- After -

“Tsk, the tax increased again. And it’s already so high in the capital, at this rate I won’t even be able to eat. What is that useless King doing?”

“SHHH!!! Keep it down! You never know who is listening. This is already better than some of the other territories. I heard that because the King is lax now, a lot of nobles are going crazy with increasing the tax for their territories. Plus with all the corruption, some even needed to pay 70%!!!”

”What’s worse, did you hear about the villagers wanting to leave their home because they cannot afford to live there anymore? Their lord simply locked them up there!! Now no one dares to actually go- *Ahem! Ahem!*”

“I’ll say it's retribution that those nobles are getting assassinated. Prince Kyle is doing an amazing job at damage control but after investigation, all their dirty little secrets came up.”

“Yeah, it's getting a bit restless these days. The nobles are nervous. I wonder what the King is going to do, not that he has done anything useful. Like ever. Remember that time-”

"It's this one."

A hand stretched past Aki from behind her, snapping her attention back from the little gossips that filled the market. Aki had been using a little bit of magic to eavesdrop on the surrounding conversations just to scope out the present situation. Well, just the tiniest bit of magic.

Aki had been dazed, looking at the pile of fruits in front of her because of this. Perhaps she looked a bit confused at all the selections.

Roku leaned over her and picked up something that looked like a clay ball from the rack in front of her and placed it in her hand.

"The one that attracts the Gardines is the one in brown. The blue ones are for Xardines. They particularly like the smell and taste of it so we can crush them into paste or dry them to sprinkle…"

Roku narrated as he presented the fruit to Aki. Taking the fruit from Roku’s hand, Aki turned the fruit 360 degrees, examined it. To be honest, even after so long living here, she still was not very familiar with most of the produce.

After all, most of the time she would be spending them in forests or some crack hunting for herbs. For food it was always something dried or processed for travellers. Although her quality of life did improve drastically once Roku was with her.

Feeling Roku’s body heat behind her, she leaned back into him for support.

Roku paused, a little twinkle in his eyes. Bending down, he rested his chin on top of Aki’s head and continued explaining the different fruits as he picked up a few more and passed them to Aki to hold.

They were currently in the central market to pick up some supplies to replenish their stash before heading to the Guild. Not knowing what the Guild Master wanted, they might be dispatched right after the meeting, so it was good to be prepared first.

Aki observed each fruit that Roku handed to her and mentally noted them down. Looking at Aki's serious expression and effort in remembering such trivial facts caused mirth to dance in Roku's eyes.

"Alright, let's pay for it. You don’t have to remember them all. If you forget again you just have to ask me."

Roku turned Aki around by placing a hand on her shoulder and giving her a gentle push, directing her to the store owner.

"But what if you're not here. I need to learn these things."

Aki outed a little as Roku ruffled her head. Looking at Aki trotting up to the front of the store to make payment, Roku felt a little helpless in his heart.

Although Aki was experienced in combat and also in surviving in the wild with whatever she could find, she was still unfamiliar with the tools and gadgets that could be bought to make her life easier. He guessed some things were really hard to change.

When they first started traveling together, it shocked Roku how much Aki was just winging it and making do. Roku then began to teach her these little tips and tricks. Not that she needs it, but he prefers her living in comfort better.

"It was two silvers. That's a lot more expensive than in Treatery."

"Well, it's the Capital."

"Hmm..."

Aki naturally leaned closer to Roku and opened the magic pouch that was tied at his waist. Putting the items inside, she was so close that a light scent of jasmine drifted to him, which reminded him of the field of Jasmine flowers that they came across before. It was a rare break that they had then to sit and relax in front of the blooming flowers.

Subconsciously, Roku leaned closer to Aki for a little sniff. Feeling a shadow falling over her again, Aki looked up and smiled at Roku.

"That's all we need right?"

"Yup, let's go."

Taking a hold of Aki's hand, Roku pulled Aki out of the crowded market and headed towards the Guild. Aki’s hand felt small in his, but it was filled with little calluses from wielding her sword Shinsu and all the herb hunting that she did. Still, it felt so soft and delicate, contrary to what Roku had seen it’s actually capable of.

Gripping Aki’s hand a little tighter, Roku told himself that it was natural to hold her hand, after all, it was easy to get seperate in a place jam packed with people pushing and shoving around. But even after leaving the crowded market, Roku conveniently forgot to let go and continued holding on as they navigated through the alleys.

