Kael lay on his back, chest heaving, sweat clinging to his skin like a second shirt. The tip of her massive blade had only just pulled away from his throat, leaving behind a faint sting of cold air.
Then, to his surprise, she extended her free hand.
Kael blinked at the gesture, hesitated, and then reached out. Her grip was firm, effortless, pulling him to his feet as though he weighed nothing.
"You're quite strong, kid," she said casually, almost like she was commenting on the weather.
"Uh… thanks, I guess." Kael dusted himself off, a small scowl tugging at the corner of his mouth. Still calling me kid.
She rested her giant sword back over her shoulder, her golden aura long gone now, replaced by an almost ordinary presence. Almost. Then she tilted her head, studying him.
"By the way, I'm Takara Itsumi."
Kael froze, his thoughts racing. Takara Itsumi…? The former Japanese turned South Korean SSS-Rank Hunter?! He'd heard the name whispered like legend. A living relic, yet feared by even the current top guild masters.
Wait… I heard she's a hundred and seventy-six years old. So why the hell does she look like she's twenty-three? His eyes trailed over her face, smooth, almost radiant in its youthfulness. If he hadn't known better, he'd have thought she was a rookie herself.
She ignored his stare, pulling a slim tablet from her pocket and tapping something onto the screen with practiced ease.
Kael cleared his throat. "Oh, uh… and I'm Kael Vernier."
Her fingers paused mid-tap. Slowly, she looked up at him, eyes narrowing with curiosity. "So you're the brat Belle was talking about."
Kael stiffened. "Brat??"
"Yeah." She smirked, not even glancing up from her tablet this time. "Belle made you sound like trouble. Guess she wasn't wrong."
Kael's jaw clenched, but he let it drop. Figures Belle would talk about me like that.
Takara finished her typing with a final tap, then slung the tablet under one arm. "Anyway, you're done here. I'll send your combat rating to the ranking room. Get out."
Kael turned toward the door, but then hesitated. "Oh, and… could you tune my rating a little lower?"
One eyebrow arched. "Lower? Most rookies beg me to boost theirs."
"I don't like getting that much attention." He scratched the back of his neck. "Better if I stay under the radar."
Takara's smirk deepened. "Well, yeah, I can adjust it. But what do I get?"
Kael thought for a moment. "…Uh, put it on Belle's tab or whatever."
Her laughter was soft but sharp, like bells chiming with hidden malice. "Fine. Belle's tab it is."
Kael gave her a quick nod and pushed open the left-hand door.
The hallway stretched long and silent before him, the walls an impersonal shade of white with faint humming lights above. Only one table was set near the side, where a lone staff member sat waiting.
The man didn't say a word as Kael approached. He simply slid a sleek card across the table, the hunter insignia gleaming faintly on its surface. Kael picked it up and glanced at the rating: C+.
"Meh," he muttered, slipping it into his pocket. "Good enough to avoid attention. As long as I don't flash it around, no one will bother me."
With that, he walked down the rest of the hallway, finding an elevator at the far end. The ride down was quiet, almost too quiet after the storm of steel and aura upstairs.
When the doors opened, Kael pulled his hoodie's hood over his head and stepped out of the building. The air outside was crisp, the city buzzing with movement, neon lights reflecting off glass windows.
For the first time since the fight, a genuine smile spread across his face. Damn… guess I can do dungeon raids now.
The thought burned in his chest with a mix of excitement and anticipation. The system pulsed faintly within him, as though approving.
Kael shoved his hands into his hoodie pocket and disappeared into the crowd.