Dark Fantasy’s Extra

“As you know, Hilde’s talent is the best in the Order. Sephira, who is considered to have equal talent, became a 3rd-rank hunter after 4 years of formal training. Hilde could achieve the same if she develops well.”

Latina said.

“So there are many people who want to make Hilde grow even faster by referencing or complementing Sephira’s growth.”

It’s not strange at all.

Based on Blue Paper Moon, the total number of higher-ranked hunters didn’t exceed 30.

Each one is national treasure level, or rather globally important talent.

“But I don’t think that’s good.”

She said with a serious face.

In Blue Paper Moon, Latina came from the slums like me.

However, fortunately she showed talent as a hunter from a young age, and the Order exceptionally recruited her as a hunter before she turned 15.

Latina’s misfortune began there.

She did her best to live up to the expectations of the Order officials and instructors who had valued only her talent, as she had a family to support and no background herself.

But the more she met their expectations, the more expectations were placed on her.

Especially her family, who should have supported Latina, instead showed tendencies to depend entirely on her for their livelihood, and their demands grew increasingly severe.

“That’s why I can’t just watch. After all, Hilde will become my junior.”

“Then… are you saying you’ll defend me teaching Hilde?”

“If you continue teaching Hilde freely without pressuring her too much like now.”

“Speaking of which, isn’t taking a rookie to hunt a mid-tier Beast on their first day considered pressure?”

I actually took her with the intention of pressuring her.

“Free training is good. If they say they can’t do it, then they don’t have to do it at that time. And I can tell from Hilde’s expression. She sincerely wants you to guide her. Mister… you must have been a good teacher for Hilde.”

Latina showed a slightly envious expression.

“Anyway, I’m saying I’ll be on your side.”

She lightly punched my stomach.

Even though I had tensed my stomach muscles in advance, it still hurt.

What kind of iron fist does she have.

“By the way, your name was Eugene? Sorry, I don’t remember well.”

“You were started as a mid-ranked hunter from the beginning, so it’s natural you don’t know me.”

When a new hunter’s training period ends, they are comprehensively evaluated to determine if they’re mid-ranked or lower-ranked.

Most start as 9th-rank lower hunters, but some judged to have talent are assigned as 6th-rank mid-ranked hunters.

From there, if they show overwhelming talent and achievements, they go through a meeting to submit a recommendation to the Saintess, and only when she approves do they become higher-ranked hunters.

“You know quite a lot. How long have you worked as a hunter?”

“A bit over 10 years.”

“Longer than me? Then are you actually my senior?”

“Ahem.”

Just then Hilde appeared from behind, clearing her throat.

“Um…”

“Ah, there you are!”

Latina instantly approached her and put an arm around her shoulder.

“W-what are you doing?”

Hilde was flustered.

“Just came to see our junior’s face.”

Latina lightly pinched Hilde’s cheek.

“You came to see me?”

“Yeah. Well, I already had a long talk with Senior Eugene.”

“Senior?”

I waved my hands in denial.

While it’s true I have more experience than Latina, there’s an overwhelming difference in rank.

It’s only a few years longer at most anyway.

“Hehe, so shy. Anyway, I’ve seen your face so I’m good.”

Latina moved away from Hilde.

“See you next time. Well, we’ll meet again soon.”

She waved as she walked away.

“What exactly did she come here for?”

Hilde asked.

I explained the general situation to her.

That there were increasingly more people interested in Hilde’s talent.

And that there would be debates about her training process.

“Things have gotten a bit complicated.”

“That may be but…”

“But?”

“I still prefer you, Senior. Ah, not in a strange way…!”

“I know.”

I’m a bit touched.

“Anyway, was it already training time? Since we ate a hearty lunch, let’s do something more physical this time.”

“Yes!”

I took Hilde to the training ground.

“What are we doing this time?”

“Pushing.”

“Pushing? Like Lady Sephira’s Bash?”

“That’s for later. For now I’ll teach you literally how to push opponents.”

In Blue Paper Moon, when you have a long-handled weapon like a spear or a large shield, pressing the attack button while in defense stance would execute a technique that pushes the opponent back.

While it’s not a technique you use much normally, it can be quite useful in some dungeons.

“Take your weapon then. It’s a skill you’ll need often from now on.”

It’ll be especially needed in the next battlefield.

*    *    *

Sephira was greeting someone at the Order’s main gate.

“Welcome, Marquis Bluebeard.”

She bowed her head slightly in greeting.

Marquis Bluebeard was a man wearing luxurious clothes embroidered with golden thread and a blue velvet cape.

Though lean in build, he had the dignity characteristic of high nobility.

“It’s been a while, 3rd-rank hunter Sephira. I heard you would be a higher-ranked hunter next time we met, and it’s true.”

The marquis said.

He, too, was one of the high officials who had visited when Sephira was rapidly growing a few years ago.

“It’s been a while, Marquis. I will be escorting the Bluebeard family until the end of this Grand Conference.”

