The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

The vacation was coming to an end.

Many students were returning to the academy. I had noticed that there had been a significant increase in the number of people around lately.

It was a complicated vacation in many ways, but there was no time to get lost in thought. My daily routine was still filled with training.

Meanwhile, Ian Fairytale successfully acquired the Luminous Sword. As long as things didn't get tangled up, the conditions to land an effective hit on Thanatos were now in place.

I instructed Ian, who had returned to the academy, to use the Luminous Sword. When he swung the Luminous Sword in an open space and showed the power of light, I felt relieved. It had the minimum power I had envisioned.

"...?"

As I was strolling around the campus, I spotted Dorothy on top of a building. Unfortunately, it was difficult to approach her at the current moment.

In her meditation, clusters or stars flickered into existence around her. It was one of the training methods of starlight magic.

I could feel it. Dorothy had increased her meditation time a lot these days.

─ ...Liar.

I remembered the conversation we had in Düpfendorf. Maybe Dorothy increased her training because of me.

I couldn't disturb her, so I watched Dorothy from afar before continuing on my way.

***"Isaac."

"You’ve come."

Luce Eltania returned after completing her training at the Magic Tower. I came out to the academy’s gate to greet her.

A happy smile spread across Luce's face. The sun was shining down on her like a spotlight, making her glow.

She has become much brighter, that gloomy girl.

Compared to the first year, she had noticeably brightened.

What is this… The feeling of being touched?

It was like watching a scene from a drama where a gloomy and devastated daughter overcame her pain and started to interact with people.

"Why do you look like you're about to cry, Isaac?"

"Seeing you grow up so well suddenly made me feel proud..."

"What, are you my dad? That's creepy..."

Luce grumbled and walked beside me.

Of course, you wouldn’t know how I feel.

We headed to the academy dorms.

"You caused quite a stir while I was gone, didn't you?"

"Well, something like that."

Word of Baron Ropenheim's human trafficking incident seemed to have spread throughout the Empire.

The rumors must have reached the Hegel Magic Tower as well.

"You did a good thing."

"In a way."

Luce seemed to have just brought up a topic of conversation and appeared indifferent. For her, it didn't matter who lived or died after all.

"Let's have lunch together after I unpack."

"Sure. I'm hungry."

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"Isaac, you have to stay with me today."

"That's what I was thinking."

"Good answer."

Luce was an outsider whose only relief from loneliness was me. As her only friend, her longing for me was especially intense today, as she hadn't seen me in a while due to her training at the tower.

That longing probably included her fondness for me.

I was also happier than usual to see Luce after a long time. I wanted to spend the day with her as much as possible.

"Ah."

Oh, right.

"Hmm?"

"I have to do mentoring later. Other than that, it's fine."

Luce tilted her head in confusion.

"I thought you didn't mentor during vacation?"

"White is always breaking a sweat to improve her skills day by day. I can't be the only one slacking off. Shouldn't I help sincerely her?"

Of course, I was the one who made it that way. In reality, it was a chorus of White's whining, but she did have a desire to improve, so it was not entirely untrue.

"You're unnecessarily affectionate."

"Thanks for the compliment."

"Can I come along?"

Hmm?

"You want to come along for the mentoring?"

Luce nodded.

"That might be a bit burdensome..."

It was also a bit embarrassing to show how I teach.

"Will I be a hindrance?"

"It's not that..."

"Then I'm going."

Her tone was firm, implying that the answer was already decided and I just needed to say the predetermined answer.

It seemed that Luce had been very lonely at the Magic Tower and didn't want to leave my side, even for a moment.

Luce wasn't the type to shamelessly interfere with mentoring, and it would be difficult to change her mind once she decided to be stubborn.

Luce is normally more skilled than I am.

It may actually be helpful.

I didn't think it would matter much.

"Well, okay then."

"Yeah."

Luce answered calmly before turning her head forward.

***"You released your mana too roughly. It's not enough to just calculate well and construct the magic circle. You need to control your power too. Try again."

"Yes! Hiyah!"

"…Give me your hand. I'll set the frame with my mana, then you channel your mana into it. Yes, get the feel of it, and try to master that feeling by repeating it."

"Yes! Huh…?"

"White?"

The outdoor training ground was a place that was almost deserted during the vacation. Isaac mentored Snow White, while Luce and Merlin watched the mentoring process from a distance.

Suddenly, White felt a chill run down her spine, causing goosebumps to rise.

What is this chilling sensation I've had since earlier...?

It wasn't just a feeling. The chilling sensation seemed to be coming from behind her, from Luce.

Luce was watching the mentoring process with an indifferent expression. However, every time White made physical contact with Isaac, she felt an inexplicable chill from Luce.

Luce, the overwhelming top seat, showed a cold response to everyone except Isaac. She was both admired and feared by her juniors, and White was no exception to such a mindset.

