Becoming a Hunter in a Dark Fantasy

Chapter 14: The Second Companion

“…What?”

That was an offer Gale had never expected.

His eyes wavered wildly.

“You want me… to be a Hunter?”

“Yes! Gale, the Hunter!”

“…Why?”

To Gale, it was the most absurd kind of request.

Who even asks someone to become a Hunter? Sure, requesting help to become one—that might make sense.

“Kid… I must’ve misheard you, right? Like, an auditory hallucination or something?”

When he gave the boy a dubious look, Elwin simply smiled and nodded.

Gale's face lit up.

‘Ah, I did mishear him! I must’ve misunderstood!’

Of course. Who would entrust a mere bottom-rung mercenary like him with something as critical as becoming a Hunter?

And the blond kid in front of him wasn’t just any Hunter—he was the top of the top.

‘…A Special-Class Hunter. Still hard to believe, honestly.’

No way someone like that would casually approach a stranger and go, “Hey, wanna be a Hunter?” That’d be insane.

‘Maybe it was just a joke…’

Maybe he’d overreacted and taken a throwaway comment too seriously?

Gale let out a sigh.

“This damn kid…”

Did this brat know how close he’d come to giving him a heart attack…? Gale was about to make a big show of it when—

Elwin beat him to it.

“You liked my offer that much? I didn’t expect you to care so deeply about becoming a Hunter—you had to ask me twice!”

…Excuse me?

As Gale stared at Elwin’s beaming face, he felt his blood pressure spike.

His neck stiffened.

“Haha! So since when have you wanted to be a Hunter?”

“……GAAAH!”

It was a communication breakdown.

‘Is it Jaigo’s influence in this world that changed his convictions? Gale seems to be interested in being a Hunter now!’

The real issue was this: Elwin was a reincarnator who knew this world was a game, while Gale was just a regular guy in a fantasy world with no clue about any meta truths.

“Wait, hold up. I think there’s some serious misunderstanding here…”

Gale rubbed his neck and tried to salvage the conversation. After a bit of back-and-forth, the misunderstanding was cleared.

“So… you’re saying you were serious about that offer earlier?”

“Yes!”

“Really, truly, 100% serious?”

“Yes!”

“Ughhh…”

Gale groaned and buried his face in both hands.

There it was. A madman.

“But why?”

He just couldn’t understand.

“Kid… you do know we haven’t even known each other for a month, right?”

“Correct.”

“Then you probably already know what I’m about to say.”

Elwin nodded.

“You’re wondering what I see in you to make that kind of request.”

“Exactly.”

For once, Gale spoke in a serious tone.

“Kid, how old are you now—twenty?”

Despite his usual sloppy, half-baked mannerisms, there were moments when Gale could be alarmingly grounded.

“That’s why it might not hit you yet, but… people are scarier than monsters. Humans…”

He might not have realized it himself…

But inside those seemingly cold and indifferent red eyes—there was warmth.

Elwin suddenly felt light-hearted.

“Haha!”

Maybe it really was because Gale was a ‘protagonist’—the way he offered his concern without hesitation to someone he barely knew.

It even reminded Elwin of someone unforgettable from his past.

“You’re worried about me, aren’t you? Thank you.”

“Wha—Hey! Who are you calling a blushing maiden?! I wasn’t worried about you, brat!”

Gale jumped in protest.

“I was worried about me! Like, I might get roped into some huge disaster! This old man just wants to live a long and quiet life! Show a little sympathy for a decent civilian, will ya?!”

“But Gale, that’s not a concern worth worrying about.”

“Are you hearing me!? What about my life?!”

Ignoring Gale’s cries, Elwin narrowed his eyes.

In that instant, the room’s atmosphere shifted completely.

“Urgh…”

It felt as though gravity had increased severalfold. Gale dropped to his knees.

“You’re a mercenary, aren’t you?”

Elwin’s voice remained calm, even pleasant, as he stood over Gale and lightly tapped his head—like disciplining a misbehaving dog.

“Since when did mercenaries start trying to guess their client’s intentions?”

“Th-That’s…”

“It’s none of your business.”

Smiling gently, Elwin’s words left Gale unable to respond.

Even the humiliation of being treated like a dog couldn’t rise up—because Elwin was, without a doubt, right.

“…My bad.”

That’s just how mercenary work was.

Every request they took could be sorted into two categories:

Dangerous, or illegal.

That’s why secrecy regarding the request and the client was crucial. And if a job was too risky, it was common to return the advance and walk away.

“You only need to hear what the reward is, and decide if you’ll take the job. Same as always.”

The client’s personal motives? Irrelevant.

