Ｓｉｄｅ: Prim
After leaving Count Bismarck’s mansion, Yamato and I headed to the Hunter’s Guild with Linus and Kamina. We had to report the successful subjugation of the goblins and also arrange for them to be bought.
When I told them about subduing the goblins in the mining area over a meal, they were greatly surprised again. They had expected the hob goblins, an advanced species, to have increased in number and perhaps even for rare species to have appeared. However, a Goblin Queen was apparently completely outside of their expectations, and they were astonished. I suppose I can understand why, as Queens rarely appear.
A queen among demi-humans is equivalent to a king and is classified as a Catastrophe Species. However, goblins are one rank weaker than other demi-humans, and the Queen’s combat power is inherently lower than a King’s. Therefore, even though they are both Catastrophe Species, a Goblin Queen is nothing compared to a Black Fenrir, and she was weaker than a Green Fang.
And so, we are now having our spoils appraised in the Guild’s appraisal room.
“Not only are there hob goblins, an advanced species, but quite a few Redcap Goblins, a rare species, as well. With this many, it’s no wonder a Queen spawned.”
We were surprised to learn that there were a significant number of Redcap Goblins, a rare species, among the goblins we defeated. Redcap Goblins appear to wear blood-red caps, but since goblin hair is naturally red, it’s difficult to distinguish them at first glance. However, they seem to be the equivalent of royal guards, so the presence of a considerable number of Redcap Goblins indicates that the conditions were right for a Queen to emerge.
“You could think of it that way. They’re sometimes brought in individually, but since it’s a rare species, it’s not an uncommon occurrence. However, rare species of demi-humans are like knights to humans, so an increase in their numbers is said to be a precursor to the emergence of abnormal or catastrophe species above them. Of course, along with goblins, the ecology of demi-humans is not well understood, so this is just a hypothesis.”
Linus explains, but it’s true that the ecology of monsters, not just demi-humans, remains largely unknown. While monsters that coexist with humans, such as Wyverns, Grantpus, Preciser, and Battle Horses, are somewhat understood, many other monsters attack humans on sight. Therefore, research is not easy, and it’s understandable.
“Well, that’s about it for this time.”
“Oh, is the appraisal finished?”
“Yeah. Goblins are 100 El each, hob goblins are 500 El, Redcaps are 5,000 El, and the Queen is 50,000 El. The market price for a Queen is normally 80,000 El, but unfortunately, the magic stone of the one you hunted was damaged. That’s why the appraisal price is this much.”
What? The magic stone was damaged? I looked at it in surprise, and indeed, about a third of it was missing. I messed up!
Magic stones are often found near a monster’s heart. They are believed to be crystallized magic power secreted by monsters, and when a monster dies, its magic power gathers near the heart to form a magic stone. Therefore, no matter how it is defeated, it is extremely rare for a magic stone to be chipped or even broken. Yet, I managed to do something that rarely happens.
It is thought that when a final blow is delivered with a high-powered magic attack, it disrupts the flow of magic, causing it to crystallize with parts chipped off or to crystallize in a chipped state. The Goblin Queen’s magic stone, which I defeated, should have been a beautiful purple sphere, but the edges are gouged out as if chipped away. I can’t complain about the reduced purchase price for this.
“Don’t be so down. You’re not short on money, and this request was mostly a test run, so think of it as a bonus income.”
“That’s true… but I’m still disappointed. I need to get better at using it…”
As Yamato says, we defeated the Goblin Queen as part of the My Light mining area recapture request, and there was no information about a Queen being present. So, it is indeed bonus income, and we weren’t doing it for the reward. However, the fact that only the Goblin Queen’s magic stone was damaged is proof that I haven’t mastered the Extreme Flame Wing yet.
Come to think of it, I wonder what the state of the Green Fang’s magic stone was, which I also defeated with the Extreme Flame Wing?
“Linus-san, how was the Green Fang’s magic stone?”
“The Green Fang? No, I haven’t heard of anything unusual about that one.”
What does that mean…? Oh, perhaps it’s because I consciously tried to control my magic when defeating the Goblin Queen.
“You can make up for that with practice. The other monsters were fine.”
“I know, but I’m still frustrated.”
The Extreme Flame Wing is difficult to use, especially when I’m not used to it. However, it’s undeniable that I was able to defeat the Green Fang and the Goblin Queen mostly on my own thanks to this new feather-attuned magic. If it weren’t for Yamato’s advice, I probably wouldn’t have thought of it in my lifetime. I can’t fully control it yet, but I want to be able to use it freely someday.
Ｓｉｄｅ: Edward
“Marina, let’s close up soon.”
“You’re sure? Well, no customers are coming in, so I suppose it can’t be helped.”
Today, the shop was as quiet as usual. As a result, the owner, Grandpa, has been holed up in the workshop with his disciple, Talos. Well, seeing as he’s processing crystal silver onto the swords and spears they’ll be using, I can’t really stop him either.
