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Exiting the restaurant amid the downpour that had calmed down a bit, Izel stood upright in his bamboo hat, savoring the familiar scent of the glorious Exodus Section. Inhaling and exhaling, he let out a deep breath, “What an amazing scent to recall.”
His mind quickly shifted to his next agenda, realizing it would be a waste to delay it now that only a few Hunters would be interested in updating their ‘Hunter ID,’ thus retaking the test. Short on cash for the retake, Izel pondered on how he could secure it. Feeling a deep frost as his body slightly flinched at the chilly breeze, he observed the empty street. Only a few people, with hoodies and bamboo hats like him, hastily meandered through the main section’s many intersections.
CR-CRACK!
B-BO-BOOOM!
P-PATTER!!!
As purple lightning streaked between the clouds, thunder resonated, and the rain intensified, Izel sensed an odd familiarity brushing against his senses. Amid the commotion, a certain ripple caught his attention, distinct from the relentless rain and growling thunder. His [Sound Reading] pinpointed a direction, and his [Cloud boots] parted accordingly.
“That way,” he muttered, following an imperceptible trail of ripples that pierced through the torment of rain-waves. A swarm of nefarious ripples emanated from a corner of the main street. As he strolled, the wavelength of the ripples broadened yet tightened. Though this sensation was new to Izel, he couldn’t help but follow it, instinctively realizing it was a strange type of mana from those known as ‘Acolytes’—a group separate from the ‘Hidden Hunters’.
The ringlet of Hunter stationed by a mysterious criminal organization, draining the lifeblood of both civilians and vulnerable Hunters who unluckily stumble upon them in the shadows. Judging by the number of ripples, Izel speculated they might not be in packs this time, making it a perfect opportunity to earn some cash.
‘Hmm,’ Izel mused, persisting in his pursuit, tracking the faint traces of ripples and unstable wavelengths amid the downpour. This eventually led him to a backstreet bustling with various ‘entertainment’ establishments, just two sections away from the ‘Entertainment Section.’ Indeed, from low-level gambling halls to unregistered vendors and abandoned construction sites that seemed to host an ‘Acolyte’ in itself.
SPLASH! SPLASH!
As Izel’s boots came to a halt amidst the road now drenched with dampness, he sensed a sign reading “Nesis” dripping droplets from the heavy downpour, lying discarded in the corner of the backstreet. Amidst soggy neon signs and garish lights, a buzzing sound irritated his ears, yet it was tolerable, given he had endured worse.
The backstreet wasn’t partially empty, unlike the center of the main street. However, everyone within wore stern expressions and seemed to avoid eye contact. Though Izel couldn’t see a thing, one of the effects of [Sound Reading] allowed him to accurately read bodily responses at 30%. He could tell that nothing was friendly about this place.
More so, “Perfume…” he muttered to himself. Not only that, but the air was also thick with the scent of cigarette smoke and liquor, not from factory or cottage chimneys, and an abnormal feeling of mana, seemingly like a [Demonic energy], yet not quite. In other words, it was a place where those who didn’t want to be found could blend in, where anonymity was the norm.
Izel, unfazed by the familiar atmosphere of the First District where he was born, merely sighed. Here, unchecked ‘sections’ embraced diverse industries and capital. Izel settled himself in a quiet corner, amid relentless rain, cracking lightning, and resonating thunder; seemingly, the climate showed no sign of relenting yet.
Listening keenly, he focused his [Sound Reading] not on the obvious sounds of rain or thunder but on something deeper. “Mana,” Izel murmured, enhancing his range by coating his ears with mana through the principle of [Mana Coating], softly covering his cochleas and ear drums. With a little focus and incredible concentration, conversations floated in from all directions—everything became illusory, hazy, and drowned out. Even the surrounding downpour seemed to have lost its sound… and he focused with ease. He leaned against the wall, his ears pricked to catch every word.
“They’re looking for an agency to lobby for the selection of a construction company for the Nesis development. It is a condition of sharing 8 to 2.”
“The engineer who was inspecting Vista’s new AI unarmed operation error went missing. In a little while, I will hire a replacement.”
“I want to request that the druids participate in the green belt reduction plan. I’m thinking of stealing one of the 8FX endangered species.”
“C-rank, underwater labyrinth outbreak; call 255 to [Cascade] and all the guilds and the ‘Bureau’ to send Hunters ASAP, before it consumes the [Ether section] and leads to an outbreak.”
