Blood Archive (Bloodborne/Blue Archive)

[mgman]

Skadoosh! I bet you guys want to expect another chapter so soon, were you?

Hello everyone, welcome to the 24th chapter of blood archive, as you can probably see by when the last chapter was updated I managed to get this chapter finished in record time especially considering its absolutely colossal size.

In fact, this chapter is the second-longest chapter I've actually done so far with chapter 2 being the longest currently, seriously at 42,000 words that thing was a monster and not fun to write.

Anyway, I don't have much to say beforehand, other than I hope you enjoy the chapter and if you feel like you're up to it, please leave a review if possible to tell me what you think of the Chapter.

But without any further ado, I present to you chapter 24 of blood archive.

Chapter 24: The Siege Of Abydos, part 3

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"On the right, sensei!"

The hunter abruptly shifted his body, the voice of Arona making him stop his forward momentum as he abruptly dodged a hail of bullets that were intended for him.

Finding the target that had tried to shoot him, the hunter descended upon the unwary Kaiser robot, closing the distance almost instantly before be heading the robot and making no longer an obstacle.

Watching the head fly into the air, the hunter quickly grabbed a hold of it with his free hand, before proceeding to toss it as hard as he physically could.

The target of his throw was another kaiser robot, that abruptly found the head of its companion quickly smashing into its own, the two of them completely exploding on Impact in a magnificent shower of robotic gore.

Paying his latest two kills no more attention, the hunter moved on, dodging between sprays of bullets with an efficiency and dexterity that went beyond any normal human.

In fact, as he quickly descended upon another kaiser robot, the Beast Hunter saif already carving into its body.

The hunter could feel a pair of eyes falling onto him, and even though he didn't turn his head or even acknowledge it, he could already tell that it was none other than arrow Aru.

She had been in the process of reloading her sniper rifle, when she caught sight of the hunter unleashing absolute carnage.

And even though she was incredibly intrigued at watching him, she also found herself incredibly intimidated by him.

As a result of seeing exactly what he was truly capable of once he had his proverbial leashes release.

"He's unstoppable" Aru said with a considerable amount of awe.

Watching as the hunter quickly proceeded to rip apart a robot with his weapon before moving on, the speed of his steps being to the point, where she found it almost too difficult to even track him with her eyes.

There was also the fact that he was able to dodge the bullets of the Kaiser robots so easily, that it almost looked as if he wasn't even trying.

It didn't make any sense to her, simply because dodging bullets was something that even the strongest of students had a hard time doing regularly.

Yet, the hunter could do it without a seeming care in the world, which was only made even more impressive by the fact that he didn't have a halo to protect him like her and other students did.

"Nn He's impressive, but keep your eyes forward..."

Aru found herself jumping at the sudden voice, causing her to Almost drop her rifle as she turned on the spot.

Expecting to find an enemy, but only to see that it was Shiroko crouching behind her, utilising the same piece of cover that she was to quickly reload her white assault rifle.

Looking at the wolf girl, Aru noticed that she looked a bit different from before, her blue scarf was still in place, but the blazer that she wore before was now gone.

Revealing a standard looking button up white shirt, with the first couple buttons completely missing, as well as the fabric being noticeably torn.

This also allowed Aru to see the massive bruises that were easily visible on Shiroko's chest.

And even though she didn't ask what they were from, Aru secretly found it amazing that somebody could take such punishment and keep on fighting like it was nothing.

"Sensei might be fast and quick... But even he can't dodge everything, so we have to back him up as much as possible" Shiroko finished her words by quickly pulling back the charging handle on her rifle.

The action, chambering a fresh round as the wolf girl quickly jumped out from behind the cover, much to the concern of Aru.

Aru wanted to say something, but only could watch with confusion and surprise as the wolf girl charged forward.

Seemingly not caring about her own safety in the slightest, as she quickly gunned down a kaiser Trooper that happened to be in her way.

Before abruptly picking up its body with a free hand, and using it as an improvised the shield to block a fire from an automaton that was standing nearby.

Waiting for a momentary lapse in fire, Shiroko abruptly tossed the robot's body that she had been using a shield.

The body having no trouble colliding into the automaton that were shooting at her and subsequently knocking it to the ground.

Utilising the moment she created for herself, the wolf girl charged forward rifle in hand, but rather than shooting, instead she continued to run at the kaiser troop, who had managed to recover and was aiming his rifle at her.

However, he didn't get the chance to actually use it as the wolf girl quickly jumped into the air, delivering a powerful flying drop-kick to the automaton, sending it to the ground.

And giving her more than enough opportunity to scramble to her feet and finish it off by shooting it twice in the head.

Aru found her jaw quickly falling to the floor, while she didn't exactly consider herself, someone who was out of shape.

Considering that she used to take gymnastics class when she was a first year, even she wouldn't have been able to do something like that without hurting herself in the process.

"These Abydos girls really are the real deal" Aru said without even thinking.

Her hands moving by themselves as she quickly finished reloading her sniper rifle, while continuing to watch Shiroko swiftly make her way between cover to cover.

The girl's rifle, making absolutely short work of any automatons that were in her line of fire, as she quickly met up with sensei, the two of them sharing a quick nod with each other before resuming their slaughter of the Kaiser PMC forces.

"I can't let them show me up... After all I'm an outlaw, so I need to get in there" Aru said with a renewed fire in her eyes as she quickly jumped out from behind the cover she had been using.

Her rifle already finding its first target, that just so happens to be a kaiser robot with a belt fed heavy machine gun, that was trying to line up a shot on the hunter and Shiroko.

Without wasting a single moment, Aru quickly let off a shot, the bullet Flying Through at Impossible speeds, before smacking into the robot's head and causing it to explode in a shower of Sparks and oil,

This, of course, alerted both the Hunter and Shiroko to the presence of the now destroyed automaton, as they looked at it with surprise for a moment.

The hunter immediately looked at the now deceased robot for a moment, genuine surprise across his face, before he turned his gaze up.

Only to see that the one responsible for killing it, had been none other than Aru.

And after a moment of him looking into her eyes, he smiled thankfully, before turning his gaze forward again and rushing forward.

Quickly descending upon an unsuspecting kaiser Trooper that he proceeded to cut straight down the middle via a quick slash from the beast hunter saif.

Shiroko quickly fell into lockstep behind him, having a little bit of trouble keeping up with him both due to his almost superhuman / unnatural foot speed, and the fact that she still was in a bit of pain from her earlier encounter with the Kaiser sniper.

Yet even though she was lagging behind somewhat, the wolf girl continued to push herself to keep up with the Hunter.

Determined to watch his back and keep him safe, as he descended upon another group of automatons that had unfortunately been called out in the open.

Keeping her distance yet keeping her head on the swivel to make sure that no other automaton showed up.

Shiroko watched as the hunter did his work, the way he cut apart the robot was incredibly precise but also brutal at the same time.

There was also something else to the way he dispatched them, something that she had been considering as she watched him more

She hadn't known sensei for very long, but from the time Shiroko she had known him, it had become obvious that the hunter was somebody who often restrained himself and kept his emotions in check.

And even though his expression didn't change as he cut apart the robots, it was clear, just by his actions, that he was angry and was letting it out through his dismemberment of the Kaiser troops.

Shiroko impulsively turned to the sound of approaching footsteps, only to feel a bullet graze her shoulder, followed by several more flying past her.

Thinking quickly, tried to put some distant between her and the four or five robots that had managed to sneak up on her.

Quickly doing a backflip followed by a tuck and roll, Shiroko returned fire on the automatons as she tried to retreat, managing to take out one and injure another but not managing to fully destroy them before they opened fire on her again.

Several of their bullets from their return fire, hitting her in the upper chest and abdomen, causing her to let out a cry of pain.

Her cries alerted the hunter as he abruptly turned on his heels, completely forgetting about an automaton he was in the process of cutting apart.

Moving with a speed that was impossible for even the robots to follow, the hunter descended upon the robots that were attacking his students, his expression finally turning from one of firm seriousness to one of cold rage.

The automatons only noticed him when it was too late, as he quickly jumped into the middle of them, dispatching the first one via blowing its head clean off with the Evelyn.

Before quickly spinning, and using his momentum to behead using a quick horizontal slash from the Beast Hunter Saif.

The three remaining automatons tried to scatter, only to fail as the hunter quickly grab one of them by the neck, before tossing it into the air, and then impaling it midair using the Beast Hunter Saif.

Without wasting a single moment, the hunter quickly whipped the weapon downwards, his momentum causing the body of the automaton to become dislodged from the Beast Hunter Saif and fly at the two remaining robots.

The two pieces of the corpse, knocking them to the ground and their weapons out of their hands.

One of them tried to recover, reaching for its sidearm and pointing it at the hunter in fear.

However, the hunter didn't even register this fact as he approached the robot that didn't have a weapon.

Deliberately slowing his pace so that he could strike the fear of the old ones into them before he snuffed out their lives.

The robot with the pistol suddenly let off a shot, the bullet grazing the hunter's arm and damaging his Cainhurst overcoat, yet he didn't even acknowledge the pain or the blood that began to seep from the wound.

Instead, he focused all of his attention onto the automaton as he abruptly swept the Beast Hunter saif to the side.

The sudden motion making his overcoat flow behind him, almost like a cape or the wings of a crimson angel.

"You dare hurt my students... You will pay the ultimate price" the hunter didn't even give the robot time to register his words as he quickly rushed forward.

He didn't even consider using his weapon, instead resorting to stamping on the robot's head with his boot, immediately crushing it beneath his foot and causing the head to explode and a shower of sparks and electronic gore.

Not looking at the deceased robot, the hunter turned his attention to the single remaining one, who had seemingly been rooted to the spot by pure fear.

Both the robot and the hunter stared at each other for a long moment, before the hunter turned his body, accompanying the sudden motion by doing an elaborate flourish with the Beast Hunter Saif as he approached the downed robot.

"M-Monster! You're an M-M-Monster!"

The robot suddenly said, the words causing the hunter to stop dead in his tracks as a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face for a moment.

And with that, it was only then that the hunter realised something, as he brought a hand up to the right side of his face.

Only to feel that instead of skin there was something else, something far more… inhuman.

In fact, keeping his hand on his face for a moment, the hunter could feel a wet levery texture.

The kind that would almost be found on some kind of aquatic secrete.

Removing his gloved hand from his face and looking down at it, the hunter could see that the glove itself was wet.

"Oh my... It appears I let my true appearance show through for a moment there... I should be more careful, I wouldn't want the students to see like this" The hunter said with an almost nonchalant tone.

That not only made the robot more fearful, but also caught it by surprise as the hunter looked down at it with an expression that was hard and deadly, yet suddenly turned into something that almost resembled a smile.

Yet, this smile was anything but happy or Jovial, and instead only made the robot even more fearful as it abruptly tried to flee, desperately crawling on its stomach for a moment before trying to get to its feet.

Only to fail miserably as the hunter abruptly put his foot on the robot's back, the sudden Force crushing the robot's mechanical spine yet not fully destroying it.

And allowing for the robot to see its demise rather than suffer a quick and painless one.

"I wasn't planning on letting you run away to begin with... But now that you have caught a glimpse of who I truly am, then I'm afraid you will not live to see tomorrow" the hunter made his voice sound almost whimsical and playful.

Which gave off the impression, that he was a vicious predator playing with its food to cause it more torment before he killed it.

Of course that wouldn't be entirely wrong, considering that he wanted to inflict as much fear into the robot as possible, and it seemed to work as the robot tried to escape.

Only for the hunter to grow tired of its continued existence, and abruptly shot in the head with the Evelyn.

The blood Silver Bullet causing the head to explode into a shower of small electrical fragments as well as specs of oil.

In fact, the blood Silver Bullet was so powerful, that other than a few specs of electronic debris, there was almost nothing left of the robot's head, other than its neck stump where it's head had been only a moment previously.

"Sensei, you've been a bit more violent recently... Are you okay"

The hunter suddenly heard the voice of Arona say to him.

Prompting him to look away from the robot corpse for a moment as he made a move to reach into his overcoat.

Only to stop himself as he remembered that Shiroko still needed his help.

Turning on his heels, the hunter began to make his way over to the wolf girl, who was still laying on the ground.

She was conscious thankfully, but clearly not in the best of shape judging by the clearly pained expression on her face

Although as walked over to her to help, he did acknowledge Arona, using his mind rather than speaking out loud.

'Forgive me for that violent display Arona, I'm... Slightly out of balance with my emotions'

His words reached Arona, as the hunter quickly knelt down next to Shiroko, holding a handout to her, which the wolf girl after a moment of visible pain quickly took, allowing the hunter to quickly pull her to a sitting position as he checked her over.

"It's not a problem sensei, I'm just worried about you, I've not seen you this angry or violence before"

Arona said from inside the tablet, her voice not projecting outwards into the surrounding environment.

But instead finding its way directly into the hunter's mind, and even though she couldn't see his face, she could feel the sudden change in his emotions and the almost fuzzy feeling being what she got from the change.

'Thank you Arona... You're worried for me is heartwarming' The hunter allowed himself to smile.

Both from the words that Arona had said to him, and also because Shiroko turned her eyes to look at him.

A thankful expression appearing on her face as, after a moment, the hunter stood up and helped the wolf girl to her feet.

Being sure to stay close for a moment as she wobbled on her legs, before she found her footing, meaning that he didn't need to act as a support for her.

Putting the Evelyn away from a moment, the hunter of reached down and picked up the wolf girl's rifle from the ground.

His much larger hand almost completely enveloping the receiver of the rifle, as he handed it to Shiroko who unquestionably took it, a small yet thankful smile on her face as she nodded her head which the hunter reciprocated,

And as if they were seemingly in sync, both student and teacher began to move together, although the hunter deliberately slowed his pace so that the wolf girl could keep up, considering that she was not exactly in the best of shape.

He also kept a close eye on her just in case she needed to be carried

"Nn, Thanks sensei" Shiroko with a thankful tone as her and the hunter continued to advance.

They were intent on reuniting with the rest of problem solver 68, as well as the Abydos task force, which were up ahead.

Hiding behind cover as they came under attack from a large group of robots that have managed to banned together around an armoured car with mounted machine guns.

Looking ahead, the hunter could already tell that the armoured car wouldn't be much of an obstacle for him specifically.

Considering that the Evelyn, could easily punch through the relatively thin paper-like armour of the car.

However, the same could not be said for the students, who didn't really have the firepower to take out something like that without thinking up some kind of alternative strategy.

"kufufu, Oh man, when you get all violent like that, you really are scary, sensei~" The hunter as well as Shiroko both abruptly turned their heads at the sound of the Unexpected voice,

The wolf girl's weapon reflectively being pointed at the source of the voice, while the hunter kept himself more composed, as he saw the voice belonged to none other than Mutsuki.

The mischievous girl was smiling with her trademark playful smile, as she had somehow managed to sneak up or not only Shiroko which was a task that most would struggle with.

But also, even the hunter hadn't been aware of her approach, which he had to give the girl silent praise for.

However, putting that to the side for the moment, the hunter turned his eyes forward again as the now group of three continued to run forwards.

Mutsuki took up the right side position, while looking up at him with a playful smile, as if she was expecting a rise out of him for her jab at his anger.

"I'm afraid, you'll have to do better than that to get a rise out of me, young lady" The hunter said in a slightly dismissive voice.

A slight smile appearing on his face, when he saw the expecting and malicious smile on the white-haired girl's face, dissipating somewhat when she didn't get the reaction she was expecting or wanted.

"Besides, we have more important things to worry about right now" the hunter finished his words by gesturing to the front.

Making not only Mutsuki look forward, but also Shiroko as both girls realised exactly what they were running into.

Propelling his legs slightly faster, the hunter overtook both girls, making it to the improvised barricade that, Haruka Serika, Ayane and Nonomi were using to take cover from the armoured car and the automatons that surrounded it.

But as the girls noticed his approach, the hunter did not stop running as he quickly jumped over the barricade in one smooth motion.

And continued running straight at the automatons and armoured car, the voices of the students behind him crying out in fear and surprise.

"Sensei!" Ayane shouted, fear evident in her eyes as she watched The Hunter charge at the group of robots, with seemingly no care for his own safety.

"What the hell are you doing!" Serika also shouted.

Surprise, anger and fear blending on her face as she poked her head over the improvised barricade to watch the hunter run.

"S-sensei! You can't take them on by yourself!" Nonomi yelled, fear evident in her eyes as she watched The Hunter run at the armoured car and Kaiser troops

Surprise, anger and fear blending on her face as she poked her head over the improvised barricade to watch the hunter run.

Only to regret that decision as bullets whizzed by her head narrowly missing her, and forcing her to take cover again

Pushing himself to run faster, the hunter did not take his eyes off the automatons as they all collectively turned their attention to him.

Yet as he ran at them, he did speak and that was precisely shouted to the students taking cover behind him.

"I will be fine! Trust me!" the hunter shouted with a powerful tone, he was determined to not put the Abydos students in any more danger than they have already been, even if that meant putting his own safety on the line.

Of course, though, that prospect didn't bother him in the slightest, considering that as a teacher and an adult, it was to be expected of him to put his own safety well below those of his students under his care.

Quickly dodging to the side as a hail of bullets came his way, the hunter quickly took aim with the Evelyn as he ran.

Firing the pistol at a particular automaton that was wielding a heavy machine gun, and his shot had no trouble finding its target.

As the body of the robot was suddenly blown into two distinct pieces, the upper torso with the machine gun still held in its arms flying off, while the lower half stumbled before falling to the ground. "Arona, can you still use that shield ability of yours?" The hunter suddenly asked as he dodged another storm of bullets.

Returning fire with the Evelyn firing it multiple times in quick succession with all of his shots landing on their respective targets.

"I can, sensei... But I've only got enough charge for one more use"

Arona said excitedly at the prospect of being able to help the hunter and show him that she was incredibly useful.

Only for her tone to noticeably diminish and become slightly apprehensive, as she revealed the fact that the tablet only had enough charge left, to utilise the shield ability one more time, before she and it would become about as useful as a paperweight.

The hunter contemplated his companion's words for a moment, and at the same time as deliberately slowing his pace, before dodging to the side as two automatons tried to shoot at him with shotguns.

Compared to the high calibre rifles, the pellets of the shotguns were practically moving in slow motion, allowing him to actually see them flying through the air and easily dodge them.

After doing so, the hunter responded to Arona, while at the same time quickly firing the Evelyn at one of the automatons.

The blood Silver Bullet having no trouble blowing the head clean off the robot's shoulders and letting its body slump to the floor.

"That will be more than fine, Arona, just because you can only use it one more time in this battle, doesn't mean you need to feel like you have failed me" The hunter said with a smile as he continued to run.

The distant between him and the remaining automatons and their armoured vehicle quickly diminishing.

Which was only emphasised by the fact that the automatons, began to turn and run, clearly deciding that facing the hunter was no longer something they wanted to do.

Even if they had the theoretical advantage of the armoured car, and it's machine gun turret.

However, the hunter would not let them escape, as he abruptly reached into his overcoat before violently throwing something with a flick of the arm.

And the objects that he threw, were only revealed when they hit their targets as three robots fell to the ground, each one of them having a serrated, vicious looking throwing knife embedded into the back of their heads.

With only two fleeing robots and the armoured car left to deal with, the hunter kept running, although before he could think of a way to deal with the two remaining and retreating robots.

They both suddenly collapsed, their heads exploding and a shower of sparks and the electronic circuitry, stopping in his tracks for just a moment.

The hunter looked back only to see an unlikely duo had been responsible for taking care of the two robots for him.

"Hmm, not a bad shot... For a goody two shoes anyway" Aru said with a slight smack as she quickly ejected the spent magazine from her sniper rifle.

Before reaching into her large coat that hung off her shoulders, retrieved the fresh one and loaded it into her rifle.

The second shooter was revealed to be none of them, Serika who had propped herself up against the improvised barricade.

Using it as a stand to keep her rifle steady so she could make the shot without fear of accidentally hitting sensei.

"Ha, you're one to talk! You can shoot straight, but you still act like a dork" Serika smirked with an almost mysterious smile.

Her words eliciting the reaction she expected, as Aru's calm and confident demeanour appropriately crumbled away, and was replaced with something that resembled surprise and confusion.

"H-Hey, I'm not a dork! I'm a hard-boiled Outlaw!" Aru tried to make herself sound confident as she spoke.

Yet, the stuttering in her voice combined with her general clear agitated state didn't exactly give off a confidence outlaw like appearance.

"Stop bickering, we need to back up sensei!" Ayane's impulsive words stopped the argument before it could progress any further, and made both girls look at each other for a moment.

Before looking at the glasses wearing elf girl and then back to the hunter who continue to square off with the armoured vehicle.

But unbeknown to the students, the hunter was smiling ear to ear, a genuinely happy expression on his face as he charged at the armoured vehicle.

It genuinely warmed his heart to see the students getting along to some degree, and actually acting like teenage girls, instead of kids who had to have responsibilities that they were not mentally and physically equipped to handle.

But putting that thoughts on hold for a moment, the hunter refocuses attention on the armoured vehicle in front of him.

It's turret quickly moving to track him as it opened fire, without any issue, the hunter dodge to the side, the bullets impacting the concrete behind him as he ran forward.

However, instead of simply continuing to dodge and weave his way through the bullets like he could have done.

Rather the hunter abruptly reached into his overcoat grabbing a hold of a certain object that as he pulled it out revealed it to be none other than the old Hunters bone, this would be the second time this day he used the macabre hunters tool, and he was going to use this similarly to how he did before.

Clutching the bone tight in his hand, the hunter activated the art of quickening, his foot speed increasing as he abruptly disappeared for just a moment.

Shocking all the students who saw this and even the operator of the machine gun who failed to track the hunter as he disappeared only to reappear a second later.

Activating it again, the hunter surged forward, watching as the armoured vehicle's turret abruptly trained onto him.

The gunner had managed to predict where the hunter would reappear, after the quickening dissipated, but that was not something that the hunter was concerned with, as it was that moment he decided it was time for Arona to do her thing.

"Arona now! The hunter abruptly said with a firm voice.

And as soon as the words left his lips, a blue semi-transparent hexagonal shield appeared around him, just in time to absorb the bullets from the armoured car's mounted machine gun.

Capitalized on the moment he created, The Hunter charge forward, activating the art of quickening once again.

And this time, he accompanied it by quickly jumping into the air, the art of quickening meaning that he disappeared from site for just a single second as the gunner on the machine gun tried to track him,

Reappearing as quickly as he disappeared, the hunter utilised the momentum that his jump provided to perform a perfect somersault, that carried him clean over the armoured car.

But as he sailed over the head of the mounted machine gun operator, the hunter quickly and devastatingly Unleashed a quick slash with the Beast Hunter Saif.

The extra reach that the weapon offered, allowing him to easily decapitate the machine gunner as he landed on his feet, his back now to the armoured car.

However, despite his spectacular kill of the machine gunner, the hunter knew that he was not finished as he abruptly turned on his heels.

Watching intently, the hunter saw the armoured car begin to move, seemingly the driver was trying to turn the vehicle around so that he could run the hunter over.

Yet, the narrowness of the street, combined with the size of the armoured vehicle, meant that the vehicle only got about halfway around before the hunter descended upon it.

Racing forward, the hunter reached into his overcoat once again, putting away the old hunter's bone, now its job had been completed.

And instead of retrieving something else, something that he abruptly tossed at the vehicle, and as the object sailed through the air.

it was revealed to be none other than a Molotov cocktail, perhaps one of the simplest of Hunter weaponry but by no means not effective.

The glass bottle smashed against the side of the armoured car, the flames instantly overtaking the side of the vehicle, as it abruptly stopped trying to turn around, and not a second later the driver abruptly burst out from the vehicle.

His mechanical body. Noticeably blackened, burnt and partially on fire as he tried to scramble to safety.

Only to quickly meet his end, as the hunter rushed forward, not even caring that the robot was on fire as he seized it by the neck.

Throwing it into the air and as it reached the apex of the throw, quickly slicing the robot in two with a quick horizontal slash from the Beast Hunter Saif.

Allowing the body to fall to the ground, the hunter took a moment to breathe, taking in several deep breaths not because he was winded necessarily considering that his human disguise could not grow physical tired.

But more because, he was allowing the rush of battle to leave his system, which it eventually did as he took one final breath, holding it for a second before letting it out.

The hunter's posture noticeably relaxed, as he turned on his heels and quickly began to walk, his intended destination being the improvised barricade where the students were watching.

And as he approached, the hunter couldn't help but smile seeing the varying reactions on the student's faces

The Abydos students had seen the hunter fight before, so it wasn't as shocking to see him do something like this.

Of course, they still haven't grown fully used to it, considering that he didn't have a halo to protect him yet fought like somebody who had no sense of danger.

It was an entirely different story however for problem solver 68, all four of the students gazed at the hunter with completely flabbergasted expressions.

They had seen the hunter fight only once before, but that battle was against another student and a few automatons.

So they didn't truly know what he was capable of until now, and as the hunter approached them, all four girls are problem solver 68 thought at the same time.

'Thank god we're on his side now'

The hunter didn't stop himself from smiling as he approached the students, the thoughts of the problem solver 68 Girls were easy to read.

But he honestly didn't even need to actually read their minds, to know exactly what they were thinking, which was the reason why he was smiling the way he was.

Even before they had become allies, he honestly would never have considered actually harming them, even if they did hurt the Abydos students.

After all, his duty as a teacher was to help all students, even if they were wayward and delinquents, and he couldn't do that if he went around physically hurting them.

But pushing that away from his mind for the moment, the hunter stopped in front of the barricade, the surprise looks of the Abydos students quickly melting away as it was replaced with relief.

Although the hunter couldn't be quite sure, if it was relief at the fact that he was fine considering they feared for his safety so much, or if it was relief at the fact that an obstacle had been removed from their path.

But regardless of why, the hunter didn't care, simply just smiling happily as Shiroko, Serika, Ayane and Nonomi approached and crowded around him.

"Sensei, I know you said that we don't need to worry about you... But seriously, can you not be so reckless!" Ayane abruptly said, her voice taking on a tone that almost resembled a parent disciplining a child.

The hunter for his part simply smiled and laughed at what she said, finding her concerned for his safety genuinely heartwarming.

But ultimately not necessary considering that despite looking like the human, he wasn't anyone near as fragile as one... At least he thought, anyway.

'That's something I've not considered... I know that my consciousness and true body cannot die... But what about my human shell... Would it be possible for it to succumb to death?' The Hunter felt his smile momentarily fade as he contemplated exactly that idea.

His consciousness was completely and utterly Immortal, as was his true body, but he wasn't sure if his human shell shared the same properties.

After all, he had crafted his human disguise to be a perfect replica of how he looked before his ascension.

And that even included allowing it to experience before range of human experiences, including injury,

So the ultimate conundrum he found, was that if he had made his human disguised to be a perfect imitation, then did that mean it could also suffer permanent injury or even death, like a normal human could.

The Hunter honestly couldn't stop his mind from racing, his inhuman consciousness trying to figure out if his human disguise could actually suffer a permanent death.

However, before he could get too far into his own internal thought process, he heard another voice speak.

This one prompting him to look at its source, only to see Serika looking up at him with a slightly frustrated but also admiring look.

"Geez you really like to show off don't you" Serika finish her words by crossing her arms over her chest, only to wince slightly as a result of moving her arms too quick.

She was hiding it well, at least she thought she was, but Serika was in an incredible amount of pain to the point where it was difficult to think straight let alone shoot.

But if there was one thing that Serika knew about herself, then it was that she was incredibly pig headed when it came to admitting things.

And she certainly wasn't going to admit, that she was in far more pain than she was actually letting on, which was why she tried her best to hide it.

Yet, despite seemingly managed to fool her friends, the hunter looked at her with something that suggested that he could almost see right through her.

Of course this made no sense to the cat girl, considering the only way the hunter could actually know how much pain she was in, was if he was somehow psychic, and of course, that would be ridiculous, considering the psychics didn't exist.

"Ha ha, I suppose I may have gone a bit overboard dispatching that armoured vehicle, but more importantly... Are you okay, Serika?" The hunter started about his words with a laugh, only for his smile to noticeably diminish yet not fully disappear as he looked at the cat girl with a concerned gaze.

Unbeknownst to Serika, he was easily able to tell that she was in far more pain than she was showing.

And it continued to concern him, to the point where he briefly considered that maybe she needed to be put into unconsciousness for her own safety, so that she didn't push herself beyond her physical limits and do any permanent damage.

Serika found herself speechless for a moment, a blush forming on her face as she turned away from the hunter for a moment.

