The Academy's Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 296: Iron Fairy Subjugation (6)

“Huph!”

Crash!!

Mateo Jordana launched a powerful punch infused with rock mana.

A powerful blast of wind and a storm of stones surged forward, shattering the Iron Knight into pieces upon impact.

“Ohh! Senior Mateo, what was that move?!”

“Stop making a fuss. Let’s go.”

Mateo didn’t show particular delight at Abel’s admiration.

On the first floor of the Iron Sanctuary.

The students of Märchen Academy were scattered, busy searching for keys.

With the note Isaac had provided, they were navigating the puzzles and traps set up for the Academy Clash quite smoothly, but...

The Iron Knights were getting stronger and more cunning, wielding items and delaying their search for the keys.

“Hmm?”

“What’s this...?”

Abel’s team spotted something on the ground, startling them.

It was a black bodysuit, but a crater had formed around where it had fallen.

The first floor of the Iron Sanctuary mirrored the Academy Clash stage, except for the divided areas, so the ground wasn’t repairing itself.

“A trap? No, it doesn’t seem like a trap.”

“It just looks like clothes...? Like those magic training suits. It looks like one of those.”

The suit was a magic tool that could increase its weight, and this one seemed to have an unimaginable weight capacity.

Just dropping it had created a crater on the ground.

Abel tried to lift it with both hands.

He barely got it up to his knees, his face reddening with the strain.

To the other students, it looked like comedic slapstick.

“Kugh!”

Abel set the suit down with a thud.

As it hit the ground, it made a dull thud and kicked up a cloud of dust.

“Who could’ve left something like this...?”

At that moment, Abel remembered riding in the carriage with Isaac.

For a brief moment, the heavy carriage had tilted towards Isaac.

The students looked up at the high ceiling. They had felt the oppressive weight of a formidable mana pressing down on them, radiating intense anger.

“Senior Isaac...”

It wasn’t hard to guess the source of the mana.

Their gaze followed upward to the top floor of the sanctuary.

Slash!! Slash!!

As Rachnil countered Isaac’s assault with a flurry of blades, Isaac had no choice but to pull back.

Injured, Isaac pushed off the ground and rejoined Dorothy, Kaya, Ian, and Noah. The aura of the [Ice Sovereign] emanated from Isaac.

Seeing the pinnacle of the ice element for the first time, Noah looked at Isaac with awe. Could there be another human other than an elemental king that was this overwhelming? ŗ

The problem was... their enemy was at the apex of all creatures.

“Unbelievable...”

Ian gaped in shock.

Rachnil’s body slowly rose into the air.

The onslaught of the [Ice Sovereign] attacks left Rachil’s body in tatters, visible cracks covered his body.

[To have gotten this far, you must have faced knights far stronger than those on the first floor...]

“I destroyed them all.”

A mere human... has driven me to this point. For that, I commend you.

Rachnil’s grotesquely twisted face glared at Isaac and the others.

Iron mana radiated from Rachnil, creating a dense formation of greatswords.

Simultaneously, several Iron Knights were absorbed into Rachnil, restoring his body to its original state.

“What? He recovered from that damage so easily?”

“No, the damage is building up.”

Isaac responded to Ian’s astonishment with a cold tone.

“Don’t be shocked. This place has turned into Rachnil’s sanctuary. In their own sanctuary, fairies hold the upper hand over anyone else. Rachnil is no exception.”

This place was the Iron Sanctuary.

Fairies, seeking natural order, often established contracts with humans in the area to prevent conflicts when creating sanctuaries. It was the most peaceful approach.

However, Rachnil forcefully claimed this area as his sanctuary. It was a blatant crime against order and humanity, but it was still a legitimate way to create a sanctuary.

Ultimately, it was only natural that Rachnil would be the strongest here.

“Kaya, how’s White doing?”

“She seems to be showing symptoms. Just like you said, she’s starting to suffer from a high fever.”

“Good.”

There were signs that the fairy’s power was beginning to manifest.

Isaac drew the Obsidian Blade and stabbed it into the ground. A clear, ringing sound echoed as metal clashed against metal.

“From now on, follow my lead. Today, we’re taking down that fairy.”

Dorothy, Kaya, Ian, and Noah all nodded and prepared for battle.

