BXBX NOVEL Chapter 278: Chess (1)
Having finished her duties, the maid bowed politely and left the room.
Luce stood up from the chair and looked at her reflection in the full-length mirror.
She wore a well-fitted uniform and a morpho butterfly hair accessory. Her rose gold hair, which shimmered with soft pink and subtle golden hues in the sunlight, was smooth and beautiful.
“…”
However… today Luce felt a strong sense of doubt and uncertainty.
Everyone had their own preferences. But how well did she match Isaac’s preferences?
Isaac always spent time with Princess Snow White, who was known for being the most beautiful woman in the world.
Recently, even Priestess Miya seemed to show interest in Isaac.In addition, other girls like Dorothy, Kaya, and Alice flaunted their close relationship with Isaac.
Among these girls, how much space did she occupy in Isaac’s heart?
[What’s wrong, Luce?]
From the direction of the dressing table, Thunderbird Galia in the small form of a crow, inquired.
“Galia, what do you think is attractive about me?”
[…Hmm.]
Caught off guard by the sudden question, the Thunderbird let out a quiet hum.
“It’s starting again,” the Thunderbird thought.
Luce Eltania, an eighteen-year-old girl inexperienced in love.
She often found herself deeply contemplating how to deal with her first love.
“Why aren’t you answering?”
[I think everything about you is attractive. It’s hard to pick just one.]
“You’re just saying that.”
[N-no, I’m not. You’re like a daughter to me. It’s normal for me to think that way. But why do you ask?]
“Well, I just…”
Luce stared at her beautiful reflection in the full-length mirror.
“I want to become a girl Isaac would go crazy for.”
[…!]
Thunderbird Galia’s eyes widened.
“I’ve been feeling this way more strongly recently. I really want that to happen.”
[Hmm, that’s not a bad mindset…]
Is she feeling anxious? Good.
The Thunderbird felt happy as if the day of embracing his grandchild had come one step closer. However, he tried to maintain his composure and not show his excitement.
[Listen carefully, Luce.]
The Thunderbird slightly raised one of his wings.
[It’s simple. If you want to become a woman Isaac would go crazy for, you need to become a woman who matches Isaac’s preferences. In that case, you need to find out what Isaac likes first, right?]
“…”
[It seems you’ve never even tried to find out.]
“No.”
[Then subtly ask him. After that, slowly start aligning yourself with Isaac’s preferences. I once tried to win the heart of a female Thunderbird I was interested in by learning what she liked. I adorned myself with rainbow-colored feathers and performed a courtship dance in a nice setting…]
“What happened?
[She coldly rejected me. However, she did say she liked the courtship dance. Even if you’re initially set to be rejected, you can still make a good impression by acting in line with their preferences. Since you’re already maintaining a good relationship with Isaac, you have the perfect conditions.]
“Then why did you get rejected?”
[She said… she didn’t like my face.]
“Ah…”
Seeing the tears welling up in the Thunderbird’s eyes, Luce decided not to ask any more questions.
***❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, 「Act 10, Chapter 1, Exchange Students」.
There wasn’t much to it. It was mainly about meeting the exchange students and having casual conversations.
The highlight of Act 10 was the sudden appearance of the demon Calgart in the Zelver Empire. Since Calgart had already been defeated during the vacation, Act 10 would be peacefully skipped.
No need to worry about the side quests either.
One of the side quests in Semester 2 Year 2 was the Student Council President Election.
In the game, the player couldn’t run for election directly, but they could get involved through the side quest.
According to the scenario, my peer, Keridna Whiteclark, would become the next Student Council President.
Keridna had maintained amicable relationships with the students. Her efforts would shine during the election.
In this side quest, Ian helped with Keridna’s election campaign. The reward for this was that a specific map opened up under President Keridna’s authority.
I can just go there myself.
I had already visited it secretly early on. It was where the secret shop was located.
Anyway, there wasn’t any merit in getting involved in the election, so I planned to just observe.
“Huff, huff…”
It was early morning. I was jogging, feeling the damp air fill my lungs.
My entire body was drenched in sweat. Yet, despite running faster than an average person’s sprint, my breathing remained steady.
“Oh my, who do we have here!? Isn’t it Senior Isaac?!”
Suddenly, a male student approached me.
“Abel?”
“You remembered me. It’s an honor, haha!”
The sly male student with blue-gray hair, Abel Carnedas, ran alongside me.
We were both wearing training uniforms suited to our respective faculties. He seemed to be out for a jog as well.
“What’s going on?”
