"Ah, a Hippogriff and a Manticore. You don't see those too often down south."
True to Aerisa's words, two giant mutant monstrosities could be found at the bottom of a vast, open ravine floor.
The Hippogriff was a giant beast with a large eagle's head on its shoulders and broad gray wings attached to a horse-like body. Its massive yellow beak plucked away at the flesh of a long-dead young woman hungrily. The Hippogriff's front legs were similar to an eagle's talons, while its hind legs and tail were akin to a horse.
The Manticore was an amalgamation of several different species into one grotesque creature. The beast's main body was that of a giant lion while a long flowing scorpion tail wagged around lazily as it ambled around with annoyance. On its back were a pair of bat-like wings that twitched every now and then.
These two are on another level.
Unlike the rest of the mobs from this dungeon, these two beasts were easily two or three ranks above.
Pillars of stone that stood as tall as thirty meters into the air were spread around the area in random locations. The tops of the pillars were sharp and jagged. Darkness wafted throughout the region. The only sources of light were the scattered luminescent stones embedded in the floors, walls, and pillars of the environment.
The air was thick and putrid with the smell of death. Countless remains of random wildlife and humans lay strewn about with little care. Their states of being ranged from being wholly decomposed to having slivers of rotten flesh still clinging to their owner's battered skeletons.
"So all the beasts we took down were bringing back those they captured to feed these two," I said in a whisper as we all hid behind several large boulders far away from the two large beasts. "That must be that guy's sister."
"This is rather unusual behavior for these creatures," Aerisa said with a curious smile as she pulled out a small notebook from under her cloak and began writing down notes, seemingly unbothered by the massive amount of dead people. "To think these two would work with one another to create such an environment where lesser beasts bring them food. Could they have been threatened in this servant-master relationship? Hm, yes. That may very well be the case. There are several Goblins and Wolf remains strewn about as well. Quite interesting indeed."
I squinted at the seemingly fascinated Elf and chose to ignore her to look over at Zaimokuza's reaction. His face was ashen gray, and his eyes shook with horror as his hands frittered around. At one point, it seemed he was about to throw up when his eyes landed on the half-eaten corpse of the young woman. The Hippogriff was currently pulling out the girl's intestines and eating them as one would spaghetti.
While I knew seeing sights like these was normal when one was a Hunter, Zaimokuza didn't. He still had those rose-tinted glasses when it came to the Hunter lifestyle, so seeing this was a cold wake-up call for him.
"Zaimokuza-san, are you okay?" Riko asked as she hesitantly touched Zaimokuza's arm.
Zaimokuza flinched and ripped his arm away from Riko's touch, his breathing quick and unsteady. He quickly calmed down when he finally noticed Riko's worried expression. A deep frown grew on his sweaty face. Aerisa was looking at him with a raised brow, seemingly confused by his reaction.
"M-my apologies, R-Riko." Zaimokuza swallowed profoundly and took a deep breath. His eyes then turned back to the feasting beast with eyes full of trepidation. "Hachiman."
"…yeah?"
"Is stuff like this normal? Is… death normal? This isn't- this isn't what I expected." He said with gritted teeth as the wet sounds of flesh being ripped apart echoed throughout our surroundings.
"Yes. This is the life of a Hunter. It's not like how advertisements and recruitment videos back home say it is. Death, bloodshed, and pain are the norm. Even here in another world. Having magical abilities or powers doesn't make things better. They make things harder." I said quietly. "This won't be the last time you will see something like this. You may even die yourself if you're not careful. Knowing this, is this really the life you want to live?"
Zaimokuza closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the boulder's cool surface. I wasn't sure what was going through his head, but I understood that this was his turning point. He'd either accept the reality of being a Hunter, or he'd stop right here and go back to being a normal civilian.
What will you choose?
"…I don't know," Zaimokuza whispered. He then raised his head and stared at the two large beasts with trepidation, his expression fearful. He then took a deep breath, and all the fear in his face slowly disappeared, being replaced with a clearly forced smile. His lips twitched, and his teeth lightly chattered. "But what I do know is that I can't just leave these things be. We have the power to stop them from hurting more people. So we have to do this. I have to do this... It's what he would have done."
A slight frown grew on my face at his answer. He was still clearly perturbed by the brutal sight before us, but he pushed through it. In my past experience, a sight like this caused several fresh Hunters to leave the Gates immediately. They, too, were caught up in the illusion that being a Hunter would net them great fame and fortune by fighting evil beasts on the other side of the Gates.
Those illusions quickly evaporated as they confronted the magical beasts and discovered that just because they now had magical powers, it didn't mean they were invincible. One by one, the fresh new Hunters with dreams of grandeur quickly retired if they were lucky. The unlucky ones unfortunately died.
I had expected Zaimokuza to give up. I thought that when he finally came face to face with the reality of what it meant to be a Hunter, he'd run away with his tail between his legs. After all, his actions back in school were very cowardly. He couldn't even take the harsh criticism that Yukinoshita threw his way after we read his god-awful novel. Heck, he couldn't even properly talk to women without being reduced to a bubbling mess. Well, he talked to Ebina well enough at the sports event, but she's weird too.
Perhaps I've misunderstood him all this time. Maybe Zaimokuza was more than the cringe-worthy Chunni I thought him to be.
"Not bad," I said with a small smile while turning back to the dual beasts. "You're right. We can't ignore what's going on. We're taking these two out." I then turned to Aerisa. "What do you know about these two? Any weakness?"
"Unfortunately not," Aerisa said with a shake of her head. "Their complex physiology grants them numerous advantages, including the ability to fly. The most I can recommend is blinding the Hippogriff and removing the Manticore's scorpion tail as fast as possible. One strike from its poisonous stinger can kill a man in ten seconds. So I'd advise everyone to steer clear of it."
Riko and I nodded while we translated Aerisa's advice to Zaimokuza. Once done, I looked at him and Riko with a focused expression. "The Manticore is much stronger than the Hippogriff; I'm sure you've noticed that, Riko." She nodded. "Good. You and Zaimokuza will focus on the Hippogriff, while Aerisa and I will handle the Manticore. Try to take out its eyes, and don't hesitate to retreat if you start being overwhelmed. I would have preferred your first boss fight to have been something weaker, but it is what it is. Can you two handle this?"
"Y-yes!"
"I won't disappoint you, Master!"
I nodded and turned back to Aerisa, who was pouting. "You know, Hachiman. It's quite rude to exclude someone from the conversation." She said.
