Everything's gone wrong.
Everything's gone so wrong.
Osaki Naoko could barely keep back the incapacitating despair that threatened to consume her as she watched the monsters begin surrounding her team again. They were too strong, and her team was simply not built to fight beasts as powerful as these. The gap in their power was too much.
Her day wasn't supposed to go like this.
One of her long-term goals was nearly within reach. She was finally going to become Guild Master! To establish her own guild and finally begin earning more money, becoming someone that those under her could look to for inspiration and hope.
Everything was going great until everything went up in flames without warning.
Now, they were stuck in this hell, hunted by monsters beyond their ability to kill.
She took a long gulp of air, trying to fight back the despair gripping her heart, and she thought about the journey she took that led to this moment.
Naoko had first awakened her abilities two years ago. She had just graduated from Tokyo University with a degree in hand when she felt the wave of magical energy surge within her. It didn't take her long to forgo her engineering degree to pursue the life of a C-ranked hunter.
After all, the money one had the potential to make in the Gates far exceeded the amount she could make in a tedious office job.
She didn't want to end up a corporate slave like her father.
With her official hunter's license in hand, Naoko began her career as a hunter. It was tough at first; there was no doubt about that. She had endured many tough fights and challenging situations, but Naoko had been resilient and disciplined.
She never gave in, no matter what.
She worked tirelessly, and each fight she went into sharpened her skill with the spear, becoming so adept that people around her would notice and start relying more on her. It gave her more opportunities, as people would start inviting her to their party. The camaraderie she felt during this time gave her a warm feeling of belongingness among people who fought with her.
That was what inspired her to decide that she wanted to be more than just a highly skilled freelance hunter. Yes, Naoko wanted to become more. Become a Guild Master. A leader!
That was her goal. Her new dream.
That's when Naoko began to work harder than she had ever worked before, all for the sake of this new dream.
She rallied those she had worked with in the past, using the trust and camaraderie she had built throughout her career. With her trusted companions at her back, Naoko marched onward and began her mission to meet the requirements to become a Guild Master.
The requirements varied from country to country, but they were simple enough. Simple, however, didn't mean easy. In Japan, to become a Guild Master, one must have led and cleared forty dungeon raids successfully—a challenging and painstakingly long process to complete. You also have to take into account the funds to back your future guild mates and the expenses that come with leading such a large group. You must be able to show the Association that you have the managerial skills and funds to upkeep a Guild successfully. Otherwise, you would crash and burn quickly. As did several past failed Guild Masters.
Naoko would not fail. She refused to fail.
"Kobayashi! No!"
"Fuck, man! Tashiro, get back!
"Ah-Gah!"
…but she did. Naoko watched helplessly as her comrades were killed one by one. She didn't have the power or the skill to help them. She could work all her life, and it would mean nothing in the face of this higher power to these monsters slaughtering her comrades as if they were mere cattle.
This was the hell she stepped into, the unforgiving power of the Red Gate.
"Osaki-san! Help me-Ragh!"
Running away while Hikigaya stayed behind to fight, those panthers felt cowardly. She knew that he was strong, but she didn't know if he could take them all on. He had given her assurance, and she'd taken it despite her misgiving, but it still didn't feel right. Her teams didn't do anything against them, but could his?
But she needed to take that chance. She needed to lead her team to safety. They trusted her, and Hikigaya believed that getting away from there was the best option. So when he dove into fighting those panthers, she led her team away into the forest where they could hide. Nakano didn't come with, insistent that helping Hikigaya was a priority and trusting Naoko to get her team to the woods without fail.
She was wrong. And now her team was paying the price.
"I don't want to die! I don't want to-Gah!"
Naoko could do nothing more than watch the comrades she went through so much with being mutilated and killed without mercy, knowing each of their faces and the lives they had left behind because they trusted her.
Kentaro Ken, D-Rank, a father of two, was pulled deep into the forest by a mutated salamander.
Tajima Akio, C-Rank, a beloved florist, was ripped apart by a swarm of mosquitoes the size of a large dog.
Yoshioka Mika, D-Rank, a new and inspiring hunter, was poisoned and eaten by a giant horned frog.
Jo Izanami, D-Rank, a substitute science teacher, was swarmed by a pack of large killer birds of prey.
Tadano Tsuneo, C-Rank, a loving brother, was thrown into a tree and bitten in half by a large six-armed mutated Panther.
All those deaths were on her. They would all still be alive if it weren't for her ambitions and desires. But Naoko would not allow anyone else to die on her watch. Not anymore. She swore she would protect everyone at the cost of her life.
