Volume 13 Chapter 22 Kent’s Growth
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
*Kent’s Perspective
”Milly, I’ve got this Lava Hippo (Lavahippo). Leave it to me.”
I draw my sword from my hip and aim for the Lava Hippo’s (Lavahippo) rear as it lunges at Milly’s back.
Vaaaarrrrgh!
The Lava Hippo (Lavahippo) thrashes in pain, trying to kick me away with its hind legs, but I nimbly dodge and quickly pull out Elitzina, unloading a round into its foot.
My marksmanship, now at a high Gunsmith level, hits the mark, stopping the Lava Hippo’s (Lavahippo) Sudden Rush in its tracks.
”Too slow. Figures, for a C-Ranker.”
I approach the immobilized Lava Hippo (Lavahippo) and put a bullet through its vital spot──the head.
The Lava Hippo (Lavahippo) shudders, then quickly turns back into Materials and its base form, lifeless.
”Kent, you’ve gotten stronger too. To take down a Master-class monster so easily…”
Milly, engaged with another monster, is impressed by my skill.
”Milly, should I back you up? Fireball (Fireball) or Fire Arrow (Fire Arrow)?”
”Leave it to Kent.”
Milly and the others are in combat with a horde of a new type of monster named the Jaegergli Chestnut.
The Jaegergli Chestnut is a chestnut that has accumulated mana and turned into a monster, essentially a Yegargri that acts autonomously and shoots painful, toxic needles.
The Jaegergli Chestnut is weak to fire attacks; once burned or roasted, its outer shell comes off, and its insides spill out, making it easier to defeat, as the encyclopedia describes.
So, I decided to attack with fire attribute magic.
”Alright! Here we go. Flames in my left hand! Flames in my right! Fuse the two mana together! Emerge as a new fire and incinerate the enemy! ‘Gigantic Fireball’!”
I conjured a fireball in each hand without a chant, completing the combination magic.
I unleashed a colossal fireball, nearly ten times the usual size, toward the cluster of the Jaegergli Chestnut.
*BOOOOM!*
When the gigantic fireball struck the group of Jaegergli Chestnut, the explosion and intense heat scorched their tough outer skins, making the insides pop out with a crackling sound.
The exposed nuts flew out, and Milly, along with the vanguard group──Feria, Aurelia, Ines, and Annabella──pounced on them.
Shorn of their hard shells, the Jaegergli Chestnut quickly split open, turning into materials and the core chestnuts.
”Even as an A-ranked collective, they’re such bland foes. I think I’ll save the chestnut cores for a snack later.”
Thanks to Instructor Milly’s Spartan training during this expedition, my abilities were surpassing even the peak I reached when I defeated Orphée Bleu.
While I hadn’t reclaimed the [Hero] title yet, I had unlocked a staggering number of upper-tier jobs starting from 7 lower-level combat roles──the count was skyrocketing.
Defeating Orphée Bleu also granted me a cheat’s worth of action experience in the Hunting Ground, boosting the growth of not just my main job, but also my secondary ones significantly. I amassed a wealth of Skill points, filling out my combat skills and all other skill categories.
So yeah, I can honestly say I was becoming nearly as strong as Milly, a true Monster Hunter!
”Phew, thanks, Kent. You really saved me there. I have to admit, you’ve gotten a lot stronger since we took our hunting seriously. You’re practically a different person from the time of the Beast King martial arts tournament. Looks like it’s time for some new gear, too.”
”And let’s not forget about Elder Sistermagic. You’ve got to boost your magic skills, or else Master Flamil’s going to be writing you another new structure.”
Lina, who was there as backup, keeps reminding me that I should upgrade my magic skills, too.
If I ask Flamil, he can even recreate the lost magic that was once thought to be gone forever.
That would massively increase the spells I can use.
”When we get back to the base, I’ll definitely ask Flamil again. My magic power has grown quite a bit, after all. I should finally be able to learn some advanced-level lost magic soon.”
I’m someone who can achieve anything if I set my mind to it, and my confidence has helped me grow.
Until now, I relied on Milly and the others, but I’m becoming strong enough to stand on equal footing with them.
”Lord Kent!! A horde of monsters is heading this way again!”
Aurelia sounded the alarm when she spotted a new group approaching.
Even though the hunting efforts had rapidly reduced the monster population in the southeast, they were still appearing at an unusually high frequency.
”We’ve got Arachne, Phantom Knights, and even a Phantom Carriage! These are rare monsters! Plus, there are several Edge Shell Armadillos nearby, too!”
