Disclaimer: Written by Rime. Translated by Arcana. Approved by Rime to transfer from pixiv. The characters were not owned by the writer nor the translator. Characters were borrowed from the players of MHD. To members of MHD, if there are any problems, there would be no problem in removing.
Chapter Notes:The Genealogy of Hunters 1: CaseBilly
Theme: Written as Strength, Read as Will
Characters: Billy, Tharros, Nobutuna, Goodman
Chapter Summary:
Billy had lost his voice and expressions in an attack of Kushala Daora when he was young. In order not to lose anything more, he longed for strength. One day, he accidentally drank a certain solution, and he regained what he had lost. Several years after he became a hunter, he met a girl who had the same problem as him.
Everything was being destroyed by the strong wind. It was supposed to be the time for families to enjoy their dinner, yet the street was turned into a purgatory within seconds. Fire burning the ground, people escaping. Oh, this must be how hell is supposed to be like, with his half-paralyzed self-consciousness, he ruminated many times. As if he was being absurd, he could not think of anything else.
His mother, half-crazed, holding onto his hands, chased after the back of his father. Gasping for breath exhaustedly, tumbling sounds like shrieks echoed and stayed by his ears.
His mother ran as fast as she could, he also used all his strengths to catch up with her. Different from the graceful woman she used to be, he couldn't expect any gentleness from the disarranged woman that ran and ran. Many times when he tripped and let go of her hand, her mother would strongly forced him to stand up. Run or you will die. He, who knew nothing about death, was only allowed to follow his mother in tears of pain and fear. The pain he felt pierced into his heart.
Many people crowded at the plaza of the town. Frightened by the sounds of explosions far away, they clustered around each other tightly as if they were a horde of rats, all looking towards the same direction. Detonations fused with screams of death agony reverberated. Someone muttered with fear. Even the hunters can't stop it.
Suddenly, he heard an explosion behind him. He let go out her mother's hand and turned around. There he saw a giant shadow that was never known to him, flapping its enormous wings.
In the very next moment, he lost all his expressions and voice.
The nerves that controlled the mimetic muscles were paralyzed. With the medical technology this village held, nothing could be done for it to recover.
As it was not fatal, his life was saved, said the doctor. He looked at his mother emptily. All emotions were lost, all words were silenced. The only way for him to communicate was by contact. Yet, it was his mother that was most filled with disturbance and fear. She grieved.
Why can't you talk? Why can't you laugh? Even though she knew that it was impossible. Ever since the attack of the dragon, as if she was broken, she became so emotional that even the tinniest thing could freak her out. After she eloped with the man that was born from lower class, his mother came to this declined village. With no parents to rely on, and the frequent appearance of monsters around the area, her patience had already reached its limit.
In front of his crying mother shaking his shoulders, he held onto his tears. Crying is a sign of weakness. You must become like that man, like your father, strong and mighty. Her mother had always reminded him as she brought him up with affections before that dragon came.
As the doctor continued searching for clues to his recovery, he started remembering words. Desperately, he read many books and memorized the shape of each character, writing them down everywhere. The doctor, promised to search for his treatment, taught him the spelling of his name.
This is a "B", and then an "I", following with two "L"s, and lastly a "Y". "Billy", this is your name? Do you understand? Un huh, he nodded. He wanted to return the doctor a smile, but his face would not moved. Why can he eat with his mouth, but cannot smile. Using the words he remembered, he asked the doctor. As if the doctor had bitten a bitterbug, he told him that it would be difficult. The boy accepted it, filling with disappointment.
The doctor visited him very often. Probing and trying every way, he was finally able to make sounds. But, before his tongue could function properly, before he could call her "mother" again, her mother collapsed first.
I don't want him anymore, someone that couldn't talk. The only thing he can do is just, to follow after me like a doll. I don't want this anymore! I can't bear with it anymore!
His father slapped his mother. She dashed out of the house with tears. His father chased after her. The boy could only see them off in a daze. I don't want it. I don't want him anymore. He pondered over her words.
The next day, since the boy hadn't came to him for treatment, the doctor visited. The doctor seemed shocked.
"I see… You, can't show, your sadness…"
With tears dripping down his expressionless face, the doctor could only brush his hair softly. The lunch left in front of him had cooled for a long time.
His father and mother were founded under the cliff, around three hours later, near evening. Near the forest where a couple of wyverns appeared frequently.
Holding hands together was a couple of burnt bodies.
The doctor was a former hunter.
When he asked for the meaning of the word "former", the doctor smiled and rolled up the cuff of his trousers. He didn't have a left foot.
"It's not a rare thing. Many hunter retired due to similar reasons."
To be honest, I was lucky. The doctor brushed Billy's head again. The doctor had taken over the job of his passed-away parents. Within a year, he had taught Billy many words and letters, important knowledge he would required to survive, from cooking, tiding, washing, sewing, to repairing of small furniture , skills he would need to use in his daily life.
When he was doing washing, the white coat the doctor wore when he worked was there. He held curiosity towards the texture of the coat.
"That is the skin of a wyvern called Khezu."
Giving electric shocks that could paralyze others, without any scratches, always white and clean, by adding a special type of liquid to it, it would held the power of purification. It was the ideal ingredient for making medical-used clothing.
"This village was built with rocks. The materials that acted as the pillars are called Heavy Monster Bone, giant bones of wyverns. The body parts of monster were being manufactured to become necessities in our daily lives. …Monsters always attack us, but on the other hand, they can be a great help to our livings."
Yet, they had stolen Billy's expressions and voice from him. He didn't enjoy hearing about monsters from the doctor.
Towards Billy who had lost his parents, expressions and voices, the towns people pitied on him. But, he was being treated badly among the children of the same age. You must have gotten some weird diseases from the monsters that destroyed the village. They accused him harshly, surrounding him in a circle. Sometimes they beat him, kicked him, or clawed him. Towards fights between children, adults never took them seriously. He, inevitable, was being isolated from the village.
(I will never cry)
His mother had said before. Crying is a sign of weakness. You are a boy, you must live strongly. Even though he was told that he wasn't wanted anymore, Billy understood that it was caused by the temporary protuberance of her feelings. He was used to it. When his mother was calm, she would always comfort and encourage him. It will be cured one day. You will be able to smile again. You will be sorry that you are still alive, you will be sorry that you had ran at that time, you will definitely think so. Therefore, you must not cry. No matter what happens.
