Chapter 27: A Positive Change

“I’ve got something to do, so I’ll head back first today. That alright?”

“Yes!”

The moment Verdi disappeared, Deneb let out a silent cheer in her heart.

‘Got it!’

When she was kicked out of the guild, Deneb had been sinking into despair, feeling like a bleak future was looming before her eyes, but luckily, a place to lean on had appeared amidst the misfortune.

‘Ms. Verdi is someone I can trust.’

Just the fact that she had formed a party with Verdi made Deneb feel like she had gained an army of comrades.

Behind her stood Verdiol, the hero Deneb acknowledged as another older brother and an S-Rank Hunter. How could she not feel secure?

Of course, the road ahead was still rough. Still, the joy was far greater.

‘I was prepared to hand over all the allowance I’ve saved up so far if it came to that.’

He never thought she’d agree to a party this easily.

Verdi had said she didn’t mind partying as long as she got the dungeon’s profits.

If things hadn’t gone well, Deneb had planned to offer Verdi every bit of allowance she’d received from her family just to have someone to rely on.

‘Guess I won’t have to worry about money for a while…’

But thanks to Ms. Verdi’s generous and broad-minded benevolence, he didn’t have to go that far.

That alone was a huge relief for Deneb.

* * *

“Mr. Luca.”

Back at the lodging, I immediately spoke to Mr. Luca.

“What is it.”

Mr. Luca, who was reading the newspaper as usual, turned his head toward me.

He was wearing an expression so annoyed that his wrinkles showed. Seeing a face like that makes me want to annoy him even more.

“I want to buy some information.”

“Buy what? Hey, you bastard, pay off your debt first.”

Mr. Luca said with a dumbfounded look at my request.

Well, if our positions were reversed, I probably would’ve done the same. A debtor making money-related demands to a creditor—it’s understandable to be flabbergasted.

“Don’t be like that. There’s someone I want to know about.”

“…?”

Mr. Luca tilted his head. His expression was the same as last time, as if asking what the occasion was.

“I’ll pay you. Add it to my tab.”

“A guy who hasn’t even paid back what he already owes.”

“Don’t worry about that. I’ll pay it all back, every single cent.”

“Hmph.”

Mr. Luca was radiating reluctance.

But he didn’t take his eyes off me, as if telling me to go ahead and say it. This is why I like Mr. Luca.

“Marcel Greyhound.”

I spoke the name of the Hunter I’d been introduced to earlier.

“That’s a Hunter’s name. Please look into this person. I’d like it by tomorrow.”

“By tomorrow?”

Mr. Luca spread his newspaper wide and let out a snort of disbelief.

“What do you take my information network for? I’ll have it sorted and brought to you in no time.”

* * *

When I returned to my room and finished showering, there was a notification on my Artifact.

I checked and it was from Mr. Luca.

After changing into my pajamas, I manipulated the Artifact to call Mr. Luca.

When Mr. Luca came to my room, he was holding an envelope in one hand.

“What’s that?”

Seeing that envelope reminded me of something from before, and I flinched involuntarily.

“What do you think it is?”

In response to my question, Mr. Luca pulled a paper out of the envelope and began reading its contents.

“Marcel Greyhound, A-Rank Hunter. Affiliated with Royal Knights. Seems he’s a newbie who just joined the guild a month ago.”

It wasn’t that. The background check I’d asked for earlier was apparently already done.

“A month, huh…”

“There was something a bit peculiar. This guy’s switched guilds several times. He went from small guilds to two of the Five Great Guilds.”

Strange. I couldn’t help but think that.

A-Rank Hunters usually don’t have a reason to switch guilds.

After all, they’d receive the best treatment in their guild, second only to the Guild Master and S-Rank Hunters.

And even if the treatment wasn’t as good compared to other Five Great Guilds, leaving a guild was rare.

High-Rank Gates are battlefields where even High-Rank Hunters have to risk their lives.

The trust and camaraderie forged between guild members there can’t be bought with any amount of money.

I know because I had comrades I worked with in the past.

“His skill seems decent. In the past, he participated as a main member in not just A-Rank Gates but even S-Rank Gates. However, after that S-Rank Gate, all he’s done is join the guild’s subjugation team as part of the mining crew or as a porter.”