Embarrassment clearly visible on her features as she struggled to speak, however as if by some divine providence, somebody else decided to speak, causing the hunter as well as her friends to look over to the source only to see that it was Kayoko.

"That was really impressive, sensei... The only person I've ever seen fight like that is the head prefect" Kayoko finished her words by smiling up at The Hunter as she stopped just a few pieces away from him.

Her hands deep inside her pockets, in a clearly relaxed manner that the hunter could presume she did quite regularly, considering her usually laid-back nature.

"Why thank you Kayoko... To have such high praise from you, and to be compared to the Head prefect is certainly an honour" The hunter found his smile only increasing when he saw Kayoko's laid-back expression momentarily change, her eyes widening as her cheeks flushed slightly before turning her head away.

His words also prompted him to think about what she had actually said, specifically about the fact that he fought like the head prefect.

In his mind, the hunter couldn't help but imagine exactly what it looked like to see Hina fight, he hadn't met her in person since their initial meeting.

Both of them had pledged that they wanted to meet each other again to smooth things over, but unfortunately, circumstances on the hunters end, had meant that that meeting had not taken place yet

But hearing what Kayoko had said, only reinforced in his mind that, despite her petite appearance, relatively calm and composed nature.

Hina was most definitely somebody to not be trifled with and was seemingly a fierce combatant in combat.

"Kayoko~ don't talk nonsense! Sensei is nothing like the head prefect" Mutsuki suddenly stepped forward, her voice filled with mischievous intent as she smiled and giggled quietly ahead of continuing to speak.

"The biggest difference is that sensei isn't an unstoppable monster like the head prefect is~kufufu" Mutsuki finished her words by giggling.

Not even caring about the multiple looks of clear disapproval there were being sent her way from the Abydos students.

However, the hunter who was the recipient of her clear attempt at getting a rise out of him didn't react, simply looking at the girl with a slightly raised eyebrow and a smile on his face before shaking his head gently.

He had already figured out exactly what the girl was doing.

She clearly still held some kind of resentment for their earlier meetings and was trying that best to push his buttons in a sense.

Of course, though, the hunter wouldn't rise to such a childish attempt at making fun of him, both because it would be inappropriate for him as an adult and a teacher.

And also because despite her demeanour and attitude, the hunter could tell that deep down Mutsuki wasn't that bad of a girl.

"My~ I take that as a compliment Mutsuki, to be compared to Someone Like the head prefect is a great honour" The hunter could barely contain the smile on his face as he spoke.

His words having the immediate and desired effect, as the mischievous smile quickly disappeared from Mutsuki's face, quickly being replaced with a look of genuine surprise that faded into disappointment.

Mutsuki even turned away from him, letting out a quiet grumble from between her lips, clearly not enjoying the fact that the hunter had not fallen for her obvious ploy to make fun of him.

"Ummm... W-What do we do now?" Haruka suddenly said, her voice was quiet and clearly shy yet just loud enough for everyone to hear and turn to look at her.

Although now with everyone's attention on her, the purple head girl found herself looking away, her eyes going wide and her body beginning to shudder with obvious fear at the fact that she was being perceived by so many unfamiliar eyes.

"That's a good question, Haruka" The hunter quickly brought to hand up to his chin as he considered their next options,

They had successfully driven or all destroyed the Kaiser invasion in this particular part of the District.

But going after all the Kaiser troops that currently occupied the Abydos region, would take far too long and wouldn't really achieve much, considering that due to their robotic nature, Kaiser most likely had much more robotic troops than they actually deploy to the battlefield.

"Why don't we just look for the Kaiser director, cut the head off the lizard as they say" Aru suddenly interjected, her words making everyone turned to look at her instead of the almost hyperventilating Haruka.

Aru puffed out her chest as a look of almost proud confidence appeared on her face, she even closed her eyes, putting her hands on her hips as if she had just said the smartest thing imaginable.

However, her having her eyes closed, made it impossible for her to see the surprise and confused looks she got from the Abydos of students and the varying looks that she got from her own friends and fellow members of problem solver 68.

"Don't you mean, cut the head off the snake?" Ayane said after several moments of Silence.

A genuinely confused expression on her face because she couldn't understand whether Aru had simply got the wording wrong, or was using a different euphemism that the glasses wearing student was unfamiliar with.

Aru abruptly opened her eyes, her confident demeanour disappearing instantly as she turned to look at the glasses wearing Abydos student with complete and utter shock on her face.

It was only then that Aru, realised that she had completely butchered the wording for the quotes she was using, to the point where the euphemism didn't make any sense anymore in the way she intended.

Feeling her embarrassment beginning to skyrocket as well as her cheeks flush red, Aru opened her mouth to try and get ahead before she can embarrass herself further.

Only to fail miserably as somebody beat her to the punch, with it being them other than a certain little mysterious minx of a girl, who saw a golden opportunity to have some fun at her bosses expense.

"Oh wow~that was really bad Aru. You just ruined the reputation of our organization, and in front of our new friends as well~kufufu. How scandalous" Mutsuki giggled with her trademark laugh.

She spoke with a fake sad expression on her face as she looked at Aru an almost expecting glint appearing in her eyes mysterious girl's eyes as she waited to see what Aru, the boss of problem solver 68 would do next, hoping that whatever it was, it would embarrass herself further.

Aru found herself stuttering, the words she wanted to say completely and utterly failing to even emerge from between her lips, and even sound like anything that resembled speech.

And before the pink head gehenna student could actually try and form proper words, somebody came to her defence, with it being none other than Haruka.

"I-I understood what you M-meant, Aru!" Haruka stuttered as she spoke, clearly nervous yet not to the point where she couldn't look her boss in the eye with a shy yet joyful expression.

For a moment, Aru found her confidence returning as she looked at her purple head companion.

Yet unfortunately that confidence did not last very long as Mutsuki decided to but in once again.

"Haruuukkkkaaaa~ don't stroke Aru's ego too much, it might go to her head and make her more bossy than she already is" Mutsuki didn't even try to fake any emotion this time.

Simply allowing her amusement to come through in its entirety as she giggled, even more so when she saw the faint ember of Aru's confidence expression completely evaporate and turn to dust right before her eyes.

However, before Mutsuki could tease her some more, or Aru try to defend herself.

Somebody else stepped in, physically putting himself between both girls, as he looked down at Mutsuki, with an expression that was hard for her to read for a moment.

"Mutsuki that is no way for you to treat your friends... A bit of Jesse at their expenses is acceptable, but you shouldn't belittle them for your own amusement" The hunter said in an almost fatherly tone.

As if he were giving advice to a daughter, who he had just caught misbehaving in a manner that was unserious but still needed correction.

Mutsuki didn't say anything in response to The Hunter, simply looking up at him with a surprise expression before she turned her head away.

A slightly annoyed expression on her face as she let out a quiet grumble of annoyance from between her lips.

The mischievous girl didn't exactly appreciate having her fun ruined, especially by somebody like the hunter who as far as she was concerned was still her enemy to some extent.

After all, despite often making a fool out of her friends and ribbing them for it, if there was one thing that Mutsuki hated more than anything, it was people making her look stupid.

"Let's forget about this... regardless of what she said, Aru is right. I think we should look for the director and take him out" Shiroko suddenly answered, stepping forward as she spoke to get everyone's attention, which her words certainly did.

"Indeed, I think that would probably be the most advantageous scenario for us, cut the head of the snake as it were" the hunter turned away from Mutsuki and Aru as he finished his words.

Although, he did turn his head slightly so he could see the clearly surprised look on Aru which made him flash a quick smile her way, before turning away, and focusing his attention on the Abydos students.

"I don't know if it's a good idea to go after him... We got this far, but we're not exactly in the best shape for another big battle" Ayane said with a slightly apprehensive tone.

While, she, just as much as anyone, wanted to get back at the Kaiser director for what he had done to them and their school.

She had to be realistic, they were low on ammo, and their two frontline fighters weren't exactly in the best of shape, so going out of their way to start another big battle wasn't exactly something that made any sense to her

The hunter brought a hand up to his chin as he began to think.

Ayane did make a good point, it was only by a miracle that the Abydos students had managed to get to this point so far.

Yet, they hadn't got to this point without being unscathed, and deliberately picking another big battle with the Kaiser forces, wasn't exactly something that could guarantee success.

"I think we should do it, we don't exactly have a school to return to any more, so why shouldn't we just go all out" Serika didn't even try to hide the aggression in her voice as she spoke.

She even accompanied her words walking forward with a confident and determined stride, although stumbling somewhat as a result of her legs being weak, yet she kept herself upright managing to make herself look partially stubborn.

Her words also held a bit of truth to them, making her friends consider exactly what their next move would be at this point.

The school was destroyed, meaning they couldn't go back to it, at least not now, so realistically the only option they really had left was to go after the director.

Because if they could take him out, then there was a possibility that they could stop kaiser from what it was doing.

"If you want my input... I think you guys should retreat while you still have the chance, live to fight another day and all that nonsense" Kayoko abruptly injected, making all the Abydos students as well as the hunter turned to look at her as she stood there with her hands in her pockets.

Her posture and expression were noticeably relaxed.

Although, only the hunter could tell via examining the minor movements of her body, that she was clearly on guard as if expecting some kind of counterattack, which was sensible considering that there were still kaiser patrols roaming around.

'I can see that she's the true brains behind problem solver 68' The hunter allowed the thought to enter his mind as a smile appeared on his face.

He had easily picked upon it before, but now it was even more obvious that Kayoko, despite her laid-back nature and clearly unbothered attitude, was perhaps one of the true reasons why problem solver 68 even continued to exist as a group.

In fact, it would be fair to say that she was the glue that held the group together, via being the rock and the true competent one that everyone could rely on.

"That's not a bad idea, we don't exactly have the stamina or the ammunition for another prolonged battle... But at the same time this won't end until we are out of commission or the Kaiser director is out of the picture" Nonomi suddenly spoke with a serious tone.

Any joy or cheerfulness that was usually in her voice, completely absent as everyone turned to look at her, only to see that her face was one of deadly seriousness, which was very much unlike her considering her usual cheerful attitude.

"I must agree... While I do not want to put you in any more danger than you have already been, the only way this Madness will end. Is if the Kaiser director is out of the picture, permanently" the hunter said with a slightly mindful expression.

He, of course, didn't want to go through of such a reckless plan, considering that the Abydos students were already at their limit, both emotionally and physically, and he didn't want to put them in any more harm than they had already been.

Plus he also didn't want to see problem solver 68 be harmed either, after all, they were students just like the Abydos students, so their safety was also his top priority.

"How are you going to find him though, he disappeared already, and I really doubt he's going to show back up again, just randomly" Mutsuki interjected.

An almost bored looking expression visible on her face as she idly looked around at the surrounding street, seemingly attempting to find anything to entertain her as she continued to grow restless and bored.

Nobody said anything in response to her words, simply because there wasn't anything that could be said, she was right in every sense of the word.

The Kaiser director had left in the battle earlier, running away with his tail between his legs like a coward.

And the chances of just randomly finding him in the district would be highly unlikely, not to mention he would most likely have reunited with a large contingent of kaiser PMC forces to protect him.

"That is indeed a conundrum..." The hunter said after several moments of Silence, once again bringing his hand up to his chin as he gently began to rub it, with a thoughtful expression on his face.

However, after a moment or two of this, his eyes suddenly went wide, a revelation striking him like a bolt of lightning as he turned to look at Ayane, who found herself momentarily surprised when she saw the hunter looking at her.

"Ayane you happen to be good with technology aren't you?" the hunter asked abruptly.

His question catching the elf girl completely by surprise, as she simply stared at him with a genuinely confused expression.

"I would say so, sensei... But why ask me that exactly?" Ayane followed her words by raising an eyebrow, mostly out of sheer confusion as to why the hunter would suddenly ask that out of nowhere.

"The reason I asked, Ayane, is because I was wondering if it would be possible for you to track the location of the Kaiser president... If we knew his location, then we could possibly initiate some kind of surgical strike" the hunter said with an almost hesitant quality to his voice.

He could have easily asked Arona to do something like this, considering that she from his experience could easily locate just about anyone or anything in the entirety of kivotos with little to no trouble.

However, the reason why he didn't ask, was simply because after having her utilised the Shield ability of the tablet to protect him earlier.

The tablet was now incredibly low on electric charge, meaning that it wouldn't be able to operate for much longer and certain functions were most likely no longer available, due to not having the energy to dedicate to carrying them out.

Ayane didn't immediately respond to the hunter, confusion remaining on her face for several moments before her eyes abruptly went wide, it now made sense why the hunter had asked her if she was good with technology.

"Oh, I get it now... I'd love to sensei, but I don't think I can anymore..." Ayane found herself trailing off.

An apprehensive expression appearing on her face as she turned her gaze the way from the hunter, not being able to meet his eyes because in her mind, it felt like she had failed him considering that she wasn't able to go through his request.

The hunter for his part simply looked at the girl with a slightly questioning look.

He wasn't angry or even irritated by her answer, but simply more curious as to why it wouldn't be possible for her to track the Kaiser director, utilising her own tablet and seemingly vast the drone network.

"All of my drones have been destroyed, sensei... Plus my tablet isn't exactly a great shape either" Ayane reached into her pocket and retrieved her smart tablet, holding it out and showing it to The Hunter who looked at it intently.

He was able to see that the tablet had clearly suffered damage at some point during the battle, the screen being cracked and broken to the point where it was difficult to even make out anything on it anymore without considerable effort.

Turning his eyes up to look at the girl, the hunter smiled with an accepting the expression, reaching a hand out and unexpectedly placing it on the elf girl's head.

This, of course, made Ayane look up at him with surprise as the hunter gently ruffled her hair from a moment.

Before taking his hand away, the blush on her cheeks easily being visible to him, which made him laugh lightly as he straightened his back and spoke.

"There is no need for you to feel like you have failed me Ayane, I was not making a demand of you, rather just asking a question" the hunter finished his own words by quickly reaching into his overcoat.

His hand grabbing a hole of his own smart tablet as he pulled it out, revealing it for the first time to the elf girl as well as the other students who had watched the entire interaction silently.

Watching as the students crowded around him, the hunter couldn't help but smile slightly, imagining that Arona was feeling particularly proud of herself, considering that the tablet that housed her consciousness was currently the centre of attention.

"Sensei, where did you get this…? I've never seen a model like this one before!" Ayane said with an almost excited voice.

If there was one thing that excited her more than anything, it was the prospect of seeing new and exotic that technology that she was unfamiliar with.

And seeing sensei's own smart tablet, which from her cursory view seemed to be a model that she was completely unfamiliar with, certainly perked her interest.

"It just looks like a normal smart tablet to me" Serika said with a slightly disinterested tone.

Looking at the tablet, she couldn't really see anything about it that jumped out at her as being out of the ordinary, other than the fact it didn't have any makers logos.

Her disinterest also wasn't helped by the fact that she wasn't really into technology in the same way that Ayane was.

Sure she had a phone, as well as game console and PC at her house, but other than that she didn't really keep up with technology all that much other than what was essential.

"Nn it doesn't have any brand logos... Plus something about it feels... off" Shiroko squinted her eyes as she stared at the tablet.

Nothing about it screamed unusual other than the lack of logos, but there was just something about it that gave her a strange, almost eerie feeling.

It was almost as if the tablet itself was much more than it initially seemed, or if it was deliberately disguising itself as something ordinary to hide something extraordinary.

The hunter couldn't help but look at the wolf girl after she spoke, raising an eyebrow slightly as he watched her continue to scrutinise the tablet with a much more critical gaze than everyone else.

He shouldn't have been surprised, that she of all girls was able to sense that the tablet wasn't entirely ordinary.

After all, Shiroko had shown herself to be remarkably intelligent and perceptive, so it was no surprise that she was the only one, to pick up on the fact that the tablet was something more than it actually was.

But putting that to the back of his mind for the moment, the hunter instead redirected his thought attention to what needed to be done as he looked at the tablet.

He was instantly presented with a smiling yet clearly tired looking Arona who was staring at him with noticeable bags under her eyes.

The hunter was taken off guard by this for a moment, before he realised that it was most likely as a result of the tablet having nearly run out of charge.

'So if the tablet's internal electric charge runs low, then that means that Arona becomes tired... Interesting'

The hunter couldn't help but find this revelation slightly interesting, considering it suggested that Arona was linked to the condition of the tablet much more than he had initially suspected.

But putting that to the side, the hunter returned his mind to the task at hand.

'Arona... I know that the tablet currently does not have much electrical charge left. But I was wondering if we'll be possible for you to track the location of the Kaiser director?' The hunter did not speak with his words.

But rather, he used his own consciousness to speak because he didn't want to give away to the students that there was a conscious being inside the tablet.

After all, Arona had specifically stated that she wanted her existence to remain unknown, and the hunter was intent to comply with her wishes.

Arona looked at the hunter with a surprise expression, his question had seemingly caught her by surprise and left her confused.

Before her expression softened, being replaced with a genuinely happy smile as she responded to him.

"I think I can do that, sensei... You're right though, I don't have much charge left, but I should have just enough to be able to track him to give you directions... you're going to have to put the Tablet on charge when we get back to SCHALE, though"

Arona said with a happy voice, she was already starting the process of tracking the Kaiser director before the hunter even responded to her.

Yet when he eventually did, his smile filled her with a warm, happy sensation that made her giggle.

'Wonderful Arona... I will make sure to charge the tablet once we return. In fact, I think after all of this mess is sorted out, you and I will spend a bit of time in the Hunter's dream, how does that sound?'

The Hunter found himself smiling as he saw Arona's face light up with excitement.

The prospect of being able to go to the hunter's dream again, seemingly all the motivation the little AI girl needed, as she began to do exactly as she was asked with a renewed sense of vigour and urgency.

"I'd love that, sensei! Luna promised me, the next time I came back, I would be able to help her with more gardening!"

Arona said energetically as she began to jump on the spot, the prospect of being able to help the living doll do more gardening in the hunter's dream, being an event that she was genuinely excited for.

Before this, she didn't think that gardening whatever appealed to her, considering that she was an AI who could not interact with the real world in any way.

But being in the hunter's dream and having something that resembled a physical body allowed her to actually appreciate the simple act of tending to plants.

Plus, Arona also wanted to see lunar again, considering she got along very well with the living doll and most viewed her as a big sister in a way.

Smiling, the hunter couldn't stop himself from laughing slightly, only to regret it as he noticed all the students looking at him with confusion that why he suddenly laughed.

Clearing his throat, the hunter idly typed away at the tablet, trying to make it look as if he were actually doing something on it.

He hoped that the random tapping of the home screen wouldn't give away to the students that he was faking actually doing something, and thankfully it seemed that it was enough as the students simply watched on with curiosity.

"Sensei... We've got a problem, a big problem!"

Arona abruptly said.

Her words catching the Hunter by surprises, he looked at the screen intently only to see the happier expression that had been on her face before, now completely erased and replaced with something that was very obviously fear and surprise.

The hunter opened his mouth to speak, only to not even get a single word out as the students who had gathered around him all abruptly turned their weapons.

A sound reaching his and everyone else is ears, which was instantly recognizable as the sound of boots against concrete, as well as the moving of tank tracks.

"Oh just great!" Serika, shouted with an angry voice, aiming her rifle down the street at what was revealed to be a large force of approaching kaiser bots, complete with several automated tanks trundling alongside them.

"Dammit, I know kaiser has a lot of money and troops, but how many of these guys are there" Aru didn't even try to hide the irritation in her voice.

Although it was also obvious that there was a small amount of intimidation there as well as she aimed her sniper rifle at the approaching tribe.

The hunter kept himself calm and collected, as he observed the approaching automatons and their armoured vehicles.

However, he wasn't looking at them specifically, rather he had focused his inhuman perception to a particular member of their group.

One that made his blood boil as soon as he saw, but also made him anticipate what was to come, considering it seemed that the object of his anger had decided to show his face once again, instead of the hunter needing to track him down.

'I imagine this is what the problem was, Arona?' The hunter already knew the answer to his question as he quickly put away the tablet containing his companion. T

Making sure to tuck it comfortably into his overcoat, as he then retrieved the Evelyn from his inventory, the weapon joining the Beast Hunter Saif, as both weapons rested comfortably in his now rigid hands.

He wanted to charge forward without a care.

The hunter wanted so desperately to immediately run at the horde and tear his way through until he got to the Kaiser director.

Yet despite every instant in his body telling him to, the hunter ultimately restrained himself because if he gave into his Hunter instincts at this exact moment.

There was a distinct and real charms that he would not be able to be beside his students to protect them, just in case the Kaiser forces decided to attack the head on.

"I'm sorry, sensei... I should have been keeping track of-"

'Arona you don't need to apologise, this is not your fault... In fact, I think this might even be a perfect opportunity' The hunter didn't want his companion to blame herself for not being able to sense the approaching Kaiser forces.

Arona may have been an AI construct, that was able to access an almost unlimited amount of information, but that didn't mean that she could keep track of everything.

"This is bad... there's so many of them!" Ayane said with a nervous voice, she was already holding her pistol close to her chest.

But that did not give her any confidence in the slightest, seeing just how many kaiser PMC troops were advancing on their position, which wasn't helped by the fact that they also had heavy armour in the form of automated tanks.

"Nn good... The more of them that come, the better" Shiroko didn't even try to hide the subtle yet excited tone and her voice.

A small almost imperceptible smile on her lips as she held her rifle up pointing it at the approaching automaton army with clear excitement.

While it would be fair to say that she along with the rest of her friends weren't exactly in the best of shape, that didn't change the fact that the wolf girl was eager to inflict more damage on kaiser PMC in the form of depriving it of more of its troops.

After all, if there was one thing that the Kaiser corporation cared about, it was losing assets, and the more troops that they destroyed the more assets that the company would lose.

(sign) "Looks like we're in for another firefight... What a pain" Kayoko's words and expression suggested that she found the entire all deal tiresome.

Yet looking over at her, the hunter could see the tightness in her body that suggested that she might actually be eager for the coming firefight, but was just not wanting to show it openly.

Turning his eyes forward, the hunter immediately found his target again, the Kaiser director stood with his large company of heavily armed robots and armoured vehicles.

All of whom suddenly halted their advanced, stopping no more than 20 or so yards away from the Hunter and the students.

"It looks like my prey came to me after all" the hunter said softly, his voice dripping with malicious and murderous intent as he gripped the Beast Hunter Saif tightly in his hand.

However, he still restrained himself, after all, despite the bloodlust boiling beneath the surface for the Kaiser director.

The hunter knew that the student's safety came first, and he was determined to protect them, even if it meant forgoing his chance at revenge for what the Kaiser director had done so far.

Watching with narrowed eyes, the hunter, as well as the other students, saw the Kaiser president quickly step ahead of his large group of robotic troops.

The suit that covered his large robotic frame noticeably dishevelled and even ripped in a few places, and it seemed that the dishevelled.

And the partially destroyed state of his suit, also reflected the kaiser director's mood, his robotic face looking the same as before.

Yet, his body language and the way he carried himself suggesting that he was absolutely Furious.

"I must say... When you ran with your tail between your legs I wasn't expecting to see you so soon, in fact, I didn't expect you to come back to face me willingly" the hunter smiled darkly.

He deliberately let malicious intent drip into his voice, which evidently had their desired effect as the Kaiser director flinched, his anger momentarily melting away as it was replaced with fear.

Yet as quickly as it happened the Kaiser directors seemed to gain control of himself, his anger coming back, only this time with much more Force than before.

"Shut up, you freak! I'm here to finish the job of putting you and your students in the dirt!" the Kaiser director, despite his anger, immediately regretted his words as the hunter's dark and murderous expression only intensified.

To the extent where the hunter's unwavering gaze, felt like a physical pressure against the Kaiser director's mind.

In fact, it was so bad that the Kaiser director found himself unconsciously looking away from the Hunter, one hand going to his head as he left out a cry of pain.

Unbeknownst to the Kaiser director, however, this discomfort that he felt in his head wasn't some harmless side effect of stress or even being intimidated by the hunter.

But rather, the hunter quite literally extending his consciousness and reaching out to touch the mind of the Kaiser president.

He could have done much more, but the hunter only touched the Kaiser director's mind lightly, after all he wanted the fat robot to suffer before he snuffed out his life.

And if the hunter were to simply just allow his full consciousness to be perceived by the Kaiser director, that would lead to his demise far too soon for the hunter's preference.

"So much damage... You have risked the lives of my precious students, but.. Furthermore, you TOOK one of the from me, and I will not forgive you for that" The hunter allowed his voice to drop.

To the point where even the students, who were gathered around him, felt a shiver rundown their spines at how murderous and dark it sounded.

"I was only joking before, but Geez, he really is scary when he's angry" Mutsuki said quietly.

Although not quite enough for her words to be perceived by everyone else, yet no one turned to look at her as she aimed her weapon at the large group of automatons in front.

"This is bad! W-What are we going to do?" Haruka stuttered with a clearly terrified voice, her shotgun which was aimed in front shaking noticeably in her hands, as she tried and failed to pull herself together.

While she wasn't exactly one to be scared of a fight usually, this time was a bit of an exception because she knew that the forces that her and everyone else were up against, weren't exactly something that she thought they could take on.

However, as the girl continued to quake with fear, she suddenly felt something totally unexpected and that was a hand being placed onto her head.

Instantly, Haruka shaking stopped as she felt an almost unnaturally calming Sensation flow into her mind.

It felt strange and foreign considering she was usually afraid of everything and everyone, but at the same time it felt natural, like it was supposed to be there.

Looking up with surprised eyes, Haruka saw that the hunter was the one who had placed his hand on her head.

His head remained forward facing the Kaiser director, yet he was looking at her out of the corner of his eyes, as a small smile greasing his lips which despite how unusual it sounds made the usually terrified girl more relaxed somehow just by seeing it.

"Calm yourself Haruka, you are one of my students, so I will protect you, no matter what" the hunter finished his words by smiling slightly brighter at the girl.

Before he turned his eyes back forward, the smile disappearing from his lips as it was replaced with a clearly unpleasant expression.

Yet despite that, Haruka simply continued to look at the hunter with surprised eyes, a feeling of warmth in her heart that she was completely unfamiliar with, while she got along with her friends and especially Aru.

They were the only people who had ever been nice to her.

So the fact that somebody who she barely even knew and barely knew her, was being so unconditionally nice to her.

And was apparently even willing to go as far as to protect her, was something that the usually nervous girls simply couldn't process.

"Good luck with that! How are you going to protect all of these useless kids, when you're up against my army" the Kaiser directors suddenly shouted.

Hs words destroying any positive energy, that might have been in the air as the hunter found himself almost losing control, abruptly stepping forward only to stop himself, as a mildly strained expression appeared on his face before he pulled himself back.

However, the hunter, almost charging forward, did alarm the Kaiser director who took several steps back.

As well as several of his own bodyguards, who also took steps back, clearly fearing the intimidating aura the hunter was giving off.

"Your tin soldiers are nothing compared to my students, and especially nothing compared to me... You know that better than anyone, unless you need a reminder" The hunter couldn't stop the smirk from appearing on his face, as he saw the Kaiser director begin to shake with fear, clearly understanding exactly what the hunter was getting at.

After all, he hadn't shown the director his true appearance, rather just a small sliver of it to get the point across, that the director was messing with forces far beyond his own understanding.

"Argh! Enough of this! You!" the Kaiser director abruptly turned to one of his subordinates, the director's body language suggesting both fear and anger.

"Deploy the prototype!" the Kaiser director shouted with a snarl.

His subordinate looking or rather his body language suggesting that he was confused by the suggestion, his electronic voice stammering for several moments before eventually managing to find words.

"Director, are you sure that's a good idea? It's still not calibra-"

"I don't care, deploy it now!" the director said following his vicious interruption of his subordinate by punching the smaller robot directly in the face.

Its head not completely shattering, but being noticeably damaged as the Kaiser troop fell onto its rear end, sparks emanating from the broken faceplate on its head.

But despite that, it still quickly got to its feet before bringing a hand up to the side of its head, and speaking into what could be presumed was an earpiece embedded into its mechanical head.

"D-Deploy T-T-T-The prototype... Official director's O-O-orders" The robot stammered, its voice noticeably glitching as it spoke.

The hunter, as well as the students, kept themselves on guard, not sure what exactly this prototype was, that the director was referring to.

Yet despite not knowing exactly what it was, both students and teacher understood that it could not be anything good.

Which was only confirmed when the sound of a helicopter prompted everyone to abruptly look into the sky, only to see a helicopter flying overhead, which then abruptly dropped something from its underside.

"Everyone, back now!" The hunter said with urgency as his words had the immediate effect.

