Dark Fantasy’s Extra Chapter 162

A hunter approached the mansion of the Grimm family – the pillar supporting the great city of Cranion adjacent to the Order’s headquarters and the center of trade.

“Welcome, Miss.”

The servants and maids bowed respectfully to the hunter.

Those who made it their profession to serve their superiors could tell at a glance.

Whether someone truly belonged in a superior position, or was still an inexperienced candidate.

The same people who had previously welcomed her with exaggerated enthusiasm now showed a polite and restrained attitude.

“I’m back.” 

Said Hilde.

Her demeanor had sharpened beyond maturity, and she didn’t seem to be in a particularly good mood.

Several days had passed since Eugene returned to headquarters, but he showed no signs of waking up.

The Order’s doctors had gathered to try to wake Eugene, but they not only failed to make any progress, they couldn’t even determine why he wouldn’t wake up.

If only Maia or Ozwald were here, they might have been able to do something, but neither was present now.

And that girl.

That girl who kept clinging to Eugene’s side was irritating.

She kept sticking to him, constantly calling him Brother.

She should just leave her senior alone for a while.

Is it because she’s still young so it can’t be helped?

As a hunter, she shouldn’t act so childishly.

If it was her senior, he would have scolded her harshly.

She’s not even his real sister.

“The master is waiting.” 

Said the maid, cutting off Hilde’s negative thoughts.

Putting aside her thoughts about Eugene for now, she returned her consciousness to being Hilde Grimm.

Following the maid’s guidance to the family meeting room of the Grimm mansion, when she opened the door, the first thing that caught her eye was the splendid banner emblazoned with the family’s symbolic crest.

And in front of it sat William Grimm, the current head of the family, looking this way.

“Welcome.” 

Said William.

Both his face and voice looked tired.

In Hilde’s memories, her father William had always been the epitome of a flawless noble.

Though he pursued perfection in everything from his attire to his demeanor to his grooming, that perfection now seemed slightly lacking.

Even for a family meeting, he would have maintained better standards than this – he must have been through quite an ordeal.

“It’s been a while, Father.”

Hilde gave William a slight bow and set down the Executioner’s Axe she had been carrying on her back.

“You should have left such a filthy object outside.”

One of William’s eyebrows twitched.

“A mid-ranked hunter has the right to remain armed anywhere. Even before royalty.”

Hilde didn’t bat an eye.

“Hmm.”

William also noticed that she was subtly implying this was already a concession on her part.

At least she had put down her weapon.

“More importantly Father, you look extremely tired. Has something happened?”

“I’ll discuss that when everyone is gathered. Rather, I want to ask you something too. Your expression isn’t good either.”

“Not particularly…”

“Is it about that hunter?”

“…”

“Tsk tsk… To have your heart stolen by such a commoner… Your grandparents would be saddened to see this. You should have more awareness as a noble.”

“I am a hunter.”

“…And?”

“That means who I choose to care for is my business.”

A vein bulged on William’s forehead.

It was true that hunters should be viewed separately from worldly social status – this was a universal doctrine.

However, the implicit distinction between those of noble and common birth was equally universal.

In the end, the roots of the social hierarchy run deep, and even the Saintess couldn’t resolve this – it was barely acknowledged in name only.

Even though the Grimm family was close to the Order, never crossing this line was an iron rule.

“You seem to have no filter before me. Have you forgotten all your etiquette education?”

“…”

But Hilde remained unmoved.

William was angry but also somewhat surprised.

It hadn’t even been a year since Hilde became a hunter, yet when did she develop such an iron-clad determination to stand her ground?

William had met many high-ranked hunters through his work, and Hilde’s demeanor already resembled theirs.

“…We’ll discuss this later too. There are other urgent matters today.”

“Yes.”

After a brief awkward atmosphere hung between father and daughter, the door opened and two people entered.

The woman with a mature presence wore a silver-plated badge that was fashionable in current social circles and had a face resembling Hilde’s.

The young man with a somewhat youthful face wore an ornate feathered hat and an officer’s uniform.

“Welcome, Lucilier. And Pitt, you must be tired.”

Hilde’s mother Lucilier and younger brother Pitt.

Like Hilde, they were both members of the Grimm family who had gathered here at the summons of William, the family head.

“Oh my, William. What’s with that face? Are you sleeping properly? Work is important but you need proper rest. And Hilde…”

Lucilier approached Hilde and embraced her head.

“How long has it been? Why haven’t you written lately? I was so worried.”

“I’m sorry, Mother.”

Hilde’s demeanor softened a bit.

Lucilier, who made it her business to read people in social circles, must have noticed Hilde’s changes.

Nevertheless, Lucilier treated her daughter the same as before.

That warm consideration seeped into her heart.