“This is DFG, Dragon Fangs Guild. We have listened to your calls, and we will deploy 15 C-rank hunters, 3 Tankers, 5 Damage dealers, 3 Supports, and 3 Healers to counterattack the Labyrinth. Any further deployment per request will be after…”
Each snippet of the conversation sounded both dangerous and enticing, but Izel had no intention of acting on any of them. He sought something more enticing and stress-free. Quickly negating the familiar words around him, he expanded the range of [Sound Reading] using [Mana Inspection] a little more.
Although his [Efficacy Equilibrium] stage of [Mana Inspection] wasn’t perfect yet, it was partially stable and better than the first time he practiced it in the waiting room, and slightly better than the second attempt. As the straightened-out mana spanned out alongside his innate [Sound Reading] skill, highlighting its range and overall effects even more to Izel, he exclaimed with joy, “This…!” He never expected this development when activating two sense-type skills together could be this—.
“…effective,” he murmured. The ripples-like mana gradually revealed and sprayed rapidly throughout the entire backstreet, gathering all sound, ripples, frequencies, and bodily responses at a surprisingly increased rate of 35%, not 30%. Lastly, sensing mana… As expected from all his training, insights, and experiences in the Fortress of Dungeons over seven days. Just with this little practice of [Mana Inspection] alongside [Sound Reading] for better range, he felt his [Sound Reading] getting beyond what it initially was.
“Hu!” Letting out light breaths as the rain relentlessly tapped against his bamboo hat. He sensed flaws in his [Mana Inspection]; some spaces seemed completely blocked off, resisting any highlighting. Extracting ripples or frequencies proved impossible. Unbothered about it, he remarked, “I guess more practice is needed to gain better control.”
Realizing the importance of honing his [Mana] stat, Izel moved on, dismissing risky snippets and chaotic mechanisms. Instead, he focused on finding simple ways to make money without repercussions.
Like fishing for cash in a concrete jungle, far from the reach of law and the ‘Moderator’s’ regulations. Despite the District’s development and stringent rules, an unusual event unfolded amidst the relentless rain, explosive thunder, and sparking lightning. As Izel absorbed the sounds, bodily responses, mana, ripples, frequencies, and awkward presences of suspicious individuals in every nook and cranny of the damp backstreet where sewers intersect… a certain snippet whispered into his [Sound Reading].
… I told you to bring the stolen money quickly. Didn’t you hear me?
‘Hmm. Interesting.’ A reverted smile curled up Izel’s lips and at the same time—.
SPA!
Once again, the ripple-like mana that aided in amplifying his [Sound Reading] dissipated. Unlike previous attempts, the power within his partially stabilized, straightened-out mana abruptly cut off as it reached its limit. This detachment lightly affected his [Sound Reading], causing him to groan softly, simultaneously stirring the moisture in the surrounding atmosphere. Regaining his senses, Izel moved swiftly…
— — —
Deeper within the Backstreet, in an unknown alley filled with dampness beyond the main thoroughfare, water trickled down the uneven ground amidst the remote cracks of factories. The exhaust fumes from ventilation fans stubbornly lingered in the air, refusing to dissipate in the downpour. Within this topsy-turvy place, two men wearing crow masks, one wielding a longsword named ‘Matt’ and the other a katana named ‘Ven,’ ruthlessly kicked a beaded middle-aged man who had fallen on the muddy ground.
THUD!
SPLATTER!
“W-what did I say?” The bearded middle-aged man flinched, hands trembling as he pressed his lips together, his gaze fixed on Ven’s katana pointed at his nose. Amid the downpour, the dripping blade reflected his blurry demise.
“I told you, do the job well, and there won’t be problems,” Ven frowned. “So, why steal the money and then spin lies about losing it? Uh?” he added, scowling.
“Uh, I’m not lying… It really, really disappeared along the way.” the cowering bearded middle-aged man on the ground replied, resembling a wet rat with dripping hair.
Turning abruptly, the bearded middle-aged man saw Matt, a visibly enraged figure, shaking his head, unable to conceal his frustration.
“No answers. We’ll have to pool the money he brought to the leader. Damn it,” Matt said, frustration leaking out. He couldn’t bear facing the leader’s wrath again due to his irresponsibility.
“Uh, fuck… third time. This time, the ‘squad leader’ really won’t let us go,” Ven added raindrops sliding down his wet bangs onto his mask… The last operation in the [Zenie Section] yielded plenty from Greenhorn Hunters. However, a betrayal by a Hidden Hunter during the loot exchange into ‘Lupins’ led to a swift and deadly double-cross by other ‘acolyte’ squads. Ven and Matt kept the truth from the squad leader, focusing on recovering the stolen Lupins. They captured an opposing squad member, pressuring him to reclaim the money, but the bastard returned empty-handed. “Tsk!” Ven clicked his tongue in frustration. If the squad leader discovered the stolen cash wasn’t recovered, heads would roll. Yet, Ven preferred not to lose his life over some cash.
