The Weakest of the Academy Became a Strong Hunter Only Against Demons.

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The strategy for the sub-event 「Territorial Fight」 was more simple than one might expect.

All one needed to do was hit Verga's left rib. That was his weak point.

A while ago, he was critically struck at that exact spot when he fought against Erica Hellraud, the leader of the Four Constellation's Black Tiger.

Not to toot my own horn, but ever since his defeat to Erica, Verga had been putting immense effort into his training.

Either way, I gained some valuable EXP.

'I could partial summon with Eden as well.'

A few days ago, I reached maximum [Synchronization] with Eden, my golem familiar.

Thanks to that, I was able to practice partial summoning a few times during training, but this was the first time I had actually used it in combat.

'I certainly felt like the power of my punch had increased.'

Partial summoning allowed me to emulate my familiar's abilities, thus expanding my tactical options.

The utility of it was a matter of personal preference, but I remembered it being quite versatile in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

The biggest advantage was that it consumed only half the mana compared to fully summoning the familiar.

"I want to master partial summoning with Hilde by the end of the second semester."

The mana consumption of summoning Hilde was quite burdensome.

If I could use partial summoning, I could use Hilde's power much more efficiently.

With that thought in mind, I arrived at the Magic Department's classrooms after my morning walk.

While stepping through the hallway, I released mana through a magic tool resembling a handgrip.

"I heard Verga Rayphelt was absolutely demolished!"

I suddenly heard the excited voices of my seniors.

"I heard he was beaten by a freshman. A Class C student at that."

"I saw it yesterday! The freshman had rock magic covering his arm, and he knocked Verga out with a single punch!"

"It wasn't a normal duel. If they just fought, wouldn't it be obvious that Verga would win?"

"You idiot, were you not listening? It was said that a student from the Magic Department defeated Verga with his fists! Does that even sound possible to you?"

I could understand their exaggerated reactions.

Among the elite members of the Four Constellations, Verga was well-known for his strength.

The fact that the Knight Department's Verga Rayphelt lost to me, a Class C student from the Magic Department, was shocking and sparked gossip among the students.

Well, it would die down soon enough. At least, that was how it was like in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

As I entered the Class C classroom, I felt the students' curious gazes. The reason was probably related to the gossip I had overheard on my way here.

I took a seat right in the middle as I usually did.

"Look at him, strutting around as if he accomplished something."

Brown short hair and a red rose hairpin.

Rose Red Rivera, a fellow Class C student, glanced at me along with a group of male students simping for her.

She spoke with a slightly amused tone as if intentionally letting me hear. She was probably trying to discredit my duel with Verga.

She must have really hated me to grasp at straws like this. I couldn't help but admire her persistent determination to consistently put me down.

Still, she didn't confront me directly, which probably meant that all the times I had destroyed her made her take more of a passive attitude in front of me.

'It's a bit hard to react to her even if I wanted to…'

It honestly would've been better if she dissed me to my face because it would've been less childish than this.

Even so, I now looked forward to the question of, 'What kind of insults will she come up with today?' I couldn't believe I got this point. It seems like every day, we stray further from God.

"Senior Verga simply received that man's full-power attack, face-on without any trickery. Isn't it too much to act all high and mighty after winning like that? What an embarrassment."

Surprisingly, I was my usual self today.

However, because of Rose's low self-esteem, it seemed like I had become cocky in her point of view.

"If it was just a regular duel, that guy would have been crushed like a bug. Senior Verga is not an opponent he could ever beat fairly. Clearl-"

"Isaac."

At that moment, a graceful girl with rose-gold hair walked into Class C.

She brushed past Rose and headed towards me.

Rose's two eyes started shaking, as the girl's elegant presence caused the chattering voices of the students to quickly subside.

Anyone would be captivated to the point of awe by her beauty.

She had a bright smile on her face as she called my name. Her charming voice sounded like scattered moonlight.

"Hey. Good weather today, right?"

She greeted me with her usual dull greeting.

It was a Class A student, Luce Eltania.

[Luce Eltania]Lv: 154Race: HumanElements: Water, LightningDanger: XPsychology: [Delighted to see you.]

As Luce casually took a seat next to me, Rose froze up like an ice statue.

"Luce? Is your training at the Magic Tower finished?"

I already knew the answer, but I asked out of courtesy.

Luce serenely nodded.

"You worked hard. But why are you here all of a sudden?"

"Because I missed you."

As always, Luce dismissed any emotional, social, and psychological barriers with her dramatic manner of speaking.

The students flinched in surprise. To others, our conversation might have sounded like that of lovers, and it was understandable to be startled when hearing it.

The rumors about the special relationship between the top seat and me were pretty blatantly talked about in public amongst the freshmen of the Magic Department. As such, it wasn't anything new for me either.

