Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 48

It had been about three hours since we entered the forest.

It was time to head back.

“It’s about time. I managed to gather three nests of Silent Bees, not to mention Forest Bees, so the Crafter’s Guild will be pleased,” Meena said.

“Yeah. It’s a bit of a shame I couldn’t hunt any other monsters. But given the location, it can’t be helped,” I replied.

“True. On the other hand, I hunted Forest Fungus and Iron Beetles, and even managed to take down one Treant, so we should consider this a success.”

What greeted us upon entering the forest was a large number of monsters.

Even though the Hunters hadn’t been hunting here, I was honestly concerned about this population increase.

This was my first time in this forest, but I believed monsters, like any other creatures, had their own food chains and ecosystems. They shouldn’t be overpopulating beyond necessity.

Yet, the monsters we hunted included 12 Silent Bees, 139 Forest Bees, 16 Forest Fungus, 4 Iron Beetles, 1 Treant, and over a dozen Orcs and Goblins each.

What surprised me most was encountering twelve Silent Bees.

It was said that rare species appear in considerable numbers, but encountering them all at once was extremely rare.

To find them in every single Forest Bee nest we discovered was astonishing.

At this rate, they would likely be in other nests too, and perhaps even Murder Bees, an abnormal species, might be hatching.

The good news is that Murder Bees are ranked S-I, which is below Evil Drake.

Then again, normally, an abnormal species alone would cause a stir, like poking a bee’s nest.

A bee pun, perhaps?

…Even as I say it, it’s pretty lame.

I’ll report it to the Hunter’s Guild, just in case.

It’s speculated that there’s a front-line base of Retisencia nearby. Since Saches’ Evil Drake has also been defeated, if they are still around, they are likely trapped there.

Frankly, I don’t care what happens to the people of Retisencia, but I want to gather information. If this situation is left unattended, the mining site will become dangerous, and it could even be sealed off again.

It would be problematic for us if the newly reopened mining site were to be sealed again, so we should try to hunt them as quickly as possible.

“Meena, how was your magic?” I asked.

“I never imagined it would be so easy to use just by forming a clear image and speaking it aloud. I don’t have ultimate attack power yet, but that depends on my future efforts. I want to start practicing as soon as we get back,” Meena said.

“Ah, the Order’s Guild training grounds are quite spacious. But don’t overdo it. Meena, you seem to have an aptitude for earth magic. If you make a mistake in controlling it, it could cause considerable damage.”

I had been teaching Meena magic, but she still seemed to struggle with forming a clear image.

Well, this was Meena’s first real combat, so I first needed to get her accustomed to fighting.

Of course, I was ready to assist at any moment, so Meena didn’t sustain a single scratch.

“But your level went up, didn’t it?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I reached level 22. I never expected to level up four times in a single day.”

Indeed, Meena’s level had risen to 22 as reported.

Three hours ago, she was level 18. Such rapid leveling up would normally be impossible.

However, we had experienced similar phenomena before, and levels generally increase quite easily up to around level 30. It might have been possible to level up a bit more if we had tried.

The term “power leveling” briefly came to mind, and that’s exactly what it was.

“Alright, let’s head back then.”

“Yes. Is something wrong?”

“No, nothing. Let’s go.”

“Okay.”

Until we were out of the forest, we didn’t know what might attack us from where. So, with Meena riding Breeze in the center, I rode Jade in front, and Prim rode Fluorite behind, to protect Meena from being targeted.

Of course, we were using Sonar Wave and Mole Eye, so we were fully prepared for any surprise attacks.

Even though the forest’s condition was strange, we were just returning the way we came. We had hunted all the Forest Bees and their nests along the way, so we shouldn’t encounter any Forest Bees, at least.

One of the Hunter magic spells is Marking. It allows hunters in the same Raid to see marks placed on trees and stones. This greatly reduces the chances of getting lost in the forest.

Even if separated, if they find the mark, they can reunite easily, making it a very useful spell.

However, it cannot be used in towns or villages, or rather, it’s weak against the magic of barriers, so it cannot be used within any barrier. It also cannot be used on artificial structures or within labyrinths, making it purely a field-use spell.

Since Meena and I are not in the same Raid, only I and Prim can see the marks.

By retracing those marks, we safely exited the forest and returned to Feel.

“Welcome back, Meena. I heard you went hunting, how was your first real combat?”

To my surprise, Rex was waiting for us at the gates of Feel.

Why is the Order’s Master acting as a gatekeeper?

“I’m back, brother. It was more challenging than I expected, but I learned a lot. Ah, here’s my License.”

“Understood. Wait a moment! Why has your level increased so much?!”

To enter Feel, identification is required, and this rule applies to Lords and Provincial Governors alike.

Naturally, Orders are no exception, so it was natural for Meena to show Rex her License.

However, upon checking Meena’s License, my older brother was completely taken aback.

An increase of one level wouldn’t be strange, but Meena had gained four levels. It was impossible not to be surprised.

“As for why, I just tried out some of the magic Yamato and the others use. Oh, and I defeated quite a few monsters, which might also be the reason.”

