The Hunt Car

Perhaps it was because of the explosions I had caused, but a monster approached me. It was an Armored Dog, a canine creature about two meters long covered in armor-like skin.

Its skin resembled that of a rhinoceros and was apparently more than three centimeters thick. Ordinary bullets couldn’t penetrate it, and only explosive rounds could inflict fatal wounds. Not only did it have formidable defenses, but it also possessed an impressive ability to heal itself.

I opened the Control Gate connected to my Power Conduit to Release Level T, shaped the incoming Bosol particles into a rifle bullet, and launched them by accelerating them with Heavenquake Force. The Penetrating Particle Round struck the Armored Dog’s shoulder, passed straight through its body, and exited through its back.

The impact sent the Armored Dog flying, and it collapsed onto the ground. However, it was still alive, so I fired another Penetrating Particle Round to finish it off. The projectile pierced its head, killing it.

“Well, I managed to kill it, but I can’t bring it back, so I can’t sell it.”

Apparently, the Armored Dog’s hide and meat were valuable. In other words, its meat was edible.

With no other choice, I decided to head back. I had realized that continuing to hunt without a way to transport my prey would be pointless. After spending an hour walking back, I explained the situation to Sario.

“I see. So we need a Hunt Car.”

After discussing the matter, we decided that I would obtain a driver’s license and rent a Hunt Car. I earned my license in five days and set out hunting in a Hunt Car.

Incidentally, Hunt Cars were similar to self-driving vehicles. Although they had steering wheels, they could reach a destination automatically once the destination was entered, without requiring a human driver.

However, since hunting didn’t involve traveling to a fixed destination, the driver apparently had to use the steering wheel. That day, I headed for the Siska Grasslands in a rented Hunt Car shaped like a small tow truck. Incidentally, this type of Hunt Car was the cheapest available.

The Hunt Car was surprisingly comfortable to ride in. Driving it was also simple, requiring only the steering wheel, speed lever, and brakes. Unlike cars on Earth, it used a speed lever instead of an accelerator pedal.

The first monster I encountered was a Killer Spider. When I spotted the giant spider in the distance, I climbed out of the Hunt Car and opened the Control Gate connected to my Power Conduit.

The Killer Spider was a gigantic spider approximately one meter long. Its fangs contained a deadly venom, making it a troublesome monster if allowed to approach too closely.

I stepped away from the Hunt Car and braced myself. Suddenly, the Killer Spider charged toward me at tremendous speed. I hurriedly fired a Penetrating Particle Round, but the Killer Spider sprang sideways and dodged it. Rather than actually seeing the projectile, it seemed to have sensed my killing intent and reacted.

The Penetrating Particle Round merely punched a hole in the ground. By then, the Killer Spider had closed to within approximately six meters, so I hurriedly drew my Mason Gun and pulled the trigger.

The explosive round struck the Killer Spider and detonated, but the resulting blast also knocked me off my feet.

“Ugh, I hurt my lower back… The Mason Gun really isn’t a weapon you should use against monsters at close range.”

I had noticed swords and spears at the weapons store and wondered why anyone would need them when firearms existed. Apparently, situations like this were precisely why melee weapons were necessary.

After thinking it over, I wondered whether I could shape Bosol particles into a staff-like weapon. Gathering Bosol particles and forming them into a rod was easy enough. However, maintaining that shape proved difficult.

Apparently, while I was maintaining the Bosol particle rod, I couldn’t use any other Tactical Magecraft Techniques. That was a problem. At this rate, a weapon made from Bosol particles wouldn’t be practical.

I returned to the Hunt Car and began searching the Planetary Information Network. The network contained such an enormous amount of information that even finding what I needed took considerable time.

According to what I discovered, if I practiced maintaining the Bosol particle rod until I could do it unconsciously, just like breathing, I would eventually be able to use other Tactical Magecraft Techniques while keeping it active.

“In that case, maybe a defensive barrier would be better than a rod-shaped weapon. If I could use both at the same time…”

There was no helping it. I would have to train steadily until I mastered the technique. For now, I decided to defeat as many monsters as possible and build up my record. I glanced at the Achievement Collection Badge attached to my chest.

I climbed back into the Hunt Car and drove deeper into the grasslands. Occasionally, I passed other Hunt Cars carrying Dragon-Slayer Rangers, but we never exchanged any words.

After driving for about an hour, I encountered a Rampaging Boar, a six-legged wild boar. Seeing one in person, I realized just how enormous these creatures were. Its body was approximately three meters long, and its shoulders stood about one and a half meters above the ground. It surely weighed more than a ton.

The Rampaging Boar, which was about thirty meters away, began charging straight toward me. Feeling tremendous pressure from its approach, I fired a Penetrating Particle Round at it.

The Penetrating Particle Round accelerated beyond the speed of sound, pierced the Rampaging Boar’s chest, and inflicted severe damage on its internal organs. Although the wound wasn’t immediately fatal, the Rampaging Boar staggered forward with blood pouring from its mouth.

To finish it off, I fired another Penetrating Particle Round, this time aiming for its head. The projectile struck between its eyes. The Rampaging Boar collapsed onto the ground and fell still.

“Phew. Got it.”

I extended a cable from the electric winch mounted on the Hunt Car, wrapped it around the dead monster, and hauled the carcass onto the cargo bed. Unlike a vehicle, the carcass had no wheels, so dragging it aboard required considerable power.

I realized just how extraordinarily powerful the small tow-truck-shaped Hunt Car was. As expected of a vehicle built by a spacefaring civilization. Still, I couldn’t help feeling a little disappointed that the basic method was exactly the same as on Earth.

“The fact that it looks like a little tow truck is kind of underwhelming, though.”

Apparently, once you needed both a driver’s compartment and a cargo bed for transporting monster carcasses, the vehicle naturally ended up with this sort of design. Incidentally, the cargo bed was refrigerated.

I headed to the Dragon-Slayer Rangers Guild to sell the Rampaging Boar. At the purchasing department, a female Werecat named Vezetta, who was in charge of the department, explained the procedure to me.

All I had to do was place the monster’s carcass into the loading bay and use the control display to specify which parts I wanted to sell and which I wanted to keep. I placed the Rampaging Boar’s carcass into the loading bay and selected the option to sell everything.

When I pressed the confirmation button, the Rampaging Boar’s carcass was butchered. Because its internal organs had been damaged, I received only about seven hundred thousand Crebits. Apparently, Rampaging Boar organs were considered delicious.

“But you only just became a Dragon-Slayer Ranger, didn’t you? That’s impressive!”

Vezetta seemed surprised. Apparently, beginners usually targeted much smaller prey. She explained that the Siska Grasslands were also home to monsters resembling large rats and various insect-like creatures.

However, those smaller monsters apparently fetched much lower prices. Vezetta operated a terminal and examined the wounds on the Rampaging Boar.

“You brought it down with two hits. What did you use to kill it?”

“Particle Shot: Penetrating Round.”

“Oh, so you’re a Magus! But I thought Penetrating Particle Rounds were supposed to be much weaker than this?”

“The power of a Penetrating Particle Round depends on how much Heavenquake Force you use. I’m still having trouble controlling the amount properly.”

Vezetta nodded as though my explanation made sense.

“Looks like you’re going to become an excellent Dragon-Slayer Ranger. But don’t rush things. You should get used to fighting in the Siska Grasslands before moving on to your next hunting ground.”

“Understood.”