The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

“Luce has been training rigorously lately.”

White snow bloomed on the rows of trees in the courtyard.

I met with Dorothy, and we sat on a bench, talking.

I had already heard that while I was unconscious, Luce had sparred a lot with Dorothy and Alice.

It seemed like she was still pushing herself in training.

“Her talent is among the best in this country. She’s bound to get really strong.”

“Yeah, I suppose.”

Lick. Lick.

Dorothy was licking her ice cream with her long tongue.

“By the way, aren’t you cold? Why eat ice cream in the middle of winter…?”

“You don’t get it, President. Ice cream is best enjoyed in winter.”

Dorothy raised her finger triumphantly as she explained.

I didn’t quite understand, but if Dorothy said so, then that was how it was.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Well… you know.”

It seemed like Dorothy had been waiting for me to ask, as she glanced down at her ice cream with a meaningful expression before finally speaking, “Can you tell me about what happened in the Nether?”

As expected, I knew she’d ask me that.

“The truth is, ever since you came back, a lot of things have come into my mind.”

“Huh?”

What does she mean by that?

“President, did you meet me?” she asked as she stared intently at me.

Under her witch’s hat, the usually mischievous eyes donned a serious look.

Taken aback by her unexpected question, I swallowed hard.

“A lot must have happened, right? I mean, obviously.”

“Yeah. I guess you could say that.”

Come to think of it, in the first loop, Dorothy told me not to worry about her going out of control.

There was something I needed to check.

“Senior, can I hold your hand for a moment?”

“Huh? All of a sudden?”

Without waiting for an answer, I took Dorothy’s hand and closed my eyes.

Perhaps because I once attained the level of transcendence and wielded starlight mana, even though I couldn’t control it anymore, I could still sense it.

It’s calm and refined…

It was astonishing.

I could faintly sense the starlight mana of Dorothy from the first loop. I could recognize it because I had used that power myself.

It was holding tightly onto Dorothy’s starlight mana, acting as a safety belt.

She really won’t lose control now.

I opened my eyes and quietly took a breath.

The remnants of the first loop Dorothy’s mana flowed into the Dorothy in front of me.

I didn’t know the exact mechanism.

However, since Lucifer the Morningstar, once used the power to reverse time, perhaps the remnants of the first loop Dorothy’s mana that remained within me had finally returned to where it belonged.

It was better to accept it that way.

I was certain now. This was mana that no longer had the risk of going berserk. The great catastrophe that Dorothy had feared had been averted.

“Nihihihi, President. Did you just want to hold my hand?” Dorothy playfully asked, likely to lighten the mood after seeing my serious expression.

“Senior. I’ll tell you everything.”

“…Okay.”

I told her everything.

The message left by Dorothy from the first loop, and the events in the Nether.

I also told her that there was no longer any chance of her losing control.

Throughout the long story, Dorothy listened attentively without asking a single question.

“So that’s what it was…”

“Does it all make sense?”

“It’s complicated, but I got the important parts.”

When I finally finished, she pulled her witch hat down low, covering her eyes.

“So that’s why you were struggling so much, President.”

“I was just really worried.”

It was all over now.

There wasn’t anything else to do or say.

“I see…”

Dorothy remained silent for a moment. Suddenly, she shoved the rest of the ice cream into her mouth and stood up abruptly.

After swallowing the ice cream, she clutched her freezing head in pain, groaning for a moment before taking a deep breath and loudly shouting, “Ah, it’s so sad!!”

“…!”

Her fists clenched, and her roar echoed like a storm across the courtyard.

“S-Senior?”

Dorothy stood in front of me, looking down. Her lips were trembling as if she was on the verge of tears. She looked pained.

Suddenly, she bent down and hugged my shoulders, her soft cheek pressing against mine.

“W-why are you suddenly…?”

Startled, my voice trembled without me realizing.

“Are you trying to make me sad all the time? Do you want to see me die from a broken heart?”

