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(POV Saeko )

A few weeks after Alex-san left for Renka- chan's world again, the other girls who stayed in the sect decided to continue to grow stronger. We visited the area where they kept the techniques since as Core disciples, we had the advantage of going there to learn some techniques.

I had heard it from Alex-san before, but… it was actually quite disappointing. Probably the only good thing there was the two techniques on the highest floor... unfortunately, to be able to see these, it needed a lot of merits from the sect to could going there.

Even so… I think the sword technique that Alex-san gave me previously could surely compare or even be better than the only two techniques that we did not have access to. So I wasn't very motivated to try to get one of these.

Also, the other girls probably had thoughts the same as mine. Or rather, perhaps those techniques weren't very necessary for them. Mary, Scythe-chan, and Vrana-chan were more self-taught and like me, they had knowledge of various techniques whether by instinct or something similar.

As for Rei, like me, she was not very good at direct combat and also concentrated more on using a weapon... and the weapon techniques there were far inferior to what we both received from Alex-san.

Well, maybe we only got very good things from the beginning and that's why those techniques for us lacked a bit of meaning… Turla-san and Cleirsa-san were quite proud when they showed us the place as if it was something very important.

…No, if I think about it, it should be like that, right?

This was what the sect trained its disciples with. For them, this place was partly their pride. Although… it was probably also similar to how a family heirloom was important to someone but not as valuable to other people.

Furthermore, it seems that Alex-san wanted one of these techniques… so not everything in that building must be that bad… probably.

"R-Really is this okay? Is it not dangerous that we are facing monsters with a level 2 soul?! "

"..."

In the end, since we couldn't get much help from the sect to become stronger, we all decided to take the most direct route to achieve it, fighting monsters. After talking to the two girls who had lived in this Area the longest, we convinced them to come to this place that was a few days away from the sect.

Well… those two girls and Rei still had some doubts about this. But after seeing the three girls who had entered the second soul level, they ended up accepting this.

It was a large mountain where disciples from various organizations came to train or earn a few merit points. The energy felt in the place was quite high, so I had high hopes of finding better opponents than the little green men I had fought so far.

And yes, this place did not disappoint me. We encountered several monsters that were more difficult to deal with than all we had fought so far!

“It's okay~

As long as we are not attacked by a large number of strong monsters, there should be no problem. Plus, you're doing fine too Rei-chan~"

"T-That's..."

Certainly the struggles we've had so far were a little more intense than when we were in Rozz's woods, but as Mary says, it wasn't something we couldn't deal with.

The monsters that inhabited this area their development was not focused on defense, so everyone's attack was effective against them. Maybe the only problem was their speed, but, even though I don't like to use them a lot, this problem was somewhat countered by the bombs that Alex-san give us.

“You… you were so annoying chasing Vrana all the time, roock~! Now you must understand how foolish you were to challenge her, right? Roock~"

No… the hardest thing about dealing with these monsters was that they flew through the air. For that reason, the words towards Rei from Mary were not just a compliment and it was a real fact. She, Cleirsa-san, and of course Vrana -chan, were the ones who had defeated most of these enemies while the rest of us supported them.

The former had reverted to using her rifle to deal with these monsters as it was easier than using her spear against them. The second also attacked them from a distance with her bow, and the last… she had more direct combat in the sky with those monsters.

"I-Is that okay? S-Shouldn't we stop her? "

"..."

...after defeating her opponent, Vrana-chan using the claws of one of her feet to open the chest of the corpse on the ground in the heart area, and immediately transforms one of her wings into a hand to take a crystal that she takes directly to her mouth.

Well, that in itself was a regular thing that she and Scythe-chan did after defeating monsters until now… in fact, Scythe-chan was doing the same with another corpse. It wasn't a very surprising thing to see, but the problem now was...

"I-Isn't that cannibalism?"

…Our opponents were now harpies, the main monsters on this mountain were these.

At the top of the mountain, there was a large nest of Harpies. Since these monsters attack only in small groups to hunt prey, many organizations take advantage of this to get their best disciples to training here.

As long as you don't get close to the nest, it is difficult for a large number of Harpies to attack you. In addition, thanks to these, the other monsters keep a small population where they can not form large groups and thus making this place a fairly safe area to train.

"V-Vrana… y-you better stop doing that."

"E-Eh? Why?"

"W-Why you say… aren't they the same as you?!"

“ Vrana is not stupid like them! Vrana is not the same!! You are the stupid one, fat girl!! "

"W-what? D-Damn bird girl, I was just worried about you so that you don't turn into some kind of monster by eating other people of your own race!!"

Unable to continue watching Vrana go to the next harpy to take out its crystal, Rei intervenes to stop her. Unfortunately, she seems to think of Rei's words of concern as an insult...

Well, Rei… I think you forget that Vrana-chan is initially a monster… it's useless trying to make her not become one since she already is, isn't it?

