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Chapter 10 - World (2)

Rakina processed the question. What boss? Then realization struck. It was the Hideous Sage's presence!

The Hunter's Guild mistook His presence for a boss!

No, that's not important. What mattered now was—how should she get out of this situation?

Shun defeated it! But she didn't know anything about how.

When the Hideous Sage took over her body, she had simply fallen into a long slumber. She could barely hear the distant cries of the outside world—and even that had been hazy.

Rakina looked at Shun, still sleeping peacefully.

Should I wake him and let him explain?

No. Would Teresa even believe him?

Shun's level was lower than hers. Claiming he took care of the boss was like saying a fish defeated Cthulhu.

"I am of the witch lineage," Rakina said calmly, turning to Teresa.

"Witch lineage, huh?" Teresa replied, narrowing her eyes. "If I remember correctly, due to their origin from another world, their magic system works differently. And there's something called a 'Bargain'—where a witch exchanges something deeply precious for a temporary burst of power."

Rakina nodded. "You seem to know a lot about witches."

"As a representative of the Hunter's Guild, it's only natural I do. More importantly, I've heard of witches defeating bosses using a Bargain. But most of them end up dead—or insane, which also ends in death." She leaned forward slightly. "So tell me: what are you hiding?"

Rakina's voice turned cold. Her expression tensed with restrained anger. The air thickened.

"Are you calling me a liar?" she asked, her tone sharp. "I used a Bargain—almost died to defeat that boss—and now you're calling me a liar? Is this how the Guild treats talent?"

Her words echoed in the room.

Teresa went silent for a moment, then smiled faintly.

"Of course not. It's just… this is the first time I've seen someone survive a Bargain this powerful. And the presence of the boss—it's the same as the very first one that humanity struggled against. And you're telling me you defeated it alone?"

Rakina said nothing. Her mind was burning, scrambling for an answer. Something believable. Something satisfying. But—what?

"…Did Phantom of Stars help you?" Teresa asked suddenly.

Rakina paused. She'd heard that name before. The Phantom of Stars—always wearing a smooth, ornate mask that concealed his face, etched with shifting constellations. He was constantly at the center of strange, often catastrophic events—no one knew why or how.

I could use him, she thought. Sorry, Phantom… but I don't have a choice.

"Yes," she nodded. "He helped."

"Do you know him?"

"No."

"This guy again…" Teresa muttered, exasperated. "Just what is his goal? And how strong is he, really?"

Silence.

"On a more important note," Teresa continued, "a lot of guilds have their eyes on you. It's not common for a witch to survive a Bargain—and even if you weren't alone, you still defeated a boss that's troubled humanity. You've become quite famous."

"How do they even know?" Rakina asked, alarmed.

"Most guilds know a thing or two about witches. As for knowing your lineage—it's not hard, given your family background."

"Isn't that supposed to be illegal?" Rakina felt exposed.

"New age, new laws. As long as the System recognizes you as a Hunter, guilds can access some background data. Don't worry—your privacy is still protected. There are strict limits to what they can view."

"I see…" Rakina didn't feel any better, but there was nothing she could do.

Then something clicked in her memory. "What about Shun? Weren't you going to talk to him?"

"Shun? Ah, the one lying next to you. We've determined he's not a major player in this incident. He's level seven, hasn't Ascended, and he's seventeen. Most Hunters are level thirty or above and on their way to the third Ascension."

"If you're saying he defeated the boss… that's like saying an earthworm killed a human. No—maybe even weaker than that. He's the second weakest Hunter in humanity, after all."

Rakina frowned. Earthworm, huh? For everything he'd done…

Wait.

"Second weakest?" she asked, something odd about that statement catching her attention. "There's someone weaker?"

"Yeah. His name is…" Teresa flipped open her pad and scanned it. "Elias."

That person? Rakina blinked. He killed a mid-level monster with a single swing… Is the System rigged?

"At this level, he's basically a mundane man," Teresa added, unimpressed. "Well… the strongest of ordinary humans."

Sure, Elias could probably crush any bodybuilder. But by Hunter standards, he'd have a hard time killing a level one goblin—at least, that's what Teresa believed.

"Why do you ask?" she added, standing and preparing to leave.

