I can’t believe there was actually a Green Fang here.
I thought they were just Glass Wolves and Green Wolves that lived around here, so I assumed I mistaken the Black Fenrir I saw in the dark for a Green Fang due to that preconceived notion.
Still, there’s nothing I can do now that they’re here.
I think I can handle it, but Prim seems to be lacking in decisiveness in her current state. I’ve watched Prim fight a few times, and her style could be described as high-speed hit-and-away, using her wings effectively. She has a lot of magic power, as expected of a Winged Tribe member, but she seems to be having trouble utilizing it effectively, even having an excess of it. It’s not a problem against weaker opponents, but against those of equal or greater strength, her fighting style feels lacking in power. If only magic were as well-systematized as Engraving Magic, it would have been fine.
However, this is solely my opinion as an Engraver, a creator, not from the perspective of an ordinary person or Helios Orb. It’s the opinion of a human from a truly different world, accustomed to combat. I’ve heard that many people in Helios Orb, including Prim, fight in a similar way, though with individual differences. They enhance their bodies and magic power, then create openings using magic to compensate even slightly for their lack of decisiveness. This is the basic fighting style of Helios Orb. For Winged Tribe members with abundant magic power, the scope of enhancement is larger, but the basic principle remains the same. Well, if you were to ask if the Winged Tribe are normal, they are almost certainly not.
Huh? Winged Tribe?
“Yamato! Stop zoning out!”
“Whoa, my bad!”
I wasn’t zoning out, but I definitely lost my focus for a moment. I’m still in the middle of a fight, what am I doing?
More importantly, I need to ask Prim about something I just thought of.
“Prim, can you add wind or lightning to the Scorching Wings?”
“There’s no way I can do that!”
She answered immediately. I thought it might be possible since lightning is classified as fire attribute in Engraving Magic, and wind and fire also have good compatibility.
While thinking about that, I activated Blood Shaking and threw Multi Edge at the Green Fang. As it dodged and lost its balance, I used an Iron Sword, also activated with Blood Shaking, to split it in half from the torso. The Glass Wolves and Green Wolves were dealt with by freezing them with the Nibelheim and Alfheim layered magic. Perhaps it’s because I’m fighting a pack, but wide-area magic is proving to be incredibly convenient.
“Then I’ll stop it, so how about you try it once?”
“…You say that so easily, but I’ve never even considered it, so I don’t know if I can. Even if I could, I don’t know how much magic power it would consume.”
It’s not that easy for me. To me, simultaneously using Engraving Magic of different attributes or systems, like layered magic, is basic, so I just wondered if it might be possible with magic.
“It might be normal for you, but it’s something we’ve never seen or heard of. More importantly, I can’t even imagine how to visualize it!”
As I explained while dodging the Green Fang’s attacks, she said that. I see, visualization.
“In that case, Prim, you know how a fire gets bigger with strong winds, right? Try to visualize something like that.”
“With wind… Ah, I see! I’ll try, but it will take time, so you’ll have to keep the Green Fang busy until then, okay?”
“Naturally.”
Since I proposed it, I’ll at least keep it occupied. I activated Cold Prison and froze the Green Fang’s legs. It would have been tough if it were a Fire Wolf or Red Fang that manipulates fire, but since the Green Fang manipulates wind, it won’t be able to move easily once frozen. After all, I used my best chilling ability, minus 200 degrees. Even with the physical abilities unique to Anomaly Species, breaking ice restraints in a short time would be impossible. As for the desperate long-range wind magic attacks, I can just be on guard.
“…Fanning the flames with wind to create a large fire. Pumping wind into the flames… This is difficult!”
Prim has been trying to send wind into the Scorching Wings, but it hasn’t been going well. She seems to be able to visualize it, but she doesn’t quite understand why fire gets stronger with wind.
“Prim, perhaps you’re only visualizing the wind blowing? How about visualizing it making the fire bigger, and then incorporating that into your wings?”
I feel that understanding magic through sensation is more advantageous than through theory or logic. Of course, theory and logic are also fine, but it takes time to understand. Since Engraving Magic, which has a solid theoretical foundation, is often used by feel, I think magic should be no different.
