C7 – Sympathy

Geffany gave Shire a comforting pat on the shoulder, maintaining her usual maternal attitude towards him.

“It seemed like their conversation wasn’t going well, so I decided to stay out of it… because I anticipated this outcome. The Devil Hunter group is quite fragmented. Not everyone possesses strong willpower and extensive training. If you had any misconceptions about the Devil Hunter group before… what you witness now can rectify your understanding.”

Shire fixed his gaze on Dew Camp Stone’s direction. He observed Dalton storming out in anger, separating himself from Master Frederick and the others, with his head held low. As he passed Shire and Geffany, he didn’t even acknowledge their presence and simply walked away.

Dalton was not fond of Geffany interfering, but she insisted on stopping him.

“Hey, where are you going?” Geffany swiftly stepped in front of Dalton. With her seniority and dignified demeanor, she compelled Dalton to halt.

“I want to go home.” Dalton repeated.

This deeply ingrained the perception that Shire was a coward in his heart. We all sacrificed everything and assembled in Twilight Forest to pursue the Bladeblade Devil, yet you want to leave?

“Surely you’re aware of the dangers that lie outside,” Geffany kindly advised.

“It’s no different here. Just being here fills me with unease. I shouldn’t have come!” Dalton shouted.

“We are Devil Hunters. It is our duty to complete the mission,” Shire couldn’t help but speak up. He hadn’t fulfilled his purpose and had given up midway. Was there anything more unfortunate than this?

“Don’t you dare lecture me, you fool!” Dalton harshly rebuked him. “Do you still think you’re someone important? Geffany is an experienced hunter, so what significance does a fresh recruit like you hold?”

Despite being scolded to his face, Shire’s expression remained unchanged. He was certain that the other person was only venting their frustration through these words. Shire held no regard for such crass individuals and refused to let these words affect him.

Observing Shire’s unchanged expression, Geffany nodded in acknowledgment.

“I am also a Devil Hunter like you. We were part of the same sacred order and made a wish to the God Lorman. We’ve shared joyful festivals and celebrated successful hunts together, Dalton. You should know that my advice is always trustworthy. This is my final suggestion to you—don’t venture out alone,” Geffany pleaded, attempting to bring Dalton back to their shared profession.

“It’s all nonsense. This place is filled with nonsense,” Dalton exclaimed, perspiring heavily. “It’s daytime now. With all my strength, I can find my way out in a single day.”

“Do you realize how vast and untamed the Twilight Forest is? You’ll become lost,” Geffany warned.

“Aren’t we lost already? We’ve already uncovered evidence that Waren bears the mark of a devil, yet Frederick refused to apprehend him! You… None of you can be trusted! It was Waren who suggested we split up. You couldn’t even see through such a simple scheme. Do you want us to die?” Dalton shouted at the top of his lungs. “Get out of my way!”

Geffany sidestepped Dalton, allowing him to storm off in anger.

“Is Waren truly a devil?” Shire looked toward Dew Camp Stone.

“There are similar rumors. It’s said that Waren stared at a devil’s visage for too long, which damaged his mind to some extent. However, I believe he can still maintain control,” Geffany whispered.

The notion that there might be a demon among them sent shivers down Shire’s spine. He recalled the previous night when they were just one step away from Waren, resting in close proximity. Waren even gripped my neck. Perhaps Waren truly intended to kill me.

His brows furrowed deeply as he worried.

Geffany let out a long sigh and guided Shire back to Dew Camp Stone. Frederick and Waren were engaged in an intense conversation, visibly struggling to contain their emotions. Etienne occasionally interjected but refrained from speaking at length.

“Dalton has departed!” Geffany declared, looking at the group. “Look at us. Our team is dwindling due to our excellent teamwork. We now only have four hunters and one new recruit remaining.”

Shire summoned his courage and asked Waren, “Are you truly a devil?” He needed an answer urgently, hoping someone would assure him that they were still a team of humans, fighting their best against the devils.

Waren responded to Shire with a terrifying smile, but remained silent.

“Alright, we can discuss your matter once we return to the Holy Church,” Master Frederick intervened, gesturing to cease the discussion. “What I want to emphasize is that the spell I used to track the devil has produced a reaction. We have finally pinpointed the devil’s location and can launch an attack at any moment.”

“So, the plan is now in motion,” Geffany remarked.

“Yes,” nodded Frederick. “The devil was unable to escape in time.”

A stream of different deductions flooded Shire’s mind, causing him to tremble.

Wait… The blade devil didn’t escape. Why? Because it halted, its movements slowing down.

Why was it slow enough to be caught in the encirclement of the Devil Hunters? Because it had encountered the Devil Hunters. It had to momentarily cease fighting them, to set up a trap. It wanted to lure and kill the hunters. It succeeded in killing one, but it faced a definitive failure because it failed to escape the encirclement of the hunters. It lingered for too long, allowing us to employ a tracking spell and directly capture it…

Shire’s breathing became rapid.

