Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Monster Hunting Corps
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“Monster Hunting Corps... you mean the Subjugation Army?”
“The Subjugation Army doesn’t quite capture the nature of the unit I have in mind.”
“If not subjugation, then what...?”
Blaho asked cautiously.
Having fully recovered from the injuries sustained in his duel with Sion, his respect for Sion had grown even deeper.
“Calling it the Subjugation Army brings to mind a massive force relentlessly hunting monsters until none are left, right? That’s not exactly what I’m thinking. Of course, the unit will be quite large.”
“I apologize, Your Excellency, but I’m afraid I don’t quite understand due to my own shortcomings.”
“Hmm. Well...”
Sion hesitated slightly, uncharacteristically.
There was actually a simple phrase that could make it all click in one go.
*Monster Hunter.*
But he couldn’t just blurt that out to people in this world who had no concept of RPG games.
“First things first. Priel, did you look into what I asked you to investigate before?”
“Yes. A messenger arrived yesterday. I was just about to report it.”
“Perfect timing. Let’s hear it now. These two need to know as well.”
“Understood. Then I shall report.”
Priel bowed lightly and glanced at Blaho, who was furrowing one eyebrow as if wondering what this was all about, and Smirnov, who looked utterly clueless as to why he’d come all the way to Augst Territory for this meeting.
“Before departing for Pamell County, Lord Sion asked me to investigate one thing: the activity of monsters inhabiting all regions managed by our North Mountain, South Mountain, and High Mountain kin within the Dukedom.”
Priel continued, shooting a quick glance at Sion, who nodded appreciatively while savoring a sip of tea as if to say *go on*.
“Due to the recent incident in the Dukedom, some brothers from South Mountain and High Mountain joined us, so Lord Sion’s request was immediately relayed to all kin territories. Yesterday, I received the investigation results.”
With his usual emotionless, impassive expression, Priel delivered truly chilling news.
“Activity levels of small bipedal monsters like goblins and kobolds have increased by nearly 1.5 times compared to last year. All types of trolls—rock trolls, swamp trolls, forest trolls—have seen significant population growth, and sightings of mid-to-large monsters have become more frequent than last year.”
“...!”
Blaho and Smirnov’s eyes widened in shock.
“That’s not all. There are new breeds appearing—subspecies between beasts and monsters, or perhaps entirely new types born from some influence. We don’t know which yet.”
“W-what did you say!?”
“Ears... Earsy! You sure about that? For real?”
Blaho and Smirnov erupted in astonishment.
Priel nodded calmly, showing no change in expression despite dropping a bombshell that could very well turn the Dukedom—or perhaps the entire world—upside down.
“Our North Mountain alone might be one thing, but South Mountain and High Mountain kin reported the same. All three clans must be in chaos right now.”
“No way...”
Sion spoke to the two men, who looked utterly dazed.
“I expected it, but it’s more serious than I thought. Anyway, now do you see why I say we need a unit to hunt monsters, but not in the form of a Subjugation Army?”
“You mean... we can’t completely eradicate them.”
“Probably not. Even if we drive them beyond the mountains after immense effort, they’ll just come right back. That’s why we need a dedicated monster-hunting unit for ongoing operations, not extermination. Something like a Monster Hunting Corps.”
“Monster Hunting Corps...”
“You know how knights go out every year after harvest to hunt wild boars or deer? It’s the same thing, just with monsters as the target, done more frequently and professionally. And while the situation is worse than I anticipated, it’s not entirely bad.”
“Pardon...?”
Monsters were humanity’s enemy, transcending all races.
And Sion Dukedom had been a monster paradise until Duke Jang Sion—the man sitting right there—arrived.
Small, medium, large. Regardless of size or type, monsters infested every corner of the vast lands.
That was precisely why the Dukedom’s population was so sparse compared to its size.
With monsters rampant everywhere, people could only farm and live in strictly limited areas around Shionia.
Then one day, Duke Jang Sion—a Hero and the Dukedom’s savior—arrived and waged a three-year war against the monsters, driving them toward the Echo-less Forest and the Brantin Mountains in the Dukedom’s midsection.
In other words, Sion was the one who’d fought monsters most fiercely in the Dukedom, and thus the one who should despise them the most.
Yet this very man was saying that a sudden surge in monsters—including unheard-of new species—wasn’t all bad.
The three men couldn’t comprehend it.
“As you all know, no one here—or in the entire Dukedom—has slain more monsters than I have.”
“...”
As the three silently nodded in agreement, Sion continued.
