We parked the train near the station and I followed behind Hunter, who was slowly moving, tracking the scent.

Though the station was a little farther away, Hunter said it wasn’t too far, so we would be able to follow the scent on foot.

The direction we were heading led us into an area where stones were piled up, making it feel like a ravine. The structure seemed like it might collapse at any moment, but the continuous snow had frozen it solid, making it strangely sturdy.

Is this what they call the beauty of nature?

Hunter, drawn by the scent, moved confidently forward. He pushed through areas that didn’t seem like proper paths, yet every time I followed, a plausible route would reveal itself. It was quite remarkable.

Is this the innate skill of every hunter?

In terms of sense of smell, he wasn’t any different from the Londan hunter.

"Hunter, is there a specific reason you became a hunter?"

As we kept walking, the silence started to feel monotonous, so I decided to strike up a conversation with him.

Just as I finished asking, we came to a fork in the path.

I assumed he wouldn’t respond, so I figured I’d ask again once we got through the fork.

Sniff, sniff.

Hunter calmly sniffed the air, glanced between the two paths, then unhesitatingly chose one and continued walking.

"When I was young, I once got lost."

To my surprise, he answered.

"I was on a train trip with my parents, heading to a neighboring village. I can’t recall the reason. But at that village, I got separated from them and lost my way."

Hunter let out a sigh, as if recalling a particularly embarrassing memory.

"I eventually found my way to the train station, but by then, the train had already left. At the time, it felt like my whole world was falling apart. Trains didn’t come by often. I had to live like a beggar in that village for at least a week. What could a kid my age do?"

Hunter laughed softly, almost as if mocking himself. I nodded in sympathy.

"I cried my eyes out. Sure, I was young, but it was still funny—a boy, born a man, sobbing like that. But I had no other choice. I was just hoping someone, anyone, would help me."

For some reason, Agarta, who was listening, had a faraway look in her eyes, her gaze fixed on the ground.

Come to think of it, she had mentioned not having had good parents either. Perhaps this story brought back some bad memories for her.

Hunter didn’t seem to notice Agarta’s reaction and continued his story.

"While I was crying, a man in all-black clothing approached me. He was a cheerful guy. The first thing he said when he saw me was, ‘Oh no, who left a child out here?’ That hunter said he was on his way to Garen, and he offered to take me with him, even though there wasn’t a train."

A man in black, huh?

I couldn’t help but picture the hunter we were with.

"He was incredibly strong. No matter what Foreign Entity he encountered, he’d destroy them all with just his shotgun. It didn’t matter how big or fast they were. He protected me and did it all without breaking a sweat. He safely got me back home. When I asked how he found the way, he said he followed my scent."

As if recalling that day, Hunter smiled.

"That’s when I decided to become a hunter. I wanted to be someone like him, a hunter who could protect everyone in the Garen Domain. Now that I say it out loud, it feels a bit embarrassing."

"I think it’s a cool story," I said.

Hunter smiled awkwardly, keeping his eyes ahead.

"That’s enough small talk. We’ve arrived."

At Hunter’s words, we all shifted into a more cautious stance.

"We’re near a Foreign Entity."

Following Hunter’s lead, we moved swiftly behind a large rock.

Hunter put a finger to his lips, signaling for silence, and whispered as he looked ahead.

"I can see something moving. It’s a bit far, but it’s within striking distance."

"Understood."

We waited for Hunter’s signal, and as we got closer, I could begin to make out the shape of the Foreign Entity.

But its form was... human.

However, I didn’t voice my thoughts immediately.

In my "Coward Mode," things often appeared less threatening, so I couldn’t trust what I was seeing. Besides, no human could possibly be walking through this blizzard in such light clothing.

"...A human attacked by a Foreign Entity, perhaps? It looks like they’ve been bitten and can barely walk straight," Hunter muttered.

Was it something similar to Baek Ga-myeon? She, too, had her face disfigured after being bitten by a Foreign Entity.

Hunter sniffed again, then focused his gaze on the figure.

