In Terra, a Hunter and a Bad Woman

"Sure."

"You agreed just like that?"

"I didn't see any malice in your eyes."

"What kind of reason is that?"

Hoshiguma smiled helplessly, but hearing Maria agree did put her much more at ease.

What she feared most was Maria refusing her, then running around alone.

Heaven knew what kind of trouble someone so strange-minded yet so capable in a fight might cause in Lungmen.

The best solution was still to keep her somewhere within sight.

Recommended Work

After accepting Hoshiguma's invitation, Maria still did not give up on looting those little thugs.

Hoshiguma neither supported nor stopped her. She simply pretended not to see, waiting until Maria had finished collecting her spoils before leading her back to where she currently lived.

It was an old residential complex... The people living there seemed to be special kinds of workers, and they greeted one another warmly.

Since Maria had been brought there by Hoshiguma, quite a few people cast curious looks at her.

That made Maria realize that the woman before her seemed to be rather popular.

"We're here... This is my home."

After leading Maria to her room, Hoshiguma openly ushered her inside.

Compared to the others, her room looked quite neat and practical.

There were not many belongings, and almost no decorations.

The only thing that looked frequently used was the punching bag beside the living room.

It was clear that she attached great importance to physical training in her daily life.

"There's nothing particularly interesting here... but it's fine to rest for now. Other than me, only a few friends come by occasionally. If you have nowhere else to go, staying here for a few months won't be a problem."

Hoshiguma smiled, and her open manner made her easy to like.

After looking around for a moment, Maria removed her distinctive triangular hat and turned to look at her.

"...Thank you, but unfortunately, I have nothing with which to repay you."

Maria was still rather old-fashioned. Since she had accepted the other woman's kindness, she naturally felt she should repay it.

Unfortunately, she did not have much on her right now and truly had nothing to offer.

"You don't need to be so formal."

Hoshiguma stared blankly at Maria for a few seconds before coming back to herself with a smile. She casually took some leftover roast meat from the refrigerator, along with a six-pack of beer.

"Want a drink?"

"..."

"I'll take silence as agreement. Relax a little."

Hoshiguma smiled and gestured for Maria to sit down.

At the same time, she quietly observed her.

There was no doubt that Hoshiguma was a good person with a strong sense of loyalty... but being a good person did not mean she lacked caution.

Even she would not casually bring someone she had just met into her home.

Even if she truly wanted to help, at most she would find the person a place to stay and cover the expenses for a while.

The reason she had brought Maria here... in the end, was fear.

"You... are really incredible."

After opening a can of beer and taking a gulp, Hoshiguma looked at Maria, who did not know how to start eating, and sighed with emotion.

That punch in the alley had made her realize exactly what kind of terrifying strength lay within the woman before her.

It was strength that even she would struggle to contend against head-on.

After all, she was an Oni.

With the advantages of her race, her natural talent, and the training she had never once neglected, she should have been among the very best in terms of strength.

Yet even so, when facing Maria, she could still feel that heavy pressure.

It was an instinctive reaction, like that of a beast.

The Maria before her was definitely not merely good at fighting... Hoshiguma could sense abnormalities in everything from her mentality to the logic behind her actions.

Her entire being was like a sharpened sword, a madwoman who fought for the sake of fighting.

This beautiful woman looked slender and frail, yet her fists carried power that even artillery shells could scarcely match.

If someone like her were allowed to wander freely around Lungmen, who knew how much trouble she might cause... Still, since she could communicate normally, Hoshiguma had simply brought her home to keep an eye on her.

Even if something happened, it should not be anything too serious.

"It is merely brute strength."

Maria remained calm in the face of Hoshiguma's praise.

Her eyes lowered slightly. After hesitating for a moment, she copied Hoshiguma and brought the can to her lips.

The lively, stimulating sensation surprised Maria, who had never tasted anything like it before.

After frowning slightly, she set the beer on the table and silently looked at the woman before her.

"By the way... although I do not understand what this Lungmen Guard Department is, you seem to be someone like an administrator, yes? Will you not deal with what I did earlier?"

Maria was somewhat curious.

But Hoshiguma looked unconcerned.