For some reason, even though no conversation had taken place, it felt as if Luce's whispers were echoing in her ears.

Focus solely on the mentoring. Don't have any ulterior motives towards Isaac. Absolutely do not have any ulterior motives.

Given that Luce had already proven effective in blocking the affection of several girls towards Isaac, anyone who didn't measure up to Dorothy, Alice, or Kaya would be hard-pressed not to feel fear under Luce's gaze. At least among the academy's students, such a person would be difficult to find.

Meanwhile, Isaac was so absorbed in teaching that he didn't feel the chill. It was due to his tendency to become completely engrossed in one task from start to finish. In a positive light, it meant he had great concentration; in a negative light, it meant he couldn't multitask.

"Ah, no, it's fine. Let's continue."

"Tell me if you're not feeling well. If you're in pain, resting is the priority."

"Yes... I'll keep that in mind."

White quickly turned her gaze back to Isaac, having briefly looked towards Luce. A bead of cold sweat trickled down her forehead.

Moreover, she was aware of the relationship between Isaac and Luce. It was only natural that she couldn't help but be more conscious of Luce.

"Luce, are you not bored?"

When Isaac suddenly turned to Luce and asked, she smiled beautifully like a heavenly fairy. It was as if flower petals were scattering around her.

The gloomy and heavy atmosphere that only White felt instantly dissipated. It was a dramatic change in expression that was almost frightening.

"It's fine. Watching Isaac teach is quite entertaining."

"Alright then."

When Isaac turned back to White and resumed mentoring, Luce's expression turned cold again.

White felt miserable, unable to say anything to the frightening Luce.

"Hmm."

Isaac realized that White was conscious of Luce.

"Hey, Luce."

"Yeah."

Isaac turned to Luce again. Once more, warmth spread across Luce's face.

"Do you have any tips or something?"

"Tips?"

"Something that might help White. You must have sensed her level too, right? You might be able to help her more effectively than I can."

He was asking her to provide some good tips for nurturing White.

Despite being an archwizard with the terrifying moniker Ice Sovereign, Isaac was a very traditional senior when it came to teaching.

Luce might know of better teaching methods. So, Isaac asking her for help was entirely reasonable to both White and Merlin.

"Something that might help..."

Luce pondered what benefits she might gain from assisting with Isaac's mentoring.

White didn't sit well with her. After winning first place in a beauty contest, she mentioned “liking Isaac” in her victory speech. Girls who pretended to be innocent were usually hiding a cunning nature. Naturally, Luce felt wary.

Moreover, she could reduce the frequency of physical contact between Isaac and White through her teaching methods.

Luce stood up.

"I'll help out a bit."

"...!"

White flinched her shoulders.

Luce approached Isaac. White forced a smile, cold sweat pouring down her face. The rising tension made it impossible for her to meet Luce's eyes.

"Hehe. Lulu, it's an honor that Senior Luce is willing to help...!"

White struggled to come up with a warm comment.

Luce, who used to have severe social anxiety, no longer frowned or emitted a deadly aura as she used to. Living with Isaac had gradually healed her mental wounds.

But that was all. Luce stared at White with eyes like ice and did not respond at all.

Scary...!

White couldn't help but be terrified by the sheer intimidation.

"First of all, your mana mastery is terrible."

Luce spoke coldly while keeping her eyes fixed on Isaac.

"What...? Ah, yes..."

"Your calculation speed is too slow. At the very least, low-level spells should come out immediately. You're like a turtle."

"Turtle..."

"If it were a real battle, you'd be dead while casting."

"Yes..."

"Isaac even made a frame with his mana, but you couldn't channel your mana into it properly. It's proof that your training has been severely lacking."

"Yes..."

"Then."

Luce extended her left arm forward. The black pearl mana stone on the Ring of the Abyssal Queen emitted a gentle light.

Shaa!

Beautifully glowing water formed in the air, each taking on a unique shape. The water shapes multiplied one by one, flying away and creating distance from Luce.

They all took the form of the killer whale magic beast, Bello, except they showed off their bulging muscles in various bodybuilding poses.

Unlike its real form, the muscles being shown off were prominent.

"To create such water magic in a place with no water...!"

White admired Luce's dense mana and precise mana mastery.

Meanwhile, Isaac was bewildered by the sight of dozens of muscular Bellos. Even though they were made of water, it was an overwhelming sight.

"Instead of just shooting randomly, I think it's not a bad idea to time yourself daily on how quickly you can deal with the targets. You can then record your results, and compare them with previous ones. Eventually, your skills will naturally improve."

"Everything sounds good, but... why do the targets look like that?"

"Bello has recently become interested in muscles. It just came to mind suddenly."

Luce recalled the killer whale Bello, who had been doing sit-ups at her desk every day.