The Villainess Will Crush Her Destruction End Through Modern Firepower Chapter 9

???: “Paul! It's a fine weather for us to hunt, yes?”

Father: “Yes. I feel like we could catch some big animals today.”

We are currently in the hunting ground of the territory belonging to Father's friend, who is the Minister of War, where the kingdom's ministers are gathered. There's my father, the Minister of Communications, the thin Minister of Finances who's in his forties, the nervous-looking middle-aged man who is Minister of Internal Affairs, and finally the energetic old man who is the Minister of War.

Also not to be forgotten, the Magician of the Imperial Court, Count Fidelio von Fraunhofer. I bet I'll be in his care in the future, in a lot of sense. Yes, in a lot of sense.

Minister of Internal Affairs: “You're bringing your family with you today, I see. Though I cannot say it is not to my liking.”

Father: “Yes,  my daughter Astrid wanted to partic.i.p.ate in the hunt by all means.”

As the Minister of Internal Affairs asked, Father moved to the side slightly, and I bowed while slightly lifting my skirt like a n.o.ble would.

Minister of War: “Paul's daughter had really grown up, hadn't she? Even though she used to be so small you can sit on top of one hand.”

Father: “She wasn't that small. She's not a kitten, you know.”

The Minister of War laughed loudly along with Father.

If I was that small, it would've been bad. That means I would have been born severely premature.

Minister of Internal Affairs: “So Miss Astrid is going to partic.i.p.ate in the hunt?”

Father: “Yes. I would be sure to watch over her as a precaution to not allow her to fall into perilous situations. But the rest of you need to be careful as well; you won't know where arrows might come flying.”

The Minister of Internal Affairs said as if impressed, and my father replied thus with a laugh again.

Father, it's nice that you're in a good mood, but I'm not that much of a loose cannon, you know?

Minister of Finance: “Nevertheless, it's nice if the youngsters are partic.i.p.ating. There's no loveliness of a flower if it's full of old people. My daughter is only too busy choosing dresses while she stays away from these sorts of entertainment.”

Fraunhofer: “That's right; I tried inviting my son as well, but he refused, saying he's busy studying for the next exam.”

The Minister of Finance and Lord Fraunhofer let out a sigh.

I wonder if it's a problem in every houses, or if it's just a lip service. I want to obtain Mother's mind reading skills as soon as possible.

Fraunhofer: “Even so, Astrid-chan is already begun learning magic so early, isn't she, Paul?”

Father: “Yes. She said she had wanted to learn it no matter what, so I asked Wolf for a favor.”

Count Fraunhofer seemed to show an interest in me, and Father responded thusly.

Fraunhofer: “Wolf? Wolf von Vlanger, is it? He's a competent one. If he pa.s.ses the test firsthand, he could become an imperial magician or take up a job in a university. You chose a very good private teacher. Would Astrid become an imperial magician in the future, I wonder.”

Astrid: “No, no, I don't think I could be that capable…”

I'm being humble, but it might be possible. If I become an imperial magician, my future would be set, and I can perform magic research all I want. I can have a life I can only dream of.

Father: “Don't talk nonsense, Fidelio. If she becomes the imperial magician, no one would take her hand-in marriage. She'll need a more brilliant life than just being an imperial magician. Or rather, I wish someone would quickly take her as a bride.”

Father? Don't you think it's too quick to talk about marriage? I'm still 4 years old, you know?”

Fraunhofer: “It's too quick, Paul. First of all she'd need to go attend the academy and learn standard magic. If she proves herself to be superior, I'd scout her to be an imperial magician by all means.

That's right, it's too quick. Father is rushing too much.

Fraunhofer: “By the way, how far have your magic studies go, Astrid-chan?”

“Umm, I've learned mana control, the four types of elemental magic and its control, and physical enhancement and medical treatment through Blood Magic. Right now I'm having discussions with Wolf-sensei if there is any objects where we can control mana within it.

Well, so far that's the furthest I'm currently studying.

Fraunhofer: “T-that far? You're taught that far ahead? That's a curriculum surpa.s.sing the senior high school department and even above undergraduate courses, you know…?”

Count Fraunhofer looked at me with a stiff smile.

Father: “My daughter has a high level of magic.”

“You can't really explain everything with that, Paul. Mana control is taught slowly from elementary school all the way through to the senior high school for them to master, while Elemental magic is taught for 4 years, accompanied by the spirits. They are only allowed to learn Blood Magic from the middle school period. The thing about adequate objects to control mana within is in the level of bachelor's…no, it's in the level of a doctorate thesis, you know!”

Huh? I've progressed that far? Maybe it's because Wolf-sensei is a good teacher?

Fraunhofer: “Astrid-chan is a genius that comes once every 50 years. I would need you to join the imperial magician by all means.”

Father: “I won't let you make her an imperial magician, Fidelio.”

F-Father's eyes are serious.

Astrid: “Father, it's still a long way off. We don't know what will happen from now on.”

