Chapter 101: Adventurers’ Movements

"...Hahaha, this is kind of fun, isn’t it? Killing these monsters, I mean. The fact that they kill people isn’t cool at all, but at least they serve as a warm-up."

"You’re causing problems. Could you at least be quiet? You tend to talk way too loud when you’re fighting, and it messes with my concentration."

"You two should take it easier. You’re breaking too many things and collapsing some houses." The members of the Blood Constellation bicker a little while hunting the monsters roaming the streets of the Ortyr Kingdom.

The [Blood Constellation] is a group of three adventurers, all National Rank at level 60, which makes them a pretty famous group. But like any group that’s known each other for a long time, small fights are inevitable.

"Come on, you two, have a little fun. This is a rare chance for us to at least have some kind of challenge. People dying shouldn’t kill our spirits — after all, it happens all the time, and as sad as it is, it’s inevitable." Aeven speaks with an excited tone in her voice. She’s a tall, muscular girl with gray skin.

She has long brown hair and black eyes, a truly powerful build standing at 2 meters tall, carrying a long, thin sword on her back.

She’s dressed in light armor with tones of red, black, and silver — an armor choice made to allow freer movement, which is a real contrast since, despite her physique, she uses a light weapon instead of a heavy one. She cuts down several of the approaching monsters, and with her thrusts, she pierces the heads of many of them.

"I can’t have fun when I, the leader, am being deliberately ignored just because you want to hunt monsters and you’re finding this amusing." Qyrelle criticizes with a tone of pure disapproval. She’s a short girl with long blonde hair and heterochromia — one green eye and one red eye, though her eyes aren’t visible because of her mask.

She has average-sized breasts and a slightly slim physique, and she always wears a black mask with a single red line down the middle of the round mask, paired with a black cloak that covers most of her body. Because she’s a mage and due to her physique, many end up not taking her as seriously as the leader of the trio when they hear stories about the three.

"Qyrelle, there’s no need to fight with her. She’s killing the monsters, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it? Even if her attitude and loud voice are attracting more monsters." Nerovel tries to defuse the small conflict. He’s a man with black hair and dark purple eyes, with a weaker and softer physique.

He, like Qyrelle, is also a mage, but while Qyrelle focuses 100% on being a high-level mage, Nerovel is both a mage and a dagger user, so his leaner body comes mainly from his fighting style.

"Nero, look at her!! She was supposed to head with us to the center, where the stronger monsters are. Wasting time hunting weak monsters is pointless. This is a great opportunity for us to gain at least one level, since there are some level 55 monsters there in the center." Qyrelle speaks in a serious tone while firing off a spell that forms several purple crystal blades that pierce the heads of the monsters advancing toward the group.

"Qyrelle, I don’t think we can level up that easily. You know how hard it gets to level up after level 35. We’re all already level 60. Even assuming we were the ones to kill all the monsters, it wouldn’t even give us one level. Besides, there are others killing monsters too, so overall only the money reward is a concrete gain." Nerovel speaks with a tone of disagreement toward Qyrelle’s attitude.

"...I know that. But it’s not just that fact — most of these monsters are pretty useless. We kill them, and for some reason, their bodies turn into black ash." No one knows why all the dead monsters disappear.

But it’s all because of a spell from Nio, who is absorbing all the magic from the dead. Since Raid monsters are made of magic, their bodies and even rare materials also turn into gray and black dust.

"These things aren’t even dropping materials. Honestly, it’s really frustrating. Obviously, I’d still come if it were to save people, but not even getting rare materials from level 55 monsters is honestly infuriating." While Qyrelle complains, Aeven charges at a group of monsters, attacking with a brutal swing of her sword.

"...Okay, Qyrelle, on that point I agree. The lack of material gains is... frustrating. But at least we can make contact with other National Ranks, and that’s something. Several interesting groups showed up for this little ’party’ that’s going on too." Nero ends up agreeing with Qyrelle on part of the subject.

"Nero, on top of all that, Aeven is wearing down her sword again. Her sword is honestly expensive. She fights brutally with a delicate blade that always breaks at important moments."

"Honestly, we’ve spent more money on her weapons than on mine and yours combined over a two-year period, and that expense happens in a single month!!" Qyrelle has every reason to be frustrated. She’s thinking about the future as the leader — after all, the group’s weapon expenses started getting way too expensive as the group grew stronger and their weapons couldn’t keep up with their strength.

"...You’re right about that too. Her sword is going to break at some important moment, like always. But you don’t need to be so hard on her. She’s having a little fun, and we always figure it out. Besides, she has her backup sword that she never uses, so it’s not like she’ll end up unarmed just because she’s enjoying herself a bit." Nero uses good arguments, being the glue of the group.

"As for the money, we can deal with that later. Between money and our lives, it’s obvious our lives are worth more."

"...Of course I know that. Fine... I’ll let her have her fun for a bit... but if we run into problems, I’m punishing you for this, since you’re defending her reckless attitude."

"Hahaha, fine! I’d accept a punishment if we have problems just because of this. Now, shall we get back to work? Seems like the king will pay well if we can secure the area and keep the monsters from passing a certain perimeter."

"...Go on ahead. I’ll prepare some barriers for us, just in case an emergency or something happens. You never know, right?"