Chapter 58

EP.58 Prologue - Interlude

It was right after Isaac had passed the trial.

Northern Whiteclaw Manor.

The cries of the pink-haired woman, Keridna Whiteclaw, echoed throughout the vast manor.

"Big sister! Aechel big sister!! Help me, it's an emergency!"

The situation was critical, involving the life and death of a fellow academy student, Isaac. And the only person who knew about it was herself.

Keridna couldn't bear this fact.

Aechel might be able to find a way to help Isaac. With this thought, she had been searching the vast manor with the maids for about 20 minutes.

It was maddening that no one knew where Aechel was. Where on earth could that big sister be hiding?

Keridna reached Aechel's office. Although she had checked it earlier, there was a chance Aechel might be there now. She knocked on the door forcefully.

"Aechel big sister!! Help me! Someone is dying!!"

"Who?"

"Ah!"

A calm voice sounded from behind, making Keridna jump in surprise and turn to look at the speaker.

The woman Keridna had been desperately searching for stood there with a subtle smile.

With neatly braided pink hair and dressed in a uniform, the mature beauty was Aechel Whiteclaw.

"Big sister, I didn't sense you at all…? Did you use some kind of stealth technique again?"

"I just walked here normally. You were just too dull to notice."

"Ugh…!"

Aechel opened the door. Inside was a simple office with only the necessary furniture.

However, behind the desk, the emblem of the Whiteclaw family, the white dragon, was lavishly decorated.

"Th-That's not the point…! Someone is dying…! Wait? He's awake?"

Keridna closed her eyes to check if Isaac was still unconscious.

[Field of Vision Synchronization] activated, and a strange scene began to appear. While it was fortunate that Isaac seemed to have woken up… something was very off.

"Huh…?"

Keridna couldn't close her mouth. The majestic form of the white dragon was clearly visible. It was undoubtedly the emblem of the Whiteclaw family, the white dragon, as depicted in myths.

Moreover, Isaac was reaching out to the white dragon, forming an 8-star servant contract.

Keridna doubted her own eyes. It was an unbelievable sight.

[Seizure (Neutral Attribute, ★4)]

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Aechel placed her hand on Keridna's eyelids and cast a spell. Keridna let out a scream in shock.

[Seizure], a neutral attribute spell that steals the spell being used by the opponent. Since it can only steal spells that the caster deeply understands, it is generally not practical.

However, Aechel had an unparalleled understanding of the Whiteclaw family's hereditary spell, [Field of Vision Synchronization]. Stealing Keridna's [Field of Vision Synchronization] was as easy as breathing.

Aechel closed her eyes and took in Isaac's field of vision.

"Big sister!!"

"……"

Aechel, who usually maintained a subtle smile and a carefree tone, now had a serious expression that Keridna had never seen before.

In Aechel's field of vision was a massive white dragon, a great scythe emitting tremendous mana, and a menacing demon.

Soon, [Frost Lord's Aura] activated, and Isaac's body began to glow.

───Bang!!

"Ahhh!"

With a loud explosion, Aechel's eyes, which had been closed, started to bleed profusely.

Covering her eyes, she collapsed to the ground, screaming at the top of her lungs. [Frost Lord's Aura] had repelled [Field of Vision Synchronization] and struck Aechel.

"Big sister!!"

Keridna tried to rush to Aechel's side, but Aechel extended her arm to block her.

"Phew, I'm… I'm fine…."

She covered her eyes with her remaining hand. Thanks to the high-level [Basic Protection Magic] she always had active, her eyes didn't burst, but the aftereffects would likely last for a while.

Aechel, breathing heavily in pain, trembled as she spoke.

"Little sister. Just… how absurd a monster did you mess with…?"

"Big sister…?"

Keridna trembled in fear.

"Sorry…! I don't know what's going on, but I'm…!"

"I'm not scolding you."

Suddenly, Aechel's lips curled upward.

It was a reaction Keridna couldn't have predicted.

"I'm praising you…."

