XXXVI
The teleportation left a faint ringing in my ears as the world around me reassembled. When the sensation passed, I found myself standing on an open-air deck. A brisk wind rushed to meet me, cool and sharp, carrying the unmistakable thinness of high altitudes. I took in the scene: an airship, its structure a seamless blend of polished metal and reinforced wood, humming steadily beneath my feet.
Beside me, Black stumbled forward, clutching his stomach with a look that was equal parts queasy and horrified. His usual calm demeanor was nowhere to be found as he made a few weak "blegh" noises. Selena took an immediate step back, wrinkling her nose.
"Oh, come on, Black. Altitude sickness already?" Selena teased, crossing her arms with a smirk.
Black shot her a death glare but didn't dignify her with a response. Instead, he bolted toward the nearest door, presumably to find a place to quietly lose his lunch.
Selena shook her head, amused. "He could've just leaned over the rail. Drama queen," she muttered.
I shrugged, stifling a laugh. "Maybe he's shy. Wants to keep it private."
The deck was alive with movement, other hunters milling about as they adjusted to their new surroundings. These were the strong ones, the survivors of every stage before this. Their expressions ranged from wary to resolute, though none paid us much attention.
Despite the tension hanging in the air, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of excitement. Standing on an airship like this, high above the world, was exhilarating. The hum of the engines, the expansive sky stretching endlessly in all directions—it was almost enough to make me forget where we were heading. Almost.
As we wandered across the deck, a staff member approached us. At least, that's what I assumed at first glance. She wore a maid outfit, though it was far from conventional. The skirt was alarmingly short, and the blouse was cut just low enough to ensure her platinum blonde hair and striking blue eyes weren't the only things catching attention.
Before I could decide whether her attire was part of some strange uniform or a personal choice, a sharp pinch jabbed into my side. I turned to find Selena glaring at me, her voice low and sharp.
"You already have a wife, remember? Try to look a little less enchanted," she hissed.
I coughed, straightening up. "Point taken."
The maid stopped in front of us, holding out a pair of keys. Her expression was unreadable, though her eyes gleamed with a knowing light.
"Welcome aboard," she said, her voice smooth and detached. "I'm Atropos. You and your teammates are free to use the airship's facilities as you see fit." She handed each of us a key.
Atropos. The name stopped me cold. I'd written her into existence—part of the Hunter Association's upper echelons. She wasn't just any hunter, though. Atropos was legendary, a mentor figure who had shaped countless lives in my story. And now, here she was, standing before me.
"Thank you… Atropos," I managed, my voice steady despite the swirl of thoughts racing through my head.
Her eyes flicked to mine, her lips curving into a faint smile. "Wanna get shagged?" she asked, her tone completely flat.
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
She repeated it without missing a beat, her expression as calm as ever. "Wanna get shagged?"
Selena's face turned crimson, her fury bubbling to the surface. "What is your problem, lady?" she snapped, throwing her hands in the air. "I know I'm flirtatious, but you—you're on another level!"
I resisted the urge to bury my face in my hands. This was spiraling out of control. "I'm already married," I said firmly, hoping to put an end to the madness.
Atropos shrugged, her demeanor unchanged. "I'd be fine being the mistress."
Before I could process that, Selena's elbow slammed into my ribs.
"OW! What was that for?" I grumbled, rubbing the sore spot.
"You're staring at her chest like an idiot," Selena hissed. "Leora would kill you if she saw that."
"I wasn't staring!" I protested, but Selena's glare told me she wasn't buying it.
Atropos turned away with a casual, "Some other time, then," and walked off without a second glance.
Selena rounded on me, her grin infuriatingly smug. "You better pray I don't tell Leora about this."
"Please tell me you're joking," I muttered.
She laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "Maybe I'll let it slide. But you owe me."
I sighed, deciding to change the subject. Tapping her shoulder, I activated her aura's attribute, Disguise. In an instant, Selena shrank down to knee height, her arms crossed as she glared up at me.
Her tiny, high-pitched voice screeched, "GODDAMNIT!"
I grinned, turning away as her furious shouts echoed behind me. If nothing else, it was a satisfying end to an awkward encounter. I headed for my room, eager for a shower and a moment of peace. This was shaping up to be a very long journey.
And I'm frankly tired…
If only I could time-skip the entire examination…
Behind me, the rapid patter of tiny footsteps echoed down the hallway. I glanced back, barely holding back a laugh as Selena's miniature form barreled toward me, her fists clenched and her face flushed with frustration.
"Turn me back! Turn me back!" she shrieked, her high-pitched voice both furious and desperate.
I quickened my pace, smirking as she tried to keep up. "Can't hear you, Selena! Too small!" I called over my shoulder, enjoying the moment a little too much.
By the time I reached my room, she was practically seething. Her tiny form pounded on the door as I slipped inside, quickly locking it behind me. To be safe, I dragged a chair over and wedged it under the doorknob.
"You're a dead man!" Selena's muffled voice shouted from the other side, accompanied by the faint sound of tiny fists thumping against the wood.
Safe at last, I let out a satisfied sigh and headed straight for the bathroom. After days of trudging through the wilderness, a hot shower was exactly what I needed.
The water was bliss, washing away layers of grime and tension. I leaned against the tiled wall, letting the heat soothe my sore muscles. For a few minutes, I allowed myself to relax, shutting out everything—Selena's shouting, the trials, the endless challenges. It was just me and the steam.
When I finally stepped out, a towel wrapped around my waist, my phone buzzed on the bedside table. Curious, I grabbed it, swiping open the notification.