He turned to Etienne, seeking help. “Denver… Denver died because we needed to delay the Blade Devil, right?”

Etienne nodded coldly, confirming Shire’s assumption.

“He fought bravely until the end, still wielding his weapon. He was a good man, just as you said.”

Shire looked at Master Frederick with a mix of fear and disbelief. Frederick was their formidable leader. How could he make such a ruthless decision? He should…

Frederick didn’t shy away from Shire’s gaze. Instead, he responded directly, “Child, you must understand that sacrifice is also a virtue.”

Shire glanced at the others, hoping to find an answer that would bring some solace.

“Absolutely, absolutely,” Waren’s tone was exaggerated. “In order to successfully hunt down the devils, we will do whatever it takes. Aren’t we just a group of individuals? Is this the first time you’ve realized it? The Blade Devil is one of the most powerful devil gods in hell. When we capture it, how many songs will the poets compose to praise our martial skills! Countless people in the future will be grateful for our contributions. In comparison, sigh! What’s the fuss about two deaths?”

Geffany looked into Shire’s pained and bewildered eyes, offering comfort. “Shire, we are at a disadvantage in pursuing the devil. Hunters in other regions possess spells and techniques suited for tracking and hunting. But we don’t. We can’t even ride horses, you know, as animals can instantly fall under demonic influence. We can only rely on humans… We rely on ourselves as hunters. This battle has proven successful. We have delayed the Blade Devil’s escape. As long as we can safely bring it back to the Holy Church after the battle, Denver and Julius’s deaths will not be in vain.”

“Did you know all along?” Shire turned to look at Etienne, his mentor who had introduced him to the Hunter profession.

“Julius and the others are terribly unfortunate,” Etienne’s voice was devoid of emotion, as if he wanted to avoid facing his apprentice. “They were the least suitable group to confront the Bladedevil. Julius has limited abilities, and Denver… Denver is even worse than you. If the Blade Devil were to encounter the two of us… If it encountered Frederick and Geffany… Waren and even Dalton… the Bladedevil wouldn’t find it so easy to kill us.”

Was it luck, fate, or the ruthless methods of the hunters? They had secretly devised a plan from the start, sacrificing the weaker members to stall the Blade Devil. Looking back, it seemed that half of them had been kept in the dark.

Contemplating this, Shire couldn’t help but find it absurd.

“Look at that expression in your eyes,” Waren glanced at Shire with disdain and shook his head. “What is it? Some ‘sense of justice’? Spare us, it’s repulsive. Frederick, use the location spell. Let’s go.”

“Let the hunt commence!” Frederick invoked the Hunter Curse. A blue arrow shot out from his palm and soared towards the eastern side of the forest. The arrow’s tip was faintly connected to Frederick and his target by a discernible thread.

Initially, the thread shook vigorously, but after a dozen seconds, it gradually steadied.

“Now, our Gray Tree Hall Holy Church will become the most renowned Hunter faction in the kingdom,” Frederick remarked, satisfied with the fixed thread. “All the other Holy Halls—the West Coast Branch, Green River Region, Lowman—will look up to our legendary achievements. The Blade Devil, a truly formidable demon. Its primary emblem is sharp blades, encompassing various sharp objects and weapons. It holds dominion over countless sharp-edged weapons. We have successfully trapped these powerful demons. Many adepts will pay a hefty price for fragments of its power.”

Frederick took a deep breath.

“Let’s go, Waren, Geffany, Etienne. Today is the day when our hard work and sacrifices will finally pay off.” His determination was strong, and he was prepared to take action.

“Shire can’t stay here alone,” Etienne suddenly spoke up. “I want to stay.”

“… Up to you, old man, but I will remember it.” Frederick shook his head impatiently. “You better know what you are doing.”

Geffany gave Shire an apologetic look, and they quickly departed.

The sky was filled with dark clouds, as if a storm was approaching. Even in the daytime, visibility was low. The air carried a subtle dampness, and the forest swayed in the breeze. Branches collided, creating an eerie sound. Under the dark clouds and autumn wind, Dew Camp Stone appeared even more pale and desolate. The ancient stone walls seemed incredibly fragile, as if they would crumble with a single strike.

Shire observed as the others ventured into the forest, their figures disappearing without a trace.

“Shire, why are you acting so strangely?” Etienne asked. “You seem incredibly frightened.”

“Fear… I empathize with him. I empathize with Denver.” Shire couldn’t help but shiver.

“Sympathy,” Etienne muttered, lost in thought. “When it comes to ’empathy’, that was likely the first emotion I lost.”

“Why?”

“Perhaps it’s because… among all the emotions, it is the most useless one.” The corner of Etienne’s mouth slowly curled up, but his attempt to smile faltered.

It was evident that the seasoned hunter was trying to smile, but he couldn’t quite accomplish it.