Bunny Princess, what are you doing?

“Indeed…”

Alice thrust her greatsword into the ground.

She smoothed her disheveled hair and turned around.

Beneath the moonlight, the victor of the battlefield was human.

The scene before him was nothing short of astonishing.

The finesse she displayed—unbelievable for someone wielding such a hefty greatsword. The precision that allowed no room for even a single misstep. The concentration to seize the critical moment.

All these qualities converged to shape the hunter known as Alice.

She was an enigma, impossible to fully grasp.

She spoke little and rarely smiled. Her white hair and weary eyes gave her an air of fragility. Aaron had once thought, “Even if she’s skilled with a greatsword, how impressive could she really be?” He had doubted the rumors surrounding her.

Now, he realized how wrong he had been.

From the moment the hunt began, she stood out.

Her relentless flurry of attacks and her unyielding determination to never let the monster escape were what secured their victory.

And her decision to prioritize shattering the helmet was chillingly astute.

She must have calculated that Cometras would eventually dive underground.

She was a monstrous woman.

Aaron clenched his fist. Alice didn’t belong in this rank. She was destined for greater heights.

Suddenly, Aaron found himself curious about her.

What kind of life must one lead to attain such strength at her age?

According to rumors, Alice was a woman rescued from the Floodplain.

If so, had she been hunting monsters there all this time?

Just how many monsters would one need to face to reach such a level? Aaron dared to speculate.

At the very least, she must have piled up enough monster corpses to build a tower.

“Alice!!”

Cloy dashed toward Alice, who was catching her breath in front of Cometras.

She threw herself at Alice, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

Alice’s body swayed heavily. Barely steadying herself, she grabbed Cloy’s arm and let out a groan. Yet, she didn’t push Cloy away—perhaps she wasn’t entirely displeased.

“How did you do that! I was so worried~.”

“Let go…”

Seeing her like this, she seemed just like any other girl her age.

Still, the unbelievable reality made Aaron chuckle.

“Leo.”

“Yeah?”

“When we get back, shall we all have a drink together?”

“I’d like that.”

Leo, who had been watching quietly from the side, gave a soft smile.

Leo shared thoughts similar to Aaron’s.

He had no doubt that Alice could become one of the greatest hunters of their era.

Even though they were mere novices who had only just taken down a mid-tier monster, they could still recognize the vast difference in caliber.

The gap between Alice and themselves was immeasurable.

And so, the quest concluded.

The four hunters had cut down the beast before it could unleash calamity.

Perhaps they had treated an innocent monster as a fearsome disaster. But since it posed too great a threat to humans, it was rightfully subjugated.

Alice gazed down at the motionless Cometras.

She felt no pity for it.

Even if the Stonehide Dragon had clad itself in iron armor, it would have met the same fate.

—

The time when the moon waned.

The campfire, which had lost its vigor, was rekindled with fresh wood, and sparks danced beautifully within it. The embers leaping into the dark Floodplain painted a picturesque scene.

Unlike the sweltering day, a gentle breeze blew, and the air was cool. There was no need for cooling powder now. The night’s chill devoured the Floodplain’s heat. Cloy rubbed her arms, savoring the refreshing breeze, knowing that once the sun rose, the heat would return.

The Floodplain was unusually quiet today. No howls from Lugaraks, no unpleasant footsteps of animals—nothing. Only the occasional chirping of insects. Without any jarring noises, it was peaceful beyond measure.

Amidst this, what captivated everyone’s attention was undoubtedly the meat.

A large chunk of meat, skewered on a spit, rotated slowly over the campfire.

Aaron turned the wood carefully to ensure the meat cooked evenly.

Though it was late, they all sat around the campfire, their stomachs growling, eager to fill their bellies.

The sound of swallowing saliva echoed now and then.

They were having a late dinner after subjugating Cometras. Since the quest was over, they allowed themselves this leisure.

The aroma of roasting meat wafted through the air.

