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Hmm.

How did it end up like this?

I was certainly wandering around the Market Place with Asti before heading to the Library.

Just then, I was feeling a bit hungry and was looking for a restaurant that looked decent.

At that moment, as I was about to step inside a nice-looking shop with a reasonable menu and pleasant aroma—

I happened to run into the Hunter.

Wait, is “ran into” the right term?

Could I have fallen victim to some advanced psychological strategy?

Regardless, the Hunter was nonchalantly eating as if nothing was happening, creating a stark contrast to the usual vibe.

No, it’s definitely strange, right?

Although I know she has no trauma about being a woman, this sudden change feels a bit off.

Then, why has she been so wrapped up until now?

The conclusion that she got caught up in a concept is the only explanation.

…Of course, I can see that it helps as protective gear, but how do you explain wearing that outfit even while resting?!

“…Huh?”

I quickly averted my gaze after peeking at the Hunter with a resentful look, as she raised her eyebrows in question.

Will that cold-blooded individual even understand my feelings?

I’ve enjoyed having fewer excessively exposed individuals in this life, especially excluding the Princess, but now I’m at a loss about where to look.

“Aren’t you cold? Being that exposed near the Market Place without a Hearth is bound to be quite chilly.”

Asti bluntly shot a barbed remark at the Hunter.

Nice one, Asti!

That’s right. Wearing such clothes in this chilly area is way too blatant.

However, the Hunter carefully took a bite of her food, chewed slowly, and then spoke.

“Shut up, half-outsider. It’s quite shameless for someone who betrayed her own mother and chose a man to act so brazenly.”

*Crack.*

I could almost hear the sound of a vein popping on Asti’s forehead.

Just my imagination, right…?

Ah, this is what they mean by “different strokes for different folks.”

To summarize Asti’s past actions like that…

The Hunter’s personality naturally reflected her tendency to thoroughly tear apart her opponents.

“Uh, Hunter… your words…”

“Yes, that’s right. It’s tiresome. Instead of being lost in a delusion called dreams and jumping at someone without their consent, wouldn’t it be better to just pounce on them?”

…Whoa, Asti.

I thought she wouldn’t speak in such extreme terms, but it seems like this is even more intense than the Hunter’s usual rhetoric.

The Hunter, who had paused her meal, slowly lifted her head.

“What’s the matter? Do you want to go head-to-head?”

“You started it first.”

Both of them had endlessly calm expressions, yet the tension between them seemed far more dangerous than any confrontation I’d ever seen.

Why are these people fighting in front of their meals?!

“Uh, first, let’s calm down…”

At my words, both of their gazes turned to me simultaneously.

I flinched for a moment, but then, contrary to their aggressive demeanor, they both blinked and returned to eating.

I had expected their glare to spill over onto me, yet somehow, they were being surprisingly compliant.

Initially, I was puzzled, but soon I realized—

They were glaring at each other without letting me in on it.

The second act of their personal league had begun without my knowledge.

…Ugh, I feel sick.

#

I hurriedly finished my meal and headed towards the Library.

It wasn’t a lie that I had something to do at the Library; as soon as I entered, I was separated from them and wandered among the bookshelves.

“Sir Tanton.”

“Yes.”

As the librarian called me over, he pointed at the Hunter with a slight frown.

“Please dress more appropriately. You’ll catch a cold.”

“…Okay.”

I had a lot to say, but it was a reasonable concern from an onlooker, so I refrained.

Still, the fact that she was so flamboyant didn’t seem to bother the librarian, who, it appears, had quite an open mind.

I wondered how surprised he would be to learn that the Hunter became a spectacle whenever she saw an Outsider.

To protect his heart, I decided not to feed him any red medicine.

Asti was blankly gazing around the bookshelves.

Previously, she had always kept her eyes down while pretending to be my maid, but seeing her eyes now filled with curiosity put me at ease.

“If you see a book you want, it might be nice to take a look.”

“…Ah, yes.”

“Since you’re a half-outsider, reading a book written by an outsider shouldn’t be an eye-sore, right?”

My attempt to lighten the mood with a joke made Asti chuckle lightly.

Yeah, this is why I came out here.

Earlier, the atmosphere was too tense.

