I Became the Academy’s Munchkin Sniper

As the time arrived, I released my concealment and deepened my voice to exude a Master’s aura.

“It’s been a while.”

The empty courtyard.

Only Ciel and I were there.

“Ciel—”

A fierce wind billowed my cloak. I had to admit, it looked cool. But there was a problem.

‘It’s freezing… So cold.’

I’d been waiting here for an hour. Spring hadn’t fully warmed up, and the wind was brisk. 

My thin black cloak didn’t block the chill, and after an hour, no clothing could keep out the cold entirely. 

Each gust of wind made my body flinch reflexively, and a cold sweat ran down my back. 

If I leaned against the stone for a second… It felt like pressing against an ice block.

‘Not that…’

I straightened up and focused on Ciel, wondering what she would say.

I made a decision. I’d give her the gift and get out of here quickly! 

Since her duel had passed, she’d effectively forfeited.

As I was searching my pocket for the gift, Ciel spoke up.

“I… want to talk.”

“…”

I looked at her, surprised. 

Wasn’t she here for the gift? What did she need to discuss with me, Master?

Not understanding her intent, I pulled up her status screen.

[Ciel] 

Lv: 49  

Species: Human  

State of Mind: [I want to know more about you.]

“I want to know more about you.”

I wasn’t so dense that I didn’t understand what that meant.

“What, exactly?”

“I’d like to know your true name… And to hear more about who you are.”

The true name of a Master, and stories beyond my role as her Master.

The true name of a Master was a combination of their title and unique identity. 

The seven Masters were known by their titles: the Artisan, the Sword Saint, the Sage, the Archer, the Holy Mother, the Dark Shadow, and the Unknown. 

Some, like Athos the Sword Saint, were widely known, while others remained a mystery.

She wanted to know who I was among them.

While keeping it hidden wouldn’t matter much, there were only two Masters I could be mistaken for. The Dark Shadow and the Unknown. Ciel likely suspected I was one of them.

But I needed to clarify, so she wouldn’t mistake the Dark Shadow for me and end up in mortal danger.

In the original story, the Unknown never appeared, remaining an enigma until the end, so I replied,

“The Unknown. And…”

My thoughts quickly shifted to another realization. Her words suggested she wasn’t just curious about me as a Master but held a more personal interest.

Although it wasn’t unheard of in the original storyline for Ciel to form romantic attachments, she was a difficult character. It wasn’t easy to earn her favor. She was a noble among nobles, nearly flawless.

The ways to gain her favor were either to be overwhelmingly powerful or to give her a gift worthy of a Master.

‘Wait… Haven’t I done both?’

I looked at Ciel, who was waiting for my next words, her attentive eyes endearing. In the end, I spoke.

“I hunt demons.”

“…!”

Her eyes widened, then softened with a hint of disappointment.

“I see…”

She’d probably wanted to know things like my real name or where I lived. But unfortunately, I hadn’t planned that part of the role yet. Still, it wasn’t a lie. She had seen me slay demons before.

I took out the gift. I was ready to head back to the Mage Tower. This cold was unbearable.

“Ciel, take this.”

“This is…?”

“I’ve been watching your growth. That ice wall… It wasn’t bad.”

“Oh, th-thank you… And thank you for the gift…”

Ciel hugged the box tightly, her head lowered. 

Seeing the Ice Princess act like this… I was satisfied with her reaction.

It was time for the duel with Luin, and I didn’t want to cause a fiasco by being late, so I turned to leave.

“I’ll be going—”

Just as I was about to activate my concealment—

“W-wait—!”

Ciel grabbed the hem of my cloak. Immediately, the cold fabric of my disguise clung to my back as it tightened.

‘Ack—!’

Cold.

Incredibly cold…!

Barely holding back a cry, I turned to look at Ciel.

Her fingers lightly held my cloak and seemed fragile, yet her icy eyes were filled with determination, as if waiting for my answer.

“Just… Tell me your name…”

My name.

She didn’t seem likely to let go until she heard it…

“Kim Lee-Hyun.”

I borrowed the name from my previous life.

“Kim Lee-Hyun…”

Ciel repeated the name, then released her grip.

She hurriedly asked,

“W-when can we meet again…?”