Even as blood tears streamed down, Aechel's eyes were wide open with joy.

A smile that seemed to stretch to her ears. Eyes dyed a deep red.

For the first time, Keridna felt her big sister was eerie.

* * *

[Congratulations! You have defeated [Heinkel the Cannibal (Lv 155)] and gained experience!]

[Level Up!! Your level has increased to 63!]

[You have gained 6 stat points!]

[You have obtained the loot [Bundle of Celestial Threads]!]

[The aura of [Bundle of Celestial Threads] is seeping into you….]

[Congratulations! You have acquired the unique skill [Third Eye]!]

It felt like everything hit me at once.

Adapting to the cold from the frost scythe, I had become deeply immersed. My head wasn't functioning properly.

Suddenly, the image of the ice dragon Hild came to mind, and I remembered the Grand Witch of Celestial Angles giving me an 8-star servant contract.

I just casually suggested that Hild become my servant, but I never dreamed she would actually agree.

Moreover, Heinkel the Cannibal. I had reacted so nonchalantly and defeated him without much thought.

'Why did he show up here…?'

Only after adapting to the frost scythe's cold and my thoughts returning to normal did I realize how chaotic the situation was.

Heinkel the Cannibal was a supporting character in the second semester of the first year of <Magician Knight of Merhen>.

A demon who defies the commands of the evil deity Nephid and acts on his own accord. He often becomes an unexpected variable in various stories.

Such a character had suddenly appeared and died at my hands before the second semester even began.

Moreover, I had obtained [Third Eye], which could be acquired by defeating Heinkel the Cannibal.

With the frost scythe, an 8-star servant, and [Third Eye]….

'This is too good to be true.'

It felt like a 1+2 sale item.

Furthermore… Hild had called me 'Ice Lord' out of the blue. After some thought, I could roughly guess the reason.

[Ice Lord], a 9-star passive skill obtained in [False Hell], had been detected by Hild, who mistook me for her master from a thousand years ago. She probably thought I was the reincarnation of the Ice Lord.

Hild, with her grandmother-like qualities, might have believed in reincarnation.

'So, it was all a misunderstanding, and she became my servant?'

Grand Witch of Celestial Angles, you really did see my fate.

Honestly, I had secretly hoped for a dramatic and grandiose scene of forming a contract with an 8-star servant.

After all, it was a top-tier servant.

But I never expected it to turn out like this.

'Sorry, Hild.'

I'm not the Ice Lord… and certainly not his reincarnation.

It felt heavy to tell Hild this. I couldn't even imagine how betrayed and shocked she would feel, having longed for the Ice Lord for a thousand years.

Regardless, since we had already formed a contract, I hoped Hild would be a great help until we defeated the evil deity. After that, I could always release her from the contract.

'Until we defeat the evil deity… should I pretend to be the reincarnation of the Ice Lord?'

Or should I honestly tell her I'm not the Ice Lord?

After a while, I decided to rest and worry about it tomorrow. I was too exhausted today.

I decided to discard the winter coat. It was too deep in the trial cave, and I didn't want to explore the darkness to find it.

Placing my hand on the magic circle I had entered through and sending a bit of mana, I returned to Eila Forest. Now that Hild was mine, I had the authority to enter and exit her trial cave. It felt like a freebie.

"Ah."

As soon as I emerged in Eila Forest, my legs gave out, and I collapsed.

I was drained. The cold from the frost scythe had frozen my body, but the injuries remained.

The traces of the cold that had nearly killed me were still visible on my body. It wasn't a state where I could say I was fine. Various cuts and bruises, which I had frozen to stop the bleeding, were now causing a stinging pain all over my body.

[Ice Creation (Ice Attribute, ★1)]

I created an ice floor and lay down on it. I didn't want to risk tetanus if the grass touched my wounds.

I gazed at the night sky. The garden of stars, shining brightly, was etched in my eyes. It was serene, gentle, and subtle.

Although things had gotten a bit complicated, the fact that I had achieved a tremendous harvest with high risk and high return was undeniable. All this pain and these injuries felt incredibly glorious.

