༺ Preparation for the Grand Festival (3) ༻
“Presideent~!”
“Senior Dorothy…? Oh.”
After purchasing magic tools from the store, I was leisurely working alone on a bench near Orphin Hall. I made a thick table using [Rock Generation] and it made working more convenient.
Suddenly, Dorothy came down from above and approached me. She must have spotted me while flying around with her starlight mana.
As the face of the third year, she was dressed in a beautifully designed witch outfit. It must have been made by skilled designers of her grade. For a moment, I was so mesmerized by her that I lost my train of thought.
“Do you have any of these left?”
Dorothy showed me an identical magic tool that I was working on.
“Yes, I bought extra, so I have some spare. How many do you need?”
“About 20!”
“…That much?”
“I broke about 20 of them when I was helping the students by infusing them all at once. I promised to take responsibility and find replacements!”
Dorothy responded with pride, like breaking it was something to brag about.
She overestimated this small magic tool. How could they withstand her mana?
“Did you buy these? Looks like you guys were also short.”
“Yes, we were.”
“Nihihi. I have extra gel, so I’ll buy it from you at double the price!”
Dorothy extended her index and middle fingers.
“I won’t refuse that.”
I accepted in a heartbeat.
She was already a sight to see, and I also got financial benefits. Dorothy was a godsend.
“Heave-ho~.”
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64ce79d606107d003c23ea27", id: "pf-5140-1"})“Senior?”
Without warning, Dorothy approached the bench and sat down next to me. No, she laid down, using my thigh as a pillow.
Huh?
I felt my face heat up a bit.
Her pretty face was positioned so that I could see it if I tilted my head slightly. Her eyes, looking up at me with a smile, seemed to hold the vastness of the universe within them, thanks to her starlight mana.
“Can I borrow your leg for a bit, President?”
“Oh, yes… of course, Senior. But is it okay to do this?”
“I’m tired. I want to slack off.”
It was a mind truly deserving of a perfect score.
The corners of my mouth threatened to dance on their own and I struggled to keep my composure.
Perhaps sensing my emotions, Dorothy sheepishly opened her eyes and smirked.
“President, can you not get excited when I’m like this?”
“I can try.”
Startled by her soft voice, I continued working on the table and responded calmly. As expected, it was impossible to hide my feelings for Dorothy at my level.
Having Dorothy’s head on my thigh gave me a subtle sexual stimulation. Especially since she was dressed in an unusual and sensual outfit, intensifying the feeling.
I figured it would get better if I just focused on my work.
“I’ll get up if you’re uncomfortable~. I need to leave soon anywa-”
“No.”
I looked down at Dorothy and smiled. Her smile was pretty.
“It’s okay, stay a bit longer.”
“…Oh?”
Dorothy seemed surprised by my reaction, her mouth dropped open.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "64cc9e79c7059f003e4ad4b0", id: "pf-5109-1"})Then, as if satisfied with my answer, she nodded her head.
“I can’t help it then~. I’m the not type to refuse kindness.”
She smiled broadly and closed her eyes.
A feeling of happiness washed over me as I gently stroked Dorothy’s hair. At that moment, Dorothy smiled contentedly and quietly enjoyed my touch.
A refreshing breeze blew in.
* * *
“Sir Isaac…?”
The female knight with green hair in a ponytail, Merlin Astrea, was hiding in a nearby tree because she could not enter Orphin Hall. She was currently surveying the inside along with her familiar.
It was quite a distance away, but she could see the utility room where White was located. If she found someone suspicious, she could easily take them down.
…However, she couldn’t understand why they were doing a strange ritual with strange hairstyles. No, she didn’t want to understand.
As she was watching White.
She saw Isaac working on a bench near Orphin Hall.
There was a stone table in front of him.
Behind him, a girl’s bare legs stretched out from the side of the bench.
Her toes were wiggling in her heels. They twisted and turned, pushing off her heels and straightening out. Her toes were flushed red, wriggling furiously.
Her embarrassed feelings were fervently expressed by her toes, but Isaac didn’t seem to have noticed.
“Hmph.”
Smirk. With a smile on her face, Merlin wiped her nose.
Even at a time like this, Isaac and Luce were spending time together.
Whenever Merlin thought about the relationship between those two, she felt as if she had become a young girl again. The fresh love stories of youth had the power to touch her heart deeply.
Especially the love life of Isaac, White’s mentor, brought her so much joy.
Are those two in that kind of relationship now? Well, if they’re like that, it says it all.
window.pubfuturetag = window.pubfuturetag || [];window.pubfuturetag.push({unit: "663633fa8ebf7442f0652b33", id: "pf-8817-1"})‘You’ve found love at last, Sir Isaac.’
Hence, the thought that Isaac and Luce had become lovers brought a sense of satisfaction to Merlin.
Merlin momentarily commanded her familiar to watch over White while she observed Isaac with interest.
“…?”
But, something was off.
Merlin’s expression gradually stiffened.
Now that she looked at it, those legs… Were they really Luce Eltania’s?
Due to the distance and the wiggling toes, she hadn’t noticed it at the start, but they seemed to belong to someone slightly taller than Luce.
“Hmm.”
Well, it must be a misunderstanding. Who else could Isaac be engaging in such intimate behaviors with, other than Luce?
After all, Isaac was the kind of man who could only love one woman. She had no proof, but Merlin was convinced of that.
She had watched him teach White all this time. It was natural for her to assume that he was of good and noble character.
