The group passed through the border between the two zones.
"How much longer until we make it?" Luke asked.
Isa stared down at her map. "At least another day."
"Seriously?" Zara asked.
"Seriously."
"Okay, I'm done." She collapsed into the ground. "Just leave me. You don't need a doctor, right? Things around here are too far apart for this whole journey thing to work."
"Don't just give up." Spence urged her, "Hunters can't be that weak that a few hours of walking would tire them out."
"Did you forget that I am too weak to use normal weapons properly? Actually, no, I don't care. I'm more scared about how you think walking for this long is normal."
"You can't use normal weapons?"
"Okay, you're too stupid, I'm passing out now."
"He wasn't there for the Bishaten hunt." Mary reminded him.
"But I still used it against that guy, how did he miss that?"
"Ah, well I was fighting him at the time. So I really didn't notice anything other than him and Storm during that. I was, uh, what would you call it-"
"A focused state of mind?"
"No, that's too many words. I got it. Beast mode."
"Okay, I am now passing out."
"We should probably stop and camp around here anyway." Judah tried to take control of the situation. "We've had enough happen today, and it's getting dark. So let's just rest."
"Cool." She remained on the ground.
"Don't just stay there. You're the one who should know best how that's not good for you."
"Fine then." She got Arachne's attention, who was also resting. "Sorry to bug you, but can you just- you know?"
Arachne knew. She shot out some webs to grab Zara, then carefully dragged her onto her back. She seemed comfortable up there. Judah just sort of stared.
"Jealous?"
"Not really."
They set up a fire and some tents, the group sitting around.
"I think I forgot to ask again." Spence thought aloud "What kinda place are we headed to now?"
Judah decided to explain.
"Valrag. From what I hear, it's a relatively busy place, though less than Omaten. Not that I've been there, though."
"That's it?"
"Why would I know more than that about somewhere that I've never been?"
"This place is pretty much the exact same as the first zone, isn't it?" Isa asked. "Why even have the hunter rank requirement to get here?"
"Hey, be careful." Luke replied "Last time you said that something disastrous happened. Lines like that carry a dangerous power."
"I really doubt we could get hit with anything worse than last time."
A rustling from the darkness. Right next to their supplies. Luke didn't say anything, he just made exasperated hand signals in her general direction. She waved his hands away and picked up her hammer.
Isa stepped forwards quietly but determinedly. She took fa ew more steps, before abruptly swinging into the darkness with all her might.
"Ow! What the hell?"
In confusion, the others moved closer. They brought a torch with them, revealing a woman rubbing her head in slight annoyance.
"Wait, you're a person?"
"Yeah, I think so. Now it's my turn for a question. Why did you hit me!?"
"Why didn't you just introduce yourself instead of shuffling around in the dark?"
"That's not fair, you didn't answer my question."
"I answered it with my question."
"Huh? Are you stupid? You don't answer questions with questions, you answer them with answers. Everyone knows that!"
"Think about my question."
"...Okay."
Isa stared at her for a moment. She didn't seem to be doing anything. Isa got bored of waiting for her to respond, so she just kept going.
"I asked you why you were rustling around in the dark. That implied that the reason I hit you is because you were doing that. I put the answer and the question together, it's about saving time. Which has now been wasted because I had to explain it to you."
"Wow, I didn't know you could think that much." Spence commented.
"Saying stuff like that is my bit, not yours. Know your place."
He looked over to the woman. Her brain seemed to be freezing up while trying to understand the explanation she just got. He then noticed what she was holding.
"Where did you get all that raw meat from?"
She finally returned to reality, having forgotten about what she was stuck on.
"...Found it."
"Oh, ok."
"Found it where?" Isa asked.
"In a box."
Isa pointed to the item box she was standing next to.
"That one?"
She didn't answer.
"Did you get them from that one?"
"...No."
"Then where's the box?"
"It's just this way. I'll show you."
She took off sprinting.
Isa quickly opened the box.
"Yep, it's gone!"
"Why would she take raw meat of all things?" Luke asked.
"I dunno, ask her."
"I can't even see her anymore."
"What? Oh, damn. She is fast."
"But not fast enough." Spence looked over to Storm, who was just sitting down. "Come on boy! We're not going to sit here and let her take our food!"
