LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 38
Chapter 38: Magical Beast Hunting (1)
“Money? Did I hear that correctly?”
“Yes. Gold would be fine.”
‘If I can’t get the elixir, I can just buy it.’
That was true.
Money was a means to buy anything.
As far as she knew, the only thing money couldn’t buy was life.
Even without purchasing the elixir, money could be used in countless other ways.
“Krrrk, how amusing. Indeed, it’s amusing. My instincts weren’t wrong.”
Luel laughed for quite some time, to the point of tears.
For someone entrusted with the king’s full authority, to hear such a request for mere money was beyond expectation.
She could have asked for a promotion in rank or even for the dishonor of her family to be erased.
(...Of course, Beatrice had no way of knowing this.)
She simply wanted money for her personal benefit.
Luel didn’t think that was a bad thing.
After all, everyone needed to protect their rice bowl.
Even dogs protected their food; how could humans do any less?
Luel found such people the most pathetic.
Beatrice, on the other hand, earned his favor.
However, he had one question.
“The Cenci Viscount Family is said to be among the wealthiest in Krapos. Does money hold such significant value to you?”
She also knew that her family was wealthy, brimming with gold.
It just wasn’t hers—“yet.”
And given her poor relationship with her nominal father, Francesco, she couldn’t just ask him for it.
“Should I ask money from a father who abandoned his own child?”
“Even so, this is the battlefield, Beatrice. For the sake of his honor, Francesco would surely give generously.”
‘I didn’t know that.’
But it wouldn’t be dignified to admit, “I didn’t know,” here.
Not in front of the Crown Prince.
…Even when you had nothing, this was a situation where you had to act like you had everything.
“My pride won’t allow it.”
“Kahaha! A fine answer. Indeed, a noble person cannot bow to the lowly.”
“Precisely. You’ve read my thoughts perfectly.”
A nod, and another nod.
Luel was someone you could easily communicate with.
“Very well, Beatrice. I shall grant your wish. I promise you a great sum of gold. Come to me whenever you wish to claim it.”
“Yes. Thank you.”
Either way, it was a win.
Nobody in this world dislikes free money.
If someone confidently claimed otherwise, that person would be truly insane about money—someone to beware.
‘Hmm, with the bonus secured, it’s time to enjoy the main dish.’
The Mana Heart.
Beatrice swallowed her saliva.
She was already coveting the ample mana she would soon consume.
**
Beatrice’s wish was quickly fulfilled.
Right after Luel’s visit—which could have been a formal audience or a courtesy visit—the awarding ceremony took place.
“Next, Beatrice Cenci.”
“Loyalty.”
She knelt on one knee, placing her right hand over her heart.
The salute unique to Krapos.
Beatrice found it quite to her liking—it was stylish, after all.
“The cadet has achieved great accomplishments during the ‘Mock War.’
We commend her decisiveness and courage displayed at the final moments and grant her this award.
In the year 166, 2nd month of Krapos, by Luel Aschride von Krapos.”
In time with announcer Reiser’s words, Luel presented the award.
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted.
With a sense of pride, Beatrice accepted the Mana Heart.
Having never even received a perfect attendance award in school, despite earning a Nobel Prize, this moment held a special meaning for her.
[It’s been a while since you seemed this happy, Beatrice.]
‘How could I not be happy when I can finally escape the wretched state of mana deficiency?’
[Deficiency, you say. Young Beatrice, sometimes you use shockingly vulgar words I can’t imagine.]
‘If you don’t like it, get out of me.’
[…Apologies.]
Solid, attempting to argue, was immediately shut down.
‘By the way, this is the Mana Heart?’
Beatrice quickly opened the box to confirm its contents.
‘Oh, it’s a fine specimen.’
She felt like a ginseng hunter who had found a hundred-year-old root.
She wanted time to pass quickly.
She couldn’t wait to return to her quarters and begin circulating her internal mana technique.
Tedious formalities followed.
Indeed, nobility wasn’t nobility for nothing; ceremonial and formulaic procedures repeated several times.
However, no one expressed dissatisfaction.
When one’s pockets are full, one tends to be forgiving, no matter how lengthy or boring a speech is.
“Next, we shall hear an address from His Highness the Crown Prince.”
‘Is he the headmaster now?’
Finally, the awarding ceremony approached its conclusion.
Luel took a moment to breathe on the podium before speaking.
“To be honest, I had no expectations of you.
You were from the Aristocratic Faction, and even among them, you were the scraps, so I was deeply disappointed.”
Luel smirked.
“I owe you an apology.
You overturned all my expectations and proved your worth.
You were more noble than any noble I’ve recently seen and more honorable than any knight.”
There could be no higher praise than this.
The cadets naturally straightened their shoulders with pride.
“Overall, I can’t say the level was high.
However, you all did your best.
You approached this as if it were a real battle and took it seriously.
To the point where I feel ashamed of my initial prejudice.”
Luel paused briefly before continuing.
“Each of you, without exception, proved to be excellent commanders and soldiers needed on the battlefield.
I salute you.
Though those who lost may feel bitter…
I look forward to seeing better from you.
This isn’t your only chance, after all.”
Every cadet’s eyes widened.
