Chapter 168: Entrance Ceremony (02)

Since Angelica didn't want to risk being seen in her dragon form, she transformed while we were still extremely high in the air.

As soon as her body shrank we started to fall towards the ground with increasing speed.

Thankfully she saved us from meeting the ground face first with some help from the valkyries just in the nick of time.

All things considered, it was a fun ride. Although the other participants might disagree I'm sure their opinions would change If they could see their own faces.

As soon as we were safely on the ground Albert and Lenard left to prepare for the entrance ceremony, leaving me and Isabella behind.

Thanks to our landing, all eyes were focused on us, but once her brothers were gone she became more aware of the stares and murmurs.

To dissipate her anxiousness a little I brought Anna and Mia back. With more people around she shouldn't feel so ashamed, but...

Isabella: "Why are you always so extra?"

As expected, she still had some complaints.

Miwen: "I thought a good entrance was the norm for a villain. Presentation is important to leave a good impression-"

Isabella: "...Who are you calling a villain?"

She always stares daggers at me when I poke her reputation.

A mistake most of the girls have learned to avoid, as it only leads to me doing it more often.

Miwen: "Who else if not the villainous daughter of Evretis? But more importantly, this should make everyone curious. They'll flock your way and you'll have an easier time making friends."

It was fair for her to get a little upset. Even more, considering she told me specifically to not do anything that could interfere with her making friends.

But precisely because I know she's taking this so seriously and places a lot of importance in it I decided to spin the facts a little in our favor.

As long as she's able to hold a conversation all this attention could be advantageous.

Isabella: "...Do you really think so?"

Easy.

Since she normally doesn't have much to rely on she tends to cling to any hope she's given with all her might.

While abusing that might be bad, I'd say it also works as a learning experience for her.

The entrance ceremony was going to take place in a hall inside the main building of the school but we had time before it started, so I let Isabella go around trying to make friends with her attempts at small talk.

Since she told me not to interfere, I kept some distance while still watching over her.

Miwen: "...I can't reach all of it. Not even a fraction. What about you?"

Mia: "No luck either. It goes way too far and way too deep."

Miwen: "Then let's hope what we have is enough... When we get to the private rooms I'll see if Liz is able to reach deeper."

Beneath the academy, there's a maze-like structure.

It's not like Isabella ends up there every time, but... A bunch of our attempts at the game ended up with her there one way or another.

The place seems to have a bunch of misdirection spells applied to it, as well as a few barriers.

However, the golems that attack anyone inside are the most concerning factor. The battles against them are unreasonably tough, and even when the girls manage to get an entire party down there they always end up with a wipe.

We've yet to determine why there's such a thing beneath the academy, but we've come to at least one plausible theory.

This academy has multiple purposes. The advancement and preservation of knowledge, the interaction, and socialization of noble society, as well as the study and development of their skills and magic.

It's the latter that might explain this place's existence.

Since a bunch of teachers here are top-rate mages, it's possible that they would prepare something to protect their secrets and discoveries.

Thus, we are currently under the assumption that the labyrinth is either someone's magic project or an attempt at hiding or protecting one.

Normally, it would be none of our business, but since it interferes with Isabella's academic life we've been trying to map it out.

The problem is that it's really hard to do so with the descriptions and visuals of the game.

I expected that in real life it would be easier, but even Mia struggles to get a good reading at the place with her [Earth Magic].

And that's not the only wonder structure that this place has to offer.

Miwen: "So you don't have planes in these magic-filled worlds, but a flying city is fine?"

Mia: "So now you know how we feel, huh? I wish Licia and Claire were here to see your face."

Miwen: "Haah... so, what's the deal with that thing?"

Surprisingly enough, the game doesn't talk too much about the floating city.

It's said that once a year the place lands close to the academy to resupply and acquire new promising talent.

It stays on the ground for two weeks, and during this time the character you selected for the game can have special lessons with some pretty good mages if you earn their favor.

Mia: "Well... I've never been there for obvious reasons, but it's famous throughout the continent. Legend has it that a bunch of powerful mages were so devoted to their craft that they decided to seclude themselves."

Miwen: "And then they'd decided on a floating city? Is sailing to an island too hard or something?"

Mia: "The north is all frozen wasteland, remember? Even Maides Island was filled with snow and ice... Those are hard conditions to live in if you want to devote yourself to studying."

She seemed rather nostalgic about her homeland...

Perhaps one day the Kingdom will be able to offer that type of climate as well.

But as for the floating city, she didn't manage to convince me at all.

I didn't think bad of her. I was sympathetic to her situation...

So why was I badmouthing her to a girl I just met?

Mia: "Ahem! Miwen."

I was starting to get lost in my own thoughts before Mia called me.

Isabella: "...I suppose this is not the best moment to ask for help, then?"

...She had heard me.

This was the worst possible turn of events.

The girl who wanted someone to be her ally more than anyone... the promises I made to her...

I knew what this looked like. I understood what she must've felt.

I could see through her bravado.

But I couldn't explain myself.

I couldn't even get my own thoughts in order.

My priorities were all messed up and my mind kept going back to the blonde girl.

It was then that I remembered... this feeling...

I had gone through it before.

A succubus had accidentally taken control of my will and body... or at least she claimed it wasn't on purpose.

But at that time... Erika was stronger than me...

And even then, I was able to resist for the most part even though it took me a lot of effort.

How could a girl who was clearly a human with a tenth of my level be able to do the same? Or rather... how could this feel so much stronger?

It was so confusing to me. Unlike Erika, she didn't have to say a single word. My heart was in a trance the moment I laid my eyes on her.

I had this genuine desire to care for and protect her... she didn't even have to ask...

Miwen: "Sorry Isa, I'm..."

The moment I tried to explain things my mind realized that it would be placing some of the blame on the girl.

And even though I knew this was true. By all means, this was all caused by her, the fact that it was detrimental to her prevented me from speaking.

My thoughts got twisted, and the more I tried to go against the flow of my mind, the more pain I felt.

I got affected by an incredibly powerful headache. It felt like my head was going to implode.

Miwen: "..."

??????: "Ah! Sorry! It was all my fault, so please, don't punish your servant, Isabella!"

She knew her name?

But I guess Isabella is pretty famous for better or worse...

...Was there any need to shout like this, though? It was only going to...

Ah, I see...

I knew this face was similar. Even through all the confusion in my mind... even if she was quite different in the flesh... I could still tell...

Isabella: "W-what!? I won't-"

Miwen: "...The ceremony is about to begin. Let's go, Isabella."

It took me all I had to break free. And even then, all I could do was put some distance between the blonde girl with a face that looked like she was pitying me.

As for Isabella, she listened to me, but she had a pained look on her face.

I could tell what was going through her mind.

She must've thought I was betraying her like everyone else before me.

But as long as we were away from her I could remedy this.

I knew the girl's intention, but my mind kept trying to reason it. Telling me it wasn't purposeful...

However, purposeful or not, the end result would be the same. if we decided to stay there a commotion was sure to follow, and Isabella had no way of getting out of it with her reputation unscathed.

No matter what I was feeling, I steeled myself to protect Isabella.

It was far from ideal, but it was all that I could do.

Mia: "Miwen? You're strange..."

Miwen: "Keep an eye on Isabella. I'll look for an empty place."

Mia: "...What are you going to do?"

Miwen: "I'll ask the Devil for help."

That blonde girl... better known as Sabrina.

She's the heroine of this story.

And as Isabella's butler, I am one of her capture targets.

If I'm right about what this entails... this Event is going to be way harder than I first expected.