Chapter 153: Joint Practical Evaluation — Interlude (1)
Joint Practical Evaluation Interlude (1)
Heeya!
The female student with short red hair and heart-shaped hair accessory, Shera Hectorica, woke up with a strange cry.
An unfamiliar ceiling. Was she lying in a bed?
She scanned her surroundings. Other students were lying in a bed similar to hers.
This place seemed to be a temporary medical facility within Octovus Hall.
Shera grabbed the blanket and pulled herself up to sit. The last memory she had was of a strong blow to her solar plexus, causing her to lose consciousness. She rubbed the area between her chest and abdomen.
There was a bit of soreness, but it didnt hurt that much. It looked like the academys medical staff healed her while she was knocked out.
Luce Eltania
She remembered a female student with rose-gold hair and a morpho-butterfly hair accessory.
Luce Eltania, the second-year top seat of the Magic Department. The woman whom the legendary magic beast, Thunderbird Galia, treated as its master. Shera had lost in the battle with that woman.
Putting aside the fact that she had a disadvantage in element, she had heard that Luce was strong, but her power was far beyond what was expected of a student.
Of course, she likely wasnt similar to Dorothy Heartnova, one of the strongest individuals in the entire world. However, it was clear that she was born with unfathomable talent.
What about the demon?
They said that the Nameless Hero appeared and dealt with it. What we felt back there must have been his mana.
Damn, we missed that
Sheras eyes widened in shock at the students conversation.
A demon had appeared while she was unconscious, and the Black Monster had defeated it?
Humiliation washed over Shera.
Huahh
Shera buried her face into the blanket. Her shoulders trembled.
Not only had she failed to carry out her mission, but she also lost to a mere student and was knocked out.
Though she was the weakest of the four Paladins, it was an utterly pathetic showing.
Her head remained buried in blankets for some time out of shame and guilt.
Meanwhile. On the rooftop of Mrchen Academys evacuation facility.
[Meow.]
Phantom Cat Cheshire, a purple cat magic beast with a small fedora, was seated on the rooftop railing, feeling the wind.
The Phantom Cat grinned as it gazed at the cold silver winds blowing above the Eltra Sea.
The Black Monster. Its strength was unparalleled.
He didnt dare get close enough to observe it up close. It would be a miracle for him to make it out alive instead of getting caught up in its magic and dying. Now, the snowy storm made it hard to see what was happening.
To begin with, it was an archwizard. It would be able to sense unused mana as well. He would have certainly been caught if he got close. That was also why Alice had said not to approach it hastily.
It would be, after all, a bad idea to let the enemy, who they had no information on, know that they were watching them. It was impossible to know what kind of harm that would lead him to face.
Facing such a superior foe, their only choice was to move carefully in the shadows.
But that didnt mean he had any ill feelings towards their foe. In actuality, the Phantom Cat liked the Black Monster.
He was Alices familiar. The Black Monster was a disruption to her plans and needed to be rid of. That relationship brought entertainment for the Phantom Cat to enjoy.
[What are you going to do, Alice? How will you achieve your goals with that thing in your way?]
The Phantom Cats mouth curled up high enough to reach his ears, revealing his sharp, white teeth.
The Phantom Cats voice traveled to his owner, Alice Carroll, who was in her office chair in the central area of the evacuation facility, watching over the Eltra Sea.
Alice did not respond. She merely gazed out the window towards the frozen sea and snow flurry, lost in thought.
***
Once the Abyssal Sea Monster Demon, Igpus the Enlightened, was defeated, the army of fish demons immediately dissipated.
It would have been shocking for those unaware of the situation to witness the minions, who were not created from mana but were independent beings, follow their master to death.
Demons were still a hot research topic. The researchers would likely be excited over this new pattern of behavior.
It wasnt that important of a problem. The fish demons had merely been living with support from the dark mana that Igpus had shared with them. It was something Id read from a guidebook before.
Anyhow, the Eltra Sea demon infiltration incident ended with the help of the Nameless Hero.
After Igpus the Enlightened had been defeated.
The barriers blocking the several dozen entrances of Octovus Hall were automatically opened after it had been judged that the emergency was over.
In Magic Knight of Mrchen, Ian returned to Octovus Hall with the proctors who had come to help him after defeating the Abyssal Sea Monster. Remembering that scene, I expected the barriers to be opened.
Thanks to that, I could enter a vacant entrance and pretend to have been wandering around Octovus Hall. Then, at a reasonable time, I met with a proctor and was led to the gathering area.
Because of [Clairvoyance], it was easy for me to check the routes of the proctors and create a natural situation to run into them.
I removed the ice covering the Eltra Sea with Defrost, and [Frostwind] died down on its own over time.
Due to the fact that it was an emergency evacuation facility, Octovus Hall had a temporary medical facility. I passed through the hallway in front of the temporary hospital room with the proctors when I heard a familiar laugh behind me.
Ha!
I turned my head to look at the owner of that laugh.