———

When they arrived at the Hunter’s Guild, they could hear the bustle inside. For a building that was always so silent, it gave Aki a weird feeling, as if it had revived from the dead.

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Stepping inside, instead of the usual empty hall, today it was occupied with countless people that it feels almost packed to the brim. As Roku led her across the floor to an open counter seat, Aki nodded at some hunters that she recognised.

During her herb hunts, sometimes she would come across other hunters. Most of them will be hunting monsters or tracking criminals. So far and oddly enough she had not met any herb hunters like herself.

“Here Aki, you can sit here first.”

Aki propped herself up on the bar stool as Roku stood close in front of her, as if worried that she would fall off. Feeling weird about Roku’s protectiveness, Aki looked up at Roku with a puzzling gaze.

For someone that was so skilled in the sword and magic, She wouldn’t plant her face onto the floor just because she was sitting on a higher than usual chair.

Meeting her gaze, Roku turned away awkwardly, as if to survey the surroundings. After looking at such a Roku for a bit, Aki tugged at Roku’s sleeve to direct his attention back to her.

“There’s a lot of people today. Usually only Misha will be in the guild. Is every hunter here today?”

”Oh, oh no. Although this seems like a lot, I estimate maybe only 30 to 40% of the hunters are here.”

”Wow, then where are the others? Do we have side branches to host them?”

”Nah, the others most probably either didn’t read the announcement or couldn’t bother to show up. Some might have even forgotten about it…”

Roku mumbled the last sentence under his breath as Aki tilted her head trying to make out his words above the surrounding noise.

"Roku! You actually came this time!"

A familiar tall man greeted as he walked up to Roku and gave him a fist bump. The towering man spotted a dark blond hair that almost seemed brown and was almost a head taller than Roku. Aki always wondered if she looked super tiny to him.

His smile was refreshing and if not for his overwhelming height, he might even be seen as the classic prince type in otome dating games.

"Hey Aki, good job dragging this guy back here. If not, it's easier to spot a legendary SSS class monster than to see this guy."

Aki gave a short laugh. Jerel was also a bounty hunter like Roku and they had partnered up before on some quests. Aki had met Jerel some time ago as Roku needed to gather some extra information.

”What were you talking about just now, Aki. Care to let me join the conversation?”

”Ahh… Roku was just telling me that this isn’t the hunter guild’s full strength. Some didnt’ show up cause they might have forgotten to?…”

”HAHAHAHAHA. Roku, are you talking from experience?”

Jerel slung his arm over Roku’s shoulder as he grinned.

”Let me tell you, Roku has done his fair share of forgetting!”

”Wha- Jerel, let go-”

”Now now, “ Jerel while rubbing Roku’s hair into a mess said, “I won’t ever forget the time when Roku just started out as a hunter, the guild master actually assigned a very important hunt for him! But because he was just a newbie, a few seniors including me was added to create a little party.”

”We were arranged to meet here with the guild master on the set off date just for a quick briefing beforehand but…”

”But?”

”But this guy!!! HAHAHAHA!! After we waited for almost an hour, we finally got through to his communicator and guess what?? He actually forgot about the meet-up. Or even that he had a party!”

”Well, it wasn’t that difficult of a task. Not sure why the guild master had to go through all these trouble…”

”Yeah, very easy task. Such an easy task that you were already at the quest location when we finally got in touch with you!! And the only reason was because you got stuck in the mud swamp HAHAHAHA!!”

”No one told me there was going to be a moving swamp! Those are hard to predict. Anyways I managed to finish the quest, so it was still good.”

”Yeah well, our quest just got turned into a rescue-Roku-from-the-mud instead! HAHAHAHA!!”

”Tsk!” Roku finally managed to throw Jerel’s arm off him as he dusted his shoulders. “It was such a long time ago already. Can’t believe you still find such a boring thing funny.”

”HAHAHAH!! Well Aki here find this interesting too right?”

As Roku looked at Aki, he could see laughter in her eyes and her lips were pursed together, as if trying hard not to laugh. It all seemed so amusing to her that such a cool and composed, almost stoic, Roku had his amateur days as well.

Somehow, she felt like she wanted to see the Roku who had been stuck and caked in mud, filled with embarrassment when the rescue team finally arrived.

“Don’t look at me like that… Just laugh if you want to.” Roku covered his face with one hand, peeking through his fingers at Aki. Although his expression was filled with exasperation, Aki could just faintly make out the tips of his ears reddening.

”Pfft- hahaha. Roku seemed very cute.”

