Chapter 4: Kara's day out

Kara's steps echoed softly through the guild's sprawling hall. Ever since last night, she had felt an unshakable sense of joy. Zero, her boyfriend, had awakened and successfully registered as a hunter this morning. The weight that had hung over her for months seemed to lift, replaced by a quiet optimism she hadn't felt in a long time.

She smiled faintly, remembering his excitement as he revealed the news to her. He had been so proud, even if it was just as an F-Class physical enhancement hunter. It didn't matter to her—Zero had taken his first step into this new world, and she couldn't be happier for him.

But the moment of peace didn't last long.

"Kara," a deep, familiar voice interrupted her thoughts, making her stop in her tracks.

Her stomach churned as she turned to face Dorian Grayson, the leader of her guild, Silver Fang. Tall, charismatic, and known for his unmatched strength, Dorian carried an air of authority that often bordered on arrogance.

"There you are," he said, his sharp gaze fixed on her. "I've been looking for you."

"Guild Leader," Kara greeted, keeping her voice neutral. She forced a smile, though she already knew where this conversation was heading.

Dorian stepped closer, his usual smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "You've been avoiding me lately. Don't think I haven't noticed," he said, his tone laced with mock reproach.

"I've been busy with quests," Kara replied, trying to keep her tone light.

"Busy, huh?" he said, leaning in slightly. "You know, you're too beautiful to waste your time running off on low-tier missions. You should spend more time with someone who can match your strength and status."

Kara stiffened. She had heard this line from him countless times before, but it never got any easier to stomach. "I'm here to do my job," she said firmly.

Dorian's expression darkened for a brief moment before his smirk returned. "Don't play coy, Kara. You're one of the strongest hunters in this guild, and everyone knows it. A talent like you deserves to stand beside someone who can lead, not… waste away with some F-Class nobody."

Her jaw tightened, the words striking a nerve. This time, she didn't hold back. "Nobody?" she repeated coldly. A sudden surge of mana radiated from her, so sharp and potent it made the air feel heavy.

The entire hall seemed to go still. Guild members nearby stopped what they were doing, some instinctively taking a step back. Dorian himself stiffened, his smirk fading as the overwhelming pressure of Kara's aura hit him like a wave.

"Say that again," Kara said, her voice calm but dripping with menace. "I dare you."

Dorian's confidence wavered for the first time. He raised his hands in mock surrender, forcing a weak chuckle. "Relax, Kara. I didn't mean anything by it. I was just saying—"

"Don't," she interrupted sharply, her aura flaring for a split second before she pulled it back. "Don't talk about him like that again."

The room was deathly silent as Kara turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing through the hall.

Dorian remained frozen in place, his pride wounded and his ego bruised. For all his strength and bravado, Kara had reminded him why she was considered one of the strongest hunters in the guild—and why she was not someone to be trifled with.

As Kara walked away from the guild hall, her earlier joy was replaced by a bitter, sour taste. Her happiness, so bright and warm just hours ago, had been sucked away by a single arrogant, pompous ape.

The confrontation replayed in her mind, making her fists clench. Why couldn't people like Dorian just mind their own business? Why did they always have to belittle others to feel superior?

Letting out a deep sigh, she pulled out her phone and sent a text to Zero.

Kara: "Hey, what are you up to? 😊"

Her finger hovered over the screen for a moment before she hit send. She wasn't even sure why she texted him—it wasn't like Zero could undo her sour mood. Still, just thinking about him made her feel a little lighter.

A reply came almost instantly, the speed catching her off guard.

Zero: "Just finished some errands! Wanna grab dinner later? I'll cook something special for you tonight. 😉"

A smile broke across Kara's face, banishing the storm clouds in her mind. Just like that, the warmth she thought she'd lost came rushing back.

She quickly typed a reply, her mood lifted.

Kara: "Can't wait! Surprise me. 💕"

Forgetting all about what happened earlier, she tucked her phone away and continued walking with a spring in her step. Zero always had a way of making her world feel brighter.

Kara tucked her phone back into her pocket, the smile fading as her usual cold, professional demeanor returned. She straightened her back, her expression hardening as she pushed open the heavy doors of the guild's meeting room.

Inside, the guild leaders and core members were deep in discussion, their voices low but serious. Kara strode in with quiet confidence, her presence commanding attention.

She had already made up her mind—Zero would be hers, officially and exclusively. If she had to deal with bureaucratic nonsense or navigate through more pestering from Dorian, so be it. Her boyfriend might have just registered as an F-class hunter, but she knew his worth, even if no one else did.

Approaching the table, she interrupted their conversation with a firm, steady tone. "I'll be submitting a request to assign an exclusive porter for my future raids. Ensure it's expedited."

One of the senior members raised a brow. "An exclusive porter? That's unusual. Are you sure?"

Kara's gaze was icy, leaving no room for debate. "I'm very sure. He's dependable, and I trust him completely."

