The Academy’s Ankle Reaper

The news that the Hunting Festival was suddenly just two weeks away threw the entire Academy into chaos.

Both the new students, who hadn’t experienced it yet, and the returning students, who had participated once or twice, all couldn’t understand why this needed to be rushed.

Were they trying to cover up the terror at Clover Academy with the festive atmosphere?

But the mere fact that the festival was being held was a very good thing.

What bothered me was that we only had two weeks to prepare for it.

.

.

.

As soon as the announcement about the Hunting Festival concluded, everyone quickly dispersed.

River, Amy, and I gathered at the café.

Lucia seemed to have something to discuss with the five pillars due to the sudden decision about the Hunting Festival, so she headed off to the private bar.

The café was already packed with students discussing the festival, much like us.

We all ordered our usual drinks.

I still wasn’t used to the barista grinning widely as he poured Amy’s pineapple sparkling drink.

As River accepted his drink, he turned to me and asked.

“Are you really not going to participate in the Hunting Festival?”

“If I go, the good pictures won’t come out anyway, so why bother?”

Hunting monsters that could be caught by students wouldn’t be that fun.

I had already finished all the hunting I needed to do with Prigia while I was carrying her through the Black Forest until graduation.

“Then you’ll participate in the class event?”

“That’s the real fun of the festival. Just walking around the various event booths made by the students and enjoying the festival atmosphere is such a joy.”

Aside from the main event of hunting monsters, the Hunting Festival was simply a festival.

Classes would have their themed booths, and everyone would enjoy going around and checking them out.

Since this was my first time experiencing such youthful events after being transported to this world, I was quite looking forward to it.

While pondering how to have fun, I noticed Amy was wearing a very serious expression.

“I want to participate in the Hunting Festival.”

Taking a sip of her pineapple sparkling drink, it seemed Amy was quite interested in the grand prize of ‘gold’ announced just moments earlier.

“If the gold is given as the first-place prize, you could attend the Academy without worrying about scholarships until graduation.”

“Uh… right. Do you need help?”

“It’s meaningful only if I achieve it on my own. I’ll give it my all…”

With that, Amy suddenly stood up from her seat.

“Amy, where are you going?”

“I have something to prepare, so I’ll get going first.”

Saying she had something to prepare, Amy left the café.

Even though Amy was a noble’s daughter with a territory, her land wasn’t affluent due to the aftermath of the Demon Church’s schemes.

She was trying to secure a scholarship, but she couldn’t focus solely on her studies.

She was also investigating the traces of demons that had infiltrated the Academy, making it hard for her to prioritize her grades.

Hearing about the gold being offered as the prize had caught her interest.

Aside from myself, she was quite capable among the new students with abundant practical experience.

It seemed like a worthwhile shot.

After Amy left, River turned to me and said.

“Let’s go participate in the Hunting Festival after all.”

“I said I’m not going.”

As I rejected him once more, River slyly grabbed my hand with one of his.

“I want to help Amy.”

“Ugh…”

“Though I say that, she’d be really happy if you helped her. Let’s team up, okay?”

“…Still no.”

How cowardly of him to appeal by using our friendship… But it was working pretty well.

I really had no intention of going, but hearing Amy’s desire to win made my heart waver a bit.

Still, I absolutely wouldn’t participate this time.

I reaffirmed my resolve as I sipped from my cup of milk.

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[Looking for team members to participate in the Hunting Festival to aim for victory.][Even if we win, there’ll be attacks, so let’s keep it low-key.][The Swordsmanship Research Club will probably win, so don’t exhaust yourselves.][I’m a 10-year veteran hunter from the jungle. Looking for someone to carry the festival.][Line][Line][If you really have ten years of experience, go to the five pillars, they’re looking for help too.]

Messages from the new students filled the notebook all day long regarding the Hunting Festival.

The announcement board displayed notices about the Hunting Festival that were sent out to all grades at the Academy, while the info board had upperclassmen sharing advice from their own experiences in past Hunting Festivals.

– Participating in the Hunting Festival is fine, but don’t let your equipment for hunting demons be discovered. You know that, right?

‘I know.’

If Amy puts in her full effort, winning the Hunting Festival wouldn’t be impossible.

The equipment she had gathered to hunt demons was of exceptional quality, with no substitutes available.

A massive mithril greatsword she could swing easily with one hand, a red coat that radiated powerful anti-demon energy, a gun capable of firing physical attacks like high-level attack magic with just a flick of her finger, and ‘Saint McKinto’s Fire’ that could turn even ogres to ashes without a trace.

But the real problem…

‘If I use that equipment openly, it’ll become too disadvantageous in the future.’

