Chapter 3 - The Hunt (I)

Great Britain, England – Nottinghamshire.

City of Nottingham.

As the car slowly parked in front of a mansion, Alastor and Tereza, who was carrying a silver briefcase, stepped out and stood before the beautiful mansion designed in the Tudor style.

"Milord, will you begin your hunt tonight or in the morning?" Tereza looked at her master and asked with a serious expression. She resembled a small adult, her youthful face more serious than many adults around the world. Her flaming red hair was meticulously tied in a high ponytail.

She stood with a firm posture, wearing a tailored suit adorned with the beautifully embroidered crest of House Agrece on her chest—a skull wearing a crown surrounded by flowers.

Alastor pondered before responding in an expressionless voice, "At night."

Tereza nodded and opened the door to the mansion, elegantly gesturing for him to enter. Alastor accepted and stepped into the mansion without a second thought.

…

At the dining table, Alastor held a sheet containing the personal information of the Heretical Werewolf.

Heretical. A word assigned to beings who began killing humans to perform profane rituals and dedicate them to demonic beings or abstract entities in the Astral World, a dimension separate from the Human World, akin to Hell and others.

The Astral World was the place where all symbolisms manifested, a mirror of the universe where true madness and insanity were reflected in many forms, representing a reflection of the chaotic nature of the universe itself.

The Moon of the Human World typically did not possess such powers, but the Crimson Moon in the Astral World was a completely different concept. It was a legitimate Outer God capable of influencing the world with its corruption and madness.

Even so, Alastor still couldn't believe that a Heretical Werewolf dared to make sacrifices in the territory of House Agrece. Yes, House Agrece, due to its long service to the British Crown, had been granted the hereditary title of Duke of Nottingham.

One could say that any supernatural being would not set foot in their territory to perform profane rituals; to do so would be no different from committing suicide.

But, before Alastor stood a being that dared!

[Karl Lambert – 37 years old, single. Lives alone in a house on the edge of Sherwood Forest in Edwinstowe. Due to the Profane Rituals, his mental health was precarious; he had been noted talking to himself multiple times throughout the night. Advisable to capture him before and after executing the target of the hunt.

His abilities include the innate skills of a werewolf, but the power gained from the Sacrifice Ritual remains a mystery. Caution is advised when coming into contact with the target.

Special Note: From the skills observed - Karl Lambert - Had a threat level of Grade 3.]

Alongside this information was a photo on the left side of a middle-aged man wearing worn clothing and a long coat. His beard appeared to have gone unshaven for years, and his hair looked more like a bird's nest than anything else. Alastor noticed that he had deep-set eyes with dark circles beneath them. His cheeks showed severe signs of malnutrition.

"So, you're my first Hunt. Level 3… how does someone this weak dare to perform profane rituals in my territory…?" Alastor murmured to himself, his voice revealing that he was slightly dissatisfied with the threat level of his first hunt.

The International Threat Level was a measure that secret organizations around the world used universally to classify supernatural beings that posed a certain degree of threat to society.

From Level 5, the lowest, to Level 1, the highest. However, there was a level above Level 1—Special Level.

The Special Level represented a very real threat to an entire nation! They were monsters among monsters, beings capable of incalculable destruction.

The Threat Levels also represented the power levels of the entire Supernatural Community.

The Order and many other organizations divided the levels similarly, though not exactly the same.

Executor Level 5, the lowest; Executor Level 1, the highest; and naturally above that—Executor Special Level.

His noble aunt, Morticia Addams, possessed this kind of power—a Beyonder of Special Executor level. One of the reasons the wizard Marshall had tried to persuade Morticia to stay.

Those who were pleased with Mortícia's departure from England were the United States, which welcomed the Special Executor with open arms, reaping many benefits in the process.

After all, who would refuse a Witch with the power of a Special Executor? It was as if the United States had received a Christmas gift ahead of time.

However, there wasn't only Morticia Addams of Special Level on the British Isles.

Alastor's father, Achille Agrece, was also a Special Level, a Special Grade Hunter. There were two others, but with Mortícia's departure, there were currently three in England.

"This Werewolf is really stupid for hunting in Nottinghamshire; if it weren't for the Young Lord's Hunt, he should already be captured and executed in public," Tereza said, placing a silver tray in front of Alastor and removing the lid, revealing a soup exuding a delicious aroma in the air.

The red-haired girl stepped back and positioned herself behind Alastor, standing completely still, awaiting further orders.

Alastor nodded, agreeing with Tereza's words; it was indeed foolish to go to Nottinghamshire, the territory of a Special Hunter, to perform profane rituals. However, he set those thoughts aside and began to eat his soup slowly.

Since he preferred food without salt, Alastor hardly tasted anything strong in the soup—only the natural flavor of the vegetables and the broth without spices. Having extremely strong senses had its disadvantages, and taste buds were one of them.

Strong flavors deeply nauseated him; anything with too much salt or spices made him want to vomit. Thus, not only could his food be considered bland, but so could the meals prepared by his sister and father—they were the same, without salt or any spices.

Still, the food had a pleasant taste given its extremely weak flavor to others but strong to Alastor.

After dinner, Alastor stood before a full-length mirror, dressing like every member of the HOGD (Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn).

He wore black shoes, black pants, a white long-sleeved shirt, and a black tie, without a jacket. The crest of the Golden Dawn Order was embroidered on the chest of his shirt—the Hermetic Rose-Cross.

(Note: Similar to the outfits of the Demon Hunters in Chainsaw Man)

To add a personal touch of style, Alastor wore black leather gloves on both hands and a watch on his wrist.

He had holsters near his ribs where he kept his knives and finally looked at himself in the mirror, checking for any irregularities. When he saw that everything was in order, he nodded his head in satisfaction.

Turning to Tereza, who stood in the room watching him change, Alastor spoke in a calm, expressionless tone, "Let's go."

Tereza nodded and followed Alastor, holding her silver briefcase with a veiled look of admiration on her face. That night, she would witness the First Hunt of an Agrece.

It was something rare to see, as the Agrece family was one of the last Grimm families in the world.

As they left the mansion, the pale moon in the night sky seemed shrouded in clouds, and the stars twinkled timidly, sprinkled with lights against the dark background.

It was a good night to kill, Alastor thought, his snake-like red eyes shining in the dimness of the night.

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