That seemed to get him motivated. The fanged wyvern bounded forwards, slowing down slightly enough to allow Spence to grab on before speeding off into the darkness.
"Should we go after them?" Mary asked.
"And do what, exactly?" Isa asked back.
"I don't think raw meat is really that big of a deal." Luke added.
"That's never stopped anyone before."
The Tobi-Kadachi sped through the fields. Hearing it behind her, she turned.
"Why is everything attacking me today?"
"Why are you stealing people's food!?"
"Oh, you're here too. Wait, are you doing that answering questions with questions thing again?"
"Am I?"
Before she could think of a response, Storm crashed into her. She went flying back and crashed a short distance away. The meat landed on the ground nearby.
"Okay, since you're even stupider than I am, this'll be no problem." Spence swung his glaive around over his head for dramatic effect. "It's time for our retribution!"
"Why are you so mean?"
"Stop with the questions!"
Storm dived forward again.
"Fine, then!"
His dive was blocked, he jumped back slightly. Spence could barely see the outline of her holding a greatsword.
"Let's settle this."
Storm darted forwards, falling just short of a speed too fast for her eyes to keep up. Spence swung his glaive, clashing with her sword. She just simply blocked.
She blocked another strike from Storm. Suddenly, a glaive hit her side.
"Heh. Didn't see that one coming, did you? This is the power of jumping off and making a sneak attack! Now it's over, it's time for-"
"Oh, so you were there."
She swung her blade around, crashing its side into Spence's head.
His brain felt like it was being knocked around.
"Why does it feel like I only ever lose?"
After lamenting that, he unceremoniously collapsed to the ground. Storm ignored the battle to check on him. The woman laughed at them for a moment before running off.
When Spence next opened his eyes, it was morning.
"Oh, you're back. That was quick."
"What happened?" He asked.
"I don't know. Oh, but if you mean after you passed out, then Storm just carried you back to the camp."
"So she got away with the food?"
"No, it was still there."
"Huh?"
"It was still there."
"That's weird."
"Yeah. Maybe she just didn't want it because she dropped it on the ground?"
"Oh well, more for us."
"No, like I just said, it was on the ground. For a few hours, at least."
"Yeah. What's your point?"
Zara gave him a very concerned stare, but also couldn't be bothered to try explaining the reason why she was staring at him.
"Oh, you're up." Luke looked over.
"Yeah. So, how are we gonna get back at her?"
"...What?"
"It was a pretty simple question, right? I mean, how are we taking revenge?"
"We're… not?"
"Why?"
"How would we find her?"
"By looking."
"Where?"
"Somewhere around here."
"It's a bit too big for that. Look, it's fine, isn't it? She didn't actually take anything, the worst she did was knock you out. But it's not like it's worth searching all around here for, that'd be like finding a needle in a haystack. Unless she just happened to show up here ag-"
Loud noise from the front.
Spence smirked at him.
"Shut it."
The two of them ran back outside, Zara lazily following behind.
Storm spotted Spence almost instantly, seeming relieved he was okay. At the same time, the woman from earlier also spotted him.
"There you are! Now, you might've fooled me once, but not this time. How did you hide the meat I stole?"
"Huh? I did?"
"Yeah, it was gone after I got away. This time I won't hold back. Let's go!"
She charged forwards, sword raised. Judah jumped in the way of them as she swung down, being visibly shaken as it connected.
"No wonder he lost, this strength's ridiculous! Is she really human?"
He had to catch his breath before he could talk.
"Calm down, we don't have to settle this with violence, do we?"
"Then give me your food!"
"Can't you just hunt some Aptonoth yourself?"
"There's none around here."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Why would I lie about that?"
"I wasn't accusing you of that. But still, that is strange."
"It was probably because of the Deviljho." Mary suggested.
"Yeah, that would make sense."
"What Deviljho?"
"Oh, I guess you wouldn't know. One appeared around here recently, but it's uh… been dealt with."
"Damn, that's crazy. I didn't think there'd be Deviljho out here in the first zone."
"Why didn't you just go somewhere else?" Zara asked.
"Well, I uh… got lost. Just a bit."
"That's unsurprising."
"Well, anyway. Back to fighting."
She got ready to swing again. Judah readied his shield once more.
"No, we already established that isn't necessary."
"...Oh yeah, I guess we did." She paused, entering a state almost resembling thought before she spoke again "You sure you don't wanna, though?"
