“…Child of Prophecy… you say?”
Mary’s eyes flickered as she repeated Elise’s words.
“Yeah, the rumor is that the Child of Prophecy killed Ken.”
“But… isn’t it just a rumor? …Even if they did kill him.”
It’s hard to believe.
After all, not even the academy professors knew how Ken died.
There were no traces of magic, no sign of poisoning, no clues of assassination, nor any evidence of illness.
And yet, they say he was murdered.
‘…Someone killed Ken.’
A spark ignited in Mary’s heart, once filled only with sorrow.
Resentment and anger.
The flame of vengeance.
“…Who is this person called the Child of Prophecy?”
It’s just a rumor, but it serves as a good goal to guide her through this lost emotional maze.
She would uncover the truth behind Ken’s death.
And she would take revenge.
“Well… I don’t know either. So we need to find this Child of Prophecy.”
“……Understood.”
After days of brooding, Mary stood up and left the temple.
To find the one who killed Ken.
The Child of Prophecy.
。
。
。
Emily, after hearing the detailed story, felt the blood rushing to her head.
━━Someone killed Ken.
As she was about to lose her sanity in anger, a single question arose in her mind.
The Child of Prophecy… was Emily herself.
The reason Mary had come to her.
“By the way… Mary, why are you asking me if I know the Child of Prophecy…?”
With a tinge of anxiety, she carefully asked her.
The murderous intent she felt from Mary was sincere.
But in response to Emily’s question, Mary looked puzzled.
“Isn’t it that you… don’t want revenge?”
“……Huh?”
“If the rumor is true, and Ken was murdered…”
Mary’s expression contorted, and her tightly clenched fist trembled.
“I could never forgive whoever did that to Ken… And I thought you felt the same way, Emily.”
‘…Ah, I see.’
Mary had come to join forces together.
Not for revenge against the Child of Prophecy, but to find that mysterious person together.
“Next, I’ll be visiting Raphne. I’m sure Raphne feels the same as us.”
Mary’s visit was considerate toward Emily.
She wanted to share the opportunity to take revenge for Ken.
Knowing well that Emily also understood her feelings for Ken.
But first, there was something she needed to reveal.
“…Mary, there’s something I have to say.”
“Yes, what is it?”
Emily grasped her trembling arms and cautiously told her.
“The Child of Prophecy you’re talking about… is me.”
Would Mary lose her mind and attack her out of nowhere? The thought made Emily anxious as she revealed the truth.
“…Huh? …What do you mean?”
However, contrary to Emily’s expectations, Mary did not become hostile; she simply seemed confused.
Emily… the Child of Prophecy?
“Then why is there such a rumor…? Surely, the one who killed Ken is the Child of Prophecy…”
But Mary also knew better.
There was no way she would kill Ken.
“Maybe the rumor is wrong? You know, rumors tend to get twisted…”
“No, but… it’s been too long…”
There wasn’t enough time for it to get twisted.
Even if a week had nearly passed since Ken’s death.
No matter how much the story goes around and changes…
━━At that moment, Mary felt a troubling thought nagging at her.
‘…No matter how much it’s just a rumor, why is it the Child of Prophecy?’
The Child of Prophecy.
Mary had only just learned of the term while attending the academy.
The fact that it referred to Emily was also newly discovered.
This meant very few people knew about the name Child of Prophecy.
‘……Someone is framing the Child of Prophecy as the culprit.’
They are laying the blame for Ken’s murder on the Child of Prophecy.
That meant…
“…Emily, I’ll be right back.”
“Um, huh? Suddenly? Where to?”
But Mary did not answer and quickly turned away, running off.
“Mary!”
Emily, startled by her sudden change, could only watch her disappearing figure in confusion.
。
。
。
‘…I need to hurry, before it’s too late…!’
Mary dashed out of the dormitory, heading toward the temple where she had just been.
It was already late, and the night was falling, so if she didn’t hurry, she might miss it.
As Mary ran, a faint figure appeared before her.
“…━Elise!!”
Mary immediately called out her name.
Elise, who had already exited the temple, was on her way home with Siegfried.
And upon hearing her name, Mary rushed toward her.
Seeing Mary approach, Siegfried’s expression twisted as he stepped in front of Elise.
Breathless, Mary halted and took a breath.
“…Hah, Siegfried-senpai. Hah, …what do you mean by that…?”