"I thought the stench came from another Foreign Entity, but it seems it’s coming from that human. Just how much Foreign Entity matter has entered their body? They’d be better off dead."

Foreign Entity matter, huh?

Did that mean I had some in me too?

「Don’t worry about that.」

The Dragon Slayer answered my unspoken question.

Why not?

「That human is already dead. They’ve lost the ability to control themselves, which means they’ve essentially become one of our kind. But you’re still alive as a human. That’s why you don’t give off our scent.」

...It was still a vague explanation, but I think I understood. So, I didn’t have to worry about giving off the scent of a Foreign Entity.

For a moment, I’d been worried that Hunter might detect the presence of the dragon’s essence inside me.

"I’ll count to five, and then I’ll attack. Cover me, Sir Tanton."

Hunter pulled out two revolvers.

So, he’s a dual-wielding type, huh?

It seemed all hunters had a romantic, gunslinger vibe.

Hunter quietly began counting down, and as soon as he reached zero, he jumped over the rock and charged at the Foreign Entity.

In an instant, both of his revolvers were trained on the creature, and the rapid sound of gunfire echoed in the air.

The revolvers had considerable recoil, yet Hunter fired without any bracing, suggesting his strength was far beyond that of a normal person.

But even though it looked human, the creature was still a Foreign Entity.

With a quick flick of its long hair, it deflected all twelve bullets.

"Ugh."

Agarta, visibly disgusted by the scene, seemed to confirm that it wasn’t hair, but something else entirely.

"Sir Tanton!"

At Hunter’s call, I glanced over at Agarta and Asti.

"Asti, Agarta! While Hunter and I keep it distracted from a distance, you two draw its attention. When the moment comes, I’ll finish it off with a decisive blow."

"Got it."

"Yes, Raydan."

Both Agarta and Asti nodded, then leapt toward the Foreign Entity.

Despite her prosthetic arm, Agarta charged forward with a dagger in both hands, aiming straight at the creature.

Shiiing!

The sound, censored by Coward Mode, rang out.

The collision of metal and the entity’s hair created a sharp, unpleasant noise.

Agarta gritted her teeth, clearly frustrated by the unexpected resistance.

Asti quickly followed up, lunging at the Foreign Entity with her dagger to give Agarta a chance to retreat.

Thanks to the enhanced body she gained from the Interrogator, Asti moved at a much faster pace, relentlessly slicing at the entity.

In no time, the entity’s hair had been cut to pieces, and Agarta was able to escape the counterattack.

With its hair gone, the Foreign Entity seemed to have lost its main means of attack.

It staggered, unable to figure out what to do next.

Asti was stronger than I had expected.

"Now, Sir Tanton!"

Hunter shouted as he began firing his revolver again. The creature let out a pained screech as the bullets hit.

Suddenly, the entity spat out something that splashed onto Agarta’s shoulder, and her clothes began to dissolve.

"Ugh! Filthy creature!"

Agarta shouted in anger, her face flushed, but the creature was about to meet its end with my final strike.

Even in its last moments, it tried to cause trouble.

I leapt into the air, ready to deliver the finishing blow, focusing all my attention on the Foreign Entity.

But then, out of nowhere, something black barreled into me, leaving me no time to dodge.

"Ugh!"

I collided with the dark shape, and before I knew it, I was being dragged in the direction it wanted to take me.

Fortunately, I landed softly in the snow, but the impact left me with a throbbing headache.

An attack from the Foreign Entity?

But according to Hunter, there were no other entities nearby.

With his keen sense of smell, there was no way Hunter would have missed it.

So then, what was it?

"...Finally, I’ve found you."

Pinned down by the black figure, my arms were held in place, leaving me unable to move.

I recognized the voice that followed, and it dawned on me just who was restraining me.

The moment I saw the face of the one who had caught me, I was more terrified than I’d ever been when facing a Foreign Entity.

"Raydan Tanton!"

It was the hunter, eyes filled with a ravenous hunger, who had finally caught up to me.