episode_0069

The first beastkin mage to reach the realm of Archmage in a beastkin body.

That was the evaluation of Kaman.

However, other information was difficult to find.

It was a natural consequence as the book only contained how the lineage of past Beastkin Village Chiefs had flowed.

But since I learned that he was a great person worthy of a statue being erected and that he was a beastkin active around 500 years ago, the scope of my search narrowed a bit. That alone was a modest achievement.

And thanks to that, I obtained new information in a short amount of time.

“He was active for a long time as a wandering mage…”

It wasn’t very meaningful information.

If he had been active in the Magic Tower for a long time, I could have found records there.

I continued to search for information after that, but I couldn’t find anything more.

“Perhaps I should ask directly after all.”

Whenever I met Kaman and tried to ask something I was curious about, he seemed unwilling to answer, so I didn’t ask.

But now that I can enter roughly once a week, if I stick to him persistently, he’ll spill everything he knows.

Searching for information by running around is too tough.

“That’s it for today, then.”

“Okay! Let’s go in!”

Grace also seemed to be getting tired of reading books and agreed with me.

And so another day passes.

Day 3.

Luca fought the fish more actively and more strongly than yesterday.

Now she was even able to slightly bring out her red claws and attempt attacks.

“Progress is faster than expected?”

“Indeed.”

Even to us who don’t know much about beastkin, Luca’s skill was improving by leaps and bounds.

Occasionally, she would be consumed by her Savagery, but she somehow overcame it.

And when she entered the pond for the 10th time, she finally succeeded in digging her red claws into the fish’s body.

*Thwack*!!

Luca was hit by the fish’s tail, which contained the full force of its dazzling movements.

She was immediately sent flying far away, creating a cloud of dust.

*Sniff sniff*.

“I think we need to get ready.”

Since Grace remembered the smell of Luca being consumed by her Savagery, she could react quickly.

Before the combat judgment began, I threw the card I had prepared beforehand.

[Charge]

[Pause]

Mana quickly advanced and stopped Luca’s body.

And Kailek’s net arrow, not missing that opportunity, caught Luca, and on top of that, Grace filled the air with cold and froze Luca’s body.

Soon, Luca returned to normal.

Day 3 was also a failure for now.

However, despite that, Luca’s expression wasn’t dark.

It seemed like she was learning something little by little.

Only confidence was contained on her face.

“…I think I can do it tomorrow!”

Luca declared.

Since an instinctively excellent beastkin said so, everything would probably end tomorrow.

“Then I will go receive more training from the warriors!”

Kailek left to learn the beastkin’s combat methods and archery.

Grace also left today to learn the role of a scout from a certain beastkin.

Of course, Noah was just going to the orphanage and playing with the kids.

Everyone moves forward.

Since using cards didn’t really change anything for me, I went back to the archives and searched through the books.

However, books containing the history from 500 years ago were too difficult to find.

As about 2 hours passed like that and I was starting to get tired.

Someone came to the archives.

“So you were here.”

The Village Chief came in, holding a staff.

The only beastkin mage of the current era.

As he moved his staff, the inside of the archives began to be cleaned.

Just by looking at the intricate movement of the books, it was evident that he was a considerably skilled mage.

“Among beastkin, only those who are occasionally born with magical talent and have basic knowledge can become mages. Savagery is the exact opposite existence to magic. Naturally, it’s inevitable that mages don’t appear often among beastkin.”

“I see.”

“Follow me. As promised, I will tell you what you want.”

“Huh? The test shouldn’t be over yet?”

“It’s all finished. At that child’s growth rate, she will be able to find and unleash her Savagery by tomorrow or the day after. And on the day the test ends, we won’t even have time to talk like this.”

“…Yes.”

If he said that much, I didn’t have much to say, so I followed him immediately.

The Beastkin Village has many farmlands.

Because of that, I thought it might be suitable for hiding something.

Wouldn’t there be a hidden space somewhere over there?

I even had such delusions.

And as if my thought wasn’t wrong.

The Village Chief advancing somewhere among the farmlands.

