Hunter’s Blade

C6 – Arguments

Shire still vividly recalled the scene when they departed. They were filled with enthusiasm and excitement at that time.

The eight Devil Hunters gathered at a place known as the Pea Mill. It was evident to everyone that Shire and Denver were young. The two of them were assigned the task of tidying up the tables and searching for candles and food. Shire stood by the table with reverence, observing as people solemnly swore their allegiance to God Roman. Their mission was to banish the Blade Demon that had descended into the real world back to hell. The atmosphere was solemn and inspiring. Shire believed that there was no greater purpose in the world than hunting demons.

“I can’t bear this any longer,” Waren’s complaint interrupted Shire’s thoughts. “Don’t we even have chairs? Must we stand while making our plans?”

“This is Dew Camp Stone, not a hotel,” only Master Frederick’s words could somewhat appease Waren. He was dressed in black, exuding an aura of experience and competence. A long sword hung from his back, and his face was thin. His neatly combed red hair and well-groomed beard suggested that even during hunting expeditions, he found time to maintain his appearance, setting him apart from the others who appeared disheveled.

The remaining six Devil Hunters stood before Dew Camp Stone, each wearing a different expression on their faces, their hearts burdened with worry.

Shire felt a chilling breeze sweep through the forest. The cold wind was biting, and his clothes provided little warmth. He was not clad in armor, and his short attire was smeared with mud and grass stains.

“That’s why Julius perished,” Frederick stated, glancing at the vacant seat. “It deeply saddens me.” He noticed the gold necklace adorned with a gemstone around Shire’s neck. “Did you take his necklace?”

“Yes.” Shire nodded at Master Frederick.

“Excellent, carry on his legacy,” Frederick sighed. “Julius once told me something that I still remember vividly: you must be cautious and make others rely on you.”

Shire kept those words in his mind, and the necklace around his neck seemed to weigh heavier.

“In doing so, you will be the sole hunter and recruit in Upper Lawman,” Frederick emphasized, looking at Shire with a serious expression. “You need to understand the significance of this…”

Shire felt a tinge of unease. It sounded like a great responsibility, one he had yet to fully comprehend, but it was undoubtedly crucial.

“I will…” Shire realized his tone lacked confidence, so he repeated his statement, this time with greater determination. “I will work hard.”

“We all need to exert effort, especially in these dark times. Our nation is enduring unparalleled chaos. As we know, the king has been neglecting politics, only sending peculiar envoys to monitor various regions. Consequently, elves, barbarians, flying dragons, and ancient threats… numerous chaotic and malevolent forces are rapidly growing. We must eliminate the Blade Demon at the earliest opportunity. The sooner we can restore civilization, the sooner we can eradicate other lurking dangers. This is our mission as Devil Hunters, the witnesses of the Divine.” Frederick’s voice remained steady.

“We are just one step away from failure.” To Shire’s surprise, Etienne began to speak. Shire had assumed the seasoned hunter was observing silently, but he finally voiced his thoughts.

“You are correct. We are in danger, and failure is highly likely. But have we already lost? Even if our odds of success are a mere one in ten thousand, we must still muster all our fighting spirit to pursue that slim chance. You don’t grasp the severity of the crisis the Hunter Palace is facing. If we don’t produce swift results, we will be swiftly overwhelmed by our own debts.” Frederick’s words carried an unwavering tone. Shire truly wished to learn this way of speaking, as if it could enhance his own persuasiveness.

“We have already lost because the devil walks among us,” Dalton proclaimed with a pale face.

“What do you mean by such a grave accusation?” Frederick frowned.

“It’s him.” Dalton pointed a trembling finger at Waren. “Are you all so oblivious that you can’t sense the malevolent aura emanating from his body?”

Waren let out a coarse laughter, then walked toward Dalton.

