Chapter 99
Chapter 99
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: Who Catches the Most? (3)
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The pre-hunt briefing wrapped up with everyone buzzing lightly with excitement.
Even back at the campsite, the talk was still all about the grand prize.
Akanksha and Sachet showed more interest in it than they had when discovering treasures in the ruins.
"Sure, the treasures from the ruins are worth a fortune... but not all of that cash ends up in my pocket anyway. And money? I can always earn more if I need it."
Akanksha made it sound so simple, and she wasn't wrong. A Gold-rank powerhouse like her could rake in gold coins by the hundred just by picking the right commission.
"On the other hand, star fragments are something you can't buy no matter how much money you have. Of course they'd catch my eye."
"I was a bit thrown when I first heard about it."
Lilia was brimming with curiosity but also a touch puzzled. Half-believing, half-doubting was the perfect way to describe it.
"The holy sword is the stuff of church legends, handed down like myth. And suddenly it's made from that? Is it really true?"
"Who knows? Truth be told, even among us, it's half legend at this point. We live several times longer than humans, sure, but not for millennia. Can't say for certain it's fact."
"What do the human legends say?"
Radika slipped into the tent as naturally as if she'd been with them from the start. Lilia paused to recall, then answered.
"Long ago, in an era before the church was even called that, a hero who fought demons at the forefront wielded a sacred sword... Something like that?"
"No mention of elves gifting it, then. But our lore still holds it. Humans and elves were on much better terms back then. Close enough to forge and gift swords from star fragments multiple times."
"Multiple times?"
"Items made from star fragments need to be 'tamed.' Once tamed, only the owner can use them. And if the owner dies, they lose their power and become ordinary junk."
"So that's why the holy sword is legendary..."
"The ancient ones didn't survive the ages, and we haven't gifted any in modern times."
"Such a practical reason."
"Of course, it's not just the rift with humans. We barely have enough for our own use."
Akanksha chimed in. Galen asked,
"How rare are we talking?"
"Well..."
Radika pondered for a moment before loosening her collar slightly.
A thick chain necklace hidden inside her clothes came into view.
"This necklace is made purely from star fragments."
It looked utterly ordinary at a glance. A plain silver-gray color that could pass for silver or iron.
If anything stood out, it was that necklaces in this world were usually gold for noble ladies, so this was unusual.
"Even for weapons or armor, you only mix in this much star fragment, with the rest being other metals."
"The holy sword too?"
"The holy sword... honestly, no idea. More than this risks instability, but back then the world was so brutal they might've chanced it. Anyway, this amount is our standard now."
"And the prize is exactly this much too. Right, sis?"
Akanksha smoothly picked up after Radika. Her sister nodded, and the younger one continued.
"Gathering even this handful usually takes decades."
"Decades?!"
"It's not called 'fragments' for nothing. They only turn up in trace amounts, deep in exhausted mines."
Lilia gasped, but the earth fairies just nodded knowingly.
Even for long-lived elves with a different sense of time, decades weren't trivial.
"See those reactions earlier? Among the earth fairies in that tent, few had star fragment items. Expand to all non-participants, and you could count them on one hand. Most go their whole lives without touching one."
"We got lucky recently—a deposit nearly double the standard amount all at once. That's why we could offer it as a prize."
"But... is it really okay for us to take something like that? It seems too precious..."
"Acting like you've already won? The hunt hasn't even started."
"Just in case."
"Everyone agreed, remember? Same rules for all participants, no complaints. Can't back out now that the prize is revealed."
Radika smiled gently, but there was a subtle chill to it.
"If anyone tries to cheat you out of your fair winnings, I won't forgive them. No worries."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
In truth, it might be fun to see other earth fairies try stealing or robbing them.
But with second-in-command's blessing, they'd graciously accept.
Of course, as Akanksha said, the event hadn't begun, so it was all hot air for now.
"Ugh..."
Once the earth fairies left and it was just the two of them, Lilia groaned.
"What's wrong?"
"I suddenly want to win so bad... Am I too materialistic?"
"Same here, so you're fine."
Galen chuckled back.
They'd heard plenty about how rare star fragments were, but not what bonuses items made from them offered.
If they didn't win, they'd never know anyway, so they'd learn if they triumphed.
It only made him more curious.
All the earth fairies coveting it suggested top-tier gear. In real life—not a game—what did "powerful item" even mean?
Lilia, ever the cleric, seemed thrilled imagining a legendary demon-slaying weapon.
Galen was curious too. Usable by earth fairies meant mages could wield it too, not just clerics.
"I thought we'd just slaughter fiends like always... Guess we need a real plan."
"I'll ask about maps!"
The pair who'd come casually now got serious.
* * *
The campsite vibe was festive, like the night before a big party, but not rowdy.
To be precise, the Silvers—the regular earth fairies—were enjoying themselves, but the Gold elites were scarce.
"It's usually not this intense, but with every participant eyeing the prize..."
Akanksha was no exception. Sachet, never that friendly anyway, and Akanksha herself were busy strategizing, rarely dropping by.
