Greater Demon Hunting

It had been an eventful day.

One thing led to another making me feel tired both mentally and physically. I requested for an inn and asked them to just leave me alone to rest while they tour around the capital.

I tucked in early and closed my eyes. I dispelled the random thoughts in my head and visited the world of dreams…

Based on my senses, I haven't even slept for an hour, however, my eyes suddenly opened. I don't know why. When I looked around, darkness covered the surroundings. Is it evening already?

I picked up my glasses and forced my lethargic body to stand up. Then, I slowly treaded towards the hall on the first floor. I checked at the counter and asked for a late dinner. It seems that I have slept for over 6 hours.

I headed towards the dining hall and waited for my dinner. To my surprise, the three girls were there, eating their meals too.

"Nazo, good evening."

"Come here! Over here!"

"... G-Good evening…"

Mary, Nina and Blaire called in turn. What caught my attention was the clothes they were wearing. If I am to borrow words from earth, it would be similar to a negligee. Their semi-transparent blouse made it easy to see the tank top beneath it. The sight was very provoking, especially on Blaire's case. It was explosive.

"… Good evening… What's with the clothes?"

"This? Blaire chose it! Looks good right?!"

Nina explained as she stood and twirled around once. Since she was wearing a tank top matched with a short pants, surely, the exposure was high. However, in Nina's case, it didn't look provocative. Rather, it boosted her lively charms.

"… It looks good alright… I'm asking why you're all wearing that here…"

I rephrased my question. This time, Mary answered with a smile.

"Since nobody else other than us are currently renting a room in this inn. Also, the staff here are all female. So there's no problem."

"… I'm a man you know?"

"But you don't mind this right?"

"… Well… It's true that I don't particularly mind though… Wait… Isn't that supposed to be the other way around…?"

I really couldn't guess what's running on these girl's minds.

I reluctantly sat down on the vacant chair between Mary and Blaire.

I tried hard, really hard, just to ignore the temptations beside me. Luckily, not long after, my dinner was served.

It was a luxury meal if I may say.

A large slice of steak garnished with many vegetables. A bowl of soup. Something soft looking, probably for dessert, and a glass of wine.

I asked the waitress but it seems that it's a non-alcoholic wine. When I asked for the "real" wine, both Mary and Nina stopped me. Was there rules against drinking here? When I asked, it seems that alcoholic wine was expensive and that we probably can't afford it. I nodded in apprehension.

Since we don't have any particular topic for discussion, I talked to them about the job I got when we went to the adventurer's guild. I was a bit surprised upon seeing their reactions.

"… Demon… Hunter…"

"Are you really fine? You don't feel anything weird?"

"I'll sue that wench for not explaining things thoroughly…"

Mary went into a pondering mood. Her face looks serious while her stare points down to her unfinished plate. Nina voiced some peculiar questions with an extremely worried face. Blaire was murmuring something that sounds dangerous.

Probably noticing my confusion, Mary shook her head and explained.

"Sorry. The Demon Hunter Job is actually a job that is never took by anyone to the point that once they got the job successfully, they will either sue the attendant or angrily ask for a change of jobs."

… I see. I kind of get now why that attendant suddenly got tense. However, something within Mary's words was tugging at the corner of my mind.

"… What do you mean by successfully?"

Mary took a grim, serious look and explained.

"… Actually, the Demon Hunter job can only be acquired through the Job Assignment Orb. Also, each job needs a certain amount of mana to be drained from the user. In case of a Demon Hunter, the mana would be equivalent to the mana of a dozen on magicians… Which is naturally unattainable by a single person."

Don't tell me…

"That's why, in some cases, some got their mana completely drained to the point that their vitality was almost depleted. In extremely rarer cases, some even died… Just because they are compatible to the highest job available called Demon Hunter…"

"The hell?! You mean I was doing something dangerous back then?!"

I unconsciously shouted. I was a bit startled to have found out that I almost died… One misstep and I'm…

"The last recorded man to acquire this job was around a decade ago and his conclusion was a comatose so the management probably got a bit loose."

"… In the first place, it is you who is unbelievable."

Suddenly, Blaire butted in.

"That orb just took a dozen magician's worth of mana from yourself you know? How are you even standing after that?"