"Very much so."
"That's lame."
"S-sorry?"
"Apology accepted."
"Wait." Isa interrupted Judah's confusion at how he was apologising "For no real reason, what's your hunter rank?"
"Why?"
"Just answer."
"Uh… I think it was somewhere around twenty. Now tell me why you asked."
"Oh." The group collectively replied.
"Huh? What?"
"Where do you think this is?"
"Why are you only asking questions? But still, it's the FG, right?"
"No I meant more, which zone?"
"The first."
Zara anodded. "Yeah, that figures."
"I guess this can happen pretty easily when this place doesn't have clear borders." Luke added.
"Seriously, what?"
Mary decided to explain. "This is the second. You must've gotten lost and left the first."
"Oh. So which way is it to get back?"
"You go south from here."
"Thanks."
Before she could turn around and go west, Zara interrupted.
"Do you really think you'll get off that easy?"
"Huh? With what?"
"Crossing into another zone when you're under the rank requirement."
"...Well, yeah. I think I will."
"The punishment is quite steep, you know?"
"Is it?"
The question this time came from Mary.
"Of course. Why, I remember my old friend John Realman. He crossed over while only at hunter rank ten. The guild had him shot out of a cannon…"
"Was he okay?" The woman asked.
"No."
"What am I gonna do… I'm not good at being fired from cannons."
"There is a solution."
"What? What is it?"
"The captain here is of a high enough rank to be here legally, we're allowed because we're working with him. So if you join us you might just be saved."
"I'll join! I don't wanna be fired out of a cannon!"
"That's a good answer. Now just sign here." She pulled out a form. The rest of the group had no idea since when, how or even why she had that.
She handed the woman the form. While she studied it, Zara turned back to the others.
"Are you sure about this?" Mary asked.
"It's fine, right? As the saying goes: If you can't beat them, trick them into joining you."
"You didn't even check with anyone else, though?"
"Well, it was kind of in a rush. Hey Judah, is it cool if I get this stupid strong girl to join us?"
"Well it's a bit late for me to refuse now, isn't it?"
"Then it's good."
"Hey, what's up with this part about getting a cut of what I earn on hunts? I dunno what this thing next to the circles is."
"It means you get a hundred percent of what you make."
"Oh. Weird thing to put in. That's normal, right?"
"Yeah. It's all just text to fill space, you know? No one ever reads that stuff. Don't worry about it. Also don't read it."
"Sure."
Isa was about to speak out, but Zara gave her a glare strong enough to silence her completely before she could finish forming the first word.
"Should we just be watching this happen?" Mary whispered to Judah.
"Well, if we stop it, we're going to have to deal with her, as well as the greatsword girl having a reason to fight us again."
"That's... not untrue."
"Okay, now sign here." Zara continued "Now that I think about it, we didn't get your name."
"It's Laura Ford."
"Cool. Now just write it here. Then sign this with blood so it can't be broken. Now sign this extra thing. Now here too."
This continued on for a little while, until Zara nodded.
"Recruitment successful."
"So, what now?"
"Oh. Good question."
"So do I have to get a monster?"
"No." Judah answered "Why would you?"
"Well, looking around, I figured it was just what this group does."
"That's a surprisingly fair point, but no. It just worked out that way by coincidence."
"Oh. Cool."
"Wait, another thing first. We need your role. Everyone needs one, after all."
"I don't have one, though." Luke pointed out.
"That's a work in progress. Anyway, what are you good at?"
"Fighting. That sounds good. Make me the fighter."
"Isn't there anything else you can contribute?" Mary asked.
"Nah."
"But we all fight."
"Hey, who's the best fighter here?"
"The captain." Spence answered.
"But he surrendered to me. So that means I'm the best here, now."
"That's… not wrong. But it's annoying."
"I won against you fair and square, you can't argue back."
"I was just off my game then."
Judah felt slightly irritated at his authority at the captain being challenged somewhat, but he didn't really know how to bring it up without sounding petty.
"None of this really matters, does it?" Zara asked, "All she's gonna do is fight. So let's just go with that."
Spence was shocked by the sudden intensity, but managed to get out a "Sure."
"Then it's settled. Okay, you all better be ready. I'll be fighting for you until I drop!"
"Yeah, that's what's written in the contract after all."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it."
TO BE CONTINUED