Chapter Twenty: This Is a Hunt
This was supposed to be a hunt aided by a rainy night.
The hunters had only one target.
Although the target was just an underage girl.
But since she was on the investigation list of the Special Circumstances Agency SEMA,
It indicated that she held value.
In the eyes of these greedy hunters,
the ability users were paramount.
The lives of ordinary people were like livestock.
Tonight, a team of hunters was set to raid the Tian Shang Mansion.
A total of 15 members.
Among them, there was 1 Gold level, 2 Silver level, 5 Copper level, and 7 Iron level hunters.
This team could even attempt to break into the SEMA branch as long as they didn’t encounter an A-level ability user.
The Hunter Guild refused to use the same grading standards as SEMA or the academy.
Thus, they adopted a tiered system of Iron, Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Mithril.
A total of 6 levels.
Although the Gold level was considered equivalent to a B-level ability user in their eyes,
the strengths among hunters of the same level varied greatly.
Compared to ability users of the same grade from SEMA or the academy, there were also differences in power.
This hunter squad, led by a Gold level hunter,
was currently in the midst of a grand hunt.
However, they were the prey.
……
……
This was a hunter squad planning to cross the woods and then raid the Tian Shang Mansion.
The rain poured relentlessly from the sky, hitting the hunters’ coats, emitting a steady patter.
Around them was a small forest, with thick trunks intertwining, and branches and leaves in the rain resembling menacing tentacles, occasionally brushing against their sleeves.
The downpour was like a veil of white gauze, obscuring their vision and making it difficult to see the path ahead.
“Everyone be careful, there’s a magical response ahead, likely a monster guarding the mansion.”
Within this hunter squad,
a Copper level hunter raised his hand to signal; his ability was suitable for reconnaissance.
So he was responsible for the scouting position of the squad.
“How strong is the magic?”
A Silver level hunter, draped in a pitch-black cloak, asked with a hint of eagerness.
It seemed he could hardly suppress his urge to hunt.
“Um… not strong… or rather, very weak?” The scouting Copper level hunter was somewhat uncertain.
The magical response coming from ahead was very clear, but the magical fluctuation seemed weak.
This contradicted his understanding since weaker magical fluctuations should imply a more obscure magical response.
The Silver level hunter in the black cloak revealed a sinister smile upon hearing this.
He turned to consult the Gold level hunter in the team: “Can I go ahead and take a look for everyone?”
Understanding the impatient attitude of this Silver level hunter, the Gold level hunter sighed and reminded him, “Don’t forget our true mission. Don’t kill her brutally; eliminate her and return immediately.”
“Then I’ll go ahead first~”
After the cloaked hunter spoke, his figure darted out from the main group like a gust of wind—
[Hunter Squad (14/15)]
The rain continued to pour.
The heavy downpour blurred everyone’s vision and impacted their sense of time.
The first to regain composure was the Gold level hunter.
“Why hasn’t that guy come back yet? How long has it been?”
The other hunters glanced at the time in response.
“It’s, it’s been 5 minutes already…”
“Tsk, has that guy fallen into his old habits again? Go call him back.” The Gold level hunter pointed at a certain Iron level hunter.
The pointed-out hunter had no choice but to step out from the main group—
[Hunter Squad (13/15)]
“Something’s not right.” The Gold level hunter began counting the seconds with his heartbeat.
A minute had passed, yet there was still no sign of anyone returning.
“Get ready for battle.” He said, drawing the twin daggers from his waist.
“There might be a very powerful monster nearby.”
“But, but I didn’t detect any corresponding magical response at all.” The scouting Copper level hunter rebutted.
“I trust my judgment over your ability.”
“If the first guy who went to scout is still in combat, then the second hunter sent to find him should have been able to return with a report.”
“But since no one has come back, we can only assume they were killed.”
“If someone can kill a Silver level hunter in less than 5 minutes, the threat level should be over 5.”
Upon hearing the Gold level hunter’s analysis and judgment,
the rest of the team also prepared for battle.
“Stay vigilant, form up; you, and you, flank from both sides—” he pointed at two Copper level hunters, “Hide well; don’t engage first.”
The two hunters named nodded, firmly gripping their weapons as they exited the main group.
The Gold level hunter then turned to the remaining 6 Iron level hunters.
“You likely won’t have much use in this fight—”
[Hunter Squad (11/15)]
“—so you stay here and guard the retreat.”
“We understand.”
The Iron level hunters nodded; they knew their strength and that they couldn’t possibly fight against a monster with a threat level exceeding 5.
But hunters value teamwork; in a hunt, everyone creates value for the entire team.
“Alright, the rest of you follow me; let’s meet that monster.”
After the Gold level hunter led the way,
the strongest of the Iron level hunters naturally became the leader of this small squad.
Without looking back, he ordered:
“Leave two here to keep watch over the retreat—”
[Hunter Squad (10/15)]
“—and send two to scout the surroundings—”
[Hunter Squad (8/15)]
“Just in case, have one person return to the city to report on the situation—”
[Hunter Squad (7/15)]
“—understood?”
[Hunter Squad (6/15)]
After the leading Iron level hunter finished speaking, he turned around.
There was no sound of response.
The thick rain obscured his vision; he couldn’t even see the figures of the companions who should have been standing behind him.
“Where are you going—”
[Hunter Squad (5/15)]
…..
…..
“It’s getting closer.” The Gold level hunter said with a serious expression to the group behind him.
At the same time, he anxiously glanced around.
He saw no signals from the hunters who were supposed to assist in the encirclement.
A heavy downpour soaked him, causing his heart to grow cold.