After Asti wandered off to find a book to read, I headed toward my usual spot to get on with my tasks.

There, I always found the Saint, surrounded by stacks of books, deeply engrossed in some research.

Was it because she sensed my footsteps getting closer? The Saint paused for a moment and looked up.

“Oh, Sir Tanton!”

Delighted, the Saint stood up as I waved my hands for her to sit.

Rushing to sit in front of her, she did the same.

“How have you been?”

“Well, sort of. I had a brief stint as a runaway, but somehow I’ve managed to survive.”

“Oh, about the rebels? I was quite surprised to hear the news. Anyway, it’s unbelievable that such unknowns would speak ill of you, Sir Tanton. The Hunter, you say? I’ve been grateful for her guarding Rondan, but this latest incident is truly outrageous.”

“Sh-ssh!”

I was shocked by the abrupt criticism of the Hunter and quickly urged her to keep it down.

However, the Saint only became more agitated, raising her voice.

“No, isn’t it unacceptable? Sir Tanton has only handled the outsiders for the sake of humanity. What was the ultimate goal? To stop the Giant of the Snow Mountain and save humanity, right? And yet, calling someone so noble a traitor! I cannot forgive this!”

Whoa, I told you to be quiet, but you’re just off to the races!

Just as I was nervously glancing around, worried that the Hunter might overhear—

“Leydan Tanton.”

I jumped in surprise at the voice close to me and turned around to find the Hunter looking down at me with an indifferent expression.

I barely managed to suppress a squeak.

“Y-yes?! What is it?”

“Where’s the section about information?”

“Oh, it should be over there. I think I saw some historical texts over there.”

“Got it.”

With that, the Hunter walked away from our table without another word.

Is that… a relief?

“Sir Tanton? Who was that woman?”

“Shh!”

Ah, come on!

Why is this person so dense today!

“Oh, and…”

Yikes.

Just as the Hunter suddenly stopped and casually turned her head to glance at us,

In a daze, both the Saint and I looked at the Hunter simultaneously.

“If you cannot forgive me, feel free to challenge me anytime.”

The Hunter smiled playfully at us before continuing on her way.

Did she always smile like that when joking with me?

Despite her threatening words, I found it oddly beautiful.

But the feelings the Saint was experiencing seemed a bit different from mine.

“Sir, S-Sir Tanton.”

“Yes?”

“Um, it might be that I’m misunderstanding something, but just to clarify…”

The Saint turned her head toward me, her hands trembling.

“Could it be that person is the Hunter’s sister?”

“Actually… shockingly, that’s the Hunter herself.”

“Whoa!”

At that moment, I witnessed how a tightly held belief could shatter into pieces.

And how, when one’s reckless words reached the very danger they were mocking, a terrifying fear of death could settle in.

The Saint turned into a tic-tac-toe creature, unable to articulate anything else.

No other description could suffice.

“Please maintain silence in the Library.”

…Strangely enough, the librarian saw this display and simply returned to his desk without a word.

#

“…Can I trust Sir Tanton?! Is this a joke?!”

“Yeah, usually the Hunter only uses that tone when she’s joking.”

I reassured the Saint based on my experiences thus far.

It’s absurd to throw around dangerous words near a Hunter who slaughters outsiders.

From a civilian’s perspective, that would seem akin to a suicide mission.

After sighing to finally compose himself, the Saint’s deep gaze returned.

“Huh, I never imagined the Hunter would be a woman.”

“Well, I’m in the same boat.”

Especially since the first time I saw her was in her birthday suit.

Ahem.

I shook my head side to side to chase away that image.

“So, Sir Tanton, what brings you here today?”

“Oh, I have a couple of things I wanted to ask.”

“You’re always welcome, Sir Tanton. What are you curious about?”

Hmm.

I’m really curious about how to become stronger, but first, let’s start with light questions.

“Um, that is…”

Now that I think about it, speaking too directly might be inappropriate.

It should be okay to hedge my words a bit.

“Is it possible that the Outsider may appear as an ordinary person?”

I thought that was a question I could wrap up in a couple of sentences, but—

“…Huh. Sir Tanton, are you finally asking that?”

However, the Saint’s response hinted at something more complex.

 

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