All the students quickly taking several steps back, as the large object fell down like a brick, landing hard on the concrete where they had been standing only a moment ago.

The impact leaving a noticeably large crater in the concrete, suggesting whatever had just landed was substantially heavy.

Looking up at the object that had just landed in front of him, the hunter was unsure what to make of it at first.

It was clearly mechanical, that much he was certain of, it also had a similar design aesthetic to the rest of the Kaiser PMC forces.

However, taking one look at the object, the hunter could confirm that it was not autonomous like the rest, leading him to presume that it was some kind of vehicle or possibly contraption that had no free will of its own.

Yet, the hunter's inspection of the strange-looking thing that was presented before him was interrupted when he saw the director quickly walk in front of the strange curled up object.

And before the hunter could react or do anything, the Kaiser director suddenly turned his back now to the hunter and the students as he stepped closer to the object.

Only for a plate or door more precisely, on the front of it to open up allowing the director to step up and into it before the door sealed behind him, with only the Kaiser director's head now being visible.

The hunter wasn't sure what to make of this, yet he didn't have long to actually consider what had happened, as the object suddenly began to move.

Forcing him to abruptly take a fighting stance as the object rapidly unfolded itself, revealing it to be some kind of strange yet imposingly large contraption that had a vaguely humanoid shape.

"Let's see how you like this then!" the Kaiser director yelled from inside the mech suit as it finished its deploying sequence,

The arms coming up before lowering, the weapons attached where it's hands would have been, spinning to life with clear malicious Intent.

"What you see before you, it's one of the latest and greatest pieces of kaiser technology!" the Kaiser director shouted with renewed confidence as the mech suit took several experimental steps forward.

Clearly showing that the director was trying to get a feel for how it manoeuvred before he fully went for it.

And that action was also accompanied by a large energy cannon on the top of the robot suddenly unfolding, the barrel sliding out and into place, before aiming in the general direction of the hunter and the students.

"What the hell is that?" Serika explained with a slightly uncertain voice.

She kept her ground, aiming her rifle at the large mech suit, yet despite this, she couldn't stop herself from shaking slightly.

Both as a result of her legs losing some strength because of how long she had been standing, and due to the anxiety that was beginning to creep its way into her heart.

"Looks like some kind of exoskeleton or mech suit" Shiroko said with a slightly critical eye, she kept her rifle pointed at it, yet she couldn't stop herself from scrutinizing it with a clear intensity.

It was obvious to her that it was some kind of high-powered exoskeleton, although she was unable to say exactly what it was capable of without seeing it in motion.

Which wasn't exactly something she was looking forward to, considering that in the condition she was in there, was no hope that she would be able to fight with something like this, even if it was slow and cumbersome.

"Looks expensive... But then again it's kaiser, so it's probably junk quality... Just like one of their smartphones" Nonomi didn't even try to hide the clearly unimpressed tone in her voice.

While she did like to consider herself to be spoiled, that didn't change the fact that being raised with a lot of money, allowed her to distinguish when something was truly of high quality, versus something that was expensive for the sake of being expensive.

And while she certainly wasn't extremely well versed in mechanical machines, she could tell just by looking at what she was seeing, that despite looking big and impressive it most likely didn't have the quality to match.

"Damn it, this is bad! We can't fight that thing, we don't have the firepower or the Manpower" Aru said with a vaguely fearful tone in her voice.

While she wasn't one to usually back down from a fight or a challenge, this was one of the rare times when she figured it would be better to turn and run.

Especially considering that fighting whatever this was didn't look possible with what they had currently.

"Wow! it's huge~" Mutsuki said with a mischievous voice accompanied by a giggle.

Her innuendo didn't go unnoticed by anyone, yet they didn't really pay attention, considering that was the least on their minds right now.

The hunter kept his ground, eyeing the large mech suit with a critical eye, he may have not known exactly what it was or what it was capable of.

Yet, that didn't change the fact that he was examining possible avenues of attack, similarly to how he used to do when he was a true Hunter fighting monstrous beasts.

In fact, as the hunter continued to scrutinize the Kaiser director and his mech suit, he suddenly felt a familiar Sensation welling up in his chest, one that made him nauseated.

Anticipation and something else.

Something he had not felt for a long time… and that he never wanted to feel again...

Excitement.

Pure wild excitement for an upcoming battle.

"It's been too long, since I felt this… in fact, I didn't think I would ever feel this again" the hunter said with a slightly sickened whisper under his breath.

His expression becoming more fearless and slightly manic for just the split second, he found himself back in the blood soaked streets of Yarnham,

The scent of blood, fire and ash invading his nostrils, as well as the heavy weight of his weapons becoming noticeable in his hands.

In front of him was no longer the kaiser director and his mech suit, but rather a colossal beast of immeasurable size, the very same as the ones that he had butchered with reckless abandon.

And it was the very same that once led to him almost succumbing to the blood drunk hunter's curse.

Shaking his head, the hunter found himself coming back, the blood soaked streets of Yarnham as well as the beast that stood before him, returning to nothing but a distant memory as he focused his mind on the here and now.

The hunter may have not been able to quench the sickly excitement in his chest entirely, but he would not let himself succumb to be fleeting embrace of the blood drunk curse.

After all, he may have long since overcome it after destroying the hunter's nightmare and ascending to become a great one.

But that did not change that once touched by The Curse, it left a permanent reminder on his very being, something that even after his ascendance he could not truly be rid of.

Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, the hunter calmed his racing heart, the anticipation for the upcoming battle instantly leaving as quickly as he focused himself.

He was no longer a hunter, at least no longer one, that hunted beasts and kin.

Instead, he was a teacher, one who had made a solemn promise to protect the students under his care, and he was determined to accomplish that even if it meant putting his own safety at risk.

Opening his eyes, The Hunter turned to look at the students behind him, all of them aiming their weapons at the Kaiser director's large mech suit.

He could see in their expressions, varying states of panic and apprehension, which made his heart break slightly.

The looks of fear in their eyes, was something that he never wanted to see because young children such as them should never have to feel such emotions.

Turning his attention back to the Kaiser director, the hunter narrowed his eyes, the grip on the Beast Hunter saif and Evelyn tightening, to the point where if they were normal weapons they would have shattered from his grip force.

"Everyone, I will take care of this, none of you should fear, for as your teacher, I will always protect you, no matter what" the hunter said with a serious expression.

However, before he could step forward to engage in battle with the Kaiser director, the hunter suddenly felt someone forcefully tug at the sleeve of his overcoat.

This caused him to look down and away from his target, only to see that it was Ayane tugging at his overcoat, a fearful and clearly apprehensive expression on her face.

"Sensei, you can't face him alone, I know you can handle yourself, but that mech suit will be too much even for you!" Ayane said with urgency in her voice.

Her words of fear for his safety genuinely warming the hunter's heart and making him smile gently as he looked down at the girl for a moment before.

After a moment, the hunter put away the Evelyn, reaching a hand and gently patting the elf girl's head, which surprised as she looked up at him.

"It soothes my heart to know that you are concerned for me, but you should not be Ayane, I will be fine, besides while I take care of him I will need all of you to take care of the rest" The hunter said with a slight smile as he took his hand off the elf girl's head.

Before gesturing out to the large robot army and their armoured vehicles, his words made all the students look at him and surprise until it's suddenly dawned on them exactly what he was planning to do.

He was going to fight the Kaiser president while they dealt with the substantial automaton horde.

"Sensei, are you sure fighting him by yourself, a good idea?" Shiroko said with a cautious and apprehensive expression.

She could already guess that the hunter was going to go through with what he was planning, regardless of what she said.

But she's still wanted to at least try and dissuade him from doing something like this on the off chance he did get hurt.

"Yeah sensei you can't be serious, like I know you're strong, but you can't fight him alone... at least have one of us back you up for god sakes!" Serika stepped forward as she spoke, stumbling slightly but managing to keep herself upright as she looked up at The Hunter with clear anger and nervousness in her eyes.

Her words also suggested that she would be the one to give him back up, even though realistically that wouldn't be a good idea, considering her condition wasn't exactly the best for fighting normal Kaiser robots, let alone the giant mech suit the Kaiser director had just unveiled.

"Your concern is much appreciated... But you do not need to be worried about me, I will manage this" the hunter turned his head for just a moment as he spoke.

Sending a calming and confidence smile towards the students before he turned his gaze back to the Kaiser president and his large mech suit.

His eyes darkening dangerously as the hunter's body tensed, clearly reading itself for battle at a moment's notice.

"Everyone scatter now!" The hunter abruptly shouted.

His words catching all the students by surprise, yet after a split second of looking at him.

All of them did exactly that, splitting into two groups consisting of Shiroko, Serika, Ayane, Nonomi on the right, and Aru, Haruka, Kayoko and Mutsuki on the left.

"No, you don't!" the Kaiser director barked as he tried to aim the massive weapons of his mech suit at the Abydos students, who were clearly trying to get past him to attack his forces.

However, before he could even get the weapons of the lumbering mech on target, something suddenly struck the left side of the neck in the upper shoulder region, punching clean through the armour and deep into the vulnerable electronics.

Being unbalanced by whatever had just happened, the Kaiser director turned his attention back to the hunter in front of him.

Only just see the hunter aiming his elegant and old-fashioned looking flintlock pistol at him, with the barrel smoking.

Momentarily turning his head, the Kaiser director inspected the damage, only to not believe that something so old and out of date, could do actual damage to his heavy mech, and it's ridiculous amounts of armour.

"You should pay more attention to the target in front of you" the hunter said with a loud and murderous voice.

He lowered the Evelyn so it was now horizontal, and no longer aiming at the Kaiser director's mech suit.

The hunter could have easily headshot the Kaiser director right there and then, ending the fight before it could even begin.

But that was not the style of the hunters, and especially not his, after all the Kaiser director needed to suffer for what he had done, and a quick death would not be able to satiate the hunters need for revenge.

"Fine! Have It Your Way!" the Kaiser president yelled as he controlled the mech suit to aim its weapons at The Hunter, the large calibre cannons on its arms beginning to spin to life.

The hunter waited for the right moment, watching as the weapons on the mech's arms quickly came to life with the clear intent to end his.

Yet at the very last moment has the weapons began to fire, the hunter made his move, sprinting forward with a speed that the Kaiser president could not even perceive.

Easily dodging the flood of large calibre canon rounds, the hunter moved in, the Beast Hunter Saif already puncturing through the air, as the blade easily cut through the thick armour on the arms of the mech suit

However, as the hunter pulled the weapon back ready to attack again, the mech suit abruptly took a swing at him, using the large armoured plates on its Arms as a battering ram to try and crush the Hunter.

Thinking on his feet, the hunter managed to dodge the wild swing narrowly, the reinforced armoured arms of the mech suit, grazing some of the hair on his head as he repositioned himself, putting some distance between himself and the construct to pursue a different avenue of attack.

"This almost feels like a fight from back then" the hunter exclaimed under his breath as he dodged another torrent of weapon fire from the mech suit.

Effortlessly managing to avoid the slow-moving Canon rounds as he looked for an opening to attack, which came as the cannons stopped firing abruptly, clearly needing to reload via some internal mechanism.

It was only a second or two, but it was all the time the Hamster needed as he dashed forward, only this time using a conveniently placed burned car to quickly give him some air via hopping onto the roof and then jumping high into the sky.

Allowing himself to spiral through the air, the hunter repositioned himself so he was now upside-down relative to the ground, utilising the height he gave himself to quickly take a shot with the Evelyn at the top of the mech suit, where he presumed the armour was weakest.

And thankfully, his hunch was correct when his shot landed, punching through the armour of the mech's arm before shooting out of the bottom of the shoulder and impacting the concrete below.

"Dammit! Stay still!" the Kaiser president shouted with anger as he quickly redirected the battle suit's aim.

The cannons letting loose a barrage of large bullets as the hunter sailed through the air, his momentum carrying him down to the ground as he redirected himself so he landed on his feet.

Yet instead of simply standing there, the hunter quickly dashed forward as he landed, the Canon rounds following him as he ran, however instead of utilising the Beast Hunter saif like he had done before instead the hunter quickly put the weapon away into his overcoat.

"I think something a bit more... Brute force will work for this" The hunter said under his breath as a Smile from his face.

His hand immediately finding the weapon he needed as he quickly pulled it out from his overcoat.

The Impossible site, caught the Kaiser director completely by surprise, as from the hunter's overcooked emerged something that was completely bizarre and strange.

And more importantly, far too big to have ever actually been hidden in there in the first place.

It looked like a giant hammer made of stone attached to the handle of a sword, the head was noticeably cracked and chipped in places.

Weathered and faded runes and writing scattered across the surface.

The handle of the strange weapon also shared a similar design, although looking much more elegant and refined compared to the hunter's other weapons.

The hunter cracked a smile with satisfaction as he rapidly closed the distance between him and the kaiser director's mech, his new weapon quickly flying forward of a force that nothing could even hope to match.

Which was only driven home when the Kirkhammer, a favourite among the healing church Hunters, found its target.

Bringing the hammer down, the hunter smashed it onto the leg of the Kaiser director's mech suit, the Kirkhammer having absolutely no trouble whatsoever, destroying the thick armour and vulnerable mechanisms, underneath from the sheer power the hunter used, and the weight of the weapon itself.

Yet, the hunter was not done as he quickly pulled the hammer back, with a dexterity and strength that bordered on inhuman.

Before quickly swinging it around with one hand, as the head of the weapons suddenly detached, the large rock hammer attaching to his back via a strap, while the handle was revealed to be a short silver sword.

That the hunter proceeded to shove into a gap in the armour, the weapon easily punching through the very thin protective metal of the leg joint, before absolutely destroying any remaining undamaged servos that lay beneath.

The Kaiser director tried to react, playing the controls to bring the arm of the mech suit up and swinging it wildly.

And surprisingly, it seemed that this did the trick as the hunter was suddenly sent flying by the Wild swing, his body flying through the air for a moment, a clear look of pain and surprise on his face.

Before, he managed to redirect himself midair and land on his feet, sweeping the Kirkhammer sword to the side in a matter that was both performative and meant to be intimidating.

"Ha, how'd you like that then, huh? Not so fast after all!" the Kaiser president accompanied he is words with a laugh.

Urging the mech suit to go forward, which it had some trouble with considering that one of its legs was now horribly damaged courtesy of the hunter's attack.

Yet, it still did so regardless, but as the exosuit took several steps forward, a sound suddenly reached the Kaiser director's mechanical ears, something that made him bring the suit to and look around with a slightly confused expression.

"What the hell's that ticking?" The Kaiser director looked around frantically, trying to figure out exactly where the ticking was coming from.

He did think for a moment, that it could possibly be his mech suit itself, considering he was not entirely unfamiliar with every function of it.

However, that was quickly persuaded when he looked up at The Hunter, only to see an almost mischievous looking smile on his face, which was only made more bizarre when the hunter abruptly pointed to a spot lower on the lower area of the suit

Looking down, the Kaiser director examined the lower half of the mech suit, only to see something that didn't belong.

It was a small round object approximately the size of a large soda can, made from the material that looked like some kind of ceramic or possibly wood.

But as he stared at it, the Kaiser director realised that the little object was responsible for the ticking.

Kaboom!

The Kaiser director's mech suit was abruptly thrown from its feet, the sound of an explosion washing over the Battlefield, as fire quickly enveloped the lower half of the mech and gradually began to consume it.

Much to the shock and panic of the Kaiser director who did two things, one was trying to urge the machine to its feet, and the other was activating its own built-in fire suppression system.

it managed to do the second of those actions, the fire quickly being put out thanks to it in built fire suppression system.

However, the suit failed to get to its feet, entirely because one of its legs was now destroyed, only barely hanging on via a few connective cables and hydraulic pipes but other than that being completely and utterly useless.

"I must say I doubted that the Delayed Molotov cocktail would be so effective... Perhaps I should use them more frequently" The hunter said with a surprise voice as he appeared in front of the Kaiser director who was still trying to get the mech to its feet.

He was looking down at him, the mech suit now being on the ground, giving the hunter a height advantage over the president once again.

But instead of shouting or screaming, the Kaiser president suddenly presses a series of buttons in the cockpit, before yanking one of the control sticks forward, the left arm suddenly shooting upward with the cannon spinning to life and letting loose a hailstorm of bullets.

The hunter moved, temporarily disappearing for a moment as the bullets missed him entirely, although as he reappeared a second later, he did let out a silent sigh of satisfaction.

Thankful that he still had the Old Hunter's bone easily accessible and allowing him to use the art of quickening.

This was one of the main reasons why he didn't receive a single bullet, despite being too close to the mech to comfortably dodge at a moment's notice.

However, the hunter didn't have long to actually comprehend this, as the Kaiser director, with a Howl and a shout of anger, suddenly urge the mech suit to stand even though one of its legs was completely unusable.

And yet seemingly through some sheer force of will, the mech suit managed to stand on its own, a barrage of bullets suddenly coming from its arm cannons, which were all intended for the Hunter

Yet, seeing them coming this time, the hunter easily dodged around the bullets, not needing to use the old Hunter's bone this time.

The Kaiser director, however, wasn't done with his attack, as with another scream, pressed a series of buttons in the cockpit.

Making several hatchers on top of the mech's main body opening up and subsequently shoot out a series of micro missiles that quickly hoped in on the Hunter

Thinking on his feet, the hunter abruptly jumped, performing a perfect front flip over one of the missiles as it harmlessly crashed into a nearby building, destroying it and showing the Hunter just what would happen if he did get hit by one.

Dodging another by ducking, the hunter then did something unexpected, and that was grabbing a hold of one of the missiles that he managed to dodge as it sailed past him, using the rocket motor and the momentum it gave him to quickly redirect its path.

Its new target now being the Kaiser director's mech suit, the missile abruptly rammed into the lower abdomen before exploding, blowing a large hole in it, making the piloted construct stumbled backwards and nearly fall over entirely.

"It's going to take more than that to put down a piece of kaiser engineering!" the Kaiser director spat with anger and ferocity in his voice as he quickly pressed some more buttons on the console in front of him.

And instead of unleashing another barrage of micro missiles, rather the large cannon mounted to the top of the mech suit, suddenly moved aiming downwards and b bringing the hunter into its sites as it then let loose an energy projectile.

The recoil from the weapon was even so powerful that the mech suit was flung onto it's back, as a result of the fact that it only had one leg to brace against the immense recoil

The hunter sealed himself, waiting for the energy blast to approach before he jumped to the side.

He could feel the heat from the energy blast on his skin, as it impacted the concrete, the energy blast leaving a massive smoking crater where he had been only a moment before.

Turning his gaze back to the kaiser director's mech suit, he watched as it managed to get back to its feet, having been blown over from the sheer kick that the energy canon had.

Narrowing his eyes, the hunter dashed forward, his mind already made up on the fact that he needed to take out the large energy weapon.

Considering it seemed to be the most deadly out of all the weapons at the that the mech suit seemingly had at its disposal.

As such, centreing himself, the hunter quickly transformed the Kirkhammer, the large stone hammer head quickly falling from his back, before he shoved the sword into the slot, locking them together and readying the weapon for what was to come.

Evacuating to the side as another hail of bullets came his way, the hunter saw that the large energy weapon on top of the mech was beginning to recharge.

The barrel glowing with vicious and clear Intent, as such, the hunter pushed himself, his feet going even faster as he dodged another stream of bullets, utilising his momentum to quickly jump onto and nearby broken down wall, and then jump into the air, his momentum and parabolic arc making it so that he would land on top of the Kaiser director's exosuit.

But the hunter would not actually get a chance to finish his leap, as the Kaiser director suddenly made the mech suit plunge to the side, making it so that the hunter landed on the concrete

instead of his intended target.

The hunter let her curse under his breath, yet he didn't have long to actually consider his failed plan, as he heard the familiar sound of the energy cannon spinning up and then firing a projectile.

Drawing on pure reflex rather than actual thought, the hunter dodge to the side, the energy ball quickly impacting the concrete where he had been only a second ago.

Yet as the hunter moved, he suddenly felt something that was unpleasant but only made him more surprised and angry.

Pain.

The hunter felt a vicious pain in his arm, followed by his body suddenly turning from sheer momentum, spinning and almost falling over.

However, the hunter managed to catch himself, the painful sensation immediately directing his gaze to his arm, only to see that there was a noticeable wound on his upper shoulder, with blood flowing from the wound and staining the already dark Crimson Cainhurst Knight's coat an even darker shade of crimson

"Curse it, just my luck!" the hunter cursed under his breath, rapidly dodging to the side as another barrage of bullets came his way, although this time he easily managed to dodge all of them because he saw them coming.

Thinking on his feet, the hunter dodge once again, not giving the Kaiser director a moment to target him as he kept moving.

Reaching into his overcoat with his spare hand, the Hunter retrieved a particular object, one that he had not used frequently yet was precisely what he needed right now.

However, as the hunter ready to Blood Vial for its intended use, he suddenly heard a voice, one that was full of concern and fear, that momentarily made him pause.

"S-Sensei you're hurt!"

The voice of Arona reached the hunter's consciousness as he quickly dodged to the side again, managing to avoid the energy blast from the Kaiser exosuit's energy cannon.

"Indeed, it would appear that way, but do not worry Arona, it was simply just a lucky hit from that copulant automata" The hunter finished his hasty comment by quickly jumping to the side once again.

Dodging a mass of bullets and finally finding the opening he needed, he quickly jabbed the needle like protrusion from the blood Vial into his upper arm just below the wound.

Almost instantly, he felt the energetic sensation of the healing blood flowing into him, the wound on his arm initially starting to heal almost immediately until it completely closed.

With the only evidence of its existence, being the dried blood and torn fabric in the approximate location of where the wound had been.

Feeling a new sudden sensation of invigoration, the hunter surged forward, seemingly without a care.

Easily manoeuvring his way around another barrage of large calibre canon rounds and micro missiles, his target now set in his mind as he jumped at the last second as another wave of bullets came his way.

He allowed his ascending arc to carry him through the air, however, instead of letting the Kaiser president know what was going to happen next.

Instead, the hunter redirected his momentum, ending his jump short, landing on his feet with his back to the Kaiser director and the mech suit.

Smiling, the hunter ready himself what was to come, as the exosuit let loose another hail of bullets, all of them screaming towards him at high speed.

To an outside spectator, it would seem like the hunter deliberately put himself at a disadvantage, but this was precisely what the hunter wanted as the bullets came his way and the last moment the hunter jumped again.

Although this time, performing a perfect backflip as at the top of his arc, he let loose a single shot from the Evelyn at the Kaiser director's mech suit.

The blood Silver Bullet impacted just above where the Kaiser director's head was, making him jerk the mech to the side, seemingly out of reflex.

Utilising the opportunity, the hunter landed on his feet before rushing forward, closing the distance between him and the Kaiser mech suit, yet as the Kaiser director tried to bring one of the arm mounted weapons up to shoot the Hunter.

The hunter quickly removed it as an obstacle, utilising a strong and powerful overhead slam attack from the Kirkhammer, to destroyed the arm mounted weapon and the arm that it was attached to.

But the hunter was nowhere near finished, as he quickly jumped, running up the arm of the mech before positioning himself on top of the body.

Steadying himself, the hunter quickly brought the massive stone hammer above his head before as much strength as he physically could manage bringing it down onto the energy Canon.

His superhuman strength combined with the sheer weight of the Kirkhammer utterly destroying the weapon and rendering it useless.

Yet, the hunter was not done with his attack as he quickly pulled the Kirkhammer away from the destroyed remains of the energy cannon, before reaching into his overcoat and quickly throwing free or four times Delayed Molotov cocktails.

Each of them having no trouble embedding themselves into the thick armour of the destroyed remains of the canon, due to the metal spikes attached to their bottoms.

Jumping, the hunter landed on his feet some distance away from the Kaiser Director's mech suit as the enraged robot tried to urge, t the barely operational constructor stand, yet to just as it managed to get to one knee, that was when the Molotov cocktails went off.

Each of them, exploding into a large plume of fire that quickly enveloped much of the upper half of the mech suit, and ultimately forcing the Kaiser director to look around frantically before releasing the cockpit hatch and jumping clear.

Satisfied with his work, the hunter calmly began to walk towards the Kaiser director, who was still sprawled out on the ground, gazing up at his exosuit that was burning like a magnificent pyre

However, as the hunter continued to approach, the Kaiser director finally notice him and that same moment the mech-suit suddenly exploded.

Going up in a magnificent fireball, the likes of which was even big enough and loud enough to draw the attention of not only the remaining kaiser PMC forces.

But even those of the students who briefly stop their engagement to look at the fireball, before utilising the opportunity to continue their fight with the remaining PMC forces.

"God dammit, H-how!?" the Kaiser director said with noticeable anger in his voice as he tried to get to his feet.

His mechanical eyes, lingering on the now destroyed and burning exosuit, with both disbelief and anger at the fact that his latest creation, had been thoroughly and utterly destroyed and even in the process humiliated him.

However, that was the least of his concerned when he noticed the hunter approaching with an almost deliberate and slow, predatory attitude to his movements

Thinking quickly, the Kaiser director made a move to stand, hoping to run before the hunter could get to him.

Only to failure when before he could even get to his knees, the hunter rushed forward with an impossible speed, and subsequently pinned the Kaiser director to the ground via stepping on his chest with his foot.

The Kaiser director tried to resist, attempting to throw a punch at the hunter's leg, only for his fish to connect with the hunter's flesh and do absolutely nothing.

In fact, the hunter didn't even react at all, simply continuing to stare down at him with a look that bordered on murderous.

Yet, the Kaiser director did not give up trying to escape, throwing more punches at the Hunter's leg while also flailing his legs and other arm in a desperate attempt to try and wiggle himself free.

However, no matter how much he struggled or attempted to attack, the hunter was not phased or let the director so much as moving inch.

"Where is she!?" the hunter suddenly said, his voice is deadly cold and his eyes filled with a murderous Intent.

That was only made more apparent when he abruptly smashed the Kirkhammer down to the ground, only a couple of inches away from the Kaiser director's head.

Turning his head slowly and shakily to the side, the Kaiser president looked at the stone hammer with fear but also something that bordered on familiarity.

Specifically, it was the engravings that he saw on the head of the Stonehammer that he recognised at least somewhat.

Yet, that was quickly put to the back of his mind as the hunter once again spoke, while also accompanying his words by pressing down with his foot even harder.

"Where is she? Tell me now!" the hunter raised his voice slightly, the coldness in his voice giving away to hot anger as he continued to press his foot harder onto the chest of the Kaiser director.

He wasn't sure if the robot could feel pain, at least in the traditional sense, but he was determined to find out as he pressed his foot down even harder, a satisfying sound of creaking of metal and plastic beginning to give way reaching the hunter's ears as he smiled.

"W-Who the hell are you talking abo-" the Kaiser director did not get a chance to finish as the hunter pressed his foot down even harder.

The cracking and bending of metal easily being heard as the Kaiser director screamed out in pain, unknowingly satisfying the hunter's curiosity that these robots could feel pain, which only made the hunter smile coldly, before the smile disappeared, and he returned to the task and interrogation at hand.

"Don't play games with me, you know exactly who I'm talking about" The hunter said menacingly as he relented the pressure he was putting on the Kaiser director's chest for just a moment.

He knew that the Kaiser director didn't need to breathe, considering he wasn't a living creature, but still, the hunter did this mostly by reflex, considering this wasn't the first time he had interrogated somebody like this.

"Who-wait, you mean that Hoshino twerp?" the Kaiser director managed to say, trying once again to escape the hunter's grasp.

Only to fail as the hunter kept his foot firmly planted on his chest, however after a moment of silence the hunter suddenly did something unexpected.

And that was to drop the Kirkhammer to the ground, allowing it to smack the ground with a large thump and even sink into the concrete a little bit, before he reached into his overcoat and retrieved the Beast Hunter Saif.

The Hunter held the weapon out for a moment, so that the Kaiser president could see it in its entirety, before he transformed it abruptly with a flick of the wrist, and then brought it close to the face of the Kaiser director, allowing him to see just how wickedly curved and sharp the blade truly was

But before the Kaiser director could actually fully comprehend what was happening, the hunter abruptly moved the weapon.

And in one fluid motion brought it up in a quick swipe, which immediately liberated the Kaiser director of one of his arms, at the base of the shoulder.

"Ah.. AAHHHHHHHHH! M-My arm!" The Kaiser director screamed in agony, his remaining hand quickly shooting to the stump where his arm had been once before, clutching it tightly as he began to thresh around in pain, much to the hunter's dark delight.

The only reason the hunter had just done what he did, was because the Kaiser director had the audacity to insult Hoshino.

