The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter
Chapter Summary
The familiar contract seal glowed, and ice mana gathered in the air, transforming into the shape of a white dragon. A human who had lost all their limbs suddenly gaining new ones would be shocking. From large humanoid monsters to giants boasting overwhelming size, each one had a unique sense of beauty.
“Hilde.
”Whoooosh!
The familiar contract seal glowed, and ice mana gathered in the air, transforming into the shape of a white dragon.
The Frost Dragon, Hilde, appeared before me.
It cried out in a worried voice.
[Master, are you alright?!
]“Somehow.
”[Hicc, thank goodness… Oh, wait, your arms and legs are fine again!
Were you a monster all along, Master?!
]“Of course not.
”It was understandable that she would be surprised.
A human who had lost all their limbs suddenly gaining new ones would be shocking.
“I’ll explain on the way.
Let’s go for now.
”I climbed onto Hilde.
Hilde began to fly toward the massive gate.
“You know, there was that secret method that could instantly heal any condition just once.
”[Oh, that one?
The Blood of the Evanescant?
]“Yeah, I used it.
”[Thank goodness… I felt like I lost ten years of my life earlier.
]Hilde let out a sigh of relief.
Losing ten years, huh?
I doubt that would even put a dent in her lifespan.
[I was beginning to think that these days, humans could easily regenerate their limbs.
]“Do you think humanity could have evolved that much while you were asleep…?
”For a moment, it turned into a generational difference.
Impressive.
[But Master, how on earth did you manage to get on the elevator?
]“Unexpectedly… I received some help from someone I know.
”[…I see.
That could happen too, I suppose.
]This place was the Nether.
Just as Om the Eternal helped me, it was entirely possible that someone who had already died could help me.
Hilde seemed to accept that explanation.
She must be sensing my emotions too.
Hilde guessed the fate of that “someone I know” and lowered her voice.
Just then, something tinged with pale blue coldness came flying toward me with a swoosh.
I could instantly tell who had thrown it.
[The unique trait [Apex Predator] has activated!
]I used that damn Ozma’s power.
The unique trait was also a result of the covenant with Ozma.
In other words, no matter what Ozma’s will was, she had to fulfill the terms of the covenant.
I quickly extended my arm, deploying a wall of ice and rock mana [Fossilized Ice], deflecting the incoming object.
Kaang!!
Is it [Ice Spear]?
The density of the mana was quite high.
[Master, there is an enemy.
]“Yeah.
”From the Icy Lake, monsters with bodies partially made of ice rose up.
From large humanoid monsters to giants boasting overwhelming size, each one had a unique sense of beauty.
If they weren’t after my life, it would have been an incredibly beautiful sight.
It seemed that all the monsters here had judged me as a threat.
They charged at me and Hilde, or unleashed ice magic at us.
[ ※ Unable to read information.
]Out of habit, I tried to read the Status Window, but the information about the monsters didn’t appear.
Unregistered information.
Of course.
The enemy’s information would be identified within the scope of Ozma’s knowledge.
If they didn’t appear in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ or if she hadn’t seen them herself, it was natural that she wouldn’t know.
Since she had never been to the Icy Lake.
It was the same with the monster I saw during the Trial of Sandstone.
When the Evil God resurrected and the destruction of all worlds began, the dark blue monster appeared on the land of South Korea.
At that time, the noise in my vision made it difficult to discern properly, but I could never forget the chill I felt.
That creature appeared, and the reset preparation time began, so it was likely that the one who turned back time was that creature.
And.
That thing is here.
I was convinced that this was the being Dorothy from the first timeline mentioned, the one who would teach me the ultimate ice magic.
Because the magic I felt during the Trial of Sandstone was faintly touching my skin from beyond the gate.
?áɴÖ₿ƐS̈“Hilde, take them all down.
”[Your wish is my command.
]I pulled out the Obsidian Blade and slung it over my shoulder.
This sword contained a large amount of rock mana.
I planned to fight using just that, as my body needed to focus on recovering mana.
Hilde and I advanced, unleashing a large-scale barrage of rock meteors and ice magic at the monsters.
Kwagagagang!!
We continued dealing with the monsters, but the number of monsters rising from the Icy Lake gradually increased.
Is the Icy Lake itself creating these minions?
It seemed like this lake harbored a will and was rejecting me.
Each one is quite strong.
If they were assigned levels, each one would be at least between 180 and 190.
It had combat power comparable to the Black Flame entities, the minions created by the Evil God Nephid.
The Frost Dragon scattered white jade-like mana as it cut through the air at jet-like speed.
[Rooooaaar!
]An ice giant, so large it seemed to touch the sky, blocked our path.
Paaa!
I jumped off Hilde.
Facing the ice giant, I extended the Obsidian Blade to the side.
Rock mana surged intensely through it.
The ice giant gathered powerful ice mana in the mouths of its three heads.
