The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter
Chapter 359: Side Story — Academy Visit

“My lord, Lady Luce. This is for you.”

It was something that happened in the past.

While spending time with Luce in the garden, an interesting letter was delivered.

Below the letter, the date and location of the meeting were written.

“A reunion? It seems our batch is having one as well.”

Come to think of it, I heard Dorothy and Eve’s batch had a reunion last year.

Is it our turn this time?

“Luce, are you going?”

“I’m not.”

“Why not?”

“It seems bothersome. And I’m busy too.”

It seemed Luce had made up her mind as soon as she saw the sender.

Well, it’s Luce, so that’s to be expected.

Luce didn’t really try to get close to anyone except me.

She’d only feel awkward mingling with her peers anyway.

Ah.

Come to think of it, who sent Luce the letter? Was it Amy?

“So, what does your letter say?”

“Just politely. It seems like someone from the Holloway Count’s household sent it.”

Was it someone from the Count’s family who wrote it?

It seemed Amy personally wrote the letter and had it delivered to me at Düpfendorf.

Well, Amy and Luce weren’t close at all, after all.

“Are you going?”

I nodded.

“Of course. I want to hang out with everyone.”

“That makes sense. Isaac has lots of friends besides me.”

…She seemed a bit upset.

Still, at least she wasn’t as sharp as she was during our academy days.

“Haha.”

It was something I could easily brush off with a light laugh.

I wonder if Kaya will go too.

It was unlikely.

I heard she had been busy training under her parents because of career-related matters lately.

“Have a good time.”

Luce rested her chin on her hand and stared at me steadily.

The glow of the sunset settled over her gentle smile.

“Isaac, you’ve worked hard, so make sure to have fun.”

“Yeah, well…”

I wasn’t sure why it felt like Luce was giving her permission, but I decided to just be thankful.

Tomorrow was the day of the reunion.

Since I planned to spend three days at Märchen Academy, I decided to leave today.

I wanted to see White again after a long time and take a look around the academy.

“The carriage?”

“I’m not taking it. I’ll just go like an ordinary person,” I answered Dorothy, who had come to see me off with her courtiers, with a smile.

If I take the carriage, I’ll need to bring Escort soldiers, the journey will take longer, and it’ll just be a hassle…

At first, Grand Regent Richard insisted that sending me without an escort, like Frost Knight Morcan, would damage my dignity, but I firmly refused.

I just wanted to go as an ordinary alumnus. That was also why I made an effort to dress neatly in casual attire.

Shall I go then?

I pressed down the fedora on my head and summoned my transportation.

“Hilde.”

Fwoooosh!!

A fierce pale blue light emanated from my wrist, and as pure white mana gathered in the air, a white dragon was summoned.

The fierce, cold gusts made the hem of my robe flap violently.

Thud.

The Frost Dragon, Hilde, landed on the ground with a display of majestic authority.

“Take me to the academy.”

[Leave it to me.]

I swiftly leaped onto the Frost Dragon’s back.

Snap!

I casually used ice magic to secure my luggage to the side.

“I’ll be back!”

I smiled and bid farewell to the people who had come to see me off, and the Frost Dragon took to the skies with a powerful flap of her wings.

Beautiful sparkling particles, like snowflakes, scattered in all directions.

Soon, the Frost Dragon burst forth with pale blue mana from her wings like jet propulsion, soaring rapidly toward the academy.

This speed feels nice.

I had grown used to the intense air resistance by now. It was simply refreshing.

[Master.]

“Yes?”

While soaring across the sky, the Frost Dragon spoke to me.

[Are you planning to meet White first when you get to the academy?]

“Yeah, that’s why I’m going a day earlier than the reunion.”

[Hmm…]

“What is it?”

It looked like she had some complaints.

Thankfully, the Frost Dragon didn’t hesitate to share her thoughts.

[It seems like you have been spending much less time playing with me these days. Now that you are finally free from your endless work, are you not planning to stay at the academy? If not, I will be so very bored again, and I just do not know how to deal with it.]

“I guess I haven’t been paying much attention lately… But why are you always bored?”

[The word bored even has ‘very’ attached to it. I’d like you to take this seriously.]

The Frost Dragon grumbled in a calm tone, like a refined young lady.

“Hmm…”

Come to think of it, I hadn’t petted the Frost Dragon recently. Hilde must have been yearning for my touch.

That was understandable.

I leaned forward and gently stroked the Frost Dragon’s back from my seat.

[Heheh…]

The Frost Dragon let out a reflexive chuckle.

She quickly stopped laughing and cleared her throat with an exaggerated cough.

[Did you think I would be happy just because you are petting me now?]

“I’ll pet you more later. How about that?”

[…No objections.]

A subtle, delicate chuckle escaped from the Frost Dragon’s large mouth.