“Visualize… the fire growing larger with the wind, the image of it burning fiercely…”
Oh, the Scorching Wings’ momentum seems to be increasing. Did it succeed?
“Visualization is truly important. Although the magic power consumption is high, the flames are more intense than before…”
“It seems so. Do you think you can do it?”
“The magic power consumption is high, but this much is fine!”
Saying that, Prim spread her intensified Scorching Wings and unleashed dozens of Fire Arrows at the Green Fang. Simultaneously, she coated her Fire Arms with a Long Spear and, just like when she destroyed the large rock yesterday, charged forward utilizing her enhanced physical abilities powered by Physicharing to the fullest. The Green Fang’s legs, frozen by my Cold Prison, felt the danger and unleashed wind magic like a scythe, but it was powerless against the Fire Arrows Prim fired. And then, the Green Fang was pierced by Prim and died without being able to do anything.
“Magnificent.”
“Thank… you…”
Prim’s breathing was heavy, perhaps from using too much magic, and she was a little unsteady on her feet. But her face was smiling with satisfaction. Yeah, she’s really cute. I was unexpectedly taken aback.
“You seem quite drained, so I’ll handle the retrieval. Prim, please rest in the Beast Carriage with Apricot.”
“I’ll take you up on that. This is actually the first time I’ve been this exhausted from using magic.”
“I’m sorry for pushing you too hard.”
“No, I’m grateful to Yamato because I was able to become stronger once again.”
I must have a huge grin on my face right now. I really don’t want Prim to see me like this.
“Prim, you probably would have figured it out on your own eventually.”
As Prim thanked me with a wide smile, wagging her tail, I turned away and replied curtly, then headed to retrieve the Black Fenrir, Green Fang, and the other Wolf Species. I hope she didn’t notice I was embarrassed.
“Could it be… embarrassment? Well, that’s fine. In that case, apologies, but please handle the retrieval.”
“Got it~”
Prim was about to say something, but it’s probably fine, right? She probably didn’t notice, right?
Side: Prim
The number of monsters Yamato retrieved was a total of 53: 1 Black Fenrir, 2 Green Fangs, 9 Wind Wolves, 18 Green Wolves, and 23 Glass Wolves. That’s an incredible number of them. A normal merchant, noble, or Hunter would have died without being able to do anything. Well, Yamato defeated almost all of them by himself. I only managed to defeat a little over ten.
“And yet, with Black Fenrirs appearing, why did no one in Feel or Emosion notice? With Catastrophe Species appearing above Anomaly Species, this is a major problem that would normally warrant the kingdom’s involvement, isn’t it?”
Yamato’s question is valid. Even for Anomaly Species, if there’s a sighting, Hunters ranked S or higher are tasked with detailed investigations, even if the reports are mere rumors. It goes without saying for Catastrophe Species. Surviving against Anomaly Species or Catastrophe Species is difficult, but there were sightings of Green Fangs, so at least some investigation into that should have been conducted. I wonder what’s going on.
“It’s certainly concerning, but thinking about it here won’t help. Once the two of us register as Hunters in Feel, we might be able to get some answers. I doubt the Hunter’s Guild thinks the problem has been resolved, though.”
Mother is right. There’s nothing I can do thinking about it now.
“That’s probably the only way. Also, with this many defeated, the Wolf Species probably won’t attack us anymore, right?”
“Perhaps. But that means other monsters might attack.”
With Grantpus’s Honest, I don’t think we’ll be attacked easily. Well, weak-minded Goblins might attack, but they wouldn’t be a threat.
“Well, Black Fenrir or Green Fang class monsters probably won’t appear often. More importantly, Prim, are you feeling alright?”
“Huh? Ah, yes. I’m fine?”
Why is he suddenly asking about my condition?
“I see. No, I was just wondering if I pushed you too hard earlier. If you’re fine, then good.”
Earlier… Ah, he means when we defeated the Green Fang. It’s true that I used more magic power than ever before, and now that the tension has subsided, the fatigue is hitting me hard, but since I defeated the Green Fang unharmed, it’s within an acceptable range. More importantly, thanks to Yamato, I found a way to strengthen my Scorching Wings. He’s worried about me. It actually makes me happy.
“Sorry to interrupt your nice moment, but Honest seems to be on alert?”
