The Strongest Gun Magus: I Cast Bullet!-Chapter 16: The Last Preparations for the Hunt

BANG!

The shot hit slightly to the side of the mark, sending splinters in all directions.

"Gyah!"

The recoil from the gun made Marien jerk right into Reynard’s embrace.

Realizing what an opportunity he got, he immediately pretended to stumble and fell, pulling Marien to fall right on top of him.

’Amazing! I am... Oh, the sensation of being under a woman!’

Reynard could feel every curve that was hidden under Marien’s robes before, every muscle and every soft spot.

He closed his eyes, trying not to get too excited. Marien was too young to look at his special gun!

Then Marien’s elbow jabbed his stomach, making Reynard choke on air and his fantasies.

"Oops! Did I hit you?" the girl asked, rising to her feet. "Ah! My robe! It got stained with dust..."

Reynard got to his feet, too. The moment from earlier still played on repeat in his head.

"No amount of dirt could hide your beauty, princess! But... You should get used to this. The Autumn Beast Hunt includes camping in the forest. There are some spells that make it easier, but that still means having to watch out for ants in your pants... Or, well... A skirt?"

Marien pouted.

"I know! I’m not helpless, Reynard. At the Autumn Beast Hunt, I will show my grandpa that he’s wrong to coddle me. And I might help you out there, too. You are... Nice. You deserve to be helped a little."

"That’s kind of you to say, Marien," Reynard said, smiling. "Did you actually camp in the forest in the past?"

She raised her chin with a proud smile.

"Yes, of course! I traveled all over the fields and forests near Valkenburg to gather Wind Mana. What, you need tips and tricks? I will teach you how to make a fire and settle for the night without getting any dust on your clothing—and you... will help me practice with these artifacts of yours. I... Don’t think I remembered your instructions. I even fell!"

"A deal! It would be my absolute pleasure, princess."

’Ehehehehe... This is wonderful! And who knows, maybe Marien will actually teach me something about camping? I spent much more time in workshops than in the field...’

***

In the Magister of Blue Bismuth School’s office...

Bartholomew Canseliet was going through a long scroll with a list of students fit to take part in the next Autumn Beast Hunt. There were students from the Final Cycle Nigredo stage. Non-students and people from lower or higher stages weren’t allowed.

Most of these names have been there for months already.

Bartholomew paused on the name of his granddaughter to frown and shook his head before reading further down.

A name added to the very end of the list caught his attention.

’Reynard Artemy! This boy... He reached the Final Cycle Nigredo so quickly? I knew he would grow in power after getting the plants from his new private garden. But even for a Pure Earth Magus, growing so fast would take a rare talent! What a tragedy... If he wasn’t trying to lead Mari astray, I’d do my best to nourish a student like him!’

Bartholomew made a magical pass, and a messenger spell shaped like a tiny bird flew out of his hand. A minute later, Bartholomew’s assistant teacher came to the office.

The assistant was old enough to have adult children, but still looked like a guilty student, like when he was called to the Magister’s office decades ago.

"Georg, when did Reynard go up a stage?" Bartholomew asked.

"Hm... About three days ago, Serge reported this change to me and suggested placing Reynard into more advanced classes. I told him that this could wait until the end of the Autumn Beast Hunt, since everybody is busy with individual preparations anyway. The request is on your desk already, Magister."

The assistant gestured to the stack of scrolls and parchments lying on a silver tray in the corner of Bartholomew’s desk.

The old Magister scowled.

"Three days! And I only found it now! Didn’t I tell you to monitor his movements?"

"I... I asked the teachers to tell me what they know! But... But we can’t send someone to outright spy on our students, right? Uh..." the assistant hunched his shoulders. "Anyway, there wasn’t much... After that meeting, he and Miss Marien had in the city..."

Bartholomew gripped the scroll in his hands so tightly that he almost tore it.

"You idiot... If I tell you to spy on someone, then do it! So what if we don’t have any spells from the Illusion, Shadows, or Divination, or any similar Lores? Pay some to watch him with their eyes—and to keep quiet about it!"

"Yes, Magister! I understand, and I’m sorry... Uh..."

The old magus sighed and breathed in and out. Agitation and uneven breathing disturbed the flames heating Inner Athanor. At the moment, Bartholomew was slowly calcinating mana in it, which required a lot of time, patience, and measured breathing.

But this was Bartholomew’s Final Cycle of the Albedo stage. If he did everything right, he might actually reach the Citrinito stage... A tall feat from anyone from Blue Bismuth School.

"There’s one more thing I want you to arrange, Georg. After the teachers finish scouting the hunting grounds for beasts and separate entrance zones, I want them to make sure that one of the zones is cleared of all beasts. And, of course, give me the information about which of the zones is the most dangerous."

Georg bowed his head.

"I will, Magister. Is this all?"

"And send in a maid with my special tea."

"Sure, Magister."

After Georg left, Bartholomew leaned back in his chair and smiled.

’The Autumn Beast Hunt will give me the perfect opportunity to get rid of the Artemy boy. And even if that somehow fails, there’s still the other option... The Four-Moon Realm Gate should open soon.’