Tristan?
His uniform was covered in blood, and bandages were wrapped around his entire body. His leg must still be healing as he leaned on a wooden stick. It was my golden-haired classmate, Tristan Humphrey.
My eyes boldly met Tristans. He had his nose high up in the air with an arrogant smile, just like usual.
Have you just been wandering around Octovus Hall while the demon had been defeated?
Well yeah.
Seeing that you are unhurt, you must have chosen only the easy fights! What a shame! You have lost the chance to experience growth, unlike me!
Keheheh!
vs. Human Combat Power (C+): 32/100 [UP]
Elemental Resistance
Water Resistance (B+): 51/100 [UP]
For reference, my [Water Resistance] had already been a bit higher than normal because of how much I was exposed to Luces water magic.
If I added the Elemental Bracelet onto this, then it would become a pretty substantial stat. Since the Clover Paladin specialized in the water element, I wouldnt be out of commission over a couple of hits anymore.
And then
Raising my head, I saw the starry night sky.
What came into my mind was Whites astral-themed pocket watch face. The hands had been frozen.
It was broken.
Whites pocket watch was a gift from her mother.
In Magic Knight of Mrchen, there were only minor foreshadowings about its identity. One example was when Amy Holloway used [Heart Color Discernment] and was frightened after witnessing something she mistook as Whites heart color.
For reference, Whites heart color was mainly a comforting feeling. That was also the reason why I could treat her kindly without hesitation.
Anyway, the watch suddenly broke after arriving in Year 2 Semester 2, and its identity was revealed in the Year 3 Semester 1.
Once the watchs identity was revealed, a shocking story about her mothers actions toward her daughter commenced. When I played Magic Knight of Mrchen for the first time, I couldnt help but both curse and be impressed by her insanity.
Im glad I already knew about it.
I didnt know why the pocket watch had already stopped.
But one certain thing was that there was a possibility that the pocket watchs identity might be revealed earlier than in the game. After the pocket watch was broken and a specific criterion was met, a terrible disaster came upon the academy again.
In Magic Knight of Mrchen, one needed enough power to alter even gods will. Like the Luminous Sword, the ultimate light element weapon.
However, that weapon could only be obtained after Year 2 Semester 2.
The only thing I could do right now was to continue monitoring whether that specific criterion to bring upon the pocket watchs terror was met and to prepare accordingly.
For reference, destroying or throwing the pocket watch into the ocean would bring the worst results. It would be best for White to hold onto the pocket watch like usual.
And next
I raised my head and lifted up the Ring of the Abyssal Queen to reflect the moonlight.
It was a ring with a navy blue magic stone embedded into it.
Thats one nice-looking ring.
Not only would this ring amplify the power of Luces water and lightning mana, but the elements colors would also deepen. Additionally, she could use skills like [Mana Leech]. She would rule the battlefield like an invincible empress.
Just like the cringe-worthy nickname Luce would later obtain, the Empress of the Midnight Sea.
Anyhow, I needed to give this ring to Luce and somehow persuade her to wear it on her left ring finger.
First of all, I prepared a lie about where I obtained this magic weapon.
During winter break, I pretended to leave the academy for a few days to spar nonstop with Gormos golems.
I could tell her that I found it when I was outside.
If she asked how I knew the effects of the ring, then I could mention the appraiser, Grandpa Harrison.
Hmm.
Or should I give it to her playfully?
No, that wouldnt work. It still didnt answer why I brought a magic weapon ring that she needed to wear on her left ring finger.
What if I tell her, I dont know. Thats just what I was told. No that doesnt sound right either. It was too open-ended.
How did I give this ring to Luce in my previous life?
Though I didnt know if I even obtained the ring at that time, I probably did.
Anyway, it was still a mystery how I managed to give this ring to Luce while avoiding the Extra Bad Ending Bird Cage up to the battle with the Evil God.
Just then, I heard footsteps behind me.
!
I clutched the ring in my palm and balled it into a fist to hide it. I didnt want to be caught with it, just in case.
The footsteps began to come closer, and a familiar voice called out.
Isaac, what are you doing?
I turned my head.
A morpho butterfly hair accessory, dressed in the academys uniform with rose-gold hair braided down on the side. I held my breath at her beauty.
She had her head tilted a bit to the side, a questioning expression on her face. It was the second-year top seat of the Magic Department, Luce Eltania.
Luce
I didnt know why she suddenly appeared, but it was nothing strange since it happened often. Most of the time, it was because she wanted to see me.
I had already planned on meeting her anyway.
This is alright; it saved time.
I should have successfully handed the ring to Luce in the past. Which meant I might be able to find the answer in our conversation.
What is it, Luce? Did you come to see me?
I fixed my expression and stood up. I nudged up Ribellas Glasses, then smiled as casually as possible.
But this girls expression looks meaningful somehow.
Isaac.
Luce asked me in a serious voice.
That ring just now, what is that?
Right
This girl had crazy eyesight.