High Hunters

Once Yvonne got onto the highway, she sped up so abruptly that Leo was thrown back into his seat. He felt squeezed into place, forced to sit straight like a good boy.

He peeked outside and saw her car flying past regular traffic. She must have been going faster than any famous sports car, weaving around others so smoothly that no one seemed to notice.

She's crazy as fuck! This reminds me! Someone wise said not to ever put into crazies! Well, she's so hot I won't give up, the unknown sage!

Leo didn't care who that unknown sage was. He just stayed still and quiet as Yvonne ramped up the speed to reach their destination. Then, in the corner of his eye, he noticed a similar car moving at the same speed.

When that car pulled alongside Yvonne's, Leo saw a man behind the wheel wearing sunglasses at night. The man sneered at Yvonne and tried to pass her, but she slammed her foot on the gas pedal, refusing to let someone from the same profession outdo her.

Leo got pushed deeper into his seat.

Come on now!

He glanced at Zeke, who was also stuck in his seat. Zeke wore a poker face. When he saw Leo looking, he shook his head.

"You must be curious," Zeke said. "These cars are supernatural. They're powered by resources from The Other Side."

"The Other Side? What the heck is that?" Leo asked.

"A place where only the best hunters and heroes can go," Zeke replied. "I've never been there, but people say you can find anything over there. Some blame The Other Side for our abilities and for the disasters in our world."

Leo yelled over the roaring engine, "Just say 'isekai' next time and I'll get it!"

Zeke furrowed his brows. "Isekai?"

Soon after, Yvonne stopped the car. Leo and Zeke sighed with relief as they got out.

"I nearly lost my head," Leo muttered.

Zeke shrugged. "You can lose it as much as you want. Just don't do anything stupid. The man Lady Yvonne raced is David Back. He's on the same level as she is and can hire as many hunters as he wants."

To prove Zeke's words, David Back got out of his car with three other hunters who looked about Leo's age. All wore black suits with red ties. Even the woman in David's group wore a suit and pants, so only Yvonne's pencil skirt stood out.

"Been a long time, Yvonne," David said. He lowered his sunglasses to look at her face and gave a wide smirk. "I got back yesterday and didn't even have time for fun before Alice called me. You female hunters love using us, don't you?"

Yvonne smiled. "Welcome back, and thanks for cleaning up the mess I left in Europe."

David chuckled. "No problem. I like traveling, and I get how it feels to be homesick."

Leo listened and thought, So Yvonne didn't want to stay in Europe for too long after her big mission. David seems decent for helping her.

They stood by a dockside warehouse at the edge of the city near a huge river. It looked like the hunters' headquarters, except these warehouses were straightforward about their purpose. No one would guess a dullahan group was hiding here.

Because it was nighttime, there weren't many people around. Those who worked late shifts had been evacuated so hunters could do their bloody work without hindrance. No heroes in silly costumes meant no one stood out.

Suddenly, a bright white light blinded Leo for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he saw a woman with a strong presence. She wore a white dress and carried a matching umbrella. She was so clean and bright that she almost glowed.

She twirled her umbrella and spoke to Yvonne and David, who addressed her by name.

That's Alice.

Behind her stood a pair of female twins in white suits. Their short hair and sharp features made them look tomboyish, but they were still too pretty to pass for men.

Alice said, "The dullahans have been aware of us for a while. My team blocked their escape routes and trapped them in the middle warehouse. We confirmed there's no hidden exit. We only need to watch out for their desperate attacks. None of them can defeat me, but I must ensure no one slips away. I believe you two are best suited for that."

David smiled. "It's rare for dullahans to gather in such big numbers. We'll catch most of them."

"You're wrong, David," Alice replied, her tone superior. "Dullahans have communities. They hide well because they can attach heads of others who share their body type and blend into society. They live among us, waiting for a chance to prey on weak humans and grow even stronger."

A cold breeze blew through the group, making the mood heavier.

Leo shuddered inwardly.

Holy shit! I'm so lucky no dullahan has ever pegged me for one of them. There must be something different about me, so they don't see me as one of theirs. If they knew, this woman would be after my neck right now. She's dangerous and just as condescending as Zeke said. Even I can't stay calm around her.