***
**Side: Mako**
I came to the Hunter’s Guild on an errand and was met with a shocking scene.
“Even if you say that, it was just a light bump, right?”
“What are you spouting?! From what I can see, you deliberately bumped into me! Look at this!”
“Ugh… it hurts…”
I couldn’t help but wonder if this was some cheap theatrical play. In essence, some thug-like hunters were picking a fight.
However, the one they were picking on was, to my surprise, my father-in-law, Asuka.
The ones picking the fight were a small group of scoundrels called Crime Heart from the Libertà region, who had also caused similar trouble before they came to Feel before the snow. They had already been investigated by the Order’s Guild several times, but did they have no sense of shame?
“I have to step in.”
“Ah, I get it! Asuka, these people are… the clichés!”
“Huh?”
However, Maoh seemed to be enjoying the situation. While they were indeed clichés, saying that at this moment was like pouring oil on the fire.
“Hah? What’s with this shrimp? Who do you think we are?!”
“I don’t know. And while it’s true I’m small, aren’t there other small people? Isn’t the person you’re pretending to be hurt over there a Dwarf?”
The thugs were stunned by Maoh’s words. In reality, the man clutching his shoulder and feigning pain was a Dwarf, and he appeared smaller than Maoh. This meant the thugs’ own words were an insult to their comrade.
“You… are you mocking us Dwarves?!”
“N-no! I misspoke! No, if I get up now, it’ll be obvious!”
“Ah…”
These guys are truly foolish. Although their act was obvious from the start, they now had no room for excuses.
“If that’s the case…!”
“Huh? Kya!”
They’d completely lost their minds. Of all people, they tried to take Maoh hostage. It was as if they had a death wish.
“Waaah, I’m scared! Asuka, help me~”
“You’re not even trying. What terrible acting…”
Maoh’s acting was so bad it gave me a headache. The Crime Heart members were better actors. I had intended to intervene, but my resolve was rapidly weakening.
“I have to agree. They’re dead.”
“El-san. Falcons’ Beak returned to Feel as well?”
A voice called out from behind me. It was El, the leader of Falcons’ Beak. Falcons’ Beak had also participated in the war against the Demon Race, so I hadn’t expected them back so soon. El had also witnessed Asuka and Maoh’s skills, so he judged that the Crime Heart thugs had chosen suicide and kept his distance.
“Yes, we returned a little while ago. You all were busy with other matters, so I understand. However, I have quite a few reports to give you.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. However, right now…”
“Indeed…”
I was curious about the reports, but it was true that they weren’t the priority right now.
“…What do you think you’re doing?”
There, Asuka was angry. What’s more, a colossal amount of magic power, incomparable to Yamato’s, was filling the Hunter’s Guild, affecting many hunters and staff. It would be a lot of work to clean this up later.
“W-What… What is this monstrous magic power?!”
“Who knows. More importantly, I’ll ask again, what do you think you’re doing?”
“I-Iiiiieeeeee!!”
“P-Please forgive us! It was just a momentary impulse!”
They were completely overwhelmed by Asuka’s magic power. I was impressed they could even maintain consciousness. Many hunters and staff had lost consciousness, including High Hunters. It was clear Asuka was doing this intentionally.
“Forgive you, huh? You’ve done this before, haven’t you? And besides, I wonder if scum like you have ever forgiven those who said those words.”
“I-Iiiiiieeeeee!!”
“S-Sorry! We extorted all the money we had from the townspeople the other day too!”
“Before that, we sexually assaulted a prostitute and left her in an alley!”
Under Asuka’s intensified magic power, they confessed their crimes. I didn’t realize they had gone this far. The Order’s Guild wouldn’t let this slide. Furthermore, if they were exposed to Asuka’s inhuman magic power any longer, they might become permanently incapacitated, making it impossible to even interrogate them. This was as far as it needed to go.
“Alright, alright, that’s enough. If they become incapacitated, we’ll have trouble, so please suppress your magic power.”
“Mako? I’ve been watching this whole time. I was hoping you’d intervene sooner.”