Soon, as he used mana to move the heavily piled straw bundles aside, the space hidden behind them revealed itself.

Ruins.

There were old ruins.

Of course, the inside was neatly managed, but even so, it seemed unable to withstand the weight of time.

Traces of being replaced with different parts here and there are visible.

As I walked through the ruins that stretched out like a cave.

I arrived at a certain place before I knew it.

This place where numerous statues of giant beastkin exist.

Among them, there was also a statue of Kaman.

“Unfortunately, there are no remaining documents. While beastkin originally don’t rely on records, passing down 500 years of time is not easy even in a proper Magic Tower.”

“It’s something I somewhat expected. I didn’t expect to easily find records from 500 years ago.

“But even if records don’t remain, his traces inevitably do.”

As the Village Chief moved his hand, the statue’s eyes shone.

Simultaneously, a subspace opened, and something popped out.

“This is…?”

One card whose purpose was unknown.

It’s not a card that comes from the labyrinth.

Because the back is the same as the cards in my deck.

“It seems to be the same shape as your card.”

Was the reason the Village Chief looked at my deck before entirely because of this?

“It’s right for you to take this.”

I immediately received the card from the Village Chief.

But when I tried to put it into my deck, it didn’t go in.

‘I’ll have to ask directly about how to use it in detail.’

Since I’d see him in a few days anyway, I put the card that came from Kaman into my subspace bag.

*

Fourth day.

When I said that Luca’s test might be the last, Noah, who hadn’t come until now, also returned to the test area.

“Try eating this!”

Noah ate the local snacks and foods he found out about while wandering around the Beastkin Village.

Grace couldn’t eat and was looking far away beyond the mountain.

Kailek received and ate it.

I also lightly tore into a snack.

It was a bit salty, seemed somewhat like jerky.

It was better than I expected.

In such a picnic-like atmosphere, Luca continued to fight.

Luca began to draw out more power every time she fought.

Before I knew it, the Tiger Beastkin was also observing the scene by our side.

*Swish*!!

Powerful claws piercing through the fish’s body.

But as if that alone wasn’t fatal.

The fish, returning to the Water of Purification, quickly healed its wounds.

A hair’s breadth difference.

A realm she felt like she would reach if she crossed just one line.

Luca was stuck there, on the verge of crossing the line.

5th time.

6th time.

7th time.

8th time.

Time flowed.

The test that had started from early morning had the sun rise high, slowly set, and begin to create a sunset before I knew it.

“The day is slowly ending, why don’t we do it tomorrow?”

I said to the wounded Luca.

She didn’t give up.

She continued to advance.

The sun fell and darkness settled.

This was effectively the last chance.

Luca lightly treated her wounds, then trudged towards the pond.

She no longer held the axe.

When she extended both hands, a red aura erupted and became sharp claws.

Holding the two shimmering claws, Luca immediately charged towards the pond.

Simultaneously, the fish threw its body towards Luca.

*Crash*!!

A powerful impact spread around, and Luca fell to the ground.

But as soon as she performed a breakfall, Luca, who had run back in quadrupedal motion, jumped towards the airborne fish.

She thrust in the two claws.

*Thud*!!

The claws accurately pierced through the fish’s gills, but the fish immediately went into the pond and healed its wounds.

“Uwaaaaaaaa!!!!”

Luca screamed.

Simultaneously with her card, [Provoke], activating, the fish leaped greatly towards Luca.

But that was a lie.

It was a clone without claws.

The main body, its red claws shining, plummeted down from the sky.

The claws began to stab from the fish’s head.

Sliding down just like that, it cut as if disassembling the whole body.

*Splash*!!!

Water splashed up, and the fish and Luca entered the pond again.

By the time they came out of the water again, the fish’s wounds were completely healed.

“Wouldn’t selling that water make money?”

“It’s meaningless unless it’s a divine object. For some, it even becomes poison.”

While talking about this and that, the fierce battle continued.

A completely equal situation.

To break this balance, Luca herself must become stronger.

Under the subtly risen full moon, Luca and the fish continued their bloody battle.

Although the fish’s wounds kept healing, Luca’s wounds gradually accumulated.

