“Hey…!”

While Florene was throwing a tantrum, wanting to be included in the hunting squad, two people emerged from the crowd gathered to see them off.

“Could you take Florene with you to the hunting squad…?”
“Please. If possible, let us join too.”

The ones who spoke were Dwight and Marin.

As I watched the commotion caused by Florene in a daze, I muttered in disbelief at Dwight’s voice I just heard.

“Um… If I didn’t misunderstand, didn’t they just ask to be included too?”
“Yeah, it seems they came with that intention, right?”

Sylvia replied with a faint smile as if it were nothing, but I felt a throbbing in my head.
Florene was typically quite a handful, so I could brush off her unreasonable behavior as just being Florene.

However, seeing Dwight and Marin, who were usually so rational, acting like this made it impossible for me not to feel shocked.
So, trying to convince myself, “No, I must have misheard,” I turned my gaze slightly away from reality, but that was impossible.

With both of them packed with backpacks, they looked like they were determined to join the hunting squad.

Just then, stepping forward was Martina, who was in charge of this hunting squad’s composition, exhaling with a look of disbelief.

“Hah, what are you all doing…?”

Muttering in astonishment, Martina glanced at Florene, Marin, and Dwight one by one, then stiffened her expression and muttered in a cold voice.
“Look, the Dolos young lady seems to have family issues that should be resolved internally, so I was silently observing… Who gave you the right to ask to join the hunting squad? Do you think hunting witches is a joke?”

Martina seemed genuinely angry.
It was understandable for her to be that way since she was the final decision-maker in forming this hunting squad.

The composition of the hunting squad had already been determined after numerous discussions and careful consideration, and from her viewpoint, this sudden action was akin to disregarding her efforts, so it was only natural she would be upset.
Moreover, it was another matter since the perpetrators were much younger students.

However, despite Martina being so angry, Dwight remained completely unfazed as he spoke.
“I don’t think it’s a joke. I understand how dangerous this is.”

“…Really? So you know that and are still doing this? Huh, fine. In that case, at least explain to me why you’re doing this in a way that makes sense.”

Martina seemed to calm down a bit at Dwight’s serious demeanor.
Yeah, well, Dwight wouldn’t come out here to push his luck like Florene.

So, I relaxed a little and watched their conversation, but then Dwight dropped a bombshell.

“To be honest, I acted out of dissatisfaction with the selections.”

“…Huh?”

Dwight had just detonated something explosive.
What the hell… is he crazy…?
Did he just say to someone’s face that he was dissatisfied with their handling of business?

With my mouth agape at Dwight’s outrageous statement, I caught sight of Martina’s expression turning sour.
She looked as if she was about to deliver a swift blow to Dwight at any moment.

Is this really going to end badly?
As I anxiously watched her, it seemed Martina was holding back something as she asked Dwight in a slightly trembling voice.

“So, you’re saying you’re dissatisfied with the hunting squad I picked…? And you came to ask me to include you in the squad…? So, you think it’s strange I didn’t pick someone like you for the hunting squad?”

“Yes, I think that’s strange.”
“What’s strange about it! Didn’t I just say hunting isn’t a joke!”

And as she haltingly asked that, Dwight nodded his head and agreed.
But towards her furious outburst, Dwight responded with unyielding seriousness.

“As I said earlier, I absolutely do not see this as a joke. And because I don’t view it as a joke, I’m saying I’m dissatisfied.”

Martina lost her words at his confident stance, and seized the moment, Dwight continued.

“This hunt is an important task that cannot fail under any circumstances. Therefore, when selecting a hunting squad, it must be based solely on who would be the most helpful, right?”

He was making valid points, so Martina merely nodded without a specific response.
Then Dwight continued.

“However, you failed to do that. That’s what I’m dissatisfied with.”

Martina responded with a look of disbelief.
“What do you mean by that? I formed the hunting squad with the best selections.”

“No, if you truly considered who would be the most helpful, you should have picked those for the hunting squad regardless of age. But you didn’t do that. That’s proof that we weren’t even considered.”

“Are you saying you’re better than the other heroes I picked for the hunting squad?”

“At the very least, if you truly considered us alongside others, we would have been considered a viable option.”

In response to his confidently assertive words, Martina scoffed and muttered.
“Hah, I just valued experience a bit more.”

“Experiences are certainly good, but you must know that it’s not everything. For example, like Sylvia or Scarlet, or to give another example, like Captain Yoon Si-woo. If Captain Yoon Si-woo were fine, he would definitely have been included in the hunting squad. If solely an individual’s ability were considered, there’s no reason for us not to be part of the hunting squad. That’s what I want to convey.”

This was a somewhat arrogant statement, bringing up Yoon Si-woo as a comparison, yet it was evident that Dwight was one of the rare few decent people in this world.
He was a character who had appeared as a rival to Yoon Si-woo in the original work.

And it was true that extraordinary talent sometimes surpassed experience, just as Dwight said.
Even with their lack of experience, Yoon Si-woo, Sylvia, Dwight, Marin, and Florene managed to perform better than other heroes, and that was precisely because of their talents.

Since this came from someone with that level of talent, his words carried enough persuasion.
And as if that wasn’t all, with a serious expression, Dwight continued to add to Martina.

“Everyone’s future depends on it. Regardless of age, we are also heroes. I believe we can be a great help. Please consider it seriously for the sake of the people.”

A philosophy focused not on personal reasons but for the greater good.
Martina’s expression visibly tightened at those words.

She looked as if she were on the verge of losing her mind because it was so overwhelmingly true that she didn’t know what to say.
After a moment of silence gazing at Dwight, Martina eventually let out a deep sigh and opened her mouth.

“…Alright, I acknowledge that having you in the hunting squad would be helpful. I recognize you as an excellent magician.”

Martina spoke as if she had no choice but to accept Dwight.
As a fellow magician, she knew Dwight’s abilities all too well.

After saying that, Martina turned her head to look at where Florene was standing.
Florene wore a blank expression, seemingly thinking, ‘Why are you two here?’ while glancing at Dwight and Marin.

Despite two burly boys tugging at her arm, she stood there motionless.
Martina shook her head as if she was fed up with this scene and muttered.

“…That young lady, at least, should be able to hold her own.”

After saying that, Martina hesitated for a moment and slowly turned her head toward Marin, who was quietly standing beside Dwight.

Martina’s head turned awfully creaky, enough for anyone to notice it was uncomfortable.
But ultimately, when she locked eyes with Marin, she kept her mouth shut for a moment and finally mumbled in a constrained voice.

“…But, you can’t go.”
“Aren’t we going to the seaside this time?”

Marin smiled brightly as she spoke.
Without needing much explanation, her intention was clear.

Marin was a superpowered individual who inherited abilities from both of her parents.
Her father Lucas could control cold, and her mother Natalia could control water.

Being able to manipulate water meant she would definitely be of help at the seaside, and that’s what she meant.
However, Martina, aware of that, shook her head firmly and said.

“…Still not allowed. I absolutely won’t permit it.”

Then Marin responded in a soft voice, as if she understood her.

“Is it because I’m my mother’s daughter?”

At her words, Martina’s shoulders jolted slightly.

That was a pointed remark.