The Academy's Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter

Chapter 310: Stone Turtle

when snow white calmed down, we looked at each other.

without saying much, we simply cheered each other on.

– senior isaac, go for it!

with white’s encouragement in mind, i started running again.

while running, i took in my surroundings.

the blend of natural scenery and stunning architecture caught my eye. now and then, i noticed structures infused with magic, adding to the aesthetic charm.

the rain fell, leaves drifted, snow blanketed the ground, and then the sun shone again.

watching the scenery of this vast campus transform with each passing season, i found myself inevitably growing attached to it.

i glanced over at the central administrative building, bartos hall.

when the day the evil god emerged from that rooftop, i wasn’t sure if i’d be able to protect this view.

but my determination was unwavering.

i was determined to defend this place.

* * *the girl, michelle, let out a sigh as she pulled back the hood of her red cloak.

beneath the night sky, at an altar.

wizards in black pointed hats and robes lay dead, their blood spilled. each one was a dark magician.

because all the wizards who were casting magic lost their lives, the strange glow of the summoning circle on the ground gradually faded.

the children, huddled and bound at the center of the summoning circle, trembled as they gazed at michelle.

“s-spare me...”

a whimpering voice.

one dark magician, still alive, groveled on the ground, pleading desperately, but michelle gazed down at him with cold indifference.

“please...”

“i’m a hunter.”

michelle hoisted the axe onto her shoulder and crouched beside him.

her lifeless eyes stared at the dark magician.

michelle raised the axe that was resting on her shoulder.

the blade caught the moonlight, flashing menacingly.

“so die.”

“a-ahh...!”

thwack!

“kugh!”

michelle struck the dark magician’s neck with her axe.

blood splattered on michelle’s pale cheek. she took out a handkerchief and wiped her face.

the dark magician convulsed with every breath. with each spasm, a surge of blood spilled from his neck, soaking his black robe.

the glow of the summoning circle had completely faded, leaving only the flickering flames around the altar to light the scene.

michelle moved to the center of the summoning circle, slicing through the ropes that bound the children with her axe, setting them free.

the children burst into tears.

“t-thank you...! thank you so much...!”

“thank the incarnate.”

“what...?”

michelle looked at the child with a cold smile.

“the one who saved me. i’m merely acting on her behalf. she would never want children like you to be in harm’s way.”

the children didn’t understand what michelle meant.

“well then...”

michelle reached out toward the children, closed her eyes, and murmured, “may the incarnate’s blessing protect you.”

***hiss.

inside a stone cave.

an eerie chill lingered in the air, with dense mana wrapping around the stone walls.

the massive beast, resembling a giant snapping turtle armored in stone, slowly opened its tightly shut eyes.

as it looked straight ahead, it saw a familiar face.

a silver-blue-haired boy who had fought its stone minions repeatedly, getting up to fight again no matter how many times he was wounded.

he was approaching, with cold energy emanating from his entire body.

[so, the time has finally come...]

it was isaac, the man who had once vowed to defeat the stone turtle and bind him into a familiar contract.

sensing the impending battle, stone turtle gormos slowly rose, channeling its immense rock mana.

gooooooo.

the stone turtle grimaced in pain as his entire body was encased in ice.

the pale blue frost began to recede.

isaac stood atop the ice created by the [frost explosion], looking down at the stone turtle with eyes as cold as ice.

“haa.”

isaac’s breath turned into a white mist in the air.

then, at isaac’s will, the ice encasing the stone turtle disintegrated into mana dust, scattering in the air.

[ugh...]

the stone turtle groaned, staggering before collapsing to the ground. he panted, bleeding all over.

inside the broken stone skin, red flesh could be seen. the stone turtle felt the intense cold and sharp pain deep within his body.

“gormos.”

isaac lightly jumped down from the ice and walked through the cold air, arriving right in front of the stone turtle.

“it’s time to follow me. i need you.”

[...]

a hissing sound escaped through the tightly closed mouth of the stone turtle.

as he closed his eyes, a moment from a thousand years ago flickered before him.

what he saw was the back of the primordial rock sovereign, who always fought boldly against enemies.

he often thrust his fist forward and shouted energetically.

“gormos, a new adventure awaits! follow me!”

that passionate voice echoed in his ears.

an involuntary smile tugged at the corner of the stone turtle’s mouth.

[...you need not ask. i concede. it is my defeat. from this moment, i recognize you as my new master, isaac.]

hwaaaaa!

gradually, a new light brown mark was etched onto the stone turtle’s forehead.

in resonance, the contract circle on isaac’s wrist began to glow with a light brown hue.

the contract was established.

stone turtle gormos became isaac’s third familiar.

a gleam of triumph flickered in isaac’s eyes.

[...hmm?]

suddenly, isaac embraced the stone turtle’s massive head, pressing his face into the rough surface, and tenderly caressed it like a cherished treasure.

hilde quietly flew over and hugged the back of isaac’s head.

gormos didn’t understand why they were doing this, but sensing isaac’s heart, he soon smiled.

[you rascals...]

it was heartwarming.

***it was midday. i was walking through the hallway of orphin hall.

ever since yesterday, i have become very conscious of my wrists.

i’ve finally made a contract with the stone turtle...

with a different 8-star familiar contract circle on each wrist, i felt immense satisfaction.

“hmm?”

as i opened my locker to grab a book.

i noticed a note i hadn’t seen before. someone must have slipped it through the gap in the locker door.

i grabbed the note and read what was written inside.

meet me at the hideout after school

- dorodorodorothy

next to the name “dorodorodorothy,” there was a simple drawing of a cute character with a witch’s hat, smiling brightly.

setting aside the strange name, the messy scrawl made it clear that dorothy had left the note.

we haven’t had a serious talk since we returned from aldreque, have we?

it had been bothering me.

i hadn’t mentioned what rachnil had said on purpose, out of consideration for dorothy.

so, she’s finally ready to have that conversation.

i carefully slipped the note into a clear protector, placed it in a glass case, and displayed it in my locker. after all, it was a keepsake from dorothy.

i grabbed the book i needed and continued down the hallway.

i doubted dorothy had found any comfort in the idea that her existence might become a catastrophe.

yet, regardless of the conclusion she reached, my response wouldn’t change.