The Academy's Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 312: To The Nether (2)

“Hello, Darling.”

I met Alice Carroll in her labyrinth, inside the Heart Queen’s audience chamber.

“What’s with the ‘Darling’ again...?”

“It’s just you and me here. No one to interrupt.”

I shot Alice a sharp look, though her face was as innocent as ever.

“So, what’s the matter? It’s been a while since you asked to see me alone.”

“I have a favor to ask.”

Alice was my minion.

She could not resist my will, harm me, or disobey my commands.

It made perfect sense to entrust this task to Alice.

“I have somewhere I need to go.”

“Where? Is it far?”

“The Nether. I’m not sure how far it is.”

Alice’s face suddenly froze.

She moved closer to me.

“Baby, what do you mean...?”

“Don’t get any weird ideas. It doesn’t mean I’m dying. There’s a way to go there.”

“Is that possible?”

I nodded and settled into one of the chairs scattered around.

“...Why would you go to such a place?”

“I have an absolute reason to go.”

I briefly explained it to Alice.

I explained that I needed to retrieve something from the Nether in order to defeat the Evil God.

“I see. So, when are you going...?”

Staring at the empty throne of the Heart Queen, I answered.

“Soon. I might even be gone while Vuel stirs up chaos over the Black Stone.”

Vuel, the final boss of「Act 9, Treacherous Heavenly Being Subjugation」in ❰Magic Knight of Märchen❱.

While he wreaked havoc, I would be in the Nether.

I could cross into the Nether when the Netherstorm blew around the rift. Unfortunately, that happened to coincide with the day the Heavenly Clock was activated.

“You’d leave behind something crucial...”

“I’ll come back as soon as I can. I want to deal with Vuel myself. But while I’m gone, I’ll have to leave everything to you guys.”

“Have you told the others yet?”

I shook my head.

“I’m not going to tell them.”

Kaya practically worshiped me like a god, so she might respect my will.

But Luce and Dorothy would either try to prevent me from entering the Nether or insist on tagging along. Luce, especially, would be the most persistent.

Even though I felt guilty, I wanted to minimize any variables. That place was far too dangerous. No matter who I took with me, they’d only be walking into certain death. It would be difficult to keep myself alive, let alone someone else.

So, once I left for the Nether, I’d have Alice pass on my message to the others.

“The others will be sad.”

“I want to minimize variables. Honestly, I don’t have the emotional capacity for this right now.”

“Surely, you’ll take me with you at least...?”

“No.”

Alice’s gaze fell to the floor.

“What am I supposed to do?”

“Prepare for the possibility that I might not return, and be ready to fight Vuel with everything you’ve got. And...”

I gave her several instructions, but Alice remained silent.

“...I’m counting on you.”

With that, I rose from my seat and began to walk away.

***It was a very clear day.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, and the light of the moon was shining brightly.

I was grateful the weather wasn’t dreary. A gloomy sky would’ve only dampened my mood.

“All set?”

When I reached the top floor of the Hegel Tower, Aria was there to greet me at the entrance.

The night was deep. The duel evaluation was over, and it was now time to prepare for the final exams.

Today, the Netherstorm was going to hit.

Tracking the approaching Netherstorm wasn’t hard, so gauging when it would sweep over the rift became easier as the moment drew nearer.

“Yes.”

The lab door opened, and Aria’s dimly lit study came into view.

The room was bathed in blue moonlight, filtering in through the glass ceiling.

We entered the lab together.

“...Hmm?”

We quickly stopped in our tracks.

A girl with rose-gold hair was standing quietly in the midst of the pouring moonlight. The morpho butterfly ornament in her hair, glistening in the light, was especially eye-catching.

Her lifeless eyes stared coldly at me. Eyes as empty as a doll’s.

“You’re here?”

It was Luce Eltania.

[Luce Eltania]

Lv: 175

Race: Human

Element: Water, Lightning

Danger: ?■?

“Teacher, what is Luce doing here...?”

I had already seen her through [Clairvoyance], but I pretended not to know.

“It couldn’t be helped.”

Aria sighed.

“It’s obvious that ungrateful girl is more powerful than I am. The best I could do was to prevent her from doing more damage. Isaac, you need to deal with your own mess.”

Luce was a genius among geniuses from the Empire’s finest academy. Even Aria stood little chance against her.

I looked around.

This was a spacious circular library, and Aria usually kept it impeccably organized.

But now, it was in disarray. Evidence that there had been a power struggle between Luce and Aria.

The Magic Tower had taken no steps to intervene, likely on Aria’s orders. She knew I’d come and tried to prevent things from escalating further.