The less he cried, the more scared of him the other children were. When he was being beaten up, he would only stare back at them coldly with ambition, little by little, he could have overpowered them. Yet, the kids bluffed more. The violence became more awful.
I want to win, he told the doctor.
"Violence is not allowed"
The doctor replied him shortly. He stopped his writing hand, and scribbled recklessly on the paper.
If I continue to lose, I will stay weak forever. I do not want this to happen. Mother wanted me to be strong.
"Still, it is wrong to hurt others."
Is being able to bear pain, a sign of being strong.
"…"
I can't talk back, I can't do anything, why do I have to let this continue on and on.
Scribbling harder and roughly that the paper might tear, he couldn't hold his tears anymore. Despite scribbling on the paper recklessly, tears continued shedding down from his expressionless face, it was weird.
Why is it so painful to not be able to have something that I ought to have.
Do I, have to continue to lose. What does it mean by being strong.
Is it a must to bear all of this. If this continues onwards, will I, once again, lose something?
Just like you had lost your leg, will I, again, lose something?
The doctor stayed silenced.
During the doctor's absence, he tidied the shelves. Though he knew where his medicines were placed among many other medicines and materials on the shelves, he was never allowed to touch them. The doctor would look at him unpleased if he did.
He had slowly showed his spikes towards the world. He started fighting back those who tried to hurt him. Scratches had increased, fights had increased, the use of septic cream and needs of medicine also increased. Thus, the number of times that the doctor needed to lower his head increased as well. The parents of the wounded opponents would always complain to Billy's guardian, the doctor.
Is that my fault. Billy was shocked. The one that was hurt in the first place was himself, why would they come to complain when he fought back.
The doctor said with worried.
"If it was your mother, she would directly complain to the other parents. I also have a lot that I wanted to complain about. Even though I want to do so, it had not been long since I came to this village. There is no connection. The reason I took you in is because of your illness. … To some extent, I am on the same position as where you stand."
Being kicked and beaten up? The doctor replied Billy's words with a bitter smile.
"I am not wounded physically. But my heart is."
Staring at him as if he was frozen, the doctor stroked Billy's head twice, and sighed heavily.
"…Hey, it isn't the level that can kill my heart yet. I was once a hunter. These kind of problems wouldn't be enough to … It's not as if I don't know. Comparing to the attack of Kushala Daora, this is nothing."
During the tiding of the shelves, he thought back. After that, he continued to ask the doctor many questions, and he was able to hear many things about hunters. Watching the blue sunset on the snow mountain. The captured monster waking up suddenly during the transfer and caused many troubles. The newbie hunter that fainted when he saw his first wyvern. A friend that carelessly drank a wrongly mixed potion and continued laughing nonstop for three whole days.
He could feel the doctor overflowed with something. But what, when he asked he couldn't receive an answer. The doctor's face was shining. He was almost certain that the doctor must love all that he had fostered when he was a hunter.
(All of this is fostered, from the knowledge he had at those times)
On the shelves were giant claws that he had never seen before, white and transparent bugs, big horns from creatures, bunches of bluish grasses, nuts similar to bells, things that he would never had a chance to see in his old home.
(… Inside all these,)
Why isn't there anything that can cure me.
With a clunk, his finger came in contact with a small bottle. The bottle was big enough for a small hand to fit tightly into it. Inside it was a purplish liquid. He picked it up and swayed it. The precipitation inside shivered.
At that moment, he didn't understand why it happened.
He opened the cork, and a smell bailed out. Much like an echo, the stimulus smell was beyond refreshing.
With a gulp, the liquid ran down his throat, burning from inside was the feeling of permeation. Finally, something ruffled at the back of his head.
Ah, as he thought, his body dashed outside.
When he noticed, many people lied around him. His breath was not stable, and he knew that his body temperature was increasing. He hadn't calmed down yet. He looked down at the people around. With commotion, the group surrounding stepped back. His fists were numb.
"Billy!"
Hearing a voice calling out to him, he turned around. The doctor, with his face paled, stood there. One after one, he looked. Among the defeated people, there were also adults. Some were men proportionally large.
He wondered what he had done . In the unstable consciousness, Billy looked around once more. The colors were vivid. The air was fresh. Distant voices of birds could be heard. The direction of the wind was known. The smell of blood. Glances trying to capture him. He could clearly hear every whispers and murmurs.
Like the instinct of a beast.
"Billy! What are you doing!"
He turned around once more. Revolt, he understood that his eyes were shinning.
The doctor stopped.
Emitting out from Billy, was an aura of aspiration that could cause one to falter instinctively.
"…It's coming"
His throat was squirming, sounds were coming out. His body was full of joy that could paralyze his body.
His voice came out. The words had come out!
"It's coming… I, now, it's coming."
There was no intonation. It was silence. His own voice echoed. He knew it was a little distorted.
"…I remembered"
"Billy,"
"Right… This is the feeling of, happiness"
He knew he was smiling. He could feel his cheek twitching.
His body moved. He had fought. Though he knew his action was out of implosive, all his cells were delighted. Towards the determination of opposing, his fists had answered.
He couldn't believe that it could be that joyful.
(I, am answered)
Now, something that was supposed to be lost, had returned inside him.
I still, have it.
Tears flooded his eyes.
"…I, still…remember them,"
He remembered them. The repeated words, softly, melted into the air as if they were riding on the wind.
"Pain, sadness, happiness… I still, remember them…"
The doctor took Billy's hand silently. As a doctor, he couldn't say anything to blame him.
Within that day, they put together their belongings, and left the village.
What he drank was a monster juice called power extract. Undiluted solution. Drinking it without diluting, had showed abnormal effects on the young body, letting the damaged nerves moved for a while, said the doctor. Don't try to do it again, he warned him. Towards the kid who reacted extremely down at his words, the doctor sighed, and took out a small bottle.
Fortunate out of unfortunate, the liquid had helped him to recover what he lost in the past. By telling him not to use it again, it meant only torture.
"It is supposed to be drank in this form."
Billy stared at the little pin. It was less concentrated then the one he drank before, he could see through the clear liquid. The liquid inside the bottle rippled as he shacked the pin. He couldn't believe that this was the righteous form.
"Among hunters, we call them mega juice. It allows the user to feel no fatigue for a while, raising your stamina at the same time. It is more like a topping. Along with causing dependence, once too many are taken, it will cause one to be unable to move for a short period. It can be dangerous if used in the wrong method, therefore the way of combination is only taught to hunters."