"Stay back!" Naoko roared and slashed the head off one of the monstrous mosquito beasts with her spear.
She gasped in exhaustion as she looked at the large group of mosquito beasts buzzing in front of her and her remaining comrades. Her body was wet, bruised, cut, and bloodied from having fought her way through the rainforest. While the beasts she and her comrades encountered on their retreat were nowhere near the level of strength of the Panthers, their numbers and variety made them a force to be reckoned with.
Naoko dodged to the side and brought down the blade of her spear through the body of another incoming mosquito. With a quick twist, she made sure the beast was dead before dashing back just in time for a wall of fire to knock back a small swarm that would have quickly overwhelmed her. Naoko turned and nodded in thanks to Chizu, her trusted second in command.
The mage smiled weakly at her as sweat and rainwater dripped down her face. Chizu was also covered in injuries and mud, but not to the level of Naoko. Being a Mage, her focus was to be in the background to provide support and cover while the front liners fought head-on.
"Thank you!"
"Y-yeah!"
Naoko turned toward a roaring yell of primal rage. Sumida rushed in with his shield held high and barreled through two mosquitos. Seeing another flying beast try to attack him at his back, the large Tanker spun his shield and slammed it down onto the mosquito's head. Squishing it into a wet yellow puddle on the mud and grass.
"That's for Akio-chan, you son of a bitch!" Sumida growled.
He then began to gasp for breath as the bottom of his shield dropped onto the ground. Sumida was in terrible shape, and because he was the team's Tanker, he had taken the majority of the blows and damage from their attackers. It seemed as if he would drop at any second, but his sheer unbreakable will prevent him from doing so.
Naoko frowned and turned to her remaining team members. One of her old-time allies, Kobayashi Kawata, was fighting off a single mosquito with a sword. Being the Fighter he was, he excelled at close-quarters combat. Unfortunately, he had suffered a deep leg injury earlier and was now moving with a limp.
Fighting beside Kobayashi was Tashiro Tetsuo, a Ranger class hunter. Tashiro was firing off arrow after arrow at the swarming beasts. Sadly, he could only do so much damage to them due to being a D-Rank. Despite knowing that, he took the responsibility of making sure no more beasts came close to their remaining teammates. All of which were currently passed out and suffering because they were poisoned earlier by the frog beast they encountered. If they didn't find an antidote or help soon, then all five of them would surely die.
"Damn it!"
Naoko growled and sliced the wings off a speeding mosquito. Sending it crashing towards the ground where Sumida was. The mosquito looked up just in time to see a large shield crash down toward it. Sumida twisted his shield into the beast's head with a glare. The wet and cracking sounds of its mangled corpse squelching and popping as he dug his weapon deeper into the ground.
"Raaagh!"
A loud booming growl caused them all to freeze. Naoko slowly turned and saw a lumbering mountain gorilla with massive fangs and arms stomping towards them from behind several trees. Seeing a new and much more powerful foe, the swarming mosquitos all flew off and out of the tree line above, with many just going to the branches of the trees and watching as if they were about to watch an entertaining and bloody spectacle.
Sumida and Chizu walked beside Naoko with their weapons drawn. Despite their brave actions, their faces were etched in exhaustion and fear. Behind them, Tashiro aimed his bow at the Gorilla with a scared look. Beside him stood Kobayashi; his sword was held defensively in front of him while a resigned sigh escaped his lips. They were all in no shape to take on the new magic beast. Naoko raised her spear and held it tightly in her trembling hands.
"It was an honor working alongside you, Osaki," Sumida said with a sad smile.
"Mhm, it was a pleasure, Naoko-chan," Chizu said with a defeated voice as she began to charge her next attack.
"… I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Naoko whispered as tears began to stream down her face. She glared at the incoming Gorilla.
The beast released another monstrous roar as it drummed its large hands on its large, muscled chest. Its large fangs dripped with drool as it growled at them all. Each step it took shook the ground as it marched at them like a force of nature. Naoko took a deep breath and prepared herself.
Suddenly, a large wave of bright golden light crashed into the once unstoppable Gorilla and exploded. Naoko and her teammates all covered their eyes to shield them from the sudden bright light and flying debris. They adjusted themselves as the ground beneath them shook, threatening to throw them off balance.
Naoko opened her eyes just as she heard several faint thumps in front of her. Chizu gasped in shock as the bloodied head of the large Gorilla rolled to stop beside the upper half of its body. Behind the bloodied corpse fell two large fur-covered arms in a heap. Blood and entrails began to leak into a deep vertical gouge in the ground in the shape of an extended cut.
