In Terra, a Hunter, and Also a Bad Woman

She merely watched them leave instead of secretly lining up again at the back of the queue.

This made Maria realize that so-called Infected did not seem to be welcome in this world.

"What... are Infected?"

Out of curiosity, Maria asked the woman in front of her.

"Hmm?"

As the female employee recorded and cross-checked Maria's information, she looked up at Maria strangely.

"Infected are Infected. People infected with Oripathy."

After saying that, she lowered her head again.

Since Maria truly remembered very little about herself, she could only give vague answers when faced with the woman's questions.

The staff member looked troubled as well.

"I need to remind you that if too many requirements are missing, I may not even be able to submit your file... Do you understand the consequences?"

She hoped Maria would cooperate a little. Even if you make something up? As long as it was not too outrageous, she could fill it in.

With so little information, there was no need to even look at it. She could reject it immediately.

Unfortunately, straightforward Maria did not understand what she meant and merely nodded silently.

"I'm sorry for causing trouble for your work, but please understand, I truly don't remember much about my past."

"Amnesia?"

"No, merely forgetting."

"..."

The female employee was somewhat speechless.

Yet she looked up again and examined Maria in front of her.

It would have been better if she had not looked. The more carefully she observed, the more unique she found the person before her...

Snow-white skin, icy eyes, and black clothing resembling formal wear. It was somewhat strange, but plenty of people in this world liked wearing strange outfits, so Maria's understated style was actually not very conspicuous.

But most importantly, it was the aura she gave off.

Lonely, cold, yet incomparably unyielding.

Beneath her white hair was an exquisite face that showed not the slightest wavering.

The longer she looked, the more she felt her heart, which had been dry ever since her first heartbreak in elementary school, begin to stir.

Her tail rose and swayed slightly.

For some reason, the woman named Maria gave her a wonderful... sense of security.

Though she understood that her job required her not to let any personal feelings interfere, life was emotional by nature. One could only restrain such feelings, not avoid them entirely.

Perhaps because the more she looked, the more pleasing Maria seemed, after hesitating for a while, she took advantage of no one nearby paying attention and blushed as she quietly warned Maria.

"Um... are you Infected?"

"...I don't know what your definition of Infected is, but as far as I can tell, my body does not seem prone to illness."

"Then... are you Sarkaz?"

"...No. I am merely an ordinary human. If I had to name an ethnicity, I should belong to Cain."

"Uh... I've never heard of that, but it's fine. Since you say so, I'll believe you."

After hesitating for a while, the Lupo staff member silently nodded at Maria.

She then decisively tore off the sheet in front of Maria. Without asking anything further, she quickly filled out a form and handed it to Maria.

"You passed. Go get checked in the back. If you pass that, you can enter Lungmen."

As she spoke, she winked at Maria, seemingly hinting at something.

Maria roughly understood what she meant.

Was this... opening a back door for her?

After all, based on Maria's earlier answers, even she did not think she would pass this time.

Yet the other woman could make it work anyway?

After hesitating for a while, Maria simply thanked the woman and continued inward.

But soon, she understood why the woman had been able to let her through so quickly.

The inspections inside were far stricter than those outside.

Not only had the personnel changed, even their movements were much more efficient.

All sorts of instruments she could not even begin to understand were set up everywhere, and everyone who arrived here underwent strict examination.

Compared to this place, the outside really had seemed like nothing more than a simple check.

As long as you were not a wanted criminal or a terrorist, you could be let in.

Fortunately, Maria did not have any problems here either.

After a simple physical examination, they allowed Maria through.

Before long, Maria reached the final checkpoint.

There were clearly far fewer people here than at the previous two checkpoints. Only a small number stood around tensely.

Since the staff had not yet arrived, these people were nervously watching one another.

Some, however, stood casually.

From the conversations she overheard, they seemed to have already been in Lungmen. They had merely gone out for work and were now returning.

But none of that had anything to do with Maria.

After taking a deep breath, she silently stood to one side and rested.

