Aluminum Ranker Shikari, Finn Theraph.
Finn overall strength is almost comparable to a normal human being, With the exception of him having faster healing regeneration than any normal person. Finn was about the same as regular people in every other feature.
In every gateway, He'd always end up getting injured, But due to his excellent healing regeneration he always got out with a scratch, Even though he has excellent healing abilities, He nearly died several times, too.
Of course It wasn't as if Finn liked being a Shikari. The work was dangerous, one hit can actually kill you if you're not careful. Other's made fun of him, That he should just be a con artist and jump infront of cars for money.
Unfortunately, Someone like Finn, In his mid twenties are lacking any tangible job skill, there was no way but to remain as a Shikari, If he wanted to gain money for his family.
Should one say that he had no other choice but to accept?
That was why, even though he didn't want to go on raids, He simply have to participate.
***
Shikari are group in a party within the same area, They tended to know each other very well. In the event of a Gateway" opening, Shikari in that district should be asked to come, That's why.
[ Taiga Forest.]
"Ah, Why does it have to be this place.. It's too darn cold!!"
The Shikari grumbled, as he start rubbing his hands together.
The hunters who have arrived in the scene shared a friendly greeting to each other, As free supplies were handed out by the Association's workers to each group who will be attending the raid.
" Hey Carl, Over here."
" Oh? Jimmy you attending the raid too, I thought you were taking a break for 2 months?"
" Yeah, I'm running low on money to buy alcohol, So I'll be attending raids more often!"
" Is that so? I hope your skills didn't get any rusty, Tanker. "
"I'm in top shape Carl, Ain't nothing killing me!"
Jimmy burst into laughter. Carl followed with a sheepish chuckle, Before asking him.
" Hey have you noticed, Why do I feel like that the Association is calling us out less and less nowadays? and the Gateways are starting to decrease in the last few months."
" No you got It all wrong, That's only because the Guilds been buying them very lately since there is big profit in involving this whole thing."
"Well in that case, They didn't bought this Gateway, It was said to be a Low-level one, That can be used by the Association for low rankers, So it should be safe."
Carl took a glance around the area as,if he was looking for someone.
" I wonder if he's... "
After Carl was looking around, He spotted a certain someone and raised his hand in the air joyfully as if, he was seeing a famous celebrity.
" Hey, guys he's here, The Lizard twerp!"
Other people also displayed a reaction of joy and chuckles after seeing that young man.
"H-hello."
It was non-other than Finn Theraph, Finn performed a single wave at the joyous Carl and walked by to the stall.
"So Finn, Has showed up. Then everything is fine, Ba-hah."
Jimmy was suprised by their reactions and hurriedly asked Carl on who's that person is.
"Is this Shikari, Finn guy really that strong?"
"Oh right, You don't know him since you were on a break, He's a Shikari who has started working shortly after you left, you see. Every rankers here knows very well who that man is."
"Oh i see, He's popular, why didn't he worked for a guild then?"
Clark smirked at Jimmy's response before narrowing his eyes to Finn.
" He has a nickname, Axolotl Hunter."
"Axolotl isn't that an amphibian?"
" You're correct, He's like a little fish in a big pond, He can't fight but he has incredible regeneration."
"Ei? Then he's the weakest out all of us?"
" You could say it like that."
Jimmy began frowning.
Why would other hunter greet this Finn guy, If he really is that weak. After all, Didn't they need someone to trust their backs if things go south?
Carl continued on talking.
" That guy, There was rumors not too long ago, when he was participating his first raid. He was separated from his group, when his group first got outside the Gateway, He also got out with no injuries, The members was suprised at his physical condition, but that's where they found out that Finn, actually was severely injured, while looking for the Gateway exit, His wounds started to heal back in time."
"Eh? That's some good regeneration he got there."
"That's right! No one expect to see a Shikari with that state after being left alone in a Gateway. However even though Finn looks very healthy on the outside, His mental state was very damage that he needs to spend a week at a hospital."
" When he was healed, The doctors said that he would need to quit his job, That it may trigger a trauma, But he still carried on being a Shikari, I guess he still has a screw in his head. Wa-hahaha."
When Clark started laughing too loudly, Jimmy hurriedly hushed him.
"Hey stop it man, he might hear us."
"Oh yeah sorry. "
Thankfully the distance was far enough that they weren't be able to be heard by their youth.
Of course, They were mistaken
'I heard everything you said.'
