Chapter 83

"Big Boars, Horned Rabbits, Nager Foxes, and Wild Wolves are the ones that are most common in the shallow areas. There are many others, but the ones with the largest populations are around there."

But they’re all carnivores. Even the Horned Rabbits, which have 'rabbit' in their name, are carnivores! Well, they are magical beasts after all!

After checking the equipment I had on, I decided to use 'Dawn' today.

"You look happy."

"Yeah, I do look happy, don't I?"

As I was swinging 'Dawn' around, Nebel and Hilt said the same thing in unison.

Because, finally, I can go on a magical beast hunt. If I can't hunt magical beasts, I can't be a member of Fullftball. I can't even call myself the successor to Grandpa.

Everyone finished their preparations, and we immediately set out to hunt magical beasts in the forest.

The base camp is protected by a strong barrier made of magic stones, so magical beasts don't come near. We left non-essential items at the base camp and only took our weapons and magical beast-hunting projectiles.

The ecosystem in the Forest of No Return is well-established, so Tref and Pete, who are magical beast hunters, know exactly which magical beasts are found where. Those who hunt magical beasts in this forest have a mental map of the distribution of magical beasts, and they share such information among themselves.

It's my first hunt, but I don't need to be nervous. We decided to hunt small magical beasts like Horned Rabbits or Nager Foxes.

Horned Rabbits, as their name suggests, are rabbits with a single horn, about the size of a large dog. They usually travel in groups of three or four. Their fur is mostly white, with a few gray ones and very rarely black ones. Nager Foxes are foxes with sharp, long claws and two tails, also about the size of a Horned Rabbit. They are mostly gray, with a few white ones.

The fur of both is highly valued and serves as one of Fullftball's sources of income.

If I can get a Horned Rabbit, I'll give the horn to Ignats as a souvenir. If it's a Nager Fox, maybe the claws. And it would be great if I could get the magic stone too.

Pete told us to head to the Horned Rabbit's habitat first.

As we walked through the forest, we could hear the sounds of bird-like magical beasts—screams and screeches from all directions. The rustling of leaves in the wind and the sound of water from a distance. Is there a stream nearby?

The air... the smell of grass, trees, and earth is so strong.

"We're about to enter the Horned Rabbit's habitat."

Pete's words made me a bit nervous.

"Huh? They're not here. Usually, we can spot a few by now."

Something feels different from before.

The rustling sound... is it not the wind, but the flapping of wings? And the creaking and snapping of branches... getting closer...

Getting closer? Suddenly, a shadow falls over us.

I look up in shock and see a large magical beast with a vulture's head right next to us.

"No way?!"

"Why is it here?!"

Fayvalter and Pete's voices overlap.

"A Griffin?!"

"No! This isn't a Griffin!"

Theo immediately denies Tref's suggestion.

"It's a Hippogriff!!"

A large magical beast, all of a sudden?!

We are each carried by two of the adults to put some distance between us and the Hippogriff.

"So, a deep-layer magical beast has come this far?!"

Pete immediately readies a large, axe-like weapon and then realizes Nebel and I are nearby.

"Um, um, what do we do?!"

Protect us or hunt the Hippogriff.

"There's only one choice, right?!"

"We have no choice but to fight!"

We also ready our weapons, circulate our magic as we did on the walking course Fayvalter made, and avoid the Hippogriff's attempts to stomp us with its talons while jumping up onto nearby tree trunks.

"Kiaaaaaa!"

The Hippogriff's roar? It makes my ears ring!! Then, it flaps its wings, creating a wind that makes it hard to get close.

Alright, attack from above!

I climb up the trees and try to swing 'Dawn' down from above, but each time I'm pushed back by the wind.

Damn! If only I could use offensive magic. The skill-holding protagonists in light novels and mages are so enviable! I have to attack physically without any offensive magic!! It's like Monster Hunter! If I could, I'd do long-range attacks from the base!

"Where's the weak point?!"

Fayvalter, Tref, and Pete answer my shout.

"The neck!!"

"The front legs!"

"The base of the wings!"

Ultimately, the neck, whether human or magical beast!

Tref tries to stop it, but the Hippogriff charges forward, shaking its head, making it hard to stop.

"The eyes are a vital point for any creature, right?"

Hedda is a bit further away, readying her bow.

"Just a moment will do! Someone, please stop it!"

Fayvalter moves, creating a wall of earth at the Hippogriff's feet as it charges.

Hedda didn't have any arrows, but as she drew the string, a light arrow appeared between the bow's limbs and was fired at the Hippogriff's eye.

"Kiaaaaaa!"

It hit! Amazing!

The Hippogriff, with one eye destroyed, shakes its head violently.

"Cut off the front legs!"

At Fayvalter's call, Pete and Tref rush to the Hippogriff's feet and swing their swords. But the wind, or rather the wind pressure, blows them away, and they only manage to scratch the surface.

Damn, if the wind pressure hadn't blown them away, they would have cut off those front legs!!

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