༺ Fury – Interlude (1) ༻
Undoubtedly, Priestess Miya was stronger than Isaac.
The difference in mana, the difference in mana mastery, to the status of their familiars. It was clear that Miya had the upper hand in everything.
Unless one’s mana perception was utterly atrocious, everyone would have felt the same way.
However, the duel defied many people’s expectations and showed a completely different outcome.
“Amazing…”
The Clover Paladin was in awe.
When the duel began, Isaac’s mana density suddenly intensified.
It must surely be due to that magic weapon, the staff. It seemed to be at least Tier 2. Wielding such a staff served as proof of Isaac’s considerable skill.
Of course, there was also the possibility that he was an archwizard or the Black Monster who knew how to manipulate its mana quantity, however…
Even though he was clearly angry, he only showed a level of power enhancement that could be explained by the magic weapon he was using.
And yet, he didn’t match Miya’s power.
He simply overwhelmed Miya with technique. Therefore, the possibility of him being the Black Monster was put aside.
For now, it was just his battle sense that was astonishing.
The Clover Paladin noticed it. Isaac was toying with Miya, a strong opponent, in the palm of his hands. Even though he felt enraged, he calmly observed the situation and devised tactics.
Of course, Miya still had her powers hidden.
The Nine-tailed Fox Mae. If she had used the power of that familiar, Isaac’s technique would have been meaningless.
He would have been defeated due to the overwhelming difference in power.
However, astonishingly, the Clover Paladin realized that Isaac had even read that.
Isaac must have thought that it would be over the moment Miya brought out Mae, and he exploited her arrogance. He baited her actions as he intended and dealt with them excellently.
Thus, Miya lost without even being able to use Mae’s power.
After all, whatever power one might have, it was useless if it couldn’t be used.
The duel was to show combat ability. A person who could gauge the opponent’s power and effectively exert their own abilities to win was bound to score well.
In that sense, this duel could be considered a decisive victory for Isaac.
“T-the duel is over…! Class B Isaac wins!”
When the referee raised an arm and declared loudly, Isaac removed his hand from Miya and stood up from his position.
The students watching the dueling ground sent cheers with surprised faces. Many students murmured in admiration, “Isaac actually won…”
The owner of a nation-destroying familiar and a true genius. The Priestess from the Eastern Nation. She had been defeated by a man who was once considered the weakest Grade E mana.
Even though he was now at the top of B class as a second year, the difference in power must have been significant.
For the students, it was a scene that left them in utter astonishment.
The medical team rushed in. They carried Priestess Miya away on a stretcher.
Isaac, after seeking understanding from the judges, ran straight through the corridor of the dueling grounds without even listening to their feedback
It was understandable, as Snow White’s mentor, he must have left in a hurry out of concern for her.
“…”
Mateo Jordana and Ciel Carnedas, who knew that Isaac was the Nameless Hero, were quietly lost in thought.
“It seemed like he was definitely angry…”
Ciel, with a lightly clenched fist against her lips, murmured with her head bowed.
Isaac was definitely angry at Miya.
It seemed like he had unleashed part of his power because of it, but it was still insufficient against Miya. Was it to pretend that he enhanced his power due to the effect of the magic weapon?
Naturally, the better one handled a high-tier magic weapon, the greater the density of mana.
This was also why Isaac could deceive others about the maximum change in his mana with the magic weapon during the joint practical evaluation.
However, having seen Isaac’s duel, Ciel felt even stronger doubts.
Even though he was angry, and no one in this academy would be his match…
Isaac had not fully unleashed his power.
‘As if he must not get caught in something…’
Perhaps Isaac’s pretense of growing rapidly was because remaining weak would restrict his actions.
Such behavior could only be explained as ‘deceiving something.’
But still…
Even if a dear person suffered a terrible fate, even if he was angry, what could be the reason that such an overwhelming powerhouse mustn’t reveal his strength?
Can there even be such a reason?
“…”
Ciel’s doubts only deepened.
* * *
[ Status ]
[Status] Name: Isaac
Lv: 116
Gender: Male
Year: 2nd
Title: Skilled Second Year
Mana: 27550/37700
– Mana Recovery Speed (A)
Reading Miya’s behavior patterns was a simple task for a veteran of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.
He tailored his tactics accordingly, and fortunately, the outcome was successful.
If I had made even a slight mistake or if my attack had been blocked even for a moment…
‘I would have definitely lost.’
I was reminded of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ Act 8, Priestess of the Red Lotus.
Against Miya, who used the power of the Nine-tailed Fox, a meager tactic like the one used in this duel wouldn’t have worked.
Fortunately, Miya underestimated me, let her guard down, and ultimately lost the duel, just like in the sub-event 「Burning Petals」.
‘My level has now risen to 116.’
It wasn’t long since I reached level 115, but I had gained another level already. The EXP was substantial.
I also unlocked the achievement [Defeating the Priestess], gaining 10 points of[Fire Resistance] as a reward.
I invested every stat point I had earned from leveling up into [vs. Human Combat Power], considering I would have to face Alice and the Paladins in the near future.
◈ Elemental Resistance – Fire Resistance (D+): 20/100 [UP] ◈ vs. Race Combat Power – vs. Human Combat Power (B): 44/100 [UP]
I should start investing in [vs. Heavenly Beings Combat Power] and [vs. Other Races Combat Power] soon, especially in preparation for 「 Descent of Heaven」 and the 「 Fairy War」.