When I say “quite a few monsters,” I mean less than twenty Forest Bees and Goblins.

I didn’t have her fight monsters of a higher rank, but I still had her use magic once to gain experience. If there were a concept of experience points, she might have leveled up even more.

“I-I see. So, it’s thanks to him…”

“Hey, don’t just accept it like that. And you look utterly exhausted.”

“Don’t worry, Meena didn’t get hurt at all.”

“I’m not worried about that. But reaching level 22 means Meena can now officially call herself an Order. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not.”

Ah, that’s what it is.

Indeed, there would be some side effects from such a rapid increase in level.

As one’s level increases, their Mana capacity grows, and the scope of enhancement through Physic-aligning and Mana-aligning widens.

To be precise, there are more factors, but broadly speaking, these three are highly important.

Whether it’s physical enhancement or magical power enhancement, failing to accurately grasp the extent of improvement could lead to death.

For my part, I’ve never actually tried it, so I should check it thoroughly sometime.

“If you have time later, I plan to check the extent of my enhancements. Even if I can’t, I’ll do it tomorrow, so you don’t need to worry that much.”

“If you say so…”

“Rex, Meena has finally become an Order, and you’re being so overprotective?”

Oh, here comes Rosemary, who will soon be Meena’s sister-in-law.

“Marie. Meena is my dear little sister, so it’s natural for me to worry.”

“That’s going too far. Besides, Meena, your dear little sister, has finally achieved her long-held dream of becoming an Order. Shouldn’t you offer her congratulations first?”

Oh, now that you mention it, she hasn’t said “Congratulations” yet.

Well, given how surprised he was by the sudden level increase, it’s understandable, but if becoming an Order was Meena’s dream, then she really should have received congratulations first.

“R-right. I’m sorry, Meena. And congratulations. Starting tomorrow, you will be diligently carrying out your duties as an official Order. You must take your responsibilities even more seriously than before.”

“Thank you, brother.”

She looks so happy.

I learned for the first time that becoming an Order was her dream, but I’m glad it came true.

Side: Meena

We left Breeze and Jade, along with Fluorite, at the ranch and are heading to the Hunter’s Guild to make our report.

I have now officially become a C-rank Order and have renewed my License.

I feel like my cheeks might be a little flushed, but I’m not grinning.

To become an Order, or more precisely, to reach C-rank and be able to call oneself an Order, one must be level 21 or higher. After receiving authorization from the Order’s Master, one can be promoted to C-rank Order.

Today, I reached level 22 and received authorization from my brother, Rex, who is also the Order’s Master of Feel, the Order I belong to.

Thus, I have become an Order, just like Father, whom I’ve admired since childhood.

However, as happy as I am, I’m not as moved as I expected.

I know why.

I have a new dream, so becoming an Order, the dream I’ve cherished since childhood, no longer resonates as deeply within me as it once did.

Perhaps that’s why I stood before Yamato naturally and opened my mouth with a smile.

“Thank you, Yamato.”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“Yes. Thanks to you, I was able to meet the conditions to become an Order, and I received authorization from my brother. Without reaching C-rank, one cannot call themselves an Order.”

“Oh, really?”

It’s easy to forget, but Yamato is a guest.

Therefore, he is quite unfamiliar with the general customs of Helios Orb.

It can’t be helped, but that’s the case.

“Yes. My dream has now come true. Thank you.”

“Well, it’s not entirely thanks to me, is it? It might have taken a little longer, but you definitely would have become an Order, Meena.”

He says that, but among my peers, I am the only one left at I-rank.

This implies that I am not suited for combat.

In fact, both Father and my brother told me so.

But I desperately wanted to become an Order like Father. So, even as the sole I-rank, I’ve always tried my best to fulfill my duties. Fortunately, everyone in Feel has been kind, and they treated me well.

Therefore, I think I was unknowingly rushing myself. When I first met Yamato, although it was love at first sight, I was simultaneously spurred on by envy and impatience seeing someone my age walking such a far higher path.

However, that night, I ended up staying in Yamato’s room.

More precisely, in one room of the House Room that Purim and he were renting. But since my stay was decided so abruptly, I hadn’t informed anyone. Orders have a rule requiring notification when staying out, so I would have had to report it to some outpost. Yamato accompanied me, and it was then that we were approached by a Raid called Noble Dears.

Noble Dears was a group that played a part in isolating Feel by having Viscount Archlight’s wife kill a Wyvern she had a familiar contract with. If I had gone to the Order’s Guild to report alone, I might have been captured, subjected to humiliation as a woman, and sold into unlawful slavery. Killing a Wyvern belonging to the Provincial Governor, especially one under a familiar contract, would have been a trivial matter for Noble Dears, even if I were only an Order.

But thanks to Yamato accompanying me, I was safe, and we even managed to capture Noble Dears.

I think that’s when I gained a new dream.

“Yamato, I love you. Please, let me marry you too.”

Marrying Yamato and building a happy family.

This is my new dream.