Becoming a Hunter in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 5: Virga Village (2)

Gale slapped the bar as he barked at the tavern owner.

“Hey, Jake! I said I want some rum! Cold!”

“Y-You...! Ugh, I’m wasting my breath. Here, take it. You damn drunk.”

“Ooh, thanks.”

Gulp gulp gulp—!

Without hesitation, Gale shoved the bottle Jake handed him straight into his mouth and chugged it down.

“Ahhh! Now that’s the good stuff!”

“……”

“Mmm… I knew it. That reckless bastard Gale…”

Having rejected the request with an absurd excuse, Gale was now shamelessly drinking alone.

Meanwhile, Elwin, who had been rejected with that very same absurd excuse, just stood there blankly.

“Tsk tsk tsk… Poor kid must’ve been serious. Is he really that bad with directions?”

His head hanging low, Elwin stood motionless, looking so dejected that even the bartender found it hard to watch.

After a bit of hesitation, the bartender cautiously approached and whispered.

“Hey… Traveler. Don’t take it too hard. That guy’s a huge fan of ‘Brave Elliott,’ you know.”

Brave Elliott.

A legend passed down in LAMPAS. The saga of a hero chosen by the gods.

And the hero in that story… had golden hair. Just like Elwin.

Elwin simply smiled. He already knew.

“Well, traveler. If you’re not in a hurry, how about staying in this village for a week? A traveling troupe is set to arrive next week. The merchant group will be with them, too. One of them knows this area well. I could put in a good word for you.”

The barkeep gave Elwin a hearty pat on the shoulder. It was likely meant as comfort, but Elwin didn’t react.

And no wonder—because right now, Elwin was thinking…

That damn washed-up old man…

His mood was far from pleasant.

What Gale hadn’t realized… was that the boy standing before him was no ordinary person.

Elwin had vowed revenge at the age of ten, and had done everything within his power to achieve it.

Though the world didn’t yet know it, Elwin was the youngest Hunter in history—one who had changed the world at an early age.

He had always lived as a genius of the century, admired and feared.

This is seriously pissing me off…

Ever since realizing he was a reincarnator, Elwin had never been “dismissed” like this.

Gale, without knowing, had managed to push exactly the wrong button.

It was like petting a smiling lion—right on the nose.

And lions, by nature, are not gentle creatures.

“Ahhh, rum is the best~!”

Had the Gale of the future known, he would’ve wept blood. But the present-day Gale had no foresight—and was just enjoying his drink.

Elwin’s gaze bore into him, dark and cold.

“…Hahaha.”

A chilling laugh slipped from Elwin’s lips as a shadowed smile formed.

Like all trailblazers ahead of their time, Elwin was a man of extraordinary persistence and grit.

Up to now, he had never failed to achieve a goal he had set for himself.

Unfortunately for Gale, this time would be no different.

“I underestimated you.”

Elwin’s eyes sparkled. Then I’ll just have to make sure you don’t underestimate me again.

“Hey, you listening? …Traveler?”

Unfazed by the tavern owner's call, Elwin marched straight up to Gale.

Sensing his presence, Gale glanced back.

“What now? Still got more to say? …Hey, you okay? Your eyes look kinda… blank.”

Elwin smiled sweetly—then clenched his fist and slammed it down on the bar in front of Gale.

CRACK!

Craaaack—! A loud noise rang out as the bar table split apart.

—That bar is made from solid Morogor wood—famous for its toughness. You can’t even leave a scratch unless you’ve got serious strength! You’ll just end up hurting your hand!

Jake’s words from before flashed through Gale’s mind.

“…Huh?”

The table had split clean in two. Gale’s pupils trembled.

His stunned gaze turned to the spot that had cracked like a brittle biscuit. It looked completely unharmed.

“W-Was that barehanded?! You didn’t even use mana! What kind of monstrous strength is that?!”

“Gale.”

Still calm, Elwin spoke to the dumbfounded man.

“I realize I haven’t properly introduced myself. I’m Elwin. Elwin Krieger.”

“…Uh, okay, kid. Why’re you introducing yourself all of a sudden?”

Now that he’d seen Elwin’s terrifying strength without even using mana, Gale’s tone had become noticeably submissive.

“Because from now on, you’ll be taking my request.”

“I… I’m pretty sure I already declined that…”

“I’ll be declining your decline.”

Elwin’s voice was frosty.

“Because I like you, Gale! So you have to accept my request. No matter what.”

“…Huh?”

Gale just stood there, dumbfounded, as Elwin bowed politely and walked over to the barkeep to hand over payment for the damages.

Gale suddenly had a very bad feeling.

And that gut feeling would turn out to be correct—

“…Why the hell did I do that…”

He had now been chased for a week straight by the golden-haired pest.

Gale panted as he ducked behind the shadow of a tree.

Sensing no presence nearby, he slid down and slumped onto the forest floor.

“God, I’m tired.”

And his thoughts turned to the boy who had called himself Elwin Krieger.

As he rubbed his face with both hands, he muttered bitterly.

“…Seriously, what is he?”

Contrary to Elwin’s belief that his identity hadn’t been exposed, Gale had already realized there was something very off about him.

From the very first moment.

Gale knew he was among the strong—at least, objectively speaking.

He was a mercenary who took on any job for the right price. If there was one place where he truly shined—

—it was the battlefield.

Drenched in blood, charging into enemies and allies alike, people had come to fear him as the Ashen Demon.

