The day after registering as a hunter, Mile immediately set out for her first job.
She didnāt need to carry any items since she could use storage magic, but she decided to carry a backpack to avoid looking odd. The backpack contained only a bag for storing her prey. The bread for lunch and a water bottle were stored in an item box with a time stop function to prevent them from spoiling.
Her equipment consisted of a leather chest plate, leather boots, and a mysterious sword at her waist. She looked like a novice hunter.
Since it was a provincial city, the distance to the forest, her hunting ground, was not farāabout an hourās walk for an adult. Mile arrived in 15 minutes, having slowed down when she saw people around. If she ran at full speed, it wouldnāt be good for the environment, so she never did that.
"This is the hunting forest..."
She had come as instructed and had a map, so there was no mistake.
In the dense, uninhabited forest, Mile spoke her thoughts aloud. She felt a bit lonely thinking in silence.
"Are the more experienced hunters going deeper into the forest or to a different one...?
Since this is a place for beginners, there probably wonāt be any valuable monsters. That makes sense..."
Mile muttered to herself as she entered the forest.
After walking for a while, she spotted a bird perched on a tree branch. Despite the dim forest, Mileās eyes were unusually sharp.
She found the bird, but with a sword, it was impossible to reach it. However, if she could catch it, it could be sold. If not, she could have it prepared at the inn and eat it herself.
Mile looked around the ground and found a stone about the size of a fist. She picked it up, drew back her arm, and threw it at the bird with all her might.
*Thud!*
A tremendous sound echoed.
The bird was gone, and the part of the tree above where it had been was also missing.
It seemed the bird hadnāt flown away.
Mileās excellent eyesight revealed a few pieces of flesh, feathers, and bloodstains stuck to the remaining part of the tree.
"Ah...!"
A few minutes later, Mile finally regained her composure and continued walking. She had a few pebbles the size of her pinky in her jacket pocket.
These would be enough to penetrate the target. Aiming for the head would also be good.
Mile was a quick learner.
Perhaps the sound earlier had scared away the prey. Mile decided to gather herbs instead.
She had heard that it was hard to find herbs by searching normally, so she decided to cheat. She used exploration magic.
Mile didnāt want to go through the trouble when there was a convenient tool available. She was the type to accept such shortcuts.
"Exploration magic! Show me where the herbs are!"
"Please take seventeen steps forward, then turn left and take six more steps."
"Is this a car navigation system? Thatās just a route guide! Itās not magic!!"
"Originally, everything you call magic is created by us..."
"Thatās right..."
Mile had been expecting something more impressive, like a radar display in her vision or a pillar of light marking the location of the herbs. She slumped to her knees in disappointment.
"If you prefer that, I can do it..."
"Really?!"
Mile, who had been trying to avoid talking to the nanomachines to prevent over-reliance on them, couldnāt help but comment. If someone saw her, they might think she was a strange person talking to herself.
She changed the exploration magic to a radar system and silently gathered herbs. It seemed the signals were being sent directly to her retina.
She collected different types of herbs, storing them in the item box as she went. She thought it was better not to gather too much of the same type.
After a while, the animals that had been hiding in their burrows due to the loud noise started to appear.
Mile flicked a pebble from her pocket at a horn rabbit that appeared a short distance away.
On Earth, there is a technique called "finger flicking" where people flick balls or coins with their fingers, usually to distract or intimidate enemies. However, Mileās technique was different.
*Pfft!*
It penetrated.
She had hit the head, so the meat and fur were undamaged, and the horns were fine. The value of the prey hadnāt decreased.
Encouraged by this, Mile switched from gathering herbs to hunting.
Horn rabbits, birds, and fox-like creaturesāshe took them all down with pebbles.
She replenished her pebbles and continued firing.
With a spear or sword, the prey would have escaped before she could get close, and her accuracy with a bow and arrow wasnāt high. Thatās why ordinary hunters couldnāt catch so many birds and small animals.
Finally, a big catch appearedāa boar!
*Thud!*
It was a great hunt.
Mile, with a satisfied smile, started her way back.
But then she realized something.
"Oh, Iām a mage, but I didnāt use any magic..."
It seemed Mile didnāt count using exploration magic as using magic.
Indeed, it didnāt give the impression of using magic for hunting, but that didnāt give exploration magic its due. Probably, the initial impression of it being a "car navigation system" or "route guide" was too strong.
In the end, Mile hadnāt used any attack magic or even her sword.
Mile went to the Hunterās Guild to exchange her prey for money.
She carried a bag with some of her prey on her right shoulder.
She planned to use storage magic for convenience in the future but didnāt want to look like she hadnāt caught anything, so she wanted to show that she had indeed caught prey.
Since she was only selling herbs and meat from the permanent quests, she went directly to the submission area without going through the reception. Suddenly, a man called out to her.
"Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?"
Was he hitting on her?
Mile tensed, and the man, who was actually a boy, quickly continued.
"N-no, itās not like that! Iām inviting you to join our party!
Weāre a party of five, but weāre a bit short on attack power. Weāre looking for one more member. These are the other members."
Behind the boy stood two boys and two girls.
"You look new, so you must be from another town. From the looks of your prey, you seem quite skilled, but itās dangerous to go solo if something happens.
With us, the age difference isnāt too big, and we have girls, so itās safe. What do you think? Will you consider it?"
Mile had no intention of joining a party. If she did, her uniqueness would be noticed, and they might try to use her or sell information to a noble.
However, standing here talking while carrying her prey would draw attention, and it would be bad if he persisted and caused a scene.
"Um, can I finish my submission first?"
"Ah, sorry. Iāll wait here."
The boy stepped back.
Mile went to the submission area, gave her name and registration number, and took out her prey from the bag.
This way, even for permanent quests and material sales, the hunterās achievements would be recorded for promotion.
"Wow, young lady, youāve got some good skills. Youāve got a lot, and the fur is almost undamaged. Iāll give you a little extra."
The uncle at the submission area said, impressed.
"Really? Thank you!
Oh, and I have more prey..."
As Mile took out the rest of the prey from her storage magic and lined them up on the table, the uncleās eyes widened in shock.
"Storage magic... And the amount of prey... What is this..."
"Is something wrong?"
"No, nothingās wrong..."
When Mile finally took out the boar, the uncleās mouth dropped open.