Chapter 671 - First Story: Miana's Training
It was about ten days after the new year began.
The Royal Capital group returned, and we had a New Year's party at the Ghost Mansion.
While I was talking with Beatrix and Bonnie about the plan to hunt bears and wolves in February, Miana asked to let her listen. Until now, she hadn't been interested in monster extermination. Rare things do happen.
"Ah, I see. You want to learn magic, don't you?"
Beatrix said teasingly.
"Yeah. Actually."
Ho ho. That's quite commendable. Eleanor-sama will cry with joy.
Miana just turned eighteen the other day. She must have had some thoughts upon reaching her birthday. There must have been a grand celebration at the palace. In terms of learning magic, she's in her prime. There's no time like the present.
"Miana, if I recall, you were mid-level in fire and wind, and basic in ice, right?"
Actually, even that is quite impressive.
"Yeah."
"Do you want to learn water? Or earth?"
"Hmm, maybe high-level fire."
This is quite a high ambition. You can't learn it just by baking bread or sweets.
"Are you going to do monster extermination?"
Beatrix is asking. From her usual behavior, it's just in case since she doesn't seem like she'd do it. In fact, if you want to learn magic while maintaining your daily life, monster extermination is the quickest way.
"You're going to hunt bears and wolves, aren't you?"
"We are, but you can't go up to high-level with bears or wolves."
"What's good? Mice?"
Why drop the rank? It'll take decades.
"Let's see, C-rank, I guess. If you defeat two or three, you might be able to promote in one go."
"C-rank, like bears?"
"Bears are E-rank. Like Cerberus. They aren't around here."
"Ce-Cerberus..."
Honestly, it's not an opponent a mid-level mage can match. If she goes with experienced people, has them half-kill a few, and is allowed to deliver the finishing blow, she might manage.
"Well, it's not an easy opponent, so steadily increasing the number of mid-level spells you can use and your magic control capability..."
"I understand. Cerberus, right? Where are they?"
"Eh?"
The three of us stared intently at Miana's face.
Apparently, there's a reason. It was the day before Miana's birthday celebration.
The day before the Royal Palace birthday party. A celebration was held with only the King's family. At that time, as usual, she brought a new creation. Then, as the results of this past year, she told them about the hardships of being a shopkeeper daily. Even if she called it hardship stories, she's living happily every day. She seems to have talked in a bright tone.
"It's nice, Big Sister looks like she's having fun."
The younger brother, in other words, the Second Prince, accidentally let it slip. He was nudged by the elbow by the First Prince next to him, but he's the youngest. Selfishness is to be expected. He started saying it's definitely easier than the training he does daily. It's unfair.
Miana only told hardship stories. It's not just fun things. In fact, Miana leaves the Ghost Mansion with Lyudmila every day at a time close to dawn and bakes bread at Store No. 4. She makes breakfast for the rough old men. When breakfast time is over, she makes lunch boxes with the mothers of the lunch box service. In the afternoon, she washes the dirty work clothes entrusted by the old men. In summer, everyone sweats like a waterfall, so it really smells. She handles that without making a displeased face. She washes them clean, dries them, and hands them over properly folded by the next day. Even on days that fall on holidays, she has almost never skipped making bread or sweets. And yet, as the manager of Store No. 4, she collects, buys, and sells medicinal herbs. she sells daily necessities and clothes other than Green Marble entrusted by the shops in Nakanohara. She also properly calculates expenses and sales. Her work is truly diverse. I certainly couldn't do it. And yet, she was told it looked fun by a young master before his coming-of-age. Miana herself must be having fun. However, being envied is a little different.
On the other hand, the younger brother must have accidentally complained about his daily studies and sword and magic practice. Even the current King and the King's brother were crying daily while having their butts hit with a staff by the Headmistress. It must be strict. Besides, complaining is surely in the blood. It can't be helped.
Miana herself, of course, had things she wanted to say, but after all, she's the big sister. She sympathized with the younger brother's situation and comforted him, saying it would surely be fun once he became an adult. Kind.
However, two people didn't miss that. Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama. It's naive to be envied by a younger brother. They started saying it concerns the dignity of the older sister. The King and Henry-sama tried to mediate, but it's a family of henpecked husbands. They were apparently dismissed by the gazes of their respective wives.
The younger brother, never thinking it would turn into such a story, properly apologized, but there's no way the two former soldiers would forgive him.