This was something I combined at the old times. The doctor poured them into a medicine beaker, and added a spoonful of honey. He shaved bits from a monster claw, and slowly stirred them together. The liquids slowly solidified , and what was left in the beaker was something resembling to syrup.
Have a taste, the doctor said. Billy fetched it up with a spoon, and fed it into his mouth.
"Not that bad, right?"
But not too good. He frowned, and nodded. Compared to what he drank at first, this was much better. With a strange sweetness remaining on his tongue, he wiped his mouth.
"For the time being, try this."
The doctor stroked Billy's tilted head, and he chuckled. It had been long since he saw him smile with plentiful, with no stiffness.
"When you are used to that feeling, it might come back. …It will take time, but you might be able to start talking."
Really. A cracked sound dropped down his throat. Really. Once again, clinging onto his arm. Will it really came back.
Can I smile again.
"You can't rush the treatment. By increasing little by little, we'll observe how it goes. Remember, never tried to drink the extract of Gypceros again. I don't know what will happen next time."
In this village, those who tormented you are not here. People living in the deep mountains are gentle and kind. The environment and clean air here, will also help with your treatment.
"… Hey, Billy"
Since seeing what Billy had done in the town before, the doctor had been struck by an idea.
"Do you want to aim to become a hunter?"
Hunter.
He repeated many times without knowing.
Ten years had passed when he returned to the town. Comparing to how it used to be when he still lived there, it had become more splendor. It didn't look like that it had been attacked by a Kushala Daora a while before. Why. He sought for the answer from the master of the item shop. With supports and helps exceeding the damages to the street and village, the town had received many benefits. Furthermore, there was a splendid hunter that defeated the wyvern. The benefits he had brought about to the town led to sightseeing effects. The body of the wyvern was decorated in the village, the meat was carved before they rotten, the bones were washed cleanly. The Hunters Guild had used a large amount of money to buy them.
During the time he lived the village, the reason the hunter couldn't defeat it, was either due to insufficient information or insufficient power. According to his memory, the hunter at that time died in the line of duty. The killed monster had brought many benefits to the left-behind town. In other words, the doctor's word were right, he was telling him truths among his words. What an irony.
After he finished a mos with egg grill he bought from the outdoor markets, he headed to the ground where the Gathering Hall was built. His mission from the village guild was to deliver golden shards to the Gathering Hall of the area guild. In the sac he carried over his shoulder, was three pieces of shards he dug up earlier.
He passed through the door and looked inside. He didn't dislike the smell of alcohol, but strange he found it. There were around ten people stretching themselves on the floor. Though the Gathering Hall was spacious, it was still a disturbance.
"It's the celebration for slaying the Kushala Daora."
The area guild manager told him in a stiffer voice than the village guild master had.
Benefits were even brought to such a place.
In the middle, was the hunter that defeated the steel dragon. He gave the guild manager, who was full of proud , a half-hearted reply, and put down the sac on the counter. It has nothing to do with him, it didn't matter.
"I believe there is a quest from the village. It's three pieces of golden shards."
"Let me confirm it."
The host felyne brought to him a flatten and small disk stone. On it was letters that Billy had taken a long time to memorize. In the Hunters Guild, words mostly spelled by hunters were their names. Details of the quests and contracts of the rewards were all written by the guild director for the sake of organizing. Secret codes were also used during confidential missions that too much details could not be told to hunters.
"Here, the confirmation is finished. These are your rewards."
"Oh…"
"Do you need a checkmark confirmation receipt?"
"Please."
The disk stone was hammered into two on the counter behind. Receiving the halved piece, Billy turned around from the noises. All he needed to do was to hand this half to the village master, and his quest would end.
No no it's impossible for me to drink anymore, I'm not good with western alcohol. Still too early, Mr. hero, I know you can drink more? Give me a break, what time do you think is now? Who cares, you had bring peace and saved the town… following were roars of "Cheers!". Laughter.
Even though he was suggested to look around in the town, he didn't want to stay too long in the place full of painful memories. The Gathering Hall where free lodgings were provided to hunters should be full. Camping would be fine, all he wanted was to return to his village as fast as he could. Billy opened his item pack. There were still sufficient potions and food. Water did not seem to be enough. Before he headed to the river, he would need to buy some items for filtering the lake water. He set off for the market place.
By the entrance of the market, he was attracted and looked around.
Tents were lined up around the plaza, and beyond were houses linking close to each other.
In front of the market was the information desk, and behind it was a road leading under the bride. In that dark area were pieces of old furniture , forming a playground for kids. There were many times he was being called out to go there.
He had recalled things he disliked. Trying not to think anymore, as he hurried himself through the market, he heard some high-pitched laughter.
"You must have gotten some dangerous diseases from that monster!"
He stopped.
"It's going to spread so stay in your home!"
"Why don't you just move to elsewhere!"
The words of the heartless children continued. Cruel because of ingenuousness, innocent and ignorance. Laughter. Billy stared into the darkness.
Squeak, like the voice of the wind, a cold, flute-like sound. The laughter became more terrible.
"What a weird sound!"
"Don't make a sound!"
"What are you doing"
A low voice he didn't expected came out from his mouth. As if they had saw something dangerous, the kids ran away in different directions, like tiny little spiders. Of course, it was the voice that made them ran.
A child remained there alone.
"…Are you alright"
He called out to her. Billy didn't know what were the right words to use in situations like this. Squeal, hugging onto a blue teddy bear with cottons dropping out, the girl pulled him.
The girl, who was wearing a ragged cloth as clothes, had no expressions.
(…Ah,)
Is it possible that, this child…
"Where is your home"
"…"
"Why are you here"
"…"
The emotionless face stared at him. She stepped back, showing a continuation of the road. Blankets burned to pieces and junks were pilled up, pieces of garbage picked up from the rubbish dump, and a smell of little blood. Billy reached his hand out and touched the back of her head. Squeal, the girl squeezed herself together. There, was a half-dried wound. Quite a deep wound. The wound has been left untouched since bleeding, Billy thought bitterly. If she didn't have vitality and a strong will, she must had died already.
He took out a bottle of potion from his item bag. He twisted out the cork, and handed it to the girl.
"Can you drink it"
Your throat must be dry. The girl hesitated, and slowly she reached her small hand out.
