Volume 9, Chapter 17 – A New Hunting Ground

By the time the day after seeing General Gore off arrived, Yisi encountered a problem she had never considered in the past but had now run right into.

The monsters in the Antonio Forest were almost all killed by her.

To be precise, they were almost all killed by her companions.

Ever since discovering the Antonio Forest—that is, the vast forest in the Hermion Territory where she had killed the Fallen Angel Ariel, which was home to a wide variety of native monsters—Yisi had often brought her companions here to hunt. At first, the hunting was to raise their levels; later, it was to avoid forgetting how to fight during their long daily routines.

Because the Antonio Forest was so vast and its terrain complex, Yisi had never considered that she would one day kill all the monsters. But when she came to her senses, she found that the monsters in the forest suitable for her companions’ level—that is, in the 15-25 range—were becoming fewer and fewer. Although this phenomenon was hailed as a “blessing from the gods” by the adventurers of Antonio City, as fewer dangerous monsters meant they could hunt with more peace of mind, for Yisi, it was a problem that had to be solved. She couldn’t possibly drive all the monsters in the 15-25 level range to extinction. If she wanted to continue honing her companions’ skills, she had to find a new place.

Yisi naturally thought of the underground labyrinth in Gota City. But she and her companions had already left Gota City. Unlike a vast forest, if they appeared in the underground labyrinth via teleportation magic, they could run into other adventurers at any time. Plus, she had caused such a huge commotion in Gota City that almost no adventurer there didn’t know her. If they were discovered, explaining it would be quite troublesome.

In short, she had to find a new hunting ground.

While pondering this, Yisi walked with Camilla along the King’s Avenue in the Duchy of Chloe. Due to their striking appearances, pedestrians and vendors frequently stopped to look, to the point of causing congestion. If Yisi had realized this, she would have left quickly. However, because she was deep in thought, she failed to notice that the people on the street were discussing her as if watching a spectacle.

“When did such beautiful girls come to the Duchy of Chloe?”

“The one on the left and the one on the right are both beautiful. Although the silver-haired twintail one is a bit thin, the way she’s thinking, her aura is just like a noble lady. I can sense she’s definitely a beauty who’s easy to talk to!”

“No way, the blonde one on the right is clearly prettier. I’ve only ever seen that kind of pure, unblemished blonde hair on people from the Empire. Don’t you think her figure is great? Not only is she half a head taller than the girl on the left, but her chest is also large. The white dress and the parasol—that’s a true noble lady!”

“How is that her strong point? The amazing part is her cold aura! Her aura! If she were to glance at me with disgust… Hiss—I’d die just thinking about it. If I could be stepped on by those delicate little feet in white stockings…”

“Disgusting,” another man clicked his tongue. “The girl on the left is clearly better. She looks like she’d make a good wife who dotes on her husband and children. Her chest is a bit small, but that’s just the size I like. If I could have dinner with a beauty like that…”

Frowning repeatedly at the surrounding chatter, Camilla lowered her parasol slightly and leaned closer to Yisi.

“Onee-sama, are you pondering something difficult? The people of the Duchy of Chloe seem to lack manners. I think we should return soon. They are not qualified to admire your appearance.”

“Hmm?” Yisi looked up, puzzled. Although Camilla certainly had a sharp tongue, she wasn’t the type to actively disparage others. As long as you didn’t provoke her, she wouldn’t pay you any mind. Yisi couldn’t understand why she was suddenly being so venomous toward the passersby. “What’s wrong, Camilla?”

“They’re actually comparing me to you.”

“Eh…”

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Is she unhappy because her “Onee-sama” is being discussed? Or does she feel that the passersby shouldn’t be comparing the two of them?

I can understand what these men are thinking, but rather than choosing one or the other, I’m more inclined to think about unrealistic possibilities.

Camilla complained with an air of pure dissatisfaction.

“Onee-sama and I are one in heart and body. To compare us is to separate us, isn’t it? Such a possibility shouldn’t even exist from the start. Perhaps I should sew their mouths shut. No, it would be better if they jumped into the river and fed the fish.”

“Ahaha…”

So that’s why.

