by Funa
Coming all the way out into the remote depths of a forest did not guarantee finding valuable prey or rare herbs—not any more so than the edges of the forest might provide, anyway. Plus, lugging your spoils back out took an exceptional amount of time and effort. Hunting on the outskirts was simply much more efficient.
The elves’ aim on this venture was to study plants that were of “scholarly value,” research mineral distribution, and track local monster breeding rates. While the items they valued might be very important to the scholars, nothing they collected would be particularly profitable in terms of market value. This being the case, the Blue Meteors tried to leave all of the gathering work to the Crimson Vow, while they busied themselves with hunting beasts that would provide meat, horns, tusks, claws, and hides that would fetch a good price…all while ensuring their clients’ safety, of course. They weren’t that rotten, after all.
Even so, their initial hope of getting to use Mile’s storage as much as they liked was now nothing more than a pipe dream.
“Now then, we would like to begin our investigation,” said Aetelou.
The two lines of guards halted their steady procession and spread out beside her, walking more slowly now as they examined the plants on the ground. All of them stood up straight, not bending at the waist. If they spent the entire investigation hunched over, their bodies would not thank them.
They had already been shown sketches of the plants the elves were after, along with an explanation of what they were for. As for monsters and animals, all they needed to do was record that they had encountered them. Until a little while ago, the Blue Meteors had naturally taken the lead, but now they were spread out, so everyone had to concentrate on pushing away the tall grasses and tree branches that were right in front of them. Combining that with keeping one’s eyes to the ground was quite difficult, so their speed took a nosedive.
That said, there were no roads in a remote place like this, and their aim was investigation, not getting somewhere by a certain time. It was fine to proceed as slowly and carefully as necessary to make sure they did not miss a thing.
“Reina, two meters ahead at one o’ clock!”
“Oh, there it is! Miss Aetelou, over here!”
They couldn’t just pluck up anything that they found willy-nilly. Their gathering was pointless if the scholars could not record where the plants were growing, the amount of sun they were getting, what other plants grew beside them, and every other little detail. Even deciding whether to pick them at all or simply to leave them be was its own judgment call—one that, naturally, had to be left up to their employers.
“Pauline, 1.5 meters ahead at 1:30!”
“I see them. Miss Sharalir, they’re here!”
“Mavis, 2.3 meters ahead at twelve o’ clock!”
“Objective number three spotted!”
One after another the Crimson Vow uncovered the target plants, Mile giving coordinate directions based on the clockface directional method that they had established.
“This is amazing. Normally, we would probably have missed more than half of these, but at this rate we might find all of them,” said Aetelou. “We’ll have to readjust our margins for compensation here.”
Sharalir nodded in agreement.
At Aetelou’s words, Graf of the Blue Meteors exploded. “Are you serious?! This is weird, isn’t it?! If they were all off looking separately, I’d get it, like, okay, they have good eyes, or like, they’re just really good at searching. But how can Mile stand all off by herself and find all of the plants and direct them to them?! Sure, yeah, maybe she has great eyesight, but she can’t see through grass or trees!”
The two elves completely ignored him—as did the Crimson Vow.
“Say something already!” Graf shouted at the members of the Crimson Vow. He was already fed up with watching them find things one after another while the Meteors found nothing. However, before the Crimson Vow could react, Aetelou replied, “I thought the rule was that hunters were not supposed to make inquiries into others’ skills and abilities?”
“Er…”
There was no written record anywhere of such a rule, but most every hunter around had a tacit understanding of it. Breaking this rule was as good as declaring, “I’m gonna take advantage of you to line my pockets,” under which circumstances, the offender should not be surprised to have a sword drawn on them. Having had this pointed out to them, the Blue Meteors could not say another word.
Overhearing the whole exchange, the Crimson Vow could merely shrug.
Hm…
After a short while, Mile realized something.
“Umm, Miss Aetelou. I’ve just realized something about our number two objective, the Lieelen grasses.”
Naturally, Mile was searching for the target plants using her surveillance magic, a skill that had become more and more advanced since the first time she had used it. The very first version had been a voice guidance system that made Mile feel like she was talking to a car GPS. A scant few seconds later, she had upgraded to the second generation, the PPI (Plan Position Indicator) scope system. In this system, she utilized a 360-degree revolving grid radar screen, the likes of which you often see in war movies or anime.
What Mile was now using was her third-generation surveillance magic, which oscillated in all directions from the center of the screen in order to detect its targets—rather like an active sonar system. It would analyze the targets and mark them with an arrow, circle, or triangle. These statistics were integrated with her normal vision, projected directly onto her retinas.
Of course, this system had been further customized for the current job. All their objectives were highlighted with a red blinking light. Plants, animals, and minerals…
“Oh? What is it?”
Lieelen grass, which was used in specialized magic potions, did not grow properly under human cultivation. It wilted and died, and even if it survived, turned out scant in medicinal properties. It was an herb that drove many a researcher to tears—as a specialized ingredient, it was never required in large quantities, so not much research had been conducted on it. However, when the occasion was called for, it was usually impossible to get a hold of or terribly expensive. Thanks to Mile’s help, they had so far found five whole stalks, which Aetelou and Sharalir collected with gusto.
