Chapter 91

EP.91 Return

"President! Big sister is back!"

Yeeeeah! Take off your panties and scream!

"Senior, it's been a while."

Seeing Dorothy, who was free from her suspension, a smile naturally spread across my face. As expected of my favorite character, her beauty radiated.

Many things had happened since then.

On the day I had Lucie restrained, when her habits began to transform into a terrifying hybrid form, I immediately released her and took her out for lunch. Since then, the topic of restraint hasn't come up, but I've been keeping a close eye on it.

A few days ago, the "5th Act, Chapter 3, Azure vs. Crimson" part of *Märchen's Magic Knight* proceeded smoothly. I confirmed this by observing the situation with [Thousand Mile Eyes].

As I had expected, the Crimson members provoked the Azure members, leading to a fight that escalated into a conflict between the two constellations. This was because Scarlet Atlas, the leader of Crimson, fanned the flames of conflict by suggesting they use this opportunity to determine who was superior.

As a result, the Azure members, including Ian, invaded the Crimson base and engaged in battle. They defeated the enemies floor by floor as they ascended.

True to his nature as a melee expert, Ian didn't faint even when fighting students. Fortunately. In the end, they defeated Scarlet Atlas, the leader of Crimson, and the situation was resolved. The 5th Act, Chapter 4, where Henkel the Glutton appears, was skipped.

Now, I need to prevent the Extra Bad Ending N.8 "Frog" during the upcoming joint practical evaluation. It should be a piece of cake compared to the challenges I've faced so far.

In the middle of Joseon Forest during the day. The autumn sky was exceptionally clear, and the surrounding trees were vividly colored with red leaves.

Dorothy came to my hideout as invited by the invitation I gave her. It was the same place where I brought Amy during the kidnapping incident of my childhood friend.

"Hehe, President, I was really looking forward to today. Hurry up and satisfy this big sister!"

Dorothy, placing her hand on her chest and exhaling sharply, was clearly excited.

Today, I prepared a welcome-back gift for Dorothy. First of all, I approached her and pinned a purple flower, which wouldn't wither due to its magical properties, to her witch's hat.

"Flower? Huh?"

She looked surprised as I approached her.

"Oh, what? You've grown taller?"

"I've been growing gradually. You must have noticed it more because it's been a while."

"Hehe, President, you're going through puberty?"

"That's not me…."

I replied with a look of exasperation to Dorothy, who was covering her mouth and laughing lewdly.

Thanks to [Physical Training Efficiency], I had been growing taller like a teenager, as Dorothy had said. It was a late growth spurt.

For reference, I was 170cm tall in the first semester, and now I'm aiming for 180cm. I would stop growing once I reached the maximum height Isaac could achieve.

I stepped back and examined Dorothy. The purple flower suited her witch's hat well.

"It suits you."

"Thanks, President. I trust your taste!"

Dorothy smiled brightly.

"Next?"

I sat down with Dorothy at an outdoor table and took out a croissant from a picnic basket.

Dorothy looked puzzled, wondering what it was.

"Back when I was a coachman, I got to know an aunt who runs a bakery in the commercial district."

"So?"

"She's from Regal."

"Hmm."

Seeing her subtle smile, it seemed she had figured out my intention.

"Just consider it a taste test."

I had kept in mind all the things Dorothy had listed that she wanted to do. One of them was to go to Regal and eat the famous croissants.

I poured the prepared warm coffee into a cup and handed it to Dorothy.

Dorothy smiled and took the cup I offered.

I cut a piece of the croissant and offered it to her with a fork, and she immediately took it into her mouth with a "Haa."

"How is it?"

"It's good, but it's more ordinary than I expected. Maybe we should go to Regal. Give me another one with chocolate."

"Sure."

"Haa, it's delicious."

After finishing the bread, we entered the hideout.

"Oh!"

A beautifully decorated party venue. The scenery stood out even more due to the limited space.

A banner reading "Welcome Back, Dorothy!" was hung on the wall. It was a masterpiece.

The gift I prepared for Dorothy was a "home party." I realized that gifts don't necessarily have to be material.