"Sorry. We're working on getting him to learn the Common Tongue." I muttered and summoned my twin scimitars. "Zaimo, er, I mean Yoshiteru and Riko will be handling the Hippogriff while you and I take on the Manticore."
"Divide and conquer." Aerisa nodded her head and shoved her little notebook away in favor of summoning her mage staff. "A sound strategy. Alone, I doubt your companion and your familiar would have been able to bring down the Hippogriff. But together, they would stand a better chance. Now then, I have to ask."
Aerisa feigned an innocent face as she pointed at me with her staff. "Why request my assistance against the Manticore? Surely, little old me wouldn't stand a chance against it. Perhaps you wish me to take on a supportive role?"
Is she toying with me?
"Cut the crap. I know you're a lot stronger than you lead on." I said with an annoyed frown. "Your mana is on a completely different level, no matter how much you try to suppress it."
"Oh? Noticed that, have you?
"Yeah, I noticed." I nodded, causing her to smile at me with intrigue.
It's hard not to when someone has mana levels higher than several S-Ranks.
I never thought about it too deeply, but I've come to the realization a while back that I have incredible sensing abilities. I was not sure if it was due to my perception stats or if it was another boon given to me by the System; whatever the case, I could look deep into a person or beast and quickly determine their mana or strength.
Perhaps it was part of the reason magical beasts usually had colored titles over their heads, which let me know how strong they were in relation to myself, much like how the Manticore's title was a dark red, almost purple. At the same time, the Hippogriff's title was an orange-red.
Whatever this skill of mine was, it was extremely useful. It was the reason why I knew that Aerisa was currently leagues above me in terms of magical ability.
"Hm-hm!" Aerisa stood to her feet with a wide smile. "Excellent! I'm glad you finally acknowledged how great I truly am! Fear not, young Hachiman! For I will ensure that today's battle goes smoothly! Go on! Praise me!"
"No way."
x x x
— Riko —
I gripped my battle axe tightly. The handle's cool steel was comfortable under my touch. I closed my eyes and replayed my short and lackluster battle with Aerisa once again, like I have been doing ever since we left the room we found her.
Why had I reacted like that? Why was my first instinct to kill whoever knew of my true nature at the drop of a hat? I didn't react like this when I told my Master's student, Zaimokuza-san, about my true identity. I was more than okay with revealing my identity.
Was it because he and my Master already had a history together? Was it because I saw that the two got along well despite what they said? I wasn't sure. But a part of me knew I could trust the silver-haired young man with my identity.
"Riko."
So then, why did I react so violently with the Elf? It was true what she said about her kind not participating in the killing of my kind for powerful potions. Elfs even advocated for us before the Calamity happened. Knowing this, I should have been calm and level-headed like my Master.
It's because I was sacred.
I was terrified that despite knowing all the facts, I would be killed and used as some meager potion to be sold and then used. I didn't want to die. I didn't want to leave my new life behind. I didn't want to leave Komachi or my Master. I couldn't see a future without them. So, I lashed out. And it almost got me killed.
I embarrassed Master. I failed him.
"Riko?"
I had to make things right—no. Needed to make things right. I had to apologize to Miss Aerisa as soon as possible. Miss Aerisa seemed willing to hear me out and accept my apologies for my actions. Hopefully, this wouldn't stain how she perceives my Master going forward. I don't think I could forgive myself for besmirching him. Going forward, I'd swear to control my emotions and my actions.
"Riko!"
"Huh?" I said intelligently and looked over to a concerned Zaimokuza. We were crouched behind a stone pillar, waiting for Miss Aerisa's signal to start our attack. "My apologies, Zaimokuza. I was… lost in my thoughts."
"That's okay." He said while waving his hand. "I was just worried about you. You had this lost look on your face. Is… what happened earlier still bothering you?"
I blinked owlishly at him for his spot-on assumption. After a few seconds, I nodded. Confirming his suspicions. There was no need to deny it. My Master had explained what was said to him on our journey to the final two creatures.
"Yes. I embarrassed my Master." I whispered and gripped my battle axe even tighter. "I can't believe I did that."
Zaimokuza nodded and looked around his shoulder for the signal; seeing nothing, he turned back to me with a small, awkward smile. "I wouldn't worry too much about that. Hachiman wouldn't hold that against you. He's not the type of person to do that. I'm sure he's relieved no one got hurt."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Hachiman has always been a kind person, despite what he says or does." Zaimokuza said with a small chuckle.
I felt my mouth shift into a smile despite how I felt. Zaimokuza's words made me wonder how my Master was in the past. What history did Zaimokuza and Master have?
"Zaimokuza-san, what-"
My question was interrupted when four fast-flying streams of magic flew out from behind several pillars. No doubt Miss Aerisa's attack. They swooshed and swirled around the pillars in their way before they crashed into four different hanging stalagmites on the tall ceilings of the ravine.
The Hippogriff and Manticore down below growled and squawked, respectively, at the sudden loud explosions above them. The sharp stalagmites quickly dropped towards them and crashed into the stone floor with a thundering crash. The Hippogriff squawked and flew out of the large growing cloud of dust and flew around the ravine.
"That's the signal!" Zaimokuza said with a shaky grin, his sword held tightly in his hands.
A loud, pained growl echoed out from within the cloud of dust; a second later, the Manticore jumped out of the cloud and slid across the ground. The beast roared and looked around its surroundings; its left wing was missing on its back. Only a bloody stump remained.
"The Hippogriff got away," I muttered, now standing next to Zaimokuza. Our eyes trailing behind the flying creature. "Let's begin phase two."
x x x
— Yukino —
The study session with Komachi-san today proved to be highly productive.
The younger Hikigaya has proven to be astute and a quick learner. She responded quickly to every question I asked and promptly addressed the ones she struggled with. It was a pleasure to collaborate with her; her dedication and perseverance were evident throughout our time together.
Our study session was divided into two segments: one during lunch and another after school. As the afternoon sun cast an orange hue through the window of the former Service Club room, we decided to conclude our session for the day. It was getting late, and we wanted to avoid causing unnecessary concern for her brother.
"Good work today, Komachi-san." I remarked, but she was preoccupied with her phone.
"Oh, um, yes, thank you, Yukino-san!" The younger Hikigaya sibling looked up momentarily, offering a grateful smile before returning to her phone, a shadow of worry crossing her features.
"What's wrong, Komachi-chan?" Yuigahama-san inquired when she noticed Komachi-san's expression.
"Oh, it's nothing." Despite saying this, her eyes went back to her phone again briefly before directing a smile at Yuigahama-san.
