Chapter 54

EP.54 Prologue (4)

It is said that in the world of eternity, there stands a monolith that governs time.

Occasionally, a bluebird flies over and sharpens its beak on the monolith, and it is said that the monolith is worn down by the level of grains of sand.

After being worn down for what seems like an infinite amount of time, when the monolith finally loses its shape,

it is then said that one second of eternity has passed.

This is a story from the myth in "The Magic Knight of Merhen." The time acceleration magic, [Monolith of Eternity], was set to be a spell derived from this myth.

[Monolith of Eternity] was Alice Carroll's wish. If she could activate the spell on the rooftop of the Barthos Hall, it would hasten the resurrection of the evil deity.

However, the only condition for activation was to use the Illusion Clock as a catalyst. That's why I remember the story in the game where Alice had her minions search for the clock.

But it seems that the Trial of Frost simply handed the Illusion Clock to Alice.

As a result, Alice could activate the [Monolith of Eternity] to accelerate time until the evil deity's resurrection.

The Illusion Clock must be being used as a catalyst on the rooftop of the Barthos Hall.

'The solution is simple.'

All I need to do is turn the hands of the Illusion Clock backward. It should automatically turn with just the press of a button, like a stopwatch.

Then, at the place where the [Monolith of Eternity] was activated, time will reverse by the amount it was accelerated. I might even witness the ridiculous scene of the evil deity resurrecting and then being plunged back into the abyss. I could really use 3D glasses and some popcorn.

However, there is a side effect: everything within that space will also reverse to the past by the amount of time that was accelerated. Of course, in this world, I don't need to worry about the aftermath, so there's no need to hesitate.

'So, my plan is…'

To confront Alice.

To go to the rooftop of the Barthos Hall and press the button on the Illusion Clock.

Then, the world's destruction will be averted, and the trial will be cleared. How simple, right?

'The problem is that the only person who can make this possible is Dorothy…'

I was crossing the academy grounds, away from the square where the end-of-term ceremony was taking place, to find Dorothy.

This trial must be structured in such a way that it can only be cleared by recruiting Dorothy. There's no other way. How am I supposed to deal with Alice?

'Why of all days couldn't I see her today?'

Where are you, Dorothy?

Are you leisurely passing time by admiring the natural scenery again? Or are you sleeping in because it's summer break?

As I continued to think, a sudden, strong sense of unease flashed through my mind.

'Strange.'

The question that arose made me stop in my tracks.

Dorothy was someone who calmly accepted her fate of death. She was a character who could throw away her life to protect the people of the academy.

'Would someone like that not show up when the evil deity resurrects?'

No matter how powerful the evil deity is, that's not possible. Dorothy would throw herself at the evil deity, even at the cost of her life. She treats her life as expendable.

The absurd story that she was sleeping and couldn't stop the evil deity doesn't hold up. Dorothy's mana detection ability is top-notch; she would have definitely woken up and sensed the evil deity's immense mana.

'Maybe there's a reason Dorothy didn't step forward…'

At any rate, Dorothy is definitely somewhere on this island. She has nowhere else to go outside the academy grounds.

Then… what really happened?

"Dorothy-senpai!!! Where are you?!!!"

I hoped that if Dorothy was nearby, she would respond to my call.

However, no matter how much I shouted, Dorothy did not appear. Maybe she's in the dormitory.

I ran to the Barthos Hall and headed for the dormitory for top-tier students, the Charles Hall.

The magic department of Merhen Academy was unusually quiet.

The first-year students were in the middle of their delayed end-of-term ceremony, and the rest were already in the midst of their summer break.

It was the perfect timing to infiltrate the Charles Hall.

"Ian!"

*Whirr─!*

A light blue mana gathered in the air and formed into the shape of my small golem familiar, Eden. Whether this is the real Eden or not, it doesn't matter right now.

I knew where Dorothy's room was. It's information you naturally pick up while playing "The Magic Knight of Merhen."

"Eden, make me some stairs!"

*Whirr!*

「Rock Creation (Rock Attribute, ★1)」

「Ice Creation (Ice Attribute, ★1)」

Eden created makeshift rock stairs on the outer wall of the Charles Hall, and I created an ice ladder on top of them. Thanks to the improved [Elemental Efficiency], I managed to create a relatively intricate ladder.

Dorothy's room was on the third floor. The Charles Hall has high ceilings on every floor, so even the third floor was quite high up.

I had no time to feel guilty about sneaking a peek into a girl's room. I climbed the rock stairs and then ascended the ice ladder.

In one of the rooms on the third floor, I could see Dorothy's room through the window.

It was gray.

There was nothing to be seen except for essential furniture and simple items. It looked like a space where someone very quiet and uninteresting would live.

Dorothy's room was always like this. The only pretty teddy bear she had was half-buried in a drawer, with only its arm, covered in fluff, sticking out.

In "The Magic Knight of Merhen," Dorothy's inner thoughts were never revealed from beginning to end.

But the fact that she was methodically tidying up things that might make her cling to life was something you could indirectly discover by exploring the map and finding traces of Dorothy.

'She's not here…'

Anyway, Dorothy wasn't in the room. I quickly descended to the ground, recalled Eden, and started running again.

I searched all the places where Dorothy might be, but it was in vain.

Finally, the moment of the world's end arrived, and the evil deity Nephid was resurrected.

A black fireball descended to the ground.

