Chapter 10: Poor Freddy

POV: Freddy

Me and my group were sitting down at one of the tables this morning discussing some things when a group of four women walked through the door. They were all attractive young women who were dressed nicely, indicating they came from decent if not a good home life. As I wonder what they could be here for, they got into line for the front desk. I'm not planning to watch them the whole time, so I turn back to my mates.

A little while later, I looked back over and noticed that they all had brand new Hunter Cards. The one with the Golden-Brown eyes was particularly interested in their new card. Now I've seen many young men and women die during this job because they didn't understand the risk. So, with permission from the Guild, I've been allowed to test new hunters a little.

I'm a big dude, so any rookie hunters that see me approaching would feel intimidated. Though from personal experience I found that smaller people are usually much stronger in this line of work. Sense normal people don't use Chi they don't realize the size of someone doesn't really matter. That's why my size intimidates rookies who don't have any training or combat experience.

A lot of people think being a Hunter will be easy and underestimate a lot of the danger. So I made it my job to try and intimidate them a little, see where they are and what they can handle. I then redirect them to some veteran Hunter parties if I think they need the guidance. Or I feel like they can handle themselves I just pass on some tips or ask them to spar with me a little.

"I'll be back guys." I said to my party. "Got some rookies over there."

"Alright, good luck."

"Don't over do it."

"Yeah, yeah"

My mates didn't pay me much attention since they know I do this whenever I see rookies. They just went back to their conversation, leaving me to my own devices. Turning back towards the group I called out to them.

"Hey! You girls over there, why are you here?" I yelled while getting up. I know I sounded kinda stiff when I said that, but so far no one seemed to have noticed or cared enough to think about it.

"..."

"Oh, do you need something?"

So out of the group of four two of them backed off and the other two stuck together. The ones to move away was the Red-haired woman with freckles and a white skin tone. The other woman was a little bigger and had dark skin with blue eyes. They didn't seem to be scared of me, but instead seemed to be observing the other two instead. Maybe they were mentors and wanted to see what their students would do? Maybe I wouldn't know, either way I'll continue doing what i'm doing.

The ones that didn't actively move away from me were younger than the other two women. The one that ignored me had a light brown skin with Golden brown eyes. Now that I was getting closer I also noticed a scar on her left jaw. Looks like a nasty old wound. She looked like she wanted to leave but didn't for some reason as well.

The other girl had a similar complexion to the Red head and had blue eyes. She was visibly the youngest looking. Looking to be only sixteen years of age. She also greeted me in a friendly manner even though I towered over her and her friend. I also noticed that the Golden eyed girl only looked in my direction after she said something.

"You guys just registered right? Do you really think you have what it takes to be here. Ya'll look pretty weak to me." I said getting closer till I was standing next to them. I stood at my full Height of 195 cm, to add a bit more intimidation.

"..."

"Uh..."

It didn't really seem to work. The girl with the Golden Brown eyes still ignored me and the Blue eyed one with the brown hair just looked confused. It was a little disheartening knowing they didn't take me seriously, but at the same time I felt better about their chances outside fighting monsters.

"Listen, this job isn't a game." I said sneering, giving a bit of actual advice. "Now I recommend you just drop out now and go home. We don't need people like you making us Hunters look bad." I took this chance to up the pressure a little bit. I used some of my Mana to intimidate them. Lets see how they handle the pressure, since monsters did the same thing in the wild at times.

This time the Golden eyed girl had a reaction of her own. She still wasn't scared of me but she did scowl a bit more. So I can assume these girls are fine for now. At least I don't think they will die immediately anyway. The first step of surviving is keeping a cool head so they're good there.

Anyway It's about time I dropped the act. "Now then." I said reaching for the Blue eyed girl to give her a hand-shake. Since she seemed like the most receptive. "Let's-"

I stopped talking when my hand was suddenly pushed away and saw a fist heading towards my face. I quickly backed off, nearly avoiding the hit. In the next moment I saw raven black hair fly towards me before another fist hit came at me.

"Keep your hands off her!" The Golden eyed girl said intensely. Even without her yelling the force behind her words still affected me. I suspect she unconsciously let some of her Mana loose causing a similar effect monsters have when they are trying to intimidate you.

The fist hit me in the stomach, and I went flying backwards. I don't want to seem full of it because it isn't anything impressive, but I am a One star silver tier hunter. so I'm decently strong and sturdy. I may not be the strongest one here, but someone who just joined and is below me in rank and tier usually isn't this strong.

A strong rookie would have the strength of a Three star rank in the copper tier. They do not have the same strength as someone in the silver tier range. I expect others to surpass me as well, but honestly this is too much.