Although, I must say that at first it was a bit awkward fighting creatures that were just like one of us. It was good that we could quickly dismiss that thought by starting to fight them... since the girl who should have been most concerned about this was quite calm killing Harpies, the rest of us might not be able to complain about this. Also, as Vrana- chan says, these harpies are dumb. Or rather, they act like normal monsters moving on their instincts.

…I think that as long as Vrana-chan doesn't do something like eating the harpies entirely, then it should be fine.

“…I'm a bit envious of those two. They have been able to become stronger than me by eating these crystals... maybe we should try to cook their meat to eat? "

"..."

"...b-better not. Even though eating meat from strong monsters certainly helps to get stronger, eating creatures similar to us is… i-it's quite disgusting. "

...it seems that one of us would not mind eating these Harpies. Mary who approaches one of those who had already extracted their crystal Scythe or Vrana-chan and begins to touch its meat as if to check that it was tender, asks that for Cleirsa-san to deny her suggestion.

...I'll pretend I didn't see that she licked one of her fingers that had been stained with blood.

" Either way, can we trade their bodies by merits? "

I decide to change the subject to break up the uncomfortable atmosphere. Remembering that Alex-san needed merits in order to get the technique he wanted, I asked the two girls who had the most knowledge about this.

“…That is perhaps one of the demerits of coming to hunt in this area. Since most people didn't find harpies palatable, what is most valuable about them is their crystal.

But... instead of exchanging them for merits, it is better that those two consume them to strengthen themselves. "

This is a bit disappointing, but I'm sure even Alex-san will agree with Princess-san's words. As Mary mentioned before, those two girls have grown stronger quickly thanks to this. Especially Vrana-chan did.

"W-Well… I-I heard that there are a couple of ways to get many merits from the harpies."

"" ... ""

When I thought we couldn't help Alex-san, Turla-san starts talking. Only… she seemed to be very hesitant to say it. But finally, feeling the gaze of all of us on her, she is forced to explain things.

“…t-there are certain groups of people who seek out the Harpies as… p-pets. Besides, also some monster tamers did it... "

"..."

...from the way she says it, the reason why they were wanted as pets didn't seem something very good... looking at their appearance, most of the girls here understood the possible motive.

Nobody says anything. Surely everyone thought that it was better to kill the harpies than to hand them over to those guys. Although... maybe that's just a thought from us. For the things that Cleirsa -san explained before these monsters, they kidnap men or even other monsters to reproduce... so maybe they don't care about this.

...Or can you even call it Karma?

Well... even if we agreed to do that, I don't think any of us would like to make deals with a person who wanted a harpy for dubious reasons.

"…You know? Alexander also has a harpy... "

"" ... ""

As if reading my thoughts and perhaps other girls as well, Rei points to Vrana -chan who tilts her head doubtfully at this. W-Well… she's almost human and doesn't compare to the other harpies… probably.

“W-Well… there is also another way to get some money or merits with the harpies without having to sell them alive. M-Many resourceful people like to get pillows or bedspreads made from their pubic feathers... "

" Oh, it's true! Now that I think about it, my parents' bed was made from harpy feathers. "

That sounds a little easier for us to do. Or so I thought until the discussion continues with Rei asking something that I overlooked...

“… I can understand that things are made with feathers, but… isn't it better to use the one with the wings? Why does it have to be from the pubic area of the harpies?!!"

"T -Their feathers in the pubic area are said to… t-they are softer and have a certain energy that helps men to be more v-vigorous…"

"" ... ""

Silence fills the place again... also, the one who had the worst reaction was Cleirsa-san who probably now understood the reason why her parents had those things... her face was completely red and she was shaking her head as if trying to pull some thoughts out of her head.

"...maybe Alex-san would like to get a pillow like that?"

" Y-You... w-why do you want to give that brat a pillow like that?!! "

While thinking about some things, my thoughts escape my mouth… well, I don't think he needed it for the effect of these things, but… I think it wouldn't be a bad gift either. I avoid Rei's gaze without answering her question as I feel my face blush a bit… this girl shouldn't ask obvious things.

Then by chance, my vision falls on Vrana-chan who trembles as she watches me...

"N-No! E-Even if it's for the master, you can't pluck Vrana, roock~!! "

"Don't worry, Vrana-chan~ Surely the feathers there will grow back quickly~"

"N- Nooo~!!"

Seeing Vrana-chan was about to fly away and escape, Mary stands behind her before she notices it, and holds her tightly... I'd like to say she was joking a bit, but... I think she had the idea too to create a pillow for Alex-san.

Her hand slowly moves towards Vrana- chan's crotch and enters in the pants...

"H- Hyaa!!"

...then when she takes it out, between her fingers she held a small black feather which she observes with curiosity.

"We better look for the feathers of other harpies..."

"... Ok~"

" S-Seriously do we have to collect those feathers?!! "

…Well, it's better to do than wax little Vrana in that area, right? I feel a bit of pity seeing how she had some tears in her eyes and tried to hold her secret place… that must have been painful. Mary was probably frustrated that she got stronger than her faster… it's good that she stops after “playing” with her a bit.

With a new goal in mind… for some of us, we resumed our hunt.