Chapter 39
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 39
Chapter Title: New Captain
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Hungry Slayer 39
River said,
“I want to be free from responsibility now. Dane won’t irresponsibly take off on solo tours like some people, he’s the strongest among us and has the highest rank, so it’s only natural he takes over at fifth grade.”
Her calm tone carried the weight of long consideration.
She seemed satisfied with her own decision. Everyone knew it couldn’t have been easy. Even so, River showed consideration for Bankers.
“I hope you’re not too disappointed that your teammate became captain.”
Bankers shook his head vigorously.
“As if. I’m content with a life that has meat in it.”
River gave him a slight smile to express her thanks. That smile turned back toward Dane, her expression asking for his thoughts.
Dane met River’s gaze in silence.
There was no reason to refuse. But the idea of taking on the captain’s role for a hunting party with just two members made his heart feel a little heavier.
‘Member count isn’t what matters. River must have been under a lot of stress. And... probably more than me.’
Dane knew that at some point, he had been the one making decisions and leading the team. Nothing would change.
“I’ll do it. I like the party name.”
He accepted it matter-of-factly.
“If that’s River’s wish, no helping it. Stop by the contact office tomorrow to finalize the succession. Since things have come to this, I want to be free as soon as possible—how about getting acquainted with Dink by morning?”
The man who had schemed this whole thing and thrown everyone for a loop spoke with utter nonchalance. His skin was thicker than a castle wall.
River responded to Lucas with a brilliant smile, of all things.
“You seem thrilled. Happy? Satisfied? Bet it feels great to wash your hands of it all?”
River unleashed a torrent of long-pent-up anger, letting it pour out for quite some time.
Lucas’s screams rang through the night sky until they grew tiresome, but no one stepped in to stop her.
River felt lighter with each passing moment, hoping the new captain would at least be someone she could reason with.
Bankers was relieved he hadn’t become captain, while Dane had a premonition that he’d soon find himself in a similar spot to Lucas.
* * *
“Dink’s huge, as you can see. Eats a ton, shits a ton. Think you can handle his weight management?”
Lucas, face puffy and bruised, pointed proudly at Dink. The beast was steadily munching on hay without pause. Bankers let out an admiring chuckle.
“Heh heh, keeping that bulk up must take some serious feeding.”
“Fortunately, he’s not picky. Eats any grass, takes to hay just fine. Glutton of a thing, doesn’t mind the roots’ influence at all. What a gem, right?”
The fledgling Dane Butchery Party had received every last detail—even the trivia—before contact was even permitted.
Dink was tamed, but up till now, Lucas had been the only one allowed near him.
“Approaching him isn’t the hard part. Give it a shot, Dane?”
Dane let his body go completely slack, making it clear he had no hostile intent, and slowly drew near Dink.
“There there... good boy, our Dink.”
His comrades struggled to stifle their laughter as he cooed at the monster like it was a puppy.
Dane’s utterly serious expression only made it funnier, but Dink clearly wasn’t amused.
The beast stomped a foot and snorted, menacing Dane. Dane caught the stench of fear wafting from him.
“Elszm!”
It made no difference how much Dane toned down his presence.
“Haha, he’s scared of you, huh.”
Bankers watched with arms crossed, thoroughly enjoying himself. It was the first time he’d seen Dane look so awkward.
From the perspective of a herbivorous monster, Dane was more terrifying than any carnivore. Instinct had already pegged him as a predator. And with the history of him charging in to hunt it once before, opening up wasn’t going to be easy.
“Dane, you’re not popular with Dink. Maybe give up?”
Lucas asked in a teasing lilt, his shoulders hiked up in smug delight.
“I’m... not interested in monsters I don’t eat.”
Dane gave up without a fight. It was too quick a surrender for someone who’d once chatted Bankers’ ear off about monster husbandry.
‘Could probably force him into submission with a good thrashing, but...’
He figured that would amount to a total defeat against Lucas. His comrades wouldn’t stand idly by for that spectacle, either.
He played it cool and waved it off, but it left a bitter taste. He wasn’t used to things not going his way.
Lucas, who had been eyeing Dane steadily, strutted over to Dink with chest puffed.
“For the world’s gentlest beast to hate him that much—now that’s something. Does that guy just rub you the wrong...?”
His leisurely words didn’t get to finish.
-Kwak!
Dink whipped his head violently, slashing Lucas’s waist with the long horn atop his snout.
“Kuaak!”
Lucas spiraled through the air like a corkscrew, seeing stars and dry roots galore before crashing to the ground.
Still not satisfied, Dink reared up to stomp the flattened Lucas.
“Elsz! Zm!”
The moment Dink bellowed, Dane drew his cleaver. But no blood was spilled.
“Stop, Dink!!”
River leaped between them, arms spread wide to block the way. Dink’s aggressive posture vanished in an instant as he lowered his head.
“Heh heh! Well, now...”
Bankers’ sigh was well warranted.
Dink nuzzled his head affectionately, sitting and lying down on River’s command. The sheer incongruity of the massive monster acting so cute was spectacle enough.
From that, Bankers pieced it together.