To that, I replied,

“Wherever demons appear, I will be there—”

Then I activated my concealment. We would probably meet again soon enough.

Leaving Catlic Hall, I quickly headed back to the Mage Tower.

Even as I left, Ciel stood there silently, watching.

———

“Kim Lee-Hyun…”

Ciel remained in Catlic Hall, repeating the three syllables over and over.

Saying his surname first, then just his name—it felt new each time she said it.

And the fact that she alone knew Master Lee-Hyun’s name filled her with joy.

Just knowing his name, and yet her heart pounded like this… She couldn’t understand why.

‘A name…’

Only she could call…

Ciel stood there for a long time, thinking about her Master. She kept recalling his true title.

‘The Unknown, Kim Lee-Hyun…’

The Master who had remained a mystery for hundreds of years was him.

And his goal was to annihilate demons.

He was on a different level from her. For most mages, avoiding demons was the norm.

Without the blessing of the Holy Kingdom, demons were nearly impossible to kill since they could regenerate endlessly without light-element magic. Their bodies weren’t made of flesh or water but of pure malice.

So Ciel’s magic was ineffective against magical beasts, who were considered lesser demons.

But Master Lee-Hyun hunted demons alone. His strength was enough to overcome even their regeneration.

“I still have a long way to go.”

Ciel clenched her fist.

She wanted to stand on the same level as him, to help her Master.

“I have to become stronger.”

The Dunhart family would send her ceremonial gifts and congratulations for her recent growth, but it wasn’t enough.

She couldn’t be content with just that.

She wanted to reach the power he’d displayed…

And as she made this resolve, she suddenly remembered something she’d forgotten.

“Oh, the gift.”

Only then did Ciel look down at the gift she held close to her chest. A gift from Master. She intended to preserve it with permanent care and cherish it.

“What could be inside…?”

She untied the ribbon on the box, revealing an ice flower.

“Hmm…?!”

More precisely, it was a crystal wand with a preserved ice flower inside. It was in a league beyond the wand her family had sent her.

The crystal sphere at the top was beautifully crafted, with a rich wood grain on the shaft. Inside the crystal sphere, it looked as if the snowy landscape from that fateful day had been captured forever.

It was a gift she adored. Ciel handled the wand carefully with no intention to scratch it.

Just holding it made her happy.

“Should I practice with it?”

She was about to try out the wand when—

Screeeeam!

A piercing scream echoed from the Magr Tower. Ciel’s gaze immediately turned toward the source.

The screams were coming from the Magr Tower.

“Master…?”

Thinking that demons might have appeared, she began to move.

Her Master would be wherever the demons were.

———

[Next match! Luin versus Kyle—!]

Having changed out of my disguise and back into regular clothes, I stood in the arena.

“Finally, we meet. After that humiliation, I hope you’ve come prepared, Kyle.”

Across from me was a boy with ash-brown hair. Luin smirked and glared at me with contempt.

Ever since our last clash, Luin had been acting despicably. He spread rumors with his faction, picked fights, and generally went out of his way to be a nuisance.

He was faithfully playing the role of a one-off antagonist.

“Sure, Luin.”

There wasn’t much I needed to say to him. Luin had already crossed too many lines. The power of a demon isn’t something that can be used just by forming a contract.

There is always a price to pay.

And that price… is a sacrifice beyond imagination.

He was on a completely different level than the troublemaker Kyle once was.

[The duel begins!]

Ding!

The duel began.

Chapter 1, Act 3. The final part of the mentorship magic duel episode.

Luin decorated the air with dozens of magic circles, laughing as he did. The spectators murmured at his incredible speed.

“Hahaha! Did you know? In a duel, you could suffer an ‘unavoidable’ injury that could cripple you! I’ll destroy every last one of your mana circuits!”

Luin let out all his pent-up rage. His element was fire, and his mid-level fire magic was powerful. 

With Cathlyn having secretly boosted his mana with an enhancer, even a single mistake could result in the permanent loss of my mana circuits.

But my response to his taunts remained the same.

“Go ahead, with your pathetic demon power. Show me what you’ve got.”

“W-what—!”

I aimed my gun at him, watching him react to the mention of ‘demon’ power.

Phase 1 was starting.

Fireballs began to rain down from the sky.