༺ Bet (2) ༻
Only a few people used the outdoor training grounds at Märchen Academy.
The biggest reasons were that it was far from the dorms, and the facility was poorly established compared to the other training grounds.
And on those very grounds stood one man, immersed in his training under the intense rays of sunlight.
Shirtless, he was repeatedly squatting with his arms above his head.
In his arms was a large boulder, easily exceeding 3 meters in size.
He was drenched in sweat. The more squats he did, the larger his muscles seemed to bulge.
A third-year student with dark green hair, an elite member of Black Tiger, one of the Four Constellations. He was Verga Rayphelt.
“Senior Verga! Your one and only cute junior is here!”
“Janie?”
Second-year student Janie, another member of the Black Tiger, approached him and saluted playfully, to which Verga responded without looking. His voice fell heavily.
Verga did not stop his squats.
“Why did you come?”
“To deliver an announcement.”
“Then tell me already and leave.”
“Heheh. That’s cold, you know.”
Janie deftly lightened the mood with her charming laugh.
“By the way, that boulder looks bigger than usual. You’re excited for the duel evaluation, aren’t you?”
As someone who favored duels, the duel evaluation of each semester was an event Verga eagerly anticipated.
It gave him a proper excuse to force those he wanted to fight to duel him.
However…
“Not necessarily.”
“What? Why?”
Verga tossed the boulder he was holding in front of him.
Thooomp—-!
As the heavy boulder fell onto the ground, a loud collision could be heard, along with a cloud of dust.
Within the swiftly dispersing dust, Verga’s glistening body heaved due to his heavy panting.
Janie let out a whistle with a perverted expression.
“I’m not interested in it. What I want to do right now is flatten that bastard’s nose.”
“That bastard? Ah.”
There was only one person Verga would call ‘that bastard’.
Second-year student of the Magic Department. His silver-blue-haired junior, Isaac.
Last year, Verga had been humiliated by fainting from a single blow by Isaac.
However, it was different now. His muscles, the defense that he boasted so pridefully, had improved tenfold.
He would no longer lower his guard and act arrogant. If there was a chance to duel Isaac once more, he would most definitely achieve an overwhelming victory and clear the humiliations of the past.
Verga believed that with confidence.
“Right now, before the duel evaluations begin, I plan to duel him again. I believed that would be enough time to settle my emotions. I will not be provoked nor taint the Black Tiger’s honor.”
“Honor? Wow, so you remembered what I said to you last year. I didn’t know Senior had a sensitive spot or held grudges like a meanie.”
Janie remarked playfully.
“…Is that a challenge?”
“Heheh.”
Janie scratched her head and giggled charmingly. That single giggle was always enough to instantly settle Verga’s anger.
Verga glared at her, then commented, “You’re lucky you’re cute.” Then, picked up his uniform shirt and jacket from the clothes hanger, tossing it over one shoulder,
“That reminds me. Isaac, that guy. He was recently challenged to a duel by the Priestess. It looks like he’s pretty popular, good or bad.”
“Priestess or whatever, it doesn’t matter.”
Verga walked past Janie.
“Where are you going?”
“I told you.”
Is he going to challenge Isaac to a duel?
Janie responded, “Aha. Well, then. Good luck.” And cheered Verga with clenched fists.
Watching Verga walk off into the distance, Janie stared at his broad shoulders with mesmerization.
Then, realizing what she had forgotten, she hurriedly shouted to him.
“Senior Verga, there’s an announcement!”
Janie rushed to chase after Verga.
Meanwhile, near the Magic Department classroom building.
Orphin Hall, on an outdoor bench.
The blue-gray-haired first-year male student, Abel Carnedas, was leaning against the bench’s backrest while waiting for his friend in the Magic Department.
It was to spar and train their magic together. As an aspiring Magic Knight, he could not slack in magic practice.
However, a different thought was currently wandering within Abel’s mind.
The first person he had thought of when hearing the news about the semester’s duel evaluation was his Senior in the Magic Department, Isaac.
Though he could not request a duel with him because they were in different departments, he deeply wished to fight Isaac again.
The memories of losing to him during the joint practical evaluation had added fuel to his competitive spirit.
With those thoughts in mind, a question suddenly popped into his mind.
‘Why did the Priestess use both of her duel requests on Senior Isaac…’
Miya. The top seat of the Magic Department first-years. Rumors about her were widespread within the academy since she was the Priestess of the Eastern Nation.