Huh! Before Mother pointed it out, I think I was just gazing at Yamato! I cautiously turn my gaze towards Mother and, as expected, she’s smirking and looking at me!
“Ah, is it that there’s an alert, so have Goblins or something come?”
Yamato is also avoiding looking at Mother, but it’s obvious he’s embarrassed. I can tell, so there’s no way Mother can’t.
“It seems to be Goblins. They don’t seem as alert as before, so it’s probably only the lowest-ranked C-class species.”
In that case, even Honest can defeat them without issue! No, I won’t let him do that since I pushed him quite hard earlier!
“Um… Ah, is it this? It’s about 20 meters away. They seem to be observing us, so they probably won’t attack?”
Still, Engraving Magic is convenient. Was it Sonar Wave, right? Being able to expand a net around yourself and detect only targets that meet specified conditions, that’s not even found in Inn Magic. Oh, Inn Magic is the umbrella term for Supplication Magic, Bestowed Magic, Unique Magic, and Guild Magic.
“Engraving Magic is truly convenient. If you create and sell magic tools with Engraving Magic applied, wouldn’t that alone make you a fortune?”
It would be a lie to say I haven’t thought of it, but I can’t easily allow it to be sold to everyone just because they have money. In my world, it’s already put into practical use, and it causes quite a few problems. Yamato says this with a wry smile while looking at an Engraving Tool. Apparently, in Yamato’s world, Engravers aren’t that numerous, but since Engraving Tools are inexpensive, anyone can use Engraving Magic. Therefore, there’s a continuous stream of people who abuse Engraving Magic. Hearing that, I absolutely don’t want magic tools with Engraving Magic on them to circulate. In Helios Orb, there will definitely be idiots who try to abuse it, so it would lead to an increase in fools.
“Ah, it seems the Goblins have fled. They were probably intimidated by Honest.”
As expected, no Goblin would pick a fight with Grantpus. However, right now, I’m more concerned about the enhanced Scorching Wings than the Goblins. It still feels more like forcibly sending wind into them rather than layering them with wind, so I need to improve the accuracy, otherwise, the magic power consumption will be considerable, and it won’t be usable in actual combat. Once I finish registering as a Hunter in Feel, I’ll need to try various things during hunts.
“By the way, Prim, about the Scorching Wings enhanced by the wind, how about naming them ‘Wings of Extreme Flame’?”
“Wings of Extreme Flame? It’s not bad, but isn’t it a bit grandiose?”
From the name alone, I can tell it’s more powerful than Scorching Wings, but it’s far from complete, so it’s completely unworthy of the name.
“Since you defeated the Green Fang on your own, it’s not grandiose. Besides, I’ll help you practice and give advice.”
Advice would be appreciated. After all, I don’t quite understand why wind makes fire stronger. And I think you mentioned something about lightning earlier. Yamato seems to think it’s possible because lightning is treated as fire attribute in Engraving Magic, but in magic, it’s a different attribute, and lightning is difficult to handle. While I’m good at it, I still can’t use it well. Even with the Wing Armor magic, Swift Thunder Wings, if I misjudge the control, I might blow myself up. I have a feeling Yamato might be able to do something about that too. There are eight attributes for Wing Armor Magic: Scorching Wings, Earthly Wings, Gale Wings, Flowing Water Wings, Swift Thunder Wings, Blizzard Wings, Flashing Wings, and Twilight Wings. Winged Tribes often use the magic they have an aptitude for among these. I often use Scorching Wings, followed by Gale Wings. Swift Thunder Wings are difficult, so I haven’t been able to control them fully yet. But it’s not unusable, so eventually, I might be able to incorporate it into the Wings of Extreme Flame. It will likely take a long time, but I’ve never even thought of a new type of Wing Armor Magic. My journey to Feel has gained more anticipation, and it seems incredibly interesting. I’ll definitely need to listen carefully to Yamato’s advice.
Thinking about the future, the Wings of Extreme Flame, and Yamato, I decided to enjoy the journey to Feel. Fortunately, we weren’t attacked by monsters, so I had plenty of time to think. And as the sun began to set, we finally arrived at Feel, a Magic Silver city surrounded by mountains and a lake in the northern part of the Amister Kingdom, our destination.