And if there was one thing that the hunter would not tolerate currently, it was his enemy insulting his precious students.

"Yes... Although I would abstain from insulting her… Now, unless you want to lose another limb, tell me where she is" hunter lowered himself slightly as he spoke.

Bringing his face closer to the director's face, making the robot instantly stopped his thrashing as he looked up at the menacing creature that stood over him, that was wearing the face of the human being.

However, instead of answering, the Kaiser director simply couldn't bring himself to, both as a result of the pain he was experiencing, and more importantly the fact that he simply couldn't find the right words to use.

This of course only further infuriated the hunter as he lowered himself, his face now being only inches away from the Kaiser director's face.

In fact, their faces were so close together now, that the director finally noticed that the hunter's ice blue eyes malicious Intent.

"Tell me" the hunter once again reiterated, his voice now holding nothing, no emotion or even anger of this point.

His words were no longer a demand or even a request, but rather a strict, unyielding order, one that the Kaiser director tried to fulfil purely to save his own skin.

"I don't have, we only took her on behalf of..." the Kaiser president tried to speak.

Only to find his voice trailing off as he stared in to the eyes of the Hunter, yet the longer he stared he felt himself transfixed as the pale blue orbs suddenly changed.

No longer do they look like the eyes of a man or even a human being, but rather something far more alien and some might even say…

Cosmic.

The hunter found himself growing angry again, abruptly standing back up to his full height and then pushing his foot down, which only made the Kaiser president begin to scream.

Yet whether his screams were from the pain or the fact that the Kaiser director had seen something that no mortal, robotic or organic otherwise was ever meant to see was hard to say

But it didn't really matter in the end, considering that whether he could truly proceed it.

To gaze upon the cosmos would be enough to shatter the psyche of anyone and leave them a blabbering incoherent mess.

"On behalf of whom! Tell me, and I might just let you live" The hunter found his patients beginning to finally wear thin.

Which was only emphasised as he pushed his foot down even harder, the sound of breaking metal and plastic reaching his ears, as the Kaiser director's voice began to noticeably glitch.

His shrieks of pain and near insanity, mixing and forming into a disturbing cacophony, that even the hunter was mildly put off by

"I- I don't-"

"That's not good enough" the hunters said with a sense of finality in his voice as he quickly brought the kirkhamma up. Effortlessly managing to hold the impressively large weapon above his head with one hand, nonetheless, as he abruptly removed his foot from the Kaiser director's chest.

However, any relief that the Kaiser director may have had at the fact that the hunter was no longer crushing him with his foot, was completely forgotten when he looked up and saw the massive stone hammer hanging above the hunter's head.

"Wait!"

Was the last word that the Kaiser President ever said, the only person around to hear it being the hunter as he abruptly and suddenly brought the kirk hammer down.

Using all the force that he could manage, and far more than was necessary, to bring the hammer down and deliver the final blow to the kaiser director.

The robot's body completely shattered and blew apart on Impact in a visceral, and frankly somewhat disturbing display of robotic gore as the stone hammerhead completely mashed his body like a bug under someone's shoe.

The hunter stood there for a moment, his expression one of pure anger and hatred as he stared at the now mutilated corpse of the Kaiser director.

Yet as he stood there, he couldn't stop a familiar feeling from worming its way into his heart and mind, one that he found viscerally disgusting yet simultaneously pleasurable as he tried to banish it.

But try as he might, he simply couldn't rid himself of it, even as he brought the kirkhamma up, hefting it onto his shoulder and turning away from the corpse of the Kaiser director.

Bringing a hand up to his face, the hunter noticed that it was beginning to shake as the feeling intensified in his chest, and the feeling that he found both repulsive and fulfilling at the same time was…

Satisfaction.

The kind of satisfaction that he had not felt in a long time, yet even though it was a sense of satisfaction, it didn't change the fact that it repulsed him.

Taking the life and feeling satisfaction from it was something that he was supposed to have left behind after becoming a teacher.

After all he was no longer some blood firstly hunter barely holding on to his sanity, he was a teacher now somebody who needed to control himself better, so he could be a good example to his students

However, the hunter's thought process was suddenly and abruptly, completely derailed when he felt another Sensation.

Something that made him stop dead in his tracks, and even almost made him drop the Kirkhammer from the fact that his arms almost went completely limp.

"I feel them... The echoes of blood, but how?" the hunter spoke out loud to himself, his face taking on a look of complete and utter surprise as he felt the familiar feeling of Blood Echoes entering his consciousness.

Brief inexplicable flashes that accompanied the echoes, flashing before his eyes as they were absorbed into him, becoming his strength in the same manner that they had once done when he was a hunter of beasts.

This wasn't the first time he had accumulated blood echoes in this kivotos, but the only other instance of it was when he had put Tomo out of her misery.

Gaining Echoes from her death was something that he had expected, considering that she was once human before becoming a beast.

But what through the hunter off completely, was the fact that he had seemingly gained Blood Echoes from the Kaiser director.

He couldn't make out anything definitive from the fragmentary memories and feelings, but that didn't really change the fact, that it shouldn't have been possible for a mechanical construct to even give Blood Echoes, let alone have them in the first place.

"Could it be that these mechanical constructs truly are alive to some extent?" The hunter considered this possibility as he turned on his heels, his eyes settling onto the crushed corpse of the Kaiser director.

He scrutinized the Corpse closely, his eyes narrowing as he allowed his great one consciousness to reach out and examine the Corpse in a manner that no normal being could.

Yet despite there being a lingering essence to the carcass that was rapidly fading, the hunter could not send anything that would suggest that the Kaiser director, let alone, any of the other mechanical constructs, he had slaughtered until now, had any kind of true soul.

'Even if they are not truly alive, the fact that I have gained Echoes, means that maybe…'

The hunter closed his eyes as the thought crossed his mind

He searched for the blood echos he had swallowed, finding them quickly and then delving into them, usually this would allow him to see and feel what the echoes contained.

Yet, this time was different…

The echoes themselves were fragmentary, distorted and the scattered.

A mess of half formed thoughts and feelings, most likely as a result of the blood echos themselves being weak and diluted.

But still, the hunter concentrated harder on the echoes, the fragments of a conversation that the Kaiser president have had earlier that day beginning to form in his mind.

"She's all yours, Black suit, I don't know what the hell you want with her, but honestly, I don't care"

...

...

"My, after your outburst the other day, I didn't expect you to uphold the deal"

...

...

"Shut up, I might be many things, but I'm at least a man of my word… Now get the hell out of my sight, I have a District to take over"

The hunter abruptly opened his eyes, his breath hitching in his throat as after a moment he found a smile suddenly appearing on his lips.

He turned his eyes upwards as he looked into the sky for a moment, a renewed sense of purpose easily visible in his pale blue orbs.

"Black suit... I finally have a name for the person, who took my student from me" the hunter finished his words by quickly moving forward.

Completely forgetting about the Kaiser president and leaving behind his crushed corpse as he ran towards the ongoing battle between what remained of the Kaiser PMC forces, and his precious students.

As he ran, the hunter could see that two students were engaged in a battle with an autonomous tank, that was raining high explosive artillery shells down on their positions while they did their best to counter.

"Damn it, this is getting ridiculous… Hey, whatever your name is, you got anything that can deal with this thing?" Serika shouted as she took several pot shots at some exposed kaiser PMC troops.

And several supplementary shots at the armoured vehicle, its attention quickly being focused on to her as it let loose a shot from its cannon.

Ducking her head behind cover, luckily the shot flew over Serika's head, missing entirely and exploding some distance away down the street.

But even though the shot missed, the shock wave as it passed overhead was still enough to throw the cat girl to her stomach.

Making my temporarily drop her rifle, only for her to immediately grab it as she got back to a kneeling position, letting out a Grunt of pain as she did so.

Mutsuki who was occupying the same piece of cover as the aggravated cat girl, was also thrown to the ground as a result of the concussive blast of the shell passing overhead.

Getting up, she resumed rummaging around in her massive duffel bag, a slightly nervous smile appearing on her face, as she rummaged for a moment longer, before stopping and looking up at the cat girl in front of her, who was staring back at her with an expectant expression.

"Yeah, sorry about that catnip... But I'm all out on explosives, I'm such a small little thing and I can only carry so much you know" Mutsuki said with a slightly mischievous giggle.

Only for the laugh, she let out, to grow louder as she saw the almost flabbergasted and aggravated expression that Serika sent her way as a result of the nickname that the problem solver 68 students had just given the Abydos students.

However, as Serika opened her mouth to speak, somebody abruptly interrupted her, making both girls turn their attention to the source of the voice, only to see a blur of red, white and black rush past them.

"I can handle this just fine, for both of you" The Hunter said with a smile as he jumped clean over the improvised covered the students were using.

Feeling their surprised expressions lingering on him as they watched him run directly at the automated armoured vehicle that noticed his approach and turned to face him.

"Sensei, what are you doing?!" Serika shouted with concern as she made a move to run after the hunter only to not get very far as Mutsuki quickly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back into cover.

The hunter paid no concern to the words of his student no mind as he continued to charge at the automated tank, dodging another shot from its large calibre cannon as he quickly put his plan into action.

Running forward directly at the vehicle, the hunter baited a shot from its cannon,, which came in short order as the vehicle aimed at him before letting loose another high calibre cannon round.

But rather than dodging, instead the hunter quickly brought Kirkhammer up in front of him, though colossal stone hammerhead blocking the intended path of the shell as It flew at him only to strike the Stonehammer.

And as soon as it did, the shell exploded into a shower of metal fragments that the hunter with a quick swipe of the wrist, redirected off to the side harmlessly.

Although the metal fragments did destroy several parked cars and severely damaged the front Facade of a house that looked like it was still occupied.

Putting that to the back of his mind, however, the hunter charged forward, the tank not having enough time to reload its main canon as the hunter quickly jump onto the front of the vehicle, before making his way to the turret.

Bringing the Kirkhammer up, and then bringing it down with as much force he could manage, the hunter watched with satisfaction as the Kirkhammer, completely and utterly destroyed the turret, crumpling the thick armour like tissue paper and leaving it completely inoperable

Satisfied, the hunter quickly jumped away, yet as he landed on his feet, he became aware that the tank was still operational to some degree.

The Turret was completely inoperable, yet the main chassis of the vehicle suddenly came to life, rushing at him, clearly in an attempt to run him over.

Dodging easily around the cumbersome vehicle, the hunter considered his options as the vehicle came to a stop, before quickly turning on the spot via its tracks and trying to run him down again.

With quick thinking, the hunter quickly reached into his overcoat, pulling out two objects, one of which was a small ceramic pot wrapped in fabric and tattered rope.

And the other was a Molotov cocktail, the rag inside the head of the bottle already burning as the hunter first threw the ceramic pot.

It's arc and trajectory making it so that it shattered on the front, and in turn covered the front and the large portion of the automated tank in a strange oil like substance.

Evacuating once again as the vehicle pride to run him down, the hunter waited for the exact moment as the vehicle turned around another time, before finally he threw the cocktail, that burst on Impact and subsequently ignited the oil, causing the vehicle to go up in a spectacular fireball.

Waiting for a moment, the hunter watched with satisfaction as the vehicle tried to move, only for the fire to continue to devour it.

Before ultimately engulfing it in a spectacular fireball that rendered the vehicle now completely not a threat to him or his students.

Turning on his heels, the hunter looked over to where the two students were huddled up, a smile appearing on his face as he saw the completely shocked expressions on their faces.

However, he didn't have long to actually enjoy seeing their shock, as he quickly shifted his head, his eyes immediately falling upon a group of kaiser PMC robots, that were advancing upon a held up position, where Haruka, Ayane and Nonomi currently were.

"Not on my watch" The Hunter said under his breath as he quickly took off at full speed, the concerned voice of Serika in his ear as he pushed forward.

"Sensei, slow down!" Serika shouted after the Hunter, only for him to deliberately ignore her as he ran.

Putting away the Kirkhammer into his overcoat, the Hunter knew that it would be too unwieldy for what was to come

So instead the hunter quickly retrieved the Beast Hunter Saif, transforming it into its extended form as he rushed down the Kaiser troops, who only noticed his approach as it was too late.

"Hey, what the-"

One of the Kaiser troops try to say, before he found his head quickly separated from his shoulders, via a strong horizontal swing from the Beast Hunter Saif.

Changing target from the now headless automaton, that was still standing but promptly fell under its own weight, the hunter descended upon the three remaining robots who finally noticed his presence, although by this point it was far too late as he went to work.

The first found itself suddenly stabbed through the chest with the long curved blade of the Beast Hunter Saif, before the hunter quickly brought the weapon up in one Swift motion, slicing the robot upper body clean in half.

Shifting his attention to the next, the hunter charged at it as it brought its rifle up, clearly intending to shoot him.

However, the hunter would not let that happen, as he quickly dodged around the wild and inaccurate fire from the assault rifle wielding robots, before firmly grabbing it by the neck the rifle with his free hand.

The rifle in the robot's hand crashed to the ground, as the hunter quickly span, before tossing the robot into the air, and then with a speed that was impossible for anyone to track.

Reached in to his overcoat, pulled out up the Evelyn and took a shot, the blood silver bullet easily hitting the robot directly between where it's eyes would have been, as it reached to the top of its upward arc, before gravity finally pulled the body down, letting it fall to the ground with a thump.

With one robot left, the hunter quickly descended upon it like a vicious predator as it tried to defend itself.

It's rifle coming up to shoot the Hunter, but the hunter was much faster as he used the Beast Hunter Saif to quickly and quite literally cut the assault rifle in two.

Both halves falling from the robot hands, as the hunter deliberate the final blow via a large overhead swing from the Beast Hunter Saif.

His attack was so powerful, that it quite literally split the automaton clean in two and left a substantial gouge in the concrete below.

Not giving the corpses of the robots any more thought than he already had, the hunter turned his attention to the students who were held up in cover.

But much to his amusement, he noticed that they had poked their heads over the improvised cover, and were watching him with clear amazement and shock on their faces, as a result of witnessing his absolute massacre of the Kaiser automatons.

Noticing a bit of oil on the blade of the Beast Hunters Saif, the hunter quickly flicked it to the side, the sudden motion combined with the properties of the hunter weapon allowing the oil to fly off and hit the ground, leaving the blade completely clean and unblemished as The Hunter walked towards the students.

Although as he walked, he noticed that there were still some automatons still standing, yet they had stopped firing, clearly weighing their options before they turned on their heels and ran.

"This hunt is over" The hunter said with satisfaction as he saw the remaining automatons retreat.

Some of them even throwing their rifles to the ground as they ran with their arms flailing, which filled the hunter with an incredible amount of delight as he finally made it to where his students were hungered down.

"They're falling back... We... We won!" Ayane said with complete and utter surprise in her voice, her face a look of shock as if she were failing to actually believe what she was seeing.

However, it seemed that eventually she came around to the idea that it was in fact reality and not some dream, when the hunter stopped in front of her and the other two girls next to her.

A gentle and calming smile on his face, which despite contrasting his slightly dishevelled appearance, filled her with a sense of relief that could not really be put into words.

"Indeed, Ayane this battle is over, and we are victorious for now" the hunter said with a smile as he put away the Beast Hunter Saif, the weapon no longer being needed as he returned to the role of a teacher rather than that of a hunter.

And putting away the Beast Hunter Saif could have not come a moment too soon as Ayane suddenly did something unexpected, and that was to rush towards him and immediately wrap her arms, or at least attempt to, around his broad waist.

Completely caught off guard by the sudden action, the hunter looked down at the girl with genuine surprising his eyes, only for his gaze to soften.

He immediately noticed the tears beginning to form behind Ayane's glasses as she hugged the hunter, apparently with all the strength she could manage.

Smiling warmly, the hunter gently brought a hand up and then putting it over the back of the girl, the relief filled tears easily wetting his overcoat and shirt as she cried.

Yet, he didn't mind, content to simply just be a metaphorical shoulder to cry on as she let out all the relief through her own tears.

"Nn sensei we won" Shiroko's voice suddenly reached to the hunter's ears, prompting him to turn his head slightly, only to see the wolf girl approaching from behind with Aru and Kayoko following behind her.

Looking at the two girls of problem solver 68, the hunter couldn't help but chuckle slightly when he saw the barely contained expression of awe, that was on Aru's as she stared at him.

It didn't take a genius to figure out that she saw his performance in the fight and had become fascinated with him as a result.

Kayoko's reaction, however, was vastly different, there was a clear look of genuine impressment behind her eyes, although it was mostly hidden as a result of an indifferent expression.

Turning his head again, the hunter heard more footsteps approaching, only to see that it was Serika and Mutsuki, the former of the two, limping slightly but doing her best to try and hide it.

While the latter simply walked with a slight spring in her step, her eyes never leaving the hunter as she looked at him with an expression that was a mix of both awe but also mild curiosity.

"Everyone, now that the battle is over I think it's best that we retreat to a safe location to regroup" The Hunter said as all the girls crowded around him.

His words eliciting surprised reactions, particularly from the Abydos students who, except Ayane, all looked at him with surprised reactions and looks on their faces.

"But sensei, we've got them on the run! If we keep pushing, we can just-"

"No, sensei is right" Ayane abruptly interrupted Serika before she could finish, at last pushing herself away from the Hunter, while moving her glasses aside and wiping away the residual tears from her eyes.

Although she did so, Ayane did look up at The Hunter for just a moment, a calm and thankful smile gracing her lips, which the hunter reciprocated by smiling gently at her and nodding his head slowly.

Serika looked like she wanted to argue, which she intended to do as she opened her mouth to continue speaking.

Only to fail as she found herself almost collapsing from a sudden flair of pain in her head and upper back, forcing her to stumble to try and catch herself, only for her to feel a pair of strong arms catch up before she could fall.

And even though she didn't need to look up to know who it was, she still did anyway, realizing the hunter was the one who had caught her.

He was looking at her with a concerned expression, that on the one hand she was thankful for, but on the other bothered her because she wanted to show that she was fine.

"I agree with sensei and Ayane, falling back and regrouping is a good idea right now... But that begs a question, where exactly do we go? The school is in ruins and I highly doubt that going back to our own houses is a good idea considering it would make us sitting ducks" Nonomi finished her words by quickly dusting off her slightly torn and bullet hole reddened beige blazer.

A slightly displeased expression appearing on her face for a moment, as she examined it for a moment before ultimately letting out a sigh,

She realized that despite how much it bothered her, ultimately the condition of her cardigan was the least of her concerns right now

Nonomi's question prompted the rest of her friends to begin thinking, contemplate of expressions appearing on their faces as they thought about their next options.

They didn't have a school to go back to right now, considering it was currently lying in ruins and just like the well-endowed girl had said, going back to their homes, wouldn't be a smart idea considering the Kaiser could easily get revenge and eliminate them.

However, as the four Abydos students continue to weigh their options, the hunter had already decided the perfect solution for their predicament.

And after a moment of silence, he suddenly cleared his throat, the sound catching the students by surprises they turned to look at him as he spoke after a brief pause.

"If I may all of you, I have the perfect solution... All of you can simply come back to schale with me" the hunter paused for a moment, a smile forming on his lips as he saw the quickly growing looks of confusion and realisation on the faces of the Abydos students.

"I cannot promise the most comfortable stay, but what I can guarantee is that you will be safe, and it will give you the perfect opportunity to rest up and recover" The hunter finished his words by looking at a particular student, with it being none other than Serika, who he was still holding with his arms, making sure that she could stand up right.

And gazing at her, he could see a look of confusion but also realisation on her face, which made him laugh just slightly.

"Sensei... You've done so much for us already... How can we accept that?" Ayane said with clear confliction in her voice, on the one hand she clearly wanted to accept sensei's offer considering that schale would be perfect for recovering for what was to come, but on the other it felt like it was simply too much for sensei, especially after he had done so much for them already.

The hunter didn't respond right away, simply turning to look at her with an understanding smile, he knew that her rejection of his idea didn't come from a place of malice or dislike of him.

But simply because, the glasses wearing elf didn't want it to feel like she and the rest of her friends were taking advantage of the hunter's generosity.

"I cannot force you to accept Ayane, but please consider it" the hunter said with a calm and understanding voice.

He wanted Ayane to make her own decision instead of forcing her into one, although silently he did want her to accept.

Considering if they all came back to his base of operations with him, that meant he could keep an eye on the students much closer, and hopefully avoid a situation like this again in the future.

Ayane's look of struggle only continued to grow as she turned her head down, staring at the concrete below as she weighed her options carefully.

She ultimately had final say on exactly where they would go next, considering that she was the de facto leader of the foreclosure task force now.

"Nn, I think it's a good idea... Kaiser might be brave enough to attack us and our district, but I don't think they'd be brave enough to attack the central district and the general student council" Shiroko suddenly interjected.

Her words making everyone turn to look at her as she stepped forward, assault rifle still in hand, and her prize in the form of the large 50 calibre rifle still strapped to her back.

"Yeah... I think it's a good idea too... Plus it would let us see where sensei lives" Nonomi couldn't help but agree with Shiroko while also trying to lighten the mood.

She not only had she been to the Central District in quite some time, but she was also incredibly curious to see exactly what schale was actually like.

Ayane looked at her friends for a moment, the uncertainty in her eyes now reaching a breaking point as she considered what her answer would be.

Yet, before she spoke, Ayane hastily looked up at the hunter, who stared back at her with a calm and understanding smile as after a moment he spoke words of encouragement.

"The final choice is yours to make, Ayane. I will not be angry if you refuse, I value your agency above everything else" The hunter said with a calming tone.

He kept his voice low, even and hoping it would be apparent in his voice, that he understood and was accepting of whatever choice the girl would make.

After all, true to his word he valued her agency above everything else, and he would not want to force her into a decision that she wasn't comfortable with because that would not be becoming of an adult and especially a teacher.

Ayane leaned her head downwards again, her eyes briefly closing as she suddenly took in a deep breath.

The hunter was already aware of the decision she had come to, as the girl opened her eyes and looked up at him, a composed expression replacing the uncertainty that have been there before.

"I accept sensei... I… I hope we don't impose on you!" Ayane finished her words by abruptly bowing in front of the hunter, who was caught off guard somewhat by the gesture.

However after a moment he smiled, gently reaching out and placing a hand on the girl's head, this, of course, caught her completely by surprise as she looked up at him only for the hunter to urge her to stand straight which she did somewhat hesitantly.

"Please Ayane. You and everyone else here are my students, I would never even consider any of you a burden" The hunter ended his words by smiling warmly, which after a moment made the glasses wearing elf girl cheer up as well.

But after a moment of smiling at her, the hunter quickly turned, in the process taking his hands off Serika, who sent a thankful look his way as she was able to stand on her own once again.

After making sure she was indeed fine, the hunter looked towards the girls of problem solver 68 all of whom, were standing nearby, watching the entire process with clear fascination but deciding not to get involved.

"I must ask... The Lot of you lot, what is your next plan of action? I highly doubt that kaiser will let this slide, even if they no longer have a head to operate with" the hunter finished his words by turning his head slightly.

Looking down the street and towards the still burning wreck of the Kaiser director's mech suit and more importantly the smashed and broken body of the Kaiser director himself.

However, he failed to account for this action, causing the rest of the students to look down the street as well, their eyes collectively widening as they saw exactly what had become of the Kaiser director and his exosuit.

But despite being surprised what had happened to him, nobody could really say that they felt sorry for what had become of the director.

The Abydos students in particular collectively and silently thanking, whatever deity was listening, that the vulgar and Incredibly aggravating robot was no longer of this world.

"Ummm... I don't actually know..." Aru muttered after a moment, turning her gaze to the hunter as her usual bravado completely disappeared, being replaced with genuine uncertainty as she looked around for a moment.

The hunter didn't immediately answer, a slightly contemplative frown appearing on his face for a moment, his hand quickly going to his chin as he lowered his head slightly to think.

He did briefly consider maybe asking if Aru and the rest of her friends wanted to come back to schale with him and the Abydos students.

Yet, he quickly dissuaded of that option, seeing that despite working together, the cohesion between the two groups of students still wasn't exactly the best, meaning that it was very unlikely that the two groups, would get along in a space that they had to share together.

However, as the hunter continue to consider potential options because he didn't want to just leave the students to defend themselves and potentially face a retaliatory strike from what remained of the Kaiser PMC.

Somebody else decided to step forward, with it being none other than Kayoko, her face a muted look of thanks that was emphasised with a slight almost invisible smile on her lips.

"Don't worry about us, sensei, we will be fine by ourselves... We've got some hideouts we can go to until things blow over" Kayoko said with a quiet and reserved voice.

Her words making the Hunter considered what she said before ultimately nodding his head gently.

He didn't want to leave them by themselves, but ultimately, despite how secretly protective he had grown to become over the girls of problem solver 68, the Hunter had to accept that they could handle themselves much like they had done until now.

"I see in that case then I will let you girls go on your away... Although if you ever need help please just use this, and I will come" The hunter quickly reached into his overcoat and pulled out a small object that he held out to Kayoko.

Looking slightly confused, Kayoko after a moment somewhat hesitantly extended her hand out, allowing the hunter to drop the object into her much smaller palm.

And as the object fell into her hand, it was revealed to be none of other than a beckoning bell, the very same kind that the hunters had once used to summon help from across the infinite cosmos and engage in cooperation in the hunt.

Kayoko of course, however, didn't know this, to her, it simply looked like an ordinary if slightly old and beautifully decorated bell, and therefore she couldn't quite understand how exactly it could be used to call upon the hunter for help, if her and her friends needed it.

Yet despite how confusion she was which was shared by her friends who were all poking their heads over her shoulder to look at the Bell, Kayoko looked at the hunter with a slightly thankful yet still clearly confused the smile as she gently clutched the bell tight in her hand for a moment, before shoving it along with her other hand in her pocket

"Okay, thanks sensei... Also, please don't forget about our promise, okay?" Kayoko said with a slightly raised eyebrow.

She didn't need to elaborate anymore on exactly what she meant, yet even despite that she could still feel the curious eyes of her friends lingering on the back of her head.

The hunter looked at her for a moment, before nodding his head in understanding, smiling as he responded to her question.

"Of course, I will make sure to check up on him occasionally when I enable... Now all of you, run along before kaiser decides to attack again" The hunter finished his words by turning away from Kayoko and the rest of problem solver 68.

He began to walk away from them yet as he did so he couldn't stop himself from tilting his head to the side so he could see them, urging them with a slight nob of the head to leave.

Which the girls did as they gathered their weapons, before quickly dipping into a nearby alleyway and disappearing, using the shadows cast by the setting sun as covered to escape.

The hunter stopped in front of the Abydos students, all of them having anticipated expressions on their faces as they collected that own weapons.

Looking at them, the hunter couldn't help but be proud of how well they had managed to hold themselves together, but also simultaneously extremely concerned because of how Haggard and exhausted they all currently looked.

However, he reminded himself as he stepped forward that at least they were still here and some might save them sound...

Well, except for one obvious exception, that is.

"Once we have rested and recovered, we will begin looking for Hoshino. I promise you all this here and now as your teacher that we will get her back" The Hunter said with a trustful voice, his words provoking nobs of approval from the students.

"We understand, sensei" Ayane said with a slightly fatigued smile, clearly exhausted which was shared by the rest of her friends, with all of them looking exhausted

Smiling, the hunter turned on his heels, using his free arm to motion to them to follow, which all four girls did as they fell into lockstep behind him.

The journey would be long, considering the train network was most likely down, but the hunter had faith that the girls would have just enough remaining strength to make it back to Schale.

However, as the teacher and students began their journey back to their temporary base of operations.

The hunter allowed his expression to darken unnoticed, he was thankful that the students could not see his face as he clutched his fist tight.

He knew exactly what his next goal was, and that was to find and interrogate this Black suit individual, the very one that had taken Hoshino from him and the very same that she had been nervous about when the two of them had their heart-to-heart.

---

"It seems that they are all at rest..."

A quiet and gentle voice said to no one in particular as its owner which was revealed to be the hunter gently rose from his seat.

Being sure to make no noise at all as to not disturb the sleeping Abydos students who had all found places to sleep within his main office at schale.

Looking over the students, the hunter couldn't help but smile as he saw how each one of them slept.

Nonomi had chosen to take the large couch position that the back of the office near the window.

However, she wasn't the only one as Ayane also chose the couch, both girls ending up facing each other as they slept, their arms loosely around each other.

Seeing this, the hunter couldn't help but smile even more softly, moving towards the girls and picking up a spare blanket that had come from one of the empty and unused rooms that currently populated schale and after a moment, gently draping it over both girls, being sure to cover them and make them comfortable.

