Volume 2, Chapter 20 – Hunting Festival (3)

◆ Lumia POV ◆

“Hah. Caught quite a few. Including the ones I prepared beforehand, this should be enough.”

Hiding in a tree, I listen to the annoying guy who tried to mess with me talking to two other men.

“Hey. But man, catching them the day before and tying them up deep in the forest… that’s our Master Zacks for you.”

So that annoying guy’s name is Zacks.

“Well, yeah. If you capture ’em alive, nobody can tell when you actually caught them.”

“But Boss, can’t we win this year like we always do without going to such lengths?”

“Hmph. Maybe, but Saint-sama is visiting this time. I heard her underling Elf is participating too, and skilled hunters from other towns are showing up. Better to be prepared.”

Eh, no fair! Capturing them the day before is cheating, isn’t it?

“Alright, time to head back. Hey, help me carry these.”

“Yes, sir!”

The men start walking, hauling blood-stained boars, deer, and birds.

“Gegya-gya-gya-gya!”

Suddenly, a voice rings out. With a rustle, a hideous creature emerges from the bushes.

“Gah! Goblins!”

Greenish-brown skin, a slightly pointed nose, and a wrinkled, ugly face, walking on two legs.

They’re armed with sticks and stones, wearing loincloths as a pathetic excuse for clothing.

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Seriously, the worst!

Goblins are on the weaker side for monsters, but they’re still far stronger than humans. On top of that, they have enough intelligence to use tools and hunt in packs. And they’re so prolific that it’s said if you see one, there are thirty more. That’s why if you find one, you have to deal with it quickly, otherwise they’ll devour all the forest’s food and go on a rampage. They’ll eventually swarm human towns, too.

From the look of things, no Higher Species have appeared yet, so I’d like to wipe them out before that happens.

Otherwise, the forest will die.

Back when my family lived in the forest, my dad and mom would eliminate Goblins the moment they found them.

You could even say that hunting Goblins is the duty of the Elves, the people of the forest.

“Damn it! Just one of ’em!”

The men fire their arrows. The Goblin, hit by three arrows, collapses and stops moving. However, more Goblins begin emerging one after another from behind trees and out of the brush. Then, the Goblins start hurling stones at the men.

“Damn it! Shit!”

The barrage of stones is keeping the men from even drawing their bows properly.

Fine then. I’ll fire from the tree.

One, two, three.

The Goblins drop one by one.

“You there! Hurry back to town and call for backup! I’ll keep them distracted for a while!”

“You! You’re that brat from before!”

I shoot through the Goblin blocking the path back to town.

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“B-Boss! Let’s get out of here, quick!”

“Damn it!”

With that, the men bolt toward the town.

A few Goblins try to chase after them, but I shoot them in the back.

There was one time when the arrow suddenly flew toward them, but it hit the boar they were carrying instead, so it’s fine, right?

“Gugye-gye-gye-gye!”

A Goblin throws a stone at me.

Ugh, seriously! So arrogant for a pest!

I nock an arrow and, finding an opening, fire it down from the tree.

After repeating this for a while, a Goblin starts climbing the tree. Other Goblins support it by throwing stones to distract me.

Seriously, so arrogant for a pest!

If I get caught, I’m finished.

I quickly borrow the spirits’ power and leap to another tree.

Then, I shoot the climbing Goblin right through.

I’ll buy about thirty minutes more, then head back to town. By then, those guys should have brought backup.

So, carefully… very carefully.

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◆ Protagonist POV ◆

“Ooh! The favorite of this competition, last year’s champion, Zacks-senshu, has returned! He’s brought two catches! It’s a boar and a red deer! And they’re massive!”

As the announcer’s voice echoes through the venue, a roar of cheers erupts. I really want to know how that person’s throat works to make their voice carry across the entire venue even amidst this noise.

“Is this Zacks-senshu a great hunter?”

“Yes, Saint-sama. He is the finest hunter in Klaubretz, having won the championship five times in the past.”

“Then he’s Lu-chan’s biggest rival.”

“Indeed he is.”

The person I am currently speaking with is Mayor Guten.

“Lu-chan hasn’t returned yet. How much time is left?”

“About one hour remains.”

I don’t know if Lu-chan can actually win, but since it’s a rare opportunity, I want her to enjoy herself. It would be nice if she caught at least one thing.

“Now then, we shall move to the measurement of Zacks-senshu’s catches. First, this red deer!”

I look up at the booming unamplified announcement. The deer is placed on a special stage set up directly in front of the VIP seats where I am sitting.

“This is incredible! It’s huge! Length is 240 cm, and the weight exceeds 200 kg!”

I don’t really get it, but it seems he caught something pretty impressive.

“Now, members of the Klaubretz Meat Association, please present your purchase prices!”

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The people sitting in a row in front of the stage all raise their bidding placards at once.

“8 silver coins, 9 silver coins, 8 silver coins and 3 small silver coins! Therefore, Zacks-senshu’s red deer has been sold for 9 silver coins!”

A great cheer erupts.

“This price is currently in first place! Now, we move to the appraisal of the boar. Will it fetch a price that exceeds the red deer!”

The deer is taken off the stage, and the boar is brought in.

“This is also amazing! It’s huge, and the coat is excellent. Length is a whopping 200 cm, and weight is 250 kg! This is… the largest boar since the Hunting Festival began!”

It certainly feels much larger than the boars I imagine.

If I ran into something like that in the forest, I might actually wet myself.

Wait, huh? Isn’t that arrow the one I Enchanted with Purification Magic? Why is it stuck in that person’s catch?

“Now, members of the Klaubretz Meat Association, what is the purchase price?”

The association members raise their placards all at once.

“Wha-wha-what! 1 gold coin and 2 silver coins, 1 gold coin and 1 silver coin, 1 gold coin and 1 silver coin! Th-th-there it is! We finally have a gold coin appraisal! This boar goes for 1 gold coin and 2 silver coins, taking a commanding first place! Now then, will anyone Manage to bring back an even bigger catch? Let us await the arrival of the remaining players!”

The venue reaches a fever pitch, enveloped in cheers. One hour remaining.

Do your best, Lu-chan.

I sent my silent cheers to Lu-chan, who was likely chasing prey in the forest.