At last, the Frost Dragon reached the end of the Landbridge leading to Märchen Academy.

Merchants hauling wagons and guards stationed at the checkpoint stared at me, their eyes wide and mouths agape as if time had stopped.

It was a natural reaction; to ordinary people, the Frost Dragon, Hilde, would appear immensely intimidating.

Thud!

As the Frost Dragon landed on the ground, I gracefully dismounted.

“Thank you.”

[If you are so thankful, I would appreciate a good petting later…]

As much as you’d like.

I responded with a smile and gently stroked the Frost Dragon’s head. She gave me a smile full of anticipation before being reverse-summoned.

“…Huh?”

I was greeted by the heavy stares of passersby.

“Graduates are free to come and go as they please. Just attach this where it’s visible.”

The guard handed me a badge, which was given to approved visitors for entry.

After noting down my plan to stay at the academy for three days, I stepped onto the campus.

It must be the middle of the second semester.

Until my second year, Märchen Academy strictly barred external visitors during the semester as part of its closed educational policy, but it had since shifted to a more moderately open system.

Thanks to this, entry was permitted during the semester under certain conditions.

I pressed down my fedora. It would be bothersome if passing students recognized me.

Bartos Hall is… over there.

The first place I headed to was Bartos Hall, boasting a pristine exterior. It was once the site of an Evil God’s resurrection and had since been rebuilt as a new structure.

I went there and located the academic office.

“I’m a graduate. I’d like to observe a class,” I said as I handed my graduation certificate to the staff member.

As an A-Class graduate, I was more than qualified to observe some A-Class classes.

While I could use imperial authority to get a free pass for anything, I didn’t want to do that during this visit as a graduate.

“Yes, please wait a moment…” the staff member responded in a formal tone while examining my graduation certificate, but then suddenly widened her eyes in shock.

The staff member quickly raised her head to look at my face.

She immediately got out of her chair, knelt on one knee, and bowed her head.

“Y-Your Majesty, it’s an honor to meet you!”

I still felt uncomfortable whenever people called me “Your Majesty” and made such a fuss. It was something I needed to get used to soon.

I gave a gentle smile.

“I’m just here as a graduate. Please, lift your head and carry on with your duties.”

“Y-yes, of course!”

The staff member quickly returned to their seat.

“Which class would you like to observe?”

“Third-year A-Class in Magic Department.”

“Understood…! Your eligibility has been verified.”

The faculty member used telekinesis to move several quills, swiftly completing the administrative process and handed me an “observe” badge.

I pinned it to my chest.

“The next class for the third-year A-Class in Magic Department is a joint training with the first-years. You’ll need to head this way.”

The faculty member levitated a pen with telekinesis and pointed to a location on the academy map.

A joint training with the first-years, huh…?

I knew what that was.

Although I barely attended academy classes during my third year due to special privileges, I still remembered it from playing ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

That class was a practical session designed for first-year students, where third-year A-Class students or B-Class Honour students acted as role models and guides. It could essentially be considered a first-year class.

“Well then.”

“Have a great time!”

I politely bid farewell and left the office.

White will probably be surprised to see me, right?

The corners of my lips lifted slightly.

White, my mentee, had made it to the third year and risen to A-Class.

How commendable…

I was truly looking forward to seeing what an excellent honors student she had become.

I want to see her soon.

I pressed down my fedora and walked along the path. Thanks to it, the students in uniforms passing by didn’t seem to recognize me, likely assuming I was just a guest from outside.

Still, many students glanced at me sideways. Among them, the female students’ gazes carried a sense of romantic interest. It was probably due to my well-developed physique, thanks to [Physical Training Efficiency].

I ignored them and hastened my steps toward my destination.

“Did they say Princess Snow White was giving a demonstration today?”

“That’s what I heard.”

By then, more students in Magic Department shawls were walking along the path.

From a group of female students, I suddenly heard the name “White”.

These kids all seem to be first-years.

I identified their year by the red brooches on their ribbons.

Since we seemed to be heading in the same direction, I deliberately kept a reasonable distance behind the female students who had mentioned White and eavesdropped on their conversation.

“Ugh, is it really okay for my insignificant eyes to behold the wind magic of someone as noble as Princess White? Is it truly okay!?”

“Don’t be so dramatic…”

“Dramatic? Our Princess Snow White is stunningly beautiful, overwhelmingly charismatic, incredibly intelligent, and her magic skills are absolutely top-tier. She’s so intellectual, you’d fall for her even if you’re a girl…! Anyway, she’s just that amazing!”

“Yeah, yeah…”

“Ah, I’m so excited… Her wind element makes me so happy…!”

Passionate. Is this girl some kind of otaku?

The words she used didn’t quite match White’s image, but it seemed White was respected by her juniors nonetheless.

