Chapter 7: SSS (2)
Hunter's skill… had stolen Charlotte's mana and skill and turned it into its own seal, taking the red wolf into his body in which she was now his sole property!
There was no room for any tricks… there was no room for a word!
Hunter had absolute authority over it… which was astonishing.
It had to be reminded that men were much weaker than women because of how Lucifer's curse shaped the world. And now, a man who just awakened his innate skill surmounted a much stronger woman's sealing skill and used it for his own gain.
"Um… Miss Charlotte… how should I feel right now? I don't think anything changed."
Yes, a man without experience… had overwhelmed her, but Charlotte didn't seem offended.
She faintly smiled and explained, "All happens out of your control, Hunter. But you have successfully sealed Nakisha within yourself. It is now your duty to seize all of it and have control. Be a woman… I mean, be a man and work hard to have a final word. Own your power, Nakisha's, and more you desire."
"I'm glad! I would hate myself if I wasted your mana and hard work!" Hunter genuinely sighed with relief, then flashed his white teeth at the beautiful woman.
"That was nothing," Charlotte just flicked his forehead before returning to her boss' side.
Inwardly, Hunter screamed joyfully, 'That's my potential right here. Just now, her attitude became much mellower toward me, and she acted so cutely yet mature! I must not waste this momentum and build a good relationship with her. She's the boss' close companion and a beautiful woman, too. Damn, I'm so excited.'
With how limited his prospects were in the village, Hunter grew into a man that pursued relationships and strength more than anything… which was not bad.
However, that also meant he was bound to be surprised upon entering The Hunter First Union.
-
Now that the red wolf's case was over… and Hunter's regeneration skills showcased how abnormal he was, for holes in his torso had been already mended, making him appear like a man trying to act heroic with his ragged leather clothes, it was time to deal with the commoners.
The Boss' presence once again blanketed the entire forest, her dark eyes swallowing everyone's attention.
She spoke with her arms crossed, "The threat has been captured. Your village is no longer in danger, so feel free to return back to your homes. As for recompensation for your involvement in the hunt, reach Darkness Guild of The Hunter First Union. Moreover, Hunter is under my protection as of now. That's all."
The reason she had to pay for the villagers' arrows and wounds was because of the hunter's codex. In normal cases, hunters would share part of the prey's bodies, such as meat or bones, or talk over about the compensation.
But it didn't seem like there was any room for a talk with the black-haired leader…
Nonetheless, one of the villagers managed to muster enough courage to talk back.
She was one of the hunters that Hunter was familiar with.
"We… we can't reach The Hunter First Union! It's too far away! Our only way of talking with your guild is through the messenger from the capital, but all of that cost too much money! We will also spend too many resources to reach the capital! C-Can't you be more considerable and talk over it in our village?"
Tilting her head to the side, the boss flatly replied, "Do I look like an accountant to you?"
"N-No… you don't…."
"Anyone else?"
As no one replied, Celestia nodded and took her people with her.
The wind lifted Hunter and the two of her companions to the skies.
"Holy shit! I am flying!" Hunter excitedly shouted.
Hearing his excitement, a lot of villagers looked up at him with jealousy.
-
Hunter was back in his house.
He was told by the boss to just pack some of his stuff, preferably armor, weapons, and other consumable items that might help him in the yearly exam. Of course, he first took a bath before picking up his stuff.
As a sidekick to the village's hunter team, Hunter had one more leather armor he could use. He decided to wear it now and stuff his backpack with light clothes and other stuff.
"Armor, shirts, pants, briefs… and a lot of toothpaste. All ready to go!"
He was the most proud of his white teeth — women would surely like to kiss his smile!
Not like any had decided to kiss him yet…
But Hunter blamed himself for it… he wasn't assertive at all!
Just as he was about to say goodbye to his small house, someone knocked on his door.
"Is it Miss Charlotte? It must be!" Coughing, Hunter cleared his throat and shouted back in the manliest voice he could muster... "Coming! I'm already ready to leave!"
But as he opened the door, his smile disappeared off his face. He looked emotionlessly at the woman that stood before him.
The woman he was compelled to call a big sister… Anna.
"I didn't expect anyone from the village to say goodbye to me."
"I… I came to apologize, Little Hunter."
"Don't call me Little Hunter… you don't have that right anymore."
"B-But…" Anna bit her lips and looked wrongly at the man she had taken a liking to… and as feelings battered her heart, she opened it and candidly spoke about her feelings. "I like you, Hunter! I cried so much when you died… and couldn't believe that it was you! I thought you were possessed!"
It was true that Anna made Hunter's life more enjoyable… and that she wanted to use her body to protect him. However, when he needed her the most, she ran away with others and returned to kill him.
If it wasn't for the boss, Hunter would have been forced to work alongside the red wolf and kill people he was friends and acquaintances with.
That perhaps would have changed him the most… however, if he was ready for it, it meant that Hunter had already grown and was no longer a man that adhered to the world's rules.
He wasn't just a man.
"Didn't we exchange glances when you were shooting arrows at me?" Hunter emotionlessly spoke, "You should have seen my eyes… since you are an archer. You have eye-related skills, don't you? Couldn't you really not see that it was me? I think you're lying to me, Anna."
All words wedged in her throat as she heard Hunter call her by her name.
He continued, "It doesn't really matter anymore. Yeah, it does, really, no matter if I forgive you or not. We won't be seeing each other anymore, as I am about to start a life surrounded by people on par with my talent. I won't waste my time, either, or just follow the world, too, just to not feel the same regret as I had felt today."
"What… regret? I'm so sorry, Hunter…" Anna whispered, tears tumbling down her cheeks.
But her Little Hunter's next words erased even those tears.
"I used to curse Lucifer for not being able to make a move on you… but the fault lied in me. I realized it after seeing the boss, you know? So I regret becoming your Little Hunter. I could have become your man instead, and we all would have a lot of fun and love together. Really, I regret so much making the wrong decisions about you. I would love to kiss your pretty lips, fondle your tits, tug your nipples with my perfect white teeth, and slap your ass… maybe if we were so close, you would be able to see that I was not possessed and reach out to me. Well, the past is the past. Thanks for being a part of my life, and let's move forward, okay? No hate, no love, nothing. Oh, I hope your man will turn out to be better than a pig. I kinda have unlimited stamina, in case you haven't noticed it yet."
Hunter slammed the doors and went back to his room, only to sit down in the chair with his head arched back, looking at the wooden ceiling with narrowed eyes.
"Maybe I went too far… but it damn hurt now that I think about it! I didn't feel much pain because of adrenaline, but as I recall her face and her pointing her arrows at me, it damn hurts! Even the red wolf's wounds and scars don't hurt this much!"
Hunter looked at his arm and found out that… all scars were already gone.
"Yikes. I thought it'd take much more time to heal."