I swung the Obsidian Blade at those heads.
Slaaaaash!!
The rock mana imbued in the blade extended out in the form of a massive blade, slicing through the air.
Swish!
The blade of rock mana severed all three of the ice giant’s heads.
Starting from the severed area, the ice giant’s body rapidly turned to stone.
[Stone Breathing - Third Form], “Rock Demon Slash”.
The ice giant screamed as it fell, and its massive body sank into the Icy Lake.
As I began to fall through the air, the Hilde flew over and caught me again.
The EXP…Of course, there were none.
These monsters didn’t appear in the game scenario.
EXP, yeah right.
The term “EXP” was wrong from the start.
It was just power that Ozma had arbitrarily given all this time.
[Master, we’re almost there…!
Huh?
]We were almost at the massive iron gate that seemed endless.
A chilling sensation crawled up my spine.
In front of the gate, on a strange altar, a black-haired woman holding a dark blue scythe raised it high.
Countless magic circles expanded behind her, and one massive magic circle encompassed them all, tracing its path.
Huaaaaa!!
A pale blue chill swirled above her scythe, gradually gathering and growing in size.
And so, the ice sun was constructed.
The ice monsters no longer pursued me and returned to the Icy Lake.
Either to avoid disturbing the gatekeeper, or perhaps…To avoid a pointless death.
[ ※ Unable to read information.
]It didn’t matter if I didn’t have the information.
I could easily tell who she was.
[Master… that person is…]“Now you see clearly, don’t you?
I’m not the reincarnation of your previous master.
”The creator of the 9-star ice elemental magic [Cocytus].
Aside from myself, the strongest ice wizard in human history.
The Primordial Ice Sovereign, also known as the Scythe-Wielding Witch.
She was Veronica Aslius.
[Veronica…!
]“This is an order.
Don’t let your emotions get the better of you.
”I sternly urged.
Because Hilde’s overwhelming emotions were transmitted to me, her master.
“You must understand your previous master’s will, right?
”[…]Hilde couldn’t give a response.
It was none other than her who conveyed Veronica’s message to me.
The creature must have understood Veronica’s will well.
“Hilde.
”I stroked the Hilde’s scales.
I knew she was conflicted.
I didn’t want to sound cold either.
But it was clear that Veronica would stand in my way.
I had no choice but to be firm.
“Sorry, but I don’t have much mana right now, so I have to reverse-summon you.
”It’s been rumored that “The current Ice Sovereign has surpassed the Primordial Ice Sovereign.
”But that was compared to the Veronica Aslius from a thousand years ago.
There was no way Veronica had been stagnant while serving as the gatekeeper all this time.
The heavy mana pressed down on my skin.
Even if she wasn’t as powerful as the Nether King, the sensation was enough to make me realize how strong Veronica was.
[Master, I would like it if you didn’t reverse-summon me.
Please, I want to watch the fight between you two.
]“…Alright.
”I allowed it.
That was probably the least I could do for HildeThe unique trait [Apex Predator] activated, and my mana circuits surged.
I spread out the three pairs of [Ice Sovereign] wings and flew up, exuding a gentle chill.
Hilde transformed into a smaller dragon form to conserve my manaShe gazed at Veronica from the sky with a sad expression.
I don’t have enough mana to summon Daikan.
I had used up too much mana when I confronted the Nether King.
But now that my mana had recovered somewhat, I could fight Veronica.
With a swift motion, I raised my arm and began to chant.
An immense number of magic circles unfolded behind me, and one gigantic magic circle traced its path, encompassing all the others.
Cold energy swirled and condensed above my outstretched hand.
Thus, I constructed the 9-star ice spell [Cocytus], perfectly mirroring the spell of the gatekeeper, Veronica.
Due to the two radiant ice suns, the cold energy from each clashed like a raging blizzard.
─ I will follow the star.
To cast aside falsehood.
These were the last words Veronica left behind, as conveyed by Richard, the Grand Regent of Düpendorf.
Did she come here following that star?
What was that star, and what was the falsehood she sought to cast aside?
Perhaps the truth lies beyond that enormous door.
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Veronica Aslius.
”I used magic to convey my voice into Veronica Aslius’s mind and greeted her politely.
No response came back.
─ Please, with peace in your heart, destroy me.
I recalled the message from Hilde.
Veronica had already anticipated that she would face me here in a thousand years.
Under the pale blue ice sun, I examined her face.
Deep shadows under her eyes.
A gaunt and emotionless face.
She seemed to have lost all human reason long ago.
Like a doll, only the decayed remnants of her given mission seemed to remain in her, like ashes.
I spoke in a calm voice, “Now… please rest in peace.
”Here, I’ll bring peace to Veronica.
And pass through the door she guards to go meet Dorothy.
I swung my arm, and Veronica swung her scythe.
We launched our ice suns at each other.