Hachinan tte, Sore wa Nai Deshou!

The appraised value of the spoils obtained by hunting and gathering until evening, is the rule. Since its over the span of 5 days, dont forget to pace yourselves.

Early morning of the next day we decided to start the competition, which was done over again to settle the score, after greeting Bukhart-san, who was a former elite adventurer.

The teams are me, Katharina and doushi as one-man teams and Erws group, who will compete by a united team of 5 people.

Although Ina snapped unusually due to Katharinas abusive words yesterday, she shouldnt be able to win by herself after all.

The joint effort of the 5 people as a team was something inevitable.

Thats because powerful magicians hold such level of overwhelming strength.

Ina, dont do the impossible. (Wendelin)

Of course, even Im not an idiot to such a degree. (Ina)

That means? (Wendelin)

We will compensate with numbers and also, our main target will be gathering. (Ina)

I see, they thought up a truly clever move.

If you hunt large monsters, the price per monster will be high, but it will take time.

If thats the case, one should limit the hunting to self-defense and earn income by exploiting their numbers with the gathering of produce like fruit types and expensive medicinal plants.

That was also a strategy more befitting to the calm Ina.

Nice, the point is to discover places with produce, which has high unit prices.

If you consider how harshly you spoke, thats a pretty small-minded method. (Katharina)

You as well, since you are believing its fine for an adventurer to just hunt monsters by shooting flashy magic, you are a simpleton, right? (Ina)

What did you say!? (Katharina)

Katharina provokes Ina, but ends up getting enraged being countered by Ina in reverse.

Certainly, what Ina has said is right.

If an adventurer subjugates powerful monsters flashily, they might be seen as cool by amateurs, but its not like thats all there is to the work of an adventurer.

An adventurers job is to acquire things that will sell at least.

That is, if they defeated dragons and powerful monsters, those would become money, however, as there are only few adventurers capable of doing that, there are actually many adventurers choosing the way of getting income by gathering things mostly.

As it would be troublesome for the adventurers guilds side as well, if they were to die or get seriously injured in reckless subjugation, adventurers, who earn constant income foras long as possible, were very welcome.

As for elite adventurers, there isnt any more but a handful of those.

In fact, in the past there have been adventurers, who exceeded 10.000.000 cents in their lifetime by efficiently and skilfully gathering high-priced produce in plain, remote forest without ever entering a monster domain.

Such people will end up hidden in the shadows of elite adventurers, but it was a fact that they were successful albeit hidden.

Ojou-chans, quarrelling is prohibited. Take care to resolve such things through the competition. (Burkhart)

Understood. (Ina)

I got it. (Katharina)

As expected of Katharina, she gave an obedient reply to the warning of Burkhart-san, who was a renown adventurer.

Its likely she is unable to object imprudently, given that he is possessing accomplishments she cant complain about.

Well then, start. (Burkhart)

Upon Burkhart-sans call the competition begins, however its not like I will do anything different.

Entering the Demon Forest, Im just neatly killing the monsters, who come rushing at me.

I dont change the method of piercing arrows, made out of wooden branches, into their weak spots and the lower half of their brain stems from behind either.

Since I was struck with the idea of compressing the entirety of the wooden branches with magic before changing them into arrows around yesterday evening, it only increased the misfortune for the monsters, who were pierced with an increased force.

However, they dont learn, or rather (Wendelin)

I thought they would be a bit more intelligent, but as usual the monsters tore at my deployed magic barrier and thrust their claws with a sound of grinding, scrunching and scratching.

And they die being stabbed into their vital spots from behind.

Even the other monsters, although it will be fine for them to give up after having seen the final moments of the monster, that attacked before, they repeat the absolutely same attack and get defeated in the same way.

I didnt understand if they might be unable to settle down or else have a far too aggressive instinct rather than being plain dumb.

Phew, an onigiri has to have a dried plum after all. (Wendelin)

Same as yesterday, I took my lunch in the midst of monsters continuing with the sounds of scratching, crunching and grinding at my magic barrier. But the result is me having defeated more than yesterday by raising my efficiency.

If its like this, I wont likely lose to that Katharina.

However, she shouldnt be standing around and folding her arms either. I had to be on guard.