"That light," Sumida whispered as they all turned their heads up to see a blood-covered dark-haired man holding a sleeping woman in one arm and a large halberd in the other.
"Hikigaya!" Naoko cried out with a happy and relieved smile.
"Osaki. Sorry, I'm late."
There was a cacophony of buzzing, and Naoko looked up in horror as, once again, the mosquitoes began to swarm. They'd seen the Gorilla die and decided that they didn't need to hide anymore.
Goddamit!
"Hold her for me, will you?"
Naoko looked down and saw that Hikigaya was depositing Nakano into Sumida's waiting arms. Sumida watched him with a weary and bewildered expression. Hikigaya gripped his halberd, watching the incoming mosquitoes and heaving a big breath, preparing himself.
He was going to fight them alone.
"Wait!" Naoko reached out and held his arm as he began to walk towards the swarm. "You don't have to fight alone! We can help you fight them off, we've killed some of them already!" Naoko couldn't bear the thought of leaving Hikigaya to do this alone, feeling like she'd already abandoned him once.
"You guys are tired." Gently, Hikigaya removed her hand from his arm. "And these guys? They're just insects, and I'm just gonna swat them." He smirked at her. "So stay put, and make sure to keep together." He strode forward, and with his back to them, he said:
"This won't take long."
And with the speed of a bullet, Hikigaya took off straight into the hostile swarm of oversized bugs.
He stopped at the very middle of the swarm and swung his halberd around him. The air and rain parted from the power of his swing, and immediately, half a dozen of the mosquitoes exploded in a shower of blood, their sliced-up bodies dropping into the grass like the bugs that they were.
One of them got lucky and shot itself straight at Hikigaya with nearly blinding speed; Naoko opened her mouth to warn him, but:
Without even looking, he caught it in midair by its head, then, with a look of utter contempt, crushed it in hand. The insides burst out like an oversized grape, dirtying his hand with blood. He let the headless body fall to the ground, eyes filled with disgust.
The rest of the swarm then got wise and began to circle him, flying out of the reach of his halberd.
With a glare, Hikigaya swiped his bloodied hand in the air and intoned.
"Shining Slash."
The very air distorted, whistling the distinct sounds of swords cutting through the wind. With a nigh imperceptible flash of light, the flying swarm was cut into pieces mid-flight, dropping to the floor as mutilated corpses.
Except for one.
One of the oversized mosquitoes lived, the very last of the swarm, but had its wings and feet cut. Unable to even run away, it wriggled on the ground uselessly. The giant insect buzzed weakly like it was afraid. Hikigaya stepped closer, his eyes cold and ruthless.
"Osaki." Sumida suddenly said, watching as Hikigaya raised his halberd, his words coming out as if in a sigh. "I think we're safe...for now."
"Yeah…" Chizu sounded relieved as well, while Naoko didn't take her eyes off Hikigaya as he brought the halberd down, slicing the bug in two without mercy, killing it. "I'm glad you brought him with us."
"Yes," Naoko said breathlessly. The deathly grip of despair in her heart had loosened.
Without any more threats in the immediate vicinity, Hikigaya began to walk towards them. He caught her eyes and gave her a confident smile.
Naoko felt that with him here, they might just make it out of this hell alive.
x x x
It only took us less than thirty minutes to arrive at Adachi city, thanks to our driver being good at avoiding traffic, and my eyes immediately found the ominous large Gate looming within the area before we even got to the TOHO Theater. I saw that the surveillance team stationed around the Gate was moving in a panic, making calls while ensuring the area was cordoned off, and the civilians evacuated.
When we exited the SUV, the JSDF and the surveillance team immediately recognized us and let us pass through the perimeter while we were fully armed with our Hunter gear. Akabane talked to the officers and was quickly caught up on the situation while Ishida and I quickly walked towards the abnormally large Red Gate. I watched as Ishida cautiously raised a hand to touch it. She then closed her eyes and focused.
"This level of mana… it's at least an A-rank. Maybe even higher? It's too difficult to tell."
Ishida's worried statement caused me to glare at the vortex of concentrated red magical energy. I followed her example by placing a hand on the Gate and felt it push back, not allowing me or anyone else to enter it. While I wasn't the best at sensing mana, I could feel the thick, concentrated levels of energy. It was precisely as Ishida said. I grimaced at the implications.