Father: “That's true, but I won't accept you becoming an imperial magician.”

I'll be troubled if you're against it that much…

Astrid: “Is being an imperial magician that plain?”

Father: “Not at all. The ones that support this Prussian empire are the imperial magicians. They are also the one who are involved in the creation of magic for various purposes, from the improvement of livelihood to the infrastructure vital to our national defense.”

Hmm, perhaps they're an inst.i.tution like a research organization. Back in Earth, looking for a job in the research inst.i.tution looks like an elite privilege. What are father so against anyways?

Father: “But that place is full with lower-cla.s.s n.o.bles. My daughter will only be a bride to a good family. You're the duke's daughter, you know. You should be wed with a duke's son as well.

Ah, so Father is concerned about lineage. Ideally as long as one had talent in magic, anyone can be an imperial magician and secure a peaceful future, and then they would improve their social status as well, right? Can they not send these people where they could meet the duke's daughter then?

Father: “Speaking of which, wouldn't his highness prince Friedrich be enrolling into the academy?”

Fraunhofer: “Yes, he will be in the same year as Astrid-chan. We have been working hard to prepare for his highness' acceptance ceremony. We have also been re-examining the teachers, making sure no one had any dangerous thoughts. This is the job for the Minister of Home Affairs as well, isn't it?

Ugh, it's Friedrich.

One of the main culprit of my ruinous end is someone on the same year. This sucks. This sucks so bad.

Astrid: “Count Fraunhofer, I have a question!”

Fraunhofer: “What is it, Astrid-chan?”

I extended my hand out, trying to avoid my destiny of ruins.

Astrid: “Can you skip grades in the academy? I have confidence in my grades in magic.”

That's right, if I don't want to be around him, I just have to run away. Farewell, Friedrich! Be happy with the heroine! Don't involve yourself with me, okay!

Fraunhofer: “The academy cannot recognize skipping grades, because it affects the other n.o.ble children's honor.

Astrid: “Gaah……”

G.o.d d.a.m.n it, Friedrich. How far are you willing to go to hold me back.

Father: “Astrid, now that you get the chance to be in the same grade as his highness, how about you try and get along so you can go out with him?”

Astrid: “Eh?”

Why are you giving me the worst suggestion?

Astrid: “F-for a magic idiot like me, it would be rude to his highness. I'll hold myself back on that!”

Father: “If he marries a duke's daughter, then the lineage wouldn't be a problem. If you're proficient with magic, it could be a selling point as well, you know?”

Stahp! Stop herding me into the bad end!

Astrid: “T-that aside, let's go hunting, hunting! Let's hunt some bears or something!”

Father: “Isn't it impossible to look for a bear though…”

I forcefully tried to change the topic, and father who had been leading me into a bad end zipped his mouth shut.

Astrid: “Hmm, so you use a crossbow for hunting.”

Father and the others are guiding me who forcefully asked him to bring me along, so to guide me in the hunt, they gave me a weapon I'm not quite used to.

It's a crossbow; a mechanical bow.

Astrid: “So this is how you use it.”

Father gave me a tutorial on how to use it. First you twist the pulley to pull back the bowstring. Then you nock the bolt and then pull the lever to fire. It's really simple, but it takes time and you need some strength to pull back the bowstring.

Astrid: “You need quite some power to do this, don't you?”

Father: “It might be difficult for children.”

Father is bragging. Can I just praise him at times like these?

Astrid: “Father is impressive, even though it's so difficult for me.”

Father: “That's right, that's right. I'll do it for you, so hand me that.”

Ah, that's a nice response. I got myself some of those favorability points!

Father: “There are lots of deers living in this forest. There are some big monsters as well. If we go towards the direction of the pond, we can also find some ducks. The blessing of this land is its abundant hunting grounds.”

Father's friend: “Be at ease, there are no demons around here. Thanks to adventurers periodically hunting the demons, they wouldn't even get close, except those who are stupid enough.”

Then we can take it easy and hunt freely.

If it's not dangerous, I can stealthily separate myself from Father and his friends and try out my partner, the shotgun. Heh…

Oh s.h.i.t. I looked like a psychopath just now. But if I get to test my weapons, it'll be the absolute best. I tried the rubber bullets on the poor livestock burglars, but I haven't tested the slug sh.e.l.ls yet.

Father: “Well then, Astrid. It's going to be difficult since you have to aim for the deer's head or neck. For ducks or rabbits it'll be hard because of their size. Hunting will not be that easy, but don't worry since I'll be looking after you.”

Astrid: “I, I'm glad, Father.”

Ugh…I don't know if there will be any chance for me to sneak out…

Father: “We'll use a hunting dog to find our catch. Our dog Kai is also a great hunting dog, you know? He's a really good boy, he could find the catch in no time. It's also his job to pin down the animals we've shot.”

Astrid: “Oh, so that's why you bring Kai with us today.”

