The Main Heroine is Strange

An impromptu tour with Master Baekmok.

Isabel was taken aback, but she had no power to refuse.

Master Baekmok’s reason for the request was simple.

Isabel had recently awakened the Wings of the Goddess.

The Wings of the Goddess were an exceptionally rare occurrence.

There was little the Jerion Academy could teach her specifically on the matter, so Master Baekmok himself had decided to provide supplemental instruction.

An opportunity to be taught directly by Master Baekmok.

For a citizen of the Empire, there was no greater honour.

The Imperial aristocracy would greet such news with open arms, if not prostration.

But Isabel felt uneasy.

Understandably so.

Because Bikamen had been replaced with the real Hanon.

His cryptic words about searching for his younger sister.

Isabel wanted to ask Bikamen about the situation far more than she wanted to speak with Master Baekmok.

And so, she arrived at the western park.

A park of breathtaking beauty, overflowing with violets.

As Isabel walked along the path,

a figure came into view.

A man stood amongst the violets, in Hanon’s guise.

Seeing him, Isabel reacted in a way that was entirely different from when she had seen the false Hanon earlier.

Her body stiffened almost instinctively, and a soft, unraveling sort of laugh escaped her lips.

A laugh she hadn’t even realized was there, until it bloomed.

Then Hanon’s gaze found hers across the space.

“You.”

A voice, almost unnaturally high-pitched, burst from Isabel.

She was momentarily stunned, never knowing she possessed such a shrill register.

Clearing her throat, she straightened her posture.

Hanon offered a slow, subtle smile.

“Isabel.”

The mere sight of that smile sent a tremor through her.

Just moments ago, Hanon’s true smile had only sparked irritation within her.

But this, this smile worn by Bikamun in Hanon’s guise… she found it difficult to meet his eyes.

Isabel needlessly smoothed a stray lock of hair.

A strange, unfamiliar shame began to constrict her.

“You’re here?”

“Y-yes.”

She shrank back slightly as she took her place beside Hanon.

He turned to face her with an unhurried grace.

Each movement, each gesture, provoked an involuntary reaction in Isabel.

Hastily gathering her scattered wits, she finally spoke.

“What is this talk of you going to find your sibling?”

“It seems you’ve already spoken with Hanon.”

Barely able to form the words, Isabel simply nodded.

Hanon pressed a hand to the nape of his neck, his expression clouding over.

“My sibling is being targeted by the Mystics.”

“What?”

Bikamun had a sibling, a younger sister.

Xenia Nippleheim.

That she was being targeted… by the Mystics?

Isabel’s expression shifted at once.

“What are you doing? Then, we must leave at once.”

“You don’t even ask for a reason?”

“What importance has the reason? If you sought me out, it means you need my help.”

Hanon would never call upon her for frivolous reasons.

He must have judged it necessary to call.

Therefore, Isabel was willing, without hesitation, to assist Hanon.

Truly showing the virtues befitting a main heroine.

Hanon chuckled softly.

“Until only recently, you seemed to doubt every word I spoke.”

“Th-that was a thing of the past.”

The memories of the past stirred, and Isabel, momentarily embarrassed, cleared her throat.

“Thank you, Isabel. You are right, I require your strength.”

Isabel’s possession of the Goddess’s Wings.

This would be a necessary power to overcome countless hardships in the future.

The reason she secured her position as the main heroine was also thanks to this.

Isabel felt a slight smugness as she saw Hanon needing her power.

Her mood brightened suddenly.

“Enough with the flattery, let us be off.”

“Ah, before that, there’s someone joining us.”

“Joining?”

Someone else is coming?

Isabel tilted her head, just then–

Thud-thud-

Footsteps echoed from the opposite entrance of the western park.

The moment Isabel raised her head in that direction, her face froze completely.

It was because a figure she had not anticipated in the slightest appeared there.

Platinum blonde hair fluttered.

A graceful stride imbued with nobility caught her eye.

The Saintess.

Narea of the Acrede Holy Order.

She appeared there, alongside Cardinal Sentriole.

Her presence, like something lifted from a painting, even left Isabel speechless.

“…Saintess?”

“Greetings. It gives me such joy to meet one who carries on the mission of the Goddess.”

Acrede offered a benevolent smile as she spoke.

Saints, Isabel was growing accustomed to, but a Saintess was quite another matter.

So, naturally, Isabel couldn’t help but be utterly astonished.

“Lady Acrede will be joining us this time to help prevent the Mysticism. And Professor Vinesha, as well.”

“What in the world is going on.”

Isabel wore a bewildered expression.

She had known all along that Hanon was no ordinary man.

But never in her wildest dreams did she imagine he’d draw in even a Saintess.

In that instant, Isabel noticed Acrede glancing at Hanon, ever so subtly.

Isabel’s eye for detail was far sharper than most.

Especially when it came to Hanon; she possessed an almost unnerving perceptiveness.

It was a different reaction entirely from the noble demeanor she had just shown Isabel.

Isabel’s gaze narrowed ever so slightly.

There wasn’t necessarily any fondness in Acrede’s eyes toward Hanon.

