Volume 2 Chapter 34 Training Camp
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Annabella and the vanguard team are scattering around to gather the skin of the swamp lizard (Berglizard) they defeated.
”Kent, I actually have a favor to ask. Can you listen to me…?”
Milly rarely comes to me with a request.
”What is it? Is it something I can help with?”
”All I need is for you to agree. I want to give the materials from the swamp lizard (Berglizard) we’re hunting this time and the leather from the rock boar (Stone Boar) that we plan to hunt tomorrow for free to ‘Red Valkyrie.’ Normally, since I’m the leader of the Hunting Group, I could decide this on my own, but since this Hunting Group belongs to you, I need your approval.”
Milly is asking for permission to give the materials from the target of this hunt directly to ‘Red Valkyrie’ without cashing them in at the Guild.
I asked Milly for her reasons.
”Why are you giving the materials to ‘Red Valkyrie’? If they’re supposed to be self-sufficient, isn’t giving it away a bad idea?”
”But I think we can make a good amount of leather armor that surpasses the beginner class from these materials. I was thinking it would be nice to lend it out as equipment for the Hunting Group, but giving it away for free seems a bit much.”
I understand what Milly is trying to say, but while I can see the point about the equipment, I think giving away the materials for free is not a good idea.
Well, since there’s an agreement to split the rewards among the other members, it might be okay to allow Milly to cover the losses.
”Is Milly planning to make the ‘Red Valkyrie’ group stronger too? I thought this was a Hunting Group for beginner mutual support?”
”That’s my intention as well, but I want to provide equipment to the girls who have become somewhat strong and have them become the core of the Hunting Group. Otherwise, it will affect the training of newcomers in ‘Red Valkyrie’.”
”I see, so Milly intends to supply some equipment as support measures for intermediate hunters. As the Vice Hunting Group leader, I’d like to say that I have no objections as long as this time’s materials are transferred personally by Milly. I can’t allow free transfers since there are other members’ livelihoods to consider, but it’s fine if Milly buys them.”
”Buying them, huh. That’s fine. Feria, tell me the market value of swamp lizard skins and rock boar leather.”
Feria, called by Milly, approaches.
”Um, as of yesterday, the swamp lizard skin was worth one large copper coin, and the rock boar leather was worth 5 large copper coins.”
It’s strange that Feria can smoothly answer questions about the market value of Materials that she was suddenly asked about, but according to her, the timing for selling Materials can change profit.
So it seems she checks the purchasing prices from the Hunter Guild every day after breakfast.
Milly seems to know about this and called Feria to ask.
”I see, if that’s the market price, I can buy in bulk and sell for a slightly lower price, right? Is that okay?”
”Yeah, if Kent is okay with it, then that’s fine. The purchase will come from my personal assets.”
”Okay, that way there won’t be any complaints. Being the head of the Hunting Group is quite demanding, isn’t it?”
”As for this time’s equipment supply, I was also considering the girl of Kent’s potential workplace… but the budget…”
What!
You never mentioned anything about that!
I had been planning for the Red Valkyrie, the top female Secretary, and the Healer’s girl to be brought into Giuliana’s room. Although it was from afar, I had already verified their faces.
But if that’s the case, I would have let them go for free… Milly is being nasty.
I composed myself and asked Milly about our plans going forward.
”Shall we take a break now and then do some more hunting?”
Annabella and the others returned after gathering Materials.
”Lady Miriallia, for now, we have enough skins from 27 swamp lizards. Should we continue hunting?”
”It’s still a bit lacking, isn’t it? You’d need about 5 hides to make a set of armor, so let’s go hunting a bit more.”
”I see. The vanguard group should receive Talia’s treatment during the break. For now, I’ll signal Lana and the others to join us.”
As I gave those instructions, Annabella and the others started preparing the signal smoke.
If it’s someone with good eyesight like Manon or Beatrice, they shouldn’t miss it.
We need to advance while looking for today’s campsite from now on.
I want to set up the base at a distance that’s neither too close nor too far.
If we place it too far apart, it wouldn’t be meaningful if something happened and we couldn’t support each other, so I want to consider switching out members during the break.
”Alright. We’ll take a break until Lana and the others arrive, so let’s have a simple meal.”
I took out some portable food, dried meat and hardtack, from the bag attached to my belt, and munched on them while quenching my throat with the water from my leather pouch.
Annabella and the others also started taking out their portable rations and began to eat.
After a while, Lana’s carriage joined us.
”Sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Kent. Are you still planning to hunt?”
Lana, who had descended from the carriage, asked about the plans moving forward.
Looking at Talia, she seemed a bit worn out, having used quite a bit of magical power with Healing Magic, so let’s have her take a break in exchange for Lana.
Also, it seems that Lina wasn’t used to casting ice-type magic, so she consumed more magic power than usual, and since I’m almost out of magic too, I plan to have Manon step in.
That means, Beatrice is the only one guarding the carriage, but given her appearance as an adorable succubus, she seems unexpectedly strong, so unless we get surrounded by a huge crowd, our camp shouldn’t be destroyed.
I instructed the members to switch out.