“I should be asking you.”
Siegfried’s hand rested on the hilt of his sword at his waist.
“…What’s going on? Why are you calling Elise with such a murderous look?”
As he said, Mary felt her sanity teetering in anger.
The one who killed Ken.
And the one who dared to frame the crime on Emily.
“…Elise. …I have a question for you.”
Without any honorifics, Mary looked at her with barely contained fury.
Elise flinched back, hiding behind the man protecting her.
Then Mary continued.
“…━Who did you hear that rumor from, just now?”
“…….”
The person who killed Ken and tried to frame Emily for it.
That was undoubtedly the one who spread the rumor.
So, starting with the one who first mentioned it—Elise.
Tracing back to her would lead to the origin of the rumor.
And on the other hand…
Perhaps, she thought, another assumption.
━I hope I’m wrong.
“…You’d better answer quickly.”
As her energy grew, the temperature around her began to drop.
Ice began to form on the ground around her feet.
And Siegfried, wary, exhaled visible breath.
“━If not, I’ll think you’re the one who killed Ken.”
Mary’s eyes shone blue, glaring at her.
“Ah, um… that… uh, uh?”
Elise stammered, trying to come up with an answer under the pressure.
But she couldn’t respond, her thoughts jumbled.
She couldn’t remember the source of the rumor.
And suddenly—
“Elise━! Get down━!!”
━KWA-BOOM!!
With Siegfried’s urgent shout, a freezing ice storm rushed forth, and a thunderous explosion resonated.
As the smoke from the ice shards settled, the ground showed signs of being torn apart.
Siegfried stood there, sword drawn.
“━What the hell are you doing, Mary Hyde!”
Siegfried shouted, his fierce eyes glaring at the enemy before him like a sharp wolf.
And he pointed the tip of his sword towards the ice witch.
“…A few days ago, I lost a precious friend. …And now, you dare threaten Elise as well?”
“…Zig.”
The dark sword in his hand began to absorb magic, exuding a dark aura.
The Sword of Absorption.
As the sword absorbed the smoke from the ice shards around it, it fed on the magic.
“…That sword… was made by Ken, right?”
The man standing in front, blocking her way.
The traitor protecting the foul enemy.
“Are you saying you’d protect the one who killed Ken with that sword?”
Mary’s blue eyes sparkled as her magic began to whip around her.
And countless ice blades formed around her.
All those blades were aimed at one point.
“…Elise couldn’t have done this. No way.”
“Well, all you have to do is answer. Where did you hear that rumor?”
“…….”
“Zig…”
Elise clutched her clothes anxiously.
Siegfried subtly turned to check on Elise.
Her trembling form with tears welling up looked no different from usual to him.
“Calm down, Mary. …The reason Elise can’t answer is probably…”
“…━Don’t make me laugh!!”
━KWA-BOOM!!
“Grahh…!”
“AAAHH━!”
Blocking the explosive torrent of magic with his sword, Siegfried winced.
The pressure created by the swirling winds couldn’t be entirely stopped, even with the sword absorbing magic.
“Calm? How am I supposed to calm down when the enemy who killed Ken is right before me!!”
━SHUSHUSHUSHU!!
With Mary’s excited shout, the ice blades she had conjured surged forward.
‘…This is dangerous━!’
Siegfried could handle it, but.
With Elise right behind him now.
Just absorbing magic with his sword wouldn’t ensure Elise’s safety.
━TAH!!
“AAAH!! Zig!?”
Reacting quickly to the oncoming ice blades, Siegfried grabbed Elise and leaped away.
━PABABABANG!!
The blades embedded themselves densely into the spot where he had been standing.
It was a sight showing a genuine intent to kill.
“Unless you answer now, I’ll have to force you to confess.”
The deadly chill pricked at her skin.
The bitter cold and even colder gaze from Mary sent shivers down Siegfried’s spine as he gripped his sword tighter.
Taking a deep breath.
Siegfried refocused his gaze on the girl before him.
“Sorry, but when I received this sword, I swore to him.”
She was strong.
Especially now, consumed with rage.
“Protect Ken, and protect my cherished ones.”
He realized that the torrent of magic might be too overwhelming for his physical abilities, even with the sword’s power.
“I couldn’t protect Ken.”
Failure could lead to death.
“…So, I’ll protect at least Elise, even if it costs me my own life.”
