Chapter 8
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Ability Verification (4)
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Ridel Nelraid was utterly astonished by the scene unfolding before her eyes.
She had been by Aren's side these past few days, watching him grow at an astonishing pace.
And through his spars with the knights, she had seen his skills sharpen even further.
But she never imagined he would move so fearlessly against monsters in real combat.
Aren Eldiad had already been treated as little more than neglected—a talentless imperial—by the time she began serving as his exclusive maid.
From the stories she'd heard at his side, he had never once experienced combat against monsters, which all the other imperial children underwent, due to his low talent evident from childhood.
And yet.
'To take them down so effortlessly. Is it because he is still of imperial blood after all?'
Ridel quietly worried that not only his imperial talent but the usual Aren she knew might slowly fade away.
But then.
"Ridel! Look at this! I took down four at once this time!"
Seeing Aren return with a soft smile after scouting ahead and catching more chickleks, Ridel felt her earlier unease melt away.
'Hunting monsters without hesitation must be thanks to his imperial blood, but Aren is still Aren. No strange thoughts. He's the kind master I'll serve for life. The one I'll support with my whole body... and obey in anything he desires.'
'As expected from a monster I've slain countless times in the game. It's a piece of cake.'
Chickleks were monsters you encountered constantly while traversing the early areas in Savior of World.
Maybe that's why—even though this was his first real fight—their charge and movements felt so familiar, making them easy to read.
'Well, the actual screeches are way louder.'
And recalling the in-game text, the chickleks from the game era had higher specs than these ones right now.
'That event' triggered the world's downfall, making monsters fiercer and stronger.
So there was no way he'd struggle against these ones that hadn't turned ferocious yet.
Still, chickleks weren't enough to fully test his current abilities.
No, with how much stronger he got each day, proper verification might be impossible right now anyway.
'Swordsmanship is great, but I need to learn magic and secret arts too—everything I can. Divine arts if possible.'
He hadn't even settled on a proper build yet.
Once he did, trash mobs like chickleks would be a yawn.
After he'd taken down about fifteen chickleks, Gillek approached.
"Your Highness, shall we head back now?"
Checking the sun's position, mealtime was approaching.
"Yeah, let's go."
"Then I'll swiftly collect the trophies."
Gillek drew his sword and sliced off the chickleks' beaks as if cutting tofu, stowing them in his bundle.
"I'll help."
"No, Your Highness mustn't handle such menial tasks. It'll be done quickly, so please return to Lady Ridel first."
"Got it."
With him insisting that far, helping would only disrespect his resolve, so Aren headed back to Ridel.
"How was I?"
"Splendid beyond words, Aren-sama."
"Really?"
"Yes. Can't you hear my heart pounding at your magnificent display?"
Grinning playfully, Ridel tugged her hood slightly lower, placing a hand on her exposed cleavage.
She pulled stunts like this occasionally.
How his face used to burn before.
Now, his first thought was how nice the view was.
"Can't hear it well."
"Pardon?"
Her usual reaction thrown off, Ridel faltered.
"So next time, I'll show you something even more impressive to make it pound louder."
Ridel blinked rapidly and shyly turned her head.
"To think you'd say something like that now. Not just your body—your way with words has grown too."
"Plenty more growth to come, so keep watching, Ridel."
"Of course."
Moments later, Gillek returned with the bundle full, and they headed back to the village.
"Here—the chickleks slain by the young master."
Gillek placed the bundle of beaks on the counter.
"Y-Yes! I'll confirm them."
The receptionist began counting the trophies one by one.
"Fifteen chickleks confirmed subjugated! Here's your reward!"
Trembling tensely, the receptionist handed over the payment.
'Hmm, fifteen chickleks gets this much, huh.'
A tidy sum from a commoner's view, but peanuts compared to the allowance he got regularly as a prince.
'Feels good anyway.'
Earning it himself hit different.
And above all.
"Fifteen? In that short time?"
"Not the guard next to him, right?"
"Nah, Chorak got played, so the noble kid's legit..."
"Really the Tolched heir?"
The reactions from onlookers were icing on the cake.
"You know this, but... keep your mouths shut."
"Y-Yes, we know. B-But... guild master had to be informed as protocol..."
"That's fine."
Gillek was warning the receptionist.
His loyalty was admirable, but the poor guy's face was ghostly pale.
"Gillek, ease up."
"Yes, young master."
As Gillek stepped back, Aren asked the receptionist.
"Speaking of, where's Chorak? Haven't seen him."
"Oh... over there."
Glancing where she pointed, Chorak was sprawled asleep in a dim corner.
"Guuuh... heh heh. Hee hee."
His flushed face said he'd gotten smashed while they were gone.
Business done, time to head out.
"Might I have a moment?"
A sturdy middle-aged man descended the stairs, addressing them.
Looking up.
'Whoa, that hunter?'
An NPC from Savior of World who reminisced about the old village while hunting its grotesquely mutated residents.
"Guild master?"
"Why's the old butt finally coming down?"
"His house sponsoring the guild or something?"
From the murmurs, Aren pegged the man.
'Guild master, huh.'
Made sense.
To survive that chaotic world alone.
Must be guild master caliber to even appear.
But pitiful, too—defending the village only to hunt its transformed people.
As the guild master approached, Gillek stepped forward.
"The young master has a meal now..."
"A quick chat's fine."
"Are you sure, young master?"
"Yeah. Not starving yet."
The guild master bowed.
"Thank you for your consideration. This way."
Following him up to what looked like the guild master's office.
Once inside, the man knelt, hand over his heart.
"I greet the noble Ninth Prince."
A sight Aren knew well from the capital, even as the talentless prince.
"Rise."
He stood at Aren's permission.
"Might I ask why Your Highness graces our humble village?"
"No need to take it gravely. Mansion life's stuffy, so I toured the nearby village and tried being a hunter. That's all."
"I heard one of our guild hunters was rude."
"No worries. He was entertaining."
"My thanks for your magnanimity."
"The village buzzes with life—fun to wander. Coming out like this often doesn't sound bad."
"Glad it pleased you."
Not just his words, but a prince declaring frequent village visits must be gutting the guild master.
But verifying skills in the mansion had limits.
Blasting to the capital proclaiming newfound talent was risky.
'No one'd buy the world-going-to-hell-via-evil-gods story easily, and they'd suspect ulterior motives.'
Better to stay local, prep his build.
'Oh yeah, this guy's got a solid secret art too.'
Gillek's focused on power; the guild master's excelled at mob control.
"Guild master, what's your name?"
Just "Hunter" in-game—no name.
"Tsubal, Your Highness."
"Nice meeting you, Guild Master Tsubal. Spar sometime if you're up for it."
"With Your Highness?"
"Guild masters are strong, right? Curious how you differ from our mansion knights."
Bonus: learn the art during.
"Too much?"
"Not at all. Visit anytime."
"Thanks."
With that, Aren left the office and returned to the mansion.
As Ninth Prince Aren Eldiad's group departed, Hunter Guild Master Tsubal slumped into his office chair, muttering.
"Heard he was ousted from the palace for lack of talent... Do they consider that talentless? Hah, how monstrous are the other princes and princesses?"