Now that it was pointed out, I noticed why I got tired suddenly after that event. My mana was drained almost completely, leaving only the bare minimum to maintain my consciousness… Still, mana was a concept that I have yet to fully grasp. There's no way for me to measure my mana quantity.

"… I honestly don't know… Maybe my mana pool is just that large?"

"If that's true, having a large mana pool is an understatement. You have an INSANELY ENORMOUS MANA POOL. I admit that I myself has a larger mana quantity than others but not to that extent."

Blaire commented offhandedly.

"In my opinion, it's better to just look for another job… The job bonus may seem good but it's not worth it. The risk is too great."

"… Job bonus? You mean like a salary bonus or the like?"

As another vague term was mentioned by Mary, I cannot help but ask back. She just nodded slightly before continuing her words.

"You know the effect of the equipment that you made the last time? It was something similar. In case of Demon Hunter, there are two. One: Increased Strength. Two: Increased Sensitivity to Demons. These two."

I thought it was like a bonus money for every kill. What a letdown…

"Still, I already decided to take this job. I am not planning on changing it until I tried it first."

I said these determinedly. The three of them gave worried looks.

"… Well, it's your life after all. It's not like we have jurisdiction over your choices."

Blaire stood up and left her half-finished plate. Walking towards the dining room's door.

"… Don't push yourself too much okay?"

Soon Mary followed leaving words showing her worry.

Seeing the two leave, Nina quickened her eating pace and finished her meal before running towards them. Left alone, I ate quietly and slowly before going back to my room and sleeping once more.

I woke up early, feeling great. Looks like my mana was fully recovered.

I took an early breakfast and after leaving a message to the three girls at the counter, I headed out.

The street was already full of pedestrians. Looks like the day starts earlier here in the capital. I quietly walked around gathering information then headed towards and out of the gate. When the guards asked where I'm going, after telling them that I'm a Demon Hunter, they had a worried face while letting me pass. They even wished me good luck.

I walked for about an hour in total. I finally reached a thick forest that was near the capital's walls.

As I have heard, there seemed to be a Greater Demon somewhere here. My aim was to find out how strong a greater demon is. If possible, I wish to try and successfully hunt one.

The moment I entered the forest, I felt the change in the air. It suddenly felt heavier. Like something will jump out of the bushes on any moment.

"ROOOOAAAARRRR!!!"

Just as I had thought, a demon in the shape of a wild dog jumped out from the bushes. Out of reflex, I applied mana to my right hand and punched it. The head of the dog demon comically flew to the other direction and the limp body fell to the ground.

"… That was a surprise…"

If I wasn't paying attention to that bush, I may have received some injuries from that. Looks like this is the effect of the Demon Hunter job… Increased sensitivity towards demons, huh…

As a measure against any future surprise attacks, I activated the magic circles on my boots.

[Weaving through the endless sky! Unstoppable might prevails! Gather! Converge! Follow the command of the contractor of the sixth gate! «Blitz»!!!]

After the chant, the boots turned into the cool looking pair of glowing white knee high boots. Looking closely, particles of light was slowly emitted from it. That must be the wasted mana I presume.

With a power-up in tow, I continued my demon hunt.

I met several demons like the dog before and slayed them almost as instant as they appeared.

After a long time of walking, I finally reached the center of the forest. I can feel warning signs from all around me the moment I stepped at the clearing at the center.

I looked up and noticed a weir phenomenon.

"… The sun… is … red?"

The color of the sun was of a bloody red. It's nowhere near from how it normally looks. Using my gaming knowledge, all I can assume was that either I came into a different dimension while inside the forest, or a certain barrier was placed, making the scenery turn like this.

When I reached the dead center of the clearing, suddenly, the warning signs around me rang loudly. I quickly followed my instincts and jumped to the side. Not long after, on the spot I was at a few moments ago, a thick, sharp, wooden protrusion appeared. If I didn't jump just now… Never mind.

I quickly regained my bearings and stared at the enemy. On the far side of the clearing, a large hollow tree about 3 meters tall with a pair of large and nasty looking red eyes stood imposingly. It has a ragged crack across the trunk that looks like a wicked smile. Branches on both sides looks like a pair of arms.

"Haha… So… This is… A Greater Demon…"

I can't help but give a bitter laugh.