"I'm just… curious."

"I see." Teresa gave a polite nod. "Well, I've got what I needed. It's a pleasure working with you—thank you."

She bowed slightly, then turned and walked away, her steps confident.

The door clicked shut.

Silence lingered.

Rakina remained still for a moment, arms crossed, eyes on the floor. Then slowly, she glanced at Shun.

He was fast asleep. Lightly snoring. Face smushed into the pillow.

"…Idiot," she murmured—but the word held no malice.

She looked back at the door. Then leaned closer to him.

"Hey… Shun." Her voice was soft now.

No response.

She poked his cheek.

Still nothing.

Another poke.

Shun groaned faintly. "Mmm… five more minutes…"

Rakina let out a breath. Not a sigh—something lighter.

She chuckled.

Then immediately looked away, as if embarrassed by her own laughter.

"…Tch. Don't make me get used to this," she muttered, backing away. But her eyes didn't leave him.

She sat still for a moment longer, thinking about what happened at school.

The Hideous Sage—an Outer God her ancestors worshipped.

Not for power, but to survive. Like someone stealing food after starving for three days.

But His hunger for knowledge had been too hideous—it corrupted them.

And now, that very power flowed in her veins.

She wasn't sure how she felt about that.

As her thoughts churned, she stared at her hand. Runes glowed faintly across it. Hard to see at first—but they were there.

"Rakina, you okay?" Shun's voice broke the silence. He was still lying down.

"Why won't you get up? It's basic manners to speak eye to eye."

"I can't. If I do, my weight might crack the floor—and I don't have the money to fix it!"

"…Your weight? You don't look fat."

"It's the curse from the Monarch God. I got heavier. Every time I walk, the ground complains!"

"Then how'd you get here?"

"I asked a psychic nurse to float me in."

Rakina imagined a tiny psychic girl lifting Shun with her powers and carrying him into the room.

"I see. Oh, and by the way—you already broke the floor tiles. You fell from your bed."

"…Now that you mention it…" Shun blinked. His expression darkened. He sat up abruptly, startling her.

"What should I do? I don't have money for this!"

"Don't worry." Rakina reassured him. "Hunt monsters in the Tower—or in the Restricted Zones. I doubt anything there can hurt you."

She knocked on his body like a door. A metallic clank rang out.

"But seriously, you're an idiot for accepting His support. Look at what you've become."

Shun was about to speak, but she cut him off.

"I'm sorry, Shun," she said, her voice low. "It's my fault you ended up like this."

She paused, the words heavy.

"If only I'd been a little stronger…"

Guilt swirled in her eyes.

"But I promise—I'll find a way to make you human again."

Her tone was calm, yet firm.

Shun smiled faintly. "Rakina… It's not your fault. I made the choice to accept His offer.

"Even if you hadn't been captured, I still would've accepted."

Rakina fell quiet, remembering what he'd said before.

"Because of your family?"

"Yeah."

A moment passed.

She finally spoke. "Then I have an offer. Since you helped me calm the Hideous Sage, I'll help remove your curse—after you finish your business with your family."

Shun blinked. "Is that even possible?"

She nodded. "Yes."

Before he could respond, she asked quickly, "By the way… how did you defeat the Hideous Sage?"

Shun froze. His mind went blank.

A few seconds later, he averted his eyes, embarrassed. "Let's… not talk about that."

Rakina frowned. That reaction… Did I ask something weird?

He looked like a kid caught peeking into a girl's locker room.

Eh, whatever.

She shrugged it off. Everyone had secrets.

Shun let out a sigh of relief.

"Shun, how's your body doing?"

"Besides the weight gain? I'm fine."

Rakina studied him. "You look different than when you were in the bunker."

Right now, he looked normal. Not like when he fought the Ordinal.

"That's the power—and the curse—I got from Him. But I can activate it at will."

"How many times a day?"

"Three." He paused. "Also, I have a passive skill that eases the curse temporarily. But once it wears off, my body becomes softer and more fragile than a newborn baby."

"A passive skill?" Rakina's eyes widened. "Shun… don't ever tell anyone you have one."

Shun thought for a moment. It made sense.

Passive skills… didn't exist for Hunters.

Only active Skills and innate Abilities.

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