I hadn’t expected to find Lily Wish and the Royal Order hunting under the Treasure Trees of the Ideal Mountain Range.
Still, Lily Wish was aiming for Shell Grizzlies and Heavy Shell Grizzlies at Sayuri’s request, and the Royal Order was there for combat training. It was a relief that our objective, hunting Gryphons, didn’t overlap.
Of course, whether there are Gryphons here is a gamble, so it’s hard to say that’s our primary goal.
“Yamato, you understand, right?”
“I won’t harm the Guts. I’ll sever the neck.”
I was supposed to be here for Ciel’s first battle, but currently, I’m fighting a Phalanx Grizzly under Sayuri’s command.
The Phalanx Grizzly, a P-R Rank monster, is a Grizzly species with a shell covering its back and shoulders. It uses light and ice magic and can create barriers of light and ice.
These barriers shatter in response to attacks, but just as the name “Phalanx” suggests, another immediately deploys, making it a difficult monster even for High Class individuals to handle.
However, it’s also a rare species of Shell Grizzly that Sayuri is after. The moment she found this Phalanx Grizzly, Sayuri ordered me to defeat it without damaging its Guts.
It seems that the Guts of Grizzly species like the Shell Grizzly and Heavy Shell Grizzly are ingredients for the advanced Noble Potion, but the Guts of the Phalanx Grizzly are said to rival even the highest-grade Extra Potion in terms of healing amount. So, she’s determined to get them.
Reluctantly, I ended up severing its neck with my Grand Storm Sword, which I started using because it’s exclusive to the Wing Crest and can create its blade with ice and wind attribute magic.
“Good, good.”
Sayuri, with a beaming smile, stores the headless Phalanx Grizzly in her storage. This is actually the first monster.
Originally, we planned to provide support while Ciel and Seras attacked, but to have this happen right from the start was completely unexpected.
“Besides, Grandmother, is it okay for you to give instructions to Yamato when Lily Wish is here?”
“Hunting a Phalanx Grizzly’s materials without damage is difficult even for Saya, isn’t it?”
“Yes. My weapon is a spear, so a misaimed attack would damage the Guts. I think Prim and Athena would be in the same situation.”
“Sadly, I’d be more likely to incinerate the whole thing.”
“I’m still inexperienced, so I don’t have the luxury of being that careful in battle.”
Ah, so that’s why I’m the one using a sword.
This means, who else would be compatible, or rather, likely to fulfill Sayuri’s request? Mana, Meena, Lydia, Rex, Rosemary, and Muse.
While I believe they can defeat it, Raus has a chance of evolving if his level increases too much, and Carol primarily uses magic rather than swords, so it would be a bit difficult for her.
“In that case, I, a Martial Artist, might also damage the materials if I fight carelessly.”
“If it were a Shell Grizzly or Heavy Shell Grizzly, I don’t think it would be a problem, but with a Phalanx Grizzly… And you said P-R Rank, but doesn’t it have A-Rank defense, let alone M-Rank?”
“That’s precisely why there are almost no subjugation records even in the Labyrinth. That’s why Noble Potions made with Phalanx Grizzly are ultra-rare, costing several Divine Gold Coins!”
“That expensive!?”
“It’s that much!?”
Mako and I exclaimed simultaneously, genuinely shocked by the price.
Several Divine Gold Coins – that’s more expensive than building a decent mansion.
“Furthermore, Extra Potions, the highest grade, are truly rare on the market. They are only occasionally obtained by Healers who have a deep connection with the Hunters who acquire the materials.”
There are many types of potions.
From those that restore stamina and magic power to potions that heal lost limbs.
At that point, they might as well be called Elixirs, but Elixirs do exist separately.
Since Elixirs primarily require light and water attribute Dragoons, they are even rarer than Extra Potions. However, thanks to us hunting in the Solpreza Labyrinth and supplying them, Sayuri has shrewdly acquired the ingredients and completed the brewing.
“Elixirs not only restore stamina and magic but also cure all illnesses and can even heal congenital defects. However, even when using the entire blood and Guts of light and water Dragoons, you can only brew a maximum of five bottles.”
“Huh? Dragoons are quite large, aren’t they? You can only make that many?”
“Yes. I was able to brew four bottles, but I’ve presented three of them to the Royal Family. After all, I can use Reviving.”
Elixirs, which can restore life even from death, have a minimum price of 50 million El, or 50 Divine Gold Coins.
It’s understandable if you can only brew a few bottles using two whole Dragoons. Presenting three Elixirs to the Royal Family is truly Sayuri’s style.
“Speaking of which, about how many potions can be made from the Guts of a Phalanx Grizzly?”
“It varies slightly depending on other ingredients, but roughly fifty bottles.”
That’s more than I expected.
The names of the potions are similar to those of healing magic.
The lowest is simply “Potion,” which can apparently heal moderate wounds.