Thus, Miana was given homework to work on training to learn some new magic as quickly as possible.
By the way, Roberts-sama and Gladys-sama were just smiling and watching the interaction. They definitely ran away.
"It might be a little hard, but."
"It's more than a little hard. Are Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama going to support you?"
"They said they'd cooperate only with transportation. Roberts-uncle and Gladys-sister are the same."
Ho ho. Gladys-sama is treated as 'sister' rather than 'aunt'. No, no, that's irrelevant.
"They said it's okay to have the Class of 175 help."
No matter how you look at it, it's a trap. We are clearly being caught along with her.
"But, any magic is fine, right? Why high-level?"
"Hmm, when baking sweets and when baking bread normally, the temperature is slightly different. It's difficult to produce that difference with Fire Ball. When I asked Grandmother, she said it's possible once I reach high-level. Since I'm going to be given homework anyway, I thought I might as well."
Um, I think the reason she was given homework this time is exactly that kind of thing.
That said, she's motivated herself. If the Henry Party takes care of the transportation, the entire White Island becomes the target area. Fortunately, since hunting bears and wolves is next month, there's time. I decided to invite Lyudmila, who has entered the agricultural off-season, and support her. The combat power is Miana, Beatrix, Beowulf, Bonnie, Lyudmila, and me. If the Henry Party is involved in transportation, Will can also participate. We can manage two or three C-ranks somehow. Miana's lineage is good. Eleanor-sama is a great mage, as everyone knows, and the King is surely a high-level mage. Magdalena-sama can also use magic. The rest is up to her, so if she works hard, even if high-level is no good, she can manage at least a second mid-level spell.
The problem is where and what to hunt, but there are leads.
One is the Fire Dragon's volcano. We defeated the Demon Race, but we haven't hunted all the magical beasts. We can have the Fire Dragon withdraw into the crater and just wander around ourselves, and they'll come out on their own. We can lure them out while riding in the bowl, and once they come out, we can hide our forms and attack. It'll be fine if we talk to Finis through Aira. Of course, since the Princess is participating, it can be through diplomatic routes.
The second is the two-head extermination in Northern Gram. The plan to attack them while they're waking up from hibernation should be ongoing, and they hibernate in large groups, so it's efficient.
"Shall we do Kraken extermination?"
Lyudmila said. Lyudmila is the manager of Store No. 5 which recently opened on Vectis Island. Though, in reality, she's mostly doing farming, and the shop itself is run by the maid of the Vectis family who is a co-manager. Since there are magic water related facilities and ships gather from surrounding countries, many islanders are involved, including business with sailors. A good thing.
According to her, Kraken is in season during the relatively calm winter, and hunting one every year provides a good income for the winter. Lyudmila says she doesn't need the income, she just wants to be allowed to participate. However, there is a major problem.
"Can you enter the island?"
"It's fine as long as we don't land, right?"
Lyudmila solved it easily.
I see. The opponent is a sea monster. We just need to not go out of the sky above the inlet where the Kraken is kept. Since there are now two bowl users, we can go for any number of hours by taking turns without flying over the land.
"If possible, I'd like it to be within the country."
Miana says she doesn't want to use diplomatic routes.
However, within the country...
"Ah, there's a good place. Within the country. And a place Eleanor-sama and Magdalena-sama will definitely be convinced by. You probably don't even need to learn magic."
"Is there such a place in Sertoria?"
Miana bit at Beatrix's words that she might not need to learn magic. Naive, that kind of thing is usually harsh.
"Look, the Earth Dragon's cave. That's the training ground for the Paratroop Jaegers, right? I've wanted to challenge it once. I'm turning twenty-four this year, so I have to put some spirit into it or I might not reach ultra-high-level."
Before I knew it, hasn't it become Beatrix's training?
"That place is difficult—"
Actually, Bonnie and Will participated in the inspection of the construction site. A perk of being directly under Eleanor-sama. Unfortunately, they don't know after completion. However, they had heard the general concept and the results of the training so far.
"Ten people participate at a time, but nearly half are judged as wiped out—"
That's outrageous. It seems like the goal is to fail them.
