After successfully defeating the Elephant Boar, we returned to Dragunia in Eos’s beast carriage.
Even for a Hydragonewt, changing back twice a day is tough, but Eos mentioned that her magic had increased after forming the Dragon Resonance Contract with Mana, allowing her to transform twice.
However, transforming twice in a row without rest was pushing it, so we decided to have her remain in her dragon form throughout the subjugation. Thanks to that, we managed to return before sunset.
“Even with a Hydragonewt present, isn’t that a bit too fast?”
Kaname-san was quite displeased when we presented the corpses of the Elephant Boar, Jumbo Nose Boar, and Long Nose Boar at the appraisal room.
“This time, Yamato and I didn’t do anything,” I said.
“Eos either,” Yamato added.
We were ready to assist at any moment, but that was all it came down to.
“Really? Then who was it that defeated the Elephant Boar?”
“It was Mana, Lydia, and Ludia. They seemed to have trouble initially, but they defeated it quite easily, I think.”
“It wasn’t as easy as you say.”
Mana and Lydia nodded at Ludia’s words, but they didn’t look like they were struggling that much. When I explained their apparent ease, not only Kaname-san but Remy let out a big sigh.
“S-I ranked monsters defeated by three High Class individuals who have just evolved. The alloy probably helped, but I don’t think that’s all there is to it.”
“And as a bonus, His Highness Manalease’s Battle Horse evolved into a War Horse!”
The alloy has removed the need to restrict our magic, so I’m sure that played a role. Spica’s evolution into a War Horse was only a matter of time.
A Battle Horse is a C-rank monster, and there’s a Duel Horse, which is a higher-tier B-U rank, making the War Horse an S-R rank monster. Spica could already defeat B-rank monsters normally due to her compatibility with Mana, but now that she has evolved into a rare breed, I doubt she would be outmatched even by G-rank monsters.
“I was surprised by that too, but the person who surprised me the most was Raus. Hunting five Jumbo Nose Boars by himself and even evolving into a High Ulfy…”
Everyone except me, Prim, and Eos has leveled up.
**Yamato Hydrangea Mikami**
17 years old
Lv. 72
Human – Ancient Human
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: M
Order’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float Outside
Order’s Rank: O
**Primrose Hydrangea Mikami**
17 years old
Lv. 68
Beastkin – Ancient Foxy
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: P
**Manalease A. Mikami**
18 years old
Lv. 50
Human – High Elf
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float
Hunter’s Rank: S
**Yuriana Reina Amister**
14 years old
Lv. 22
Human – Human Half-Elf
Healer’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float
Healer’s Rank: G
**Frederica Amatista**
19 years old
Lv. 29
Human – Elf
Union: Wing Crest
Order’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Memoria Outside
Order’s Rank: C
**Meena F. Mikami**
17 years old
Lv. 41
Human – Human
Union: Wing Crest
Order’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float Outside
Order’s Rank: B
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: S-B
**Flam Mikami**
18 years old
Lv. 39
Yokai – Undine
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: B
**Lydia Highwind**
16 years old
Lv. 48
Dragonkin – Hydragonewt (Ice Dragon)
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom – Dragunia
Hunter’s Rank: S
**Ludia Highwind**
16 years old
Lv. 48
Dragonkin – Hydragonewt (Fire Dragon)
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom – Dragunia
Hunter’s Rank: S
**Athena Willness Earthlight Tomari**
84 years old
Lv. 36
Dragonkin – Dragonian
Dragon Name: Earthlight Dragonian
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom – Dragunia
Hunter’s Rank: B-T
**Raus**
13 years old
Lv. 45
Beastkin – High Ulfy
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: S
**Rebecca**
13 years old
Lv. 39
Yokai – Undine
Union: Wing Crest
Hunter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Hunter’s Rank: B
**Carol Bernstein**
15 years old
Lv. 24
Human – Elf
Union: Wing Crest
Healer’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Fierite
Healer’s Rank: S
**Edward Albert**
19 years old
Lv. 23
Human – Fairy Half-Dwarf
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Crafter’s Rank: P-G
