-The First Encounter-

“Everyone! Listen! Today, I have got a message from the chief of the department from DCB of Mito. A boss has appeared on this low-class dungeon. It has never happened before, making this the first time. We know not the level of this boss neither what the boss looks like. What’s more, the energy fluctuation of the dungeon has disappeared, this leads to two outcomes.

One, either someone slew the boss or, two, the boss has killed everyone in the dungeon and has concealed itself. The former is impossible, considering the level of the people enters here, so, the later was more likely the case.

Today, our duty is, to find out, what happened inside and slay the boss if possible. Understood!?” a thunderous voice echoed in front of the dungeon entrance. The voice belongs to a man with a handsome face, slicked blue hair and sword like eyebrows. He was holding a large steel shield on his right hand. He was wearing a black bodysuit with yellow markings all over it. A midnight black chest plate hung on his chest, giving him the appearance of a valiant hero.

He’s Kawakami Hashimoto, who was a bronze ranked Hunter.

There are five ranks of a hunter. Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. The hunters have to complete enough missions issued by the World Dungeon Control Bureau. Its only after that, they can be promoted to a higher rank.

To become a bronze ranked hunter, a registered Hunter has to complete more than 100 missions issued by the WDCB. Similarly, to become a silver ranked hunter, one has to complete more than 500 missions. This ranking was completely irrelevant on one’s level. Even, the famous Yamazaki Aoi was only a silver ranked hunter.

This rank provides a hunter with many privileges. For example, a ranked hunter would get an amount of discount on every product they buy from the market, no matter the country. Even the police close an eye whenever they deal with a case related to a hunter.

They are also excepted from all charges when they are traveling somewhere within the country or outside.

This Hashimoto was only a Bronze ranked hunter, but his status was higher than a chief of police. He was like a local tyrant in Mito since there was no other higher ranked hunter here. Even, the municipality head has to greet him politely whenever he was talking to him.

As someone with such high status, to work under him was a luxurious privilege for other unranked hunters. Hashimoto also knew this, that’s why he had opened a dojo under his name to rope in talented hunters to his side.

Suddenly, one of the uniformed men raised his hand and spoke in a loud voice.

“Sir, What if there were survivors?”

“We will rescue them! any more questions?” Hashimoto shouted.

Another uniformed man raised his hand and spoke.

“Sir, what if someone has already killed the boss?”

“Impossible! The hunters inside this dungeon were all low ranked ones. Okay! Enough with the chit-chat; let's go!”

Just as the group of men prepared to enter, the door to ladies toilet room opened and from within Kenshin and the rest exited. Hashimoto and his boy scouts looked dumbfounded at the nine people that came out of the room. At the same time, Kenshin and the rest’s eyes also landed on the well-equipped group.

Both parties stopped in their tracks after seeing the other.

“You…! You guys are alive?” Hashimoto regained his composure and asked the group of people that have just come out.

“Yes! Is that a problem?” seeing that nobody was answering, Kenshin decided to do it. As for the other eight old men, they have turned into statues. The status of Hashimoto was too much for them to handle.

If Kenshin doesn’t have the system and all the miracles it brought, he would have also joined these eight men now. But, now, a mere Hashimoto was not enough to make him lose his composure. Said man frowned at the casual attitude that Kenshin has shown him.

He was a respected Bronze-ranked Hunter, someone, to whom even the municipality officers bow their head to! For a mere unranked hunter to treat him with indifference, this was the first time.

Needless to say; he was not happy. Seeing his sullen expression, one of his cronies stepped forwards and started berating him.

“You idiot! Do you know the person standing in front of you? He is Hashimoto-sama, a Bronze-ranked Hunter. He isn’t someone a low-class hunter like you could talk casually. Apologize him this instant!”

The shout of this person brought the eight men into reality. Hearing what this person has just said, they couldn’t help but throw a disdain filled glance towards him.

‘Are you kidding! Do you even know who this person is? He is a magic skill user! A very strong one at that’ all the eight men thought the same thing. Although, an ordinary bronze ranked hunter was highly respected; still, he was nothing in front of a magic skill user.

“Huh! Apologize! Why should I apologize?” as someone who had lost his parents at a very young age and also has to take care fo a sister, he has developed a dauntless character. He would never bow to anyone, of course if didn’t bring problems to him or his sister.

Due to this, he has faced many problems in the past. But, he never regrets it. A man without his pride is not a true man. Since, Hashimoto’s rank was not simple, here he would have just apologized and move on. But now he knew the potential he held, a character like Hashimoto, he would soon surpass him. Then, why would he bow down to this character?

The man who spoke as well as other men standing behind him, including Hashimoto, everyone’s face sank at his question. They have never expected that someone would question them like this.

“You…!” the man was speechless.

The eight men standing behind Kenshin are trying their hardest to not burst into laughter. Nevertheless, these eight men had a poker face maintained with all their might. Hashimoto's expression was like he couldn’t wait to swallow them whole. His eyes are practically emitting fire.

The air was getting heavy between them, and the glare that Hashimoto was sending towards Kenshin doesn’t help a bit.

Just when the man was about to attack Kenshin, he was stopped by an excited voice with traces of astonishment mixed in.

“You people are alive!?”

The department chief of the DCB of Mito was here.