Kisa was saved by Diego, who also defeated the Vinka rat—dangerous mostly because of the swarm. Then rain poured, so they took shelter in a cave.
Diego: "Hmm… what happened?"
Kisa: "You blacked out."
Diego: "Ugh… wait—why is your face so close—and what am I lying on—"
Kisa: "Hehe."
Diego: "No way… your lap?!"
He was indeed lying on her lap.
Diego: "Ugh…"
She smiled again—dressed simply.
Diego: "Um…"
Kisa: "Hmm?"
Diego: "…What about the villagers?"
Her smile faded.
Kisa: "We were too late. They had all died from the plague."
Diego: "…Damn."
He covered his eyes with his hand.
Diego: "Were we really that late?"
Kisa: "No… something's off."
Diego sat up beside her.
Kisa: "While you were out, I found a few things."
Diego: "Like what?"
Kisa: "I'm not sure… it just feels wrong. As if that rat didn't appear here by chance."
Diego: "Hmm."
She rested her head on his shoulder.
Diego: "Ugh."
Kisa: "…I'm tired."
Diego: "Hmm."
Kisa: "Hey, Diego."
Diego: "Hmm?"
Kisa: "So—you knew I intended to test you… even kill you if I had to."
Diego: "Mhm."
Kisa blushed a little.
Diego: "May I ask why?"
Kisa: "The legend. Some hunters turned evil—the Dark Hunters—siding with Vinka and hurting humans. And you… with the Red Riding Hood pact, the Werewolf… in history, there have been four hunters like you—the Big… Bad… Wolf."
Diego: "Hmm."
Kisa: "I'm sorry. But now I know I was wrong about you. As an apology… you can ask for something."
Diego: "Like what?"
Kisa: "Whatever you want."
Diego (thinking): "(This is my chance… I could ask for—…ugh!)"
Kisa flushed, guessing he might request something awkward.
Diego (thinking): "(I could… but that wouldn't be fair to her.) Hah… h-how about… we become friends?"
Kisa: "Huh?"
She looked confused.
Kisa: "…Friends?"
Diego: "Mhm."
Kisa: "You… want to be… friends… with me…?"
She turned red and teared up a little.
Diego: "Whoa—hey, it's okay. You don't have to if you don't want to."
Kisa: "That's not it… Actually, I'm happy. It's just… no one says that to me anymore."
Diego: "Ugh… but… at the guild—"
Kisa: "No… the people there don't really like me either."
Diego: "Because of your past?"
Kisa: "Ugh…"
She looked at him.
Kisa: "How… how do you know that?"
Diego: "When I saved you… somehow I saw your past."
Kisa: "Ugh…"
Diego: "…You had it… really hard, didn't you?"
Kisa: "I see… so you did see."
Diego: "…Hmm."
Kisa: "About your question…"
Diego: "Huh?"
Kisa: "I'd be happy… if we became friends."
Diego: "Ugh… really?"
Kisa: "Mhm."
(Meanwhile)(Thud!) (Thud!)
(Splatter!)
Nina: "Hahh… next job, done."
Nina Rasputin — Hunter, Rank C. Age 21.Origin: Bezdna Ostankov.Hair: Black. Eyes: Orange.Märchen: Grimm — Mother Hulda.
Nina: "Hahh… time to head back to the guild."
(Back to Kisa and Diego)
Kisa: "Looks like the rain's letting up."
Diego: "Mhm."
She stood.
Kisa: "Let's get back to the wagon. We should really leave."
They headed for the wagon.
Kisa: "Hansel—outfit, please."
Hansel: "At once!"
He grew huge, swallowed her up to equip her clothes, then shrank back into a normal hat.
Kisa: "All right… hmm."
They climbed into the wagon, and she took the reins.
Kisa: "Okay—back to the guild HQ."
(One day later)
They arrived at the guild.
Kisa: "We're back."
Diego: "Mhm."
They went inside. Members looked over.
Layla: "He's alive. That's surprising."
Isolde: "If he's earned Kisa's trust, he's safe."
Nacht: "Kisa-lein!"
he shouted.
Kisa: "Nacht—when did you get back?"
He instantly stood before her—then glared at Diego.
Nacht: "So you're the new guy. You'd better not have given Kisa trouble."
Diego: "Huh?"