Other students were also mentioning the names of third-year A-Class students like White or Miya.

Suddenly, memories of mentoring sessions with White floated softly in my mind, bringing a smile to my lips.

“As you all know, today we’ll be conducting a joint training with the most skilled seniors among the third years. Here, we’ll focus on wind element magic.”

Training ground.

The professor gestured behind him.

“The target is that specially crafted structure over there. It’s very sturdy. Furthermore, the goal is to hit the tiny gaps in the structure. Without excellent mana control, this is a difficult task. Before you try, your A-Class senior will demonstrate, so watch closely and take notes. Snow White, step forward.”

At the professor’s call, a girl with pure white hair stepped into the training area.

Her cold and haughty face exuded elegant and noble dignity.

Her straight posture and confident strides were a testament to her high self-assurance.

Both male and female students watched the demonstration student with eyes full of admiration.

“She’s so cool, Senior White… Her charisma is insane…”

“My goodness…”

“How can she be so beautiful…”

Fwoosh.

The demonstration student lightly moved her hand and elegantly flipped her hair.

At this, sighs of admiration escaped from the first-year students.

As expected, she carried herself like the princess of the nation and the academy’s top honors student.

Third-year A-Class student in Magic Department, Snow White.

She stood next to the professor.

“This student is Snow White, one of the top honors students of the third-year A-Class in the Magic Department. Her wind magic will serve as an exemplary model for the wind magic you’ll strive to achieve. Think of her as a living textbook and study her closely. Everyone, focus and watch carefully. White, get ready.”

“Haa…”

White let out a small sigh.

“What’s the matter?”

“It just looks too easy.”

White shrugged her shoulders.

Her confident demeanor appeared to the first-years as the composure of a true master.

“Well, it might indeed be too simple for you… Go ahead and show them.”

“Alright, sure.”

White raised their arm toward the training area and wrapped their mana around the specially designed target.

Whoosh!

Light green wind mana swirled fiercely.

The first-year students watching felt the dense mana on their skin and were filled with admiration.

“Wow…”

“Amazing…”

Goosebumps ran down the first-year students’ bodies. As their murmurs of admiration filled the air, White deployed a wind-element magic circle.

Each line etched into the magic circle was extraordinarily intricate. It was a combination that most first-years wouldn’t even dare to attempt constructing.

Surely, it required an advanced level of mana control, yet White remained utterly composed.

“Hmph”.

She simply let out a relaxed smile.

“Eek!”

“Did you hear her just now? She’s so cool…!”

“Look at how composed she is. With such intricate stroke composition, it must be incredibly difficult to manage the mana! She’s amazing!”

The first-year students were in a frenzy of excitement. White had perfectly hit on the charm points that drove her juniors wild.

Meanwhile, White was absorbed in her own mana.

They’re impressed by just this?

It was a brief moment when she didn’t need to be wary of her mentor, Isaac, the most powerful person in the world.

White wanted to be seen as seasoned and charismatic, like her senior, Luce.

If Isaac and Luce, who knew her true self, had seen this, she would have wanted to crawl into a hole in embarrassment. But they had already graduated, so there was no need to worry about anyone’s gaze.

Moreover, she was someone who had achieved the incredible feat of entering A-Class.

The days when she was the bottom-ranking crybaby of D-Class had become a victim of time, buried in the dark past.

There was no issue with her improving her image however much she wanted.

Am I just too cool?

So, the academy now was White’s world.

She was no different from the protagonist.

…However.

“Wow. That’s amazing, White!”

“…Huh?”

Amid the many exclamations of admiration from the first-years, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.

Instinctively, White’s eyes widened, and she turned her head sharply without thinking.

Beyond the students, in the very back, stood a man not in uniform, watching White with a bright smile.

When she saw him, White swallowed a gasp.

“Ah.”

He hadn’t expected White to notice him, so he clamped his mouth shut.

He had been so impressed with White that his praise had slipped out without him realizing.

He had thought it would get lost amid the cheers of the first-years, but he now realized how careless he had been.

But there was no turning back time. His presence had already been noticed by White.

“Ah, Senior Isaac…? Why are you here…?”

He was none other than Isaac, an unprecedented Archwizard and White’s mentor.

“Eek…!”

White felt heat rising to her face.

A wave of intense doubt and shame crashed over her as she recalled how arrogant she had been.

Memories of her pathetic self crying during Isaac’s mentoring sessions flashed through her mind.

White’s confident, composed expression and her focus on wielding mana crumbled in an instant.

Whoosh…

Her wind mana dispersed feebly, leaving the practice room in silence.

The first-year students looked at White with puzzled expressions.

“Huuh…?”

Overwhelmed with shock, a pathetic sound slipped out of White’s mouth.

It was the moment when the carefully maintained image of the top honors senior crumbled.