"Does it have something to do with Hikigaya-kun?" I gently asked.
"Ah!" Komachi-san made a surprised face at me. "How could you tell?"
"A hunch." I replied honestly.
Komachi-san had been intermittently checking her phone throughout our after-school study session. While it did not significantly impact her performance, she was clearly distracted.
"Eh…" Komachi-san looked at her phone again, frowning. "I texted Onii-chan about coming home late, but he hasn't replied yet." Her brows furrowed further. "He usually replies really fast."
"I understand," I said, glancing at Yuigahama-san, who now wore a concerned expression. "Could he be busy with his… work?" I couldn't help but feel a twinge of apprehension regarding Hikigaya-kun's duties as a Hunter.
"No, Onii-chan always tells me whenever he goes out to do one of his raids." Komachi-san shook her head slightly. "He said he was going to meet someone today, so I don't know why he wouldn't text back already. It's been an hour since my message, and there's still no response."
"Why don't you try calling him?" Yuigahama-san suggested after we exchanged concerned looks.
"I guess I should…" Hikigaya-san said before pressing a button on her phone and putting it against her ear, her worried expression not leaving her face all the while.
Looking at that made me pause, and the question came to mind:
Is this what normal siblings are like?
I knew the tragic circumstances that had left them relying solely on each other, and while their deep care for one another was evident, I wondered if their relationship had always been this way or if it had evolved due to their circumstances.
I found it difficult to imagine myself being so concerned about my own sister.
It was an unsettling thought, not born from malice but rather from the stark differences in our relationship. Perhaps it was more of admiration.
My sister, Yukinoshita Haruno, was a towering figure of strength and capability. Worrying about her seemed almost redundant—her success in overcoming challenges was an established fact.
Watching the Hikigaya siblings be this caring towards one another, though, I couldn't help this feeling of… longing.
My sister and I were never this close; perhaps we never will be, but I do have fond memories of us during my childhood.
Perhaps I became too attached to her because of those memories, before she grew more meddlesome and embarked on her path as a Hunter. These changes, coupled with her evolving role, deepened the rift between us, causing her presence in my life to wane.
…If it was possible for me to reconnect with Hikigaya-kun, then surely it should be possible to do so with my sister as well. It would only depend on how willing she is to reconnect.
But…
She stood, not unlike a great and formidable wall, between me and the man Japan hailed as its Strongest.
She was ready to fight him for my sake.
…It certainly wouldn't hurt to try.
"No answer," Komachi-san's frown became more pronounced as she removed the phone from her ear. "I guess I should just go home and check if he's asleep or something."
"He might be!" Yuigahama-san nodded brightly and reassuringly. "Hikki's probably just napping on the couch while he was waiting for you." Then Yuigahama-san tilted her head as a curious expression crossed her face. "Come to think of it, what does Hikki do when he's not… you know, doing Hunter stuff?"
"He trains a lot, I think," Komachi-san answered. "That's why he met with someone today. He said he was training with someone."
Ah, perhaps that explains why he looked so… different when we met.
I felt my cheeks heat up slightly when I thought back on the drastic physical changes that Hikigaya-kun went through.
I shook those thoughts away and offered Komachi-san some reassurance.
"Perhaps Hikigaya-kun is merely recuperating from his training," I said with a slight smile. "It would be best if you went home to check. We'll take care of tidying up and locking up here."
"Ah, but…" Komachi-san looked unsure. She was looking around the clubroom and seeing what still needed to be cleaned up.
"Go on, Komachi-chan, it's no problem!" Yuigahama-san encouraged her while smiling and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Hikki would get mad at us for keeping his sister away for so long, that sis-con." She giggled while I nodded with a slight smirk.
"Okay, if you guys are sure…." She responds hesitantly, gathering her things into her bag. Once she was done, she approached the door and slid it open before turning to us and bowing deeply.
"Thank you so much for today!" She said before she rose up again, "I look forward to working with you guys again tomorrow." She gave us a bright smile tinged with both gratitude and eagerness.
"See you tomorrow, Komachi-san," I replied with a warm smile.
"Say hi to Hikki for us, okay?" Yuigahama-san added with a cheerful grin.
"Okay, I promise! Bye!" Hikigaya-san waved at us before stepping into the hallway and out of sight.
"Mou, I didn't do much, but she still thanked me." Yuigahama-san muttered to herself.
"Don't be ridiculous." I reprimanded her with a frown. "I'm sure your encouragement helped her get through our session." I had been quite the strict taskmaster for today. I wanted to gauge how knowledgeable Komachi-san was. But looking back at our session, perhaps I was too harsh at some points.
"If you say so." Yuigahama-san sighed but quickly perked up and gave me an excited smile. "By the way, Yukinon, I have a great idea for a fun outing for the three of us!"
"...this wouldn't be Destinyland, would it?" I raised an eyebrow at her, a small smile on my face.
"Eh?!" Yuigahama-san looked surprised. "How'd you know?"
"Isshiki-san wasn't exactly being quiet about what she saw on your phone." I answered with a shrug, gathering the papers strewn on the table.
Speaking of which, that interaction did jump at me quite a bit. I couldn't help but notice how… intimidating Isshiki-san was earlier.
Does she have a problem with us?
That thought was concerning and puzzling. What could possibly be the reason for that?
Any more thoughts pertaining to that were interrupted when my phone buzzed. I retrieved it from my bag and read the message I received. My expression hardened involuntarily.
"Well, anyway." Yuigahama-san continued, oblivious to my inner turmoil, "I think it would be super fun for us to go there together! There's lots of Pan-san sections and rides we can go to! We could try them all together and— Yukinon, are you okay?"
"Ah, yes." I looked up from my phone and gave her a faint smile, hoping to mask my thoughts. "Destinyland sounds wonderful."
Her worried glance at my phone was noticeable, and though she seemed poised to inquire further, she chose not to press. Instead, she said, "Alright… we'll need to check and see what Hikki thinks too." Her attempt to redirect the conversation was appreciated.
"Yes, I suppose we do." I smiled gratefully at her. She nodded slowly before she decided to gather some of the papers on the table herself.
As she did so, I slid my phone back into my bag; the message that I received from my mother caused a heavy frown to grow on my face.
[Okaasan: Be home early. We must prepare for your upcoming dinner appearance with Ryuji-sama.]
x x x
Damnit!