But she doesn’t give up.

Because a hunter must give their all to catch their prey.

“…Done.”

Simultaneously with the Tiger Beastkin clenching his fist tightly, Luca and the fish leaped out of the water.

Luca’s face was already covered in blood, and her clothes were torn, looking truly like a wild animal.

But for a beastkin, that is a compliment and a praise.

Luca’s soul is slowly changing.

“Hahahaha!!!!!”

Luca, who normally didn’t even smile easily and didn’t express her emotions well, to the extent that one could say she was awkward with expressions, laughed very loudly.

But that felt more like a beastkin.

Because she was currently in a state of ecstasy, simply engaged in a bloody battle solely with the fish.

A red aura explodes.

When I spread my senses, I could see something inside her body explosively contracting and expanding.

Now is the time.

*Thud*!!

The fish returned into the pond, and Luca landed precisely on the ground.

Landing on four feet, not two.

Changes occurred in Luca’s body as she slowly crawled in that posture, as if watching a cat.

A red aura erupted wildly, taking shape and destroying the surroundings.

“Watch out!!!”

If Noah hadn’t happened to block it with an unpleasant barrier, we might have gotten hurt.

Luca, unaware that she was causing such harm to us.

She let out a strange cry from her mouth and charged forward.

Simultaneously, as if sensing the red aura, the fish leaped up and swung its tail.

But now it’s over.

The complete red claws became even larger, reaching the length of an average sword.

As those claws pierced, cut, and tore the fish’s body, the fish’s head was instantly cleanly severed, and its body was divided into three parts.

And this time, she landed on two feet.

“Did she succeed?”

Had she finally succeeded in control and achieved Savagery Release?

With this level of output, she had enough skill to at least overpower someone like Grace.

“Luca!!!”

The moment I was about to approach to congratulate Luca on her success.

“Something’s strange.”

Grace blocked me.

And simultaneously, Luca charged towards us.

*Thud*!!!

But the Tiger Beastkin struck Luca’s body downwards.

“Squeak.”

Luca, who lost consciousness while making a strange sound.

Immediately, blood spurted from her mouth.

Seeing that, the Tiger Beastkin scratched his head and said.

“Ah, failed at power control.”

What in the world is he talking about?

“Sh- She’s not dead, is she?!!”

“Potion!!!!”

Only after using a high-grade potion to save the fallen Luca did the situation end.

*

Luca acquired [Savagery Release].

According to what I heard in detail, control was still difficult, and it wasn’t a complete release.

But still, getting a new power is something.

It would be stranger to get everything in less than a week.

The fish immediately became food.

More accurately, a festival was held in the Beastkin Village.

Celebrating the appearance of a new beastkin who had acquired Savagery.

They grilled the giant fish over a fire and ate it all together.

It’s said to be a village tradition.

The day after eating it, I felt strange because my body was too light.

Perhaps it’s because they called it a spiritual or divine creature, it seems good for the body.

Since that creature is said to be born whenever a beastkin with Savagery appears.

I thought I had eaten a precious restorative food that I might never get to eat in my lifetime.

I immediately took Luca and returned to the Labyrinth City.

Having left home by the Tiger Beastkin, I returned home exactly one week later.

It felt like I had gone on a long journey.

In fact, the other party members said they had similar impressions.

“Then, since the vacation is over, it’s about time we decide when to enter the labyrinth.”

“Didn’t you say you were going to form a clan? I wonder if they’ve gathered by now.”

“Want to see together?”

“Let’s do that!”

I decided to find out about the new clan members together with Grace.

But there was one thing I had to do before that.

Putting the card from Kaman, which I had placed in my subspace bag, into my chest pocket, I sat down on the bed.

*Ding*!

『Would you like to move to the Shop Floor?』

『 Yes / No 』

Naturally, I pressed ‘Yes’.

Immediately, my vision blurred.

Everything around me stopped.

My eyes closed on their own.

When I opened my eyes again in the darkness.

A bonfire was visible in front of me.

And behind it, even Kaman.

“I knew you would come in.”

Kaman greeted me with an indifferent expression.