A bitter smile formed on Finn's face as he tried to ignore them.
It seems he had arrive to early that the gateway hasn't started yet.
'Did I arrive to early?'
Finn looked around and spotted a stall giving out food and brewed coffee, He walked closer.
"Can I get a cup of coffee?"
"Oh, Lizar- I mean, Finn! We only have black coffee is it okay for you?"
A cold winter breeze has brushed past Finn's body.
"Ah, Yes it's fine"
What a bad day to have this kind of weather, A gateway really has to appear in an environment like this.. I hope the otherworld is not that freezing. ( Referring to the Gateway )
***
[ Inside The Gate ]
A veil of darkness cloaks the natural beauty of the cavern we had entered into.
" Why do you persevere to be in a dangerous job, Mister Finn?"
" I'm really sorry "
Finn gazes on the floor and apologized.
This young beautiful girl, Holding a bow infront of Finn, Claire has showed an unhappy expression.
"Don't apologize to me, I'm only worried about you. If you continue fighting, you'll be faced up with more dangerous situation that would likely end your life."
Finn glanced at his group fighting monsters. Blood and sweat of brave warriors fight till death.
When one entered a Gateway, They will be sent into a different dimension or a world, The rank of the Gateway I'm participating is a light blue rank, A low rank gate.
A dozen of Silver rank Shikari and a few Chromium Ranker, Are taking care of the monsters inside this place.
Unfortunately for an Aluminum rank like me, That feat was nearly impossible. I was hired to be a porter of the group.
Normally the job of a porter is to carry weapons and supplies, If a porter was hurt the responsibility goes to the group, Since Finn doesn't get hurt because of his regeneration, The group doesn't need to worry. He became popular to many group as he was hired by many.
Claire cautiously asked him.
"Is there perhaps, A reason why you became a Shikari?"
Finn shook her head in a disagreeing manner.
He didn't want to reveal anything personal to her.
"I'm only doing this because, I like my job."
Claire began showing a pouting expression.
"If you continue doing this you'll end up in the afterworld, You know? "
Finn Giggled before replying to her.
" Yes, I know."
As they chatted and laughed, The raid was almost over.
Finn expression hardened, As he fidget with a Small F-rank Monster core in his hand.
The lowest grade magic core from a Rank-F monster fetch for lessed than 30 dollars. For something he bet on his life, This is the least he can get his hands on.
A magic core of a Rank - D monster can sell for over 200 dollars, though....
An Aluminum ranker like me couldn't even attempt to kill an E Rank monster.
'This is tough'
Someone shouted from afar, It was the Raid leader, Clark.
"Attention Everybody, There's another path leading to a new area."
The nearby hunters rushed towards the path and looked.
" Oh! There really is."
" There's another path!"
Just as the others say, There was another path that could lead deeper in the cave.
"The search team didn't marked it in the map, there was nothing here, said to be another pathway. "
Before entering the Gateway, magic drones were sent to scout inside the gateway before proceeding and are able to make a map of the whole place.
The interior of the hidden, cave like passage was pitch black nothing could be seen. Clark activated his flame magic and tossed it over deep in the cave.
The ball of flame flew through the narrowing passage, And illuminated light. Soon enough the flame lost its momentum and fell of the ground with a spark.
The passage was shrouded in darkness once more.
"Okay, Everyone gather around! Come on."
The leader of this raid, Mister Clark called the group to gather.
Clark spoke up after looking at the whole squad smiling.
" As you all know, There is another pathway that leads to new area, The drones haven't recorded it in the map so it's unknown what lurks, Normally we're supposed to report this back to the Association and wait for their decision, But if we do that, the Association might send some higher ups to take care of it, And we'll lose a huge amount of money. However if we do it now, we might get some good loot to spare."
The expression of the group has hardened, with a deep frown at their faces.
'At this rate, There'd be no meaning of this raid.'
" Yeah, I think it's a good choice if we leave it to the Association."
" I agree, It's too dangerous."
There were a few people who has agreed to give in to the organization but some refuses.
"Are you dumb?! If we give in to the higher ups, We did this raid for nothing!"
" Don't worry it's a low level raid, after all, We'll be fine."
The truth, was no one here could figure out the current situation, and so their safety could not be guaranteed. However, the difficult of this particular, proved to be very low.
" Ehem!"
Clark spoke, to draw the group attention to himself.
" What about this? Let's split into 2 groups. The group who wants to continue will advance to the path while the group who disagree will stay here on guard, Sounds good right?"
