The triumphant return ceremony which was a spectacle, was… not exactly peaceful, but it concluded for now at least.
There were suspicious individuals near Mina and the others, so out of concern, I used my Earth attribute C-rank exploration-type Engraving Magic, Lynx’s Mind, to listen to their conversation. I was able to quickly freeze and apprehend them, and it turned out they were spies from Retisencia, part of a raid called Gem Hawk. That was fortunate.
Rex and old man Linus nagged me about it, but they aren’t making a fuss about apprehending them itself.
They just told me to mind the time and place.
In the meantime, the injured were being treated by healers dispatched from the Healer’s Guild using Noble Healing and Extra Healing.
There were many fractures, but Noble Healing and Extra Healing could fix them. And since it was an Alliance this time, there were no treatment fees, which was a great help to the injured.
By the way, Princess Yuriana, an S-rank healer, and Apricot, Prim’s mother who is a B-rank healer but can use Noble Healing, are also participating.
We only exchanged a few words with them, but she was overjoyed that Prim returned safely with us.
“Welcome back, truly. It’s heartening, from the bottom of my heart, that we’ve all returned safely, without a single soul missing.”
Rika greeted us with a beaming smile as we entered the Hunter’s Guild’s 10th Appraisal Room, but her expression became tired the next moment.
“Well then, shall we bring them out?”
“Understood.”
There are 138 in total, but the 10th Appraisal Room is large, so bringing them all out is not a problem.
However, the Grand Orcs, which were the most numerous, and the rare Giant Orcs are not that important, so they will be brought out from the back.
That said, the moment Prim and I brought out the Orc Emperor and Orc Empress, the appraisal room was dominated by fear, despair, and silence.
“…Indeed, two Orc Princes, five Orc Princesses, two Orc Kings, and three Orc Queens…”
“And these are the Orc Emperor and Empress? I’ve never seen them before…”
It seems this is the first time corpses of Demise Species have been brought in.
There seem to be some Demise Species that died of old age, but their corpses were not recovered, so it’s purely speculation.
Fundamentally, we don’t know their lifespan, so it’s just wishful thinking.
Supposedly, Demi-humans live for decades and monsters for several years to several centuries, but that’s for normal species. And for non-living entities like puppets and golems, or undead like skeletons and zombies, they have no lifespan, making accurate research difficult.
“The condition of the corpses is as reported.”
“Yes.”
“Your report sounded like something out of a story, but seeing this, the description was accurate, so the battle must have gone exactly as described…”
“I believed that the Order’s Master would never do such a thing, but I did suspect a false report.”
I can understand the Provincial Governor and Guild Master nodding, but why is the Order’s Master himself nodding so deeply, let alone the Order, Holy Grave?
“Do you know how much I agonized over that report? Especially concerning you, the more I wrote the truth, the more unrealistic it became. Do you think I could submit a report like that and have it believed?”
“No, but that’s…”
“We just fought normally, even if we did use our trump cards.”
I nodded in agreement, thinking, *That’s precisely right.*
“If it hadn’t been you who did it, I would have dismissed it, suspected a delusion, or called you rude and dismissed you. Even so, I couldn’t believe it and didn’t understand what was being written at first.”
“It was beyond incomprehensible.”
Old man Linus agreed with Laberna’s opinion.
Apparently, Laberna collapsed the moment she read the report.
Flam, Rika, Mikasa, and Sofia also said they collapsed. Was it our fault?
“It’s clearly your fault. That there were more Orcs than expected is understandable because the Queen and Princesses were there. That Holy Grave and Order defeated the Orc Queens with only 13 people and no casualties should be praised. But when it comes to you guys, it says you trapped the Prince and Princess in a wind and fire barrier and defeated them, blew away the King and Queen in a passing attack, and overwhelmingly defeated the Emperor and Empress in one-on-one combat? What are we supposed to believe?”
“W-well, isn’t that a bit… exaggerated?”
“R-right?”
Upon hearing the contents of the report from old man Linus, Prim and I became uneasy.
We did defeat the Prince and Princess as reported.
