don’t want to that doesn’t matter to me. I’ll stick to my ways.

I’ll take someone dear to you as a hostage.

Gouge their eyes out, skin them, or cut off their limb, and then you’ll surely grovel and beg on your own.

Beg me to take you as my subordinate, admitting your mistakes.

That is the future awaiting you if you refuse to heed my offer, Isaac.

Miya thought to herself as she relentlessly unleashed her fire magic at Isaac.

“Eden!”

[Kyuu!]

The rock golem familiar, Eden, appeared around Isaac.

Eden, clad in rock armor to increase his battle prowess, created a rock shield in Isaac’s hand.

He leapt through the stands and charged toward Miya. He aimed his enlarged fist at her.

From another direction, Isaac jumped forward with the rock shield, simultaneously wrapping his body in intense cold and releasing [Frostfire].

The [Frostfire] swirled together with the [Firestorm], momentarily creating a cloud of steam.

Meanwhile, ice magic condensed around Zhonya’s Staff, followed by a pale blue magic circle.

It was the formula for the 5-star ice spell, [Frost Explosion].

Isaac intended to protect himself from the flames using the rock shield while casting [Frost Explosion].

“Hehe! Is that all you’ve got?”

A reckless choice.

Miya unleashed her eighth tail. Red flames erupted from her like steam, engulfing Isaac and Eden.

Paaaa!!

“Kugh!”

Isaac crouched and hid behind the rock shield, but the violent flames sent him flying like a ball.

[Frost Explosion] was activated, only to be consumed by the scorching flames, rendering it ineffective.

Eden was also helplessly pushed back by the flames and crashed into the stands alongside his master.

The stands shattered with a loud crash, and dust rose into the air. Eden grunted and groaned as flames that could even melt his rock body surrounded him.

At that moment, there was a dagger slithering across the dueling grounds towards Miya.

Swoosh!

However, the dagger was helplessly deflected by [Flame Pillar] which erupted from the ground.

“Trying that trick again… Don’t you get tired of it?”

Isaac, along with Eden, distracted Miya by secretly throwing the Sheath of Disaster.

Having been tricked by it before, Miya saw right through it.

The magic circle engraved on the Sheath of Disaster emitted a pale blue light and flew into the stands. The glow quickly faded.

Isaac tossed the hot rock shield aside. It rolled across the ground with a clatter and soon dispersed into brown mana in the air.

He swung his arm to clear the dust and stood up. His uniform was scorched. His silver-blue hair was covered in dust.

He wiped the blood that trickled down his forehead.

Through his hair, his frosty red eyes, filled with determination, were solely focused on Miya.

Calm and steady.

‘That’s the spirit.’

Miya looked at him like an enticing ripe fruit on a tree.

If she took one bite, the juices would surely burst out.

He possessed great potential and wasn’t intimidated by opponents whose power overwhelmingly surpassed his own. He focused his will and stared down his enemy.

It was a remarkable spirit. Indeed, she wanted him.

“Senior, what will you do…?”

Isaac held out the Zhonya’s Staff. The mana stone emitted light.

Gooooo…

Miya swiftly raised her head as she felt heavy mana above her head.

A pale blue magic circle had been unleashed within the [Firestorm]. Amidst the chaos, Isaac had taken time to calculate the deployment formula for 6-star ice magic.

The [Frostfire] was engulfed by the [Firestorm] and it interrupted the formation of the magic circle.

Miya was so focused on the Sheath of Disaster that she failed to realize Isaac’s final move.

Something had burst forth beneath the magic circle. It was a dangerous-looking pale blue sphere.

By the time Miya saw it, the spell had already been activated.

Whaaaaaa!!!

Miya’s eyes widened.

It was the 6-star ice spell, [Frost Glitter].

Dense, thick spikes rained down like a shower. Even the [Flamestorm], imbued with the power of the Nine-tailed Fox, couldn’t block this attack.

“…Hehe.”

However, Miya soon smirked.

The final tail of the Nine-tailed Fox sprang out, instantly forming a powerful defense system.

Fire magic burst from the ground in multiple streams, spiraling outward. It happened in the blink of an eye.

The air heated up intensely.

The flames swirled and gathered.

Soon, it erupted in a burst of flames.

Boooooom!!

The pillars of flame surged up like beams of light with ferocious momentum, pushing away the [Frost Glitter] and devouring the sphere of dense magic.