“Huh? A porter?”

I had a hunch, but I didn’t think my guess would actually hit the mark.

“Take a look at this record.”

“So it is.”

When Mr. Luca handed me the document, I checked it and sure enough, it was true.

“What a joke. The guild that keeps that guy around is a joke too. Do you know how much it costs to maintain a single A-Rank Hunter? And they’re using him as a porter.”

He’s right.

The treatment I get is shabby, but an A-Rank Hunter can serve as a main member in High-Rank Gate raids, so recruiting one costs a fortune. Yet Marcel hasn’t set foot in a High-Rank Gate as a ‘Hunter’ recently. He’s been a porter every time. The cost-to-benefit ratio is absurdly bad.

“But it seems that guy has his own circumstances.”

“Circumstances?”

When I lifted my head, I saw Mr. Luca speaking with a rather serious expression.

“Look at the last Gate he went into.”

Where Mr. Luca pointed with his finger, a photo was hanging.

Come to think of it, he said his last one was an S-Rank Gate.

“Oh, this is…”

The moment I saw the majestic sight of the black Gate in the photo, I recognized it immediately.

“It’s Dark Moon.”

The S-Rank Gate, Dark Moon.

Among all Gates discovered so far, it’s a super-massive Gate boasting unprecedented scale, famous for causing the most casualties, and a name that’s still constantly mentioned, never forgotten.

“You participated too, didn’t you?”

“That’s right…”

The memory of that time is still vivid. I couldn’t forget it even if I wanted to.

Because hell itself unfolded inside that Gate.

Countless Hunters lost their lives in there.

“Even thinking about it now makes my blood run cold.”

A hollow laugh escaped me.

Who knew that just imagining it would make my mouth go dry.

Back then, I was no different from any other Hunter.

All I could do was barely buy time against the boss.

“If it weren’t for ‘Moonlight,’ I wonder what would have happened to us.”

“Yeah.”

Even I, who usually don’t acknowledge others, had to agree with Mr. Luca this time.

Ludwig Light, alias Moonlight.

The name of the strongest Hunter of this era, whom no one doubts, who slew the boss of Dark Moon in a single blow — a boss that seemed unstoppable.

“Most of the Hunters who survived Dark Moon chose to retire.”

‘That’s true.’

Hearing Mr. Luca’s words, I couldn’t help but sympathize.

Almost all High-Rank Hunters were mobilized for the Dark Moon raid.

But the result was devastating. More than half of the participating members lost their lives.

Even those who survived mostly lost parts of their bodies or had their will completely broken, choosing to retire.

And Marcel was no different. He hasn’t officially retired, but he might as well have.

‘My guess was half right.’

Now it was clear why an A-Rank Hunter would only take on these menial tasks.

‘…A weakling.’

I managed to get back up at least once, but this guy hasn’t even done that.

And he’s still young, too.

‘…Alright.’

That was the moment I recalled Marcel’s appearance from earlier.

A pretty decent idea came to mind. A way to win Marcel over to my side.

‘Heh heh…’

Just thinking about putting that plan into action almost made me smile.

*Tap.*

Mr. Luca suddenly placed his hand on my head.

It felt like he was treating me like a kid, so I was about to glare at him.

“I’ll add the info fee to your debt, so keep that in mind.”

“…Yes, sir.”

At those words, I had no choice but to lower my head.

Tch, just when I was having a good daydream, he has to kill the mood!

* * *

‘What’s gotten into that kid lately?’

After Verdi disappeared, Luca turned his gaze to the newspaper and thought.

Verdi had been a bit different recently.

‘She’s changed for the better.’

A slight smile tugged at the corner of Luca’s mouth.

After declaring she’d become a Hunter again, she’d been going through Gates like they were her own living room, so he thought nothing much had changed from before, but lately, she seemed to have developed a lot of interest in many things.

Especially the fact that she’d become interested in people — that made Luca’s mood lighten.

Verdi — or rather, ever since she was still Verdiol — that guy had never shown interest in anyone.

Aside from himself, who could be called a business partner, she had only one party member she occasionally ran with.

If he had to give an honest assessment of Verdiol, he was like a walking time bomb.

