The Explorer's Guild is a massive organization.
To manage hunters who are practically inhuman, many of its staff are former hunters themselves.
The Zebuldia branch chief of the Explorer's Guild, Gaark Velter, was originally a top-class hunter.
A former Level 7 hunter. Wielding a massive spear-axe as his main weapon, he rampaged through countless Treasure Halls — the moniker "War Demon" is still whispered with fear and reverence by those who knew him back then.
He retired from active duty long ago, and naturally his strength has declined significantly from his prime. But even so, his abilities are nothing to scoff at compared to ordinary hunters.
To give you an idea of how strong he is — when the six of us, including Liliz, first arrived in this Imperial Capital, Gaark was already sitting in the branch chief's chair, and even all of us together couldn't lay a finger on him.
That's how we learned just how high the level of hunters in this Imperial Capital was.
The reason Luke and Liliz were relatively deferential to Branch Chief Gaark traced back to that experience — ultimately, as muscle-brained people, they admired the strong.
But that was nearly five years ago now.
"Seriously, you guys rely way too much on Klye! What do you think you're paying all that money for? Solve it yourselves!"
Liliz was menacingly intimidating Gaark, who stood a full three heads taller than her.
A girl who was clearly not dressed for a fight intimidating a well-built, burly man — it looked like nothing more than a kid showing off, but the reality was different.
The power absorbed from clearing Treasure Halls — Mana Material — gradually dissipates over time. The rate varies between individuals, but no matter how talented you are, you can't reduce the loss to zero.
Gaark rarely entered the field anymore. His strength had visibly declined compared to five years ago — probably less than half of what it was at his peak. And Liliz's power was incomparable to when she first arrived in the Capital. Not that Liliz ever cared about power gaps when she was picking a fight.
When Liliz immediately started picking a fight without even asking what was going on, Gaark didn't lose his temper. He simply fixed her with an unwary glare, as if facing a particularly nasty monster. If I were in his shoes, I'd have been trembling — but Gaark's got guts, I'll give him that.
"Wait — if you're back, does that mean Citry's here too?"
"She's not! You'd just get in the way of our date. Scram!"
Gaark went airborne without mercy. Liliz had kicked him.
His nearly two-meter frame slid across the expensive marble floor, sent a potted plant flying, and was blown all the way to the wall.
She was so fast there was nothing to do but laugh.
Gaark caught the kick with crossed arms and slowly rose to his feet. His movements were sluggish, but his expression was demonic enough to recall his old epithet.
Taking a blow meant for a Level 8 Treasure Hall monster and still bouncing back — Gaark was impressive as always.
And he was raring to go. Someone who just takes a beating and stays quiet can't run the Explorer's Guild.
Probably meant for self-defense, he drew a small knife from his hip. Small, that is, by his standards — for Liliz, it would've been like a short sword.
"Li... Liliz — you realize what you've done, right...? I might be mild-mannered, but even I have limits..."
Mild-mannered? Says who?
Seeing the branch chief in his combat stance, Liliz's lips curled into a smirk. Her fair skin flushed and her eyes lit up with fire. She'd been just about to calm down, but now she was fired up again.
Hey, can we stop? Why are you guys always so violent?
The Clan House was going to get wrecked again. And I'd be the one hearing an earful from Eva.
Kaina and the others were struggling to find the right moment to intervene. But I didn't think there was any stopping this.
Non-hunters like them wouldn't be able to stop a fight between monsters no matter how many there were.
I averted my gaze from the two of them glaring at each other with murderous intent, and made a suggestion to poor Kaina — stuck with a fight-prone boss — and the two Explorer's Guild staff members with her.
"...How about we go upstairs and have some tea for now?"
*** The noise from downstairs wouldn't stop. The glass was rattling.
I idly thought about how there had been a lot of earthquakes lately while enjoying casual conversation with Kaina and the others.
Truth be told, I felt a strong sense of sympathy for Kaina, who served as the right hand to a scary-faced branch chief and seemed to have it just as rough as I did. My tone naturally became lighter.
"The receptionist at the Guild — isn't she super cute? How do they recruit her? I'd love to hire someone like that too."
Beginning Footprint was modeled after the Explorer's Guild. When I found Eva, I searched for someone who resembled Kaina, literally got on my knees, and hired her. What I needed next was a beautiful receptionist.
The receptionist at the Explorer's Guild's Zebuldia branch was the face of the place — bright, cheerful, and never made an unpleasant face even when dealing with intimidating or grimy hunters. And she never changed her attitude toward me even when I kept getting called in for meetings.
I guessed that the girl whose name I didn't even know was key to the smooth operation of the organization.
Since ancient times, men have always been weak to cute girls. Even hunters.
At my half-joking, half-serious words, Kaina gave a wry smile.
"Are you talking about Chloe? She's... Branch Chief Gaark's niece."
"Those genes aren't doing their job, are they?"
How does the "War Demon" have a relative that nice? Or wait — maybe she turned out that way because she was used to dealing with Gaark.
So it was a connection, then...
That fight was never going to end peacefully. While Gaark and Liliz wrestled and slugged it out, I asked Kaina why they'd come here.