Dorian, seated at the head of the table, scoffed loudly, leaning back in his chair. "Let me guess, it's your boyfriend you're talking about? The late-bloomer F-class?"

Kara's eyes narrowed dangerously, but she kept her composure. "Yes, it is. Do you have a problem with that?"

Dorian smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "Just don't come crying to us when he slows you down in a real raid."

Her voice dropped, low and sharp. "If anyone slows me down, it won't be him."

Satisfied, Kara turned and left the room, her steps brisk and decisive. She didn't care what they thought. She had already decided Zero would stand beside her—even if the rest of the world underestimated him.

---

After the meeting, Kara decided to head to one of the guild-owned B-class dungeons. The guild had been granted exclusive rights to it, and hunters of her rank rarely bothered with dungeons of this level, but Kara wasn't one to waste resources.

The life of an S-class hunter wasn't as glamorous as people thought. While the nation provided her with a decent salary, maintaining top-tier gear, potions, and consumables burned through funds faster than most realized. Each raid was an investment, and though her gear was cutting-edge, it demanded constant repairs and upgrades.

As she approached the rift shimmering in the air, the guild's dungeon overseer greeted her with a polite nod.

"Hunter Kara, are you planning a solo run today?"

"Yes," she replied curtly, adjusting the gloves of her battle suit. "Just clearing it to cover some expenses."

The overseer hesitated, his expression uncertain. "If you'd like, we can assign a team to—"

She cut him off with a cold glare. "That won't be necessary."

Without waiting for a reply, she stepped into the rift.

---

The air inside the dungeon was thick with mana, a telltale sign of the ecosystem within thriving with life. Kara unsheathed her dual blades, the faint hum of their enchanted edges filling the silence.

The first wave of monsters—a group of armored lizardmen—emerged from the shadows, their hisses echoing off the dungeon walls. Kara's lips curled into a faint smirk.

"Let's make this quick."

She raised her blades, and the air around her began to stir. With a sharp swing, a whirlwind of slashes formed around her, cutting through the lizardmen like paper. The skill, Wind Storm, was a testament to her mastery as an S-class Sword Saint. The lizardmen didn't even have a chance to scream before their bodies were shredded by the violent gusts.

As their remains dissolved into mana, Kara sheathed one of her blades and continued deeper into the dungeon, her steps calm and measured.

The second wave of lizardmen was larger, led by a heavily armored captain. Kara didn't slow down. Instead, she raised her remaining blade high, the air growing heavier as mana surged around her weapon.

"Meteor Blade."

She brought the blade down in a devastating arc, and an explosion of mana erupted upon impact, obliterating the entire group in a single strike. The dungeon walls shook from the force, and the captain's shield, once a symbol of its authority, lay shattered in pieces.

Kara exhaled slowly, her composure unshaken despite the overwhelming power she had just displayed. For her, this was just routine.

---

After clearing most of the dungeon's pathways and collecting the cores, she reached the final chamber. Her thoughts briefly drifted to Zero as she stepped into the room.

"He'd probably enjoy this kind of thing," she murmured, imagining his excitement if he were here to see it.

Her musings were interrupted by a deafening roar. The dungeon's boss, a Lizard Chieftain, emerged from the shadows. Towering at over nine feet, it wielded a massive halberd, its black scales gleaming under the dim light. Its sharp yellow eyes locked onto Kara, and it snarled, its tail slamming into the ground with a thunderous crack.

Kara smirked, raising both blades. "Guess I'll have to stretch a little for you."

The Lizard Chieftain lunged forward, swinging its halberd with enough force to split the ground. Kara sidestepped effortlessly, her movements fluid. She retaliated with a series of rapid slashes, but the chieftain's thick scales absorbed most of the damage.

"Stubborn, aren't you?" she muttered.

The chieftain roared again, thrusting its halberd toward her. Kara leapt into the air, avoiding the strike, and landed on its weapon. Using it as a springboard, she flipped over the boss, slashing at its exposed back midair.

The Lizard Chieftain howled in pain, spinning around to retaliate, but Kara was already prepared. She channeled mana into her blades, the air around her vibrating with power.

"Let's finish this. Twin Meteor Blades."

She crossed her blades and unleashed a devastating double slash, the force of the attack creating twin explosions of mana that engulfed the chieftain. The ground beneath it cracked, and the boss collapsed with a final, pained roar, its body dissolving into motes of light.

Kara landed gracefully, her breathing steady as she sheathed her blades. "And that's that."

As the chieftain's remains faded, it left behind a glowing crystal core and a treasure chest. Kara collected the core and inspected the chest's contents. Though the loot was decent, she couldn't help but think about Zero again.

"Maybe I should bring him here next time," she mused, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

With the dungeon cleared, she headed back to the entrance, her steps light and her thoughts brighter. For now, her mind was set on one thing—ensuring Zero's place by her side, no matter what it took.