It was a clear display of interest considering she had used both of her duel requests on Isaac.
Though it was likely not a positive form of interest, it was clear that Isaac had attracted her attention somehow.
“Is there something special about Senior Isaac?”
Isaac was unique.
Though part of the Magic Department, he had a physique similar to someone from the Knight Department. No, even among the Knight Department students, he would be considered in the higher ranks.
But that didn’t mean he lacked magical power, and his fighting sense was admirable.
He knew other seniors with nicknames, such as the Star Witch and the Wizard of the Emerald Fairy.
However, as an aspiring Magic Knight, Abel felt much more interest and admiration towards Isaac.
“Huh?”
Suddenly, he could hear a commotion on a higher floor of Orphin Hall. They all seemed to be talking about the same topic.
Abel tilted his head even higher and stared at one of the windows of Orphin Hall.
* * *
The Hall Monitors, a group associated with Märchen Academy’s Student Council.
The group’s objective was to maintain and protect the elegance and order of the academy.
So, out of the extra NPCs, Head Hall Monitor Erin habitually used an authoritative tone.
“The Student Council President called for Isaac…?”
“Do they want to recruit Isaac into the Student Council?”
“No… The Student Council? Wait, really…?”
“It seems reasonable if it’s Isaac we’re talking about.”
Just being part of the Student Council caused Head Hall Monitor Erin to collect a significant amount of attention.
Since the attention had been concentrated on us, my name also began circulating among them.
It didn’t matter.
The reason I had been sensitive to gossip in the first place was because of Alice.
If the gossip had started because of Alice, then there was no need for me to pay attention to it.
“May I ask why she’s calling for me?”
I asked her calmly. Since Erin was a third-year, I spoke politely to her.
“You’ll know when you’re there. It will be good news for you. Let’s go.”
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to.”
Why should I?
“…Huh? What did you just…?”
“I’m busy. I can’t delay my training.”
“…???”
She was flustered. She must have thought that mentioning the Student Council would solve all of her problems.
Although I thought she was pretty hard-headed in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, she really was quite flimsy.
The students that had been watching us stared in shock.
Silence circled the hallway.
How can it be good news when the person calling for me is trying to kill me?
It’s obvious I should run away.
Reading Erin’s psychology, it looked like Alice mentioned to her that she wanted to invite me to the Student Council. Her intentions couldn’t be any more obvious.
“Isaac. I do not think it is appropriate for you to ignore the President just because of a little training…!”
“Tell her that I apologize.”
Then I passed by Erin and walked away.
Alice suspected me of being the Nameless Hero.
Back when we walked together under the umbrella, I tried my best to show her that I didn’t fit the bill.
But people had intuition, and she had an especially sharp one. It was difficult to withdraw suspicion once the seed had been planted.
That was why it would be ideal not to interact with Alice until the final bits of Semester 1 Year 2, 「Alice Subjugation」.
The students almost seemed to scream out gasps. I heard someone question my sanity.
It didn’t matter. I had expected to be talked about if I became associated with Alice.
If it was going to happen anyway, I might as well plant the impression that I was busy training and should not be bothered.
Just then, I sensed an ominous mana and stopped walking.
[Master.]
Hilde’s voice rang inside of my head. She was hiding as a small ball of light under the collar of my uniform shirt.
Her role was to sense the magic beast I was the most wary of within this academy.
‘I felt it too.’
It was harder not to sense it when they were being this obvious.
[Meoow. Aren’t you being a little too cold?]
Suddenly, a strange voice that was neither male nor female came from the hallway’s window. I turned my head in the direction of the voice.
There sat a fat purple cat magic beast wearing a small fedora, Phantom Cat Cheshire, looking at me from its seat on the windowsill.
[This is an important matter, so I would ask that you come with us.]
They’re pressuring me.
Though I hadn’t usually felt the Phantom Cat watching me, it looked like it had come to check if I was complying with Alice’s order this time.
“The Student Council President’s familiar…!”
“Wow, it’s so cute!”
The students cheered.
Their reactions were lighter and changed directions more easily than reeds blowing in the wind.
The Phantom Cat coughed sheepishly at the compliments directed at it, then puffed up its chest pridefully.
That confident smile. It somehow reminded me of Dorothy.
