Chapter 172: The Flower that Blooms at Night (1)
「〈Märchen Mass Suicide Case: The True Culprit is the Iron-Blooded Princess?〉
Fifteen years have passed since the ‘Märchen Mass Suicide,’ an incident that instilled fear not only within the Empire but across the entire continent. However, the true culprit remains shrouded in mystery.
Märchen, an academy city nestled amidst the beautiful landscapes of the southern Empire.
With a population of 70,000, it was considered one of the leading medium-sized cities in the Empire.
It was a highly developed city, even boasting one of the only two Marquis Wizards in the Empire as the headmaster of the academy at the time.
However, one day, a pitch-black ‘night’ enveloped the entire city. When the darkness lifted, only death remained in Märchen.
The perpetrator who unleashed the magic of ‘night’ was identified by the Sword Tower, Magic Tower, and the Imperial Intelligence Agency as the insane Great Wizard, ‘Margette Wiseman.’
However, recently, this newspaper received a tip.
The informant introduced themselves as a Wizard from the Magic Tower and provided specific information about the ‘night’ magic cast by Wiseman.
We received copies of materials stating that the magic had already been cast several times on a smaller scale in the Imperial City, and its stability had been confirmed.
The materials were classified as top secret by the Magic Tower.
Analysis of the materials revealed that, contrary to popular belief, Wiseman’s ‘night’ was not a fearsome magic, but rather an illusion-type magic that simply induced pleasant dreams.
Therefore, while it remains unclear why Wiseman cast ‘night’ on the entire academy city, it is presumed that she did not intend to cause a mass suicide.
Then, what caused Wiseman’s illusion magic ‘night,’ which merely grants good dreams, to lead to such a horrific event?
At the end of the anonymous tip, it was mentioned that the 13th Princess was attending the academy at the time.
The problem is, there were no members of the Imperial family among the 70,000 deceased.
While the disappearance of one princess out of 99 might not be a major issue, it’s hard not to recall the ‘Iron-Blooded Princess,’ whose true identity remains unknown.
Reuniting the fragmented Empire was indeed a remarkable feat.
However, is it merely this reporter’s excessive speculation that the nobles, whose heads were shattered and bled under her iron fist, overlap with the events of Märchen?
What if the Iron-Blooded Princess is actually the 13th Princess?
If she is the only survivor of the Märchen Mass Suicide Case.
And what if she ascends to the throne next month, marrying the hero Abel and receiving the blessing of the holy sword, ‘Summer’?
One can only wonder what color the Empire’s future will paint.
━From the Dining Daily, Special Feature」
“Ah, hello.”
The entrance ceremony concluded.
As the academy’s admission age ranged from fifteen to twenty, Cain blended in easily.
“I have a, a question.”
Cain turned around.
A girl of similar height stood there.
Her beautiful blonde hair seemed to be spun from the setting sun reflecting on the sea, and her eyes shone with the same violet hue as Cain’s.
Her beauty was almost suffocating.
“Ask.”
Cain replied curtly and continued walking. The girl quickly caught up, walking beside him.
“How did you become the top student?”
“I’m not sure.”
“I was definitely the top scorer on the entrance exam, but today I was suddenly pushed to second place.”
She was the girl who had taken the oath alongside Cain during the entrance ceremony.
Cain genuinely didn’t know, so he simply shrugged instead of answering.
To the girl, it seemed like he didn’t want to deal with her.
Her expression instantly fell.
Cain, about to ignore her extremely timid demeanor that contrasted her appearance and explore 〈Märchen Academy〉, stopped in his tracks.
“Does it bother you that I’m the top student?”
Cain’s words were direct.
Startled, the girl waved her hands,
“N, No! Of course, if you’re someone amazing like you, it’s only natural that you’d be the top student.”
“Then does it bother you that I’m the top student even though I don’t seem that amazing to you?”
“That’s not it either! You just seem like someone special, so I have no complaints.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
Cain tilted his head.
[‘Winter’ wonders why she’s so clueless.]
[‘Summer’ says it doesn’t seem like that kind of situation.]
[‘Winter’ tells him to stay out of it.]
[‘Summer’ retorts, saying what does she know━]
The message cuts off.
After skimming through their usual bickering, Cain gazed at the girl, who was fidgeting beyond the message window.
Whoooosh━.
A breeze blew past.
The warm wind, with low humidity typical of the south, carried the scent of the stone walls surrounding the academy.
As Cain’s black hair and her blonde hair fluttered in the same direction, their identical violet eyes, a rare sight to behold in a lifetime, met.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
She asked.
“What?”
“I’m not very good at talking…… so everyone hates talking to me.”
“That happens.”
Being this timid and inarticulate was quite normal. Great Wall was full of all sorts of weirdos.
For Cain, who had lived his life managing such individuals, this wait was nothing.
‘It’s not like she’s slow-witted either.’
She was merely refining her thoughts before speaking, so this time wasn’t wasted.
She took a deep breath.
Then, as if determined, she met Cain’s gaze at eye level and asked,
“Who are you?”
“Words need a beginning and an end to be understood.”
Cain’s advice was on point.
The girl’s face flushed as she realized she had been rambling. Then she asked again,
“Originally, I was supposed to be the top student at the entrance ceremony, but who are you, suddenly appearing as the top student after they redid the whole thing?”
“…….”
Cain looked up.
Outwardly, the sky was clear blue. But beyond it lay only a pitch-black darkness devoid of stars.
