Seriously, is today my unlucky day? One thing after another...
My intimate knowledge of the major cafés in the Imperial Capital paid off. I managed to escape outside through the large window in the restroom and catch my breath.
I had no idea what was going on.
The fact that the Thunder Dragon of the Mist was picking a fight was surprising enough, but the Magic Staff reaching out to contact me was even more unexpected.
And of all times, I didn't have a bodyguard with me. I should have brought someone who could smooth things over — Ark or Citry, ideally.
What did I ever do to them... I just want to go home.
Right now, inside the café, the Thunder Dragon of the Mist and the Magic Staff were probably still locked in a staredown.
For my part, as a hunter, I did have information on the high-level hunters based in the Imperial Capital — those certified at Level 7 or above. Marie and Ah-runn should both be below Arnold in level.
But I wasn't too worried.
The Magic Staff was a special clan composed entirely of mages with exceptional talent. Their activities leaned heavily toward the academic side, and they had strong connections with mage-training academies across the region, as well as militaries seeking powerful mages. Any mage-hunter would have heard the name at least once.
Moreover, by the nature of the clan's operating philosophy, Magic Staff members tended to have certified levels lower than their actual ability would warrant.
They had said they'd handle things right there in front of them, so there shouldn't be any problem just because I left. Honestly, it would be the height of presumption for someone like me to worry about elite mages like Marie and Ah-runn, who belonged to such a clan.
Still, the fact that they'd try to start something right in a public café full of civilians during the day — did hunters have no sense of reason at all?
Recalling Ah-runn's cold gaze, I shuddered from head to toe.
The Thunder Dragon of the Mist was terrifying, but the Magic Staff was even more so.
Their numbers, their quality, and their influence in the Imperial Capital — they couldn't be compared to Arnold's group, who, despite their high certified levels, were ultimately just a single Party.
I steadied my breathing and hurried back to the Clan House.
The surrounding scenery no longer registered. There was only one thing on my mind — getting back to a safe place as quickly as possible.
The Magic Staff's Clan Master. The one said to possess the most devastating destructive power in all of Zebuldia — the "Abyssal Fire Annihilation."
His temperament burned wild like a raging flame, and unlike Liliz, he combined that with shrewd cunning. He was one of the beings I feared most in the world.
On top of that, there was a small but real grudge from the past. The fact that I'd forgotten the faces of Ah-runn and the others was probably a form of escapism in itself.
Before I had even aspired to become a hunter, that mage had long held the position of Level 8. The catalyst for our feud had been the founding of Beginning Footprint.
Among the parties I'd loosely earmarked when setting up my clan, there happened to be one that the Magic Staff had been trying to recruit. And through some twist of logic, I'd won that bidding war. Without even knowing what was going on.
It was perfectly legitimate, but among hunters there existed the thorny matter of pride.
It had been a real mess back then. A rookie Clan Master at Level 6 stood no chance against a Level 8 hunter renowned as one of the strongest.
I couldn't exactly say I didn't need the recruits either. Back then, I felt like I was going to throw up every day, and that incident ranked among my top thirty traumas from becoming a hunter.
Fortunately, the commotion eventually settled down, and I was still alive and whole today. But the terror of the Magic Staff that had seared itself into my memory wasn't something that could fade easily.
Thank God I hadn't refused Ah-runn and the others' request. If I'd accumulated any more bad blood, the Abyssal Fire Annihilation might have burned the Clan House to the ground.
Without being ambushed, I made it safely back to my familiar Clan House.
My weary expression stared back at me from the spotlessly polished windowpanes.
I didn't feel like leaving the Clan House for a while.
There was too much to do — my head hurt just thinking about it.
My quota, Lord Gradius's commission. I also needed to check on what Ah-runn and the others had told me, and the miniature Imperial Capital was still only half done.
The first two would presumably be handled by someone else, so the first thing I should do was find Liliz and the others and ask whether they'd done anything about Akasha.
I missed my companions so much.
How reassuring it would have been if Anthem or Lucia were here right now. No, even having Luke around would have lifted my spirits. What on earth were they all up to?
I climbed the stairs and sank into the chair in the Clan Master's room.
Well then, before I look for Liliz and the others — I might as well continue working on the miniature Imperial Capital for now.
The moment I activated "Dancing Light and Shadow," as if timed to the exact second, the door to the room burst open with force.
Panting, Eva burst in. In her hand was a lavish white envelope bearing the crest of Zebuldia.
Unusually, her cheeks were flushed — whether from excitement or not.
Without so much as glancing at the half-finished miniature Imperial Capital, Eva looked straight at me and shouted in an elated voice.
"Klye-san! An invitation to the 'Gathering of White Blades' has finally arrived for you, Klye-san! Congratulations!"
"...?"
All of today's chaos vanished from my mind in an instant.
I had no idea what she was talking about.
The "Gathering of White Blades" was the most prestigious event among Zebuldia's hunters.
It was a time-honored affair that only a select few hunters who had contributed to the Empire were permitted to attend, and receiving an invitation was proof of being recognized as one of the very top hunters in Zebuldia.
Most importantly, its organizer was — the Emperor of this country.
"I heard that Mourning Specter has a poor reputation and tends to be avoided, but the other day—"
Eva rattled off her explanation at full speed, but nothing was registering.
Rumors claimed that top-tier hunters from abroad would be invited as guests — or maybe they wouldn't. That absurdly elite knights would test your skills against other hunters — or maybe they wouldn't. That delicious dessert would be served — or maybe it wouldn't.
I absolutely did not want to attend. I didn't want to meet the eyes of any other high-level hunters either. The dessert thing was mildly tempting, but I couldn't let that sway me.
Why did this sort of thing keep happening only to me? Send Ark instead. Send Ark.
Seriously, what did I ever do? Nothing at all! No, this isn't me being modest — I genuinely, sincerely, did not do anything!
I'm surprisingly unremarkable.
The quota, Lord Gradius's commission, the spat with the Magic Staff, and now the Gathering of White Blades. My luck had hit rock bottom.
I didn't hesitate. I made my decision in an instant.
"...Um... is something the matter? Klye-san."
Eva peered up at me, squinting. I gave a small cough and spoke with conviction.
"Ah, sorry. Something important's come up, and I have to leave the Imperial Capital. The invitation to the Gathering of White Blades is a great honor, but I'm afraid I won't be able to attend. The other invitations too. Sorry, but could you take care of it for me? ...I'll try to be back as soon as I can."
"...Huh?"
I'm running. I'll put on a dazzling display of my escape skills.