Becoming a Hunter in a Dark Fantasy - Chapter 126



Only Krnovel

Episode 126 Breakup

A hesitant sound keeps lingering in front of the door.

Nero opened the door in annoyance at the uninvited guest who showed no sign of coming in despite waiting for a long time.

He leaned awkwardly against the doorway and opened his mouth.

“Why are you pacing back and forth in front of other people’s rooms? It’s annoying.”

“… … .”

“Did you get the room number wrong? Should I call you Narhan? Or are you scared of sleeping alone? You’re still a child! Nyahahaha!”

His outstanding temper naturally caused trouble.

Normally, I would have reacted angrily at this point, but instead, I heard a calm voice.

“… … Hey. Do you have a minute?”

Nero hesitated at that.

The strong gaze met my eyes provocatively.

“I have something to tell you.”

Ah, I can’t avoid this.

The emotion that had been on Nero’s face disappeared as a sudden intuition passed by.

Despite that cold gaze, the intruder from last night spoke stubbornly.

“This is something I absolutely have to talk about with you. It has to be now.”

The uninvited guest who came in the middle of the night was none other than Hake.

Nero finally sighed.

“Ha… … I can’t give you that much time.”

widely!

Nero nervously placed the glass of water on the table.

“I’m a guest too, so there’s nothing I can offer you. At least drink some cold water. It would be nice if you could drink it and regain your lost senses.”

But Hake was fiddling with the cup of water Nero had handed him with a mysterious expression.

“What is that expression?”

“No… … I never imagined that I would be treated this way by you. Nero, I thought you knew how to treat others.”

It made me even more upset because he looked genuinely amazed.

“I do that kind of thing normally too!?”

I got so angry that I got tired of arguing any longer, so I just laid back down on my chair.

“I’ve been living as a normal person for quite some time now. Well, I’m a hunter, so I’m not a perfect normal person.”

“I see… … . The reason I came to see you is… … .”

There was a moment of silence, and Hake was about to open his mouth with a solemn expression.

“You don’t have to say any more.”

Nero waved one hand and stopped it.

“Because I have a rough idea of ​​why you came here.”

“what?”

Hyakke’s eyes widened. Then, suddenly, a sharp intuition struck him and his voice trembled.

“… … You knew. About our relationship. That we’re family.”

“Of course. There’s no way I wouldn’t know. My memories haven’t completely been erased.”

I admit it plainly. Nero Chase already knew that fact.

“You knew!? If you did, why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

When Akmun Hake shouted this, Nero laughed.

“Do you think you would have believed what I said when you were so brainwashed by Depicio at the time?”

“that……!”

“It’s a good thing I was treated like a crazy person. If I had reported it to the upper echelons of Depicio back then, I wouldn’t be here now.”

“… … .”

It wasn’t a wrong statement. If Hake had not been influenced by Melasa, there’s a high probability that he would have reported it to his superiors.

Now that we’ve discovered Nero’s ideal side, we need to ‘dispose of him’.

“You… didn’t want to find your family?”

When he was very young, Hake wanted to find his roots, which may or may not exist. Desperately.

But would Nero really do that?

“Not really.”

Unlike Hake’s voice that was crawling in, Nero’s voice was calm.

“I always wanted to be free.”

All hunters are crazy about one thing.

Sense of mission, belief, humanity, desire for achievement, justice, empathy, fighting spirit, etc.

The one and only (惟一) that comes first in any situation.

For Nero Chase, it was ‘freedom’. A life free from all bondage and oppression.

“Remember that you and I are family. But that fact is not more important than my freedom.”

Even in Depicio, where Nero enforces a cause that reeks of centuries of mustiness.

-I love you! Our precious treasures… …! You must survive.

-Please take care of my brother, Nero.

I always wanted to be free from that affectionate voice that lingers in my mind.

After hearing all this, Hake remained silent with an incomprehensible expression.

“I see…….”

Nero didn’t hide his annoyance as he mentally predicted several reactions Hake might have.

He’s a cool-headed guy, but you can never predict how he’ll react when something he’s always wanted is dashed.

“Then I’ll go and see.”

“… … ?”

But Hake tried to head out of the room indifferently.

Walking normally, without crying or despairing.

“Wait. Is this the end?”

“… … ? Then what else should there be?”

“It makes sense, right? It’s a bit strange when I say it myself. But I was rejected by the family I was looking for so desperately.”

Is this such a meek reaction?

Nero hid the words that were about to come out unintentionally. Even he thought that he himself was trash.

“What… … . I was prepared for this a long time ago. You’re not just a kind-hearted person, you’re a really bad-tempered bastard, and you happen to be my family.”

“The words that are emphasized here and there are annoying.”

Hake shrugged.

“Anyway, that’s true. I just wanted to talk to you one last time.”

Looking at that relieved smile that had not a single trace of foolishness left, Nero felt uncomfortable.

And become aware.

I want to break free from the shackles of family, and I think it may be my arrogance to think that I have broken free.

-[This time, I need Nero’s help regarding Deficio. Will you cooperate?]

-Of course. As you wish, Elwin.

-[Haha, thank you. Oh, do you know ‘Hake’ by any chance? You might know him since he’s from the same Depicio.]

-… … I know. Better than anyone else.

-[That’s great! It just so happens that Mr. Hake betrayed Depicio and decided to become my double spy.]

-Huh? Betrayal, you say? That guy?

Otherwise, after hearing Elwin’s words, I would not have secretly looked forward to meeting him.

Once again, an unforgettable voice speaks affectionately in my mind.

-That won’t work, Nero. Brothers should get along well.

Perhaps it was something his parents had said while they were alive.

Nero’s childhood memories had long since faded. However, for some reason, he still remembered some of the things they had said.