And after hearing what Kaina and the other two had to say, I was utterly dumbfounded.
It seemed Gaark was under a massive misunderstanding.
I knew absolutely nothing about the White Wolf's Den. I had no theories, and I had no intention of forming any.
After all, the anomaly at the White Wolf's Den wasn't my fault. I got a bit caught up in it, unfortunately, but I cleared the penalty event just fine — everything after that was the Explorer's Guild and the government's business.
I'd completely shifted into not-my-problem mode.
It wasn't just Gaark — everyone tended to overestimate my abilities. I'd only become Level 8 by sheer luck. With no knowledge or skill to speak of, there was no way I'd know more than the experts from the Guild and the Empire.
"Man, that's rough. So there was no issue with the ley lines, huh..."
My laid-back honest response made Kaina look like she'd been blindsided.
Ley lines were like blood vessels running through the earth. I knew enough to recognize if there was a problem at a glance, but beyond that, I was clueless.
This was the kind of thing Citry knew all about.
Liliz's sister, Citry Smart, was an Alchemist — a profession said to sit between mages and scholars, one that masters the truths of this world, harnesses its laws, and brings about phenomena.
Compared to ordinary mages who wield the vast mana hidden within themselves as weapons, Alchemists lacked offensive power — and since their expertise required abundant knowledge, experience, and numerous rare tools, they weren't commonly seen among average Treasure Hunters. But in times like these, they were incredibly reliable.
Citry in particular, unlike most of her peers, regularly ventured into Treasure Halls as a hunter, so she apparently had especially practical knowledge.
Incidentally, the creation of magical creatures like slimes was also one of Alchemists' specialties. Please, for the love of god, manage your creations better.
She was a little eccentric, but Citry also belonged to the Empire's academic institutions and served as the brains of the Mourning Specter.
Unfortunately, she hadn't actually come back yet.
"Is there anything — even something small — that you noticed?"
Kaina pressed further, but between the terror of a Treasure Hall for the first time in ages and Liliz's unexpected appearance, I was completely overwhelmed — even my memory of what happened was hazy.
I sank deep into my chair and closed my eyes, but not knowing was simply not knowing. Besides, if something unusual had happened, I'd surely remember.
"Hmm. I don't think there was anything in particular. Actually, the thing I've been worrying about this whole time is something else entirely —"
"...Something else?"
Damn it. My mouth had slipped.
I made a grimacing face, but it was too late. Kaina's brown eyes were watching me with suspicion.
Back then, I was more preoccupied with the whereabouts of the slime than any Treasure Hall anomaly — investigating abnormalities was the last thing on my mind. And it was still the same now. The nightmare I'd had the night before kept flickering through my mind, and there was nothing I could do about it.
Even if I looked into the Treasure Hall's anomaly, I'd never figure anything out — and besides, if I had time to investigate, I'd rather spend it searching for the slime.
"...Could you tell me about it?"
Kaina looked at me with earnest eyes, but there was no way I could ever admit that I'd let a Citry-made slime escape.
It was all in my head. Definitely just my imagination. That's what I decided.
I clasped my hands, hung my head, and put on a grave expression. I shrouded myself in deliberately vague words. Level 8 Hunters have many secrets. I'm so sorry.
"Sorry, but I can't tell you yet. ...For all I know, there could be ears anywhere."
At my needlessly dramatic words, the expressions of the staff members behind Kaina stiffened.
Unable to stand it any longer, I stood up.
Let's stay positive.
In a way, slipping up might have been the right move. It gave me a reason to refuse Gaark's request for cooperation.
Of course, the Treasure Hall's anomaly would affect hunter activities. I intended to cooperate as much as I could as Beginning Footprint, but it gave me a valid reason not to act personally. Lucky for me, I'm the type who doesn't get into dangerous situations or suffer mental exhaustion. Gaark and the others didn't need to dance to my words, and Liliz would calm down — lucky all around.
Is this what you'd call a win-win relationship?
"I can't personally get involved, but I'll do whatever I can as a Clan. Oh, right — when Ark gets back, I'll ask him to help out."
"...Thank you... for your cooperation."
Kaina bowed her head slightly in gratitude.
Forgive me, Kaina. It's my fault. I can't do anything. The only things I know in this Imperial Capital are where to find good ice cream shops.
Sorry for being such a useless Level 8. But you're the ones who made me one.
I'll lend you Ark, so please forgive me. With his all-around skills and sharp mind, he can handle just about anything.
I'll want him back later, though.
Still, I offered some words of comfort to Kaina and the others, who still looked downhearted.
The accumulation of Mana Material and the evolution of Phantoms are natural phenomena, more or less. They're not something small fry like us can do anything about.
"I don't think you need to worry about it too much. If there's no impact on the ley lines, things should go back to normal soon, right?"
*** It was almost like magic. Through extreme focus, his awareness was stretched thin for the first time in a while. A single second felt like two or even three. But even that wasn't enough for his judgment to keep up. He couldn't dodge — the best he could do was barely block.