Yisi couldn’t help but glance at the passersby on both sides. It seemed she had unconsciously walked from the noble district to the area where commoners lived. There were far more people gathered around than yesterday. When she glanced at them, they would immediately look away, pretending nothing had happened. Among them were quite a few young men who blushed when their gazes met.

They must be virgins.

Although this thought was extremely rude and deserved a beating, Yisi just couldn’t help but think it. Thinking back, since she’d started using Pepe’s body, she’d never deliberately teased anyone other than Mary. It would probably be a lot of fun, playing with innocent young boys and girls. Yisi felt she was beginning to understand Purple. Of course, for the sake of her own dignified image, and also for their personal safety, it was better she didn’t do such things. Otherwise, Pepe would tear them to shreds.

“Well, well… this just proves that your beauty is in no way inferior to mine, isn’t it, Camilla?”

“Hmph.” Puffing her cheeks in dissatisfaction, Camilla asked again, “What was Onee-sama thinking about just now?”

“Me? I was thinking about where to go hunting in the future. The forest outside Antonio City is suitable, but we’ve almost killed all the monsters there. The underground labyrinth in Gota City is theoretically the most suitable place, but we’ll run into people we know. It’s not that we can’t just find any random forest with monsters, like that one in the Niru Diocese—which I seem to have burned down. Let’s not go there. In short, to achieve the goal of training, the monsters’ levels can’t be too low, and their types can’t be too monotonous. There are too few places that meet the criteria.”

“Has Onee-sama considered the surrounding area? From what I can see, Mary and Tiffany have never experienced a life-and-death battle with humans. Only fighting monsters might put them at a disadvantage if they encounter human enemies in the future. There are frequent conflicts on the border of the Duchy of Chloe. If we go there to train, it might be more beneficial for the future.”

“What you say makes sense, Camilla, but let’s not. The reason for improving your strength is for self-protection, not to kill others. If we kill people for the sake of getting stronger, we’d have our priorities backward. Honestly, I’ve always wanted you to forget your memories as an assassin under Count Pescia, to the point where I’ve considered using mental magic. I saw it when you were on night watch before. You were frowning in your sleep, looking like you were trying to break free from something. Are those nightmares from killing in the past?”

Yisi smiled helplessly. Just as she was unwilling to kill, she didn’t want her companions’ hands to be stained with blood, especially the younger group, Mary and Tiffany. Living in the shadows of the past was a very painful thing.

“If Onee-sama wishes to alter my memories, you can do so at any time. I am Onee-sama’s property.”

Camilla said this with a straight face, without a trace of jest.

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Uwah, that’s heavy.

“But I’ve never had nightmares about assassination. I understand Onee-sama’s feelings. For most people, killing is a heavy burden from the past. But that’s them. For me, back then, it was… to make an analogy, like how humans don’t feel guilty over the death of livestock.”

“What about now? Your attitude toward those passersby just now.”

Yisi gestured with her eyes toward the men who were still discussing her and Camilla.

Camilla’s face hardened in displeasure.

“They should still be thrown into the river to feed the fish.”

“Pfft.” Yisi couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Alright, alright, let’s not talk about that.”

That was just Camilla’s personality. Although personalities could change, no amount of change could reverse what had already been done. This was a backward world, one where slavery still lingered. If Camilla hadn’t followed Count Pescia’s orders back then, she would have just frozen to death on the streets. It was foolish to stand on a moral high ground and judge others without considering the circumstances.

“But if you’re not having nightmares about the assassinations, then what are they about?”

With a thoughtful expression, Camilla bit her lip. She held the parasol for them both with one hand and rested the other on her chin, recalling.

“I don’t know… It feels very distant. I only remember it’s the same nightmare. Recently, after coming to the Duchy of Chloe, this dream has been appearing more frequently. The next time I dream about it, I’ll try to write it down on paper and tell Onee-sama.”

“Rather than telling me, I think it would be better if you just stopped having that dream. By the way, Camilla, you mentioned looking closer to home just now, and it gave me an idea. Lin often moves around the southern part of the continent. She should know a suitable hunting ground. Asking her is a good choice.”

Speaking of which, Yisi opened her [Omniscient Map] to find Lin’s light dot, then her eyes widened slightly in surprise.