Above that are “High Potion,” “Noble Potion,” and “Extra Potion,” with their effects and prices increasing exponentially.
There doesn’t seem to be a potion version of Blood Healing, but there is a “Dispel Potion” that treats illnesses and poisons, and it’s sold for slightly more than a High Potion.
However, since it’s cheaper to have Dispelling used at the Healer’s Guild, buyers are limited to combat classes such as Hunters and Orders who often venture outside the city, Traders who primarily engage in trade, and Nobles traveling between territories.
Furthermore, there is a potion called “Revival Potion” that only heals lost limbs, but Sayuri mentioned she has only seen it once.
The materials for Revival Potion are known, but they consist of an overwhelming number of Anomaly Species and Catastrophe Species, including Dragoons, which is understandable.
Incidentally, we’ve also prepared some potions and stored them.
They are essential as a form of insurance.
Of course, we don’t have Elixirs, Revival Potions, or Extra Potions.
“I’d heard about it, but you can make that many Noble Potions?”
“Ah, Mako has been promoted to A-Rank Healer, so she can brew them if she wants to, right?”
“That’s true, but I still haven’t brewed one outside of an exam.”
This conversation between Mako and Sayuri is new information to me.
Well, I know that brewing Potions and Elixirs falls under the purview of Healers, not Crafters. But I certainly didn’t know that brewing was part of the advancement examination.
“Potion brewing is also required for Healer advancement. Yuri and Carol can also brew High Potions.”
“Really?”
“Yes. However, brewingNoble Potions is difficult…”
“To be promoted to M-Rank Healer, one must be able to brew Noble Potions.”
It seems Apricot also cannot be promoted because she cannot brew Noble Potions.
“Noble Potions use the blood and Guts of Grizzly species, so it’s not something you can easily take an advancement exam for. However, now that you all are hunting them in large quantities, we’ve slightly relaxed the qualification requirements.”
I see, so that’s why they can take the exam repeatedly without hesitation.
In that sense, it’s good that we overhunted the Grizzlies.
By the way, what are the ingredients for other potions?
“There are a few recipes, but for Potions, it’s the Guts of Bull species and a few types of herbs. For High Potions, it’s the blood and Guts of Drake species, and also herbs. For Extra Potions, it’s the blood, Guts, and hearts of Saur species and Leo species, and Treants G-rank or higher.”
I see, they use Bulls and Drakes.
We’ve hunted both of them quite a bit, so I suspect their prices might have dropped slightly.
However, the ingredients for Extra Potions – Saur species P-rank or higher, Leo species, and G-rank Treants – are all incredibly expensive.
“Currently, Potions are around 3,000 El, and even High Potions cost about 10,000 El. Dispel Potions are expensive because the ingredients are hard to gather, but not nearly as much as Noble Potions.”
Dispel Potions apparently use the blood of snake-like monsters called Snake Species, the venomous tails of scorpion-like monsters called Scorpion Species, and branches from Treants.
I was told that since it’s for P-rank Healer advancement exams, all our Healers can make them and have already prepared some as regular medicine.
I heard they had them prepared, but I didn’t realize they made them themselves.
“I see, if that’s the case, we should actively hunt Grizzlies then.”
“I didn’t know they were the ingredients for Noble Potions.”
“I didn’t know either. You should have told me if you knew.”
“I thought you knew. Yuri and Carol were struggling with that, you know.”
When Mako said that, Prim, Mana, and I averted our eyes.
I vaguely recall hearing something about it, but perhaps we dismissed it because Healer advancement exams seemed irrelevant to us.
“We didn’t consult you either.”
“Yes. I often discussed it with Mako, though.”
It makes sense that it would be easier to consult Mako, who was promoted to A-Rank Healer first. While it’s a bit disheartening, I don’t have any complaints since I didn’t know until now.
“But this also serves as Ciel and Seras’s combat training, so while Grizzlies might be unavoidable, you’ll have them fight other monsters if they appear, right?”
This turned into an unexpected discussion about potions, but as Raus said, our purpose for coming to the Ideal Mountain Range was Ciel and Seras’s combat training.
While we need to hunt Grizzlies quickly to avoid wasting their Guts and blood, the same doesn’t apply to other monsters.
“Naturally. Sayuri and Saya, you don’t mind, do you?”
“Of course not.”
“I’m a little curious about Ciel’s new Celestial Globe, though.”
Sayuri also understands our objective, so if we can obtain the Grizzlies, there should be no problem. Lily Wish is very curious about what kind of Celestial Globe Ciel will have.
I’ve seen Aria’s Starlight Orb and Reina’s Grythis Light Star many times, but Ciel’s Elemental Tarot has just been completed.
I’ll be seeing it in action for the first time myself, so I can understand their excitement.
“Speaking of which, a new enemy has appeared. That’s a Spike Turtle.”
Rex, who had been performing his guard duties without participating in the conversation, informed us of an impending Spike Turtle attack.
