Night fell, and the cold radiance of the blue moon hung high in the sky; Saltwind City was still bustling.
Although on usual nights, every resident would huddle in their homes against the cold air, too hungry to sleep.
But tonight, the entire coastline of Saltwind City was brightly lit, bustling as it once was.
Almost all residents had left their homes, taken out their dusty fishing gear, and headed to the now clear sea to catch the various seafood and fish they had long missed.
If more time had passed, perhaps not everyone would have been able to recognize all the types of fish.
But no matter what, for an inestimable period, the residents of Saltwind City would at least have enough to eat.
Not starving to death was a joyous thing, and if one could eat their fill, that was a good life.
While all the people were rejoicing, and even the Inquisitors, who were originally planning to leave, had to stay to maintain order and prevent accidents.
No one noticed that a few guests residing in Saltwind City quietly left the city.
— — — —
"Ugh, my head, my head is getting sleepier and sleepier. That Quintus is really a bastard. What exactly did he put in my head?"
Wearing a black nun's habit and using the circular saw in her hand as a cane, Specter walked dazedly along the gravel path outside the city.
Since the battle ended, her originally clear consciousness had gradually dissipated, like dozing off, sometimes lucid, sometimes in Chaos.
"Hey, Young Man Goki, help me up, won't you? Most Abyssal Hunters are very light—oops, I can't stand steady."
Her long legs, clad in black stockings, suddenly went soft, and Specter, with a somewhat radiant little face and biting her somewhat sharp white teeth, directly pounced on the black-clad Hunter beside her.
Before Specter became an Abyssal Hunter, she was a famous troublemaker in an Aegir school. After becoming an Abyssal Hunter, she was a bloodthirsty and battle-crazed fighter. She herself had absolutely no interest in the opposite sex.
But... for Goki, she was indeed very interested.
Like a bloodthirsty shark, Specter wanted to understand Goki well, get close to Goki, and even... taste him.
This was almost an instinctive reaction. Ever since she woke up, Specter felt that her heart, her blood, was driving her to get close to Goki, and even to revere Goki.
This was definitely not normal, but considering the Hunter's peculiarity of being able to heal himself with the blood of others or even other species, Specter knew that Goki must have many little secrets.
However... she thought this was pretty good too, after all—this Young Man was quite handsome!
Clatter.
However, just before Specter lunged and fell towards Goki, another enormous force immediately stopped her.
"Specter, do you want Goki to get hurt again? I'll help you."
Standing in front of Goki, Skadi steadied Specter, led her two steps away, and was still carrying the weapon box Goki had given her.
"Ah, well thank you very much, little whale?"
The two pairs of red eyes of the two beautiful white-haired Young Misses looked at each other, their gazes meeting in the air, one smiling brightly, the other with a calm expression.
"Alright, I think Kal'tsit will be here soon. We need to leave as quickly as possible and try not to be discovered by the Inquisitors."
At the agreed location, Goki, with his Hunter's axe on his back, idly tossed a silver, longsword-shaped badge into the air as he began to wait.
[Sword Hunter Badge: One of the badges made by the Healing Church; the silver sword represents the Church Hunters.
Ludwig was among the first Hunters in the Healing Church; most of them were clergymen, who later transformed into extremely terrifying beasts.]
Badges were the medals Goki used in the Hunter's Dream bath messengers to unlock various clothing items, tools, weapons, and equipment. Generally, they were obtained by hunting BOSS-level or elite monsters.
And this "Sword Hunter Badge" was an item dropped after killing the Cleric Beast.
But now, Goki had found this small badge next to the rotten flesh of the deceased First Speaker.
Getting equipment was a happy thing, but what was strange was... why would Terra have such a thing?
[Nona Doll, if I remember correctly, this thing—is the badge I originally had, right?]
Looking at the Sword Hunter Badge, Goki, who used to play with these collectibles in Yharnam, could remember every familiar scratch on it.
How could something that originally belonged to the Hunter's Dream end up on the First Speaker?
[I don't fully know, good Hunter, but after the dream of Yharnam dissipated, you and I together experienced a long drift—and upon arriving at this mysterious continent, you encountered countless gazes of prying and... attacks. I was unable to fully protect the precious things you had retained from the past.]
Nona Doll answered truthfully, even with a hint of self-reproach.
[Ah, I think I know. It's alright, it's alright. Nona Doll, you are the most precious treasure in the dream!]
And Goki immediately comforted Nona Doll, while also making a conjecture.
In this Terra, surrounded by all sorts of strange beings, Goki, an outsider and intruder, would certainly attract the interest of certain Great One existences.
Goki's process of entering Terra might not have been peaceful, and some of his power, as well as precious items, might have been stolen or lost during this process.
[Good... Hunter, please don't say such things so naturally.]
Nona Doll's tone paused slightly, clearly a little shy.
[Where did this Dragon Ball collection plot come from? No, it's more like Kratos in the God of War series getting his skill points reset for various reasons every time he appears... But I can feel that the most recent one isn't far.]
Closing his eyes slightly, after just absorbing the "Knowledge of Madman Quintus" and gazing at the First Speaker, Goki not only raised his Insight to 4 points but also, by accident, intervened and peered into the interconnected neural network of the Seaborn.