Trouble followed him everywhere he went. Whenever he joined a guild or party as a mercenary, he always stirred up conflict.

Luca thought that if he was constantly fighting with someone like that, Verdiol must bear at least some of the blame.

In truth, the guy had serious personality issues.

He was greedy for money, arrogant, and narrow-minded. On top of that, his pride was so strong that he never bent on his own opinions and refused to admit his mistakes.

Even Luca, who had been his long-time business partner, sometimes found himself losing affection for Verdiol because of how he treated others.

Of course, he was incredibly good to people he’d built some rapport with, like himself… but the problem was that the number of people close to that ill-tempered troublemaker could be counted on one hand.

At some point — he wasn’t sure exactly when — Verdiol cut off all interaction with others.

At first, he thought it was an extreme measure, but after that, the conflicts did noticeably decrease.

Seeing him always gloomily alone made Luca feel sorry for him, but there was nothing he could do about Verdiol.

After all, he wasn’t the kind of guy who’d listen to persuasion in the first place.

And now that isolated guy was showing interest in other people.

For Luca, who had watched over Verdiol all this time, he couldn’t help but feel excited.

‘Feels like I’ve become a dad or something.’

Considering how he’d looked after her from behind all this time, and how they’d seen each other through thick and thin.

Plus, the current Verdi was in a girl’s body.

For Luca, who had a daughter, he couldn’t help but feel more attached to her than when she was an adult male.

‘Of course, I’m still getting the money I’m owed!’

Speaking of his daughter, maybe he should give her a call for the first time in a while?

A hum naturally escaped Luca’s lips as he pulled out an Artifact.

* * *

The next morning, in front of the Hunter Association Office.

“Ms. Verdi!”

As soon as I arrived, Deneb’s voice rang out, and I turned my head.

‘He’s out early.’

I saw Deneb waving her hand.

And behind him.

Marcel stood with his head slightly bowed.

I also gave a slight nod in response to his greeting.

‘Alright then, shall we put the plan into action.’

The plan I’d stayed up late last night to complete.

Maybe because I’d used my head for the first time in a while, I’d slept soundly without any auditory hallucinations or nightmares.

“…Shall we go, then?”

“Yes!”

Deneb’s excited shout reminded me of a student with a break just around the corner.

“Then let’s hurry to the reception desk and—”

“Ah, hold on. Before that.”

I quickly grabbed Deneb’s shoulder as she tried to run excitedly toward the reception desk.

“Ms. Verdi? What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Marcel.”

Leaving Deneb, who was asking with a puzzled face, I turned and called out to Marcel, who was standing a bit further away.

“Did you call for me?”

“Could I ask you a favor?”

“A favor?”

“We’re going to a C-Rank Gate from now on.”

From behind me, I heard Deneb groan in surprise, “A C-Rank Gate?”

“A C-Rank Gate…? But I believe you two are D-Rank Hunters. As far as I know, entering a dungeon higher than the party leader’s rank is not permitted…”

“You’re an A-Rank Hunter, aren’t you, Mr. Marcel? Since we’ll look like a party now, I was thinking of asking you to take the contract.”

At my words, Marcel’s eyes widened slightly.

Then, as if thinking it over, Marcel rested his chin on his hand.

His deliberation didn’t last long.

“Very well. I’ll handle the registration.”

Marcel accepted my proposal with a smile. He probably thought that even if something went wrong, a C-Rank Gate was something he could handle himself.

Well, this was all within my expectations.

After all, the real purpose hidden behind the excuse of an escort is observation. He probably also wants to see my skills for himself.

“And one more thing. Deneb and I will handle the Demon Beasts in the dungeon ourselves, so please don’t interfere, Mr. Marcel.”

“…You’re saying you’ll challenge a Gate of a higher rank than your own, and without my help?”

At my words, Marcel shot me a suspicious look and spoke.

Right now, I’m a D-Rank Hunter. It’s only natural to receive that kind of doubt.

So I answered with a perfectly confident attitude.

“Isn’t that why you’re here, Mr. Marcel? To see that for yourself?”

As if I’d known his hidden intentions all along.

“Haha, well, well… Fine.”

Marcel raised both hands as if he’d been defeated.

He’s being obedient. I like that.