Chapter 236: Preliminary Inspection

Chapter 236: Preliminary Inspection

Eve Ropenheim decided to see Isaac one more time before returning to the Ropenheim Barony.

Judging by the direction Isaac was heading, he was clearly on his way to the training grounds. It was quite unusual for an archwizard to be so focused on training even on the day of the vacation ceremony.

But that didn’t matter.

The moment Eve secretly saw Isaac’s face from behind a tree, her heart melted.

So cuute...

She felt an overwhelming urge to shower his face with kisses. She had a strong desire to hug her brother like a teddy bear all day long.

Even though it might be rude to treat an 18-year-old, who was also an Elemental King, like a child, she couldn’t help but still find her younger brother as cute as ever.

However, she couldn’t bring herself to approach him. She could only hope that Isaac would come to her first.

She had heard that Archwizards possessed a transcendent level of mana perception that could sense even undischarged mana. She hoped Isaac would sense her presence with that ability.

Eve desperately hoped he would speak even a word to her.

But Isaac merely crossed the academy grounds indifferently.

Soon, Isaac entered the training grounds.

“Haa...”

Eve hugged the tree and sighed deeply.

* * *

I had noticed Eve Ropenheim watching me earlier, but I ignored her.

I wasn’t sure how to deal with Isaac’s sister.

It was clear that Isaac and Eve did not have a good relationship until he committed suicide.

Isaac still had a lingering sense of rejection towards Eve. So, I didn’t want to get involved in complicated family matters that wouldn’t help in the fight against the Evil God.

I began my training after arriving at the empty training grounds. Shortly after, I confirmed with my [Clairvoyance] that Eve had left the academy in a carriage.

So she’s from the Ropenheim Barony?

Eve was adopted into the Ropenheim Barony and took on the Ropenheim name. The place where I had sent the Phantom Cat Cheshire was also on the outskirts of the Zelver Kingdom, in the Ropenheim Barony.

However, in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, the Ropenheim Barony had nothing to do with Calgart the Necromancer.

It just so happened that the place where Calgart appeared was an abandoned church in the Ropenheim Barony.

Well, that was that.

From now on...

With the troublesome person gone and almost no students remaining at the academy, there shouldn’t be any problem summoning a large familiar.

“Hilde.”

Hwaaaaa!

A massive creature appeared. Although it was still smaller than its true form, it was much larger than its usual hatchling state.

[You called, Master?]

Hilde gazed at me closely with her pale blue eyes and spoke with a beautiful voice.

I stroked Hilde’s head when she lowered it. The sensation of her cold, hard scales covered in frost was satisfying. She closed her eyes, savoring my touch.

“I’ll keep you summoned from now on. You’ll have more freedom than before.”

Since I was going to train anyway, I wanted to focus on solidifying my synchronization with Hilde as I had before.

At the very least, I wanted to max out my synchronization before I reached my third year.

The closer the familiar was to its true form, the faster the synchronization would increase. Since I had already revealed my true identity at the academy, summoning it at this size should be fine.

I might need to go to a more spacious place to occasionally summon Hilde at her full size.

[Does this mean you will be touching my body every day? I like that. In return, I will show you my cuteness...]

“It’s fine.”

I replied curtly.

Hilde’s elegant and noble voice didn’t suit the “cute” archetype. It would be like wearing an ill-fitting outfit.

Hilde narrowed her eyes and spoke in a slightly sulky tone.

[...Fine, do not regret it when you want me to be cute and I refuse.]

Finally, some good news.

To activate this power, two things were necessary.

First, pure sacrifices of the same species as the intended victim.

Second, approximately two months to set up the magic circle.

Calgart had to move without being detected by me or the kingdom, so he would need the cooperation of a human with adequate wealth and power.

A person with power but low authority, someone who would not be noticed by the Empire. It would be someone who lived close to where he had awakened.

Baron Ropenheim fit the bill perfectly.

They must be planning to use the curse on me.

I defeated high-ranking demons, including the Floating Island and the Abyss, and Mephisto the Contractor, who knew my full power, was still alive and well.

The timing was perfect. If I were in their position, I would have awakened Calgart the Necromancer in advance and would use the Curse of Instant Death to take me out.

[What will you do now?]

“Get ready to leave.”

I couldn’t afford to hesitate.

I stood up, and the Phantom Cat’s eyes sparkled at my words.

“Let’s go to the Ropenheim Barony.”

[Meow! Great! Let’s go, partner! I’ll rest for now, but make sure to tell Alice to summon me during interesting moments!]

It was time to hunt Calgart the Necromancer.

* * *

The carriage passed along the paved road and arrived at Baron Ropenheim’s mansion

Eve Ropenheim stepped out of the carriage and was greeted by two servants.

“Welcome back, Miss Eve. The Master is waiting for you.”

Following the servants inside, Eve swallowed hard.

Reporting her academy life to Baron Adrian Ropenheim was always a hateful and nerve-wracking task.

In the mansion’s study, a servant knocked and announced her arrival before letting her in.

Eve entered the study, and the servant closed the door from the outside.

In the deep silence, a middle-aged man stood by the window, gazing at the view outside. Though nearing fifty, he still exuded the noble elegance that Eve had once admired.

It was Baron Adrian Ropenheim.

Something’s off...?

Eve sensed a different aura about Adrian. It was an unsettling feeling, like a primal instinct warning her. It was separate from her dislike for him.

She dismissed it as her imagination and greeted him properly.

“I’ve returned, Father. Have you been well?”

“Thank goodness”

“Pardon?”

Adrian turned to look at her.

For some reason, his right eye was emanating a sinister dark mana.

“You qualify.”

A pure sacrifice was needed.

With the power of Calgart the Necromancer, Adrian knew that Eve met the conditions for a suitable sacrifice.

“Father...?”

Seeing the unexpected dark mana, Eve was terrified and stepped back.

Eve quickly ran for the door, but Adrian swiftly deployed a barrier and prevented her from opening it.

“Ugh!”

Adrian approached her and grabbed her chin.

“Weren’t you planning to leave anyway? Prove your worth by sacrificing yourself for me.”

Despite her struggles, Eve felt her jaw might break under the pain and she eventually lost consciousness, as she was consumed by dark /genesisforsaken