Ven’s eyes glinted dangerously behind his mask as he declared, “We have no choice but to go through with this,” licking the rain-drenched blade.
“Yep, let’s sell his organs and limbs,” Matt agreed, “they would be brought for a hefty price, kekeke,” Aiming to sell them to the ‘prosthetic agency’ in the black market for a large price – though, it might not be close to the total ‘Lupins’ gained from the ‘Loots’ but it was enough to escape immediate death.
Beneath the relentless downpour, the eyes behind their crow masks exuded a feral intensity, fixated on the rain-soaked man sprawled in the mud.
The middle-aged man, his complexion got worse, nervously gulped as the menacing duo closed in with weapons drawn. The significance of the impending threat dawned on him, accentuated by eerie flashes of lightning in the gloomy skies. Yet…
“Ugh!!!”
“Ugk!”
The two men’s eyes rolled suddenly, their bodies trembling and steaming with harsh smoke as if partially charred. Izel, donned in a bamboo hat, nonchalantly poked his head from behind them, wearing a carefree expression with an eerie flame flickering between his fingers.
“Should I torture them not to tell about this incident or maybe erase their memories?” he mused aloud, contemplating his options.
[‘Hellflame (?)’ has been activated.]
It was the most basic strategy that involved slaying seemingly weak ‘Acolytes,’ who targeted vulnerable Hunters unable to join guilds or civilians they happened upon. Take the bearded middle-aged man in the downpour, for instance. Izel sighed, choosing to knock them out and erase memories instead. Using a touch of [Hellflame] on both fingertips, combined with ‘Focal point,’ wasn’t too taxing on his mana and [Inferno]. By disrupting blood flow and beaming brains for a few seconds, he incapacitated them.
“Focal points do come in handy,” he mumbled, referring to the ripples and frequencies that emerge in the human body, mostly in the brain. Experienced Hunters or those in higher ranks have ways to shield these flaws. Unfortunately, these adversaries weren’t that strong. Despite being public enemies with no harm or hostility towards him, Izel questioned the sense of aimlessly killing them when other options were available.
Ignoring the cowering old man’s blank stare, Izel completed his thoughts and proceeded to search the fallen two’s cloaks on the rain-soaked ground. Without remorse for looting from incompetent foes, he dismissed their worn-out weapons, extracting cash from wallets and snatching watches and ‘Hunter’s Kits’ without mercy. With a final ruthless move, he explored their trousers for anything valuable.
“What’s this?” Izel inquired.
As soon as he took it out, the bearded middle-aged man fell to the wet ground again in fright. “Hee! Please don’t aim this way!”
The object was metallic, resembling a fountain pen, and upon pressing the button in the middle, Izel heard a rumbling sound like an engine running inside. Clearly, it wasn’t an ordinary item; faint mana light leaked through circuit-like patterns engraved on the surface.
“This is an illegally modified crimson laser cutting machine for sneak-rich attacks. It’s like a monster that can pierce through steel plates and C-rank monster flesh. If it gets hit, it will just cut them off.
“Hmm,” Izel mused. It made sense considering their worn-out weapons and low rank. Carrying these items as weapons seemed more practical than using magic, further hiding their identities. Izel pondered for a moment, before ultimately deciding to tuck the pen-like cutter inside his cloak. Having just taken the ‘Hunter ID’ test and planning to tackle the ‘Dirty Job’ after addressing his mental health, this item could prove quite useful.
As he finished stashing the looted items in his pockets, Izel rose. His bamboo hat bore the brunt of the relentless rain. Turning to the man who had yet to flee, he recognized the inconvenience of keeping such a witness. Sighing once more, his body flinching in the chilly breeze, he wondered if disrupting the sound waves in the old man’s ‘hippocampus’ for a few seconds would erase his memory. However, not knowing where that resides, he pondered attempting his hypothesis on the entire brain.
SPATTER!
SPLASH!
As his [Cloud Boots] lifted from the wet ground, the man trembled not from the chilly breeze, but in fear. A young teen, wearing a bamboo hat and blindfold, muttered to himself, igniting an ember with his index finger.
“I’ll never tell anyone!” the man exclaimed, cowering backward in the muddy ground.
“It’s easier said than done,” Izel replied coldly. “Just remember me as the Ripper. And I have come to collect.” Purple lightning sparkled,
SPLASH!!!
The man begged with a frightened expression, offering to give Izel anything he wanted as he steered backward amid the rain-drenched ground.
“It hasn’t been long since I returned to the First District,” Izel grinned, taking another step forward. “Don’t worry; you won’t die. You’ll just forget some tiny details, like the others.”
