"Unbelievable...I can’t believe the Chairwoman deliberately left me out," Muttered Elicia, an annoyed look on her face.
"Yeah, she made a point of telling me to play along because she, and I quote, thought it’d be funny," I replied with a wry smile.
"This is fucking embarrassing. I can’t believe I said all that shit, I must have come off as such an asshole," She groaned, burying her face in her hands.
"No, I wouldn’t say that. I mean, if I really had been someone with J-Ranked Potential, everything you said would’ve been spot on," I pointed out.
"He’s right, you didn’t say anything wrong," Ferna nodded in agreement, as she gave Elicia a pat on the shoulder.
"Still, though...I could’ve at least been nicer about it. I thought you were just some naive trust fund kid playing around and taking being a Hunter lightly, and that just really ticked me off," She admitted with a strained sigh.
"Yeah, that’s fair."
"So, uh...what exactly are you? You fight like an Assassin with that blade, you also use a gun like some Rangers do, you cast debuffs like an Enchanter, then there were those black and white masses of energy shaped like jaws, not to mention how you pulled your weapons out of thin air.
And to top it all off, you have the ability to keep increasing your Potential. None of that makes sense, even for Arcane Mag-...I mean, Arcane Hunters."
Oh, yeah, Arcane Mages have officially been renamed to Arcane Hunters.
Ariella’s theory ended up getting traction, and the Hunters Union made it official. It happened about two months before our graduation, Ariella was given an award for it.
"Honestly, I’ve been wondering the same thing for a while myself," Chimed in Ferna.
"Mhm, same here," Nodded Lector in agreement.
"Don’t Arcane Hunters usually come up with their own titles? There hasn’t yet been a case where the same kind of Arcane Magic has manifested in more than one Hunter.
Every single Arcane Mage in history have had their own unique Magic, they’ve all been one of a kind. For instance, one of the currently active Arcane Hunters titled her class as Explosion Mage, and her Magic itself as Explosion Magic, since it fires explosive projectiles," Remarked Will thoughtfully.
I know about the Explosion Mage, she’s a Hunter in this Sanctuary, but I didn’t know that Arcane Hunters name their own Classes.
Makes sense though, if every Arcane Hunter has unique abilities, you might as well let them name their Magic and Class themselves.
"Yeah, you should think up a name for your Magic too. Though, given the varied nature of your abilities, it might be tough to come up with something that covers all of them," Mused Elicia, all her animosity towards me gone.
Actually, I’ve already thought of a name. Well, it’s not particularly creative, but it definitely fits me perfectly...though, it probably won’t make sense to most others.
"I’ve got one. I’m going to go with...the Sinner."
"Really? I mean, it sounds cool and all, but does it fit your abilities?" She responded with a confused look on her face.
"Oh, I think I get what you’re going for. Is it, like, a reference to the Seven Deadly Sins? Because your Devour and Drain abilities would definitely fit gluttony. And that Mana Pulse attack could maybe be wrath?
Hm, and maybe your ability to keep growing more powerful could be...greed, or maybe pride? You’ve definitely got plenty of other tricks up you sleeve, I’m guessing they fit in with the other sins somehow?" Surmised Ferna.
Okay, why do I keep finding myself around perceptive women? First Ariella, then Charlotte, and now her. Well, it’s fine, this saves me the trouble of having to come up with an explanation myself.
"Yeah, something like that," I nodded with a wry smile.
"Hm? Hey, I just sensed more Monsters up ahead, five of them this time," Will informed me.
"Got it," I nodded, focusing up as I drew Desecrator back out of Treasury.
I should get a sheath or something for it, it’s so sharp that it cut right through the sheath of my old short-sword, and the size wasn’t quite right either, so I might need to get one custom-made for it.
Anyway, as we continued through the floor, I drew out my gun as the Monsters soon came into sight, another pack of Goblins.
Hm, I think I’ll try fighting this group without using any Skills.
As they took notice of us, I swiftly shot forward, sprinting across the snow towards the Monsters, one of them letting out a snarl before charging at me, the rest following its lead.
I leapt over it as it closed in and sprang at my legs, before spinning around as I landed behind it and whipped my blade across, slashing at the middle of its back and slicing through its spine, paralyzing it as it let out a sharp cry of pain.
I then raised my gun as another one leapt forward, before taking aim and pulling the trigger. An agonized screech rang out as the Mana bullet struck the middle of its chest, its body seizing up and collapsing onto the ground.
I sprang off to the left as two of the remaining Goblins lunged at me, avoiding them before turning across and flinging my blade up with a flick of my wrist as the fifth Goblin leapt at me with a jagged rock in its hand.
I took a swift step forward and slammed my palm onto the middle of its torso, my hand pressing into its solar plexus as I chanted...
"<Mana Pulse>."
A violent spasm erupted across its entire body as its eyes exploded, blood pouring out of its mouth, nose and ears as I killed it instantly, before turning my gaze to the other two as I caught my blade as it plummeted back into my reach, the Monsters shrinking back in fear as I met their gazes with a smirk...