The government office was controlling the water of the street , one must be of a certain age to go to the well. This was because inspections of poison of the water was needed to carry out every morning, if children ignored the rules and entered, it would be of a disturbance. By the grounds nearby was a locality of vespoids, it was not rare for body fluids of the insects to be mixed into the water, and harm may be caused to the bodies of human. Customs and livings of the town were still left inside him since he lived in this town. It would be hard for her, not over ten years old, to be able to go there. Seeing the present situation, social ostracism, this was exactly a Lynch.
Will she make a sound when she drink, he thought to himself, but there was no sign of it. Thew, as the girl caught her breath, a weird sound echoed. The worm of hunger inside her must had woken up.
"…You haven't been eating"
The girl looked down as her cheeks redden. It was intended to be a little joke to laugh at, but the girl closed her eyes as if being scolded. Surely, garbage alone would be harsh.
"Wait here"
He headed for the market once more. At the nearest shop, he bought two packets of water and two anteka meat buns. He bought three pieces of honey-soaked biscuits as well. Then, he returned to the dark place straightly.
The girl was sitting in a corner, hugging her legs to her chest, wrapped around with a cloth. He handed out a warm bun to her.
"Here."
The girl slightly looked up. Are you sure? She seemed to say so. No emotion shown, but he could tell that her eyes were wet.
"Yes"
Slowly, she stood up, and received the warm steamed buns. She opened her small mouth, and took a bite. He pretended that he didn't see her arms shivering. As she took the second bite, she couldn't bear her tears anymore. He also pretended not to see that. Billy poured water slowly into his bottle silently as he stuffed one soft and warm steamed bun into his own mouth. Just as he thought, the girl had no facial expressions.
After transferring the two packets of water into his bottle, he took a piece of biscuits out of the bundle, and put it into his mouth. As he nibbled it slowly, the girl had finished the bun. Such an enormous bun in such a short time, he thought. He himself was so, too, but the size of their stomachs should be considerably different. She must be really hungry.
He handed his bottle of water out.
"…What's the matter"
He understood she was hesitating and looked puzzled. She tooled a glance at his face, and once again back to the bottle. This time Billy didn't understand. The girl lost to the dryness in a few minutes, and took the bottle of water sadly.
"There is no poison in there"
She seemed to have something to say, but Billy pretended not to look, and took out a medicine bowl from the camping bag he had on his shoulder. As he continued to nibble his biscuit, the other hand searched through his item bag, and took out a bottle of honey. He could feel her drinking.
With his experienced way of combining, he mixed honey with mega juice, and shaved a dragon claw and tooth. With tears filled in her eyes, she passed the bottle back to him. He received it and put it aside immediately, here, he scooped a little of the transparent amber-colored syrup with his finger, and offered her.
The girl, surely showed hesitation and pulled back.
"Take a lick. If you're lucky, your voice might come out"
"…"
She stared at his hand.
"What's the matter"
The girl looked up with a startled face, and traced the tip of Billy's forefinger. Splat, pulling a long thread, a drop fell to the ground. It seemed to be a waste. Gulped, and she put it into her mouth. Billy moved a hand. This amount would not be enough. With her cheeks red and full of confusion, she used her two hands and took from Billy's finger desperately, as if it was some kind of candies.
Whenever she took them in, her face would look delicate. Billy handed her the two pieces of biscuits he bought. They are savories .
Munch-munch and dabbled the outside, she paused, and blinked once. Her temperature was rising .
"How is it?"
"…A,a,ah,"
Blurred, a voice like air. The girl was filled of joy for her voice came out, with her cheeks still red, she took a deep breath. Thew, and she hugged the teddy bear in her hand, looking at Billy with her eyes wide open.
"Thank you"
Blurred, a voice like air. Soft, like the spring breeze.
Un, he nodded knowing that he was smiling. Generously, he patted her head. Squeezing the teddy bear in her hands again, she muttered thank you once more.
He believed, for a long time though it was supposed to be short, must have been lonely.
(…To this child, unlike me, there must be no one to protect her)
In drops, tears spilled out.
The girl led him to the other side of the mountain that was once the battlefield. By the investigation of the guild, that direction was the mountain range, it was said that many wyverns came from there. The cannons which formed a line were smashed into pieces, several high walls were collapsed, though a few fragile-looking ones still stood. The restoration of this area was still under planning.
She pointed to the ream of houses among mountains of debris. That was once where her home stood, the girl murmured in her breeze-like voice.
Where are your parents, Billy asked briefly. The girl only pointed and stared at the direction blankly. The decision of Billy was fast. He immediately purchased one more set of food and the smallest size of female traveling clothes with ribbon decorated on it.
During the journey, Billy figured out that her name was "Tharos". Written next to his name, how is it spelled, he wondered and repeated spelling it many times with a stick on the ground. Taros, Taloss, Tearos. It should be something similar, but she didn't seem to look please with any of the spellings.
Tharos. When he added one more word, her eyes changed. Is this good. She shook her head as Billy asked. Then I'll think of others, though he said so, nothing came into his mind. Then, the girl pointed at one of the alphabets.
"What's wrong with it"
With the effects of the medicine passed, there were no words from her. She put up two fingers.
"…?"
He wrote as he was told. Tharros. The right pronunciation would become "Saros".
"Are you fine with it"
She nodded. But this won't be the right pronunciation. Are you sure? When being confirmed once more, she nodded her head strongly.
Why increase one more letter, he wondered and looked the letter "r" again and again. Lowering her head, she pointed at "l" of the spelling of "Billy" next to it on the ground.
Oh, he finally understood.
"It's a suite, you sure?"
She nodded. Even though she was expressionless, her eyes were shining. Ahh, she is pleased with it. Billy smiled, and traced the letters of Tharros once more.
When they returned to the village, the effects of the mega juice had completely faded away. Tharros had once again lost her facial expressions and voice. Billy which shared a short time with her, once had the same experience as she had right now, was able to understand her feelings through looking at her eyes.
The doctor whom brought him up and taught him the techniques needed to be a hunter, passed away several years ago. It happened a while after Billy stood up and became a hunter. His cut leg was being eaten by a feeble poison, and it undermined in his body for a long time. When he noticed, the chance of recovery had already passed.
(It's okay, Billy)
Dying this way, is already fortunate to a person.
Somewhere out there in the world, there must be people falling down in a sadder way. Therefore, this is a happy way to die.
