The final boss of 「Act 9, Chapter 3, The Queen of Hearts」of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, was the Heart Queen - Alice.

She used her minions to search for the Phantasmal Clock in Wonderland.

The beginning of 「Act 9, Alice Subjugation」of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ was marked by Alice finding the clock and revealing her identity as the informant by taking over Bartos Hall.

As seen in the Trial of Frost, the Phantasmal Clock was the catalyst for activating the 9-star time-acceleration spell [Obelisk of Eternity].

Its purpose was the early revival of the Evil God. Today, Alice intended to resurrect the Evil God.

However, unlike during the trial, the [Obelisk of Eternity] had not yet been activated. Alice had only begun constructing the [Obelisk of Eternity].

Since the Phantasmal Clock would be used as a catalyst, it was time to make a move.

If Alice were apprehended before she even had the chance to reveal the Phantasmal Clock, I wouldn’t have known what would become of it.

Moreover, she was prepared to commit suicide if she was cornered. I had to wait until she deployed the barrier and brought out the Phantasmal Clock.

So, it began.

In the game, I had to face both Alice and the Nightmare Dragon at the same time, but with Dorothy taking on the Dragon, it wouldn’t be an issue.

Meaning, if I could quickly destroy the Phantasmal Clock and prevent Alice from activating the [Obelisk of Eternity], it would be my victory.

As a side note, just like when Vera the Summoner was defeated, EXP was shared between the master and the familiar. By defeating Alice, we could also share in the EXP from creatures like the Nightmare Dragon and the Phantom Cat.

“Isaac, what is that?”

“It’s Alice Carroll’s familiar and her minions.”

I reached the vicinity of Bartos Hall with Kaya. We hid behind a tree to scout the building.

Like the rooftop, a strong golden barrier was deployed along the exterior walls of the palace-like Bartos Hall to prevent the building from collapsing.

The arched doorways remained untouched.

Like in the Trial of Frost, the only route to get inside Bartos Hall was to climb up to the roof.

It was like retracing the route that Alice had planned to use as an escape. After activating the [Obelisk of Eternity], she planned to leave Bartos Hall and engage in battle herself.

Though I referred to it as an escape route, it was a straightforward route.

And in front of the building.

Numerous foot soldiers were lined up in front of Bartos Hall.

Positioned as their leader was the gray dragon, Tiger Dragon Bandersnatch. It was a grotesque beast with a massive head that resembled a tiger, jaws that seemed capable of crushing anything, and a long neck.

Atop the spire, a giant bird with red wings, the Jubjub Bird, was scanning the surroundings.

They were all minions that Alice had contracted upon acquiring the authority of the Queen of Hearts.

[Bandersnatch] Lv: 167 Race: Magic Beast Elements: Rock Danger: Highest Psychology: [Intends to dismember any intruder it may encounter and scatter their entrails.] [Jujub Bird] Lv: 156 Race: Magic Beast Elements: Wind Danger: High Psychology: [Intends to snatch intruders and drop them into the sea]

The Tiger Dragon, Bandersnatch, was the final boss of Act 9, Chapter 1, and along with the Jubjub Bird, all the foot soldiers were its subordinate mobs.

In the game, they were known for their troublesome offensive tactics.

“Kaya, I’ll say it again, but I’m not forcing you. Can you do it?”

Kaya nodded as if it were a matter of course.

“If it’s your order, I’ll do anything. I’ll bring them all down.”

Kaya’s eyes turned bloodshot as the power of Dark Kaya manifested.

I couldn’t help but wonder if her loyalty was a bit too fervent.

“...Don’t overdo it.”

Anyway.

It would take quite a while for Kaya to withstand their onslaught or defeat them all.

Especially since the Tiger Dragon Bandersnatch, boasted high defense and tenacious vitality. Alice didn’t make him the gatekeeper for nothing.

Thus, I had already informed Kaya that I wouldn’t join the fight and would instead head to the rooftop of Bartos Hall to stop Alice.

I told her that there was something I needed to confirm about Alice and that we needed to talk alone.

Alice had fully revealed her identity as the informant. There was nothing left to hide from each other.

Heading to the rooftop of Bartos Hall alone would be the last chance for us to truly open up to one another

It might be foolish.

From the start… there was a fundamental issue. The fact that I would be of little use to Kaya against the enemies guarding Bartos Hall. There was a huge spec difference.

Against humans, my stats significantly increased thanks to [vs. Human Combat Power], and I could somewhat manage legendary weapons.

But I couldn’t count on that against those guarding the entrance of Bartos Hall.

If there was a power that could not only exploit the weaknesses of demons but also overcome drastic spec differences with destructive force, like Divine Power the story would be different… but that was a privilege of our protagonist, Ian Fairytale, so it was out of the question for someone like Isaac.

Moreover, reinforcements were definitely coming. Until then, I was confident that I could stall for time, even against Alice.

The most critical issue was whether I could prevent the activation of the [Obelisk of Eternity] within that time frame.

As I was pondering, Kaya suddenly kissed me on the cheek.

I looked at Kaya in surprise. She smiled lovingly and whispered.

“What are you thinking about, my dear Isaac?”

I read her psychology. It seemed she kissed me on purpose, seeing me lost in thought.

“I’ll see you after it’s over.”

“...Yeah, let’s meet afterward. If it seems dangerous, run away immediately.”

“Understood!”

Kaya, wrapping herself with wind, charged toward Bartos Hall.

