The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Late at night, I laid in bed next to Hilde, who had transformed into her small dragon form.

The dark ceiling filled my vision. My mind drifted through various thoughts.

The contents of the book left by Dorothy Gale.

Aria Lilia’s secret.

The game developer, Higgs.

The system.

The unknown entity within me.

The message left by the Primordial Ice Sovereign for Hilde.

Each of these questions felt like a step in a series of processes leading to a conclusion.

Hilde leaned against me and murmured in her sleep.

The message she conveyed to me further muddled my already chaotic mind.

But no matter how much I tried to organize my thoughts, I couldn’t find any answers, and I only kept sighing.

Tap tap.

Suddenly, a bird with a bag flew to the window and tapped on the glass. It was V, the messenger bird.

V was a docile magic beast used by those in urgent need to send letters quickly.

I got out of bed and opened the window. V pulled out a letter from its bag with its large beak and handed it to me.

After receiving the letter, V squawked and flew away.

I examined the seal on the envelope.

“...It’s here.”

The seal of the Hegel Magic Tower.

This letter was from Aria Lilias.

***The Imperial Magic Tower was shaped like a city, with the central tower sprawling outwards.

At the heart of the towering main building of the Imperial Magic Tower, Aria Lilias had rented an entire laboratory to devote herself to her research.

The Academic Forum of the Imperial Magic Tower was held spontaneously and was held once a week for about two months.

The primary attendees were the masters of Magic Towers. Among them, only about twenty who were recognized for their abilities attended the forum.

In preparation for her presentation, Aria focused on exploring the research disclosed by other Tower Masters in previous forums.

During this time, a wizard from the Imperial Magic Tower visited her laboratory.

It was an hour before she sent the letter to Isaac.

“Tower Master Lilias, you have been summoned.”

“Summoned?”

The wizard of the Imperial Magic Tower wore an elegant robe with gold trimmings.

As a member of the Zelver Empire, the authority held by the Master of the Imperial Magic Tower was immense. The person who summoned Aria must undoubtedly be the Imperial Tower Master.

Aria followed the wizard to the office of the Imperial Tower Master. She thought the room was far too luxurious for one person to occupy.

Sitting in the center of the office in a chair was an elderly female wizard with long white hair. She was the Imperial Tower Master, Johanna Calix.

Aria stood before Johanna and bowed her head respectfully.

“We have two matters to discuss.”

Without returning the greeting, Johanna went straight to the point. She disliked unnecessarily wasting time.

Aria, familiar with her manner, raised her head without much of a reaction.

“First, why have you not reported the research you are conducting in secret to the Imperial Magic Tower?”

Aria tried to maintain a calm expression, but Johanna noticed the fleeting tremble in her eyes.

“...Because it’s not a major project.”

Aria was on guard.

Had she been found out?

She was dealing with the Imperial Tower Master. It wasn’t surprising if she had found out somehow.

The problem was what action Johanna would take.

“The law states that ‘small-scale personal research does not need to be reported.’ However… are you sure this is truly small-scale research?”

“In my judgment, it is.”

Aria evasively responded to Johanna’s interrogation.

“I see… I’ll keep that in mind for now. But be aware that if it turns out your research exceeds the established criteria, you may face punishment depending on its nature.”

“…”

It was a warning.

The Imperial Magic Tower desired to monopolize information. Unless the research was something trivial, all research conducted in any Magic Tower within the Empire was controlled and managed by the Imperial Magic Tower.

A single genius could bring about miracles that change the era. They wish to control such miracles.

In that sense, the Imperial Magic Tower was undoubtedly wary of Aria’s research.

Aria realized that they had not yet discovered what her research was about.

The Imperial Magic Tower must have detected subtle and strange mana blending into nature near the Hegel Tower. That was Aria’s mistake.

However, if the Imperial Magic Tower had the authority, they could investigate the Hegel Tower immediately. Why hadn’t Johanna done so?

The answer soon became clear.

“And secondly.”

Johanna took out an envelope.

“A letter has arrived for you.”

“A letter…? Why is it with Tower Master Calix?”

“Because the sender is the Ice Sovereign.”

It was Isaac.

Aria couldn’t understand why Isaac would send her a letter.

“In typical circumstances, letters are not allowed in the Imperial Magic Tower for security reasons. However, since the Ice Sovereign’s business needs to be prioritized, I personally took the time to examine it.”

“How did you confirm it was from the Ice Sovereign?”

“It was identified as being from Isaac of Märchen Academy. By detecting the fingerprints on the envelope, such things are quickly known. The Academy-related information within the Empire is shared with our Tower.”

