Nero

Money was such a powerful tool. I’d always known that, and unfortunately, I had experienced how hard things could get without it. Even when dad was there, life was never easy. We were still broke, not as broke as we were before my hunting career, but still broke enough to worry about tomorrow.

Having empty pockets was one thing, but having a broken home was another battle. Mom and Dad had fought a lot. The financial burden was heavy on Dad, however for him, it was never something he could ever fix on his own. He jumped jobs a lot, trying to fund his dreams of owning his own business. No one really knew what that business was about, but hell, he went for it hard. He took out loans, and then more loans to pay off those loans. Mom called him selfish, because he could have been using those loans to fix our problems. Later on, we realized that he was laundering money and doing a whole bunch of illegal shit that could get him behind bars.

By the time the truth came out, it was too late. The debts were overwhelming and the authorities were closing in. Mom got tired of it, afraid that he’d do something as crazy as selling the house to get his ass out of the fire. Her patience had tolerated a lot, until one night, enough was enough. She gave him an ultimatum: to shape up or pack up. That night was the last time I’d seen him,. Honestly, I didn’t think Mom even knew he was going to walk out that door and never come back.

We waited days, and those days turned into weeks, months and years. After year three, she gave up, but I’d long buried the possibility of him coming back. In fact, I remembered the point when I didn’t want him back. The day the house was foreclosed, and we had to claw our way into an apartment.

It became an endless fight of survival for us. Every day was a challenge, and every meal a victory won. Things got scary fast, and Mom had to take on different hats just to keep us afloat. The mountain of medical bills, utility bills, and the constant threats of eviction notices tied to the doorknob—these were all things that were as commonplace to me as the air I breathed. I’d hated Dad for so long, and every time I thought about him, I felt like a different person. I’d surge up with anger, this deep hatred growing and festering inside of me, hot and fast and sharp. He was a coward, a selfish foolish coward to walk out on us like that, knowing we could have ended up in the streets. Just so he could chase his stupid dreams.

But now… I had my own dreams. Dreams of taking control when he wouldn’t. Dreams where my family wasn’t only surviving but thriving. Dreams that involved me taking on contracts, stalking monsters, and saving lives. Hunting was more than just a career. It was a lifeline, a way to put food on our table, and to help Mom and Sophie get everything they deserve.

Especially Mom.

She was a pillar throughout all those years. She juggled jobs like a circus performer, never letting one ball drop. And if she did, you best believe that she’d pick it up and try all over again. It was just who she was. She’d be damned if she didn’t give something her all.

One hundred percent every time. Though, that same perfectionist and tenacious attitude of hers was the very thing that was going to force her into an early retirement, or worse. Stress, as the doctors had put it, was wreaking havoc on her health, making her sick more often than not.

I remembered the first time she couldn’t get up to make breakfast. I tried my best to replicate her famous pancakes, ending up with something that looked more like a batch of sad scrambled eggs. Mom was a good sport about it, but that was when I noticed she started coughing a lot. She loved to blow off the idea that she was getting worse, but I could tell that she was worried. So she pushed on, searching for more jobs, and finding extra work to do online, just so she could distract herself from her deteriorating health.

It was a testament to her strength, a reflection of her sacrifice. I admired her in ways words could never express. For everything she’d done for me and more. And now, it was my turn to take care of her.

Naomi, Reina and I didn’t make first place in the tournament, but a bunch of rookies making second? Yeah, I’d take that. Since we participated in this season, we’d have to wait for the one after the next to try our luck at the grand prize again. Though, with the money I earned for second place, I didn’t hear any complaints from the fam. Speaking of earnings, we all agreed to dropping the bet between Felix, Ash, and Gun—my idea. With their loss, they were sure to lose. Reina, Naomi and I were already raking up sponsors for our 2nd place victory in the tournament. It just wouldn’t be fair for Felix and his team to wait on participating again just to lose. So the bet was set between Reina and I, Naomi still sitting it out.

I had a grin on me only a villain could wear, and I couldn’t wait to cash in my split of Reina’s donations after rubbing it in her face!

All in good fun, I thought, before I checked my system board for my current status:

Career Level: 1

Name: Nero Aldeon

Hunter Attributes:

Gender: M

HG-Vitality: --

Age: 18

Endurance: 11

Rank: Silver

Strength: 11 (+50 meta boost)

Fame: 47%

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Agility: 8

Infamy: 0%

Dexterity: 4

HG-HP: 0

Stamina: 110/110

Specialties:

Super Strength

Mental Immunity

Physical Invulnerability

Flame Manipulation

Thermoreception

Squadron: Beta1-UJP

Sponsor Count: 2,165

Mentor: Kenji Hayashi

Assignment Location: Utoro, Japan

Fame Points: 1280

(FPs Accumulated): 7,000

Items: 15

HG-Respawn Token: 0

Currency: 123400 Yen

I had over 2,000 sponsors! Not only that, my second place in the competition boosted me up to Silver Rank. My hunter’s license just got an upgrade!

Thinking about our win brought a smile to my face as I walked over to the river at midnight. I had a feeling that was where I’d find Naomi, and sure enough, there she was.