The King and Queen might seem like an exaggeration, but it does feel like we defeated them mostly in passing while heading towards the Emperor and Empress.
We definitely defeated the Emperor and Empress in one-on-one combat, and we were the most energetic afterward, even taking the first watch at night.
…Yeah, Rex, you reported it accurately, with no embellishment or omission.
“So it turns out everything was true…”
“We didn’t doubt it, of course, but hearing the same content from those present at the scene and from yourselves… At this point, it’s beyond astonishment; it’s laughable.”
Count Sofia and Viscount Archlight chuckled with dry voices.
“Sigh… Anyway, the subjugation is confirmed to be as reported. Next, about the weapons, how did they perform in actual use?”
Rika changed the subject with a deep sigh.
“Without these weapons, someone would undoubtedly have become a casualty. My shield broke during the fight with the Orc Queen, but it definitely saved my life.”
“I’ve probably never exerted my magic power to that extent before. As Order’s Master said, without these weapons, in the worst-case scenario, we would have been wiped out, leaving only them.”
Rex and Muse answered on behalf of everyone. Indeed, Rex’s shield is made of Magic Silver, and it shattered into pieces due to magic fatigue and the Orc Queen’s attack during the battle.
A shield is one thing, but if it were a sword, the attack itself would be impossible, which could have been a much more serious situation.
And even in a worst-case scenario of annihilation, would Prim and I have survived?
“If you were to fall, I would abandon Feel by any means necessary.”
Laberna stated this unequivocally, but why did the Provincial Governor nod in agreement?
Of course, I wouldn’t want to die leaving my wife behind, so I fought desperately.
“Putting that aside, what about Holy Grave?”
I felt a bit brushed aside?
“It’s the same as Order. Without these weapons, we would have had to pause to switch weapons. Also, we were able to defeat the Grand Orcs and Giant Orcs with ease, so if Jade Silver and Blue-Gray Iron become widespread, the power of Hunters will undoubtedly increase.”
I agree with that.
Magic Silver and Adamantine Steel weapons cannot withstand the magic of High-Class monsters, but we had to suppress our magic power to prevent them from breaking during combat.
Naturally, suppressing magic power limits our abilities, even though High-Class monsters possess the power to fight a thousand on their own.
However, if that restriction is removed, there will be no need to suppress magic power, and monsters that were previously difficult to defeat will become easier to handle. This should also reduce accidents during hunts and serve as a goal for becoming High-Class.
The only problem might be those who can’t afford these weapons attempting to steal them from those who possess them.
This is something that could happen with any weapon, so they’ll either have to be careful individually, or perhaps if they were only sold to High-Class individuals and above, their ownership could be managed.
But that’s probably not something I should be thinking about.
“The reputation of Jade Silver and Blue-Gray Iron is excellent. In fact, you’re eager to use them.”
“I understand how you feel. I’d love to have one made for myself too.”
Lainas-ossan is a High Class, and with so few Hunters around now, he’s been going out on hunts whenever he has the time.
My weapon hasn’t broken yet, but that’s only a matter of time.
“I’m sorry about that. I intended to make one for Lainas-san’s weapon too, but then this incident occurred. I had no choice but to prioritize that.”
“I understand. So, does that mean you’ll make one for me too?”
“Of course. Lainas-san has been working himself to the bone for Feel since Saches was around, so I thought this would be the least I could do as a thank you, and have the Crafter’s Guild present it.”
Ah, so that’s why Lainas-ossan’s weapon hadn’t been finished yet.
But it seems the preparations are complete, so he should be receiving his weapon in a few days.
Actually, is a sword the right weapon for ossan?
“That would be greatly appreciated. My current Mithril Spear is nearing its limit. It won’t break tomorrow or the day after, and I do have spares, but it’s still scary.”
I can totally relate.
The number of Mithril Swords I’ve broken exceeds ten.
Even after evolving into an Ancient Human, I used them a few times, but breaking after just one use… I really thought, “give me a break.”
Thinking about it now, the Mithril Blade that defeated many An and Catastrophe Species, and even endured the Magic Power of an Ancient Human for a while, was truly amazing.