”Wha-”

“I think I’ll go and find Misha. She said she has something to give me."

Aki slid off the bar stool as if running away and disappeared round the corner and up to the second floor.

"So… did you make any progress with Aki?"

"Hmm… I wonder.” Roku replied as he arranged his hair neatly again and sat on the stool that Aki just vacated, “At least she is now more relaxed around me."

"Man, you move slow! What about those tactics that I have imparted to you from my long experience with the ladies? You should…"

Roku tuned out Jerel's rambles about his conquests. Aki was someone who was very alert and aware of her surroundings, always actively cataloging and accessing threats.

Now that she has subconsciously begun to take Roku out of her threat assessment, he felt that it was a great progress! She even let him hold her hand!

———

"Misha."

"Aki!! Long time no see! Well it's only long because you didn't want to head back to the guild even though I wanted to pass you your badge. You know these things can't be shipped no matter how secure the shipping is. Not that you have remained at a place long enough for me to even have a shipping address!"

Misha's room was the same as usual with the luxurious bed taking up the majority of the space. Handing Aki a badge, Misha explained how the badge was like a medal for reaching S rank. It has Aki's biometric data inside so even when stolen, it cannot be used by others. To identify the owner, Aki had to cast a spell and it would glow.

“We can’t chat today as I need to set up the magic projection. I don’t know why the guild master called the hunters to gather when he is not even here in person, tsk. Well but I guess it works too as he can just send or save it for the other hunters that refuse to show up.”

Eh? The guild master wasn’t here? Aki thought she might have the chance to meet the legendary figure and report it back to Heiki and Takeshi.

Although Aki wanted to chat more with Misha, looking at her busy figure buzzing around, Aki quietly went back down to the lounge area.

Almost immediately Aki's eyes were drawn to the familiar silhouette clad in black like her. It always seemed mysterious to Aki how she could immediately spot Roku from the crowd.

Squeezing her way back to Roku, Aki felt as if there were more people in the hall. She still felt a little unsettled being in a crowd like this but it's much better as she had trust in the guild after working for them for a while. As she hopped on back to the chair, a mysterious projector lit up in the front of the reception counter. Looks like Misha got it to work.

Facing the projection, Roku stood slightly behind her, with one hand on her stool as if he was trying to stabilise the chair. For Aki, it felt as if he was enclosing her in his space.

If this was in the past, Aki would have tensed up and felt stifled by the feeling of being trapped and with her escape routes cut off. But now, she knew Roku and how he could protect her.

Soon, a buzz sounded and the projection flickered unsteadily till what appeared was a… Bear?

"Howdy my dear Hunters! Have you had a good hunt?!!"

No, it was a man wearing a bear costume.

The surrounding Hunters roared while some banged their beer cups on the table.

"Good good! Now to cut the meeting short, I am here to let you know that a war has been confirmed. Please make the necessary preparations if you are moving across borders and also internally as well. There is also a high chance of it being a civil war disguised as another nation attack, which can complicate things a little. Though we can’t factor out other nations trying their luck or lending a hand to such forces. The situation on the ground…"

"That's the guild master. He always dresses up in an animal suit. Even when meeting the king."

A low voice sounded and a light breath tickled Aki’s ear. Roku leaned in close as he explained the little details about the Guild Master. He also explained the different political tensions within the Kingdom as well as against other nations. It has been a while since any fighting broke out but it looks like hell will be arriving soon.

Due to how close they are, Aki habitually grabbed Roku's jacket while she listened to him. Her grip was light but also firm as if to keep him close. Roku's eyes softened at her actions.

All the surrounding Hunters were treating the information provided like it was just common news you could get anywhere, but never did Aki know that this information was highly classified and only known to few authorities like the King.

And now instead of keeping it top secret, it was shared amongst the Hunters as if it was just little gossips. The only effort on the guild part was that there was a sound barrier that had been put up for this meeting to ensure no leaking of information to outsiders. But what the Hunters do or use this information for was entirely up to them.

"Alright, that's all. Keep up the good work and Happy Hunting! Kuma Kuma peace out!"

After the short but fruitful meeting, Roku brought Aki around and introduced her to some of the Hunters. Roku wanted Aki to have more friends, if not acquaintances, so that if there was ever a time that she needed help, she would be able to reach out to a lot of people for it.

But no matter, Roku believed that he would always be by Aki’s side from now on. As Roku initiated conversations between Aki and the other hunters, all the while his hand was placed protectively over Aki's small back.