To be honest, I didn't like the idea of fate or inevitability.
This included things like astrology and fortune-telling.
For me, the world didn't flow along predetermined paths or rails. It merely showed the outcomes of one's choices.
Choices and consequences of free will.
A series of unexpected coincidences.
That was my definition of the future.
If I were to start embracing the concept of fate, it would be like accepting that being abandoned by my mother when I was young was somehow destined or inevitable.
Where did fate say that someone must be abandoned?
Because of this, unless something significant happened, my perspective on my own values wouldn't change.
Until recently, everything that happened to me was a series of events that could be called major.
"Aira-nim, are you okay?"
I hurriedly ran towards Queen Aira. Her mana barrier just shattered from the impact of the crossbow bolt.
A bolt that pierced through her mana barrier, which had remained unscathed even against the repeated attacks of Ark's third-ranked, Verdonas.
Aira sounded interested as she looked at the black cloaked figure above the tree in the distance. Then, with a flick of her finger, the bolt flew back in the direction it had come from.
The shadow on the tree skillfully leaped into the air, evading the attack. As he landed on the ground, it felt as though he was weightless.
It was like a black panther landing in the undergrowth from a tree.
━That's the Hunter guy.
━Did he just attack the Queen?
━Uh-uh, hey, he's coming this way…!
Pushing through the roaring crowd, the man in a black cloak approached the Queen.
As the tightly wound bandages and the cloak ominously fluttered, his black pupils locked in a gaze with the Queen's as they stared at each other—.
At that moment, I couldn't help but wonder if fate truly existed.
The Hero and the Witch Queen.
Were the Villain Hunter and the Villain destined to clash in the end?
Aira leisurely asked the Hunter.
Her composure was such that it didn't seem like she was talking to a man who was at least two heads taller than her.
No, in this case, one could say that the Hunter standing tall without being intimidated by Queen Aira, was more impressive.
The Hunter remained silent.
Without opening his bandaged lips, he merely looked down at Aira.
I instinctively knew that he was figuring out whether it was okay to kill Aira or not.
Because the main character in the story, the Hunter, was such a man.
A psychopath who killed for the sake of the reader's entertainment.
As I reached such thoughts, my hair stood on end, and the determination to protect Aira filled my mind.
If Aira was to be killed here and now, many things would descend into chaos, beyond anyone's control.
I couldn't bear the thought of everything I had built being destroyed.
So, I pointed my wand at the Hunter and shouted.
"Hey, you rude bastard!"
Then, those black pupils turned towards me.
Everyone, including Aira and the Hunter, looked at me. Though it felt overwhelming, I could endure it.
I continued to shout amid the penetrating gazes.
"How dare you shoot at the Queen!!! This is a blatant, rebellious act against the Angmar Royal Family!!!"
When I shouted such loud accusations, strangely, my courage soared. Drawing strength from the boiling determination within me, I added a few more words. ṛ𝔞ɴồ฿Ê𝒮
"Put down your weapon and bow your head in apology to the Queen…!!!"
The audience fell silent at my words.
They blinked their eyes, seemingly waiting as to how the situation would unfold. Surprisingly, it was Aira who spoke first.
Aira tried to hide me behind her. Then, she continued to ask the Hunter.
The Hunter still remained silent. Only his black eyes, which were visible beneath the bandages, glinted as if saying something.
"Ahh, wait! Wait, passing through! Excuse me for a moment-. What are you doing there?!"
At that moment, someone appeared, parting the crowd.
She was dressed in the distinctive navy-blue attire of a religious person, and was an impressive beauty with long golden hair and striking blue eyes.
It was Miriam, the Priestess of the Hunter Party.
She quickly explained.
"Mr. Hunter, if you act recklessly, what will we do? Oh, what should we do now? I'm so sorry."
Looking at Miriam, who kept bowing apologetically towards us, Aira let out a slightly tired-sounding, "Hmm…" And she muttered.