Who would have thought that a Red Gate would manifest from what was supposed to be a C-rank gate? It was unheard of. The usual pattern would be for these things to manifest with at least a B-rank gate.
Had the Association made an error in their assessment of the Gates level of mana? Or was this a freak phenomenon that couldn't have been foreseen?
"And you said the Hunters who entered were C and D-ranks?" I heard Akabane ask the surveillance officer she was talking to earlier as they both walked up right next to me and Ishida. "The highest rank they have with them is a B-Rank?" Akabane looked at the Gate with deep concern etched on her face.
"Yes, Ma'am." The officer nodded, his voice grim while staring at the Red Gate. "The B rank is Nakano Fumiko, acting as a proctor from the Association. This was supposed to be the C-rankers guild exam." He explained, face set in a frown.
"That's…not good," Ishida muttered, pulling her hand away.
That was an understatement. An A-rank dungeon taken on by C-ranks and below with only one B-rank?
It would be a slaughter. The likelihood that anyone would return from that group was almost zero. They needed a miracle to even have a chance at survival.
Those poor people.
I felt my heart constricting at the horrors they must be facing right now.
"What should we do?" I quickly gave Akabane a questioning, concerned look. Our current team leader caught my eye, and she released a deep breath, turning back to the officer.
"We need to ensure that we have high-ranking Hunters stationed here if a dungeon break happens," Akabane explained curtly. "Set a bigger perimeter and tell the surrounding cities to be ready. We can't take any chances," Akabane ordered the officer, then returned her gaze to the Gate with a determined gleam in her green eyes.
"We're on it." The surveillance officer nodded and moved to obey.
The loud sound of an engine caught my attention, and I turned just in time to watch as another SUV pulled into the perimeter.
I scowled when I saw who exited the car first.
Tsk, not this guy.
The worst possible person arrived at the scene.
A tall and muscular young man with short, spiky orange hair walked out of the SUV, dressed in a simple tank top and jeans. He didn't even bother to talk to the JSDF officer, bulldozing his way through the restrictions. His blue eyes were set on the Red Gate first before finding us and sneering.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the B-Team," drawled Nagishima Nagi, S-rank Hunter of the Draw Sword guild, walking over towards them with a cocky grin on his face. He stopped just a few meters away, eyes narrowing into a glare. "Ya here for the Red Gate too, huh?" He snorted before continuing. "Don't bother; we can handle it better than any of you can." His grin widened, becoming more condescending. "Why don't you go back and play house so the real Hunters can do their jobs."
"Hah?!" I scowled, clenching my hands into fists and turning to glare at the big idiot. There were some members in the Draw Sword Guild that looked down on Yuki-Ryoshi for only being the second most powerful guild in Japan, never mind that we had more members while Draw Sword dwindled in numbers over the years since Yukinoshita Haruno founded her guild.
This big lug was one of them. Nagishima Nagi used to be a star athlete on the high school American Football scene in Japan, but then he quit and became an S-rank Tanker who joined the Draw Sword because he believed that the only place that he belonged to was first place, and he never passed up the chance to remind everyone of that. I didn't see the point of such a tribalistic mindset since all of us had the same job, which was to clear dungeons and keep the public safe. The mocking grin on his face pissed me off to no end, especially right now.
This is an emergency! Don't you get that, you stupid oaf?!
It would be better if they cooperated! I briefly glanced at my team, weighing their reactions.
Akabane didn't so much as glance at him, her focus solely on the Red Gate.
On the other hand:
"Big talk for someone with no brain cells." Ishida shot back, glaring at the oversized moron. I noticed how the nearby JSDF soldiers and Surveillance Team members began to look tense at the situation.
Their reactions were understandable. Should two S-Ranks get into a confrontation, only chaos and destruction would follow, with almost no one capable of stopping them. I didn't know if it would actually come to that, but I did know that Ishida would make sure the civilians wouldn't get hurt.
But judging from the way the oversized oaf's grin contorted into an ugly snarl…
"What did you say, you damn traitor?" Nagishima looked enraged as he approached Ishida menacingly, waves of mana he exuded fluctuating as he flexed his muscles. I clicked my tongue in annoyance and was about to move in between them until Ishida put a hand on my arm.
Ishida's glare at him intensified, and she stepped forward, unafraid of his size and his attempt at intimidation.
"Oh, didn't know you were deaf too!" Ishida grinned tauntingly at him, her mana flaring to match Nagishima's. "I think I have a spell for that. It just involves hitting you very hard in the head."
This made Nagishima growl, stalking forward with a heated glare, the pressure of his mana pushing back against Ishida's.
