OwO? What's this? A cameo from a SIGN character?
Haseo was angry, oh so angry. He'd thought he'd been close to more information on Tri-Edge, but no. Atoli had just heard about his own run in with Tri-Edge not too long ago… It made everything with that visit to the G.U. group thing pointless…!
Now he just needed to get out of town, before someone tried to muscle him in going back and saying he'd join up. After the stunt Atoli had pulled and the way Yata had talked, he was sure one thing or another would push him to if he stayed in Mac Anu… Maybe he'd go to Lumina Cloth until all of this blew over.
He walked along, planning his escape. He'd need to stock up on healing items of sorts, maybe grab some better weapons… He thankfully still had the Gold on hand that he'd had when fighting Tri-Edge. At least Kuhn and those Canard guys weren't thieves or something along similar lines…
If they were, he would be pretty sure that his life was on a downward spiral that would be almost impossible to get out of. The last thing he needed right now.
Soon enough, he was heading for the shops, thoughts focused on getting back to the hunt and letting things blow over. That was, until he heard a familiar voice. One of those hunters who got a kick out of hurting (and sometimes even killing) other hunters, almost more than killing the monsters they were all supposed to go after.
He didn't remember her name, but her voice was familiar. Befitting a bratty fourteen year old who thought she could do as she pleased. He was about to try and ignore her when he heard what sounded like Gaspard letting out a weak yell. What the hell was going on…?
Rounding the corner, Haseo planned on simply taking a peek at what was happening before going back to his business. No reason for him to stick his nose into things for more time than was needed, after all…
But he couldn't help but be a bit pissed off at what he saw.
Bordeaux, as young as she might be, had no real good excuse for treating Gaspard the way she currently was. A foot on his stomach as he tried and failed to get up, while her two closest goons held Silabus back. Why were all the hunters like them so unbearable?
"So your little guild is still running, huh?" Her voice was laced with venom as she stared Silabus down. "You haven't even gotten your numbers up enough to face us head on, either! You need to get to closing the guild now or man up enough to face us head on."
"Come on… can't we all just get along…?" Silabus was eyeing Gaspard, clearly wanting to run to the boy to help him out. "You're part of a guild so big, I don't see how Canard could be causing you issues…"
"You shut up!" Negimaru snapped, pressing one of his blades closer to Silabus's neck. "You have no right to talk to Bordeaux! You listen to what she tells you, you don't try to reason with her!"
Haseo watched for a few more moments, trying to decide if approaching now would be a good idea. He was still in a lot of pain, might not be able to hold his own very well, but… Maybe they'd be freaked out if they saw him and that'd be enough. He could always hope, at least.
It'd be a bit annoying to hear this while trying to focus on buying supplies after all.
"Hey!" He approached, doing his best to hide the fact his sudden movements had sent a jolt of pain through his body. "Shouldn't you guys be looking for some information of Tri-Edge to try and scrounge up some pity next time you run into me?"
Bordeaux looked at him, clearly upset by seeing him. However, she recovered quickly enough, looking as smarmy as ever. "Haseo! Don't think I didn't hear about your little run-in with Tri-Edge already! If you wanna act tough, you better actually act."
"Haseo…!" Gaspard's eyes were filled with tears as he continued to struggle under her foot. "Help…!"
"The only way you're gonna be able to help them with how you are now, is if it turns out you're actually a member of their little guild. Maybe then we'll give all three of you a fighting chance!"
He was pretty sure she was lying, but maybe if he said yes, it would get her to knock it the hell off for now. He could pretend to be part of the guild for a while, it'd be like being part of it in name only or something…
"Yeah, I was on my way to join up, actually."
"Y...yeah!" Silabus seemed to catch on to what was going on. "In fact, he's planning on becoming the new guildmaster!"
Now that wasn't at all what Haseo wanted, but right now all he could do was nod along. He needed to just go what was being said in order to get these guys to go the hell away, even if he'd suffer for it.
"Then let's do it." She finally stepped off Gaspard, allowing the boy to scramble to his feet and hide behind Haseo. "Show me what you've got, Haseo!"
Haseo was about to do his best, despite Gaspard's tugging and Silabus's mumbles about running away. He'd never live that down… If hunters like this didn't take him seriously, he'd never get stronger and be able to really take on Tri-Edge…
"Stop right there!" A man Haseo had met once, who called himself a silver knight, approached and Bordeaux grimaced.
"Of course, someone worse than Moon Tree." She rolled her eyes, turning to her goons. "Come on, we're not dealing with this!"
