The day of the hunting tournament finally arrived. The city of Rigforeshia was so crowded that the atmosphere felt like a festival compared to last night.
[Speaking of which, Rei-san, how will they determine the winner of the hunting competition?]
[It’s based on both quantity and quality. There are various animals and monsters in the forest, each with corresponding points. Of course, the more powerful a monster is, the higher the points, but the danger also increases. A lot of people participate every year, so if you ever find yourself in danger, there will be people nearby to come to your aid.]
[So… speaking of the most powerful monster, what monster is it?]
As we walk through the city, I ask Rei about the hunting tournament.
It seems the rankings are determined by a point system, and participants can choose whether to hunt a large number of weaker creatures or tackle the more powerful monsters.
How the points are tallied remains a mystery though… Do they bring back parts of the creatures as proof of their defeat?
[The most powerful monster should be the “Black Bear”.]
[Black Bear? I’ve heard of a Red Bear, but are they similar?]
[No, the Red Bear and Black Bear are quite different. Red Bears are popular prey because of the quality of their meat and fur. But Black Bears have poisonous flesh that can’t be eaten, and their fur is difficult to process, making them little more than vermin with no real use.]
[Heehhh…]
[More than anything, their strength is on a completely different level. The Red Bear may be a fierce creature, but it’s fairly easy to hunt if you can use magic. Black Bears, on the other hand, are as strong as wyverns. Their movements are slow, but their strength is immense, their fur is as hard as iron, and it can’t be scratched by anyone with half-baked abilities.]
Thinking about wyverns reminded me of the ones that were easily taken down by Kuro. But I guess Kuro is just too strong, and wyverns are still very powerful monsters.
Anyone who can defeat a wyvern on their own would be considered one of the top fighters among humans.
[Most participants will probably avoid them, but Lilia-chan, Lunamaria-chan, and Sieg should be able to handle them on their own. So, the key to winning the championship will be how many of those black bears they can hunt.]
[…Is Rei-san also aiming for the black bears?]
[No, I retired as a mage a long time ago. Besides, dealing with those black bears is a hassle. If I could, I’d prefer to earn my points elsewhere.]
[Is there a chance that Lilia-san and the others can win?]
Rei-san seems to have participated in many hunting competitions in the past and is familiar with tmany different situations here. So, I decided to ask him if there was a chnce that Lilia-san and the others could win the competition.
Rei-san seems to have participated in a lot of hunting competitions in the past and knows how things work. So, I asked him if Lilia-san and the others had a real shot at winning.
[…Honestly, it’s going to be tough.]
[!?]
[It’s not that it’s impossible, but there are way more participants than usual this year, probably because of the prize. It seems the captain of the Elven Guards will be participating as well. But aside from that… I looked around a bit this morning, and there were two people who were clearly on a different level from the others.]
[Different? You mean they’re stronger?]
[Yeah. One of them is a “pink-haired fairy.” Fairies usually aren’t that strong, but her magic power was far greater than mine… She might even be among the Great Fairy class.]
Hmm? That kinda… reminds me of someone I’ve seen before…
[And the other one is a “Knight in Black Armor”…… The way he carries himself, the aura he gives off, his magical power—it’s all overwhelming. That person might even have the strength of a High-ranking Demon.]
[……………….]
Isn’t he talking about Raz-san and Neun-san…? Neun-san was the Hero, and a powerful person who defeated the Demon King
And while I’m not sure how strong Raz-san is, Acht calls her “Sis,” and Neun-san shows her a lot of respect. She’s probably a well-known figure among the fairies.
I get it now. In Rei-san’s eyes, Rei-san and Neun-san are the most likely candidates to win… If one of them does, I should ask if they’d be willing to give up the Fruit of the World Tree.
Both of them are kind-hearted, so if I explain things to them, they might agree.
Of course, the best outcome would still be if Lilia-san and the others win…
[Uwaaahhh, Miyama-senpai! Aoi-senpai! There are so many amazing shops everywhere!]
[They really are something.]
[Yes, it’s such a big festival.]
We had seen Lilia-san and the others off to the starting point, but since we couldn’t enter the forest, where there are monsters and fierce beasts, we were left with nothing to do until the hunting tournament finished. So, the three of us started browsing the stalls.
I’m not sure if it’s just because she likes festivals, but Yuzuki-san was skipping around, clearly enjoying herself, while Kusunoki-san and I watched her with wry smiles.
[By the way, Miyama-san, we happened to see you yesterday. Are you acquainted with that fairy and that person in armor?]
[Yeah, I’ve mentioned them before. They’re Kuro’s family—Razelia-san and Neun-san.]
[Eh? So that person in armor was the one who gave us rice… I should have thanked her.]
[They’re probably still around until tomorrow, so we might get another chance to talk to them. For now, let’s just wait for that… Anyway, Yuzuki-san is running off, so we should hurry.]
[…Geez, Hina-chan, you’re way too excited.]
If Raz-san or Neun-san were to win, I’d try to visit them and negotiate, but for now, I’m setting aside worries about the hunting contest and about Lilia-san and the others.
All I can do now is root for them from afar. While I cheer for Lilia-san and the others in my heart, I’ll make the most of the Sacred Tree Festival.
[Senpaaaiiii~! Hurry up and come over here!]
[Yeah, we’re coming.]
After gathering my thoughts, Kusunoki-san and I hurried to where Yuzuki-san was waiting.
After having fun checking out the stalls with Kusunoki-san and Yuzuki-san, we were getting close to lunchtime.