Rather, I dont give a damn about something like a competition. (Wendelin)

Also, for some reason there was the matter of doushi participating, but

Theres no way for that man to die. I can imagine his strategy to be simple as well. (Wendelin)

In order to not being wounded by monsters, he has been probably beating them to death or smashing their heads just like the flying dragon some time ago.

Not long ago I heard the continuous cries of death agony by something that seemed to be monsters, but I tried to not overly mind it for the sake of my mental sanity.

Also, how far will Erws group be able to approach Katharinas results by skilfully and efficiently earning income through putting priority on gathering, I wonder.

Well then, lets continue to hunt, huh? (Wendelin)

Advancing to skilfully and efficiently hunt in the afternoon of that day as well, that will continue for 5 days, too.

Leaving the magic bag, where the spoil was put in, to the guilds employee, there doesnt seem to be something like an announcement of the current rankings like in quiz shows of my previous life.

Well, so much loot. Cant you have such contest every day?

In this times competition the guilds side cooperated remarkably.

But from their point of view, it appears to be something desirable to increase the profits by three famous magicians competing over the outcome.

We cant satisfy the demand at all.

It was great that it became possible to raid the Demon Forest, but due to the high degree of difficulty, unskilled adventurers will only turn into corpses.

Or perhaps I should say, it doesnt look like the spoils will increase well with many groups of adventurers, who jump at getting rich quickly.

Although its not like it never happens that elite veterans come from another region, there are only few people moving here expressly, given that they have been able to originally earn money in the domains, they have made the city into the baseof activity.

Also, its because this place here, it has nothing

The magic airship comes regularly, but to begin with, the city, that was to be made with the goal of having adventurers dive into the Demon Forest, hasnt been built yet at all.

As even the adventurers guilds branch is just a shack, you can even say that its only natural.

The amusement facilities, the inn, which is likewise still a hut, and the food and peddler stalls aimed at adventurers were at the same level too.

It was to a degree that sarcastic adventurers have been saying City? It hasnt even become a village yet!.

Its not like there arent funds and materials. The time, the time is just too short

There seem to be many other places which require development as well, right?

As it was originally a savage land with nothing in it, we have ended up putting priority on the area of Baulburg in the beginning no matter what.

I tell the guild employee that I want them to endure for a bit longer there.

At present theres no problem as we are somehow able to live. Sooner or later people will likely come gathering here as well.

Well then, I will announce the result. (Burkhart)

First was me, but as result of only hunting large monsters as deep inside as possible, I got spoils to the degree of being three times that of Katharina.

It might also be due to me getting used to defeat the monsters with magic without damaging them.

I hunted a considerable number of sabre-toothed tigers, however there wasnt even a single albino mixed in among those after all.

In the end it can be considered that my casual luck was great on the first day.

Its overwhelming.

Kukuku

Katharina likely hunted eagerly as well, but our difference in mana capacity was big after all, I guess.

Since there is no specimen among her spoils that looks like it may bring in a super-large sum of money, the competition was probably decided before taking it up on the auction.

U~~~~mm, next is Erws group, but

There was the point of how much they will be able to approach Katharinas result, but the guild employee, who has done the counting of the spoils, announced a surprising result.

Almost without a doubt the estimated value is superior, even more so than Katharina-sans.

Wh-! Whats this about!?

Well, by only compensating with numbers

It seems they have picked large amounts of cacao and fruit types, which has a high unit price due to its high demand, and gathered large quantities of expensive medicinal herb types in addition, which will turn into a large sum of money.

Concerning the medicinal plants, Elise, who also acted as healer assistant at the church, apparently contributed in a big way.

It looks like they skilfully made use of her knowledge where medicinal plants like these are growing.

As expected of Elise, she obviously demonstrated her plainly perfect superwoman style.

And, against expectations, there was also a big number of hunted prey.

There are countless sabre-toothed tigers as well. Furthermore, they have no wounds.

Though if you say we have them, we do, but its the same as Wend. (Luise)

All of the sabre-toothed tigers were hunted by Luise.

Dodging their charges and attacks with the least amount of movement by making use of her excellent kinetic vision, she circles into their back and defeats them with a single magically loaded strike.