“She’s actually nearby?”

Stopping in her tracks, Yisi looked behind her. After standing there for a short while, she soon spotted Lin, with her black hair and a scythe on her back, walking alone down the street. Likely not expecting to run into Yisi at a time like this, the masked Lin froze for a moment, then pulled her mask down slightly, pretending not to know Yisi.

Raising an eyebrow, Yisi stepped in front of Lin and gave her a playful wave.

“Lin, fancy meeting you here.”

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“Ngh…” Her tone conveyed a sense of ‘what a pain’. She lowered her head further, trying to be inconspicuous, and said in a low voice, “Don’t act like you know me on the street. It’ll be troublesome.”

“What’s the big deal? They’re all strangers anyway. They can’t do anything to me.”

“Tsk, do what you want.” As if sensing Yisi wouldn’t let her off easily, Lin’s shoulders relaxed, and a look of resignation appeared in the purplish-blue eyes behind the mask. “The Gospel has assigned a mission. I have to go out of the city. Thanks for the magic items yesterday. Purple and the others and I tested them. They’re worth well over five gem coins.”

“As long as they’re useful.” Yisi glanced at their surroundings. Due to Lin’s appearance, everyone was staring at them with astonishment, as if seeing the two of them together was something incredible. This must be the “trouble” Lin was talking about. Yisi didn’t pay it any mind. “I wanted to ask you, Lin, is there a place nearby with a lot of monsters, and strong ones at that?”

“Why do you ask?”

Lin gestured forward, signaling for them to walk and talk, and took the lead—it was too strange to keep standing in the street.

Yisi and Camilla followed.

“I want to train my companions in practical combat skills. If possible, I’d prefer a place with many different types of monsters.”

Lin hesitated for a moment.

“Just for training?”

“Yes.”

“What if they’re undead?”

“No problem. In fact, that would be even better.”

Her companions rarely had the chance to fight undead, and some undead fought in a way similar to humans. For her companions at their current level, they were excellent training partners.

“Is that so? Then come with me.”

“Eh? With you? Aren’t you going on a mission for the Gospel?”

“…You have a Gospel too, so why are you so surprised?”

Yisi could feel that Lin was displeased.

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“No, no, I’ve told you many times, I don’t have a Gospel.”

“Hah, let’s just leave it at that. Since you want to keep up the act, I have no objection. The place I’m going to is a city in the southwestern part of the Duchy of Chloe. Ten years ago, that was the Ducal Capital, but due to some… incident, it turned into a city of the dead. Now, only undead remain. Ten years is enough time for powerful individuals to have emerged from among them. It should meet your needs.”

“Is it okay to just tell me that?”

A mission from the Gospel should be kept secret. Even though she had sold the expensive magic items to Lin at a cheap price, Yisi didn’t think she had become that close to her.

Lin sighed again.

“Haaah, you were waiting for me here because you knew where I was going from your Gospel, right? I don’t like to be secretive like you. Well, it’s true, setting aside the fact that you stopped me in the Kingdom, you’ve actually been a decent person since coming to the Duchy of Chloe… Whether it was with Gran, or with the magic weapons, I have to formally… thank you.”

For some reason, as Lin said that last sentence, Yisi got the feeling that she was embarrassed. But since Lin was wearing a mask, she couldn’t see her expression.

Although Lin seemed like a cold and unapproachable girl at first glance, ever since she had taken her to shelter from the rain, Yisi had a faint feeling that Lin was actually surprisingly warm-hearted. It was just that getting too close to others would bring them trouble, so she was unwilling to interact with people more than necessary.

If we could become friends, she would be a very comfortable person to be around.

Yisi couldn’t help but think.

“Praising me like that makes me feel embarrassed.”

And I really don’t have a Gospel. Showing up here was a pure accident.

Reaching up to take down the scythe on her back and put it in her storage, Lin tilted her head. The beast-ear-like ornaments on her head swayed.

“Are you coming? I’m only responsible for taking you there. I will conduct the mission alone.”

“Of course. But wait a moment, I need to get Mary and the others ready.”

“Um, I’ll wait for you here.”

Nodding lightly, Lin returned a smile to Yisi—at least, Yisi thought it was a smile.