Part II – A Hunter Without a Name The rain had finally stopped.
Ashhaven slowly awakened beneath the pale light of dawn, the streets still glistening from the night’s storm.
Vendors reopened their stalls, merchants arranged fresh supplies outside their shops, and Hunters once again gathered around the massive notice boards outside the Hunter Exchange, searching for commissions that promised enough reward to justify another journey into danger.
To Drake…
Morning had never felt so heavy.
He had barely slept.
After leaving the Hunter Exchange, he had returned directly to the hospital, spending the remainder of the night beside Luna’s bed.
He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest while the soft hum of the mana stabilizer echoed quietly throughout the room.
Every now and then…
He found himself staring at her face.
Trying to remember the sound of her voice.
Trying to remember the warmth of her laughter.
Mana Decay Disease had stolen those memories one by one.
It had been nearly a year since Luna had last opened her eyes.
Nearly a year since she had smiled.
Yet Drake refused to believe she was already gone.
She was still fighting.
And as long as she continued fighting…
So would he.
— The first rays of sunlight entered the room through the narrow hospital window.
Doctor Ellis quietly stepped inside carrying a fresh medical report.
He smiled faintly upon seeing Drake still awake.
“You should get some rest.” Drake simply shook his head.
“I can sleep later.” The old physician sighed.
“I had a feeling you’d say that.” He walked toward Luna’s bedside and carefully examined the mana stabilizer.
The readings remained stable, but only barely.
After several moments, he quietly folded the report.
“The crystal…” Drake immediately looked up.
“I haven’t sold it.” Doctor Ellis nodded.
“I assumed as much.” He pulled a chair beside Drake before sitting down.
“You don’t trust the Hunter Exchange.” It wasn’t a question.
Drake hesitated before answering.
“I met someone.” “Aldren Kael.” The doctor’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“The old appraiser?” “He told me not to sell it.” Doctor Ellis remained silent for several moments.
Finally…
He slowly nodded.
“Then don’t.” Drake blinked.
“…You believe him?” “I’ve known Aldren for nearly thirty years.” The old doctor smiled faintly.
“He has many flaws.” “Greedy.” “Stubborn.” “Completely obsessed with history.” “But…” “I’ve never known him to lie.” Drake slowly lowered his eyes toward the cloth pouch resting beside him.
“If I don’t sell it…” “How do I save Luna?” Silence filled the room.
Doctor Ellis looked toward the sleeping girl.
“I don’t know.” Honest.
Simple.
Painfully real.
The old physician slowly stood.
“But…” “There may be another way.” Drake immediately looked up.
“What?” Doctor Ellis walked toward the window before continuing.
“You’ve worked around Hunters long enough.” “You know they aren’t all members of Guilds.” Drake nodded.
Some Hunters worked independently.
Others accepted private commissions from merchants or noble families.
Most of them…
Lived day by day.
“You’ve awakened.” The doctor’s words surprised him.
Drake instinctively froze.
“…How did you know?” Doctor Ellis chuckled softly.
“I may not be a Hunter.” “But after treating them for four decades…” “I’ve learned to recognize the eyes of someone who’s awakened.” He looked back toward Drake.
“You move differently.” “You breathe differently.” “Even the way you stand has changed.” Drake smiled bitterly.
“So I’m that obvious?” “Only to someone looking closely.” The old physician folded his arms.
“If you’ve truly awakened…” “You no longer need to work as a porter.” The realization slowly settled inside Drake’s mind.
Awakeners.
Hunters.
Monster extermination.
Dungeon exploration.
For the first time in his life…
Those paths were open to him.
He quietly looked down at his own hands.
Hands that had buried an Alpha.
Hands that carried the bloodline of monsters.
Could someone like him…
Really become a Hunter?
— Far across the city…
Victor quietly stood atop a three-story building overlooking the lower district.
His enormous frame remained perfectly still despite the narrow rooftop beneath him.
A small communication crystal rested within his hand.
A calm voice echoed from it.
“Target location confirmed.” “Hospital.” Victor looked toward the distant white building.
“Observation only?” The voice answered immediately.
“Young Master wishes to know everything.” “Where he goes.” “Who he meets.” “What he found.” Victor quietly nodded.
The crystal dimmed.
For several moments…
He simply watched the hospital.
Professional.
Patient.
Unlike Leon…
Victor felt no hatred toward Drake.
To him…
This was merely another assignment.
Find the target.
Observe the target.
Complete the mission.
Nothing more.
Yet…
Something bothered him.
According to every report…
Drake Ashcroft was an ordinary civilian.
No combat training.
No awakening.
No mana control.
Such a person surviving the Dead Ruins…
Made no sense.
Victor had spent nearly twenty years hunting monsters.
He understood danger better than most.
The Dead Ruins weren’t simply dangerous.
They were death itself.
His eyes slowly narrowed.
“…What happened to you?” — Back inside the hospital…
Drake stood before the window overlooking the city.
The Hunter Exchange rose proudly in the distance, its enormous banners fluttering in the morning breeze.
For years…
He had watched Hunters enter those gates.
Some returned wealthy.
Some returned broken.
Some never returned at all.
Today…
For the first time…
He considered joining them.
Not for fame.
Not for glory.
Not even for revenge.
Only for Luna.
Doctor Ellis quietly placed a folded document upon the bedside table.
“These are independent commissions.” Drake picked it up.
Most were simple escort requests.
Monster extermination near farming villages.
Resource collection.
Low-ranked dungeon exploration.
The rewards weren’t extraordinary.
But they were enough to pay hospital expenses.
His eyes slowly stopped upon one particular notice.
— **Independent Commission** **Location:** Graywood Forest **Threat Level:** F-Rank **Objective:** Investigate repeated disappearances of supply caravans.
**Estimated Threat:** Goblin Pack.
**Reward:** 480,000 Credits.
— Drake frowned.
“Goblins…” Doctor Ellis nodded.
“They’re weak.” “But dangerous in groups.” Drake quietly stared at the notice.
Weak…
Compared to the monsters beneath the Dead Ruins.
Compared to the Bonefang Alpha.
Compared to the Hollow Antler Tyrant.
Against creatures like those…
Goblins almost seemed harmless.
Yet…
He quickly pushed that thought away.
Arrogance killed Hunters.
He had witnessed that lesson firsthand.
The Alpha had died because it chose to protect others.
Not because it underestimated its enemy.
Drake carefully folded the commission notice.
“I’ll take it.” Doctor Ellis smiled.
“I thought you might.” He placed a reassuring hand upon Drake’s shoulder.
“Just promise me one thing.” Drake looked toward him.
“Come back alive.” The young man smiled.
It was small.
Quiet.
But genuine.
“I have someone waiting for me.” “I always will.” — As Drake left the hospital…
Neither he nor Doctor Ellis noticed the lone figure standing across the street.
Victor lowered the pair of enchanted binoculars in his hands.
He quietly looked toward the folded commission notice Drake carried.
Graywood Forest.
A faint smile appeared across the giant man’s face.
“So…” “You’re becoming a Hunter.” He slowly turned away.
“The Young Master will want to hear this.” Above Ashhaven…
Dark clouds slowly gathered once more.
Far beyond the city’s walls…
Deep within Graywood Forest…
Something watched the forest path with dozens of glowing crimson eyes.
The caravan attacks…
Had never been caused by Goblins.
Something far older…
Had already claimed the forest as its hunting ground.