I glared at the flying Hippogriff as I dashed to and from the surrounding stone pillars. As I moved, I watched Riko and Zaimokuza give chase to the flying beast with their weapons by their sides. I felt a twinge of worry rise within me before swiftly ignoring it. Despite my feelings, I knew that they would eventually have to fight an opponent marginally stronger than them. I just hoped I would have been nearby to watch over them in case things got out of hand.
They can do this. Focus on your own fight!
I flipped in the air and landed on a stalagmite. My feet clung to its surface thanks to my Arachnid Armored Boots. From my high position, I looked down at the Manticore. The beast was looking around wildly and turned up to me with its razor-sharp teeth. I punched the stalagmite I was on near the base of the structure and felt my body suddenly jerk up. Feet still clinging to the stalagmite, I fell straight down at the Manticore and jumped just as it crashed onto the solid ground. The beast had already jumped back to avoid the falling chunk of rock, avoiding being skewered alive.
"Lozkrat."
An impossibly fast yellow and orange beam of magic eviscerated the Manticore's remaining wing. Earning a roar of agony and rage from the beast. Aerisa came flying in from the beast's rear with a calm smile and aimed her staff at the beast, unleashing another beam of magic. The beast used its scorpion tail to propel itself into the air to avoid the attack but was quickly slammed into the ground thanks to a well-placed punch by me to the top of its head.
Not letting up there, I raised both of my fists above my head and hammered them down onto the Manticore's skull. The beast was tough. My blows managed to hurt it, but it was mostly unaffected by physical attacks. I felt my senses scream at me, resulting in me rolling forward just in time to avoid the speeding scorpion tail dripping with poison.
Shining Slash!
I swiped my arm towards the Manticore and unleashed several blades of light towards it. Not only did the beast have high defense, but it also had quick reflexes and speed. It blurred to the side and avoided my light attacks.
"Light magic?!" Aerisa said with glee as she flew next to me. "I haven't seen a practitioner of said magic in so long! However, you seem to use a lot more mana than necessary."
"Talk later! Fight now!"
The Manticore raised its left arm up and slashed the air in front of us. Before I could dodge, A large spherical barrier came to life in front of Aerisa and me. I looked over to her and saw her smile smugly at me. I rolled my eyes at the sassy Elf and vanished in a blur of speed thanks to my swiftness skill. I skidded to a stop and sent a small but concentrated ball of fire at the four-legged beast. The ball of fire crashed into the Manticore, but it was left unscathed.
"Oh! I forgot to mention that fire magic is useless to Manticore's." Aerisa yelled as she lazily waved her staff in the air, sending several flailing tendrils of magic at the beast, knocking its large body back when three tendrils smashed straight into its torso.
"How could you forget that!"
"Maybe include me in your conversations next time!"
"This is not the time!"
The Manticore bared its teeth at us angrily and lowered its body as all its claws grew twice in size and began glowing purple with power. Aerisa frowned as she landed in front of me and pointed her staff straight at the now-charging beast.
"Immobilize." Aerisa said, and the Manticore immediately froze in its spot as dozens of ethereal blue chains surrounded itself around its body. Aerisa turned her head back and winked at me. Despite myself, I smirked at her.
I blurred towards the Manticore and, in sparks of red, unveiled my scimitars. I applied my charge skill to my upper body and began cutting through the Manticore's hide with relentless intensity. I moved like a whirlwind of violence down its right side just in time for Aerisa's spell to time out.
I spun to a stop and watched as blood burst out from all the wounds I inflicted on the Manticore; the bleeding effect had finally kicked in. Not stopping there, I moved in again and waved my hand around the beast's tail. Locking it in place. I ran next to its tail and focused all my charge skills on my right arm. With the beast now an arm's length away, I swung.
"Graah!"
The Manticore roared as its tail was cleanly removed from its body. The tail wiggled and danced around wildly as its last remaining embers of life left the appendage. I sidestepped its crushing jaws and was then pulled back by an unknown force. The Manticore's paw crashed down on the ground where I once stood, its claws sinking deep into the stone floor, creating cracks and rubble.
"Thanks," I said as the tendrils that saved me vanished. Aerisa nodded, and we both watched as the large lion-like beast stalked around us. "This guy's tough."
"Indeed." Aerisa rolled her left shoulder around and grinned. "Now then, the warm-up is over now. Right?"
x x x
— Yoshiteru —
I jumped back, heart pounding in my chest, as the moderately injured Hippogriff slammed one of its arms down into the ground. Its claws effortlessly ripped the stone floor into pieces, sending debris flying. My mind raced, haunted by the memory of this beast tearing into the flesh of the young woman it had devoured earlier. I couldn't shake the image; it clawed at my courage, making my hands tremble.
Will I end up like her, too?
Trying to shake those thoughts away, I grunted with exertion as I swung my trusty sword through the air and landed a long cut across the monster's large foreleg. But my shaky hands betrayed me, causing the cut to be shallow. The Hippogriff suddenly twists its neck in my direction, its murderous eyes locking onto me, freezing me with fear. Its massive head crashed into my body with incredible force not a moment later.
"Geh!" I grunted as the bones in my right arm creaked from the blow. I was lucky enough to have raised my arm to protect my upper body out of sheer muscle memory. I was suddenly grateful for the hours of training Hachiman had given me just yesterday. "You'll thank me later." He said.
Despite blocking the devastating blow, my body was rocketed back dozens of feet and crashed into one of the pillars of stone. I coughed as all the air in my lungs escaped me. I fell to my knees and wrapped an arm around my chest to alleviate the pain. I looked up at the fast-approaching stomps and saw the Hippogriff charge at me with its beak wide open.
No! Come on, body, move!
But my limbs wouldn't obey. The monster's beak was inches from my face, and I couldn't even lift my arms in defense. Fear had locked me in place.
Help!
Before the speeding beast could reach me, a large blade of wind slammed mere inches in front of me, causing the Hippogriff to jump back to avoid the attack. I looked into the air and saw Riko falling from high in the air, her black battle axe held over her head.
"Take this!" Riko brought down her weapon towards the monster with a heave.
The Hippogriff was too slow to react, and the axe's sharp blade sunk deeply into its shoulder with a bloody squelch. Riko flipped onto the four-legged beast's upper back, and her arm shifted into a long, sharp blade. She swung her pincer across the air toward the Hippogriff's left wing with a loud swish, resulting in the appendage being cut off and removing its flying ability.
Come on, Yoshiteru! Get up and help!