"Every place has its own rules, and Lungmen has its own as well... Since those people wanted to attack you, it was perfectly reasonable for you to fight back. As for them being beaten and losing their money, they had it coming... Of course, doing this a few times is enough. If you do it too often, the real administrators here will be unhappy with you. Though with your skills, they might not do anything to you. They may even consider recruiting you instead."

"The real administrators?"

"Mm... The situation here is rather unique. If you really want to understand it, think of them as people who work behind the scenes in this city... except they have no official status."

Hoshiguma casually tossed her empty beer can aside. Looking at the thoughtful Maria, she smiled and teased her.

"What? Are you interested?"

"Not particularly. I am merely considering what you said about recruitment."

Maria lowered her head and thought seriously.

Seeing the look on Maria's face, Hoshiguma could not help twitching at the corner of her mouth.

She somewhat regretted what she had said at the end.

She had thought it would lighten the tense atmosphere, but she had not expected Maria to actually become interested.

Was she really going to let this monster of a woman join a gang and stir up trouble?

"Recruitment and all that... maybe not."

Hoshiguma shook her head with a bitter smile, then asked in return.

"Why are you interested in something like that? Are you short on money?"

"Yes." Maria nodded without hiding her goal. "I plan to go to a place called Bolivar, to search for a forest there..."

"You're going to Bolivar!? From here?" Hoshiguma's expression turned strange.

"From Lungmen to Bolivar means crossing the entire continent of Terra. Why would you go somewhere so... Mm... forget it. You must have your own reasons, so I won't ask."

"Still, going somewhere that far really does require a lot of money... That is not something you can earn in a short time."

Hoshiguma considered it and could not help clicking her tongue.

Though she did not know why Maria had such an outrageous idea, crossing Terra...

The amount of money that would take was easy to imagine.

Even if she earned as she traveled, the initial funds alone would not be small.

"By normal means, it would be difficult to gather that much money quickly."

"Are you in a hurry?"

Hoshiguma asked thoughtfully.

"...Not really." Maria shook her head.

She wanted to investigate that forest and see whether a Great Beast truly existed there.

If there was one, she would hunt it.

If not... then so be it.

She had plenty of time, after all. There was no need to rush.

If there was anything she worried about, it was whether that girl like a puppy might encounter some danger.

After all, this world did not seem particularly peaceful.

After hearing Maria's answer, Hoshiguma fell into thought.

"If that is the case... I do know a rather good job."

Texas's Grievance

Inside the Penguin Bar in Lungmen.

Beautiful lights swayed through the dim bar. Though the decor was not especially exquisite, it was filled with the owner's careful touches.

Rounded table corners, comfortable metal chairs, and neatly arranged glass bottles.

Though not luxurious, every detail revealed a small measure of care.

Yet strangely, despite it already being business hours, there was not a single customer in sight...

It was enough to make one wonder whether something had happened to the bar.

But that was not the case.

"Whoa, Emperor, you really rented out an entire bar for our celebration party? That's generous!"

The excited Exusiai enthusiastically crowded around a strange penguin, following him into the bar.

Looking at the empty establishment and the banquet table that had been set up early by someone unknown, everyone felt rather excited.

"A party needs atmosphere. Didn't you say your last celebration got too rowdy and someone complained? I bought this place anyway, so if you want to throw parties in the future, you can just come here."

"Whoa~"

The fiery-haired Sankta girl chatted and laughed with Emperor at the front, while behind them, a yellow-haired girl who looked like a Lupo was pressed intimately against Texas's side.

"Senior~"

She smiled brightly, and that radiant expression made it hard to imagine she was supposed to be an idol.

Up ahead, after Emperor and Exusiai chatted for a while longer, Exusiai seemed to remember something and turned around curiously.

"Come to think of it, where's Croissant?"

She, Texas, Sora, and Croissant were Penguin Logistics's golden team.

There was no way Croissant would miss this celebration party, right?

"Senior Croissant? She said she seemed to have been held up while packing her stall... but she should be back soon, right?"

The yellow-haired girl, Sora, touched her lips as she answered Exusiai's question.

But compared to Croissant, the Forte girl who was also their companion, Texas was obviously much more appealing to her.

So after answering, she smilingly pressed herself against Texas again.

But the perceptive Sora quickly noticed that Texas did not look well.

Texas usually had a cold expression, but clearly, she had more on her mind today.