She sat along the bank alone, not stargazing, but pondering as she stared down the river with her knees pinned to her chest and the spring breeze flirting with her hair. My steps along the leaves on the ground gave me away, but she didn’t turn around. Somehow she realized it was me as she said, “Can’t sleep again?”

I snorted. “Who said anything about sleep tonight? I just might stay up until the morning after a day like today.” I crouched next to her with my arms handing over my knees and asked her, “Mind if I keep you company?”

“I don’t mind.”

I sat down by her and tried to see what she was looking at out there beyond the river. She looked so focused that I was almost reluctant to ask her what she was thinking about, until she said, “I got myself checked out.”

“Without me, huh?”

“It was nothing, just like I told you. If you don’t believe me, the test results are on my bed.”

I snickered. “Nah, I believe you. Thanks for doing that, Naomi. It gives me a piece of mind in knowing that you’re okay.”

She paused. “Nero, have you ever thought about doing something other than hunting monsters?”

“You mean, when I retire?”

“No. I mean, right now.”

“Never. Hunting is all I ever wanted to do.” I crossed my arms with my elbows on my knees, looking out into the distance where the trees framed the horizon over the river. “I don’t care that we have options. The people who are against the corporation just don’t understand. They say, Young lives are ruining their futures by pursuing hunting, and getting themselves killed for money. Instead of growing up and being someone useful in society. What has the world come to? I say those people are narrow-minded. I bet they don’t consider how much harder things would be if we weren’t out there putting those monsters in their place.”

She turned to me. “So, you really love what you do?”

I smiled. “It’s the best job in the world, Naomi. You can give me a list of options—doctor, lawyer, hell, even a CEO of a multi-million dollar e-commerce empire, I’ll pick being a hunter every time. Hunting is what I live for.”

She remained quiet, her gaze turning to the bubbling waters of the river. Even though she didn’t reply, I could tell from her vibe that she was deep in thought. “You must really enjoy protecting them….”

“Them?”

“I mean, us… people.”

“More than enjoy it, Naomi, I feel compelled to. They need us. We’re the line between them and a world where these monsters run our streets,” I said with a passion that made my heart swell up in my chest. “We hunt so they can live in peace, blissfully unaware of the dangers lurking just out of sight. And sometimes, the dangers are just around the corner.” I turned away from her and contemplated further on her question. “The adrenaline rush, the thrill of victory, the satisfaction of safeguarding innocents—nothing compares to it.”

“You can be so corny sometimes,” she said with blunt sarcasm in her voice, making me break out in a laugh.

I turned my attention to her, studying her profile in the soft moonlight. “All right then, what about you?” I asked. “Have you thought about doing anything else?”

Naomi shrugged. “I don’t know,” she admitted truthfully. “This life of serving others… it’s all I’ve ever known. Doing anything different seems so intimidating.”

“Like what?”

“Anything….”

“You have to have something specific in mind.”

“I... I actually like gardening,” she said, the moonlight dancing in her eyes as she admitted her secret passion. “I know it sounds stupid, especially compared to the intense life we live. But there’s something about growing things, nurturing them, seeing them come to life….” She trailed off, looking a little shy.

I was surprised, but also delighted. “Gardening? Who would have imagined it? You, the fierce hunter, with a green thumb.” I chuckled at the beautiful irony of it all. “It’s not stupid. In fact, you should see if Master Hayashi would mind you helping him with his masterpiece. Is that why you always meditate in the greenhouse?”

“Part of why.” She smiled lightly. “I don’t know if I’ll ask… I never gave it any real consideration. More than helping around the dojo, I’d like to have a garden of my own, on a piece of land with a small house, planting sunflowers, lilies, roses, mums…. Whatever can grow. I’d love to see them bloom, one at a time. I’d like to make something pure and precious for once….”

I listened to her speak, and the warmth in her voice touched me. It was as if she were saying these dreams of hers aloud for the first time.

Here was Naomi, who could bring down a man twice her size with her gift, dreaming of simple things like flowers and a white picket fence. The dichotomy was endearing. “Your plan sounds awesome, Naomi,” I said sincerely. “You should do it. There’s more to life than just survival and combat.”

“I’d like to create something else too, Nero,” she said, her voice gently lowering to barely a whisper.

I smiled. “Whatever you’re trying to nurture, I’m sure you can do it. Is it something that maybe I can help with?”

She snapped her head at me, and her face went red. I wasn’t sure if it was something I said, but Naomi looked totally flustered. “I... um….” She began to fumble over her words, her eyes now looking away from mine. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but no sound came out.

I scratched the back of my head and gave a sheepish chuckle. “Hey, sorry if I said something to embarrass you, but… it almost sounds like you’re asking him to be your husband….”

Naomi went pale, and I sucked my teeth.

Tsk

Tsk

Tsk…

“Poor, desperate Circessa . Still clutching onto hope, like your old days in the pit? I thought Sevv had beaten that last itch of humanity out of you. But I guess you’ll always be a rambunctious and rebellious student who refuses to learn.” I grinned, my voice emulating a gravelly reverberating roughness. “Or maybe… you just need a better teacher?”