Chapter 33

The two of them had been worried enough to come check on Mia a second time.

“A-are you okay?!”

Mia’s cheeks were red and streaked with tears, and she looked up at Lily and Abel with such a strange expression that they knew something was not right. In truth, though, there was nothing wrong with her. Luke’s touch had triggered a number of different emotions within her to explode, and she was in a kind of stupor—but having only just arrived on the scene, Lily could hardly have been expected to know that. What she did see was Mia slumped in a sitting position on the floor of her room, looking distinctly not okay, with Luke standing beside her.

“You! Luke, right?! What have you done to her?!”

“Nothing. You’re so damn loud. Stop shouting everything, girl.”

“Wh-what did you just say?!”

Luke determined that he had accomplished his goal and had no need to engage with the loud girl in the doorway. He walked past Lily and out of the room, ignoring her as she continued to wail and moan at him. He walked by Abel, who had been watching him in silence.

“You came here because you were worried about her too, right, Luke?” Abel said as he passed him by.

“…Huh?”

Luke was surprised, but Abel chose to faintly smile at him. Abel offered nothing more, as if there was no need for anything more to be said between them.

What’s with that look he’s got on his face? Like he knows what I’ve done… He doesn’t know a thing…

Luke responded with silence too, but simply because he was exhausted. He descended the stairs and returned to his own room. Once he was there, he lay down on his bed and lost himself in thought for a while.

It’s going to take a surprising amount of work to create these pawns, isn’t it…? The task is guiding their minds through words and actions to the desired state of loyalty towards me. I might even have to stage a tragedy to accomplish that.

The experiment had come at a very convenient time. One of them had to lose, though it hadn’t mattered much to Luke whether it was Mia or Lloyd. The point was, the loser would be emotional and shaken by their defeat.

Better still that this was her first defeat. People adapt, and so I don’t suppose the second and third time she loses in the arena will affect her as greatly. That’s why this first duel was the perfect opportunity for my pawn experiment.

But the results hadn’t quite been what Luke had expected. He had been confident that he could make Mia one of his pawns, but it hadn’t worked.

“Well, I suppose I did well for a first try. Tch, it does irritate me, though.”

The experience had also demonstrated Yolande’s worth, much as Luke was loath to admit it.

A pawn that can create more pawns is a valuable piece indeed. I cannot afford to let him go so easily.

Luke sighed. “Maybe I’ll do some sword practice.”

Training always helped him to clear the fog from his mind. He took up the sword that hung on the wall of his room and left the dormitory once more.

***

The next morning, just as the milky-white light of the dawn began to chase the dark away, a visitor arrived at Luke’s door.

“Ahem… I don’t mind. I’ll be your pawn, Luke.”

She looked a little hesitant and shy as she spoke. He was left speechless for a few seconds—he’d thought his experiment had been a failure after all, and it was so early in the morning, his head was still a little fuzzy.

It was all due to the appearance of Yolande.

That meeting, with a man who did not feature at all in the original work, sparked within Luke an interest in gathering pawns. This spark led him to an experiment—an attempt to create a pawn for himself. As a result, the young girl who was meant to eventually rise to the position of Magic Knight had chosen instead to become his pawn.

***

Mia’s eyelids fluttered open with a start. There was nothing between sleeping and waking, no hazy semi-consciousness, and so the moment she opened her eyes, her brain’s wake center activated. Though her mind immediately snapped to attention, she was physically exhausted from everything that had happened the day before. Even now, she yearned to simply curl up under the blankets once more and remain in that sweet, warm world of slumber, sticky as mud. She didn’t give in, though. Mia sat up in bed and leaned back against the wooden headboard. She placed a hand to her chest.

…My feelings haven’t changed after all.

She had slept on it, but her will was unshaken.

Then I should act. It would be foolish of me to let this chance slip away.

Mia’s mind was made up. She pictured Luke in her head as she had seen him the previous day. No matter how favorably she reinterpreted the events, she couldn’t claim that he was a good person. Mia knew that, of course, but she found herself entranced by him nonetheless.

His words played over and over in her mind as emotions she didn’t even comprehend welled up endlessly within her.

“Will you become my pawn?”

I know I shouldn’t listen to him… I know that these are the whispers of the devil. Maybe he’s just deceiving me.

Mia understood that neither Luke’s words nor his actions came from a sense of goodwill. Despite everything, she knew what her decision had to be. “…I can’t take it any longer.”

I can’t resist. I just can’t.

It was as if she had been dyed black, and no amount of color added could alter that shade. Her mind was completely made up.

Mia got ready quickly, but not carelessly. Rather, there was an efficiency in each and every one of her movements that allowed her to prepare at such speed. Finally, she stood before the mirror in her room and ran a brush through her hair, paying particular attention to fixing her bangs. Once that was done, she opened the door and began walking quickly towards Luke’s room.