”Talia and Lina, you will stay behind, and Lana and Manon, you will replace them in the hunting group, and then Beatrice”
”Okay! Bea just needs to protect the carriage and TalTal and Linny from monsters, right?”
”You understand it well. As expected of a 26-year-old grown woman.”
When I patted Beatrice’s head, she squealed in delight.
Once the switch was completed and everyone had a simple meal, we decided to continue upstream along the river.
* * *
After about 30 minutes of traveling upstream along the river from where we parted with the carriage, we found a somewhat spacious area with what looked like a watering hole.
When I looked closely at the surface of the water, I noticed it was emitting what seemed to be steam.
”Could it be a hot spring?”
I cautiously put my hand into the steaming pool.
It’s warm, around 38 to 40 degrees, just the right temperature.
”Perfect temperature. I can take a long bath.”
The presence of a hot spring quickly made this pond a top candidate for our campsite, and I had Manon and Milly use Detection around it.
As expected, many swamp lizards (Berglizards) were lounging around, enjoying the warm spot.
I received reports from Manon that there are about 50 of them, in addition to the more than double the number of enemies we defeated earlier, and some “Forest Lizards” that are more specialized for life on land mixed in.
”That’s quite a lot. Should we lure them out and take care of them a few at a time?”
I asked Milly who was next to me after returning from reconnaissance.
”Yeah, it would be tough to handle 50 all at once, even if I’m here, so it’s safer to lure out about ten at a time.”
”Sir Kent, leave the luring to me-nya. If they get hit by my poison arrows, they’ll have no choice but to come towards me-nya.”
It seems Manon will be in charge of luring them, and I felt a little sorry for the monsters that would be sniped by her.
However, since there’s no one better at luring than Manon, I decided to trust her with it.
”Alright, let’s wrap things up after we hunt these 50 today. Let’s do our best!”
””””Woooh!””””
The Vanguard group cheered.
”Okay, time to lure them out-nya.”
Saying that, Manon climbed a nearby tree and cleared some branches to secure her line of sight.
”I’ve spotted a group of about ten in the far left. I’ll injure the lead one and draw them over-nya.”
As Manon pulled back her bowstring tightly and released, the arrow traced a parabola and disappeared into the grassy area about a hundred meters ahead.
Before long, the grass rustled, and a Forest Lizard with an arrow embedded in its forehead was charging toward us at an incredible speed.
About ten Swamp Lizards were trailing behind it.
The lure was successful.
”They’re coming! The Forest Lizard is fast, so don’t let your guard down. Other than that, it’s not much different from the Swamp Lizard.”
The vanguard team nodded in response to Milly’s warning.
”That Forest Lizard is the one I got!”
With that declaration, Feria turned towards the Forest Lizard and began her attack.
However, Feria’s axe swung down and struck the ground uselessly.
Though she swung the axe in her other hand horizontally, it also cut through nothing as it couldn’t keep up with the speed of the Forest Lizard.
”Huh? This Forest Lizard is fast! How is it 3 times faster even though it’s not red?”
What?
Is this Grimoire suggesting that the red ones are fast too?
It seems that red horned ones can move 3 times faster universally in any world.
However, the current enemy isn’t red at all, and I want to believe it’s just quick.
As the Forest Lizard dodged Feria’s attacks with its speed and agility, a large axe swung down from behind.
Distracted by Feria, the Forest Lizard’s body was cleaved in 2.
”Ah, Ines! That’s terrible! I said the Forest Lizard was mine!”
”I thought I might hit it since it was distracted by you, Ms. Feria, and I swung my axe down. It hit perfectly.”
Thanks to Ines’s support, Feria defeated the Forest Lizard and, while complaining, began to search for her next weapon.
On the other hand, Annabella was struggling with a swamp lizard (Berglizard) that had strong traits against strikes, using a mace.
While deflecting its tail attacks with her shield, she was attempting to land a heavy blow to its head, but it seemed like she wasn’t getting through.
I approached the vanguard to follow Annabella.
Milly also stepped out to the vanguard to support me.
”Manon! Please support Lana in the rearguard!”
”Understood-nya”
To launch a full attack, I stood alongside Annabella in the vanguard.
”Annabella, I’ll injure the swamp lizard (Berglizard) with my spear, so please deliver the finishing blow.”
I handed my spare steel sword to Annabella.
”Sir Kent, it’s dangerous in the vanguard, so please wait back here.”
Although Annabella pleaded with me to step back after receiving the sword, Milly had also joined the vanguard, so I conveyed that we were going to eliminate it all at once.
”Understood. Then, I’ll deliver the finishing blow as Sir Kent instructed.”
”Alright, let’s go for the one we were just fighting.”
I slashed the side of the swamp lizard (Berglizard) with my spear, and black particle-like mist began to leak out from the wound.
”Annabella! I leave the processing to you.”
”Yes, leave it to me.”
And, 30 minutes later, there were no swamp lizards (Berglizards) moving around.
After that, we continued to lure out and eliminate groups of about ten creatures multiple times, successfully destroying the swarm of swamp lizards (Berglizards) that had been hanging around the hot spring.
To prevent new swarms from invading, we spread a chemical around that emits a smell the swamp lizards (Berglizards) dislike.
At that point, Lina and the others regrouped and started preparing to camp.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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