Chapter 286: Hot Spring (2)
[Hans McGregor]
Lv: 161
Race: Human
Elements: Fire, Water
Danger: X
[Van McGregor]
Lv: 162
Race: Human
Elements: Water, Fire
Danger: XThe McGregor twins.
They first appeared in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱「Act 11」, but they weren’t particularly significant to the main scenario.
They were merely characters one would remember if they were curious about the strong individuals from other academies in the Academy Clash.
They held the mindset of “we’re the strongest when we’re together”, didn’t they?
Their backstory made them that way, which was rather common and predictable.
“We’re from Märchen Academy.”
I answered calmly with a kind expression.
Hilde and Eden were soaking in the hot springs, so only Dorothy and I were facing the McGregor twins.
Hans McGregor, the red-haired one, clapped his hands in admiration.
“Kyaa, of course! Seeing you here means you’re participating in the Academy Clash tomorrow… as our opponents, huh?”
“Looks that way. I look forward to…”
“Poor you, poor you~.”
Hans drawled out his words.
“What do you mean?”
“I remember you now. That’s why it’s unfortunate for you.”
Why is that unfortunate?
Hans raised one eyebrow and pointed at me with his right index finger.
“I can’t stand guys who hang around with beautiful women like a gigolo. Especially you, with a face I won’t forget.”
Hans leaned back, draping his arms over the back of his chair. His broad shoulders stood out, trying to be intimidating.
He then ran his fingers through his wet hair, seemingly convinced of his own charm.
This guy… is a real narcissistic, isn’t he?
I didn’t remember it right away.
But yes, he had an incredibly high self-esteem.
He doesn’t seem to know who I am.
He probably saw me as just another extra.
Even though the news that the Ice Sovereign had appeared at Märchen Academy, my exact identity hadn’t been revealed.
Very few people could recognize me as the Ice Sovereign at first glance.
“You’ve been picking a fight since earlier. Are you that confident?”
“Of course. There’s no one who can beat us in the Academy Clash. My brother and I wouldn’t lose to anyone.”
Hans snickered as he approached us.
His lecherous hand naturally reached for Dorothy’s shoulder.
“Hey, pretty girl. You’ve heard about the McGregor…”
Thud.
I immediately got up and grabbed Hans’ arm.
“…What?”
Hans glared at me with fierce eyes, a vein bulging on his forehead.
“You.”
This guy had a tendency to make any girl he fancied his own, regardless of whether she had a boyfriend. He didn’t care about using threats, seduction, or coercion. �
There were probably dozens of students in Raizel Academy whose girlfriends had been stolen by him. Outside the academy, that number would be even higher.
Being from a high-ranking noble family and possessing exceptional talent, few students at Raizel Academy could stand up to him.
So, Hans, the academy’s greatest asset and a notorious womanizer, wasn’t used to situations where someone defied him.
“Who do you think you’re touching?”
A cold voice escaped my lips.
Hans was trying to put his arm around Dorothy’s shoulders, attempting to hit on her. Dorothy wouldn’t have allowed such physical contact in the first place.
What irked me was the mere fact that he tried to touch Dorothy with impure intentions.
“Oh…”
Dorothy looked at me calmly and admired my action, showing no signs of tension.
I understood. For both Dorothy and me, the McGregor brothers were easy opponents.
Hans sneered.
“You seemed boring, but now your eyes are getting interesting. But do you know who you’re dealing with right… ugh?”
I tightened my grip on Hans’ arm.
His thick, muscular arm started to strain against my hold.
A short groan escaped Hans’ mouth.
“You bastard…?”
I sensed his mana.
Hans reinforced the [Basic Protection Magic] he had cast on himself and added a physical strengthening magic to his arm. His arm hardened, resisting my grip.
We glared at each other, and the surrounding patrons, sensing a fight, watched us with tense expressions.
A few seconds later.
Swish.
The belts on our robes, which were tied around our waist, loosened by themselves, revealing our bare bodies.
It was an unexpected occurrence.
“Uh…?”
Hans and I instinctively looked down. Hans’ eyes widened.
…I won.
“Tsk!”
Hans angrily shook off my hand, adjusted his robe, and left the hot spring.
“This is annoying. Let’s go, Van.”
“Got it, Hans.”
His blue-haired twin brother, Van McGregor, followed Hans out.
“…Remember, that wasn’t my full strength just now.”