**Marina Albert**
19 years old
Lv. 24
Dragonkin – Fairy Half-Dragonewt
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Crafter’s Rank: S
Trader’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Trader’s Rank: B
**Fiana Albert**
17 years old
Lv. 21
Yokai – Harpy
Union: Wing Crest
Crafter’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Feel
Crafter’s Rank: S
**Marisa**
20 years old
Lv. 28
Yokai – Vampire
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float
Butler’s Rank: S
**Viola**
15 years old
Lv. 23
Beastkin – Tigaree
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float
Butler’s Rank: B
**Yuria**
14 years old
Lv. 21
Beastkin – Rabitry
Butler’s Guild: Amister Kingdom – Float
Butler’s Rank: C
**Eos Willness Green**
117 years old
Lv. 52
Dragonkin – Hydragonian
Dragon Name: Green Dragonian
Union: Wing Crest
Butler’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom – Dragunia
Butler’s Rank: G
Hunter’s Guild: Valentia Dragon Kingdom – Dragunia
Hunter’s Rank: G
Mana is now level 50, Lydia and Ludia are level 48. Meena is level 41, Flam is level 39, Rika-san is level 29, Yuri is level 22, Athena is level 36, Rebecca is level 39, Carol is level 24, Marisa-san is level 28, Viola is level 23, and Yuria is level 21. The impressive one is Raus, who reached level 45 and further evolved into a High Ulfy.
“Evolving during combat and continuing to hunt Jumbo Nose Boars without any regard is simply unbelievable!”
Remy exclaimed in disbelief, but Raus had witnessed Lydia and Ludia’s evolutions, and I had explained the situation when Maruca-sama evolved. Therefore, he had fully considered the possibility of evolving mid-battle. Moreover, Raus was eager to evolve as soon as possible, so he dealt with the situation calmly, even given that his opponent was a B-R rank monster.
“I heard about the commotion in Etrada, so I can understand how you feel. However, if the nobles of Dragunia find out that Raus has evolved, they’ll try to recruit him, even if it means bending the rules.”
That’s within expectations. Based on the case of Duke Narlstadt, I plan to refuse any noble advances for now. If they persist, I won’t hesitate to make them behave through physical means.
“I find that questionable, but I suppose we can’t afford to be lenient. Unlike the nobles of Amister, the nobles of Valentia are more forceful, so we’ll have to respond accordingly.”
Still, they’re more manageable than the nobles of Solemne or Retisencia.
“So, you’re going to announce Raus’s level and evolution, and simultaneously declare the stance of the Wing Crest, is that correct?”
“Yes, please do that. If things go wrong, I’ll become their enemy, so I suspect nobles and even hunters will hesitate.”
Ribert-san of Valentia, Hitomi-san of Alegria, and Certina-san of Torencia apparently evolved into High Class before adulthood, but they were around 15 or 16 years old. The Grand Hunter’s Master apparently evolved after the age of 20, making Raus faster than all four of them. I’ll observe for a while as there might be a backlash, but once he reaches adulthood, he’ll likely aim for evolution into the Ancient Class, which is very possible. Therefore, not just nobles, but hunters will also want to recruit him into their raids or unions. With Countess Carol of Amister here, we can deter hunters, but nobles might resort to forceful methods, so we need to remain vigilant until we leave Valentia.
“One Elephant Boar, five Jumbo Nose Boars, and twenty-three Long Nose Boars confirmed. The Elephant Boar is for the reward, but what about the Jumbo Nose Boars and Long Nose Boars?”
“I’ll take two Jumbo Nose Boars and ten Long Nose Boars. We plan to sell the rest.”
Raus defeated the Jumbo Nose Boars, and Meena and the others defeated the Long Nose Boars. We decided what to do with them on the way back. Jumbo Nose Boars are a rare species, so their materials are also quite rare. Long Nose Boars aren’t found in Amister, making them valuable materials as well. Their meat is also delicious, so we intended to bring some back. The purchase price for these will be distributed among everyone who defeated them, with half going to the union fund. The reward for defeating the Elephant Boar is its corpse. This was somewhat of a whim of mine and Prim’s, so Mana, Lydia, and Ludia will receive half of the appraised value from my personal funds.