"Really hurts, man."

I laughed through the pain.

It was an unforgettable night.

……

[Status]

Name: Isaac

Level: 63

Gender: Male

Grade: 1

Title: First-year who has adapted to college life

Mana: 3200 / 3200

- Mana Recovery Speed (C)

- Stamina (B-)

- Strength (B-)

- Intelligence (C+)

- Spirit (A+)

Potential <<Details>>

[Combat Abilities]

Elemental Series 1: Ice

- Elemental Firepower (B-)

- Elemental Efficiency (B-)

- Elemental Synergy (B-)

Elemental Series 2 (Locked)

[Skills]

Skills <<Details>>

Skill Tree <<Details>>

[Unique Traits]

- Demon Slayer

[Servants]

Eiden (Level: 55)

Rank: ★3

Race: Beast

Attribute: Rock

Intimacy: 70

Fusion Power: 35

Mana Cost for Summoning: 50

Skills <<Details>>

Ice Dragon Hild (Level: 180)

Rank: ★8

Race: Beast

Attribute: Ice

Intimacy: 5

Fusion Power: 0

Mana Cost for Summoning: 20000

Skills <<Details>>

'I need to do a mid-term check.'

After passing the frost trial, I was treated in the academy emergency room. I was grilled about what had happened, but I brushed it off, saying I had been training and got injured.

Back in the dorm, I fell asleep like I had fainted. I was really exhausted.

Morning. Lower-tier dormitory, Doris Hall.

I leaned against the window, looking at my status window and organizing my thoughts. A cool morning breeze flowed in through the open window.

I invested the 6 new stat points into [Learning Efficiency], which improves skill proficiency and study.

I might be able to upgrade [Elemental Firepower] from B- to B soon. Thanks to my A-level [Magic Training Efficiency], my growth rate was noticeable.

For reference, many students already have excellent [Magic Training Efficiency]. Merhen Academy is prestigious, attracting those with innate magical talent.

Moreover, they would undoubtedly continue to work hard and hone themselves.

In contrast, I had only recently maxed out my [Magic Training Efficiency] to A.

While I had achieved tremendous growth by defeating demons in <Magician Knight of Merhen>, I still lagged behind the top students and the naturally talented Ian.

Regardless, as the semester progresses, Isaac Coin will skyrocket. After all, while others only gained a few levels during the first semester, I gained 43.

Still, using Hild is a long way off….

Even with [Demon Slayer] deactivated, the mana required to summon Hild was far too much.

My maximum mana is 3200, but summoning Hild requires 20000 mana, a difference of over six times.

Moreover, even if I could summon Hild, maintaining the summon would drain a tremendous amount of mana. Handling Hild with [Demon Slayer] deactivated was unrealistic.

Still, obtaining a top-tier servant was an achievement beyond expectations. I had acquired something that should only be obtainable in the late stages of <Magician Knight of Merhen> at the beginning.

The only concern was….

'How should I deal with her?'

I couldn't just ignore Hild. Moreover, she was likely very confused, feeling the inadequacy of my mana.

But I couldn't summon her at all….

There was a method to reduce the mana cost of summoning by decreasing the size and available mana of the servant, but even that was difficult for me.

In my current state, even having a conversation with Hild was nearly impossible. I would need to think about how to solve this problem soon.

Additionally, with the increase in skills, my status window's skill list had been simplified. I now had to click [Skills <<Details>>] to see the list.

[Skills]

Active

- (★1) Ice Creation (B-) / (★5) Black Ice (B-)

- (★2) Ice Curtain (B-)

- (★1) Cold Emission (B+)

- (★1) Basic Protection Magic (D+)

- (★4) Frost Flame (C+)

- (★4) Ice Wall (C+)

- (★5) Ice Burst (C-)

- (★2) Snowfall (C)

- (★7) Celestial Dominion - White Night (E) - (Locked)

- (★7) Celestial Dominion - Upper Night (E) - (Locked)

- (★7) Frost Lord's Aura (E) - (Locked)

- (★7) Absolute Cold (E) - (Locked)

- (★7) Third Eye (E)

Passive

- (★7) Mind Reading

- (★5) Demon Detection

- (★9) Ice Lord

- (★7) Rapid Cooling - (Locked)

Locked skills are conditional. They can be used once the frost scythe is drawn.