She started out quite fast, but the closer she got, the slower her pace became.

“Wh-what do I say…?”

She couldn’t help but wonder aloud—and that was the moment that she snapped back to reality.

What am I, an idiot?! I’m visiting a boy’s room this early in the morning for this?! To become his pawn?! He’ll think I’ve gone insane!

Mia wanted to scream in frustration at herself. She reflexively placed her hands to her face and found her cheeks were boiling hot. She felt like her heartbeat had spread, pounding through every part of her body. As her body heated up, though, her head seemed to cool by the same proportion. The coolheaded, clear-thinking part of her recognized just how improper this was. Her emotions were all over the place, but she forced herself to calm down for a second time.

If I don’t go right now, I feel I might lose the chance forever…

She thought about it further.

After everything that happened yesterday, how could I ever just casually say it when I bump into him at breakfast?

That, Mia convinced herself, would be even more awkward than what she was currently trying to do. She took a step forward. Her legs felt heavy, like she was dragging chains behind her as she walked.

But if I stop again, I’ll only end up going back to my room.

Conscious of that fact, Mia worked up the mana for a spell.

Flight.

Mia floated up into the air, then began to accelerate.

I have to reach Luke’s room quickly.

With that single thought in her mind, she sped down the dormitory hallway. If she hadn’t had the reason left to consider the fact that other students might still be asleep, she would have been sorely tempted to scream out loud to release a fraction of the anxiety that writhed in the pit of her stomach. Regardless, she arrived at Luke’s door in almost no time at all. A bit too soon, even.

She dispelled Flight and dropped gently to her feet. That’s the door. All I need to do now is knock.

How difficult it was, though, now that she was actually there, just to knock. Mia gripped tightly at the hem of her skirt.

Do it, Mia! You’ve made up your mind, haven’t you?! Come on! Come on! Argh.

Her thoughts took her in circles for a while, and she spent five minutes frozen in the cold hallway. Then she realized that this right here, this was her whole problem. It was why she had lost her rank duel the previous day. Lloyd had been strong—stronger than her, arguably—but strength wasn’t everything. The biggest reason for her defeat was her weak, indecisive mind.

Isn’t that why I’m here? To change?

She sighed, paused, and breathed deeply again. “All right.”

My mind’s made up.

She took several more deep, calming breaths, then slowly reached out and knocked feebly on the door a few times. Then she waited. The wait felt to Mia as if every second had been stretched out to a minute or more, but eventually, the door opened slowly before her. Luke’s face appeared in the crack.

The moment Mia recognized him, her heart was thrown into such complete disarray, it was as if everything up until that moment had been a mere prologue to this . Her heart started beating incredibly fast. She couldn’t even manage a simple “Good morning.” Instead, the words that tumbled out of her mouth were the ones she’d come there to say; the ones that she had said to herself countless times that morning. She spoke as if she were reading a script.

“Ahem… I don’t mind. I’ll be your pawn, Luke.”

Luke’s eyes opened wide for a moment—there was much about the situation that he hadn’t anticipated. The knock at the door had also woken him up, so his mind was still fuzzy. Those were the factors that left him speechless for a few seconds, but Mia had no way of knowing that, of course. She had plucked up the courage to say it, but Luke hadn’t answered her yet. That was the one thought that consumed her. Her heartbeat grew even faster.

“Right,” he said finally. “You did well to make this decision. I’m happy you came.”

“…Ah.”

Luke’s approval was like a drug, intoxicating, and it made her feel a little insane.

A shock of excitement pierced through her whole body, as if everything within her had been affirmed all at once. It was Mia’s turn to be speechless then. Her mouth opened and closed, but no words came forth.

I have to say something. Quickly.

But just as she pressed herself to speak, someone else did.

“Well, that was interesting, Mia.”

It was the voice of another girl in the room behind Luke. Before Mia had time to work out who this new voice was, the girl pulled the door open wide.

“Ah!”

It was at that moment that Mia’s brain stopped working entirely.

Alice was standing in the doorway, and she was completely naked.

Why is she in Luke’s room?

Why isn’t she wearing any clothes?

Why does she look so smug?

Questions flooded Mia’s mind, but the information her eyes provided was too shocking to bear. Mia would turn away in embarrassment whenever she saw two strangers kissing, after all. What she saw in front of her was completely incomprehensible, beyond what she could accept as part of reality. Therefore, she chose to let go of her grip on consciousness, and with a bang, she crumpled to the floor. To Alice, shame was a completely foreign concept. She had supreme confidence in her own beauty and was not embarrassed in the slightest to be seen by others.

“…Why did you come to the door?”

“She was being so…interesting. I couldn’t help myself.”

