The Academy's Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 285: Hot Spring (1)

Dorothy, who had arrived at the dorm, was changing into casual clothes.

Dorothy’s room was originally assigned to the faculty in charge of controlling the participants’ dorm. Since she was acting as a supervisor, she stayed in that room.

The facilities were somewhat better than the rooms where the students stayed, but there wasn’t a significant difference.

[This is a tourist destination. All the competitors have been assigned to dorms far away, meaning there are no distractions. Meanwhile, my master succeeded in securing a date with Isaac... Seizing the opportunity well, aren’t you, Dorothy?]

On the bed.

Ella, the white cat familiar, was inspecting her well-groomed claws.

Ella repeatedly blinked her long lashes.

Dorothy answered while standing in front of the mirror, buttoning her shirt, “It’s not like an opportunity. Today, I’m just thinking of helping Isaac rest. According to the plan, there will be some fighting starting tomorrow.”

When Dorothy met Isaac earlier, she clearly felt his emotions brighten. It was the same as always.

The fact that she was a source of strength for Isaac was a great comfort to Dorothy.

Especially today, Isaac was planning to rest. On days like this, she wanted to be by his side no matter what.

[Unbutton it.]

Ella’s fierce rebuke struck like a surprise attack.

Dorothy flinched and stopped buttoning her shirt.

Ella sighed and looked at Dorothy.

[Dorothy, don’t you think it would be better if you showed a bit of cleavage? Why are you trying to hide something you’re so proud of?]

“You fool... This shirt looks prettier with all the buttons done up, don’t you think? See, it makes me look pure and elegant, just like I am?”

Ella, caught off-guard, let out a burst of laughter.

[Heh. You haven’t forgotten that Isaac is still an instinct-driven male, have you? With no rivals around, you should be making a more aggressive move. You’re being far too relaxed.]

“La la, I can’t hear you~. I’m off! Take care of the room!”

[Dorothy!]

Dorothy giggled and dashed out of the room as if running away.

Ella clicked her tongue and flopped onto the bed.

[She’s just embarrassed, really... She lacks guts.]

A familiar could sense its master’s emotions directly.

Ella was utterly frustrated with Dorothy.

That tomboy, still feeling embarrassed and burdened about showing her body to Isaac.

***I arrived at the participants’ dorm and entered the room I was assigned to.

I had seen it before in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱ so I already knew, but the facilities were fairly decent.

[Master, is there anything I can help with?]

[Kyuu!]

Hilde, who had taken human form, was sitting on the bed, with my small golem familiar, Eden, by my side.

Having just transformed, Hilde confidently revealed her fair, naked skin.

“Put on some clothes first.”

[Oh.]

She had the appearance of a young woman in her early twenties.

Since she had a proper woman’s figure, I deliberately avoided looking at her and quickly took some clothes out of my backpack and lightly tossed them to Hilde. �

It was women’s underwear, dark-colored clothes, and a white coat. Dorothy had chosen them last time.

[Oh, I keep forgetting. I will quickly put them on.]

Hilde swiftly threw on the clothes.

To her, clothes were just ornaments to decorate herself with. She didn’t feel any shame in exposing her naked body.

As a result, there were frequent situations where I had to hurry her to get dressed.

“Eden put this over there.”

[Got it!]

After handing Eden the small backpack containing only daily necessities, I changed into casual clothes. Eden placed the backpack in the corner of the room.

If items were put into something enchanted with a storage spell, like a magic pouch, they’d bounce around all over the place, causing absolute chaos.

Since one couldn’t guarantee that things would stay intact unless you overpacked them, most of the fragile items were kept in small backpacks.

[Master, what can I help with?]

“It’s fine. I’m heading out soon.”

[What do you plan to do when you go out? Well... you will most likely be training again.]

“I’m going to rest.”

[Yeah, rest...]

Hilde abruptly stopped talking.

She tilted her head and tapped her ear as if there was something wrong with her hearing.

Eden looked at me and let out a puzzled [Kyuu?].

“I’m resting. No training today.”

[Ah... What?]

Hilde, having understood my response, opened her eyes wide in shock.

Suddenly, the air grew heavy.

Hilde and Eden hastily rushed over to me and leaned in close. Hilde, breaking out in a cold sweat, desperately asked.

[W-what’s going on? This is the first time I have heard you say you are going to rest...!]