Especially with Heavenly Beings, who have very high elemental magic resistance. A strong physique was absolutely essential.
In other words, if things had gone according to my original plan, with Dorothy around, I wouldn’t have focused solely on [vs. Human Combat power].
However, the immediate threat, the Paladins, caused a change in plans.
Once I reached a level where I could defeat all of them with effort to spare, I needed to restrain myself from further investing in [vs. Human Combat power].
‘But before that…’
I hurriedly ran towards the academy hospital.
Because I was worried about White.
* * *
In the dream, a temptingly ripe, bright red apple flickered before White’s eyes.
As she reached for it, attracted by its delicious appearance, suddenly, she saw her mother dressed in a luxurious gown.
Her mother, famed to be the most beautiful in the world, was said to have won the favor of Emperor Carlos solely through her unequivocal beauty.
She always wore dresses that covered her up to her neck, even here in this dream.
Her mother, with a mouth ripped to her ears and a bizarre smile urged her in a gentle voice to eat the apple.
White stared intently at this figure.
She wanted to ask her mother how she knew about this apple.
But as the thought of something too terrible to imagine began to surface, fear started to consume White.
She couldn’t open her mouth.
“Why aren’t you eating it?”
Her mother prodded with her large mouth, insisting she eat it immediately.
White was terrified. Only then did she realize that she had eaten this apple before.
This apple led to death, a poisoned apple.
Inside the torn mouth of her mother, urging her to eat it, something evil smiled broadly at White.
***
“…!”
Snow White suddenly opened her eyes.
Before she could even feel the softness behind her head, the faces of two people appeared in her field of vision.
The escort knight with a dark green ponytail, Merlin Astrea.
Her senior with wavy silver-blue hair, Isaac.
Everyone was surprised as White opened her eyes.
“White! Are you okay?”
“Princess!”
“Senior Isaac, Merlin…?”
White sat up, looking around her.
She appeared to be in a private room in the academy’s infirmary.
Even though the academy tried to treat all students equally regardless of status, in reality, there was an inevitable disparity.
Immediately, she realized that being the princess of this nation had led her to a fine private room.
The pain in her body had significantly subsided compared to before.
“…It doesn’t hurt much.”
“You received healing magic as soon as you were injured. The burns have healed for now. You just need to rest for a few days.”
White looked at Isaac, who was explaining all this from the guardian’s seat next to her. For some reason, he was without his glasses, unlike usual.
“Do you want some?”
Isaac, with a tense expression, took out a mana pudding bar and offered it to White.
Merlin, too, with a nervous face, reassured White, “I’ll only eat a little this time.”
Earlier, in the duel, White had lost to Miya. This was a major blow to White’s already fragile ego. Hence, there was a need to treat White with great care.
“…Ehehe.”
Realizing their consideration immediately, White let out a shy laugh.
“Thank you, Senior Isaac.”
Isaac and Merlin relaxed as White smiled and took the mana pudding bar.
As soon as she tore open the wrapper, Merlin said, “Please wait a moment, Princess,” and bit into the mana pudding bar with an ‘Om’.
When about a third of the mana pudding bar disappeared, tears welled up in White’s eyes again.
“You said you’d only eat a little…”
“…Yes?”
White’s hands trembled. Hearing her complaint filled with sobs, Merlin was flustered.
“Wasn’t this ‘a little’?” Merlin seemed to ask with a hesitant expression.
It couldn’t be helped. What was lost was lost. White reluctantly bit into the remaining mana pudding bar.
Whether tears of joy or sorrow, White shed small, grain-like tears.
“It’s delicious…”
“Is it that delicious…? I’m, I’m sorry! I should have had a bit less…”
Merlin apologized, bowing her head. White, with tears in her eyes, shook her head, saying “It’s okay…” She felt resigned.
Then, White looked down.
Her resentment had not subsided. Her tears flowed, recalling how Miya had insulted her.
The gap in strength was extreme. White, who couldn’t even imagine tormenting others, could only resent Miya.
Just one hit. If she had managed to land even a single proper hit… she wouldn’t have felt so miserable.
“Senior Isaac…”
“Yes.”
“I was really angry at Ms. Miya… She said really… harsh things to me. But, I couldn’t do anything…”
White bowed her head and expressed her honest feelings.
With her hands tightly clenched into the blanket, her shoulders trembling.
“If I could have just landed a single hit on Ms. Miya, it would have been good… I’m so frustrated that I couldn’t. But she’s strong, isn’t she? She wouldn’t easily lose to just anyone… I’m so angry, and the fact that I can’t do anything about it… it’s just so… depressing…”
“Ah, if you’re talking about the Priestess, Sir Isaac has already dealt with her.”
“…?”
When Merlin bluntly responded, White’s head jerked up in surprise.
White looked at Merlin with an expression of disbelief.
“What did you just say…?”
“As soon as Princess White’s duel ended, Sir Isaac immediately challenged the Priestess and won. The Priestess was left in a terrible state and is currently being treated.”
“…???”
White’s expression became perplexed, like someone trying to solve a riddle.
Even after listening again, she couldn’t fully comprehend Merlin’s words.
So, Isaac, her senior, had… devastatingly defeated the strong Miya?
White turned her head creakily towards Isaac. He smiled awkwardly, with his usual kind expression.
“That just happened to be the case…”
“…”
For a while, White remained speechless.