“Huh? No, no…”

I had no idea why I was getting scolded.

Dorothy released the hug, placed her hands on my shoulders, and looked at me with a tearful yet determined expression.

Her sharply angled eyebrows made it look like she was angry.

“Today, you’re staying with me. I’ve got a lot of pent-up emotions! I’m going to hug you and spoil you completely!”

“All of a sudden?”

“Tell me what you want to eat. I’ll buy you everything! Let’s do everything you want to do today. I’ll grant all your wishes!” Dorothy pleaded earnestly.

“Let me do anything for you, please…!”

“There’s no need for that, though…”

For some reason, Dorothy closed her mouth and half-opened her eyes, glaring at me.

“…President, why did you suddenly have a dirty thought?”

“Stop reading my emotions! You should have chosen your words more carefully, Senior.”

I glared at Dorothy, protesting.

Maybe it was because of the stimulation from Luce last night, but I ended up having inappropriate thoughts without realizing it. It was beyond my control.

It was easy to read someone else’s psychology, but when one’s own mind was being read, it was incredibly embarrassing.

Even if another person reads my psychology, at least don’t say it out loud. That’s the least they can do, right?

Suddenly, Dorothy’s gaze darted around nervously.

“It’s f-fine. I don’t mind. You think I’d be scared? We’re all adults now. So, w-what should we do first?”

“Let’s stop this…”

Dorothy seemed to have steeled herself in a completely misguided direction.

***

“Fascinating. Truly fascinating…!”

As promised, I told Aria Lilias about what had happened in the Nether, in the research lab at the top of Hegel Tower.

She said she had been eagerly waiting for that story ever since I lost consciousness.

Seeing such a passionate reaction from Aria for the first time was quite surprising. I hadn’t known she could get this excited and smile like that.

Aria quickly recorded the story I told her with a book and pen through telekinesis.

“…?”

Huh?

“Did you just write in the declarative?”

“…What are you talking about?”

Aria, who had quickly regained her composure, nonchalantly feigned ignorance.

“You said ‘Good,’ didn’t you? You wrote in the declarative form, right?”

“You misheard.”

I remembered hearing something like this from one of the Hegel Tower staff.

Apparently, Aria thought ending her sentences with “thing” made her seem rational and intellectual.

It seemed that in her excitement, she had momentarily forgotten the persona she had carefully maintained.

She closed the floating book with her telekinesis and placed it into an elegant case.

“Anyway, what are your plans now?”

“You’re just going to let that slide…”

Better not ask further.

After a brief moment of thought, I answered with a smile, “The plan is still the same. I have to defeat the Evil God.”

Aria stored the case in the safe with her telekinesis and stared intently at me.

The sunlight from outside illuminated Aria’s emotionless face.

“Isaac.”

“Yes.”

“I’m on your side. If you need help, just let me know.”

She adjusted her glasses and smiled kindly.

“Thank you, Teacher.”

***

“We will now begin the Märchen Academy graduation ceremony.”

As winter break came to an end, the subtle signs of spring began to appear.

Most students who had left the academy during the break could return straight to the second campus. Their belongings that were left at the academy had already been organized and moved by the faculty.

The second campus was far from the main first campus on the island, located in the middle of the continent.

After the large-scale relocation, the graduation ceremony was held in the plaza of the second campus, where flower petals fluttered through the air.

Dorothy Heartnova, the top seat of the third-year class, stepped up as the representative and read her speech.

“…We swear here today, as members of Märchen Academy, to contribute to the advancement of the world.”

Seeing Dorothy, who had swapped her witch’s hat for a graduation cap and wore a graduation robe, was unexpectedly touching.

As the ceremony ended, the plaza became lively.

The plaza, filled with gifts and bouquets, was crowded with the families of graduates, underclassmen, and upperclassmen all taking pictures together.

“President, I’ll be graduating first!”