It was from Leora.
My heart skipped a beat as I opened the message. She'd received the package I'd sent before leaving for the trials—a Lover tarot card, something I'd chosen to symbolize us. Her reply included a photo, and it stopped me in my tracks.
Leora stood in the frame, wearing an oversized shirt that hung loose over her curves, leaving plenty to the imagination. The faint smirk on her lips sent a thrill up my spine. I saved the picture, unable to stop the smile spreading across my face. Even in the middle of all this chaos, she had a way of grounding me, reminding me why I was fighting so hard.
Shaking off the lingering warmth from her message, I dressed in the simple clothes provided in the room: a plain shirt and jeans. After everything we'd been through, even basic clothes felt like a luxury. I set my suit—a custom aura-conductive piece with chain-mesh reinforcement—aside for cleaning. The airship's automatons would take care of it, ensuring it was in top shape for whatever came next.
With that handled, I decided to explore.
The airship was incredible, a floating city in the sky. Compared to the wild, untamed forest we'd just endured, this place was practically paradise. I wandered through its halls, marveling at the amenities: a casino, a café, a billiard room, and more. It felt surreal to go from survival mode to this kind of luxury.
Passing the casino, I spotted Geoffrey standing at a slot machine, his usual composed expression replaced with a look of intense concentration. I chuckled, shaking my head. Who knew the guy had a gambling streak?
Further along, the billiard room caught my attention. Shen was there, leaning over the table, his sharp eyes tracking every ball. He was deep in a betting game, his opponents visibly nervous as he lined up his next shot.
I walked along… and away…
The café was a welcome escape from the noise of the airship's main halls. The aroma of fresh coffee and pastries filled the air, mingling with the low hum of conversations and the occasional clatter of dishes. It was quieter than the casino or the billiard room, a good spot to unwind.
As I stepped inside, my eyes were drawn to a table near the corner where Black sat hunched over a chessboard. His opponent, a wiry guy with curly hair and a leather jacket, was clearly struggling to keep up. Even from a distance, it was obvious Black had the upper hand.
I grabbed an iced coffee at the counter and strolled over, curiosity getting the better of me. Black's focus was razor-sharp, his movements precise as he cornered his opponent piece by piece.
"Checkmate," Black said, his tone flat but unmistakably triumphant as he moved his queen into position.
Oppossite Black was a seething hunter. Probably a Trickster, just a wild guess though. "Damn, you're good," he muttered, staring at the board as if it had personally betrayed him.
I pulled up a chair nearby, smirking as I sipped my coffee. "Not bad for someone who was practically trembling from the altitude earlier," I teased, watching for Black's reaction.
Black's expression twitched, just enough to tell me I'd hit a nerve.
The Trickster's ears perked up at that, and he looked at Black with a newfound spark of amusement. "You're afraid of heights?" he asked, a sly grin spreading across his face.
Black clicked his tongue, clearly irritated. "It's just a minor inconvenience," he muttered before giving me a look that said shut up.
Then, without missing a beat, he gestured to the Trickster. "Anyway, this is Dummy."
I raised an eyebrow, unsure if I'd heard that right. "Dummy?"
The Trickster grinned, completely unfazed. "Yep, that's my real name. Blame my parents," he said, leaning back in his chair like he was used to this reaction.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "Nice to meet you, Dummy," I said, still processing how someone could own a name like that so confidently.
Dummy shrugged, his grin widening. "It grows on you. Besides, it keeps people underestimating me, which is always fun."
Despite the self-deprecating humor, Dummy didn't seem like a fool. His small frame and impish demeanor gave him a mischievous vibe, and the way he carried himself—relaxed but alert—hinted at a sharp mind.
Black, meanwhile, was resetting the chessboard with methodical precision, his expression as stoic as ever.
"Impressive game, Black," I said, raising my coffee in a mock toast.
He grunted in response, though I caught the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. He didn't care for compliments, but he wasn't above enjoying a well-earned victory.
Dummy leaned forward, his grin turning sly again. "Don't suppose you're up for a game?" he asked, his eyes darting between me and the board.
I shook my head, laughing. "I'll pass. I'm more of a spectator when it comes to chess."
"Smart move," Dummy said, winking. "Wouldn't want to embarrass yourself in front of a master like me."
Black snorted at that, his lips twitching into what might've been a smirk. "Master, huh? You just lost."
Dummy waved it off, unfazed. "Yeah, but it was a close loss. Besides, everyone knows a real Trickster never shows their full hand."
I sipped my coffee, watching the two of them banter. For all the chaos of the trials, moments like this were a reminder that we were still human—flawed, funny, and trying to make the best of the madness around us.
Black's challenge hung in the air, sharp and unspoken, as he gestured toward the chessboard. "Dealer to dealer," he said, his smirk betraying his confidence.
I leaned forward, meeting his gaze with my own grin. "Alright, let's see what you've got."
Dummy, still nursing his bruised ego from the last game, gave an exaggerated sigh as he slid out of his seat. "Good luck," he said, mock-saluting me. "You'll need it."
I chuckled, taking the spot across from Black. He was already leaning back in his chair, exuding an irritatingly relaxed confidence.
"Got a coin?" Black asked, his tone casual, as though he wasn't already plotting my demise on the board.
I reached into my pocket and pulled out a small coin, holding it between my fingers. "Head or bird?"
"Bird," Black said without hesitation, his voice steady.
With a flick of my thumb, the coin spun through the air before clinking onto the table. It settled on bird. Black gave a faint, satisfied nod.
"I'll play black," he said, already leaning forward to set up his pieces.
~036