CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: PROOF OF THE UNSEEN HUNT

She had felt killing intent before, from veteran warriors, from monsters, from the truly dangerous individuals who occasionally passed through guild halls. But this had been something qualitatively different. It hadn’t just been the promise of death; it had been the psychic weight of someone who had delivered death on an incomprehensible scale.

What are you really? she wondered, studying Yomi’s now-placid features with new eyes. And what brought something like you to our guild?

The questions multiplied in her mind as she watched him help the still-trembling Gareth to his feet with surprising gentleness. The contrast was jarring, moments ago, he had radiated malevolence that made her soul recoil, and now he showed concern for his defeated opponent.

Helena turned away from the observation window, her mind already calculating. Whatever this Dra’kesh truly was, he represented either an unprecedented opportunity or a catastrophic threat. Possibly both.

She needed to know more. Much more.

As she walked back toward her office, Helena’s steps quickened with purpose. There were contacts to reach, discrete inquiries to make, and preparations to consider. If her instincts were correct, the guild had just encountered something that would reshape her understanding of what was possible in this world.

First things first, she decided. I need to ensure he has every reason to stay cooperative.

****

"Is... is he all right?" Lirien asked, her voice carrying genuine concern.

"He’s fine," Yomi replied, already moving toward the exit. "Though his pride might need time to heal."

Mira shook herself back to awareness, her professional training finally overriding her shock. "That was... impressive," she managed. "Very impressive. But protocol requires G-class initial registration regardless of demonstrated ability. You’ll need to complete sanctioned monster hunts for advancement."

As they returned to the main hall for final paperwork processing, Yomi found himself genuinely puzzled by one aspect of the guild’s operation. When Mira began explaining advancement requirements and benefit structures, she mentioned something that caught his attention.

"Of course, if you have any monster materials to sell, we offer competitive rates," she said in the tone of someone delivering a routine spiel. "It’s one of the primary income sources for most adventurers."

Yomi’s expression showed genuine confusion. "Monster materials?"

"Oh," Mira blinked, realizing she had assumed knowledge that wasn’t there. "You’re not familiar with the system? We purchase monster parts from adventurers, scales, claws, essence crystals, anything with commercial or magical value. Alchemists, enchanters, weapon smiths, they all need reliable sources of quality materials."

Understanding dawned in Yomi’s eyes. "And you buy these directly from adventurers?"

"Standard practice," Mira confirmed. "Much more reliable than waiting for merchant caravans, and it provides steady income for guild members. Did you... perhaps collect anything during your recent travels?"

Yomi paused, considering. He genuinely had no idea what materials might be valuable or how the guild’s purchasing system worked. The concept of selling monster parts for income was entirely foreign to him.

[Host possesses significant stored materials,] the System’s voice echoed in his mind, catching him completely off guard. [Recommend selective display for maximum impact?]

Yomi’s expression flickered with surprise. He hadn’t realized the System had been collecting anything during their dungeon expedition, let alone storing materials of apparent value.

Show me what would be... impressive, Yomi thought back, curious about what the System considered significant.

[Accessing optimal selection for current context.]

Images flashed through his consciousness, the treasures claimed from Malrath and Tidalos, the materials he had barely glanced at during their frantic escape from the collapsing rift. Scales that gleamed like captured starlight, crystals that pulsed with oceanic power, claws that radiated the kind of dark energy that made reality shiver.

"Actually," Yomi said slowly, "I might have a few items."

[Host should step away from counter and simulate retrieving items from travel pack,] the System advised. [This will avoid suspicion while materials are manifested.]

Yomi nodded slightly, still uncertain about how this process worked. "Give me a moment," he said to Mira, stepping away from the counter with his worn travel pack. "Let me see what I have."

To external observers, he appeared to be simply rummaging through his belongings, checking compartments and sorting through the accumulated debris of their recent travels. In reality, he was following the System’s guidance, unsure of exactly what was happening but trusting the process.

[Materializing selected items now,] the System announced. [Host should appear to discover these among existing possessions.]

Suddenly, Yomi felt the weight in his pack increase dramatically. Items that definitely hadn’t been there moments before now rested against his hands, cold, powerful, radiating energies that made his fingers tingle with residual magic.

How is this possible? he wondered, but there was no time to question the mechanics. The materials were real, solid, and apparently valuable beyond measure.

When he returned to the counter, his arms were laden with items that made Mira’s breath catch in her throat.

The first thing she noticed were the scales, each one the size of a dinner plate, shimmering with an iridescent blue-silver hue that seemed to shift and flow like captured water. They radiated cold even from a distance, and frost began forming on the counter where they rested.

"Leviathan scales," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "These are from a Leviathan."

But that was only the beginning. The crystal Yomi placed beside them pulsed with contained oceanic energy, its faceted surface revealing depths that seemed to extend far beyond its physical boundaries. Power rolled off it in waves, making the air itself feel thick and alive.

"Tidalos Heart Crystal," Mira breathed, her hands trembling as she reached toward it before stopping herself. "I’ve... I’ve never seen one this size."

The final item made her step backward involuntarily. An obsidian-black claw longer than her forearm, its surface seemed to absorb light while radiating an aura of barely contained malevolence. Dark energy wisped around it like smoke, and the counter began developing hairline cracks where it rested.

"What... what is that?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared at the malevolent artifact.

Yomi looked down at the obsidian claw, genuinely uncertain. The dark energy wisping around it was clearly dangerous, but he had no idea what it actually was or where it had come from.

[Malrath’s Abyssal Claw - from the Abyssal Ravager,] the System provided helpfully.

"Malrath’s... Abyssal Claw?" Yomi repeated slowly, the unfamiliar name feeling strange on his tongue. He paused, then added with obvious uncertainty, "From the... Abyssal Ravager?"