The Rumor of a Death
It was the story that someone had died. Unless it was about some heinous criminal, you weren't supposed to talk carelessly about death—no matter who it was—and the polite thing was to wish them eternal rest. Sure, Agartha had been a criminal, but in a way, we'd proven she contributed to stopping the Outer Gods by capturing them. Yet this vice captain just spat out her tragic death like it was nothing.
"…What the hell do you mean by that?"
"Can't you understand plain speech? The thief failed to capture any Outer Gods and couldn't prove her worth."
The vice captain shrugged like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"What, did you grow some camaraderie with her during your short stay in the underground prison?"
Honestly, just hearing that Agartha was dead pissed me off. And that tone of his, like he bore zero responsibility… Normally, you'd expect rage to surge in a situation like this. But I was weirdly calm. Now I got it. Super Coward Mode was keeping my rationality in check. Thanks to it, my anger sublimated into cool composure, flooding my brain.
"Don't worry. As promised, you're no longer a criminal, so forget about the thief."
It was like fanning the flames of a burning house—or pouring oil on the fire. I tried to hold back, but I had to say it, so I recalled what Mu Yeon had told me.
"…You actually sent us there to die, didn't you?"
"Delusions are free."
"You knew those knights were disposable anyway. Was that really the princess's order?"
At my shout, the vice captain furrowed his brow and glared at innocent Mu Yeon. As if he didn't have that intent himself—why blame someone else? Mu Yeon was trembling, so to redirect his attention, I spoke up.
"So what?"
But the vice captain just acted all high and mighty.
"Either way, you lot survived. Proof that the thief was weak. Were you criminals that close? If you wanted to play at sentiment now, you shouldn't have committed crimes in the first place."
"V-Vice Captain."
"Be quiet."
He snapped at Mu Yeon, then turned back to me.
"Go on, say it. Am I wrong?"
"Even after we slayed Outer Gods, how can you be so brazen…!"
"Watch your words. The Hunter aside, without Mu Yeon, you'd have been like an egg smashing against a rock, wouldn't you?"
I wanted to retort, but he was right, and his debating style shut me down cold.
"Anyway, you'll get weapons as compensation later. Come to the Weapon Arsenal tomorrow."
"…Weapon Arsenal?"
Right—one reason I'd wanted to join the knights. Community posts said weapons forged in the Hearth's heat were mostly powerful. It was fair recompense, what I wanted… but this couldn't make up for it.
I clamped my mouth shut, and the vice captain snorted, suddenly standing.
"Fine, you're right. You slayed Outer Gods, so I'll give extra reward. I'll be your punching bag. Wanna hit me?"
He stood like an adult teasing a kid to swing at him, approaching us. As if my punch wouldn't faze him. A frail civilian's fist might just tickle a vice captain seasoned for decades. Was hitting him smart here? Or was this a trap to toss me in a cell?
"…What're you doing? Think I'll lock you up if you hit me? Fine, I stake my vice captain rank—no repercussions. Tempted now?"
Why was he suddenly demanding I hit him? But his words rang true; light glowed around him like a contract sealed. Still, I hesitated. This was knights' HQ. One wrong move, and I was in danger.
"What? All talk, scared to swing? Barking at me like that—you're all mouth."
Like that thief. Those last words snapped my calm. Contract made, I stepped forward. Right in front of him, I wordlessly swung with all my might.
Tweeeeng!
A loud ring echoed. Predictably, my fist didn't faze him—just bounced off what I assumed was his bear mask armor. Was this it? Feel humiliated and forget Agartha completely?
"Hmph, that all? If that's enough to vent, good."
He snorted, turning back to his seat.
"If you're done, dis—"
The door burst open. Brushing off Alpha and Beta, the Hunter sauntered in toward the vice captain.
He looked puzzled. "What? Late entry means knock—"
But his words cut short.
Piyong!
It sounded like a spring popping.
"Gahk!"
But the result wasn't. The vice captain flew into the air, smashing through the wall, sliding down debris. Dust billowed from the impact; he couldn't stand properly. Stunned by the unreal sight, I blinked as Mu Yeon rushed to him.
"Vice Captain!"
"Urgh…"
He groaned, slowly rising in pain. I turned to the Hunter. She casually retracted her fist, brushing it off.
"If it's his right to you, it's mine too. Wrong?"
"…"
The vice captain said nothing, like he had no comeback—just glaring at her sullenly. She tsked, patting my shoulder.
"Tch, that's why I hate you types. Business done? Go eat."
Led out by her toward the Hearth, I glanced back. The vice captain—whom I'd expected to rage—just silently rose and returned to his seat, like duty called.
"Weapon Arsenal, huh. Knights are surprisingly generous. Those weapons'll sure help against Outer Gods."
The Hunter somehow knew the whole convo. Yeah, weapons were exciting. Forged in the Hearth's heat that warmed the whole territory, their effects were endless. But they were random, performance tied to the wielder's stats—a gamble. Posts like "Jackpot at Arsenal. Reset run over" popped up often.
Good, sure.
"Sigh."
Not depressed, but no chatty mood either. Why'd the pitiless Hunter punch him? Felt good then, but it didn't bring Agartha back—left me gloomy. Her snarky approaches, trying to bond, flashed by. Sighing at the irreplaceable sight, I thought of holding a vigil alone later.
Lost in melancholy, she suddenly slapped my back.
"Guh."
Hard hit—I groaned, glaring. She stared ahead casually.
"…Without you, the thief would've died in that prison. You've done your part letting her live this long. Moping like that? She won't rest easy."
"…?"
"What."
At my quizzical look, she snapped curtly, jutting her chin and marching on. Did I mishear? The Hunter I knew didn't comfort. She just stabbed facts coldly. What changed her to this softness? Baffling since the cell incident.
"…Thanks, Hunter. Feels better."
"Just facts."
Yeah, she'd see it that way. Sometimes facts warmed more than words.
"Follow. Know a good spot."
She led to a quiet diner, deep in an alley—few people. "Quietest decent place," she said. True to her taste. But it screamed hidden gem.
…Yeah, hadn't eaten properly.
"I'll order. Sit."
Nodding at her kindness, I sought a seat. Mostly empty—pick freely. Diner's best by window. Moody anyway; eat and people-watch. Heading to nearest window seat—taken. Prime spot, naturally. Scanning elsewhere, my eyes locked on her.
A girl, one arm missing, dining with a jade orb on the table. Felt familiar. That's definitely…
"Aang, nom nom nom."
Seemed mid-meal, devouring like starved.
"…Gulp gulp. Ahh, this is Hearth, Logs style. Why knights? With this good stuff. I escaped this hell for—huh?"
Mouth agape, about to shove in meatball spaghetti. Sensing something, she looked up—eyes met mine.
"Hey."
"…Huh?"
Seeing me, she panicked hard.
"Uh… I mean…"
Sweating bullets, flustered, she waved wildly.
"Y-You finished well…? Haha…"
Suppressing urge to yell That's what you say now?!, I yanked out the chair opposite, slamming down.
"Eek!"
Her feigned terror drew a sigh; gruffly, I asked,
"One question."
"Y-Yes?"
"You a ghost?"
"Eung! Maybe… a ghost?"
Irritation peaked—I lunged behind, bare-hand choking.
"Guh, gaaak! H-Help, I'm human!"
"Oh? Ghosts eat and choke? How'd you fix your geocentric coordinates?"
All my worry for nothing.
"Scaring people apart, you damn thief!!!!"
Agartha was perfectly alive.