Looking at that peculiar armored Hati-type Ethereal, Andrew said with conviction:
"Something is definitely off about that one."
Watching Andrew express that strange certainty yet again, Belle couldn't help but feel a sense of déjà vu.
"My material radar is going haywire. This thing must have undergone some kind of unexpected evolution."
Making a call based on pure intuition with zero data to back it up? Honestly, Andrew...
As a staunch materialist, Belle was firmly against this habit of jumping to conclusions without any supporting data.
But since there was no data to support or deny it, her only option was to protest with her actions—her last bit of stubbornness.
Seeing Belle on his shoulder, unable to resist raising her fist again to give his helmet a good thumping, Andrew quickly spoke up. Even though a punch from a Bangboo's body was as painless as a gentle breeze, he had to stop her.
"Whoa, whoa, hold on! There is some basis for it. We think it's an armored Hati-type Ethereal, but that's just a subjective judgment based on its appearance, right?"
Hearing Andrew's prompt, Belle's perspective shifted, and she felt like the whole strange situation instantly became clear.
"That's right! Countless types of Ethereals have appeared in the Hollows, and it's not like ones that can disguise themselves don't exist. Yet I subconsciously judged it based on its appearance!"
"After all, you've collected a massive amount of bestiary data over your long careers as Proxies. It's pretty normal to subconsciously overlook this possibility when you haven't encountered a new Ethereal type in a long time. But hey, it just goes to show that the legendary Proxy Phaethon's professional skills still have room for improvement."
"Hey! You're teasing me with that again! If I'd known you'd do this, I never would've told you!"
"What, you wanted to work hard in secret without saying a word, then stun everyone by becoming a legendary Proxy? Were you hoping for that classic scene where I gasp and exclaim, 'Such terrifying talent!'?"
Hearing Andrew's vivid description, Belle couldn't help but imagine the scene in her mind and let out a little chuckle.
"Now that you mention it, that does sound pretty awesome. Makes me wanna give it a shot."
But as Belle thought about the people she knew, she realized all the shopkeepers on Sixth Street already knew she was a Proxy. And as for her goal of becoming a legend, while not exactly public knowledge, it was pretty much known by everyone in her circle. Not to mention that other goal she couldn't talk about.
And as for the unmentionable one... that was even more impossible, unless their video store went under and she was ready to eat free pork cutlet bowls at the New Eridu Public Security.
Realizing it was impossible to replicate that scenario with her current social circle, Belle's enthusiasm immediately fizzled out.
Seeing Belle so dejected that she started drawing circles on his shoulder armor, Andrew couldn't help but retort:
"You don't have to be that down about it! Is it really such a big deal?!"
"Because... while getting congratulated by your friends when you succeed is great, it doesn't have that strange, irresistible feeling you were talking about!"
Wise, who had been organizing data behind Belle, turned his head and said:
"Sis, I have another idea."
Hearing there was another way, the gloom on Belle's face vanished. She turned excitedly to her brother, blinking expectantly as she waited for him to continue.
"Yeah, the 'Phaethon' account is a lost cause for that, but once we reach our goal, we can just make smurf accounts!"
Enlightened, Belle's face lit up in agreement.
"Of course! Bro, you're a genius!"
Watching the siblings get completely sidetracked, Andrew was starting to regret telling them the story of Xiao Huohuo.
In this post-apocalyptic world where entertainment was so scarce, the appeal of power-fantasy stories was a little too potent.
Ignoring the siblings as they planned their future, Andrew looked down at the leader Ethereal below, his hand instinctively gripping and stroking the hilt of his tachi.
"I wonder what kind of monster it is... How curious..."
His hands itched, craving the hunt.
A never-before-seen monster often meant brand-new materials. And if even the Phaethon siblings, who'd been Proxies for six or seven years, had no record of it, this monster might just be a completely new species.
"A pity someone else got to it first."
He watched the squad below, who were methodically and seamlessly luring the other Ethereals away. Thanks to their efforts, a clear path to the leader Ethereal at the heart of the cluster was beginning to form.
"Andrew, why don't you just go help them finish that Ethereal off?"
Seeing Andrew remain calmly seated cross-legged on the rooftop, Belle, who didn't understand his thinking, asked:
"Isn't your craving to collect materials from a new monster written all over your face? You're all taking down an Ethereal, so isn't the outcome the same? Why are you just sitting here?"
"That's something you wouldn't get. It's like jumping into someone's fight when they haven't fired an SOS flare. Unless you're certain they're in real trouble, you're probably not actually helping."
Wiping his tachi, Andrew said sagely.
"After all, if you see a new hunter in fully upgraded Defender gear getting tossed around by a Tempered Diablos, he might just be a rookie tachi user practicing his Foresight Slash on the ultimate teacher. And kill-stealing has never been a virtue."
Seeing the nostalgic look on Andrew's face, Belle gave him a suspicious glance.
"I have a feeling that 'new hunter' you're talking about... was actually you, wasn't it?"
"Wh-What? No way! I was talking about a friend of mine! Over there, I was a true hunter of monsters, not someone hunted by monsters!"
Though she'd hit the nail on the head, Andrew, with a perfectly straight face, invented a non-existent friend, successfully thwarting Belle's attempt to read his expression.
However, completely missing the distinction in his explanation, she asked curiously:
"Aren't they the same thing?"
"They're not! In the first phrase, I'm the hunter. In the second, I'm the hunted. It's a huge difference, okay?!"
Belle burst out laughing and took a moment to compose herself. Watching the squad below, who had finished luring away all the lesser Ethereals and were now beginning their assault on the leader at the very center, she asked in confusion:
"But if you're not planning to help, why are you still sitting here?"
"Aha, see, that's the part you don't get! Jumping in when they haven't asked for help is kill-stealing. But if they start to lose, then it's a different story when I step in. The kill-steal becomes a rescue mission! See!"
Belle instantly understood his logic, but her confusion remained.
"Even with the leader, that's only two Level 5 Ethereals. Based on the skill they've shown so far, they should have this in the bag."
"But my gut tells me the outcome of this fight might not be as clean as you're expecting."
-
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