(I am, happy that I have met, such a strong kid like you)
Billy didn't understand why he said that in the last.
Since then, there was nobody in the house. This was one of the reasons that Billy invited Tharros, without any hesitation, to stay.
(Being by yourself, is very lonely)
He believed that the doctor must have felt the same way.
It was his neighbor that helped managing and tiding his house when Billy was out.
He spoke in broken words, with black skin and a pair of calm eyes. He was a hunter dispatched from a far-off south country. He had his career for a long time, and his age was twice as Billy's. When the village master asked for his name, the villagers failed to understand his pronunciation. They then asked for the meaning for his name. A good person, he replied. Thereafter, in this village, he was being called as Goodman. Billy thought of it a bit ridiculous. But Goodman seemed to find it not bad. When Billy brought the girl back, Goodman looked surprised. But as usual, Goodman with tolerant smile, welcome back, he waved at him.
As a fellow worker, as a neighbor, sometimes as a father or an older brother, he always visited the deadpan Billy. Oh, he really is a Goodman, Billy understood all too soon.
"Probably the same as me"
"Same?"
"There is a wound on the back of her head. It might not leave a scar, but the nervous system was damaged, and she can't pull any expressions."
I had recovered from it, then maybe with the same way, she might also be able to recover like I did. That's why I brought her along. The explanation was extremely brief, but Goodman understood the character of Billy. He nodded as he patted Tharros' head. If there's any worries you are always welcome to tell me. Her father must be around the same age as Goodman. This must be the reason that Tharros nodded obediently unexpectedly.
Just as he thought, the villagers here were all nice and gentle. Towards people from outside, they welcomed them whole-heartedly. It must have been the environment. Thanking the doctor again for bringing him here, Billy stood in front for his grave. Behind his house and over a slope, there stood the grave. The people of the village had decorated the grave with many white mountain herbs. He put his hand on the chest, and could cry heartfelt as he wanted.
Having someone to cry for your death, is a warm and sad thing.
Tharros walked around into the house. A simple and clean room was rare towards the children of the town. Do not touch anything on the shelf, Billy told her as he put down his favorite hammer.
"Billy"
Being called, he turned around. Looking difficult, Goodman tilted his head.
"I've got a slightly bad news"
"…Bad news?"
It was said that the ancestors of Gypceros came from the distanced country of desert, demanding for water.
By tracing back the genealogy of Gypceros, it was found that they started their evolution in very early times. During the life in the long desert of night, surrounded by many ferocious carnivores, their body had evolved in order to protect themselves. For example the crystalized part they had on their crests. Their scales stiffened and crystallized , being able to force flashes with frictions. They depended on the flashes during the long nights, by calling a temporary light, with their vigorous and strong leg they escaped from the predators.
But there was a limit for their living in the desert. They lost the struggle for oasis, drifting to this continent slowly, searching for water. At last, according to historical books, they arrived at the Great Lakes, and their body texture started to change there. A large among of Gypceros had died when they drank the poisonous water from the lake. Their body fluids had caused big changes to the lake water. It was said that people who drank the water of the lake would become stronger. Several hundred years later, the lake dried out. It was noted that humans had consumed all the water in that period .
On the contrary, the survived Gypceros had became compatible with the poison of the lake, they gained elastic and rubbery skins that could bear the water and poison. Towards their insulated characteristics, some researchers believed that they gained them just by chance. At the same time, because of drinking poison, their body had became immune to venom, they even gained the ability to produce poison from their body.
With the new abilities and the vigor they owned, some kind of reaction had happened inside their bodies. The character of them being quiet and gentle had transformed into drunken and crafty manners. The creatures known as Gypceros nowadays were formed throughout many stages of evolution. It was considered that they had another name for their ancestors, and after the transformation of their body, another name was given to them. Thus the principle of Gypceros taking awkward actions, was written in the genealogy.
Billy was convinced. He had drunk the juice of Gypcero and had pulled out tyranny that could have knocked himself out. The refreshment he felt from that time, was unbearable and unforgettable. He understood that the cause of all this was the power extract. He had once admired the method used by hunters to drag the vigorous part out, the offset by mixing oil and fat from humans' favorite meat.
The news that Goodman had brought to him was, the unnatural deaths of the Gypceros had caused them to move to new habitats, and that their numbers had decreased greatly.
A few months ago, signs of Lavasioths had been found around the village, small volcanic eruptions also occurred. It's likely that the quality of the water had changed, the poisonous water that Gypceros liked had decreased, leading to the increase of their deaths. Some Gypceros that noticed the change in the water, approximately five of them, had journeyed over the mountains and moved to the swaps on the other sides. Hunters that noticed had started over-hunting them, making their numbers further dropped.
Is that so. Billy muttered in a low voice. The next day, he had started hunting at least three tails of Gypceros continuously. Though he didn't take any mega juice, he could be seen as if he was mad. Goodman said. Don't you think you are over doing it. Billy shook his head. In order for me to be in this way now, do you know how many Gypceros are needed. The same amount is needed, for Tharros. It isn't enough… There isn't enough number at all. He must be desperate. If he ran out of power extract, not only for Tharros, he himself might once again lost his voice and emotions, and would be only able to contact with others through writing. It was very lonely by imaging the scene only. Furthermore, the elation that he felt drinking it was unforgettable to Billy. He wanted to avoid losing something again.
Day by day, the head counts of Gypceros decreased, the word "Gypcero" could no longer be found among the village quests, and he proceeded to the Gathering Hall. When the word couldn't be found to in the Gathering Hall, he extended his hand towards the area guild. Over-hunting must be happening somewhere. As they were becoming rarer and rarer, the selling price of their skins and heads rose day by day, not before long, the price was five times the original.
By selling the unneeded materials to the shops, he was told that it would only make the price rose faster. Still he was able to find dozens of power extract selling at a single-unit price. But slowly, the price caught up with the skin, passing over the head, and finally lining up with webbing. It was natural as they were used as expendable supplies for hunters, that allowed them to carry out more hunting against other fierce monsters. Without the medicine that helped many duel swords users and bow hunters to shine, a number of them were unable to stand in the front line. Along with the hunts of Gypceros, Billy had started aiming for other creatures also. When he was hunting other targets, there may be chances that a Gypcero would appear nearby. Therefore, he hunted mainly in swaps and jungles, sometimes heading for the forests and hills. The chances to return home became lesser and less.