However, certainty was always personal.
Soon, Merlin’s fantasy was shattered.
A female student with light purple hair suddenly sprung up from Isaac’s legs. She looked like she was about to leave.
Merlin’s eyes widened in surprise. At first, she was surprised when she realized that it wasn’t Luce, and secondly, she was taken aback by the girl’s identity.
The Star Witch, Dorothy Heartnova. A formidable figure in the continent. A rare genius rumored to have received the blessings of the Lord Manhalla.
Such a person, why…?
“…!”
Dorothy’s gaze snapped towards Merlin.
Merlin locked eyes with her and she quickly ducked to hide herself among the branches and leaves.
Cold sweat trickled down from her forehead.
Did she see me? It was likely. That student is not someone this academy can handle.
However, there seemed to be no hostility. Dorothy merely seemed to be protesting with her gaze, asking why Merlin was watching them.
‘Sir Isaac, what in the world…?’
Merlin couldn’t understand the situation.
Isaac, whom she thought had a noble character, is actually playing with the hearts of two maidens…?
And those two were Luce Eltania, the top seat of the second year, and Dorothy Heartnova, the top seat of the third year…?
‘It can’t be…’
How could she accept this? The fact that Isaac had two women was one thing, but the fact that they were two of the most talented and powerful women on the continent was another.
If those proud women both liked one man…
Won’t it be a bloodbath far beyond the means of this academy?
Merlin thought there must be some misunderstanding.
But it wasn’t something she could directly ask…!
Merlin, who had supported the warm love story of Isaac and Luce, desperately tried to erase the feeling of betrayal that was slowly creeping up in her.
* * *
“Tristan, we’re done over here!”
“Ha! What’s this modded? It’s splendid!”
“Tristan, take a look at this! It might not be well-made, but I did my best…!”
“Ha! Are your eyes just for decoration? How pathetic! It’s utterly beautiful!”
“Tristan, how about this? Isn’t it perfect?”
“Don’t talk about ‘perfection’ rashly! The angle isn’t perfect!”
The sun was slowly setting.
After I finished working on the magic tools, I helped move heavy items and decorations. Unexpectedly, I found it beneficial for muscle training and stamina, I sprinted as I carried the items, and the students watched me in amazement.
I looked around Orphin Hall as I ran.
The vain blond nobleman, Tristan Humphrey, had completely become the manager of the second-year’s festival preparations for the Magic Department. His tone seemed like he was pouring out criticisms, but if you listened closely, it was mostly compliments.
Looking around, the scene was quite different from the familiar scene of Märchen Academy.
The colorful banners flying overhead glowed with magical light, and ornate decorations surrounded the buildings for aesthetic appeal. Colorful strings connected between buildings. Various lights and uniquely designed lamps beautifully illuminated the structures.
Although I had seen this countless times in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I still couldn’t help but be impressed.
I wondered how beautiful it would be on the day of the Grand Festival. It looked like it would be much more impressive than I imagined.
Now, I would be decorating the academy in my spare time.
Next would be practicing for each event, like cheering, etc. I should also start practicing for the arc ball race.
I had three main goals during the Grand Festival.
First, protect White.
Second, defeat the Clover Paladin.
And third…
‘Clear Chapter 8 safely.’
In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I gained EXP no matter which event I participated in, but I wasn’t sure if that would be the case here.
Based on my past experiences, it seemed likely that I would gain EXP.
‘Besides, I’ll be clashing with that Clover bastard in the arc ball race.’
It would be a shame if I didn’t get any EXP.
Moreover, Märchen Academy offered many gifts at the Grand Festival. Significant achievements could lead to quite substantial rewards.
‘I’ll have to give it my all.’
It was like any other day.
I faced obstacles and overcame them.
* * *
On the rooftop of Orphin Hall, Priestess Miya was quietly gazing at the sky dyed with the evening sunset.
She had helped with the preparations for the first year Grand Festival, aware of her status as a student.
“…”
A week ago, around this time.
Sitting in an empty classroom, she heard the whisper of the Student Council President, Alice Carroll.
Every time her enchanting lips moved, Miya felt her mind drift away.
—’You hate your senior, Isaac, do you not?’
—’You hate people, do you not?’
Miya felt herself falling into a hypnotic trance as she listened to Alice’s voice.
—’It’s okay, you don’t have to hide your feelings.’
From within the choker. A thin stream of dark mana emanating from Alice’s neck quietly flowed into Miya.
And, Alice’s voice gnawed at Miya’s mind like a mouse.
—’I only stopped you back then because we couldn’t have innocent victims.’
–’So, my dear, how about you express your feelings to the person you hate, at just the right moment?’
─‘Why not pour out all your emotions right now, without restraint?’
─‘Surely, you’ll feel better.’
Malice grew within Miya’s mind. As she felt her heart slowly being overtaken, she felt alarmed but couldn’t break free from Alice.
It was as if her entire body was tightly chained. She couldn’t move an inch.
With a trembling voice, Miya asked why she was saying those things to her.
And with a comforting smile and tender voice, Alice whispered.
─‘Because I know you are a superior being’
─‘Someone too special to be ignored.’
─‘That’s who you are.’
Miya’s eyes lost their light, and they scanned the academy grounds.
The silver-blue-haired second year, Isaac, caught her eye as he mingled among the students.
For a while, Miya watched him with a cold gaze, then turned her back and walked away.
