In Terra, a Hunter, and a Bad Woman

This was troublesome.

If this went wrong, it could turn into a diplomatic incident.

With that thought, Hoshiguma quickened her pace.

As she moved, the scent of blood hanging in the air grew increasingly distinct.

"Found them! They're right around that corner!"

Hoshiguma gritted her teeth and charged over.

The moment she rounded the corner, the suppressed voice in her throat suddenly erupted!

"You lot!"

Before she could finish, her whole body froze.

She stared blankly at the dead end before her, her voice cutting off instantly like a jammed tape.

The Restless Maria

In the alley, Maria held up a man who had tried to attack her and beat him without mercy.

She meant that in the literal sense.

She gripped the man by the collar as if he were a chick and drove punch after punch into his face.

There wasn't the slightest hint of pity on her cold face, and her sharp gaze seemed to contain nothing but battle.

Sure enough, compared to finding a normal job, this sort of thing suited her better.

Since these people had wanted to attack her... it was reasonable for her to fight back, right?

Since they had taken the initiative to ambush her, there was nothing wrong with taking some compensation from them, right?

Thinking that, Maria mercilessly punched the man in front of her in the face again.

Only after confirming that he had completely passed out did she let out a long breath.

This small encounter hadn't cost her much effort. What had taken the most out of her was figuring out how to keep these people from making too much noise.

After all, if they started screaming, she wouldn't be able to stay long, and she wouldn't have time to loot them after finishing the fight.

Fortunately, everything had gone according to her rehearsal.

Just as she was about to start looting them, a stern female voice sounded behind her.

"You lot!"

"Hm?"

Maria turned around.

Behind her, a green-haired woman who was slightly taller than her was staring blankly in this direction as well.

The green-haired woman looked rather valiant.

Though her tall frame was somewhat hunched, she wasn't actually stooped. Her loose posture perfectly protected her vital points, and that imposing shout just now had made Maria realize that this woman's lung capacity was excellent... enough to prove her superior physical condition.

She just didn't know what this woman was doing here at this moment.

And what she had shouted just now...

Was she one of these guys' companions?

At that thought, Maria's gaze sharpened.

In an instant, she used Flash Step to close the distance, fixed her eyes on the woman before her, and decisively threw a punch.

She was so fast that the other woman had no time to react!

Whether she's an enemy or not... knocking her out first can't be wrong!

This sudden attack stimulated Hoshiguma's combat instincts.

Her eyes widened instantly, and her heart began pounding wildly!

So fast!

"Hng!"

Giving up on thought, Hoshiguma handed the fight entirely over to her body!

Almost at the same instant, Maria's fist came down, and Hoshiguma's defense was in place!

With a sharp boom, her body was sent flying back several meters.

Maria remained where she was, her eyes wary.

"She blocked it?"

Maria was somewhat surprised as she looked at the other woman's unharmed body.

She knew her body definitely wasn't like before, when she could directly fight the Outer Gods.

But... the woman before her had blocked her punch with her body and was completely fine?

Was it a boost brought about by beastification?

Maria was surprised.

Across from her, Hoshiguma only felt cold sweat running down her back.

She blankly felt the stabbing pain coming from her arm. Her muscles were twitching uncontrollably, and the spot Maria had hit was slightly red and burning, making her feel as though it had been scorched...

"Hey... are you really human?"

With a complicated expression, Hoshiguma looked at the woman before her, and the last trace of suspicion she had toward her vanished.

Just now, she had wondered whether Maria had teammates lurking in the shadows. That was the only way to explain how Maria had knocked out so many people in a dozen seconds without making a sound.

But that punch had made her understand that this strange woman before her...

Was incredibly strong!

Was it Originium Arts? Or was it simply martial skill?

Hoshiguma couldn't tell.

She had never thought herself exceptionally powerful in any way, but... when it came to strength, she had some confidence.

Yet even she had been unable to put up any defense against that attack!

It could be said that if they truly fought head-on, she had no confidence in defeating the other woman at all!

That left her stunned for quite a while.

And that brief time gave Maria ample opportunity to prepare.

Her face cold, she stepped out with Flash Step again!

Another blow was about to be thrown!

But this time, Hoshiguma acted completely out of character.

Instead of defending herself, she raised both hands and smiled helplessly.

"I surrender..."

"..."

Maria's fist stopped.

Her indifferent face was full of suspicion, but she did stop her fist and silently stared at the woman before her.

Hoshiguma could only smile bitterly and repeat herself.

"I surrender... I don't know what I did to upset you, but I don't think we actually need to fight."

"You... aren't their companion?"

"Not really. I was only planning to see what these guys were up to, and stop them if they did anything dangerous... though it looks like I don't need to step in now."

Hoshiguma let out a long breath. She glanced at the little thugs sprawled all over the ground, then looked at the questioning Maria and shook her head with a smile.

Stop them?

In a sense, she really had come to stop someone.

But it wasn't these little thugs she had come to stop. It was Maria.

That punch that had landed on her just now—if it hit an ordinary person, it might genuinely kill them!

Did this woman really strike that hard?

Thinking so, Hoshiguma looked at Maria again.

After Hoshiguma raised her hands in surrender, Maria hesitated for a moment, but she still withdrew her fist and silently stepped back a few paces.

After exchanging several looks and confirming that Hoshiguma had no intention of attacking, she turned around and began looting the spot.

"You're..." Hoshiguma asked curiously.

"Collecting spoils."

Maria picked up a wallet and pulled out several blue banknotes.

"Huh?"

Hoshiguma was immediately stunned when she heard Maria's words.

Spoils?

Was calling robbery something so pleasant-sounding popular these days?

Or was this just this outsider's strange habit?

When she saw Maria awkwardly take the wallet from the man's pocket and remove all the Lungmen Credits inside, she smiled helplessly.

Those clumsy movements... she probably didn't do this sort of thing often.

After thinking for a while, Hoshiguma shook her head.

"Are you short on money right now?"

"..."

Maria didn't answer. She merely turned her head and glanced at Hoshiguma before quietly continuing to loot.

Hoshiguma wasn't discouraged. Instead, she stepped a little closer to Maria.

"You only arrived in Lungmen today, right... Have you found somewhere to stay?"

"..."

"If you don't mind, my place is pretty spacious. Interested in coming over to rest for a while?"

"... Why?"

Maria didn't readily agree to this strange woman's invitation. She simply turned her head, staring at the other woman warily.

Unsolicited kindness hid either treachery or theft.

Maria wasn't the kind of person who would casually trust others.

Hoshiguma had her own reasons for doing this.

"I'm with the Lungmen Guard Department... These little thugs brought this on themselves, sure, but... it wouldn't exactly be reassuring to let someone as dangerous as you wander around freely, would it?"

"The Lungmen Guard Department?"

"You don't know? If you don't, you can just think of it as the agency that handles affairs in Lungmen."

"City guards?"

"Ha... that's an ancient way of putting it, but... more or less."

Hoshiguma stood with one hand on her hip, smiling at Maria.

This woman... was strange.

She was strong, but she didn't seem very familiar with modern society... Had she come from some isolated place cut off from the world?

Hoshiguma thought.

After lowering her head in silence for a while, Maria decisively nodded.