Chapter 82 · The Hunting Lesson
Leiya had only tossed out a casual remark about humor, but to her misfortune, the red-haired youth took it as an invitation.
He talked nonstop the entire way.
By the time he launched into his seventh painfully awkward joke, Leiya finally couldn't hold it in anymore.
"Young Master Brian," she said politely, "perhaps you should rest a little. You'll need your strength once the hunt begins."
"—Huh? Ah?"
Brian's grin froze in place.
"But Lady Leiya, I still have about twenty jokes left to tell~"
"…Then I must have misunderstood."
Leiya closed her eyes calmly.
"Your sense of humor is on par with my wooden guard over here."
---
The convoy continued westward, eventually arriving at the military's exclusive hunting grounds.
The moment the carriages stopped, Frieren jumped down excitedly. Gazing at the vast plains and distant forest, she let out a long breath.
"It's been ages since I last hunted monsters. Today, I'm definitely going to show you what I can do!"
Zannie, her red hair gleaming in the sunlight, clenched her fist eagerly.
"Yes! This is perfect—now I finally get to see the true strength of Master Flamme's disciple!"
Yuna, with her blue hair gently swaying, spoke with quiet concern.
"Still, let's be careful. Even with the military guarding the perimeter, the monsters inside this hunting ground aren't something to take lightly."
Camilla nervously twirled a strand of her yellow hair, worry written all over her face.
"Frieren… just be careful, okay? Please don't cause another explosion like last time."
"—Relax!"
Frieren patted her storage pouch confidently.
"I've already used up all the mucus. Even if something explodes, it'll be something else!"
"…I see."
That answer somehow made things feel less reassuring.
Camilla forced a smile, but a sense of unease crept into her heart.
It seemed today wouldn't be peaceful either.
The young lords and ladies gathered at the edge of the hunting grounds, instinctively separating by gender into two neat lines.
—BOOM!
A massive sphere suddenly crashed down from the sky, slamming into the ground and blasting out a huge crater!
"—An airstrike?!"
Elias didn't move.
If this were an airstrike…
it was far too inaccurate.
And that thing—no.
The mana felt wrong.
It wasn't a sphere.
It was… a person?
"Good morning, young masters and ladies!"
The "sphere" suddenly extended limbs and slowly stood upright before everyone's eyes.
A rotund body, its surface covered in some kind of hardened shell, looked absurdly sturdy.
The man rolled his thick neck, his oval head sweeping across the crowd.
"Why do you all look so shocked again? It's been years already—haven't you gotten used to Instructor Thomas's explosive entrances by now?"
Everyone: (ᇂ_ᇂ|||)
"Ah~ how heartbreaking~"
"The students I nurtured with love simply can't appreciate my art~"
Thomas suddenly paused mid-sentence.
His round eyes widened.
"Y–You… why are you here?!"
He immediately rolled over toward Leiya.
After stopping in front of her, he scanned her up and down.
"I'm not mistaken, am I?"
"You're really… Lady Leiya?"
Leiya had expected this reaction. She simply smiled and nodded.
"It's been a while, Instructor Thomas. Have you been well?"
"—Well! Of course I've been well!"
"General Theodore assigned me to guard the hunting grounds and teach the young masters and ladies."
"Such a cushy job—who would complain?"
"But… Lady Leiya, your health—are you truly fit to attend a hunting lesson?"
Leiya gave a faint, bleak smile.
"My body is the same as always."
"But Father has approved my participation this time, because he arranged for a sufficiently powerful guard."
"Isn't that right, Elias?"
Following Leiya's pointed, mocking gaze, Thomas finally turned toward the silent guard beside her.
He had sensed it earlier—
An overwhelming surge of mana, stronger than his own by at least a margin, and not concealed in the slightest.
"So that's how it is."
"Since this is General Theodore's order, I won't question it further."
"But there are a few things I must make clear."
Thomas rolled forward, his massive frame instantly dominating Elias's field of vision.
The two locked eyes.
The air tightened, as if sparks might fly.
"Elias, was it?"
"Your mana is indeed formidable. But guarding Lady Leiya requires absolute caution."
"If she suffers even the slightest injury during this hunt, I, Thomas, will accept partial responsibility."
"And I will personally report your failure of duty as her guard to the General."
"If you wish to remain in the manor, then watch yourself carefully."
"Do not let the lady come to harm."
"—Understood."
Elias replied calmly.
So this was the plan.
At this point, the scheme had been laid bare—
Use Leiya's injury to fabricate Elias's failure, then expel him from the manor.
Elias almost laughed.
Anyone he intends to kill—
even if they beg on their knees—will not survive.
Anyone he intends to protect—
even if they seek death themselves—will not be harmed in the slightest.
Such shallow plotting…
In front of him, it was laughably insignificant.
"All right!"
Thomas rolled back into position and raised his voice.
"According to today's curriculum, you'll be forming teams and hunting freely!"
"The team that obtains the most valuable materials will receive a rare magic artifact as a reward!"
"—A rare magic artifact?!"
Frieren's eyes instantly lit up.
"Hey! Did you hear that?!"
"A rare magic artifact!"
"We have to give it our all!"
"—Quiet!"
Thomas barked sternly.
"I'll say this again—know your limits. No reward is worth your life!"
"If danger arises, immediately fire a signal flare! The military will ensure your safety!"
The moment he finished speaking, Brian hurried forward, tail practically wagging, and rushed to Leiya's side.
"Lady Leiya! Let's form a team!"
"—Is that really all right?"
Leiya hesitated slightly.
"With my condition… I can only observe. I'll surely slow you down."
"—Not at all!"
"To have Lady Leiya personally witness my slaying of monsters would be the greatest honor of my life!"
—Clang!
Brian suddenly drew his sword and began swinging it at the air with dramatic flair.
In Elias's eyes, the boy's swordplay looked more like a street performance—
the fact that he wasn't injuring himself was already impressive.
"I, Brian, swear to sever all danger for the lady with this blade!"
"—Is that so."
Elias spoke flatly.
"Because from where I'm standing, when there's no danger… you are the biggest danger."
Brian: (งᵒ̌皿ᵒ̌)ง
"What did you say, you mangy guard?!"
"My sword doesn't have eyes!"
"—That's enough."
Leiya smiled faintly.
"Since you're so enthusiastic, let's team up."
"I'd like to see Young Master Brian's swordsmanship for myself."
Elias understood.
Any monster capable of harming her would be slain instantly by him.
But Brian—someone who could harm her—
was not someone Elias could simply eliminate.
It seemed…
The one hiding in the shadows was utterly determined to drive Elias out.
And this hunt—
was merely the opening move.