ch1-ch20 · 015-ch15

Chapter 15: Conditions

"Is the exam done now?"

"No, there's one more thing I'd like you to try."

Narashima the Hunter said something to the staff, who then nervously guided us to another room.

After going down a flight of stairs, we arrived at a vast floor on basement level two.

It was easily spacious enough for a soccer field.

Why does something like this exist underground?

"This is a training ground mainly used for combat drills. The surrounding material is made of unknown metal dropped by monsters — extremely sturdy and with excellent soundproofing."

The staff member explained.

I see. Even fortified Akayama Town aside, if Hunters were blasting away in this town, the noise would be insane day and night. That's why it's underground.

As soon as I looked like I understood, the staff member operated some kind of machine.

The field then transformed like clay, forming a simulated town.

"In line with standard procedure for other Hunters, the field has been set to a town-defense scenario. Monster count and strength at the usual settings?"

"Yeah, go with that."

Momose-san agreed, and polygons gathered in the empty space, forming a giant humanoid monster.

Around it, countless smaller monsters were spawned, beginning to destroy the town.

The monsters looked like what you'd call undead.

"This is one of the enemy types that gives Hunters a hard time. Each monster is reasonably intelligent and has its own role. They coordinate, use magic, and since they're undead, they revive unless you crush their heads."

The bone-rattling sound of clatter-clatter echoed across the battlefield.

The giant individual seemed to be giving orders — they were already forming ranks.

"You ready? Lumiel."

"Yeah."

Lumiel floated gently into the air.

Her silver wings fluttered as she turned back to face me.

"Give the order, Maeda Hagane."

The atmosphere around Lumiel shifted.

I could see my sister, Narashima the Hunter, and Momose-san all watching the scene with bated breath.

— Just like that time.

Like the time she saved Aoba Town.

With my permission, her power is unleashed. Or to put it another way, maybe she can't fight without my permission.

"Destroy the enemy, Lumiel."

At my words, she spread her wings wide.

I could feel the magic power gathering around her — so dense and strong that even I could see it.

"As you command. My God."

At a speed that left even sound behind, Lumiel shot forward like a bullet.

A trail of light marked her path as she wove through the horde of monsters.

And then, before the monsters could even react, she soared toward the ceiling.

The monsters swarmed together beneath her.

"...Carve."

She clapped her hands together — smack —

And the world silently crumbled.

"Ahh!"

A staff member's scream echoed.

First, the giant monster's arm fell off.

Then its torso, legs, head — all separated, sliding apart cleanly.

The other monsters' bodies similarly slipped apart into pieces, crashing to the ground in a heap.

In an instant, all the monsters were disassembled and annihilated.

Battle over.

"I'm at a loss for words..."

"A power this absurd..."

My sister and Narashima the Hunter were speechless.

Momose-san muttered a single word — "Nice" — and let out a smile.

"I'm done."

She landed in front of me and looked up with a proud expression. The proverbial smug face.

"...I demand compensation."

"Bring it on."

"♪"

And then the usual hug.

Is this really all she ever wants?

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To my great annoyance, my certification ended up as pending.

As the blond kid once said, it's rare for a summoned beast (or in Lumiel's case, a descent beast) to have higher magic power than its caster, so the Hunter Association decided to hold a discussion about it.

"Even if Koh doesn't have combat ability, Lumiel alone clearly has S-Rank magic power or higher. Why not just give him S-Rank?"

"I agree, but it's not up to me. Y'know how the bigwigs in government love pointless meetings?"

"I don't think that's something a member of a state-sponsored guild should be saying..."

And so, we found ourselves at the Hunter Association Kioka Branch.

That said, with the certification situation as it was, we couldn't submit anything to the Association today.

We came here for a different reason.

"Momose-san, what kind of person is the Vice President?"

"Hm? Ah, well..."

Momose-san gave a wry smile and opened his mouth.

"To put it simply, he's a scary person."

"..."

"Ha ha ha, don't worry. We're coming with you."

Saying that, Momose-san gently placed a hand on my shoulder. A large, rugged hand. Honestly, it was reassuring.

The Hunter Association building was a high-rise.