In this quiet atmosphere, Leo felt a bit awkward. Nights were usually like this, but he thought that tonight, at least, they could afford to chat a little.

Leo was the first to break the silence.

“Good job, everyone.”

“…Well done.”

“Hehe, Alice worked especially hard~.”

“But Aaron smashed the helmet with his hammer. You did great too.”

“Ahem, Leo, but you… you did well blocking the attacks in front of me…”

“Oh, come on, this could go on forever. We all did well. You, me, everyone worked hard. And Cloy, you dodged those fireballs pretty well. Every time I looked up and saw it aiming at you, I was so startled.”

“I dodged them all~. I thought I was going to die, though. And me, every time I shot an arrow, I was so nervous. It took serious focus not to hit you guys. My fingers are still trembling.”

“But thanks to your explosive arrows, we survived. When we get back, we’ll have to spend a fortune again. We’re out of them.”

“…Did you think I’d use up everything I had?”

The three of them spoke softly to one another.

They all seemed to bask in the languid yet sweet atmosphere that followed the quest’s completion.

Alice, who had been watching silently, let out a small laugh.

She rather liked this vibe.

Even when she went on quests with Noah, it wasn’t quite like this. More often than not, they’d just have trivial conversations before sleeping.

Perhaps this was the true charm of party play that Noah had wanted to teach her.

If she had been alone, how would it have been? She might have felt a sense of accomplishment, but not to this extent.

Being alone is comfortable, but being with others isn’t bad either.

Having people to share the moment with is a blessing in itself.

“Ah, Alice.”

“…Yes?”

“We’re planning to have a drink after this. What do you think?”

Alice tilted her head.

“Drink?”

“Yeah. Since the quest went well, and to get to know each other better.”

“Hmm…”

—

Alice was a woman of few words. Among all the people Noah had met, she was particularly taciturn.

He didn’t know why. In truth, Noah knew next to nothing about Alice. So, he just assumed there was some reason she became so reserved.

With Alice not at home, he felt a certain emptiness. Even though she was almost silent, her absence made the house feel strangely quiet. Noah touched his lips thoughtfully.

He hadn’t been idle during her absence. While Alice was on her quest, Noah also did work befitting a hunter.

Being a hunter isn’t just about hunting. Many hunters spend their time gathering or hunting easy herbivorous monsters. After the Association’s test where they had to hunt a Pienos, most realized the wall between humans and monsters and chose safer paths.

Noah had taken on some gathering quests and hunted herbivorous monsters to supply meat. He was used to working alone, so he didn’t feel Alice’s absence much while out and about. But upon returning to the lodging, being alone felt oddly dull.

Having the room to himself was freeing, but then he’d remember Alice wasn’t there, and it felt pointless.

He realized how much he had grown attached to her over time.

It wasn’t usually like this. It reminded him of his early days as a hunter, when he left his family to start this life and felt similarly.

Alice had been gone to the Floodplain for the quest for three days now. Though it hadn’t been long, after finishing his own quests and returning to the lodging, he found himself with nothing to do.

Hunters often lead nomadic lives, so he hadn’t made many close friends. Attachments fade when you don’t see each other for long periods. The hunters he had worked with before were just temporary party members.

The only real connection he had was with Alice.

She’s probably fine, right?

Noah sighed as he rolled around on the bed.

Without Alice, the house felt cold. Lifeless, perhaps. He himself felt drained. It had been a while since he felt this way. He was a bit upset that Alice had left without a word. If he had known, he wouldn’t have overslept, he regretted belatedly.

…Maybe I’m the only one who thinks of her as a friend?

Noah frowned. It seemed possible.

Alice never reacted much, spoke little, and rarely smiled. Sometimes, her demeanor was so businesslike that it felt rigid. Did she really only care about killing monsters, indifferent to people?

Noah lay in the soft bedding, deep in thought. His mind was a whirlwind.