The Academy’s Weakest Became A Demon-Limited Hunter
chapter-251

During my military service, I really hated the morning runs we did every day.

Now, I felt as if my day hadn’t started until I went for a run in the damp morning air.

I ran down a tree-lined street. Running alone wasn't enough, so I also held a magic tool in both hands and practiced mana circulation. It was the most challenging magic tool available here.

When this started to feel easy, I'd have to find a more rigorous magic tool outside the academy.

A few days ago, Aria Lillias, the master of the Hegel Magic Tower, set off for the Märchen Academy in a carriage. I learned this from the report of the Ice Knight.

After reading Aria's recent letter, I assigned trustworthy members of the Düpfendorf army to escort her.

At that time Aria seemed to be holding an important secret, I wanted to keep her under my surveillance. There was also the purpose of protecting her from unforeseen dangers.

Aria was to arrive at Hegel Magic Tower within the next two days.

Until then, I planned to train relentlessly and then greet Aria.

Also, White was coming. I learned that from a letter she sent. The letter mentioned that she was uncomfortable with the Imperial family and would be returning early.

As previously mentioned, White was the key to the「Fairy War」.

Sorry, but when she got here, she’d have to go through some tough training. She’d understand later, as it was necessary for clearing the scenario.

[Isaac, you really lead a boring life.]

The Magic beast, a fat purple cat, grumbled as it flew by my shoulder in a lying position. It was the Phantom Cat Cheshire.

[Can't you live a bit more carelessly? Isn't it funny that even with that much power, all you do is train, train, and train?]

"What can I do? This is how I have to live."

[Ugh, that's horrible... I could never live like that.]

I had become obsessed with training, but knowing that the Evil God herself was insanely strong, I didn't want to take it easy. The Phantom Cat Cheshire knew my intentions.

I sped up and ran quickly down the tree-lined street before returning to my dorm.

Hilde, just awakened from sleep, staggered groggily to greet me and bumped her head against the wall.

Despite it being vacation time, many students chose to remain at the academy. United by a strong desire for self-improvement, they were dedicated to training hard almost every day.

They were from different departments and different years. Normally, we wouldn't encounter each other during the semester, but seeing each other often, we gradually became friendly, greeting each other and engaging in small talk.

As time passed, I was deploying a magic circle and was in the midst of executing a wave of demonic illusions.

Suddenly, an unusual event occurred.

"...!"

For a moment, chills ran down my spine. My eyes widened.

I stopped in my tracks and withdrew my magic circle.

What I felt just now was not mana. It was a clear killing intent.

The killing intent quickly dissipated, but the surrounding students only felt a momentary discomfort and resumed their training.

As I turned my head back, I saw a man approaching me from the entrance of the training ground.

He looked familiar.

A sharp-looking middle-aged man with slicked-back bangs and the same light green hair as Kaya Astrea.

He had deep laugh lines, and some parts of his hair were turning gray.¹

He stood in front of me and spoke in a deep voice.

"You have sharp senses for a wizard."

"..."

One by one, the students began to look our way.

They all looked surprised.

What the...?

Why is this man here...?

The man who approached me was one of the top warriors of the empire, known for his skill with a sword.

It was the Sword Saint, Gerald Astrea.

[Gerald Astrea]

Lv: 192

Race: Human

Element: Wind

Danger Level: X

Psychology: [Wants to test if you are a suitable son-in-law.]

Son-in-law?

The reason for Gerald’s sudden appearance. The answer to that mystery was quickly deduced after reading his psychology.

Kaya’s family must have discovered that she likes me.

Oh, Kaya...

I almost sighed while propping my forehead on my hand, but I restrained myself.

"Greetings. I am Gerald Astrea, head of the Astrea ducal family. I came to see you, Isaac."

Gerald bowed in the manner of noble etiquette.

I adjusted my glasses and turned towards Gerald.

It didn't seem like the right situation to comfortably adopt an “Oh, father-in-law“ attitude.

"...What is your business here?"

Gerald glared at me with eyes as threatening as an eagle's.

"Do you intend to take my daughter, Kaya Astrea?"

This...

It seemed like a rather troublesome situation was about to unfold.

It was obviously not a situation to lie, and I had no intention of doing so in the first place.

Considering he tested me from the start, it wasn't exactly a pleasant first meeting.

I said firmly.

"Yes. If you have a problem with that then do something about it?"

The air in the training ground grew heavy.

The class watched the standoff between me and Gerald with tense faces.

* * *"...?"

It was when the Imperial carriage passed through the guard post and reached Märchen Academy.

Inside the carriage, Merlin Astrea noticed the ducal carriage of the Astrea family through the window.

She wondered if Kaya had returned but upon closer inspection, it seemed to be the head, Gerald's, personal carriage.

Merlin, startled, stuck her head out the window to get a better look at the carriage.

That was definitely her father's carriage.

"Merlin? What's wrong?"

Asked Princess Snow White, who was sitting opposite her.

"What?"

White's eyes widened.

"The Sword Saint, Duke Gerald Astrea?! How did you know that?"

