The camping gear I made for Raus to use during his academy practical training was something that brought back a lot of memories for me.
It’s not that I’m particularly fond of the outdoors, but I have fond memories of being taken along often by one of my masters, who was also my father’s best friend. Since I received training there too, I found myself making a full set for myself out of nostalgia.
Mako felt the same way, but she’s only been camping a few times since entering university, so while she felt nostalgic, she didn’t go as far as to prepare a full set like I did.
Prim and the others were bewildered, but there’s always a chance we might need to camp in places where the Multi-functional Beast Carriage can’t go, and camping in a tent is fundamental for a Hunter. So, I think it’s a good idea to learn how to use it while I have the chance.
Raus mentioned it too, but I’ve skipped over the fundamentals of being a Hunter.
They said they’re going to have a camping practical training session outside of Memoria next time. I’d join… but that’s difficult for various reasons, so I’ll learn from Raus and the others later.
By the way, the full set of camping gear I made is basically the same as what I gave Raus, but I’ve changed the design a little.
For the materials, I used highly water-resistant Vortex Dragoon hide and comfortable Grand Deathwurm hide, with light silk cloth and Royal Silk Cloth for the padding, and Lapis Laz for the metal components.
Since it’s for camping, it has entrances on all four sides, but the drawback is that installing an inner space reduces visibility from one side.
Well, there’s nothing that can be done about that.
It’s not that I made it for that reason, but I created a Tenma Stone by combining light-attribute magic, Barrier Magic, and the Supplication Magic spells Deodorizing and Silencing.
The purpose of this is to use light-attribute magic to blend the tents within the barrier into the surrounding scenery, eliminate odors with Deodorizing, and block sound with Silencing.
The barrier only needs to cover the area of the tent, so a radius of a few meters is sufficient, and the deodorizing and soundproofing can be minimal.
Applying light-attribute magic is difficult, but it can be made relatively easily using magic stones from Chameleon species and Jaguar species, which can disappear by blending into their surroundings. And the good thing is, once you get used to it, you can generally apply most light-attribute magic stones.
Although it took some effort, the Tenma Stone Fiana made worked properly, and monsters didn’t seem to notice it either, so the danger during camping has decreased.
I’ve registered it with the Crafter’s Guild under the name “Monster Repellent Tenma Stone,” but apparently, low-rank light-attribute slimes are being over-hunted because of it.
Especially Light Slimes, while not numerous, inhabit high mountains and wide plains, so there are reports of them being hunted more frequently.
Light Slimes are I-U monsters, but even so, they offered a minimum level of concealment.
However, even with concealment, it’s not absolute, so overconfidence is contraindicated. It also loses its effect after a few uses and cannot be recharged with magic power. The price, at least 10,000 El, is also a drawback.
Considering its effect, it could be considered cheap, but considering it’s out of reach for low-rank Hunters, it’s recommended for mid-rank Hunters and above.
Incidentally, if you use magic stones from high-rank monsters, you still can’t recharge the magic power, but the effect is incomparable to low-rank monster magic stones. In fact, once you left the tent, even the user couldn’t find it due to the concealment effect.
We knew where the tent was, so it ended without incident, but this was problematic in its own way.
So, today, I’ve come to Mylight to study camping using that camping gear.
Besides me, there are only Prim, Mana, and Mako accompanying me, which is a small group, but it can’t be helped since everyone else has work.
On weekends, the academy is also closed, so Raus and the others are with us, and of course, Yuri and Aria are here too.
“You got all fired up, but this is not a place where you can easily set up the tent you made!” Mana exclaimed, sounding exasperated.
“…I completely forgot.”
As Mana said, I completely forgot.
A one-pole tent is suited for open areas, not for setting up in a forest with dense trees.
It’s not that it *can’t* be set up, but a one-pole tent is supported by a central pole and pegs.
So, you need to secure space for hammering in the pegs, but it’s extremely difficult to secure that kind of space in a forest.
I thought about tying ropes to tree trunks, but doing so would cause the Monster Repellent Tenma Stone to activate partially, making it conspicuous.
It would be like saying there’s something unusual, like unnaturally broken trees or half-disappeared trees.
“It’s good that this is Mylight,” Prim said.
“I strongly agree.”
As Prim said, the forests of Mylight have open spaces here and there.
They are quite large, and it’s not uncommon for Orcs and Goblins to form settlements. Feather Drakes also often gather here.
In fact, I’ve crushed three Orc settlements and annihilated a pack of nearly ten Feather Drakes today.
The Orc settlements were led by Orc Princes or Princesses, but in the case of the Feather Drakes, an Evil Drake of G-I rank had appeared, so we’ll have to go on a mountain hunt again.
I also saw a pack of Hippogriffs, but perhaps because Jade and Fluorite are here, they didn’t attack.
Even if you have same-species creatures as familiars or summoned beasts, they normally attack, but perhaps because Jade has evolved into a Hippogriff Rex and Fluorite into a Hippogriff Regina, they sensed danger instinctively.
Ah, both Hippogriff Rex and Hippogriff Regina will become M-I rank.
They evolved last month, and after consulting various beast tamers, it seems both evolved simultaneously upon reaching adulthood.
Visually, it looks like the horse-like aspect has become more prominent, doesn’t it? And yet, they also exude an air of nobility.
Well, about Jade and Fluorite, they can’t enter the tent, so after setting it up, I plan to have Alka send them back.
We just defeated a pack of Winger Drakes and Feather Drakes, and the sun is starting to set, so let’s camp in this clearing today.