When he noticed, he was given the title "Gypceros Breaker". He didn't understand whether it was a disgrace or an honor. Sometimes, he would need to compete inside the Gathering Hall, between hunters in order to get the quests he wanted. Still, Billy was able to hunt for Gypceros alone, was because of the resolution he had. With Gypceros as the main, without any use in arguing, Billy, being able to knock them down by his own, his power had grown so much that he didn't even noticed.
"Hey-, you"
"..."
He was surprised to be called. It happened inside the Gathering Hall of the town.
"Are you the one known as the Gypceros Breaker?"
"..."
"If you're going for Gypcero today, do you mind bringing me along? Even though Iodrome and Basarios will be fine too, but I can't find any single quest."
"...Poison sac"
"What I want is deadly poison sac. It's the material needed for the weapon I want."
"If I can keep the rest of the materials, I don't mind."
"Well, of course. ...But, it will be better if we can share the reward money. I still want some money to compensate for the medicines and stuffs. ...Is that okay with you?"
"Sure."
"That's great."
This was the first time for him, a solo, to be called. The people that hunted Gypceros were already grouped into parties and worked together as a group. They wouldn't mind too much among comrades, but when they were sharing with other people, they were full of concessions. Billy didn't like it that way. This was his first time to meet someone like him, that could remark his interest directly.
Cool black hair that shook softly. He remembered seeing it somewhere before. But where, he wondered.
He squinted his eyes and coerced in a whisper.
"...After the annihilation, don't try to attack from behind. Your head will get crushed."
"...That wasn't quite gentle"
He chuckled, of course, with a nod. I won't put my eyes on the other materials. If you're worried, then let's go and sign a contract with the guild.
Hearing him saying it evidently, Billy finally felt relieved and beckoned to him. It's my bad, he smiled bitterly.
"I was born in the north. So I am not too good with the characters here. I'm sorry but is it possible for you to help me write it?"
"...How did you accept the quests up till now?"
"I did write it properly? But, no one can read it. How many times have I failed in confirmation after the slay and worked for nothing."
Surely I will like to prevent that, looking without timidity as he said. Billy sighed, and looked at the paper. His pronunciation was perfect, but being not able to write any character was strange to him.
"Your name?"
"Nobutuna"
"...How is it spelled"
"Actually it's in kanji"
"What's kanji"
"The characters used in my home town."
"Say it with the characters here."
"... Just write it in the way you like"
He understood now, till now, he was signing the contracts with the 'kanjis'. Unless it was the guild master who knew about the culture there, confirmations can't be carried out. Be glad that it is only for a several times.
Nobutuna. Spelling it as how it was pronounced, Billy handed in the paper to the counter.
The hunting ended in a few minutes. Billy was surprised at the overwhelming skills Nobutuna had with long swords. On the other hand, Nobutuna admired the daring and delicate techniques Billy possessed. A cut that penetrated its leg, a smash from the hammer on the fallen Gypcero, staggered and total defeat. Without damaging the body of Gypcero too much, they were somehow able to secure the deadly poison bag. With blood still dripping from the organ, Billy handed it to Nobutuna.
Blood continued to drop as he received it, and carefully, he wrapped it with a broad leaf used for preserving. After assuring him, Billy took out his carving knife and cut opened the heart of Gypcero. Near it was the organ where the special fluid power extract was produced. The marrow, the place where blood was produced for human beings, was located on the backside of Gypcero's heart.
"...So that, is the reason you continued hunting for Gypceros"
"What about that"
"The guild have received complains from environmental protection group about over-hunting. The guild is forced to control the numbers of Gypcero quests. However, hunters still continued to hunt them. ...Billy, you're crossing the limit."
"I have a need for it"
"...Mega juice?"
"..."
"With your strength, you can have reached Rank G already? Why are you still stuck on high rank. With those techniques, there's no need for power juice or mega juice...?"
With a bang, a loud sound stood, the hammer was smacked onto the ground. Nobutuna shut his mouth. As he poured the power extract into a empty bottle, Billy stared at Nobutuna.
"You are the one that slaughtered the steel dragon few months ago, right"
"...Yeah"
"I once lived in that town also. It is said that there will be an attack from the steel dragon every ten years. I was once a victim. "
"I have heard of that before."
"At that time my facial expressions and voice were taken away from me."
Before knowing it, Nobutuna had a pipe-looking thing sticking out of his mouth, smoke puffed out from there. It was something he had never seen before.
Showing no interest in it, Billy returned to carve the organs of Gypcero.
"...The fight you won, must have been magnificent. With the battlefield destroyed so much, you are still healthy in one piece"
"...Thanks"
"But behind all of it, there is child that have lost her voice and expressions like me"
"..."
"The wound was not caused by the wyvern, but from the broken shard of the houses, it struck the back of her head, dealing damage to the brain... Since then, she can't smile and laugh as she wants."
"..."
"With these, recovery can be carried out. ...At least ten years must be needed."
Hey, do you noticed that when you were enjoying the beer of victory, somewhere out in the streets, someone, unable to show any feelings, was left alone without anything, do you ever noticed that.
"How many people died from that attack?"
"..."
"I do not like it. Yet, you guys could carry out such a merrymaking."
"..."
"It's not as if I am trying to blame you. If it isn't for you, the town will be destroyed again, like what happened in the past. Sure, you are the hero that saved the town. Till now, you are still being thanked by the townspeople. ...But, I just don't like this."
Nobutuna looked at the back of Billy silently. He could see scars left on the skin. There's quite an amount of them.
"...What's wrong with it"
"...Huh?"
"What's wrong with trying to take back what was lost?"
What is wrong for being desperate for it. Billy casually brushed off the blood gotten on him during the carve as he stood up.
"The things that many of you normally have are being taken away all of a sudden, what is wrong with trying to retrieve them?"
"..."
"Don't stand in my way. If you do, be prepared for death. ...This is the world of survival of the fittest."
Yes. In the end, only the ones with more would be able to gain more. But at least, we must take back what is stolen from us. If we can't, we will lose. Continue to lose forever, staying weak.
He couldn't be proud of such himself.
"...You sure aren't gentle"
Thew, after blowing another smoke, Shan, a cold sound stood, Nobutuna unsheathed his long sword. Billy silently gripped onto his hammer.
"I have three things to say to you."
"...?"
Jocularly, he chuckled. Nobutuna narrowed his eyes.