" But of course, The group who advance will not share any loot they get."
Others nods their head after hearing Clark's suggestion, No one disagreed.
" I'm going in, Everyone who wants to advance follow me."
"Me too."
Clark was the first one to go, followed by Jimmy and then other hunters started following Clark's group, One by one.
The disagreeing factors were plentiful too.
"I'll stay here.. "
Claire then spoke.
"I'll be on guard."
After several minutes. It was now, Finn's turn to make a decision.
Finn's grasped the bag he's holding, He then glanced at Claire.
Claire was shaking her head at him. It looks like she disagrees on me coming with the advancement group.
Finn, was extremely hesitant to answer, Well normally, he would never take the unnecessary risk. Not only did he lack the abilities to fight, but he was also not brave to do so.
However Finn has a family he has to feed, and his sister is now entering college.
'I need money'
Currently Finn is now 19 years old, He's at the age where he should be studying academic purposes. But he gave up since they were lacking money to save. He didn't want the same situation to go through her sister.
And so...
Finn raised his voice and said.
"I'll go!"
Claire was suprised, She wasn't expecting Finn, to join them.
Claire was deeply worried. She then grasped her bow.
"If you're going,then I'll go to !"
"That's settle then, Let's go!"
We then set foot on the path, and went to the passage way.
***
Infront we have Mr, Clark and other strong Shikari leading the way, Mr. Clark has a ball of flame in his hand illuminating the way forward.
It's been a total of 20 Minutes, Since we started the walking the path.
"We've been walking a lot, huh?"
" Yes, It's awfully a long path."
Finn was in the very back of the group, With Claire and other Shikari's with poor combat skills.
"Claire I....I'm really sorry."
" Huh?"
"You know, dragging you here with me.. "
"I'm fine with it, So you don't need to mind me."
She definitely was not fine with it. Claire saw Finn staring at her, She tilted her head away.
'Now that I think about It, I owe Ms. Claire alot'
Claire was an Archer type, She is a genius when using the bow. Her rank is almost at Chromium.
The Association of Shikari ranker knows her very well, She has unique eye sight that's better than regular people, She's a rare type of breed.
Whenever Finn and Claire participated on a raid, Finn would end up getting protected by her.
"Stand back, I might hit you."
"Do you fight?"
"You're Injured again?"
"We've met together a few times, yeah?"
"Uhm.. This job doesn't really suit you.."
"Oh you're attending the raid ?"
"Wow, You regenerate fast, You don't even need a healer."
"Stay behind me, I'll protect you."
At that moment, It was way past the point of Finn, Feeling grateful for everything she had done, and firmly into the territory of him being opogetic to her.
"..."
"What's wrong Finn?"
"Ah.. It's just that, I owe you so much, That I don't even know how to repay you for everything you have done to me."
"Ah...that."
Claire fell into deep contemplation for a bit, Before she began gazing at him with the corner of her eye.
"Then... wanna watch a movie together?"
Now that was a totally unexpected offer.
Finn looked at her with an expression of suprise and found a teasing smile etched on her face.
The truth was Claire is still a young girl, I think I remember her saying that she'll be turning 19 next year?
When Finn hesitated with his answer, Claire cheeks started to puff up like a balloon.
" What.. Don't like movies?!"
Suddenly it became noisy upfront
"Hey look we found something!"
Finn and Claire gazes automatically shifted to the front.
There's a weird big altar infront.
Other Shikari all gathered at the altar where Clark was in. Clark took a sweeping look and muttered to no one in particular.
" It's Runic Language."
The Runic languange:
Words that could not be found anywhere in Earth, And only found in Gateways ; The only one who can read Runic Languange is people born with the power to read them. Clark was a descendants of the vermilion clan, therefore he was bestowed knowledge of the Runic Languange.
"Better old than young; the healthier it is, the smaller it will be."
Mister Clark read the first verse of the writing.
With a deeply nervous face, Finn listened to the content's of the slate, as it was read out by Mister Clark.
Then a sound was heard
'Ttring'
A window floating in mid air appeared contains a message.
[ Emergency Quest ]
A Monarch's Duty.
-You have entered the realm, You must prove your worth and survive.
Rewards: "Quest Progression" " Escape "
※ Warning: Failure of the quest will result in death.
Finn was reading the contents of the quest, when suddenly, someone tugged at his arm.
When Finn looked back, He spotted Claire with a deadly glare expression.
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