Hunter's Guild (2)

For the first day, we only received light training before heading back.

“Hey, Lost.”

“Yes, Linea-ssi. What is it?”

“…Could you stop being so formal with me?”

“If you’d prefer me to be casual, I can do that… but why?”

“It makes me uncomfortable.”

“……”

I was stunned. She stabbed straight into my heart while maintaining a perfectly neutral expression.

Is the kind and gentle Linea I knew gone?

“Ah, that’s not what I meant… It seems like you mostly use formal speech when you’re trying to deceive people…”

“That’s a minor misunderstanding.”

“And since we’ll be working together as teammates from now on, wouldn’t it be more comfortable this way?”

She pushes her argument without even pretending to listen to my explanation about the misunderstanding.

As I thought, it wasn’t just my imagination.

For some reason I don’t understand, Linea is suspicious of me.

It’s obvious she intends to follow me around to resolve those suspicions.

Yes, it’s obvious enough. Yet I still can’t figure out what those suspicions are.

What exactly is she hoping for?

What could she be looking for that makes her try to dig into things this way instead of just asking directly?

Is there something I don’t know?

“Well then, Linea.”

“Yes, Lost?”

“Let’s go get something to eat.”

“Sure.”

She doesn’t object to my suggestion.

She doesn’t complain about traveling with Titan either.

Though I don’t know her purpose…

Having her around shouldn’t be a bad thing.

*     *     *

The next day.

Though it had only been a day, Burke realized we weren’t completely incomprehensible as a group and had become comfortable enough to talk to us casually.

“Alright! Yesterday I told you about the magical beasts that appear in the Duchy of Forys, right? Today we’re going to meet and experience those magical beasts firsthand.”

Once it was revealed that Burke was the oldest among us, he dropped the formalities.

Titan had said it was fine to be casual with him too – Burke was quite bold.

“No matter how I think about it, experiencing things directly seems best.”

Burke Ryan led us toward the magical beast territory.

Surprisingly, this wasn’t a spontaneous action but part of the official curriculum.

In a way, it makes sense. Many people learn better through direct experience than just hearing about things.

Titan is a prime example.

Though he’s knowledgeable about the magical beasts in his own kingdom, he couldn’t understand any of the explanations about the Duchy of Forys’s magical beasts.

He’s the type who learns by experiencing things directly.

“Here we are. This is the Metal Wolves’ territory.”

Burke pointed toward a massive rocky mountain.

Looking at the sheer cliffs, it’s hard to imagine any living creatures could survive there.

Of course, that’s just in normal circumstances.

“This way, this way. It’s inside here.”

There was a door in the massive rocky mountain.

And when we opened that door and went inside, we found a forest.

In other words, what we saw from the outside wasn’t a mountain but a wall.

“Hmm, interesting terrain. Can something like this form naturally?”

“Haha, I’m not sure about that? This was made directly by the Duke.”

“Hmm……”

Duke Edge Forys. An artificial nature created by that grand mage.

Though I knew about it, seeing it still sends chills down my spine every time.

That there exists a being who can perform such absurd miracles.

And that even such a being couldn’t stop the trials.

“Normally Metal Wolves would be a bit too much for newcomers, but I think you all should be fine. Ah, but don’t worry – questions about Metal Wolves might come up in the interview, so keep that in mind.”

Burke was more enthusiastic than expected.

He’s proceeding with our education in the way that best suits us.

It’s consideration on his part to let us learn through direct experience rather than just ending things with a few words like others might.

Even if it’s dangerous, he can handle it himself, so he chose the most reliable method even if it’s a bit tiring.

He’s not a bad person by nature.

“Ah, there they are. Three Metal Wolves… that should be about right?”

Burke started explaining while observing the Metal Wolves’ condition from beyond a small hill.

“Metal Wolves have their backs covered in metal. Normal attacks can’t even scratch them.”

Metal Wolves are among the more troublesome magical beasts in the Duchy of Forys.

Not just their metal-covered backs, but their teeth are also incredibly hard.

They’re magical beasts that swallow metal, refine it within their bodies, and cover themselves with it.

That’s why high-quality metal can be obtained from them.

“The only place not covered in metal is their belly. The problem is, they know this fact too.”