Hans tried to excuse himself with a furious face and left with his twin brother, Van. The fact that he felt the need to explain hinted at his subtle sense of defeat.
Max [Physical Training Efficiency] applied to my entire body, which included a man’s pride, making my body quite formidable. Even before its size was enhanced, its distinctiveness was evident.
I handled that quite well…
Starting tomorrow, we would be facing an important scenario. I couldn’t afford any unnecessary trouble at this point.
However…
An unexpected adversary has made tomorrow something to look forward to.
Hans tried to mess with my favorite character. He would pay dearly for that.
I adjusted my robe.
“Hmm?”
I suddenly felt an intense gaze. It was coming from Dorothy.
She was completely frozen, her face as red as a ripe strawberry.
“Senior Dorothy?”
“W-what…?”
“You saw it, didn’t you?”
“H-huh? What are you talking about?! I didn’t see anything!”
Dorothy responded dramatically, shrugging her shoulders repeatedly.
She saw it.
I didn’t mind her seeing it since I planned to proudly show it off someday anyway.
“Well, that’s good then.”
Hilde and Eden were still enjoying the hot spring with their eyes closed.
I sat back down next to my familiars and let the warm water wash over me. With my eyes closed, it felt like heaven.
The sound of trickling water. A moment of peaceful silence passed.
“Ahem.”
Dorothy kept clearing her throat, trying to steady her voice, “What you did just now… was pretty cool.”
“Who else would protect you against a guy like that…”
“But you weren’t just pretending, were you? Nihihi. You didn’t like the idea of a guy putting his hands on me, did you? Right?”
Dorothy nudged my side with her elbow and laughed mischievously.
“I’m your fan, after all.”
“A fan, huh… You know, I wasn’t planning on telling you yet.”
“What?”
“You really became the president of my fan club?”
So, she knew.
That was why she called me “President” earlier.
“Ah, that.”
“Tell me, how did that come to be?”
“I used a bit of my authority as the Ice Sovereign.”
“You’re using the Elemental King’s authority for such trivial things…?”
Dorothy seemed genuinely flustered.
“It was important to me.”
“You’re a funny one…”
We looked at each other and shared a laugh.
***It was just as Isaac said.
Dorothy felt refreshed after coming out of the hot spring. Her body felt lighter.
This place had the best effects compared to any hot spring she had experienced so far.
However, the heat hadn’t subsided since earlier.
It was because she couldn’t stop thinking about Isaac, who had been protecting her from any male advances.
“What a cutie, he doesn’t even try to hide that he likes me…”
Dorothy let out her characteristic “Nihihi” giggle.
There was nothing to hide. No woman would hate it when the man she liked did that.
While getting dressed, Dorothy suddenly let out a “Hmm…”
Another memory filled Dorothy’s mind. She extended her right index finger and bent it slightly.
“That’s not it…”
One flimsy finger wasn’t enough. Dorothy spread her entire hand. Maybe this was closer.
Dorothy placed her fully spread hand on her lower abdomen. Her eyes widened in shock.
“W-won’t I die…?”
A raspy sound escaped her unknowingly. Measuring it properly had terrified her.
The nearby female guests glanced at Dorothy, but they couldn’t understand what she was muttering about.
For the first time, Dorothy felt a mix of excitement and fear.
***Late at night. In a room at the faculty lodging.
Instructor Ronzainus was sipping a drink in a dark room.
He looked out the window. A large moon hung in the beautiful night sky, scattering a faint light.
“It’s tomorrow.”
The gift he prepared for the Ice Sovereign would be revealed tomorrow.
Maybe it was the anticipation, but the drink tasted sweeter than usual to Instructor Ron.
Meanwhile, in the participant’s lodging area.
A girl was sitting on her bed, looking at the large moon outside the window.
Contrary to her intellectual appearance, she held a fearsome long spear as tall as herself.
Her dark blue hair fluttered. Although she deliberately covered half her face with her hair, the fresh autumn breeze revealed the long scar on her left eye under the beautiful moonlight.
“Ice Sovereign…”
She thought of the Ice Sovereign’s face.
She imagined her spear slashing his neck deeply, red blood spurting out.
“I’ll see you soon.”
Her sole objective in this Academy Clash was simple…
To kill the Ice Sovereign, Isaac.
***The next day.
With a grand opening in Aldreque, the Academy Clash began.
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