Amid the crowd, Dorothy floated several bouquets with her starlight mana, flashing me a V-sign with her fingers and smiling brightly. She looked absolutely radiant.

I smiled brightly, while Luce beside me had a sulky expression.

“Congratulations, Senior. You’re officially unemployed now.”

“Finally leaving, huh? It was annoying being around you. Let’s not see each other again.”

“Nihihi, you cheeky brats are being obnoxious, huh?”

Dorothy seemed to be in a very good mood.

“And by the way, your Big Sis here is only graduating early. I’ll still be staying at the academy for now. I’m not leaving for good.”

“…Tch.”

“Nyahaha! Look at you clicking your tongue! So annoying!”

Dorothy pointed at Luche, who turned her head away in disappointment and laughed heartily.

“Hey, Baby.”

“Oh, Alice.”

Alice Carroll, dressed in her graduation gown, approached me. She, too, was floating several bouquets using telekinesis.

Dorothy and Luce glared at Alice, but Alice only smiled brightly and looked at me.

“Here, take this. I was talking to the former student council, so I’m a bit late giving this to you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

I handed the bouquet I was holding to Alice, and she accepted it with a soft smile.

She didn’t float my bouquet with her telekinesis like the others but held it dearly in her arms.

“It’s beautiful… I’m so happy, thank you.”

Alice blushed and smiled innocently.

With bouquets everywhere, it was more stifling than beautiful.

As expected from the two most popular people in the academy, they had received countless bouquets.

“How cliché.”

“Tch, vixen.”

“I can hear you, girls.”

When Dorothy and Luce glared at Alice and made snide remarks, Alice laughed and lightly scolded them.

I wondered when these girls would ever get along. Could they even become friends in the first place? I couldn’t tell, so I could only smile wryly.

When the four of us gathered, the attention of the surrounding students turned to us. Neither Dorothy’s friends nor the student council that served Alice dared to approach, just watching from afar.

“So, you’re graduating too.”

“Yeah, thanks to you, Baby,” Alice answered, still gazing at the bouquet I gave her with a flushed face.

I recalled the time when we had fought with our lives on the line.

Originally meant to die in the「Alice Subjugation」, she had somehow survived and was now standing here in her graduation gown.

A smile eventually crept onto my lips.

Seeing Dorothy and Alice graduate together warmed my heart.

“Hey, Baby. Lend me your ear for a second.”

Alice leaned in close to my ear and whispered so softly that even Luce couldn’t hear, “Do you want to live together, Master? I’ll serve you for the rest of my life.”

Her sultry tone and warm breath tickled my ears, sending a pleasant shiver up my spine.

She’s too good at flirting.

“…I don’t accept freeloaders.”

I pushed Alice’s forehead with my finger.

Alice let out a soft “Ah” as her head was pushed back, but she quickly smiled playfully as she rubbed her forehead.

“Isaac, what did she say?”

“She just told me a funny joke.”

Luce glared at Alice suspiciously and asked me, but I gave a vague answer.

“What did you say, Alice?”

“Nothing special. Oh, Dorothy.”

Alice smiled and approached Dorothy, linking arms with her.

“What are you doing?”

Dorothy flinched in surprise, but Alice paid no mind.

“Why don’t we move in together?”

“What?”

“You’re staying here anyway, right? I thought it’d be nice if we lived together. I think it would be fine with you.”

There was something off about Alice’s behavior.

Come to think of it…

From what I’ve seen so far, Alice always stepped in to mediate whenever it looked like the girls I was close to were about to fight, trying to bring harmony between them.

How should I put it? She’s like the mother figure.

But those two in particular never seemed to get along…

Yet from time to time, Alice would approach Dorothy nonchalantly, trying to show affection. Could it be some form of grudging fondness?

“Nihihi.”

Dorothy laughed nonchalantly as she looked at Alice.

“Have I gone crazy? What’s your reason for spouting such nonsense? Since when did you ever like me?”

