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Watching Ghislaine roll around in the snow, Kael seriously suspected that she had Husky blood.
Don't even mention it, but seriously.
With heterochromia and white fur, she really did have a bit of a Husky's flair.
Well, strictly speaking, Ghislaine is actually a feline, but judging by her behavior, she's closer to a dog.
"I feel like you're thinking something impolite."
Ghislaine expertly shook off the snow, looking at Kael with suspicious eyes. She had been subjected to his fiddling quite a bit these past few days, leaving her feeling somewhat stressed.
Don't misunderstand, the "fiddling" Ghislaine referred to was just normal biological research.
Kael spent a lot of effort coaxing her onto the bed—ahem, the experimental couch.
The harvest was equally massive.
"Ghislaine, why did you bring us to the Monster Forest?"
Eris rubbed her hands while standing in the snow. Her physique as a low-level Swordsman couldn't fully withstand the sub-zero temperatures, even though she was wearing a thick fur coat.
"Winter Hunt!"
Ghislaine turned her head to look at Eris and replied.
The "Winter Hunt" she mentioned is a tradition of the Beastmen Race. In fact, they have hunting festivals regardless of the season.
It's just that the "Winter Hunt" is often linked to the Beastmen's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, as the winter winds in the Beastmen territories are much harsher than here.
"Hunting monsters!"
Eris was a little excited. This was much more fun and stimulating than staying at home and being tormented by arithmetic.
"The protagonist of this hunt is Kael."
Ghislaine looked back at Kael and continued.
"If you want to learn advanced-level swordsmanship from me, you must hunt an advanced-level monster to prove yourself."
advanced-level swordsmanship is not easily passed on; Ghislaine has to be responsible for her actions.
Although she had long since left her tribe, the traditions and beliefs of the Beastmen were still deeply ingrained in her.
Ghislaine believed that using a Winter Hunt to assess whether Kael was qualified to learn advanced-level swordsmanship was the most appropriate course of action.
"Hunting a monster, and an advanced-level one?"
Kael raised his hand and scratched his hair.
Finding an advanced-level monster during the winter season alone was already difficult.
"Don't worry, I will teach you how to become a qualified Hunter."
Ghislaine patted her chest carefully. Of course, she wouldn't just abandon Kael in the snow. Even by the standards of the Beastmen Race, he hadn't reached the age for the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
It was only because Kael's strength far surpassed that of an ordinary adult Beastman that Ghislaine decided to hold this Trial early.
"I want to learn hunting too!"
Eris raised her hand, indicating that she didn't want to fall too far behind Kael.
"Very spirited! Then I shall begin the first lesson of the hunt!"
Ghislaine said this and lay down on the snow, sniffing vigorously with her nose close to the ground. Eris followed suit, one behind the other.
"..."
Kael sighed helplessly, looking at the two exposed butts, one large and one small.
As a teacher, Ghislaine was not qualified.
Even when teaching her best subject, Swordsmanship, she often relied on the student's own comprehension.
Don't expect her to articulate the techniques of generating force and channeling strength; she prefers you to commit them to memory physically.
Fortunately, Eris was also very adept at physical practice.
However, asking a human to learn the Beastmen's Scent Tracking—isn't that a bit much?
"Found it!"
Ghislaine broke through the snow layer and showed Eris the relatively fresh monster droppings inside.
"So amazing!"
Eris's eyes lit up.
"Judging by the shape and moisture..."
Ghislaine analyzed and taught with a serious expression. If you ignored the lump she was holding, the scene would definitely be more harmonious.
Kael turned his head. Compared to this primitive Tracking Technique, he actually had a better method.
The Mana inside his body, driven by Mental Power, converged on his right eye, constructing multi-layered and complex magic circuits. The corresponding Mana Array slowly manifested, radiating his personal Mana brilliance.
"Cybernetic Implant Construction—Mana Eye."
Kael's right eye seemed to be covered by an emerald green contact lens. If one looked closely, they could clearly see the circuits and arrays flowing across its surface.
The moment the Magic Cybernetic Implant Construction was completed, the world seen through Kael's right eye changed color.
The entire world was filled with various flowing Mana.
Most of it was mixed Natural Mana, imbued with various natural attributes. This Natural Mana was difficult for Spellcasters to manipulate and utilize because its attributes were not pure enough.
But if used with arrays or instruments for attribute conversion, it wasn't entirely worthless.
After all, Natural Mana was extremely abundant.