"Firstly, when you are trying to retrieve what you lost, you didn't notice that, at the same time, you're taking something away from other people."
With a gulp, his throat clogged up. What, he wanted to say but didn't. He was surprised that he understood what he said was right.
"Secondly, retribution. As you hunt for hunting, so as to fulfill your self-interest, the object you desire will be hurt and destroyed. Soon, it might perish, and disappear from the world. That's just making • means • for • the • end!"
If the number of Gypceros continued to decrease, they would all disappear from this ground. They would move to another place. He recalled that, Goodman had given him a face of worry, when he muttered earlier.
"Thirdly, you are not doing what you aimed for. I understand that you aim for the power extracts, but what you are doing now, is merely hunting Gypceros."
Though, you can obtain power extract ahead of that. He chuckled in a lonely manner. With a swing, Nobutuna slashed through a bush swinging his sword. Dozens of berries dropped to the ground.
"…I believe that you are right. Certainly, the will to retrieve what is lost, is something that we can look up to. I think it's strong and brave. But, for causing damages to others, and ignoring their feelings, it deserves no sincere. That is just plain tyranny."
"…If I become concerned of other people and controlled my desire, then I will have to bear with everything. That will only result in losing something new. …This is just stupid."
In the past, he had asked the doctor. Do I have to keep on losing. Why does it mean, to be strong. Do I have to bear with everything. If I do so, what will I lose next? Just like you have lost your leg, will I again, lose something?
It didn't matter if I am tyranny, or cruel. All I want is to take back what I had lost. I just want to laugh again. I want to retrieve what I had lost.
"Billy, how is that child?"
Nobutuna changed the topic suddenly. In confusion, Billy answered him. She is in my house. Nobutuna smiled. It was an unpleasant smile.
But, not bad.
"The child, she's important to you right"
"…"
"If it isn't for the child you shall be having sufficient power extract for yourself."
His arm moved on his own. With the momentarily anger he felt, he swung his arm. A track. The air cracked. Nobutuna did not evade it. He didn't try to evade it. That's why, he stopped. The track stopped at the perfect timing. A ray of wind pressed, a wound on his cheek. Blood trickled down, dripping onto his red armor.
Nobutuna laughed softly and ironically.
"Why do you need to work so hard, in order to secure her share too?"
"…"
Facing the silenced Billy, he laughed again. He smiled and laughed a lot, he thought. But, he wasn't sure, if he was really laughing, or not.
"…People are bound to each other in that way."
The way you treated others, will be the way how others treated you back. With those strengths, it will be impossible for you to stay solo for all those time. In normal cases, many people should be inviting you here and there. Nobutuna kneed down and picked up some berries.
"Hey, mind accompanying me for awhile?" After picking up several berries, Nobutuna turned his back at him defenseless. It was as if telling him to strike whenever he wanted, Billy followed his shadow silently.
They stepped onto the sand. The sun was setting down. The sand was shining in red, and the rocks far-away became golden. The temperature of the desert dropped slowly, it would probably soon became a dry and cold ground.
"Yosh, let's go-"
As he said, Nobutuna dashed out. Unsheathing his sword from his back, he rushed into the middle of the desert. What is he trying to do, he thought as he chased after him, seeing him thrusting his long sword into the sand suddenly. Without thinking, he started prying through the sand.
He saw blood stained on the sand, and heard roars from the sand as he slashed. There was a pair of white eyes, covered in sand. It's a Cephalos.
There, as he swung his long sword once more, the creature flopped in pain. The small wyvern dropped onto the ground, and without any movement, it laid dead on the floor.
"Yo-––Billy"
"…"
"Come over"
"…."
He wasn't sure what he was trying to do, he walked closer from behind. Cutting through the belly of the Cephalos with the carving knife, Nobutuna pointed with the tip of the knife.
"This is the stomach, then the small and large intestines. Those are the lungs. And, on the right side of it, somewhere around here-"
He cut into the lungs, and slashed open with the edge. Slowly, scooping out an organ, Nobutuna turned around.
"Here. The best accompaniment for wine, the piscine liver."
"…I know"
"That's great"
Yosh, he sat down, and took out a small portable medicine bowl from the item pack. He sliced the liver into pieces fitting into the bowl, Nobutuna then started crushing it with a wood pestle. Fluids were squeezed out.
"That is a wyvern right"
"….Yeah"
"By killing the wyvern part in it, it would just be a fish."
"…..Eh, that's kind of..."
"Nonononono. It's the it-would-just-be-a-fish part. About the energy it got to swim in the sand."
Mixed with epithelium and blood, when the color of the mixture turned to brown, Nobutuna took out the berries he picked up early in the swap from his pouch. He cracked it open, showing the bluish fruit inside. Using the two cracked shells to hold onto the fruit, he squeezed it. Transparent blue juice flowed into the bowl.
"You must be careful not to add in any fruit meat at this stage. Only the juice. Even a thin skin will take away the effects. Oh, and don't touch it with your hands. The oil of human, it's going to damage the nature of the fish. That's why, you should use the shells. If you happen to have ores with you, you can use them also. But I don't suggest antiseptic stones, firestones and firecell stones, cause their surfaces are kinda burning for no reason."
"Huh..."
He carefully stirred the liquid and the smashed liver together. In a moment, the liquid slowly turned to a purple he recognized. You must be joking, Billy stared. It was in a paste form, but somewhat of a liquid form.
"Here. Power extract coming out-"
"..."
"Take it Billy"
He received the medicine bowl passed from the smiling man, he stared at it and took a sniff. It was the smell of refreshment and stimulant. With a flickering sound, smoke rose into the air. Nobutuna was smoking from the pipe earlier.
"...Hey"
"..."
"I believe you think that the work of hunters is to send monsters flying, right"
"...Yeah"
"In my country, the word "shuryou" means hunting. ...It is one of the ways, we humans choose, in order to survive. There are also fishing and collecting. The history of farming is also very long. ... We, from a long time ago, started hunting in order to survive, taking away their bodies and lives."
Huff, smoke disappeared into the dawn. His black hair glittered.
"Being a hunter is like, hmm, ... In my opinion? ... Is doing things in exchange for those who can't do it, that is what I think a hunter is."
"..."
"In you case, just like you collecting power extracts for the sake of the emotionless child without her voice, that kind of feeling. I believed that doing something like that is a part of a hunter's job "
That's why, I agreed that you are a hunter, respected you as a hunter. But, that doesn't mean I think it's fine to leave other things behind.
