The main hall of the Hunter Association was illuminated by white lights that never flickered. The air smelled of cheap coffee from the vending machines, oiled metal, and the faint perfume of disinfectants.
Huge screens hung from the walls, showing advertisements for professional teams, achievements of high-ranking Hunters, and calls for new expeditions. Beneath those dazzling images, endless rows of offices seemed to swallow the Hunters who came and went with furrowed brows, carrying documents, weapons, and dreams.
Nene walked in silence, shrinking into herself. Her bicolored hair, so distinctive, felt like a beacon she wished she could hide. Every step she took echoed on the polished floor, as if reminding her she didn't belong in this place.
When she reached the first office on the left, she took a deep breath and knocked on the door with her knuckles.
"Good evening, Ma'am Linx."
"Hello, Nene." A woman's voice replied instantly. "I've told you not to call me that. My name is Linx."
Nene scratched her cheek nervously.
"Right! Sorry… Good evening, Linx."
The woman, dressed in a neat and elegant office suit, let out a small laugh.
"Much better. It's quite late, isn't it? I see you stayed in the Fissure longer than your team. Did you find anything good?"
"Ah… yeah," she lied, avoiding her eyes. She didn't want to add more weight to Linx's shoulders. Linx already bore the difficult task of finding her commissions.
"I thought I might get something, maybe even level up… you know."
"And how did it go?" Linx asked, adjusting the blue tie around the collar of her white shirt.
"Pretty… meh." Nene forced a weak smile as she extended the bag with the cores. "I just came to hand these in. I need money."
"I see. Well, give me the cores and I'll get you your pay."
"Thanks. Here."
Linx took them without comment, but the way her lips pressed together said more than any words could. That look, somewhere between resignation and pity, was one Nene knew too well: it meant her cores would barely cover a couple of coffees.
In other words, they weren't worth much.
To keep herself from sinking into the emptiness that expression stirred inside her, Nene grabbed the magazine resting on the desk. Her fingers flipped through the pages slowly, though she wasn't really reading. It was just a way to practice.
A short while later, Linx returned with a white envelope.
"Here's your payment."
Nene opened it with the calm of someone who already knew the sentence. A handful of bills. Barely twenty-five credits.
"Ouch… it always stings when it's this little." She joked without humor, shoulders drooping. "But hey… at least tonight I can have a feast. A soda with fresh bread."
Linx sighed and leaned toward her. She couldn't stand seeing that poor girl with such a bitter look.
"Hey, cheer up. If you want, I'll take you out to dinner. What do you say?"
"I'd love to… but if I accept, I feel like my self-esteem will sink into the negatives. Same as my rank." She tried to joke, her face lifeless.
"Huh? Why?"
"It's already humiliating enough that you helped me pay the rent last time… and I still haven't paid ya back even half. I also haven't paid Bender back for the last loan. I don't want to keep being a burden. I've got at least that much pride as a human being, you know?"
"Nene… we're friends. Don't think of debts. Just see it as a night out to have fun."
"I don't know… Growl!"
Her stomach roared loudly. Heat rushed to her cheeks.
"That settles it." Linx chuckled. "We're having dinner together. End of discussion. Wait for me, I'm done in twenty minutes. Don't you dare run away, you hear me?"
She winked and flashed a peace sign.
"…Alright. Thanks."
"Don't mention it."
While she waited for Linx in the main hall, Nene slumped into a seat. In front of her, the screens displayed dozens of new commissions, their letters glowing in neon blue. She didn't understand a thing that was written.
So she started doing mental math instead. Bender always found it odd how she could barely read, yet understood basic arithmetic just fine.
Anyway. Her earnings from five jobs, plus today's… still weren't enough to cover rent.
"Shit…" she whispered, biting her lower lip. "If only I'd been able to go to school. Nobody's gonna give me a real job without a diploma."
Fear gripped her chest. She could end up on the street by the weekend. She didn't want to owe Linx or Bender more money. That would betray the kindness of the few who still believed in her. It hurt not being able to repay them.
Her honey-colored eyes lifted toward the screens.
"Maybe if I grab a couple more commissions I could make rent."
There were plenty of commissions, sure. The problem was the ridiculous requirements.
"Arpegio Fissure Commission. Marco Family – Associated with Lumex INC. Hunters Grade D and above. New Fissure exploration in the North of New Capital. Minimum Role Lv I."
A mechanical voice read out the commissions.
"Discarded…" she muttered bitterly. Not just because she was ranked lower than required. She hadn't even unlocked a Role yet.
Another was announced.
"Commission: Blue Light Group – Associated with New Light. Looking for a Grade B Hunter for an incursion into the Southern Fissure. Payment with hunted loot."
"Not that either." One after another, they all slammed doors in her face. "I'd better stop listening. This is just depressing."
Until a beep announced a new posting.
With little hope, she lifted her gaze again.
"Commission: Neo Group. Incursion into a Rank E Fissure in the south, near the forest; appeared less than 24 hours ago. Looking for a Hunter to carry loot and weaponry. Six-person group."
Nene's honey-colored eyes lit up.
"Huh? No rank requirement? That means I can join… right?"
With that thought, she rushed straight toward the booth where the woman had posted the commission. In front of the announcement window stood a burly man with an aggressive look.
He wore a reddish trench coat, and at his waist hung something like a greatsword—but it looked more like a club.
"E-Excuse me… did you post this commission?"
The man looked her up and down with a crooked smile.
"Yeah. Interested, kid?"
"That's right. I… I want to take it!"