With his deed done, the hunter turned his attention to the other two students, both of whom had decided to take separately spaces, with each sleeping differently that fitted their personality.

Shiroko chose to sleep seated upright in a large reclining chair, her face one of serene calmness and the gentle Rise and Fall of her chest, telling the hunter that she was sleeping peacefully.

Although stepping near to the girl, the hunter couldn't help but find that even though she was sleeping peacefully, it was obvious that she was ready to go instantly, her rifle leaned up against the armchair, so it was an easy reach in case of attack.

Sparing the wolf girl one last glance, the hunter turned his head, finding Serika sleeping peacefully on a large gathering of cushions on the floor, many of which have been taken from some spare and unused couches and recliners that he was in no hurry to use.

However, as he stepped closer, The Hunter couldn't stop himself from chuckling rather quietly as he saw the position the girl was in.

Serika had managed to almost completely curl herself into a ball, her face partially obscured by her folded arms as she slept blissfully under a thick blanket.

Her cat ears resting against the back of her head peacefully as a quiet, almost imperceptible snore escaped from between her lips.

Smiling, the hunter gently knelt down next to the girl, grabbing the edge of the blanket and adjusting it so it covered more of her body.

He had noticed that the cat girl was an incredibly restless sleeper before ultimately finding her preferred position, as a result he had to put the blanket back over her several times as a result of the blanket being tossed to the side.

However, the hunter didn't mind, in fact, he found the whole thing extremely soothing and peaceful.

Although, as he stood back up to his full height, his eyes couldn't help but linger on the fresh bandages wrapped around certain areas of Serika.

As soon as they had returned, he had immediately set about tending to her wounds much too Serika who whined and moaned the entire time.

But was also reluctantly thankful, which the hunter appreciated, however that didn't change the fact that her injuries were much worse than anyone could have possibly imagined at the time.

Not only did she have a concussion and a very severe one at that, but she also had what the hunter could only presume was several broken and cracked ribs, not to mention her previous injuries from the other day that had still not fully healed.

Allowing his smile to falter for a moment, the hunter knelt down once again, only this time reaching out a hand and gently placing it on the forehead of Serika.

And after a few moments, he closed his eyes, his great one consciousness reaching out and only just brushing against the surface of her unconscious mind.

This action was mostly to try and make sure that she had a restful sleep and thankfully as he opened his eyes, it seemed to that his action had worked.

Serika's face, which had been calm before, now shifted into a look of almost pure restful Bliss as he felt the slightly turbulent surface of her mind calm, like an ocean after a passing storm.

Keeping his hand on the forehead of the girl for a fleeting moment, the hunter smiled sadly, on the one hand, Serika's stubbornness and willingness to keep pushing herself beyond what she was capable of was admirable.

But on the other, it was also extremely dangerous considering that it meant that she would push herself beyond what her body could physically tolerate and could ultimately prove harmful in the long run.

Taking his hand off Serika's forehead, the hunter carefully stood up, walking over to his own desk, he found his Cainhurst overcoat draped over the seat which he promptly reached into the pocket of.

His hand pulling out the very same chocolate bar that he had intended to give to the cat girl when she was awake, however looking at it for a moment, the hunter quickly moved back to the sleeping Serika looking at her for a split moment and then kneeling to put the chocolate bar next to her.

He would have preferred to give it to her when she was awake, but this would do for the moment.

In fact, the hunter quickly reached for a piece of paper and a pen, scribbling something in his decorative and elaborate handwriting, before placing the note next to the chocolate bar and standing back up to his full height

Yet as he did so, the smile suddenly disappeared from the hunter's face as he moved towards his desk, the brilliance of the moonlight shining in from the windows silhouetting him in a pale blue light that almost made it look as if his body were glowing or even shimmering.

Without a word, The Hunter reached for shittim chest, that was resting on the desk charging via a plugged cable.

Taking it gently into his hand, the hunter gently unplugged the device, the screen lighting up with the typical logo, before a familiar looking class from appeared, a very sleepy looking Arona standing in front of her desk, clearly only having just woken up.

"Morning sensei... Wait, it's still nighttime?"

Arona asked with surprise, looking around with a confused expression before quickly checking the internal clock of the tablet that was her home.

Finding that her suspicion was correct, and that it was currently in the middle of the night rather than the morning like she had initially presumed.

"Indeed, it is not morning... I apologize for waking you so soon Arona, you deserve a long rest for what you did to me today, but unfortunately, there is business that must be taken care of" The hunter said with an apologetic voice.

Hoping that Arona would understand, and it seemed despite his initial worry, the little AI girl smiled thankfully after a moment, clearly enjoying the fact that he praised her, but also looking forward to the prospect of helping him with whatever he needed help with.

"It's ok sensei, I'm a little bit tired still, but whatever it is you need, I'll help you with it!"

Arona said excitedly.

Although it was obvious by her slightly flat tone that she hadn't fully recovered her energy from before.

But still, it was enough for the hunter to smile at her as he put the tablet down on the table for a moment, reaching for his overcoat which he immediately picked up, before throwing onto his shoulders, making sure that it was prim and proper.

Yet as he put it on, he noticed the hole in the shoulder area from where one of the Canon rounds that the Kaiser director's mech had hit him.

Looking at the damaged fabric, the hunter couldn't help but let out a growl under his breath, his anger flaring for just a moment before he calmed himself.

Even a death, the Kaiser director continued to annoy him, but pushing that away from his mind for the moment, the hunter chose to ignore the damage to his beloved attire and instead focus his mind on the current task at hand.

Picking up the tablet and looking at Arona once more, who nodded at him excitedly.

The hunter put the tablet into his overcoat for safe keeping, before carefully and quietly making his way towards the exit of his office.

However, before he made it to the door he couldn't help but stop mid-step, turning his head to look back at the sleeping students who were all resting peacefully.

"I will get to the bottom of this... Not only for her, but for all of you" the hunter whispered quietly as he turned back to the door, quickly opening it and exiting the office before closing it quietly behind him.

His expression transformed into one of hard determination as he made his way down the many flights of stairs and quickly out of schale.

He made sure to lock the doors of the main building behind him, via his own key, before he turned on his heels and looked out at the empty street before him, the moon's light bathing him in an almost ethereal glow as after a moment, he walked into the dark and disappeared into the night, like a fleeting breeze.

---

"I see so he finally comes... I can barely contain my elation" Black suit whispered quietly to himself as he sat in his chair.

The office bathed in darkness, with the only notable exception being the moonlight which managed to creep its way between the cracks and the blinds.

However, as he sat there in his chair, black suit couldn't help but notice the moonlight slowly falling between the gaps in the blinds mysteriously grow brighter for just a moment.

He couldn't be sure whether it was just his imagination or not because it was so subtle, but it didn't change the fact that it only put him more on edge but also paradoxically made him more enthusiastic for what was to come.

Black suit wasn't sure how he knew that the hunter was coming, but there was a feeling deep inside him that told him that the hunter was finally heading his way to see him.

And despite feeling excited, there was also something else and that was fear...

The deep kind of primal fear, that could only come from the very notion of something beyond your understanding coming for you.

Straightening himself in his chair, the Black suit waited patiently, the fear and excitement in his chest mixing into a strange almost sickly Sensation that he found both invigorating and also revolting.

However, as black suit adjusted his suit, seemingly out of pure habit and subtle nervousness, that was when a noise finally reached his ears, a set of rhythmic sounds that filled his heart with even more excitement but also terror.

Footsteps...

Slow and deliberate footsteps, the likes of which a predator would make as it hunted, and ultimately closed in for the kill on its prey.

But there was also something else, that made the steps sound... Wrong.

In fact, as Black suit strained his ears to try and hear the footsteps more clearly, the sound slowly and inexplicably morphed into something different, changing from normal footsteps against tile floor to something that sounded more like...

"The waves... Waves against the shore of a pebble beach" Black suit said with anticipation and horror in his voice, a silhouette even darker than the darkness itself suddenly appearing at the entrance to his office.

Feeling his breath hitching in his throat, Black suit watched with both fear and almost uncontainable excitement as the silhouette quickly materialized into a person.

One that now he was face to face with black suit found even more fascinating and terrifying than before.

The hunter stepped forward, his face obscured by darkness, meaning that black suit could not see the look of pure, unadulterated rage that defined the hunter's features.

However, despite not being able to see it, black suit could feel it radiating from the hunter like a vicious torrent of anger.

To the point where black suit even found himself lean back in his chair by pure reflex at the sheer killing intent the hunter was giving off.

"I knew we would come face to face eventually... I didn't expect your presence to be so... Oppressive" Black suit said with a mix of Fear and glee as he straightened himself in his chair, bringing his hands up from his lap and then opening his arms out wide in front of him in a greeting.

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, sensei" Black suit spoke with an almost theatrical voice as if he were a grand show conductor introducing a show to an expectant masses.

The hunter, however, did not respond simply standing there in the darkness before immediately moving, yet despite black suit flinching, the hunter did not rush forward or even run.

Instead, he simply stepped with slow and deliberate steps, until he was only a few paces away from the desk the black suits that behind.

"By God..." Black suits suddenly whispered, the white cracks on his face that represented his facial features changing and more thing into something the represented surprise and terror.

For just the briefest of moments, he caught sight of the hunter's face, as it was briefly illuminated by one of the beams of Moonlight flowing in from between the blinds.

He saw anger, rage, sadness and killing intent all mixed into one vile yet tantalizing emotion aimed directly at no one but him.

However, that was not all because as the hunter's face was briefly illuminated, Black suit for just a single second could have sworn he saw something else, something that wasn't human yet simultaneously looked like one.

"Where is she... Where is my student?" the hunter at last spoke, his voice barely above a whisper and as cold as a vicious blizzard.

In fact, despite his words being simple and straightforward, made black suit pushing himself back in his seat involuntarily, simply because of how reserved yet powerful the words truly were.

"Cutting straight to the chase... I wouldn't have expected anything different from the little I've seen of you so far" Black suit concluded his words by laughing.

The glowing jagged lines on his face morphing into something that the hunter could presume was a smile, which only infuriated the hunter to no end.

Yet, the hunter kept himself under control, he had allowed himself to give in and butcher the Kaiser director earlier that day.

But he could not be so brash and impulsive with this man before him, simply because this Black suit individual was the only lead that the hunter had as to where Hoshino could possibly be.

"You are truly an Enigma, chosen by the student council President before her disappearance and the owner of the mysterious artifact known as the shittim chest... Truly there is no one in this world more interesting than you" Black suit said with an almost feverish interest as he lean forward on his desk.

The glowing cracks on his face forming into a smile, and even though the hunter did not respond physically, internally he couldn't help but question if the person in front of him was truly sane.

"But there's more than that, all of that would have made you interesting... But there's something else, something about you that makes you different from other adults" Black suit lead even further over his desk as he spoke, his voice taking on an almost anticipating tone.

The hunter did not say anything, yet his eyebrow did raise an inch as Back suit continue to look at him with a sick fascination that somebody would have with an unknown object or creature that had only just been discovered.

In fact, even though, the hunter having seen many things that would drive most mortals insane, he couldn't help but internally cringe, finding the behaviour of Black suit profoundly off-putting in a way that nothing else had truly made him feel.

"The others of my organization have underestimated you... They have written you off as nothing special, but I know different" Black suit abruptly straight into his back.

His tone turning into something that sounded a bit more normal, formal, and driven less by insane curiosity and fear.

"I will not make that mistake... Because I know you are not what you seem" Black suit's words made the hunter's eyes widen for just a brief moment.

Although thankfully, due to the darkness obscuring his face, black suit did not see this nor did he feel the change in the hunter's emotion.

"What exactly do you mean... You know nothing of me, so how could you possibly have such a preconceived perception of me?" The hunter asked with genuine curiosity in his voice, his revulsion of black suit momentarily forgotten as he found this individual slightly more curious than before in fact it was only after a moment of silence between the two adults that he realised exactly what black suit was getting at which in turn made his eyes widen in surprise.

"I can't say the definite... But there is something more to you... Something I'm sure you would understand is the arcane" black suit immediately regretted his choice of words as the hunter shot forward with a speed that was impossible to measure, his hand wrapping around Black suit's throat and lifting him from his chair without hesitation.

In fact, it was so quick that black suit found himself momentarily dazed from being picked up and held up by The Hunter.

And it was only then that black suit realised that the hunter had a significant height advantage as well as a strength advantage over him, considering the hunter was able to pick him up off his feet and hold him out of arm's length with just one hand.

"How could you possibly know of such things!?" The hunter shouted.

His voice making the entire room shake and much too black suits horror, the moonlight cascading between the blinds grow brighter with each word to the point where it almost looked like it was daytime outside again.

Yet as quickly as the hunter's outburst started, the hunter abruptly released Black suit, taking his hand away instantly and allowing him to fall back into his chair.

Although as black suit began to cough and splatter he didn't stop looking up at the hunter who stood over him, his arms still outstretched somewhat and face now illuminated by a beam of Moonlight.

Allowing black suit to see the look of pure, unadulterated hatred and contempt that was written on his features.

"Just who are you, and how do you know of the arcane?" The hunter said with a commanding voice, his expression momentarily changing into something that black suit found interesting, although it was so brief, he couldn't be sure if it was just the Trick of the Moonlight.

'Was that fear just now?'

Black suit wondered internally.

Managing to finally get his breathing under control as he straightened himself in his seat, and then evened out the wrinkles and creases in his suit, managing to somewhat composing himself before speaking.

"We are Gematria... We are researchers and scholars of knowledge that is not meant to be known" Black suit said with an almost joyful tone as if he were happy that he could finally introduce his organization to the hunter.

However, the hunter did not pay this any attention, simply looking at the individual in front of him with utter contempt, although he did silently file away the name Gematria into the Deep recesses of this consciousness for further study when he had the time.

"What do you mean by knowledge not meant to be known?" The hunter demanded, leaning down slightly as he scrutinized Black suit's inhuman face, only to see the glowing cracks form into something that almost looked like a grin.

"I think you know better than anyone, what I mean by that, sensei" black suit said with an almost cocky voice.

His fear from before had not vanished, in fact, it only grew stronger after the hunter had almost ended him.

But despite the feeling of fear, he was also even more excited than before, the hunter having proven himself to be everything, and more, that black suit would have ever wanted out of the mysterious man.

The hunter did not answer, yet his expression that despite being hidden in darkness said everything that needed to be said.

This Black suit was just like them the mad men from the Byrgenwerth the Healing Church, except Black suit was somehow worse than that those mad men from before.

The scholars of the college and the members of the healing church had searched for eldridge knowledge, believing that it could better and elevate humanity to a higher plane of existence.

They had brought about their demise through their own want and desire to ascend to a higher plane and elevate humanity to a state that it was never meant to reach, it could be considered selfish yet paradoxically selfless in an incredibly bizarre and strange way

Yet black suit was completely the opposite, he did not search for this knowledge because he wanted to better himself or others, but rather because he wanted to know for the sake of knowing.

"What do you want, sensei... What is the goal that you wish to achieve?" black suit's suddenly asked.

His word catching the hunter by surprise as Black suit leaned over his desk, crossing his hands over his face as the cracks on his face changed into something that resembled an interested smile.

"All of my students are precious to me, and I would do anything to save them... That is all, now tell me where she is" The hunter said with absolute certainty and conviction as he quickly retrieved an object from his overcoat.

The sudden motion catching Black suit by surprise as he suddenly found a gun barrel pointed at his forehead.

And even though the weapon was partially obscured by darkness, the little Black suit could see intrigued him, seeing that the barrel seemed like it belonged to a flintlock pistol rather than any more modern weapon that would be more familiar.

"Fascinating... Why do you have such a fascination for helping them, the students, I mean?" Black suit said unexpectedly, not seeming to be intimidated in the slightest by the barrel of the Evelyn that was pointed at his head.

In fact, he even leaned slightly closer, bringing the tip of the barrel closer to his forehead to the point where it was nearly touching.

"We, as adults, are the ones that transform society sensei... We should be the ones in control yet at the students are the ones that run everything, and I must say they do a rather poor job of it... So why are you so intent on helping them continue to live in their delusion?" Black suit couldn't help his voice from turning slightly sour.

Just the idea that the students were the ones that control this world being one that he still found ridiculous even after all of his time here.

He would even go as far to say that it was one of the many reasons why he and the rest of Gematria did what they did, it was all experimentation and research to try and figure out exactly why this world worked in the way it did, and more importantly, why the students were the ones at the top of the food chain so to speak.

The hunter didn't respond, not because he didn't know what he wanted to say, but rather because he doubted that a response was needed.

He was an adult and a teacher, it was his job… No, it was his duty to care for the students and make sure they could live and experience joyful lives.

To even consider anything else would be an insult to everything he had become after coming to this world, it also didn't help that he had come to care for the students as if they were his own children.

And much like any maternal figure, he would do everything in his power to make sure his children were safe and sound.

"I don't think you are capable of understanding even if I were to explain it to you" The hunter said with a finality in his voice.

His words further being emphasised by him pushing the barrel of the Evelyn forward, finally resting it against black suit's forehead.

Making it obvious to the strange adult in front of him that this conversation was now over and that he wanted the information he had come for.

"I see... It seems that we are at an impasse then" Black suit said suddenly is he abruptly stood up from his chair.

Catching the Hunter by surprise as he moved out from behind the desk and towards the window, grabbing a hold of the blinds and lifting them so that the moonlight completely cascaded into the office.

Everything being bathed in pale blue light, that the hunter found incredibly calming, while Black suit found slightly off-putting considering that the moonlight had not been this bright before.

"It seems that our negotiations are over... A pity really, I was hoping for more, but I suppose this is as much as I can wish for now" Black suit said with an almost sad tone to his voice.

Yet, as he felt the hunter moving behind him, the weapon in his hand still remaining aimed at him, black suit began speaking, quickly turning on the spot as he did so and facing the hunter fully with both of them now bathed in moonlight.

"Our dear little Hoshino is being held in a kaiser PMC base at the centre of the Abydos Desert... I believe you're already familiar with the installation" Black suit said with a slightly coy tilting his head to the side as he spoke, and feeling delight well up within him when he saw the hunter's eyes briefly light up with familiarity.

"It's a shame really, I was hoping to have more time with her to study the aspects of Terror, but it seems that that will have to be for a different time" Black suit couldn't stop himself from laughing.

Only to regret it instantly as the hunter suddenly moved, the distant between them closing to the point where their faces were so close that their noses were practically touching.

In fact, it would have been considered intimate by many, but black suit felt nothing of the sort, instead feeling a deep sense of Primal Fear as he looked into the hunter's eyes.

Only to see something that was no longer human or even recognizable as such.

"I will let you live this time... But if you ever hurt my students again, you will not be so fortunate" the Hunter's voice turned into a dark and malevolent tone as he spoke,

However, that wasn't even something Black suit considered, as he stared into the eyes of the hunter only to see... The infinite universe reflected behind his eyes.

it was impossible to look away, despite every Instinct in Black suit's body screaming at him to do so.

But he couldn't, the infinite cosmos behind the hunter's eyes, seemingly drawing him in and making him feel like a tiny insignificant spec in a universe that was uncaring of his existence yet simultaneously was aware of it.

The hunter abruptly turned on his heels, leaving the trembling and clearly shaken black suit alone in his office.

His new target now set, as he intended to Schale so that he could look over and rest with his students before their attempted rescue of Hoshino.

However, as the hunter left, he couldn't help but catch black suit whispering something to himself, something that made the hunter stop for just a moment before he continued on his way.

"I can't wait to see what you will do next, sensei"

---

Well, that's a wrap on another chapter and my god this one was long, even though I managed to get it finished In 12 days, writing this absolute behemoth of a chapter still took a lot out of me.

Although thankfully I still have just enough steam to start work on chapter 25 immediately, however there is a bit of an issue when it comes to chapter 25, specifically the fact that I am going on holiday on the 15th of next month.

I hope to get the chapter finished and complete by then and post it before I leave, but if I don't then most likely the next chapter will not be released until the end of next month, but here's hoping that I can finish it before then and get it out for you before I go away on holiday.

Also, some very interesting stuff happened in this chapter, specifically the interaction between black suit and the Hunter.

I was honestly looking forward to this for quite some time, considering that these two finally meeting allows me to start putting in some of the more horror and lovecraftian elements that I want to include in the story going forward...

After all, black suit and his cronies are going around digging into things that they shouldn't really be digging into, and who knows what they might give up accidentally.

Anyway I think that's enough of my rambling, currently I am sitting in my chair in my house finishing this up before getting ready to go out with the family for a meal.

So until next time, have a good day / night wherever you are in the world and I will see you in the next chapter.

 

[mgman]

Oh, what's this? Another chapter so soon after the previous one, how can this be!

Hello everyone, welcome to something a bit different for blood archive, as you can probably see this chapter is remarkably shorter than all of my previous ones.

In fact, coming in at just a hair over 4,000 words, this chapter is the shortest chapter I've actually written for blood archive so far.

The reasoning for this chapter is existence is a bit of a story and itself.

I was originally planning to have the contents of this chapter, to be the opening segment for the final major battle between the hunter, the Abydos students and the Kaiser PMC corporation,

However, after writing this out intending for it to be the opener, I realised that having what I've written in this chapter as an opener, to one that will be primarily action as well as other things didn't really make sense.

So ultimately, I thought that it would be a bit of tonal whiplash, so I decided to break it off into its own mini chapter, basically serving as a calm before the storm, before we get into the real meat of things.

But with all of that out of the way.

I suppose it's time to actually get to the chapter.

So without any further ado I welcome you to chapter 25 of blood archive, it's a short one, but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

Chapter 25: The Call Of The Nightmare

---

Serika continue to walk, her feet carrying her through the hallways of the Abydos High School, turning a corner she couldn't help but find that the school felt much more lifeless than it usually did.

In fact, as she approached the foreclosure task force clubroom.

The catgirl couldn't help but feel as if she were trespassing on ground that she was unwelcome on.

But pushing that to the back of her mind for the moment, Serika stopped in front of the Classroom door, her bag and rifle feeling bizarrely heavy on her shoulders as she grabbed a hold of the door handle and opened the door.

Stepping into the classroom, Serika it couldn't stop herself from shuddering.

The atmosphere as she entered, feeling cold and unfriendly, which was jarring considering that the foreclosure task force clubroom, was usually a beacon of warmth in the decayed husk that was the Abydos high school building.

Moving to the table, Serika could see her friends what already present, each of them sitting at the table.

Yet as she reached for her own seat, she found herself stopping, only just now noticing that they were all sitting around the table.

But instead of all of them doing their own separate things or sitting differently, which was the norm.

Rather, every single member of the foreclosure task for sat perfectly rigid in their chairs, facing each other over the table and not even acknowledging Serika as she stood there.

Feeling some weirded out, Serika hesitantly continued to reach for the chair, the sound of the feet against the tiled floor, shattering the silence like a canon blast as she pulled the chair out just enough for her to quickly manoeuvre herself into it.

'This is so weird... Why is everyone acting like that?'

Serika finished her thought by putting her bag down on the floor next to her and her rifle leaned up against her chair.

However, even as she did those things, she couldn't escape the almost feeling of dread that was pressing down into her shoulders, like the vast weight of an infinite ocean that she happened to be stuck at the bottom of.

"Umm... Hey" Serika said somewhat hesitantly.

Her greeting seemingly going unnoticed by her friends, who can continue to sit there like statues.

Their faces for some image despicable reason were completely blacked out and featureless.

This, of course, should have been disturbing to Serika, yet for some inexplicable reason she continued to treat it like it was normal.

Silence followed her greeting, nobody even seeming to acknowledge her presence as they continue to sit there.

However, after several uncountable moments, eventually there was movement, that was so sudden that it caught Serika completely and utterly by surprise.

Abruptly looking over to the source of the sudden movement, it was none other than the blanked outface Ayane who had stood up from her seat.

Her posture remained completely and utterly rigid as after a moment she began to move, specifically to the head of the table, in a manner that felt both familiar and expected considering she was the one who conducted the morning meetings for the foreclosure task force.

But it also felt strangely alien and foreboding, as if what were happening was a mere parody of what should have been normal and ordinary.

Serika couldn't stop herself from feeling inexplicably nervous, as if something bad was about to happen.

In fact, watching as Ayane made her way to the head of the table, the catgirl was unable to stop herself from Almost giving into a flight or fight response that suddenly overtook her.

"I think… it's time we come to a decision, in regard to our... Problem" Ayane's voice sounded wrong but in a way that couldn't really be put into words.

It sounded just like her, but at the same time it lacked any of the warmth and kindness that was usually found in her voice.

In fact, the voice was so alien yet paradoxically familiar, that Serika found herself physically recoiling as if the words themselves were physical lashes.

"Nn it's time to cut the dead weight"Shiroko suddenly said.

Her even more emotionless than usual, to the point where it caught Serika completely by surprise as she turned to look at the wolf girl.

only to see that she was looking directly at her, although looking wouldn't really be the correct word.

Considering that, much like the rest of her friends, Shiroko face was completely absent, being replaced by a black void where her face should have been.

"Yes, the longer we keep her around, the more she'll drag us down" Nonomi spoke as well, her voice devoid of any compassion that was normally present as she also turned to look at Serika,

Who, with a look of Fear and shock on her face, registered exactly what her friends were saying.

"All in favour of getting rid of the useless member... Say I" Hoshino abruptly stood up from her seat.

Her blank faceless head turning to look at Serika, who was completely rooted to the spot, the fear in her chest growing to the point where she felt a stream of tears beginning to run down her face.

"P-Please don't D-Do this... I can make myself useful... I swear" Serika managed to say between her tears and cries.

Yet, her friends seemingly didn't care, merely staring at her with their blank faces that conveyed nothing but unyielding and complete disdain for her existence.

"We don't want useless members... You've held us back for far too long so it's just best that you go" Shiroko said with a voice that began to sound remarkably like Serika's.

Although with a much darker and menacing tone that the cat girl never used.

"Yeah, you are so useless... Seriously, why did we ever put up with you!" Ayane suddenly shouted.

Her voice also now resembling a dark and twisted mirror version of Serika's own, as the elf girl abruptly moved.

Running around the table and before the cat girl could even react, pushing her from her seat with a hard push.

"Ha... Ahhhhhh!"

Serika screamed as she fell to the floor.

The suddenness combined with the hard tiled floor, completely knocking the wind out of her as she fell onto her back.

However, that wasn't all, as before she could even react to what had happened, she suddenly found the blanked faced Ayane looking down at her with the blank featureless void where her face should have been.

Yet as she spared into the Black nothingness of Ayane's face.

Serika could feel an almost palpable sense of hatred exuding from the black void.

But, that was the least of her worries when the blanked face, Ayane, suddenly reached out and began to roughly grab at the cat girl with her hands.

"W-What are you doing! S-S-stop!" Serika tried to throw the hands off.

Only to fail as she suddenly felt her arms be roughly grabbed, before being pulled out to her sides, almost as if she were being crucified.

Looking with shock, she saw the blank faces of Nonomi and Shiroko, the former holding her left arm down tightly, while the latter was holding down her right arm equally forcefully.

Trying to resist, Serika began to flail her body as she attempted to force herself free.

Only to fail as Ayane continued to roughly claw at her clothes, which was immediately followed by Hoshino who joined in, both girls violently grabbing at her until, the cat girl heard the familiar sound of tearing fabric.

"No, W-What are you doing?!" Serika wailed with panic as her blue Abydos blazer was completely torn from her body, before being thrown aside by both Hoshino and Ayane.

"You are a failure..." Ayane started.

"You don't deserve to wear the colours of Abydos" Hoshino finish.

Both of the girls voices completely sounding like a distorted and almost beastly version of Serika's own voice as the faceless girls continue to rip away at her clothes.

Her shirt quickly being ripped from her body, revealing her sports bra and bare chest and stomach.

However, despite now having her body on full display, feeling embarrassed was the least of Serika's concerns as she continued to thrash and cry, try desperately to free herself while begging her friends.

"Please don't do this. I can be useful, I-I swear!" Serika tried to bargain only to receive absolutely no pity as the girls simply looked at her with blank void faces.

Before suddenly reaching for her again, only this time instead of going for the Fragments of clothing that still clunked on her body.

Rather, they began to claw at her skin, pulling it with all of them might and making the cat girl howl in pain and terror.

"What the - S-Stop, please!" Serika broke down as she felt the flesh and skin on her arms continued to be pulled taut.

The pain only worsening as she suddenly heard a horrific wet horrific ripping sound, that was followed by the worst pain humanly possible and her screaming out an agony.

"AHHHHHHHHH S-STOP!" Serika and sobbed and begged, only to receive no pity as her friends continued to pull at her flesh.

