Before long, the boy, Elwin, arrived at his destination.

Whoosh—

A coastal cliff with a sweeping view of the vast sky and sea.

The surroundings were dark due to the lingering twilight, but even so, a sense of liberation could be felt.

“Phew.”

Elwin took a deep breath. It was as if he were someone who had lived in a dust-filled world and breathed fresh air for the first time.

Step, step.

He slowly walked towards the edge of the cliff.

[Noel Halo Krieger]

There, a small tombstone stood.

Approaching the tombstone, Elwin plopped down in front of it.

“It’s been a while, Noel. How have you been? Sorry I couldn’t visit often.”

Elwin stroked the tombstone as if in greeting, then took out the contents of the bag he had brought.

A bottle of wine and two glasses.

“I thought you might prefer alcohol over flowers or food. I’m an adult now, so I can treat you, right?”

Elwin poured wine into the two glasses, placing one in front of the tombstone.

“Cheers.”

He picked up the other, clinking the glasses together.

“…Ugh.”

Downing the wine in one go, Elwin grimaced.

“I don’t get why you liked alcohol so much. They say you develop a taste for it as an adult? It just tastes bad…”

Though he grumbled as if complaining, his hand pouring the wine didn’t stop.

He repeated drinking and pouring several times.

“…Ah, this is the last glass.”

Elwin, emptying the remaining wine into the empty glass, gazed at the distant sea. For a moment, the sound of waves lapping filled the tranquil space.

Having drained the last glass, he soon quietly opened his mouth.

“Noel, you in heaven probably know. What I’m trying to do… You’d surely want to stop me. Because you hated blood.”

Thud!

Elwin roughly set down the glass, his eyes flickering intensely.

“But it’s too late. If you wanted to stop me… you should have stayed alive.”

Elwin spoke, his eyes gently closed. Unlike before, his voice was as cold as the dead of winter.

“It starts now, Noel. The revenge for you…”

A chillingly ruthless smile rose to the boy’s soft face.

It was a smile as sharp as a well-honed blade.

His blade would be pointed at those who deserved it.

“So you won’t be lonely in heaven, I’ll send them to your side.”

Whether the culprits who killed you or the bystanders who contributed to your death, without exception.

“I will…!”

That’s when—

Ring-ring— Ring-ring—

A somewhat antique bell sound shattered the tense atmosphere, echoing through the air.

“Ah.”

Elwin, smiling awkwardly for a moment, rummaged through his chest pocket and pulled out a square communication device. Nexion. It was a newfangled device in this world that combined the functions of the mobile phones and chat windows from his past life.

In an instant, his expression turned as gentle as a child’s. The faintly emanating murderous intent had vanished without a trace.

If someone had seen Elwin now, they would have been astounded by the duality of his face that changed in a split second.

“Hello. I picked up…”

[Elwin, you imbecile!]

At the thunderous roar of a middle-aged man’s voice, Elwin briefly held the Nexion away from his ear.

“Aha? This impatient voice! As expected, it’s Pan!”

[As expected, it’s Pan…? Elwin, you rascal, don’t you know how to respect your elders!]

“Hey, I’m plenty polite. I only do this to Pan. Elderly attack. Happy to receive special treatment?”

[Why you—!]

Elwin pulled the Nexion away from his ear again.

“Sorry, Pan. I was just joking, joking! Anyway, what’s the matter?”

[I called to check if you hadn’t forgotten next month’s schedule!]

“…Pan. What do you take me for? Of course I didn’t forget. You still treat me like a kid… I’m a fully-fledged adult now, and a hunter at that.”

Elwin pouted and grumbled like a child.

“One month later, Central Island, Mediale! I didn’t forget. I’ll be there on time without being late. You don’t trust me?”

[Hmph! If I trust your words, I’ll change my race to an elf.]

“But Pan, you’re a dwarf…”

Elwin said in disbelief.

“Geez, I told you I didn’t forget.”

[You think I haven’t seen you forget the main objective while meddling needlessly?]

“I have Nar by my side. If you can’t trust me, trust Nar. He’s meticulous with work, you know.”

Through the Nexion, Pan’s annoyed voice flowed out.

[What good is that guy? In the end, he’s just weak to you and gets pushed around! …No, that’s not it. Rather, you two join forces and make things even worse…!]

“Ah, haha… Was that so.”

[Was that sooo?! You brat! Think about the dwarf who has to clean up after you guys. Aigoo, darn it…! These human brats are killing me, killing me!]

As Elwin let out an awkward laugh, Pan earnestly advised him.

[Keep the meddling in check. Better yet, don’t meddle at all.]

But that was impossible.

—Little one, are you alright?

Elwin remembered the hand a scruffy-looking man had extended to him when he was very young. A hand covered in scars and grime.

But… it was warm.

In this cruel world where no one helped anyone. The only genuine, well-intentioned helping hand extended to him.

Even now, years later, Elwin admired it.

Elwin could never become Noel, but still… couldn’t he at least imitate him?

“That’s a no-go after all. Now that I have the power to help as I should, I can’t turn a blind eye, can I? It’s not that hard either. …But I’ll refrain for the time being. Since I have things to do.”

[…Tch! Noel left you with a bad habit.]