“Then, regarding weapons, as we’ve confirmed their usability, we will convey your opinions directly to the Grand Crafter’s Master.”
“That’s right. I’ll tell Ed and the others later.”
The one who will report to the Grand Crafter’s Master is him, after all.
“Then, next…”
Rika-san hesitates, but why does she look so exhausted?
“…Next is about the Alliance participants’ level-ups and rank-ups, isn’t it?”
I’m truly sorry.
It was all my fault.
Well, it’s not like I did anything wrong, but seeing Rika-san’s face made me think that.
“First, with the Orders, Order’s Master and Iris have both surpassed level 50, haven’t they?”
“Yes. I became level 51, and Iris-san is level 52.”
Rex-san replies with a wry smile, but everyone who hears the report lets out a sigh.
With two more Orders surpassing level 50 all at once, they should be celebrating, shouldn’t they?
“It’s definitely a joyous occasion. Originally, it was said that Iris, Rika, and Rosemary would surpass level 50 in the near future, but we never expected them to return so soon, and all at once at that.”
“Before your departure, you surmised that High Class individuals might find it difficult to level up due to issues with their weapons, preventing them from fully utilizing their Magic Power. It seems your hypothesis has inadvertently been proven correct, which is also a problem.”
We did have that conversation, and we agreed to keep it secret because it was dangerous. But now that they’ve leveled up so quickly that it feels like a public announcement, it’s becoming questionable whether we can keep it hidden.
I understand, but what can be done about this?
“The other Orders have also leveled up by 3 to 4 levels across the board. But I never imagined Muse would reach level 56…”
“I am also bewildered. After all, the Associate Order’s Master is level 54, and even the Grand Order’s Master is only level 55. I have surpassed the levels of those two, who are said to be the strongest in Amister.”
Is that so?
I had heard the level of Mina’s father, the Associate Order’s Master, but this is the first time I’ve heard that the Grand Order’s Master was level 55.
However, a difference of one level is practically nothing, and there’s also the difference in experience, so even if Muse’s level is higher, we don’t know how she would fare in an actual fight.
“That is true, but the fact that she has surpassed their levels is the issue. While the Grand Order’s Master and Father will likely be pleased about it, it’s a different story for how the other Orders will perceive it. Especially since the Grand Order’s Master is often held by the strongest knight of Amister, there’s a possibility that Muse could become the Grand Order’s Master.”
Muse nods with a very displeased expression at Rex-san’s speculation.
Does she dislike it that much?
“Fortunately, or perhaps not, Muse is a woman. If she marries, she will no longer be able to assume the position of Grand Order’s Master. Of course, women have held the position of Grand Order’s Master before, but once they marry and have children, they must prioritize their families. This is also the case for Order’s Masters.”
When a woman becomes an Order’s Master, she usually resigns within a few years, which can be problematic during emergencies.
That’s why Order’s Masters are typically men, as Rosemary-san once told me.
Of course, there are cases where a woman must take the role, so it’s not an absolute rule.
“Even if you mention marriage, I…”
“As I’ve said before, I don’t mind if it’s you, Muse.”
Here, a shocking truth is revealed.
Faris-san had previously mentioned that there was only one man Muse wanted to capture, and it seems Rex was that person.
“I appreciate that, but Rex hasn’t even gotten engaged to you yet, has he? It feels wrong for me to interfere.”
“My family is just a baronetcy, but their pride is immense.”
Rex and Rosemary weren’t even engaged?
And to speak so ill of one’s own family…
“Baron Traihit’s household. I’m sorry for Rosemary, but their reputation isn’t good, is it? Wouldn’t you agree, Saphia-san?”
“I apologize, but that is indeed the case. We have entrusted them with the governance of a town in the Marquisate of Stahlshtein. However, the current head of the family has a poor reputation, and not only my father but also my brother have reprimanded him multiple times.”
Count Sofia turned to Saphia-san, but Rosemary’s family was in the Marquisate of Stahlshtein?
Huh? It’s north of the Marquisate of Stahlshtein and not far from the border ofRetisencia?
The border with Retisencia should be within Count Bernstein’s Territory, but it’s still close, meaning many Retisencians come through, which is an inconvenient location.
