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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: The Hunting Festival
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To an Awakened One, Class and Rank are everything.
How high a Class one obtains.
How rare a Trait one awakens.
A single rank's difference could change one's entire life.
This was especially true because, unlike high-ranking Awakened Ones who were treated like quasi-nobles, low-ranking ones were often treated as mere tools.
But perhaps fortunately.
Or perhaps unfortunately.
It wasn't as if low-ranking Awakened Ones had no chance to become high-ranking.
Awakened Ones whose Class reached the level of [Master] would sometimes see their rank increase.
Of course, becoming a Master didn't guarantee a 'rank-up,' but rumors had long persisted that the younger and lower-ranked one was, the higher the chance of advancing.
This was why nobles consumed mana stones from a young age, trying to advance their Class as quickly as possible.
There were two problems.
One was that this method was only available to nobles who were filthy rich.
The other was Mana Contamination.
Mana stones, the source of a monster's power, were pure lumps of mana.
Numerous precedents had proven that no matter how much they were refined with purifying water, consuming too many in a short period would lead to ruin.
This was also why even wealthy nobles needed time to grow.
Nevertheless, those lacking both money and time devised a method to grow quickly: the Hunting Festival.
It was an event where entire domains would roam the Labyrinth to hunt monsters, much like how nobles in the ancient kingdom era used beaters to hunt beasts.
All to absorb a large amount of mana cheaply and quickly.
Of course, the Labyrinth was an otherworldly hellscape.
Unlike hunting grounds where one only had to be wary of beasts or assassins, this was a place where safety could not be guaranteed.
Participants dying or devolving into mutants from excessive mana intake was a given.
It was even common for entire domains to go missing....
Despite this, the Hunting Festival was always overflowing with participants, from commoners aspiring to become Awakened Ones to Awakened Ones wanting to raise their rank, and even nobles pushed out of succession battles.
In Odobaekryeong, power was everything.
For there were many who, if they did not risk their lives to become stronger, would inevitably be trampled and have everything taken from them.
"In approximately one hour, we will begin the [Charging Boar]☆ hunt."
"Participants, please equip your gear and come to the lobby."
"There are approximately 30 [Charging Boars☆]. Please be aware that…."
In that respect.
it was only natural that the Monster Ranch's Hunting Festival was popular.
As befitting the Kobold Leader tribe, who were born with the[Shepherd]☆ Class, they commanded hundreds of brood beasts.
In particular, the [Forest Spiders]☆, top-tier among 1-star monsters, were exceptionally skilled at capturing other monsters alive.
Thus, the festival participants simply had to deliver the final blow to the captured monsters without ever engaging in combat themselves.
Supremely safe.
And incredibly convenient.
The Monster Ranch's Hunting Festival was, in a word, the most ideal hunt.
"Tch, is it going to end without me catching a single one again?"
"I paid so much for the entry fee, so why are we only going after such small monster nests?"
"That noble over there got three... Damn it. I guess nobles get priority everywhere."
But nothing in the world is perfect.
No matter how safely the Monster Ranch's Hunting Festival was conducted....
No, the safer it was, the more the participants grumbled and complained.
To grow stronger.
Or to Awaken.
They had paid a fortune to join the Hunting Festival.
So it was disappointing to only be able to catch one or two monsters each.
No matter how many monster hordes they hunted, it was never enough to be divided generously among the more than one hundred participants.
"Can't we target a bigger nest?"
"The Calamity Princess is here anyway, so it shouldn't be a problem to go a little deeper, right?"
"You took our money, you'd better earn it!"
In that sense.
It was only natural that the participants began to protest in unison.
Some nobles, in particular, were openly using their family's prestige to demand they hurry the hunt.
But there were always exceptions.
Not all participants were so fervent about hunting.
"…Do you intend to just watch again today?"
"Well, just watching is starting to get a bit boring."
"In that case…."
"Should I gather the kids and hold a card tournament? If I offer vacation time as the prize, I bet everyone would participate eagerly."
"…."
"Ah, or maybe Pandora will invite me to tea again today."
In the dining hall on the upper floor of the Monster Ranch, which boasted the best view.
Watching the white-masked boy sipping juice by the window, the other guests wore expressions of exasperation.
On the first day of the Hunting Festival.
when the White-Masked Young Master didn't join the hunt, they had sneered, thinking he was just putting on airs and procrastinating.
But now, three days had passed, and they had hunted monsters more than ten times.
The White-Masked Young Master's behavior—never once joining the hunt and even letting his slaves rest—left everyone dumbfounded.
'Just how ridiculously rich is he….'
'Even if he's rolling in money, why join a Hunting Festival if you have no intention of hunting?'
'If he just came to watch, he wouldn't have needed to bring all those slaves.'
'Hmph. In the end, he's just an empty shell without the courage to even fight a monster.'
Regardless of whether the others were exasperated or sneering.
as Dion leisurely chatted with Arsha, planning how to kill time for the day.
a voice was heard.
"May I have a word with you, White-Masked Young Master?"
In that moment.
the other guests in the dining hall were startled.
And for good reason. The one who approached Dion was an elderly Kobold Leader, a staff in one hand.
It was Ras Hara, the master of the Monster Ranch.
"Why?"
"If it's not an imposition, there are a few things I'd like to ask."
"What are you curious about?"
Despite the suddenness of the visit.
far from being flustered, Dion calmly permitted the questions, and Ras asked in a low voice.
