Part III – The First Commission For the first time in years…
Drake walked through Ashhaven without a destination he dreaded.
Usually, every road he took eventually led him toward another day’s labor.
Carrying supplies for merchants, unloading monster carcasses at the Hunter Exchange, repairing broken fences outside the city walls—whatever earned enough money to buy another week of medicine for Luna.
Today…
His destination remained the same.
But the road itself had changed.
He wasn’t walking as an orphan searching for work.
He was walking toward becoming a Hunter.
The realization felt strangely unreal.
Only a week ago, Drake would have laughed if someone had told him that he would one day register for hunting commissions.
He possessed no prestigious bloodline.
No noble surname.
No academy training.
Nothing.
Only a body hardened through years of poverty.
Then…
The Dead Ruins happened.
His hand unconsciously brushed against the hidden crimson mark beneath his sleeve.
The relic remained silent.
Almost as though allowing him to think for himself.
— Ashhaven’s Independent Hunter Office occupied the eastern wing of the Hunter Exchange.
Unlike the magnificent entrance reserved for Guild members and high-ranking Hunters, this building appeared surprisingly modest.
Most of the people entering wore ordinary clothing rather than expensive enchanted armor.
Some carried rusty swords.
Others simple bows.
Several possessed nothing more than worn leather equipment patched together countless times.
These were the Hunters who truly kept the city alive.
People rarely remembered their names.
Yet they defended farms.
Escorted merchants.
Cleared weaker monsters before they reached nearby villages.
Without them…
Ashhaven would have collapsed long ago.
Drake quietly joined the queue.
The atmosphere differed greatly from the Guild Headquarters.
There was no arrogance.
No unnecessary displays of strength.
Only exhausted men and women waiting for another opportunity to earn tomorrow’s meal.
A middle-aged Hunter standing ahead of Drake suddenly laughed.
“First time?” Drake blinked.
“…Is it that obvious?” The man grinned.
“You’ve been staring at the commission board for nearly ten minutes.” Several nearby Hunters chuckled.
Drake smiled awkwardly.
“I guess I have.” The Hunter extended a rough hand.
“Marcus.” “Independent Hunter.” “Fifteen years.” Drake accepted the handshake.
“Drake.” Marcus nodded approvingly.
“Don’t worry.” “Everyone looks terrified the first time.” He pointed toward the commission board.
“The trick is simple.” “Don’t be greedy.” Drake followed his gaze.
Higher-ranked missions promised enormous rewards.
Millions of credits.
Rare monster materials.
Prestige.
Almost every one carried casualty rates exceeding sixty percent.
Marcus continued.
“Most young Hunters die trying to prove something.” “They see money.” “They stop seeing danger.” His expression became unexpectedly serious.
“The dead never spend their rewards.” Drake quietly remembered the Bonefang Alpha.
Power alone had never guaranteed survival.
Respect for danger did.
“I’ll remember that.” Marcus smiled.
“Good.” — Several minutes later…
Drake finally reached the registration counter.
The receptionist was a young woman wearing the silver uniform of the Hunter Association.
She looked up politely.
“First registration?” Drake nodded.
“Name?” He hesitated.
The name Drake Ashcroft was slowly becoming dangerous.
Guild Intelligence already knew it.
House Valerius certainly would soon.
The receptionist patiently waited.
Finally…
Drake answered.
“…D.” She frowned slightly.
“Just D?” He nodded.
“I’d prefer not to use my full name.” The woman looked at him for several seconds.
Normally, she would have refused.
However…
Independent Hunters occasionally requested aliases when dealing with dangerous criminal organizations or monster cults.
It wasn’t common.
But neither was it forbidden.
She quietly wrote a single letter.
**Hunter Name: D** “There.” She slid a small bronze identification card across the desk.
“Welcome to the Independent Hunter Registry.” Drake stared at the card.
Simple.
Plain.
Yet somehow…
It carried more meaning than any noble title ever could.
For the first time…
He had chosen his own identity.
Not orphan.
Not laborer.
