Hunter Of The Six Realms-Chapter 37: Hypocrites

Chapter 36

"Look over there, it’s another hunter!" one of the rescue team members yelled, pointing toward Kaizen, who lay passed out on the floor. His body was bloodied and bruised, looking like someone who had narrowly escaped death.

They rushed toward him, and one of them knelt beside his body to check for signs of life. "He’s alive. Get him to a healer, now!"

Without wasting time, they lifted him onto a stretcher and rushed him toward the nearest healing station. Most portal points had professional healers on standby, always prepared for emergencies like this. Experience had taught them that anything could go wrong during a raid.

---

Hours Later...

Kaizen’s eyelids fluttered, and then, finally, he blinked them open.

Damn it, Elf... you didn’t have to go that hard.

Yeah, she beat the hell out of him, and what was worse? She enjoyed it. But he couldn’t complain. He did ask for it.

Still, that didn’t change the fact that he now found himself in a place filled with strangers, unfamiliar faces all gathered around his bed, watching him like some rare beast that had somehow survived extinction.

"He’s awake," someone said.

Kaizen turned his head lazily toward the voice. The man who had spoken stood at the front of the group. He looked older, with gray strands streaking through his black hair and a thick beard. His presence was calm, but Kaizen could feel the mana leaking off him. He was definitely a high-rank hunter.

"How are you feeling?" the man asked gently.

Kaizen tried to sit up, but the man placed a firm but gentle hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

"You should rest. I’ve healed most of the severe injuries, but your body still needs time to recover." 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

"I’ll be fine," Kaizen muttered, brushing the man’s hand off and forcing himself upright despite the pain. His muscles burned with every move, but he gritted his teeth and endured it. He noticed the floating texts still lingering at the corner of his vision. He wasn’t ready to deal with that yet, not now.

The man didn’t stop him again. Kaizen carefully swung his legs off the bed, reached down, and started pulling on his boots, which were lying neatly beside the bed.

"Thank you for keeping me alive. I really appreciate it," he said, turning to the man with a nod of respect before heading for the door.

He had to report back to Crimson Dusk. Going AWOL after a raid could raise questions, even more so after the kind of mess he’d just survived.

---

Crimson Dusk Headquarters wasn’t far, so he decided to go on foot, not like a had much choice though.

When he got there, the hall was bustling. Hunters were moving in and out, most of them fresh from their own raids, lining up to submit their gemstone collections.

Kaizen stepped inside and scanned the crowd, wondering if he’d see his squad mates, the same ones who had left him behind.

He didn’t have to search long.

"Kaizen?" a familiar voice rang out.

It was Kira. She pushed through the crowd the moment she spotted him, followed by Yuno, Dael, Rolan, and Jane.

Before Kaizen could say anything, Kira rushed forward and pulled him into a tight embrace.

He froze. Did she just... hug me?

Honestly, it felt a little hypocritical. Was he supposed to be grateful? Thank her for hugging him after they’d left him behind to die?

They abandoned him.

If things hadn’t taken a sudden turn with Elf, he’d be six feet under by now.

"You’re really alive... Damn, I’m sorry. Like really sorry for leaving you behind. She was just too powerful for us, I had no choice," Kira said, her voice cracking slightly. "We returned with backup, but... the portal wasn’t there anymore."

She hugged him tighter.

Even the rest of the squad looked confused now. Since when were she and Kaizen this close?

"Umm... I’m fine. You... can let go now. I can’t breathe," Kaizen muttered, awkwardly squeezing himself out of her embrace.

Kira finally pulled back, looking a little embarrassed. She’d been crying, probably had been since they returned. The others had even started wondering if something was going on between the two of them, considering how hard she took it. Turns out she was just the kinda person who guilt hit a little too hard.

"I’m glad you’re safe," Yuno said, stepping in to hug him next.

This hug was... different.

Kaizen didn’t react at first. But then his brows furrowed.

Wait.

Boobs?

Yuno was supposed to be a guy... right? So why did his—her?—chest feel... soft?

Kaizen stood still, confused, trying to make sense of what his body was feeling. Yuno’s frame was tall, sure, but his—her—features had always leaned a little too feminine. He’d noticed it before but never thought much of it.

Until now.

"What... are you?" Kaizen whispered, low enough for only her to hear.

Yuno’s expression shifted. Her voice dropped into a cold whisper as she tightened the hug slightly, almost like a threat.

"Mind your business and just take the hug. If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you."

Kaizen squinted. "Then why hug me if you wanted to keep it a secret? You know that’d give you away."

"I like you, that’s all. I’ve been wanting to feel you this close to me."

What the hell?!

"This is the weirdest confession I’ve ever gotten," he whispered. "You’re suffocating me, threatening me, and you’re in disguise. Seriously... what is wrong with you?"

"A lot of things," Yuno whispered, voice much softer now, before finally releasing him from the hug.

Kaizen blinked a few times, completely thrown off by what just happened.

Rolan, Dael, and Jane stood nearby, not moving to hug him like Kira and Yuno just did. They jus watched.

They didn’t look the least bit guilty. They hadn’t apologize either. Because to them, it was just survival. Nothing more. They didn’t see what they did as wrong.

"How’d you make it out?" Rolan asked, rubbing the back of his neck, looking slightly awkward.

Kaizen stared at him. "Luck." He replied flatly.

He didn’t owe them an explanation. Let them think whatever the hell they wanted.

Right then, several guards walked up to the group. They looked clean and serious, faces unreadable.

"You’re Kaizen, right?"

Kaizen gave a slight nod.

"Come with us."