The Tiger Dragon Bandersnatch and the Jubjub Bird frumiously roared and simultaneously attacked Kaya. Numerous foot soldiers charged at her with spears in hand.

In the meantime, I sneaked toward the entrance of Bartos Hall.

Kaya, using the joint spell [Baphomet’s Hymn], slashed through the enemies, drawing their attention to herself. The defeated foot soldiers vanished as if they were summoned back.

I felt a sense of dissonance upon seeing that sight.

Reverse summoning?

In such cases, it was common for the summoned minions to be healed immediately after being summoned back.

In war, there was no such thing as a waste of forces. It wasn’t a bad choice. It was a strategic decision for preserving forces, as it allowed one to save minions.

However, this scene did not align with my memory.

In the game or during the Trial of Frost, the foot soldiers were used until their demise.

Alice was in a life-or-death situation this time. Yet, why was she sparing her minions? I couldn’t comprehend it.

…Let’s go inside, for now.

I had to set aside my unanswered questions for the time being. I didn’t have much time.

While Kaya drew the enemies’ attention, I crept inside Bartos Hall.

* * *

There existed another dimension known as Wonderland.

Many children end up falling into this world by accident.

The reasons were mostly similar.

First, they often dreamt of adventures in another world, only to forget about it completely later on.

Then, one day, they actually encountered a mystical animal or something from their suddenly remembered dreams, and while chasing after it…

They inadvertently fell into Wonderland.

It was a regrettable misfortune that befell the unlucky children who resonated with Wonderland.

Some children lost their lives upon reaching Wonderland.

Some children went crazy upon reaching Wonderland.

After all, it was a world filled entirely with beings of mad minds.

Alice Carroll said she chased after an animal, a rabbit dressed in a suit, which was running in a hurry. Her curiosity was piqued by the fact that he looked at his watch and muttered to himself about being late.

Thus, by chasing the mysterious rabbit, she fell down a rabbit hole, passed through a passageway with floating furniture and musical instruments, ate food that made her grow or shrink and went through a small door to reach Wonderland.

There, Alice beheaded the tyrannical Queen of Hearts, seizing her power.

She obtained the Vorpal Sword and fought with the Nightmare Dragon, Jabberwock, defeating him.

Alice also occasionally found humans who had fallen into Wonderland like herself and gathered them under her command.

The Spade Paladin never forgot the moment he was saved by her.

There was a stir.

The man with black hair, who had been drifting through the past, slowly opened his eyes.

A lavish and spacious hallway adorned with a red carpet.

Ornate chandeliers flickered as powerful magical forces clashed from every direction outside the building.

He was dressed in a neat black uniform with blue trimmings and wore a tidy military cap. Behind his shaded glasses, his calm gaze reflected a man standing across from him.

It was a silver-blue-haired male student.

“I didn’t expect you to come alone.”

The black-haired man, the Spade Paladin, spoke. His voice was deep.

Isaac, the silver-blue-haired man with Zhonya’s Staff slung over his shoulders, read the status window of the Spade Paladin.

[Zenon] Lv: 170 Race: Human Elements: Ice, Lightning Danger: Highest Psychology: [Intends to harm you.]

One of Alice Carroll’s subordinates and the strongest Paladin.

The mid-boss of Act 9, Chapter 2.

The Spade Paladin, Zenon.

Isaac had used [Clairvoyance] to survey the interior of Bartos Hall and discovered Zenon’s presence.

The Phantom Cat, Cheshire, was originally meant to be the final boss of Act 9, Chapter 2, but he went to confront Dorothy, so Zenon and Alice were the only enemies remaining in Bartos Hall.

As mentioned before, there was something Isaac needed to find out from Alice. To do this, he intended to talk with her alone.

His mind told him it was stubbornness.

But so what?

It didn’t matter what it was. In this journey to defeat the Evil God, Isaac had no intention of leaving even the slightest bit of unease unaddressed.

Therefore, to meet Alice, he would have to get past the Spade Paladin blocking his path.

With [vs. Human Combat Power] and his elemental ultimate weapons, Isaac thought he could handle it.

Any semblance of Zenon as his junior from the academy was gone. Now, he appeared as an adult man older than Isaac.

It was Zenon’s true form, unmasked.

“Are you here to interfere?”

“If interfering means stopping Alice, then yes.”

“Are you the Nameless Hero?”

“Who knows.”

Isaac shrugged his shoulders.

Zenon blinked slowly and let out a deep sigh.

“It doesn’t matter. If that’s your purpose, I have no choice but to kill you.”

“Can you at least tell me why you’re doing this?”

“I have no words for a dead man.”

Zenon took off his glasses.

“Good, I’m glad that the talking is over.”

Isaac followed suit.

Zenon tugged at the black gloves on his hands. From the back of his hand, the symbol of the Ace of Spades glowed brightly through the gloves.

Soon, deep blue mana condensed in front of him, taking on the form of a black sword, Tachi.

He gripped the Tachi with his gloved hand.

It was the magic weapon of the magic knight Zenon, “Zacula”.

Waaah!

As Zenon lightly swung the Tachi, a gust whipped through his hair and clothes.

Frost crept along the blade, and ice crystals began to form.

Whoosh!

Isaac struck Zhonya’s Staff on the ground, drawing forth mana. A chill radiated from him, frosting over the corridor.

Neither man hesitated.

Zenon, gripping the handle of his Tachi with both hands, slammed the ground and lunged towards Isaac.

In response, Isaac quickly unleashed a pale blue magic circle at Zenon.