That’s a relief.

It was a wise decision.

Today was the day I went to the Nether, causing any sort of commotion was something I had to avoid at all costs.

But I could still use its ability to put people to sleep. I had tested that before.

“It’s just like Baby said. I didn’t expect her to show up.”

“...And you?”

A female student walked into the lab. Aria glared at her cautiously.

The owner of the Vorpal Sword. My familiar who had been watching the situation unfold, Alice Carroll.

“Hello, Tower Master. I’m Alice Carroll, a third-year student of the Magic Department at Märchen Academy.”

Alice greeted Aria with her characteristic gentle smile.

“Alice.”

With a flick of my wrist, I tossed the Vorpal Sword towards Alice.

The Vorpal Sword transformed into crimson mana in midair and absorbed back into her body.

“Thanks for lending it. It came in handy.”

“No need for thanks. After all, it was for my baby.”

Alice responded playfully, then approached me, crouched down with her knees together, and gazed intently at Luce.

“Sweet dreams.”

Alice poked Luce’s soft cheeks. Luce only let out gentle breaths.

“Isaac... did you already know this would happen?”

Aria glared at me with sharp, piercing eyes.

Her question was inevitable. I met Aria’s gaze and gave a nod.

“Yes. And also, I’m sorry for secretly bringing Alice here without permission. But she’s my familiar, so you can trust her.”

“I know that, but still...”

Aria seemed surprised, clearly not expecting that I had borrowed the Vorpal Sword.

“Let’s go.”

Once Luce was carefully laid on the bed in the office, we unlocked the secret passage and ventured into the hidden lab.

Alice looked at the rift in awe.

“So this is the rift to the Nether...”

“Alice, I’m leaving everything in your hands while I’m away. That includes Luce.”

“...As you wish. Leave your concubines to me.”

She really just called them concubines, huh...?

Just as I was about to say something, Aria checked the observation tools and spoke up.

“Isaac, the Netherstorm is about to hit. I’ll lift the barrier, so get ready.”

The reality of it all started to sink in.

Now the time had truly come.

I stood before the barrier surrounding the rift.

“The first challenge is withstanding the Netherstorm. Reinforce your entire body with protective magic, or you’ll be shredded to pieces.”

“Understood.”

I’d have to endure the powerful storm infused with natural mana to safely reach the Netherworld.

It was doable.

I pulled out the Cloak of the Radiant Wolf from my magic pouch, draped it over my shoulders, and fastened the clasp. It was armor I’d obtained back in Düpendorf.

“So you’re wearing the Cloak of the Radiant Wolf. But Baby, are you really going to go in your school uniform?”

“Yeah. I’m most comfortable in these clothes.”

The Märchen Academy uniform. I liked it.

If I was wearing this uniform, maybe Round 1 Dorothy would recognize me.

“I see...”

Suddenly, Alice came over and hugged me.

“...Alice?”

As if wanting to feel my warmth more fully, she held me tighter.

At last, she pulled away from my embrace and gave me a soft smile.

“Come back safely.”

I couldn’t read Alice’s psychology.

However, it was clear she was worried about me.

I nodded.

Releasing the barrier in three, two, one...”

Swoosh.

As the barrier surrounding the rift unraveled, a warm yet gentle breeze blew through.

The ripples of the Netherstorm had made their way here.

Aria and I reached out toward the rift, pouring out our mana.

Gradually, the rift began to widen. The Netherstorm made it easier as it loosened the rift.

I can feel it.

Even if I transformed my body into an elemental state, I couldn’t force my way through the rift.

But now, I could clearly sense it. The mysterious gap beyond the rift was slowly opening.

I was certain I could cross over.

“As I’ve said before, we still don’t know how you’ll return. You’ll have to figure that out on your own.”

“Understood.”

Round 1 Dorothy said that only at the Icy Lake would the conditions be right to face the Evil God.

If I couldn’t return, all would be for naught, so there must be a way back.

“Hoo.”

A powerful fear surged like a tide within me. I took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress it.

There was no turning back now.

Standing close to the rift, the Cloak of the Radiant Wolf billowed in the Nether’s wind.

I turned back one last time to look at Aria and Alice.

Aria looked at me with an expressionless face, while Alice gave a gentle smile.

I gave them the brightest smile I could muster.

“I’ll be back.”

With that, I let myself fall back.

My body was pulled into the rift.

[Status]

Name: Isaac

Lv: 180

Gender: Male

Year: 2nd

Title: Ice Sovereign

Mana: 699300 / 701300