Right now, she could operate secretly using strong obscuration magic, so she wouldn’t suffer from demon retaliation, but if her identity were revealed, the Demon Church could easily target a newcomer like Amy.

Being attacked by demons at the Academy would be far better.

In the worst-case scenario, her territory, which was only just beginning to recover from the wounds left by the Demon Church, might again become a target.

Having dealt with demons and their followers countless times since childhood, Amy was always sensitive about such matters.

Even if she couldn’t use any of those pieces of equipment, she was still formidable.

Reaching the pinnacle of expert level, if she borrowed the power to amplify from the mithril greatsword, she could generate an Aura Blade with a power comparable to that of an upper-level expert.

Having come to the Academy after fighting demons with her life on the line, Amy surely stood as the strongest contender for victory.

‘The problem is that the Hunting Festival is a team event…’

A face flashed through Amy’s mind.

She imagined someone who wouldn’t change expression while dealing with any monster from the Black Forest.

If she could team up with Atlas, that team would undoubtedly secure victory.

It would be unimaginable to lose in a team with a Master.

But she quickly erased that image from her mind.

He had firmly declared he wouldn’t participate in this Hunting Festival.

Since this was an event organized by the Academy, he may not exert himself fully, but even in a state of less exertion, Atlas exhibited expert-level skills.

No one could stop his advance.

That’s why he declared he wouldn’t participate.

If he was going to just dilly-dally, it’s better not to participate in the first place, and it would look odd for the Master to compete alongside students.

The victory prize would only be given to one team, so it would be better if someone truly desperate took it.

As evidence, though Atlas could win a “scholarship” anytime he wanted, he always kept his grades just about sufficient.

And he was already handling one threat that would occur during the Hunting Festival before it even started.

Desiring to win and receive gold was Amy’s wish.

It wasn’t something she could impose on Atlas.

– So the tasks ahead become clear.

‘Yeah, I need to prepare thoroughly.’

Closing her notebook, she made up her mind.

Among the new students, many were analyzing from various angles to aim for the victory prize.

Some succeeded, while others failed.

Whatever the outcome, all that information was usable for Amy.

Just like when facing demons.

Thoroughly investigate, prepare, and train.

If she could execute these correctly, she could navigate through most situations.

‘First… I should gather equipment and artifacts…’

Since the equipment used for hunting demons needs to be sealed away, she needed to get artifacts and equipment to use during the Hunting Festival.

Amy headed to the general store, a place where one could buy various materials necessary for practicing at the Academy.

The academy’s general store, located in the same building as the café, was a magical place where one could purchase most of the essentials needed inside the Academy.

Calling it a magical place isn’t just a metaphor.

The general store enchanted with magic was structured like a labyrinth with endless shelves inside.

You could easily get lost and trapped if you took a wrong turn, so it had a strange structure where golems roamed around ready to rescue anyone at any time.

That day, she would purchase several materials for the ‘antidote,’ which was most needed when entering the Black Forest.

The Hunting Festival only took place in the shallow areas of the Black Forest, but there were definitely poisonous insects one needed to be careful of.

Fortunately, the poisons from shallow-rooted insects were not too severe, so she could quickly suppress any symptoms if she prepared an antidote in advance.

As Amy entered the general store, she saw quite a few students who had similar thoughts already there.

“Eek!!! It’s all sold out!!”

“Mr. Owner, when will this come back?”

“The stock will be restocked next week~”

“Ugh, then I’ll come back next week!”

Everyone was holding their heads, gazing at the same spot.

The most visible display case was completely sold out of the materials they wanted.

Standing there in despair, unsure of what to do, someone approached her.

– For that material… You can find it if you move in the direction I indicate.

‘Really…?’

How did this companion know the layout of this general store? They skillfully guided her.

As she moved in the direction instructed by her companion, she finally spotted the powdered ‘red tail grass’ that she had been desperately searching for.

As Amy reached for the shelf, someone suddenly emerged from the side and bumped into her.

“Whoa?!”

“Ah??”

Though it was a collision, it wasn’t too severe, so neither of them fell over.

Amy quickly regained her composure and automatically apologized to the person she had bumped into.

“I’m so sorry…”

– Gotcha!

Suddenly, the student she bumped into grabbed her by the arm.

Startled by the sudden action, Amy’s eyes widened.

“Are you… participating in the Hunting Festival?”

“Yes, but how did you know?”

“When the announcement about the Hunting Festival dropped, if a new student came running to buy that, most likely they’re preparing for it.”

The student pointed to the powdered red tail grass in Amy’s hand and grinned.

“I’m Rio. I’m a third-year and this is my third Hunting Festival, so I’m a veteran… How about teaming up with me?”