We have a large dog named Kai at our house. I wasn't really much of a dog person, so I kept my distance at the start, but he got close to me, so I can feel its affection. I would've thought he's the type that likes to bark a lot, but he's a quiet boye. But to think he's a hound dog…

Father: “Let's go find our game. Will this year's hunt be bountiful, I wonder.”

We proceed into the forest along with the ministers' hounds.

As we pull the hounds, we continue through the forest silently.

Father: “Astrid, are you tired?”

Astrid: “I'm alright. I've boosted my physical strength with Blood Magic.”

There's no way a 4-year-old could walk through this mountainous road for hours, so using Blood Magic, I improved my strength and endurance to walk through these paths. Hurray to Blood Magic! This is really convenient.

Fraunhofer: “To be able to freely use Blood Magic at that age…by the way, have you properly monitor the condition in the inside of your body?”

Astrid: “Yes, Wolf-sensei had taught me that at the very beginning.”

It seems like Count Fraunhofer's interest in me is deepening as we speak. I wonder if he can give me a special exception to skip grades? Or is it impossible as I thought?

As I thought of that, Kai turned toward the east and started growling. So soon?

Father: “Seems like he found some deers. A flock of them at that. This is an ideal chance.”

Father and his friends lowered their stances and closed their distances with the flock of deers. Father and his friends steadily pressed on their game without the deers noticing.

I also followed them and approached the flock of deer with the crossbow in my hands.

I need to finish off the deer in one strike. I don't know why, but there must be a reason. That's why I spied at the deer's weak spot as I advanced.

How far is the range of this crossbow though? I wonder if it could fly as far as 100 meters. No, if the range is that far, I shouldn't be able to properly aim. If I remember correctly the effective range should be around 40 meters. The crossbow is not a modern weapon, so I don't know of its capabilities.

But hold on. In the future if I am to wage war with this country, their weapons should be limited to only bows and arrows and crossbows. And as I do, I should know how far is the range of these weapons to figure out the safe distance I should keep.

So with that in mind, I ascertained Father of the crossbow's capabilities as I mingled with him.

Father: “Let's go.”

Father murmured with a low voice, while I pointed my crossbow at the deer.

Father: “Go!” The next moment, Father and his friends shot their bolts.

I, too, pulled the lever and launched my own bolt. The flight path looked good—but it missed. I don't know how to use the crossbow, so the bolt were shot into the next week.

On the other hand, father and his friends shot down three deers.

Minister of War: “Well done, Paul. But my skill's not bad either, right?”

Father: “Yeah, I couldn't expect less from the Minister of War.”

Father and the Minister of War casually talked as the deer ran away.

Astrid: “As expected of Father!”

Father: “Noo, this is but a simple thing.”

All I know is that crossbows can reach about 40 meters away, and aiming for me right now is very difficult.

Besides, you can't attach any optics onto the crossbow and the bolt is easily affected by the wind, making it easily stray from its target. This is the first time I handled crossbow, so an amateur like me couldn't possibly aim at the game.

The aim of both father and his friends. .h.i.t home.

But a weapon that can only reach 40 meters won't be a match. The range of my automatic rifle is between 300 to 400 meters, and even beyond that, hitting targets is still possible.

I won.

Father: “Astrid is still not used to the crossbow, huh? That's why you can't shoot down the catch. There's actually a knack to this, you see? Let me teach you.”

Astrid: “Okay, Father!”

I don't hate using a weapon, even if it's a crossbow. I love everything that can be called weapons. I think I have no interests in swords or spears though. I feel that the more primitive a weapon is, the less interesting it becomes.

…and with that, father told me the tricks of using a crossbow.

Astrid: “Ei!”

I used the minimum force of blood magic. If I couldn't manage to shoot down a catch with what Father told me, I wouldn't be getting more favorability points. As I bring everything Father told me in mind, I aimed at a wild rabbit.

It's a hit!

Father: “Oh, you managed to catch a wild rabbit, you're doing good.”

Astrid: “Ehehe, this is thanks to Father for showing me the tricks!”

Praise be to father~ Praise be~

Father: “We can make the wild rabbit into a stew. It's your catch of the day. Go bring it.”

Astrid: “Yes, Father.”

I'm okay with draining the blood, skin it, extract the bones and make it into a stew, but as the duke's daughter, I'm not supposed to do that, so I tied up the wild rabbit onto my belt with a rope.

By the way, the servants took and processed the deers Father and his friends caught earlier.

Father: “Oh, it seems like there is another flock of deer over there.”

Father's friend: “Ooh, that horn is really beautiful…if we can stuff them and mount them on the wall, we might be able to surprise our guests. I truly wish to hunt it.”

Oh my, father and his friends are focusing on their game. His attention is drawn away from me right now. This might be my chance.

I silently slipped away and headed deeper into the forest to begin my own hunt.

          Chapter 10 >

No TLCs for today (Yay!)

Hope you enjoyed the chapter and your day!