Compared to other mountains, Ragusan had shallow forests, and there weren’t many types of monsters living there. However, if hunting was not conducted, monsters would come down to nearby villages and harm people.

This was due to the scarcity of prey in the forest compared to the increasing number of monster individuals.

Reducing the number of monster individuals, showcasing the swordsmanship they had trained, and the opportunity to reveal one’s existence to the lady they had in mind—the monster hunt was like a grand festival for everyone involved.

Stella, who had forcibly entered the dressing room long before sunrise, dozed off while Bryn applied her makeup.

This was because she had spent the night in the garden, watching the Gigicho that had sprouted. Gigicho, blessed by the earth fairy, grew well even while Stella was watching.

Turning her head, she noticed that the sprout, which had been tiny just a while ago, had grown a bit more. The unusually fast growth of the plant made watching it quite enjoyable.

“Princess, I’m going to do your hair now, so please don’t move at all.”
Looking at Stella, who could barely pull herself together after finishing her makeup, Bryn spoke as if pleading. Stella, feeling apologetic for Bryn’s efforts, opened her eyes in an attempt to regain composure.

“Don’t move.”

Although Stella managed with her superhuman strength, her neck occasionally bent involuntarily, regardless of her will. Each time, the hair Bryn was holding would rip, waking her up, but it didn’t last long.

“Wow, it’s really vast.”

Stella, who had vaguely thought that they had to enter the forest for the hunting ground, lost her words at the sight of the vast plains spreading beneath the mountain.

The plain, lush with greenery, was so vast that the end was not visible. Although it took half a day by carriage to get out of the capital, it was not at all boring.

There was no need to keep the carriage windows closed, as in the capital, and just the fact that they were outside made the air feel refreshing.

Ragsan was a mountain that stood alone on the vast plain. Despite being near the mountain where monsters lived and the surrounding land being fertile for farming, there were quite a few nobles and aristocrats scattered throughout.

Manors of nobles, aristocrats, and princesses were erected in various places on the plain without any boundaries. Stella’s manor was quite far from the hunting ground.

“I’m sorry it couldn’t be closer.”

Mila apologized as if it were her fault that Stella had been assigned a manor in a remote location.

“It’s okay. I actually like it quiet.”
It was genuine. Stella had no interest whatsoever in the hunting festival. Therefore, she had no interest in who would win or become the queen of this year’s hunting festival, which would last for a week. There was no way the Emperor would choose his own handkerchief embroidered with his new development. So, the current hunting festival was entirely irrelevant to her. The only good thing was that she could freely gaze at the beautiful nature outside the imperial city.

“But, Princess, why did you bring that pickaxe?”

Milah asked with a puzzled expression, looking at the pickaxe Stella had picked up first, while other princesses were preparing spare dresses, jewelry, and cosmetics.

Stella treated the pickaxe as the most precious item she possessed. This was another aspect that Milah found hard to understand.

“Just in case I need it.”

“Here…?”

Milah asked with a somewhat fearful expression, wondering if Stella would dig the ground in front of everyone, even though nobles were watching.

Thinking she wouldn’t do that because of her dignity, Milah was surprised by Stella’s childish answer. Stella, who often casually shattered Milah’s common sense, replied, “If monsters suddenly pop up, I’ll have to defend myself too.”

Milah’s momentarily tense heart was relieved by Stella’s childish response.
“Monsters don’t come this far. There are many knights guarding this place. Don’t worry too much.”

“You never know. Some crazy monster might come all the way here.”

Stella replied, tightly gripping the pickaxe she had placed next to her and stared at the entrance of the mansion.

There was a land ghost with black eyes standing at the entrance, peering into the mansion.

Opening its mouth wide from side to side and chuckling while mimicking Stella’s words, the land ghost hesitated to enter because of the earth fairies blocking its way, swaying backward.

“Aren’t you leaving? Go away!”

When Oton raised his stick and swung it, the land ghost trembled as if frightened but then stretched its lips long.

It wasn’t actually frightened; it was raising a potion. When Ark and Esta couldn’t bear it and tried to run outside, Oton quickly blocked their way.

“Why! Move! I won’t let that guy go quietly!”

“Yeah, move, Oton! He’s still raising the potion!”

“Stella, guard the side. Don’t worry about anything else.”

When Oton calmly spoke with a settled voice, Ark and Esta, although reluctant, sat down on the floor.

Meanwhile, the land ghosts standing outside slowly counted their numbers.

Their eerie emergence from somewhere and gradually filling the entrance was chilling. If they grabbed onto them, it felt like they would be slammed into the ground.