As for having no wounds, its apparently because she is tearing only the lower stem of the brain to pieces with an internal impact, which is a secret technique of the magic combat style.

You wont be able to grasp it at all by only the looks.

Whats this? The simplicity is scary.

Its a technique you wont be able to use if you dont have a certain degree of mana. Doushis coaching was useful for that, too. (Luise)

Now that she mentions it, there was something like that.

Luise possesses mana between intermediate and advanced level. She fights while economizing it to the utmost with the magic combat style.

Doushi and me will end up deploying a magic barrier in advance in order to be alright, even when receiving the enemys attacks, however Luise is capable of executing her decisions in 1/100th of a second units.

If its the evasion of attacks, she will dodge it normally without deploying something like a magic barrier.

With four people gathering, my role has been to monitor the surroundings. The foundation was to call Wilma and Ina-chan for help, if there were too many. (Luise)

It seems Luise professionally hunted the sabre-toothed tigers, which were the biggest threat.

Once you look at the other monsters, those are likely the results of Ina stabbing close to the heart and brain parts and Wilma defeating them with a clean beheading.

Currently the native fruits of the Demon Forest and such have a rising tendency in value. If there are this many, I believe their worth will be raised in the auction by major dealers and similar.

Major dealers are possessing a great number of general-purpose magic bags.

Given that the freshness wont drop once you put it in there, I hear that they will buy large quantities once they are up for sale even if it is fresh foodstuff.

Buying it at the time when the price is low, their aim is to gain profits by selling it at the time when the price is high.

They wont be pressured by administration since they have economic clout, even if they hold back large amounts of stocks. It seems to be impossible for the prices of native Demon Forest products to fall for quite a time.

After all they cant be gathered anywhere but here.

Therefore, they buy it now just because its buyable.

In order to not lose against other rivals, they apparently wont hesitate to raise the prices in a bidding competition at the auction.

Also, Luise-san has great luck

An albino sabre-toothed tiger was placed ahead of the guild employees look.

With this it was two specimen, but its size was also once size bigger than the specimen I hunted.

Moreover, its completely unhurt.

The inside isnt unhurt though.

If you say that, theres Armstrong-doushi, but

There was another one, doushi, who willfully joined in, but his results were astounding.

Its a dreadful number of monster corpses, but all of them were lined up in a state, which showed their expressions of anguish. Several guild employees carried out an earnest assessment.

Umm Doushi?

Ive been hunting this amount of monsters for a long time! (Armstrong)

Doushi thrust out his fist in front of him.

Simply put, he beat them to death with magically charged fists, kicked them dead and smashed their heads.

It might not have taken time due to its plainness, but unmistakably, the only person capable of doing such thing in this world is likely doushi.

I only hoped that those attacks wouldnt be aimed at me.

Also, I discovered historic ruins deep within the forest! I think I will go for an exploration as early as tomorrow! (Armstrong)

What! Isnt doushi first in an overwhelming manner? (Erwin)

Surely it was as Erw said.

Overwhelming even my amount of prey as well, he has moreover even discovered an unexplored historic ruin.

As one would expect, that might be the only worthwhile thing of him participating willfully.

Doushi, dont steal the work of the youngsters too much.

I think so as well. But, in fact, my second and third wives were apparently pregnant. I judged I should go earn some money so we dont fall short no matter what happens in the future! (Armstrong)

Umm? Is it the 20th?

Aye. This time I want a girl for sure! (Armstrong)

Looking at doushis large military accomplishments, Burkhart-san rebukes him to not steal too much of the young adventurers income, but doushi refuses that with the expenses since his children will be born once again.

Or rather, doushi seems to be thinking even less about family planning than my father.

However, no one is probably bothered by it, because his ability is top.

If a girl is born, it will be even fine to marry her to Earl Baumeister! (Armstrong)

Huh? (Wendelin)

(A girl that looks like doushi as wife of Wend?) (Erwin)

Doushis daughter is made into my wife.

Rather than first mentioning the age difference and such, Erw ends up uttering in a whisper what bothers him in a few words.

(A girl that looks like doushi?) (Wendelin)

What appeared in my head right away was a muscled and brawny girl with just the same face as doushi.