It was the 6-star fire spell, [Explosive Wave].

A tremendous explosion of steam shattered the stands.

Isaac hastily deployed a wall of ice imbued with rock magic, [Fossilized Ice], but the aftermath of the explosion shattered it away and sent him flying.

“Ugh!!”

Isaac was hurled at tremendous speed to the edge of the dueling ground. Isaac grumbled as he crashed into a wall, making it crumble.

It felt like his bones were broken. Even with [Basic Protection Magic], he was helpless against such an impact. Luckily, he didn’t pass out.

His strength drained away. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to exert power throughout his body.

A terrifying pressure of mana crushed Isaac. The difference in power was now incomparable.

He lifted his head.

The [Flamestorm] that filled the dueling ground had turned into a gentle breeze of flower petals. It was the 7-star fire spell, [Cherry Blossom].

Touching even one of these petals could cause an explosion far beyond anything the [Firestorm] could produce. No matter how much defense magic he used, he had to be prepared for his body to be blown away.

Within the [Cherry Blossom].

Under the night sky, in the middle of the dueling ground.

There was a girl with nine tails of flames wrapped around her.

Her hair turned red, it was shaped like flames, blazing at the tips.

Her red eyes glowed with a holy aura.

She was the Master and Divine Maiden of the Eastern Nation, the Priestess of the Red Lotus.

The tyrant of the East; who would not be satisfied if she didn’t get what she desired.

“I’ll give you another chance. No… this is an order.”

The Priestess who unleashed the full power of the Nine-tailed Fox spoke.

“Join me. Be my subordinate and beg. If you are still unwilling, even with promises of wealth and honor, I will have no choice but to use violence. Wouldn’t that be sad?”

“…Such as?”

Blood trickled from Isaac’s mouth. His voice was laced with blood.

“I’ll harm someone dear to you.”

“Why…?”

“You made it quite obvious you care deeply, almost sickeningly so. You came at me with fury in your eyes over a hurt worthless bitch. If I were to harm someone far more precious to you than Princess Snow White… what kind of reaction would I see from you?”

Miya’s smiling face suddenly hardened.

“I might just gouge out your mother’s eyes. And if that doesn’t make you want to serve me, next, I’ll skin her. And if you still won’t listen…”

“Don’t… talk… nonsense…”

Flop.

Isaac’s voice trailed off.

He closed his eyes and collapsed limply to the side.

Miya was momentarily startled but felt a thrill at having said her piece.

“Huhu, it’s too boring if you pass out now. The fun has just—”

Miya was about to approach Isaac.

But then.

Behind her, a pitch-black darkness crept up from the ground like an assassin.

There was no mana emanating from it. Miya was slow to realize because there was no presence.

Startled, she quickly turned her head.

[Give me that power.]

The dark figure opened its jaws wide and swallowed Miya whole.

“Kugh…!”

Miya clutched her head in agony as her body and mana were gradually engulfed by the dark mana.

From within her shadow, a human head with three pairs of eyes and three mouths carved like triangles sneered wickedly.

[Miya! Miya!! Ugh, what’s with this guy?!]

The Nine-tailed Fox’s desperate cries echoed through the dueling ground but soon lost her voice.

The nine tails that were wrapped around Miya’s body were all dyed a deep black.

The color of the 7-star fire spell, [Cherry Blossom], that surrounded her also transformed from a beautiful and brilliant red to a void.

The shadow demon let out a strange howl and finally absorbed Miya’s power completely.

From Miya’s face, where black mana smoke seeped out, three pairs of eyes took their places.

Miya was flung sideways by the demon and rolled across the ground.

The demon that had drained Miya’s power looked down at her with a smile full of satisfaction.

“Demon…!”

Miya frowned grimly and tried to wield fire magic, but nothing came out, leaving her in shock.

It was the moment of the shadow demon’s triumph.

“…”

Isaac cracked open one eye to witness the scene. He pretended to be unconscious.

His field of vision was clear. It was obvious since he fell down at a calculated angle.

In 「Act 8, Scene 2, Priestess of the Red Lotus」 of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, Miya finally revealed her full power by unleashing all nine tails of the fox.

And so, the demon hiding within her shadow revealed itself.

It was the final boss of Act 8, the Shadow Demon.

[Elmetona the Ethereal] Lv: 180

Race: Demon

Elements: Dark, Fire

Danger: Highest

Psychology: [Pleased with successfully stealing the power of the Priestess and the Nine-tailed Fox.]

