The man takes only one step forward, and the blue moonlight reveals his figure.
The man has messy black hair and brown eyes with a vigilant gaze. He is wearing unknown worn out clothes and shoes that had been mend numerous times.
His physique could be considered medium in size or slightly petite; although, his robust torse compensates for his small stature. The manâs forearms are especially well developed.
Despite his vagrant like appears, the man doesnât smell and he is neatly trimmed.
Makushiimu doesnât recognize the manâs complexion.
Makushiimu (ăăŻă·ăŒă ) isnât aware of which tribe, or ethnic group the man is from; nor does he know the manâs home country and nationality.
The personâs ăethnicityă is different from the people who live in the area southeast of the continent. And, the man doesnât appear to one of the mountain folks.
On the other hand, the man doesnât seem like a town dweller or a vagrant. The manâs presence is different than that of a refugee.
It could be said that the man was a criminal but he doesnât seem to be one.
Makushiimu stares at Kurando.
Kurando merely shrugs his shoulders.
ăWill this do? I donât have much time, you see?ă (Kurando)
ăIs Akari safe?ă (Makushiimu)
ăQuiet safe. She is ready to leave anytime.ă (Kurando)
ăPhew, I seeâŠâŠă (Makushiimu)
Makushiimu had perceived that Akariâs ability had labeled the villagers as her enemy. It seems that Makushiimu is aware of Akariâs ability.
ăSo, who are you?ă (Kurando)
ăâŠâŠtsk, youâre quite impudent. Whatâs your name?ă (Makushiimu)
ăJohn (ăžă§ăł).ă (Kurando)
ăI hate fake names. Nevermind, my name is Makushiimu. As you can see, I am a descendant from the giant race. In the worst case scenario if you betray me, ââI will kill you.ă (Makushiimu)
The man from the giant race directs overwhelming blood thirst towards Kurando.
Makushiimu stays seated on the bed. In perspective Makushiimu is twice the size of Kurando; he is wearing a dull colored shirt and baggy trousers; he has a mustache and combed down red hair. With his blue eyes Makushiimu stares at Kurando.
This was the first time that Kurando felt blood thirst from a person; he couldnât stop his own body from breaking out into a cold sweat.
However, Kurando wasnât allow to express his anxiety on his face; if he did, Kurando wouldâve loss his composer. At the very least Kurando thought this to be truth.
ăâŠâŠhaha, scary, scary.ă (Kurando)
Kurando felt a little relief after saying something; although, with having said such words he didnât feel all that comfortable.
The agitated Makushiimu clicks his tongue.
ăWell, cocky bastard, you understand what will happen to you right.ă (Makushiimu)
After Makushiimu grumbles while making a sour expression, he starts to explain the situation. The story was very unpleasant.
As Kurando listens to Makushiimu, Kurando started to feel relieved. There seems to have been a misunderstanding.
Makushiimu speaks with passion and angry as he talks about the events surrounding the situation.
Aside from Zaura, only four other old-noble hunters (ă¶ăŠă«) had returned from the white phantom subjugation.
Zaura falsely reported that Akari had intentionally lead the group of hunter into the nest of a giant thorny spider (Atorabashiku), and that had resulted in the groups annihilation.
Neither the hunter association nor the government launched a proper investigation. Akari was immediately put on the most wanted list. She is currently wanted dead or alive.
In the frontier regions of Dorugan respect is very important to hunters; those who betray a fellow hunter will be severely punished.
Of course they didnât accept Makushiimuâs appeal.
The Roorana parliament had cut ties with the hero, Akari. They had decided to give up on the lesser hero Akari since they already have the other hero that is far superior. If they did choose to save Akari then that would crush Doruganâs honor. And if that would had happened, then the relationship with Dorugan would be even worse.
ăI understand that the bastard, Zauru, is lying but I need evidence.ă (Makushiimu)
ăWhat about the other hunters?ă (Kurando)
ăThe hunters that had returned are all that bastard Zauruâs protege. They all gave the same story.ă (Makushiimu)
ăCan you search for evidence yourselfâŠâŠ or are you unable to?ă (Kurando)
ăStop talking so coldly. Haha, if I could I wouldâve already done so.ă (Makushiimu)
ăI have a habit of speaking this way.ă (Kurando)
ăTskâŠâŠ if by chance I come across Akari, then the people who are watching me will be lead to her. If that were to happen then the country will also be after me. And, then I would also be on the run.ă (Makushiimu)
Upon saying so, Makushiimu had a mortified expression.
ăI see, then what do you plan to do?ă (Kurando)
As Kurando listen to the affairs of another person, Makushiimuâs eyeâs were shifting around.
