novelraw Chapter 24 : Regina of the Mixedcat Race
Chapter 24 : Regina of the Mixedcat Race
The fastest route to Rank C was to hunt three more Tyrant Dragon Belgonas, but after taking down the second one, I stopped running into them. The Black Forest Belva covered an area twice the size of Hokkaido, so finding a Tyrant Dragon Belgona was no easy task.
Six months passed after that. During that time I'd taken down two Tyrant Dragon Belgonas - one more hunt would make me Rank C. Over those six months, I'd also hunted giant frog-type amphibian monsters in the Neruvia Wetlands to the northeast, and giant snake monsters in the Garyūdo Desert to the north.
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「Center Head, it seems Zedeggā has caused another incident.」
Center Head Dessero grimaced. Then he turned a sharp gaze on his subordinate Rujiku, who'd come to report.
「What did he do this time?」
「He destroyed one of the containment devices that was confining a Black Beast Urufado.」
The Black Beast Urufado was a threat level 4 monster. It was a giant wolf-type monster whose entire body was covered in black bristly fur. It possessed physical abilities roughly four times faster than the average Toryū Ryōhei and was infamous as a difficult monster.
「The black beast hasnya't escaped, has it?」
「We're checking that now.」
The Black Beast Urufado's managed containment zone was located deep in the Black Forest Belva. If it had escaped, it would be wandering through Belva's forest.
Center Head Dessero issued orders to send out a warning to the Toryū Ryōheis hunting in the Black Forest Belva.
「So how did Zedeggā destroy the containment device?」
「He cornered a Tyrant Dragon Belgona all the way to the containment zone fence and tried to finish it with a missile, but he missed and broke the containment device.」
「Zedeggā is forbidden from using the hunting grounds for two months.」
In a normal workplace, this would be equivalent to two months of home suspension. It wasn't a particularly heavy punishment, but it would have a major impact during rank promotion reviews.
「How many are active in Belva?」
「Approximately two hundred and fifty.」
「Make sure to confirm everyone's survival nyow. Clear?」
「Understood.」
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I'm Regina Tabotto of the Mixed Cat Race. A twenty-three-year-old female Toryū Ryōhei. I'm Rank D, but I have five years of experience as a Toryū Ryōhei.
Incidentally, the Mixed Cat Race is said to be a species created as a result of the Werecat Race and Human Race using genetic engineering to have children. Our appearance is mostly of the Human Race, but we have cat ears on top of our heads and reflexes on par with the Werecat Race.
Today I'm hunting in the Black Forest Belva with my companions. At that moment, A warning blared from the Achievement Collection Badge issued at the Toryū Ryōhei Guild's Training Center, and I heard a warning that the Black Beast Urufado might have escaped from the managed containment zone.
「Regina, the Black Beast Urufado - that's a threat level 4 monster, right?」
My companion Gimeru confirmed. Gimeru was a Human Race male and a Rank E Toryū Ryōhei. His companions Forisu and Makishi wore anxious expressions.
These three were the original team, and I was the newcomer who'd joined them. However, since I had more experience as a Toryū Ryōhei, I fell into a leader-like role.
「That's right. We should probably follow the Training Center's guidance and return from the hunting ground.」
「You're kidding. We've cornered a Belgona this far. If we're going back, we should hunt it first.」
Gimeru insisted on prioritizing the hunt. Forisu and Makishi, who'd worn anxious faces until just now, agreed with Gimeru. They didn't want to give up on the Tyrant Dragon Belgona.
I hesitated, but considering the value of the Ryūju we'd obtain from defeating the Tyrant Dragon Belgona, I decided to continue the hunt. My combat style was the type called a 『frontline combatant』 - I carried weapons with short range but tremendous power and fought by closing in on monsters.
On the other hand, Gimeru and the others were the 『sniper』 type - they equipped weapons like the 『Homing Rifle』 that fired tracking micro-missiles and sniped monsters from slightly distant positions.
However, one frontline combatant type and three sniper types made for a terribly unbalanced composition. We needed at least one more frontline combatant type.
I examined the ground and pointed east.
「Looks like the Belgona went that way.」
We advanced east cautiously. Then we encountered not the Tyrant Dragon Belgona but a Black Beast Urufado. When an Urufado roughly five meters in total length emerged slowly from the shadow of a rock, my heart nearly leapt from my mouth - I was shocked and terrified at the same time.
「N-no way.」
I heard Gimeru's muttered voice. The situation was desperate. Judging that we'd be wiped out at this rate, I ordered Gimeru and the others to run.
「You three run. I'll buy time.」
Gimeru and the others retreated bit by bit, then broke into a full sprint backward. The Urufado tried to chase, but I thrust out the Lance Driver I held ready and pressed the switch. The electromagnetic catapult built into the long shaft activated, and the ultra-hard alloy spearhead at the shaft's tip launched at high velocity, driving toward the Urufado.
The Urufado noticed and leapt backward. Its reaction was too fast. I bit my lip and glared at the Urufado.
「Good eyes and fast reactions too. What a pain.」
I'd stayed behind to let Gimeru and the others escape, but I had no intention of dying here. My weapon, the Lance Driver, automatically returned to its original state. The drawback was that it took roughly two seconds.
The Urufado glared at me and let out a growl. Just hearing that voice made fear well up in my heart, making me want to leap back in panic. If I did that, I'd move outside the Lance Driver's effective range. I killed the fear and glared back at the Urufado.
The Urufado stepped in and swept with the sharp, vicious claws of its front paw. I blocked with the Lance Driver's shaft, but the monstrous strength pushed me back and sent me flying.