Danma: Danganronpa, but Monster Hunter!

Meanwhile, Lieyan, without stopping, asked Shuiyun about the things he cared about most.

"A quest for a high-ranking rock dragon... Let me see... Ah, found it, this is a quest about a high-ranking rock dragon, shared by the guild in Yukumo Village."

Shui Yun turned the scrolls piled on the table and found one with the Jieyun seal on top.

"Yukumo Village? That's the village famous for its hot springs?" Flame blinked. "A high-ranking rock dragon quest, can't they handle it themselves there?"

If he remembered correctly, Yukumo Village was also the birthplace of a certain Monster Hunter series. Where did their protagonist go?

Shuiyun slowly unfurled the scroll: "The Yukumo Village Guild has never actually had its own hunters. Hunters who go hunting in the Yukumo Village area are assigned by the guild."

The hunters previously assigned by the guild have been recruited into the research team and sent to the New World for investigation, leaving Yukumo Village currently lacking in combat strength.

"So that's how it is. No wonder all the missions are being sent here." Blazing Flame suddenly understood.

He didn't really know about this. In the year and a half he had been here, he spent the first year training and the second half of the year on missions, so he had no spare time to learn about other information.

"However, it seems that because the Rock Dragon hasn't affected Yukumo Village at this time, and is only absorbing geothermal heat from across a mountain, the requirement for this mission is to capture the Rock Dragon."

After capturing the Rock Dragon, the guild will take over and release it to a location far from Yukumo Village.

Regarding quest rewards, in addition to the materials that can be harvested from the Rock Dragon, you can also enjoy three free visits to the Yukumo Hot Spring and its facilities. If the hunters go in a group, the entire group will enjoy the same benefits.

"So, do you want to accept this mission?" Shui Yun raised her eyes and looked at Lie Yan, her eyes sparkling like two silver moons falling into a deep pool.

"So, after completing the mission, there's a three-day hot spring trip?"

"To get similar bonus effects as Dango in Jieyun Village, you need to soak in the hot springs," Shuiyun reminded.

"Got it. What if I have a few free attempts left after capturing the Rock Dragon?"

Blazing Flame understood instantly.

Isn't this quest in Yuyun Village just a disguised event quest? Three cats, and there's a limit to how many you can capture.

He knows this very well.

“You can enjoy the same treatment after capturing the Rock Dragon,” Shuiyun smiled slightly, “which can be used to relieve the fatigue of days of fighting.”

"That seems pretty good."

Lieyan's eyes lit up.

His long-awaited opportunity to slack off has finally arrived?

"It's really great. If my sister and I weren't so busy with work, we might have taken on this mission."

Hearing Lieyan's words, Shuiyun nodded, a look of longing appearing on her face, which had softened slightly when her sister was mentioned.

Ah, the hot springs... it's been a long time since she's gone there with her sister.

"There will definitely be opportunities in the future," Lieyan reassured her, then asked, "By the way, if I accept this mission and go to Jieyun Village, how long will it take approximately?"

"Jieyun Village is inconvenient to travel to. Although there are traveling caravans that usually travel back and forth between us, it still takes ten days. However, if we rely solely on the speed of the hounds to travel quickly, it should only take about four days to make a round trip."

Shui Yun pondered for a moment and gave an answer based on her own experience.

She and Fire Sprout used to be hunters. When the two sisters were still hunters, they accepted a mission from Yukumo Village to travel from Fire Village to Yukumo Village.

"The round trip will take four days..."

Blazing Flame silently calculated the time in his mind.

In my memory, Finn seemed to have mentioned that expeditions to the deeper levels of the dungeon were also a race against time. Just getting to the 50th floor would take at least five days, and with the time spent exploring new floors and returning, an expedition would last for more than two weeks.

The Hundred Dragons' Night Parade occurred on the second day of the clan's expedition to the dungeon, making it seven days in total, including the past few days.

In other words, if he sets off now, captures the Rock Dragon, enjoys the hot springs for three days, and then returns, he will have enough time and it will not affect the exchange of goods between the clan and the village.

In that case, we can get this done, and we can also take a few days off to rest and relieve the fatigue in our bodies.

To be honest, fighting five dragons in five days is quite tiring, especially today's fight with the mudfish dragon. Not only was it tiring, but it also took a toll on my mental health.

“Okay, I’ll take this mission.” Blazing Flame immediately made the decision.

"As expected of Blazing Flame."

Shuiyun clapped her hands lightly in front of her chest, encouraging her as if coaxing a child. Then she separated the scrolls unfolded on the table, re-tied the one with the core and handed it to Lieyan, while keeping the rest as proof of the mission.

This means you've accepted the mission.

Flame put away the scroll, mounted Onion, and, with Ellu in tow, the three of them—one human, one dog, and one cat—set off at top speed.