In that instant, Goki seemed to glimpse the waters surrounding the continent of Terra, as well as several inland lakes in Terra connected to the ocean, and even the distant ocean.
And within this brief time, Goki also noticed that his scattered power, as well as the residual power of many other Great Ones, was spread across the entire continent.
"At least, I've finally found my future direction."
Looking at Skadi and Specter, who were bickering nearby, Goki smiled and said to them.
"After this, I plan to continue searching for some items I accidentally lost, and also uncover the secrets of this world. What are your plans?"
Recovering his original power was something Goki would definitely do.
Although he was not weak in Terra now, compared to top-tier combatants like the Abyssal Hunters, he was indeed quite far behind.
He needed to recover his strength as quickly as possible so that he could walk more steadily on the land of Terra.
To be reckless, one needed confidence.
His current strength was fine in Saltwind City, but if he wanted to go out, it was still a bit lacking.
And understanding the hidden powers of Terra, those beyond reality, was purely Goki's small interest as a Hunter.
Having left Yharnam, which was full of Great Ones, and with no Old Gods to kill, he felt quite lonely.
"Me? *Yawn*—of course, I'm following you. There probably aren't many Abyssal Hunters left alive, but our battle is over. If we encounter Seaborn again, we'll kill them. Maybe we can even find other Hunters!"
Specter grinned, directly stating that she would go with Goki, while also letting out another yawn.
"Of course, you're a good person too. I really want to follow you—*yawn*."
Beside her, Skadi also became a bit conflicted. She looked at Specter, then at Goki, and finally said softly.
"I, I don't know... But if I can, I also—"
Beep! Beep—
Before Skadi could finish speaking, a loud car horn—no, to be precise, an Originium vehicle—sounded from behind them.
"Hey, Doctor Kal'tsit."
Hearing the car, Goki turned his head, put away the Sword Hunter Badge, and waved at the approaching person.
Soon, an Originium-powered van stopped in front of the three of them. The door opened, and a light green figure nimbly jumped out.
"I'm here. Sorry, packing up the instruments and equipment took some time. A few patients I cured insisted on giving me some fish, which wasted quite a bit of time."
Without making a sound, Kal'tsit, the agile Feline, landed lightly on the ground, making no noise, her expression still calm.
Acutely noticing Kal'tsit's triangular ears, which twitched rapidly with imperceptible movements, Goki always felt that Kal'tsit was actually in a good mood right now.
Goki knew that although she appeared exceptionally indifferent, seeing the people of Saltwind City living a good life, Kal'tsit would surely be very happy.
"As agreed with you all, I will provide a vehicle to take you out of Iberia via the Sargon direction, and in return, you will be responsible for protecting the safety of my valuable instruments during this process."
Hearing Kal'tsit's words, Goki also nodded.
"No problem, thank you for your help, Doctor Kal'tsit."
The two parties had already completed a simple negotiation; Kal'tsit was responsible for transporting the three out of Iberia, and the three Hunters were to provide security services—of course, not to protect Kal'tsit, as she didn't need protection at all.
"Hey, this car is really outdated—*yawn*, I'm getting sleepier and sleepier, damn it."
Unable to resist another yawn, Specter's spirit grew increasingly listless.
"It's merely a cooperative relationship—and by the way, I'm just making a suggestion, Mr. Goki."
Looking at the dazed Specter, whom Skadi was supporting, Kal'tsit pondered for a few seconds and slowly said.
"I know you won't trust a stranger, but if possible, I hope to take Nona Specter, and both of you as well, to Columbia."
As soon as she finished speaking, Skadi immediately pulled Specter back half a step—she still didn't trust the other party.
Looking at Goki, Kal'tsit proposed in a calm tone. She was accustomed to Skadi's reaction, and whether they refused or agreed, Kal'tsit was indifferent.
"Although not as advanced as Aegir, Columbia has Terra's most advanced technological level. While it's filled with academic corporations controlled by capital, I still know a few researchers who haven't lost their conscience—perhaps they can help with Nona Specter's condition."
Saying this, Kal'tsit handed a business card to Goki.
"Whether now or at any time in the future, using the contact information on it, someone will forward your letters to me."
Without hesitation, Goki directly accepted the business card, his gaze meeting Kal'tsit's light green eyes.
"Don't worry, I trust you, Doctor Kal'tsit. I know you are a far-sighted and good person who constantly strives for this land."
His tone was sincere and without exaggeration, because Goki knew that Kal'tsit was exactly that kind of person.
"Good person? Heh... I'm just an ordinary scholar."
Kal'tsit paused slightly, then her expression returned to normal, and she released the business card in her hand.
"Well then, it's time to leave. Get in the car, the compartment is big enough—Mon3tr!"
Just as everyone was preparing to leave, the four people present suddenly, and without prior arrangement, drew their weapons and looked vigilantly in one direction.
Buzz—Boom—Bang—
It was a long, piercing shriek, interspersed with several sonic booms.
And before the sound reached the ears of the four, a tall and slender figure, holding a long spear, had already appeared before them.
"Abyssal Hunters, just as I thought—Specter, and also... Skadi, you've caused quite a stir."
Under the blue moon, the beautiful white-haired, red-eyed woman looked at the four people present, nodded elegantly, her gaze resting on the two Abyssal Hunters.
"It's time to rejoin the team, Hunters."
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