It’s a turtle-like monster protected by a hard shell, which accelerates with wind magic to charge. It’s a surprisingly difficult monster to deal with.
Although its movements are slow due to its turtle-like nature, if you’re deceived by that, you won’t be able to evade its charge.
Its shell is so strong that even Magic Silver weapons can be broken, making it quite tough to defeat.
“A manageable opponent has appeared. Camellia, are you going to take a swing too?”
“I will.”
Oh, Camellia is going to try too.
I heard she finished testing her High Winger Sword, but her opponent was a Goblin. She probably wants to see how it performs against a tougher opponent with high defense.
“Then, as a preemptive strike and to probe its defenses, I’ll use Alfheim.”
Ciel and Seras, having just become Hunters, would be overwhelmed by a G-rank Spike Turtle.
So I was going to use it, but Mako used it first.
The Engraving Magic she’s using is the area-of-effect Alfheim that I intended to use. It’s being cast targeting the Spike Turtle, so it also has the effect of preventing its charge.
However, it’s still tough, so one of us will likely need to deliver the finishing blow.
“I’m going first too!”
Upon seeing Mako’s Alfheim, H.R.H. Maruca initiated an attack with Thunder Arrow.
The Unique Magic we use is also employed by Emperor Reinhardt and his like. The Alliance dispatched to Torencia uses it as well.
It’s particularly popular among archers because it can reduce the risk of arrow failure. I wouldn’t mind it spreading, but if foolish people start using it, and their levels rise to the point of evolution, it could become troublesome. I’m still contemplating what to do.
“Th-then I will go too!”
With a nervous demeanor, Ciel moved one of the cards of her Elemental Tarot, imbued it with Earth Arms, and unleashed it towards the Spike Turtle.
It lacks speed, and the accuracy of Earth Arms is rough, but it’s understandable given it’s her first time using it and her first real battle.
“I see, so that’s how you use it.”
“Even just the card seems powerful, but by imbuing it with elemental magic, the magic power is further enhanced, so it might be able to defeat low-rank monsters in one hit.”
Sayuri and Saya are watching with great interest at its usage, and it seems Rex and the others are too.
There haven’t been weapons like Celestial Globes before, and the idea of floating weapons to attack also sparks curiosity.
“It’s an interesting weapon, but the cost is quite high, so it probably won’t be widely available.”
“Of course. You all can hunt for materials and craft them yourselves, but normally people do one or the other. Besides, you can’t just hunt high-rank monsters casually.”
Indeed, if you can hunt and craft within your Union, your freedom is considerable.
However, Lily Wish should be able to do the same, right? Everyone is High Class, two are Ancient Class, and not a few are registered as Crafters.
“I don’t think it’s impossible, but it’s a bit subtle.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Ah, Seras has also joined the attack.”
Oh, she’s going in.
Seras is already using the hilt of her Lapis Light Sword Whip as the butt of her weapon, using it as a whip. Perhaps she’s hesitant to get within the range of twin swords against this particular opponent.
“That’s interesting too.”
“Wouldn’t it have been better to make the other one a multi-jointed sword? Why only one?”
“It’s her first time using a multi-jointed sword, and she doesn’t have much combat experience, so I stopped her.”
Seras’s Lapis Light Sword Whip was initially intended to be a complete double-edged multi-jointed sword, with both twin swords becoming multi-jointed.
However, Mana, who uses a multi-jointed sword, advised against it, stating it was dangerous.
At Mana’s suggestion, I tried it with a simple stick tied with rope of the same size as the sword’s hilt. I made mistakes and even self-inflicted injuries, so I felt I should also stop her.
Moreover, since Seras’s Lapis Light Sword Whip is a twin sword, unlike Mana’s Lapis Whip Sword which is sometimes wielded with both hands, it’s used entirely with one hand.
Therefore, Lydia advised that the other sword should be designed similarly for defense.
This is how the Lapis Light Sword Whip was completed, but I can’t help but wonder if it would have been okay even if she hadn’t joined the hilt.
No, since it’s a double-edged sword, by spinning it like a pinwheel, it can be used like a spear, so this is acceptable.
“I see, now that you mention it, it’s as Mana-sama said. Ah, it landed a hit.”
“You’re right. Just a scratch, but considering their levels, it’s excellent.”
Both Ciel and Seras are in their late twenties. Landing a scratch on a G-rank monster is a very high evaluation.
“Excellent work, both of you!”
H.R.H. Maruca seems to agree. And judging that it was sufficient, she imbued her unique magic into the Dragoness Axe, shattered the shell, and severed the poorly exposed head for the finishing blow.
The Spike Turtle’s shell is excellent as armor, but it’s more in demand as material for magic tools. Therefore, it’s better to shatter the shell.
Naturally, Maruca knew this and didn’t hesitate to break it. However, both Ciel and Seras seem more capable in combat than I expected.
Of course, I don’t intend to push them, but if they can handle this, they might be able to face more monsters than we initially planned.
