Early in the morning, the head of the hunters association and the representatives of each top guild, gathered for a meeting.
Reason?
"A gate has opened at Hawaii," Rudolf, head of the hunters association, slammed his hands on the long rectangular table, earning the attentions of other S-rank hunters. In order to be a representative, one must be at least an A-rank that can challenge an S-rank.
"So, this is the fifth S-rank gate we've had in eight years huh?" Michael, a powerful hunter that represents the Athens guild, spoke in a casual tone. If he was acting that way in a normal meeting, he probably would have been fired, but the skills he possess as a hunter gave him the freedom to act however he wished. Not just him, but those who are skilled enough to bypass the laws.
"No. Our evaluation device cannot measure it before, but after we developed a more advanced device for appraising dungeon gates, it came out as an SS-rank gate..." Rudolf had been nervous for this day to come. In fact, ever since he sat on the chair as the head of the hunters association, he had always pictured the worse that could occur, but he never expected things to turn worse than it already is.
"What? That's possible?" The hunters questioned altogether, agitation visible on their faces. The idea of a double S rank made them nervous, especially because that's quite a leap in terms of powers, "A month from now, we will be raiding that dungeon. I want every single S rank hunter we can get to raid that damn gate," Michael's intensity caused everyone to listen intently to him. Although, there were still some others who held an arrogant attitude towards the news.
"Our barrier can only hold on for a month. Until then, prepare yourself well. We don't know what the hell is inside of that gate."
As the meeting continued on for another thirty-minutes, Kai was inside his suite, drinking coffee. It was a peaceful morning until Jaena suddenly texted him,
Jaena: I heard there's an SS rank dungeon gate. Every S-rank hunter is needed for the raid, and a few other A rank hunters.
Kai: Where is it located?
Jaena: Hawaii. They have already begun evacuation just in case the monsters break that barrier in the span of a month.
"A double S rank gate?" He wondered to himself. Perhaps... His suspicion might be true after all.
Meanwhile, Astasia woke up on the cold grass, causing her body to constantly shiver.
After she finished clearing the dungeon, a fragment of memory played in her head but the more she tried to think about it, the painful her head became.
She was a stubborn and curious lady. If she wanted answers, she would want them instantly, which is why she tried her best to remember what that fragment of memory was, but it only resulted into her knocking out.
"Ugh, my head hurts. Jack, come out."
"Yes my queen?"
"How long have I been out for?"
"Two days my queen. In the span of two days, a familiar gate has opened. I believe it belongs to Medusa"
"Medusa? That bitch? She's still alive?" She grabbed the hairs of the grass and pulled them off angrily.
Medusa was a clever woman and also loved men. There isn't a day where Astasia did not see her without a man next to her, but she hated her existence because of the fact that she killed her little brother. Although he wasn't Astasia's little brother, she was attached to him as she would to a sibling.
When she got up the grass, her body instantly dropped back down on the floor. It was too weak and cold considering the fact that she's just wearing a sundress and a sandal, "M-my Queen?! Are you alright?! What should I do?" Jack panicked and carried her like a princess.
"Ugh, I hate the cold. Take me somewhere with people around. I'll manage from there," she ordered him. As a guardian, it was his utmost priority to keep his master safe, because her death results into his death. Unless, she decides to terminate the contract and free the guardians of her possession, but knowing her personality, that's almost the impossible.
Kai was walking around the street of downtown with his hood on. He was on his way to drink with a few members from the guild until he saw Astasia unconscious in the arms of a stranger. He didn't want to see her again, but now this coincidental encounter made him walk up to the man and punch his face, "What the hell are you doing to my fiancé?" He used the fiancé as an excuse.
He suspected that everyone must have known their relationship, so using this as an excuse would be easier.
"Fiancé? My queen has never been interested in anyone no matter how handsome they are,"
'My queen?' Kai thought to himself. He began to wonder what kind of relationship they had or if this was her actual boyfriend. If it was, he would just be embarrassing himself, but still he didn't know him and he didn't want Astasia to be taken away by a stranger.
"Give her to me" Kai glared at Jack.
"If you can"
The two almost started a ruckus in the middle of downtown until Astasia tiredly open her eyes, "What? Kai, what are you doing here? Carry me," she extended her arms out for him with a smile. It was as if she was a baby, but it's cute. However, seeing this side of her shocked Jack to his core. Did his queen just act like that? In the years he's known her, she had always been a bitch, yet now this is how she's acting in front of a man? Did she like him? He thought that his master was indifferent towards men but that doesn't seem to be the case.
What's the difference in him? She's encountered hundreds of handsome men who pursue her, but she always rejected them.
Jack was hesitant to give her to Kai, like a mother hesitating to give its baby to a child, but Astasia slapped his arms, so he had no choice but to hand her to him. So now, she was being carried by Kai. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck, and her face resting on his chest, "I can stay longer at your place right?"
"What?" He was a little taken aback from the question since his initial goal was just to save him from a stranger, "Take me back to your place! I haven't showered in two days and I need to change," she looked at her dress and it was quite dirty.
"..Right," Kai sighed to himself. He should've expected this.