The group of monsters Aurelia discovered were said to be extremely rare, with very few reported defeats, despite the sightings.
They’re generally around A-rank in strength, but they tend to flee when they spot Monster Hunters, making them tough to defeat.
”Alright, we won’t let them escape. Lina, let’s use our magic to block their path. Milly and the others, get in close for melee combat! Talia, provide support magic for everyone! These monsters are fast, so we have to strike decisively!”
””””Understood!””””
Everyone moved into combat formation the moment I gave the order.
I decided to cast a combination magic with Lina.
”Earth in the Left! Earth in the Right! Fuse these two mana! Become a new earthen wall, and seal our foes! ‘Grand Wall’!”
Lina chanted the same combination magic and unleashed the spell behind the enemy ranks.
And then, a ten-meter-tall wall of earth cut off their escape route.
The enemy horde had been trying to flee, but they quickly realized their retreat was blocked by the earthen wall, and it seemed they steeled themselves for a fight.
To protect the 3 leaders of the group, the Edge Shell Armadillos, the main force, rolled towards Milly’s close-range group, their blades out, preventing them from getting close.
”Milly, Lina and I will take care of the Edge Shell Armadillos with magic. You guys focus on attacking the 3 leaders.”
”Got it, Kent. We’re counting on your backup.”
Milly entrusted our backs to us and charged toward the Arachne, a monster that was a fusion of a spider and a woman.
Aurelia had already drawn her sword and was attacking the Phantom Knight, seemingly challenging him to a one-on-one duel.
And then, Annabella, Ines, and Feria began their aerial and ground assault on the Phantom Carriage.
”Leave it to us. Lina, ice magic is effective against the Edge Shell Armadillos, right?”
”Yes. If their tough skin and blades freeze, they’re useless.”
”Alright. I’ll close the distance a little more. Talia, stick close to me. Don’t you dare leave my side.”
”Y-Yes!”
Moving closer to the fray, ready to back up the melee fighters.
Talia stays close.
If I left her behind, she couldn’t cover our backs.
As we neared the chaos, the Edge Shell Armadillos──they spotted us.
Started rolling right toward us.
I didn’t panic.
Cool as ice, I cast Ice Bullet with No Chant.
*Five* Ice Bullets, fired in rapid succession at the lead Edge Shell Armadillo.
The first Edge Shell Armadillo didn’t stand a chance.
Frozen solid, shattered into a million icy pieces.
Watching, Lina followed suit, blasting another Edge Shell Armadillo with Ice Bullet.
”Ugh, my fingers are freezing! That’s why I hate ice magic. Kent, you *will* heal me if my hands get chapped, okay?”
”Yeah, yeah. I’ll fix you right up with healing magic. Now hurry up and ice those Armadillos.”
I ruffled Lina’s hair as she blew on her icy fingers, grumbling.
Enraged by their fallen comrade, the rest of the Edge Shell Armadillos rolled towards us, all at once.
I unleashed a barrage of Ice Bullets, freezing them one after another.
Lina, warming her fingers with her breath, followed my lead.
We froze every last Edge Shell Armadillo.
”Lina, you holding up alright on mana?”
”Hmm… getting a little tight. Guess I’ll have to get some from Talia.”
And with that, Lina planted a kiss on Talia’s lips.
Mana Transfer isn’t usually done mouth-to-mouth, but… seems like Lina enjoys it that way.
Talia looked surprised, but she reluctantly shared her mana.
”Phew, that’s about 80% restored, thanks to Talia’s sweet magic.”
”You’re sapping a bit too much, you know. My magic is essential for maintaining the party’s combat strength.”
”If you’re running dry, I can share mine. I can manage on my own, after all.”
I shoot Talia a meaningful glance.
Just from that look, she understands the weight of my words.
”Humph, this is the Hunting Ground, Sir Kent. Please refrain from self-sufficient magic use.”
”Right. Should be more careful. Remember what happened last time when you let Elder Sister Milly drain you?”
”Got it. I’m a quick learner. I’ll make sure to properly replenish my magic after we get back to base.”
I recall the last hunt when my magic was depleted, and during a break, I was regenerating my magic with Talia in the woods (s*x) ── only to be caught by Milly, who made me eat dirt and nearly got me killed by tossing me into a swarm of meteor hornets.
Lately, Milly’s been in a punishment mode where any fooling around during a hunt leads to severe consequences, so I’ve learned to keep work and play strictly separate.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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