Of course, we should avoid becoming the center of attention regardless of such rumors.

After Luce already saw that our every action was too noticeable, she stopped caring entirely.

"I was busy these days, remember?"

After the joint practical evaluation, Luce was stuck at Hegel Magic Tower because of her short-term probation.

A few days ago, I saw her figure from afar, wearing round glasses and a Hegel Magic Tower robe.

Even while walking, I saw her studying the papers in her hands. Seeing this, I realized how much work ethic and passion someone needed to become a Tower Master.

"Lady Luce has come to Class C…!"

"How could a person be so beautiful…?"

"What's so good about that bastard that Lady Luce…!"

Their gazes stung.

The way Class C kept their distance from Luce Eltania was similar to how humans from the earth worship a goddess from heaven.

She was not only the top seat of the Magic Department but also incredibly beautiful, making her presence unmistakable and constantly profound.

Rose's mocking voice and contempt had completely died down. She seemed like a loser in front of the majesty of the top student.

As the whispers of the students grew louder, Luce lowered her upper body, covered her mouth with her hand, and whispered into my ear.

"It's okay that I came, right?"

"Heuk."

"Yes…?"

Fuck. Her voice.

I couldn't help but let out a pant as goosebumps rose all over my body.

I was taken aback so I hurriedly turned my head, covering my ears. The sensation was too intense.

Luce tilted her head like a squirrel, her expression sly.

Unless one recorded their own voice, they could never know what it actually sounded like. It seemed that this girl was the same as she didn't know how much power her voice truly held.

"Try not to whisper straight into my ears."

"Isaac, your face got red. Is that your erogenous zone?"

Luce seemed to be having fun as she smiled mischievously. She had a playful tone.

'Erogenous zone…'

Isn't her choice of words way too embarrassing?

"Did you have breakfast?"

Luce changed the subject with another mundane question, her voice gentle and full of smiles.

"Yeah, I did."

"What did you ea-?"

"Let's go outside and talk."

I was so burdened with the weight of the students' stares that I couldn't stay there any longer.

We still had some time before morning classes. I got up from my seat and continued to channel mana through the magic tool resembling a handgrip.

Luce and I left the classroom together, with the students' envious and resentful glares following us.

We entered the empty rest area and stood side by side in front of the window.

The cheerful sunlight streaming through the window added to the radiance of Luce's smile. It was evident that she was beyond delighted to see me.

As I saw this, I couldn't help but smile goofily, like a father who was a fool for his daughter.

"Is your probation completely over?"

"Not yet. It's only a short probation, so I helped a bit with some research and came right away. I think it'll continue until after the end-of-term evaluation."

Luce replied calmly, with a mixture of whispers and laughter in her clear voice.

The research she mentioned was one that the Magic Tower had been banging its head against the wall for over ten years, looking for clues until Luce took the lead. I had heard about it, as it was a story from ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

Soon enough, her contributions would spread like wildfire among the Magic Towers.

Luce was already a standout figure, being the top seat of the Magic Department among the freshmen. Countless scout requests were sure to flood in even before she even reached her third year.

Afterward, we chatted for a while. Luce must have also eavesdropped on some gossip as she brought up the topic of Verga.

However, it seemed that she didn't know who Verga was, and she didn't seem that interested either. Even if I had defeated such a person, it wouldn't have meant much to her either way.

"Isaac, you've been training without rest."

Luce's gaze was fixed on the magic tool I held in my hand while we were chatting.

Even while talking to her, I didn't stop channeling mana through the magic tool.

"I'm always training. The grind never stops. Also, this is quite helpful."

"…Do you want me to help?"

Huh?

"How?"

Suddenly, Luce gently wrapped her hand around mine, which was holding the magic tool.

I could feel the smooth texture and warmth of her hand.

Why's she like this?

Right when I was about to ask why she was holding my hand…

"Eh?"

As Luce's mana flowed in, it became incomparably harder for me to put mana into the magic tool.

This device was a magic tool that helped train my mana mastery. It had a similar function to putting strength into a handgrip where you squeeze it to improve the muscles in your forearm.

It felt like widening a narrow passage forcefully with mana, struggling to break free.

'Wow, ugh fuck, it became so difficu-'

…I can't believe I'm getting excited because the training got harder…

Is this how a gym rat feels when they work out? Have I gotten addicted to training my magic?

I must be one crazy motherfucker.

"Isaac, does this help?"

'AHHHHH…!'

I was internally screaming, so I couldn't immediately respond.

Luce's mana that she casually sent in was way too powerful...

"Isaac, your face is red again. Is this also your erogenous zone?"

"I'm like this because I feel like I'm getting ran through… Wow, the sensation is getting stronger. This is insane."