Neither enemies nor temporary allies had ever been a match for him.

And yet, in the tavern of this backwater village, he’d met someone far beyond anything he could’ve imagined.

Most living people gave off some sort of aura. A presence—different from mana, but unmistakably tied to life.

But that golden-haired boy… had nothing.

It was like staring into a blank sheet of white paper. Though he looked like a child, Gale hadn’t let his guard down.

Some kind of reclusive master in disguise…?

Though slightly off the mark, Gale had genuinely believed it.

Because it was easier to accept that than to believe the world’s youngest Special-Class Hunter had suddenly appeared before him.

Doesn’t seem like a bounty conflict either. If it was, the moment he entered the village…

His judgment was quick.

Whatever this is, it’s best not to get involved.

So he deliberately pretended not to notice Elwin’s abilities and refused the request with a half-baked excuse.

And I’m good at acting, too.

Though, truth be told, inwardly he was imagining Elwin drawing a sword while shouting, “How dare you look down on me!”

Still, he had expected it would all pass without incident.

After all, Gale knew he didn’t exactly give off a trustworthy vibe.

But the reality was—

Why the hell is this happening to me?! Why’s some fancy kid fixated on a no-name old man like me?!

It had now been a full week of running.

“…Found you.”

A soft voice spoke from just nearby.

“…?!”

Before Gale could even flinch to his feet, Elwin leapt down swiftly from a tree and pinned him in place.

Grabbing Gale by the collar, Elwin beamed brightly.

“Gale, I caught you!”

“…Yup. You got me.”

Gale replied with the expression of a man as dry as a snapped twig.

“Also—would you please stop grabbing me by the collar?”

“But if I don’t, you’ll just run away again.”

“I won’t. I promise I won’t run.”

Gale had realized. If he was going to get caught anyway, running was meaningless now.

But Elwin was firm.

“I don’t believe you.”

The version of Elwin who had been somewhat naïve before entering the village had long since vanished.

Thanks to the past week of endless tricks and lies, Elwin had been toyed with thoroughly by none other than Gale.

“Then at least grab me somewhere else!”

“Sure.”

Now grabbing him by the nape instead, Elwin’s grip left Gale looking completely wilted.

“Ugh, kill me now…”

“Haha! Gale, your stamina’s awful. Is it ‘cause you’re getting old?”

He murmured the last part under his breath, but it was loud enough for Gale to hear.

He bristled instinctively—but still had Elwin’s hand locked onto his neck, so it looked utterly pathetic.

“I’m not that old! I’m in my prime!”

“Wow. Must be nice.”

“……”

Elwin had responded earnestly. The prime of life was a good thing, wasn’t it?

But when Gale glanced up at Elwin’s honest expression, he lost the will to argue.

“…Whatever.”

He let out a long, deep sigh.

“Hey, kid.”

“It’s Elwin.”

“Right, Elwin.”

Elwin’s eyes widened.

Until now, Gale had only ever called him ‘kid.’ This was the first time he’d used his name.

“At least tell me why. Why would someone strong like you be chasing after me?”

The way Gale spoke made it clear he had already guessed Elwin’s level of skill—and Elwin simply smiled.

As if to say, I figured you knew.

“I told you from the beginning, didn’t I? I wanted to give you a request.”

“…You mean, finding directions?”

“Haha, no. That was just an excuse. The real request is something else. Something only you, the Ashen Demon, can do.”

In that moment, a threatening aura erupted from Gale. A deep crimson energy surged around him like blood.

“How do you know that? Did you come here knowing who I was?”

Gale’s voice turned sharp, menacing.

But Elwin simply smiled coldly, looking down at him like he was nothing.

“Cut it out. You already know that won’t work, right? You should really pick your fights more wisely.”

The icy tone snapped Gale’s temper back into place. His head cleared.

A true mercenary always assessed the situation rationally—judging his enemies before drawing his blade. And Gale was one of the best.

He gave a light nod.

“…My bad. So, this request. What is it?”

“That…”

Elwin hesitated briefly.

Should I tell him here and now? What the request is… and who I am?

He’d already burned through a whole week. He had set aside two weeks at most to recruit Gale, but it was taking longer than expected.

Elwin needed to get to the Central Island, Mediale, before March.

And with Gale in tow.

Traveling from Virga Village to Mediale by airship would take about four days…

He really couldn’t afford to delay any longer.

Alright, I’ll tell him.

Elwin made his decision.

After all, Gale Garav loves money!

A man steeped in alcohol, gambling, and nicotine—a complete wreck. And just as much, a sucker for cash.

Well, fitting for a dark fantasy mercenary, sure… but not exactly someone Elwin wanted to personally associate with.

Still, the fact that he can be bought makes things easier.

As a Special-Class Hunter, Elwin had no shortage of money.

In fact, someone who only cared about money was one of the simplest, most straightforward to deal with.

And… I also have an offer he absolutely can’t refuse.

After organizing his thoughts, Elwin opened his mouth. Gale’s full attention was on him.

“Before I explain the request I want to offer you… I have something to tell you. The truth is, I—”

Just as Elwin was about to reveal his identity and officially recruit Gale—

BOOOOM!!!

A thunderous explosion rang through the air like the world itself had split.

“That direction…”

“Virga Village.”

Their eyes met. And without a word, the two sprinted toward the source of the blast.

The incident had begun.