“I intended to, but someone here deliberately became a hostage, and look what happened immediately after.”
“That’s a sore point. Maoh, you can stop with the damsel-in-distress act now.”
“Ehh, really? I thought it was Academy Award-worthy.”
Go to sleep and dream about your Academy Awards. Not only is it below an amateur child’s acting, but even a novice child would be better.
“You were probably expecting clichés, but those caught in the middle are in a real bind.”
“You’re absolutely right. Look around the guild. Everyone has fainted from the Master’s magic power.”
“Huh? Ah!”
“…My apologies. I overdid it.”
Under our astonished gazes, Asuka finally realized what he had done. However, Asuka’s anger was understandable. Maoh, who had acted so poorly in an attempt to feign weakness, was the one who should truly reflect. She probably wanted Asuka to save her, but Asuka’s magic power at level 221 was unbearable not only for Normal Class but even for High Class and Ancient Class. In fact, El was also clearly struggling.
“I’ll handle the follow-up later, but you two need to realize that your levels are beyond comprehension.”
Only a few people in the Hunter’s Guild were still conscious, and I shuddered to think what the surrounding areas might be like. It would be truly inexcusable not to offer some form of apology. I needed to thoroughly investigate what had happened and make amends.
“Sorry, I honestly didn’t expect it to go this far.”
“I think I got a little carried away too. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright, don’t worry about it. Ah, Kamina-san, could you please report this to the Order’s Guild?”
“Y-Yes…”
Kamina, the receptionist from Wing Crest, was the only one conscious at the counter, but she seemed to have lost the strength in her legs and couldn’t stand. It was amazing she could withstand it as a Normal Class adventurer, but the effects wouldn’t disappear easily, and she wouldn’t be able to move for a while. Still, asking Kamina was the quickest way, so I asked her, though I knew it would be difficult.
“More importantly, why isn’t Yamato coming down?!”
“Ah, Yamato is here too.”
“Of course, I’m escorting my parents!”
And then, it was Asuka and Maoh’s son who set off my anger. I assumed he was with Linus, but why weren’t they coming down when such a disaster had occurred?! They could feel that ridiculous magic power from anywhere in Feel! Moreover, why were they going to the Hunter’s Master instead of their parents?!
“Calm down, Mako.”
“That’s right. Yamato is currently going to the Hunter’s Master and the Scholar’s Guild. He said it’s related to yesterday’s incident, so he wants to investigate it quickly.”
The Scholar’s Guild? It was true that the Scholar’s Guild – Feel Branch – was completed and operational at the end of the year, but it didn’t have MARS installed. It was supposed to be just a receiving area for transferees from the Trader’s Guild. Of course, researchers had transferred, and Mana had said she’d transfer once things settled down a bit, but I assumed their activities were no different from the Trader’s Guild’s.
“Regarding yesterday’s incident, it’s likely about the Dragons.”
El’s words made me realize the reason. Indeed, the Demon Race had led a third type of dragon called Dragons, which inhabited the Gradia Continent. What’s more, they seemed to have succeeded in subjugating them, and their Monster Rank went all the way up to O-rank, not just A-rank, so investigation was essential. However, MARS was fully booked at Memoria General Academy and Glacian MINERVA, so we couldn’t squeeze in. The only option would be to use a prototype owned by Wing Crest or build a new improved version. I doubted they would install it in Feel, so the research would likely be conducted in Alka. That’s probably why he’s going to the Scholar’s Guild to request scholars.
“Regarding that, I think that’s probably it. We’ve confirmed three types of dragons: Red Dragon, Burning Dragon, and Blood Ruby Dragon. Magic stones have also been found from the Red Dragon and Burning Dragon. You lot recovered the Blood Ruby Dragon, so magic stones will likely be found from them as well.”
Even though they were monsters from another continent, they were Helios Orb monsters, so they would have magic stones. In that case, since MARS could be used, it was natural for Yamato to go to the Scholar’s Guild to consult. Though I didn’t think he needed to go right now. And where did he get that information?