Frederick extended his hand to prevent them from engaging further, concerned that Waren might catch Dalton. Sporting a cold expression, he warned, “You both better not cause any trouble. The two of you…”

Shire couldn’t deny that Waren emanated an unsettling aura. He was a fierce and infamous individual. Shire had often questioned how someone like Waren could hold a position among the ranks of Devil Hunters. Nevertheless, Waren did have a place in the Hunter’s Register. If the Holy Church were to document history, Waren’s accomplishments in demon hunting would undoubtedly be recorded.

“Is Waren truly a demon?” Shire inquired of Etienne.

“Hush,” Etienne whispered, his voice barely audible.

“You actually believe such foolish claims?” Waren glared at Frederick, his expression fierce.

“To be honest, I have received numerous accusations against you. People say that you…” Frederick turned to Shire. “Shire, leave this place.”

“Why?” Shire was taken aback and puzzled. What reason did he have to depart from the Hunter Conference?

“The discussion we are about to have must remain highly confidential,” Etienne urged. “Let’s go. If you hear things you shouldn’t, you might fall into the clutches of wizards or demons in the future. They would subject you to torture to extract secrets.”

Shire left the room disheartened. They simply don’t believe me, and they still doubt whether I truly belong among the hunters. Or perhaps they think I am too feeble and will divulge all the secrets once I am interrogated?

However, Shire acknowledged their seriousness. If he were to truly fall into enemy hands, ignorance would indeed serve as the best form of protection.

Leaving Dew Camp Stone, Shire couldn’t help but speculate on what the hunters would discuss and complain about regarding Waren. He had heard rumors about Waren’s nighttime excursions and ability to communicate with animals, which easily led people to accuse him of engaging in dark practices. It seemed reasonable to suspect him of being involved in some form of dark magic.

The more Shire thought about Waren’s sly expression, the more suspicious he found him.

Humans were driven by primal desires, as Waren had once stated. But could this statement explain everything? After all, didn’t humans also exhibit selfless acts of sacrifice? These actions couldn’t solely be attributed to primitive instincts.

Shire climbed up onto a stone wall. The stones bore evidence of scorching and melting. These long walls had likely been sturdy and straight, but now their surfaces displayed patterns resembling water, with rough and unstable textures resembling waves.

A heated argument erupted from the direction of Dew Camp Stone, capturing Shire’s attention. He spotted the hunters gathered near the stones, engaged in intense shouting, cursing, and even physical clashes. Only Etienne stood apart from the center of the turmoil, as if intentionally avoiding participation in the debate.

Shortly after, Geffany departed from Dew Camp Stone and approached the two stone walls outside. Spotting Shire, she greeted him. “Newcomer.”

Shire jumped down and returned the greeting. “Are you suggesting that I go back?”

“On the contrary, I couldn’t bear their argument and decided to step away,” she shrugged. “I don’t like it.”

“What are they discussing?” Shire inquired.

“Just trivial matters. Waren is desperately trying to prove his innocence, but the more he explains, the darker it seems. Dalton is on the verge of breaking down. Frederick wants to gather all the facts before making a decision. Your mentor prefers not to get involved in the debate.” Geffany climbed onto the stone wall and took a seat.

She possessed exquisite beauty, standing tall and slender with captivating dark green eyes. Her red hair was braided, and she donned a form-fitting leather armor while carrying a camping bag. A thin silver sword hung from her waist.

“Waren mentioned that Master Etienne has lost all his emotions.”

“This is the only path available to us. All hunter incantations require souls. Do you know why?”

A pessimistic thought crossed Shire’s mind.

“Because all we have is our souls.”

“Ha!” Geffany expressed surprise at Shire’s response. “Don’t think like that. We still possess many things, like companions, equipment, and skills. In fact, it’s advantageous for us to expend our souls.”

“Is it worth trading our souls for it?” Shire found it difficult to believe.

“Certainly. The perspective of demons is different from ours. To them, all living beings are mere vessels carrying souls. The more powerful the being, the more vigorous their soul flames become, enticing the demons to forsake everything in pursuit. And the weaker our souls are, the less visible we become to the senses of the Abyss Devils.”

