I threw him back with all my strength. He staggered several steps backward—but didn't fall. The very next moment, he charged at me again. His eyes had turned red, as if he truly intended to kill me right there. I tightened my grip on the sword even more. A cold voice escaped my lips— "Come on… kid."
I was just about to use my slash technique.
But then— suddenly, the young woman stepped in between us. I stopped instantly. And her brother froze in place as well.
There was anger in the young woman's eyes. Her voice was trembling—not from fear, but from rage. Looking straight at her brother, she shouted— "First, he saved my life…" "And on top of that, you want to kill him?!"
Her words echoed through the air.
Hearing this, the young man seemed to receive a slight shock. The fury on his face slowly loosened. He stood there— sword still in his hand, but as if the strength to strike had completely drained away.
A thought crossed my mind as well— "Well… that's good." "At least this young woman won't have to cry over her own brother's death."
After a few moments of silence— the young man slowly lowered his sword.
Then he stepped toward me. There was hesitation on his face now— and shame as well.
He extended his hand and said— "My name… is Leo." "I actually… misunderstood the situation." "Please forgive me."
Without thinking much, I took his hand and replied briefly— "Charger."
The moment he heard my name— he suddenly burst out laughing. And along with him— his sister started laughing too.
"W-What kind of name is that?" he said, laughing. At that moment— my head truly started to burn.
I muttered to myself— "Are these two siblings a little short on brains or what…?" But outwardly— I simply took a deep breath.
Leo asked me, his voice no longer carrying the earlier harshness—
"Brother, where did you come from?"
I thought for a moment. Telling the truth didn't seem right for now. So I shrugged my shoulders and replied in a casual tone—
"I'm just… a weak hunter who got lost in this forest."
Hearing that, Leo's eyebrows rose. He looked me up and down, then said with a light laugh—
"Lost?"
"Someone like you can get lost too?"
The very next moment— he burst out laughing. And along with him, his sister started laughing as well. Their laughter felt strangely sharp against the silence of the forest.
Watching them laugh like that, something inside me began to boil.
Honestly, I felt like smashing both of their heads.
But somehow, I managed to control myself.
Just then, the young woman stepped forward. Her voice was calm now, but a clear condition was hidden within it—
"Alright," she said,
"we'll take you out of this forest."
Then she looked straight into my eyes and added—
"but… you'll have to do one thing for us."
To be honest, I had no choice at all. Staying alone in this unfamiliar forest— and that too without any direction— was like inviting death. No matter what the task was, there was no room to say "no."
I took a light breath…
and nodded.
"Alright. I agree."
As soon as I said that, Leo smiled and said—
"Then come… with us."
I immediately fired back a question—
"Where?"
"And at least tell me first— what is the task?"
But instead of answering— the young woman suddenly grabbed my hand. Her grip was firm. She almost dragged me forward with her.
What could I even do?
Even unwillingly— I had to go along with her.
After some time—
The three of us arrived at an open ground between clusters of huts.
And the scene before me— left me silent for a moment. An entire tribe.
Houses made of wood and stone… people moving around everywhere… and the moment their eyes fell on me— a crowd began to gather. Hundreds of eyes were staring at me.
I thought to myself— "Oh ho… have these people never seen a handsome hunter like me before?"
Then I answered myself— "Forget it… this tribe looks quite poor anyway."
"Who knows— maybe my clothes look like something from a royal family to them."
I lowered my gaze.
My clothes— black with light red accents— carried a strange kind of shine.
A shine— like that of an expensive piece of armor.
And perhaps… that was exactly why the eyes of the entire tribe were fixed on me.
Just then, a fat man pushed his way through the crowd and stepped forward. There was a strange, cunning smile on his face. Without saying a word, he simply gestured for me to come to him. I glanced at Leo and his sister—both nodded slightly. I followed the man with them. He led us into a large room. The room was simple but clean. A heavy wooden table stood in the center, with four chairs around it. All four of us sat down—me, Leo, his sister, and the fat man. First, they served food in front of me. Hot food, steaming flatbreads, simple but filling. I was probably very hungry, so I ate without thinking much. After the meal, the fat man suddenly pulled out a small camera from his pocket. He placed it slightly away on the table and gestured for all of us to come closer. "One moment…" he said. Click. He took a picture of all four of us together. It felt a little strange at that moment. Their behavior was as if, even in the middle of a big problem, they were just passing time—like life was still light and enjoyable for them.
After a few moments of silence, I decided it was better to come straight to the point. In a calm but clear voice, I said, "You promised me." "In exchange for one job—you would get me out of this forest." The fat man smiled faintly. "Yes… that's true," he said. "But—" I raised my eyebrows. "But?" His voice suddenly dropped. Almost in a whisper, he said, "You have to kill a C-rank hunter."
Hearing that, I paused for a moment. Then, in a controlled tone, I said, "The three of you are D-rank hunters." "Together, you should be able to defeat him easily." Before I could finish, Leo spoke up. "My sister is a Healer-Type Hunter." "Don't even count her in a fight." Then he glanced around the room and continued, "And most people in this tribe are cowards." "Me and this fatty"—he pointed at the man—"even together, we couldn't defeat him." Frustration was clear in his voice. "We've tried twice," he said through clenched teeth. "Both times, we came back badly defeated."
Now it was my turn to ask a question. Tapping my fingers lightly on the table, I asked, "By the way…" "Why do you want to kill him?" This time, Leo didn't answer. His sister slowly raised her head. There was no anger in her eyes—only disgust. In a cold voice, she said, "The way he looks at me is filthy."
That was all. But that single sentence made everything clear. I understood—it wasn't a trivial dispute. This was serious. I didn't waste a single moment.
I nodded slowly and said clearly, "Alright." "I'll do this job."
I lazily stretched, as if nothing serious stood before me, and said in a calm voice—
"I want that sword."
The very next moment— Leo's sister extended her hand.
And as if the air itself had torn apart— a shining sword appeared in her palm.
For a brief moment, I was stunned.
No scabbard.
No movement.
Just… a sword, appearing directly in her hand.
Without saying a word, she placed the sword into my hand.
The moment the cold metal touched my palm— my fingers tightened around it on their own.
A faint shiver ran through me.
"What kind of magic is this…?"
"Summoning a sword directly into one's hand?"
But I didn't ask anything.
Sometimes— it's better to remember, than to question.
I gripped the sword firmly, gave it a light swing, and with a crooked smile on my lips, said—
"Then let's go…"
"Let's have a little fight."
As my words faded—
All three of them extended their hands as well.
And one by one— swords appeared in their palms.
The gleam of steel… Blades slicing through the air…
And the three of them answering in unison—
"Yes."
But in that moment— There was only one thought in my mind.
No matter what… That C-rank Hunter had to be killed. And after that— I had to get out of this jungle alive.
And then… When the time comes— I will complete my revenge on them as well.
The betrayal given by those two stung sharply in my eyes.
The fat man lightly nudged my shoulder with his own and said—
"What are you thinking about? Let's go now."
His voice snapped me out of my thoughts. The anger rising inside me calmed down a little.
I took a deep breath and moved forward without saying a word.
Then the four of us— stepping onto the forest path— moved ahead through the dense trees and the shadow-darkened trails beneath them.
Suddenly— right in the middle of the path, a terrifying, deep voice echoed— "Were you coming to look for me?"
"Good… I was searching for you people as well."
There was cold mockery in that voice. Confidence. And the stench of death.
My steps came to a halt on their own. A chill ran straight down my spine. Without even seeing him— I understood.
The one standing in front of us… was no ordinary person. He was a dangerous hunter.