Prologue

They say that first times are never forgotten, and I agree with that statement.

Whether it’s someone’s first kiss, the first heartbreak, or, in this case, the first magical beast humanity ever saw.

It happened almost a hundred years ago, according to what they taught us at the academy. In the year 2000, an unprecedented event brought an end to civilization as it was known at the time. A fierce battle between a massive dragon and a humanoid figure, both of unknown origin even to this day.

Monsters and magical beasts back then only existed in fiction, so witnessing such an event made humanity rethink everything it knew up to that point.

Eventually, the battle ended after hours of intense and powerful attacks that lit up the sky, culminating in the humanoid figure’s victory and the dragon’s death, which ended up falling on the capital of the Kyushu region, causing endless destruction and death.

That’s where it all began.

According to researchers, with the dragon’s death, its corpse began to fill the entire world with mana, and because of that, more monsters started emerging from domes of red mist that appeared with increasing frequency.

For us now, the existence of magical beasts is normal, but for the people back then, it must have been an almost apocalyptic event.

Over time, the mist domes began appearing across the world, but Japan was always the territory where they appeared the most, probably because that was where the dragon died and its corpse fell.

How did people survive such a catastrophe? They united.

The community began coming together to confront the creatures that were unknown at the time, and thanks to everyone’s collaboration and government support, they made a difference, giving rise to what is now known as hunters: trained individuals capable of manipulating ambient mana to fight all kinds of creatures in order to preserve peace and protect the defenseless.

Over time, the profession of hunter became increasingly important and necessary, which led to the founding of training academies for new recruits—one of which I attended.

Year 2096, Tokyo Magical Hunters Academy, the first academy ever founded, now hosting the 17th generation of aspiring defenders of humanity.

“Future hunters! You have proven your worth in the two years you’ve been here!” shouted the academy director. “And now it’s time for you to show the rest of the world what you can do!”

It had already been two years since I entered the academy, as the director said. I am currently seventeen, about to face the final year before becoming an official hunter. However, it is, without a doubt, the most difficult part.

“It’s time for you to choose where you will do your internships! You will work hand in hand with a professional hunter who will guide and instruct you throughout your final academic year!”

Yes, it was internship time.

Just like in ordinary schools, it’s necessary to complete internships for a certain period at specific businesses or institutions, and in this case, at guilds or agencies of professional hunters.

“You will choose where you will do your internships in order of academic ranking, from highest to lowest!” added the director.

At his words, the teachers present in the academy courtyard began organizing us according to our grades.

The line was incredibly long. Hunter academies usually don’t have as many students as ordinary schools, but even so, there were many applicants this time.

As the line moved forward, I got closer and closer to the makeshift stage set up for this event. I was nervous, which became more apparent with every step I took, but I had to stay strong.

The time had come to show everyone that I had what it takes to be a true hunter.

“Finally: Touka Kisaragi.”

And finally, I was assigned the place where I would be working for the entire next year. An unnamed agency under the charge of the hunter Yu Takahiro, my new instructor.