“Hunyanyang… … .”

Nero Chase let out a deep sigh.

A bitter smile declared defeat.

“By any chance you… … .”

After much thought and hesitation, Nero finally opened his mouth.

He says it casually, still looking reluctant.

“Do you want to go with me?”

“… … !!”

Hake’s pupils grew as big as lanterns. He looked like a cat looking at a cucumber.

“I’ll be getting off soon. I wanted to see the Tower of Mourning, a famous landmark of Nakusa Village. If you don’t want to, that’s fine.”

“Oh, no… …! I’m totally fine!”

The aforementioned Hake answers urgently. But he is too overwhelmed to open his mouth any longer.

Nero, who was watching this, said it nonchalantly.

“Okay. Let’s go together.”

In response, Haake nodded vigorously and smiled brightly.

He looked happier than ever.

After all, today was a monumental day for me to be reunited with my family.

* * *

Elwin’s office.

“We will also get off when Nero gets off.”

“Hmm? Nakusa is far from the hometown where the Gnaud clan lived. Wouldn’t it be better to get off at Goddard?”

When Elwin spoke curiously, Zerap answered with a bitter smile.

“There’s no point in going back to my hometown now anyway. No one will welcome me, and there might still be followers of King Suin left.”

“That’s true.”

“And I want to have a time of mourning in Nakusa. Not only for me, but also for the children who lost their families in this incident.”

Elwin nodded heavily.

“You’re going to ring the bell at the Tower of Mourning.”

Nakusa, a quiet village on the border of Batevil.

Villages that straddle borders are often at risk, as they are prone to political trouble in other countries.

Especially in a continent like the Northern Continent where war is still ongoing.

“Yes. Sometimes, it’s necessary to just let things go and pray for the soul to rest in peace. Nakusa is also a safe area.”

However, Nakusa was the only place where there was a secret agreement between the countries to not invade each other.

Because there stands a symbol of peace standing tall there.

─Tower of Mourning.

A tower built when the entire northern continent was trampled by the hooves of war and the flames temporarily subsided.

Built in the Kingdom of Bateville, the weakest of the seven nations on the Northern Continent, it was a symbol of peace.

It’s just for show though.

“After that, I plan to take the train from Nakusa to Rankels.”

“Ah. Have you decided?”

Rankens, a kingdom located at the eastern end of the Northern Continent.

So, it was a relatively peaceful country, and the Northern Continent Hunters branch was located there.

There are also foster homes in Rankens that often look after orphans taken in by hunters, so Elwin suggested to Zeraph that they leave the children there.

“I don’t think I have the temperament or the conditions to raise them myself. It would be much better to leave them to professionals. For me and for the children.”

Zerap smiled awkwardly.

Even I couldn’t imagine him raising children.

Even now, he looked like just a child.

“And you promised me before. You would revive Prie.”

“I guess you’re thinking of picking up Mr. Free.”

Before taking the Hunter Exam, Zerap hid Free, who had been transformed into a tree, in a secret place that no one knew about.

“Yes. Surely… …the promise of resurrection isn’t a lie, is it?”

When Zerap spoke jokingly, trying to lighten the heavy atmosphere, Elwin chuckled.

“Of course. You’re not the type of person to say two things with one mouth, are you?”

Of course, there were times when it ended with something like, ‘I didn’t lie.’

This time I was serious.

“Since we are moving on an airship, it seems like it will be difficult to get Gale’s help this time. Instead, I will send another light-attribute hunter. Please contact me after you find Freee.”

“… … Thank you. How can I repay this favor?”

“no.”

Elwin shook his head firmly.

“Don’t pay me back. Pay me back by saving other people.”

“… … .”

“You already owe this world a lot.”

No matter what complicated circumstances there were, the evil deeds committed by Zeraphu will not disappear.

The Hunter Exam is originally said to be a test of selecting only jade from countless stones.

It is true that lives were lost without needing to shed blood by Zerap.

“… … Yes, I will. I will definitely repay it by saving more people than I killed.”

Zerap answered with a determined voice and bowed his head, feeling inwardly impressed.

It was a moment when I realized once again that the man named Elwin Kryger was an extraordinary person in and of himself.

Elwin laughed.

“Okay, that’s fine with me.”

A few days later, in the morning.

“Please call me whenever you need me.”

“Oh, thank you so much for all the trouble! Thank you so much!”

“I’ll make sure this guy doesn’t have any other thoughts. If I see any signs, I’ll just wipe him out, so don’t worry!”

“Mad cat. Who killed who? This is really going crazy.”

Nero and Hake still bickering.

“I owe you a lot. I should say hello to you too.”

“Thank you for saving us, for burning the airship, and for giving us lots of delicious food!”

“Thank you-!”

The children of Zerap and Gnaud.

“Goodbye everyone. Anyway, take care.”

Gail, who had come out to greet me, spoke curtly.

But everyone knew that he was a very kind person.

“Thank you for your concern. I hope your father is doing well.”

“Who is your father!?”

When Zerap spoke mischievously, Gale became furious.

The Spero members, who did not miss this opportunity, teased Gale.

“Mr. Gale? When did you become father and son with Mr. Zeraf?”

“Heh heh. It suits you quite well.”

“Ah, nooooo─!!”

Those who had been together for such a short time left.

The airship sets off again with renewed vigor. The new destination is the Kingdom of Goddard.

Elwin was sitting in his office, reviewing several documents, trying to gather the information he needed.

dripping.

“Yes, please come in.”

Elwin gave permission, and the visitor pushed open the door and came in gently.

“Kid, do you have a minute?”

Gail nodded slightly. Her red eyes were filled with deep rebellion and hostility.

“Hey, sir, I have something to complain about.”