Burke didn’t tell us everything. He just shrugged and pointed toward where the Metal Wolves were.

He wants us to experience it directly.

“Go on, try fighting them. If things look dangerous, I’ll help out.”

As expected, Titan was the first to move at those words. Despite his huge frame, he moved with unimaginable quietness and speed.

His kingdom originally maintained hunting activities. It’s natural they’d be skilled at moving without alerting prey.

Boom!

Moving like that, Titan descended on the opposite side from us, essentially surrounding the Metal Wolves between himself and the hill.

He cuts off their escape route.

He clearly thought no other tactics were necessary.

“Hmm?”

The Metal Wolves’ response was quick.

As Burke said, these magical beasts know their bellies are their weak point.

That’s why they lower their bodies as much as possible to protect their weakness.

This is the Metal Wolves’ habit that Burke didn’t mention.

“Aren’t you two going to try?”

“Well… I’m a doctor. Wouldn’t it be better for me to stay somewhere safe rather than joining the fight?”

“Ah, being in the rear is an option too. Though it would be good to have some means of self-defense.”

Linea gave a textbook answer. Burke’s point of criticism isn’t an issue for her either.

After all, she’s capable of not just self-defense but outright butchering anyone who approaches her.

“What about you?”

“I’m similar to Linea. Though I can provide direct assistance to Titan’s combat.”

“Then shouldn’t you be doing something instead of just standing here?”

“This doesn’t look like a battle that needs my help.”

“Huh? But Metal Wolves have considerable resistance to physical attacks…”

Burke’s reason for bringing us to the Metal Wolves is obvious.

He clearly intended to pit physically defensive magical beasts against Titan, who seems to be the party’s core.

Rather than trying to trap us, he probably wanted to warn us about and give advice for the worst situation we might face.

However…

Clang!

Unfortunately, Metal Wolves aren’t enough to stop Titan.

A thunderous sound rang out like multiple hammers striking simultaneously in a massive forge.

“How soft.”

The Metal Wolf became nothing more than a lump of metal under Titan’s hammer strike.

If the opponent has physical resistance, overcome it with even stronger physical force.

The current Titan was capable of that.

“With just this level, I’m more worried about my senses getting dull!”

Clang!

A horizontal swing of his hammer sent the Metal Wolf’s head flying.

“Whimper……”

“Hmm, you’ve got spirit at least.”

At that moment, the remaining Metal Wolf that leaped into Titan’s blind spot was caught in his hand.

CRUNCH!

An unlikely sound emerges from the Metal Wolf’s neck. Titan was crushing the Metal Wolf bare-handed.

No need to visit a forge. He is a moving forge.

Splat!

The Metal Wolf’s head, which had been gradually crumpling, finally burst from the pressure.

It took less than a minute to deal with three Metal Wolves, known as troublesome magical beasts.

“…How am I supposed to evaluate this?”

Anyone could predict that Titan would be strong. But it’s hard to imagine where the limits of that strength lie.

Well, how could they imagine it when they’ve never seen such a realm? There are probably only a handful of beings in the continent who could match him in pure physical strength.

“Um……”

“Huh, what?”

“Are there perhaps no other magical beasts here?”

“Ah, right. Be careful, there are snakes crawling around here too. They’re not poisonous, but their bites still hurt quite a bit.”

“I see. So they’re not poisonous.”

Linea nods.

I thought I glimpsed chopped snake remains behind her.

When I subtly shifted position to check, Linea kicked something away.

“Lost, since there are snakes around, we should be careful.”

“…Right.”

I was being inconsiderate.

I knew she didn’t want her abilities to be discovered. I shouldn’t have tried to confirm things this way.

Though it seems careless… I’ll need to pretend not to notice when things like this happen in the future.

“Well… Anyway. Now we can look around other places too. Let’s try to visit and remember as many places as we can without getting too tired.”

Burke smiled kindly, seemingly unaware of the situation.

He really is a good person. That’s what makes it even more unfortunate.

*     *     *

Day 5 of Burke’s hunter training.

Today we entered the magical beast territory to experience the prey I said I wanted to see.

“Oh?”

There were other people besides us.