Next were unnatural Mana sources, such as humans or monsters.
The stronger the Mana individual, the clearer the traces of its movement left in the surrounding Natural Mana.
Just like footprints in the snow.
Of course, this was just the most basic function of the Mana Eye. Its most important ability for Kael was "Microscopy"—not displaying the minute details of the Material Realm, but providing a more delicate visualization of Mana.
Using this Mana Eye, Kael's control over Mana immediately rose to another level, allowing him to even manipulate nerves.
This allowed the original concept of the Magic Cybernetic Implant to be implemented.
Kael was already considering the design of an Auxiliary Brain Machine.
After all, with the Magic Cybernetic Implant already in place, it felt like something was missing without a UI interface in his vision. A character status panel would be even better.
Kael scanned the surrounding Natural Mana. Scattered traces of Mana disturbance proved that Small Monsters had passed by recently. This was much clearer and more straightforward than droppings or path traces.
"Every monster has its own location in the forest, like that Herbivorous Monster just now..."
While Ghislaine was still teaching Eris how to scout and track, step by step, to find the owner of the droppings, Kael had already walked ahead and pulled the Snow Rabbit hidden under the snow out.
"..."
"..."
Ghislaine looked at the plump rabbit struggling in Kael's hand, then at the rabbit droppings she was clutching, and immediately felt depressed.
Seriously, couldn't you respect my max-level Beast-tier Tracking?
"Can we start the next lesson?"
Kael asked with a smile.
"You really mastered the Mana Eye?!"
Ghislaine's gaze shifted from the Snow Rabbit to Kael's right eye, and she felt a strange tightness in her throat.
"That's not surprising. The Mana Eye is a type of magic itself."
As Kael spoke, he gently pressed the Snow Rabbit's neck, and it instantly stopped struggling.
"This isn't surprising?!"
Ghislaine's eyelid twitched twice. Even a natural airhead like her could realize what an astonishing achievement this was.
However, Ghislaine was big-hearted and immediately put the matter aside. After all, having not even mastered Basic Magic, she didn't expect to learn this kind of Magic Cybernetic Implant.
"Don't you feel any discomfort?"
Ghislaine stepped forward, pried open Kael's right eye, and asked.
"You idiot! Don't touch my face with the hand that was holding droppings!"
Kael was agitated and tried to dodge.
"Boys shouldn't be such germaphobes."
Ghislaine didn't mind. She was considered clean even among Beastmen. Other members of her tribe didn't just hold droppings; they often tasted them to determine the prey's physical condition.
Well, she's a Husky, no problem there.
"No discomfort. The reason you can't control the Mana Eye is mainly due to your brain."
Kael pressed Ghislaine's hand down and then tapped her forehead casually.
"What do you mean? Am I sick?"
"No, you're just simply stupid."
"Phew, that's good."
Ghislaine sighed in relief. She thought there was really something wrong with her brain that needed treatment. So, it was just stupidity—Ghislaine had known that for a long time.
She had that much self-awareness.
To put it plainly, the reason Ghislaine couldn't control the Mana Eye was simply because she couldn't process the misalignment between real-world information and Mana information.
This sensory conflict and discomfort was much more severe than walking around with one eye covered.
"Is there any way to fix it?"
Ghislaine subconsciously touched her Mana Eye.
"Study more arithmetic and develop your brain."
"...That's too difficult!!"
Ghislaine looked utterly defeated.
"Aren't we here for the Winter Hunt?"
Eris put her hands on her hips and reminded them. All this talk about Mana Eyes and arithmetic made her feel excluded, and the Snow Rabbit in Kael's hand was far more attention-grabbing.
"Oh, right."
Ghislaine lightly slapped her forehead and said to Kael.
"With the Mana Eye, you don't need to waste time learning Beast Track Tracking. We can start hunting immediately."
"No rush, let's prepare this first."
Kael held up the Snow Rabbit in his hand. an Ice Blade condensed, sliced across the rabbit's neck, and he expertly skinned and gutted it.
"Kael, I want to eat this half!"
Eris declared ownership of half of the Snow Rabbit in Kael's hand.
"Then I'll eat the remaining half!"
Ghislaine likewise didn't know what courtesy was.
"Then what do I eat?"
Kael countered.
"You want to eat too?"
Ghislaine looked up and asked, Eris wearing the same expression.
"...If you want to eat, go catch your own."