Ripping it from her body in huge chunks as the pain overwhelmed the cat girl.

Yet, despite how much agony she was in, and how much she wanted to just pass out or even die to escape the pain.

Unfortunately, Serika was not granted that mercy, as her other two friends quickly moved, joining in.

Leaving her arms to flail around wildly as they began to rip large chunks of skin from her chest and abdomen

Serika continue to cry and scream as the pain overtook her, massive, fat tears filling her eyes and making it impossible for her to see anything in clarity.

However, for just a single moment the catgirl managed to look down her Tears dissipating for just a moment allowing her to see her friends feverishly ripping her flesh from her body

Serika expected to see flesh, blood and visceral all over as a result of her flesh being ripped from her bones, yet instead she saw something else, something that made her cry out in horror and confusion.

Hair...

Underneath her skin was... matted black hair.

"W-What, what is T-this!?" Serika managed to say through her own tears.

Her eyes as wide as dinner plates, as she looked down at the thick black hair that was underneath her skin, however, as she continued to stare with horror.

Serika she suddenly felt something that forced her to look up only to scream out in horror and try and crawl away at what she saw.

"Ah... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"You're useless... the only useful thing you could ever do with your life… IS TO DIE!"

Her friends spoke in unison, their voices no longer sounding like a distorted version of her own, but rather now sounding like something far darker and sinister.

However, that wasn't what made Serika cry out in horror, instead what made her scream and try to crawl away was the fact that their faces had finally returned.

Yet instead of the familiar faces of the friends she knew, rather what she saw was something far more horrifying and mind-breaking.

Snouts...

Vicious dog-like snouts had replaced their faces, teeth on full display in dog like snarls as saliva flowed from between their clinched razor sharp teeth.

There are eyes peered down at her with a milky white colour that they still held nothing but Malice and hate, the likes of which the cat girl had never seen before in her life, yet desperately wish she could forget.

"P-Please, someone S-S-Saved me… S-Sensei, P-P-Please…" Serika said with tears flowing from her eyes.

She tried to crawl, only to fail as she felt a foot suddenly crash into her spine, forcing her to scream out in pain as somebody stepped onto her back, with enough violent force to seemingly shatter her back and keep her in place.

Managing to turn her head, Serika expected to see one of the horrific, monstrous parodies of her friends standing on her.

Yet instead she saw something else, something that would have made a scream if she had the energy too.

"Your precious sensei cannot save you from being from a useless failure… no one can"

Serika simply stared at the figure as it suddenly extended an object out to her, something that was quickly revealed to be a black hair covered hand that barely resembled a human being,

Watching the hand come close, Serika suddenly felt the razor sharp claws and its fingertips dig into her cheek, blood beginning to flow from the open wounds as the hand forcefully angled her head upwards.

And it was only to them that Serika finally registered exactly what was standing over her as it brought its muzzle and milky white eyes close to hers.

It's lips curling into something that almost resembled a demented smile on the face of a wolfhound.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Serika suddenly shot up, her eyes opening wide as she tried to let out a scream, only for it to come out from her throat, as more of a horse moan then a full on scream.

However, that failed scream didn't last as she suddenly began to cough loudly, doubling over as she did.

She could feel her body shaking and convulsing, as she coughed and spluttered for several moments before managing to get control of herself.

Shifting her gaze around wildly, Serika expected to see the classroom as well as the demonic creature that had been tormenting her.

Yet instead, all she saw was an unfamiliar looking office, one that momentarily puzzled her before it all suddenly came rushing back to her.

Recognition appearing in her eyes as her heart which was beating hard in her chest began to calm and slow down.

"It was... Just a dream?... N-No, an N-nightmare" Serika said to herself, her voice quiet and barely above a whisper.

Yet trembling quietly as she found her heart finally returning to a much more normal rhythm, although it still remains slightly fast as the residual fear from the nightmare continue to leave her system.

Casting her eyes outwards to the surrounding office, Serika could see all of her friends sleeping peacefully and their own positions.

However, as she looked at their sleeping forms, the cat girl couldn't stop herself from shaking slightly.

The residual images of the horrific parodies of her friends from the nightmare, lingering in her mind for a moment, before fading and becoming nothing more than a fuzzy and distant memory.

But, even though the exact details of the nightmare were now beyond her immediate recollection, that didn't change the fact that the cat girl was still clearly afraid of what she had seen even if she couldn't remember it entirely.

In fact, Serika was unable to stop herself from momentarily falling onto her back, bringing her knees to her chest as she only just managed by Sheer Force of will to stop the tears from falling from her eyes.

For a moment, she simply lay there, unable to move as the occasional quiet sob rocked her body.

But after several silent minutes of this, eventually the cat girl managed to recover, pushing herself upright.

Bringing a hand up to her face, and wiping away the tears and the corners of our eyes as she looked around at the dark quiet office

"W-what time is it?" Serika stuttered as she looked around for any indication of what the time was.

Judging by the darkness that enveloped the office, it was obvious that it was still nighttime, but she couldn't be sure if it was closer to morning or closer to evening.

However, as Serika continued to look around the office for any indication of what the time could be, she suddenly felt something next to her.

Forcing her to look down, to where the blankets once been wrapped around her had been thrown, either from her sudden waking or from her most likely tossing and turning in her sleep as a result of the nightmare.

With a slight confused look on her face, Serika push the crumpled up blankets aside, revealing something that caught her by surprise as she looked at it intently.

Her superior night vision courtesy of her half feline nature proved to be a godsend here as she reached out for the object.

The feeling of it in her hands revealing it to be something hard wrapped in what looked like butcher's cloth and tied with tattered twine.

Without a word, Serika picked up the wrapped object, holding it tightly, only to feel something quickly fall from between her clutches and to the blankets below.

Looking down, Serika quickly picked up the fallen object with her other hand, revealing it to be a piece of paper.

"What is this" Serika whispered quietly.

Bringing the piece of paper close to her face so she could read it, her night vision may have been better than most.

But even she would find it difficult to read something written on paper in pitch black like this.

However, after a couple of moments of letting her eyes adjust, eventually Serika managed to make out what was written, her eyes slowly going wide as she read the text silently.

To Serika.

I apologize for the other day.

I didn't mean for my rejection to come across as so harsh and callus, I failed to consider just how my actions could have hurt you, and I'm deeply sorry for that…

As an adult, I should have been more proactive with understanding how my denial of your feelings could come across...

I am unclear if this will even make up for it at all, in fact, I'm unsure if it will.

But I left you something… a little present if you will, to hopefully mend our student and teacher relationship...

I know it may seem like I don't care after what I said and even though I can't reciprocate the feelings in the way that you want…

I want you to know that I do care for you, maybe not in the way that you wish me too, but I still want the best for you and I can't stand to see you sad or upset...

Yours sincerely... Hunter sensei.

Serika look at the letter for several more long moments, her eyes tracing over the words multiple times as she reread it in her mind over and over again.

However, that was when the curiosity finally got the better of her as she looked at the wrapped object in her other hand.

Gently putting down the letter the catgirl took the mysteriously wrapped object in both hands looking at it intently for a moment before she somewhat hesitantly began to unwrap it

Pulling up the string for a moment and cursing up to her breath as it failed to give way, Serika eventually managed to tug it just in the right way, allowing the butcher's cloth to give out and suddenly fall free.

Revealing something that she couldn't quite make out at first, due to how dark it was.

Yet after letting her eyes adjust, Serika found her eyes widening once again, a small smile unconsciously forming on her lips as she looked at the thing in her hands.

"Chocolate...?" Serika brought the now revealed chocolate bar closer to her face.

Allowing her to see the rapper, which she found incredibly odd.

In fact, turning it over in her hands she could see there was a name written on the front in global that she just about managed to read, utilising all the limited global language skills she developed in preschool.

'Whimsy's chocolate?'

Judging by how it looked as well as the general design, it was clearly very old.

To the point where it reminded her somewhat of something.

Specifically, it reminds of the one time, that her and her friends had gone to a confectionery Museum when she first then rolled into Abydos.

Serika somewhat hesitantly began to unwrap the chocolate, being very tender and slow to not tear the rapper as she unwrapped it.

Unfolding the rapper one last time, revealed perhaps the darkest chocolate that she had ever seen.

Even without her superior night vision, she could tell that the chocolate was incredibly dark, to the point where it almost looked like a lump of coal or even pure darkness in her hands.

However, taking an experimental sniff, Serika immediately found an almost impossibly pleasant aroma entering her nostrils.

To the point where she unconsciously found her mouth beginning to water at the prospect of ingesting the chocolate.

But the cat girls stopped herself, before she could even think about that.

Serika was still somewhat confused exactly why the hunter had given her something like this,

The letter may have said that it was to smooth out their relationship, but that didn't change the fact that him giving her chocolate, of all things, really didn't seem like something that sensei would do.

Because even though he was incredibly kind to the point where it bordered on almost ridiculous, it just didn't seem like something in his character to do.

"Can I really say, though… I barely know sensei, so who's to say he's not the kind of person to do that..." Serika said quietly.

Her eyes lingering on the chocolate as her gaze momentarily turned somewhat more sour and downtrodden.

Serika liked sensei, she had come to like him in a way that she had never liked anyone else before, and that was why his rejection of her feelings hurts so much.

She knew it was ridiculous, and them as a couple would never work out.

But it still didn't change the fact, that him openly rejecting her stung, and cut so deep at the time that it felt like somebody had stabbed a red-hot knife right into her heart.

"That's what I get forgetting my hopes up, I suppose… Seriously I guess I'm just too naive" Serika whispered quietly, her face taking on a sad look before she suddenly laid down

The chocolate remaining in her hand as she stared up at the ceiling, the sadness in her eyes not leaving, even as a slight smile appeared on her lips.

And after a few minutes of simply laying there, the cat girl reached out for the rapper who had fallen to the side, making sure to wrap the chocolate back up again.

She even resorted to using the twine that had kept the butchers paper wrapped around it to make sure the rapper didn't come off.

After Serika had done that, she reached for the blankets that surrounded her, pulling them close and over herself as she called up into her favourite sleeping position, which was a ball in this case.

Her eyes closing, yet she did not fully succumb to unconsciousness, simply laying there for who knows how long as the fleeting fear from her nightmare was fully forgotten.

Replaced with a slightly melancholy feeling in her chest as a result of the gift that sensei had left for her.

"I know it's ridiculous, and it would never work... But how am I not supposed to like him when he does stuff like this... Honestly, he needs to learn to not be so... Kind" Serika whispered to Herself as she let unconsciousness finally start to consume her.

Her body noticeably loosening as she fell into sleep, this time thankfully unbothered by nightmares, as she clutched the chocolate bar close to her chest with one hand and the other layout the blanket exposed to the air.

However, that hand had unknowingly rested upon something, specifically her blazer, which had been simply tossed to the ground.

And more importantly, her hand hovered over a small glass Vial in the pocket.

The red viscous liquid inside, moving of its own free will, as it sloshed up against the inside of a glass.

Almost as if it had a mind of its own and desperately wanted to unite with its soon to be host.

---

That's a wrap on another chapter, although personally, it was so short that I barely even consider it a chapter, I would personally consider it more filler but it's words on the page nonetheless so at the end of the day, I don't really think it matters.

Either way, I don't truly have much to say this time around, other than I hope you enjoyed this relatively short chapter.

The next chapter will hopefully be something a bit more substantial, but until then, have a good day / night wherever you are in the world and I will see you next time.

 

[mgman]

How is this possible!? How can he keep producing chapters at such a ridiculous rate!

Hello everyone welcome to another chapter of blood archive specifically we are now at chapter 26, there is a little bit I need to discuss before we get into things however specifically, what is actually covered in this chapter.

As said in the previous authors notes in chapter 25 I intended for this one to be a large chapter covering the final battle between Abydos and Kaiser and everything that leads up to it.

However, I decided to break it up once again, simply because I think that releasing chapters more frequently that are slightly shorter than what I usually do is probably for the best.

Not only does it give you more chapters more frequently, but it also means that I will actually be able to finish the first Abydos volume, before the heat death of the universe, lol.

Anyway, I don't have much more to say other than let's get to the chapter and I hope you enjoy chapter 26 of blood archive.

Chapter 26: Seeking cooperation for the hunt, part 1

---

"Ayane... Are you certain that you are in a fit enough condition to drive?" the hunter suddenly asked.

His words shattering the silence that had gathered inside the vehicle, as it continued to make its way through the expansive and frankly overly complicated Kivotos highway network.

Their ultimate destination was the gehenna district, and specifically, they were going to meet with the head prefect so that they could potentially ask for assistance in their upcoming battle with kaiser and their attempt to rescue Hoshino.

Ayane and kept her eyes on the road.

Yet, that didn't stop a slightly frustrated expression appearing on her face as she gripped the steering wheel just a little bit tighter than before.

She wasn't angry necessarily, but more slightly frustrated that sensei kept asking about her, even though she was fine, at least to the point where driving wouldn't be an issue.

Although despite how much it irritated her that sensei had asked this same question at least five or six times since their journey had begun.

Ayane still couldn't stop herself from smiling somewhat, the frustration melting away as she reminded herself that he was only asking because he was concerned about her.

"For the last time sensei I'm fine... I'm a bit sore, but nothing that will make it unsafe for me to drive" Ayane said quietly as she slowed the vehicle down, before taking an exit ramp off the highway.

The hunter for his part didn't say anything, simply sitting in his seat with a slightly uncomfortable posture to his body due to his height and stature.

But ultimately smiling as he allowed himself to look away from the girl and out of the window.

It would be fair to say that he had still not got entirely used for the concept of a car.

Of course, in theory there wasn't much different between it and a horse-drawn carriage other than a car being self-propelled, but it simply just didn't feel right for something that looked like a carriage to move entirely on its own.

However, distracting himself from that slightly mundane thought, the hunter instead chose to think about exactly what their goal was for today.

His mind taking him back to the early meeting that they had all had that morning, once all the students had woken up from their slumber.

00...00

"Good morning everyone... How did you all sleep?" the hunter declared with a vaguely joyous and relaxing voice as he opened the door to the office, using one hand while his other was holding a large tray with four mugs balanced on top.

Looking in, the hunter could see all the girls were awake, although it was obvious that they were slightly groggy.

This made him laugh quietly to himself as he closed the door behind him, before moving over to the main office desk and putting down the tray with mugs.

"Nn my back hurts a bit... Maybe you could get some comfier chairs next time, sensei" Shiroko said with a slight strain to her voice, as she quickly put one arm above her head before stretching it as high as she could.

Bracing it with her arm, Shiroko suddenly yawned, her mouth opening wide, revealing remarkably canine-like teeth before she closed it as the yawn came to an end.

"Shiroko! Don't say stuff like that! Sensei didn't have to let us stay, so be grateful" Ayane suddenly said with a clearly aggravated tone.

Jumping up from the couch that she and Nonomi had been sharing, as she put a hand on her hip while wagging her finger in a clearly disapproving manner.

Shiroko's eyes when wide for a moment, her arms slowly falling to her sides as she looked away.

A slightly sad expression appearing on how face as her wolf-like ears rolled flat against the back of her head.

"I'm sorry..." Shiroko said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Which seemed to be what Ayane was looking for as she nodded her head, the disapproving look abruptly vanishing from her face, as she turned to look at sensei, an apologetic expression emerging as she bowed in front of him.

"I'm sorry, sensei... You know what Shiroko can be like sometimes!" Ayane expected the hunter to scold her and her friends for their general lack of respect.

However, instead the glasses wearing elf girl suddenly felt a hand fall under her shoulder, forcing her to look up, only to see the hunter looking down at her with a genuine welcoming smile on his face as he motioned her to straighten her back.

"There is no need for you to apologise, Ayane... I would never let any of you go without a roof over your head nor what I ever consider any of you a burden" The hunter expressed calmly as he smiled at the girl for a moment.

Before taking his hand off her shoulder and turning away, his eyes now falling on to Shiroko who flinched, expecting to be punished only to receive nothing whatsoever as the hunter simply looked at her with a smile.

"Shiroko does raise a good point, if this ever happens again I should probably invest in better accommodations for students... After all I want all of you to be as comfy as possible if this ever needs to happen again" The hunter finished his words by quickly bringing his hand up to his chin.

His smile faltering for a moment, as he considered exactly how he could make the students more comfortable, his mind once again went back to the idea of some kind of social space for the students.

It was an idea that he had originally thought about, and had been encouraged by Arona to pursue after the entire ordeal with Yume.

However, even though he had given it much thought at the time, ultimately it had been pushed to the back of his priorities due to much more pressing circumstances.

But now was different, considering that multiple students have to stay here due to less than ideal circumstances.

This of course ultimately meant that he needed to think of something to make students more comfortable staying here if the need were to ever arise again.

"Perhaps the crafting chamber could be of use in this predicament... Arona did state that it could make just about anything I desire, with the right material" the hunter whispered quietly to himself.

Not realising that he had actually spoken aloud rather than in his mind, and he only noticed when he felt the eyes of the students all fall upon him.

Clearly they had heard him say something, although judging by the confusion on their faces it was obvious that they didn't exactly hear what he said, which he was thankful for.

The crafting chamber was supposed to be something that was of the utmost secretly, in fact, the only people who actually knew of its existence as far as the hunter was aware were himself, Arona and Rin.

"Did you say something, sensei?" Nonomi ask with a slightly curious expression.

Her head tilting to the side ever so slightly, which in turn made her dishevelled blonde hair fall over her shoulders in a cascading waterfall of blonde hair.

"Yeah sensei, What did you say exactly?" Serika suddenly interjected.

Making herself known as the hunter turned to look at her, only to see her still mostly wrapped up in the blankets on top of her makeshift bed.

Although as the hunter stared at her, he couldn't stop a smile from appearing on his face, as he saw her clutching something tight to her chest that was mostly obscured, yet he could easily tell was the chocolate he had left for her.

'It seems that my gift may have been acknowledged'

"No, it was nothing important, I was just... Musing to myself about how all adorable you look in your ragged state, you lot almost remind me of a bunch of lost kittens" the hunter finished his words by laughing to himself.

Only for his laughter to grow more intense, when he saw the shocked looks on the faces of the students quickly graduate into looks of embarrassment, with their cheeks flushing red.

"Sensei... We're not a bunch of lost kittens, damn it!" Serika was the first to respond, her cheeks almost as red as Tomatoes as she quickly jumped up from her makeshift bed.

The blankets falling away and revealing her loosely buttoned up shirt, which was about the only thing that she had on other than her spats.

"I don't want to be compared to a cat... Their gross, no offence Serika" Shiroko finished her words by sticking out her tongues slightly.

Her face scrunching up in a cleanly displeased look for just the moment before she turned to look at the cat girl, an apologetic look on her face as she did so.

Serika didn't say anything for a moment, simply looking up the wolf girl with a completely dead pan expression.

Before she eventually found her voice. "Adding "no offence" afterwards doesn't make it sound any better, Shiroko" The cat girl said with a flat voice.

"If we're a bunch of lost kitten's sensei, you better be careful before we decide to make ourselves at home permanently~" Nonomi said with a light laugh as she got up from the couch that had been her sleeping spot, her arms quickly being thrown over her head as she stretched as hard as she could.

This action also unknowingly served to emphasise her remarkable bust, which was barely contained by the button shirt she was wearing.

And also drew the eye of a certain elf girl, who couldn't help but feel just a little bit envious, and find it remarkable that there was only a year's difference between them.

"Haha, perhaps if it comes to that then I would need to make better accommodations... But I think we should save that conversation for another day" The hunter laughed, before moving away from the girls and finding a spare share to sit down in.

Which just so happens to be next to his main office desk, as well as the four cups of tea that rested on it.

"Come now, drink up, you'll need all the strength you can for what is to come I'm afraid" the hunter said with a smile.

Although his tone and his voice did turn slightly serious as he gestured to before cups of piping hot liquid.

The students looked between each other for a brief second, before hesitantly moving over to the cups, each of them taking one and holding it close to their lips.

"Nn, It smells funny" Shiroko declared quietly as she sniffed the liquid in the cup several times.

"Yeah sensei, what is this... It smells weird" Serika did much the same as the wolf-girl, sniffing the cup several times experimentally, clearly trying to work out exactly what it was and why it smelled so foreign.

"It does smell a bit strange, but not unpleasant, just unusual" Nonomi gave her own cup a sniff, although not as frantically as her two half beast friends.

To her, the smell was unusual but not entirely unpleasant, in fact, the closest thing that she could really compare it to was the smell of freshly shifted earth or soil.

"I think it's smells kind of nice personally" Ayane said with a smile.

Already bringing the cup up to her lips, only to stop halfway when she noticed the rest of her friends looking at her with slightly strange looks.

"What?" Ayane couldn't stop herself from feeling uncomfortable, as her friends looked at her strangely.

However, after several seconds of this, eventually they all looked away shaking their heads, which didn't exactly make Ayane feel any more comfortable.

"Well bottoms up I suppose" Serika was the first one to take a sip.

Hesitantly bring the cut up to her lips, before finally taking a sip of the liquid, only for her eyes to grow wide as she moved the cup away from her lips, her friends looking at her with clear intrigue as after a moment she spoke.

"It's good... It's really good!" Serika quickly brought the cup up to her lips again, practically downing the whole thing in one go.

However, this led to the cat girl suddenly beginning to choke and splatter, much to the amusement of her friends and even the hunter, who despite initially getting up to help couldn't stop himself from laughing.

The rest of her friends, after they had finished laughing at her misfortune, also took sips of the strange tea.

Each of them having the same reaction, as looks of surprise appeared on their faces at how delicious the tea actually was despite its strange smell.

"This is good... Sensei, what kind of tea is this?" Nonomi asked with clear intrigue in her voice as she looked at the hunter who was still laughing quietly to himself that all of them enjoying the tea.

However, having the question aimed at him, forced him to cut his laughter short, the smile remaining on his face as he leaned back in his chair slightly before speaking.

"It's a… Special Kind of tea of my own brewing. It comes from a plant that only grows where I originate from" The Hunter said with a smile.

He wasn't necessarily lying, but he wasn't telling the whole truth.

The tea itself was made using a plant called Yharnam Black Vine, a particular kind of creeping vine weed that grew plentifully in Yharnam, and had been used for centuries as an ingredient in tea.

'Yharnam black tea was, undoubtedly, one of the few beverages that wretched city produced that didn't contain blood of any kind' The hunter thought to himself as he straightened himself in his chair.

And true to his claim, it was a fact that Yharnam black tea was a local beverage to the city that remained thankfully blood-free, which meant that he didn't feel weary about giving it to his students.

After all, the plant itself may have come from that wretched hive of rot and degradation that was the city of Yharnam, the home of the healing church and the ultimate Demise of humanity.

But that didn't change the fact that not everything the city produced was tainted by the blood of the old gods.

The students couldn't help but collectively widen their eyes slightly, looking down their own mugs at realising what they were drinking was something from where sensei came from.

This, of course, made all of them extremely curious about where exactly he had come from originally because it was obvious that he was not from kivotos.

However, seemingly sensing their curiosity, the hunter couldn't help but smile slightly, their curiosity was endearing even if ultimately he would never actually indulge it.

Simply because his past as well as everything around it was something that he wanted to keep buried as much as possible.

"I can see that you are all clearly curious about my original... home" the hunter managed to keep a smile on his face, although at the usage of the word home, he couldn't help but internally cringe.

Saying that the world of Yharnam was his original home wasn't wrong, but it didn't change the fact that he considered that place nothing but a stain on his memory...

After all, the hunter's dream was his true home now, even if he couldn't necessarily tell the students that.

"But unfortunately, there are much more pressing issues that we need to discuss" The Hunter allowed his smile to disappear.

The seriousness in his voice making everyone else looked between each other for a moment, before they all realise exactly what he was talking about, and they suddenly found themselves a bit more cautiously sipping on their drinks.

"To start, I know where Hoshino is being held... In fact, I think you are all familiar already where exactly they have taken her" The hunter finished his words by standing up from his seat, choosing to stand instead of sit as he spoke.

And as he did, he could see the looks of recognition appear on the students faces as it dawned on them exactly where Hoshino currently was.

"Of all places... They took her there!?" Ayane said with a raised and very concerned voice.

Her hands beginning to tremble slightly, as she remembered exactly what had happened, when they had previously attempted to breach a certain facility located out in the middle of the desert.

"That base out in the desert... Of course, it would be there!" Serika Didn't even try to hide the irritation in her voice as she looked down at the cup in her hands.

Swirling around the residual liquid and the bottom of the cup before quickly downing the rest and putting the now empty mug to the side.

"Nn I mean it only makes sense... It's the only Major kaiser installation in the district, so it seems logical they would take her there" Shiroko spoke with her usual flat and even voice.

Although the glint in her eyes, suggested that she was starting to feel slightly inspired both at the prospect of rescuing Hoshino, but also getting paid back at kaiser for what they had done, not only to her, but also have friends and the district as a whole.

"Indeed I came to a similar conclusion, Shiroko" The hunter said as he walked around the office, seemingly with no particular destination in mind, a clearly thoughtful expression appearing on his face as he did so.

He wasn't exactly being entirely truthful, considering the information had been given to him by Black Suit.

But it didn't change the fact that he now knew exactly where Hoshino was, but the biggest question currently was how exactly they would go about rescuing her.

"It's going to be hard getting to her... The last time we tried to breach that base didn't exactly go the greatest..." Nonomi finished her words by taking another swig from her mug.

A clearly apprehensive expression appearing on her face as she considered exactly the ramifications of where Hoshino was.

The Kaiser base out in the middle of the Desert was heavily fortified, which she and everyone else were intimately familiar with, when they had tried to storm it head-on.

Only to be defeated and forced to retreat with their proverbial tail between their legs.

"Yes, indeed... I can imagine that the remaining kaiser forces of also decided to retreat to that installation, meaning that its defences will be even more robust than before" The hunter found himself beginning to grow frustrated.

In a normal situation like this, he wouldn't have thought too much about simply just rushing in all guns blazing by himself, and destroying the base with overwhelming power and strength.

But a strategy like that was not something he even considered, simply because he would have the students with him.

He knew that they wouldn't be able to keep up with him, if he decided to go full out, and there was also the more important problem of the fact that Hoshino could potentially be in the crossfire.

And if she came to harm because of him, that was something that he would never forgive himself for.

"Never again... I will not lose another student" The hunter whispered quietly to himself, his words going unnoticed by the other students who began to talk between each other trying to formulate a plan.

He was reminded of a certain girl, one that he had only ever met after her transformation.

Yet, that didn't change the fact that her having to be put down for her own good was something that heavy on his soul, to the point where it felt like an impossible weight pulling him down.

This was only worsened because of the guilty feeling he still carried, as a result of not being able to save the two daughters of father Gascoigne.

Somebody who he considered almost like a second mentor to him, even though their time had been brief.

"I will not lose anyone else... Not ever again" The hunter stopped misstep, his face hardening into a look of pure determination as he clenched his fists hard.

The world around him beginning to shimmer in an almost incomprehensible way that thankfully went unnoticed by the students, as he managed to control his emotions before the disturbance of reality could grow to the point where the students could notice.

Letting out a breath, the hunter turned back to the students noticing that they were still talking among each other, yet before he could open his mouth to speak, Shiroko suddenly spoke instead.

"If we do attack the base, we're going to need more firepower than we have now... Nn I wonder if there's anyone we can call for backup..." Shiroko open question prompted everyone to consider exactly what she said.

It wasn't a bad idea necessarily, but their choices of allies weren't exactly the biggest, especially considering that they didn't know if anyone would actually help them willingly.

After all, asking for help in the past had only proven not to be worth the effort, because all the other academies and schools either ignored their requests or outright denied assistance

"That isn't too bad idea, Shiroko... Although our list of allies isn't exactly vast" the hunter approached the girls as he brought a hand up to his chin, a deep contemplative expression appearing on his face as he considered exactly who they could ask for help.

Initially, he considered that maybe problem solver 68 might be willing to help; however, he quickly disabused himself of that.

Because despite being on relatively friendly terms with them, there was still significant friction between the Abydos students and the outlaw students of gehenna.

"What about problem solver 68?" Serika suddenly said, catching her friends by surprise as they turned to look at her.

"They did help us before... But they took off after the battle, so I don't know if they'd be willing to accept a favour" Nonomi wasn't trying to shoot holes in the cat girl's idea.

Rather, she was simply just trying to make it evidently realistic, that there was a good chance that the girls of problem solver 68 wouldn't exactly help them simply because there was nothing in it for them.

Serika didn't immediately say anything in response, yet her expression immediately turned sour as an angry look appeared on her face.