And with that, off they went, leaving Haseo and company to stare after them. Man, Haseo guessed this guy just had an annoying air about him that made people wanna get away. He sure had that effect on him, at the very least.
Silver Knight had turned his gaze on him by then. "You-"
"If you're about to say you wanna be friends again, I don't wanna hear it." Haseo shook his head. "The less I have to deal with your type, the better."
Silver Knight frowned, crossing his arms. "You're still so opposed to it, then…? I suppose it's a good thing that a closer look at you has made me second-guess my offer."
"What?" He furrowed his brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Silver Knight shook his head. "You look like you could be him , from the shape of your face to that scar of yours…"
Haseo's hand instinctively rose to the scar on his cheek, one he had no memory of getting. He felt a pit settle in his stomach as the words processed. There was a good year or two missing from his memory, from even before he'd been struck with an affliction that was apparently similar to the one Shino was currently suffering…
Anytime he thought on it, Haseo's stomach churned.
"Fine by me, if I never see you again, it'd be too soon." With that, he turned on his heel and stormed off, Silabus and Gaspard chasing after him.
Everything felt so far off right now, the voices of Silabus and Gaspard barely registering in his ears as they walked. Where was he even leading them? He wasn't sure, just away from Silver Knight.
"You know, I never noticed that scar of yours…"
Don't think about it, never think about it...
"...Sorry for dropping guildmaster on you so suddenly, but I'm sure you'll do fine…"
It doesn't matter, whatever happened doesn't matter…
He almost screamed when Silabus put a hand on his shoulder. "S...sorry, are you alright?"
"I'm fine!" He shook his head. "You were… uh… talking about the guildmaster thing, right? I don't have any interest in doing that, I hope you realize that."
Silabus and Gaspard seemed to not be phased at all by the comment as they shared a look. This was giving Haseo a feeling that he was going to be pressured into saying yes to being guildmaster. Great, when he was planning on trying to get the hell out of here…
"Well… Uh, if you don't become our guildmaster, Bordeaux will catch on quickly!" Silabus smiled at him. "Besides, you're going to do great!"
"Yeah! You already stepped up to protect us, you're gonna be an amazing guildmaster!" Gaspard beamed up at him and Haseo had to look away. Dammit…
"Fine! But you better not expect me to do all that much! I have my own goals I need to focus on!" Canard meant nothing to him in the grand scheme of things.
"Of course, of course…" Silabus walked around him and Haseo realized he'd stalked off towards Canard itself without thinking about it. "Wait right here, just one job for you before you go."
"Are you kidding me?!"
"It's a pretty easy job!" Gaspard seemed to think Haseo's issue was going to be the difficulty of the job, then. Seriously? "I'm sure you'll do great, Haseo!"
Soon enough, Silabus was back with a bag of supplies. "Take this to where the Harvest Clerics are usually helping the afflicted, please! That's usually my job, but now that you're guildmaster…"
"So it's an errand." He felt his heart squeeze, knowing who he'd find there. Shino…
"I guess, but the Harvest Clerics always appreciate it, so…" Silabus gave an awkward laugh as Haseo took the bag. "Thank you, really!"
"Whatever…" He turned on his heel and started walking away, ignoring the calls from the two about him needing to know where they set up camp. He knew it all too well…
Soon enough, he was there, handing the bag with a mumbled explanation to one of the half monsters in charge. While he was here, he supposed he could visit her…
Walking into the building fully, he made his way to the bed where Shino lay. In as deep a sleep as she had been since the day he found her, the black spread across her entire chest by now. Shino… He wanted so badly to help her, but he had no clue what he could do…
"Haseo…" Tabby's voice hit his ears and he turned to look. He'd forgotten the girl had started volunteering here ever since Shino had…
"Tabby." His voice was tense as he tried to press memories of the Twilight Brigade out of his head. "How has she been?"
Her ears pressed against her head. "N… no change, Haseo. I'm sorry."
He sighed and turned back to Shino, holding one of her hands in his own. It was so cold… If he didn't know better, he would think she was dead.
The only thing he wanted to do was help her, but how? Was there anything he could do to help her? Everything on his own had led him nowhere so far… But what else could he even try?
That was when Yata's words came back to mind. G.U. seemed certain that they could deal with the issue, point him towards Tri-Edge… Maybe G.U. was the key to Haseo saving Shino…
Maybe he would actually stick around, so long as he could make it clear he was in it for himself and his own goals only. For Shino...