NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7
To be honest, I was quite surprised.
Doyle was considered one of the elder statesmen among the headquarters’ officials, yet he remembered a mere lower-ranked hunter like me?
“That incident was also the work of a quite powerful Beast.”
“Elder Doyle, now isn’t the time for such past stories…”
Tyler tried to speak, but Corsis quietly stopped him.
“A high-tier Beast led an enormous number of low-tier and mid-tier Beasts. The scene was truly horrific.”
“…”
I clenched my trembling right hand into a fist.
Though the memory has faded considerably, it’s still difficult to remain calm when directly hearing about that day.
“However, after the incident, I thought the number of Beast corpses seemed oddly insufficient.”
“…!”
I had felt the same way.
But it was just a feeling, and since the attack was already over, I hadn’t paid much attention to it.
Moreover, the locations of this attack and that day’s incident were quite far apart, so I hadn’t connected them.
“What do you think? Did the Beast horde from that day perhaps look similar to the ones from this recent attack?”
“That, that’s… I apologize, but since these Beasts were all controlled corpses, distinguishing them… Ah.”
But after hearing Doyle’s words, I realized that the number of missing Beast corpses from the attack seven years ago matched the number of zombie Beasts that appeared in this attack.
“Indeed, while it’s not certain, there’s a possibility this attack has been planned since seven years ago.”
It was that incident seven years ago that first prompted me to start diligently recalling and recording memories from my previous life.
However, nothing like this happened when I played as the male protagonist.
“Then, what should we do?”
Corsis asked Doyle.
“It’s not something we need to worry about right now. It’s merely a possibility. However, when it comes to matters involving a behemoth, it’s best to prepare as much as possible.”
“In that case, shouldn’t we focus on what needs to be done immediately?”
Tyler said.
“First, we need to have talks with the Grimm family, and since this was a large-scale attack within our Order’s territory, we should clearly establish responsibility and discuss prevention measures.”
“Responsibility and prevention measures… That would make sense if we were dealing with up to a high-tier Beast. But we’re facing a behemoth. It’s better to set aside conventional thinking.”
“What’s so special about a behemoth that you’re making such a fuss? They’re just remnants left after the Saintess’s subjugation.”
“A more accurate description would be the Beasts that the Saintess was unable to subjugate.”
“You…!”
Tyler slammed the table and stood up.
“No matter your experience or position, how dare you belittle the Saintess’s achievements?!”
“El-Elder…”
Even Corsis seemed a bit flustered.
“Haha, such youth…”
Doyle rather laughed it off lightly.
The Hunting Order is the organization created by the Saintess 500 years ago, gathering humans with magical power and talent to subjugate the Beasts that infested the whole world.
Here, the Saintess’s name carries more weight and significance than that of any nation’s king.
Though the Saintess died hundreds of years ago, her will and power are inherited by the next Saintess.
…That’s what everyone believes.
“Silence.”
At that moment, a woman completely dressed in white from head to toe, with even her face hidden behind a white mask, entered and spoke.
The atmosphere in the conference room changed.
The white clothes and white mask are the attire of 1st-rank hunters.
They are the Order’s strongest force after the Saintess and also serve as her guards.
“The Saintess will enter. Everyone, show proper courtesy.”
At her words, everyone adjusted their clothes and lowered their heads with closed eyes.
Even lifting one’s head, let alone opening one’s eyes, is considered so disrespectful in this Order that it could get one sent to the Heresy Inquisition Department.
We waited with our heads bowed and eyes closed.
“The Saintess has entered.”
Though no sound was heard, when we raised our heads, a woman with her face covered by a white veil was somehow already seated at the head of the table.
That woman is Saintess Belle.
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