The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter - Chapter 258: Secret Research (4)

I must have blacked out.

Aria Lilias told me what happened when I was hallucinating.

When something suddenly shot out from the rift and pierced my forehead, I fainted.

It didn’t take long. Although it felt like over ten minutes to me, Aria said it was less than thirty seconds. I regained consciousness while Aria was trying out various means to bring me back.

“I’m glad you’re safe. But the message from the Nether… it’s unbelievable.”

In the spacious, library-like laboratory.

Aria and I were sitting against a bookshelf.

The secret passage was once again hidden by the bookshelf.

I briefly recounted what I had experienced. However, I didn’t specifically mention that the person who left the message for me was Dorothy.

“The fact that Transcendent Being is aware of my research and orchestrated for you to find me…”

“She wanted to tell me that I can’t defeat the Evil God as I am now.”

“Because of the Authority of Godslaying… In the end, the gods are gambling on you?”

“Probably.”

I, who was once an ordinary game player, had become a pawn in the god’s plans.

This game against the Evil God was so vast in scale that even time and countless fateful crossroads were mere cards to be played.

I was just a small, insignificant human. So, I couldn’t fully grasp the game board set by the gods.

Even now, I still don’t.

There were many mysteries that would remain unsolved unless I could speak directly with the game developers, Higgs.

One thing was clear, my choices were limited.

“…I’m going to the Nether.”

Aria’s eyes quivered slightly.

Naturally, I decided to choose the second method that Dorothy had mentioned.

“I’m going to find a way to defeat the Evil God, and there’s someone I need to meet.”

“I have a lot to say… but first, there’s something you need to know.”

Aria turned towards me.

“How do you plan to go? You’re not thinking of dying to get there, are you?”

“The person who sent me the message told me how.”

Dorothy had explained how to get to the Nether while talking about the second method.

“I’m going to widen the rift and go through it.”

“What…?”

Aria’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I need to find a sure way to widen the rift. I’ll be assisting in your research if that’s alright with you?”

I recalled the contents of the mysterious book. She said that Aria was on my side.

However, if a god encouraged rather than scolded her, this arrogant wizard would undoubtedly indulge her instincts without restraint.

Our interests aligned, and she could even satisfy her intellectual curiosity.

Aria would become my most loyal ally.

Did Dorothy see through this?

If it comes to this, am I dabbling in black magic too?

Well, since I was now in the same boat as Aria, I decided to adopt the same mindset as her, boldly believing that what we were doing was not black magic.

After all, we had a noble cause for this research. It was to defeat the Evil God and protect the world.

“Hee, hehehe….”

Gradually, an uncontrollable laughter came out of Aria’s mouth and her body trembled.

It was a peculiar laughter.

“That sounds truly wonderful… Seriously perfect….”

Aria’s voice was filled with such ecstasy that it seemed she might sob with joy.

It was the most lively and joyous expression I had ever seen on her face.

***“Isaac!”

When I left the Tower Master’s laboratory and was about to leave Hegel Tower…

I ran into Luce in the hallway. She was wearing a Hegel Tower wizard robe.

We headed to the rooftop. Thanks to the Tower Master’s permission, we could access the rooftop anytime.

We stood next to each other on the rooftop railing, looking at the night view of Märchen Academy.

The night breeze was cool.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming? You know I’m doing my apprenticeship here.”

“It was late. I thought it might be rude to come see you.”

“Isaac… I hate you.”

Luce murmured softly, almost like a whisper.

“How did you know I was here?”

“Your familiar came to see the Tower Master before, didn’t she?”

…How did she know that?

“When I heard the Tower Master was returning today, I figured you’d come.”

“Really…? Sharp as always, I see.”

Luce gave me a meaningful look.

“Is something going on?”

“Huh? Nothing.”

“If you came to see the Tower Master as soon as she returned, it must be something urgent.”

Luce’s specialty, interrogating, had begun.

“What is it?”

“I just had a few things to ask Teacher.”

Luce looked at me skeptically.

I can’t tell her the truth.

That I was planning to go to the Nether and had decided to work with Aria.

To tell her this? No way. It would sound like I was throwing myself into danger.

Suddenly, I fully understood why Dorothy, from the first cycle, mentioned in the mysterious book that Aria would be on my side.

Someone like Luce, who had affection for me, wouldn’t let me take a dangerous path.

Nor would the others.

In the end, there was no one as perfectly aligned with my interests and optimized to help me as Aria.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s really nothing.”

“…Alright. I won’t ask again.”

She backed down surprisingly easily.

I looked at the night view with that thought, and Luce suddenly pulled my head towards her.

Luce held my face to her chest.

A soft sensation enveloped my chin and both cheeks.

What’s this, all of a sudden…?

“Why are you suddenly doing this…?”

