Chapter 27 Adventure in the Night Mirror World. Alexia in Mirrorworld
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The Alys Magic Academy from the eroge (Maidens x Cross-dressing) has a secret stage.
It’s a tiny alternate dimension you can only reach after clearing the standard routes and fulfilling several quest conditions: the Mirror World. This small alternate world is inhabited by a special gimmick monster called ‘Alice.’
Defeating it is what lifts a certain curse on the magic academy, but…
”I honestly didn’t expect to come to a place like this so early on… just days after the entrance ceremony ended, no less.”
”Wowee! What a pretty place, nano!” Alexia squealed.
”It truly looks like something from a fairy tale, Alexia-sama,” Layla murmured.
Coming out of the ‘Fairy Festival grimoire,’ Alexia and the others scanned their surroundings.
The dress Alexia’s wearing right now is one my mother wore as a child, found in the Seyfried family vault. That outfit, a Divine Artifact type called ‘Stray Young Girl,’ is imbued with a powerful ‘anti-magic divine blessing.’
My mother supposedly received it from a girl in the Mirror World when she was young. How do I know such a story?
Well, about a month ago, I let my father drink Lala-chan’s experimental gin until he was completely plastered. He vomited out my mother’s sickeningly sweet love stories right alongside his actual vomit, that’s how.
Since it looked like I was coming to Alys Magic Academy anyway, I borrowed the dress as a countermeasure.
Good thing I prepared it, huh? It would’ve been problematic if Alexia was left running around in the raw.
I also lent Layla-chan My Divine Artifact, the ‘Maid Order-Made.’ It’s a Divine Artifact that offers a degree of protection to the wearer.
It originally came from the Alys Magic Academy, which is probably why it should be more powerful now than when it was just sitting around in the Seyfried Territory. If Layla-chan were to get lost, the ‘Maid Order-Made’ should guard her.
”Both of you, please don’t stray too far from me. This is an extremely dangerous place.”
”Got it, Shin-kun! Squeeze!” Alexia chirped, giving me a tight hug.
CRACK! CRACK! CRACK!
SNAP! Wait. Did Alexia just squeeze me so hard my rib cracked? …Nah, couldn’t be.
”But, Shin-sama,” Layla inquired, ever sharp. “You mentioned you’ve been here once before, haven’t you?”
Layla-chan is as perceptive as ever, I see.
She was stuck in the carriage the first time, so she shouldn’t have been able to survey the outside world. I wonder if her signature mana perception picked up on the fact that the world had been flipped.
”It’s true I may have been here once, but this is the reverse of that place. The Morning Mirror World is a safe, fun place, but the Night Mirror World is malice itself.”
”‘Malice’?” Alexia and Layla questioned in unison.
Exactly. The small alternate world, the Mirror World (Fushigikagami-kuni), is a fun place if you stumble into it during the day.
But if you wander in at night… it transforms into a place where you must be prepared for death.
[That’s right. This ain’t the time or the place for ya, you lost little runts. This ain’t no Wonderland; this is the Mirror World. It’s turned into a twisted, crazy place, see? Earth Magic: Mud Serpent!]
”Watch out! Dark Magic: Dark Knife!” Shin shouted.
CLANG!
”Kyaaa!” shrieked Alexia. “I’m scared!”
[Hee-hee-hee… The little kids are scared. That’s delightful, delightful.] the creature chortled.
Back in the Seyfried Territory, they’ve gotten used to monsters since they hang around with my buddies. Still, it’s understandable to be startled and terrified when a monster filled with raw malice suddenly attacks you.
”The Jabberwock of the Mirror World, is it? For a mid-boss to appear right off the bat like this… isn’t the difficulty level a bit too high?” I muttered.
[Hmm? Who the hell are you? How do you know my name? Am I famous? Am I amazing? Huh? Hey?… You. I thought your face looked familiar, you little runt. Are you my Foolish Little Brother?] the creature growled.
Its appearance was grotesque, a fusion of an insect and a dragon, and its face… didn’t it kind of resemble my Elder Brother?
[Gih-hee-hee. Whatever. The Student Council President took me in when I was stranded without an allowance from home. And then they gave me this wonderful body, see?] he boasted.
Ah, no mistaking it. That’s my Elder Brother, the one from the Seyfried house.
Come to think of it, Hollow mentioned a few months ago that he’d been imprisoned and isolated in a solo surveillance cell at the magic academy after pulling a robbery in the capital. When someone went to feed him, he was gone without a trace, and everyone just gave up on the search, assuming he was missing. It’s genuinely sad to see my Elder Brother standing before me now, transformed into a monster.