“And I’m saying even I don’t see this monster increase as entirely bad. Why? Because monsters mean money. Big money. Am I wrong, Vodka?”
“Uh... no, you’re not wrong. In fact, you’re absolutely right.”
The Iron Mountain dwarves didn’t just develop mines and build structures in the Dukedom.
The goods they produced were a vital source of revenue.
Among them were remarkable “artifacts” unique to Sion Dukedom, the most representative being...
“We hunt monsters. Use their byproducts to craft equipment and arm the Monster Hunting Corps. Once we’ve secured enough for ourselves, we sell the rest elsewhere. Of course, at a slightly lower quality than what we use.”
“...!”
Smirnov, ever the sharp-minded Mine Foreman and dwarven leader, widened his eyes.
“I beg your pardon, Your Excellency, but wouldn’t such equipment be extremely expensive? The buyer pool would be quite limited.”
Blaho was a Swordmaster and former commander of the Black Eagle Legion.
As someone well-versed in gear and supplies, he knew that even superior quality didn’t always appeal to armies or mercenaries if the price was too high.
He doubted selling a few hundred pieces would yield the “big money” Sion mentioned.
“Exactly. Demand has been limited.”
“Indeed...”
“Until now.”
“Pardon?”
“You think monsters are only increasing in our Dukedom?”
“...!”
“They’ll surge everywhere—south, central, north. No, they probably already have. Lords with keen senses and well-managed territories might already sense something’s off. Anyway.”
Blaho finally grasped what Sion was getting at.
“Demand will definitely rise. Lords, nobles, even mercenaries—they’ll all soon need gear made from monster byproducts. But as you know, artisans skilled in handling those materials are exceedingly rare. And we have...?”
Sion turned to Smirnov, who was practically bouncing with excitement, and continued.
“The Iron Mountain boys. With byproducts in hand, they can mass-produce high performance-to-price gear. So? Is this really such a bad situation?”
“No, it’s the best possible scenario. Your Excellency, leave it to this Vodka—I’ll keep the forges roaring...”
“I said it’s not all bad, not that it’s good.”
“Gulp.”
Sion shot a cold glare at Smirnov, who shrank back like a turtle.
“More monsters mean our Dukedom’s subjects will suffer great and small damages. The Monster Hunting Corps we’re forming will be no exception. We don’t know how many brave warriors will fall. The *best* situation? Don’t cross the line, Vodka.”
“S-sorry.”
Sion shifted his gaze back to Blaho.
“Anyway, that’s the situation. Blaho, you’ll lead the formation of the Monster Hunting Corps.”
“Yes. I’ll devote my life to it.”
“Good.”
“But, Your Excellency, do we recruit volunteers for the unit, or shall I select them myself?”
“Oh, I forgot to mention that.”
Sion scanned Blaho up and down with a smile.
“You’ve always been sturdy, but didn’t you think your injuries from me healed faster than usual last time?”
“Er... yes. I figured Your Excellency went easy on me.”
“Well, I did hit you less than your father or grandfather. But.”
Blaho focused intently on Sion’s words, newly sympathizing with his long-deceased father and grandfather.
“The reason your bones knit and healed faster than before is something else. You saw the Divine Words, didn’t you?”
“...!”
“Exactly. Prioritize recruiting those who can see the Divine Words—or seem like they might. Ignore status, age, prior experience. Gather anyone who looks promising. I’ll handle the final screening.”
After re-registering at the Triad Eagle Castle and incorporating some as clansmen, Sion had formed a hypothesis.
Those who could see the Divine Words—i.e., the messages—might become “hunters,” even in this world.
Of course, seeing messages didn’t guarantee becoming a hunter.
If this world was under a “system’s” management, talents and stats would vary finely, and not everyone would be suited to knighthood or warrior roles.
But since they were forming a Monster Hunting Corps anyway, it made sense to bring promising candidates to North Mountain and check if they could see level messages.
If even one or two out of ten candidates could...
*We can prepare a combat force capable of facing this world’s arriving adventurers... users in advance.*
They’d gain experience and levels hunting the surging monsters.
Contribute massively to the Dukedom’s finances with monster byproducts.
And prepare ahead for the global crisis—or opportunity—looming in the near future.
It was killing three birds with one stone.
“Now, go tell Handler you’re forming the Monster Hunting Corps. Use the budget I gave you. Figure out the initial steps between you two.”
“Ah... y-yes.”
The Swordmaster’s blazing enthusiasm—as a Dukedom knight fueled by duty and anticipation—flickered out in an instant.
In this world, just like any other, the treasury hated unplanned budget requests above all else.
(To be continued in the next installment)