Chapter 5

EP.5 The Great Mage's Realm

I finished the introductory lecture on basic magic in the morning. Thanks to playing "Merchen's Magic Knight" so much, the content was easy to understand. It wasn't very substantial, though.

After the class, I went to the student cafeteria for lunch.

"Hey, that guy."

"That's the E-rank guy from yesterday? How did he even get in here?"

"His level is so low..."

I was sitting alone at a table, eating a 50 gel lunch, when I heard whispers from another table. They were mocking me.

They didn't even bother to lower their voices, as if they wanted me to hear.

I suddenly realized that the fact I have an E-rank magic power level was being widely discussed among the students.

In an academy that promotes the survival of the fittest, students tend to openly mock anyone they can.

It's inevitable. I am an E-rank weakling, after all. I'm even weaker than Ian Fairytail, who also has an E-rank magic power level, so I'm practically the weakest.

In other words, I can't beat anyone here. I'm the lowest of the low.

'Ignore them.'

Today marks the fourth day since I entered this game world.

As expected, I couldn't return to reality by simply falling asleep.

I have to stay here.

If I make myself unpopular with the students, my academy life will only be harder. Ignoring them is the best strategy.

Besides, from now on, I need to focus all my time on training, so I won't have the energy to care about other things.

This morning, I had some time before my morning class, so I wrote down a plan on parchment. I had to recall my memories of playing the game for a while.

First,

I plan to aim for the top of my department.

Grades are a direct indicator of how strong I am. I need to be the strongest among my classmates. Although Lucy is a high barrier, I intend to overcome it.

To be clear, getting low grades is not an option. If I fail repeatedly, I'll be expelled. If I'm expelled from the academy, everything will be over.

Later, I plan to find the legendary weapon, "Hild's Frost Scythe."

Hild's Frost Scythe is the ultimate ice attribute weapon, which in the original game can only be obtained from the second semester of the second year. However, since I'm not bound by the game's story like Ian Fairytail, it shouldn't matter.

'I want to get it before the end of my first year...'

To obtain Hild's Frost Scythe, I need to pass the trials given by the Ice Snow Dragon Hild. For that, I need to raise my [Ice Element Resistance] to at least 60.

I need to become strong enough to get Hild's Frost Scythe as soon as possible.

In this world, according to the setting, a person can only use up to two elemental magic types based on their constitution. The only exception is the power of fairies.

Currently, Ian, who can use light magic, will eventually choose one of fire, water, ice, lightning, rock, or wind. This is determined by the player's choice.

If he chooses ice, Hild's Frost Scythe will be his ultimate goal... but I'm sorry, it's mine. I won't give it to a newbie.

So, I can only hope he doesn't choose ice.

'And I need to clear it.'

To clear this game, I plan to become as strong as possible.

Biting the bullet and working hard to achieve my goals is my specialty. It's a skill I honed during my exam preparation.

I played "Merchen's Magic Knight" even during my exam preparation. I would play it as a reward after a day of studying.

On rest days, I would play all day, and after passing the exam, I played it again for a long time.

Now, I'm inside the game world of "Merchen's Magic Knight." It will be a long-term battle until I achieve my ultimate goal.

I'll give it my all here too.

"Hehehe, hehe..."

"Bro, that guy is laughing?"

Ah, I laughed without realizing it. I must have been lost in thought.

Someone commented on my laughter, but I didn't pay much attention.

After finishing my meal,

I was walking towards the classroom building.

"Hello?"

"......?"

Someone greeted me from behind.

I stopped and turned around to see a familiar female student.

Her light green hair was tied in two braids with black ribbons.

Her emerald-like eyes were a beautiful jade color.

She was Kay Astrang, the second-ranked freshman in the magic department.

[Kay Astrang]

Lv: 90

Race: Human

Attributes: Wind, Ice

Danger Level: X

But... why is Kay talking to me?

