The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster-Chapter 79: Such Analysis

The warmth of the fireplace in front of which they were cast a soft glow on their faces, their shadows flickering across the room.

Buji’s fingers slowly found Kira’s, tracing over it.

"Can I trust you?" Buji asked.

A shiver coursed through her skin. The weight of Buji’s question lingered in the air between them. If the effect was more on Buji or Kira, neither could tell. Kira was, however, surprised with the kind of question Buji asked.

She settled her tension, and with a cool voice, replied. "What do you think?"

"And am I supposed to get a question for an answer?"

Silence fell between both of them. Kira removed her stare from Buji, facing the fireplace.

She had never really thought about it—trust. She assumed maybe it was an unspoken understanding between them. Since their admission into Hunter’s Academy, they’d always had each other’s backs, yet here he was, doing what really...

"We’ve been together. If not for long, at least since the period we got admitted into this school. And you still can’t tell if you can trust me?" Kira said.

"Uhm... that’s not he point I’m trying to make, you know," Buji replied. "If I didn’t have that much trust in you, I won’t have told you about the ordeal."

"So, what then? Why does it feel like you don’t believe me?" Kira asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I’m just asking to be certain since even though a house owner gets a dog for protection, he, even, can’t trust his full safety to the dog," Buji explained.

"Wait, if I’m getting you right, are you trying to say I can possibly betray you?" Kira asked.

"I’m not saying it’s impossible either, even though I don’t expect you to do such," Buji commented.

At this point, he activated his Truth Gaze skill. The ability allowed him to discern lies from truths.

He tapped Kira softly on her shoulder to make her turn towards him. As soon as she did, he locked his stare on hers and asked again.

"Can I trust you?"

"What? Of course, yes you can."

"Alright then."

Meanwhile, in his mind, his thought seemed to be judging him for what he’s doing. Why on earth should he even be testing Kira in such a manner.

’It’s not that I don’t believe her,’ he admitted, ’but you and I both know that trust is fragile. It only takes one moment, one slip, and everything shatters.’

In a moment, he shook his head. Why was he even explaining to his thoughts? ’What’s wrong with me? Why am I feeling, feeling—’

Kira, however, called back his attention. She tilted her head back slightly. The truth gaze effect was gone by now.

"Buji, if this is the way you live, it’s dangerous. Really," Kira retorted.

"Dangerous?"

"Yes. If you keep questioning the people around you, you’ll always be alone."

"Maybe," Buji said, his voice laced with a strange finality. "Besides, I’ve been alone though."

"No, you’ve not been alone. You got me, you got our team members, you got everyone. You just haven’t started the right way."

Buji looked at Kira as she spoke, and chuckled briefly. He was not going to continue the argument with her anyway, he knew the point he wanted to make.

But, he shouldn’t ignore her outrightly, so he commented. "But you do know solitude is safer than betrayal."

Kira shook her head, her fingers wrapping around his hand. "I won’t betray you."

Her words came soft, emotional. Her eyes clearly defining affection.

On Buji’s part, his gaze softened, settling on the sincerity in her voice.

’Maybe she meant it. Oh, what am I saying, the truth gaze hasn’t detected any lie with her words.’

She truly believed that nothing could change her loyalty. But Buji knew better. That was people’s thought always. They usually confess non-betrayal until the moment presented itself. Whatever, he must be careful.

The air between them grew thick. They looked at each other for a long time, with whichever unspoken thoughts hovering in their mind. Neither moved, the only sound heard came from the crackling fire, and to each of them, the sound from the rhythmic beating of their hearts.

Then—

BEEP!

The sharp alert of their phones snapped them out of their daze. They flinched, breaking apart as if realizing for the first time how close they had been.

Kira cleared her throat and quickly reached for her phone while Buji stood from the stool to go and get his from the center table.

His screen flashed with a notification. And it should probably be same with Kira’s.

EMERGENCY: APPEARANCE OF DUNGEON GATES.

Buji’s eyes glimmered with - joyyy. He couldn’t wait for a few more days before he can be able to go for another raid. He felt an eagerness to go for raids now.

At least, even though this raid wasn’t appointed to him by the system, it was surely going to grant him rewards.

Meanwhile, Kira was on her own part not happy with the intel. "Again!!"

Buji snapped her a look. "What’s the issue?"

"Didn’t you get the same information with me? You just ask questions," Kira retorted.

"Hmm. Well, I understand your plight, and the tone with which you spoke now, I understand everything. But, what is the problem really?"

"Haven’t you read the message?" Kira softened her tone.

"Not really."

"Then, what were you doing with your phone in your hand?"

’Why should you even care?’ Buji thought. Meanwhile, he has truly not gone through the message that was sent. The notification alone has plunged him into thoughts.

Thoughts of how he was going to keep leveling and becoming stronger, if the anomaly of appearing dungeon gates becomes consistent. He laughed, it was all going to be fun.

The day he will be at the top. The day he won’t be fell fear towards these authorities. The day he will perfectly lunge his revenge against the association, starting with Emra’s father.

Then, the thought of Emra had come into his mind. He felt it will be wicked of him if he did anything against her, against her family.

’Will it be an act of wickedness?’

It was at that point that Kira had suddenly shouted "Again!"

"Let me go through the message then," Buji said, turning his gaze and focus to his phone.

He unlocked it, clicked on the notification he received earlier and began to engulf the information contained therein.

Not much information for a deal thought, according to him. The association only announced, firstly, that all hunters, especially those belongings to a team should gather in a particular area to ascertain they share the allocation of dungeons properly.

Secondly, the higher-ups will be getting involved in this raid. According to the message, it sounded like it was going to be the end of the world if anything drastic should happen as a result of dungeon break.

’Higher-Ups,’ Buji flashed a smile. ’Wonder if this will be a chance against Mr. Zin.’

Nonetheless, he continued reading through the message.

The third point, the association also announced that they will be replacing low-ranked hunters in each team, especially the Debut team. Reason being that the Debut team was only a beginning team, and so, eventually contained such kind of hunters that shouldn’t risk their lives for the raid.

"Why are they suddenly considering risk of life?" Buji asked, initially to no one, but since Kira was also there, she replied his question.

"That I can’t tell too. During our induction, they could have made it clear to us. But, as hunters, our lives are always on the line in situations like this."

"That’s true. I heard that from somewhere...I think. Besides, I noticed it’s a general knowledge amongst the students anyway," Buji stated.

"Besides, I think I get their point. They were but trying to tell that poor impact wouldn’t do much good, right?"

"Right?" Kira giggled. "I didn’t even grab or understand what you said, and you are asking me."

Buji exhaled. ’This is what you get when you talk to dull brains.’

"I’m trying to say that they are conveying division of labour. A situation where three hunters won’t be needed for a particular task but for three different tasks," Buji explained.

"I still don’t get."

"Then how do you pick up skills and spells fast enough?" Buji asked, still keeping his tone calm even though he felt angry for not being able to convey the message he wanted to.

Kira, however, pressed on, ignoring what Buji said. "One more explanation."

Buji heaved a sigh. "You know the power of hunters according to their ranks, right?"

This chapt𝓮r is updat𝒆d by ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom.

"Yes, I do."

"So, what I’m trying to say is that if an S-Rank hunter could overcome 3 beasts at a time, instead of giving the task to 3 B or A rank hunters, they will employ 3 S-Rank hunters to overcome 9 beasts," Buji exhaled deeply after saying this.

"Now, you are making the explanation easier," Kira confirmed. "But, how were you able to make this analysis?"

"Such analysis," Buji said, feeling himself, feeling proud.

But, at the same time, they got another message from the Hunter’s association.