Meanwhile, outside the Iron Sanctuary.

“Your Majesty, we’ve brought Princess Snow White, but her condition seems critical...!”

“White?”

People had evacuated to a shelter on a high hill to escape the iron sea spreading on the ground.

In the center of this refuge, the Imperial Knights and Merlin Astrea had brought Snow White to Emperor Carlos.

White, lying on Merlin’s back, was groaning and sweating profusely from the high fever.

There was a sharp pain in her chest, a sign of her vulnerability.

But she was fine. White smiled gently.

“Honestly, even with all that, I still don’t really understand. The me I know is just a weakling who couldn’t even hit someone I disliked. Hehe, I’m just glad I was able to help you, Senior Isaac.”

“Can you help me if I need you?”

“That’s cruel...”

“...”

“...After that, I’ll no longer be of any use to Senior, right? We won’t be able to be together like we used to, will we?”

“We’ve already completed all the mentoring sessions.”

Isaac spoke firmly, “I won’t be teaching you anymore.”

White had often felt that Isaac was looking toward a distant future.

The future seemed so daunting that even an archwizard like Isaac showed signs of impatience.

Maybe it was just her imagination. How could she possibly understand the mind of an archwizard?

The only thing she knew for sure was that all she could do was hold Isaac back.

“...Ehehe, you’re really cruel.”

White gazed at the beautiful lake imbued with natural mana.

She recalled the times spent with Isaac in the Hydrangea Garden at Märchen Academy.

Those moments were as beautiful as the blooming flowers. And like those flowers, perhaps they would one day wither away.

Suddenly, she recalled the embarrassing moment when she had clung to Isaac, begging him not to leave.

Isaac had promised he would never leave her side, and White remembered every word he said that day.

Once again, White realized that they were merely mentor and mentee, connected only by the academy.

Liar.

Even though he would eventually leave.

White looked back at Isaac and forced a smile.

“Well, it can’t be helped. I believe it’s my duty as a Princess to help you, Senior Isaac. You’ve worked so hard to protect everyone. So, I’m on your side. I’ll do my best to see you smile until the end.”

“...Thanks.”

That day, Isaac was annoyingly calm.

White kept reminding herself that it was inevitable.

***The memory of the most beautiful mother in the world lingered in White’s thoughts. She shone like a precious jewel.

White admired her mother’s beauty.

Even when her mother threatened her life, White continued to feel that way until the truth was revealed.

“Merlin...”

“Yes, Princess White.”

The realization that the pocket watch her mother gave to her was nothing more than a cruel tool to ensnare her in an endless torment... tightened around White’s heart once more.

She found herself unable to trust anyone.

To her, it seemed that trusting someone would only lead to a blade against her neck someday.

Isaac was no exception. A mentor, an archwizard, what difference did it make?

Though White admired him and showered him with affection, if someone asked whether he was trustworthy, White would hesitate to answer.

Isaac had subtly drawn boundaries with White, which made White feel secure in liking him.

It was a relationship full of irony.

And this was where it had led them.

“Merlin, you won’t leave me, will you...?”

With a sense of hollowness, White smiled. It was a self-deprecating laugh.

Merlin averted her gaze.

“Yes, I won’t leave you.”

“Hehehe... thank you...”

Lies.

Even you will leave me one day.

You are only here because you were ordered to be my escort knight.

“Take me to the window... I have to help Senior Isaac...”

White’s face showed no emotion.

All she wanted now was to do what needed to be done.

“Who’s there...?! Kugh!”

Suddenly, a sharp scream and a crashing sound echoed from the hallway.

Merlin quickly stood up and grasped the hilt of her sword.

Emperor Carlos glared towards the entrance.

Boom!!

The door burst open, and a bloodied Imperial Knight tumbled across the ground.

Someone entered.

Just one person.

“A demon...?”

White’s eyes widened as she stared at the creature.

Its bizarre appearance made it easy to guess it was a demon.

Merlin noticed the demon’s strength and frowned. Its aura reminded her of the demon from the Alice incident.

The knights and wizards in the room readied themselves for battle, but the demon merely smiled casually.

[Pleased to make your acquaintance, Emperor of the Zelver Empire.]

The demon bowed courteously.

[I am Mephisto. I greet you through the body of my contractor.]