“Understood. Remy, please appraise them.”
“Understood.”
“Also, this is Athena-sama’s first request, so we need to process Meena-san’s rank-up.”
This was Athena’s first request as a Hunter, so she will be promoted to B-I rank. Meena is now level 41, so she will be promoted to S rank. Flam and Rebecca are level 39, so they should be promoted soon as well.
“The procedures are now complete. Good work, everyone.”
“Thank you.”
“Thank you!”
Meena and Athena thanked Remy for completing the procedures. Meena is now an S-rank Hunter, but the condition for promotion to S-rank Order is evolving into High Class, so that’s still some time away.
“Then, let’s head back to the embassy.”
“We also need to send a letter.”
I had completely forgotten, but we need to directly report my engagement to Athena and Mana’s Dragon Resonance Contract with Eos to Emperor Reinhardt. However, going directly might cause issues, so we decided to send a letter first. Eos, now a Green Dragonian, can reach Float in one day, but it takes two days with creatures like Wyverns, so we’ll have to stay in Dragunia for a few more days.
**Side: Prim**
When we returned to the embassy, a letter had arrived from Float. Retisencia, enraged by the princess’s execution, seems to be preparing to raise an army, but with the guilds withdrawing, logistics are stalled, and preparations are taking time. Only the Trader’s Guild is operating on a reduced scale, but they also seem to be hinting at withdrawal to check Retisencia, making it difficult to force their cooperation. As it’s getting colder, Retisencia won’t be able to move during winter, but Brother Rai seems to predict some military conflict around spring.
However, if Retisencia raises an army, Amister will do the same. Furthermore, with the distribution of new equipment, the Order’s Guild’s combat power has been augmented. Declaring war on such an Amister can only lead to Retisencia’s demise.
“Does that mean we have some leeway until around spring?”
“Probably. In about two months, the snow will start falling, and marching in such conditions would be no different from suicide.”
Retisencia experiences a lot of rain throughout the year, but Amister has four seasons, and it snows in winter. Moreover, according to Carol, Count Bernstein’s Territory receives a considerable amount of snow every year, making marching physically impossible. Marching in such conditions would indeed be suicidal, as Rika-san said.
“In that case, we have time to go to the Solpreza Mountain Range.”
Yamato muttered that, and I agreed with the idea. We might even go to the Solpreza Labyrinth.
“Hey, have you forgotten what Gaia-sama said?”
“That’s right. There’s Tescatlipoca in the Treasure Tree of the Solpreza Mountain Range.”
Ludia and Flam said that, but I’m sorry, I had forgotten.
Tescatlipoca, the Demise Species of the Jaguar. It reportedly appeared about 100 years ago, but due to the King Dragon’s failure to disclose its existence for generations, no one expected a Demise Species to be in the Solpreza Mountain Range until Emperor Folias’s recent announcement. Even that Narlstadt reportedly turned pale. It’s right on his doorstep, after all.
“Given the matter of the stone tablet, Yamato probably wants to go to the Treasure Tree, but having a Demise Species there is far beyond our capabilities, isn’t it?”
Mana is hesitant, and I can’t blame her. Yamato and I could probably defeat it, and the materials from a Demise Species are incredibly tempting, but we can’t take everyone with us. When you put it that way, I feel I have to be more prudent.
“Then how about the Solpreza Labyrinth? Given the situation with Narlstadt, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to conquer it.”
Yamato doesn’t intend to force everyone, but he seems keen to obtain materials from high-ranking monsters. I understand how he feels. Furthermore, labyrinth cores are invariably managed by the royal family of the country where the labyrinth is located. Therefore, if we conquer the Solpreza Labyrinth and obtain its core, Narlstadt will no longer be able to act so high and mighty.
Speaking of which, I wonder what happened to Narlstadt.
“Rosalie-san, what happened to Narlstadt?”
“He has been stripped of his succession rights for insulting Amister and the Dragonians. His sister’s succession order has also been significantly lowered, so there’s no way for the Duke Nizheyg family to ascend to the throne.”
Stripped of succession rights. I thought it would just be a demotion in the line of succession, but they took decisive action. Or perhaps, considering the possibility of national ruin by provoking the Dragonians, it’s a proportionate punishment.