I tried to push back against the fear gnawing at my resolve and the lingering physical pain in my chest. I rose to my feet on shaking legs but still focused my mana on my lower body and doubled my speed as I charged my enemy, closing the distance between the Hippogriff and myself in a few seconds. I leaped into the air and slammed the pommel of my sword down the beast's skull with all the strength my trembling arms could muster.
I felt its skull crack underneath the force of my blow.
But it wasn't enough. My arms lacked the strength I needed to finish the creature off.
The beast tanked the blow to its head and irritably shook it before slapping me back again with its powerful arms, throwing me a good distance away once more.
I fortunately flipped onto my feet and slid to a stop, but then my shaky legs could take no more. I collapsed on the ground while my legs shook uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Riko stopped kicking the Hippogriff and jumped off its back to follow after me. Coming to a stop beside me, she looked down towards my legs with concern.
"Are you okay, Zaimokuza-san?" Riko said. I shakily nodded and placed my hands on the stony ground to try to stand up, ultimately failing with every attempt. Riko's face grew more worried before turning her attention back to the recovering Hippogriff.
"You're trembling, are you tired?" Riko asked with her back to me, eyes zeroed in on the Hippogriff. I huffed in exertion but didn't answer her, too ashamed of the truth.
Instead, I warily watched the Hippogriff slowly trying to catch its wits. Its mobility was impeded because of its lost wing. My heart seized from the way its glare oozed with bloodlust and hate.
If this thing kills me, will it eat me too?
That thought pervaded my mind, causing another wave of shivers to wrack my body.
"Are you scared, Zaimokuza-san?"
Riko's question caused my mind to lock up and snap my attention back to her. She stood at the ready, her eyes not leaving the Hippogriff. She was not even looking at me when she asked.
"I'm sorry..." I muttered in utter shame as my gaze dropped to the ground, feeling hot tears gathering at the edges of my eyes.
It was the truth. This monster has me scared out of my wits. It was nothing like the past beasts I fought outside. I thought I'd already gotten over this when I reaffirmed my desires, but seeing those dead bodies caused me to realize how all too real this all was. This Hippogriff was stronger than anything I'd faced before, and I could easily end up like the dead lying all around the ravine. Nothing but a sack of meat for them to feast upon once they were done with me.
How could I be a hero when I crumbled at the first sign of real danger?
I'm so pathetic.
"That's good, you know?"
Huh?
I turned back to Riko; eyes clouded with confusion as I watched her stand there vigilantly against our injured enemy.
"Why would you say that?" I voiced out my baffled thoughts before I could stop myself.
"The enemy is frightening. That's why it's good to be scared. It means you're not a fool." She explained with a firm tone. "Master told me that feeling nothing at the thought of facing something scary makes you a fool. Being scared just means you're smart. It means you want to live."
Okay, that does sound like Hachiman. Good point, but still…
"How am I supposed to fight when I can't even stand on my own two feet!" I gritted my teeth in frustration, trembling hands clenched into fists.
"Because if you don't, you'll die," Riko answered without hesitation, nodding her head resolutely. "You obviously don't want that. No living creature wishes for death. So stand up, Zaimokuza-san, and fight back."
…What a direct way of answering. She's learning too much from Hachiman.
But she was right. I don't want to die.
So I need to fight back.
I gathered all of the strength and courage I could possibly muster and put them into my legs. I planted my feet on the ground and slowly stood up. My legs shook from fear, but I quelled it by hardening my resolve.
I need to fight back to live.
So that I could live to accomplish my dreams.
I had no idea how long the battle had lasted, but I was growing tired. Riko mentioned earlier that I was using too much of my mana and overloading myself too far. It wasn't shocking to me; I just discovered how to use it a few hours ago, after all.
Riko was in a much better position. She had light scratches and wounds on her body, but she still seemed fresh. Her talent in magic and fighting surpassed my own by far. I couldn't help but wonder if I would ever be as good as her. Not to mention her ability to change parts of her body into different beasts to give her an added edge. Slimes were truly overpowered—oh, and beautiful, especially Riko.
"Let's go, Zaimokuza-san," Riko said as she lifted her weapon. "We need to finish this."
I firmly nodded my head and focused back on the Hippogriff just as it began to squawk angrily. Its last remaining wing flapped around uselessly. The memory of it picking apart the young woman from earlier surged back, but this time, instead of freezing me, I allowed that image to fuel a fire inside.
I'll use that fire to fight back from the tiredness and keep fighting until we've ended this monster.
I needed to stop its bloody trail of death so no one else had to die. To protect the innocent.
It's what a Hero would do!
"We have to finish it quickly. I don't think I can keep going." I told Riko as my right arm began to spasm. I gripped my forearm to stop the tremors, but they continued to persist; Riko looked at my arm and nodded.
"You're right. We need to finish this with a swift, powerful blow." Riko said as a sudden loud explosion echoed far into the other side of the ravine. Things were ramping up with Hachiman and Aerisa with the Manticore. I felt a nervous grin grow on my face, thinking about having to face that creature instead of the Hippogriff.
"It's coming!" I yelled as a wave of blue mana swirled around the Hippogriff's body, and it released a high-pitched squawk. Riko and I narrowly jumped away as the beast dashed towards us at incredible speeds. The Hippogriff slid to a stop and spun toward us; the magical aura around its body split apart and transformed into blasts of mana that quickly flew toward us.
"Shit, Shit!" I yelled and used my sword to try and parry the incoming blasts like a true samurai, but one of the blasts struck my left thigh, sending me sprawling onto the ground. I hissed in pain and looked down at my thigh to see a shallow, bleeding wound. I tried to stand on my feet and felt waves of pain pulse from the wound.
The Hippogriff, seeing my weakened state, grinned savagely and lunged toward me, but Riko darted around its hind legs like a shadow before it could. Her battle axe flashed through the air, carving deep gashes into the beast's calves. She dove beneath its massive body, clapping her hands together to unleash a searing beam of fire into its chest. The Hippogriff shrieked in agony and stood up to its hindlegs to escape the streams of flames but quickly collapsed when its sliced calf muscles failed to support its weight. Not wanting to be crushed, Riko rolled away from underneath its large body.
Riko is so amazing. Pushing the pain away into the recesses of my mind, I stood to my feet and roared a battle cry as I dashed to the Hippogriff with my now flaming sword beside me. I can't just sit back and let her do all the work! I have to do my part!
"Focus everything on this attack!" I yelled and pumped all of my remaining mana into my arms and sword; I needed to use the opportunity Riko had created to take down the Hippogriff in one move. I couldn't let her down!