“You like my chest, don’t you?”

“Isn’t this an inappropriate time to say that? Seriously, why are you doing this?”

“…Isaac.”

Luce whispered as she stroked the back of my head.

“Why have you been looking so sad since earlier?”

Despite my efforts to manage my expressions, it must have leaked without my knowledge. I was careless.

If Luce noticed, then there was no hiding it. I decided to tell her.

“Well… it happens. Not everything in life is always good, you know.”

“…”

The more I pondered on Dorothy Gale’s words, the deeper my regret grew.

She was the Dorothy I first met. The person I liked.

Everyone’s time turned back, but only Dorothy was sacrificed as a pawn in the game.

It was a truly messed-up situation.

“But it’s okay. Really. It’s not something to worry about.”

I smiled nonchalantly. I had no intention of sharing such worries with Luce.

Luce stroked my head and turned her gaze towards the night view.

“The forest path looks very dark.”

Luce brought up a different topic.

“It does.”

“Do you want to stay over? It’s dangerous out there at night.”

“I’m… not really someone who needs to be warned about the dangers of the night, am I?”

“Then let’s stay like this a little longer. I promised to do this when you’re having a hard time.”

Luce leaned her cheek against my head, her warmth enveloping me.

“We’re going to live together, so you’d better get used to my comfort.”

Such a considerate person…

It’s quite comforting.

“Thank you, Luce.”

“Even when we have our eldest daughter, Adriana, and our son, Hamel. If you want, I’ll always hold you first before our kids.”

“…Huh?”

I was confused.

What is she talking about?

***[Is that really true…?]

I arrived at the dorm.

As I entered the room, I was greeted by the Frost Dragon Hilde, who was cleaning in her human form.

Usually, the academy maids did the cleaning, making this unnecessary, but Hilde said she wanted to try mimicking humans.

The only light in the dark room was the soft glow of the lamp.

I sat Hilde on the bed and told her everything that happened at Hegel Tower, except for one thing.

I left out the part where the Primordial Ice Sovereign was guarding the icy lake.

I had already given Hilde a lot of information. That alone would be overwhelming.

If I mentioned the Primordial Ice Sovereign now, I didn’t know how this would affect Hilde, who had longed for her former master for a thousand years, emotionally.

So it would be wiser to talk about the Primordial Ice Sovereign issue at another time.

“Yeah.”

[We need to find Dorothy immediately, Master!]

Hilde was restless. She seemed to prioritize rescuing Dorothy over the dangers of the Nether.

My feelings were the same, but there was nothing I could do at the moment.

“I still need to improve my skills. It will take some time. I need to prepare thoroughly in the meantime.”

I knew exactly what I had to do.

I needed to calm my emotions and avoid being impatient.

If I didn’t prepare thoroughly, it would be a meaningless death.

The reason was…

The bad ending 「Wanderer of the Nether」…

In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, there was a character that always leads to a game over. One of them was the Nether King.

If one used the “Key to Mysteries”’ to head to the edge of the Nether in the game.

If one remained in the Nether until the key’s effect wore off, they would meet the conditions for the bad ending.

While wandering the Nether, at some point, a giant pair of eyes would appear in the sky.

The owner of those eyes would introduce himself as the Nether King.

This overwhelming presence brought death to Ian, who had defied the truth.

In the end, Ian became a wandering soul in the Nether.

That was the bad ending「Wanderer of the Nether」.

Dorothy from the first cycle said I had to defeat the Nether King.

If I went to the Nether with my physical body, I would inevitably catch the Nether King’s attention, and facing him was unavoidable.

Thinking about confronting a bad ending element I thought I’d never have to face made my heart pound with secret fear.

[Master… will you really be alright? Can you handle it?]

She meant, “Can you endure it with a good heart?”

I pulled out the silver dagger, Blade of Frost Flowers. When I drew the blade from its sheath, I saw the three pale blue magic circles activate.

I needed to look far ahead.

I had to do my best.

I had to reap the maximum benefit.

That was the only thing I could do now.

“…Honestly, I’m not alright.”

But I wasn’t okay.

Especially considering Dorothy’s situation, my heart felt like it could burst with anger.

I sheathed the Blade of Frost Flowers again and looked at Hilde.

Hilde was looking at me with a complicated expression.

“As I said, I’m going to prepare thoroughly and go to the Nether.”

It was no different from before.

Just like when I worked tirelessly to bring down the Floating Island to save Dorothy.

Clearing scenarios and relentlessly becoming stronger.

Let’s prepare to traverse the Nether.

“There, I’ll meet someone who will impart the ultimate ice magic to me. And then…”

─ Are you two in love with each other?

The distant icy lake.

At the bottom of everything, alone in that small, shabby house.

“I’m going to see Dorothy.”

I steeled myself.