Let’s Make Saving a Habit - Chapter 100
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 100
The Monster Subjugation Squad of Duke Papiope’s Household arrived at their destination without incident.
Ordinarily, monsters rarely appeared in the Border Region where the Duchy Territory and Monster Habitat met.
The monsters themselves instinctively knew that humans dwelled beyond the Border Region, so they avoided crossing into it.
But today was different from usual.
From the very entrance of the Mountains, which served as the Monster Habitat, they encountered monsters with unsettling frequency.
Just as Tania had foreseen, the monster population had surged dramatically, and the situation appeared to be as grave as she had predicted.
Yet despite the swarm of monsters, the Papiope Knights were dispatching them more smoothly than ever before.
In truth, they barely had the opportunity to engage.
Whenever Raspi, the monster tamer, controlled the creatures’ movements, Elysion unleashed his offensive magic.
So swift and precise were his attacks that the Papiope Knights found themselves wondering whether they truly belonged in this subjugation squad.
It was as though the stage belonged to Elysion alone.
“One must reach that level to earn the title of next Magic Tower Master….”
“When the Magic Tower Master suddenly announced he was adopting a son, I thought it was absurd. Now I finally understand.”
“At that level, would Ability Users even be necessary?”
The Papiope Knights watched in awe as magic streaked across the battlefield like lightning the moment monsters appeared.
However, the partnership between Raspi and Elysion was short-lived.
Since they clashed frequently in their usual interactions, friction arose quickly.
Once all the monsters before them had been dealt with, Raspi came to an abrupt halt before Elysion while the knights attended to the corpses.
“Why do you keep waving your hand in front of me like you’re showing off?”
As Raspi spoke with evident displeasure, Elysion shrugged as though he had no idea what the other was talking about.
“When did I?”
“If you want to show off the handkerchief you received from Tania, do so in moderation. What are you, a child?”
“That’s just how your inferiority complex makes it look.”
“Yes. Through the lens of my inferiority complex, the handkerchief tied around your wrist appears to have a dotted cutting line. Shall I cut it for you?”
It was a confrontation without an inch of compromise.
At this point, one of Elysion’s eyebrows arched sharply.
“Take your eyes off my handkerchief and just quietly paralyze the monsters, why don’t you?”
“You, who belong to the Magic Tower, have no authority to command me, who belongs to Duke Papiope’s Household.”
“Hmph. Are you upset because I’m stealing all your credit?”
“Who said anything like that…!”
As the two strongest members of the subjugation squad began to quarrel, the other knights grew tense and fixed their gaze upon the Duke.
“Your Grace, should we not intervene?”
“Just wait. Where else would I find entertainment as enjoyable as this?”
“Yes, yes? But….”
“No buts about it—things are getting interesting, and if you dare dampen the mood, I won’t let you off easy.”
Yet the Duke, who should have been stopping the quarrel, was actively enjoying the spectacle.
For a Duke who had grown curious about her children’s romantic affairs, nothing could be more fascinating.
As if answering the Duke’s expectations, Elysion spoke up.
“Just so you don’t get the wrong idea, I’m saying this: I can capture monsters without your help.”
“I merely provided assistance. Even without Elysion, I am perfectly capable of subjugating monsters.”
“You’re saying you’ll capture the monsters you tamed?”
“There’s nothing I cannot do.”
Crackle.
A hostile glint passed between the two of them.
“Elysion, this is your first monster subjugation, so perhaps you should exercise restraint.”
“Ha. My first? Yes, I suppose it would look that way.”
For someone who had orchestrated a massacre of monsters during the monster war Raspi had triggered, such words were nothing short of laughable.
Yet from Raspi’s perspective, unlike me who regularly ventured out on monster subjugation missions with the knight order, he was nothing but a greenhorn who knew nothing.
When they looked at each other, it seemed like nothing more than two fools trying to assert dominance.
Elysion tilted his head slightly as he gazed at Raspi.
“Then what if we have a competition over the four days of subjugation—whoever captures more monsters wins?”
“An excellent proposal. I shall prove that no one surpasses me when it comes to monsters.”
As Raspi accepted the proposal, Elysion immediately sought permission from the Duchess, who commanded the subjugation squad.