"How is it?"

"It helps. A lot."

"Then, let's do this every time you use this magic tool, Isaac."

Huh?

'Wait a moment.'

This situation… From an outside perspective, doesn't it look too much like a couple holding hands in a quiet place?

I mean, I welcomed anything that helps with training, but wasn't this a bit too romantic…?

"...Are we going to stay like this all day today?"

"My hands are sweaty."

"Hehe."

Thinking it was a joke, I answered roughly, but Luce actually responded with a bashful smile.

"Isaac, do you know?"

"What?"

"Surprisingly, I still have one more hand. I have two of them."

It was truly a surprising fact. Wow. I was beyond astonished. TWO HANDS? That's crazy!

"Do you want to hold it?"

She briefly showed her remaining hand and playfully wiggled her fingers.

Her smile was more mischievous than usual. It seemed like she was excited to see me after a long time.

Luce wasn't even sure if she liked me or not.

Also, she was the one to teach me not to hold hands easily with someone unless they like each other…

When I gave her a skeptical look, Luce said, "Just kidding," and withdrew her remaining hand.

As we spent time like that, Luce closed her mouth and stared at me intently.

Then, she leaned her head against the window and a faint smile adorned her lips.

Her lips moved slightly in a whisper.

"Isaac, I missed you."

...When I silently looked at her, she looked just like a girl in love.

As if she doesn't want to take her gaze away from me for even a moment, her oceanic eyes remain fixed on me.

I understood why.

Luce, who had lived alone while enduring loneliness all this time…

With my existence, she might have found a sense of social fulfillment by being with me.

"Is that so."

Of course, I missed you too. Do you even know how much I care for you...

"Isaac, I'll help you with training today so let's stay together."

"That's what I'd like to request, actually. I'd be grateful if you would do that for me."

Of course, it's fucking welcome. It's so welcome that I am about to throw a celebration to welcome you.

Having Luce's help would be a big help in getting used to the feel of real combat after all.

"So, we'll be together all day?"

"Yes, as long as you help with training."

Since I planned to train late into the night anyway, it was a welcomed development.

Luce smiled brightly as if she were pleased.

* * *

"Woah."

As she passed through the open door of the rest area, she let out a gasp when she saw the couple inside, holding hands and whispering sweet words to one another.

For Ciel Carnedas, the petite girl with short blue hair, it was a shocking sight.

They were Isaac and Luce Eltania, the top seat.

Isaac's relationships with other girls were something very enjoyable for her to watch. Ciel hugged the pillow in her arms even tighter as she watched.

What else could it mean when a boy and a girl held hands and gazed at each other in an empty rest area?

'Those two… are already at the stage of dating, huh?'

Kaya Astrean. The brilliant genius, Senior Dorothy Heartnova.

Does this mean that the top seat had surpassed all her competitors and had seemingly won the battle for Isaac…?

'…No, it's not over yet.'

Ciel suddenly remembered that until just yesterday, she would occasionally see Kaya in the Class A lecture room, lost in thought and looking distressed, as if she was going insane at the mere thought of Isaac.

Yes. That was right. The battle wasn't over yet. After all, Isaac was a guy famous for being an elusive target for the girls.

It didn't matter if they were just holding hands; it didn't necessarily mean they were in a relationship.

However, the top seat's approach was quite bold.

The gentle moonlight-like smile she showed only to Isaac was different from her usual demeanor.

She usually seemed so uninterested in other people's feelings. Could it be that Isaac was an exception?

Class A Lecture Room.

Ciel approached Kaya, who was quietly preparing for morning class.

Lisetta Lionheart and Keridna Whiteclark, who were also in Class A, looked at Ciel with puzzled eyes.

They had never seen Ciel, who always seemed uninterested in the world, approach someone like this before.

"Yes? Ms. Ciel?"

Kaya looked towards Ciel with her jade eyes.

"Um? What are you doing right now?"

"Huh? Just preparing for class..."

How could this be? Ciel slapped her forehead in disbelief. Her competitors were already on the prowl since early in the morning!

This was a fierce battle being waged among the three women over Isaac. Ciel knew that someone like her had no room to meddle. After all, useless intervention would only cause trouble.

But even so, there was one thing she had to say.

"Get your act together."

"...Huh?"

"If you keep acting like this, someone will snatch him away from you."

Phew, that was all she could do for now. She felt relieved after letting those words out.

After saying that, Ciel went to her seat at the back of the classroom.

And as she sat down, she glared at Kaya, who was at a loss for words. Kaya didn't know what it meant, but there was a strong determination in Ciel's eyes to keep a close watch until Kaya improved herself.

"…?"

Kaya was just bewildered beyond belief.

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