Though that’s not strange in itself, there’s a certain atmosphere.

“Hm? Young Master Burke…? Playing hunter in places like this again?”

“…Just go on your way. I’m educating prospective hunters. You know this is Duke Forys’s request, right?”

“Well, we don’t want to get tangled up with you either, young master. Take care then. Don’t go too far inside.”

“Get lost.”

The relationship between Burke and that group was clearly poor. They were retainers of the Ryan baronial family.

As Burke, the illegitimate child of the Ryan family, he couldn’t be happy to see them.

He must have faced harsh persecution, which led him to become a hunter at such a young age.

Allen Wise probably looked after him too. He likely sympathized with another noble who ran away from home.

“Um, this is…”

“We won’t pry, Burke.”

“Ah, yeah. Thanks.”

I know Burke holds his family in contempt.

I can fully sympathize with that. They’re persecuting his sister after all.

He’ll need a lot of money to live independently with his sickly sister.

He must have worked hard for five years to save enough money for independence. But even that won’t be enough.

Though it might be sufficient for just living, it’s far from enough to treat his sister.

“Let’s focus on our task. Weren’t we going to see the Beast Cephalotus today?”

“Haha, seems you’re more interested in that than hunting. Well, that’s more stable, and I don’t think it’s a bad choice either.”

“Though it probably won’t earn much money.”

“A priest being greedy for money?”

“Even priests need to eat.”

In this short time, we’ve become quite close with Burke.

We made it that way.

“Still, a Beast Cephalotus… Why are you curious about such a bizarrely grotesque carnivorous plant?”

“Isn’t the Cephalotus’s mucus good for processing wooden ornaments?”

“What, planning to make something yourself?”

“Yes, since I’m a priest. I thought I might try making a cross coated with Beast Cephalotus mucus.”

Beast Cephalotus.

It’s a magical beast that’s a variant of carnivorous plants. The mucus obtained from it makes things tough, hard, and glossy just by coating them.

Of course, since the mucus supply is already sufficient, it doesn’t fetch a high price. People who collect it usually plan to make something themselves.

Yes. The reason I want it is because, as Burke said, there’s something I need to make myself.

The masks that heresy inquisitors wear when executing judgment are usually carved from wood. And it seems I’ll need to wear that mask soon.

“Oh? Lost. Come to think of it, I don’t see Titan anywhere.”

“Well, he probably found something interesting, right? Burke, you said there weren’t any magical beasts here that could threaten Titan?”

“Ah, right. Still, we should look for him since we don’t know what might happen if we leave him alone. If I tell the examiner about this, you might lose points, you know? Be careful.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

The plan is progressing steadily.

Even my wanting to find the Beast Cephalotus today is part of it.

Burke probably thinks meeting his family’s retainers was just coincidence, but unfortunately, it wasn’t.

“I hope he hasn’t gotten lost.”

“Who knows.”

The bandits we met were involved in human trafficking. On the road leading to the Duchy of Forys.

Then where would those goods go? Where would be good to store forbidden goods like humans?

“I hope he hasn’t been eaten by a Beast Cephalotus.”

Conveniently, there’s a plant large enough to swallow a person whole.

“Haha! Though the Beast Cephalotus looks like it could swallow people whole, it won’t eat humans unless they deliberately go inside.”

“That would be quite troublesome.”

“Actually, that’s not even true. Beast Cephalotus rarely swallow humans. They only hunt smaller creatures, so unless it’s a child, there’s no chance of being eaten.”

Though it’s large enough to swallow humans, it doesn’t secrete enough digestive fluids to dissolve them.

“So it would be possible to capture one alive, right?”

That’s why they bring them in alive.

With people inside, they can naturally move people from the outer magical beast territory to the inner areas.

The digestive fluids could be easily blocked with something like a sack.

Even if someone came out of the sack, the Beast Cephalotus doesn’t have enough power to completely dissolve a human.

Let’s establish such a hypothesis.

Someone who would make such a forced hypothesis would either be paranoid or someone who knows about this business.

Or…

“Lost. There were people here.”

Someone with exceptionally good instincts.

In the direction Titan pointed, there were remains of a Beast Cephalotus that looked like it had been forcibly torn in half.

Along with human blood.