“Um, first, spread out the shelter tent, and then hammer in the pegs, right?”
“That’s correct.”
The one-pole tent I made is floorless, so you spread it directly on the ground and hammer in pegs at each of the eight corners.
If you can use Telekinetic Magic, you can peg down at least two places simultaneously, and Raus drives in five pegs.
As for me, I finished driving in all eight pegs at once.
Pegging can be surprisingly time-consuming, so this is incredibly helpful.
“Now, extend the pole and place it in the center of the shelter… Alright, it’s up!”
“Next, set up the inner tent, and then arrange chairs and tables.”
After I finished setting up the tent, Prim and the others came in.
Well, with six people, it’s okay, but if the number increases, it won’t fit, so it would be better to set up the inner tent first and prepare the sleeping arrangements.
Besides, the inner tent is small, so I think it could be assembled at the same time as the shelter tent.
“Like this… It’s up!”
“It’s easier than I thought.”
“Of course. The Tenma Stone can be set on this pole, but it only covers a radius of a few meters, at most 10 meters even if it’s large. And the barrier’s effect is specialized for the tent only, so if you’re spotted by a monster while assembling outside, it’s normally dangerous, right?”
The inner tent is slightly smaller than a regular tent, but it can be fully assembled inside the shelter tent.
The inner tent is also designed to be easily assembled, using what’s called an A-frame type on Earth.
Once you’re used to it, you can set it up quickly, but if attacked by a monster during assembly, even a veteran Hunter or High Hunter could get injured, so the shorter the assembly time, the better.
Therefore, I think the combination of a one-pole tent and an A-frame is suitable for Hunters who want to quickly prepare for camping.
Furthermore, the pole has a hook for hanging the Monster Repellent Tenma Stone, so if you assemble the shelter tent first and then install and activate the Tenma Stone, you can prepare the rest of the camping gear relatively safely, albeit with some need for perimeter vigilance.
Also, to allow for use in places where a one-pole tent cannot be set up, such as in forests or caves, the inner tent is made of highly waterproof monster material, and it has a hook at the entrance for hanging the Monster Repellent Tenma Stone.
It will truly only be used for sleeping, and if you have to stand guard outside at night, using it with a tarp is recommended in that case.
“Doing this is actually quite fun.”
“Just assembling it, though. But it’s been a while for me too, and I have to admit, it is becoming fun.”
“I find it nostalgic. Camping with Maoh and the others was like this too.”
Actually, I’m secretly finding it fun too.
As part of my Engraving Magic training, I went camping several times a year.
I’ve even camped in the rain and snow, not to mention winter.
Although it was semi-forced, my master was very skilled with the outdoors, so the food was delicious, and his measures against heat and cold were perfect, so I secretly admired him.
He was a strict person, but he was also the kindest among my masters.
Incidentally, his wife has the same name as Sayuri and was my high school teacher.
The fact that both of them were so sweet and kind to me seemed to be because they couldn’t have children.
When my father and mother came to Helios Orb, they said those two wanted to accompany them until the very end.
I sometimes wonder if I might have had a future where I became their adopted child if I hadn’t come to Helios Orb.
As I was setting up the tent, I was reminiscing about my masters. Mako, who was also best friends with them, felt nostalgic for reasons different from mine, yet similar too.
“Yamato-san, what about the tarp?” Aria asked about the tarp.
“Now that everyone is inside the tent, I think it’s fine for now. We’ll need it if everyone uses it together, or during heavy rain.”
“Understood.”
As I was lost in thought, Aria asked about the tarp.
The shelter and inner tents are made of A-I rank monster Vortex Dragoon hide, so they are waterproof and leak-proof even in heavy rain or storms, and their durability is such that minor attacks won’t even scratch them.
So why is a tarp needed? It serves as a simple rain shelter.
It would be most useful for things like having lunch when setting up a tent isn’t necessary.
Also, for ventilation, it’s better to use fire outside the tent.
The tarp is also considered part of the tent, so it falls within the range of the Monster Repellent Tenma Stone, which is a strength as it allows the inner tent to be set up directly.
Another situation is when using it with more people than can fit inside the shelter tent.
Even at most, about 10 people can fit inside the shelter tent with the inner tent set up.
So, if you fully open the shelter’s entrance and set up a tarp, you can comfortably accommodate about 20 people.
Well, if there’s space to connect a tarp to a one-pole tent, a small Multi-functional Beast Carriage could be used.
“Next is the meal. Since food can be carried in storage or the Inventory, there aren’t many camping cooking utensils.”
“If you fail, the money is wasted, and your cooking could be ruined by a monster attack, so that’s just how it is.”
I think meals are the highlight of camping, but that’s on Earth. Here in Helios Orb, it’s not quite the same.
The reason is as Mako said.
Monsters, in particular, don’t care about our convenience at all. They attack whether we’re sleeping or eating.
Of course, even when preparing food.
It’s also possible for monsters to overturn cooking utensils, in which case the food is lost. Therefore, in Helios Orb, even for Normal Class, the basic practice is to buy a cheap Mirror Bag, buy food that can be eaten quickly, and go hunting.
So, camping cooking utensils are limited to simple tableware.
It’s a bit disappointing for me and Mako, but since it’s a matter of life and death, I don’t think it’s a good idea to force trends, and they probably won’t become popular anyway.
If you need them, you can make them yourself.
While thinking about such things, I continued preparing the inside of the shelter.
Chairs and tables are also ready. I guess the portable bathroom can be prepared before use.
Now then, I should go check on Raus and the others to see how they’re doing.