“Stripped of succession rights, you say? However, he remains the head of the ducal house, doesn’t he?”
“It appears so. His Majesty the Dragon King likely wanted him to be demoted, or at the very least, to retire in seclusion. However, the nobles made a fuss, so he couldn’t go that far.”
Rosalie-san answers Mina’s question, but that’s also problematic. While the royal family’s authority is strong in Amister and Torencia, in Valentia, it’s the nobles who hold power, so even His Majesty the Dragon King can’t always do as he pleases. I suspect Narlstadt used the labyrinth for his own benefit precisely for such situations.
“He said to make Dragonians slaves, didn’t he? Yet, many nobles acted to protect him. Does that mean the nobles of Valentia think the same way he does?”
Athena’s expression is displeased and anxious. Narlstadt’s contempt for Dragonians and his desire to enslave them is well-known, but the fact that nobles made a fuss over his punishment suggests that quite a few nobles share Narlstadt’s views, and she’s worried about that.
“I wouldn’t say that’s entirely untrue. Perhaps they’re thinking that they’ll be next. Unlike in Amister and Torencia, the nobles in Valentia do as they please in their own territories. If their misdeeds are exposed, they’re probably worried about the consequences. I wish those nobles would just disappear.”
Lydia says something harsh, even though it’s her own country. However, in Amister, the Order’s Guild not only maintains public order but also acts as a surveillance force. Most importantly, there are very few lords who would do such things. In Torencia, auditors visit a few times a year, so any impropriety is quickly discovered. Moreover, these auditors are sometimes appointed from Hunters or Traders, and they operate completely in secret from the nobles, making bribery difficult.
However, Valentia has no audits at all. The royal family does make occasional tours, but they meticulously plan their visits, making it easy for the nobles. Successive Dragon Kings have reportedly tried to address this, but each time they were stopped by the nobles, or in severe cases, their tax revenue visibly decreased, an action unbecoming of a monarchical state. Lords in possession of labyrinths were particularly brazen, reportedly refusing to offer their labyrinth cores. Since the issue came to light, they’ve grudgingly offered them, but there are still unexplored labyrinths, so the Dragon King Family wants to conquer them quickly.
“Also, this is for a personal reason, but I want to become as strong as possible before the war with Retisencia begins. Gaia-sama’s precognitive dream says I survive, but if possible, I want to overturn that prophecy.”
Ah, that’s another reason. We don’t know when the war with Retisencia will start, but if Gaia-sama’s precognitive dream is accurate, it will happen within a few years. However, in that war, Yamato will be cornered. It’s also a problem that Prim, Rika-san, and Flam will be pregnant, and Mana will have just given birth, making it impossible for them to help Yamato. Well, it’s definitely a happy occasion, but that happiness is halved.
“If you put it that way, we can hardly refuse.”
“That’s right. However, if we can offer the Solpreza Labyrinth’s core, in a sense, wouldn’t that remove future worries?”
“Perhaps.”
Mana answers Mina’s question, and I agree wholeheartedly. Narlstadt harbors ill feelings not only towards Dragonians but also towards Amister, so the possibility of him acting suspiciously at a critical moment cannot be denied. However, the Nizheyg ducal territory is heavily reliant on the Solpreza Labyrinth financially. If we seize its core, we can not only curb Narlstadt’s influence but also more easily control the nobles who possess labyrinths. After all, if the labyrinth core is destroyed, the labyrinth will disappear. Losing a vital resource and a source of income would be a significant blow to the nobles. Of course, doing so would also invite immense backlash from the nobility.
“So, the next destination will be the Solpreza Labyrinth?”
“Let’s do that. What about Ed and the others?”
“Since it’s an opportunity, we’ll accompany you. I heard we can use the beast carriage inside, and we also need to level up a bit.”
Ed and the others are joining us. And then there’s Mother. We can’t possibly leave her behind, so I feel we’ll have to force her to come along. If we conquer the labyrinth quickly, it will reduce the burden not only on Mother but also on Ed and the others.
However, this will be my first time delving into a labyrinth, so I’m quite looking forward to it.