And to be reprimanded by the lord for a bad reputation, isn’t that quite serious?
“My father was spoiled as the heir of the baronetcy. So, if things don’t go his way, he immediately takes it out on those around him.”
Is he a child?
Apparently, that Baron Traihit even chose the wife for his eldest son, the heir, himself.
Since the person herself didn’t consent and wasn’t enthusiastic, the matter was dropped. However, because of this, Rosemary-san’s elder brother is still unmarried and shows no signs of getting married.
Rosemary also seems to want to strengthen her family’s influence within the Marquisate of Stahlshtein by marrying into a high noble family, so she is strongly opposed to marrying Rex.
As they are a power-hungry noble family, rare in Amister, no other noble family takes them seriously, and the baronetcy’s internal affairs are not good.
Because of this, he is taking his frustrations out on the town for which he is the governor. However, his tyranny has become too much for the Marquis of Stahlshtein to ignore. He will soon issue a final warning, and if there is no improvement, Baron Traihit will be punished, and the family headship will be passed to Rosemary-san’s elder brother.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t mind if they were stripped of their title.”
She really hates her father.
Her brother is a G-rank Crafter, so he won’t have trouble making a living, and he’s unmarried, so there’s the issue of succession.
I can understand that thought, but it’s a bit too much of a leap.
“The Traihit Baron’s family is difficult for us to interfere with, so we will keep it in mind. However, if your own territory or Feel is threatened, that will not apply.”
“No, that is more than enough. I apologize for causing you trouble regarding my family.”
Rosemary bowed her head deeply.
Her face looked furious, so she truly felt sorry about it.
“This has become an unexpected conversation, but regarding Holy Grave, Cliff-san can be promoted to G-rank, right?”
“Yes. He’s level 53. I’m level 57, and the other three are all level 49, so it won’t be long before everyone in the Raid’s High Class becomes G-rank.”
“While I’m happy about this, we seem to be facing the same problem as the Order.”
“Indeed. Although Hunters belong to the country, they are not bound by it, so they are more troublesome than the Order.”
Viscount Archlight and old man Linus made grim faces. It was true that Hunters belonged to a country.
However, unlike the Order, it was not uncommon for them to be away from their base city for extended periods, and they often extended their travels to other countries.
Labyrinths, in particular, were so popular among Hunters that some apparently even moved their bases.
“We are based in the Royal Capital, but fortunately, we are favored by H.R.H. Manalease, so we are not considering going to other countries at this time.”
It seems Holy Grave was recommended for a raid called Trial Hearts, which Prince Reinhardt was fond of, and they began working with Princess Manalies.
Royalty is not supposed to join raids due to various issues, but it seems to be different if they formally get engaged or renounce their succession rights.
Therefore, Prince Reinhardt and Princess Manalies have not joined any raids, but they are participating in raids that they are fond of.
However, from the perspective of Hunter magic, it is problematic, so they are using Hunter magic by treating it as a designated request from the Royal Family, thus broadly joining the raids.
I don’t quite understand it myself, but old man Linus rudely dismissed me by saying to accept it as something one can do with the initial contract.
“As Amister, we are grateful and it helps. Linus-dono, please proceed with Cliff-san’s rank-up procedure later.”
“Of course. However, Cliff, I’m sorry, but when you received the Alliance, you were still S-rank. The reward will not change?”
“I understand that. It’s already in the contract, and I didn’t expect to level up this much anyway.”
Ah, we had that kind of contract too.
It concerns me as well, but I really didn’t expect to level up enough to be able to rank up, so I hadn’t paid any attention to it at all.
“Thank you. And, Marquis.”
“I understand. Finally, regarding Wing Crest… sigh…”
Rika sighed heavily while looking at us.
Isn’t that a bit rude?
“I believe everyone here feels the same way as the Marquis.”
Count Sofia read my mind, but that shouldn’t be the case.
…It shouldn’t be, right?
“Prim-san is level 67, and Yamato-kun is even level 71…”
“No, considering their battle achievements, they haven’t leveled up as much as I expected.”