Unfortunately, the bearded middle-aged man halted as his back met a water-soaked steel dumpster. His eyes widened in disbelief at the approaching teen. With no place to steer backward to and no opening to escape, he should have fled earlier, but the fear of instant death held him back. Regretfully, he bit his lower lip, wishing he had at least tried. Yet…
WHOOSH!
Amid the heavy downpour, he unexpectedly sensed a breath of fresh air, and the scent of heaven unfolded amid the gloomy clouds. Hallucinatory yet undeniably real, he closed his eyes, embracing the kindness as if his instincts urged him to trust the blind teen before him. Unaware that the unprecedented action of the teen would soon bring a sharp sting, his scream echoed through the alley, drowned out amid the relentless rain.
— — — —
[‘Hellflame (?)’ had been deactivated.]
As Izel casually strolled through the alley, he came to a halt under a shade and withdrew the stolen money from two leather-like wallets, counting the bills. “Not too shabby,” he mused aloud. His initial plan was to steal enough money for the ‘Hunter ID’ Test, but surprisingly, the amount pilfered was a hefty sum – ¢100,00 Lupin to be exact. A satisfied smile formed on his lips, contemplating the profitable outcome of ripping off the ‘Acolytes’ in the back alley.
Without delay, Izel left the alley, navigating through the backstreet and then the main street. He changed direction at a certain intersection, heading towards the [Bureau] branch, the management infrastructure overseeing the ‘Hunter ID’ test for any applicant. To take the test, one needed to apply online a day or two before the actual evaluation. Izel briefly pondered the typical procedure for the ‘Hunter ID’ test, realizing the conventional process wouldn’t allow him to efficiently use his time in Eliluam before the ‘Runic Stone’ deadline. However, if he applied through a reputable guild, he could skip the online and written tests, jumping straight to the evaluation. After all, writing was a drag for him. “Tsk!” he clicked his tongue, recalling the stress from the last time he took the written test.
Of course, to ace the ‘evaluation’ test demanded significant improvement from the blind man, a far cry from his previous attempt. However, Izel wasn’t fretting; he believed this challenge posed no hurdle for him now. With a sigh, he acknowledged the preciousness of time, understanding that overthinking could only impede his progress—a luxury he couldn’t afford. Concluding his thoughts, Izel’s [Cloud boots] gracefully navigated the water-soaked road in the now subsiding downpour. His destination: a nearby pub store, where he intended to make a discreet ‘call’ in a secluded corner. And, perhaps, indulging in a snack or two wouldn’t hurt.
PENG!
Entering through the sliding door, Izel made his way to the counter where a tired yet tidy bartender glanced up to take his order.
“How much for a hamburger and a soda?” Izel asked in his usual amiable manner.
The black-haired lady responded rather brusquely, “1,000 Lupin.”
Izel’s eyebrow twitched in surprise at the sudden steep price that hadn’t been there a month ago. Nonetheless, he handed over the money and received a well-made hamburger and a soda.
As he retreated to the corner of the pub, the ambient sounds of laughter and chatter from other hunters and civilians filled the interior. The atmosphere inside was vibrant, despite the rain outside that drowned out all other sounds, punctuated by flashes of lightning and resonating thunder.
cr-crack!
b-bo-booom!
patter!!!
Amid the lively atmosphere, he savored his burger, relishing each bite with calm enjoyment. A sip of soda helped ease the flavors down his throat. Meanwhile, his free hand deftly summoned mana, enveloping his ‘Hunter Kit,’ causing it to gracefully float from his pocket to his lips.
BEEP!
With a few taps on its orb screen, a couple of rings emanated before a low authoritative voice answered the call.
{…Hello, this is the [Cascade Guild] leader in the [First District], Velkist Cambormir. Anything you need?}
Izel sneered upon hearing the hostility in his voice. “Yeah, it’s me. Do you remember me, boss?”
{Of course, I remember. The blind ex-hunter who couldn’t prove his worth and got discarded.}
‘Hmm,’ Izel sensed annoyance and contempt in his tone but dismissed it. ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Taking a quiet bite of his burger, he spoke, “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want to rejoin the [Cascade] guild.”
Despite the humiliation, Izel still aimed to prove his worth and sought approval to re-enter the Guild. He wanted to train and possibly take on even the dirtiest jobs if he reapplied for his ‘Hunter ID’ test. However, he never anticipated being banned from applying online. When he called ‘Velkist Cambormir,’ the constant rejection only deepened his frustration. Simply put, he was not only considered an eyesore but also a burden to the entire Guild.