“I see. That’s reassuring.”

Marquis Bluebeard was a power player and high noble even among the neighboring country of Offenbach, while also holding a high position in that country’s Hunting Order branch.

Though not an active hunter like Crowty, he supported the Order with his family’s money and power.

“I apologize for not having prepared a proper reception for your earlier than expected visit.”

“Not at all. As you said, I came early so it couldn’t be helped. I just wanted my son to see the Order headquarters a bit sooner.”

And soon after, a boy stepped out of a magnificent, massive carriage.

Though slightly lean like his father and somewhat similar in appearance, he didn’t yet have the same dignity.

However, his features were so beautiful that he would surely become a handsome young man in the future.

“This is my son.”

“Pleased to meet you, 3rd-rank hunter Sephira. I am Jarkoff Bluebeard.”

He stood before Sephira and greeted her elegantly.

“Nice to meet you, Lord Jarkoff.”

She bowed her head to Jarkoff as well.

“…”

Jarkoff quietly observed Sephira for a moment.

“Is something wrong?”

Sephira asked.

“Ah, no. I was just a bit surprised that someone like Miss Sephira would be a 3rd-rank hunter… Not in a sarcastic way, but you’re so beautiful that I thought you might be better suited for high society than being a hunter.”

“Your joke goes too far. I am a hunter, not a noble.”

“Jarkoff. I told you before. There are many women among higher-ranked hunters. Most are just at headquarters so you don’t know about them.”

“I apologize, Father.”

“Well… it’s not so strange to be surprised. This is the Order headquarters after all. Please don’t take it too seriously. Jarkoff just lacks experience.”

“It’s fine. Now, I’ll guide you to where you’ll be staying.”

“I’ll be in your care… Ah, if it’s alright, could I ask you to guide Jarkoff around the Order? I know it’s not a task for a higher-ranked hunter like yourself. It’s just my selfish wish to give my son a good experience. I’ll make sure to compensate you properly.”

“That much is fine. No compensation needed. But… which places would you like me to show your son?”

“Anything related to hunters is fine. Whether it’s the armory or training grounds.”

“Understood. Then I’ll first guide both of you to your lodgings.”

“Thank you.”

After guiding them to their lodgings, Sephira took Jarkoff outside.

“About my rudeness earlier…”

Jarkoff said.

“It’s fine. More importantly, is there anywhere you’d like to see?”

“Then as Father mentioned, the armory or training grounds would be good.”

“Let’s start with the training grounds then.”

Sephira took them to the training grounds.

“Around this time we should be able to see lower-ranked hunters training.”

“That sounds interesting.”

The Bluebeard family, like Hilde’s Grimm family, had close ties with the Order.

To begin with, the Hunting Order is humanity’s strongest military force and is considered important in every country regardless of borders.

Rather, the closer a family is to the Order, the stronger their influence grows.

Sephira and Jarkoff arrived at the training grounds.

Sure enough, as she said, hunters were training intensely there.

They were doing impossible training for normal humans, like running around the training grounds at incredible speeds or lifting and lowering rocks large enough to be used in castle walls.

“Indeed, even lower-ranked hunters at headquarters feel different. You can sense their spirit.”

Jarkoff said.

Though there was an Order and hunters training where he was from as well, it didn’t have this intense feeling like here.

There were even people sometimes skipping training in corners.

“Hmm, hmm… Oh?”

Just then Jarkoff’s gaze fixed on one spot.

“That person over there… could it be…”

His expression turned dumbfounded.

“Um, Miss Sephira. Those people over there practicing with large axes… could we go closer to look?”

“It’s not good to disturb hunters’ training but…”

By coincidence, Sephira was looking that way too.

“Since it’s the marquis’s request, I suppose we must.”

“Thank you.”

They went down to the training grounds.

The gazes of surrounding hunters turned to them.

Most seemed surprised by Sephira’s appearance.

“L-Lady Sephira. What brings you here?”

An 8th-rank hunter managing afternoon training ran up and stood before Sephira and Jarkoff.

“And this person is…”

Being an experienced 8th-rank hunter, he had a rough idea who the boy beside Sephira was.

“This is the son of Marquis Bluebeard, who oversees the Offenbach branch. He’s visiting headquarters for the first time so I’m helping show him around.”

“Ah, I see. Please feel free to look around.”

He said while repeatedly bowing to Jarkoff.

He too knew the name of Marquis Bluebeard.

“…”

Jarkoff walked toward the two people training in the corner without paying any attention to the 8th-rank hunter.

The hunters training there also noticed someone approaching and stopped training to turn toward Jarkoff.

“Oh?”

Hilde showed a surprised expression.

“Hm?”

Eugene also seemed a bit perplexed.

“I… It really is you.”

Jarkoff said in a trembling voice.

“Hi-Hilde…”

“Long time no see, Jacob.”

Hilde smiled as she called his nickname.

“What are you doing here? Ah, since I’m training right now…”

“Why are you doing something like this!?”

Jarkoff shouted.

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