The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 284: To Aldreque (2)

My ears were ringing. I could barely hear Abel’s chatter.

It was because I was focusing on Vuel, also known as Instructor Ronzainus, who was a fellow passenger.

The Aldreque-bound carriages all began crossing the landing bridge, traversing the continent.

Meanwhile, from what I had discussed with Vuel, he mentioned that he, as a supervisor, had boarded the front carriage.

Of all times…

I couldn’t tell if my luck was good or bad.

“…I didn’t want to say this, but did you two have a fight?”

Abel, who had been chattering while observing us, finally voiced his thoughts.

“Why has the mood been like this since earlier? Come on, it’s such a great day. We should be excited, like we’re going on a picnic! We’re all on the same team!”

“I like this guy. Feeling like we’re going on a picnic, I like it.”

Instructor Ron responded positively to Abel’s oblivious encouragement.

On the other hand, Roanna was quietly munching on some snacks.

“…Hmm?”

On her left hand, an unadorned ring on her ring finger stood out

I shifted my gaze to Abel’s left hand. It was the same as hers.

“Haha, it looks like Senior Isaac has noticed.”

Abel responded nonchalantly. He had been observing my eyes and figured out what I was thinking.

On Abel’s left ring finger was a ring identical to Roanna’s. He lifted his left hand, showing off the ring.

It was clear he wanted to show it off.

“I wasn’t planning on hiding it, but since you’ve seen it, there’s no helping it!”

“You two are dating?”

“Correct…!”

Thud!

A dull sound echoed as Roanna hit the back of Abel’s head hard.

That must’ve hurt.

Abel grabbed his head and groaned, “Kugh,” then glared at Roanna as he complained, “Why do you keep hitting me?!”

“Shut up, Sleazo…”

Roanna’s breathing was irregular.

Despite her vacant expression, her flushed cheeks were quite obvious. It was clear what she was feeling, even without using [Psychological Insight].

It’s not really surprising.

It was already predetermined that these two would become a couple.

How could I not know?

“Dating, huh…? You’re in the prime of your life.”

“Oh, Instructor, you’re pretty lenient about this? If it were our supervisor, he’d be like, ‘Why are you dating when you should be focusing on your studies, tsk tsk.’”

“I encourage relationships during student life. It’s a beautiful thing when two people from different backgrounds meet and form a deep bond second only to family.”

“I like people who are as understanding as you, Instructor. Haha.”

Abel immediately switched to flattery mode.

Instructor Ron wasn’t bound by desires for romantic relationships. He probably didn’t care at all.

Even the phrase, “You’re in the prime of your life,” was something he likely picked up from somewhere.

“So, what’s the reason for wearing the rings?”

“What? Well… it shows everyone that she’s taken. And it’s kind of satisfying too, you know?”

The red-faced Roanna kept nibbling on her snacks in short bursts.

“Please shut up,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the carriage.

“To prove a non-binding contract called relationship. Since the contract has no substance, it’s a valid reason.”

Instructor Ron crossed his arms and chuckled, finding it amusing.

“Isaac?”

“Yes?”

“Did you give Luce a ring too?”

“…What?”

Instructor Ron redirected the conversation to me. Abel and Roanna looked at me with surprise.

“The ring Luce always wears on her left ring finger. Anyone can see that you gave it to her. You won’t deny it, will you?”

Did he ask Abel that question just to tease me…?

“So that’s what it meant. *“*This girl is mine,” a warning not to touch her. A sign of having a partner. I like it. You’re in your youth too, after all.”

Abel nudged Roanna with his elbow and whispered, “See, I told you it was Senior Luce.”

It seemed these two had been unnecessarily discussing my couple ring.

“Senior Isaac, you haven’t answered. Are you admitting it?”

Abel giggled, finding the topic amusing, and pressed me for an answer.

At this point, saying something like, “The ring I gave to Luce is only effective when worn on the left ring finger,” or “I didn’t give it for romantic reasons,” would just make me look ridiculous.

No one would possibly believe me.

Not that I don’t have romantic feelings for Luce.

I pushed up my glasses and smiled calmly.

“I don’t really want to talk about it. Let’s drop this pointless discussion.”

This meant they could interpret it however they liked.

“That’s a very stiff response…”

“How boring.”

Somehow, these two seemed to be perfectly in sync.

Did they really just meet today?

“Oh, do you have a girlfriend, Instructor Ron? No, wait, you’re married, right?”

“I’ve never had such a thing from birth. No one has ever matched my standard.”

“What? Oh…”

Instructor Ron pompously boasted.

So, he’s been single all his life.

Abel looked a bit flustered and seemed hesitant to speak further.

The conversation ended there.

***“Senior Isaac, we’ve arrived! We’re in Aldreque!”

“Indeed.”

Abel had his face pressed against the carriage window like it was glued there, breathing heavily in excitement.

Roanna also seemed interested and stared intently out the window with Abel.

“Are you excited, Abel?”

“Of course I’m excited! This place is a dream come true for guys like us. It’s the city where guild culture thrives the most in the Zelver Empire! The city of adventurers, Aldreque!”

A procession of carriages filled the road.

Aldreque was located in the Southeast of the Zelver Empire, fairly close to Märchen Academy.

As Abel said, this place was also known as the city of adventurers.

Guild quests, one of the vacation contents in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, were mostly taken from Aldreque.

Guild quests… That brings back memories.

I suddenly missed the days when I played the game without any particular thoughts.

