Chapter 51

EP.51 Prologue (1)

On the afternoon of the last day of school before the vacation, heavy raindrops began to pour. It turned out that what I had thought were fluffy clouds were actually cumulonimbus clouds.

In the end, I had to stop my training halfway and return to the dormitory, Doris Hall.

Since I had to get wet and wash up anyway, I decided to organize my plans for the future and then act. I thought it would be good to concretize the plans I had in my head now that summer vacation had arrived.

I sat at my desk, spread out a piece of parchment, dipped a quill pen in ink, and began to write down my plans.

"First, the tuition for the next semester."

The tuition for each semester is 50,000 gels. Since external funds can be converted into gels for tuition purposes, I could use that, or I could pay entirely in gels.

I had earned a lot of gels by selling the large number of Jefrim I obtained from the Tantak underground cave.

However, I had to make a significant expenditure to buy Armana's wand. As a result, the gels I currently have are slightly insufficient compared to the tuition.

Considering the food expenses I would incur during the vacation, I needed to invest time in earning gels.

I knew of a part-time job that could boost [Elemental Efficiency]. If I worked during the vacation and combined the gels I earned with my existing gels, I would have enough for the tuition. It would also be a bonus for my training.

"Vacation schedule..."

Apart from the part-time job hours, it would be a continuous period of training. While enjoying external content of the Academy can help with growth, tedious training is the most efficient for improvement.

If I didn't have a status window, I, the weakest Isaac, would have grown much slower than others. I needed to become as strong as possible with maximum efficiency.

"Ultimately, it will be a series of boring part-time jobs and training. Then, what's left is..."

Hild's Frost Scythe, a major event of this summer vacation.

I had wanted to obtain this legendary weapon by the end of the first year, and now I had the chance during this vacation.

To get Hild's Frost Scythe, I had to pass a trial. The trial was mental. It involved events that were not real, but overcoming them was the key.

The content of the trial varies from person to person. Therefore, the trial I would face as Ian in "The Mage Knight of Merhen" and the trial I would face as Isaac would be quite different.

"I wonder if my game knowledge will be useful."

Until the trial ends, I would have to remain in the cold emitted by the Frost Scythe.

That's why the minimum condition to obtain the Frost Scythe was to raise [Ice Elemental Resistance] to 60 or higher.

"In other words, it's the minimum threshold to withstand the cold until I pass the trial."

If I couldn't pass the trial before my body reached its limit, I would lose my life.

"...Isn't this extremely dangerous?"

When the time to obtain the Frost Scythe finally came, the fact that I could die hit me hard. It was partly because I had felt that death was not a distant concept while fighting the Brain Deity.

Moreover, I was just a human dealing with a demon, and in terms of the trial, I was just an ordinary Isaac...

"Still... if I get this, it will be a huge power-up."

There was enough merit to risk my life. Even though I didn't know how to handle weapons, Hild's Frost Scythe would amplify the power of ice magic just by holding it. It could be used like a staff by a mage.

In other words, if I activated [Ice King] and held Hild's Frost Scythe, I would become the strongest Isaac. It would be like a meteoric rise, even to the point of reaching Mars.

Of course, I couldn't use [Ice King] properly yet. It was the ultimate passive skill of the ice element, and it would be strange to use it well already.

Moreover, Hild's Frost Scythe had side effects. The more it was used, the more it would infiltrate the user's body with cold. However, this problem would gradually improve as I became stronger.

At least, it wasn't something I couldn't handle at all. That was something.

"I need to prepare winter gear first."

The ultimate weapons of each elemental attribute are all surprisingly located in Merhen Academy.

"Perhaps a great evil deity will rise in the future, and a brave hero will appear to stop it."

This was a fragment of the future foreseen by the Great Mages of the Primordial Elements, also known as the 'Primordial Elemental Kings.' Naturally, the hero referred to the protagonist, Ian Fairytail, the child of light.

The Primordial Elemental Kings decided to support Ian Fairytail, who would appear in the distant future. However, since the future was not clearly visible, they didn't know which attribute the hero would have.

In the end, they decided to leave the ultimate weapons of each elemental attribute. The place chosen was here, Merhen Academy, where the hero would awaken his true potential.

"This setting will appear in the second semester of the second year."

In other words, Ian would obtain the ultimate weapons of each attribute in the second semester of the second year. As for the rest, I just hoped that Siel and I would collaborate well and obtain the Dawn Sword at the appropriate time.

Now, my task is clear. I need to find the hidden pieces, 'Traces of Ice King,' scattered throughout "The Mage Knight of Merhen." There are four pieces in total.

It took me exactly three days to find all four pieces. I realized how unrealistic it was to think I could find them all in one day.

The first piece was found in the Naejin Coast Cave.

The second piece was found inside a tree in the Josena Forest. It took the whole day from morning to night just to find the tree, as it was the most vague in my memory.

The third piece was found inside a book in the ancient section of the library. Since I knew the title of the book, it was easy to find in the library.

The last fourth piece was found in the Sky Palace Park, a park on a hill that offered a panoramic view of Merhen Academy.

Each time I found a piece, a system window appeared, saying, "Congratulations! You have found [Trace of Ice King 1]!" There was no doubt that these were the Traces of Ice King.

When Luce asked, "Isaac, what are you doing?" and followed me, I lied and said I was exercising. She had decided to stay at the Academy during the vacation.

─ "Isaac, are you going home for the vacation?"

─ "No, what about you?"

─ "I'm not going because Isaac isn't going."

─ "......???"

She didn't have any affection for the Eltania mansion but for the Academy, so there was no reason for her to leave.

That was why my head throbbed.

Evening.

As soon as I found the fourth piece of the blue-green magic stone, I headed straight for the Eila Forest. It was the forest you would reach by crossing the Josena Forest, which is in front of the main gate of Merhen Academy, and following a long valley.

The trees, made of blue-green leaves enveloped in ice mana, added to the forest's mystique. The reason Eila Forest is also known as the 'Ice Forest' is because of these trees.

As I crossed the forest, a vast, snow-like plain unfolded before me. A light blue grass field emitting a faint cold began to surround my skin with a subtle chill.

In the middle of the plain, a dark magic circle was engraved. It wasn't visible due to the grass, but it was definitely a magic circle.

"I've arrived."

This is the trial site. Beyond this magic circle, the Ice King, a great mage, must have sealed Hild's Frost Scythe and the Ice Dragon.

I remember the setting that the Primordial Elemental Kings made it so that no one could detect the mana from outside. That's why no one had ever realized that the 8-star servitor and the ultimate weapons were here.

Even if a great mage came, the situation would be the same.

I took out the four pieces of the 'Trace of Ice King' magic stone and placed them on the magic circle.

I started putting on all kinds of winter gear from my magic bag.

I sealed everything except my eyes. My body became so thick due to the numerous layers of winter gear that it was almost comically obese.

"It's hard to walk."

But it was manageable.

I took a deep breath.

It was difficult to kneel, so I just lay down and placed my thickly gloved hand on the magic circle.

It seemed ridiculous to me that I was going to a trial to obtain the ultimate ice weapon, but it couldn't be helped.

And the final incantation.

"I will undergo the trial of frost."

My vision was instantly dyed blue-green. The powerful light emitted from the magic circle enveloped me.

Suddenly feeling a sense of floating, I closed my eyes.