The Imperial Magic Tower could detect and compare fingerprints.

Johanna lightly shook the envelope.

“What I checked was whether the Ice Sovereign had placed any spell on this envelope, and it turned out that it was just an ordinary letter.”

“...What does it say?”

“Nothing much. It just asks you to return to Märchen Academy as soon as possible. Here you go.”

With an expressionless face, Aria approached Johanna.

As Johanna was about to hand over the letter, she suddenly leaned in closer to Aria.

“You… aren’t involved in something with the Ice Sovereign, are you?”

The reason why the Imperial Magic Tower couldn’t easily investigate Hegel Tower, or deliberately didn’t, was clear.

Even with the power of the Empire behind them, someone they couldn’t touch was closely connected with Aria.

That someone was the Ice Sovereign.

If Aria’s research were dangerous, the Ice Sovereign would have noticed and wouldn’t have let it be.

He was known as the most powerful archwizard among mankind.

For wizards with a strong desire for intellectual exploration, it was natural to take an interest in the Ice Sovereign, and Johanna was no exception.

Would Aria be an exception? Certainly not.

Therefore, it was only natural to suspect that the Ice Sovereign and Aria might be conducting some secret research together.

Aria showed a displeased expression.

“It’s not like that. I don’t know why the Ice Sovereign is looking for me.”

Johanna scrutinized Aria’s expression.

She wasn’t lying.

“...I see.”

Johanna handed over the envelope and Aria put it in her robe pocket.

“The Imperial decree is to follow the Ice Sovereign’s wishes as much as possible.”

Johanna straightened Aria’s robe collar.

“Return, Aria Lilias.”

Aria nodded, bowed, and left the office.

Back in her laboratory, Aria read the letter and quickly wrote a reply.

The letter was delayed because it was inspected by the Imperial Magic Tower.

I will depart at dawn.

She sent the reply to Märchen Academy through the messenger bird, V.

Although the distance was great and the cost would be high, she didn’t want to delay her response to the Ice Sovereign.

***The next morning.

Aria, having packed her belongings, departed the Imperial Magic Tower by carriage.

“What on earth is that?”

“…?”

Aria sensed a familiar mana and suspicion, so she opened the carriage window to look outside.

Around ten Düpfendorf soldiers were forming a line around the carriage.

Each one of them possessed a power more formidable than the Hegel Tower Master, Aria Lilias.

[Greetings, Tower Master.]

Morcan, the captain of the knights in platinum armor, approached the carriage window and saluted.

Aria stared at Morcan with wide eyes.

“Is this an order from the Ice Sovereign?”

[Yes, he ordered us to escort you safely to your destination.]

The entry procedures for the Imperial Magic Tower were rigid.

It was the center of information and a symbol of knowledge of the Empire.

Even though the Düpfendorf soldiers, as allies, were permitted to roam within the Empire, entering the Imperial Magic Tower rashly would have caused conflict with the Imperial Authorities.

Thus, the Düpfendorf soldiers had waited outside the Tower to meet Aria.

“...Heh.”

Aria smiled contentedly.

Having someone like the Ice Sovereign send his subordinates to take care of her put her in a good mood.

“I’ll be counting on you.”

[Yes!]

Morcan saluted again and joined the formation.

Aria turned her gaze back toward the Imperial Magic Tower.

Are you watching, Imperial Tower Master?

This is my backing.

The carriage, accompanied by Düpfendorf soldiers, set off for Märchen Academy.

Meanwhile, Johanna Calix, the Imperial Tower Master, watched the scene from her office through the Tower’s external surveillance network.

The Düpfendorf soldiers had stepped in to escort Aria.

This was clear evidence that Aria was under the protection of the Ice Sovereign.

Although the escort comprised only ten soldiers, the Imperial Magic Tower’s mana detection system easily sensed the immense mana they possessed.

Even these soldiers were just a small part of Düpfendorf’s formidable military force.

Düpfendorf was known as the Ice Kingdom with powerful military capabilities.

The one they served as King was the current Ice Sovereign, Isaac.

The Ice Sovereign’s movements would hold terrifying influence and could easily alter the political landscape.

“Surely…”

It was truly threatening, Johanna realized.

Meanwhile, in the direction of Märchen Academy.

“Father, we have arrived…”

The carriage of the Astrea Duchy passed through the guard post and entered Märchen Academy.

Inside the carriage, Kaya reported in a low, timid voice.

Gerald Astrea, who had his eyes closed, slowly opened them.