Chapter 15: Getting Carried!

[Ding! New Personal Disciple! Sera Blake!]

Gray still couldn't believe what this single message had done.

Gloomy Sera? She had been utterly transformed. Now, she happily trailed behind him like an eager puppy, even humming a soft lullaby?! She had gone from sorrowful introvert to… this!

"Teacher, where are we going? Ah, I'll follow you anywhere! "

"Teacher, how do you know the Academy so well?! Aren't you new?"

"Teacher, don't mind the gawking students. They're all bored idiots!"

As they made their way through the Academy, plenty froze seemingly forgetting to walk. At this moment, they felt like they were seeing a couple of revenants...

"Isn't that Teacher Gale?! Shouldn't he be dead?!"

"Damn! Who's that beauty behind him?"

"S-Sera Blake?! Gloomy Sera?!"

"The third year? You sure?!"

"WTF happened to her?!"

Undisturbed by the attention, Gray quickly led them to perhaps the most peaceful yet deadliest location in the entire Academy….

The Hunting Grounds! 🏹

It was a huge ancestral forest, so huge that it shouldn't have existed in an Academy. Heck, Legends told of students getting lost for years in there and others straight-up dying!

"Ah, the Hunting Grounds?! Are we here for a walk!"

"Pftt— While that sounds fun. I'm more interested in the Magical Beasts."

The two entered the Forest, and the entire world turned dark and oppressive, with the feeling of always being observed. Even the trees seemed eager for their demise. This place was…

"So relaxing! Don't you agree, Teacher? So what are we hunting today?"

"Hunting? I want you to show me your capabilities."

"YES! Right away, Teacher!"

Her entire aura changed, and so did her eyes! If before they had looked inhuman, now they were straight-up pitch black! That's when she acted!

— WOOSH! —

She disappeared, black lightning swirling around her.

Gray couldn't help but stare in shock. Where had she gone? Wasn't she going to show him the actual hunt? But just as he was wandering, a nearby bush shook. Ah, seemed like she was—

"GRRRRR!"

That wasn't Sera!

A creature jumped at him!

White, fluffy… full of sharp fangs?!

An Eldritch-Looking bunny, one that couldn't have been more terrifying! Gray didn't hesitate. He jumped out of the way— or tried?! Yet, his feet utterly refused to move?!

But just as he was about to try ducking instead...

— SLASH! BZZZZZZ! —

Black lightning suddenly exploded out of nowhere, slashing the poor Eldritch-Rabbit in half. Losing all momentum, the carcass dropped right before him, Sera reappearing.

"How was it, Teacher? Sorry, but I couldn't find a stronger monster…"

Sorry? Could his poor heart even handle a stronger monster?! But before he could even protest, he stopped, feeling his blood quicken.

T-This...?! The corpse suddenly started glowing. Then, an ethereal copy of the creature emerged from it, the spirit giving him an evil glance while slowly disappearing!

'Grrrr!' If it weren't for that weird lightning, it would have devoured the human!

But that's when their eyes met… W-What?! He could see it!! The poor Eldritch Bunny suddenly had a horrible presentiment, just as Gray made his move!

He grabbed the soul as one would a fly, then sent it to the Library Realm!

[Ding! Successfully Obtained Ravenous Bunny Soul!]

[Ding! Unlocked the Soul Pen! Please Confirm!]

Ravenous Bunny? Soul Pen? Seems he had been right; the Hunting Grounds were the perfect place to grab souls! Grinning, he looked at his shell-shocked disciple. Trembling, she asked…

"T-Teacher, what was that? Did you just capture the Rabbit's Spirit?!"

"Oh? You saw that? It's fine. We're family, aren't we?"

"N-Necromancy?! Teacher, are you a Prince?!"

She asked, her eyes glowing so much they almost illuminated the dark forest! Wait, Prince? What was the link with… oh! Was necromancy perhaps exclusive to those of royal blood?!

Duke of Hellrand → Royal Blood!

Royal Death Knights → It was in the name!

Undead Fruit Merchants → Was it a service offered by the City?

Damn! That sure was shocking! Actually, there was more. What if the Library of Heaven's Souls was related to the Duke in the first place? But that would be for FAR later…

"Keep it a secret, alright? C'mon, let's keep hunting. I wanna collect more souls."