Those two, who came to Feel three days ago, have shattered my common sense with just the rumors circulating around town. They say they’re G-rank Hunters, but they only registered three days ago, and they’ve hunted both the Green Fang, an abnormal species, and even the Black Fenrir, a catastrophe species, as a pair. I heard they easily dealt with the Snake Bite group when they registered, and that they even captured a Noble Deer last night. In a way, they’re doing whatever they please, more so than any other Hunter currently in Feel. From what I heard when I went to the Hunter’s Guild to buy monster materials during the day, there was a rumor that they even defeated a Goblin Queen. They’re also apparently involved in the incident where the Order’s Guild rushed out of Feel in a panic. Honestly, what are they doing?
However, it’s an undeniable fact that they protected the town, and they’re going to My Light tomorrow to hunt for us again, so I should be grateful rather than complain. Despite only being in Feel for a few days, my trust in them is quite high. Of course, the townspeople feel the same way.
“Ah, excuse me. We’re closing for today… Oh, it’s you guys. You’re late, aren’t you?”
Having customers arrive just as we’re about to close is quite annoying, I thought. But then I saw it was them. Of course, if it’s them, it’s a different story.
“You’re later than I expected. Were you out hunting again?”
“No, we were called out for post-processing and a request.”
Yamato, a G-rank Hunter who only recently arrived in Feel, gave me such an answer. I understand being called out for a request, but what’s this about post-processing?
“The Crafter’s Guild asked if we could do something about Glass Boas, and also Feather Drakes if we were going to My Light. I told them that someone else was already prioritized for the Feather Drake, but they said that was fine, so we accepted the material-gathering request.”
Prim, Yamato’s partner and also a G-rank Hunter, said something unbelievable again. It was from the Crafter’s Guild? It’s true that the hides of Glass Boas are becoming scarce, and we ran out of meat a few days ago, so replenishment is necessary. However, I heard the Order’s Guild was handling that, so it wasn’t that urgent. Besides, they’re Hunters, so I can understand that to some extent, but why would they issue a material-gathering request for Feather Drakes? It’s true that for them, hunting a Feather Drake wouldn’t be difficult, but that doesn’t mean they should piggyback on it. First of all, the reason they’re going to My Light is to hunt an Evil Drake.
“Speaking of which, how many requests do you have right now?”
Marina, my partner and childhood friend, a Water Dragon Fairy-Half Dragonewt, interjected with a simple question, looking slightly dumbfounded. Marina is also a fisherwoman and always fishes in Veil Lake before coming to the workshop in the morning. Grandpa and Marina’s parents have been telling me to get married for a while now, but there’s no room for that in Feel right now…
“How many were there again?”
“Let’s see… From Linus-ossan, the Provincial Governor, and Count Bismarck and the Crafter’s Guild, that makes four in total.”
I’ve never heard of Hunters accepting four simultaneous special requests. Look, Marina is dumbfounded too.
“Well, that’s fine. More importantly, are the swords and spears with the added crystal silver ready?”
“Ah, sorry. They’re ready. I’ll bring them right out.”
Right, they’re leaving early tomorrow, so there’s no time for idle chatter. I need to let Grandpa know they’re here too.
“Ask Grandpa to come over too.”
“Okay.”
While I’m at it, I should also maintain the Mithril Blade and Mithril Halberd. Oh, but first I need to close the shop.
“I’ll put away the sign, so you guys get the weapons ready. I’ll service them for free.”
“Really? Then please do.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it.”
I’ve put away the sign and locked the door… No, I’ll lock it later so they don’t get stuck outside. That’s good.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Please.”
“Yeah, leave it to me. Huh? They’re already maintained? I heard you hunted not only a Goblin Queen but also quite a number of goblins, so I thought there’d be some bloodstains or oil on them.”
Both the sword and the halberd were much cleaner than I expected. I wasn’t too worried about Mana Ring reinforcement, but with unfamiliar weapons, some bloodstains or oil would usually get on them. This is caused by uneven magic flow, and it disappears with practice, but since they only started using these weapons three days ago, I expected some marks.
“Maintaining your weapons is basic. If you handle them carelessly, their lifespan shortens, and more importantly, it concerns your own life.”
“I agree. Even with no time, we do the minimum maintenance.”
These guys get it. High-ranking Hunters usually have several weapons, including spares. However, since they’re like partners they entrust their lives to, they don’t neglect their maintenance. If a weapon breaks during combat, it wouldn’t be strange to lose your life. Moreover, because their lifespan is short due to their excessive magic power, daily maintenance becomes even more crucial. That’s why the best Hunters meticulously maintain their weapons.
However, the Hunters currently in Feel do no maintenance at all, and if a weapon breaks, they just complain. Grandpa got angry about that, and stopped selling anything from his shop to Hunters. I only found out later that he was doing the same thing at the Crafter’s Guild. The fact that Hunters aren’t going out hunting is undoubtedly one of the reasons why weapon shops and blacksmiths in Feel, including the Crafter’s Guild, stopped selling anything. I heard the Hunter’s Master came to complain, but the conversation ended at a stalemate. Apparently, Linus, the sub-master, and some staff members came to apologize afterward, so it’s a relief that not everyone in the Hunter’s Guild is rotten at heart.