“Oh dear, how pitiful… Our lovely Dorothy can’t seem to understand even when I’m being nice, can she?”

Ah. Is she suggesting they live together in case Mephisto might attack?

Even so, I just couldn’t imagine the two of them living together.

“No! Why would I do that?! Get away from me!”

“Such a cute reaction. Hehe.”

Dorothy displayed her wariness like a hissing cat, trying to free her arm from Alice’s grasp, but Alice wouldn’t let go easily.

On such a nice day, it seemed neither of them wanted to escalate to using magic, so they only struggled physically.

Their squabble seemed more like a normal argument between two women, making their reputation as the two powerhouses of Märchen Academy feel irrelevant.

“So, what are you two going to do now?”

When I asked that question, Dorothy and Alice stopped their tussle and looked at me.

“Hmm… I haven’t really thought about anything other than living with you, Baby.”

Alice gazed upward in thought, while Luce glared at her, emanating a threatening aura.

“I already have something in mind!”

Dorothy placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest, boasting proudly, which made us all turn our attention to her.

She giggled with a bright, mischievous smile.

***

“Haa…”

Eve Ropenheim. 20 years old.

Dressed in her graduation gown, she sat hunched over in a dark alley between buildings by the plaza, sighing heavily.

Her graduation cap sat precariously on her head, as if it could fall off at any moment, but she was too consumed by her sadness to care.

When she turned her head, she could see the people in the center of the plaza, attracting everyone’s attention. They shone brightly under the radiant sunlight.

Among them, the one who shone the brightest was, of course, her brother Isaac.

“Isaac…”

Her friends had already left with their families.

Isaac was shining so brightly that Eve couldn’t even approach him, and he was surrounded by extraordinary geniuses, people she could never hope to rival. It filled her with inferiority.

Despite carrying the Ropenheim name, none of the family welcomed Eve, and there was no one to congratulate her on her graduation.

Maybe this is just how it’s supposed to be?

Eve buried her head in her knees.

Without a doubt, she wished Isaac would remember that she was also graduating and come to her.

Eve believed there was an unbridgeable gap between her and Isaac. Especially on a day like this, she found it impossible to approach him due to the emotional distance between them.

She thought that Isaac only took care of her out of obligation. If it were her, she wouldn’t even look at a sister like herself.

She didn’t even have a bouquet. Eve thought she belonged in a gloomy corner, away from everyone.

“Sis, what are you doing here?”

“…!”

Not long after, the voice she had wanted to hear suddenly rang out, and Eve jerked her head up in surprise.

Under the sunlight, Isaac was looking at her with a surprised expression.

“What are you doing on a day like this? Are you being a loner?”

“Isaac…? Ah!”

Isaac grabbed Eve’s hand and pulled her out into the sunlight.

The bright sunlight illuminated Eve’s pale face, and now she could see Isaac’s radiant and lovable face even closer.

Isaac knew that Eve had endured painful days.

He couldn’t fully grasp how much guilt she had felt for pushing him away for his sake, but now, none of that mattered anymore.

“You did well. Congratulations on graduating.”

Isaac handed Eve a large bouquet of flowers.

She carefully accepted the bouquet, looking dazed for a while.

“I’ll follow you next year. Let’s live together then.”

“Huh…?”

Eve’s eyes widened in surprise.

Isaac knew she had nowhere to go at the moment.

Just as she had vowed to take care of him, Isaac had decided to do the same for her.

“R-really? Is it okay for you to stay with someone like me…?”

Eve’s body trembled with joy, and she became so overwhelmed that tears welled up in her eyes.

“What do you mean, ‘someone like you’…? We’re family, of course, we should stay together,” Isaac replied as if he found her words ridiculous, and Eve smiled brightly, wiping the tears that had quietly gathered in her eyes.

“If that’s the reason… hehe, I guess I’ll have to get ready to move.”

The two of them laughed quietly together.

That day, they took many pictures together.

In every photo, Eve was smiling happily.