The world, was destroyed.

● ● ● ● ● ●

"I will now begin the summer break ceremony for the first-year students of the Magic Department."

Finding Dorothy in this vast academy grounds was an extremely difficult task.

Meanwhile, I had a limited time. If the cold from the Frost Blade fully consumed my body in the real world, I would die.

'What to do.'

What I needed now was manpower. I needed as many people as possible to help me find Dorothy.

However, when playing "The Magic Knight of Merhen," anything not part of the set trial clearance route tended to be a mine.

This was one of the reasons Ian felt despair during the trials.

'But this trial is different from what Ian experienced.'

It's possible that gathering people to find Dorothy is one of the trial clearance routes.

'I have to try.'

I nodded and stood up. The ceremony host and the first-year students of the Magic Department started looking at me.

"Kaya! Matteo! Luce! Amy! Follow me…!!"

Suddenly, I gasped.

The faces of the ceremony host and the students had disappeared. It happened in the blink of an eye.

Their eyes, noses, and mouths were completely invisible, only their peach-colored skin remained.

Their gazes were all directed at me, motionless, staring straight.

"Damn…!"

Goosebumps ran down my spine. The scene was reminiscent of a horror movie.

I had died many times while searching this area. The place I finally reached was a cliff near the shore.

A female student with lavender hair and a witch's hat was sitting on the cliff, hugging her knees. Her gaze was fixed on the dark clouds covering the distant sea.

"Huff, huff…."

I ran with all my might. I managed to catch my breath and approached Dorothy Heartnova.

She flinched at my sudden footsteps.

"Senpai."

"What is it, President? What are you doing here?"

Dorothy turned her head toward me but kept her face hidden under her witch's hat.

After a sniff, she lifted her hat to show a pretty smile.

It was strange.

Dorothy, who often skipped classes to admire the sky, did so because she wanted to store as many beautiful things in her heart as possible before she died.

While doing so, she hid her true feelings with a smile and acted as if she was lovable to everyone.

She always tried to shine.

I knew this about Dorothy.

"President…?"

I sat down next to Dorothy.

The sight of dark clouds gathering… I should have noticed it the first time I heard about it.

'What's so beautiful about that?'

It was just gloomy. Not at all beautiful.

Was Dorothy seeing herself reflected in those dull dark clouds?

"President."

"Y-Yes?"

"You're pushing yourself too hard."

"…What?"

"You're forcing yourself to smile and to take in the beautiful things in the world. You want to make your life, even a little, meaningful and beautiful."

I spoke calmly.

"To be honest, nothing is beautiful, is it?"

"…."

Dorothy's smile gradually faded.

But she quickly put on her usual smiling face like a mask.

"What's with this sudden talk, President? I'm starting to find it a bit boring."

Dorothy's smile was tinged with caution. She seemed ready to cast a spell at me if I made a mistake.

I had died many times here. If I died at Dorothy's hands, it would probably be one of the best deaths of my life. I could even have 'Cause of Death: Fan Death' inscribed on my tombstone.

Of course, mentioning death playfully was dangerous, given my current real-world condition.

When I checked my abdomen just now, it was already dark and frozen. The number of times I could regress was probably running out. Maybe… just a couple more times.

Even so.

There was something I had to say to Dorothy, even if it meant risking my life.

As I recalled the times I spent with Dorothy, I began to doubt whether my resolve to save her was wrong.

What if Dorothy was hoping for death? What if she didn't want to be saved at all?

That's why I needed to confirm Dorothy's reaction.

"I will save you, Senpai."

I wanted to hear Dorothy's answer. Whether I can save you or not.

"Stop acting like you have a limited life and start thinking about how you'll live after graduation."

Dorothy's eyes widened. Her voice trembled.

"Why… are you saying this to me?"

I want you to be happy.

Most importantly,

"Senpai, you shine too much for me."

That was the simple reason why I loved Dorothy the most.

Dorothy's body shuddered. An awkward silence flowed, and the sound of waves lapped rhythmically.

"…This is really boring, President."

Finally, Dorothy turned her head back to the dark clouds and answered.

Her voice was tinged with laughter.

"I prefer being saved by force. It's more fun that way."

The dark clouds are not beautiful at all. There's no need to keep looking at them.

Dorothy understood my rambling words completely. It seemed my sincerity was conveyed.

I bowed my head and closed my eyes, fully feeling the moisture from the sea on my skin.

Dorothy wants to live. That's enough.

I opened my eyes and looked at Dorothy. Now, the main topic.

"Senpai, I have something important to say."

"You're planning to leave this place, aren't you?"

"…Huh?"

…What?

"I already knew this world was fake. I can see through the essence of everything, you know?"

"So, Senpai, you knew everything from the beginning…?"

"Not exactly. I don't know what will happen next. But I and this world are fake, so I thought it didn't matter what happened. I didn't think there was any need to give my existence meaning."

Only then did I realize.

Dorothy didn't resist the evil deity because she knew this world and herself were fake. There was no reason to resist.

"But it seems that's not the case."

Dorothy stood up forcefully and smiled brightly, extending her pale hand to me.

"Nihihi. I'll help you, President! Let's go and break this world together."

It's a truly bright and cheerful smile, like a fresh fruit. It's so cute, I can't help but smile.

"Okay."

I took Dorothy's hand and stood up.

From now on, we will break this trial.