"That carriage is my family's head's personal carriage. For some reason, he seems to be visiting the academy."

White's eyes sparkled as she noticed the Astrea ducal family's carriage parked.

Gerald was one of the Empire's greatest warriors and was known as the Sword Saint. Many admired him, and White was one of them.

However, Merlin couldn't bring herself to like him. She was simply distressed because her father scared her.

Meanwhile, Kaya Astrea was scanning the campus using wind magic to move through the air.

She was trying to find her father, Gerald Astrea.

"Father, where on earth have you gone...?"

As soon as Gerald arrived at the academy, he visited the Headmistress's office to meet Headmistress Elena.

He told Headmistress Elena that he wanted to stay at the academy for a while. The conversation went well.

After receiving the Headmistress's permission and leaving the building, Gerald vanished in an instant.

A clear sense of unease engulfed Kaya. There was only one reason Gerald would come to the academy.

"Oh, found him...!"

Soon, Kaya spotted Gerald.

Gerald was already entering the dueling ground with a silver-blue-haired male student, Isaac.

Kaya's face turned pale. She had a bad feeling.

"Ahhh...!"

Kaya hurriedly descended and rushed into the dueling ground.

Inside the facility, Isaac and Gerald stood facing each other, maintaining a distance in the quiet dueling ground.

A faculty member was present to observe, indicating that the academy had permitted the duel between Isaac and the outsider Gerald.

Some students, having heard about the duel between the Ice Sovereign and the Sword Saint, occupied the audience seats. They all watched the two men on the dueling ground with keen interest.

Isaac warmed up lightly.

Gerald swung the wooden practice sword a few times with ease.

"It's too light."

Gerald thought it felt as light as a feather.

It had been a while since he had wielded a wooden practice sword, and it didn't feel satisfying to swing. It seemed like it would break easily if he didn't control his strength.

"Father, Isaac!"

Kaya, having entered the facility, shouted towards Isaac and Gerald.

"Welcome, Kaya."

Isaac greeted her calmly. He had guessed that Kaya would come since Gerald was here.

He was very glad to see Kaya after a long time, but with Gerald, who had emitted killing intent towards him, standing before him, he decided it wasn't the right time to greet her with a smile.

Kaya had her hair down and was wearing earrings. Isaac thought she seemed to have been trying to transition into a more mature senior image. The signs had been visible since the end of Semester 1 Year 2.

"You two, w-what is going on? Why are you suddenly dueling?"

"Don't interfere, Kaya. This is for your sake."

Gerald was resolute. He didn't even spare his daughter a glance.

Isaac had just finished stretching. He looked at Gerald.

Kaya couldn't understand the two of them.

[Hello? It's Cheshire the Explainer!]

Out of nowhere, Phantom Cat Cheshire appeared next to Kaya, greeting her with a wide grin.

Kaya, having been overly focused on Isaac and Gerald, almost screamed when she belatedly noticed the Phantom cat's approach.

[You see, that man seems to want to determine if Isaac is suitable as his son-in-law through a duel! Isaac has accepted his challenge.]

"What?"

[Do I need to spell it out more? Isaac is dueling to earn the approval of his prospective father-in-law, to be with you!]

Kaya was in a daze but soon understood the Phantom Cat's words.

"Gasp...!"

Kaya covered her suddenly flushed face with both hands.

"Ahhh..."

A sigh escaped her lips.

It was because she was struck by waves of embarrassment and shame.

That day was truly the worst day of her life.

"Isaac. There is a debt to pay to you."

Gerald only focused on Isaac, his duel opponent, and assumed a combat stance.

Even the simple act of holding his sword and observing his opponent exuded deep experience.

"Debt…? Ah."

Isaac recalled the time he had dealt with Babel in the Astrea duchy.

There was nothing else that Gerald would feel indebted about other than that incident.

"But that's beside the point. I will personally confirm, here and now, whether or not you are suitable for my daughter."

His voice was dignified yet sharply honed.

Gerald never judged someone he hadn't personally faced in combat.

He didn't care about titles like King of Düpfendorf, Ice Sovereign, or Extraordinary Archwizard.

The only thing he planned to judge was the potential son-in-law he was to face in the duel.

This duel was essentially an interview.

Kaya whimpered, "Father..." The presence of students in the audience only intensified her shame.

This was practically a public execution.

"Anytime."

Isaac stood in the dueling ground as a prospective son-in-law. He had no intention of giving up his affection for Kaya.

Moreover, this was not just a test from his prospective father-in-law but also a duel with the Sword Saint. It was surely a good opportunity to grow stronger. Isaac didn't want to miss this chance.

"Please teach me, Father-in-law."

"..."

When Isaac bowed his head and casually called him, “Father-in-law,” Gerald narrowed his eyes, showing his displeasure.

His thoughts slipped out of his mouth.

Oops.

Isaac realized… that was a mistake.

1. ED Min Note: Wasn't enturely sure what "Laugh lines" reffered to so I googled it. They're basically the wrinkles around the eyes.