The traces along the path were washed away by the rain, leaving no clues behind.
Gradually, they passed through the woods, and a clear view opened up before them.
The lights in the distance indicated the location of the Tian Shang Mansion.
The Gold level hunter’s gaze pierced through the rain, and suddenly he spotted an anomalous figure.
That figure stood on the eaves of the mansion, like a disarrayed painting, standing out starkly.
The surrounding world was shrouded in rain, gray and blurred, yet that silhouette seemed to have transcended the storm, bearing a clarity and sharpness that didn’t belong.
The figure wore a garb of interwoven crimson and pure white ceremonial attire, with a white fox mask adorning its face.
The long red skirt fluttered gently in the wind, while the rain seemed to be kept at bay, unable to touch the hem.
Her existence was so striking that all else began to fade into obscurity.
The moment the Gold level hunter beheld this figure,
he felt a shiver rise from the depths of his heart, spreading to his limbs.
Fear seized his mind, causing him to instinctively channel all the magic within him.
The twin daggers he tightly gripped flashed with light through the rain.
Unfortunately, that light appeared so insignificant and dim in the dark night.
“Big, Brother?”
The remaining Silver level hunter noticed something was off with him and couldn’t help but call out.
His vision was not as sharp as the Gold level hunter’s, so he couldn’t see the unnerving silhouette behind the thick veil of rain.
“It’s nothing, just a bit disappointed. I didn’t expect it to be just a level 3 monster.”
The Gold level hunter said without changing his expression.
At the same time, his brain raced.
If I treat these people as cannon fodder, what are my chances of escape?
And those guys staying back, if I lead that thing over to them—
“It seems I won’t need to make a move here; I’ll leave it to you all~” The Gold level hunter pretended to return the daggers behind him.
“Indeed, the magical reaction is very weak.”
The Copper level hunter with scouting abilities chimed in.
To this, the Gold level hunter cursed silently in his heart: “It’s all because of your pathetic ability! It’s putting me in such danger.”
“I didn’t expect that Kawano City has such a terrifying monster….. The threat level must be at least level 7?” The Gold level hunter thought while subtly stepping back.
“To deal with this thing, at least I need to call Asan and the others to collaborate….. Or directly inform the Special Circumstances Agency SEMA? I’ve heard they have an A-level who should be able to handle it…..”
“Big, Brother, your hand……” For some reason, the Silver level hunter suddenly shouted.
“My hand?”
Reacting to the words, he reflexively tried to raise his hands, but “both hands were empty.”
The pain from his shoulders being severed came late, striking him with excruciating agony.
The pain made him tremble all over, but he didn’t dare to scream.
Why? I couldn’t detect any magical fluctuations at all? When did the attack occur?
Rainwater poured over him.
He suddenly felt less magical energy within himself.
No, that’s not right; the reason it decreased is that—the area of contact with the raindrops had diminished.
At that moment, he finally understood.
This torrential downpour.
Every drop of rain contained magic.
But because the magic was too uniform, no one could sense any magical fluctuations.
The attack against oneself had already begun.
The moment they decided to step out from under the eaves, exposing themselves to this rain,
their lives had already been grasped in someone else’s hands.
The attack range of this monster covered the entire city!
Just as the hunters looked at the Gold level hunter, who suddenly had his arms severed, with puzzled expressions,
that streak of red and white suddenly flashed in front of them.
In this downpour, her ceremonial garb and mask remained untouched by water.
“!?” The other four hunters present didn’t have time to raise their weapons before collapsing to their knees.
Because everything below their knees was gone.
“Who sent you here?”
The fox maiden’s voice was soft, yet it reached every hunter’s ears clearly.
“It’s, it’s a commission! Someone commissioned us to come here!” The Gold level hunter shouted hurriedly.
“The content of the commission.”
“We, we were to exterminate the fantasy monsters in this city, but, but I hadn’t decided to accept the commission! I just came here for reconnaissance tonight!”
“The identity of the commissioner.”
“W-we can’t possibly know that, b-but, it seems the commissioner will come here for a meeting in a few days; I can take you there!”
“The list of meeting members.”
“I, I only know that I will be there with you! I can take you there, please spare me! I really did nothing!”
“What did you originally plan to do? Kill that girl?” The fox maiden’s tone remained level.
But it sent chills through all hunters present.
“It was our moment of greed! It was our fault!” If the Gold level hunter had his hands, he would probably be slapping himself in the face right now.
“It’s all, it’s all this guy’s instigation; it’s all his fault!” The other hunters shouted, pointing at the Gold level hunter.
Suddenly,
a light and cheerful sound echoed.
That made the hunters, who were bustling about blaming one another, freeze abruptly.
Then, under their astonished gazes,
the fox maiden took out a phone from her pocket.
“Hello, Ritsu-kun, what’s up?” The fox maiden answered the call in front of everyone, her voice crisp and sweet.
In that instant,
all the hunters understood that this monster before them no longer intended to leave them any chance of survival.
All of them changed their attitudes from pleading for mercy and summoned all the magic energy within them—
[Hunter Squad (0/15)]
Five people were severed from existence in an instant.
“Ah, it’s a bit noisy? I’m cleaning up my room~”
“What’s going on today? Well, about that….. I, I’m not angry, okay?”
Nagi spoke while her deep, dark eyes slowly scanned over the bodies.
Finally landing on Garuda, who was standing on a nearby branch.
As if showing discontent with Garuda’s meddling.
“You don’t need to let your hands get stained with blood.” Garuda’s red, beady eyes seemed to convey such a message.
