The hunting season of the Abram Empire has returned.

The hunting festival was one of the largest events in the empire.

The rules were simple.

First, young nobles would gather at the royal hunting grounds and hunt beasts and monsters.

The caught prey would be dedicated to the lady they admired.

The lady who received the most prey on that day would become the highlight of the hunting festival.

Afterward, the lady who became the highlight of the hunting festival would take on the role of offering prayers in front of the altar during the festival.

This had been a cherished tradition of the hunting competition for a long time.

But in reality, it had long degenerated into a competition and stage for romance among the nobles.

Prodia, the beloved daughter of the Viscount, was well aware of this competition.

However, she had never participated in the competition as the lady until now.

Unlike other noble ladies, she was busy earning her own living.

“If only I had gone and brought back some beasts, it might have become a good source of food.”

Anyway, there wouldn’t have been any man to dedicate the prey to her.

Not that it mattered; she didn’t feel any regret.

One of the reasons Prodia had never participated in the hunting competition was her complete lack of interest in romance.

She looked like she fell from hell; what did she care about love?

Moreover, attending a gathering of aristocrats with black hearts would only be tiring.

Living a life far removed from the hunting festival.

But then the next competition happened to be hunting.

When Ed relayed the information about the next competition to her, Prodia’s expression instantly darkened.

For the first time in her life, she regretted not participating in the hunting competition.

If she had personally gone to see it, it would have been somewhat helpful in understanding the atmosphere there.

Anyway, in Prodia’s opinion, the hunting competition was perfect as a competition event for the caretaker.

“Why didn’t I think of this earlier?”

First of all, the hunting festival was a culture unique to the nobility that the commoners didn’t know well.

Moreover, it included countless factors to consider for evaluation.

From swordsmanship to horseback riding, physical strength, agility, judgment, courage, and more.

But the most important thing was not any of these.

The hunting competition included a romantic element of dedicating gifts to the lover in one’s heart.

There was no better way to visibly show love for the princess.

“Maybe the main goal of the competition is to dedicate the caught prey to the princess.”

But there was one thing that bothered her.

Although all demon participants were eliminated, there were still participants of different races in the competition.

If the score was based solely on the number of caught prey, human participants would inevitably fall behind the participants of other races.

The imperial family wouldn’t just sit back and watch that happen.

Moreover, judging by Ed’s expression, it seemed that Prodia wasn’t the only one with such thoughts.

Ed also seemed deeply engrossed in his contemplation.

“For now, I’ve confirmed that the next competition will take place at the royal hunting grounds, but it seems they won’t just have us hunt.”
“I had the same thought, Ed. But I can’t think of anything else.”

What else can we do there besides hunting?

Chasing away all the animals in their habitat is not an option.

‘Wait, what about driving away the prey…?’

Prodia realized.

What can be done there is not just bringing back animals.

“Ed, could it be that it’s not about catching prey but surviving from them?”

“If it’s about surviving… No way.”

“The purpose might be survival in the hunting grounds.”

Choosing a location with dangerous beasts instead of just having a hunt.

It was obvious given what the royal family had been doing so far.

‘They want only those who can survive in that hellish place to remain.’

Ed also seemed to agree with her thoughts.

Prodia immediately called the other three men.

“…For that reason, I think the next competition theme might be survival in the hunting grounds.”

Irtis nodded.

“I think so too. If we only have a hunt, this competition will be too disadvantageous for humans.”

If a single breath of the dragon tribe was unleashed, the animals would be slaughtered in droves.

But the elves, who were peace-loving, would not just stand by and watch such innocent slaughter.

They were pacifists.

Perhaps the competition ground would turn into a battlefield surrounding the ideologies of different races.

Only the humans caught in the middle would die.

But whether it was hunting or survival, it didn’t matter to Irtis.

No, this competition was a free meal for him.

Sharak was the same.

He had received similar training countless times in the navy.

To him, who was from the navy that hunted even ghosts, this was nothing.

The problem was Ed and Luca.

No matter how special training they received and improved their stamina, it was impossible to suddenly kill monsters.

Everyone considered various options.