My orange-haired teammate was usually more relaxed, but I knew about Ishida's history with the Draw Sword guild. She didn't exactly part on good terms, just like Fujishima. This made their confrontation a lot more personal. I could intervene, but this felt like something Ishida wanted to handle herself. Still, I knew that no matter how big and tough Nagishima was, Ishida would take him down.
"Will you knock it off, ya moron."
A hand slapped Nagishima upside the head, causing the mana he exuded to dissipate from his surprise. He turned his head to his assaulter in annoyance, eyes heated.
Tawata Kanae matched his look with a displeased scowl, not in the least bit scared despite their difference in size. Her red eyes looked up at him and silently told him to back down because even with a full head of difference between them, Tawata, as an S-rank Fighter, would not be cowed. She was one of Draw Swords' founders, and it was known far and wide that she was unofficially the third in their chain of command, their second being Sugimoto Reiji and their first, of course, being the Guild Master Ryuji Goto.
This means she had both seniority and authority over Nagishima, and this caused him to look away first.
"I was just being honest!" Nagishima rubbed the spot that Tawata slapped him on, still annoyed. "We're S-ranks. We can take this Gate by ourselves." He argued petulantly.
Ishida huffed, resealing her mana as she put a hand on her hip. "We're S-rank Hunters too, you stupid meat-sack; we can close this gate just fine."
"Red gates are for real Hunters," Nagishima said derisively. "Not celebrities acting like Hunters!"
Alright, that's it!
Finally having enough of this stupid lug's rude mouth, I stepped forward and growled, not caring if I got in trouble for throwing the first punch. Our guild was full of people who had careers other than being Hunters, like Shimizu being a well-established actress or Ishida being a popular streamer. This didn't make them any less than the best Hunters in the country. It just meant they had more to offer than just being Hunters!
I wouldn't stand back for anyone who would put down my guildmates for simply being people!
Nagishima noticed my heated reaction and grinned challengingly, prepared to meet me despite Tawata's earlier warning.
Before anything could happen, the air became heavy from a quick burst of unrestrained mana. Like a hammer, it dropped specifically on Nagishima, who fell to one knee from its assault.
"Nagishima-kun," Akabane finally spoke. Her tone was polite, but her voice was low and frosty. "Say one more word about my guild, and I'll show you what a real Hunter looks like." She finally directed her gaze away from the Gate and to the kneeling Nagishima. I gulped, having never seen the usually bright and cheerful Akabane wear such an expression of cold indifference.
Nagishima shakily stood back up, glaring at Akabane. "Y-you–!"
"Nagishima, shut up before I kick your ass," Tawata ordered, her voice firm and eyes shifting into a piercing glare that caused Nagishima to take an unconscious step back. Nagishima finally saw some sense in being quiet and clicked his tongue, looking away. He stuffed his hands in his jeans and turned around towards the SUV.
Tawata sighed while adjusting the cap on her head that covered the top of her long, dark hair. She watched him walk a fair distance away, and once satisfied, she strode towards Saki's team with a confident gait, giving their team leader a nod.
"Apologies for his idiocy, Akabane." Tawata's lips, colored purple from lipstick, pursed in annoyance. Even in this situation, I couldn't help but admire her style, dressed in a black halter crop top and grayish-blue skinny jeans that accentuated her curves while showing off her defined abs and her muscular tattoo-covered arms, making her ooze with an aura of beauty and toughness. Standing right next to Akabane, who was also a fitness freak, I could tell that there was a silent respect between them in appreciation of how the other sculpted their body.
Akabane waved off her apology, giving her a light smile. "He's young and reckless. And probably not afraid of getting hurt." I huffed at her statement, agreeing that Tankers usually don't care about pain.
Tawata scowled. "He's a dumbass, and I've been told to keep him in line."
"Wow, how'd you get saddled with that?" Ishida quipped as she threw a pointed look at Nagishima, who was trying to look big and intimidating to several Surveillance Team members.
"Mari." Akabane warned.
"What? I'm just askin'."
"Enough. Tawata-kun, I trust that you know how serious this situation is?"
Tawata looked at the Red Gate and nodded with a frown, crossing her arms. "I do. It's safe to assume that the hunters who entered the Gate ain't comin' back." Her words were delivered in a matter-of-factly tone, free of emotion. I felt my heart constrict just a bit despite knowing she said that with no malice.