Is she giving me a lecture to work harder because I'm an E-rank weakling?

Kay would do that. She's nosy.

"Number 25 in the temporary 3rd class... is that right?"

Maybe because of the 'E' rank, she remembered my number.

"Ah, yes. You remember my number?"

I just answered out of surprise, but Kay suddenly flinched.

"It's not that I'm particularly interested and remember it...!"

She turned her head to the side and answered in a cold tone.

She was embarrassed. She's shy and reacts like this when she's flustered. It's a kind of defense mechanism.

Wow, she feels so familiar. Maybe because I've seen her so much in the game.

I felt like a fatherly smile was about to come out, so I tightly closed my mouth and just looked at Kay.

"Hem."

Kay cleared her throat and looked at me again.

"Do you remember me? I'm Kay Astrang, from the same temporary 3rd class."

"Yes, the second-ranked."

"......"

Suddenly, an awkward atmosphere filled the air.

What's this feeling? Was there something strange about what I just said?

'Ah.'

Ah, right.

Kay Astrang. She is the second daughter of the Astrang family, who is responsible for the western region of this country, Zerber.

In other words, she is a well-known noble that everyone knows.

On the other hand, I am a commoner with no surname.

Saying "I remember you because you're the second-ranked" is not enough to acknowledge her high status.

I should have added something like "I remember you from the Astrang family" to make it more natural.

Should I show some respect now...?

It's an honor to talk to you...? No, that's too much.

"By any chance, what is your name?"

Fortunately,

Kay immediately asked a question, dispelling my worries.

"My name is Isaac."

"Isaac... Isaac..."

Kay repeated my name twice, as if trying to remember it clearly.

Just that response made me feel grateful.

I feel like I made a mistake with the daughter of a duke, but I'm not worried about being bullied by Kay. She has a good heart.

The problem is the students who are glancing at Kay and me as we walk.

I tried to guess their conversation by looking at their mouth shapes.

'Kay is talking to an E-rank commoner...?'

'Why?'

'Is it because he's E-rank and pitiful?'

'Kay, you know. She must be here to say something out of pity.'

It seems like they're having a conversation like this.

Anyway, Kay, the second-ranked freshman with B+ magic power, is talking to me, a commoner with E-rank magic power and the weakest among the freshmen.

What should I do...?

It might be unnatural, but should I bow deeply and say, "I greet the noble lady of the Astrang family"?

"Isaac, I'll be straightforward. Why are you hiding your true identity?"

"......?"

...What is she talking about?

"Your true identity...?"

"You can't hide it from me. You're hiding your true identity, right?"

Kay looked tense.

What is she talking about?

...Could it be? Wait a moment.

'...I see.'

Kay must have witnessed me defeating the evil Treveon.

I thought he wasn't there, but it seems he was.

'Could it be that...?'

Then, I remembered the magic power measurement yesterday.

When Professor Fernando said, "Hiding your maximum magic power is the realm of a Great Mage," Kay was the only one who looked serious.

If she witnessed me defeating Treveon, that reaction makes sense.

I showed overwhelming power compared to her. Yet, the magic power measurement showed the lowest E-rank... of course, it doesn't make sense.

...Wait, could it be? Is she thinking that I'm a genius who has reached the realm of a Great Mage...?

"The realm of a Great Mage... the ability to hide one's magic power?"

Kay asked in a low voice, making sure no one else could hear.

My head started to hurt...

Kay feels inferior to Lucy but admires those who are out of her reach. I must have appeared as the latter to her.

She has a tendency to follow such people blindly.

That's right. This girl looks sharp and capable, but she's actually a fool.

First, Kay's misunderstanding is problematic. For any reason, she shouldn't say things like "Isaac is actually strong."

I need to be seen as a "weak commoner" by everyone at the beginning.

There's a reason Isaac needs to become a subordinate to Matteo for a while.