"Uhg!" I let out a pained groan as I landed. I slowly got up to face the girl who flung me away. I'm hurt but nothing I wont heel from, but still if looks could kill that girl would've ended me already. The malice coming from her was so similar to a monster I unconsciously shivered.

My buddies got up and armed themselves and moved to stand next to me. They also looked shocked to see someone who just registered sent me flying. It wasn't far but still impressive.

"Guy's cal-" I tried to stop my friends from escalating the problem, but when they pulled their weapons out the girl once again went on the offensive.

She sent a strong magic gust of a wind at us, pushing us back. I didn't even notice her chanting or making a magic circle. Next thing I know, all of us are wrapped up in water tendrils. I thought it came from the Golden eyed girl, but no, it actually came from the dark skinned woman behind her.

"Now, now. Let's not fight. My name is Morella." Morella said to us, eyes glowing blue. "Ruby here is a little... over protective. So your attempts to intimidate her and Yuki here made her slightly cautious." She said, smiling.

That means she and that Red head knew what I was attempting. I guess my assumption earlier was right. "Listen ma'am I apologize." I said. "I wasn't trying to cause any problems, I was just trying to see what these rookies could handle. I do it to all newcomers to help them out if I deem it necessary." I said. Honestly, with how easily me and my friends were captured by Morella here, I felt a little intimidated.

"Yes, yes, I understand, but you probably should've dropped the intimidating Mana around yourself before reaching for a hand shake. Ruby's social skills isn't the best, and she thought you were going to harm our sister."

The sister remark confused me for a second, but I just assumed the one called Yuki was adopted or something. The Red head didn't speak yet, but I got the feeling her relationship with the other three was different somehow. Especially since she just hung back and continued to watch.

"Again, I'm very sorry. Let's just agree not to mess with each other, alright?" I said to her.

"Ruby?" Instead of answering, she looked towards Ruby. I silently pleaded with my eyes to show mercy. Ruby just looked at me with a sharp glare. I swear I could even see a slight red glow coming from her eyes.

"... Don't bother us again, and I won't kill you." With that, she turned around and started to leave.

"Bye~! Sorry for the trouble!" Yuki said following Ruby.

"Later, sorry about our companion." Judieth said, nodding in their direction.

"Well, it looks like you guys are free to go." Morella said, releasing us. I heard the sounds of gasping and coughing next to me when she did, and I realized my companions were slowly suffocating the whole time.

When I looked back towards the group, they had already left.

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General POV

The group exited the Hunters guild and headed down the street, looking for some place to eat. Ruby, who was in a bad mood after their interaction with the buff man. Her mood did slightly improve with the thought of trying new food. To be more specific, she was excited to try a thing called cake that Judieth told her about.

"Hey~. Thanks for protecting me, even if it turned out to be nothing." Yuki said, trying to cheer her up when she noticed Ruby's slightly gloomy mood that not even the thought of cake could erase.

"... It's not over yet." Ruby said in response. She then turned to look over at Judieth to ask, "Why didn't you say anything? I thought you would disapprove of such things?"

"Hm? Why? I'm not that good of a person you know." She said." Plus, I have my own reasons for doing things, like saving you wasn't completely selfless. I still wanted to help you guys because I still believe what you went through was wrong. But I still had a slight alternative motive for saving you anyway, so don't think I'm some saint or anything like that."

"...mmm. Okay then." Ruby said, accepting Judieth's answer. She figured the Red haired Doctor had her own reason for helping with her escape other than wanting to help, and this confirmed it.

"Hmm, I wonder what this motive you mentioned is." Morella wondered.

"Nothing important; really." Judieth said with shrugging. "You'll find out when or if it comes up."

"Well, no use thinking about it now." Yuki said, smiling joyfully. "Let's just get something to eat! let's go th- oof."

"S- sorry! I'm really sorry!"

Yuki, who turned around and started walking backwards, ran into a Dog Beast-Man. He looked human at first glance until you noticed the Dog-like ears on his head. They had fur on their arms, starting from the elbow going down and ending in paw like hands. his legs were similar to his arms. Past his knee, his leg grew furry, and they became the exact same as a dog's back legs. He also had a tail drooped down along with his ears when apologizing to Yuki. Everything else about them was human, though.

"Uh, yeah, no problem." Yuki said awkwardly. Ruby, who was behind her, watched the Beast-Man with an intense stare, scaring the poor guy.

"Excuse me, bye!"

With that, the Beast-Man ran away in a panic. The reason for Yuki's awkwardness and Ruby's intense stare wasn't because he ran into Yuki. No, the reason was that the Beast-Man had a slave collar around his neck. The same one that Yuki, Morella, and Ruby wore for years.