In Terra, a Hunter and a Bad Woman

The two of them had only actually known each other for less than a day... and when they'd first met, Maria had nearly killed her.

Yet even so, the girl had chosen to help Maria just now.

For some reason, that made Maria feel a little gratified.

"Though you're just a beast, there are still traces of humanity hidden within you..."

"Woof?"

Puppy didn't understand what Maria meant, but she saw Maria smile.

No matter how sharp and unapproachable she tried to appear, Maria was ultimately a delicate beauty who hardly seemed human.

When she smiled, the sharpness around her gradually faded away, leaving only a faint gentleness...

It made one feel at ease...

"Woof?"

"It was nothing. Forget what I just said."

Maria didn't say anything more to the girl. She simply turned around and looked calmly at the people who had attacked her.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

Maria had searched the surrounding area during the day. There shouldn't have been any trace of human habitation within dozens of miles.

But... why had these people appeared once night fell?

Had she failed to notice them during the day?

That didn't seem possible.

Though Maria no longer possessed the immense power she once had, she was still a highly skilled hunter.

She wouldn't fail to notice whether there were people around her campsite.

This was very strange.

Shaking her head, Maria stepped closer to the man's corpse and lowered her head to examine it.

"Skinny beyond recognition. Is it hunger?"

Wasn't there plenty of food in this forest?

Though these people's abilities were nothing impressive, hunting enough food shouldn't have been difficult for them, right?

"How did they end up starving like this?"

As she wondered.

Puppy finally dared to approach Maria.

She was still trembling, looking timid and pathetic.

But after sniffing the air, she seemed to notice something. Ignoring Maria's attempt to stop her, she eagerly ran over to the corpses and began searching through them.

Seeing this, Maria slowly withdrew the hand she'd extended to stop her. She stood quietly where she was and watched Puppy move.

She wanted to see whether Puppy could discover something she hadn't.

And soon enough, the girl brought Maria a surprise.

"This is... a map?"

Chapter 6: Let's Go, Puppy

"A map?"

Maria's brows drew together slightly, and an unusually strange expression appeared on her face.

Why would a group of people too poor to afford food carry a map with them?

"Did they pick it up along the way, or..."

Maria lowered her head.

She noticed that aside from being tattered and stained with blood, their clothes were all more or less ill-fitting.

A thought immediately surfaced in Maria's mind, and her expression darkened slightly.

"Woof..."

At that moment, poor little Puppy put on an excellent performance called loyalty.

Though Maria's appearance frightened her badly, she still gritted her teeth and stayed by Maria's side.

She neither came close nor moved far away.

It became harder and harder to understand what exactly she thought of Maria.

However, Maria had no mood to train the girl any further. She merely shook out the map and carefully studied its various markings.

Because of that, Maria realized it was an unfinished map. At its center was a crudely drawn campfire, while all the other markings spread outward from it.

"So these people have a camp?"

Maria thought for a moment, identified the direction, and made her decision.

No matter what, she'd go take a look at their camp first.

After all, thinking things through alone always led to plenty of conclusions that began with, "I think..."

Maria understood that all too well.

She left decisively, but Puppy, left behind, fell into a dilemma.

This kind smells nice... gives me food... is good.

"Fights, death... bad."

"But... the others came first..."

Puppy paced in circles, an extremely conflicted expression on her face.

Clearly, for someone like her, who had grown accustomed to a savage life that required no thinking, Maria's arrival was far too troubling.

She had no idea what she was thinking, nor did she know whether she should follow Maria now.

Watching Maria's silent figure gradually recede, she gritted her teeth and lowered her head without saying a word.

There was no doubt that Puppy had a favorable impression of Maria.

It wasn't anything like Stockholm syndrome. Maria was simply different.

It wasn't only her cold temperament and mannerisms. More than that, it was reflected in Maria's unusual behavior.

Puppy had encountered other members of her kind before.

The nicer ones would drive her away. The worse ones would even take out strange long sticks to attack her!

Those long sticks hurt terribly when they struck her.

If she was unlucky enough to be hit in the stomach or somewhere similar, the pain would leave her unable to run, and she'd have to go hungry for days.

The little mushrooms she'd painstakingly saved would also be stolen by some malicious members of her kind.

If she tried to protect her mushrooms, she'd get beaten again with those long sticks!

She couldn't even remember how many nights she'd fallen asleep while enduring the pain in her stomach.

Several times, she'd thought she was about to fall asleep forever... She knew that was the long sleep called death.

If she died, she wouldn't get to eat anything anymore.

Puppy didn't understand what happened after death.

After all, staying alive had already used up all her strength.

But...

This strange member of her kind was different.

Though Maria had attacked her too, she hadn't hit her in the end.

Though she'd tricked her at first, she'd given her delicious food afterward.

Though they'd encountered a dangerous battle, she'd protected her.

Those were the reasons Puppy had thrown the stone to help Maria in the end.

She didn't understand what feelings she held toward Maria, but she knew she didn't want to see this member of her kind bleed or get hurt.

Though judging from the fight, this member of her kind was terrifying.

Puppy clutched her head, utterly at a loss.

But Maria, who had already gone far away, turned back at that moment.

"What are you waiting for?"

Maria had returned to collect weapons.

Though hunters were far stronger than ordinary people even barehanded, they could only be considered complete once they had weapons in hand.

Though these people's weapons were worn down beyond recognition, they could still be used.

After all, they were heading to the other side's camp. It was better to be cautious.

As for Puppy.

"Until you can properly integrate into the world of ordinary people, you can't leave me."

Maria's tone was always so calm and unruffled.

Under the moonlight, the shadow of her tricorn hat fell across the side of her face, obscuring her eyes.

Yet that cool appearance only made her seem even more mysterious and distinctive.

Facing the conflicted Puppy, she silently held out her hand.

"Come here."

"..."

Seeing Maria extend her hand, Puppy thought she was about to attack her. She instantly hopped backward and made a frightening little face.

Of course, to Maria, who had just seen her floundering about in the water in terror, such a threat was simply ridiculous.

So she naturally didn't react. She merely kept her hand raised, open toward Puppy.

"Come here."

She spoke again, her voice seemingly incapable of gentleness, carrying only the tone of a command.

Yet that calmness stirred something in Puppy.

After hesitating for a while, she cautiously walked toward Maria.

Though she couldn't smile, though her cries were strange, though she'd even thrown her into the water.

But...

This member of her kind...

Was the only good one in her life who had given her food...

Hesitating, Puppy trembled as she stood up straight again. As if she'd made an enormous decision, she carefully reached out her hand and curled it into Maria's palm.

Her wide eyes were filled with fear.

Maria merely silently felt the strange sensation traveling back through her palm.

Warm, soft, and carrying a faint stiff tremble.

She was clearly stunned by the gesture.

After all, she'd only extended her hand to express an attitude. She'd never thought the other party would directly make physical contact with her.

But...

"Hmph~"

A faint, unreadable smile curled at the corner of Maria's lips. She didn't let go, instead silently taking the girl's hand in hers.

"A foolish action. Whether as a person or as a warrior, you still have much to learn, Puppy..."