[Kyuu!]

[Humans usually change when they are close to death...! Could that be the reason? Is that it?! Has something serious happened? Answer me, Master!]

[Kyuu!]

“Why are you two making such a fuss...?”

It seems like they can’t comprehend the idea of me resting.

A clumsy smile and flushed cheeks.

Dorothy had wrapped her robe tightly around herself, clearly intending to cover more than just her chest.

Ironically, it only emphasized her figure, which was a feast for my eyes in another way.

Is she embarrassed?

I realized that the idea of someone getting a nosebleed from excitement wasn’t just a cartoonish exaggeration.

Though, I didn’t actually get a nosebleed.

“Big Sis will go in first, okay?”

“Ah, yeah...”

In a rush, Dorothy quickly washed herself in the makeshift shower before slipping into the vacant hot spring.

She sighed deeply, slumping down as she said, “Ahh... I feel like I’m alive again...”

After washing up with Eden, I held him in my arms as we sank into the hot spring water where Dorothy was.

Eden closed his eyes and let out a content [Kyuuuu...], enjoying the feeling of the hot water soaking into his rocky body.

[Wait, Master...!]

For some reason, Hilde looked shocked, as if I had just stepped into a pool of lava.

“Yes?”

[W-what? Is it not hot? How could you be so careless...?! Eden, why did you suddenly go quiet? Isn’t this dangerous?!]

Is she like this because she grew up in an environment where icy winds raged?

As an ice magic beast accustomed to the cold, it seemed she was instinctively frightened by the hot water.

The surrounding guests began to glance at Hilde, who was drawing attention.

Some of the men had their mouths wide open, unable to take their eyes off Hilde.

“Enough noise, just get in already.”

[...Ugh.]

A familiar had to obey its master’s orders unconditionally. With no other choice, Hilde seemed to make up her mind to enter the hot spring, her face scrunched in displeasure.

Hilde, half-squinting in caution, repeatedly dipped her toes into the steaming water. A faint trace of cold mana flowed from her toes.

Perhaps because she was in a state without her horns, the amount of mana that could be sensed wasn’t much.

How frustrating...

“Hilde. Hand. Now.”

[Huh?]

I grabbed the hand Hilde naturally extended and pulled her toward me.

[Whoa!]

She let out a short scream as she splashed into the hot spring. Water splattered everywhere.

[M-Master...! It’s too hot! I’m melting! I’m being devoured...!]

Hilde clung tightly to my arm, her eyes squeezed shut in intense fear.

Eventually, when nothing happened, she cautiously opened her eyes.

[...Huh?]

Hilde, flustered, backed away from me.

She stared at me intently, while Dorothy chuckled softly at her.

[Master, what is this feeling...?]

“It’s good, isn’t it?”

Since Hilde was my familiar, the sensations she felt were directly transmitted to me.

It seemed the pleasant sensation of the hot spring was spreading throughout Hilde’s body.

And five minutes later...

[Master... this is really nice... really, really nice...]

[Kyuu...]

Hilde, sitting next to me, had her mouth slightly open and her eyes closed, gradually melting away as if she were ice cream. Eden was the same.

At that moment, Hilde was no different from a regular human. That was why I was confident she could enjoy the hot spring like a normal person.

Eden’s senses were expected to be duller than Hilde’s or mine, but he was utterly enthralled by experiencing the hot spring for the first time in his life.

“Hoo...”

“Ahhh...”

I closed my eyes, savoring the warm and comforting sensation enveloping my whole body.

I had never had a day of peace until this whole thing started. This kind of rest felt like a luxury.

Not to mention, my favorite character was right beside me. I wondered if it was okay to be as happy as I was.

It was at that moment...

“You managed to know this place was a famous spot.”

Suddenly, I heard a deep, resonant male voice. I opened my eyes and looked straight ahead.

Two young men entered the hot spring on the opposite side. Their thin robes barely concealed their muscular bodies.

Both seemed to be around my age.

Their hair colors were different, one blue and the other red but their faces were identical. They were twin brothers.

“So, which academy are you from?”

The red-haired young man asked with a smug grin.

I knew exactly who they were.

The McGregor twins?

The twin brothers in their third year were Raizel Academy’s greatest strength in the Academy Clash.

Their levels were 161 and 162, respectively.

The McGregor brothers were undoubtedly prodigies, especially for students their age.