Ｓｉｄｅ: Mako
Upon confirmation of Raus’ signal, Yamato and his companions hurried into the forest.
There were monsters that the students couldn’t handle, but as far as I investigated yesterday, there shouldn’t have been any such monsters. What exactly was there?
If anything, it was the Goblin settlement in the deepest part of the forest. However, the Goblin Prince, who seemed to be their leader, was slain not long ago. As long as they didn’t approach, the students should be safe.
I wanted to go into the forest too, but I have my duties as a Healer, and I need to hear the details of what happened. I can’t move from here for a while.
I’ll be able to move once Sir Yuri returns, and he should be back soon. I’ll move after that.
In fact, he returned quickly with the help of Raus’ Traveling.
“Sir Yuri, are you alright?”
“Yes. H.R.H. Aurora and Reina are both unharmed.”
I’m not too worried about that. Sir Yuri is a Healer, and even if monsters that students can’t handle appeared, Raus is here.
“Aria, what about those children?”
Aria emerged following Sir Yuri, but I was a bit surprised as she had five Hunters restrained with Telekinetic Magic.
“They were being chased by a pack led by the Goblin Queen, and Raus defeated them. They were frozen in place after witnessing it, so I’ve secured them like this for a swift departure. Alright, we’ve arrived.”
I understand the situation, but couldn’t they have handled it a bit differently? They’re slightly injured, but no limbs are missing. If that’s all they sustained from being chased by the Goblin Queen, Healing should be sufficient.
“Wait, a Goblin Queen was there?”
“Yes. Raus defeated her and her pack. However, there’s a possibility some are still left, so we’re keeping them here.”
I figured as much. I certainly didn’t expect a Goblin Queen to have been born, but it was confirmed she wasn’t there yesterday. If she evolved, it must have been between last night and this morning. Demi-human Catastrophe Species can give birth multiple times a day. Even if she evolved last night, the number of offspring wouldn’t be that large, so the pack size shouldn’t have exceeded fifty.
“That Goblin Queen appeared from the depths of the forest. They were fleeing from that direction as well, so perhaps she attacked the Goblin settlement?”
Now hold on. I told them about the Goblin settlement, and even though the Goblin Prince is gone, it’s still of a considerable size. The hunt was supposed to be confined to a relatively shallow area. Yet she fled from the depths?
“We were hunting near the border, but she came from deeper within. Perhaps, with the Goblin Prince gone, she decided to attack the settlement herself?”
“Is that so?”
If Sir Yuri’s suspicions are correct, this is a major problem.
“Um… uh…”
“We… we…”
It seems like I hit the mark. Raus is still here, and Yamato and the others have entered the forest, so the students’ safety should be secured. However, the Hunters who were patrolling near the border might be in trouble. Even if they are students, they won’t escape punishment for this.
“Mako-san! Please treat him!”
While I was thinking that, Lydia emerged through a portal opened by Traveling, bringing five students and a Hunter whose left arm had been severed. Wait, that’s not a Blade Knights’ summon! A Level 48 High Elf losing an arm… what could have done that?!
“S-sorry…”
“Be quiet! ‘Extra Healing’! Lydia, what happened?”
“It was a Goblin Princess. A summon shouldn’t have sustained this much damage from a monster of that caliber. However, while protecting students, and then being caught off guard…”
So there was a Goblin Princess too. No, she definitely wasn’t here yesterday, so she must have evolved between last night and this morning as well.
“Aria, the Divine Emperor’s magic can be completely offset, right?”
“That’s what I’ve heard. However, we can’t do anything about the magic that has already exerted its influence. Could that be the cause?”
“That would make sense. Alright, all done.”
“Sorry, thank you.”
“No, thank *you* for protecting the students.”
“Now then…”
After finishing the treatment for Summon, I turned my gaze to the Hunters Aria had brought. It’s not entirely their fault, but the Goblin Princess is an Anomaly Species, so it’s highly probable she emerged from the settlement in the deepest part of the forest. It’s questionable why they didn’t pursue her, but not all of them would necessarily follow. Perhaps it was for caution.
“Um…”
The Hunters flinched under my gaze. I wonder what kind of punishment they’ll receive. If they were active Hunters, in the worst case, it could be considered a national disturbance and be punishable by law. However, considering they are still students, they might get away with a hefty fine. Regardless of the outcome, the most critical issue is why they would do something so reckless if they truly charged into the settlement. I have a pretty good idea why.
“They probably resent Raus, who is guarding the Royal Family. Mako-san, you’ve probably heard this, but they always clashed with him, even in front of us all.”
“…Is that so?”
They’re looking away, heads bowed, but I’ve completely hit the mark. They might be Normal Class, which is understandable, but if they can’t gauge their opponent’s strength, they’re third-rate Hunters at best. Age and experience are irrelevant. Actually, Hunters who can’t do that only die prematurely. The General Academy was established partly to reduce the number of such Hunters, but to have this kind of student in the very first year… No, it’s precisely because it’s the first year.
“We’ll discuss this later with the teachers and the Order. I don’t know what kind of punishment will be handed down, but what you all did endangered the lives of the students participating in this practical exercise and could have caused serious damage to Memoria. So, accept it.”
” ” “Yes…” ” ”
The students, emerging one after another from the forest, sent curious glances our way. I’m debating whether to explain the situation, but given the gravity of the issue, I’ll decide after discussing it thoroughly with Lady Rika and the Headmaster. Raus apparently saved these children, and after an incident like today, they’ll probably behave themselves from now on. Since the others seem to be decent individuals, I hope they receive lighter penalties.
