Chapter 32 – 10. The Hunter’s Village (1)

10. The Hunter’s Village (1)

Chapter 32 – 10. The Hunter’s Village (1)

Hunters.
Just as farmers sustain themselves through farming, and fishermen through fishing, hunters sustain themselves through hunting.

They hunt animals, sell their hides, consume their meat, craft weapons from their bones, and mount their severed heads as decorations. Every part—flesh, bone, and even organs—is used and sold. Nothing is wasted.

These people are hunters.
Of course, it’s not just animals they hunt.

There are bounty hunters who roam in search of criminals with prices on their heads and monster hunters who specialize in hunting monsters. There are even a small number who even hunt demons.
Criminals, monsters, demons—they’re all nomads, never staying in one place for long. Naturally, the hunters who chase after them also lead a nomadic life.

But that doesn’t mean they wander aimlessly like lost souls.
The hunters who didn’t want to live like rootless wanderers sought a place to return to.

Although their bodies might eventually return to the earth, they yearned for a place where their souls could settle.
So, they created a sanctuary for their hearts, a place where their souls could rest.

At first, it was a mere rest stop where people stayed temporarily before moving on. But over time, it grew in scale until it became a village.

“—That’s the origin of the village we’re heading to. Hence, it’s named ‘The Hunter’s Sanctuary.'”

“Not a particularly interesting story.”

I nodded slowly in response to the demon’s explanation. After all, the subject matter—the Hunter’s Sanctuary, the nomadic lifestyle—didn’t particularly interest me.

It wasn’t just because the story was uninteresting.
Well… how could I be interested in a village that will disappear by tomorrow at the latest?

With that thought, I absentmindedly pulled Nae closer to me.
The demon glanced at me, hummed thoughtfully, and opened her mouth again.

“In fancy restaurants in the royal capital, they take the time to explain the history and ingredients of the food before you eat it. Think of this in the same way. Would that make it somewhat interesting?”

“Hmm… well, if you put it that way.”

Nodding my head, the demon grinned and resumed the explanation.
Of course, I didn’t listen to it all. All I did was nod my head out of obligation, uttering, “I see.”

It’s not that I was disregarding the demon’s sincerity; it was just that my mind wasn’t clear enough to absorb such tales.

The demon probably already knew I wasn’t really listening.
Actually, anyone would be able to tell. My mind was distracted elsewhere right now.

Because this place has the mountain where I met Nae, the house where we lived, the place where I was truly born, and…
The place where Nae died.

“… Here it is.”

Though the landscape had significantly changed since all the snow melted, I could still recognize it.
If I couldn’t recognize the sole turning point and sanctuary of my life just because the snow had melted, that would be laughable.

Stopping on a path devoid of anything but trees, I looked around before resuming my steps. I walked along the trail where I used to stroll with Nae until the familiar cabin came into view.

I could have used the demon’s door to get there quickly, but I didn’t want to.

“Nae, do you remember? We used to walk here together. It was winter back then, but summer is approaching now. I wanted to go see the ocean with you someday.”

What would Nae have said if she were alive? ‘We can go next time’? ‘I don’t really like water, so I’ll pass’?

Yearning for the answer to an eternally unanswerable question, I moved on. Soon enough, the cabin that I missed revealed itself.

It goes without saying, but the cabin, unattended since Nae and I disappeared, looked melancholy at first glance. Dust-covered railings and furniture, doors and floors creaking from insect damage, dried-up bloodstains on the floor, and food so rotten it had lost its form.

The warm scenery of the cabin where I lived with Nae was nowhere to be found. All that remained was regret.

“I lived here.”

“It was a house sufficient for two.”

“True. The bed was a bit small, but I liked being able to sleep in Nae’s arms. It was warm.”

“You probably didn’t even need to light the fireplace.”

The demon answered calmly, unfazed by my sudden words. Thanks to its demeanor, my turbulent emotions gradually settled.

Soon, all that remained were dull emotions, like residual heat from extinguished ashes. I closed and opened my eyes slowly, lifting Nae’s head and pressing my lips to her forehead.

“I should have expressed my love like this sooner.”

I wouldn’t have had to regret it like this. Or would I still have regretted it?

With a bitter smile, I held Nae’s head in my arms and left the cabin. I’d taken a bit of a detour, but now it was time to get started on what I’d planned.

“The walk ends here.”

“Do you intend to leave the cabin as is?”

“Fixing the cabin won’t bring Nae back.”

What’s gone will never return. It’s unfortunate, but that’s reality. That’s the truth.

That’s also why I don’t go around killing everyone for revenge. To die is to disappear. To disappear is to return everything, including one’s self, to nothingness.

In that case, isn’t it far more torturous to live and suffer?

Well, that doesn’t mean I’ll spare everyone to torture them. I have too many things to do. It’s also bothersome.

And…

‘Some debts can only be repaid with life.’

I closed my eyes and opened them again, then approached the demon and took its hand. This was the signal to open the door, and the demon promptly did so.

“Let’s go to the village. To the village of hunters.”

The demon smiled gently and waved its hand, and the familiar oval door appeared. With just one step, crossing the threshold, the scenery changed in an instant.

And the place that unfolded was an unforgettable place, the village where a house with Nae’s hand mounted resides. Strangely enough, I thought that returning here would stir up an uncontrollable anger or make me jump with joy at the thought that I could finally seek revenge.

But that wasn’t the case.
I didn’t feel any emotions like anger, sadness, joy, or relief; instead, I felt numb.

It felt like looking down on ants marching in a line on the ground.
Just a feeling of, ‘Ah, ants.’ Nothing more, nothing less.

“Is there something wrong with me?”

“If you’re going to ask by cutting off the context, it’s hard to answer… It seems you’re shocked that you feel nothing despite arriving in a village where you have enemies.”

I nodded at the demon, who answered accurately as if reading my mind.
The demon shrugged her shoulders while stroking her chin and emitted a sigh.

“Well, even if you ask a demon devoid of emotion such a question, all I can say is that among humans, some become more composed the angrier they get.”

What does that even mean?
I blinked and looked at the demon.

The demon tilted her head slightly, smirking as if asking, ‘What’s the matter?’
I was even more confused.

“Do demons not have emotions?”

“Oh dear, pardon my words. It’s not that we’re absent but rather faint. If I had distinct emotions, I wouldn’t be able to withstand thousands of years; I’d go mad. In fact, there are demons who have gone mad.”

“Then, the frequent smiles and laughter when talking to me were?”

“Sometimes, it is genuine laughter because I was so faintly pleased that my feeble emotions were greatly moved, but most of it was close to acting.”

“I see. So you didn’t deceive me.”

“The very idea that I would deceive you is preposterous. Thank you for understanding.”

I looked back at the bowing demon, then again at the village.
Still, no particular emotion came to me.

“Could it be that I’m becoming a demon?”

“Well, that’s hard to confirm as well. While gods have been demoted to demons, there has been no case of a human being promoted to a demon. Who among humans would want to become a demon?”

I chuckled as I saw the demon vigorously shaking its head.
Certainly, there was logic to the demon’s words.

But my thoughts were a bit different.

“I think I know why humans wouldn’t want to become demons.”

“That’s intriguing. Why do you think that is?”

“Because they already have demons beside them.”

Hearing my words, the demon blinked and then burst into laughter.
I looked at the amused demon and turned my head toward the village.

“Shall we go?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

A very faint smile formed at the corners of my mouth.
I didn’t know why, but… I just felt like smiling.