Under the fading twilight, the entire field trembled violently beneath the thundering roars of the rampaging hippos and the thunderous footsteps of the five brutal hunters. Chaos surged like a tidal wave, dust swirling in the air, thick with the stench of blood and violence.
Behind the frail wooden storage shack, Shun and Noct crouched in silence, their breaths sharp and muscles taut. Only a thin wall stood between them and the bloodthirsty beasts and their savage masters.
A wicked grin spread across Noct's face, his sharp eyes glinting dangerously.
- "Time for the real party… let's make sure they don't even have time to scream."
Shun said nothing, his fists tightening as a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted inside him. The ground beneath their feet trembled, shattered wood fragments and stones levitated around his body like orbiting blades.
Up front, the five butchers marched forward, their jeering laughs echoing through the field. The leader, a hulking man, raised his rusted sickle high, his voice hoarse with contempt.
-"Come out and die, you filthy rats!!!"
Then—"BOOM!!!!!!!"—the rear wall of the shack exploded into splinters, wooden shards piercing through the air like deadly arrows.
Shun shot out like lightning, his fists cloaked in a fierce spiritual aura. He grabbed a long plank of jagged wood and hurled it with terrifying force.
-"GO TO HELL!!!!"-
A sickening crack sounded as the plank drove straight through the spine of the man furthest back, his body arching grotesquely before slamming into the steel fence, painting it crimson.
The others spun around, faces twisted in shock.
-"When—?! How the hell are they behind us?!!!"
In their panic, Noct lunged forward like a shadowy demon, blades flashing in the dying light. One swift slice — a clean cut through a neck — and another fell, blood gushing like a fountain.
The leader's scream cracked with panic:
-"Fall back! Retreat now! They're—"
Before he could finish, Shun slammed both hands into the earth, roaring like thunder. A wave of spiritual force erupted outward, the ground splitting violently, dozens of deadly spikes made from sharpened earth and shattered wood jutting up like a death trap, encircling the battlefield.
The crazed hippos bellowed and charged wildly, trampling over friend and foe alike. They impaled themselves on the sharpened stakes, their massive bodies ripping apart, guts and blood splattering across the frozen ground.
From the shadows near the supply huts, Mye stepped out silently, her eyes cold. A small dagger shimmered in the moonlight before flying straight into the eye of one of the remaining men, sending him screaming to the ground, clutching his face.
Two remained — frozen in terror, their legs shaking, weapons dropping uselessly to their sides.
Shun emerged from the blood-soaked scene, his expression ice-cold, his presence towering like death itself.
- "You dared torment a helpless girl… you turned innocent lives into entertainment…"
Noct appeared beside him, twirling his bloodstained blades.
-"Scum like you… don't deserve mercy."
The night erupted in screams and the stench of fresh blood, while the wind howled across the field, carrying the death cries into the distant, uncaring darkness.
When Shun's consciousness settled again, he found himself standing in the blood-soaked remains of their enemies. Both his hands were drenched in the fresh blood of murderers, the thick metallic scent stinging his nostrils.
His chest heaved as the adrenaline slowly faded, leaving behind a chilling silence.
Turning toward Noct, Shun narrowed his eyes, his voice sharp and accusing.
-"Why… why did you bring us here knowing these people were killers from the start?"
Noct simply shrugged, his usual mischievous grin widening, golden eyes gleaming with amusement.
-"Because that's what the real job was from the beginning, kid. That reward? It wasn't for fixing some broken shack—it was for wiping out this filth."
Shun blinked, taken aback, a frown tightening across his face.
-"…You could've told me."
Noct chuckled, tilting his head.
- "And ruin the surprise? Where's the fun in that?"
Shun's fists loosened slightly, though his heart still pounded. It was hard to tell if it was from the fight… or from something darker settling inside him.
Beside him, Mye's small figure trembled. Her hands, clutching a now-bloody dagger, refused to stay still. Her lips quivered, her breathing shallow—it was the first time she had killed.
Shun placed a steadying hand on her shoulder, his tone softening.
-"It's over, Mye… You fought because you had to."
She bit her lip, fighting back tears, her wide eyes reflecting both fear and quiet relief.
In the distance, the crimson sunset dipped beneath the horizon, as the three stood amidst the blood and broken corpses—each carrying their own scars from the night's brutal justice.
Afterward, Shun's group collected all the loot from the dead mercenaries. Upon closer inspection, they realized the group consisted of one low-tier sorcerer who specialized in weak enchantments, three assassins trained in stealth and quick kills, and one large tanker built to endure damage. Yet, all of them were ambushed by Shun from behind and died without having a chance to fight back.
Once everything was cleaned up, they burned the crazed hippos to prevent any future trouble. Then, together with Noct, they made their way to the city center of Effingham to exchange their rewards. The place resembled a massive open bar stretching nearly 400 to 500 meters, filled with noise and chaos. All around were hunters of every shape and size—short, lean figures, massive muscle-bound brutes—but they all shared the same greedy hunger for money, obsession with alcohol, and indulgence in lust.
Shun's group ignored the rabble completely, heading straight toward the receptionist's counter to claim the reward from their mission.
After receiving the payment at the counter, Shun quickly counted every coin. Without hesitation, he stuffed 700 Aus into Mye's small hands, keeping only 300 Aus for himself. The little spirit girl stared wide-eyed in shock, her fingers trembling as she held the crisp bills, as if she couldn't believe what was happening.
-"Why… why are you giving me so much?" Mye asked in a small, shaky voice, eyes blinking rapidly.
Shun chuckled softly, reaching out to gently pat her head.
-"Because you earned it, Mye. This is your first real reward—keep it close. From now on, you'll never have to beg anyone for anything."
Tears welled up in Mye's bright eyes before spilling down her cheeks. She suddenly threw her arms around Shun, hugging him tightly like he was the only warmth in her frozen world. Shun held her close, his chest heavy with both pride and sorrow.
But just as he glanced to the side—his expression darkened immediately.
Noct—the sly black-furred rabbit—was casually holding a fat stack of cash in both paws, his grin wide enough to split his face. Suspicious, Shun's gaze darted down to the reward notice… and his heart nearly stopped.
The prize amount clearly read: 10,000 Aus.
-"… Hold up—what the hell?!" Shun hissed, his eyebrow twitching dangerously.
-"Oh… you finally noticed~," Noct purred, grinning ear to ear with his ears perked high.
-"I was going to save you the trouble of doing the math… just helping myself to a little 'management fee.'"
Shun's rage exploded. With a loud smack, he slapped the back of Noct's head, making the rabbit's ears flop.
-"Management fee my ass! That's called stealing!"
Noct rubbed his head, still snickering.
-"Relax, relax… I was just messing with you… here."
With a dramatic sigh, Noct reluctantly returned 7,000 Aus, shamelessly keeping 3,000 for himself under the excuse of "strategic intelligence services."
-"," Noct said, shrugging smugly.
Shun could only groan in exasperation. Mye, still wiping away her tears, let out a soft giggle—her first genuine laugh in what felt like forever.
With their money bags now properly sorted, the trio stepped away from the counter feeling lighter and happier. Shun waved his hand with a bright grin:
-"Alright, today's breakfast is on me! I'm treating you both to a feast—meat, seafood, desserts, everything you want till you can't eat anymore!"
Mye's eyes sparkled with excitement, and Noct cheered like a child who'd just snatched candy. The three of them made their way toward the bustling food stalls, their laughter echoing down the streets.
For the first time in this cruel world… the warmth of friendship shone brightly in their hearts.