Kael pointed to the snow nearby, then snapped off a branch and skewered the Snow Rabbit.
As a Magician, he didn't need to worry about starting a fire; he was the source of fire himself.
Eris was also determined. She rolled up her sleeves, ready to catch a big one. However, after digging under the snowy grass for a long time, all she managed to pull out was a pile of "chocolates" and a handful of rabbit fur.
In the end, Kael couldn't stand it anymore. He called Eris back and gave her his half.
"Kael, I've decided. If we go adventuring in the future, I'll entrust all the cooking responsibilities to you."
Eris had oil all over her mouth from eating.
"When did I agree to go adventuring with you?"
Kael recalled, and indeed, no such agreement had been made.
"I'm definitely going out!"
Eris stared straight at Kael, looking ready to bite if he didn't agree.
"Fine, fine. We'll talk about it when you're an adult."
Kael's tone was helpless yet slightly doting. His response was met by a greasy kiss from Eris.
"Go ahead and be secretly happy."
Eris lowered her head, slightly afraid to look at Kael. This was the first time she had been so affectionate on her own initiative.
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, but next time, could you wipe your mouth first?"
Kael raised his hand to wipe the grease off his face, feeling a bit disgusted.
"Hmph~."
Hearing this, Eris turned away, feeling that Kael was taking advantage and then acting innocent. When had this Lady ever been so forward?
The Winter Hunt had to continue.
Azure Wind Transformation Wings carried Kael a thousand meters into the sky.
Looking down, he could take in the entire landscape of the Monster Forest.
Mana sources of various sizes appeared in the Mana Eye, like beacons, revealing information about the different monsters.
This Monster Forest near Roa City did not harbor many advanced-level monsters, limiting Kael's potential targets. Furthermore, those that did exist lived in the deepest parts of the forest.
The nearest advanced-level monster was nearly a hundred kilometers away from Kael.
"Have you found the target?"
Ghislaine watched Kael descend from the air and asked.
"Yes, judging by the Mana attribute and volume, it should be an Earth-attributed Saint-level monster."
Kael nodded and said.
"Then it's most likely the Great Earth Ragebear."
Ghislaine was extremely familiar with the habits and habitats of various advanced-level monsters, and offered her judgment.
advanced-level monsters are significantly stronger than Professional Practitioners of the same rank. Usually, it takes a fully formed Professional Team to successfully kill one.
After all, racial talent and biological size are major factors.
To solo an advanced-level monster, one must be a Hero among human Professional Practitioners.
However, ordinary monsters cannot reach the advanced-level standard. Without some ancient bloodline within them, they are not qualified to touch the Saint-level threshold.
"Do you choose this guy? It's a bit tricky."
Ghislaine grinned. Judging by her expression, she was actually looking forward to Kael making that choice.
"If it's only Saint-level, it makes no difference to me."
Kael casually showed off, thoroughly poking Eris's heart, which admired strength.
And the facts were indeed as he said.
Facing the Great Earth Ragebear, which suffered from severe morning grumpiness, Kael could clearly see the Mana flow inside its body using the Mana Eye, predicting all its movements, thus easily avoiding the most dangerous magical attacks.
"So huge!!"
Eris watched from afar as the Great Earth Ragebear, standing over ten meters tall, stirred up the wind and snow within a kilometer radius, and couldn't help but gasp in amazement.
As for Kael, whose figure was obscured by the wind and snow, she wasn't worried at all.
Eris's confidence in Kael was far greater than Ghislaine's.
For a monster of this level, even advanced-level magic would struggle to pose a threat. Its own Magic Resistance was enough to immunize it against most Basic Magic.
Kael tried using basic Composite Magic for output. Although the damage was noticeable, given the Great Earth Ragebear's health bar and regeneration capacity, he didn't know how long he would have to chip away at it.
However, even the largest monster has its fatal weak point—the core connection linking its Mana and life.
Relying on the Mana Eye, Kael quickly located this crucial Mana Node.
He pulled Fu Fu out of his pocket and had it mimic the form of a sword.
He waved his hand, creating wind that whipped up the snowflakes.
The sky full of white instantly engulfed the Great Earth Ragebear's body.
This brief obstruction was enough for Kael to thrust out a fatal strike.
The Great Earth Ragebear's massive, hill-like body crashed down.
Moments later, the yellow-stained Fu Fu jumped back into Kael's pocket. Absorbing the Great Earth Ragebear's Mana took some effort and would require some time to digest.
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