Elwin said with a bitter smile.

“But thanks to that meddling… I’m here now. If Noel hadn’t saved me when I was young, I surely would have died.”

[…Ah, s-sorry about that.]

At those words, Pan immediately apologized.

He realized his remark could be taken as rude.

“It’s okay! I know what you meant by it.”

A brief silence hung between the two.

For both Elwin and Pan, the name “Noel” was a wound that hadn’t healed even after years.

“You know this mission is special to me too.”

Unlike other Special Class Hunters who had to stay on one continent, Elwin, stationed at the Hunter HQ on Central Island, was occasionally assigned missions and dispatched to various parts of the continent.

This outing had such a purpose as well.

“You said if I eradicate the villain organizations under “Fagmilia” and find evidence of their evil deeds… the Hunter Association will support my revenge on an organizational level. You haven’t forgotten, right? President?”

When Elwin mischievously asked, the person on the other end of the phone… in other words, Elwin’s old acquaintance and also the president of the World Hunter Association, “Pan Tvaron,” exploded.

[Of course! Dwarves don’t go back on their word!]

“I believe you. So, I’ll definitely succeed. This mission.”

Fagmilia, Noel’s enemy, was an organization too powerful for Elwin to crush alone.

Elwin was a strong hunter, but in the face of overwhelming numbers, individual strength was useless. Moreover, the Fagmilia boss and executives were formidable opponents he couldn’t let his guard down against.

Elwin came to an objective conclusion. For Noel’s revenge to be achieved, the Association’s support was essential.

In that sense, Pan’s proposal was attractive.

He had vowed to provide the full support of the Hunter Association if the mission succeeded, and the mission’s content was also very much to Elwin’s liking.

—To annihilate the organizations under Fagmilia.

Fagmilia, being a mafia organization, was extremely hierarchical and had many connected subsidiary organizations.

There were probably quite a few that had secretly allied with them or were cooperating.

To put it differently, it meant there were many shields protecting the boss and executives.

‘Not bad.’

It truly was. It was an excellent opportunity to cut off Fagmilia’s limbs.

Elwin smiled coldly.

[…But you haven’t forgotten, right? No matter how outstanding you and Narhan are, it’ll be tough with just 2 people. There are many organizations to eradicate, and above all, Fagmilia is—]

“A powerful enemy. I know. Better than anyone in this world.”

[…T-then, Elwin. I think you…]

Elwin cut off Pan’s stammering words. He could guess what he meant even without hearing it.

“That’s why first, I’m going to gather comrades!”

He changed the subject in a bright voice.

“It’s about time for me to gather my members too, right? I should create a direct subordinate group like other Special Classes. For this matter and for the future, it’s necessary.”

[…Well, ahem! Shall I introduce you to some good folks?]

“It’s okay. I already have some people in mind. There’s one nearby, so… I’ll scout them right away and introduce them to you when we meet next month!”

[…Is that someone you can trust?]

“Of course.”

Elwin swallowed the words ‘Because he’s the “protagonist” of this world.’

It was something he couldn’t say to anyone.

Instead, he brought up something else.

“I was just about to head out. That person is a mercenary, so I have to hurry if I don’t want to miss them.”

[I see. Then get going. …Ah, wait. I forgot to say this. Elwin.]

“Yes?”

[Next time you go to see Noel, don’t go alone like a sap… Ahem! Take Narhan or someone with you. Isn’t he the kind of guy who’d call black white and white black if you told him to? He’ll definitely tag along happily.]

“…Hmm, that’s an extreme analogy.”

Elwin briefly thought of Narhan Peredik, his assistant and butler, then smiled awkwardly.

He was always loyal to Elwin and outstanding in many ways, but—

—Elwin, sir. Please be careful. If it seems dangerous, kill them all first… then take shelter somewhere safe. Do you understand?

Perhaps because they had first met when Elwin was younger than now, he sometimes acted like an overprotective parent.

“Ah, even Nar wouldn’t do that, would he?”

Elwin tried to deny it.

“I’m an adult now, so he won’t be overprotective anymore, right?”

[Tsk, tsk. You still don’t know him? Well… Ahem! I mean, I could go with you too, so…]

Knowing Pan was embarrassed by such expressions of emotion, Elwin burst into laughter.

“Haha! I should have done that. Come with me next time, Pan. Noel will like it too.”

[Gah! T-then don’t be late and come! I’ll give you penalty points if you’re even a second late—!]

Click.

Only the dial tone indicating the call had ended came from the suddenly disconnected phone.

“Geez, Pan. Still so shy…”

Elwin, smiling as if it couldn’t be helped, stood up. He stroked the tombstone a couple of times in farewell.

“I’ll get going, Noel. I don’t think I can come for a while. Maybe I won’t be able to come again… but I’ll try my best.”

…I’ll really miss you.

Whispering the last words and about to leave, Elwin suddenly turned around as if he had forgotten something.

“Ah, right! I forgot to say this.”

He spoke with a bright smile.

“Well then, I’ll be back!”

The twilight had passed, and the sun was rising from beyond the horizon.

Bright sunlight shone on Elwin’s back as he left.

Whether that light was blessing Elwin’s future,

or pitying the blood-stained path he would walk…

Only God knows.