Chapter 33
The park was quiet, the evening breeze carrying the soft rustle of leaves. Renji sat on the bench with Lily at his side, her small hands clutching his sleeve, while Choji leaned against the lamppost with that same lazy grin he always wore.
But Renji's attention was on the stranger who had revealed herself earlier.
Arisa—an S-rank hunter from the Bureau.
She had been following them in secret, but now she stood right in front of them, her golden-brown hair tied neatly, her hunter's coat resting easily on her shoulders. Her eyes, sharp yet gentle, looked nothing like the rumors he had heard about the Bureau hunters.
Renji tilted his head, almost playfully. "So… stalking people in parks, huh? Is this part of your job?"
Arisa's lips curled into a faint smile, amused at his tone. "I wasn't stalking. Just… watching. Making sure you weren't in danger."
Choji chuckled from his corner. "That's just a fancier way of saying stalking."
Renji laughed at that, his voice light and genuine. "True, true. But I guess if someone like you is watching me, I shouldn't complain."
For a moment, silence hung between them. Not tense, not awkward just quiet. Arisa studied him, almost puzzled. The Bureau had whispered that Renji was dangerous. A boy shrouded in secrets. A potential monster.
Yet the young man in front of her… he laughed easily, cared for his little sister with every glance, and even joked with strangers.
She tilted her head slightly. "You're not what I expected."
Renji blinked. "Oh? And what did you expect?"
Arisa gave him a soft, almost playful look. "A monster."
Lily gasped at the word, clutching Renji tighter. But Renji just chuckled and scratched the back of his neck, embarrassed.
"Well," he said, smiling, "sorry to disappoint. I'm just… me."
That answer simple, almost too simple made something stir in Arisa's chest. She wasn't sure if it was admiration, or relief, or something else she couldn't quite name.
Her gaze softened. "You're not disappointing at all."
Renji blinked, caught off guard. For once, words didn't come easily. His cheeks warmed, and he quickly looked away.
Choji noticed instantly, a wicked grin spreading across his face. "Oooh… Renji. Don't tell me an S-rank just made you blush?"
Renji groaned. "Shut up, Choji."
Arisa laughed lightly, covering her lips with her hand. "You're funny. It's… refreshing." She glanced up at the sky as if remembering something. "But I can't stay. I have something important to do."
She turned, her coat swaying with the breeze, but before leaving she looked back one last time.
Her smile warm, bright, and genuine met Renji's eyes. "I hope we'll meet again."
Renji's heart skipped. His lips parted, but no words came.
And then she was gone, her figure vanishing into the evening streets.
Choji's chuckle broke the silence. He leaned closer to Renji, his voice dripping with teasing. "You're still red. Should I call you lover boy now?"
Renji groaned again, pulling Lily closer to hide his face. Lily giggled softly, finally feeling a bit of warmth after all the tension.
Now Deep in the Dungeon
Far beneath the earth, another story unfolded.
The Obsidian Fang Guild stood among the fallen corpses of the beasts. Steam rose from the blood that covered the ground, the stench thick but strangely satisfying.
They had won. And not a single casualty.
The hunters looked around in disbelief. Some still panted, clutching their weapons tightly, while others laughed nervously as if to confirm it was real.
"W-we actually cleared them all…" one whispered.
Another smirked, pointing at the man at the center of it all. "Not 'we.' Him."
All eyes fell on Hiroto Kenzaki. His blade was still dripping with dark blood, but his coat was spotless, his steps light. His golden gaze glowed faintly, like fire yet untamed.
Aya lowered her bow, her heart still pounding. She had fired dozens of arrows, each precise, but none compared to the sheer overwhelming storm Hiroto had unleashed.
Hiroto stretched his neck lazily and then raised his arms, grinning at the guild. "Don't be scared, humans. I'm here."
Laughter rippled through the hunters, nervous but relieved. The heaviness of the cavern air lifted slightly.
Aya rolled her eyes, though her lips curved upward. "Show-off."
But their victory was only the beginning.
The cavern ahead loomed darker than before, the crimson crystals pulsing faster, as though alive. A narrow tunnel led deeper, twisting into the unknown.
The guild fell quiet. Everyone stared at the darkness ahead.
The boss chamber.
Hiroto stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "Stay sharp. This was only the warm-up."
The hunters nodded, their expressions tightening. Their laughter faded, replaced by resolve. Together, they marched into the shadows.
The deeper they went, the colder the air became. The ground shook lightly, as though something vast and ancient stirred beneath their feet.
And then…
The tunnel opened into a massive chamber.
The ceiling was lost in darkness. Jagged crystal pillars jutted from the ground like broken teeth, glowing faintly. In the center of the chamber, a figure shifted within the shadows a shape too large to be human, its eyes glowing a dreadful crimson.
The boss had been waiting.
And it was awake.