"Isn't that, on a lower level"
I was bad too. Certainly, I defeated Kushala Daora, and saved the town. As you have said, some have lost their lives. Sacrificing a small number for the sake of many, isn't the right thing. If I can, I actually wanted everyone to be saved.
"I am also, weak and small"
I am not strong enough to protect all.
"I am still inexperienced , there are time I wanted to escape from things too."
The party might be one of it. Nobutuna narrowed his eyes as he laughed at himself hopelessly. The dawn was too bright for him to look.
"After that... I took a look around the street"
"...How was it?"
"It became unpleasant. I left the town immediately."
There was a rumor. Kind of stupid though. Nobutuna muttered. The girl that had gotten a weird disease from the dragon and lost her expressions, the girl that used to crouch under the bridge had disappeared. She became invisible because of the disease, something like that.
"Everyone, doesn't have the right knowledge, and judged base on suppositions. I do think that it can't be held... But now that I know she is with you... I feel relieved."
He took a deep breath and sighed, he continued to smoke. Ah-ah-, he groaned without a reason, and Nobutuna leaned against the corpse of the Cephalos. By some means, he was insensitive.
"...Thank you"
"...What?"
"No really...I know it's not something that I should say but... Thank you. I felt kind of saved"
Billy opened his eyes.
He never thought of hearing this.
"You were there at that time, right? Though you left right away"
"...You noticed?"
"Didn't our eyes met. ...I could feel someone with a strong desire, but I was drunk so I couldn't remember properly. I could feel that I was being stared at coldly"
But, that's right, I thought. After it, I left the guild straight away. He didn't tell him that he actually felt like crying at that moment. It was the second when their eyes met, that had given him, the courage to step into the destroyed field once more, which he couldn't did so before due to the sense of guilt. After he calmed down, Nobutuna stepped out his feet, and walked outside of the town. There, he prayed only for requiem. He apologized, and prepared himself.
"Then I heard that the guy who gave me that opportunity, started over-hunting Gypceros in a forceful way."
I was surprised when I heard it from the guild manager.
"I became so anxious about it, so much that I couldn't help it."
"...What a meddlesome people"
"It's my nature."
Well, it might be of my own accord, I can give you that combination method as a return. It's not much of a use to me anyway. Nobutuna buried the burn-outpipe into the sand, raising an eyebrow he chuckled. That combination method, is only passed to hunters that had fulfilled a certain condition. Originally, it is used by the expert hunters in the field, as a tool of business. If it becomes widely known, they will lose their earnings. Therefore, do it quietly.
"Cephalos breed and grow up rather fast. Their breeding season came every several months. In addition, the ecosystem in the desert won't be affected much. Compare to Gypceros, the chance of extinction is relatively low. Just bear with this side for the time being."
"...Okay"
Okay, yosh, I feel better now. Nobutuna stood up, and walked with his back facing the dawn as if nothing had happened. Billy hurried and transferred the power extract into an empty bottle, and called out to Nobutuna in a hurry.
Huh, Nobutuna turned around lightly. Though Billy couldn't see clearly due to the backlight, he could tell that he was smiling.
Now that he thought of, this was the first time he called his name.
"Guild card."
"...Ah"
My bad my bad, how can I forget. Nobutuna reached out for the waist pouch behind him, and took out a card, here, he handed it out.
The exchanged card. The hunter rank of Nobutuna, was one rank ahead of him, rank seven.
"Brother, it's fine. I am not a child anymore."
Tharros said as she blushed. Billy ignored what she said, moving his hand silently, sowing the ragged cloths together. Billy and Tharros had an age difference of six years. His stepsister, still considered to be small, had grown a lot since she came in this village. She also aimed to become a huntress, and trained everyday. I want to hunt Kushala Daora with brother one day, she said. What are you taking about, Goodman would always replied her with a bitter smile.
Billy raised his hunter rank. Most of the village quests were given to Tharros. All the quests he received from the guild were wholly on the hidden rank. It had become frequent for him to travel to secret areas.
"...It's done."
The teddy bear had been left on the shelf for a long time. It was put there in the first place to prevent it from breaking.
By chance, few months ago he reunited with a friend. Because he told him that he would be staying around a while, they went out on missions together frequently. On one occasion, after hunting in the forests, as they returned to the base camp, he looked up at the sky.
Cotton flowers were blossoming. He himself also turned to the same direction where his friend faced. He could see many cotton flowers blooming. Nobutuna was very sensitive towards the change of season and weather. There were many times he would stop during quests. He admired even a flower, the sky, the wind, the quietness. It's called "furyuu", he told him about the language of his country.
I want them. Billy muttered. Nobutuna didn't ask him for the reason. Billy, hold tightly. Doing as what Nobutuna told him, he held onto his hammer. Nobutuna stepped a few steps backward. Hit me up properly, he chuckled and took off. Towards the tall tree, Billy had sent Nobutuna flying.
Using the large amount of cotton he brought back, he fixed the doll with a sharp and small dragon bone. The touch of the needle. Oh, after all, the lives of the monsters are graces towards their livings.
"Here."
"... Once in a while trying listening to what I say please, brother."
"It's better it's fixed."
It is the only thing you brought from your home. He stood up, and picked up the vambrace. Tharros stood up too, and turned around.
"On a quest with Nobutuna?"
"Yeah."
"...I hope I can go soon."
"Work harder."
Tying up his long hair, warping it with a long stripe, in order to prevent the cloth from falling out, she add a silver ring at the end, fixing it with a white band. Tharros always helped Billy to tie his hair. Going out on quests had become a daily work for him. Thanks to that, he had lost the timing to cut his hair.
"See you. Be careful."
"I will."
"...Wait, brother."
What is it, he looked up. Tharros blinked her eyes and looked puzzled.
'If I am able to make friends, will I be able to smile and laugh a lot, like how you did"
"...I believe it must be"
Billy smiled as he opened the door. Outside, was a cool weather suitable for hunting.
Author's Note:
How is it? I hope you enjoyed it while reading. I planned to write on with this feeling, though it's quite long. I'll be happy to have you read along the story together with me. Thanks for reading!
Translator's Note:
Thanks Rime for letting me work on the translation version of the story. It's a really great story. Though this isn't my first time working on translations, I'm still immature, so there might be mistakes. If you spot them feel free to let me know ( ^ w ^ ) Hope you can enjoy it~!