Come to think of it, her senior had said it.

That you should meet properly with family.

“Sister…”

Meanwhile, Pitt couldn’t hide his considerable bewilderment.

Though it had been 2 years since he enlisted in the military and returned, his sister had completely transformed into a different person during that time.

“I heard you became a hunter…”

“Yes. And I’m classified as exceptional talent. I might become a high-ranked hunter someday.”

Hilde smiled confidently.

“A high-ranked hunter…”

There were no former hunters in the military.

The Order thoroughly monopolized those born with magical power who also received training.

But he had occasionally seen hunters fighting up close when dealing with Beasts.

When he saw a terrifying Beast that could charge and smash solid stone walls with its head get cut in half in one strike by a high-ranked hunter, he wondered if it was even reality.

His sister, who had been ordinary when he last saw her, was now approaching such monstrous beings…

Moreover, high-ranked hunters were humanity’s strongest force, such that even a king couldn’t be disrespectful to them.

Truly one of the highest peaks of honor that humans could achieve.

“Everyone sit down first.” 

Said William.

All the nobles of the Grimm family gathered and took their seats.

“First, thank you all for making time in your busy schedules. So I won’t speak long either.”

William explained what had been happening.

“The supplies demanded by the Order suddenly tripled.”

“Triple?! That’s enormous. Are they preparing some kind of event?”

“No… Looking at the types of items they’re requesting… Hilde, you must know.”

“…War preparations.”

Hilde said.

“…!”

“The Order is preparing something these days. All branches are massively increasing recruitment by lowering hunter entry requirements, and our training has increased too.”

“That would be it. They’re undoubtedly preparing for combat on a massive scale.”

“I see. So that’s why you called us.”

Pitt said.

“Someone among us needs to return home and help with your work, right?”

“Yes. The increase in demand isn’t temporary. It’s triple now, but it could easily increase ten or twenty-fold in the future. I absolutely cannot handle it alone. So someone needs to help with my business. If necessary, we might even need to travel by ship to some nameless island somewhere.”

“…Hilde. You once said you would definitely help Father with his work someday.”

Lucilier said.

“I did. But I can’t anymore.”

“Hilde.”

“I’m a hunter now. I can’t leave that behind.”

“Hilde, please… Won’t you come back? It seems too dangerous. If you get hurt…”

“Getting hurt doesn’t bother me anymore. Bleeding, broken bones… I’ve gotten used to it in my own way.”

“Oh my… But if you were to die…!”

“Mother.”

Pitt said.

“Let her go.”

“Pitt! Aren’t you worried about your sister?!”

It was natural for noble men to risk their lives in military service.

But women didn’t need to do so.

“Of course I’m worried… But what the front lines need are excellent warriors. No matter how many weapons we have, they’re meaningless without people to use them. And Sister will definitely go even if we try to stop her… Right?”

“Yes.”

“So I’ll help with Father’s work.”

“Thank you, Pitt.”

“Hmm…”

William quietly closed his eyes in thought.

“William! Please try to stop the children!”

“…Pitt.”

“Yes.”

“Young noble men must complete military service. Otherwise you’ll be pointed at as a coward in social circles. Moreover, our family is close to the Order but doesn’t have very good relations with the royal family or other nobles.”

“Yes.”

“You leaving the military now… means you might not even have the chance to gain a foothold in social circles in the future. Finding good positions would be difficult, let alone finding a spouse.”

“Then I should do it instead!”

Lucilier said.

“I can come back…”

“No, you’re right where you need to be now. What I need most right now is connections. Just running around isn’t enough. Among us, only you who are involved in social circles can directly ask around among people who have the supplies.”

William shook his head.

“Ah, but… but the children… our children…”

Lucilier’s eyes welled up with tears.

The daughter she had raised like a precious and beautiful flower would have to go to dangerous battlefields where her life couldn’t be guaranteed.

The son who had risked his life for honor would have to tear down that carefully built tower himself, making it all for nothing and selling even his future.

How did it come to this?

“This is unavoidable for members of the Grimm family.”

William said.

Thanks to their long-standing ties with the Order’s headquarters, the Grimm family had received treatment comparable to high nobles.

But everything has its price.

“But Hilde…”

“Yes.”

“You must absolutely keep your promise. The promise that you’ll become a high-ranked hunter within 2 years. If you fail to keep it, I’ll send Pitt back to the military and you’ll have to come work here instead.”

“Yes.”

“…Even if Pitt returns to the military then, after so much time has passed they probably won’t recognize his previous service. The 2 years Pitt spent in the military would become meaningless.”

“Yes. I will definitely show you by becoming a high-ranked hunter.”

“Good. That’s what you can do for Pitt who is returning to the family in your place.”

“…I have to go back to the military?”

Pitt made a sour expression.