Liliz Smart couldn't use magic. She wasn't even using a weapon. Her attacks were simple — stabs and kicks. But they were simply fast.
Thieves tend to be confident in their own agility, but even from Gaark's perspective — who had dealt with countless hunters during his active years and interacted with even more as the Explorer's Guild's Zebuldia branch chief after retiring — her movement was extraordinary.
Metal scraped against the floor, the friction sending smoke rising from the surface.
Having come to a stop from top speed in an instant, Liliz spoke in a light tone that betrayed none of her earlier anger.
"Hmm? Gaarky, has your skill been slipping? It's because you're always doing desk work~"
"Don't... mock me!"
It's not that I got weaker. You got stronger.
He wanted to say that, but somehow held back. His body was yearning for fresh air.
Gaark tried to mask his increasingly ragged breathing and glared at Liliz, who was still pulling that condescending act. Even though it wasn't his accustomed weapon, he had trained in short blade techniques to some extent. But the knife he'd drawn didn't even graze her.
His limbs ached from blocking that one blow. It was a heavy strike that he wouldn't have believed came from those slender arms — one that pierced past thick muscle and resonated to the bone. If she'd aimed for a vital spot, he could have been knocked unconscious.
If the branch chief of the Explorer's Guild, which oversaw Treasure Hunters, were to be clumsily knocked out by a hunter, it would be a disgrace for Gaark. He had to avoid that at all costs.
The gap in fighting power was despairing.
Liliz was small. Compared to Gaark, she was practically a child. Her limbs were long, but Gaark's reach was far greater. Yet from her body radiated the distinctive energy of a diligent hunter who never neglected exploring Treasure Halls.
A Level 8 Treasure Hall. The City of Ten Thousand Demons.
Having just returned from a Treasure Hall brimming with high-level Mana Material, Liliz was at her strongest now — before the Mana Material she'd absorbed had time to dissipate. The polar opposite of Gaark, who had been away from Treasure Halls for so long.
Compared to Gaark, who was in a combat stance, Liliz was completely relaxed. Having just clashed with her, he understood. Even if he launched a counter while bracing to take a blow, he wouldn't even graze her.
Liliz could move her legs and create distance faster than Gaark could extend his arm and bring down his knife.
Before the former "War Demon," the girl tapped her strange, black-glossy boots and spoke as if mocking him.
"Gaarky, you need to exercise once in a while, you know~? Oh, you got fat~? At this rate, the random hunters lying around out there are stronger than you~"
"Shut up!" If there were that many hunters like you running around, the world would be in chaos! Sure, he'd gotten rusty. Rusty, but he was still at least Level 5!
At Liliz's expression — the kind you'd use to pity an old man — he clenched his teeth hard enough to risk cracking them.
Their growth had exceeded all expectations. To shut these insufferably cheeky hunters up, he might need to get back into shape!
He knew he'd gotten rusty, but having it pointed out so bluntly — even the mild-mannered Gaark felt his blood boil.
Maybe he should lower her rank? Even that childish thought crossed his mind. Of course, lowering someone's certified level out of a personal grudge as a branch chief was absolutely not allowed.
Unaware of his inner thoughts, Liliz grinned and spoke.
"Your way back is behind you. You've gotten so weak it's sad, so for old times' sake, I'll let you off today. I'm so generous~"
For a moment, he couldn't understand what she'd said — then his vision was dyed red. A boiling rage surged up from the pit of his stomach. It was a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
He gripped so hard that cracks began forming in the knife with a creaking sound.
Gaark was originally a warrior who could wield any weapon. Among his skills was one that could channel explosive anger, release his limiter, and convert it into power. This was the reason he'd earned his epithet as a Level 7 hunter. He hadn't had the chance to use it in a long time, but apparently his body still remembered how.
"Looks like... you need a lesson... you brats."
At the voice that echoed like it rose from the depths of hell, Liliz snorted dismissively.
The hunters from Beginning Footprint were watching Gaark and Liliz with great interest. Outside the exit, curious onlookers who'd heard the commotion were cautiously peeking inside.
The gap in power was absolute. But he couldn't let it end with him being looked down upon. He had to at least strike back once.
The knife shattered into pieces, leaving him without his only weapon. But just as he was about to step forward regardless, as if perfectly timed, a deflating voice rang out.
"You're still at it? Look at this mess — we're done talking."
Klye, having come downstairs with Kaina and the two staff members, looked at the devastation before him and let out a deflating sigh.
Liliz, who had been maintaining a sharp awareness of him even while taunting, let the tense aura around her dissipate and bounced over to him.
"Klye, you're back~ Gaarky was being so stubborn..."
"I think we're gonna need to call a contractor for this one."
Kaina approached Gaark, who was still in his combat stance, her cheeks twitching. Seeing her expression, Gaark finally dropped his guard.
Taking a deep breath, the pain in his joints — numbed until now — came rushing back. No critical injuries, but there were probably bruises and maybe even some cracks.
It seemed that while he'd been busy fighting, their objective had been accomplished.
Gaark braced himself for the inevitable scolding, and made a resolution to get back in shape so he'd never be looked down upon again.