The air was thick with tension. The ground, still wet with the Minotaur's blood, bore silent witness to the chaos that had just unfolded.
[Hunter 2]: Where are Hunter 1 and Bell?
Panic surged through me. I scanned the area, but neither was in sight.
[Hunter 3]: Bell was being chased by a Minotaur. Hunter 1 went after him.
Without hesitation, I dashed in the direction Hunter 3 indicated. The corridors of the Dungeon seemed to stretch endlessly, each turn echoing with distant sounds of battle.
After what felt like an eternity, I stumbled upon a scene that made my heart drop.
Bell lay unconscious, his body smeared with blood. Standing protectively over him was Hunter 1, sword drawn, facing a group of adventurers adorned with the emblem of the Loki Familia.
But something was off.
Hunter 1's stance was aggressive, his eyes filled with fury. The Loki Familia members looked equally tense, weapons at the ready.
It dawned on me that Hunter 1 must have mistaken the Loki Familia for impostors or threats to Bell, especially seeing Bell in such a state.
[Third-Pov]
Weapons were drawn.
The Dungeon's blood-soaked floor bore more than just the Minotaur's corpse now — the cold gaze of Hunter 1 locked with Bete Loga, fangs bared and growling low, his stance signaling a fight one wrong breath away.
The adventurers with the Loki Familia insignia stood their ground, but their brows were furrowed. None of them were smiling.
Tiona's eyes glanced at Bell's crumpled form.
[Tione]: We don't have time for this. That kid's bleeding out.
Hunter 1 took a step forward.
[Hunter 1]: Touch him… and I'll cut you down. You think we don't know what you did?
Then—everything froze.
A pressure unlike anything else in the Dungeon slammed down.
The very air changed—thick, dark, heavy.
Tentacles of shimmering light and shadow emerged from the hallway, coiling into visibility like the deep sea had just vomited up something divine and terrible.
A voice, soft but absolute, cut through the air.
[Grey]: Enough.
All eyes turned as she stepped through the dim light, mana surging like a tide behind her. Her eyes flickered, one gold and one void-dark. Her bare feet splashed in the blood, but she paid it no mind.
Even Bete paused, nostrils flaring.
[Grey]: Hunter 1. Stand down.
Hunter 1 growled, knuckles white on his weapon. But at her command, the blade slowly dipped. He stepped back, though his eyes never left the Loki group.
[Tiona]: Who the hell…?
Riveria, stepping forward, narrowed her eyes, examining the unusual being before her.
[Riveria]: That pressure... You're not an ordinary adventurer.
[Grey]: Neither are you. And that emblem you wear—Loki Familia.
She tilted her head.
[Grey]: But if that's true, why does your scent reek of deception to my Hunters?
[Tione]: What'd you say, freak?
Tiona held her sister back, but it was clear the insult struck home.
[Riveria]: That's enough. This is a misunderstanding—though it seems both sides have reason to be on edge.
Hunter 3 rushed up beside Grey, panting.
[Hunter 3]: Captain—Bell's alive. Just knocked out.
Grey's eyes softened slightly as she looked at the unconscious boy. She approached him, tentacles receding as her presence mellowed to a strange stillness. She gently placed her hand on his chest, then frowned.
[Grey]: His soul is… trembling.
Ais, silent until now, stepped forward.
[Ais Wallenstein]: It was my fault. I was too slow to stop the Minotaur.
She looked Grey in the eye.
[Ais]: He tried to fight it. Alone.
There was no pride in her tone—only honesty.
Grey stood up.
[Grey]: Then let's stop wasting time in ego and fear. Bell needs healing. We can talk after.
Hunter 1 lowered his blade fully at last, still tense.
[Hunter 1]: If any of you touch him again without telling us... Don't expect mercy.
Bete, chuckling, spat to the side.
[Bete]: Tch. What a bunch of wild mutts.
[Grey]: Better wild than blind.
The tension didn't fade—it simmered beneath the surface as Bell was lifted by Hunter 3 and carried away, flanked by Grey and her hunters. The Loki Familia remained behind, watching.
[Grey Pov]
The air outside the Dungeon was still.
We emerged into the upper levels with Bell's breathing stable, though each step we took left bloody footprints in our wake. The boy had been out cold for most of the ascent—but as the sunlight hit his face, he stirred.
A flutter of lashes. A sharp inhale. And then—he jumped up like a startled rabbit.