(I want you to spare me of that. Or rather, I have no confidence I would be able to get an erection) (Wendelin)

Although I feel regretful with such a vulgar talk, but I couldnt bear the image of having my spine broken in the bridal night.

Umm, doushi-sama, in front of Elise such remark is a bit (Ina)

Oh, thats right. I want you to think about the marriage of our children and grandchildren! (Armstrong)

When I hesitated what answer to give, it was Ina, who threw me a lifeline.

Mentioning the name of his beloved niece, Elise, he was refused indirectly.

(Ina! You saved me! You really saved me there!) (Wendelin)

Wai-! Wend! (Ina)

I ended up embracing Ina spontaneously, but everyone, except doushi, showed an expression as if agreeing to a great extent.

It seems everyone was imagining doushis daughter as manifestation of doushi himself in female clothing.

Well, that means we safely finished the competition.

First is doushi, second is me and third is Erws group.

Given that doushi is an elite adventurer to begin with, thats something that probably cant be helped.

You dont particularly care about something like ranking anyway, right? (Burkhart)

Once Burkhart-san asks the guild employee, who was next to him, he gave an answer that could be interpreted as affirmative.

With such an amount of goods it will be given a large price for the bidding at the auction in the capital. Thereupon the gossip will flow into other regions.

If they notice the possibility to earn more money than at their local area, there was the potential of assembling a group of elites here.

Thats like the reason why the adventurer guild supported this competition.

Also, historic ruins, huh?

Yes. We just began the investigation of the Demon Forest. There should be several other yet unknown historic ruins in there.

If the historic ruin, which was discovered by doushi, brings in a large amount of spoils, this will also trigger the gathering of many adventurers.

Thats because an unknown historic ruin has such a high potential for earning money.

In other words, the adventurers guild as well as doushi wanted to help with the development by gathering skillful adventurers in the vicinity of the Demon Forest.

Adventurers, who can earn money, will come together with their families, build a house and start living here.

It will also cause a large amount of taxes to be paid. Since merchants will also come to cater them, it is related to giving the area a stimulation.

Then, tomorrow its exploration of the historic ruins! (Armstrong)

The members are Are these members fine?

Rather than the underground ruins, where we were close to death before, our combat potential has been increased by adding Wilma and doushi.

It should be alright, if there isnt anything very dangerous.

Tomorrow will start early, too. Lets go back?

I want you to let me stay over as well! (Armstrong)

Me too. Please take me along with teleportation. (Burkhart)

Thats fine. Lately the number of people I can transport via teleportation has increased. (Wendelin)

Apparently my precision with magic and my mana capacity rose due to the battle with the undead black smoke giant and the free use of engineering magic afterwards. It reached the point that Im able to transport up to ten people, excluding myself, at once.

Thats handy. Then I will leave it to you.

Got it. (Wendelin)

In preparation of the historic ruins exploration tomorrow, we decide to turn in earlier than usual and move to the mansion with teleportation magic.

But, gradually Im assailed by the feeling that Im forgetting something.

Wendelin-sama? (Elise)

Elise, did I forget something? (Wendelin)

If theres a single thing, wouldnt that be the matter of Katharina-san, with whom we competed? (Elise)

I totally forgot! (Wendelin)

Come to think of it, I recall having done a competition with Katharina for a few days.

At the end doushis impact was far too strong. Everyone ended up forgetting about her, including me as well.

Elise remembering it, can be considered to be due to her having a constitution of immunity as his niece.

Will you go back?

Since its troublesome, tomorrow will probably be fine. Hey, Wilma. (Wendelin)

Huh? Its fine, even if you leave her alone for a day since she is tenacious. (Wilma)

You and Wilma are sometimes quite cruel. That woman had mostly a sharp tongue, too, though.

Although Erw says so, I completely didnt feel like deliberately returning for the sake of that woman.

A competition to determine who is number 1? Id like you to excuse me from something this sultry.

Me accepting the competition was for the opportunity of hunting and because I judged she wouldnt shut up if I didnt accept it.

She can be your partner, Erw. (Wendelin)

No way. That woman, albeit being a beauty, is annoying. (Erwin)

You are mostly too though.