That said, it was an herb that many researchers had tried to grow. It was unthinkable that this little girl, who was a complete layperson in terms of medicinal sciences, could have uncovered new information about the plant simply by finding a few specimens. Even so, it would be kind of any employer to listen to what she had to say without belittling her, particularly when it was a young female hunter who was taking this kind of initiative in aiding them. It was good for motivation, if nothing else, Aetelou believed.
“There’s always a tafina tree nearby wherever the lieelen grass is growing,” said Mile.
While this was true, it was also something the elves already knew. However, it showed promise for Mile that she could hit upon that pattern in such a short amount of time, thought the researchers, smiles spreading across their faces.
“There’s four-eye grass growing nearby and copper in the soil, right?”
“Wh…?”
The pair was speechless.
Many methods for cultivating lieelen grass had been attempted up until now—planting it near tafina trees, testing various soils and fertilizers, even applying a variety of medicinal and growth-enhancing magics. But had anyone tried the combination of growing it alongside other plants and placing ores with specific metallic components nearby?
No. Neither of the pair had even heard of such a thing. Someone might have tried growing it with other plants or in dirt fortified with crushed minerals, but they had never tried that specific combination—or at least, the elves had not heard of anyone doing so to any particular effect.
“Wh-what makes you think that?” Aetelou asked, trembling slightly.
It was easy to see the tafina trees and t
he four-eye grass, but if there was copper ore around, it would be hidden by dirt, or moss, or grass. And even if there was some visible ore in Mile’s line of sight, it was unlikely that any amateur would be able to tell that there was copper in it just by looking. Indeed, the most common copper ores around were only around 0.5% copper in composition.
And yet, Mile matter-of-factly replied, “Huh? Well, that’s what my search magic indicates.”
“What?!” the pair shouted.
They, along with the five Blue Meteors, who had already been approaching to see why everyone had stopped, were stunned into silence. The kind of search magic they were aware of was nowhere near this precise. No one outside of the Crimson Vow had ever heard of such a thing.
“B-by ‘search magic,’ you mean…”
“She means search magic.”
“Please don’t inquire into a hunter’s skills and abilities.”
There was no telling what Mile might say if the explanation was left up to her, and so Reina and Pauline stepped in to take the lead. There was nothing else that Aetelou and Sharalir could say. They would never divulge the results of their research if someone who they had just met demanded it. There was no reason for a hunter to go blabbing about their abilities, which were their livelihood and their lifeline, to anyone who passed by.
There was a brief silence, and then—
“Um, so the way that I use this search magic is…”
Squeeze!
“What are you running your mouth off about?! Did you listen to a word that Pauline and I said?!” asked Reina, pinching both of Mile’s cheeks.
As far as Mile was concerned, this matter of the search magic was neither her livelihood nor her lifeline. It was not a combat skill, and it was useful for everyone, so it wasn’t something worth hiding. Or so Mile thought. To everyone else, it was obvious that it would be a very big deal if such a thing ever became public knowledge. Both for Mile and for the world at large…
“Mile, try having some common sense now and then!”
“Mile, don’t you think it’ll be bad for other hunters if rumors start getting around that hunters are so dumb that they’ll give away all their secret techniques and knowledge if you just ask?’”
“Ah…”
Apparently, Pauline’s more concrete explanation made a stronger impression on Mile than Mavis’s abstract one.
The two elves, having missed their chance to hear the secret of Mile’s search magic, continued to stare at her with determined eyes…
***
“There’s some lieelen grass!”
After harvesting a number of other varieties of plants, Mile once again came upon some lieelen grass. As Aetelou and Sharalir investigated the area, sure enough they found there was a large tafina tree growing nearby and four-eye grass alongside.
“And copper ore?” asked Aetelou.
“Right there,” said Mile, pointing to a nearby rock.
The elves were silent. They might have been researchers, but their area of expertise was botany, not mineral science. It was impossible for them to judge at a glance whether or not what Mile said was true.
“Would you like to take it with you?” asked Mile.
“Y-yes! If you would…”
Having received the affirmative, Mile tucked it away into her inventory… the rock, that is.
“Huh?” the pair asked.
“Huh?” Mile replied.
“Huhh?” the elves echoed.
“Huhhhhh?”
Aetelou had thought Mile was asking if they ought to harvest the grass. Mile, however, had been asking whether they wished to take the rock home to confirm if it had copper in it. The part of the rock that had been protruding from the ground was about two or three cubic meters, but when Mile stored it away, it left a huge hole in the soil. Apparently, the bulk of the rock had been buried beneath the ground.
Both the elves and the Blue Meteors were stunned in silence.
The other three members of the Vow could only look on, resigned.
