"Are you really a void hunter?"
The short question made Ayu fall silent. The girl swallowed hard and felt her heart beating faster.
Ayu's shocked expression and lack of response made Arya even more suspicious.
But just as the man was about to open his mouth, Ayu's eyes widened and she immediately grabbed Arya's arm, dragging him somewhere in a hurry.
Arya didn't question Ayu's actions, but if the worst happened, he was always prepared for that possibility.
The two of them arrived behind the school building.
There was only about 5 meters between the school building and the concrete wall that marked the school's boundary. There were only 4 trees behind the school building from far right to the far left, providing enough shade for a few people to pass by.
But at that moment, there was no one around, only Arya, who looked confused, and Ayu, who looked panicked.
"Why—"
"Please don't tell anyone that I'm a void hunter," said Ayu, interrupting Arya.
The girl pressed her palms together and raised them in front of her while bowing her head, trying to beg Arya earnestly.
Arya pressed his thumb against his chin and scratched it with his index finger while looking at Ayu skeptically. "Wait a minute, that doesn't answer my question. How can a student at this school become a void hunter? Regardless of the reason, the operation to become a void hunter is not cheap."
Ayu raised her head with a slightly awkward chuckle. "That... Hehe... I'm actually from an elite complex, so... I have the money to do the operation. Hehe..."
'Oh no, oh no, oh no! He might find out that I'm a bloodborn,' thought Ayu, trying to hide her panic.
"You're rich, but you go to a school like this? Why did you do that?" asked Arya in a calm tone of voice.
'A rich person attending a school in this area? Plus, she's a void hunter. It makes more sense for her to attend a military academy,' thought Arya.
Ayu stammered as she tried to explain. Her face was slightly sweaty and her breathing was erratic. "That... There are many reasons, actually. After I underwent surgery to become a void hunter, my uncle, who was actually a military void hunter, retired. I didn't have time to transfer to a military school and secretly collected void cores to help my retired uncle. So, please don't tell anyone that I'm a void hunter, please!"
'What did I just say?! I don't know! I don't know what that was! Please believe my reason!!' Ayu shouted in her mind.
"You're in a pretty bad situation too, it seems," replied Arya, who was still staring at Ayu seriously.
'The reason sounds suspicious, but her situation is almost the same as mine. She's a void hunter who's trapped in economic problems. Maybe I can take advantage of that,' Arya thought calmly.
As Ayu's mind began to panic, her brain worked so fast that she suddenly remembered one important detail.
"Wh... Why are you here anyway? You're not from the Red Lion guild, yet you hunt void beasts. I've never seen you in any political party, nor military. But you teach as a teacher, you must be hiding something too, right?!" Ayu said panickedly and said anything that came to her mind.
'I almost forgot! Why would a void hunter become a teacher?! Especially teaching at a school like this. Could he also be a Bloodborn? That means he knows where to sell illegal void cores!' thought Ayu.
Arya paused for a moment before finally opening his slightly trembling mouth. "I have my own reasons because I used to be a teacher in another city. I had more or less the same economic problems as you. So, I think I should also ask you to keep this a secret."
'DAMN IT! How does she know so much?! The military? Political parties? Who is she?! Are the students at this school really that knowledgeable?! If she suspects me and finds out that I'm not actually a teacher, I'll have to move and find work somewhere else! I don't have time to move and find a new job! That debt collector will kill me!' Arya shouted in his mind.
"Oh... I see. We... So we're the same, hehe..." said Ayu, chuckling awkwardly.
'I knew it! He's afraid that his identity as a void hunter will be revealed, he must be a bloodborn in disguise!' Ayu shouted in her mind.
Arya and Ayu looked at each other and smiled.
'He's in the same situation as me, maybe he could be my friend. But is that possible? Can I trust him? Even though he's also a bloodborn, he's very sneaky,' thought Ayu.
'Her reasons are suspicious. I'm sure she has other secrets, but I'm in the same situation. If I keep asking questions, she'll probably do the same,' thought Arya.
'For now, it seems I have to be careful. He could be a friend, but I have to remain cautious,' thought Ayu.
'It's too risky to dig up any more information. For now, I just need to keep an eye on her,' thought Arya.
"In that case, this is our secret, okay? You don't want anyone else to know that you're a void hunter, and neither do I," said Arya, trying to hold back his panic as he extended his right hand to shake Ayu's.
"O... Okay... Then, fellow void hunters who keep secrets," said Ayu, gripping Arya's hand and shaking it.
'I have to think of a way to get him to tell me where to sell the void core, but I have to be wary of his scam,' thought Ayu.
'This girl is dangerous. I will find out her identity later, but I have to be careful, she must not find out my secret,' thought Arya.
The two shook hands peacefully while smiling warmly at each other.