D.E.M.O.N.S: Getting Summoned Weekly isn't so Bad

--- Hunter ---

Hunter leapt down into the arena, landing heavily and drawing everyone’s attention with a few slow claps and a small smile on her face. If Hunter realised properly what she was doing, the similarities between her and Meg in that moment would’ve horrified her. Alas, she was able to get away with it because neither of the other two really knew what they were like so it didn’t seem all that strange. "Congratulations on your win I suppose," stated Hunter and meaning exactly what she said.

"Were you just waiting there the whole time?" asked Strdl with a glare.

"Yes,"

"WHY! Why didn’t you help!" begged Strdl.

"Help who exactly?" asked Hunter.

Strdl went to retort angrily ’her obviously’ but paused. Her glare morphing into a confused frown. "Surely you wouldn’t have wanted to help that miserable excuse for a person," Strdl waved back at Ronldo. "He has no redeeming features at all! You can’t trust him, you likely can’t reason with him and he’d totally stab you in the back!"

"That’s all true but I suspect he has knowledge about Trvis that he didn’t share. Perhaps the location of the crystal after it exploded or what might have happened to the original. Trusting his answers was another matter, so my initial plan was just to watch and see where he went… obviously you ruined that but," Hunter paused to shrug. "I’m not overly concerned with that at least,"

"That still doesn’t explain why you didn’t help me though! If you wanted him alive you could’ve said something… or… or you could’ve just helped a bit if you don’t like him? I mean… you said you can’t trust his answers… but why even let the fight go on?!" rambled Strdl, not really sure how to take Hunter’s answer.

"Just because I believe Ronldo may have useful information doesn’t mean I care about him at all. I stood aside because I was unsure who I wanted to win. Sure it would be sadder if you lost but if your loss meant we were able to end the threat then it would not linger with me long. Perhaps I would have saved you, perhaps not. I am unsure," explained Hunter.

"I… I don’t really know how to take that…" said Strdl quietly as Ronldo laughed in the background.

"Ah she’s a ruthless snakey ain’t she? I suppose with a name like Hunter that’s just how things turned out," said Ronldo between laughs.

Hunter turned towards him slowly and ignored his assumption about her ’name’. "Yes. Though I was also unsure if I should save your life. Your information may be useful, and I was unsure if Strdl killing you would break her or not. She was clearly not in a stable mental position when she set up this duel. In the end, I didn’t need to interfere to ensure that everyone is happy,"

"I’m pretty sure ’happy’ doesn’t describe either of us right now but it certainly doesn’t describe me! I’m down an arm!" retorted Ronldo.

Hunter shrugged. "Eh, a minor detail,"

"Um…" Strdl looked between Hunter and Ronldo. "Not to agree with him… but… well… I think he might be right? I mean… I felt pretty satisfied in the moment but now that the adrenalines worn off and you brought up that valid point about the info I kinda feel awful? Like I nearly made a huge mistake and I still did make a small one?"

"I once again fail to see how this is my problem," stated Hunter.

"Didn’t you just say everyone was happy? I’m surprised. I thought you demons couldn’t lie…" grumbled Ronldo.

Hunter thought it over for a few seconds before shrugging again. "I meant what I said. Strdl should be happy that she has grown as a person and learnt more about herself while you, Ronldo, should be happy that you remain alive after attacking one of my companions."

Ronldo chuckled darkly. "Ooh, a touch salty about that are we? A might distressed for your friend?"

"Yes," stated Hunter.

"Huh… didn’t think you’d just admit it…" mumbled Ronldo.

"While friend isn’t the word I’d use it is close enough to true and I would feel bad that I let someone in my team get hurt in such a major way. I see no issue with admitting as much to you. Obviously if I was completely unaffected I would have simply tried to bribe you for the information," explained Hunter.

"I’m still very open to bribes. In fact, I happen to feel the need for enough gold to buy a new arm, or to get one fixed. Funny how that works," said Ronldo with as much sincerity as he could muster… which still wasn’t all that much.

"I think I’ll just drag you along and see what happens. Either you’ll remain silent or potentially be dragged into a deadly situation. I’m quite confident at surviving whatever is thrown at me… but you? Not so much," stated Hunter.

"Oh come on. I’m a poor cripple! Surely you can have some compassion," begged Ronldo.

"No,"

"Hhahahahaha!" Strdl burst into laughter at Hunter’s response, causing the lamia to look over at her. "I… I’m sorry but something about that response was just so funny to me. I mean… nothing I guess? I’m not sure what my follow up was going to be. It was funny and made me laugh. Still kinda mad that you didn’t help out with my fight but not that mad overall? I guess?"

"Would you really have wanted me to deny you that satisfaction of beating him yourself?" asked Hunter.

"Yes! Yes I would! I nearly died… and actually I should really dress my wounds now that I’m thinking about it. Melding crystals to my skin is not a good substitute and it is painful now I’m thinking about it again," grumbled Strdl.

"Hmm… I would have been most displeased if someone interrupted a hunt of mine…" mumbled Hunter.

"Yeah but I’m not a hunt. This wasn’t a hunt!" insisted Strdl.

"I would disagree. You tailed your foe, poorly, for several blocks before finding an area that favoured you or at least prevented the chase from continuing further. Whereupon you confronted him and attempted to slay him for good. The fact you decided not to at the last moment has no bearing on its status as a hunt," explained Hunter patiently.

"That’s! That’s not what I meant! Like… at all. This… I wasn’t hunting him I was bringing him to justice?" offered Strdl. Hunter just gave her a dry look. "Ok… so… maybe it was sort of a hunt? I really wasn’t thinking about it in those terms… though what do you mean about ’not killing him has no bearing on its status as a hunt’ or whatever it was you said,"

"Many a time I have tracked down a beast and decided for one reason or another to allow it to live. Perhaps it was particularly beautiful. Perhaps it born the scars of many battles and I did not wish to see its story end. Perhaps it was the only adult taking care of a number of offspring. These are the main examples of times I have stayed my hand. Though most of my hunts to result in the death of my target. Oh, and I do occasionally take jobs hunting criminals that aren’t to the death but I dislike them," explained Hunter.

"What… do you mean exactly? Why would you dislike them?" asked Strdl.

"Usually the stipulation is that they are brought in alive. This is off-putting as it disrupts the flow of the hunt. Sometimes the moment is wrong and killing is something I forgo… but a hunter is naturally to the death as we all need to eat. The other side of things is that many summoners do not know who is responsible for the crime and I am forced to do investigative work. It irks me," complained Hunter.

Hunter shook her head at Strdl’s confused expression. "Enough. We have tarried overly long at this point. We make way to the source of these issues. Ronldo will be coming regardless of his wishes on the matter, but I leave the offer open to use Strdl. You should be sufficiently rested,"

"Um… I don’t exactly have all my mana back… and did you not hear the thing about my wounds?" said Strdl uncertainly.

"I feel like I want to object!" insisted Ronldo who was promptly ignored.

"If you wish to come with me I can give you a small amount of additional time to dress them but your mana levels are not my concern. I can carry you both if I must," stated Hunter.

Strdl was paralysed by indecision. She wanted to help. Especially after taking out her anger on Ronldo. It was the right thing to do after all… but she was battered, bruised and low on mana. Could she really be of much use? Strdl didn’t know… but she did know what she wanted. "Yes, I would like to join you." What Strdl wanted was to help people. Hurting Ronldo… had started out as that, and perhaps ended as that. Perhaps.

Now though, she wanted something with cleaner lines of morality. It would not be easy on her body, or her mind… but likely it would be a balm to her heart.

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