Yamato’s sword and Prim’s halberd have no blood or oil on the blades, and they gleam with the same brilliance as when I handed them over yesterday. Thanks to the magic reinforcement, there isn’t a single chip on the blades; they are beautiful.
“Hmm, then, if you don’t mind, could you channel some magic into them?”
“You mean for magic reinforcement?”
“That’s right. I want to observe the flow of magic for a bit.”
I didn’t need to do anything. After that, by observing the magic flow, I could roughly estimate the weapon’s strength. There’s a lot to do when you buy a weapon, but when using a new weapon for the first time, you’re not used to it, so it’s normally done when it’s been initially broken in. We rarely confirm this at the shop where we buy them, as the Crafter’s Guild does it at a low price. Of course, the Hunters in Feel don’t do any of this.
“Understood. Is this okay?”
Seeing the magic Yamato and Prim channeled, I was surprised. Far more magic than what’s used for normal magic reinforcement was flowing smoothly and uniformly, more than I’d ever seen before. I wonder if the burden on the weapons will be less than I thought. Is this what being a G-rank means?
“My, my, that’s incredible. Such magic reinforcement is rarely seen.”
As I stood there, dumbfounded, Grandpa appeared. He wasn’t holding anything. More importantly, has Grandpa seen magic reinforcement of this level before?
“Yes, I have. However, seeing these two makes me feel that my previous work was a bit crude. For their age, it’s certainly fitting that they’ve become G-rank Hunters.”
Right, level…isn’t it about affinity with magic? Considering the high precision and their ability to control it properly, it’s understandable that they, who are younger than me, are far above me in level.
“Indeed. And based on their magical capacity, they could likely scratch even a dragon’s scales. I don’t know how effective it would be against an Evil Drake, but they might be able to defeat a Feather Drake in one blow.”
Are these incredible individuals becoming even more incredible? The Mithril Blade I gave to Yamato and the Mithril Halberd I gave to Prim are Grandpa’s masterpieces, but they are still mass-produced items. We’re scheduled to forge their weapons if they succeed in defeating the Evil Drake, but even with the same magic silver, it’s not unusual for weapons forged to individual specifications to be one or two ranks higher in performance, and if Grandpa is the one forging them, the difference might be as much as three ranks.
“I’m looking forward to that too, but we need to take care of the immediate problem first.”
“Of course, we have no intention of failing.”
They’re really insolent. But after seeing that magic reinforcement, they look truly reliable.
“I am also looking forward to it. Ah, I can’t stand around talking forever. The swords and spears are in the workshop, so could you two come over, please?”
“Understood.”
“Okay.”
“Ed, they’ll be coming from the house, so make sure the shop is securely locked.”
“Aye aye!”
There are many ill-mannered Hunters, so securing the shop is important. The sign is already down, so I’ll lock it and activate the security magic tools. That’s good. I’ll turn off the lights and head to the workshop too.
In the workshop, Yamato was having Talos maintain his Feather Drake leather armor. Prim and Marina weren’t visible; perhaps they were in a private room maintaining their Battle Dresses.
“Hmm, no significant damage detected, huh? Yamato-kun, what are your impressions after actually using it?”
“It’s light and doesn’t hinder my movements, so it’s very easy to use.”
Monster leather armor can be heavy too. If you add iron or adamantine steel armor to such heavy leather armor, it becomes heavier than ordinary metal armor. Only physically strong male Hunters would wear such armor.
“That’s good. As far as I know, the combination of Feather Drake leather armor and magic silver armor is the lightest and strongest.”
I agree. There might be even better leather armor out there, but at least in Feel, there isn’t anything superior.
“Armor made from dragon hide or scales is tougher than magic silver or adamantine steel, even without additional armor. It’s incredibly rare, so I don’t know if anyone is using it.”
Ah, dragons. That’s certainly plausible. However, most dragons are high-ranked, and even weaker individuals are said to be P-rank, so defeating one is almost impossible.
“I heard something about dragons, did something happen?”
Oh, Prim’s Battle Dress maintenance must be finished too. Well, Battle Dresses are Prim’s personal belongings, so she’s probably used to them. In contrast, Yamato is struggling with attaching the magic silver armor. Talos is teaching him patiently, but is he okay?
“I’m sorry, Talos-san. I’m not used to it yet.”
Oh, he’s finished. Well, it’s not uncommon for people to struggle with putting on armor, but I didn’t expect G-rank Yamato to have trouble.
“Is that so? Then, what kind of armor did you use usually?”
“Actually, I’ve never used armor before.”
He never used armor at all? How did he level up that much then?
“In my family, my Father and my Masters are all monsters. So, inferior armor just gets in the way.”
You’re a monster yourself, but for you to say that… just how monstrous is your father? So, you mean you’ve come this far without really using any armor?
“Well, a lot has happened…”
He’s staring into the distance with a faraway look. His eyes look almost dead. What kind of training did he go through?
