PFLWPL 54

CHAPTER 54,………………………………………………..

Anyway, monster hunting didn’t require such large-scale, wide-area magical tools.

Unlike monster subjugation missions that wiped out all monsters within a designated area, monster hunting was a ritual used to eliminate a small number of monsters that appeared sporadically, often even outside known monster habitats.

More precisely, it was little different from practical training for the noble children in using their special abilities.

It was hands-on experience meant to help them grow into Pegasus beastfolk who would later protect their territory and do their part in monster subjugation.

Many children noticeably improved their abilities simply by participating in the family’s monster-hunting ritual.

‘On the other hand, there are also kids who freeze up completely the moment they see a monster.’

It was still unclear which category Rin would fall into, but Theodore intended to prepare thoroughly so that Rin wouldn’t be hurt no matter what.

“Rin, you’ve never seen a monster before, right?”

“I’ve seen them in books!”

“In picture books, monsters are usually drawn as scary black creatures. But in reality, they’re a bit different.”

“Different?”

“What do you think monsters look like, Rin?”

As she tilted her head in thought, feeling a hand gently brush aside the hair that had fallen onto her forehead, Rin sank into contemplation.

‘Monsters… black and scary—no. Uncle said they’re different from the pictures in books. Then not black, not monsters, but still scary?’

Trying to erase the fixed image in her head and imagine something new wasn’t easy.

As Theodore gently patted his groaning niece’s head, he spoke.

“The truth is, monsters look different to every person who sees them.”

“Huh?”

“So only you can know what kind of monster you’ll see.”

They were truly strange beings.

Some people saw monsters like fairy-tale creatures, while others claimed they looked just like certain people.

But everyone agreed on one thing: what they saw was the most frightening form imaginable.

“How did they look to you, Uncle Theo?”

“To me… they looked like what I was most afraid of when I was about your age.”

“Gasp! Even you have something you’re scared of, Uncle?”

If the strongest uncle in the world was afraid of something, that was terrifying.

Seeing Rin’s frightened expression, Theodore smiled reassuringly.

“But I’m an adult now, so I’m not scared like I was when I was little.”

“Phew. That’s a relief.”

“……”

Watching Rin let out a relieved sigh, Theodore wore a calm smile.

He set aside the fact that the image of the monster still stabbed sharply at his heart.

Twenty-five-year-old Theodore wanted to be a perfect protector in front of his six-year-old niece.

He wanted her to grow up truly believing there was nothing to be afraid of.

Just like his family had done for him when he had been an orphan with nothing.

“Shall we start the real lesson on magical tools now?”

“Yes!”

“All right, I’ve gathered the basic equipment here. Why don’t you take a look and tell me what you know?”

“Mm-hmm! I’m good at this.”

Rin puffed out her chest proudly, claiming she remembered every single magical tool her mother had made.

She trotted over to the table where the tools were laid out and pointed at them one by one, rattling off explanations.

“Excellent, Rin. You really remember everything.”

“Hehe.”

“Then now, let’s think about how you’d use these when you encounter a monster.”

During monster hunts, the children of the Pegasus family fought monsters using wind abilities.

But Rin’s ability, as Theodore knew it, was light emission.

Shimmering light could draw a monster’s attention, but with such a dangerous bait-only role, light emission alone couldn’t be used to hunt monsters.

So Theodore’s solution was to make use of his archmage sister’s magical tools.

Humans were creatures who used tools.

And the Pegasus family, having produced one of the greatest archmages of the century, took immense pride in their well-equipped magical tools.

Allowing the use of magical tools during the family’s monster-hunting events was only natural, and having excellent equipment and using it efficiently was itself a skill worthy of admiration.

“There’s more than one way to hunt monsters besides abilities. If you use these tools well, Rin, you’ll be able to hunt monsters splendidly too.”

“Okay, splendidly! I’ll do it.”

Seeing Rin gaze at the magical tools with eyes full of motivation, Theodore nodded approvingly.

If she learned to use the tools this well, there was no way Rin would get hurt.

However, unlike Theodore’s thoughts—This should be enough to ensure Rin’s safety during monster hunting—

‘Mom’s magical tools. Rin’s going to fight magnificently with these.’

Rin’s mind was filled with visions of herself performing heroically during the hunt.

On top of the divine power techniques for hunting monsters that Caligo had taught her, she’d be equipped with magical tools boasting all kinds of effects?

“Hehe… heh… hihihit.”

Lost in her imagination, Rin’s mouth stretched into a goofy grin.

‘I’m totally going to shine.’

In her brain’s virtual reality, Rin had already defeated a hundred monsters and was being showered with praise—
“Our niece is amazing!”
“Gaaah! I can’t believe I failed to recognize such a genius. My apologies! Here are a hundred chests of gold coins!”—
as she proudly lifted her chin.

After the busy Theodore finished the lesson and left for his office, Rin stayed behind, swinging her legs as she reviewed what she’d learned.

“Mom’s magical tools… could Rin upgrade them even more?”

According to what she’d learned from Yoo×Tube game videos, items were never meant to be used in their original form forever.

You combined similar items, applied mysterious potions to add effects—Earthlings were constantly improving and reusing magical tools.

Pushing aside the sad memory of people hammering away at something and crying in despair, Rin stared quietly at the tools in front of her.

“What if I could use the Lorez Grass ‘Amplification’ on these too?”

Inside her small head, the formulas from her mother’s research notes unfurled all at once.

New possibilities were popping up rapidly in her eyes as she imagined hypothetical combinations.

Kaidan was spending days far busier than when he had been staying at his family’s main estate.

‘So this is the amount of funds I can use right now.’

To carry out the plans he had in mind, he needed more money.

The items he had won at the auction house where he previously encountered Rin had already multiplied his funds several times over.

But since the initial investment had come from selling a few pieces of jewelry he’d brought from the estate, the overall scale of his capital was still small despite the impressive returns.

“Tell me anytime if you need help. You’re that child’s son, so to me, you’re practically my nephew.”

Alesse Tigris—the patron he’d met at the last party.

She was a close friend of his mother and a distant relative to him, and as the head of the Ali Trading Company, she had promised Kaidan her full support.

‘Normally, I wouldn’t have met her until a few years later.’

Now that there was no misunderstanding between them, Kaidan went to her directly to ask for help.

Though she wasn’t closely related, Alesse—who insisted on calling herself his aunt—was one of the few people Kaidan trusted.

Even though Alesse said she wanted nothing in return, Kaidan planned to repay the support several times over when the Ali Trading Company faced its crisis a few years later.

Of course, to do that, he needed to snowball these funds right now.

Using information from memories of a previous life, Kaidan visited all kinds of places he had never been to at his current age.

And that ended up causing a strange misunderstanding for someone.

“Miss Rin. It would be better if you restrained yourself a bit when it comes to just showing your face.”

“Huh?”

Tilting her head at nanny Julie’s sudden remark, Rin suddenly seemed to realize something and gasped.

“Don’t tell me—again?”

“Yes.”

With a serious expression, Julie nodded and dramatically held out her palm as she delivered the news.