[You worthless, foolish little brother. The one who stole everything from me. Perfect. No one will find out if I erase you here, will they?] Saghir spat.
”Erase me? Elder Brother, what are you talking about?” I questioned, my voice chilling.
[Shut your mouth, runt! I’ve always hated you! You acted just like me until a year ago, and then suddenly you decided to reform?! Even that father of ours started doting on you more than me! Screw that! SCREW YOU!… When I kill you, I’ll take all your women, foolish little brother!] Saghir roared.
”…What did you just say?” I hissed.
[Gih-hee-hee! I’ve been wanting to screw a woman for a long time now. It’s perfect, runt. I’ll enjoy them right here in front of you!] he screamed with manic excitement.
”N-no! I’m scared!” Alexia whimpered.
”Shin-sama. This person… his eyes are bulging and… terrifying…” Layla stammered, fear finally cracking her composure.
THUD!
”Alexia! Layla-chan!… That smell. That magic from earlier… did it have a sleep effect?” I realized, my gaze hardening.
[…What the hell are you? You have resistance? You truly are a bothersome little brother. That’s why I hate you! You don’t have as much natural talent as me, yet you always find a countermeasure to nullify my efforts! I’ve always despised you, from the bottom of my heart!] Saghir screamed.
* * *
* (A few months ago, near the Capital) *
”Hah?! What is this letter?! The next head of the Seyfried family is to be handed over to my father’s younger brother, Karios?! He’s giving it to the head of that old hag’s faction?! Not even me, or that foolish little brother (Shin)?! Father, are you serious?! On top of that, he gave the little runt the authority to go independent?! Is that old man messing with me?! He even wrote that ‘everything got better after Shin (the little runt) reformed’… That bastard of a father!!” Saghir raged, tearing the letter.
West of the Regain Kingdom, the Seyfried Territory was reaching its peak. Immigrants were actively welcomed, and the population was soaring. They had even converted to a new religion, the Religion of Shin (Religion of Shin), diligently growing crops. For some reason, they were using those crops to brew and sell liquor to other countries, raking in a massive profit. And even though accepting immigrants usually leads to increased crime, no such problems were occurring.
The Seyfried Territory had a consistently warm climate and clean water sources. Of course, the crops would flourish all year long. On top of that, the number of monsters and bandits in the territory had sharply decreased, and the overall security was considered the best in the Regain Kingdom. Hearing this, the Scarlet family had suddenly approached Saghir and finalized his marriage to Hollow. All he had to do was quietly wait for his father to retire and become the family head. Who would have expected a letter like this from the old man?
”What’s this? Is there more to the letter?… There’s a second page…”
[I plan to let Shin continue on his path of freedom. He doesn’t seem to want the Seyfried family as a backing. Since Alexia-sama is also fond of Shin, I’ve decided to let Shin remain with Alexia-sama from now on. The two of them strongly resemble Christina and me in our younger days. I hope you and your fiancée, Miss Hollow, can also develop a close relationship, Saghir.]
”Fireball!” Saghir bellowed, incinerating the paper. POOF! CRACKLE!
”I couldn’t! That’s why she broke the engagement! She wouldn’t give me any money when I asked, so I was kicked out of the highest-class service men’s dormitory! I’m the Duke’s eldest son! The moment the Seyfried successor was publicly announced, everyone turned their backs on me! And now Father’s cut off my allowance too—how am I supposed to live?! He’s mocking me! Mocking me! This is all that foolish little brother’s fault! Everything went crazy after I met him again!” he screamed, utterly defeated.
(Yes, he is a bit troublesome, isn’t he, Saghir?) A cold, feminine voice whispered.
”Whose voice is that?! This is a black market connecting the capital and the magic academy—only known to Regain Kingdom nobles! How could I hear a young woman’s voice… Guhh?! What is this?! Something’s being forced into my mouth?! Ughhh! Aghhh!” Saghir retched.
”Yorn failed, and we needed more pieces. Ah, but you’re not as beautiful as Yorn, so no. Ugliness is no good. It’s a sin. And sins must be atoned for. So you must atone for yours in an ugly form. You, Monster (Saghir).”
[Ughhh?! AHHHHH!!! What is this? My mind and body feel like they’re being released! What is this euphoria?! This is the best! This is the best! Gih-hee-hee!!] Saghir shrieked in warped ecstasy.
* * *
* (Return to Present) *
[And so, I was reborn! Thanks to the Student Council President… from that hideous form into this beautiful one! Earth Magic: Mud Cube!] he roared, manic with power.
