The Hidden Giant of the Great Mountain Range
The Great Mountain Range — a stealth-type colossal monster. To observe it, we first had to locate the areas where it primarily appeared. I hurriedly charged the Magic Stones that would power the Magic Radar Malton had prepared in a rush, then began searching for its range. There was an urgent need to get everything ready as quickly as possible.
That thing hadn’t touched humans yet, but it probably wouldn’t be long before it did. Every human who entered the Great Mountain Range carried magic power within them, long before any consideration of “human taste.” Hunting for magic power was its instinct. The moment it devoured enough to feel unsatisfied, it would descend toward the city. And once that happened, trying to stop it across this vast territory would become an absolute nightmare.
“I’ve gathered only trustworthy people.”
Knights alone couldn’t solve this. The Great Mountain Range wasn’t a place you could simply enter just because you had a map. Unlike how it looked from the outside, the interior space was strangely distorted. That was why I had called Isabel—we needed the help of adventurers in this situation.
“Organize them into teams of three: one knight, one adventurer, and one researcher. Have them avoid dangerous zones and attempt observation with the radar. Also, station one more person at a distance where they can still observe with the naked eye, in case something goes wrong. It’s a device to relay news immediately if they unfortunately encounter the creature. While preparing various other measures, I need the investigation teams formed as quickly as possible. At the same time, continue the experiments in the workshop.”
The experiments didn’t go well from the very first day.
“It seems heavily affected by the surrounding magic power, making it difficult to measure accurate reflected waves.”
I checked the data Malton had brought. Since this was urgent, I had gone out myself to verify the measurement patterns on site, but replicating modern radar exactly was indeed impossible. We would continue the experiments, but if it proved unusable, I would have no choice but to take the dangerous route of stimulating it with my own magic power.
“Hang in there.”
“Understood.”
In truth, if there was no other way, we would eventually have to send people out to search directly. And the only ones who would willingly accept the task of luring what was estimated to be a colossal monster were the private soldiers of the Franz family. Forcibly mobilizing adventurers would tarnish the honor of the Franz family. There would be some who would come for money, but their numbers would still be limited.
One day passed. Two days. Then three.
“We did it!”
“Oh?”
Just as I finished organizing the investigation teams and was about to dispatch them, a message came from Malton. I called only Chloe, Isabel, and Malton into the office to review the research results.
His face was flushed with excitement, but the heavy dark circles under his eyes and the bloodshot whites told me he had been holed up in the workshop running experiments nonstop, just as the reports had said. I took the documents Malton handed over.
“The reflected wave measurement ultimately ended in failure.”
“I see. Can’t be helped.”
The report concluded that, considering the influence of surrounding magic power and the fact that magic power itself easily changed properties, the results couldn’t be trusted. The biggest problem was people sensitive to magic. Not only nobles like me, but even knights and adventurers sometimes reacted to the magic waves. So we switched to Plan B. Instead, we would deliberately pour out magic waves.
“The problem was that we focused too much on stealth. If the magic waves are going to be detected anyway, there’s no need to hide them.”
Malton’s explanation was simple. If we couldn’t hide the magic waves, there was no point in trying to conceal the ones we sent out.
“So I added one more function to the emitted magic waves.”
“Collection, huh.”
Like pollen sticking to the bodies of bees flying around to gather nectar. The moment the magic waves emitted for observation reflected off the target, they would collect traces of its magic power. The word “collect” sounded strange, but it meant releasing pure, transparent magic power and checking what clung to it.
“Even if the target detects the magic waves and absorbs or manipulates them all, we can maintain reliability by comparing the patterns against the pre-set baseline and detecting changes.”
Ah, I’d heard of this. It was a method used to detect errors when transmitting data through communication. Parity bit, was it? I smiled at Malton’s report. As expected, if I just threw out the concept, he would research it on his own.
“It might be easily detected by people, but that’s something we’ll have to hope improves with future results. For now, this should work.”
“Yes. However, if the stealth-type colossal monster can even pass through magic power…”
I shook my head at Malton’s concern. If such a creature truly existed, it wasn’t something we could easily handle in the first place.
“If we worry that far, we won’t make any progress at all. Let’s start the investigation first. If there are no results, we’ll have no choice but to control the people.”
Besides, this wasn’t just my problem. Or rather, not just the Franz domain’s problem. Starting with Franz, every territory in the vicinity would become a target. Of course, we would suffer the most damage.
In that case, I would have to call Brother Aidan as well.
“Of course, this still can’t be called a surefire method…”
“Yeah. But it doesn’t matter. I can’t personally wander all over the Great Mountain Range anyway.”