With a sharp gaze.
Raising his sword.
Siegfried steeled himself.
Into a battle of kill or be killed.
“……Then.”
Mary, watching him, looked at him with her cold eyes, void of light.
Slowly, she raised her hand.
“Die.”
━ZIIIIING.
Magic gathered at her fingertips.
“Elise!! Get away from me!!”
“But!”
“Quickly━!!”
“……Uhh.”
━PAAAAAH…!
Elise ducked behind a nearby tree, and in that moment, a huge ice spear formed in front of Mary.
With Siegfried’s eyes sharpened, he kept his focus on her outstretched hand.
And then.
‘…━It’s coming.’
The moment her fingers twitched.
━CHWA-CHWAAAK!!
The massive ice spear was shot forth.
It flew swiftly, creating a windstorm in its wake.
“Guuh!”
Siegfried raised his sword to deflect it.
━KWA-BOOM!!
The spear that whizzed past him embedded itself into the ground, ringing with a thunderous sound and releasing shards of ice.
‘…I can’t absorb all the magic.’
Despite the dark sword crafted by Ken, an overwhelming amount of magic couldn’t be absorbed entirely.
Mary, knowing the power of the black sword, unleashed a greater volume of magic than usual.
‘Then…’
TAH━!!
Siegfried sent magic to his thigh, enhancing his muscles to strike the ground with increased agility.
His figure shot forth like an arrow, leaving behind a black afterimage.
So fast it was hard to follow, he tore through the smoky ice effects.
He was heading straight for Mary.
Emerging from the smoke, he found himself face to face with Mary, who was wielding a huge ice hammer.
“━Damn it!”
Predicting a strategy where the magic user would close the distance was no surprise to Mary.
She swung her gigantic hammer at him.
KWA-AAAAANG━!!
Siegfried, caught off-guard, used his sword to parry, creating distance once again through raw power.
The pieces of the hammer that had struck his sword transformed into magic and were absorbed by it.
Safely landing, Siegfried glared at Mary.
‘…She’s overdoing it.’
Even if Mary had more mana than an average person, the output was far from normal.
She was fighting for her life.
Desperate enough to accept death.
That resolve resonated with Siegfried as if she was clinging to the last threads of her existence.
That made her attacks formidable.
━But as time passed, the battle began to tip in Siegfried’s favor.
“…Are you enhancing yourself?”
Mary noticed the dark aura seeping from the black sword and stated this observation.
The Sword of Absorption.
That sword, crafted meticulously by Ken, was designed to absorb magic and enhance its wielder’s physicality.
The more magic Mary poured out, the stronger Siegfried became.
A sword that held a lethal advantage over a mage.
“I’ll finish this now.”
Siegfried reset his stance.
Taking the blade to his waist, he readied his posture.
The transformed mana oozing from the black sword enveloped him.
His eyes sharpened.
This would be the final blow to end the fight.
As Mary raised her hand to erect an ice wall, the cold air flooded around her.
KWA-GAGAGAGAK━
Even just feeling the allure of his presence sent waves of dread through her.
The forthcoming attack was dangerous.
Thus, Mary erected her wall, bracing for an incoming strike.
━PAAAAK!!
As Siegfried’s eyes narrowed, the black sword was drawn at lightning speed.
Closing the distance in a flash.
Every moment felt slow to Mary.
She suddenly realized.
‘……This won’t hold.’
She couldn’t withstand his attack with just the ice wall.
That strike would be lethal.
Thus, her previously raging heart slowly calmed.
As the sword approached.
In that fleeting moment.
She recalled a longing face.
‘……Ken.’
Mary felt a tinge of relief in her heart.
‘…Maybe I’ll get to meet Ken soon.’
Picture his kind smile, the one who always greeted her softly.
Mary closed her eyes.
━━KWA-AAAAAAANG!!!
With all of Siegfried’s might contained in that strike, a colossal explosion rocked the area.
As the rising dust began to settle.
The devastation wrought by the clash came to light.
━For some reason, Mary found herself opening her eyes at the impending death that never came.
“…Phew, I’m glad I made it in time.”
And there, amidst the dusty haze, stood the figure she had missed so much and longed to hear from.
“Now, why don’t you both stop fighting?”
The person blocking Mary’s path, though looking somewhat different from Ken in her memories, was indeed Ken Feinstein.