If what she says is true, and proximity to tafina trees, four-eye grass, and copper ore is really the key to cultivating lieelen grass…the research and experiments, the trials to verify results, and the presentations and paper-writing could take years, but if it is true and we can succeed in coming up with a formula for cultivation…we might be promoted to the rank of lecturers or associate professors—or even full professors! What a splendid chance! What good fortune! thought one of the researchers.
But… The other elf was focused on something else entirely.
Compared to the secret of Mile’s search magic and her absurd amount of storage space, I just can’t care about lieelen grass at all!!!
As it turned out, the two elves were not so different from Dr. Clairia.
“Would you mind if I do some hunting for a bit?” asked Mile.
“Hm? W-well, I suppose it’s been long enough that we might take a break,” said Aetelou.
“I don’t need a break. You all can keep on with your investigation.”
With that, Mile disappeared in the direction of ten o’clock. Not a few minutes had passed before she returned. She was empty-handed, but no one around thought this peculiar. Nor were they shocked at the speed with which she had returned.
Storage magic, huh? And that search magic…
Already, they had become accustomed to the creature known as Mile.
That was all there was to it.
***
“Miss Aetelou, Miss Sharalir, feel free to join us!”
Later, when they made camp, the two elves joined the Crimson Vow alongside the simple stove they had set up at Mile’s invitation.
“I caught this while we were working, so the two of you have a right to this meal!”
The pair accepted Mile’s explanation and gladly partook. Mavis roughly chopped up the deer meat that Mile took out from storage, while Pauline grilled the pieces one after another.
“This is delicious!” the pair cried.
For many Americans, venison is considered more of a luxury than beef. It was the same in this world, where the only ones who could afford to eat deer, boar, and beef on a regular basis were the very wealthy. The only thing that the common folk got to eat on a daily basis was cheap monster meat. Other meats, particularly venison, were something they might enjoy only on very special occasions.
The fact that the Crimson Vow were so accustomed to eating venison was only because of Mile. If they had been normal hunters, even if they were able to hunt deer, they would have had to sell anything they caught, unable to sample anything aside from the parts that couldn’t be transported and the internal organs, which were normally consumed on site.
Meanwhile, five pairs of eyes looked on jealously.
“Those poor lads seem rather strapped for food. Perhaps you might give them a little bit of this as well?” asked Aetelou, unable to bear the hungry stares from the Blue Meteors.
“This is meat that we hunted while on contract with you, so we will do whatever our employers wish. You can call it a special favor from yourselves to your employees, so that should be fine,” said Mile.
“Oh, thank God!”
“Th-thank you…”
Apparently, the Meteors had come to at least understand where they stood in the pecking order.
“Alakazam!”
Fwump!
At the behest of Mile’s peculiar spell, a large tent appeared, and silence fell around the camp.
Yep. That seemed about right. The two elves and five members of the Meteors looked on with utterly weary expressions.
“Um. The two of you are welcome to share our tent as well.”
For their own security, the elves had specified that three or more women be amongst the guards. If the Crimson Vow took the tent and made their two female employers sleep outside with five men, who did not seem particularly trustworthy in the first place, they could not say that they were fulfilling their expected duty.
The elves pulle
d up the entry flap and looked inside.
“Beds…” started one.
“A trunk…” the other trailed.
“And a table and chairs!” they said together.
They didn’t want to think about it anymore.
***
Breakfast was a simple affair of hardtack and dried meat, though the soup they had alongside it was not made of foul-tasting “soup base,” but a proper broth, with vegetables and scraps of meat. This alone made it luxurious as far as a hunter’s breakfast went. Mornings were normally hectic with everyone preparing to move out, and there was no time to sit around waiting for water to boil. Thankfully, the Crimson Vow had three mages who could use utility magic, allowing them this luxury.
Afterwards, they quickly cleaned up their sleeping area and resumed the investigation. Like the day before, their employers took copious notes, investigated the target specimens that they found, took some specimens with them, and left some as they were. Just as midday was rolling around…
“Stop! Everyone please get over here quickly!” Mile called out in a low but harried voice.
The other three members of the Crimson Vow were already nearby, but at her words, the researchers and the Blue Meteors rushed to Mile’s side. Taking her lead, they tried to make as little noise as possible.
“There are seventeen orcs approaching at high speed! They already know that we’re here. I’m sorry I didn’t notice them sooner. I had my search magic tuned to gathering, so my enemy detection range was shortened!”
Despite Mile’s desperate apology, just having enough advance warning to guard themselves against this surprise attack was an immense help…or so most people with common sense would realize.
“This is bad,” said Graf, “There’s too many of them! If we can’t get the drop on them, then we can only take on about four or five at once. We’d have no problem taking them down if they came at us one at a time, but since they’re in a group, we won’t be able to provide cover for you all while also guarding our clients! Reina and Pauline, you hold down the fort with our clients, and you two front liners, protect the clients and the mages! Focus on using your magic to break the enemies up into groups and try and make it so that we only have to face five or less at once! Try to keep ’em distracted, and don’t try to hit ’em too hard! If you’ve got some leeway, weaken them with area attacks. If you’ve any more, pick ’em off with simple spells!”