"YES, Teacher!" The two resumed the hunt, quietly chatting all the while.

But as they talked, Gray subtly led the conversation so that she'd reveal TONS of information about the inner workings of the Academy, especially the "year" thing!

Turns out it was like this…

A Mage's strength was strongly correlated to the Power of their Magic Core. Knowing this, the Academy had devised a way to see that power visually.

It came in the form of Magical Circles lighting up during the testing. The more Magical Circles, the more power, from one up to nine, aka the max for Adepts like them!

As for the years? They were slang for a Mage's Rank…

First Year → Up to 3 Circles!

Second Year → Up to 6 Circles!

Finally, Third Year → Up to 9 Circles

There was a bunch of other stuff that came next, but by then the students would be away from the Academy accomplishing various missions. As Gray learned all this:

"Doesn't that mean you're actually a big-shot? Third year, wow!"

"T-That, not at all, Teacher. I'm barely Rank 7!"

Or so she said, blushing so much that she couldn't even look at him straight. Still, rank 7, eh? It sure explained how fast she was dispatching those Magical Beasts! As for Gray…

[Ding! Obtained Ravenous Bunny Soul!]

[Ding! Obtained Fiery Flaming Fox Soul!]

[Ding! Obtained Bloodsucking Vine Soul!]

[Ding! Obtained Eviscerating Mantis Soul!]

The deeper they went, the stronger the creatures became. Rabbits turned to exploding foxes, deadly vines, and even stalking mantises. Had Gray been alone, he would have long died!

With a huge grin, he kept grabbing soul after soul. One had to know that the stronger the beast, the larger the soul and the more energy it contained. He was having a goddamn blast!

But just when it was going so well, they suddenly stumbled upon a pond…

A small pond in the forest, a picture of peace and serenity. The water was so clear, with smooth pebbles at the bottom. No monster, no trouble, simply serenity.

Serenity? Gray frowned instead:

"Careful, this place belongs to a strong Magical Beast."

"Ah? Teacher, how can you tell? I don't see anything at all…"

No Magical Beast trace, no specific smell either, just the fresh earth and the clear water. No matter where one looked the place seemed utterly harmless.

"Think about it. The Hunting Grounds are full of Magical Beasts. A water source like this? They'd either fight for it or cohabit and share it peacefully. But it's far too quiet…"

"Ah! That means a strong Magical Beast owns it! Otherwise, there would be plenty of beasts here. Wait, but there's still no traces… Oh my god! A strong AND cunning Magical Beast?!"

She couldn't help but unknowingly shiver—this was the deadliest combination! But amidst her shivering, there was even more admiration.

Her Teacher had guessed it so quickly! As expected of him, he was…

— Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! —

"You're 100% correct! This is the lair of a Rampaging Ursa!"

A man came out of nowhere, dropping this statement as he clapped. He looked like a classical hunter, except for the bone bow that oozed blood.

Hearing his words, Sera's body instantly tensed up…

"D-Did you say rampaging Ursa?! We should evacuate ASAP! Even a Rank 9 Mage wouldn't be able to face something like that alone!"

"Hehe, who says I'm alone. Brothers, how are you all doing?" He chuckled.

That's when the forest completely changed! A tree? Nope, a hunter! A patch of grass? Yet another hunter! A rock? A hunter… again?! One even got out of the damn pond! The man continued:

"Run, why run? Today, we hunt the beast!"

"That so? That's nice! Good luck!"

Gray wished them success yet was already forming a plan. That Ursa Soul? He HAD to get it! Else, wouldn't it just go to waste? Tentatively, he asked…

"Say, would you mind me and disciple staying to watch? We won't interfere."

"No way! The Hunt is sacred, not some ridiculous gallery show!"

But he had barely uttered that one of the hunters started whispering to the others. "Wait, that's Teacher Gale?!" the entire group gasped, the way they gazed at him changing. Then…

"Actually, Teacher. How about a bet? Win, you can watch us. Lose, a hundred coins to every brother. What do you say, are you in?" They grinned, eager for easy money.

"A bet? Sounds fun! But what kind of bet…"