“River beat Lucas black and blue nonstop, so he switched allegiances. He’s wary of Dane ’cause he’s so damn scary. Hierarchy’s locked in perfectly—hahaha!”
He let out a hearty laugh and edged closer to Dink. The beast wasn’t hostile toward Bankers, but it didn’t show River’s level of fondness, either.
“Zm...”
“...”
It was like two different species of animals crossing paths on the plains, neither paying the other any mind—thoroughly indifferent.
Only then did Lucas clamber to his feet and straighten his posture. His body was a wreck from River and Dink alike, but his mind seemed sharp enough.
His durability was every bit worthy of an ex-captain.
Dane and Lucas watched from a distance as River worked her magic on Dink.
“At that rate, doesn’t River have more talent than you?”
Lucas nodded in agreement at Dane’s words.
“Still, I bet he’d prefer touring with you. I saw it when you were grilling meat. First time I’ve ever seen that guy smile so wide. Familiar sight for you?”
“Yeah. River’s got a good smile.”
As the two conversed, River—with Bankers’ support—climbed atop Dink’s neck. She beamed, gripping the horn on his head, and Lucas and Dane couldn’t help but smile along.
“River’s like a little sister to me. What about to you?”
Lucas asked out of the blue. Dane answered without hesitation.
“A party member.”
“That’s it?”
“The only cook I’d trust with meat.”
Lucas nodded vigorously, as if that settled it. A bit of nosebleed trickled down with each bob. He ignored it and pressed on.
“She might look happy on the outside now, but she’s not fully at ease inside. You know that, right?”
Dane nearly said it was Lucas’s fault but held back. The man’s eyes looked oddly misty.
“River heading to Mekardo—that’s unexpected. How’d you talk her into it, the one who couldn’t even stand hearing the name?”
“Talk her into? What’re you on about?”
“She didn’t tell you Mekardo’s her hometown? And she just up and agreed? Really? That so? In that case... no need for me to spill. Unless you want to hear it?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
Lucas looked itching to blurt it out, but Dane played dumb.
Everyone had things they didn’t care to share. Best thing was to wait it out.
All that lingered was the sense that today was one big day of gratitude toward River. And so the night passed.
* * *
The next day, only Dane and Lucas headed to the Root Contact Office.
“Lucas Hunting Party Captain Lucas here. Looking to disband the party and handle succession. Can you process it?”
Lucas said to the elf at the office. The somewhat green-looking elf froze at the rare request, fumbling through a thick manual at high speed.
“Uh... one sec. Disbandment and... succession. Here it is. First, the original captain places a hand on the Tienun and declares intent to disband... then... ah, right. The successor new captain places a hand... and I top it off. Uh... but...”
She suddenly looked up, glancing back and forth between Lucas and Dane.
“On succession, existing hunter grades and achievements get reset—is that okay? It says here failure to notify in advance can cause issues.”
“We know. Can we do it now?”
Lucas slapped his hand on the Tienun impatiently. That did it.
They placed their hands in sequence, thoughts and intent flowing between them, the result spilling from the elf’s lips.
“Lucas Hunting Party disbanded. Captain Lucas reset. New Dane Butchery Party registered complete. Prior captain’s grade succession complete. New Captain Dane grade reassigned to fifth... complete.”
“That’s everything?”
“Return your existing grade badge, and pick up the new one from the ex-captain.”
He set his yellow badge down on the root table. Lucas stared down at the blue one clutched in his hand.
He seemed lost in sentiment. Maybe some hesitation too. Dane didn’t know the man’s feelings and let him have his moment.
“With this, I’ve handed everything over to you. Get what that means?”
“Yeah.”
Dane took the proffered badge and clipped it to his cloak.
The moment Dane stepped out of the contact office, he let out a hollow chuckle.
The Engola Autonomous Party’s cavalry, who had been lying in wait with aggressive zeal, reminded him of a captain’s very first duty.
‘Handing over everything includes this, huh. Well, it’s inheritance too...’
He shot Lucas a withering look, but the man wore a brazen expression. The autonomous party seemed to share the sentiment.
“Lucas! You bastard, finally showing that shameless mug!!”
“Won’t make up for the damages you caused, we’ll haul you to autonomous court and make you eat Engola grass mush for life!”
Lucas shook his head.
“I acknowledge my past mistakes. But now I’m a private citizen who’s relinquished all hunter grades and privileges. The Lucas Hunting Party’s disbanded, and everything’s been succeeded to Dane Butchery Party Captain Dane here—so how about we settle accounts with him?”
He gazed at Dane with magnanimous satisfaction at his own words. It wasn’t even that hateful anymore.
Dane spoke calmly to the man who appeared to be the autonomous party’s leader.
“It’s true. Dane Butchery Party Captain Dane has succeeded all assets of the Lucas Hunting Party. Faults and debts included.”
“You... saying you’ll cover the damages?”
Dane pulled out a hefty handful of gold coins.
“Along with the damages, I’d like to buy some grazing land in the Dane Butchery Party’s name. How much would that run?”
It was more than enough gold to earn a polite attitude.