**Side: Mana**
Today, July 14th, marks exactly three years since Yamato came to Helios Orb.
It’s not quite an anniversary, but it’s troublesome that Yamato himself perceives it that way.
Still, it’s not something to celebrate, so I won’t be doing anything special.
Speaking of celebrations, it was just two months ago that Meena, Lyra, and Emperor Neige of Valt were found to be pregnant.
Meena and Lyra are both four months along, while Emperor Neige is three months pregnant. Emperor Neige’s pregnancy, in particular, is a long-awaited heir for the Vald Beast Duchy, causing quite a stir within Valt.
However, the one most overjoyed is Prim, who currently holds the position of Duchess Consort.
Although not the Crown Prince, Prim is the first in line for succession to the Vald Beast Duke, meaning she would have ascended to the throne if Emperor Neige had no heir. Her daughter, Tsubaki, would have been in the same position. That’s why she’s truly delighted.
While Meena’s pregnancy is also joyous, being four months along at this point means she was two months pregnant when she went to conquer the Krater Labyrinth. Yamato was incessantly asking Mako and Lady Apricot about Meena’s condition.
He was so persistent that Mako scolded him severely, saying it was becoming a burden.
As for Lyra’s pregnancy, it means this is Lucas’s first child, and it seems he was more bewildered than happy.
However, around this time, there’s also talk of Lucas marrying a third wife.
The woman is an S-rank Order affiliated with the General Headquarters, and I hear she’s closer with Lyra than Lucas is.
Her name is Mikarna, she’s 23 years old, and a level 45 Hydragonewt.
Apparently, they met during the practical combat training at the Ideal Mountain Range last year when she got separated while fleeing a M-C rank monster called a Claudispear, and Lucas saved her just in the nick of time.
The Claudispear is a Catastrophe Species of Air Snake, but it had only been sighted within labyrinths.
However, Air Snakes, S-U rank Sky Snakes, and G-R rank Sky Serpents inhabit the Ideal Mountain Range, so I believe it evolved due to the Celestial Emperor’s magic.
Orders conduct combat training in the Ideal Mountain Range several times a month, but the Claudispear is quite a large monster, suggesting it evolved recently.
Mikarna’s marriage to Lucas is set to take place after Lyra enters her stable period, and she will simultaneously be treated as Lucas’s subordinate.
I suspect Mikarna will also become a Noble Order, but that depends entirely on my elder brother and Grand Order’s Master Rex, so I can’t say for sure.
At Memoria General Academy, the classes for the new first-year students seem to be going smoothly. I also hear good things about the Guild classes for the second-year students like Raus.
The Knight-Hunter Department, in particular, seems to be conducting practical training in the Float Labyrinth once a month, and many students are leveling up steadily.
However, since beast carriages cannot be used from the 11th to the 14th floors of the Float Labyrinth, they are considering going to a different labyrinth.
The closest labyrinth to the Float Labyrinth, or rather, to Memoria, is the Solia Labyrinth in Count Crystallos’s territory. However, it hasn’t been conquered yet, and I believe details beyond the 16th floor are unknown.
Given its structure, with two consecutive similar floors, it’s estimated to be nearly 30 floors deep. The 15th floor is an indoor corridor floor, and it’s overrun with undead, so there are no hunters who actively seek to explore it.
Still, up to the 13th floor, not even G-rank monsters appear, and only one or two are said to appear on the 14th floor, making it quite suitable for student practical training.
However, since it’s an unconquered labyrinth, we cannot let our guard down, and there’s a risk of monsters spilling out at any moment. If they truly intend to use it for academy training, I believe it would be best to conquer it sooner rather than later.
We could go, but we’ve just conquered the Krater Labyrinth and the Varie Labyrinth consecutively. More importantly, it would significantly impede the development of our planned territory. We have no choice but to leave it to other hunters, which is regrettable.
“What? Solia Labyrinth has been conquered?”
“Yes. The Furious Ladies, along with Lily Wish and Star Wind, completed it recently.”
I was surprised to hear that Solia Labyrinth had already been conquered, but hearing the names of the conquerors made my head spin.