In the end I think it cant be helped that she was forgotten on that day.

Returning to the mansion, everyone ate the meal prepared by Dominique and slept properly. The next day we have once again gathered in front of the adventurers guilds branch near the Demon Forest.

And there that Katharina was lying in wait with an expression as if pouting.

Without even declaring the results of the competition, you abandoned me here! What hell are you thinking!? (Katharina)

You got angry after all, huh? (Wendelin)

Obviously! (Katharina)

After she expressly came here to pick a fight, being ignored was detestable, it seems.

But, you know, you didnt say anything as you were dumbfounded by doushis words and deeds. (Wendelin)

That is (Katharina)

I wouldnt have forgotten her if she had at least said Dont forget me! at that time, but because she wasnt accustomed to doushi, she kept standing stock still in mute amazement in that situation.

Even we have associated with him for many years, however that person establishes shocking realities regularly.

Originally I heard he was an elite adventurer, but by no means did I think he would this amazing or perhaps I should say shocking since he has been occasionally hunting as part-time job albeit being the Royal Head Magician.

Or rather, wont someone stop him, I wonder?

Though I have a hunch that it will be useless, even if he is stopped.

Besides, its our win in the competition. (Wendelin)

Katharinas results werent something to feel ashamed about as renown elite in society.

To put it simply, she likely chose the wrong opponents.

The competition still hasnt finished! From here on its the spoils of around one month! (Katharina)

You will compete with doushi for a month, too? (Wendelin)

That is (Katharina)

Its probably a competition with no chance of winning in the first place.

If our party joins up with Burkhart, we will be able to win without a doubt, but you cant even call such a thing winning anymore.

For you to reach the point of being able to win will take time, I believe. (Wendelin)

We will postpone the competition for a short while! (Katharina)

Somehow its been a success to have her withdraw from the matter with the competition.

But, how unyielding is she, or rather, how obsessed is she with gaining a reputation by winning against me?

I believe that you will become a celebrity right away, if you active in this area normally. (Wendelin)

If its this much, its no good! (Katharina)

Why? (Wendelin)

You, if you put in great efforts, wont it be connected to peerage and achievements? Even if I put in great efforts surpassing yours, whether it will lead somewhere or not (Katharina)

Its the tragedy uniquely applying to women.

No matter how many more great efforts than men they put in, they wont be able to receive peerage. they will only attract a suspicious lot aiming for the money they earned.

Therefore she has been obsessing over making a name by herself without joining a party.

She has likely been thinking that she wont be able to regain the lost peerage of her ancestor unless she performs achievement to the degree of being treated as exception.

Even that is uncertain as well, but currently she has nothing else to cling on but that.

If you consider it like that, she is slightly pitiable.

Well, its uncertain whether it will be useful, but

I appeal to Katharina that I want her to join the historic ruins exploration.

In this times historic ruin exploration doushi and Wilma have been added as well. Our combat potential has increased to being overwhelmingly more than last time.

But, in this world theres nothing absolute.

Therefore I thought I want Katharina, who is a top magician, to participate as well.

As a matter of fact, she has a surprisingly meek character, although her tongue is a bit evil. At the competition this time she didnt do anything like cheating at all either.

Theres no worry to be stabbed in the back either.

However, theres the point that Id like her to apologize to Inas group first.

Its an unknown historic ruin, therefore its uncertain what might jump out. (Wendelin)

Its my first time to do a historic ruin exploration, but Im an adventurer renown in the west. The choice of running away doesnt exist for me! (Katharina)

That will save us troubles. I want to excuse myself from a situation like last time. (Wendelin)

Ive heard the rumors. The other day Baron Rckner, who lost his rank for taking part in an attempted assassination plot, caused a disturbance. (Katharina)

Thats not the truth, but it seems that rumor is spreading with the reason that if its him, he is capable of anything.

Since its suffering the consequences, I didnt have absolutely any intention to correct her.

Well, then lets go diving right away?

Look carefully at my true abilities! (Katharina)

(If you consider it being her way of phrasing things, its something cute, huh?)

Like this Katharina was added as member too and we once again started the exploration of an unknown historic ruin.