Chapter 14: The Hunter’s Guild

The next day, Falco took Shou to the guild to register her as an apprentice hunter.

By registering, Shou would also open a personal account and receive a pouch and belt. She was excited as they made their way to the guild.

"Hey, Shou."

"What, Falco?"

"You’re bringing that?"

"I wanna see if it fits in my pouch right away!"

Not only was Shou carrying her slime-hunting stick, but she also had her bucket and even her chopsticks. Over the winter, she had learned basic magic, including water magic. She could wash slime magic stones using magic, but wasn’t it easier to fill a bucket three times rather than casting water magic thirty times a day?

"Well, if you want to, then fine."

Falco sighed, looking at her with a resigned expression.

The guild was a large building in the center of town. When they pushed open its heavy wooden doors, hunters inside glanced their way—then did a double take.

"Fishing?"

"A fisherman?"

"Going fishing?"

"Why are they at the guild?"

"Falco?"

Ignoring them, Falco walked straight to the reception desk.

"Alice, register this one as an apprentice."

"Falco! Welcome back from the Northern Forest! Oh, so this is the rumored foster kid? Nice to meet you. I’m Alice."

"I’m Shou. I’m here to register as an apprentice."

"Well, aren’t you polite? Alright, just drop a bit of blood on this glass plate."

Blood? Shou looked up at Falco.

"It’s necessary. Your guild card and pouch need personal authentication."

If that was the case, there was no choice. Using the needle Alice handed her, Shou pricked her finger and squeezed out a drop of blood. Ouch.

"You can heal it, right?"

Oh, right. She was also an apprentice healer. Focusing, she healed herself. She rarely got injured, so healing herself was still a bit tricky.

"Oh, so you can heal. That’s wonderful!"

Alice looked pleased.

"Does the Sage know?"

"Of course. He’s been personally training her."

"Good. Here’s your issued pouch and belt. The belt has slots for a sword and potions. You’re given two potions to start with, and as an apprentice, you can exchange one for free every month. If you use more than that, you’ll have to buy replacements yourself. A hunter who constantly gets injured isn’t a good hunter—don’t push yourself too hard, okay?"

"Yes!"

"Falco can explain the rest."

"Right. Her account’s already set up, right, Alice?"

"Yes."

"Shou, hand over this week’s magic stones."

"Okay."

This week’s haul: 180 slime magic stones, 10 lizard stones, and 10 bags of herbs.

"Oh my, this… so Leon’s been bringing these in…?"

"They’re all hers. She’s been handling her own sales. See how it’s done?"

"Got it. I’ll wait over there."

While Falco transferred Shou’s earnings into her account, Shou sat by a bench, examining her new gear.

The belt was a bright, vivid green—the official color of hunters. But the most fascinating part was the potion slots. The potion bottles were long and thin, sealed with corks, almost like bullets. The belt’s design resembled a stylish gun belt.

She fastened it around her waist and tested inserting and removing the potions. Then, she tried sliding in her chopsticks—they fit!

Excited, she beamed at Falco.

…Falco covered his face with one hand and turned away. But she could tell—his lips were twitching upward, and his stomach was shaking slightly.

Shou glanced around. The hunters were all conspicuously looking in different directions. Some were hunched over, clutching their stomachs.

What the heck?

Wasn’t it normal to be excited about new gear?

Shou narrowed her eyes at them.

"You don’t have to hold it in. Just laugh."

Laughter erupted. Seriously?

Fine. Whatever.

She turned her attention back to the pouch. It was palm-sized with a lid. Would her bucket fit inside? She pressed it against the pouch—whoosh! It slid in effortlessly.

"Oh!"

She looked up—every hunter was watching with bated breath.

Shou shot them another cold look, and they all pretended they hadn’t been watching.

Geez.

She reached inside, thought bucket, and—there it was!

"Oh!"

The hunters visibly relaxed.

Next, her stick. It was pretty long… would it fit? Nervously, she tested it—whoosh! Gone.

"Whoa!"

Awe filled her.

What else could she put in? She scanned the room—

"Shou, maybe… pfft h-h-how about testing the rest at home?"

Falco struggled to speak.

"Just laugh."

Another explosion of laughter.

At that moment, a new hunter arrived.

He had a large scar across his face. He was younger than the Sage but older than Leon, with sandy-colored hair and stormy gray eyes.

He walked straight to the reception.

"It’s lively today."

"An apprentice registration. Oh, you have to see this one. The famous Falco’s foster kid. A healer too—very prom—pfft—probably very promising."

"Pfft? Alice, that’s rude."

About to protest, the man turned—and spotted Shou.

So this was Falco’s kid? A healer?

Let’s test that.

He walked over, stopping in front of Shou. She looked up and met his gaze directly.

Strong.

"You’re a healer, huh? Check my condition."

"Gaius! What the hell?"

"Shut up, Falco. I’m talking to the kid."

Falco shut up.

Who was this guy?

…But this was what healers did.

"Okay."

Gaius hesitated, then placed his hands in Shou’s.

She closed her eyes and let her magic flow.

Powerful. His soul shone—but was full of wounds, flickering like a damaged light.

His worst injury was his right knee.

She couldn’t heal everything—she’d run out of magic.

…Then, his knee it was.

Fortunately, his left knee was healthy. She copied its structure, reversed it, and restored the right knee.

She still had a little magic left—enough for the shoulder wound.

Done.

She opened her eyes.

Gaius was looking at her—his gaze softer than before.

"Your healing is warm."

"I healed your knee and shoulder. I didn’t have enough magic for more."

"The knee, fine—but the shoulder was the one bothering me most."

He rolled his shoulder.

"Huh. Small, but talented."

Then, he grinned.

"I’m Gaius. Welcome to the Hunter’s Guild, Shou."

Wait.

"Um… are there other guilds besides the Hunter’s Guild, Gaius?"

"Of course. The Merchant Guild is pretty popular too."

Shou turned to Falco with a sharp glare.

His eyes darted away.

Oh, really now?

"Falco?"

"A-anyway, time to visit the Sage!"

"Falco!"

"Sorry to interrupt! We’re leaving!"

Falco scooped up the angry Shou and fled the guild.

—

"Interesting kid. That was fun."

"Her healing is impressive. It’s been a long time since my shoulder felt this good."

"She noticed your knee too, huh?"

"Well, it’s been 30 years. That wound was from protecting everyone from the Red-Winged Saurus."

"Tch. And now you’re useless, huh?"

"Gaius, come with me."

"Leon?"

"Just come."

Leon led Gaius behind the guild.

"What’s this about?"

"Bend your knee."

"…Hah? You know it doesn’t bend."

"Bend it."

*"Fine, look—"

He squatted effortlessly.

"Wait. It—bent?"

"Shou healed it. Don’t let anyone know. I kept quiet about my ankle too."

"Wait, what?"

Gaius was stunned.

"Get the Sage to confirm it later."

"O-okay."

Leon walked off, muttering.

"Honestly. Those two are so reckless."

Gaius stood frozen.

"I… I can hunt again?"

Shou had been in town for two days.