A merc who stuck their nose where it didn’t belong was just digging their own grave.

Clients were usually people of power. Even if a mercenary had more strength, they were still the weaker party.

See nothing, hear nothing.

That was the mercenary’s way of life.

Then why… Why am I sticking my nose in like this…?

Whether in the original or now, the Virga Village incident had deeply affected Gale Garav.

To believe in someone, to rely on them. To save a life, and be sincerely thanked…

That whole sequence of events had been completely new to Gale.

But this time—unlike before—no one died in his place. No one sacrificed themselves in tragedy.

So the changes within him… were small, curled up deep inside.

Too subtle for even him to notice.

Maybe it’s because I… momentarily thought of that kid as a comrade?

Elwin had influenced him more than he realized.

But there was no more time for thought.

“So… Can I cancel midway through?”

Gale finally forced the words out. Elwin shook his head.

“No. This job is extremely personal and dangerous. I can’t have you backing out.”

Elwin’s gaze turned serious.

“Once you’re involved, you have to see it through to the end. It’s safer that way—for both of us.”

Gale swallowed hard.

He couldn’t even imagine what kind of job a Special-Class Hunter would label “dangerous.”

“But in exchange—!”

Suddenly, Elwin’s eyes lit up with a brilliant blue gleam.

“I’ll give you a reward that more than compensates for the risk. So good, you’ll love it.”

There was quiet confidence in Elwin’s voice.

“Because it’s what you’ve been searching for… something you desperately want.”

He had no doubt that Gale wouldn’t be able to refuse his offer.

“…No way!”

That was the moment.

There’s something—he knows something!

Gale’s body went rigid.

That blond boy… knew a secret even he didn’t fully understand!

“You… What do you know about me?!”

Gale shot to his feet, nearly grabbing Elwin by the collar.

“Whoa, whoa. Calm down. I was just about to tell you.”

Elwin didn’t flinch. He only smiled, as if this reaction had been fully anticipated.

“H-Hah… Just how long have you known…?”

A shiver ran down Gale’s spine.

When had Elwin Krieger started planning all of this?

Was it when they first met in Virga?

When he noticed something off in the village?

When he found Molga? When he rescued Jaigo?

“Was your whole reason for coming to Virga… me?”

Or… had it all been intentional from the beginning?

“Why someone like me…?”

Gale knew his place.

He was a recognized mercenary, sure—but compared to Hunters, especially superhumans, he was nothing.

“That’s not an important question.”

Elwin didn’t answer. Instead, he said,

“Gale Garav, I’m about to make you an offer you can’t refuse.”

Whether it was a lost past… or a way to resolve his painful madness—

He was willing to tell Gale everything.

“So take my hand. Help me. And I’ll help you too.”

For a moment, Elwin looked at Gale like a devil.

A demon from a distant past, who lured humans into ruin from the depths of another world.

…No. Not me.

But Gale wasn’t the target.

He was just a tool—a means to an end.

Those eyes… That look of deep vengeance… He must’ve lost someone dear to him. That’s the look of someone with a mortal enemy.

With a mercenary’s instincts, Gale recognized it immediately. He exhaled—a long breath of relief.

And for a brief moment, he felt sympathy for whoever had earned Elwin’s hatred.

Just what kind of sin did they commit to be hated by this monster?

“Come closer.”

Elwin gestured.

After a moment of hesitation, Gale slowly approached.

“There’s something…”

The only people aboard this airship were the four of them.

None were enemies—but the two still moved with utmost caution.

When Gale was close enough, Elwin leaned in and whispered something just for him.

Gale’s eyes widened to their absolute limit.

“…W-What!?”

He was speechless.

“That’s the truth, right? Not a single lie?!”

“I swear to Proteus.”

Elwin placed his hand over his heart and smiled with serene confidence.

He was basking in the thrill of victory.

“So just nod, Gale. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Gale gave a hollow chuckle.

“…Fine. I give up.”

Like a butterfly that only just realized it was caught in a web, he gave in.

“I’ll take the job. Since it’s a life-or-death request, you better draft a real contract. And if the pay’s short—I’ll sue you to hell and back!”

“Haha, of course!”

Elwin beamed as he extended his hand.

“Looking forward to working with you… my second companion.”

As their hands met, Gale suddenly recalled something he'd nearly forgotten.

A truth he’d learned through experience.

“There’s no such thing as a sane Hunter.”

Whether it was duty, faith, love for humanity, or ambition—

Each and every Hunter had one thing they were utterly, insanely obsessed with.

So much so, it bordered on madness.

Which means…

Just how insane must a Special-Class Hunter be?