The magic of ‘night’ that caused the ‘Märchen Mass Suicide.’
“And everyone’s acting strange. They were all friendly until yesterday, but starting today, everyone is acting like they’re seeing each other for the first time.”
“I see.”
“And another strange thing, it doesn’t make sense to have an entrance ceremony now when it’s summer, not spring, right? But no one pointed it out.”
“It’s definitely a strange entrance ceremony.”
After pouring out everything she found odd, she took a deep breath.
She resembled a fish that had always lived underwater, desperately trying to breathe the air for the first time.
Swoosh━.
Cain took a step closer to her.
“Is your name Elena, by any chance?”
“……!”
Her eyes widened.
Cain continued, his voice calm,
“Elena Platin Kreuz.”
In the Kreuz Empire, only the 108 members of the Imperial family could bear the name ‘Kreuz.’
“H, How did you know I was a princess from the start?”
“Of course. How could I miss such a striking appearance?”
“You can see my face?”
She touched her face.
A plain silver ring on her finger came into view. She channeled magic into it.
“Still?”
“It’s very clear.”
“This is a perception-blocking artifact made by the Magic Tower for the Imperial family. You’re saying it’s natural for you to see through it?”
“Should I say I can’t see it when I clearly can?”
“Are you a Sword Master or a Great Wizard?”
She asked, bewildered.
The strange entrance ceremony and the top student situation were one thing, but seeing through an artifact meant for the Imperial family was a matter of national prestige.
Thud━.
Cain tapped his left hip.
But there was nothing there, and he ended up hitting his thigh.
[‘Summer’ says he’ll fly over right away if Cain needs him.]
Cain shook his head at ‘Summer’s quick response.
He looked back at the girl, who was staring at him with wide eyes. Brushing back his hair lightly, he said,
“I’m a hero.”
Märchen, the cursed land where 70,000 people took their own lives on the same day.
This city, where perhaps more people died than those killed by monsters summoned by the Demon King, needed a hero.
Through a twist of fate and coincidence, a true hero had arrived in Märchen, transcending time.
[‘Summer’ asks sarcastically if Cain always wanted to be a hero.]
Cain clenched his fist.
🔹🔹🔹
+
『Annihilator of Destruction Ⅳ』
You have changed the fate of Airian, but the fate of the continent remains unchanged.
In particular, the Empire’s influence on the continent cannot be ignored. And it was the ‘Märchen Night’ that shaped the Empire’s course.
After the incident, the Magic Tower, Sword Tower, and Intelligence Agency were torn apart depending on who they believed responsible, and the nobles fell into chaos, forming factions.
The problem is that ruin blossoms in chaos. To prevent ruin and achieve a peaceful end, protect the Academy City of Märchen.
World Line Fixation: 25%
Clear Conditions: The end of ‘night.’
Success: Increased World Line Fixation, ‘Summer’s awakening.
Failure: Return canceled.
+
Huff━.
Cain took a sip of the black tea that filled his cup, quickly scanning the quest window that appeared.
It was high-quality black tea, rich in aroma and pleasantly sweet.
“I’ve never heard of a holy sword choosing its owner.”
The two were sitting face to face in a backyard garden within the academy, a perfect spot for enjoying tea.
If other students saw the top student and the second-best student like this after the entrance ceremony, rumors would surely spread.
“Well, have you ever heard of an entrance ceremony happening twice?”
“That’s true.”
Given the circumstances, neither of them cared.
“So, hero Cain, you’re saying this is all because of the headmaster’s magic?”
“Who else besides her could cast such magic?”
“That’s true.”
The princess smiled bitterly, agreeing with him.
To cast magic on such a large scale, one would need to be at least a Marquis Wizard.
There was no need to even investigate; the culprit was obvious after eliminating the impossible.
“Then, if we ca, catch the headmaster, everything will be solved, right?”
Cain remained silent, swirling the half-empty teacup in his hand.
[‘Winter’ wonders why he’s being so hesitant.]
[‘Summer’ suggests they just smash everything and go back to Airian to see Oleciren.]
If it were already over, it wouldn’t be a problem, but since he was here from the beginning of ‘night,’ there was no need to make things complicated.
The two sacred treasures were simply urging him on, impatient with his passive attitude.
“Elena.”
“……Yes.”
“Is there any way to access the academy’s student registry?”
“It would normally be impossible, but I might be able to manage.”
She might be the 13th Princess, but a princess was still a princess.
The academy wouldn’t dare refuse her request to see it.
Cain nodded in agreement.
“Then, before we go see the headmaster, it would be best to take a look at that.”
“Are you looking for someone specific?”
“Yes. There’s a guy who looks like a turtle. Since things have turned out this way, I need to find him first.”
[‘Winter’ is surprised that Cain has friends.]
Cain smiled bitterly to himself.
Of course, he wasn’t a friend.
━Captain Cain, I’m a survivor of the ‘Märchen Night’.
Many people with various stories drifted into Great Wall.
Among them was a warrior nicknamed ‘Turtle,’ and he had something to say before he died.
━I know the true culprit. Headmaster Wiseman may have cast the magic, but the reason everyone committed suicide is……
‘Turtle’, his lower body severed by a monster’s attack, clutched Cain’s hand as he bled out.
━Because of me.
Turtle, Mauve Ness.
It was an opportunity to clear his old comrade’s long-held regret.
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