Chapter Two Hundred and Sixty-Six: Beginning of the Hunting Festival
“As Earl Ehlertt, I would first like to express my respect to all who have gathered for the Ehlertt Earldom’s hunting festival.”
A large crowd had gathered in the plaza surrounded by tents. Helfried used a voice-amplifying magical tool to express his gratitude to those assembled.
“Glory shall be bestowed upon those who achieve the greatest military exploits during the hunting festival. The period is two weeks. The Ehlertt Earldom shall grant rewards to the top three honorable places.”
At Helfried’s signal, the cloth covering the prepared pedestals was removed.
“To the third place goes the pelt of the Platinum Silver Wolf, once the ruler of the twentieth floor of the Ehlertt capital dungeon, and a solid panacea. To the second place goes its fangs and a solid panacea. And to the first place—I present a scale of the Black Dragon of Thorn Forest passed down in the Ehlertt Earldom, and a solid panacea.”
Each time a reward was announced, murmurs spread through the plaza. The reaction to the final reward was especially loud.
“The Ehlertt family only brings out the Black Dragon scales on the most important occasions. That should show how seriously Brother Helfried regards this hunting festival.”
“Is that the dragon that became the origin of the Earldom’s coat of arms?”
“Yes. It was a massive dragon, so some of its materials still remain.”
The Ehlertt Earldom’s coat of arms depicted thorns and a black dragon. When Karen heard the origin story, she had thought it was a legend created to add prestige to the family. However, it seemed there truly was a history of defeating a dragon and pacifying this land in the past.
“Please be careful not to venture too deep into the Great Eastern Forest or the Bruière Mountains. These are dangerous places as there are multiple unconquered dungeons, and monsters continue to overflow from them. Particularly, there is an unconquered dungeon gate near the northern part of the Great Forest. It’s close enough to see with the naked eye if you climb that hill, so everyone should take caution.”
“Earl Ehlertt, may I inquire about the rewards?”
A noble youth dressed as an individual participant rather than a knight raised his hand.
“Go ahead.”
“What exactly is this ‘solid panacea’ that is included in all the rewards for the top three places?”
In her heart, Karen made a fist pump, thinking, "Thank you for asking!”
“It’s a new potion created by Karen, a B-rank alchemist who is on good terms with our family. It’s a small panacea but in solid form with excellent portability, and can be taken as a meal by dissolving it in hot water.”
“Hoh. That’s an interesting potion.”
The youth said this in a manner that, contrary to his words, didn’t seem very interested.
Unlike adventurers attacking dungeons with minimal personnel and luggage, nobles conquered them with large armies that even included cooks, so he probably didn’t understand the convenience of ready-made solid soup. Though there was a waiting list, he could purchase ordinary medium panaceas from Karen, so he apparently didn’t feel it was a good deal.
Having contributed to the rewards, Karen wished the reaction had been more enthusiastic.
“It’s a potion already adopted by the B-rank adventurer party ‘Crimson Thunder.’ In recognition of providing that potion, Alchemist Karen has apparently concluded a sponsorship contract with them. Currently, the Crimson Thunder is conquering the Ehlertt territorial capital dungeon. With their ability, there’s a prospect they can conquer the thirtieth floor, predicted to be the current deepest level.”
“The Crimson Thunder, that party that’s been conquering dungeon after dungeon…?”
“If it’s them, they’ll really conquer it.”
“If they conquer the thirtieth floor, they’ll be A-rank adventurers, right? I want a potion used by A-rank adventurers…!”
Gasps could be heard from here and there. The nobles seemed to have developed an interest in the solid panacea precisely because Thor was using it.
Rather than feeling professional frustration, Karen felt proud as an older sister. As she surveyed people’s faces with a triumphant expression, she suddenly felt something was off.
Among those who had gasped, there was one group with strangely dark expressions. As she observed them, it became clear they didn’t welcome Thor’s conquest, and Karen frowned. They wore the uniforms of the Ehlertt Earldom’s knight order. At their center was Knight Captain Gottfried.
“Now then, I hereby declare the start of the hunting festival!”
Startled by Helfried’s booming voice, Karen snapped out of it and averted her gaze from Gottfried.
“Everyone, as nobles, as the strong, I ask you to exert your full strength to hunt monsters for the protection of our nation!”
“For the Ehlertt Earldom!”
“For the Kingdom of Earthfill!”
“In the name of Royal Ancestor Sybilla!”
The nobles responded to Helfried’s declaration. Their unified voices roared, shaking Karen’s eardrums like a thunderous battle cry. At this moment, she keenly felt how everyone’s feelings were completely united in the purpose of hunting monsters and protecting human territory.
Karen got goosebumps from the exhilaration of hearts becoming one. This was the hunting festival. For the first time, Karen understood how important this festival was to the nobles.
“Well then, I’ll be going, Karen.”
Julius took Karen’s hand and kissed it.
At that, resentful gazes stabbed into Karen. They were probably the gazes of the young ladies whose handkerchiefs Julius had refused to accept.
When she wondered how he had refused them, it turned out Julius had honestly declined, saying he couldn’t accept handkerchiefs from anyone other than the person he loved.
It was a breach of manners, which earned him disapproval—and that disapproval ended up being directed at Karen.
“…I’m sorry, Karen. I thought it would be fine if only I were resented.”
Julius apparently also noticed the gazes and apologized to Karen with eyebrows in a distressed shape.
At Julius making such a pitiful expression, Karen shrugged her shoulders.
“You’re going to perform well at the hunting festival for me, right?”
“Yes. I’ll dedicate my victory to you. I’ll surely achieve first place in military exploits and offer you the reward.”
“Then I’ll call it even with that. I don’t actually dislike being looked at with jealous gazes either!”
When Karen appealed to her vanity so Julius wouldn’t worry, he narrowed his eyes lovingly.
“If only you knew, even a fraction, how deeply I cherish your strength…”
While watching Karen’s reaction, Julius brought his face closer. Before long, he kissed Karen on the cheek. The heartfelt kiss was adorned by the envious gazes of women who couldn’t hide it even with their fans.
Just as Karen felt her bold heart filled with happiness, a teasing whistle rang out.
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