HILLFRONT

Hillfront was the closest semblance to a peaceful place that people got in the abyss. It had a population of five thousand people, where mostly everyone was level four to eight. It was situated above a hill and next to a mountain. Due to its particular location, it didn’t have to deal with as many monster invasions as other towns. On the mainland, the struggle for hunting ground was ever-present; it was a vast place, and the humans didn’t have their footing properly established. The Lion Clan had made many advancements in that regard, partly because of luck on finding abandoned towns and a city but also for its heavy enforcement on mutual aid.

The hundred newcomers from the canyon rush arrived by the gate, where a greeting party of five people waited for them, together with many others onlookers on the side. “Clara, you did well,” Said a man Theo had met already; the leader from the expedition who came to rescue them just as they arrived on the abyss.

“It was a success, Leader Aaron.” Clara saluted him. “The number of survivors went up once again, together with the number of artifacts we managed to collect with the escort team. Another important matter came up, but it is sensitive.”

“I see…” Aaron smiled. “I also expect to hear the details on the teams we left there and the last expeditions.” He patted her shoulder. “Take the others and go rest for now.”

“Thank you. The specials you requested were also escorted safely, no honorable mentions.” She said as Theo caught a quick glance of disdain from Clara at the woman next to the leader, Suri.

Suri was dressed much more casually than she used to and than the others in the surroundings. From that and how close she was standing to the leader, Theo started making assumptions on their relationship.

Theo had been close to Aaron in a distant past. Aaron had an ex-wife at some point, whom he still loved but died close to the event of the abyss. Suri had been informed of Aaron’s past, his biggest weakness, and regret. Not only that but also his ideals, aims, and personal tastes. Suri impersonated one of his wife’s closest friends after the separation. To gather some semblance of his old life, Aaron trusted her. Suri didn’t let the opportunity pass by as she soon used everything she knew about him to become the perfect person he would want by his side. Aaron didn’t notice as slowly everything he always wanted was being given to him, the emptiness inside his heart slowly filling up.

Suri had gained a standing on the town, being in a relationship with the right-hand of the closest thing they had to a ‘mayor’, or as they called, ‘town chief’. She was nurtured into level four and taught many survival skills, as she requested. In her free time, Suri expanded her connections inside the town, always taking care and measuring Aaron’s mood. She came to know he was a really jealous person.

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Aaron had shown this side of him multiple times, especially when Suri had mentioned Theo. She considered it a risk asking Aaron to lend Theo and Hamon some help but did it anyway as she tried to balance her favor on both sides. Suri didn’t believe Clara when she said Theo didn’t amount to much, she thought she was doing so out of pure spite. Theo proved himself above expectations in the forest before, and she wanted to see for herself if her eyes didn’t deceive her. Two months had passed already since they last saw each other, and much could’ve changed.

They didn’t talk much after that. Only some greetings and thanks were given as Aaron tested the waters of Theo and Suri’s relationship. Suri noticed something strange with Theo's arms but didn't want to pry that much right now in front of Aaron. She hoped Aaron would inquire or mention something but he didn't seem to care at all. Suri mostly maintained a polite distance and held light conversations with Hamon; the distant attitude bothered him but not enough to speak up. Aaron left satisfied, but not before completing his duties of welcoming the people. He left the group in the care of his assistant, who promptly guided them to their living quarters while he explained what was expected of them from now on.

“Basically, you just have to help the hunting groups and keep the surrounding areas clear of monsters occasionally. Obviously, since most of you survived the canyon rush, I’m assuming you have some degree of fighting ability.” The guide walked while he explained with enthusiasm. “In exchange, we provide you a safe town to live in, training, and opportunities for those with more particular abilities. I believe most of you benefited already from the policies developed by our clan, so try to think of the others too.

Hamon pestered Theo for a while, asking why Suri wasn't coming with them. However, he soon started admiring the medieval town around him as he tuned out the guide, who kept talking about living conditions, the shops they had, some artisan professions, their special forces, and the monsters in the area. The town was just what he expected from the fantasy books he read in the last two years. All that the villages didn’t surprise him this town did. There were stone and wooden houses, some wooden carts being carried around by some monster he had never seen yet, streets packed with people, and even something he assumed was a castle in the distance.

The group arrived on the other side of the town as the guide arranged them on different houses in groups of five. The town managers had some improvised accommodations as the number of people who arrived increased.

People were given keys to rooms, and when it came Theo’s time, the guide surreptitiously passed him a set of keys to his pockets. “I arranged some room just for you and the kid. Pass some good words about me to the lady.” The guide winked at him. “Don’t show off with it, or it will bring me problems.”

Theo got a bit shocked about Suri’s influence but soon shook it off. They would probably talk later, and he would have all the information he needed, or so he hoped. Hamon quickly got bored as always as he dragged Theo out to explore the city.

They didn’t go much far as a man approached Theo from the corner. “Would you come with me? The lady wishes to talk in private.”

Once again, the attitude gave him a pause, but Theo decided to follow him in the end.