Kisa: "It's fine, Nacht. He did nothing wrong. He's a good boy."
Nacht: "Hmm… if you say so…"
Nacht Hensburg, 16 years old. Black hair, black eyes, height 160 cm. Rank C—new to the guild, still mastering his power. Märchen: Ichabod Crane.
Nacht: "Name's Nacht Hensburg, from Oakland. Your name?"
Diego: "Diego Salvatore."
Nacht: "Mhm."
Kisa: "Hmm."
Kisa went to the Master.
Kisa: "Master, I need to speak with you—alone."
Layla: "Why so secretive, hmm? Not happy to see me?"
Kisa: "It's more that… you don't belong in this talk."
Layla: "Huh?!"
She stepped up to Kisa.
Layla: "Want me to teach you manners?"
Kisa: "I didn't say anything wrong. The Master asked for me. If you want to yell at someone, don't pick me—I'm just doing what I was told."
Layla: "…Tsss."
Isolde: "That's enough, Layla. She's right. Come in, Kisa."
Kisa: "Mhm."
They went inside.
Layla: "(Clicks tongue) Hmph… whatever."
(A few minutes later)
Isolde: "I see… so he's not a danger."
Kisa: "No. No need to worry—Diego is different from previous 'Big Bad Wolves.'"
Isolde: "The question is: who was his grandfather? If he has that book… the last werewolf pact was 80 years ago. How old was his grandpa?"
Kisa: "I'm not sure. Maybe his grandfather had ties to hunters… or someone passed the Märchen to him. Either way, Diego isn't a threat."
Isolde: "Understood."
Kisa: "But I'm worried about something else."
Isolde: "Hmm?"
Kisa: "The swarm was stronger than usual. It felt… planned."
Isolde: "You think it's the Dark Fairy Tales?"
Kisa: "I don't know."
Isolde said nothing for a moment.
Isolde: "Okay, Kisa. I think you should rest now, all right?"
Kisa: "Mhm. I will."
She left the room.
Nacht: "Kisa… are you okay?"
Kisa: "Just a little tired."
She went upstairs to rest.
Nacht: "Hmm…"
Layla: "Hmph… Guess she's exhausted, huh?"
Nacht: "Mind telling me why you dislike her?"
Layla: "We grew up in the same village. Because of her, peace there was shattered."
She walked off. Of course, Layla didn't know the truth—that Kisa had nothing to do with it.
Kisa: "Hahh… hahh… ghh…"
Kisa's back—crisscrossed with old wounds—started bleeding again; the stitches had pulled.
Kisa: "Not now… not now…"
Blood poured.
Kisa: "Hahh… hahh…"
Kisa: "Gretel… Gretel… what are you waiting for… stitch it…"
She bit down on a cloth while Gretel began sewing.
Kisa: "Mmm… mmm… mmm…"
(Splatter!)
Kisa: "Ghhhh…"
Gretel: "…D…done…"
The thread slipped from Kisa's mouth.
Kisa: "Gahh… hahh…"
Drool trailed as she looked upward, catching her breath.
(Meanwhile)
Diego: "Hmm."
Layla: "Well, look who it is—the rookie."
She was lying on her back by the lake.
Layla: "So… what do you want?"
She wore a shoulderless outfit and a black jacket. Diego noticed a beauty mark at her neck—this one on the left.
Layla: "Hmm?"
Diego: "I want… to talk."
Layla: "About what?"
Diego: "About Kisa."
Layla: "Hahh… what?!"
Diego: "Kisa didn't kill her parents."
Layla: "Then who did?"
Diego: "…Kisa was abused. Her mother was ill—she didn't want to hurt Kisa. Kisa's father was violent and cruel. In the end… the father died during a struggle, and the mother… passed away the next morning, in her sleep. That's the truth."
Layla: "And how would you know that?"
Diego: "I saw her past."
Layla stood.
Layla: "Hahh… I don't care what happened back then."
She shot him a look over her shoulder.
Layla: "I still hate her."
Diego: "Why?"
Layla: "No idea. I just do."
Diego: "…Hmm."
Layla started to walk.
Layla: "…Hmm."
She stopped.
Diego: "…Hmm?"
Layla: "So—how was your mission? Are you staying with us?"
Diego: "Mhm. I beat it."
Layla: "I see… so you're a member now. Hmph…"
She walked on.