{… Are you serious? You ‘really’ can’t take that back later.}
“No need to worry; that’s not in my plans,” Izel reassured, taking another sip of soda, savoring the taste, while purplish lightning flashed through the glass wall of the pub. “Instead,” he continued, “I have a favor to ask.”
{If it’s something beyond your worth, just refrain from asking it, I can’t allow it.}
“Hehehe!” Izel chuckled simultaneously with the resonating thunder. “Nothing like that.”
{…}
“I just need your help to apply for the ‘Hunter ID’ Test,” Izel requested.
{…}
For a second, Izel thought the call had dropped due to an unexpected mute. Yet, he could sense a dumbfounded expression from the other end initially. After his request, a few low laughs echoed in the background, as if the person didn’t know how to react, and finally gave in to laughter.
{…}
Suddenly, with the flashes of lightning, Velkist Cambormir’s voice, full of laughter as if he couldn’t contain it even if he wanted to, replied—.
{Izel, do you recall what you received on your last ‘Hunter ID’ Test? Your overall ranking was ‘F’; simply put, a failing rank far beyond the ‘E’ rank befitting the worth of a blind man. Kahahahahah.}
Ignoring the mocky laughter, Izel bluntly answered, “I know.”
{… You’re a blind man who can’t move without a stick, and to make things worse, you have no skills; not even ‘detection’ skills. To be honest, you’re making this very difficult for me to understand your worth to fulfill such a request.}
Velkist didn’t say it outright, yet he was indirectly implying to Izel to understand what his worth amounted to. ‘Still, that doesn’t change anything,’ Izel briefly thought. Truthfully, Velkist wasn’t wrong; at the time, Izel’s [Sound Reading] and his sense of direction were so dull that he couldn’t move without a stick, making training super difficult. Simply put, he was considered the weakest of the weak. Yet, a faint smile curled up the blind man’s lips, highlighted by the flashing of purplish lightning, hinting that it was a story of the past. Then…
“So you can’t do it even if I offer you some cash?”
{…Umm.}
Hearing that Izel wasn’t aggravating, a calm yet authoritative voice replied—.
{Well, I mean, I’m not going to reject ¢80,000Lupins. If you can afford it.}
Gnashing his teeth, Izel felt a tinge of bitterness upon hearing the amount of cash he had recently pilfered from those so-called ‘acolytes’ would be thrown down the drain. His face, concealed under a bamboo hat and stylish bandana, reflected on the glass wall as he exhaled deeply. ‘But it’s going to be worth it,’ Izel reconsidered, recognizing that, in the end, his worth would be proven a billionfold by the improvements he had made in just a few days.
As the call continued, Izel realized the person on the other end was being difficult about it, but it was the closest to acceptance he could get right now.
“Then, it’s a deal. I’d like to take the test today.” Izel’s expression grew cold as thunder rumbled between the heavens and the earth in shock.
{…}
Instead of surprise, Velkist didn’t seem too pleased with the blind man’s confidence and made a sly comment.
{… Today? It seems you must have gained a lot of confidence in the last four weeks.}
‘Four weeks, huh?’ To him, Izel must have appeared either brimming with unwarranted confidence or simply exuding arrogance. Yet, even the blind man couldn’t deny that a substantial ego boost had washed over him recently. Facing death seven times in seven raids within just seven days tends to do that.
“Yes, today, I will get there soon!”
BEEP!
After the call ended, he still couldn’t understand why his behavior currently felt like he had a lot of confidence than ever. Could it be just insanity or was he like this from the start? Whichever the case, he concluded that it wasn’t anything like that; rather, simply embraced his true self.
SWIRL!
Manipulating the mana around his ‘Hunter Kit,’ the floating orb around his mouth moved into his pocket. As rain swirled with the wind onto the glass wall, Izel deepened in thought, finishing the last of his soda and holding the remaining burger.
Stats, skills, and items – as Velkist Cambormir had mentioned, Izel initially lacked all of those. No, he didn’t even possess what a regular civilian should have – eyesight. Yet, even without those eyes, Izel could perceive much like someone with eyes.
It wasn’t a metaphor; he knew it as a fact. This wasn’t him being cocky or arrogant, but a well-deserved self-assurance. Of course, he might not be the sharpest teen in the crowd, often making mistakes or forgetting things quickly due to inexperience, but Izel wouldn’t let just anyone push him around. No, despite being the rock-bottom ex-hunter Izel Ethalt Blind up until now…
“I will reach the top soon enough,” he declared coldly as his head throbbed, urging him to move his legs quickly. Right, it was about time for the ex-Hunter Izel to reclaim his ‘Hunter ID’ with a new and proper evaluation.
—