The Hippogriff rolled back onto its legs and turned to me with wide eyes. It tried to stand, but it was too late; I was already in place.
"Take this! Burning..." I roared and slid to a stop across the stone floor, the blood from my thigh staining the ground behind me. I felt the build-up of my mana reach its apex, and I spun on my hips. "Shogun's Slash!"
A bright orange light filled the ravine from the intensity of my blazing sword. I roared and twisted my body, sliced the heavens themselves, and sent a massive wave of fire straight through the Hippogriff. The beast roared in agony as the speeding blade of fire burned through its flesh. A loud explosion echoed all around the rumbling ravine as the blade of fire slammed into several pillars and the back wall, causing scorching rubble and boulders to fly in all directions.
I fell onto my face and forced my head up so I could see the sheer destruction I created. I was in awe at the sheer power I had. The Hippogriff's body was now a charred, burning mess as its lower and upper body were split apart. I smiled at my victory and looked to the side to see that Shogun's Hand was now in ruins. The blade was warped and cracked from the aftermath of my attack.
"No! Shogun's Hand! What have I done!" I cried and crawled over to my sword and hissed when my fingers touched the still-hot blade.
"That was amazing, Zaimokuza-san."
I glanced up to see Riko come to a stop in front of me. Her gaze locked onto the burning body of our enemy. She then looked down at my destroyed sword with a frown and said, "It seems you pushed your weapon past its limits."
I wanted to cry out at the injustices of the world but suddenly felt very lightheaded. Slowly, darkness began to encroach on the edges of my vision as I heard Riko's distant shouts.
Despite destroying my faithful weapon, I was glad I emerged victorious in my first-ever boss fight. With that in mind, I fell into a comfortable sleep. Deep within me, I was completely unaware of the pulsing, golden energy as I slept.
x x x
— ? —
Far away from the eyes of those who were fighting, right at the very edge of the top of the ravine, a bird-like creature sat upon its perch effortlessly, observing the unconscious silver-haired warrior as he was fussed over by the slime, a peculiar entity that had taken on a human form. It felt the waves of mana pulsating deep from within the young man's body, wafting out like a golden aurora. Only its keen eyes could perceive this, as it was a creature of its Master's creation, made to scout and observe, to sharpen its senses to mana to a ridiculous degree.
The bird-like creature, after one last curious glance at the young man, unfurls its massive wings and takes flight, disappearing into the dark sky and away from the tumultuous sounds of battle from the other side of the dungeon.
Only a large white, pristine feather, a token of the bird-like creature's presence, was left in its wake, a silent but significant reminder of the mysterious observer.
x x x
They did it.
I grinned as I continued somersaulting backward away from the Manticore's slamming claws as it chased after me with the intention of crushing me into a paste. With one more flip, I swiped my hand through the air and sent a beam of light across the air. The beast grunted as the light beam slammed into its shoulder and into its right eye, pushing it back a few feet with its shoulder now burnt and steaming while its right eye was reduced into a mushy mess.
I landed on my feet and dashed towards it using my swiftness skill. As I cut through the air, I waved my hand up and created a barrier of light that I ended up using to stop my momentum. Now positioned over the Manticore, I exploded down towards it with my fists covered in raging red flames, an added effect when I empowered my arms with the charge skill as well.
A thundering crack rippled through the area as my fist impacted the Manticore's left shoulder, obliterating the bones and muscles into a bloody mess. I frowned at the fact that my intended target, the beast's upper spine, happened to move due to the Manticore's last-minute dodge. I held my hand out and felt a tendril of familiar magic wrap around my arm. With a jerk, I was pulled back far away from the beast.
"I have to say that your pudgy comrade is very hard to read. His mana is extremely unstable. Almost like a furious back and forth. How peculiar." Aerisa said with a hand on her chin, her eyes closed in thought.
"Yeah, it's pretty annoying." I said as we ran, or in Aerisa's case, glided, towards the Manticore's flank. We broke away from each other as the beast crashed straight through one of the stone pillars we were behind with a snarl. I pointed my palm at its head and sent several blades of light that sliced deeply into its face. Aerisa spun in the air and pointed her staff at Manticore with a lazy smile.
"Lozkrat."
The beam of magic impacted one of the Manticore's back legs and ripped it off its body. The creature growled in pain and crashed into the ground. Blood splattered all around it as its accumulated wounds covered the majority of its body. It tried to stand to its feet but failed. With two out of its four legs out for the count, the Manticore could do little but lay there and glare at us.
"It's finished." I said with a sigh. Aerisa nodded and slowly landed on the floor, and dismissed her staff. I began walking towards the tired beast with my scimitars now in hand. Before the beast could roar in defiance, I brought my swords down its neck and cleaved its large lion head off its shoulders. I watched its head roll across the ground with indifference and demised my weapons. I then got on my knees and began to carve its body.
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
[You have leveled up!]
This fight was probably the easiest I've ever had. I looked back at Aerisa as she watched what I was doing with a curious expression. I'm not surprised. With her help, this boss ended up being a cakewalk.
Despite how effortless the battle was, I felt… disappointed.
The thrill of a challenging fight was something I have enjoyed recently. Having to use everything in your arsenal to come out on top in a one versus one match was incredibly exciting. But a battle like this felt cheap. When I had cut the Manticore's head off its body, I almost pitied it. It didn't deserve to die that way. I shook my head and finished collecting the last remaining resources from Manticore.
"How interesting. I haven't seen any warriors or adventurers carve away at a beast's corpse in quite some time." Aerisa said as she came to a stop beside me. I rose to my feet, and she inspected my handy work with an approving nod. "You're quite full of surprises, aren't you, Hachiman?"
"I could say the same to you, brat."
"B-brat?! I'll have you know, I'm well over a thousand years old!"
"...seriously?"
x x x
The village of Dirtmill was alive with joy and excitement as the entire community came together to celebrate our victory over the beasts that had been terrorizing them for so long. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, and the air was filled with the irresistible aroma of sizzling food and sweet treats.
The villagers, wearing traditional attire, gathered in the central square where a few of the village's musicians played lively tunes on old instruments. Children raced around, their laughter mingling with the sounds of the festivities. The elders looked on with contentment, reminiscing about festivals from years gone by.
The highlight of the celebration was the traditional dance performed by the villagers. The rhythmic beats of the drums echoed through the village as dancers twirled and spun. The entire village erupted into cheers and applause, their spirits lifted by the magical display.