"Until the hunt ends, we're rivals? Don't take it personally."
"Already plenty. You still answer our questions."
Thanks to that, Galen and Lilia rested and planned undisturbed.
The fatigue from three days in the mountains? One Miracle of Vitality cleared it ages ago. A relaxed body sparks better ideas.
Three days flew by.
On the fourth—first day of late summer.
Sky brightening, but sun not yet up.
All contestants, having turned in early, gathered at the main tent with gear slung over shoulders.
"Eighteen teams, thirty-six hunters. All accounted for!"
"Good. Move out!"
Total Council escorts led their groups.
Too many teams for a single start from camp.
They'd divided the basin into eighteen zones, starts at each entrance.
The groups split off in eighteen directions.
A few minutes following their escort, flag number 7—theirs—came into view.
Staff waited below it. They'd trail far behind once Galen and Lilia set off.
Surprisingly, Radika was among the staff.
"Huh? Radika?"
"Our escort? An elf?"
"No, no. The vice chair shadowing one team would stir rumors alone."
Radika waved it off.
"Just volunteered to signal the first start point. Here to say hi."
"Ah."
"Ready? Hunting's your weakest spot."
"No choice. Total newbies."
Galen shrugged.
They'd checked with HQ—no full maps. Just a compass and rough direction for zone 7.
Others same boat, but veterans with dozens of hunts under belts. Even random fiend spawns, terrain knowledge let them guess spots.
"We'll give it our all anyway."
"Good luck. Rooting for you."
"Thanks, Radika!"
The chat ended there.
Staff recited final warnings.
Soon, the sun peeked over the eastern ridge.
"Go get 'em."
With Radika's warm send-off, the duo departed.
First target: that rocky hill ahead.
Not super tall, but steep for its height—tough even for Galen.
No need to summit; skirt it fine.
But they had reason.
"Flag's still visible."
Lilia glanced back, then muttered forward.
Not far from start, fiends already swarming.
Four long-legged, tusked boars charging from a small woods ahead.
"Haven't seen phanghogs in ages."
"Zero points, but leave two? Easy."
"Yes! On it!"
Lilia drew real swords—Akanksha's gifts—reverse-gripping one per hand.
Phanghogs were Bronze-level tough solo.
Four hundred wouldn't faze them.
Bang! Bang!
Clean double pebble shots shattered two fiends' skulls in sequence.
No need to watch; Galen rummaged his bag.
Stab! Stab!
Meanwhile, inertia-carried phanghogs got swords neatly in necks.
Instant kills. Clean stabs like nails—no blood.
"Here."
Galen pulled out sacks—for loot.
Lilia sheathed swords, bagged the corpses intact.
She ditched her pack, shouldered both sacks. Weight of four grown men, but she didn't flinch.
"Be right back!"
"Yep."
Lilia dashed to the rocky hill.
Galen grabbed her pack too, strolled after.
Thud! Thud-thud!
Dealt with minor fiends en route casually.
Through small woods, spotted Lilia at the hill—leaping goat-like up sheer faces to summit fast.
She neatly gutted two phanghogs on flat top for display, reclaimed swords and sacks, back before Galen reached base.
"Good work. No rush needed."
"Save time fast! Win or lose. Think it'll work?"
"Depends if fiends are around."
Zero prior hunts here, true.
But general hunting experience? Plenty.
Pre-Galen Lilia, mere priestess with nanny Jenny, couldn't hunt recklessly—studied fiends thoroughly or got scolded.
Scored fiends meant known types spawn.
They'd simulated dozens scenarios.
Like now: wide-open view, elevated terrain, fresh bait.
Perfect for aerial fiends' eyes and noses.
Unless none nearby...
"Ah, incoming!"
As they entered hill base, Lilia beamed.
Galen saw mere dots; her eyes picked them clear.
"Lucky. One-shot."
Galen grinned, hand out. Lilia nodded, passed pack.
Lightened, she wove shadows stealthily up.
Galen hid behind rock.
Soon, he made out shapes too.
Two wyverns circling sky.
"Kieee—"
Fresh pork platter looked suspicious, but barren summit showed nothing.
Wyverns relaxed.
No logic to spot traps—fiends acted beastly.
Wyverns descended, licking chops.
Shweee!
That instant.
Angle: Galen saw from base, wyverns descending blind to it.
Tat-tat-tat!
Lilia bolted that path furiously.
Sensing peril, wyverns just clawed phanghogs, lifted off hasty.
Lilia hit summit.
Toward airborne "safe" wyverns.
Whoosh!
She kicked off hard.
Blessing-boosted leap terrifying.
Wyverns, speeds low, couldn't evade.
Slash!
Spear momentum severed one neck clean.
Not full power—tough scales resisted, slowed her.
"Hyup."
Using that, she twisted midair, landed lightly on surviving wyvern's back.
Waved cheerily to ground Galen.
"Scouting ahead!"
Unfamiliar terrain?
Just go see for yourself.