“I just saw you and thought I’d say hi! By the way, Senior Isaac, are you participating in the upcoming Academy Clash?”
“Looks like it.”
「Act 11, Academy Clash」was an official scenario and a good opportunity to earn valuable EXP. Participating was a no-brainer.
“Oh, really? Wow, my dear Senior Isaac is going to elevate Märchen Academy’s prestige?”
“Think whatever you want.”
What’s with the ‘My dear Senior Isaac’? So creepy.
“Kyaa! The Ice Sovereign participating in the competition between academies? Märchen Academy is going to be so hyped! Though for the other academies, it’s going to be a brutal massacre.”
His cheerful voice, friendly smile, dynamic gestures, flattery… His sociability was the complete opposite of his sister, Ciel.
“Not necessarily.”
“What?”
“There are rules in the competition, and I have to follow them too.”
I had an advantage, but the organizers wouldn’t let it turn into a one-sided massacre. Who would want to watch such a boring event?
“…You’re very cautious, or should I say, humble, Senior Isaac?”
“Are you participating too?”
“Would it make sense for me to stay out of a heated battle…? Is what I want to say but honestly, I lack confidence. Haha. Class A students usually take all the spots and I’m just at the top of Class B… If I can’t make it, I’ll at least be a spectator cheering for you, Senior Isaac!”
“Thanks for the sentiment.”
Listening to him, one would think we were sworn brothers, but we weren’t particularly close.
Despite his sly exterior, Abel had a strong competitive spirit. After last semester’s joint practical evaluation, he even harbored a competitive streak against me.
Since my true identity was revealed, that competitive streak seemed to have turned into a sense of inferiority. He didn’t show it openly, but it was hard for him to hide his feelings in front of me.
I responded with a social smile.
“By the way, there was something you said last semester that I didn’t quite understand.”
“Yeah?”
“What did you mean by, “Take care of yourself”?”
It was something I said when I visited White.
“No matter how much I think about it, the context seemed a bit off. It still bothers me a little…! Ever since it was revealed that you are the Nameless Hero, it’s been bothering me, you know?”
“Well, that’s…”
In the official scenario of ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, there were three pocket watches with tremendous influence.
The first was White’s Eternal Clock.
The second was Alice’s Phantasmal Clock.
The third was Abel’s Heavenly Clock.
For this reason, Abel was one of the people I kept an eye on.
The Heavenly Clock, like White’s, needed to be with its owner, Abel. In due time, he would naturally come to know this.
“I meant it literally. It was just a formal way of saying it.”
“Was it…? When someone like you says that, it scares ordinary people like me.”
Abel let out a cheerful laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Afterward, Abel changed the subject to the Frost Dragon, Hilde, saying he wanted to closely observe Hilde’s beautiful form.
I quickly declined.
***“Hmm?”
In the hallway of Orphin Hall, I opened my locker and saw an envelope. Someone had slipped a letter into the gap of my locker.
I opened the letter right then and there and read it.
Senior Isaac, I will be waiting at the entrance to the Butterfly Garden after class today. Please come.
- Miya
It was a letter from Miya.
I carefully folded the letter back into the envelope. It seemed Miya had some free time in her academy excursion program schedule.
Of course, I had to go…
“What’s that?”
“…!”
Someone rested their chin on my shoulder and whispered intimately in a beautiful tone.
Startled, I quickly turned my head. Luce was resting her chin on my left shoulder, looking closely at me.
When did she get so close?
Her lifeless blue eyes emitted a sinister aura. It was a stark contrast to the pleasant fragrance she exuded.
“Luce…? What are you doing? Sneaking up on me without a word.”
“I was happy to see you. Was it a bad time to say hello?”
“No, not really…”
Luce’s eyes followed the letter as I slipped it back into my locker.
“What’s that letter about?”
Luce casually asked as I took out the books I needed from my locker.
There was nothing to hide.
“Oh, it’s a letter from the Priestess. She’s been involved with me in various ways, so she left a letter saying she wanted to talk.”
“Really?”
Luce stared intently at my locker. It seemed like Miya’s letter bothered her.
“That’s quite secretive, slipping a letter into your locker.”
“…?”
Luce narrowed her eyes and muttered softly before stepping back.
“Let’s go, Isaac. We’ll be late for class.”
“Ah, yeah…”
Luce and I walked down the hallway together.
When a female student tried to pass me on my left, Luce shifted to walk on my left side.
“Isaac, I’ve got something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“What’s your ideal type?”
What kind of question is that…?