“Wow, there are so many carriages!”

“There are five academies participating in the competition, so it makes sense. Can they accommodate all these people?”

Roanna responded to Abel’s excitement.

The Academy Clash was a large-scale event hosted by the Imperial Court, with five academies participating.

Aldreque rented out part of its area, so there was no shortage of accommodation.

The carriage stopped, and the driver shouted, “We have arrived!”

“Thank you so much~.”

Abel cheerfully opened the carriage door and hopped out. I, along with Instructor Ron and Roanna, followed suit.

In Aldreque’s empty large square, students gathered under the guidance of the faculty.

After a headcount, we were assigned our lodgings.

The participants and spectators of the competition stayed in different accommodations, which were quite far apart. The Empire had arranged it that way.

Luce, Kaya, and Alice will be in the spectator lodgings too.

They participated as spectators under my instruction.

Since the goal was to safely clear the scenario, it was better for my allies to be spectators with fewer restrictions.

“The Academy Clash starts tomorrow. To be in top condition, focus on resting today. That’s all.”

Professor Fernando Frost coldly spoke into a loudspeaker. His voice was as calm as ever.

The events of the Academy Clash change every time. Predicting them was meaningless.

Today was essentially free time.

“Dismissed.”

Following Professor Fernando’s instructions, the students began to disperse.

“It’s my first time in Aldreque!”

“I’m so excited…”

“I’m glad I came, hehe.”

The students seemed to be in a mood to relax and enjoy.

Staying in a new place for four days and three nights felt like a school field trip.

There was no need to worry even as the students dispersed. Each student was already equipped with a location-tracking bracelet, so the faculty could track their whereabouts wherever they went.

“Isaac.”

As I was heading to the lodgings, I stopped at the call of Instructor Ron.

I turned my head towards him, and he had a meaningful smile on his face.

“I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s event.”

“Hmm…?”

Leaving those words behind, Instructor Ron waved and headed off to the supervisor’s assembly point.

On the surface, it sounded like support and encouragement. But the problem was that the person who said it intended to harm me.

Is it just a casual comment?

Or does he have another motive?

In ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱, I never had to confront Vuel outside of combat.

So, I lacked enough prior knowledge to accurately gauge his mannerisms and behavior patterns.

As I quickened my pace, I spoke up,  “Cheshire.”

[Moew?]

A small purple cat wearing a bowler hat appeared floating next to me.

It was the head of the Phantom Cat, Cheshire. The rest of its body was invisible.

“While you were monitoring Instructor Ron, was there really nothing suspicious?”

[Meoww… After my tedious and thorough stalking, I found nothing. I swear on my cute paw pads.]

The Phantom Cat revealed one of its fluffy paws, breaking its invisibility.

I ignored it.

There’s no point in confronting Vuel based on mere suspicion.

We were approaching a major scenario.

Stirring up unnecessary trouble against an immortal backed by the Heavenly God would only increase my risks.

“…Keep monitoring him. Report immediately if you notice anything suspicious.”

[As you wish.]

The Phantom Cat Cheshire’s head disappeared in a puff of ashen smoke.

Before I knew it, I had reached the lodging area for the participants of the Academy Clash.

The lodging area boasted a beautiful exterior. In my previous life, it would have been a prime dating spot.

Students from various academies, wearing different uniforms, wandered around the lodging area, enjoying themselves. The place had a distinct touristy vibe because of it.

Looking up, I could see the towering presence of Hassen Volcano. Thanks to this volcano, Aldreque was also famous as a hot spring resort.

The cool night breeze tickled my skin. Walking around here with a cold beer in hand would have been so relaxing.

What a leisurely thought…

“Makes you want to have fun, right?”

“Ack!”

Suddenly, a beautiful voice whispered in my ear.

Startled, I quickly pushed off the ground and took a step back from the girl who had spoken to me.

A pretty girl with a witch hat pinned behind her head covered her mouth and laughed mischievously.

“Nihihi”, her unique laugh revealed her identity. It was Dorothy.

“You’re so cute when you’re surprised…!”

“Senior…?”

I didn’t expect to run into her today.

“What’s wrong? You’re completely spaced out, kid. Are you happy to see me?”

Dorothy tilted her head and asked playfully.

Even without reading her psychology, her excitement was evident.

“Aren’t you supposed to be heading to the faculty lodging? You’re a supervisor, right?”

“I received a special assignment! So I got assigned a different lodging!”

Dorothy confidently replied, placing one hand on her waist and the other on her chest.

Is she proud of receiving a special assignment?

“What’s your special assignment?”

“To be with you. To be precise, supervising you exclusively is my special assignment.”

Ah, I see.

I understood it immediately. It made perfect sense.

“This isn’t the academy, and you’re an important figure from our academy with immense power. So they had to assign someone special to supervise you.”

At Märchen Academy, the only person who could match me was Dorothy.

It was a no-brainer.

“So, you took on that role?”

“That’s right! Be happy about it.”

“…Hooray.”

“Nihihi, that’s such a lackluster reaction! But I appreciate the effort, so I’ll give you an A for effort.”

Dorothy playfully patted my shoulder as she spoke.

I responded half-heartedly, but I was genuinely happy.

Just seeing Dorothy was healing for me.

“What are you going to do now?”

“I’m heading to the lodgings first.”

“By the way, I’m staying in the same lodging as you tonight.”

“That’s great.”

“Nihihi.”

We walked side by side, chatting along the way.

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