NOVEL NEXT Chapter 5: "Tonight"
Seeing the runes threatening him, Gehrman couldn't help but shiver. It made sense, in a twisted way, why he had so many attributes. The [Sixth Sense] attribute was the only thing that seemed like a true innate attribute. Everything else was a result of his unique status as an otherworldly being…Well, with the exception of [Contracted].
The fact that he couldn't fathom the runes, and that they seemed to cause spiritual harm when looking at them, seemed to indicate something more sinister. Gerhman couldn't recall making a contract, but the word seemed to hold some significance to the two hunters. Therefore, it was likely that this attribute was due to something that happened to one of them. The fact that he couldn't remember the contract was an issue, but the boon was even more distressing. The regeneration would have been terrifying enough, but revival? That was something else altogether.
Bringing back the dead was something only the divine could meddle in.
Am I contracted to a god? Gehrman couldn't help but worry. What the hell did I give it to receive such a favor?
Before he could spiral further, a scholarly voice interrupted his thoughts.
"I admit, I am surprised. I didn't think you'd still be out hunting."
The familiarity was even stronger with the man standing before his bed than it had been with Ludwig. "Laurence…" Gehrman couldn't think of anything to say when coming face to face with such an old friend. In the past, after the Healing Church cut ties with the Old Hunters Workshop, they hadn't spoken. That was, until they worked together to…
Gehrman gripped his head, a sharp pain putting a grinding halt on that train of thought.
"My goodness, Ludwig said you were in a sorry state but this…What did you encounter?"
"Nothing more than the usual beasts," Gehrman growled. He couldn't help but feel a bit of distaste for Laurence. His hubristic use of the Old Blood aside, there was a feeling of betrayal that was nestled deep inside him. Though he wasn't sure of the source.
"No use lying old friend, I reckon you have been taken by old Master Willem and made to see some horrible things. His "insight" method of evolution is far too dangerous, you should steer clear of it."
"Such hypocrisy," Gehrman spat. "At least they have a chance of surviving. Your flagrant use of the Blood is just as damning, if not more so."
"You call me a hypocrite?" Laurence bristled at the insult. "You've used the Blood just the same as we have."
"I'm not giving it out to every Yharnamite who stubs their toe," he snarled. "You've doomed those people Laurence, doomed them to the insanity and terror of beasthood."
Laurence, surprisingly, seemed to deflate at these words. "You helped us in the early days of the Beast plague. You could've stopped us." Despite the cold words, there was no conviction behind them.
This caught Gehrman off guard. As far as he knew, Laurence had stayed proud of his method until his inevitable end. Yet here he was, with a look of regret upon his face. "It seems I'm not the only one dealing with troubles. I've never seen such a look on your face," Gehrman lowered his voice to a more amiable level. He was a spiteful old man, but he was also a victim in two of his other lives. He knew regret well, and he had much more empathy than the old Gehrman.
Laurence was rightly caught off guard by this. It seemed uncharacteristic for the First Hunter to show any sort of concern. "There is…an issue. One that our Healing Church Hunters are struggling to handle. It seems to be a sign of what's to come, an unsightly apocalypse."
"You've actually realized it," Gehrman remarked with no small amount of wonder. The fact that Laurence had come to his senses at this point meant that the time he had been plopped in was only a decade or so from the time the nameless hunter came to Yharnam.
Digging around in his memories, Gherman finally discovered where he was in the timeline of old Gherman's life. The people of Central Yharnam still had fondness of the Church Hunters, but Laurence was in dismay. This pointed to one thing, "Old Yharnam, you're losing to the Beasts down there."
Laurence let out a pitiful laugh. "Losing? I'd say we've already lost. We managed to get some of the Powder Keg Hunters to slow them down, but even their methods are not enough to put an end to them. At this rate we'll have to burn it to the ground and seal the remains. The beasts have suffered further denigration and have become poisonous. It is likely due to a Pthumeruian dungeon . I believe something vile is leaking from it, but I don't have anything to prove it. "
These words struck a chord in Gehrman. When the prodigious hunter went down to Old Yharnam, it had indeed been burned to the ground. He also had to bypass a seal to enter it. It seemed Laurence's foresight was right. At least, it had been. However, things were different now. Gehrman had never spoken to Laurence like this in his old life. None of the Old Hunters took any action in the war for Old Yharnam.
"Just say it, you want me to try and clear out the beasts of Old Yharnam before you slaughter all of the innocents down there."
"...Have I ever told you that you have a way with words?" Laurence's face strained.
"Just call me a bastard like everyone else," Gehrman grinned. "I don't have contact with any of my pupils anymore, but I think I'd enjoy a slaughter of that kind."
Laurence's expression instantly turned. "Truly!? You would offer us your blade once more?"
"As long as you shut up, then yes. I'll put an end to Old Yharnam's problems."
…
On that very same night Gherman was standing above the main entrance to Old Yharnam. He took a deep breath and looked down at the ruined hellscape. The cries of beasts mingled with those of people, normal people who had lost all hope.
A great smile tinged with madness spread across his face. "Tonight, Gherman joins the hunt."