"Beast Slayer Association is s*ck! They can't protect the people!"
"Houses destroyed, everything in ruins! Civilians dead everywhere!"
"This proves the Association failed—we demand compensation!"
Dozens of voices clashed in front of the massive building marked with the Association's crest. Shouts mixed with sobs of those who had lost their families.
The main doors opened. Ten Beast Slayers marched out in a line. In their center stood Moore, and the crowd erupted in whispers.
"I-It's Moore! One of the strongest Beast Slayers!"
"Where's the Chairman?! Why send him instead?!"
Moore stepped forward, bowing his head deeply.
"On behalf of the Association, I offer my deepest apologies. We grieve for the victims and the families left behind. We failed to prevent this tragedy."
The jeers quieted for a moment. Only the broken sob of a mother mourning her child cut through the silence.
Moore lifted his head, his voice turning firm.
"The Association will take responsibility. Compensation will be given for the destroyed homes, and aid to the families of the victims. And I swear here and now—those Rogue Slayers will be hunted down to the ends of the earth."
"Hunted? You couldn't even stop them!" a man shouted.
"My child would still be alive if it weren't for you!" the mother wailed.
Moore paused, then spoke again, low but resolute.
"I know my words can't bring back what you've lost. But starting today, patrols will increase—day and night, on every side of the city. That is our promise."
The crowd began to split.
Some lowered their banners, sighing.
"If Moore says so… I'll believe him."
"He's not the type to make empty promises."
But others refused to calm.
"Believe them? They already failed! When they fail again tomorrow, who pays with our lives?!"
Gradually the tension eased. People dispersed—some walking away with heavy steps, others still muttering curses until pulled back by family. The grieving mother was carried home by neighbors, her face hollow with sorrow.
Moore stood silently, watching until the last of them were gone, then turned back into the building.
On the upper floor, behind a darkened window, someone was watching. Their face hidden in shadow—only a wide smile visible.
Not far away, Luxe remained among the dispersing crowd. He glanced at Moore once, then shifted his eyes toward the glowing bounty board standing near the Association. His fingers brushed the list of names, his gaze narrowing.
"…Moore's words sound sweet," Luxe muttered under his breath, "but if the Association is really that clean… why do rumors of them stealing other people's Beasts still linger?"
Better to put my faith in myself, he thought.
The digital bounty board flickered with streams of requests, lines scrolling endlessly across its crystal-blue screen. Several Slayers tapped their IDs to sync, reading through with focus.
One listing at the very top shone in red:
[Party Request: Hunt Lord-tier Beast – Crown Witch Specter – Predicted Location: Forest Hill, Sector 2. Estimated Appearance: Tonight.]
In the corner, a faint QR code pulsed with the note: Scan to Register (Members Only).
Luxe frowned, whispering.
"Lord-tier… Crown Witch Specter? Estimated tonight at Forest Hill, Sector 2? How? Beast appearances are supposed to be random…"
A voice answered beside him.
"Hey, new here, huh?"
Luxe turned. A young man stood casually in expensive armor, the Association crest gleaming on his chest. His undercut hair was sharp, his expression polished—like a rich heir out for sport.
The man smirked. "Name's Steve. Confused by that listing? Let me explain."
He folded his arms, nodding at the board.
"Beasts are random, true… but not once they're Tagged. Tracking Tags let us lock onto them."
"Tracking… Tags?" Luxe echoed.
Steve nodded. "Yup. A small item, shaped like an essence needle. If it manages to stick to a Beast, the signal can be tracked through a Pocket Screen—a handheld radar-like device. From there, we can predict where and when that Beast is likely to appear. But it only works up to Beasts of Lord tier at most."
He pointed at the Forest Hill note.
"See? That Crown Witch Specter was Tagged days ago. The signal's growing denser—so it'll almost certainly appear tonight."
Luxe squinted. "And here it says… the tag expires tonight?"
Steve smirked. "Sharp kid. Exactly. Seven days max, then the Tag fades. If the Beast doesn't show in that window, it's gone. That's why when the radar starts glowing hotter, parties rush to claim it—like this one."
He leaned closer, lowering his tone.
"But careful. Black market crooks sell fake tracking data. Promise a Lord-tier, but you end up chasing a measly Elite. Plenty of Slayers get scammed."
Luxe clenched his fist, his eyes locked on the blinking QR code.
"…So this is how they lock targets. Not just blind hunting every night."
Steve eyed him, grinning. "You're new, right? Try scanning if you dare. But Lord-tier hunts aren't for rookies."
Luxe raised his Association band and scanned. Beep.
A red warning flashed:
[Access Denied. Minimum Rank: C.]
He scowled. "Tch… F-rank can't join."
Steve chuckled. "Haha! Thought so. You're still wet behind the ears. Rank F? Figures."
Luxe stayed silent, adjusting the wrapped scythe on his back.
Steve stepped closer, lowering his voice again.
"Lucky for you… I've got my own bounty tonight. Target's not just anything—it's Tigrix Rex. A Lord-tier humanoid tiger beast, the size of a giant."
Luxe's eyes widened. "A Lord-tier…?!"
Steve lifted his Pocket Screen, showing a red pulse on the outskirts of the city map.
"Tracked two days ago. Signal's swelling. Odds are, it appears tonight."
The crimson glow reflected in Luxe's eyes.
Steve smirked. "I also set the bounty rules. So even if you're F-rank… I can put your name on the roster. I just need bodies to meet the team minimum."
He thrust the screen toward Luxe. "Well? Come with me tonight. You'll see firsthand what a Lord-tier hunt is like."
Luxe hesitated, then exhaled. His gaze stayed on the swelling red dot. A chance like this… I can't let it slip.
"…Alright. I'll come. But I'm handing in my scythe to the Association today for marking. Until the process is done, I've got no weapon."
Steve grinned wide. "Doesn't matter. You don't have to fight. I'll even pay you 5,000 Zen for the contract. Just tag along."
He held up his phone, the Association app glowing with a team registration code. "Scan it."
Luxe pulled out his own device—the Beast Slayer app already synced to his ID. One scan later, a notification popped:
[Bounty Team Join Request: Approved.]
Steve clapped his shoulder. "Good. Meet me at Longroad Sector 1 after sunset. Don't be late."
Luxe gave a faint nod, then walked off through the broken streets. Shattered glass still littered the ground, the smell of smoke clinging to the air.
Before long, he reached the equipment shop from yesterday. Workers hammered at cracked walls and replaced windows, but the store remained open.
The shopkeeper squinted as Luxe entered. "…You again? Huh? You look taller than yesterday. And bulkier. Did you eat a whole beast overnight?"
Luxe scratched his neck, smiling awkwardly. "Haha… maybe just your eyes playing tricks, sir."
The man's gaze fell on the scythe Luxe carried.
"Oh, so this is it. A Core-Linked Gear, huh? Not bad. Since it's already forged, all we need is registration. It'll be processed together with those boots you ordered yesterday. You can pick both up once it's done."
Relieved, Luxe handed it over and signed the slip.
When he stepped outside, the golden sunset washed his face. His fist clenched, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Tonight… I'll witness a Lord-tier hunt. No fighting—and I still earn 5,000 Zen. A perfect chance to see the true world of Slayers up close."