Part 1
The Mythara Forest was calm, but for Haruto, every step toward the camp was weighted with urgency.
Alex and the other silver wolves followed in silence, their expressions marked by exhaustion—
but also by the fragile hope born from their newfound freedom.
One of the wolves was driving the cart, now carrying the bound bandits and slaver inside.
Kizuna fluttered near Haruto's shoulder, watching him with worry.
"Haruto-kyun, why that face? Everything went well, Kizu! You freed the wolves and knocked out those slavers. That's a big win," she said, trying to ease the tension she saw in him.
Haruto didn't reply immediately.
His thoughts were elsewhere—focused on the camp and those he had left behind.
"I won't feel at ease until I know Rina and Seraphina are safe," he said at last, tightening his grip on the pistols still in his hands.
"That roar definitely came from the camp, Kizu!" Kizuna added, her tone mixing worry and urgency.
"Let's go faster, Haruto-kyun! Kizu!" she cried, flying ahead and flapping her wings rapidly, trying to spur him on.
When they finally reached the clearing, a knot formed in Haruto's stomach.
The fire had gone out. Seraphina was sitting on the ground, her expression serious and her lupine ears drooping.
"Where's Rina?" Haruto asked, his voice tight with worry as he rushed forward.
Seraphina looked up at him, a mix of frustration and pain in her eyes.
"I'm sorry… I couldn't stop him. Hans… that man took her," she said bitterly, clenching her fists.
The name Hans made Haruto tense.
"What happened? Tell me everything," he demanded, kneeling in front of her, trying to process the weight of her words.
Seraphina took a deep breath before speaking, trying to keep calm.
"He appeared out of nowhere—like he'd been watching us all along. His presence was… terrifying. Like death itself had arrived. He said he came for Rina… that he was interested in her 'golden eyes.'"
"Did Rina try to fight him?" Haruto asked, fists clenched tight.
"Yes… she tried to protect me. I told her to run, but she insisted on keeping her promise. She stood her ground. But…" Seraphina lowered her gaze, clearly ashamed that she couldn't do more.
"He's not normal, Haruto. I don't know how to explain it, but his movements were… flawless.
It was like he was toying with her—as if it were some performance," she said, her voice a mix of awe and frustration.
Haruto gritted his teeth. His mind raced, overwhelmed with fury and dread.
"Damn it!" he shouted, slamming his fist into the ground, trying to process what he'd just heard.
He already knew that a direct confrontation with the infamous Hans Versalles, the Hunter of Netheria, would be extremely risky.
Kizuna hovered to his shoulder, her expression grave. She rarely saw him like this.
"What should we do, Haruto-kyun?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
Haruto lifted his gaze toward the forest, his eyes burning with resolve.
"Let me think. That guy outclasses me in every way," he admitted frankly, though his voice was steady. "But I'm not letting him get away with it. I'm bringing Rina back," he murmured, cold and determined.
As Haruto struggled with his plan, the wolves gathered around Seraphina, thanking her warmly for seeking help. Though still injured, she only nodded—her gaze fixed on the ground.
"Alex!" Haruto called seriously, addressing the young leader.
Alex approached at once, expression firm.
"I want you to take care of Seraphina and escort these people to the authorities. Can you handle that?" Haruto asked, firm but trusting.
"Yes. You can count on me," Alex replied with a decisive nod.
Haruto nodded in thanks, then walked over to Seraphina, who still hadn't lifted her head.
"Don't worry. I'm going after her. You just rest," Haruto said gently, placing a reassuring hand on Seraphina's shoulder.
Seraphina looked up at him, her eyes a mixture of sadness and hope.
"Please… bring her back…" she murmured, her voice trembling as Haruto prepared to leave.
He closed his eyes for a moment, focusing.
"Olivia, are you awake?" he called out in his mind, awaiting his companion's response.
"Confirmation. Still online. How may I assist you, Master?" Olivia answered with her ever-efficient, neutral tone.
"Is there any way to track Rina?" Haruto asked, his mind already assembling a plan.
"Information. Thanks to your Kizuna link, you can pinpoint her exact location. Would you like me to project it on your panel?"
"Yes. Please do," Haruto replied firmly.
With a soft flash, his floating interface appeared before him, now displaying a detailed map of the area. On it, a glowing circle marked Rina's face, indicating her current location.
Kizuna, fluttering nearby, eyed the map with curiosity.
"No doubt about it—Olivia is super handy, Kizu…" she muttered, arms crossed, examining the display.
Haruto let out a faint smile—just enough to tease.
"You could learn a thing or two from your sister, Kizuna," he said, not taking his eyes off the map.
"Humph! I'm awesome too, you know!" Kizuna puffed her cheeks in exaggerated indignation.
Haruto chuckled lightly while adjusting his gear.
"Of course you are, Kizuna. Absolutely irreplaceable," he added with a sarcastic edge—one Kizuna blissfully ignored while staring eagerly at the map.
"Alright. Now that we know she's close, we just need a plan. What do we know about Hans?" Haruto asked, tightening his pistols as he walked toward his next confrontation.
"We know from Yuna that he has no mana, Kizu!" Kizuna said, putting a hand on her chin in mock-deep thought.
"Commentary: Or perhaps he's hiding it somehow…" Olivia added.
Haruto nodded, recalling their brief encounter in the forest.
"That's true. When we met, I noticed he didn't have firearms—just a set of swords and a massive crossbow," he said, crossing his arms in thought.
"If my guess is right, he doesn't want to be detected. But if he's moving with Rina and isn't masking her magically… it means he's likely not using magic at all," Haruto continued, his tone gaining certainty.
Kizuna puffed her cheeks again, letting out a small sigh.
"Even without magic, his physical strength is no joke, Kizu," she added.
Haruto instinctively touched his abdomen, recalling the hit Hans had landed.
"I could just let Musashi Mode handle everything…" Haruto muttered, though doubt crossed his face. "But that would be a huge gamble. If my body can't handle the strain, I'd be completely exposed."
Kizuna, raising an eyebrow, folded her arms and gave him a stern look.
"Exactly, Haruto-kyun! You can't just rely on your special abilities. If you get too confident, it could end badly, Kizu," she said, with unusual seriousness that caught Haruto's full attention.
He stood still for a moment, her words sinking in. A smile began to form on his face.
"Kizuna, you're a genius. Seriously—the best," he said with enthusiasm, his eyes now gleaming with focus.
Kizuna blinked, clearly caught off guard by the compliment.
"Of course I'm awesome, but… Kizu, where did that come from?" she said, cheeks puffed again—this time with pride and confusion.
Haruto simply smiled, a spark of mischief in his gaze.
"A magician never reveals his tricks," he said mysteriously, looking at her as the pieces of his plan began to fall into place.
Kizuna buzzed around him, clearly curious and slightly impatient.
"Come on, Haruto-kyun! If you've got a good plan, spill it already, Kizu!" she begged, hovering excitedly.
Haruto let out one last chuckle before leaning in, his voice low as he began explaining his "master plan" Kizuna's eyes glowing brighter with every word.