“Ah, the source is probably me. I was the one who reported it to the Hunter’s Master.”
“Eh? But El-san, you came from outside the Hunter’s Guild, didn’t you?”
“Anyone would come when they sense that kind of magic power, right? Look, the Order’s Master has arrived too.”
“Ah, you’re right.”
Indeed, anyone would wonder what was happening when they felt Asuka’s absurd magic power. As El said, Order’s Master Iris also arrived with a pale face. Honestly, it was far more intense than any weak Demise Species, so it wasn’t surprising that Iris, who had experience confronting Demise Species, would have her desperate memories of that time resurface.
“Mako, what was that magic power just now? What exactly happened here?”
Iris seemed a little relieved when she saw me, but the fundamental problem wasn’t solved, and her complexion was still pale. I would have to explain everything properly, including Maoh’s misdeeds.
“S-Such a thing… Then, this is Yamato’s…”
“Yes. His father, Asuka, and his mother, Maoh. Asuka-kun, Maoh, this is Iris Servant, the Order’s Master of the Feel Branch.”
“Nice to meet you, I’m Yamato’s father, Asuka. We apologize for the trouble we’ve caused.”
“I’m Maoh, his mother. We’re truly sorry.”
“No, it’s fine once I understand the reason. Then, we’ll take them into our custody. Ah, Mako, I’d like to speak with you later, so could you come to headquarters?”
“Y-Yes…”
It’s how it would turn out. It seemed there was significant damage to the surrounding areas. Well, it was part of cleaning up after my in-laws, and with yesterday’s incident, I’d have to put in the effort this time.
“That’s tough.”
“In a way, it’s business as usual. More importantly, El-san, you still have other reports from yesterday, don’t you?”
“Yes. Formal reports will likely come from His Majesty or the Grand Order’s Master, so I’ll just give you a brief overview.”
That was probably true, but it was better to be told even if it was brief.
“That’s also true. Well, besides the dragons, it’s probably about the weapons. It seems it was true that Divine Metal was circulating in Abaricia as much as Magic Silver.”
“Does that mean the demons’ weapons were made of Divine Metal?”
“Yes. However, they were apparently contaminated with the demons’ magic power, so melting them down and reusing them is apparently impossible.”
Ugh, that’s terrible news. I had thought I might be able to obtain Divine Metal, but I never imagined it would be contaminated with demon magic power. There’s no way it could be usable. Even so, demon magic power can contaminate even Divine Metal. I heard the gods protect the Treasure Tree near Kobaldia, but perhaps the reason Yamato’s Azure Silver Sword – Pale Green broke was partly due to clashing with the Divine Emperor several times.
“Then, it seems Asuka has no choice but to liberate Enigma Island.”
“Huh? Liberate Enigma Island?”
Maoh dropped a bombshell here. No, Enigma Island is where the Dragoon Demise Species, Nidhogg, resides. Asuka could probably defeat it, but did he intend to fight it?
“Ah. There isn’t much more I can do for Yamato. His sword is also broken, and this time, developing an alloy using Divine Metal and such will be beneficial when fighting the Divine Emperor again.”
I see. It’s for his son. I can certainly understand that reason. At the same time, it would also benefit the Philia Continent, so I, of course, welcome it. Emperor Reinhardt and Emperor Glisina would probably be pleased as well.
“…If you are going to subjugate Nidhogg, would it be alright for us to observe as well?”
“I don’t mind, but I can’t guarantee that the battle will be instructive.”
“No, I want to see the battle of an Arc Human with my own eyes. The other day, before I knew it, the demon in front of me had vanished.”
It’s understandable that El would be interested. I know their strength well, but others, including Yamato, don’t. Ah, but if the Falcons’ Beak accompanies them, Emperor Reinhardt would surely want to come too, right? There’s no way he’d stay quiet after hearing Asuka was going to fight. Emperor Glisina might also want to observe, given it concerns her country, and then it’s likely that others might also want to observe. Well, since Asuka will be the one fighting, and Maoh will be there, stray bullets are unlikely.