With the first semester just ending and already achieving this much, I felt a mix of guilt and excitement, as I was ignoring the standard path of <Magician Knight of Merhen>.

"Hehe…, phew."

However, my mood quickly sank. It was because of the frost scythe.

To put it simply, my current body couldn't handle the frost scythe. When [Demon Slayer] deactivated yesterday, just holding the frost scythe overloaded my mana circuits. It felt like my blood vessels were about to burst from the rapid increase in blood flow.

Not only could I not use the frost scythe's magic properly, but I suspected that just swinging it would freeze my body solid.

In practice, handling the frost scythe against non-demon enemies was akin to suicide. It was a testament to how weak I was.

Indeed, it was a fitting final weapon.

'Should I try using [Third Eye]?'

A strange mana was swirling in my right eye. I let it flow.

─── [Third Eye (Neutral Attribute, ★7)]

An indescribable sensation washed over me. It felt like another me, free from the constraints of space and time, had been created. I could manipulate this other me in my mind, moving it around.

It moved at incredible speed, like I had mastered a teleportation technique. The view spun rapidly. With my eyes not focusing, I closed my left eye.

Currently, my right eye was showing the scene of a distant hydrangea garden. It was a fascinating sensation.

'Oh, good. What are the limits?'

I moved the other me at an incredible speed. Soon, the view started to darken, and moving a bit more caused a sharp pain in my right eye, accompanied by a headache.

"Ugh…!"

I released [Third Eye] and pressed my right eye. It hurt like hell… like having a stye without anesthesia.

[Third Eye] was still at the lowest E-level, so it couldn't see far, despite its name.

Still, it was a useful and good spell, so I would be happy to gradually improve its proficiency. Using it to monitor Alice would be difficult, though, if I wanted to avoid Extra Bad Ending N.11 [Sudden Death].

As the pain subsided, I took a deep breath and lowered my hand from my right eye. I looked at the mirror. My right eye, now back to silver, was reflected.

'[Third Eye] can be improved gradually…. The second-semester scenario, hmm.'

The illusionary Rifa and Heinkel the Cannibal, who were supposed to appear in the second semester, had been eliminated early.

As a result, how the second-semester scenario would unfold was unknown territory.

If the original scenario had played out, in the first-year second-semester [Four Constellations] part, Amy Holloway would use the family spell [Mind Reading] to detect Rifa's dark intentions. This would lead to Rifa's true identity as a demon being revealed, and the story would move to the [False Hell] part….

'Who knows what will happen now.'

Ian Fairytail, a light attribute prodigy, would compete with the Four Constellations, but that wasn't my concern.

The biggest issue was the absence of Heinkel. He was a wildcard character in the first-year second-semester scenario, creating unexpected variables. He could push Ian into a corner or help him escape.

So, how the story would progress from here was uncertain. However, what I needed to do remained the same: defeat demons and prevent bad endings.

I would also need to help Ian reach the minimum threshold for scenario progression, but that was a problem to think about after the break when Ian returned.

I waved my arm to close the status window and looked out the window.

Through the trial, I had felt the evil deity's mana and gained a new realization.

It was clear that I needed to keep training to become stronger to defeat the evil deity, but that alone wasn't enough.

'No matter how strong I get, it won't be enough.'

To face the evil deity's servant, Angra Mainyu, I would need to be at least level 200, unless I had a light attribute constitution. Otherwise, I would be killed by the blood-colored mana Angra Mainyu emits.

However, there was no human at level 200. Ultimately, only Ian, who could resist Angra Mainyu's magic, could defeat him.

But Ian was a control freak and