Chapter 299

Guardian [Part 1]

"THAT'S GREAAAATTTTTT!"

Emma joyfully exclaimed upon hearing about the extracurricular lesson from George and William after they came home.

"Father, I want to go too! I want to see monsters from another territory!"

"But Emma? You are currently on a break from school... Isn't it better to stay quietly at home..."

Even though Leonard faltered in front of Emma, who was deliberately acting cute coupled with pleading, he still tried to dissuade her.

"It's exactly because I'm on a break, Father!"

"Meooow!"

"Oomew meow!"

"Meow meow!"

"Mew meoww!"

"See, Koumei-san and the cats say they want to go too!"

Leonard found himself at a loss when cornered by Emma and the cats, who were giving him upturned doe-eyed look.

"If you say it like that, I also want to go, you know! Skyte Barony is the furthest place from Palace among the territories facing the barrier. The types and numbers of monsters that appear will be completely different, won't they?!"

-To face various kinds of monsters in large numbers-

Experience was the best teacher for hunters. Hunters would grow the most under countless battles.

How valuable a skilled hunter was to a borderland territory was immeasurable...

"But some territories refuse to take in hunters from other territories while declaring, 'We have our own style of hunting here...' and whatnot, right."

Unbelievable. William shook his head helplessly.

The closer a territory was to the Royal Capital, the smaller the area facing the barrier. That was why

territories close to the Royal Capital had a strong tendency to be willful like that as they weren't in much need of cooperation.

"The training for hunters of territories that aren't facing the barrier always ends up getting passed off to us, Palace, every single time, after all."

It's about time for Uncle Arban in Palace to start preparing for the next training session too... George stared into the distance.

The fifth article of the Six Articles of Feudal Lord Monster Control.

"Feudal lords of a borderland must periodically receive and train hunters from territories where monsters do not appear."

[T/N: From Ch31]

When they realized it, this periodic time was already determined to be in the leisure season for farmers in winter (not that all hunters were engaged in farming, but anyway...) Because of snow, cold weather, or whatever, the training for other territories' hunters was foisted on the southernmost territory of the Kingdom, Palace.

"And we receive no budget from the country for that... The territory that receives the hunters has to bear all costs."

Setting aside how it is now, we really had it rough because of that training during our poverty days. Emma recalled. From lodging and food to the medical fee needed when there was an injured participant and hunting equipment, all added up to quite a sum. Even though without having to hold the training, they already had a hard time surviving winter.

"Yeah, I remember. Especially, hunters from territories that aren't facing the barrier are mostly spoiled second or third noble sons who are only good at studying, so teaching them is also a pain..."

Leonard's expression darkened. They wouldn't listen to him, and would instead sulk and cry after they got scolded, would also slip out of the lodging at night and cause trouble at pubs...

" " " "(Uncle) Arban... Is he going to be alright?" " " "

The four of them sighed all at once.

"That said, that's also exactly why I think it's important for academy students to take this extracurricular lesson. Only taking lessons in class is sometimes not enough when it comes to learning Monster Science and Practical Skill for Hunters..."

"Mew!"

"Meoow!"

"Meow!"

"Mew mew!"

"So... Can I go to the extracurricular lesson?"

Emma and the cats pleaded to Leonard again.