Yet, the fact that she was taking Hanon’s measure bothered her for some reason.

‘…Bothered me?’

Isabel was momentarily taken aback by her own thoughts.

She had long been aware that she felt a petty frustration towards women who expressed affection for Hanon.

However, that didn’t mean she harbored such feelings indiscriminately toward every woman near him.

She didn’t know what the relationship between Acrede and Hanon was.

But to have such unkind thoughts the moment she saw Acrede…

‘…Is something wrong with me?’

Isabel wore a troubled face.

The reason she had revealed her feelings to Hanon was because she had seen Lucas in him.

Now she no longer saw Lucas when she looked at Hanon, so why was she acting like this?

‘…Am I relying on him too much?’

Isabel swallowed a small moan internally.

“Boy, the conversation with the First Prince is also concluded. Let us be going.”

Pure white petals scattered as a white-haired woman appeared.

The woman, wreathed in an aura of mystery, had brought Associate Professor Vinesha along with her.

Vinesha caught Isabel’s gaze and offered a gentle smile.

Isabel sensed something different about her, unlike her usual self.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Oblivious to the turmoil brewing within Isabel, Hanon turned on his heel.

It was time to depart for the Niflheim Barony.

＊＊＊

The magical family, the Niflheim Barony.

Within its walls resided a singular genius.

Sixteen years of age this year.

Seventeen next year, and slated to enroll in the Jerion Academy.

Xenia Niflheim.

Striking beauty and hair like spun moonlight.

If there was a flaw, it was only her petite stature.

Her vibrant amber eyes were captivating, and today, as always, she was engrossed in her magical studies.

Those piercing eyes spoke volumes about her disposition.

Twitch-

At that moment, her ear flickered momentarily.

A commotion was rising from outside.

Murmurs, whispers…

It was a strict rule that during Xenia’s hours of magical study, absolute silence reigned.

Even for the Niflheim House Steward.

And yet, this disturbance.

Xenia’s brow furrowed sharply.

She possessed a deep-seated perfectionism.

She could not tolerate her time being disrupted in any way.

“I thought those noisy fools had finally vanished completely.”

It seemed house staff retraining was, without a doubt, in order.

Zenia closed the book she was reading.

And then, in a swift motion, she rose to her feet.

*Creak-*

Without using her hands, she magically opened the door and floated outside.

Lately, she had heard that too little walking could stunt her growth, so she occasionally walked, but verifying disturbances like this was much easier while airborne.

Her magic had already reached a level recognized by multiple mage towers as exceptional.

Valedictorian of the Department of Magic next year was practically guaranteed.

Furthermore, she was the possessor of a truly mad talent, the first in history to master Zerion’s Sanctified Magic.

In reality, apart from Sharin Sazaris, the daughter of the Blue Tower Lord, she was a talent quite unlike any other in their generation.

For someone with this kind of aptitude, magic was no different than using her hands and feet.

Shortly after exiting, she located the source of the commotion.

It was near the front entrance.

The instant she arrived at the entrance, she understood the reason for the disturbance.

Zenia’s pale eyebrows twitched.

Because she saw a figure familiar to her eyes.

A figure, moreover, in quite a sorry state.

Appearing in a condition that resembled that of a pauper.

Bikaman Niflheim.

Her dear older brother.

“Zenia.”

Just then, Bikaman’s eyes met Zenia’s.

Hearing his call, Zenia wore a look of disbelief.

“Ha, I’m absolutely floored. What brings you crawling here?”

She certainly wasn’t acting like she was addressing her own brother.

But it was to be expected.

Once, he was an older brother she followed diligently, but he had changed at some point.

After Zenia displayed her overwhelming magical talent, rather than rejoicing in her magic, his expression grew more and more absent.

Because of that, Bikaman stopped even talking to Zenia at some point.

Zenia did not welcome Vicamon’s presence.

His self-abasement, born from jealousy of his own sister’s talent, was utterly pathetic.

More than that, Vicamon had committed a grave offense.

A crime against the team the Third Princess was part of, within the Magic Palace itself.

An offense practically treasonous, for which Niflheim had excommunicated him.

And now, this Vicamon returned to the Niflheim Earldom.

Thank goodness Father was away.

Had he been here, he would have done more than just threaten him; he’d have blasted Vicamon to smithereens with lightning.

“I beg you. I wish to speak.”

“What business does an outsider have, attempting to converse with the Earl’s acting representative? Be gone, at once.”

Thump-

In that instant, Vicamon abruptly knelt.

Zenia’s eyes narrowed fiercely at his action.

Seeing him kneel even before his own sister… it was so different from the brother she once admired, she could scarcely bear it.

“Just once is all I ask. You need only listen.”

“…Hah.”

Zenia exhaled, unable to stomach the sight any longer.

“Follow me.”

If it was pointless drivel, she’d throw him out immediately.

With that firm resolve, Zenia turned away.

Vicamon wordlessly trailed behind her.

She couldn’t even recall when she last spoke with Vicamon.

Zenia could only breathe out the thought.