"Why wouldn't they!? They're lucky we let them off easy, so if they know what's good for them, they would help us" Serika crossed her arms over her chest letting out a huff of clear annoyance as she finished her words.

This however only drew a sudden and unexpected laughter from somewhere, making the cat go look around with confusion.

Only to see the hunter looking at her and laughing quietly to himself, which immediately made the cat girl embarrassed, her anger dissipating as she spluttered to try and save face.

However, before the cat girl could actually say anything.

The hunter beat her to it, laughing a little bit more before clearing his throat and speaking, his voice remaining lighthearted yet serious at the same time.

"I think I might have a solution to our lack of Manpower" the hunter said with a smile as he closed his eyes for a moment, a certain petite whitehead girl with dark purple horns manifesting in his mind.

00...00

"Sensei…"

"Sensei!"

The hunter abruptly found himself opening his eyes, his head instantly snapping to look at the source of the voice.

Only to see that it was none other than Shiroko, looking at him with clear intrigue before she gestured to the forward compartment of the vehicle.

Where, Ayane and Nonomi were seated, and specifically Ayane keeping her eyes on the road yet also glancing at the rear-facing centrally mounted mirror.

Straightening himself in his chair, the hunter leaned forward slightly, with it now obvious that clearly the girl wanted his attention.

And now that she had it, Ayane locked her eyes back on the road and spoke after a moment as she manoeuvred the vehicle around a corner.

"Sensei, we're almost there... But we've got a problem" Ayane said with a slightly concerned voice as she took her hand off the wheel and pointed forwards.

Making the hunter look forward out of the front windscreen and towards something that made him click his tongue in frustration.

They were approaching a checkpoint, specifically a gated checkpoint complete with a guard outpost and several identically dressed Gehenna students, milling around checking vehicles as they passed, before letting them into the main Campus of the gehenna Academy.

"Do you think they'll let us in?" Nonomi ask with concern, but also curiosity, as the car came to a stop at the checkpoint.

Her gaze staying locked on to one of the gehenna students as she approached the vehicle, rifle in hand and clearly board yet somewhat cautious expression on her face.

"I can tackle this" the hunter quickly said.

Motioning with one hand, so the girls wouldn't worry, and after momentarily calming their fears, the hunter undid the passenger window, although struggling somewhat considering he wasn't used to the buttons.

With the window now rolled down, the hunter could get a good look at the gehenna student.

She wore an identical uniform to the prefect team students that had attacked the Abydos District some days previously, although judging by her seemingly mostly laid-back posture, it was obvious that she hadn't participated.

Looking closer, the hunter could see that she had dark brown hair tied up in two ponytails that hung low against her back. Her face was also interesting because it allowed the hunter to see that she had a slightly darker skin complexion than what he was used to.

The only way he could really describe it was that her skin was a lightish yellow brown, her eyes were also striking.

With them being a deep violet colour that the hunter found particularly dazzling simply because he had never seen an eye colour like that

However, putting her overall physical appearance out of his mind for a moment, the hunter noticed that she was looking at the front of the vehicle, clearly expecting Ayane to roll down her windows so she could begin her inspection.

But instead of that the hunter put a hand out of the window motioning for the girl, which worked as she noticed with a slightly curious expression.

Before hesitantly moving to the back of the vehicle, her rifle remaining lowered yet in a position where it could be used that a moment's noticed if needed.

"State your business at gehenna" the girl said simply, her voice having a slight noticeable accent that the hunter couldn't quite place.

Yet, he didn't think about it too much as after looking at her for a moment he responded, putting on a genuine calming smile, hoping that it would diffuse any potential issues.

"Hello young lady, my companions and I are here to see the head prefect" the hunter said without any fanfare or flair.

Simply stating the exact reason why they were here, simply because it would help to defuse the girl's suspicions.

And watching as the girl mould his words over, the hunter could see that his simple and direct explanation clearly agreed with her.

However, her suspicion did remain as she looked at him for a moment, recognition appearing in her eyes, as he noticed the micromovements in her hands, suggesting that she was about to draw her rifle.

"Wait you are-"

"Now, now, young lady... Such unpleasantness will not be needed, I assure you that we do not come to seek any kind of vengeance or cause any trouble" The hunter finished his words by smiling at the girl as well as reaching a hand out from the car window and placing it on the grip of her rifle.

Using just a little bit of force to keep the girl from lifting her rifle up and aiming it at him, which he suspected was her intention.

"Are you sure about that? The last I heard is that you did a number on the second and third divisions" The girl asked with a little bit less suspicion this time.

Although clearly still somewhat on guard, which the hunter could understand is he smiled at her before responding.

"I must apologise for that, I do not enjoy hurting students, but that's situation was something that was forced upon me, if it were up to me, I would have preferred to solved that ordeal peacefully rather than using violence" The hunter ended his words with a slight smile, noticing that the girl seemingly was becoming less suspicious and on guard.

"Okay... But still, I can't just let you in. a lot's been happening recently and everyone's on edge, sensei" The girl said with a slightly hesitant voice.

Looking around, particularly at the other guards who were milling around the guard post, although it was now obvious that they were now paying attention to what was going on.

The hunter thought about what she said for a moment.

A somewhat sad smile appearing on his face as he reminded himself, that despite only being possibly 16 or 17 years old, this girl had to deal with the kind of responsibilities that only an adult should have to face.

However, before the hunter could open his mouth to say anything.

The girl suddenly shifted in front of him, her violet eyes widening as she quickly brought her hand up to her ear, looking at it intently as if she were receiving something.

And it was only then that the hunter realise that she had an earpiece in her ear, which was the reasoning for her sudden movement.

Yet, after a moment of the girl receiving a message that only she could hear, the girl nodded somewhat hesitantly as she stepped away from the vehicle.

Before sweeping her arm in a wide motion, indicating that the vehicle that contained sensei and the four students was clear to pass.

"All right, I just got word from the head prefect office, you'll clear to go" The girl finished her words by ushering the vehicle to move.

Yet before it could do so, the hunter decided to ask something that caught the Girl by surprise.

"What is your name, young lady?" As the words left the hunter's mouth.

He felt the vehicle he was in suddenly jerk forward, but before it could pull off entirely, he heard the girl respond, raising her voice slightly as his vehicle pulled away from her.

"It's Rei... Yamamura Rei, sensei" The girl raised her voice slightly as the vehicle disappeared through the checkpoint.

The hunter kept his head out of the vehicle for a moment, as a smile once again reappeared on his face.

Specifically, at the fact that she had used his title without any hesitancy and also the fact that he now knew her name.

"Perhaps once this is over, I might pay gehenna another visit to see if I can help relieve her and everyone else's stress" The hunter said quietly to himself as he pulled his head back into the vehicle.

Only to notice all the students inside looking at him with strange expressions, that made him laugh a bit as he fumbled with the buttons on the console next to him trying to do the window back up.

"Did you make a new friend, sensei?" Serika said with a raised eyebrow and something that almost resembled jealousy in her voice.

The Hunter didn't say anything immediately, merely looking at the cat girl with a slight smile as he adjusted himself in his seat before responding to her.

"I suppose you could say that… please remember that I am not just your sensei, Serika. I'm everyone's sensei, including those students I have not met yet" The hunter couldn't stop himself from laughing quietly to himself, when he saw the clearly jealous look in the cat girl's eyes only intensify.

And it seemed that everyone else could not stop themselves from laughing as well, noticing that the cat girl was incredibly jealous of the fact, that the sensei was seemingly able to make acquaintances with another completely unfamiliar students so easily.

"Awww our little Serika is so jealous~ I bet if you had a tail right now it would be standing up on end like an actual cat" Nonomi said with a giggle.

Finding the mental image of an angry Serika standing on all fours, and with a tail sticking up in the air like an actual cat incredibly funny to picture.

Serika however didn't appreciate this, quickly sending a vicious glare towards her friend as she splattered to respond before finding managing to find her words.

"Shut up Nonomi I'm not jealous!" Serika stuttered.

Her face going red with embarrassment as her friends and the Hunter continued to laugh as a result of her clear jealousy and now embarrassment at being compared to an actual cat.

But Eventually after several minutes of this, the hunter quickly interrupted everyone's laughter the smile not leaving his face.

Yet, that didn't change the fact that there was now a slight serious expression on his face

"Now everyone, I think it's time we put the jokes to rest... We have an important meeting, and we must be on our best behaviour" The hunter said with a serious tone as he leaned forward in his seat before gently placing his hand on Ayane's and gesturing to a nearby vacant car space.

"There's a spare unoccupied space there, Ayane" the hunter said quietly.

And even though the glasses wearing girl didn't say anything in response, she did momentarily turn to look at him.

Surprise evident in her eyes before she nodded and began to direct the vehicle towards the designated parking space.

And after several moments, eventually bringing it to a stop in said space, the engine continuing to rumble for several more seconds before she shut it off and took the key out of the ignition.

"Nn after what the prefect team did... why can't give them a bit of payback, I mean who's to say they wouldn't miss a bank or two if it happened to be robbed" Shiroko suddenly said with a slight annoyed huff in her voice.

Her mind already beginning to think of possibilities for how she would go about robbing a bank in a different school district.

However, before she could get very far in that thought process, she abruptly felt the hunter's eyes turned to her.

The smile not disappearing from his face, yet it was obviously by the look and his eyes, he hadn't appreciated what she had just said.

"Shiroko... That is no way to behave, if you were to do something like that not only would it cause unnecessary strife at a time when we do not need it, but it also would make you no better than they are" The hunter said with a stern and serious voice.

He could understand why the wolf girl felt the way she did, but that didn't change the fact that trying to seek some kind of retribution or revenge now, well after the fact, wasn't a sound or logical idea.

Shiroko looked like she wanted to argue, yet meeting the hunter's gaze quickly dissuaded her of that assertion as her wolf-like ears fell flat against the back of her head.

An apologetic look appearing on her face as she looked away from the hunter, unable to meet his gaze.

"Nn sorry sensei" Shiroko said quietly, her apology making the hunter smile with understanding as he reached out and gently padded her on the head for a moment.

This of course the wolf girl completely by surprise.

Yet, she didn't actually have long to acknowledge what was happening as the hunter took his hand off her head, before gesturing for everyone to leave the vehicle.

Which they began to as they opened the doors before getting out.

"Man, this place is... Completely different from Abydos" Serika was the first to speak as her and everyone else exited the car.

Her words made everyone look at the surrounding buildings with awe at how pristine and elegant they looked.

"In indeed, I must say, considering Gehenna's reputation, I was expecting something a bit more..." the hunter didn't finish its words.

A slightly curious look appearing in his eyes as he looked around at the buildings as well as the students who were going about their business.

"Destroyed I would say, gehenna doesn't exactly have a good reputation among the academies" Nonomi said with a genuine surprised tone to her voice.

Her eyes are scanning around at all the buildings that surrounded them, as well as the shops and other businesses that were currently doing business.

The girl had been to many places in kivotos, but this was the first time that she had ever actually come to the Gehenna district.

So her curiosity was certainly getting the better of her, especially regarding what kind of things were for sale in the shops.

The hunter didn't respond to the blonde head girl, simply looking at her for a moment before turning his eyes back out to the surrounding buildings.

He was immediately struck by how eerily familiar the Architecture was, with it being in a subdued gothic style that immediately made him think of Yharnam.

However, unlike the exaggerated and often brutal gothic style that characterized Yharnam, as well as the healing church.

The building's in the gehenna district were by comparison much more elegant and refined looking.

In fact, the only way that the hunter could truly characterize it was if the architects responsible for the district had loosely remembered Yharnam.

But only in the way that somebody would remember a fuzzy and indistinct dream.

"I must say the Architecture here is exquisite" The hunter didn't even realise that he spoke out loud.

And only did so when he felt the eyes of the students fall upon him, each of the looking at him with surprise before Ayane responded to him.

"That's not surprising sensei, gehenna might have a negative reputation nowadays, but it didn't use to be like that. A long time ago it used to be a well regarded district for both the academic studies and even the Arts" Ayane said with a slight proud smile on her face.

That didn't go unnoticed by the hunter, as he looked at her with a confused expression for a moment.

Before he smiled gently, reaching out and patting the girl on the shoulder, which the elf girl seemed to appreciate and two certain half beast students were jealous of.

"I see, how informative. You are well versed on your history Ayane" The hunter finish his words by patting the girl on the shoulder one last time, before taking his hand away.

Yet even as he did so, the clearly proud and joyous smile never left Ayane's face.

"Well, you know me, sensei... I always keep up with my studies even if it involves history" Ayane said with a puffed out chest.

Only to suddenly realise what she was doing as a look of embarrassment appeared on her face, as she turned away now embarrassed more than proud.

The hunter simply laughed as he turned away from the girl, deciding to let her stew in her own embarrassment, and after a moment he motioned for all the girls to follow him as he began to move.

And as he did they all fell into lockstep behind him keeping close, mostly out of unfamiliarity with the district as the group manoeuvre their way through the bustling main street.

Their journey didn't last very long, as they rounded a street corner only to come across something that took the students' breath away.

And made the hunter widen his eyes slightly, simply because of how majestic the site was that was before him.

"Truly remarkable..." the hunter said quietly to himself as he looked up at the large and imposing, somewhat Gothic main Gehenna campus building.

The building itself was immaculate with its sparkling white columns, radiating a feeling of power and control simply by existing.

Looking up at the top of the building, the hunter could see elaborate to decorative towers, the likes of which immediately reminded him of the very same ones that he had climbed through during his journey into old Yharnam.

However, unlike those Towers, which were burnt and cracked from The Fire that had ravaged that city.

These Towers that sat atop the Gehenna main campus building, were elaborately decorated and clean, seemingly made from the same white stone as the columns, as well as the rest of the building facade.

And each tower was topped off with what looked to be large flying flags, that the hunter could only presume was the main flag of Gehenna.

Directing his eyes downwards, the hunter saw that the Courtyard in front of the building was large and expansive with multiple tiered sections with steps leading to them, that suggested they could be used as a rallying point for some kind of large gathering of people.

There were also flag poles flying the same gehenna flags he had seen flying from the tops of the buildings.

As well as old style gas street lamps that once again he found familiar, but only in the way that a distant fuzzy memory was.

"I wonder if this is what Yharnam looked like before it fell to the corruption of the blood"The hunter said with a whisper.

Yet, his whisper was clearly not quite enough as the students stopped their staring at the gehenna campus only to look at him with confusion.

"Did you say something, sensei?" Serika asked with a raised eyebrow.

She had heard sensei say something, yet it was so quiet that she didn't exactly heal what the words were.

And the same was for the rest of her friends, who also heard him speak but didn't hear exactly what he said.

The hunter quickly turned to the students, putting on a smile as he responded to the cat girl's question.

"It was nothing Serika, I was simply just marvelling at the Architecture of this fine Academy" The hunter emphasised his words by gesturing to the large imposing yet ultimately beautiful Gehenna main campus building.

And thankfully it seems that his explanation was satisfactory as they all nodded their heads content with the answer here given.

However, as the hunter turned back to again marvel at the main Gehenna campus building, he suddenly noticed somebody approaching.

Somebody who made him smile as a certain dark-skinned girl with long white pigtails quickly stopped in front of him and the other Abydos students.

As looks of recognition appear on their faces at the familiar face they had just shown themselves.

"You have some nerve you know... After what you did, you think you can just come in here and walk around like you own the place, Huh?" Iori set with a clearly angered voice as she put her hand on her hip while resting her bolt action rifle on her shoulder.

Her single eye, that wasn't obscured by her hair, narrowed dangerously as she stared at The Hunter with clear resentment.

Yet, the hunter wasn't intimidated or even put off by this, simply smiling as he approached the girl while motioning for the other students to stay back.

Iori didn't move, yet the hunter could tell by The Subtle movements of her body that she was clearly now on guard, expecting some kind of attack.

However, instead, the hunter stopped about an arm's length for away from her before holding out his hand in a clearly friendly gesture.

"I must admit that our first meeting wasn't exactly pleasant... But regardless of that, it's good to see you again Iori" the hunter added to his words by smiling calmly.

Yet instead of relaxing her, it only seemed to make the white haired student more off-put as she looked at his hand for a moment.

Before abruptly turning our eyes back up to look at his face, clear aggravation clearly visible behind her single dark crimson eye.

"Hmph yeah whatever if you think that smooth tongue of yours is going to let you just waltz in here, then you've got another thing coming you know, the head prefect is an incredibly busy lady" Iori wrapped up her words by quickly slinging her rifle over her shoulder and then crossing her arms over her chest.

Planting her feet firmly in the ground as if daring the hunter to challenge her and try and get past her.

"Indeed, I am aware that she's a rather busy person, but I can assure you that she is expecting us" The hunter said calmly, lowering his hand since it was now obvious that the clearly confrontational girl wouldn't accept a friendly handshake.

He also deliberately chose not to rise to her attempts at confrontation, after all he was not here for conflict but rather to seek help if possible.

"How do I know you're not lying? Adults tend to lie to get what they want, the last time I checked" Iori said with a slightly repulsed look on her face.

Her aggravation being made easily visible via the clear agitated wagging of her demonus tail behind her back.

The hunter found himself caught off guard by what she had said, his smile faltering for just a moment as he registered exactly what the girl had said.

It wasn't the first time that he had heard such as sentiment, after all when he first met the Abydos students, they held a similar preconceived notion of him.

Simply because he was an adult, and even though it becomes long obvious, from not only that but also other instances, that adults had an incredibly bad reputation among the students.

It's still shattered his heart very slightly to hear that the dislike of adults was so prevalent to the point where it was seemingly a well-known stereotype.

"Hey sensei doesn't lie, so don't you dare say something like that" Serika suddenly said.

Stepping forward and making her presence known as she viciously glared at the devil tailed gehenna student.

Iori seemed to be momentarily caught by surprise, before turning her singular eye to look at the cat girl, eyeing her up and down with a clearly unimpressed look.

"I wasn't talking to you, Puss and boots" Iori said dismissively.

Waving a hand at Serika as if she were trying to shoe away some kind of bothersome street animal.

Serika of course didn't like this, her face flashing with a look of Rage as she clenched her fists tight, her feet already moving as she intended to show the gehenna student not to look down or talk back to her like that.

She and her friends may have not had their weapons, but that would stop the cat girl from using her fists to teach Iori a lesson.

"Both of you stop this, there is no need for hostility" the hunter said as he quickly put himself in front of Serika stopping her from actually getting to Iori.

Who simply continued to stand there, a slight smirk on her face, as she watched, clearly amused at what was going on.

However, before the hunter could say anything else or anyone else could intervene in the situation that was rapidly spiralling out of control.

Somebody else suddenly spoke, her voice calm and smooth yet clearly exhausted as the sounds of footsteps approached right behind the voice.

"Seriously... What is with all this racket so early in the morning?"

Everyone turned to the source of the voice and the footsteps, only to see a certain head prefect making her way towards the group.

Her long almost cloud like hair billowed behind her like a waterfall, as the jagged almost crown like Halo that hung above her head glowed with a steady rhythm.

Seeing Hina approaching, the hunter couldn't help but smile.

Moving away from both Serika and Iori, he proceeded to walk towards the head prefect, who finally noticed his approach.

Her tired expression momentarily lighting up with surprise, before a subtle and reserved smile appeared on her face as the two stopped about an arm's length away from each other.

"It's good to see you, sensei... When I got your message, I must admit I was a bit nervous about us meeting in person... Especially after what happened before" Hina said with a reserved and slightly embarrassed smile.

The earlier conflict refreshing itself in her mind as she couldn't help but shake her head, while she deeply cared about Ako considering her not only a close friend but also a trusted confidant.

That didn't change the fact that the blue head girl often got not only herself, but also the prefect team into trouble as a direct result of her overzealous nature.

"Indeed, it's good to see you as well Hina, and there is no need to be embarrassed, what happened in the past is of no relevance now" The Hunter finished his word by extending a hand out to the girl.

A genuine calm and collected smile on his face, as Hina looked at his hand for a moment, surprise visible in her amethyst coloured eyes.

Before a smile reappeared, and she placed her much smaller gloved hand into the hunters, both student and sensei shaking hands as they formalized their new working relationship.

However, as the hunter and Hina continue to shake hands.

That was when the girl suddenly noticed that the hunter was not the only one present, and after leaning her head to the side to look behind the Hunter, she recognized the Abydos students, although with one obvious and rather unusual exception.

"It's good to see all of you as well, again I would like to sincerely apologise for how our first meeting went, but... Where is Hoshino? As the leader I thought she would be here" Hina finished our Words by letting go of the hunter's hand and stepping around him after a moment to face fully the Abydos students.

However, as she did so, Hina noticed their expressions suddenly turns sour in a way that didn't feel her with a good feeling.

That was only reinforced when the hunter walked past her, smiling soundly at her, before he regrouped with the four students and they stood together as a group.

"You see Hina that is why we are here... I'm sorry that I could not say exactly why I wanted to meet so suddenly, but I wanted to tell you in person" The hunter bowed his head ever so slightly hoping that his apology would be accepted.

Yet instead of accepting it, Hina simply looked at him of a slightly confused and flabbergasted expression, seemingly not expecting him to apologise to her in such a manner.

"It's… fine sensei, don't bow your head to me, your authority technically outranks mine so you don't need to do that kind of thing... Plus I get enough of that kind of treatment already" Hina said the last part quietly.

A slightly irritated expression appearing on her face as she imagined a certain sycophantic member of the prefect team, who practically worshipped the very ground she walked on.

The hunter lifted his head, a brief surprised expression on his face, before it melted into a smile.

Hina was an incredibly strong-willed person, despite her reserved and clearly somewhat tired demeanour.

Yet despite that, he was able to read her mind without even needing to try, and he could already understand exactly who she was referring to.

"I see, I forgive me I will make sure to treat you as an equal in future, if that is what you wish" the hunter didn't bow his head with his apology.

Instead, simply smiling at the Whitehead horned girl, who after a moment noticeably relaxed and smiled back at him.

"Why don't we head inside, if what you need to discuss is urgent. Then we should probably do it in a more private place" Hina didn't even give the hunter time to react as she turned on her heels.

Her large military-style overcoat trailed behind her almost like a cape, as her wings and almost cotton like hair flowed behind her like a white and black waterfall.

"Of course, please leave the way Hina" The hunter said the smile as he began to move.

The students behind him taking several steps as well, only to stop which in turn made the hunter stop and then Hina, as well as both teacher and student, turned to look back at the four Abydos girls.

"Can we come as well... This isn't our Academy so we're technically outsiders" Ayane said with a slightly sheepish voice.

Holding her hands together in front of her as she looked away, seemingly not being able to meet Hina's confused yet clearly intimidating gaze.

"There's no need for you to feel like outsiders, you are guests along with sensei and despite our less than stellar reputation, we treat guests with care here... At least some of us do anyway" Hina added to the last part under her breath.

Before quickly bringing a glove hand up to her mouth and letting out a clear force cough.

The Abydos students looked between each other for a moment, before noticeably relaxing, smiling as after a moment they quickly began to walk, which in turn made both the hunter and Hina do so as well.

However, before they get too far and without even turning around, Hina suddenly spoke, her voice remaining calm yet now with the definitively icy tone.

"Iori, you haven't finished your morning patrol, if you don't want to be stuck doing apology letters for the rest of the week, I think it's best you finish it before me and sensei have finished our discussion".Hina allowed her wings to suddenly flat hard, making a small gust around her, that made her hair and jacket fly up dramatically.

And it would appear that this display was enough to put the fear of the almighty into Iori, who immediately bowed her head, before taking her rifle in both hands and walking off at a quick pace.

The hunter didn't stop walking, yet he did turn his head slightly to look at the quickly retreating Iori with a slightly raised eyebrow.

Before he turned to look back at Hina who, he could see, had turned her head so she could see him after the corner of her eye.

"Hina... Please do not assume that I am imposing my authority on you... But what's that necessary?" The hunter asked tentatively.

He could see that Hina was looking at him out of the corner of her eye, with a slightly strange expression before she turned her head away, now looking directly forward with her head tilted slightly downloads as she responded to him

"It's okay sensei… I just wanted her to learn her lesson for how disrespectful she was" Hina said with a slightly reserved voice.

Her demeanour and posture becoming noticeably timid, which the hunter found partially sweet as he smiled before responding to her, and in the process speeding up his foot speed so he was now side by side with her.

"I can understand why you would want to punish her... But despite how our first meeting went I know that Iori is not a bad student" the hunter paused for a moment as he spoke.

His eyes turning to the side for just a single moment as he saw Hina looking up at him with surprise.

"Her heart is in the right place, but she is headstrong, rambunctious and impulsive, I suppose you could compare her to a blade that is in the process of being forged. It's shape and profile is there, but it fundamentally lacks refinement and I think that despite how she acts, all that Iori needs is guidance in the right direction to truly reach her potential" The hunter finished his words by turning his head up to the sky slightly.

Observing the puffy white clouds that hovered in the almost painfully cyan coloured sky as he considered how he could possibly help the Whitehead devil tailed student, achieve her full potential while tempering her more negative traits.

However, as he continued to look up at the sky, he suddenly heard something that almost sounded like silver bells ringing, that made him turn only to see that it was Hina laughing quietly.

A hand covering her mouth as after a moment she managed to get her giggling fit under control before looking up at him, a smile greasing her lips as she spoke.

"That was probably the most teacher like thing I've heard from anyone, sensei... Also, I'm surprised that you managed to characterize Iori so accurately, despite not knowing her that well" Hina said with a smile as she looked up at the hunter.

The vast type difference between the two, making it so she had to crane her neck all the way back just so she could look him in the eye while being next to him.

The hunter didn't say anything immediately, instead simply laughing quietly to himself as he turned his eyes away from Hina.

His gaze not focusing on anything in particular, as his consciousness spread out, quickly finding its way to a certain greyish, white-haired student.

Who he could perceive, was now chasing after a group of students wearing strange yet clearly gehenna themed uniforms.

"Let's just say that she's like an open book, and therefore easy to read" The Hunter said from his mouth as his elevated consciousness continued to observe the Iori, as she fired her rifle while shouting in clear anger and frustration.

A smile appearing on his face as he quickly retracted his consciousness and allowed it to reattach to his mortal shell.

And as he did so he couldn't help but laugh quietly, feeling the radiating jealousy coming from a certain student behind him

Hina was confused by this as she looked at the hunter, only to realise that something wasn't quite right, as she looked behind her only to see a certain jealous set of eyes staring at her intently.

"Nn... If this continues I might do something drastic" Shiroko said quietly.

Although not quietly enough for anyone to not hear her, the jealousy was clear in her eyes and even more clear in her quiet emotionless voice.

"Shiroko! Don't say stuff like that, especially in front of the head prefect!" Ayane said with surprise and fear, expecting some kind of rebuke from Hina.

Only to receive none, as the head prefect simply looked at her for a moment before turning around and continuing to walk.

The expression on her face remaining neutral yet slightly tired as she let out a sigh.

"Shiroko...What did I say about I'm everyone's sensei and not just yours?" The hunter turned his head ever so slightly so he could look at the wolf girl out of the corner of his eye.

And he couldn't help but chuckle quite when he saw her noticeably jerk as soon as his single eye fell upon her.

Shiroko didn't say anything in response, simply looking away, as well as her wolf-like ears flattening against the back of her head.

Bet despite that, the jealousy did not disappear from her eyes as for just a moment she managed to some up the courage to look the hunter in his eye.

Only for him to laugh quietly when he saw her expression, as he turned to face forward again.

As the group made their way finally to the large double doors, that were the clear main entrance for the Gehenna Academy main campus building.

"Just to give you a bit of warning sensei, it's near lunchtime so the Campus might be a bit rowdy" Hina stopped in front of the doors, her hand out stretched as she looked up at The Hunter, and he looked back at her before nodding his head in understanding.

This may have been his first time actually visiting the gehenna Academy, but that didn't change the fact that it's reputation for being a rambunctious and somewhat chaotic place definitely preceded it.

Satisfied that she had warned the Hunter, Hina pushed on the doors with her hand, only for them to give way and open up with seemingly little force.

However, as the hunter watched them open, he noticed that they were much heavier than they looked, to the point where most students would have had a hard time opening them like Hina just did.

'Despite her tiny frame, she certainly has strength in reserve' the hunter thought with a critical eye as he watched Hina move forward only to stop as she entered over the fresh hold and motion for him and the students behind him to follow.

Which they did in short order as all five of them, quickly followed Hina as she began to lead them through the winding, yet beautiful and somewhat familiar gothic corridors of the Gehenna Academy.