Ｓｉｄｅ: Yuri
Thanks to Yamato and his companions entering the forest, all the students and their escort Hunters were able to return safely. It seems there was even a Goblin King in the settlement in the deepest part of the forest, but Raus annihilated the entire settlement. So, I can say that we have prevented the worst-case scenario. It was our oversight to send the students into such a dangerous forest, and it was also discovered through investigation that the Hunters had provoked the situation. Nevertheless, we have managed to avoid the worst outcome.
We quickly returned to the General Academy and are currently reporting to Marquess Rika, the Lord, the Headmaster, Order’s Master Chris, and the Hunter’s Master.
“Their numbers were fewer than we expected, so I believe both the King and Queen had only recently evolved.”
Raus reports this, but the number of Goblins in the settlement was less than fifty. Even combined with the Goblins defeated by Yamato, the escorts, and the students, it doesn’t reach a hundred. It is indeed a small number for a settlement led by a mating pair of a King and Queen.
“It’s certain they weren’t there yesterday, so they must have evolved between last night and this morning. Considering the Queen was at the forefront, she might not have even realized she had evolved herself.”
“Ah, that seems likely.”
“So, the King in the settlement evolved first and became the leader, and the Queen and Princesses evolved sometime between this morning and just now?”
“Probably.”
This is Yamato’s prediction. As female Demi-humans like Queens and Princesses are known to give birth frequently, this possibility seems quite high.
“Regarding the injured, I received a report that Summon of the Blade Knights sustained the most severe injuries. How were the other Hunters?”
“Their injuries were only what one might sustain during normal hunting. I treated them, of course, but they probably would have healed quickly on their own.”
Summon was told this by the Raid members too, but it seems to have been dismissed as just bad luck. Well, considering they received treatment from an A-Rank Healer free of charge, it could be considered good luck in a way.
“Those particular individuals acted out of their prejudice against Raus. It seems that due to what happened last month, they felt he might be at a higher level than them. However, precisely because of that, they intended to defeat the Goblin settlement themselves and prove Raus wrong.”
“When you say ‘last month,’ it’s happened quite frequently, so I have many suspicions?”
Chris provided the investigation results of the Hunters who interfered with the Goblin settlement. It was just as I suspected. Raus was right; they frequently clashed with him. However, they actually laid hands on him only after the special lecture last month. It’s likely then that they felt he might be at a higher level than them. In reality, he’s far beyond that.
“It backfired that Raus’s level and Hunter’s Rank were kept secret.”
“If they were public, wouldn’t it have become more troublesome?”
“Besides, even if they were public, it’s another question whether those children would believe it, don’t you think?”
“That’s true…”
Yamato scratches his head in response to Ludia and Lydia’s questions. Indeed, that possibility exists. Raus and Rebecca, who evolved to Ancient Class while still minors, received numerous invitations from nobles immediately after their evolution. Raus, in particular, was significantly targeted, with nobles from eastern Valentia even resorting to blatant pressure. However, those nobles not only made an enemy of Yamato but also his older brother, so they quickly backed down. Because of this, Raus and Rebecca did not appear in public much, and even conducted their hunts discreetly through Feel. Nevertheless, those who know, know. They are also members of the Wing Crest. This, coupled with the fear of the preceding nobles’ disgrace and Yamato, prevents them from making a move.
“It’s common for those who are confident in themselves, but this time it’s a bit too much.”
“It’s not like they can escape punishment, but fortunately, thanks to Lord Yamato Tenshaku and the others, no one was directly harmed. The Blade Knights’ Hunter sustained a serious injury, but he has been treated. Therefore, a strict warning and a fine would be appropriate. Hunter’s Master, in this case, how much would that be?”
“Since it involved a Catastrophe Species, it would be at least several platinum coins. However, as the Order’s Master said, the damage was minimal. Therefore, I believe two gold coins each would be sufficient this time.”
“Is that alright?”
“A fine also serves as compensation to the victim. Considering an A-Rank Healer used Extra Healing, I think that’s about right for this situation.”
A strict warning and a two-gold coin fine each. It’s a lighter penalty than I expected. Earning two gold coins as a student is difficult, and considering it’s the amount charged even when an A-Rank Healer uses Extra Healing with the Blade Knights’ Hunter, it seems reasonable.
“That matter is settled. The next issue is Raus.”
“Yes. Although it was unavoidable, he instantly killed a Goblin Queen in front of people, especially them. We knew it would be revealed eventually, but the timing might be a bit early.”
I agree, but since Raus, Rebecca, and Carol were also involved in the battle within the forest, I think making it public is a valid option. The reason for Raus, Rebecca, and Carol’s levels being undisclosed is that nobles from other countries who obtain this information might instruct their sons and daughters attending the academy to try and win them over. Accessing the academy is forbidden without permission, even for nobles, but there are no issues with exchanging letters. The three are engaged to each other, and since they cannot defeat an Ancient Class opponent, I believe Rebecca and Carol will be fine. However, Raus, despite being a minor, is a boy, so nobles who wish to marry their daughters or sisters to him will inevitably appear.
However, Raus is engaged not only to Rebecca and Carol but also to Reina and Lady Seras. Lady Seras, in particular, is the Grand Duchess of Lichtenfels. Forcefully imposing a marriage would not sit well with the Grand Duchy of Lichtenfels. Furthermore, H.R.H. Aurora, the Princess of the Flügel Beastkin, also appears to wish for an engagement. Therefore, at this point, it would be best to acknowledge the engagement with H.R.H. Aurora and have my older brother make it public, which should prevent interference from such nobles. Raus appears to have one more fiancée besides Rebecca and Carol before graduating, and Gaia’s prophetic dream suggests another might appear. It’s not unlikely that this one is H.R.H. Aurora. Although using an engagement as a means to secure H.R.H. Aurora, who is also the Crown Prince, might be difficult, there are close examples like Yamato and older sister Hilde. Therefore, it might be worth considering.