For reference, I didn't decorate it alone. I had a moment of petty reflection, thinking, "Now that I think about it, I saved you in the first semester… Did I get a free meal out of it?" and asked Matteo Jordana and his subordinates to help decorate the hideout.

Fortunately, Matteo, feeling guilty that his life had been saved for the price of a meal, readily agreed, saying, "I'd rather do it."

"Hehe, this is quite touching!"

"I'm glad you like it."

"It feels like an extension of the Cult of Love."

"Compared to the Cult of Love, it's more modest."

Dorothy shook her head, her cheeks flushed, and smiled at me.

"No, I like this better. I love everything."

Seeing her happy smile, I felt a sense of relief. It was worth putting Matteo to work.

After that, we had a small party.

We burst paper confetti, and Dorothy made a gentle breeze while striking a cool pose.

We enjoyed a cake and had a pleasant conversation.

We played simple games.

I played music with a magical device and sang enthusiastically like we were at a karaoke. I didn't know many songs from this world, so I just responded and danced.

Dorothy's wind magic gently scattered the pretty, glowing paper.

A cluster of colorful stars decorated the space beautifully.

Dorothy's high spirits kept the atmosphere lively. I got into the mood and showed off my best dance moves, and Dorothy laughed so hard she almost cried.

"……"

In the meantime, I repeatedly cast [Frost Flower] on my finger. It was a method to train my mana control.

Even if I made Dorothy happy today, I couldn't afford to slack off in my training. Honestly, I was a bit anxious even in this joyful atmosphere.

'It's not long now.'

Henkel the Glutton, who was supposed to fight Ian in the "6th Act, Chapter 2, Final Battle" part, was already defeated.

Ripa the Illusion, who was supposed to become the final boss in the "6th Act, Chapter 3, False Hell" part by betraying Ian, was also defeated.

The only one left is the Floating Island. It will come within two months.

I heard it appeared off the western coast of the Gerber Empire and suddenly disappeared after the empire formed a task force to hunt it down.

'It's time to show up.'

The Floating Island. A flying island in the sky is a single demon.

The one who cursed Dorothy, with a purity level of 190. It's not a demon meant to be defeated. It was only used as a major battlefield in the 6th Act, Chapters 1 and 2.

Moreover, Dorothy was absorbed by it, and her curse was accelerated, rendering her powerless. I couldn't count on her help in the battle.

In the 6th Act, Chapter 1, the Floating Island creates a massive magic circle. If the time limit is exceeded, the magic circle will activate, and one-tenth of the empire's territory, including the island where the academy is located, and part of the sea will evaporate.

Therefore, Dorothy sacrifices her life to activate the ultimate starlight magic [Supernova Explosion] and takes the Floating Island with her to the afterlife. At that moment, Dorothy was smiling brightly.

I've seen it countless times.

That heart-wrenching scene, called a masterpiece, was something I hated very much.

Dorothy's heroic figure, who shed all her last attachments in life, saved everyone through self-sacrifice, and finally smiled.

To me, she just looked pitiful, as if her heart had already broken.

However, there was no way to save Dorothy in *Märchen's Magic Knight*. No one could defeat the Floating Island unless she sacrificed her life.

Dorothy's sacrifice was inevitable.

─ 'President, I have something I want to try.'

And I intended to change that inevitability.

It would be a challenge of a completely different level compared to the battle with the Brain Deity, but I was determined to do it.

If *Märchen's Magic Knight* had become my reality, then Dorothy was something of immeasurable value to me.

"President, why did you suddenly become quiet?"

When I was lost in deep thought without realizing it.

Dorothy approached and leaned in close, asking. She had taken off her witch's hat, and her beautiful face was clearly visible.

Her usual playful smile and tone.

I was momentarily taken aback, but it wasn't difficult to respond. I pointed to my ear and replied with a casual tone.

"It's nothing, just your voice is so smooth, I lost myself for a moment."

"Hehe, flattery. That's to be expected."

The scattered paper gently fell to the ground, and the cluster of stars became quiet.

"You look like you're suffering alone."

Dorothy smiled meaningfully.

"There's no need to do that."

She said softly and stepped away from me.

What strange