"May I ask why you haven't participated in the hunt so far?"
"You're curious about the reason?"
"I am. If you are dissatisfied because our preparations were lacking…."
"It's not really that. It's just a personal matter."
"…Is that so?"
What kind of personal matter would make someone spend hundreds of millions just to watch?
Ras didn't press the issue.
He simply gazed at Dion for a moment before speaking again.
"If you're not satisfied with the current hunting grounds, we can move to another."
"Another place?"
"To the vicinity of the [Hunter's Forest]☆☆."
"Hmm, isn't it a bit dangerous to go that deep?"
Dion tilted his head slightly.
The difference in danger between a 2-star Labyrinth and a 1-star Labyrinth was like night and day.
Just being near one changed the number and level of monsters that appeared.
And Ras's next words were enough to make Dion tilt his head the other way.
"That's why I wish to confirm beforehand. In the event of an emergency, would we be able to borrow the Calamity Princess's power?"
"…Why are you asking me that?"
"You are close with her, are you not, Gongja?"
"We're neighbors, so we're not unacquainted, but I'm not close enough to speak for her."
"You're saying you're just neighbors?"
"Well, for now."
They might become closer later, but for now, they were just neighbors.
Watching the leisurely speaking Dion, Ras wore a strange expression.
Then, after glancing at the slaves, including Orr Kai who was gobbling down food behind the veiled Arsha.
he slowly nodded.
"…I see. It seems I've misunderstood something about you, Gongja."
"What did you misunderstand?"
"A small misunderstanding that you need not concern yourself with."
"Is that so?"
"If there's anything you need, please let me know at any time. As an apology for the misunderstanding, I'll do my best to accommodate you."
As if that concluded his business.
Ras Hara gave a slight bow and took his leave.
Watching his retreating back, Dion wore an intrigued expression.
"Isn't this interesting, Arsha?"
"Are you referring to how the master of the Monster Ranch was wary of you, Gongja?"
"To be precise, it wasn't me, but *us*. And he wasn't being wary, he was trying to keep us in check."
"But there's no reason for the master of the Monster Ranch to keep us in check, is there?"
"Maybe not for me, but there might be a reason for someone else, right?"
Arsha froze.
She had just realized who Dion meant by 'us.'
"…You're talking about the Calamity Princess."
"Yep."
"Then, the reason the Calamity Princess kept inviting you to tea, my lord…."
"It was a little strange, wasn't it?"
"…."
She never visited when they were back in the domain, even though they were direct neighbors.
But here at the Monster Ranch, she invited him to tea every single day.
Pointing this out nonchalantly, Dion sipped the rest of his juice and let out a soft chuckle.
If the Labyrinth was an otherworldly hellscape.
then the domain was a land rife with schemes.
A place where even a mere Hunting Festival or an ordinary tea time could become a political tool for someone.
"Anyway, she's an interesting one, that Pandora."
"…."
The boy chuckled, remarking how pitiful Ras was for misunderstanding that he was being pressured from two sides.
After watching him intently for a moment.
Arsha suddenly spoke.
"My lord, may I ask a presumptuous question?"
"What is it?"
"Was there a particular reason you kept accepting the Calamity Princess's invitations, knowing her intentions?"
"No, not really."
"Is that so?"
"Yep. If I had to give a reason, it's meeting Pandora herself."
"…."
"—Pandora will be my second wife, after all."
Not yet, perhaps.
But one day, she would be his.
So there was no harm in showing Pandora this small kindness.
Watching Dion speak leisurely as he patted the head of Orr Kai, who had brought him a large piece of meat.
Arsha could only nod her head in silence.
***
Was it because the unnecessary misunderstanding was cleared up?
Or was it because the participants' protests grew stronger?
From that day on, the Monster Ranch moved its hunting grounds to the vicinity of the [Hunter's Forest]☆☆.
The number and quality of monsters they encountered increased accordingly, and the brood beasts fighting on the front lines suffered greater losses, but....
at least the participants were satisfied with the increased amount of prey, and the Hara clan of the Monster Ranch didn't seem to mind the loss of their brood beasts.
They could lose dozens of Forest Spiders and still replenish their numbers by next year.
And so, with the majority satisfied, the Monster Ranch's Hunting Festival proceeded with great success.
Or so it seemed.
*BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!*
"G-G-Gongja-nim! Something terrible, terrible has happened!"
…After the fourth night had passed.
in the early dawn of what was now the fifth day.
until Naru, pale as a sheet, pounded on Dion's door with urgent news.
"The master of the Monster Ranch was murdered last night!"
"…!"
Arsha, who had opened the door dressed in a nightgown and robe, widened her eyes at his words.
"…Who on earth would do such a thing?"
"W-well, they say the Calamity Princess was at the scene of the murder…."
"…!
Arsha froze.
The idea that the madman who killed a domain lord in his own territory was the Calamity Princess was an unimaginable development.
But that was only for a moment.
She soon realized there was an even more serious problem.
"Wait, if the master of the Monster Ranch is dead… does that mean the Monster Ranch has no driver right now?"
"Uh, right?"
"…While the domain is in the middle of the Labyrinth?"
"Eh?"
Perhaps because he had only just grasped the implication.
Naru stood frozen with wide eyes, his mouth opening and closing like a goldfish.
the boy, who was sleepily sitting up in bed and yawning.
Dion spoke languidly.
"—It's finally starting."