[Bell]: A-Ah! Ais-san!! I-I have to thank her—!
Before I could speak, he was already running—limping, wobbling, but running—toward the Guild like a man possessed. The crimson that stained him from head to toe made him look more like a monster than a boy.
He left a trail of bloody footprints, like some child lost in war.
I didn't stop him. I just watched.
Hunter 1 growled behind me, crossing his arms.
[Hunter 1]: He doesn't even remember we saved him.
[Hunter 2]: I think he's in shock. That, or he's just dumb.
Hunter 3, a little more charitable, chuckled.
[Hunter 3]: He did look like he was chasing a dream more than running from a nightmare.
I looked down at my own hands, still slick with the Minotaur's blood. It clung to me more than it should. As if it didn't want to let go.
Or perhaps I didn't.
People stared as we walked.
Adventurers, merchants, civilians—they all gave us a wide berth. I didn't blame them. We looked like demons fresh from the underworld, our clothes soaked and our eyes still sharp from battle.
A child even screamed when they saw us pass.
The Hunters didn't say anything about it. But I saw the way they gripped their weapons, even outside the Dungeon. The way their shoulders tensed.
We were not welcome here. Not yet.
Bell had already reached the Guild by the time we arrived. The boy was waving his arms at Eina, the half-elf receptionist, his voice panicked, but his eyes starry.
[Bell]: Ais Wallenstein! I-I saw her! She—she was there!
[Eina]: Bell, what—why are you covered in blood?!
The Guild was… well, not exactly a place for comfort, but more like a marketplace of chaos. We walked in like a storm, the wet blood still clinging to us, with Hunter 1 giving off an aura that screamed,d "Don't mess with me." But Bell? Poor kid was trying his best to pretend he wasn't completely drenched in Minotaur guts.
As I glanced at him, trying to wipe the mess off himself, I couldn't help but smirk at the whole situation.
[Eina]: Um, Bell, is that... a new fashion trend? Or...?
Bell looked mortified, like he wanted to crawl into the nearest hole and disappear. He quickly wiped at the stains, trying to look casual about it, though the sheepish grin he offered told a different story.
[Bell]: Uh... no! I mean—uh, it's just from the dungeon, we got some loot, and... I'm fine, really!
Hunter 3, still latched to Bell's leg like an affectionate puppy, chimed in with all the subtlety of a wrecking ball.
[Hunter 3]: Bell smells nice... but food smells better.
Bell's face flushed brighter than a ripe tomato. He hurriedly moved forward to the counter, hoping the receptionist would just… get it.
And me? I just leaned against the counter, watching the scene unfold with a quiet chuckle.
[Grey]: He's just a little embarrassed. He's not used to hanging around such… company.
Eina blinked, clearly a bit taken aback by the way the Hunters practically oozed a dangerous yet strangely casual vibe. But she nodded, likely to avoid being caught in the awkwardness of the situation.
[Eina]: Right... Well, I assume you're here to sell your loot then?
I gave a confident nod, the familiar sensation of the transaction lighting a fire inside me. But as I glanced over at Hunter 1, I couldn't resist the urge to tease him a little.
[Grey]: Yep, that's right! We're here to sell the loot.
Hunter 1, not one for subtlety, tapped his half-broken piano case with a smug grin plastered on his face. The thing had clearly seen better days, but he loved it as if it were some holy artifact.
[Hunter 1]: Got any upgrades? I'm looking for something a little more... solid. You know, for battle.
Hunter 2, on the other hand, was entirely too absorbed in his sandwich to care about anything other than food. He casually chewed as if he were at a picnic, not in the middle of a Guild transaction.
[Hunter 2]: A second breakfast wouldn't hurt either... just saying.
Eina took the sack, and after a few moments of going through the loot, she nodded.
[Eina]: I'll prepare the payout. It will take a little while to process everything.
With that, she stepped back, leaving the rest of us in a strange silence. I could feel the weight of everyone's eyes on us—especially Bell's. His embarrassment was palpable, as was his desperate desire to get out of this place.
The moment the transaction was complete, Hunter 1 gave a satisfied grunt, already eyeing the new gear upgrades the Guild had provided. Hunter 2, though, had already wandered off, looking for something to nibble on, leaving Hunter 3 to patiently wait for Bell.
Bell, still crimson in the face, didn't hesitate this time when I grabbed his arm. I didn't care if he was embarrassed or not. He wasn't getting away without a good wash.