The reports coming in suggested with increasing certainty that the target was a colossal monster. A true colossal monster wouldn’t bother hiding its body, but if it was a stealth-type that naturally concealed itself due to its species, the possibility wasn’t small at all.
“We’ll run a field test immediately.”
“I-is that alright?”
“Yes. We were going to have to investigate with manpower anyway, even if the Magic Radar wasn’t completed.”
I looked at the Magic Stone brought for testing. I examined the spell formula engraved on it. This was another field that would require continuous research going forward. There were so many places that needed investment.
“Hurry with mass production.”
“Yes, understood!”
There were more than enough Magic Stones in the Franz warehouses. The only thing needed was my permission to use them. I wrote out the authorization and handed it to Malton.
After watching Malton bow and leave, I turned to Isabel.
“The adventurers directly under the guild. You called them Watchers, right?”
“Yes. They are a unit that investigates and arrests adventurers who commit crimes or engage in illegal poaching.”
“Make sure they thoroughly learn how to use the Magic Radar and familiarize themselves with the entrance areas of the Great Mountain Range.”
“We are already carrying that out.”
I nodded at Isabel’s words. Then…
“What about Father?”
“From the contact we received, it seems he will arrive around next week.”
“He’s coming to the base of Mount Gulan, correct?”
“Yes.”
Mount Gulan. One of the mountains extending from the Great Mountain Range. It was ambiguous whether it could truly be called part of the Great Mountain Range, yet it couldn’t be completely separated from it either. It was one of the passageways connected to Muller.
I thought for a moment.
“I will head there personally.”
“Pardon?”
“Young Master Leoric! You mustn’t!”
Isabel looked startled, and Chloe immediately opposed the idea. I shook my head at the two of them.
“We’re short on manpower anyway, and I have to step forward myself.”
“But—!”
“Even if Father doesn’t suffer any major harm from a stealth-type ambush, the mere fact that his army takes damage would be far from good.”
If nothing happened, that would be best. Besides, I had been planning to explore Mount Gulan anyway. I looked at Isabel.
“Where is the path from Tresle toward Mount Gulan?”
Isabel made a thoughtful expression at my question. No matter how knowledgeable she was, it would be difficult for even her to know every single path in the Great Mountain Range. Fortunately, it seemed she did know.
“There are several paths, but the closest entrance is called Yellow Hill.”
“Yellow Hill?”
I tilted my head at the unusual name. Even I didn’t know every corner of the Great Mountain Range, but I was familiar with the famous areas. This was the first time I had heard of a place called Yellow Hill.
“It is located at the lower part of the entrance area. However, as you know, because it is close to Mount Gulan, it deviates from the paths leading deeper into the Great Mountain Range. It is a place with very few traces of human activity. Yellow flowers bloom there all year round, which is why it is called Yellow Hill.”
“Good. Then I’ll go there myself. Do you know the way?”
“I’m sorry. I have a rough understanding from maps, but if I were to guide you personally…”
Isabel lowered her head with an apologetic expression. She could probably go alone, but she couldn’t confidently guide me there safely and reliably.
“…Then I’ll hire an adventurer.”
“Pardon?”
Both Isabel and Chloe blinked in surprise. We were already short on people, and I had heard that the number of Watchers wasn’t that high either. Pulling someone from teams that needed to be formed in groups of three or four would be difficult, so it would be better to find a veteran for this side.
“There’s always one like that everywhere. The kind who gave up on climbing higher but still has lingering attachments and can’t bring themselves to run away.”
I would find one such person and have them guide the way. First, I needed to see how sensitively the improved Magic Radar reacted. Then I would distribute them to the adventurers and examine what magic patterns had been recorded. If any unusual patterns were found, we would conduct a more precise investigation along the paths the adventurer had traveled.
I had no intention of using anyone as bait, so we would have to continue researching the radar’s performance. But for now, I would have to go around and test it myself just in case.
Given the circumstances, neither I, Isabel, nor Chloe had any particular intention of stepping forward, but—
“Hah. A seven-colored tiger.”
A tiger with the ability to assimilate with its surroundings. It wasn’t actually seven colors, but it had been called that in the past, so the name stuck. Like the tigers of my previous life, its instincts were purely those of a hunter. Creatures with magic power were considered especially dangerous around it. To think one had appeared here.
“Does that thing appear around Yellow Hill too?”
“N-no way! It’s a monster you’d only spot in the middle areas! T-this is my first time seeing one in person…!”
Hans’s magic power was barely a trickle, but compared to the other low-ranking adventurers around here, it wasn’t bad. The way he controlled it seemed appropriate for his accumulated experience. But even Hans would be no match for that tiger.
Looking at the two facing the tiger, it didn’t seem like I needed to intervene. I slowly examined the traces left behind.