“Duchess Papiope, would you permit us to operate separately from the Papiope Knights?”
At Elysion’s request, the Duchess fell into contemplation.
Had it been any other knight’s request, she would have dismissed it without hesitation.
However, Raspi and Elysion were a different matter entirely.
They were two individuals for whom independent action here posed absolutely no danger.
Raspi, who could never be struck by a monster’s attack, and Elysion, who reduced every monster to ash in an instant.
Considering the Papiope knights who had yet to draw their swords even once, it seemed far more efficient to deploy them separately.
The Duchess indicated her approval and questioned their intentions once more.
“Elysion can teleport, so that’s manageable, but Sir Raspi—are you certain you’ll be fine alone in the Monster Forest for four days?”
“I need only bring some provisions. I can sleep in the monsters’ dwellings.”
“That’s quite an unexpected approach.”
To think he would sleep alongside the very monsters he must slay.
The Duchess concluded that Raspi was equally mad.
“Then we shall determine the victor by who brings back the most monster cores.”
Monster cores were possessed by all monsters and were akin to a human heart.
When extracted, all bodily functions ceased and death followed, much the same.
The difference was that monster cores took the form of hard, jewel-like objects.
Thanks to this, counting how many monsters were slain was simple if one merely collected the cores.
It was then.
Lucian, who had been observing the tension between the two, interjected.
“Mother, this looks entertaining. May I also participate in their competition?”
Lucian was an animal tamer.
While gathering information or engaging in one-on-one combat might prove advantageous, he could not match Raspi’s efficiency in monster combat.
The Duchess was about to narrow her brow and tell him this was not his place when—
“Mother, you should participate as well. I’ll bring the Red Knights, and you can take the Blue Knights.”
“Hmm, if I’m to bring the Red Knights….”
It wasn’t a bad proposal.
Since Lucian would become the Duke of Papiope in the future, he needed to gain experience leading the Knight Order on monster subjugation missions.
Besides, this first subjugation was more about reconnaissance than a formal monster elimination operation.
With the Red Knights—all of whom were Ability Users—accompanying them, I didn’t think they’d find themselves in any truly dangerous situations.
The Blue Knights and Red Knights had such different fighting styles that it made sense for them to operate separately anyway.
The Duchess eventually nodded slowly.
“Very well. Lucian, you’ll proceed with the subjugation leading the Red Knights. I’ll go with the Blue Knights.”
“Thank you!”
The Duchess watched Lucian, delighted at receiving permission, and concern rose within her as she added a warning.
“However, you must conduct the subjugation only at the entrance of the Monster Habitat. A single moment of carelessness can mean the difference between life and death.”
It seemed that watching Raspi and Elysion dispatch monsters so effortlessly had given him too much confidence.
Complacency had no place on the battlefield.
To that, Lucian laughed brightly as if to say there was nothing to worry about.
“I’m not a foolish child, and I’ve come of age now, so please don’t worry so much, Mother.”
No matter how old one became, children would always seem like children in their parents’ eyes.
Rather than voicing her trust, the Duchess quietly exchanged a meaningful glance with the Red Knight Order Commander.
It was a silent plea to look after him.
The Red Knight Order Commander nodded reassuringly.
Monster subjugation was something Papiope Knights conducted every quarter, so he would keep Lucian well in check.
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Thus, Elysion and Raspi found themselves separated from the Monster Subjugation Squad, hunting monsters on their own.
For some reason, they weren’t apart at all—instead, the two were together in the Monster Forest.
Elysion tilted his head toward Raspi.
“Well then, shall we have a proper go at sweeping through the monsters?”
That’s right.
The two had deliberately pretended to quarrel and separated from the Monster Subjugation Squad at Tania’s request.
“But you seemed genuinely angry earlier. Especially that comment about perforated lines—you were just saying what you really wanted to say, weren’t you?”
“And you, Elysion, were proudly showing off your handkerchief right in front of me, weren’t you?”
At that, a picture-perfect smile bloomed across Elysion’s face.
Raspi responded with an expression as cold as ice.
Crackle.
A fierce glint of eyes exchanged between the two once more.
It was unclear whether they were truly just pretending to fight.
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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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