Furious Ladies is a union of three individuals: Grandma Sayuri, the great-grandmother of Sister Hilde; Lady Certina, the next Grand Hunter’s Master, who resides in Alegria; and Hitomi, who is a descendant of the guest Mr. Shinichi Mib.
All three are from the same generation, and since Hitomi is a descendant of the guest Mr. Shinichi Mib, she frequently communicates with Grandma Sayuri.
With the three of them evolving into Ancient Classes and mastering Traveling, their relationship transitioned from merely exchanging letters to meeting in person, and then they decided to form a raid party.
Grandma Sayuri even registered with the Hunter’s Guild for this purpose.
It seems to be the first time in the Hunter’s Guild’s history that someone over 100 years old has registered as a hunter, but Grandma Sayuri was also the highest-level holder in Amister until Yamato came to Helios Orb. Now that she has evolved into an Ancient Human, there was no problem with her registration.
Well, Grandma Sayuri has only been registered as a hunter for a little over a month, so she’s still A-C rank, but still.
It’s a pity for Lily Wish and Star Wind who got caught up in it, though.
“You say Lily Wish and Star Wind also got involved, does that mean it was quite difficult?”
“No, it seems to have had a total of 24 floors. The toughest opponent along the way was apparently a P-C rank Cresthorn Pegasus. And the guardian was an M-I rank Fortress Turtle.”
I thought it would be nearly 30 floors, but it was fewer than expected.
And isn’t the Cresthorn Pegasus a Catastrophe Species of Battle Horse?
Well, even if it’s a Catastrophe Species, it’s not a difficult opponent for an Ancient Class. Apparently, it was kicked away by Grandma Sayuri’s kick and then sliced in half by Hitomi’s scythe.
“Fortress Turtle, wasn’t that an Anomaly Species of Fang Turtle?”
“Ah. It doesn’t live in Veil Lake, so we’ve never hunted it outside of a labyrinth.”
As Yamato says, Fang Turtles are S-rank monsters that inhabit lake shores and riverbanks, but they don’t live in Veil Lake or the Nadal Sea, nor in the northern part of Amister.
We’ve hunted them in labyrinths several times, but they were only G-U rank Big Fang Turtles and P-R rank Armored Turtles. I’ve never even seen a Fortress Turtle or an A-C rank Crown Fortress.
They do inhabit the southern part of Amister, but I believe it’s only in certain regions.
On the other hand, they are abundant in the Bridge Duchy and the formerly Retisencia region.
Their meat is unpalatable, but their shells and fangs are materials for aphrodisiacs, so they fetch a decent price.
Fortress Turtle shells and fangs make even more potent aphrodisiacs, and according to rumors, they are said to make it easier to conceive children. This competition is likely to be high.
“Ah, heirs are important to Royalty and Nobles, so if it’s rumored to make conception easier, they’d want to get their hands on it.”
“They would. However, Fortress Turtles have been hunted several times, but Crown Fortresses have never been defeated.”
While aphrodisiacs made from Fortress Turtles are said to make conception easier, it’s not known for sure if that’s actually the case.
However, it’s undeniable that most people who have used them conceive within a few months, so it’s safe to say it’s effective.
I’ve forgotten where the Crown Fortress is located, but now that there are more Ancient Classes, hunting them won’t be difficult. I expect someone will hunt one soon, and aphrodisiacs made from it will likely become available.
“Be that as it may, if the guardian was a Fortress Turtle and they defeated it, then Furious Ladies must be considered a top-tier raid, right?”
“Probably. Well, given the members, no one can complain, and I don’t think anyone would.”
Well, that’s true.
With titles like one of the strongest forces in Torencia, great-grandmother of the Phantom King, direct disciple of the Grand Hunter’s Master and descendant of a guest, and guest, former Queen of Amister, and great-grandmother of the Celestial Emperor, there’s no one who would dare complain.
Even if there were, they would likely just be physically crushed.
Moreover, Grandma Sayuri is the master of Lily Wish, and Lady Certina is the master of Star Wind. Complaining would be an act of suicide.
“But if Solia Labyrinth has been conquered, it will be used for the General Academy’s labyrinth training, right?”
“Yes, for Memoria General Academy. However, the Glacian General Academy, scheduled to open next year, is having trouble because there are few labyrinths in Alegria, and none near Glacian.”
