Chapter 64: – The First Letter (64)

༺ The First Letter (64) ༻

The day of the hunting festival had the academy buzzing with festivities.

Students had been busy setting up their stalls since the crack of dawn, and the ingredients that had been flown in from all over the world for the occasion were already making an appearance, ready to spread a delicious aroma as they were cooked into scrumptious meals.

This was the same even in front of the forest, which was the center of the hunting festival. The results of the hunting festival weren’t available until the evening, but strangely enough, the forest south of the Academy was already teeming with people on the day of the hunt with barely any room to move about.

People arrived in the early hours to cheer on their favored participant, followed by the stalls that catered to them, and then finally the faculty and students who were interested in the hunt itself.

Although the results of the hunt would come later on in the evening, there were still some unexpected sights while standing in front of the forest.

There were hunters dropping out from injuries, and there were even some who forfeited after determining that they wouldn’t be able to catch more game in the remaining time.

Since it would be tedious to endure several hours for the results, the Academy’s student council organized a separate event.

They wanted to provide some entertainment for those waiting, and it also doubled as a chance for the clubs that had practiced tirelessly for the hunt to show off their skills in front of everyone.

It wasn’t just students who gathered in the clearing.

Professors from the Academy, high-ranking officials from various countries, and even the Emperor of the Empire would sometimes stop by to watch to keep an eye out for unique talents.

The rules of the event were simple: “hunt the demonic beasts,” and the team who hunted the strongest beast would win. This straightforward form of competition was also the best indicator of a team’s skill.

The aura level, mana capacity, and the number of circles around their hearts all potentially represented the strength of an individual, but it all meant nothing if they couldn’t be used practically.

After all, the best way to test someone’s skills was to put them to the test on the field, and this hunt was one of the few times the academy allowed students to participate in such a large-scale competition.

That was why there was always a steady stream of participants. Despite the looming risk of death, hundreds of participants flocked to the festival every year like moths to a flame.