Luke sighed, deciding that Mia could hardly be left lying in the hallway. Though it was tiresome to be engaging in exercise so early in the morning, Luke took her gently in his arms and carried her over to his bed.

***

The city of Gilbadia, located in Marquis Gilbert’s domain.

As a center of trade, the streets of Gilbadia were lively even at night. Merchants and adventurers from neighboring regions came and went at all hours. Among all the hustle and bustle, all the trouble and strife, life went on, and people found their own reasons to be happy.

Also located within Gilbadia was an extravagant mansion belonging to Claude Gilbert, marquis of this land. Unseen, the doors of the mansion opened, and four men emerged from inside.

“Mind your step, please.”

First, there was the butler of the house, Alfred.

“Sure. Thanks.”

Next came Yolande, followed by Gordoba, a quiet man who served as division commander of the Second Royal Magic Division.

“ Mwa ha .”

Finally came the owner of the house, Claude Gilbert. They all lingered a moment outside.

Alfred felt something off about Yolande from the very moment that he stepped inside the mansion.

This man’s evil, he would think to himself. Pure evil of the most detestable kind.

But eventually, that became Tch, he’s gross.

With time, his hatred had mellowed somewhat, and that, too, disgusted Alfred. Meanwhile, Yolande delighted in watching the pieces of his plan fall into place.

Man, he is easy! thought Yolande. Lord Gilbert is a total pushover! He was so wary of me at first, but the moment I brought up Luke, the conversation started going my way!

The reason that Yolande had visited Claude was to set in motion what he had envisioned that day he met Luke at Aslan Magic Academy: a new story, with Luke at the center.

I will make Luke the ruler of this kingdom.

Heh, Luke… If there is one advantage I have over you, it’s that I was born into this world a little sooner than you were.

While Luke was tied to the academy, Yolande had a certain degree of freedom as a young man, and that was what allowed him to set up the meeting. That day at the academy marked the first time that Yolande had ever met someone who surpassed him. He had felt so alone for so long, and the meeting had made him incredibly happy. Luke shone so brightly in his memories. He was completely captivated by the boy.

It is you, Luke! You are most fit to become king.

It wasn’t a selfless endeavor, though. In fact, it was quite selfish indeed. Part of his reason for doing this was to fulfill his own desire to remain at Luke’s side as one of his pawns.

I must be sure to become indispensable to him before he graduates from the academy.

With Claude’s assent to Yolande’s plan, the story progressed at a rapid pace. Why did Claude agree, you might ask? One reason, of course, was the entirely excessive love he bore for his son, but that wasn’t all. Yolande’s proposal had awoken an ambition in Claude that had been dormant for some time. It dissipated like smoke the moment that Luke was born, but that ephemeral aspiration began to take hold once again…

He aspired to usurp the throne.

In his youth, Claude had been possessed of a burning and arrogant conviction that he was the one truly fit to be king of his nation. Yolande’s proposal lit the flame once more.

“You will provide the military strength, and I the firm political support for this move, correct?”

“Yes, Lord Gilbert. I will use the magic divisions to increase Luke’s influence, and I would like you to bring the other aristocrats on board.”

“I heard you were incompetent,” Claude said bluntly. “But it appears that claim was nonsense from those who had no eyes to see your talent.”

“Ah, you flatter me. Well then, do you believe this will be possible in three years?”

There was just a hint of a challenge in Yolande’s question.

“Mwa ha, do not make me laugh. Who do you think I am, exactly? I will find strong political support, a faction more secure than any that has ever existed in this nation. Do not disappoint me, Yolande.”

“I don’t intend to,” Yolande assured him. “I cannot stay for long, so I am afraid I must be leaving now. Thank you so much for taking the time to meet with me today, Lord Gilbert.”

“Return whenever you please.”

Yolande bowed deeply. “You have my gratitude.”

With that, Yolande cast a spell and flew up into the sky. Gordoba followed him, and for a while, they flew side by side in silence until Yolande could no longer contain his excitement.

“Ha ha ha! Oh boy, we’re going to be busy!”

The explosion of joy burst from Yolande’s chest, and he had to speak it.

“If there is anything I can do to assist you, please say the word.”

“Oh, I’m going to be working you hard too, Gordoba. Be ready.”

“Yes, sir!” Gordoba replied spiritedly.

Luke…I want to see what kind of king you’ll make. How will you guide this old-fashioned kingdom, so over-reliant on magic power and human supremacy? How will you change this nation? Ah, but I suppose if I take too much of your freedom away, you’ll become upset and uncooperative. We’ll have to get some talented officials on board. Oh, I am so looking forward to this .

Full of anticipation at the thought of what was to come, Yolande could not help but to throw back his head and laugh again, innocent and childlike.