Solia Labyrinth is classified as a P-rank dungeon, but I am unaware of its floor structure.
However, up to the 13th floor, the highest-rank monsters inhabiting it are said to be S-rank, and beast carriages can be used normally.
Therefore, if there are Orders and hunters providing escort and they act as a group with multi-functional beast carriages, students are unlikely to suffer serious injuries.
Of course, higher-ranking and rare species are formidable, and it would be a disaster if Anomaly or Catastrophe Species were to appear. However, several of the escorts are High Class, so they should be able to handle them unless something extraordinary happens.
Besides, Raus and the others are here now.
“Labyrinth training for Glacian, huh? The closest one is… where is it again?”
“Piedra Island. I believe there are no labyrinths on Plazia Island, and one on each of the other three islands, making that the labyrinth situation in Alegria.”
Yamato answers Ludia’s question, and he’s correct. There are three labyrinths within the Alegria Beast Kingdom, and only the Piedra Labyrinth on Piedra Island has been conquered.
However, the Piedra Labyrinth has only 11 floors, the monsters within are at most G-rank, and the guardian is a G-I rank monster, the Iron Gargoyle, making it a low-difficulty labyrinth.
It’s classified as an I-rank dungeon, meaning it can be conquered by Normal Classes with proper equipment and preparation, let alone High Classes.
So, in a way, it’s suitable for students, but the problem lies in the transportation from Glacian to the Piedra Labyrinth.
Glacian is the beast capital of Alegria and is located on the largest island, Plazia Island. The Piedra Labyrinth, as its name suggests, is on Piedra Island.
Therefore, travel requires a ship. The Nadal Sea, where Alegria is located, frequently sees G-rank monsters, and ships are often attacked during transit.
Sea combat is difficult without mastery of Flying or Scaffolding, and aquatic species in the water are considered one rank higher. Reports of injured hunters who are not accustomed to it pour into the Hunter’s Guild daily, and I also hear that there are several reports of deaths each month.
So, it’s no wonder Alegria is struggling with this problem.
“There’s always the option of airships, but currently, the large vessels for the invasion of Abaricia are prioritized, followed by the Royal Family’s personal vessels. So, those for nobles and academies are being put on the back burner, right?”
“That’s right. The Celestial Emperor’s Family and the Dragon King Family’s personal vessels have been completed and delivered, and the Beast Royal Family’s vessel is currently under construction.”
Indeed, the Celestial Emperor’s Family and the Dragon King Family’s personal vessels are complete, and I have been aboard them.
They are large vessels exceeding 50 meters in length and are usually stored in a dedicated dock set up within a section of Amagi Castle.
However, my elder brother, who can use Traveling, will likely rarely use it.
Also, as for why the Dragon King Family’s vessel was built first among the Three Royal Families, the land situation is a major factor.
Valenia is the largest in land area among the Three Kingdoms, and it also has a lot of wasteland and uneven terrain.
Therefore, travel by beast carriage is difficult, and considering this, the Dragon King Family was prioritized.
Next is Alegria, which consists of four islands, and finally Torencia, where the usage of airships is significantly restricted due to snowfall and snow accumulation.
“Emperor Glisina is considering using the Beast Royal Family’s vessel if it’s completed in time. However, that would likely lead to complaints from traders and miners, and there are opinions that special treatment for students is questionable.”
“Yes, there likely would be.”
It’s a difficult problem.
Students enroll in general academies to learn, so a certain degree of consideration is certainly necessary.
However, excessive protection or convenience could cause problems after they graduate from the academy and may create friction with ordinary guild registrars.
I’ve also heard the opinion that even having escorts constitutes overprotection.
On the other hand, allowing special privileges for students would inevitably lead to problems similar to the misuse of juvenile law that existed in Yamato’s world, so that is absolutely not permitted.
I believe this maintains a certain balance. However, many things cannot be understood until encountered in reality, which is why problems like these arise.
Therefore, if something is to be done, it should not be special treatment for students alone, but rather something that benefits others as well.
After all, students will eventually become part of that group after graduation.
It’s a difficult issue, but it needs to be discussed and adjusted properly.