But while it was doing so, it continued to radiate a heavy aura towards me. It was a silent pressure, telling me not to refuse.
“…”
…This isn’t good.
I wasn’t confident enough to refuse when even the Phantom Cat came into the picture.
I didn’t want to risk worsening its mood. I wasn’t sure if I could handle the consequences if that happened. This thing acted depending on its mood. It was difficult to predict its actions.
I scanned my surroundings. There were already plenty of witnesses. Alice wouldn’t hastily reveal her true colors and try to hurt me already.
In the first place, if she had solid proof that I was the Nameless Hero, she would have used secretive methods to get rid of me. She wouldn’t start an outright fight with no clear way of winning.
Of course, that was just on the surface. If I fought with Alice right now, I would most definitely lose.
Anyway, was Alice planning to corner me little by little? This time, it was an invitation to the Student Council.
Well, I just needed to act clueless until Alice was subjugated.
…I finished thinking. I faced Phantom Cat Cheshire, then turned around to look at Erin.
She was staring blankly at me.
***
“President, I’ve brought him.”
The center of the academy’s administration, Bartos Hall.
Knock knock.
Head Hall Monitor Erin knocked on the Student Council room door. A kind voice called out, “Come in,” from inside.
“Go in.”
Erin opened the door and stepped out of the way.
[Meoww! Cheshire here~. Alice, I brought Isaac!]
I entered the Student Council room together with Cheshire. Erin then bowed her head and closed the door.
A luxurious lamp was hanging from the ceiling, and countless pieces of expensive furniture surrounded us. The elegant and antique design suited the room nicely.
‘This is my first time coming here after possessing this body.’
So this is how the Student Council room looks in person. It looks cool.
My scan lasted only a brief moment.
A warm breeze made the curtains dance. In front of the large arch window was an office desk.
The light gold-haired female student seated there looked at me, then rested her chin on her clasped hands and smiled leisurely.
“Hello, Baby. How have you been?”
Her voice was kind.
She seemed like a sunflower, smiling brightly as the sun shone behind her.
“Senior Alice…”
She was Alice Carroll.
The Student Council President and final boss of the 「Alice Subjugation」.
After a fierce battle against Ian Fairytale and his companions, she lost to them.
Ultimately, she ended own her life with a hollow smile, as if she had given up on everything.
Along with Dorothy, she was a student who always met a tragic end in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
I could not see her status page or read her psychology. This was due to her unique trait, [Red Queen’s Paradox].
Hiding my anxiety, I used my acting skills to return a natural smile.
“I’ve been doing well. I must thank you again for the events during winter vacation.”
“Oh, no. I just happened to be in the mood to do so.”
It was a generic response expected of a kind and boring senior.
“Ah, sit there. Would you like some tea?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
I ignored the sofa that Alice pointed to and approached her.
With the large office desk standing between us, I gazed down at her.
“What have you been up to?”
Acting friendly right away, is she testing me?”
“I’ve been training. You must have been busy with Student Council work, no?”
“Yes. I’m going to be suffocated by these papers one day.”
“Truly a shame.”
I gave a stereotypical response to the subtly playful answer that Alice provided.
“But this semester is your final term. There has been a lot of talk and struggles with the demons and all, but I’m sure you’ll do great until the end.”
“I like how you talk, Baby.”
Alice stood up from her seat with a smile. The chair creaked as it slid back.
“But why did you call? And just me at that.”
“There was a favor I wanted to ask of you.”
Alice walked around to the front of the office desk, then, standing in front of me, leaned slightly against the desk.
A favor, you say.
I liked that she went straight to the point. It was obviously going to be an invitation to come to the Student Council.
I was a student with clear records of improvement and currently rivaled the strength of those in Class A of the Magic Department second-years.
Looking at my current skills and future potential, it was obvious that the Four Constellations and the Student Council wanted me.
‘Though I definitely have to refuse.’
I couldn’t waste training time by becoming associated with some group.
Well, I already had an excuse to reject the tempting offer to enter the Student Council.
I’ll finish the conversation quickly and leave.
“What is it?”
“It’s nothing special.”
When I questioned her, Alice tilted her head slightly to the side with a relaxed smile.
Following her movement, her silky light-gold hair that reflected the sunlight slid down her uniform.
The words that followed had been so far from my expectations.
That I couldn’t maintain a straight face.
“Why don’t we go on a date today?”
“…What?”
That’s quite… special.