First, more importantly,

The most dangerous issue is whether the fact that "I" defeated a demon has been reported to the administration.

If it has been reported, it's a really, really dangerous problem.

'...It can't be.'

However, I concluded it's not the case.

If my achievement of defeating a demon had been reported, the administration wouldn't have left me alone. They would have given me an award.

Especially Alice, one of the top powers in the academy and the student council president, wouldn't have left me alone. She would have done so in a bad way, as she is the mastermind.

If she had heard about me, she would have tried to approach me somehow.

In the story of "Merchen's Magic Knight," it's mentioned that Alice can't easily touch Ian Fairytail because he is from the Fairytail noble family.

So, for a commoner like me, she could kill me anytime.

In other words, Alice's silence means...

'She kept it quiet?'

Why?

Why Kay?

...In such a headache-inducing situation, I had to play along with the fool.

I kept my mouth shut for a moment.

A brief silence.

After closing my eyes tightly and opening them again, I let out a low sigh and spoke with a serious expression.

"Have you told anyone about me?"

"......!"

A classic cliché, a hidden strong person. I decided to play that role.

"No..."

"......"

"......"

"......"

"Well, on the day of the opening ceremony, the appearance of the demon was reported to the administration, but I deliberately said I didn't know who defeated it."

I tried to suppress my discomfort and observed Kay's reaction.

She seemed to understand the flow of the conversation and looked tense. She seemed to think her guess was correct.

"Why?"

"Because it seemed like you wanted to hide your strength..."

'At least she kept it to herself. Thank you...'

Fortunately... I'm relieved.

I almost set a game over flag without realizing it.

I can guess how the administration reacted to Kay's report.

In the "Merchen's Magic Knight" world, demons are considered natural disasters. If they are already defeated, there's nothing more to see.

The important thing is the "safety of the students." Since everyone is safe, they probably focused on marking Ian for a few days and then moved on.

For reference, in "Merchen's Magic Knight," demons appear so frequently that the administration will face significant challenges. The principal and the board will face various responsibilities and a lot of trouble.

Still, the administration will try to solve the problems so that the academy curriculum is not affected. They are the most troublesome characters in "Merchen's Magic Knight," though not heavily featured.

And by now, Alice is probably curious about who defeated the demon.

She is not involved in the appearance of demons, so she doesn't know when or where they will appear.

However, she knows that the appearance of new demons is part of Nephid's plan.

Nephid's plan is simple: to eliminate any elements that could threaten him.

So, Alice has to be wary of the person who defeated the demon.

'First, maintain the atmosphere.'

I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh, pretending to be annoyed.

"Your name is Kay, right?"

"Yes, yes...?"

I opened my eyes again and glared at her coldly.

"Don't mention me to anyone."

"......"

Kay froze.

She looked like a cornered deer trembling in front of a predator.

She is a weak being in front of someone who shows overwhelming skill.

...Let's stop here.

If Kay follows the main route, she has a vivid imagination and will interpret Isaac's words negatively on her own.

I left the scene calmly.

I had to escape before Kay regained her senses and said something. In this situation, I can't reveal my true intentions to her.

Fortunately, she just stood there with a frightened look.

I spoke quietly, so the students watching us probably didn't hear.

'But is it enough to just say this?'

Well, it should be fine.

* * *

"I was right... "

Kay was standing still, trembling like a leaf.

She felt the fear of death, like a lamb in front of a wolf, shivering.

Her legs felt weak, and she felt like she would collapse if she took a step.

Her heart was pounding wildly, and intense fear washed over her.

It was a warning... a clear warning.

Isaac's eyes were a vivid red.

When she recalled the powerful, unknown demon he defeated yesterday, the situation where his hostility was directed at her was terrifying.

It was clear that Isaac was hiding his true identity.

From the conversation just now, it was evident that he was pretending to be weak for some reason.

"What should I do...?"

Kay regretted trying to test Isaac.

She was marked by him...