The Role of a Hunter

✧₊⁺

“Hey, Archie!?”

I called out over the sound of the wind and roaring engine, as we took the main road out of Castella towards the reported threat in another village. Grassy plains on both sides made for an otherworldly view, and I was more than glad to not have any insects flying in my mouth.

“Yes, Jiro?” Archie floated a short distance behind me, nearly keeping to my high speed.

“Not that this ain’t fun and all, but if someone is actually in trouble, why am I riding a Harley out there instead of just teleporting?”

Being back on a motorcycle after several weeks was a treat, but twenty minutes into a trip, you begin to wonder if the people you’re going to protect even need your help anymore. When I asked the same question to the station attendants about riding the train they simply ignored me.

“That is an excellent observation, but teleportation capabilities are reserved only for those with admin privileges—and Eternals that meet the monthly financial contribution threshold—to preserve some semblance of realism within the Digiscape.”

I glanced around at the purple sky and the huge crystalline structure to my distant left with a deadpan stare.

“Realism my ass.”

“What was that, Jiro?”

“Nothing, nothing at all.”

The Digiscape was game-like in some ways, but surprisingly tame in others. The way Director Barnes described it in his sales pitch made it seem like it would be a giant sandbox for everyone, but perhaps that wasn’t the case. I wondered just how much freedom, then, the people had.

“We have arrived.”

We rolled into town, slightly smaller than the one before, passing by a rickety sign that read ‘Placita’. It kept up with the strange pattern of villages out here having Spanish-sounding names, and I couldn’t help but notice the living conditions were as shoddy in this village as they were in Castella.

But that was neither here nor there. What concerned me was the growing crowd of onlookers outside the local saloon, worry covering each of their expressions. I parked my motorcycle next to a nearby building and looked to Archie for instructions.

“So… what happens now?” I asked.

“A level 1 threat indicates a single enemy unit of negligible strength and priority. Judging by the humans gathered outside, we can surmise that the creature is locked within.” Archie explained. “For your protection, I would advise choosing a class and weapon from the available options before investigating.”

Funny, it really is like a game.

“Class, huh?” I scratched my chin. “In my gaming days, I liked DPS, is there anything mid-range? And I’d like something that can shoot since I prefer not to get my hands dirty.”

“I would personally recommend the ‘Gunslinger’ class, based on your chosen specifications. It comes with two pistols and a bandolier of specialized ammunition. It also provides a boost to your base accuracy and luck. Your file seems to indicate that you struggle with simple tasks, so you may find the user-friendliness… desirable.”

“Listen here, I didn’t do anything to deserve that last comment, but…” I complained before pausing. “It seems simple enough, so let’s go with that one.”

“As you wish, Jiro.”

A web of light shot out of Archie’s eye once again, passing over the length of my body. Appearing on each hip was a revolver, as well as a bandolier across the chest of my undershirt beneath my trench coat.

“Well, ain’t these fancy.” I pulled the six-shooters out of their holsters and studied the grips, complete with a mahogany finish. I fiddled with my bandolier as well, bullets lining the front. “What did you mean by ‘specialized ammunition’, anyhow?”

“They are not simply for aesthetics, I assure you. To prevent harm from befalling the Eternals, the previous Director developed an antivirus program that is now employed in the form of your chosen weapons.” Archie said. “As to prevent Hunters from tyrannizing the Eternals, they will only work against foreign contaminants to the Digiscape.”

“At least they thought that through.” I scoffed, thinking of how Hunters might misuse their privileges if left unchecked. “In any case, let’s go see what’s going on at the saloon for now.”

“I believe that course of action would be most wise, Jiro.”

As I walked alongside the edge of the building, back to the dusty main road, I could hear an argument occurring as I got closer. A woman and an older man in the crowd were at odds over something, but they seemed to quiet down as they saw me approaching.

“Wait, mister, don’t go any closer than that!” The arguing man called out to me as I ascended the steps to the saloon’s entrance. “It’s like I was telling Aya-san, it’s too dangerous for any of us to enter, we need a Hunter.”

“And maybe you didn’t hear me, Mayor, but my sister is still in there with that thing.” She put her hand on the shoulder of a young boy who looked distraught. “My nephew and I already lost her once, I’m not going to let it happen again.”

“If you let it out now, it might endanger the whole damn town!”

A few crowd members murmured in agreement, but others weren’t as convinced.

“And if we leave it in there with my sister, she might get corrupted and become an even bigger problem for all of us!”

“If she hasn’t already…” It was the young boy who muttered those words.

“Well, that’s just a myth! Use your brain.”

“My brain works fine! I heard some Hunters talking about it on their way through town once. It’s real, Mayor!”

I sighed to myself upon seeing the exchange play out in real-time. I was content to let them keep arguing to their heart's content, but someone had to take action eventually. And since Archie had elected not to provide any situational wisdom…

“Listen here, I’m…” I captured their attention as I thought of what to say on the fly, a bit sheepishly as I did. “I’m a Hunter. My Supporter and I can go in there and investigate so y’all don’t have to. Does that settle things, maybe?”

I got some looks of distrust at first, but nobody outright rejected my proposal.

“Fantastic, you should’ve said something sooner!” The Mayor flashed a look of relief. “Go on ahead, and I’ll try to clear the street.”

While he barked out orders for everyone to go home, the young woman he called ‘Aya’ approached me, her nephew right behind her.

“Mister, whatever you do, please don’t let them escape.” She warned with pleading eyes. “Please.”

Them? Is she saying her sister is already lost?

I went to open my mouth but made eye contact with the young boy first. There wasn’t a shred of hope in his gaze, but that lit a spark within my own. Out of my selfish desire to see this through, I proclaimed something grand and irresponsible.

“I’m going to bring her out, safe and sound. You have my word.”

. . .

As I entered the building, the door was shut and locked tight behind me by a few townsfolk. I told them that only when I knocked three times should they open the door for us to escape.

I could hardly make out any of the dark features of the inner saloon, aside from what was closest to the streams of light pouring in from the boarded-up windows.

“Archie, can you give me a light? I can hardly see my own two feet.”

“I was beginning to wonder when you would ask for my assistance, but your heroic declaration from before was so powerful that my vocal processor froze.”

“Yeah, yeah. Just watch my six, please.”

Archie’s eye emitted a low beam like a flashlight that illuminated the place. The furniture seemed to be strewn about, and it was quite a large dining hall for such a small town in my observation.

My hands shook slightly as I pointed my revolvers in the direction of Archie’s light. I scanned every wall, full of animal heads and trophies, expecting something to jump out and attack us horror movie-style. However, I couldn’t spot anything right away, which only made my uneasiness grow in intensity.

“We appear to be the only sentient beings on this floor, perhaps we should check upstairs?”

“I was afraid you’d say that…”

I sighed at Archie’s suggestion, correct as it was. It was a clear next course of action, but—horror clichés notwithstanding—I just didn’t like the idea of going in unawares when a hostile entity likely knows we’re here.

“Is this what humans call ‘losing their nerve’?”

“What? No, you’re just imagining things.” I got defensive, and let a machine get under my skin. “Let’s just go upstairs and give it a look already so I can get out of here…”

I trudged up the wooden staircase with Archie leading the way and began to hear creaking noises coming from the first inn room across from the guardrail to the dining area below. I placed my hand on the doorknob and took a deep breath.

Here goes nothing…