Not prey.
Simply…
D.
— “Your awakening?” The receptionist’s next question interrupted his thoughts.
Drake froze.
“My…
awakening?” She nodded while filling out additional paperwork.
“Element.” “Enhancement.” “Summoning.” “Support.” “What category?” Drake’s mind immediately raced.
He couldn’t say the truth.
Monster Transformation?
A living relic?
The ability to archive and become monsters?
He would be imprisoned before sunset.
The receptionist looked up.
“…Sir?” Drake forced himself to answer.
“Enhancement.” It wasn’t entirely a lie.
His transformations certainly enhanced his body.
She continued writing.
“Primary weapon?” Drake hesitated again.
Claws.
Teeth.
Instinct.
“…Close combat.” The receptionist smiled politely.
“That narrows it down.” She stamped the registration papers before handing Drake a thin leather booklet.
“These are the regulations.” “Read them.” He accepted the booklet.
“The Association doesn’t care how strong you become.” “But break these rules…” Her smile disappeared.
“…and every Hunter in Ashhaven becomes your enemy.” Drake nodded seriously.
“I understand.” — He stepped away from the counter.
His eyes immediately searched for the Graywood Forest commission.
Still available.
He carefully removed it from the board before carrying it toward the assignment desk.
The elderly clerk adjusted his spectacles.
“Graywood?” Drake nodded.
“I’d like to accept it.” The clerk looked him up and down.
“First mission?” “…Yes.” The old man sighed.
“I’ve seen too many young Hunters chase rewards.” “This commission isn’t difficult.” “But don’t underestimate Goblins.” “They’re cowards.” “They attack from shadows.” “They poison arrows.” “They flee.” “Then they return when you’re exhausted.” Drake listened carefully.
Every piece of information mattered.
The clerk finally stamped the commission.
“Complete the investigation.” “Recover proof.” “Return within seven days.” “If you don’t…” “The Association assumes you’re dead.” Drake quietly accepted the document.
Those words…
Carried no emotion.
Only routine.
For Hunters…
Death had become paperwork.
— As Drake stepped outside…
The morning sun had climbed high above Ashhaven.
He looked toward the city gates leading to Graywood Forest.
Another journey awaited.
Very different from the one that had led him into the Dead Ruins.
This time…
He wasn’t running from death.
He was walking toward it by choice.
The thought should have frightened him.
Instead…
It filled him with determination.
His hand slowly tightened around the bronze Hunter card resting inside his pocket.
Independent Hunter.
D.
A new beginning.
— Far across the city…
Victor quietly lowered the hood covering his face.
He had watched everything.
The registration.
The commission.
Even the alias.
A faint smile crossed the giant’s scarred face.
“So…” “You’ve learned caution.” He respected that.
Most survivors did.
But caution alone wouldn’t save Drake.
Victor reached inside his coat before removing a small communication crystal.
His deep voice echoed calmly.
“The target accepted his first commission.” A brief silence followed.
Then Leon’s voice emerged from the crystal.
“…Excellent.” Victor frowned.
“What are your orders?” A quiet chuckle answered him.
“Nothing.” Victor blinked.
“…Nothing?” “Let him leave the city.” The amusement in Leon’s voice slowly deepened.
“A fledgling Hunter is far easier to kill…” “…outside the walls.” The crystal went dark.
Victor remained standing beneath the afternoon sun.
For the first time…
He felt something he hadn’t expected.
Unease.
He looked toward the distant city gate where Drake had already begun walking.
Then toward the communication crystal in his hand.
Quietly…
Almost unconsciously…
Victor sighed.
“I hope…” “…you’re stronger than you look.” Far beyond Ashhaven…
Deep within Graywood Forest…
A pair of golden eyes slowly opened beneath the roots of an ancient tree.
Unlike the crimson eyes of ordinary monsters…
These eyes possessed intelligence.
Patience.
And hunger.
The creature slowly lifted its head.
The forest itself seemed to hold its breath.
Someone…
Had entered its territory.
**To Be Continued…**