The first floor seemed to serve as a reception area for procedures and such, and aside from the conference rooms and meeting rooms, the Association's directly-affiliated guilds apparently used each floor.

I was invited with an offer to use a super spacious corner room on the top floor as my private quarters if I joined the Hunting Dogs, but my sister sharply declined for me. Strong.

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Hunter Association Kioka Branch — Conference Room

When we were shown in, a man sat enthroned with the night view through the glass windows behind him.

His stern face and sharp eyes were striking, and combined with his impeccably fitted suit, he exuded overwhelming pressure.

"I've received the report from Narashima. Sit."

A low, dignified voice — different from Momose-san's.

So this is Hunter Association Vice President Mineyama... This guy is the very embodiment of Hunting Dog.

The department head, who was apparently once feared as a mad dog, now seems like a Chihuahua in comparison.

"P-pardon the intrusion."

"'Pardon the intrusion'? What was that?"

I just stumbled over my words.

Please forgive me, Miss Lumiel.

"Hmm..."

After surveying us as if observing, the Vice President said, "I don't see the descent beast in question."

Oh right. Lumiel is currently in what you might call recharging mode, so she's in cat form — invisible to others.

"Can you turn back for just a second?"

I whispered to Lumiel, not expecting much.

"I can show just part of myself."

"Huh? Part?"

Before I could even ask, Lumiel switched only her face back to her original beautiful form.

To me, it looked like a cat with a human face; to others, it must have looked like a floating head. The Vice President simply said, "I see." I see?

Eventually, everyone took their seats, and Vice President Mineyama declared:

"For the next World Clock, your guild will suppress it on its own, using only your existing members, to demonstrate your ability to control Descent Arts."

The tension in the conference room spiked.

Vice President Mineyama continued.

"In this case, you'll be assigned the Aoba Town World Clock. If you fail to suppress it and cause damage to the surrounding area — the guild will be immediately dissolved. All members will be transferred to Association-affiliated guilds, and future independence or overseas travel will be prohibited."

Momose-san let out a deep sigh.

"That's quite a harsh challenge."

"It's a directive from above. If Descent Arts can close a World Clock solo, then they believe only a guild of equivalent strength can control it."

"..."

From what I remember of old news, closing a World Clock requires at least five S-Rank Hunters.

It varies depending on the strength and number of monsters at the time, but calling this anything other than a reckless challenge would be generous.

Looking dissatisfied, my sister spoke up.

"Stopping a World Clock with a single guild... but then the Hunting Dogs Guild doesn't have enough combat power either. The conditions should be the same — why can you claim to be ready?"

"Because your scale and ours are completely different."

Vice President Mineyama firmly denied that.

"Narashima misunderstood and thought it was the Hunting Dogs guild alone that would manage it, which created a favorable situation for you all —" Mineyama said, glancing briefly at Narashima the Hunter.

Narashima the Hunter stared at a fixed point, unmoving, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

"As a premise, the Hunting Dogs are an Association-affiliated guild. There are eight Association-affiliated guilds in total, and the combined number of S-Rank Hunters among them exceeds yours. Since they're essentially stationed in the same building, managing Descent Arts across these eight guilds is effectively the same as having them all involved."

But independent guilds are different, Mineyama continued.

"Without national support and unable to rely on the Association, we cannot entrust Descent Arts to you under normal circumstances. However, if you can clear the aforementioned conditions, I am saying we will recognize that deterrent capability and grant special permission for Maeda Hagane's membership."

This time, Momose-san countered.

"Permission or not, you're in no position to interfere with us. You don't have the authority to dissolve us either. What if we go ahead and do it anyway?"

"Please understand that this is a proposal not from the Association, but from the state. Depending on circumstances, this is a matter that could even lead to changes in the law itself."

Vice President Mineyama interlaced his fingers and said it calmly.

What does he mean, the law could change?

If the nature of independent guilds changes, does that put our current position in jeopardy... maybe this is really bad?

"So it's come to this after all," Momose-san muttered, his voice clearly resigned.

"Very well. We accept the conditions."

Momose-san looked straight at Vice President Mineyama as he answered. Mineyama's eyes widened slightly.

"Very well. The conditions are harsh, but do your best."

With only that, Vice President Mineyama turned his body toward the night view.

"This meeting is over."

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