[Arehh? There aren’t many stalls left around here?]
[Yeah, if you look over there at the wall, this might be the last one around here.]
[I see! Then let’s head over to that wall and make a U-turn!]
The number of stalls had been steadily decreasing as we moved along, and after walking a few more steps, we came upon the wooden wall surrounding the town of Rigforeshia, encircling it in a large circle.
It looked like this was the end of the stalls, and Yuzuki-san, clearly enjoying herself, ran excitedly toward the wall.
[You’re really having fun, huh~~]
[I’ve loved festivals since junior high. I always get excited when there’s a Cultural Festival at my school.]
[Ahaha, that certainly sounds like you, Yuzuki-san… Oh, it’s almost noontime, isn’t it? The hunting tournament goes until 2PM, right?]
[Yeah, I think that’s right. Should we have lunch now, or wait until Lilia-san and the others return?]
[Hmm. How about we ask Yuzuki-san what she thinks——!?]
[W-What was that sound!?]
While I was talking with Kusunoki-san about lunch, a sudden loud noise, like something crumbling, interrupted us.
I quickly looked toward the source of the sound… and saw a large cloud of dust rising from where the wooden wall had been.
[Yuzuki-san!]
[Hina-chan!]
Kusunoki-san and I both called out to Yuzuki-san, who should have been heading in that direction.
As the dust cleared, I spotted Yuzuki-san standing there, and I was about to breathe a sigh of relief—until something utterly unbelievable happened right before my eyes.
A few meters in front of Yuzuki-san, a jet-black bear, over four meters tall, emerged from the collapsed wall, pushing the dust aside.
[It’s… it’s a Black Bear!!!]
[Has the Barrier Magic been broken!?]
As the bear fully appeared, screams erupted from the people around us.
How did I miss this? Was it because of the Barrier Magic that I didn’t sense its approach with my Sympathy Magic? Either way, this situation looks bad!
The Black Bear locked its eyes on Yuzuki-san and began to slowly walk toward her.
[Hina-chan! Run!!!]
Kusunoki-san shouted to Yuzuki-san.
It’s alright… It’ll be alright. Yuzuki-san has that incredible Body Strengthening Magic. Rei-san also mentioned that the Black Bear is slow, and since it was still a few meters away, she could easily escape…
[……Hiiihhh…… aahhh……]
[Sh*t!]
[Miyama-san!?]
Hearing Yuzuki-san’s trembling voice, I immediately ran toward her.
I’m an idiot! It’s one thing if she has the ability to handle this situation, but using that ability to actually deal with it is another matter!
She’s just a 16-year-old girl… Facing a monster like that so suddenly, there’s no way she could stay calm and think of the best way to handle it!
Dashing forth towards Yuzuki-san, a magic circle appeared in my hand.
Magic power began leaking out of my body as I prepared to use the magic Kuro had taught me.
I’m not a saint or anything like that. I can’t risk my life for a stranger.
But… There’s no way I can’t do that for people I know. I’m a coward after all… I’m too cowardly to even think about abandoning my friends. I can’t just leave Yuzuki-san here to die!
Only a few seconds passed… When I reached Yuzuki-san, I pulled hard on her shoulder while she was still standing, then shoved myself between her and the Black Bear.
As Yuzuki-san was knocked backward and fell on her butt, the Black Bear, seeing my interference, charged forward faster.
I’m not the protagonist of a battle manga, nor am I some kind of hero. I’ve never been in a fight, and my athletic abilities are just below average for my age group.
If you ask me whether I have a chance of winning against the Black Bear—an opponent that the former royal Court Mage, Rei-san, calls a real pain in the ass to deal with—the answer is a flat no.
Even if I were holding a sword capable of killing a Black Bear with a single strike, I don’t think I’d even be able to land a hit.
There’s no way someone who’s never been in a fight can expect things to go as planned. I wouldn’t even land a decent punch. That’s why the first thing that came to mind was the combat magic Kuro taught me.
If I can’t decently fight ,then my best bet is to find a way to protect myself when I’m forced to.
My only weapon is the perception ability from my Sympathy Magic. It’s enough to detect the approach of a wyvern around the same time Kuro, one of the Six Kings, would.
That’s why I asked her to help me come up with a magic that could make the most of it.
Kuro told me not to use it unless absolutely necessary, but right now, I don’t have any other options.
It’s as though everything was prepared for this moment—the moment all my magic power surged out of my body at once, and the magic circle floating in my hand emitted an exceptionally strong light.
Just as the Black Bear raised its paw overhead, as if about to mark a tree, I unsheathed my double-edged sword.
[Auto-Counter!]
When I say the name of my magic, my entire body slips out of my control, leaving only my thoughts intact. Reacting to the hostile magical power detected by my Sympathy Magic, which has been amplified by my own magic power, my body begins to move on its own.
Dear Mom, Dad—”Sometimes, a man has to make a decision, even if he has to force himself.” Isn’t that what Dad always told me? I don’t know if this is that moment, but in the midst of all this chaos—I confronted a gigantic beast.
<Author’s Notes>
After over 70 chapters, this is Kaito’s first battle.
Incidentally…
Kaito
ATK = 15 DEF = 50 (Increased Defense because of the materials used in his clothing) AGI = 20
Black Bear
ATK = 130 DEF = 120 AGI = 30
If we’re going to estimate their stats, I think it would be around that. Well, there are lots of powerful people around that place, so as long as they can make it in time, they should be able to……
T/N: 3/9