”You haven’t been reborn; you’ve regressed, Elder Brother,” I corrected him, stone-faced. “Dark Magic: Dark Ball.”
[Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut uuuup! If only you… if only you hadn’t straightened up, everything would have been mine!] Saghir wailed.
Elder Brother is really worked up. What a sudden reappearance, transforming into a mid-boss (Jabberwock) and all.
He did get a bit leaner, but he’s become even more grotesque. That will just make Father sad, Boo-chan.
”Your attacks are crude, Elder Brother. The magic footage from your test at Alys Magic Academy showed much more refined technique…” I goaded him.
[Sh-shut UUUUP!!] he screamed, enraged.
Oops, the countless tentacles spewing from Elder Brother’s belly started writhing and crawling all over the place.
”…Teleportation Magic: Multiple Teleportation (Saz). Tamer: Red-kun.” I intoned.
I used Teleportation Magic to move the sleeping Alexia and Layla-chan onto my back… then I summoned my familiar, Red-kun, and placed them both on his back.
’Kyur-Lala-rat!‘ the familiar chirped.
[…What is that power? Where did you get it? How did a mere runt like you acquire a power I never possessed?] Saghir demanded.
”Oh? Elder Brother, haven’t you been reading the books in the archive? Without the game’s knowledge, it takes longer, but those two powers are basically techniques that any true member of the Makoto Seyfried family should learn. Both are hidden in the archives.” I explained calmly.
[The archives?! Runt, what are you talking about?] he yelled, baffled.
Why is Elder Brother so surprised? The methods for acquiring the Tamer power and Teleportation Magic are all set up by our ancestor (Merlin) so that any Seyfried family member can find them on their own, provided they thoroughly search the family archive. Did he really never lock himself away in the archive when he was little?
What a waste. The archive holds the methods for the Seyfried family members to acquire the power they need to survive in this world. And it’s set up so that even someone without my kind of pre-life game knowledge can find it.
[A member of the Makoto Seyfried family? What in the world are you saying?!] Saghir bellowed.
”Ah, I know you have a lot of questions, Elder Brother. But you were just about to attack Alexia and Layla-chan, weren’t you?” I reminded him, my eyes glacial.
[Huh? Right now, forget that, runt! You have to tell me how you got that power you just used—] Saghir began, desperate for knowledge.
”Abyssal Recreation… You’ve been a naughty boy, Saghir.” I declared.
I manifested a black, coffin-like object around Saghir using Dark Magic. Abyssal Recreation is a Dark Magic that combines mental interference and physical attack, designed to pare away any superfluous parts of the body.
[What is this black, coffin-like thing?! Runt! What are you going to do to me?!] Saghir screamed, trapped.
CLANG…
”…Shut up. The moment you laid a hand on my most cherished girls, you sealed your fate. No matter what form you take, Elder Brother… You’ll be toyed with in the deep darkness of the abyss until we leave this place. And when you finally emerge, I expect you to have restored your original form. That pathetic shape will only make Father sad, after all.” I informed him, completely devoid of warmth.
[Ughhh!! Runt! Let me out of here! Stop it! My body is being… Ghhhh!] he shrieked, the transformation beginning to reverse.
CLANK! SCRAAPES!
”…I won’t let you out. Not until I destroy this little alternate world.” I stated, mounting the familiar. “Let’s go, Red-kun. To the house with the key painting.”
’Kyur-Lala-rat!‘ the familiar acknowledged.
With that, I settled onto Red-kun’s back and headed toward the house with the key painting. Ah, well.
I suppose whenever my main girl Alexia and my heroine Layla-chan are in danger, that bad part of me tends to surface, doesn’t it? The villainous heir part that shows absolutely no mercy to anyone I deem an enemy…”
Notes:
• Stray Young Gir – Divine Artifact dress worn by Alexia. Possesses a powerful “anti-magic divine blessing.” Shin borrowed it from the Seyfried family vault (it originally belonged to his mother).
• Jabberwock – The monstrous form taken by Saghir (Elder Brother) in the Night Mirror World after he was transformed by a cold, feminine voice (Student Council President?). Was defeated, stripped of his excessive weight, and imprisoned in the Honorius Oath repository by Shin.
• Karios – Shin’s uncle and the Duke’s brother, described as a sharp, single, and workaholic noble bachelor. He is the person the Duke intends to assign the family title to once he retires, replacing Saghir as the family head.
• Yorn – A maid who is easily delighted by Genkaku mushrooms (implied hallucinogenic). She informed Shin of the banquet.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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