I sat on one of the chairs with a cup of ale in my hands and watched as everyone celebrated around us. Riko and Zaimokuza sat at my sides, fully healed from their past injuries. Aerisa was off dancing with the villagers with a large, toothy grin as she moved with the beat of the music.
Once we had defeated the two bosses, Riko did her thing and absorbed the beast's remains for a significant power boost. Aerisa looked around for the grimoire she had heard about but ended up finding nothing, something that caused her to cry in disappointment. She then volunteered to place new warding spells in the caves so no new beasts could enter. As she did that, I healed Zaimokuza and woke him up with a well-placed smack to the face.
Afterward, the four of us returned to the village to inform Godefry and all the residents of what we did. I was a little uncomfortable at how grateful they were and at the fact that they insisted on throwing us a celebration feast in our honor. I tried to refuse, but Aerisa and Zaimokuza all but insisted on me to accept. Despite the language barrier, the two of them sure did get along very well. Seeing no way out, I agreed.
I raised my wooden cup and took another drink of ale. This world didn't seem to have a variety of drinks, mostly water, wine, or ale. With wine being more expensive and more commonly drank by the more wealthy residents, at least, according to Milton. After finishing my sip, a familiar notification popped up.
[Notification: A harmful substance has been detected! Activating Untouchable!]
[Skill: Untouchable will now remove all negative effects.]
[Untouchable: The Player is immune to all diseases, poisons, and status debuffs.]
So I can't get drunk.
I sighed and debated whether or not that was a good thing. I looked beside me and saw a red-faced Zaimokuza happily drinking away at his fourth cup. He was swaying slightly, and a chuckle left his lips. All in all, he looked ridiculous.
Probably a good thing.
"Um? H-Hachiman?"
I looked up to see one of the village girls around my age standing a few feet away from me with a nervous look on her face. She had light brown hair and brown eyes; she was dressed in the normal garb most of the women wore, which was a worn dress. She shifted around nervously with an embarrassed flush on her face. A few feet away was a small group of other village girls watching us with wide, expectant eyes.
"Apologies if I have disturbed you. Um, my name is Joyce." Joyce said with a cute smile and a curtsy. "May I ask you for a d-dance?"
"A dance?" I said awkwardly. I looked over to Riko and saw her shrug at me as she took a sip of her own drink. Looking over to a drunk Zaimokuza, I suddenly felt an idea pop into my head. Standing up, I grabbed Zaimokuza and motioned to him with a grin. "Wouldn't you rather dance with the man who slayed the Hippogriff himself? He was rather heroic."
"Huh?" Zaimokuza said intelligently, but he failed to understand what we were saying.
"Don't mind his inability to speak the Common Tongue. He'd be more than happy to dance with you." I said and pushed Zaimokuza up to her.
Joyce's eyes grew wide with awe at my words. She walked over to him and curtsied with a shy smile. She then held out a hand for Zaimokuza to take. Zaimokuza looked at me in confusion, but I ushered him to take Joyce's hand. Being free of any inhibitions, Zaimokuza shrugged and took Joyce's hand. The two then walked into the town square and began to dance awkwardly with large smiles on their faces.
I sat down with a sigh and looked up at the gaggle of village girls who began to slowly make their way over to me. Suddenly, Riko sat extremely close to me and leaned her body against my own. Almost possesivly. I looked down at her in confusion but saw her narrow her eyes at the incoming girls. They all stopped and decided against asking me for a dance.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, Master."
As the night continued to unfold, the village of Dirtmill embraced the magic of the moment, savoring every cherished memory created in the company of their loved ones. The stars above seemed to twinkle with approval as if joining in the merriment of the village's joyous celebration. Throughout it all, I couldn't help but worry slightly about how Komachi was doing back home.
"For someone so skilled in magic and combat, you can be quite the stick in the mud, Hachiman," Aerisa said with a sigh as she plopped beside me with a cup of ale, causing Riko to squeak at her sudden appearance. "Young Yoshiteru has grown to be the life of the celebration."
Indeed, Zaimokuza was the center of the party. After dancing with Joyce, he moved on to dance with all the girls in the village, even with some of the older women as well. Despite not understanding each other, that didn't stop him and the villagers from having a grand old time.
"Wow, look at Zaimokuza-san go." Riko said with a small smile.
"Who knew a drunk Zaimokuza could be quite the party animal?" I said with a chuckle. Riko laughed to herself and nodded as we watched one of the village girls kiss Zaimokuza on the cheek, causing the villagers to cheer and roar. Zaimokuza simply blushed a bright red and roared alongside them as he took another swig of his drink.
Good. I was worried after that face you made back there, Zaimokuza.
"You're still young, Hachiman. You should enjoy yourself! Go have fun and drink! Or go lay with a woman or two!" Aerisa said casually and took a large swig of her ale.
I blushed lightly at her casual talk of having sex but didn't pay it much mind. My uptight Japanese upbringing was very different from how people from this world operated. Talks of sex and the act of underage drinking weren't even an issue here; such is a medieval setting.
"I think I'll pass tonight." I said casually and finished my drink. Aerisa chuckled and shook her head.
"Ah, there you are, Hachiman," Godefry said as he came to a stop in front of us, a large book in his hands. "My apologies for not finding you earlier; the villagers can be pretty demanding when a celebration is occurring. Luckily for me, I was able to break away from them to finally have a word with you and your companions. While our little village doesn't hold much to offer in terms of payment for your heroic deeds, I would like to offer you a grimoire long since passed through my family's hands. Please accept this as a token of our gratitude."
"A grimoire!" Aerisa said with a squeaky and excited voice.
I wanted to refuse Godefry's reward, but one quick look at his eyes told me he would not take no for an answer. So, with some reluctance, I stood up and accepted the grimoire. The book itself was very thick, about the size of two large phone books or so.
[Magic Circle Formation: The Evolution of Spell Casting.]
That was the title of the Grimoire.
Interesting.
I scanned through the first few pages, intrigued by the details I read.
So, this would let me use magic without using my hands. That would be really useful. It would free up my hands so I could hold my weapons while casting spells.
This would be great to learn, though I wonder how long it would ta–
A notification popped up the moment I had that thought.
[You have obtained a Grimoire! It contains the Spell: Magic Circle Formation.]
…So it works on Grimoires too.
Of course, why wouldn't it? Grimoires were just books, too, after all, though I did feel just a bit of mana radiate off it. I remember that Mages and Healers in my world used stuff like this as equipment, so maybe it was related to that.