“Then should I use more incantations and swiftly lose my soul?” Shire pondered deeply.

“That’s another matter. Different stages of life demand different actions. Once you reach middle age, like me, or age like your master… Our life’s path has already been determined, leaving us with nothing else but to hunt the Evil Demons. At this point, we have no concerns. Since the future and today remain unchanged, let us treat each day as if it were our last. Devote ourselves to the Hunter profession, sacrificing ourselves along the way.”

Shire felt a sense of unease. As a Devil Hunter, did it mean that he could only hunt devils? Wouldn’t his life become too dull and dreary?

“See, don’t you think it’s inadequate? This is the advantage of being young. You are still young and have the freedom to pursue any ideals you desire: wealth, status, food, pleasure… Only after experiencing every kind of joy in the world will you truly understand how precious it is… It’s worth us sacrificing our souls to protect it,” Geffany smiled.

“I understand,” Shire nodded solemnly.

“How many spells have you mastered so far?” Geffany inquired.

“Only Aphen Flames,” Shire replied.

“Ah, Aphen Flames… a formidable incantation. I hold great respect for your master. He inherited this legendary incantation. Now, let me teach you a new spell. It is simple yet crucial. Although it may not be as renowned as Aphen Flames, it doesn’t consume as much energy. Find a stone and throw it at me,” Geffany instructed.

A new spell! Shire felt a surge of excitement.

The Dew Camp Stone ruins had no shortage of rocks. Shire picked up a rock and gently hurled it towards the female hunter. She recited an incantation, and the rock appeared to be struck by an invisible force in mid-air before falling to the ground.

“Once upon a time, there was a demon that enticed a hunter in the forest, persuading the hunter to bring it into this world. The hunter agreed, but he also made a request to the demon, asking for wisdom,” Geffany gestured for Shire to throw another stone. The second stone also failed to reach Geffany as it fell due to her spell. “So the demon consented. It bestowed upon the hunter knowledge beyond that of a mortal. With the assistance of the hunters, they entered this world. The hunter utilized the boundless wisdom shared by the demon to comprehend the principles of controlling this world. He created a powerful spell to seal the demon within the secret sanctuary. He also prophesied that the Evil Demons would continuously attempt to invade this world, and thus, he established the Devil Hunter organization.”

“The Secret Holy Church?” This was the first time Shire had heard of such a place.

“It’s located in a distant place,” Geffany’s voice carried a hint of mystery. “No one knows its exact location because there’s a terrifying demon within the Holy Church. The initial hunters feared that future intruders would accidentally unleash the demon while exploring the Holy Church.”

“But if there’s no one guarding it, what if the demon escapes on its own?” Shire raised a valid concern.

“Yes, just like what happens in our Holy Church. We all gather together to hunt down the Bladedge Demons, and the demons within the Holy Church might seize the opportunity to flee. However, we have no other choice. A prominent figure has made a generous offer to Frederick, requiring us to defeat the Bladedge Devil,” Geffany explained. “These are all minor details. The important thing is that we must exert considerable effort. In short… try to replicate my exact tone, rhythm, and intonation to unleash this spell. It restricts the airflow and commands it to flow in a specific direction – [Phantom Divine Power].”

The ambient light shimmered slightly. This time, Shire could clearly perceive it.

He committed the incantation to memory and flawlessly imitated Geffany’s delivery.

“Phantom Divine Power!”

Shire looked around, but he didn’t notice any immediate reaction. He couldn’t tell if the spell had been effective. To precisely control the range, duration, and effects of the incantation, he needed to practice tirelessly. What he had just achieved was merely a small breeze in a limited space.

“Come on, let me try throwing a stone at you…” Geffany suggested, wanting to practice with Shire.

However, the commotion at Dew Camp Stone grew increasingly louder. Eventually, Shire heard a piercing curse from a distance, drowning out all other sounds.

“Go to hell! I quit!”