(EP-125.2) Hunting #5

125 – Monster Hunt #5

They were probably attracted by the commotion just now.

However, my focus was not on the buzzing swarm of giant wasps, but on the tip of Aira’s finger. It was shining, as energy seemed to be gathering around her fingertip with a low humming sound.

─Phi-siung-.

Something then shot out from Aira’s fingertips. It was extremely silent, unlike my raucous magic.

Like a chilling thread of death, focused on one point, it pierced through the air in an instant and flew through the head of a giant wasp.

Phyuk. Chwaaaaa-.

━Jeuejue….

It felt completely different from my crude explosive magic. However, Aira spoke as if this was nothing.

“If you practice, you will be able to do something like this too. From a single point to a straight line.”

The tip of her index finger, which was engulfed in light, cut straight through the air from left to right.

At the same time, the light tore through the space like a sharp scalpel, leaving behind an afterimage of white light.

Shiiing.

━Jicheucheuji, jeucheu-!

━Jicheucheu!

With a scorching heat, the bodies of the wasps that were pouring out of the narrow cave fell to the ground as if they had been sliced by something.

Tolsok, hudududuk.

And just like that, a dozen or so gigantic wasps met their demise with a single movement from Aira.

Morangmorak.

Hot steam was emitting from the severed remains of the wasps. Upon a closer look, they were cleanly cut by something sharp at an ultra-high temperature.

“Theo, do you understand now?”

‘I do…’

There was an immense gap between me and Aira.

I already knew that a Mage past the 5th Rank would be called an “Archmage”, with a significant power increase. However, I didn’t think that there would be this much of a huge wall towering between Aira, who was in the 7th Rank, and me, who was in the 4th Rank. I couldn’t help but be a little frustrated.

But my expression didn’t change on the outside. Rather, I just bowed my head towards Aira.

“As expected, the Queen’s prowess is impeccable.”

* * *

After Aira dealt with dozens of hornets at once, the number of their appearances significantly decreased. Thanks to that, I was able to easily handle the one or two stray wasps that happened to come my way.

━JeucheuJicheucheu….

━Cheucheu-!

─Paimon-!

Phishung-. Phishung-.

The compressed magic bullet pierced through the wasp’s head. It sprawled motionless on the ground, twitching.

Indeed, it was exactly as Aira had said.

By concentrating my magic into a single point, its area of effect might have decreased, but the power noticeably increased. To put it simply, it was more lethal.

Thanks to this, Paimon was able to pierce the hard wasp’s carapace and inflict fatal wounds on them.

━Jicheucheu.

“Heup-.”

“Your skill in gathering magic to one point has greatly improved~.”

Aira patted my head as I killed a wasp. It seemed that my progress was highly pleasing to her.

Actually, I really was making progress.

Perhaps due to killing numerous wasps, but my Mage job experience was steadily increasing. Finally, I managed to reach Level 9.

Seureureuu-.

For a moment, I could feel my exhausted body being filled with magic power again.

━Chuecheucheujeu.

As we entered a spacious hall, I suddenly felt something huge flying in the air. It was a menacing wasp with a crown-shaped horn growing on its head.

“That seems to be this nest’s Queen…!”

Aira furrowed her brow as I exclaimed in surprise.

“It’s small, but if it is the Queen, then wouldn’t it be just fitting if I, the Queen of Angmar, deal with it personally?”

Aira pointed her finger at the Queen.

“━━─.”

At the same time, I heard Aira murmuring very fast. Then, the same high-temperature beam as before pierced through the Queen Wasp’s body, shattering it to pieces.

I was surprised that the death beam that Aira had been firing from her hand was actually a skill that required incantation. Now that I could see it, she’d just been chanting so fast that I wasn’t able to recognize it.

It seemed that my Mage job reaching 4.5th Rank had allowed me to barely hear her chant now.

Perhaps, there were skills like “High-Speed Incantation” that only Archmages could use.

「You have calmly judged the situation!

You have gained experience points through the talent 《Calm Thinking》.

All job experience +5」

Then I suddenly noticed something hidden behind the giant Queen Wasp’s corpse.

It was a box. A square, sturdy-looking box, reminiscent of a pirate’s treasure chest.

Having seen something similar in the Draco Family’s dungeon, I felt a surge of excitement.

“Looks like that’s the core of this wasp nest dungeon. Go ahead and open it.”

“Is that okay?”

“Yes, it’s not something I need anyway.”

At Aira’s words, I approached the wooden box. It was locked, but I easily dealt with this using the key I got from the Queen Wasp’s corpse.

Dolkok, giiik.

Inside the box was a single scroll. It looked nice, with a red ribbon around it and a jewel embedded in the center.

As I picked it up, words floated in front of my eyes.

「Angmar Magic Tome: High Relic. You can record and store magic and spells, or take them out and use them. Depending on the user’s rank, the number and effect will be further strengthened.」

“It’s a magic scroll.”

Aira said as I was reading the prompt.

“Magic scrolls are convenient items that allow Mages to store and cast spells. Although there is the downside that the spell disappears once used-. It looks like this can be used again and again.”

“Oh.”

This meant that I could store spells that I couldn’t use or found difficult, and then took them out and used them when I needed to.

This seemed pretty good!

This would have been an incredible card if it went to anyone in the Hunter Party.

I was glad I got it first. The Hunter Party didn’t need to get stronger anymore. Without the crazed Aira and fallen Saintess, there were no enemies to defeat. It was meaningless to become stronger.

“Indeed, it’s something I don’t need. You take it, Theo.”

Of course, for Aira, who could be said to have mastered all magic, would not need such an unnecessary item. Thanks to this, I was able to obtain some good stuff.

But then, it begged the question.

Why did King Solomon place his belongings in various dungeons like this?

As I was pondering about such a doubt, Aira glanced around and said.

“I will destroy this dungeon now. There’s no telling what kind of variables the ruins of Angmar, which lost its magic core, will cause.”

Ureureureu-. Kwang, Kwakwakwang-.

Since Aira had decided to destroy the cave, I had no choice but to rush outside.

Swaaaaaaa-.

As we made our way along the forest path, heavy rain suddenly started pouring down, making it impossible to see even a step ahead.

My body was drenched, and I had to find a place where we could seek shelter from the rain.

“Aira-nim, please wait a moment!”

As I hurriedly ran around, I finally spotted a suitable place.

“How about we seek shelter in that place for now?”

At my words, Aira turned her head. Then she asked me as if she couldn’t believe the place I had found.

“… Theo, you want us to go there? Are you serious?”