"Ahem." The woman behind the glass coughed to impose order. "Remember how this works. No matter that you're both here, everything has to go through my supervision. All the paperwork with me."
"Oh, sorry." Nene bowed her head.
The receptionist began typing.
"Name, ID, and manager."
"Name: Neonphy Nerlhyta. ID 12738P12K. Manager: Linx Bellatrix."
Without a word, the woman typed the data. Meanwhile, Nene could feel the man's piercing stare on the back of her neck.
He let out a snort of laughter.
"Neonphy Nerlhyta? What the hell were your parents thinking? That's the best name ever!"
He mocked her, giving her a rough pat on the back that made her cough.
"Ha… that's why I prefer Nene. And… about my parents. I don't know. I never met them."
"Ah…" The man scratched his neck, suddenly awkward. "Sorry. But wait… Nene? Bicolored hair? You're… the F-rank—!"
"Uh…" Nene pressed her lips together.
"That's right." The receptionist confirmed coldly. "Hunter for six months. No registered class. Rank F-. She's applying for the commission. Do you accept, Jorgen?"
The man eyed her with disdain.
"No. I don't think so. Sorry, kid. I don't think your presence would do our reputation any good. We're a group of six, including two Rank Ds. We're trying to form our own Family. Sorry."
"Wait, please!" Nene scrambled for an excuse, the only thing she could think of was ridiculous. "I'll work for just 1% of the total pay! The rest can be split between the six of you!"
"Huh? G-Girl, do you even know what you're—"
Before the receptionist could continue, the man cut her off brusquely.
"Seriously? Only 1%? Do you know how bad that'll be for you?"
"I don't care. If you get good loot, even that will be enough for me."
And it was true. She may have never gone to school, but Bender had been teaching her basic math, so she knew 1% was a terrible deal. But right now, she didn't care as long as her pockets got filled. She just needed to make rent.
Rank E Fissures usually yielded resources worth around a hundred thousand dollars, or so she'd heard. If they got lucky in this one, the loot might reach that amount; divided among six people, that would mean around sixteen and a half thousand each. Which meant her share would be about a thousand dollars. Enough to cover rent and leave her a little to live on for a few days.
And it wasn't just about the money—though that was a good reason. There was also the chance to gain experience and finally unlock a class.
Maybe then she could get better commissions and face less rejection. Maybe this Hunter job could even become fun.
"Please! I'm serious."
Jorgen didn't answer right away.
He scratched at his scarred chin, the rough man seeming to weigh his options. After a long pause, he spoke.
"Alright. Deal. Just 1%. Don't come crying later—our dear Reviewer here is a witness."
"Thank you!"
"Contact her manager and finalize the deal."
"…Okay. I'll never understand Hunters."
"Guess what!" Nene exclaimed, throwing herself into Linx's arms the moment she stepped out of her office. Linx blinked, surprised by such an unusual gesture from the girl. It was a pleasant surprise.
"What happened? You look strangely happy."
"Well, this girl here just landed a commission!" Nene puffed out her chest. "It's nothing glamorous, but I'll earn some money and, hopefully, experience."
"Really?" Linx raised a brow. "That's odd, I haven't gotten the message yet."
"Oh. The lady at the booth said it was too late and she wanted to sleep. She said she'd send you the details first thing tomorrow."
"I see. Good job." Linx smiled and gave her a pat on the head, then immediately regretted it, feeling it was too familiar. "What kind of commission is it?"
"Nothing special. Carrying weapons, hauling loot… and they'll give me 1% of the pay."
Linx froze and grabbed her cheeks, outraged.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN, 1%!? I'm filing a complaint right now. How dare they scam you like this!"
"Calm down! I suggested it."
"…Huh?"
"I'll explain while we eat, okay? Just… don't do anything crazy."
Linx stared at her, a mix of exasperation and admiration for the girl's stubbornness. Finally, she sighed, giving in.
"…That's so like you. Fine. I'll accept it only because it might give you experience. But it better be the last time. Understood?"
"…Yes."
That night, Nene enjoyed a hot meal. For the first time in weeks, she went to sleep with a full belly and a heart beating with excitement. Tomorrow, she thought, would be a good day.
In the depths of a Rank E Fissure, gaping like a throbbing wound near a damp and shadowed forest, something stirred on its fourth floor. The ground quaked with every movement, as if a monstrous heart were beating deep within.
At the center of that rift stood an impossible chrysalis: a semi-transparent sphere with iridescent hues, pulsing as if it were breathing. Its surface twisted and convulsed, until a wet crack tore through the silence—so harrowing that even the forest insects fell silent at once.
First, a colossal limb emerged, warping the rainbow-like shell until it burst. Then another, each one covered in crystalline scales and gleaming claws sharp enough to cut light itself. Monstrous jaws forced their way through, tearing with savage bites, spilling a thick drool of green and pink hues that hissed wherever it touched, burning through metal.
The cocoon shattered into a thousand radiant fragments when four translucent wings—like glass set ablaze—unfurled in a sudden burst. The sound was sharp, like crystal shattering in every direction.
The creature dropped to the ground with an impact that sent up clouds of dust and ash from the rift. The air grew heavy, dense, saturated with a cloying stench, sweet and nauseating—like rotten flowers.
Then it roared. But it was not a roar of rage or dominion. It sounded like a warped sob, a mournful scream that rattled the very bones of those who heard it. The entire forest trembled at that lament, and its echoes stretched far until they drowned in the distance.
It had awakened. A Floor Boss, in a place where it should not exist.