"Wow... This place is so different from Abydos!" Nonomi said with a slightly amazed expression and tone to her voice.

Her eyes looking around at all the clearly well cared for and elegant looking architecture that surrounded her.

And she wasn't the only one as the rest of her friends did the same, reactions of surprise and awe on their faces as they saw just how opulent, yet tasteful the interior of the Gehenna main building looked.

"Is this place really a school!? Looks more like a museum" Serika said as her and the group she was in passed a group of Gehenna students milling around the hallway.

Nearby, there appeared to be some kind of elaborate stone marble bust of someone clearly important, sitting on an elaborate and equally decorated and well cared for plinth.

"Indeed, the interior is just as remarkable as the exterior" the hunter said with a noticeable amount of intrigue in his voice.

He couldn't help but Marvel not only at the fine artwork, but also the overall architecture of the interior as they continue to make their way through the Halls.

Once again, he was reminded of the gothic architecture of Yharnam, as well as the interior architecture that went along with it.

Yet, much like he had considered before, the gothic architecture here was less dark and depressing and more elegant and refined.

Which was a far cry from the seeming opulence of the healing church, that was only a facade to hide the rotted and bloated carcass of the corrupt institution that lay underneath.

"Thank you sensei, hearing that means... A lot" Hina couldn't hide the slight redness on her cheeks and the embarrassment on her face.

Hearing sensei praise her school like that filled her with a strange feeling that she had never felt before yet couldn't honestly say that she hated.

In fact, despite only just now experience in such a feeling, she already knew that she wanted to feel it more.

The hunter couldn't stop himself from smiling, he saw the reaction on her face, but that wasn't what made him smile, rather it was the feeling that he was able to perceive radiating from her like a pleasant wave.

'It appears that Hina is somebody who likes to be praised... Although judging from her reaction, it seems that she doesn't experience it frequently' the hunter found this both strange yet interesting considering that he still didn't know much about the girl, but putting that to the side for the moment, he decided that it wasn't relevant at this exact time.

Instead, he decided to continue to rejoice at the beautiful interior architecture as well as the Magnificent pieces of artwork that decorated the Halls, as they continued to make their way to, what the hunter could presume, was the prefect team's main base of operations within the campus.

However, as the group continued to walk, the sudden rush of footsteps suddenly reached everyone's ears as something small fast and adorable rushed past the Abydos students.

And before they could react, subsequently smacked right into the back of the hunter's legs, forcing him to stop as he heard someone fall to the floor behind him.

"Uu... I tripped"

The hunter turned on his heels at not only the sound of the voice, but also the feeling of someone crashing into him, yet what he saw wasn't what he expected.

Sitting on the floor was a young girl, perhaps the youngest he had seen so far, with her possibly being no older than 7 or 8 years old.

But was quickly forgotten, when the hunter noticed tears beginning to well up in her eyes, as well as a slight reddish mark on her nose, as a direct result of her running headlong into the back of his legs.

Without even thinking, the hunter quickly lowered himself, reducing the height difference between him and the girl on the floor.

Yet then there was still a ridiculous high difference between them, as the girl abruptly stopped her crying before it could really begin.

"Please don't cry" The hunter said softly, radiating a calming smile as he reached a handout to the young girl who, despite the tears still being present in the corners of her eyes, looked at his hand with a confused look.

And after several clearly hesitant moments, she somewhat nervously reached her much smaller hand out to his.

Although as she did this, the hunter noticed, with some amusement, that the jacket she was wearing was so large on her frame that the sleeves completely covered her hands.

But regardless of that, he still took her small hand into his own before ushering her to stand on her feet.

"Are you alright, young one?" The hunter asked with kindness.

His voice lowering to a point that no one, not even the Abydos students who are watching nearby, had ever heard him use.

The girl didn't immediately say anything, allowing the hunter to take in her features a little bit more now that she was standing on her own two feet again.

He had noticed before she was incredibly Young and therefore incredibly short by comparison to him.

In fact, casting his eyes over to Hina, who was watching with a clear familiarity on her face, he could see that the girl was even short compared to the already short head prefect.

Looking at her face, the hunter could see that she had an incredibly youthful face, her cheeks being noticeably round and clearly still having residual baby fat, that hadn't fully been absorbed by her growing body.

Her eyes were a golden colour, which was the same as her hair that was tied up in a short side tail which poked out from underneath an oversized brimmed military style hat.

Turning his eyes upwards for just a moment, the hunter could see that her Halo was a golden yellow colour that matched both her hair and eyes.

With it being a circle that had 6 points to it and making him think of an old 6 pointed star, although far more stylized.

Casting his eyes downwards, the hunter could see that she was wearing a large oversized coat, which was the reason why her hands were obscured behind her sleeves, as a result of the sleeves themselves being far too long for her short arms.

Underneath the jacket, was a uniform that was clearly of Gehenna origin but one that he had not seen among the student body so far, this led him to speculate that it could only be meant for younger students, such as the girl in front of him.

However, as the hunter continued his observation of the Girl Who simply stood there, the tears in her eyes beginning to dry up.

He suddenly noticed something behind her, forcing him to turn to the side slightly, only to see that it was a short tail ending in a heart-shaped tip.

It immediately made him think of Iori and Hikari the train conductor he had met several days previously.

But that wasn't all, as the hunter also noticed that there were a pair of small demon-like wings protruding from the girl's back, out of specialised slits in her jacket.

"Are you okay... I'm sorry that I hurt you" the hunger said again, noticing that the girl had not said anything so far.

He also followed his words by smiling gently at her, hoping that he would at least get her to say something.

The girl however still didn't say anything, simply looking at the hunter with now something that resembled a confused and unfamiliar expression.

However, before the hunter could open his mouth to say anything else, that was when the girl finally spoke, her voice incredibly sweet and childlike, matching her appearance.

"Mister... Ibuki's not sure why, but something about you feels funny" the girl finished her words by tilting her head to the side slightly.

Making the large hat on her head slip down slightly but not entirely fall off her head.

The hunter wasn't sure what to say in response to that, his smile momentarily faltering before he simply chuckled quietly.

She couldn't see through his human disguise, but it seemed that her childlike intuition gave her some subtle indication that he wasn't entirely normal.

But he wasn't worried by that, simply because she seemed far too young to even understand exactly the ramifications of what she had said to him.

To her, he was just a strange person who looked odd, rather than some cosmic eldridge entity inhabiting a human shell.

However, that was when the hunter noticed something lying on the ground nearby, he could only presume it had fallen from the girl's possession when she fell as a result of colliding into him.

Looking closer, the hunter could see that the object on the ground was something that looked like a stuffed teddy bear although, with the addition of something that looked like a metal chain attaching to both sides of the stuffed animal.

He realised, however, upon looking closer, that it wasn't actually a stuffed animal, but rather a small purse of some description.

Yet regardless of what it truly was, the hunter reached out for it, gently picking it up off the ground, much to the confusion of the girl.

Before she noticed the hunter holding the purse and her eyes lit up with familiarity.

"Mister Toko!" The young girl said with surprise, reaching out for the stuffed animal themed purse and snatching it from the hunter before hugging it Tight to her chest.

The hunter mainly looked on, somewhat surprised by her quick choice to take back the bag.

In the end, however, he simply ended up smiling and laughing quietly himself, watching as the girl continue to hug the stuffed purse before she abruptly looked up at him, her eyes now filling with clear childlike admiration.

"Thank you, Mister! Please don't tell big sis Makoto about this! She said that I needed to take extra care of Mister Toko!" The girl said with genuine childlike sincerity in her voice.

As she proceeded gently to brush the stuffed purse with the sleeve of her jacket, trying to get rid of some kind of invisible marks or dirt that only she could see.

This of course only made the hunter chuckled to himself as he remained kneeling, yet still having to look down at her due to the height difference.

"Ha ha, I will make sure not to tell... Now, what did you say your name again was, young lady?" The hunter asked.

In truth, he didn't need her to repeat it again, considering that she had already said her name was Ibuki.

But he still wanted to at least have a proper introduction, considering that was the proper way to do things.

The girl immediately stopped her frantic attempt to clean the stuffed animal themed purse as she looked up at The Hunter with confusion in her eyes.

She even tilted her head to the side in a manner not too dissimilar to that of a curious puppy, before her eyes abruptly widened in surprise.

"Oh... My name is Ibuki!" The girl now known as Ibuki said with a happy smile on her face as she held the stuffed animal purse in one arm.

Before quickly holding out her other to the hunter, the oversized sleeve making it so that her hand was completely obscured from view.

"I see, well, it's good to meet you Ibuki, and it's good to meet your companion Toko" the hunter said with a calm and overjoyed smile as he took the girl's much smaller hand into his comparatively giant one and gently shook.

He also sent a nod of the head towards the girl's stuffed animal purse, that she seemed to enjoy, as Ibuki giggled happily at having her companion acknowledged by the new person she had just met.

However, before either one of them could say anything else to each other, or the Abydos students and Hina could intervene.

Somebody suddenly spoke, their voice full of concern and small reserved fear as footsteps rapidly approached.

"Ibuki! What did I tell you about running off without me?!"

Ibuki, the hunter as well as everyone else all turned their eyes to the source of the voice, only for the hunter and the Abydos students to see an unfamiliar face.

Although unbeknownst to them, Hina flashed a look of recognition before, her body noticeably tense as if bracing for something.

The hunter watched as the girl approached.

She wore a military style uniform, which seemed to be the general theme for gehenna and its uniforms.

However, this one was noticeably different from all the others, with it consistent of a large slightly oversized jacket over top a button up parade style upper shirt and short pencil skirt.

Yet, the most striking feature of the new student as she came to a stop with a look of confusion on her face, was her hair, specifically the length and frizzy nature of it combined with the fact that it was a deep red almost purplish colour.

Atop her head was a small military style hat similar to that of Ibuki, although with a different emblem emblazoned above the peaked brim of the hat.

And floating above her head was her halo, with its shape consisting of design a similar almost identical design to that of Ibuki's, but being a greyish blue, and noticeably inverted from the pattern of the younger girl's halo.

Ibuki abruptly smiled, before turning on her heels and running towards the girl, Who simply stood there with confusion on her face until Ibuki ran straight into her.

Nearly knocking her over before she managed to get her footing as the younger girl hugged her waist tightly.

"Miss Iroha! Look! Ibuki made a new friend!" Ibuki said energetically as she let go of the girl's waist, before energetically pointing her oversized jacket arm covered hand at the hunter, who continued to kneel where he was currently.

The girl now identified as Iroha simply looked on with a slightly confused, that expression.

Before she looked down at the clearly excited Ibuki and then back up at the hunter, who had chosen to finally rise to his feet.

Once again, towering over everyone present, to the point where Iroha needed to crane her head back a significant amount to keep eyes on his face.

"Did you now... Who exactly did you make friends with, Ibuki?" Iroha asked with a considerable amount of scrutiny that didn't go unnoticed by The Hunter, who merely smiled back at the girl, hoping to disarm her clear suspicion.

However, before Ibuki could actually say anything, somebody else decided to speak instead with it being none other than Hina, who step forward, moving around the hunter so she was now standing in front of him.

"Iroha" Hina said simply, her face having a neutral expression, although it was only obvious to the hunter that there was a slight strain in her polite tone.

"Hina" Iroha responded, her tone equally neutral.

Although there was also a clear tiredness to her voice as both girls nodded at each other, their simple greeting now over as Hina turned slightly, gesturing to the hunter as she spoke.

"This is sensei of Schale... He was the one in the report I gave to Makoto... If she even read it" Hina didn't even try to hide the embarrassed yet simultaneous sneer in her voice.

Her face scrunching up as if just saying that name out loud was enough to make her physically wretch.

This didn't go on noticed by the hunter, who looked on while holding up a hand and waving gently as a result of Hina introducing him to Iroha.

"I read it, but she didn't, Makoto just threw it away saying it wasn't important" Iroha let out a clearly tired sounding sigh.

Before she turned her eyes up to the hunter, scrutinizing him with her gaze for a moment before she turned her eyes down to Ibuki.

"Was he the one you made friends with, Ibuki?" Iroha asked with a raised eyebrow, only to receive a vigorous and very enthusiastic nod from Ibuki, who practically jumped on the spot while pointing at The Hunter excitedly.

"Yes! He was super nice and helped me up when I tripped! He also picked up mister Toko for me!" Ibuki said with excitement, jumping on the spot while pointing at the hunter, who simply laughed watching how excited the girl was.

Iroha turned her eyes back to the hunter, the scrutiny remaining in her gaze for a moment before she closed her eyes and let out a sigh of seeming relief.

"It's nice to meet you, sensei... If Ibuki says you're a good person, then I'm willing to trust her... Her judge of character has always been spot on" Iroha said with a smile as she looked at the Hunter.

Before reaching out and gently placing her hand on Ibuki's hat, and gently rubbing it, which the young girls seemed to like a lot as she beamed happily.

The hunter couldn't help but laugh seeing this, it immediately became apparent to him that the two of them shared an almost parent and child like relationship, even though the age gap between them could possibly be no more than 10 years.

It did also Sparks an interesting thought in his mind, specifically about how Ibuki had come under the care of Iroha.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Iroha. And I can most certainly say that Ibuki is most definitely right in her judge of character, children tend to be able to measure character better than most from my experience" The hunter said as he smiled at the small young girl in question who giggled back at him with a large grin.

However, before anyone else could say or do anything.

A sudden beeping noise suddenly made itself known.

And as it did so, Iroha reached into her pocket and pulled out her smartphone, reading a message that only she could see.

"Damn... Ibuki, something's come up. Big sis Satsuki it's going to have to look after you for a bit" Iroha said quickly as she began to walk.

Urging Ibuki to follow, and even though the young girl looked a little bit sad at the sudden departure that she had to make, she still followed Without a word, smiling up the hunter and waving to him as she moved past him.

Although before the two of them got too far, Iroha did turn around slightly, looking at the hunter of an apologetic look before, she spoke as the two disappeared around a corner.

"Sorry I couldn't stay longer and chat sensei. But Pandemonium Society duty calls" Were Iroha's last words as she and Ibuki Disappeared around a corner, not giving the hunter any time to actually speak as he watched them leave.

For several moments, the group was left in silence at the departure of the two girls, before one of the Abydos students decided to speak.

With it being none other than Nonomi, who had a clearly amused smile on her face.

"It seems sensei is good with kids" Nonomi finished her words by giggling quietly, finding the entire interaction between the young girl and the hunter incredibly cute to watch.

"I'll say..." Serika said mostly to herself, her cheeks flushing ever so slightly as a mental image appeared in her mind of a little girl, that looked almost the like her, running up to the hunter, only for him to catch her and place her on his shoulder whilst smiling brightly.

Yet as quickly as that thought passed through her mind, the cat girl shook her head violently, much to the Confusion of her friends at her sudden and abrupt movement.

"Nn. You okay there?" Shiroko asked with a curious and raised eyebrow.

Only for Serika to suddenly look at her, the embarrassment evidence on her cheeks before the cat girl managed to recover enough to speak.

"I'm fine... L-Let's let's go and get this meeting over with!" Serika said a bit too quickly.

However, her friends didn't question her strange behaviour, simply looking between themselves with confusion and curiosity before they shrugged their shoulders.

"Indeed, I think it's time we resume our journey, after that delightful distraction" the hunter said with a smile, his eyes looking towards the corner where Iroha and Ibuki had disappeared.

He wasn't sure exactly why, but something in his gut or possibly even an aspect of his great one consciousness, give the impression to him that there was a possibility, that he would see the two girls much sooner than he realised.

"You're right sensei... We should get moving before the campus becomes too crowded" Hina said quickly as she motioned for everyone to follow, which they eventually did as the hunter as well as the Abydos students fell into step behind her.

And after several minutes of silent walking, only interrupted by the quiet remarks from the Abydos students as they continue to also marvel at the interior of the Gehenna Academy.

Eventually, the group finally arrived at their destination, being a set of elaborately carved yet remarkably austere looking oak doors, that had the emblem of the prefect team engraved Into their fronts.

"Sorry if it's a bit messy inside, the prefect team is swamped with a lot of paperwork most of the time" Hina said with a little bit of embarrassment as she stopped in front of the doors for a moment, before without ceremony opening them with both hands and walking inside.

The hunter and the Abydos students didn't immediately enter, instead choosing to wait for Hina to invite them in, which she did via a simple wave of the hand.

And with permission to enter, the hunter was the first to do so, his eyes immediately widening as he found the interior of the room to be remarkably well decorated, much like the rest of gehenna.

Yet as the Abydos students filed in behind him, he couldn't help but find that this room was decorated slightly differently, with the overall decor and interior design being far more modest yet still having the overall Gothic-inspired flavour that characterized Gehenna architecture.

In fact, as the hunter moved towards the centre of the room where two couches face each other, he couldn't help but compare the overall decor of the room to Hina herself.

Especially in the fact that it reflected her calm, collected yet serious and business like personality.

"Please make yourselves comfortable, I would have had Ako or Chinatsu prepare some refreshments for you, but the duties of the prefect team are never-ending" Hina spoke as she made her way behind a large and cluttered desk which was covered with stacks upon stacks of papers.

The stacks of paper were so extensive, that even the Hunter and the students behind him couldn't help but look on with confusion and a slightly sorry feeling, for the hellish amount of paperwork and the no doubt tedious task of sorting it.

"It's quite alright Hina, your generosity so far has been more than enough... Although, I must ask—how has Chinatsu been recently? I haven't had the chance to catch up with her since our rather unconventional first meeting" The hunter concluded his words by quickly sitting down on the large couch.

The Abydos students following his example, with Serika taking up the space next to him on his right and Shiroko taking the left space.

Ayane and Nonomi chose to sit together on the other couch, with both of them facing the hunter and the two half beast students, as all five of them made themselves comfy while Hina sat down behind her desk.

Her hands immediately reaching out for a pen as well as one of the many documents only to stop herself at the last moment as she instead put her hands in front of herself.

Folding them gently, clearly to stop herself from trying to reach for the papers to begin signing them.

"Chinatsu... She's been stressed like the rest of the prefect team, but other than that she's fine, I would have preferred her to be here today considering you to have a history but unfortunately-"

"I know Hina, the precept team is a rather busy organization here at gehenna, so it's understandable... Moreover, I'm simply glad to hear that she is keeping herself well" the hunter interrupted Hina.

Although he hoped that she wouldn't take offence to it, which thankfully she didn't seem to, instead simply looking surprised for a moment.

Before she nodded her head and smiled with relief before allowing herself to relax slightly into her remarkably comfy-looking chair.

"But putting that aside. I suppose we should get to the matter at hand" the hunter allowed his smile to falter and ultimately disappear,

This was shared by Hina who also ceased smiling as well and pushed herself so she was now sitting upright in her chair, in a much more formal and clearly authoritative manner.

"Yes sensei... Tell me what exactly has happened to make you come here on such short notice... And why is Hoshino not with you" Hina finished her words by crossing her arms over her chest and leaning forward in her seat.

This made it apparent not only the hunter but also the Abydos students that it was now time to talk business and that pleasantries were now over.

The hunter didn't immediately respond, not because he couldn't find the words but simply because he didn't want to talk on behalf of the Abydos students without their consent, as such he turned to look at all the girls, getting their knobs of approval as they looked at him with confidence, before he turned back to Hina and began to speak.

"The reason why we have come, and the reason why Hoshino is not with us are tied together Hina" The Hunter began to explain.

Choosing to stop for a moment to make sure that the white haired Gehenna student was following along, which she seemed to be, judging by the clearly intrigued look in her eyes.

"Kaiser and someone working with them, tricked Hoshino into signing away her freedom, and they have taken her to a secure location that we five have no hope of breaching by ourselves" the hunter finally finished, allowing his words to sink in as Hina simply sat there for several moments.

A surprise look appeared on her face, before it was replaced with a look of clear contemplation as she leaned back in her seats slightly.

One of her small gloved hands coming up to her chin in a clearly thoughtful expression, that somewhat mirrored the hunter's own habit to do something similar when he was deep in thought or contemplating something.

"I see... Knowing how Shady kaiser is, I shouldn't be surprised... But still, I didn't think they would have the courage to actually do something like that" Hina said to no one by herself as she continued to think.

Kaiser had been an organization that was well known throughout the entirety of Kivotos for being an underhanded and Incredibly vindictive corporation.

They will willing to do anything to get what they wanted, even if it meant going via a legal channels to do so.

In fact, it was the entire reason why other than their robot army, they also had a large contingent of delinquent students under their command.

Many of them, from Hina's personal experience, did not fight for kaiser willingly, but simply because they had no other choice but to comply at threat of severe punishment.

"Kaiser were the ones that set us up in the first place... They engineered the Debt to keep us down and eventually drive us out of Abydos!" Serika suddenly said, her voice raising above what was considered polite as she almost jumped up from her seat.

Only to be stopped by the hunter putting a hand in front of her, and giving her an understanding yet displeased smile, which the cat girl immediately understood as 'please be respectful we are guests'

Serika found herself cooling down, although the bitter, angry feeling did not entirely leave her as she made herself comfortable in her seat.

She looked over to the Head prefect, expecting to see her looking back at her angrily only to see something that resembled understanding, that was quickly followed by a clearly tired sounding sigh exiting between her lips.

"Seems my hunch was right after all... how bothersome" Hina suddenly said, catching everyone by surprise as the hunter as well as the Abydos students looked at her with confusion and what she had just said.

"Wait, you knew about kaiser being behind the debt?" Ayane said with a mix of intrigue but also confusion.

A hollow feeling beginning to form in the pitch of her stomach, as turned Hina to look at her with her piercing gaze before gently nodding her head.

"I didn't know for absolutely sure... But from my time in the Intelligence division, I had a theory that they were behind it, but I just couldn't prove it" Hina ended her words by letting out another sigh.

Although this one sounded far more depressed, sounding as if she were admitting to something that she didn't like to.

"Humph... Seems like every other academy knew more about our own business then we ever did... yet still didn't help" Serika muttered with a frustrated and irritated voice.

Not even caring in the slightest that the hunter as well as Ayane both turned to look at her with clear looks of Disapproval.

"Serika, please do not-"

"It's okay sensei... Her being angry is natural, but even then, if I had known for certain I wouldn't have been able to do anything to help I'm afraid" Hina swiftly interrupted the hunter before he could finish.

Making not only him but also the other students turned to look at her as she sat there with a slightly uncomfortable expression.

"Unfortunately, I am just the head prefect and therefore my power is limited, even if I had known I couldn't have done anything without the approval of the Academy head... Knowing her, she would have just dismissed what I have to say without even listening" Hina didn't try to hide to the slightly distraught expression on her face as she looked at the hunter with something that resembled a request for forgiveness.

The hunter didn't immediately respond to her, looking at the girl with a look that she could not quite read, before he quickly turned his head to look at the four Abydos students, who walked between each other for several quiet moments.

"It's okay Hina... Tensions are running high right now, and you should not blame yourself for not being able to help, your position comes with a lot of power… but even with that authority, you are still limited by the laws and regulations of the academies" The hunter said with a slightly understanding look, as he paused for a moment looking at her before turning to look back at the Abydos students and then continuing.

"However, despite that, I am still asking this now... Hina, please help us rescue Hoshino." The hunter finally asked.

His question, catching Hina by surprise, but not because the question itself was unexpected; instead, as soon as she had learned that Hoshino had been kidnapped by kaiser.

She already had a sneaking suspicion of what he was going to ask, but actually hearing him ask something like that of her was still completely and utterly surprising.

"Nn, You do owe us a favour, head prefect" Shiroko interjected.

However, unlike before, she was not scolded or even dissuaded from speaking as she looked directly at the head prefect with her emotionless yet somehow simultaneously stern eyes.

Hina didn't respond right away, a slightly conflicted look appearing on her face as she lowered her head for several moments, contemplation quickly replacing the confliction as she analysed the proposal.

Doing something like that would require her going behind the back of the current Academy head of Gehenna, and could also put not only her.

But also the Gehenna Academy as a whole at odds with the Kaiser corporation if such an ordeal went south.

"Sensei... I... I need some time to consider this" Hina said after several silent moments.

Her unclear answer having an immediate effect, as the four Abydos students found themselves immediately deflating.

A feeling of hopelessness welling up in their hearts, although the answer that had been given was not a definitive no or yes.

The hunter, however, simply sat there, an understanding look appearing on his face as he nodded his head.

In an ideal world, he would have loved for her to say yes, but he was under no illusion that him asking her to go through or something like this was an incredibly risky ordeal, not only for her but also the Gehenna Academy as a whole.

"I understand... Everyone, I think it's best that we leave, our business is finished here" The hunter immediately stood up from his seat.

His sudden motion catching the students by surprise, before without a word, all four Abydos students got up from their seats as well.

A feeling of hollowness in heir hearts almost to dragging them down like lead weights, but despite that, they managed to begin shuffling towards the door.

The hunter was the last to move as he looked at Hina for a moment, smiling at her one more time and then turning on his heels and leaving.

However, just as he was about to cross over the threshold of the door, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Not because Hina spoke, but rather because he could sense the words that were forming on the tip of her mind.

"I'm sorry, sensei... I hope this doesn't-

"Hina, please. There is no need for you to feel as if our relationship is damaged... I understand as an important member of this Academy that you cannot simply accept my plea without consideration..." The hunter smiled gently at the girl as he turned on his heels and exited the office.

He wasted no time catching up with the Abydos students as they walked without any real Direction.

The hopelessness that had formed in their hearts, becoming overpowering to the point where the hunter could feel it radiating from them like a depressing wave.

"What are we going to do, sensei... Without the head prefect we don't have a hope of storming the Kaiser base" Nonomi said without any of her trademark cheerfulness.

Her face a look of melancholy and sadness as she looked up at The Hunter with tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes.

Seeing this, the hunter quickly reached out and place the hand on her shoulder as the group walked together.

His physical contact seemingly having an effect as Nonomi found her sadness and dejection momentarily lifting as well as the tears in her eyes drying up.

"There is no need for any of you to feel sad or disappointed... We may have not succeeded in recruiting the head prefect to our cause. But there are still other avenues of help we can pursue" the hunter said with a smile.

His mind conjuring up an image of a certain bubbly sandy haired trinity girl who had an unhealthy obsession with a specific and rather bizarre bird mascot.

However, the students had no idea of who he was talking about at first, as the four girls look between each other with confusion.

Before Ayane suddenly found her eyes going wide as she turned to look back at the Hunter, who simply smiled at her as it seemed that she had realised exactly what he was implying.

"Wait, are you talking about Hifumi, Sensei?" Ayane asked with confusion.

Her mentioning of the name causing everyone else to look confused before realisation appeared on their faces.

Hifumi had been the trinity student, that they had encountered in the black market some days ago, and had been the very same one that had been rope in to their kaiser bank robbery scheme, acting as their unofficial sixth member.

"How can she help us? No offence to her but she's not exactly much good in a fight" Serika said with an unimpressed and slightly curious look.

While she thought that Hifumi was a kind girl, that didn't change the fact that the Trinity student didn't exactly stand out when it came to tactical prowess.

In fact, it would be fair to say that the Trinity student could barely even shoot her gun straight, if her performance during their bank escapade had been any indication.

The hunter didn't say anything, the smile on his face only increasing as the five of them navigated their way through the halls of the Gehenna Academy, Before coming to the entrance and stepping back outside into the bright, shining Light of day.

"While I think you lot have underestimated Hifumi somewhat... It's not her specifically I think we should ask, but rather the people she knows who might be able to help us" The hunters said as he quickly moved forward.

A new destination in mind as he gestured for the girls to follow, who simply stood there at the top of the elaborate stairs that led down into the main courtyard of the gehenna Academy.

However after a moment, they quickly followed behind, capturing up with him as all five of them, made their way towards their, vehicle a new destination in mind which was none other than Trinity.

---

Another chapter has come and gone. I will admit that when I was originally writing this chapter, I wanted to do something slightly different from what I ended up actually doing.

But ultimately, I decided that simply covering the Hunter and the Abydos students meeting the head prefect would be enough, and like I said in the opening all first statement, originally I was planning to cover much more in this chapter specifically have it be the final chapter for The Abydos Arc in general.

Of course that didn't end up turning out, simply because it would have just made the chapter ungodly big, and I probably wouldn't have been able to get it out any until at least the beginning of next month if I went down that route.

Going forward I want to release smaller chapters more frequently, to give all of you something that actually worth reading instead of having to wait entire geologic ages for ridiculously large chapters that covered too much in one go.

Anyway I think that's enough of my rambling, please leave a review or even just follow the story if you like it and until next time have a good day / night wherever you are in the world.

Also, Ibuki is best daughter