"Oh! It's the grimoire for the Magic Circle Formation spell." Aerisa said with a familiar smile. "That's a rare one! It's convenient, too, but it takes a while to learn. How about I give you some tips about it? I know a lot about magic, so—Hey, are you even listening?"
I wasn't. I was too busy thinking about how this would affect my ever-growing list of skills. Searching for Grimoires like this would essentially help me add spells within moments of obtaining them.
With an excited smile, I made a show of flipping through the pages while my eyes zoomed through the pages at super quick speeds.
[Would you like to learn: Spell: Magic Circle Formation?]
[Yes][No]
Yes.
I closed my eyes as a familiar surge of knowledge flooded my brain. A complete understanding of how the spell works in both practical and theoretical use.
[Notification: You have learned: Magic Circle Formation!]
[Skill: Magic Circle Formation | Lv 1 | Active| 10-100 MP | Focuses spell casting through the intricate magic layer in the shape of a circle. Size depends on the power of the spell.]
My smile turned into a giddy grin as I read the notification. I closed the book and looked up beside me, where a red magic circle came to life. Immediately, a small fireball came to life, waiting to be used. With a thought, another magic circle appeared beside it, forming a ball of light.
I wonder how many more I can make?
Before I could try my hand at creating more magic circles, the sound of a cup falling beside me made me pause. I looked down to see Aerisa looking at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Impossible... y-you learned the Magic Circle Formation spell in an instant," Aerisa muttered and rose to her feet. "That spell can take a second-rate Mage months to learn!"
I blinked in confusion as Aerisa suddenly ran in front of me and grabbed my hands tightly in her own, much smaller ones. She looked up at me with excited, wide, almost frantic eyes and a large, bright smile.
"You must become my apprentice!"
"...hah?"
x x x
– Riko –
The celebration the village had thrown for us was beginning to come to an end after several hours of merriment and joy. Now, into the late hours of the night, several of the villagers were starting to turn in for the night for some much-needed rest. My Master was currently lugging a passed-out Zaimokuza into one of the rooms the village elder had given the three of us to share for the night.
But we wouldn't be staying the night. As soon as we entered the privacy of the room, Master would open a portal for us to return home. But I couldn't leave just yet. The weight of my unresolved issue with Aerisa was heavy on my heart. I needed to apologize to the powerful Elf, and I regretted not doing so earlier.
"Excuse me, Miss Aerisa."
Aerisa stopped walking and turned to me with a patient smile. We stood alone just outside the small cottage located just outside the village square the elder had given Aerisa to use for the night; despite the celebration coming to an end, echoes of music and laughs could be heard from where we stood.
"Yes?" Aerisa said and turned to me fully. Any traces of her earlier drunken stupor were now gone. "What can I do for you, Riko?"
"I..." I played with the skirt of my uniform and took a deep breath. I looked her straight in her glimmering eyes and bowed my head. "I wish to apologize for my actions. I acted impulsively and without thinking. Please don't think any less of my Master due to this. He's a great man, and I don't want what I did to reflect badly on him. Please forgive me."
"Hmm. I believe I said all was forgiven earlier today." Aerisa said softly. "I hold no ill feelings against you or your Master. Truly. Please raise your head, little slime."
Slowly, I rose to my full height and saw that Aerisa was looking at me with a look of regret. "What the Terrans are doing to your kind is horrible. Wretched. I understand why you acted the way you did. I'm just sad that you have to react that way, to begin with. If only that brat, Paulinus, listened to me all those years ago. Then perhaps your kind wouldn't have been persecuted as they have been."
Paulinus, the third King of Ultrolux.
I looked down at the ground at the mention of that man's name. He was the main reason slimes were so sought after for several centuries. It was he who discovered how our bodies were so mana-rich and potent to be used to create such powerful potions. The very same name my kind has been cursing for as long as I could remember in my short two hundred years of life.
"If only I pushed harder, then maybe things would have been different. It should be me who apologizes." Aerisa said, her eyes full of regret. Seeing this, I smiled softly and shook my head.
"There's no need for that," I said and turned to look out at the flowing stream down the hill. Its surface rippled with light from the moonlight illumination. "The actions of others aren't our responsibilities to carry."
"How wise."
"Ah, no. It was something one of my clan elders often said to us."
Aerisa nodded with a small smile; abruptly, she had to cover her mouth to hold in a long yawn. She rubbed her eyes, and the exhaustion of the day was evident on display.
"Don't allow me to keep you from your rest, Miss Aerisa. Please sleep well." I said with a slight nod. "I hope our paths cross again one day."
"Hah? Ah, yes!" Aerisa said with another yawn; my words didn't seem to register with her. "I'll see you all in the morning. Goodnight, Riko."
I wanted to correct her but ended up deciding against it.
"Goodnight, Miss Aerisa."
With that, Aerisa walked into her temporary home for some much-needed rest. I exhaled with relief and began making my way to where Master and Zaimokuza were waiting.
It was time to go home.
------
[Bonus Content | Character Sheet]
Name: Yukinoshita Haruno
Race: Human
Gender: Female
Age: 21
Eye Color: Purple
Hair Color: Black
(ooo)
Likes: Reading, Traveling, Going to the Beach, Watching Drama's, Horseback riding.
Dislikes: Her Mother, Ryuji Goto, Hot Weather
Dreams: To establish her Guild as the greatest in Japan.
Hobbies: Playing music, Painting, Going on walks.
Personality/History: Every aspect of Haruno's life was closely controlled by her parents in order for her to inherit the Yukinoshita dynasty. This caused her to grow up to become an exceptional people person, able to greet, work with, or manipulate those around her. Another byproduct of her upbringing was for her to gain a sinister side to her personality as evident by the fact that she can talk with a cold, piercing and emotionless voice. It all changed when she awakened to her abilities as a Hunter. This allowed her to break free and rapidly climb through the ranks of the Hunter world which allowed her to become the youngest Guild Master in history. Throughout Japan, Haruno is famous for her beautiful smile and charming personality. As the Guild Master of Yuki-Ryoshi, her guild members recognize her as an enigmatic yet highly competent leader known for her strength, bold policy, and fair regime.
(ooo)
Status: Hunter
Rank: S-Class
Affiliation: Yuki-Ryoshi Guild Master
Class: Fighter
(ooo)
Weapons: Nodachi crafted from the bones and fangs from an Ice Dragon.
Skills: Various Martial Arts, Multitasking Expert, Weapons Master, Multilingual, Musical Aptitude.
Talents: Can perceive through others facades, Manipulation
(ooo)
Image Link: imgur.com /QdZYX9v
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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!