Come, Give Me a Smile

"..."

Linsey seriously considered a question.

If it had been an ordinary thirteen-year-old boy with decent talent, would he have immediately fallen for the Female Hunter's temptation and thrown himself into the profession? But on careful thought, Dan had not actually lied to him.

Based on Linsey's understanding of the Awakened, if he truly chose the path of a hunter, everything she had said earlier would absolutely be possible.

"Kid, why aren't you saying anything?"

Dan, who had been listing the benefits of becoming a hunter, also sensed that something was off about Linsey's silence.

Thinking of how the boy before her had killed an Ice Badger by himself,

Dan immediately changed her approach:

"You think everything I said was a lie?"

"I guarantee that after becoming a hunter, the things you'll be able to do will surpass your imagination. As long as..."

For the first time, Linsey took the initiative to interrupt Dan's endless spiel:

"Madam Dan."

"Just call me Dan."

"All right, Dan. I just find something strange."

Linsey began voicing his doubts:

"I've only just become the Nun's godson, so why is everyone so willing to teach me knowledge and skills? That kind of enthusiasm... has already gone beyond what's normal. It makes me a little uncomfortable."

Dan blinked, then burst out laughing with a puff.

"Ha, Red Moon hasn't told you yet."

"That's fine. I'll tell you, then!"

"Anrui, Finn, and I all hope you can inherit our skills. You should know that this damn place, the Hidden Borderlands, has been cut off from the rest of the world for ten years already! Whether out of our own sense of responsibility or some other messy reasons, finding a suitable successor is extremely important."

Linsey was still somewhat confused.

"But as far as I know, a person's Source Essence can only sublime one skill. If I choose one of you three, wouldn't the other two be wasting their effort..."

Poke—

Before Linsey could finish, Dan poked him in the forehead with her rough finger and said in the tone of someone teaching a child:

"So what?"

"This damn place is already like this. There's nothing wrong with passing down your abilities and nurturing a young person. This isn't the time to hoard what we have."

By this point, Dan also understood that Linsey was not a child who could be persuaded by a few enticing words. So she changed her previous attitude and earnestly expressed her thoughts. "You don't need to feel any psychological burden."

"We're teaching you these skills willingly. Your only task is to study hard and ultimately choose your own path for the future, no matter what that path may be."

As they chatted, the two arrived at the edge of town.

Following the gravel road, they could already make out the outline of the cemetery church in the distance.

Suddenly, the Female Hunter came to an abrupt stop.

"A person's life... is just like this!"

With lightning-fast movements, she took the bow from her back, drew the string, aimed into the distance, and released.

Whoosh—

The arrow shot out at a speed too fast for the naked eye to follow, vanishing at the edge of their vision.

Dan smiled at Linsey. "Only by seizing opportunities will good fortune come knocking."

Linsey had no idea what had just happened.

When the two reached the church, the arrow's fletching was resting against the edge of the wall. Linsey went over to inspect it and discovered a gray wild rabbit that had somehow appeared amid the weeds beside the cemetery.

From at least a hundred meters away, it had been killed by the Female Hunter with a single arrow!

At that distance, Linsey could not even make out the details around the church, yet the Female Hunter had spotted a wild rabbit moving through the grass.

"..."

Linsey silently picked up the wild rabbit.

The arrow had struck straight through its heart, without the slightest deviation.

The unlucky little thing had not even had time to struggle before dying, and its fur was perfectly intact.

Carrying the wild rabbit, Linsey ran over to Dan.

The Female Hunter affected an elegant manner, brushed back her hair, and struck a heroic pose for Linsey.

"Well? Impressive, right?"

Linsey nodded vigorously.

"Impressive! I'll definitely study hard under you!"

Seeing Linsey nod, Dan immediately emphasized, "Ordinary hunters can't do what I just did. You need to awaken this skill with your Source Essence."

"..."

At that moment, Linsey was just as speechless as Finn had been earlier.

But the Female Hunter did not care in the slightest.

She took the wild rabbit from Linsey, pulled out the arrow to inspect it, and led the way toward the church.

The two entered the chapel. It was already getting late.

Red Moon was sitting quietly in the church, her placid gaze resting on the pages of the book in her hands, until the two returning to the church interrupted her.

"Dan?"

Red Moon looked calmly at the Female Hunter.

Dan, meanwhile, wore a flattering smile as she offered the wild rabbit she had just brought down to Red Moon.

"There was a rabbit outside chewing on the grass, so I brought it to you."

Red Moon saw through the Female Hunter's ulterior motive at once, so she turned directly to Linsey beside her. "Linsey?"

Faced with his Godmother's question, Linsey naturally answered honestly:

"It's like this. Because of tomorrow's lesson, Dan wants to..."

"Ah, let me explain!" The Female Hunter clearly did not want to trouble a child with even this matter, so she snatched over the conversation and explained on her own. "Tomorrow, I plan to take Linsey outside so he can personally experience what hunting is all about."

"To prepare for the trip, I hope the boy can stay with me tonight."

After hearing the Female Hunter's explanation, Red Moon showed neither pleasure nor displeasure, nor did she express any opinion.

She merely looked at Linsey and left the choice to him. "Linsey, are you willing to spend the night at Dan's home?"

Red Moon asked very seriously.

Linsey thought seriously as well before finally giving his answer:

"If it's for learning, then of course I'm willing."

Red Moon nodded slightly.

"Mm. Then study well."

"Dan is an experienced expert when it comes to hunting. She is trustworthy."

After giving Linsey her instructions, Red Moon looked again at the Female Hunter beside her.

"If you take Linsey out tomorrow, when will you be able to return?"

The Female Hunter answered confidently:

"I'm not taking a child on a long hunt. We'll leave tomorrow morning, probably just check some traps or something, and be back by evening."

Red Moon nodded and thus allowed Linsey to return with Dan.

Having achieved her goal, Dan was clearly in a good mood.

The two bade the Nun farewell. As she led Linsey outside, her steps became much lighter, and she began chatting with him from time to time.

"Come on, let's head back. I'll treat you to something good."

"Something good?"

"That Ice Badger you killed! It froze solid in the snow, and it's still fresh."

"By the way, kid, have you ever had alcohol?"

"No."

"Tsk—"

"I think children should be a little livelier. Come on, give me a smile!"

"Huh? Hey!"

After the Female Hunter pinched Linsey's cheeks and forcibly arranged his face into a smile,

he had to admit that he regretted it a little.