"This means that for us to close the Gate, we're gonna have to wait til' a dungeon break happens so we can enter the Gate and kill the boss ourselves." Tawata then looked at Akane before continuing. "We'll need to split our focus on defeating the boss and stopping the magical beasts from causing too much destruction and stopping any harm to the people in the city." She explained with a small incline of her head.
Despite the tension between our guilds, we could at least act cordially when matters like these needed our cooperation. Tawata Kanae was known to have a temperamental attitude, but she knew how to be professional when the need arose, unlike some people.
Akabane nodded and turned back to the swirling mass of energy. "Agreed. All we can do is wait now."
Tawata gave her another brief nod in reply before turning away, uncrossing her arms. "I'll be here, but I need to make sure that moron doesn't do anythin' stupid." She walked away, striding toward Nagishima and pulling him by the shirt once she was close enough, eliciting an annoyed shout of indignation.
I warily watched the idiot get hauled off by his guildmate, far enough that our team wouldn't see him anymore. I sighed, then looked at the Red Gate once again.
"Can…we really not save the people inside?" I asked those around me searchingly.
Akabane's eyes became somber, and she shook her head sadly.
"I'm afraid there's nothing we can do. It's up to them now. We can hope that some of them survive, but this is an A-rank gate, and the highest-ranked hunter is a B-rank…" Akabane said while looking me right in the eyes, trying to make me understand the words she didn't need to say anymore.
We can't save them.
"I know that…but–"
"Saki," Ishida interjected softly, putting a hand on my shoulder. I turned to her and saw the melancholy in her eyes. "Sometimes we can't save everyone. We gotta focus on saving the people we can."
I studied their expressions for a minute before nodding in reluctant acceptance, even with my gut churning at the thought of being unable to save the people inside.
"... You're right. I'll go call Kitaoka about the situation. You guys stay here and keep watch." I said, hoping to clear my head and ease my heart from some of the guilt by doing something worthwhile.
"Go ahead." Akabane gave me an understanding smile before her eyes lit up as if she remembered something. "Ah, while you're on that, can you do me a favor and ask the surveillance team for the list of hunters participating?" Akabane's smile became a bit brittle. "I… I'd like to know their names."
I stared deeply into her eyes for just a second before nodding slowly. "Sure."
I walked away, heading for the tents to do what Akabane asked of her first. Being the kind woman that Akabane was, this situation must be weighing heavily on her. I didn't doubt that my team leader wanted to remember the names of the people she couldn't save. It was something I couldn't fathom doing. Why would someone burden themselves with that knowledge? Maybe it was because I wasn't as strong as Akabane to carry a weight as heavy as that.
After finding the lead surveillance officer in one of their tents, I politely asked him for the information of the hunters trapped inside. He handed me a folder with the profiles of each participant with a somber look. I began to head back to Akabane but stopped, looking down at the folder as a pang of guilt stabbed at my heart.
I closed my eyes.
Screw it.
Perhaps I wasn't as strong as Akabane to be able to carry such a burden, but I didn't want to become indifferent to the loss of life. Even if it was normal for hunters and even if I couldn't do anything to help those who were trapped, the least I could do was to remember their names and faces as well.
I sat down on one of the fold-out chairs inside the tent and began to read. One by one, I committed the names from each profile to memory as best as I could, thinking about how these Hunters would never go back to their families. That was something I couldn't bear to think about. It was just too painful to imagine leaving behind my little siblings and parents.
Being a Hunter was not easy, but the job was a necessity. Gates that popped out around the world needed to be suppressed to keep the people safe, and only Hunters were capable of doing that.
I remembered quite clearly how horrified my parents were when they learned about my powers, knowing just how deadly this profession was.
Despite awakening as an S-rank Hunter, I knew my parents and Taishi worried about me constantly. Sometimes, their concern was grating, but they did it from a place of love, and that was what gave me more motivation to keep going so I could give them the life I thought they deserved. This job was dangerous, but it came with its benefits.
I've already stocked up enough for my younger siblings so that they could go to college without a hitch, and my parents could retire right now and live the rest of their lives without needing to work a single day in their lives.
Most people become hunters because they want to earn money for themselves or their families. Whatever the case may be, they come into this profession knowing the danger and exposing themselves to it for a chance of a better life. I knew that despite being an S-rank, the threat was still always there. The slightest mistake could cost a hunter their life, regardless of rank. Like today, a seemingly ordinary C-Rank Gate suddenly increased in difficulty without warning.
Dooming all those inside.
I sighed as I rubbed my eyes. I've gone through almost every page listing those trapped inside the Red Gate. Their names and faces stared up at me. Each and every one of them had lives and loved ones that would be wondering where they were by the end of today. So, it was with a heavy heart that I continued reading until I reached the very last profile.