ăFirst, I need to talk with Akari and hear her side of the story. But, before that what is your objective?ă (Makushiimu)
For some reason Kurando has a troubled expression.
ăMy purpose, huh?ă (Kurando)
Kurando is truthfully troubled.
He didnât have a goal. Kurando had descended to this village on a whim.
It has been about 580 day since he was summoned onto this mountain. He had thought that perhaps by going here it would cause a shift in his daily life.
A change in pace would be nice, but he didnât want to be caught up in anything complicated.
In the first place Kurando doesnât have any real relationship to the hero, Akari. They donât know one another well enough. Kurando doesnât want any trouble.
He doesnât want to be found out by the residence of this world nor by the people who were summoned along side him. This situation is only a big hassle.
Kurandoâs best bet is to say he is a native of this world who happens to be a mountain hermit that is currently visiting the village.
And so, as a mountain hermit Kurando had rescued Akari.
No that wonât work. It is perhaps only a matter of time before Makushiimu learns of the connection between Akari and Kurando.
Can Kurando trust Makushiimu?
It isnât like he can read another personâs mind or their intentions.
ăFirst, swear that no information I tell you will leave this room.ă (Kurando)
ăHuh?ă (Makushiimu)
ăAkari had also swore it. I just want to live quietly.ă (Kurando)
ăI donât who you are nor do I know if youâre a foreign soldier from somewhere, but why should I make a promise to you?ă (Makushiimu)
ăA person who canât keep a promise is scum. Well, I wonât put my live in your hands.ă (Kurando)
ăâŠâŠsomething like a hunterâs code.ă (Makushiimu)
ăGood. For now, please think of me as a mountain hermit who had been hiding in the mountains.ă (Kurando)
ăHave you been hiding there all this time?ă (Makushiimu)
ăSomehow you must have figured out a bit. Be careful not to leak anything.ă (Kurando)
Makushiimu makes a troubled expression.
Kurando ignores Makushiimu and continues to speak.
ăThis time around my purpose is to be the mediator between you and Akari. No reward is necessary; please, think of me as a third party.ă (Kurando)
ăJust call me Makushiimu. Good intentions, huh? Youâre not trying to trick me, right?ă (Makushiimu)
ăIs Akari currently on Arerudouria (ăąăŹă«ăă„ăȘăą) mountain? How is her condition?ă (Makushiimu)
ăDoes the white phantom exist?ă (Makushiimu)
ăLetâs see, I didnât leave the mountain; so, I donât know its name. But, last year people from a neighboring area hunted a big magical beast.ă (Kurando)
ăHaha, that was me. It was beyond human capabilities.ă (Makushiimu)
ăYou wonât be able to go there now. Around this time of year the winds will be too strong.ă (Kurando)
ăI see. So that was how it was. Did you see me up there? If that is the case, we were being observed then, were you the one watching us?ă (Makushiimu)
Kurando needs to tread carefully, because Makushiimu and Akari will eventually meet up.
ăâŠâŠmay I inquire as to what one would do to survive?ă (Kurando)
ăDid you enter the mountain withâŠâŠ the intent to kill?ă (Kurando)
ăNever mind, I was the one who instigated the spider attack.ă (Kurando)
Makushiimu frowns.
ăYou wereâŠâŠ the one who set this up?ă (Makushiimu)
In the middle of the conversation blood lust lingers in the air.
ăDonât worry youâll understand after listening to what I have to say. Coincidently, the beast they came to hunt is the one Iâm currently living with and it is also the child of the magical beast you had hunted. Because of that I didnât have a choice.ă (Kurando)
ăâŠâŠfor the live of Iruniiku? Youâre joking right, was there a need to instigate a spider attack for that reason?ă (Makushiimu)
ăWell, forgive my ignorance.ă (Kurando)
ăâŠâŠnow remember your promise. Will you inform your superior?ă (Kurando)
ăRunning away! ââare you going to use Akari as a shield.ă (Makushiimu)
ăâŠâŠhave you no compassion; why use a woman as a shield!ă (Makushiimu)
ăSomeone who breaks their promise is a pathetic person!ă
After threatening one another it became silent.
ăOkay then, tomorrow wait at the campsite near the spiderâs territory. I will get in contact with you there. I will say this just in cause, âplease, come aloneâ.ă (Kurando)
Kurando waited in the darkness for Makushiimuâs reply before exiting the room.
No traces were left in the inn; only Makushiimu was left in the room.
ăDoesnât want to yield and doesnât want to take responsibility.ă (Makushiimu)
Makushiimu thought of Kurando as a benign poison that isnât harmful in everyday life, but when it wants to survive it self-destructs and begins to spread.
However, if Kurando sacrifices Akari thenâŠâŠ Makushiimu looks toward his axe that is leaning against the wall.