Victors and losers alike.
Because Luel’s words implied one thing.
‘I’ll give out another Mana Heart.’
Beatrice’s eyes also sparkled.
The more mana, the better.
Though she had lost her vigor as a woman, it was a chance to fill herself with mana.
“So, to the losers, I say don’t lose heart.
I trust you’ll show improvement next time.
With that, I shall end my speech.
You must all be tired.”
“Loyalty!”
As one, the cadets saluted.
A wave of emotion surged through the room.
The Crown Prince himself, the highest authority, had come to the field to give praise.
No wonder some people were moved to tears.
The days of being neglected and scorned.
With Luel’s words, it felt as if all of that was being healed.
‘He’s clever.’
Beatrice evaluated Luel highly.
The true skill of a leader was how well they could turn enemies into allies.
The Aristocratic Faction. Their children.
They were clearly enemies.
But now, with just a few words, Luel had created absolute loyalty.
‘I’ll follow him for now.’
Acting as a loyal subordinate wasn’t a difficult task.
…Well, if it wasn’t too unpleasant, staying could also be an option.
‘If I don’t like it, I can just overturn it.’
Beatrice yawned widely and wiped away her tears.
**
She ran to her room faster than anyone else.
The dormitory for the victors located in the mansion.
Due to the limited space, rooms were shared by two or three people.
But Beatrice was the only one allowed a private room.
This was because she was the only female cadet.
At times like this, being a woman was truly advantageous.
Anyway, Beatrice opened the box.
-Drip.
[…Young Beatrice, are you drooling now?]
“Sniff.”
Beatrice wiped her mouth.
The thought of consuming the mana already had her salivating.
[I recommend you take it slowly. Eating too quickly might upset your stomach.]
Solid spoke with concern.
Beatrice, however, already had a plan for how to handle it.
She had absorbed chunks of mana like this many times before.
She had tried slowly melting it and consuming it all at once.
Ultimately, the most efficient way was to take it slowly.
This allowed for the maximum absorption of mana.
However.
In her past life, Beatrice had lived like a manly man.
Candy had to be chewed to taste its true flavor—
And ice cream had to be bitten into to feel satisfied.
Given the situation, she considered efficiency.
‘Still, a one-shot is the way.’
After working so hard to get this special meal, why save it?
“Hap-!”
Beatrice swallowed the ruby-shaped Mana Heart in one gulp.
[Are… are you insane…?!]
Solid nearly screamed in shock but held back to avoid disturbing her.
After all, who in their right mind would swallow such a precious Mana Heart in one go?
It was something meant to be chewed carefully and absorbed over months.
What Beatrice had done was the epitome of inefficiency, likely absorbing less than 10%.
Solid was already preparing sharp words for the inevitable lecture he’d give after this fiasco.
Of course, Beatrice didn’t care about Solid’s worries at all.
Instead, she calmly began circulating her internal technique.
Unbeknownst to Solid, Beatrice’s technique allowed her to absorb a surprisingly decent amount of mana.
This was a difference of eras.
Mana techniques typically followed the body’s natural lines, absorbing mana into blood vessels and bones throughout the body.
In the medieval era.
No matter how much dissection and experimentation they did, they couldn’t match modern science.
The optimization commonly spoken of was non-existent.
But Beatrice was different.
She was a visitor from the future who had tasted the essence of modern civilization.
As someone who had benefited greatly from the hyper-advanced technology of the 21st century, her technique followed a perfectly optimized route.
She knew exactly where to push forward, where to rest briefly, and when to restart. She knew it all.
How much time had passed?
-Drip.
Beatrice’s forehead was now dotted with beads of sweat.
‘Now it’s the finishing stage.’
[…What exactly is this technique?]
‘Shh.’
[Sorry.]
By now, Beatrice had absorbed about half of the Mana Heart.
Only the final stage remained.
Compared to the previous steps, the last part was relatively easy.
It involved gathering the mana left throughout the body into a single point.
The place commonly referred to as the dantian. The abdomen.
Beatrice attempted the final stage.
-Swoosh!
Simultaneously, the mana inside her began a large-scale movement.
Objectively speaking, it wasn’t a massive amount. At most, it was at the Expert level.
However, compared to Beatrice’s previous state, it was an enormous improvement.
[…Is it over?]
Solid cautiously asked.
But Beatrice kept her eyes closed, offering no response.
It was a slightly unsettling sign.
[Don’t tell me…!]
Solid imagined the worst.
Mana rampage.
A phenomenon that usually occurred when someone absorbed a large amount of mana all at once.
…Once mana rampage began.
It couldn’t be stopped.
If lucky, the person might survive, but their dantian would be shredded beyond repair.
“Ugh, my stomach…!”
Her expression twisted with apparent agony.
[Beatrice! Beatrice! You have to stay conscious!]
Solid called out to her urgently, his tone desperate.
However.
-Burp!
“My stomach’s full.”
[…]
It turned out Beatrice had merely been uncomfortable because she couldn’t burp.
She patted her stomach with a satisfied expression.
-Tap, tap.
A pleasant sound accompanied her actions, bringing a contented smile to her face.
It was like the feeling of eating a hearty bowl of soup after a night of heavy drinking.