“I agree. I thought Prim-chan would be over level 70.”
“I’ve never heard of leveling up nearly 10 levels at once!”
“If you’re going to say that, I’ve also never heard of leveling up nearly 20 levels in less than a month, let alone evolving into an Ancient Class?”
Prim retorted against old man Linus and Laberna, but they were quickly shut down.
It seems we have no allies.
“Yamato, I will also process your rank-up procedure, but as I told Cliff, the reward will not change?”
“I already know that without you being so thorough.”
He looked apologetic towards Cliff-san, but he pressured me into reluctantly accepting.
“Lastly, regarding the presentation, it will be held in the Central Plaza tomorrow afternoon. However, as originally planned, the existence of the Demise Species will be kept secret.”
Tomorrow afternoon.
It’s sooner than I thought, but since we’re going to the Royal Capital in three days, it had to be done by then. It’s better than dragging it out unnecessarily.
“We will also make it as if An and Catastrophe Species didn’t exist, and there was only one King and one Queen, so please be careful during the presentation.”
“The Order and Holy Grave will still have defeated the Queen, but for the King, it will be stated that Yamato-kun and Primrose-嬢 defeated them together. I know it’s troublesome, but if the existence of multiple An and Catastrophe Species, and even a Demise Species becomes widely known, we cannot suppress the confusion of the townspeople, and if the defeat of a Demise Species becomes known, other countries will surely react, so we must avoid that.”
Troublesome.
That means the King’s corpse used for the presentation must be chosen so that it’s apparent Prim also attacked it.
There are only two of them to choose from, and I feel like it’s a toss-up…
“I understand that, but the An Prince and Princesses didn’t make much difference anyway, so we’re starting to forget about them. Yamato-kun and Prim-chan might not even remember them.”
“I remember them just fine. Three Princes and four Princesses, right?”
No, Prim-san, you’re wrong.
It was one Prince and six Princesses.
“See?”
“The correct answer is two Princes and five Princesses. They were defeated so easily, it’s understandable that their memories are fuzzy…”
Cold gazes pierced me and Prim, but I averted my eyes to escape them.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to explain that they defeated the King and Queen on their own, rather than us having defeated the Queen? Why are we making it that we defeated the Queen?”
“There’s no reason. If we were to say that both of you defeated them on your own, your accomplishments would seem smaller. Besides, it’s an undeniable fact that you defeated the Queen, so we can’t do that.”
Count Sofia answered Cliff-san’s question. She had actually thought about it.
The people of Feel know that Yamato and Prim can defeat Catastrophe Species together, but they probably think they can only deal with An alone. So, a cover-up should work.
“No, with solo victories against An, there’s no need for a cover-up. Besides, there are quite a few rumors that if you could do it when you were High Class, you might be able to defeat Catastrophe Species alone now that you’ve evolved into Ancient Class.”
Oh, is that so?
“There are still many things I want to say and ask, but that’s all for now. We also have rank-up procedures for Yamato-kun and Cliff-san, so please gather at my mansion in two hours. As I told you before we left, we have prepared a victory celebration.”
It’s time to feast.
Dishes made with Abyss Taurus meat await us.
Tomorrow is the presentation, but it’s also the day Mina’s weapons will be ready, so I should go to the Albert Workshop in the morning.
Then, after the presentation, I’ll go for a test drive.
I might even get to test drive the Beast Carriage.
Of course, I can’t take Ed and the others outside the city, so it will probably be from the Albert Workshop to the plaza or the ranch.
However, while going to the Royal Capital might be by Beast Carriage, the return trip is planned to be by land, so I need to check the ride comfort at least a little.
I’ve already tested the comfort of the bath and bedrooms, but I’d like to use them leisurely if possible.
Ah, I think I can bring the Beast Carriage to the inn.
The price is the same, but if I bring the Beast Carriage, we can accommodate a large number of people even with fewer rooms, and above all, the soundproofing is good, so no sound will leak outside.
I was being considerate, but I still got carried away sometimes, so I’ll try it starting tomorrow night.
Huh?
What about tonight?
I’m planning to stay at Rika’s place. What’s wrong with that?