There are rock dragons and hot springs. You even need to soak in the hot springs before the battle. This mission is perfect for him right now.

He'd hunted five dragons in the past few days, so his experience points should have increased. Once he got to Yukumo Village, he'd find an opportunity to open a portal, get Loki to update his stats, and then go fight the Rock Dragon.

Isn't it beautiful?

After briefly imagining what would happen next, Lieyan was filled with hope for the future.

Jieyun Village

I'm here!

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

at the same time.

"Ais, defeat that monster, you alone."

In the midst of a war against unprecedented monsters, the expressionless Lilliputian hero looked up at the blonde, golden-eyed girl and gave her orders.

Naturally, the rest of the group, who considered the girl family, erupted in chaos, and the Yamabuki-iro spirit immediately let out a wail.

"Please wait a moment, Commander! Please allow me to assist Miss Ais!"

"There's no time to talk about this now, don't make me say it a second time."

The Lilliputian hero's voice was cold, carrying the pressure of a ruthless tyrant. Hearing these words, everyone felt as if a chilling wind had swept through their hearts, leaving them covered in ice crystals.

However, no one raised their voice in opposition again.

Only at this moment did everyone realize that the tyrannical will to decide everything was inviolable.

Because he understood the weight of this decision better than anyone else, and he loathed it more than anyone else.

He also understood that the girl he had entrusted with this important task was qualified and capable of undertaking it.

"I'll be fine, don't worry."

The girl's voice reached everyone's ears. The blonde swordswoman spoke, holding her beloved sword, and stepped forward without hesitation.

"Everyone, prepare to retreat. Raul, give the signal to Riveria and the others to retreat as well, leaving only the bare minimum of supplies!"

The command was issued.

Her long and short golden hair mingled together.

Chapter 47: Focus on One Point, Reach the Pinnacle

"Finn, what's going on? Why did they send out the retreat signal? Where's Ais?"

Rivia, her body radiating fiery aura, had just led her team of elven mages to clear out the surrounding worm-like monsters.

Anxious and bewildered voices rang in the ears of the people hastily retreating from the front lines of battle. What would normally be a simple inquiry sounded particularly jarring at this moment.

Raul pursed his lips, his face deathly pale. The Amazon sisters averted their gazes, filled with shame. The werewolf made a loud smacking sound, like a wounded, trapped beast, restless and anxious. The veteran Grace also lowered his head, remaining silent.

Finally, it's Finn.

The icy expression that had settled on his childlike face shattered under the earnest questioning, and he sighed, a bitter look on his face.

"We've encountered a formidable monster, a colossal high-ranking worm-like creature capable of manipulating scales to launch explosive attacks. My name is Princess Ais."

"Finn?!" The elven royal's voice rose, staring in astonishment at the chieftain of his kin.

Had she misheard? The person in front of her was actually calling Ais "Alone, Covering the Rear"?

"..."

Finn was consumed by bitterness and frustration, unable to utter a single word. Rivera's astonished voice was like a raging fire, searing his soul.

He hated himself for giving the order, leaving his comrade to cover the retreat alone.

But the coldest rationality led him to make a judgment.

There is only one way to get rid of that monster and minimize the damage.

That monster could manipulate scales to create explosions, and like that new type of worm monster, it could release a powerful corrosive liquid to attack. Among everyone present, only Ais, who could manipulate the wind, was that thing's natural enemy.

The others there would only cause trouble for Ais.

"..."

Faced with the leader's silence, Riveria raised her staff without a word, walked past Finn, and headed towards the distant battleground where explosions were constantly erupting.

"Riveliya."

Just as the two were about to pass each other, Finn spoke up.

"I'm sorry, you can complain about me however you want later, but for now, please follow my instructions."

"Is this the commander's order?"

"This is the captain's order. Trust Ais, Riveria."

"……it is good."

After a brief conversation, Rivera stopped in her tracks, and then, as if to vent all her emotions, urged the remaining members of her clan who were still nearby to hurry up and gather the limited resources to move away from the battlefield where Ais was.

Evacuate the crowd to create a sufficiently large fighting space for Ais.

She, too, possessed a calm mind. The moment she lost the right to support Ais, she understood Finn's thoughts, figured out what she needed to do next, and put it into action.

The people around seemed to understand the purpose of their visit and began to assist Riveria in her work. Tiona and Bert even openly and unabashedly used Wirebugs for mobility.

Finn could only manage a wry smile in response to this silent protest.

This time, he has once again incurred public wrath.

Fortunately, once Ais returns victorious, the anger of the others will almost completely disappear. At most, she will have to endure Veria's cold treatment for a few days. By the time they are close to the ground, her anger should have subsided.

Sigh, the maternal instincts of elves are such a hassle...

As for the problem with the worms, we'll figure that out later.