Discovering that [Wolf Boy] was not Regif Habsderk was one thing, but hearing this discussion confirmed one thing.
“Then, are you saying the Marquisate of Ludvecia will dedicate all its resources to eliminating the Wolf Boy?”
“Of course. But only after our family’s ‘partners’ have secured enough magic stones to make it worth their while.”
Marchioness Ludvecia gestured toward Yurha.
“The risks are manageable under my control. I’m an S-rank Grand Mage, after all. And with [White Sword Saint] here as well, we can handle any threats that arise.”
Though she spoke optimistically, the gravity in Marchioness Ludvecia’s expression was unmistakable.
“Students of the Vermilion Bird Class, though this situation is dangerous, this is also an opportunity to learn about hunting monsters and witness the ‘reality of the field.'”
Her tone was firm, grounding the group in practicality.
Yet, I could sense the subtle exchanges of glances between Marchioness Ludvecia, Yurha, and Instructor Esta.
“…But this won’t be like the usual cases. Let’s ask [Cutting Wind]. In such monster outbreaks, how long do we typically leave the ‘boss monster’ untouched for magic stone farming?”
“On average, three days. Occasionally, as long as a month.”
“That long?”
Evangeline, visibly uneasy, furrowed her brows.
Given that monstrous beasts threatening to breach the fortress walls swarmed beyond the barriers, the idea of leaving them unchecked for nearly a month was understandably alarming.
“Yes, up to a month. For instance, during the [Blood Queen Ant] campaign, the boss was only subdued after abandoning its reproductive efforts and charging into traps set by the hunters. Until then, they relentlessly hunted swarms of [Blood Ants].”
“There were some casualties, but the revenue generated… was likely equivalent to the annual budget of the Ercy Empire, Princess.”
“…”
Caught between ideals and pragmatism, Evangeline began to waver.
Ideally, defeating the boss monster as soon as possible was the righteous course of action. But delaying for a month to farm monsters deliberately could secure funds equivalent to a nation’s yearly budget.
Monsters and their magic cores equated to profit.
Leaving them temporarily unchecked was a common practice everywhere.
“Still… isn’t it extremely risky? Like, remember ten years ago when…”
“Which is why we intend to expedite the subjugation this time.”
Marchioness Ludvecia shrugged with a hint of resignation.
“Much earlier than originally planned. Others might criticize, questioning, ‘Why rush the boss monster’s subjugation?’ But I can handle the backlash. I’ll use the excuse that I couldn’t stand to see beasts rampaging in the land where my family died.”
Her tone carried an undercurrent of defiance, a willingness to unleash hysteria if necessary to silence criticism.
“I do apologize to you, Miss Yurha. We had an agreement to transfer cores obtained from the beasts here to you.”
“Sometimes, contracts must be honored to the letter. Other times, compromises are made to suit the circumstances.”
Considering her affiliation with Silverstar, her words sounded like mere lip service.
Yet, from the way Yurha clasped her hands behind her back, subtly twitching her fingers, I could discern her genuine thoughts.
Perhaps Yurha was—
“I declare: The hunting ground restrictions will be lifted…”
“For three hours.”
“…Pardon?”
She aimed to curtail the time for farming magic stones during the monster outbreak as much as possible.
“Not three days but… three hours?”
Even Marchioness Ludvecia was stunned into silence, and Instructor Esta, too, flinched, staring at Yurha.
“What’s your angle, Yurha Silverstar?”
“Oh my, Miss Ludmila. Isn’t this what someone like [Cutting Wind] would want?”
“You’re acting uncharacteristically for a Silverstar.”
“Ah, what a pity. To make a noble choice for the greater good, yet still be met with distrust because of my usual image. Should I cry?”
Yurha feigned a distressed pout while chuckling softly.
“Phoenix, may I ask you something?”
“Why did Yurha Silverstar shorten the magic stone farming period to three hours? Is that correct?”
“…Could you elaborate?”
“Why, despite having the authority to prolong the restriction to maximize profits from magic stone farming, does she intend to lift it after only three hours, allowing general hunters to attempt the ‘boss subjugation’?”
While the procedures involving hunter regulations were intricate, this decision adhered to proper rights and protocols.
Yurha owned the land, while Marchioness Ludvecia managed it.
As a noble, the final authorization for controlling the hunting ground lay with Marchioness Ludvecia, but Yurha provided external advice before it was finalized.
“Am I correct in identifying the question you were about to ask me, Yurha Silverstar?”