My heart stopped cold as I read one very familiar name, with the picture of an E-rank Hunter whose face and dead fish eyes I couldn't possibly forget. I felt a gasp escape me, my words spoken in abject horror.
"No way… Hikigaya?"
x x x
I sighed tiredly at the cloud-covered night sky over the rainforest. Thankfully, it had finally stopped raining, giving me a clear view of the seemingly endless forest. Like the Realm of Chaos, this world was its own entity. I had tried to see if I could open my map in order for us to escape, but whatever was interfering with the system was still in full effect.
I looked back at the small cave Osaki and I had found earlier today where the injured lay resting. A small roaring fire was roasting a large chunk of meat from one of the giant bird beasts I've hunted. Luckily, we all had enough water to hold us over for a day or two. After that, we'd have to secure a new source of drinking water.
The few members of the Osaki's crew that could still walk looked dead on their feet; their bodies and gear were dirtied and bloodied. The rest were in a coma-like state, their bodies suffering from being poisoned. I had tried using my limited health potions on them to remove the effect but found that while they were slightly healed from their physical injuries, the poison effect was unaffected.
If we didn't get them help soon, they would die. That meant we couldn't wait for a dungeon break to happen so that we could escape that way. I knew that time worked differently within a Red Gate. An hour in our home world equaled one day here.
A dungeon break would only occur after a week, meaning that if we waited for that to happen, then we'd be stuck in here for around half a year. Those who were poisoned were likely to die within another day if they continued to deteriorate at their current rate.
Osaki held one of the sleeping hunter's heads up and had them slowly drink some water. She had to stop quickly because they soon began to cough and choke. Sawada, Takamaru, Kobayashi, Sumida, and Tashiro all did what they could to help their sleeping teammates, but they could only do so much. Their surface injuries were gone, thanks to my health potions, but they weren't at one hundred percent. It seemed that my potions could only do so much for others than it would for me.
If only we didn't lose our healer. That idiot.
"I have to find the boss."
The only way for us all to escape quickly was to take down the boss of this dimension. Once it was defeated, the portal would reopen and allow us to go back home to get everyone the help they needed. But for that to happen, I would have to find it somewhere in this seemingly unending forest. I had tried to locate its position by expanding my senses as far out as possible. Unfortunately, I was met with mana signatures that were too weak to be the boss. I didn't have time to look for a needle in a haystack. We had to escape now.
"We have to find the boss," Nakano said as she stepped beside me, her arm in a sling.
"You should be resting," I muttered. "You only just woke up; you need to regain all the blood you lost."
"I'm fine," Nakano said as she looked out at the forest.
We stood together in silence, content in simply looking out at the tree line for any sign of where the boss could be.
"I've… misjudged you." Nakano started. "I believed you were a coward and someone who would abandon his teammates at the drop of a hat. But I saw today that you were anything but."
I turned to her and kept silent. She tentatively touched her arm and winced in pain. "If it weren't for you, I'm sure all of us would already be dead. While I may be the highest rank here, I'm by no means too proud to say I'm the strongest. It's because of you that I still have my arm and my life. I owe you for that."
"No, you don't."
"I do," Nakano said, turning to me. For the first time, she offered me a small smile. Without that perpetual frown on her face, I couldn't see now that she was a strikingly beautiful woman. She then turned to me and offered me a deep bow. "Please forgive me for how I've treated you."
I quickly looked back at the cave and saw Osaki grinning slightly at me from where she sat. She waved me on, causing me to frown at her.
Oi, this isn't some show!
"Stop it. It's fine." I said and turned away from her. She nodded and stood up straight, my traveler's cloak still around her frame. Nakano then looked up at the dark sky and frowned.
"Hey…" A voice said weakly from within the cave. I looked to its source and found one of the poisoned Hunters trying to sit up weakly.
"Stop it, Azuma. You need to rest." Osaki tried to gently put him back on the floor.
"I need to say this, Osaki." Azuma stubbornly shook his head. "Wouldn't feel right if I don't."
"Whatever it is, it can wait until we get out of here; just save your strength," I said, watching him warily. Azuma was one of the hunters who was talking about me behind my back while we waited for the raid to begin. I didn't want to deal with whatever he wanted to say right now; it probably wasn't something good anyway.
"No, I have to say this right now." Azuma shook his head again. Tiredly, he looked at me, eyes serious. "I'm sorry, Hikigaya."