According to Bonnie, there are four labyrinths with various elaborate designs, just like the Demon Lord's cave, and once you break through them, you reach the final floor, the fifth layer. Apparently, there has been no case of all ten people reaching the final floor together. Those who can reach the final floor pass and receive a Silver Earth Dragon Badge. Those who can clear the final floor gain the qualification to receive a Large White Silver Earth Dragon Badge. Whether they actually receive it seems to be the result of a consultation with the Dragonewt who serves as the instructor on the final floor. I never thought even Dragonewts were involved.
The Paratroop Jaegers are given priority to challenge it, and I've heard that Lewis-san won the large badge. In the first place, Lewis-san, along with the captains of the Paratroop Jaegers from various regions, was apparently involved in the design of the training ground. Of course, he probably didn't know the final form, but even though other captains challenged it, only Lewis-san apparently passed. That's how difficult it must be.
"But, you can challenge it up to five times even if you fail. And, you get a participation award just for challenging it—"
"Participation award?"
I can't help but ask. Is there a training where you get a participation award?
It's apparently a Bronze Badge with the Earth Dragon's face carved on the front.
"The results are reported to the King at the Royal Palace, and at that time, everyone who participated gets one—"
"Won't the Earth Dragon get angry if you do that?"
It feels a bit cheap.
"Um, it seems it was originally the Earth Dragon's idea. He said just having the courage to challenge it knowing it's the Earth Dragon's cave is enough. He said to show this off to the surroundings and brag. Even if you challenge it five times and end with five badges, you get a cash reward as a prize for fighting bravely."
I don't know what to say. The Earth Dragon has also become quite worldly. No, he was greedy for money from the start. Now he might have developed a desire for fame.
"Then, shall we also work hard aiming for the participation award? Even that is worth it."
"I understand. I'll do it."
Miana nodded, and her participation was decided. The participants are Miana, Beatrix, Beowulf, Will, Bonnie, Lyudmila, and me. Seven people. Three are missing.
"Let's ask Lewis-san for support."
As expected of Beatrix. No oversights.
"Those who passed aren't allowed—"
Well, that's probably true.
"Considering the purpose this time, it's better if no Royal Army soldiers other than Beowulf participate."
Will says that if we're going to do it, it's better to achieve something that will surprise the younger brother.
Hasn't the purpose already changed? Or was she told something by Eleanor-sama?
"Yeah. The Class of 175 is good."
Miana also said, and it was decided that only we would go.
In that case, it's the Class of 175 and the Associate Class of 175.
When I called out to Mary and Matilda, they said they'd go. One more person.
Violet... the Earth Dragon will get angry. Fiona, hmm, it's not Demon Lord related. Flora is impossible at this time because of Glory's wintering. That leaves Keira.
"T-The Earth Dragon!"
When I talked to Keira, she was greatly surprised. It can't be helped, I'll leave it to Beatrix.
"Yeah, he's cranky, but interesting."
"Won't someone like me be killed if I go to see him?"
"It's fine. He hates humans to begin with. If Keira is going to be killed, we would have been killed long ago."
"Hmm. What should I do?"
"Since it's a training ground, I don't think you'll die even if you fail."
"I see, then, I'll go."
"Alright, it's decided."
The negotiation went well, and her participation was decided.
"I'm sorry, Keira. Because of me. I'll give everyone a thank-you gift later."
"It's fine, no need for a gift. I'm always being helped by Miana."
"But, that's mutual, isn't it?"
"Is it?"
"Yes. How hard it would have been without you."
"Really?"
"Really."
"I see, ehehe."
It's probably true. After all, Keira is an old-man-killer in a different sense from Beatrix. Basically, she's just sitting in a chair and talking with the old men, but according to Beowulf, the fact that a peaceful atmosphere flows despite many rough types is Keira's contribution. The fact that Miana, who is very shy, has become better at handling customers is also because Keira supports her.
Anyway, ten people are gathered.
When Miana contacted the Royal Palace, she got the OK, and the next day, they immediately flew a bowl for transportation. Even Magdalena-sama is on board.
"I heard you're going to challenge the Earth Dragon's training ground. That's truly like royalty."
"Because everyone is supporting me."
"Good luck. I'll be waiting with expectations for you to win the Silver Badge."
The hurdle has risen quite a bit again.
"Hey, is the Henry Party going too?"
Beatrix is asking.
"Of course. Since Miana is participating. We'll support you properly."
At Eleanor-sama's words, Henry-sama and Magdalena-sama are nodding with smiles.
"Then, are you going to bet on Miana winning the Silver Badge?"
Um, everyone. If you look away, Miana will be pitiful.