“Hehehe… Then, do you know why I made that choice?”
“I can only speculate.”
I pointed toward the members of the old school building.
“Because you judged that the future value of making an ‘ethical choice’ outweighed the economic gains of farming magic stones.”
“…”
Simply put, “to appear favorable to us”.
“Image-making, in other words. Hah. It might seem less effective now that it’s been explicitly pointed out, though…”
Yurha raised both hands lightly in a gesture of concession.
“If three days of farming are cut short to three hours, the results will speak for themselves. You’ll see I made a choice you might have hoped for.”
“Tsk…”
Ludmila grimaced faintly.
Though they had relied on Yurha’s help to reach this training ground, had it been any other Silverstar, they might have had to beg or resort to grabbing them by the collar.
Both Ludmila and Yunia leaned toward idealism, prioritizing “subduing the boss to eliminate the threat first” over farming.
Evangeline was also inclined toward idealism but struggled due to the Amerkia Empire’s dire financial reality.
“Do you disapprove, Phoenix?”
Yurha approached me directly.
“If you prefer, we can proceed with three days of farming. If stability allows for extended farming afterward, we could continue indefinitely.”
“…”
“Shall we leave it to our junior’s decision?”
It was as if Yurha was smiling, urging me to decide, as if she would accept whatever time I proposed.
“What should we do?”
“The answer is simple.”
I raised three fingers toward Yurha.
“Three hours that feel like three days should suffice.”
“…What?”
“Why wait three days to watch the numbers grow slowly? Instead, let’s farm magic stones for three hours while making three days—or even thirty days’ worth—of monsters pour out during that time.”
“…”
Yurha raised an eyebrow, while the others gave me meaningful looks, trying to process what I had just said before anyone could voice how absurd it sounded.
“Excuse me, Student Phoenix?”
Marchioness Ludvecia, who had only interacted with me briefly, approached with a concerned expression.
“Consider this advice from someone who sees you as a son—it may sound like nagging, but such talk—”
“There is a way.”
I pointed beyond the wall.
“A way to make the beasts swarm madly, a way for the boss to exhaust its mana and produce monsters 3 times—no, 30 times—faster.”
“…What about the cores?”
Yurha’s gaze grew serious as she questioned me.
As someone with a personality most akin to mine, she skipped over feasibility and asked directly about the results and benefits.
“Each creature will possess at least minimal mana.”
“To what extent?”
“At the very least, D-rank. If the boss is not just A-rank but S-rank, possibly C-rank cores.”
“…And how do you propose to achieve this?”
“I’d love to demonstrate, but the moment I do, those monsters will start rampaging.”
I gestured toward the wall.
“Will you trust me and go all-out defense mode for three hours?”
Defense Mode.
Originally a gaming term, it had become commonly used in the hunter industry.
“You’re saying we won’t get any rest and will have to constantly fend off attacking enemies?”
“Exactly, Miss Yunia. Normally, defense mode involves holding the line with a fortress like this one, defending against monsters while an elite unit takes down a boss that endlessly spawns creatures.”
“…Show us this method.”
Marchioness Ludvecia raised her staff toward the wall.
“Even if your method causes a mad swarm of monsters, I’ll step in to respond.”
“You trust me?”
“Yes, I do.”
With a gentle smile, she nodded toward me. I reached out a hand toward the other side of the wall.
“Do you need support?”
Yunia stepped up behind me, asking softly. From the way she positioned herself, it was clear she was ready to steady me if necessary.
I nodded in acknowledgment.
Yunia grabbed me from behind.
As I began to channel my mana, she flinched slightly but then leaned closer, pressing her chest against me as she hugged me tightly.
Support.
To be honest, I didn’t need it “mana-wise”.
But having Yunia stabilizing me from behind was incredibly reassuring.
Thanks to her, I could unleash my power with peace of mind.
“I’ll now release a mana scent that those wolves over there will find irresistible.”
Mana Release.
This was different from my usual approach—a distinctly elemental mana.
“[Wind, heed my call!]”
As I invoked the spell, the mana I unleashed took form.
“[Mana Bread Creation.]”
What emerged was…
Mint Chocolate Bun.
“…?!”
“What is this smell…?”
“Smell? Evangeline, how could you call this amazing scent anything but delightful—”
Reactions varied, but the mana scent quickly spread beyond the fortress walls.
“They’re coming.”
Three. Two. One—
KIEEEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!
The monsters, having caught the scent of mint chocolate, let out screeches and began charging toward the fortress in a frenzy.