‘She’s out.’

「Act 8, Scene 3, The Shadow Priestess」.

We have reached the final chapter of Act 8.

[Finally, you’ve unleashed your full power…]

“Kugh!”

Elmetona the Ethereal grabbed Miya’s throat and lifted her up.

Miya struggled, gripping Elmetona’s arm in agony. Despite her attempts to kick at the dark figure that looked exactly like her, it was futile.

Her eyes rolled back as she choked, tears and saliva streaming down her face.

Without the ability to wield fire magic, Miya was just a powerless girl.

If the source of her power died, Elmetona would lose what little power she gained, so she couldn’t kill Miya.

However, the demon only intended to show Miya who was superior.

[Waiting was hard.]

Whack!

“Ugh…!”

Elmetona punched Miya in the face as she choked her.

[I’m exhausted. I almost killed myself because I was impatient. I almost ended my own life. I’m dumb. I’m foolish. I’m pathetic. But I took it away. I took this power away…! But I loathe myself…! I’m idiotic! I’m miserable! I deserve to die!!]

“Ku, kughh…!”

Slap!

Thud!

Whack!

Thud!

Crack!

Elmetona slapped Miya’s face repeatedly as she rapidly spat out words.

She slammed her knee into Miya’s abdomen and broke Miya’s leg with a kick.

“Kughhhh…!!”

Miya couldn’t move because she was being choked. She couldn’t even turn her head. She could only gasp for air as she received the blows.

Her once beautiful face was now a hideous bloody mess.

The shadow demon, Elmetona the Ethereal, was sinister and deeply self-loathing. She was constantly muttering self-deprecating remarks.

If any creature looked at her, she would tear them apart because she thought they were disrespecting her. She had extremely low self-esteem.

‘That was very hard…’

Elmetona wouldn’t kill Miya. Instead, she intended to preserve her as the source of her power.

Since it had come to this, she might as well take a beating.

Elmetona did not stop her one-sided violence. Before Miya could choke to death, she released her throat, then grabbed her arm and repeatedly kicked her like a punching bag.

It was the process of creating a hierarchy.

She would instill fear in Miya, the true owner of the power, by assaulting her every day.

It was a daily process of exploiting her strength.

Isaac slowly got to his feet.

The debris clinging to his body fell, clinking softly against the ground.

[…?]

The Shadow Priestess, Elmetona, released Miya’s arm as she gasped, ‘Kugh…’

With a thud, Miya’s body collapsed to the ground. Her face was swollen with bruises, her joints were twisted, and her clothes were filthy. She was a complete mess, like a tattered rag.

Crunch.

Elmetona stepped on Miya and glared at Isaac with three pairs of eyes.

[What’s with that look? Are you calling me an idiot, pathetic, disgusting, pitiful? Are you looking down on me?!]

Crack, crack.

“Ack, aaak…”

Elmetona repeatedly stomped on Miya in anger. The blows shattered her bones, even the ones that were still intact.

Unable to think rationally in the excruciating pain, Miya eventually lost consciousness due to the pain.

That should be enough.

Isaac grabbed his shoulder and lightly stretched his neck, then he spat out a mouthful of blood.

His cold, red eyes scanned the demon.

Meanwhile.

At the stadium where the closing ceremony was taking place.

A small, firefly-like figure approached Kaya Astrea and whispered into her mind.

It was Hilde.

The familiar conveyed Isaac’s instructions to Kaya.

“Sir Isaac…”

Kaya’s expression hardened, and she stood up from her seat and made her way through the aisle behind her.

She was about to leave when Dorothy, who had the power of [All in the World], noticed that the dancing Priestess was a fake.

Goooooo.

Unmatched, heavy mana descended upon the stadium.

Time seemed to stand still for a moment, as the noisy closing ceremony fell into a sudden hush.

Dorothy’s eyes widened and she froze. She wrapped herself in starlight mana and floated up.

With shocked expressions, Luce and the Paladins turned their heads toward the enormous surge of mana.

Seated at the top, Alice closed her eyes to gather her thoughts.

Beside her, Phantom Cat Cheshire flashed a strange smile. As if it knew what was coming.

The faculty and Imperial Knights scrambled to assess the situation.

In an instant, the festival grounds were filled with chaos and murmurs.

Everyone there realized one clear fact.

The Great Archwizard.

The Nameless Hero had appeared.