"What?" I was taken aback, not expecting his words. Everyone around looked surprised as well.
"I know you heard me talk shit about you," Azuma kept talking, regardless of my reaction. "I kept looking down on you cuz I thought you abandoned your party. It just didn't sit right with me, you know." He looked pained, forcing out his words. Then he gave me a weak grin. "But now I see that you ain't that kinda guy."
He tried to bow his head, but he was too weak to move it. Still, Azuma said: "So I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have listened to those stupid rumors."
"It's fine. I don't let those rumors affect me," I said, trying to stop him from saying anymore. The poison is probably affecting his mind right now, and I don't want him to keep saying anything else because he seemed like he might drop dead from the sheer effort it takes from just talking. It would be better to conserve his energy than to talk.
"Yeah…you probably don't." Azuma chuckled before wincing. He allowed Osaki to let him back down to the floor. "Thanks for keeping my friends alive, man."
We're not out of the woods just yet.
I don't want to be thanked when I still haven't found the boss so we can get out of here. I felt a new sense of urgency, watching the man lying down there and taking weak gasps of breath. They really couldn't hold out for long; we had to get back to our world and get to a healer.
I need to find the boss before the poison kills these people.
I turned back to the forest, feeling more determined. I heard Nakano come closer to me. She had a thoughtful expression on her face; she had been so quiet during my talk with Azuma that I had forgotten she was next to me.
"Hikigaya. There's something I have to tell you… the one who leaked what happened at the double dungeon was Sakura Sugiyama. Sakura Emiko's older brother." Nakano whispered when she got close enough. I spun to her with wide eyes. My mouth fell open in surprise. "He was a member of the Surveillance Team. In his despair, he found the reports on what had happened. In his eyes, you left his sister to die. So, in an attempt to hurt you and your reputation, he released the reports of what happened that day… Once we found out he was the one who leaked that information, Kitamura-san had Sakura fired and thrown in jail."
I stood in shock at her words. Nakano turned to me with a remorseful expression but said nothing. I felt a rush of anger swell within me, but it quickly died and was replaced with acceptance.
"I see…" I said while closing my eyes. "If I were to talk to Kitamura-san to release Saku-Sugiyama. Would he do so? In the end, I was the one who was wronged. I should have a say on the punishment."
Nakano looked at me in surprise, but then her expression shifted to understanding. "I don't know. Sakura didn't just wrong you but also broke several laws and rules. But… perhaps if you were to convince Kitamura-san somehow to lessen the charges, it may be possible to release him."
I frowned at her answer but nodded. I suppose what Sugiyama did more than just affect my reputation. But still, I wanted to help him. He did what he did because he believed me to be the reason his sister died. I had to do what I could to help him for Sakura's sake. I owed it to her.
"You're a good man, Hikigaya."
"…not really."
"Hm. If you say so."
Nakano smiled at me and began walking back to our small camp. I sighed tiredly and turned back to the night sky.
Me? A good man?
What a joke.
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[Bonus Content | Character Sheet]
Name: Fujishima Tatsumi
Race: Human
Gender: Male
Age: 26
Eye Color: Light Brown
Hair Color: Flaxen
(ooo)
Likes: Orderliness, His plants, Reading Books, Reading Poems, classic movies, classical music.
Dislikes: Draw Sword Guild, sycophants, self-centered egocentric maniacs.
Dreams: To live without worrying about Gates.
Hobbies: Watering his plants, reading, watching classical movies, listening to classical music.
Personality: Tatsumi appears to most people as standoffish and withdrawn, but he is quite adept at talking to people, albeit always talking in short and precise sentences, never one to mince words. Meticulous and always straight to the point, he is known throughout his guild as the dependable but strict second in command to Yukinoshita Haruno, as her Vice-Guild Master of the Yuki-Ryoshi Guild. Despite his rigidness, he is kind and understanding. His most outstanding trait is his discipline as well as his neat and orderly methods.
(ooo)
Status: Hunter
Rank: S
Affiliation: Yuki-Ryoshi Guild
Class: Fighter
(ooo)
Weapons: Katana made from bones of a Wyvern
Skills: Master Swordsman, Top class managerial skills, unparalleled discipline
Talents: master class swordsmanship (Iaido), can cut precisely and cleanly, Hand-to-Hand combat.
(ooo)
Image Link: imgur.com/ZkUdqnb
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A/N:
Thank you for reading today's chapter,
Please leave a review or comment. It helps me gauge your interest in the story and because I enjoy reading what you all have to say.
Until next time!