[Grey]: Come on, Bell. We're heading back to Hestia's Castle for a clean-up.
As we walked toward Hestia's Castle, I kept my arm around his shoulders to ensure he couldn't escape. Bell wasn't exactly thrilled about being dragged back, but I didn't care. The last thing he needed was to walk around like a blood-soaked mess.
When we finally arrived at the castle, Hunter 3 immediately went straight for a blanket room. I didn't even try to stop him.
I turned back to Bell, seeing him hesitate at the entrance to the castle.
[Grey]: You look like you're about to faint, Bell. The least you could do is get cleaned up first.
His shoulders slumped in defeat.
As we entered the castle, I knew we were only just beginning our journey here in Orario. There was much more to this city—and to Bell—than anyone realized. But for now, the only thing that mattered was making sure Bell wasn't covered in Minotaur blood. Everything else could wait.
After dragging Bell out of the bath and tossing his bloodstained clothes into a firepit (Hunter 2 cheered), I decided a celebration was in order. Bell was alive, the loot sold well, and more importantly… we needed food that didn't scream when you bit it.
So we went to the famous tavern, The Hostess of Fertility.
The lights were warm, the food was hot, and the ale was cold. Bell, still shy and fidgety, was sitting between Hunter 3, who was falling asleep in a bowl of stew, and Hunter 2, who had decided table legs were chewable if you gnawed hard enough.
Hunter 1 leaned back with his feet on another chair, sipping from a large mug, eyeing the crowd like he was ready to throw someone out the window.
It was all perfect.
Until it wasn't.
The door slammed open, and in walked the Loki Familia.
I felt the shift in the room instantly. The banter died down a little. Eyes turned toward the newcomers, especially those who knew them.
And among them was Bete, all smug and sharp-eyed. His gaze landed on Bell, then on us.
He smirked.
[Bete]: Well, look what the Dungeon coughed up. It's the little tomato and his pack of misfits.
Bell stiffened immediately, face flushing again. I sighed through my teeth.
Hunter 1, however, didn't sigh. He stood.
[Hunter 1]: Say that again.
[Bete]: Oh? Touched a nerve? I'm just saying the truth—he looked like a walking ketchup bottle, covered in blood. Embarrassing, really. No wonder Ais walked off.
I saw Hunter 1's eye twitch. The mug in his hand hit the table a little too hard. His fingers moved to his coat, pulling something from the inside.
I blinked.
"Bang".
The tavern went dead silent as Bete howled, dropping to one knee, blood trickling from a clean hole in his thigh.
Hunter 1, smoke rising from the barrel of his handcrafted firearm, stood unshaken.
[Hunter 1]: You insult him again, I'll reload.
The entire Loki Familia stood up. Tension crackled in the air like lightning. Chairs screeched back. Weapons were ready.
Bell stood, panicked.
[Bell]: Wait! Wait! He didn't mean—!
Too late.
Bete roared and lunged forward—only to meet Hunter 1, who grabbed him mid-leap and slammed him through a nearby table, pinning him down.
[Hunter 1]: Want a second hole? Or are you done barking?
It would've escalated. It really would've. But I moved.
With a snap, I activated a slight aura burst, pressing the room in a suffocating grip for just a second, just enough to remind everyone who exactly they were dealing with.
[Grey]: "Enough."
The weight of my voice wasn't loud, but it was absolute.
Everyone froze.
[Grey]: Hunter 1. Get off him. Now.
He hesitated—just long enough for me to walk up and grab him by the collar like a misbehaving puppy. He grunted, annoyed, but didn't resist.
[Grey]: We're leaving. Bell, with me.
Hunter 2 had already swiped someone's bread roll on the way out.
Hunter 3 gave a sleepy bow to the tavern, muttering, "Nice chairs. Sorry for the table."
We left the tavern with a bruised pride, one bleeding werewolf, and a few dozen eyes glued to our backs, we also didn't forget about paying for the meal and the damages.
Back at Hestia's Castle, the tension finally broke when Hunter 2 tried to reenact the tavern fight using breadsticks.
Grey, sitting on her glowing chair, just sighed.
[Grey]: Next time, warn me before you shoot someone in the leg.
Hunter 1, unrepentant, cracked his knuckles.
[Hunter 1]: No promises.
[Chapter end]
[Can you help me name the hunters, the best ones, well, become their official names.]