The two of them crouched in front of the [Demonized Rabbit].
Frieren poked at the rabbit's body with her staff, her expression turning slightly serious.
"Shane, do you know how long a rabbit's reproductive cycle is?"
"..."
Why ask that all of a sudden?
Shane tried to recall. He vaguely rembered that rabbits reproduced quickly, but as for the exact number of days in their cycle… he really couldn't rember.
What did that have to do with the current situation?
Seeing that Shane didn't answer, Frieren kindly explained.
"A rabbit's reproductive cycle is usually 28 to 32 days. A female can reproduce five to six tis a year, producing three to twelve offspring each ti. Newborn rabbits reach full maturity in about six months and then enter the reproductive cycle themselves."
As Frieren spoke, Shane's expression gradually turned serious.
He imdiately understood what she ant.
According to the information left by Heiter, the first case of a [Horned Human] appeared in this village six years ago. That ant the first [Demonized Rabbit] had existed for at least six years. In other words, these rabbits had been reproducing in this region for six full years.
Six years…
How many rabbits would that produce?
He didn't even need to calculate—it had to be an astronomical number.
Stiffly, he turned his head and glanced around the camp.
In the darkness beyond the reach of the campfire, it felt as though countless [Demonized Rabbits] were lurking. His hand unconsciously moved to the hilt of his sword.
There was no way these rabbits would just stay in one place. Across the entire Tark region, could the sa "outbreak" be happening elsewhere?
The severity of the situation far exceeded their expectations.
"If that's the case, we might have to comb through the entire Tark region."
Frieren nodded.
That was exactly what she wanted to discuss.
To completely eliminate the threat, they would need to survey the entire Tark region as quickly as possible, while also sending word to the Holy Capital Strahl to request assistance from the priests—hoping they could help investigate all the neighboring towns and villages.
Although rabbits reproduced rapidly, their migration range was usually limited. Otherwise, sayings like "rabbits don't eat grass near their own burrow—if there's grass nearby, why roam the hills?" wouldn't exist.
Hopefully, things hadn't escalated as far as they feared.
Of course, there was also good news.
"I've finished analyzing the curse. I can completely purify it now."
As she spoke, Frieren lifted her chin slightly with a hint of pride.
Shane imdiately gave her a thumbs-up.
"As expected of a legendary mage. Your efficiency is incredible."
"Hehe."
Smiling happily, Frieren raised her staff and aid it at the [Demonized Rabbit], about to demonstrate the result.
"Wait!"
Shane stopped her imdiately.
It wasn't that he doubted her abilities—but demonstrations weren't necessary. After all, [Attributes] weren't exactly common. It would be a waste.
Extract!
A gray light flew out and landed on a bean Shane casually took out.
The [Demonized Rabbit] sample on the ground disintegrated and vanished.
"Use everything to its fullest."
"Fair enough."
————
The moon hung high in the sky.
The two of them glanced at Fern, who was wrapped in a blanket and sleeping on the other side of the campfire, then quietly slipped away in unison.
Before leaving, Shane thoughtfully set up a layer of [Goddess's Barrier] around the camp to ensure her safety.
At the sa ti, the barrier reduced her sensitivity to external disturbances, allowing her to sleep more peacefully.
After all, what they were about to do next might be a bit too disgusting for her.
Better not test a young girl's psychological limits in the middle of the night.
"Rabbits are nocturnal. Let's clear out everything we can find around the village first."
"Alright."
Frieren activated flight magic and rose into the air. Gently waving her staff, she used the curse of the [Demonized Rabbits] as a tracking target, casting large-scale tracking magic across the forest.
Whoosh—
A faint blue light appeared not far in front of Shane.
He activated [Sprint] and rushed toward it—that was a marked [Demonized Rabbit]!
Extract!
A pale green light flew into his hand and settled onto a bean.
At the sa ti, another [Demonized Rabbit] was marked by Frieren to his front-right.
[Sprint] continued.
He didn't stop for a mont, dashing toward the next target.
Extract!
Extract!
Extract!
Countless [Demonized Rabbits] were marked by magic. Like a character in a parkour ga, Shane weaved through the forest, constantly collecting the [Attributes] that dropped along the way.
3
3
Shane was having the ti of his life.
Beans were constantly being consud, transferred from one pocket to another.
Even though they were all the lowest-tier [Gray Attributes], as long as the quantity was large enough, they were basically a "bulk [Gold/Legendary]."
Half an hour later—
Frieren descended from the sky.
Sustained use of flight magic consud an enormous amount of mana, and she had been using tracking magic simultaneously, doubling her consumption rate.
At this point, she had to stop and rest, or it would start affecting her body.
"Let's call it here for tonight. We'll continue tomorrow."
"Alright."
Shane rubbed the beans in his pocket with lingering excitent. Even though it had only lasted half an hour, it was already more than satisfying.
But just as he finished speaking, a faint blue light appeared in front of them.
Another [Demonized Rabbit] had been marked by tracking magic.
"??"
Shane was confused.
Frieren, however, looked up into the sky.
Fern was floating above them, mimicking Frieren's earlier actions, continuing to mark the positions of [Demonized Rabbits] for Shane.
Seeing both of them looking up at her, Fern blushed slightly.
Fortunately, it was night—and she was in the air.
No one would see her blush.
She had been sleeping soundly, but Frieren's tracking magic covered the entire forest. With such a strong magical fluctuation, how could she not sense it?
When she woke up and realized what the two of them were doing behind her back, the [Demonized Rabbits] suddenly didn't seem so disgusting anymore.
Unlike Heiter, who worried she wouldn't be able to live independently—
Shane and Frieren never forced her to. In fact, they treated her a little like a child, carefully protecting her innocence.
At that mont, her heart felt warm.
Gripping her staff, she took over Frieren's role and flew higher into the sky…
Shane watched that small figure in the air.
The tiny child from his mories—before he knew it—had grown into a brave and confident young girl. She was trying to overco her inner resistance, learning to beco a true adventurer.
In that case—
[Sprint] activated, and Shane charged straight toward the newly marked [Demonized Rabbit].
Attributes, here I co!
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