Beside her, a Lupo girl impatiently bit into a stick-shaped biscuit. Her expression was calm, but Maria could tell that she had been waiting here for a long time and was growing impatient.

Just as Maria was observing her, the girl noticed Maria as well.

At first, her expression was fine, merely indifferent and unconcerned.

But after looking a few more times, her pupils suddenly shrank, and her hand instinctively moved to her waist.

At the same time, her tail stiffened completely, the fur upon it bristling slightly.

As she faced Maria, lingering beneath her vigilance were fear and shock.

Why are you here?!

Reserved Texas

Shock, panic, helplessness.

Like an ignorant child encountering a stern elder, especially when she knew the mistakes she had once made, seeing once again someone she had never expected to meet and never dared face left Texas completely lost.

Following old habits, she merely lowered her head timidly before the person in front of her, saying nothing.

Maria... had absolutely not appeared here by accident! She had come specifically to find her!

At that thought, Texas could not stop her fists from clenching.

But before she could say anything, Maria gently patted her shoulder.

"Mm!"

Texas's expression changed instantly, leaving Maria somewhat confused.

However, Maria did not think much of it. She silently pointed behind Texas.

Behind this strange little Lupo girl, a red-haired girl with a halo above her head and wings of light floating behind her, like an Angel from a statue, walked over with a cheerful smile.

"Yo~"

After patting Texas on the shoulder, the red-haired Angel girl helplessly looked at Maria, who was two heads taller than her.

"I wanted to scare her, but you pointed it out right away~"

"...Sorry."

Maria did not understand anything. She merely honestly apologized for interrupting the other girl's plan.

The smiling girl did not think much of it. Instead, she warmly began talking with Maria.

"It's fine, it's fine. Don't be so serious, big sister~ I was only joking... Come to think of it, judging by how you look, you don't seem to be from Lungmen? Are you visiting Lungmen?"

"...Something like that."

"Ah, that's great~"

The smiling girl showed no sense of unfamiliarity at all. Instead, she moved closer and chatted with Maria.

But such enthusiasm was somewhat difficult for Maria to accept.

She lowered the brim of her hat slightly and took a step back.

The lowered brim also hid her face.

Yet that very movement made Texas act as though she were facing a formidable enemy, cold sweat breaking out across her body.

In her memories, every time Maria made that gesture, it was preparation to attack!

Instinctively, she pulled Exusiai, who was still trying to get closer, behind her and shielded her, staring at Maria warily.

Amid everyone's stunned silence, she lowered her voice and spoke with difficulty.

"Exusiai... doesn't mean any harm..."

"...Exusiai? Mm."

The actions of the Lupo girl before her only made Maria more confused.

But in the end, she did not say anything else. After pondering for a moment, she silently nodded to her.

Then she left.

The people of Lungmen... seemed a little strange?

Was it a custom here? Or were these two girls simply strange?

Hmm... forget it. It did not matter.

She would not be staying here for long anyway.

She would earn some currency used in this world and leave.

As long as... nothing unexpected happened.

With that thought, Maria left the scene.

After noticing that she had left, Texas let out a breath of relief, though her expression still had not recovered.

She was utterly certain that this was not the end. Maria must have felt that Exusiai's presence made it inconvenient to say much, so she had chosen to leave on her own...

Before long, she would definitely come looking for her again!

When that time came... what was she supposed to do?

If she remembered correctly, that Lappland was in Lungmen too, right? If those two met...

At that thought, she felt a twisting pain begin in her abdomen.

Her eyes also revealed a complicated expression.

Beside her, the cheerful girl called Exusiai clasped her hands behind her head. After watching Maria disappear into the distance with a smile, she turned to Texas.

"Do you know her?"

"Hmm?"

"I saw that your expression looked really bad just now~ What, someone you know?"

Exusiai spoke with a smile, draping an arm around Texas's shoulders like a brother and leaning her face closer.

At such close range, Texas could clearly smell the girl's distinctive scent.